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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-04-05 TranscriptionPage I ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS ITEM 2b Start By Believing Day — April 6 Throgmorton: I'm going to move out front and read some proclamations. (mumbled) All right, the first proclamation (starts to read proclamation; both talking) Karr: Mr. Mayor ... I'm so sorry! But if you'd like to go in the middle... are you going in the Fair Housing Month proclamation? Throgmorton: Uhhhh, I thought I was doing the one (both talking) Karr: Start By Believing. Okay, start By Believing. I'm going to introduce the people who will come up. For ... as you read it, and you can present it to them and they'll go back here. Okay? Throgmorton: So this is Start ... the Start by Believing Day. Karr: Okay, Pam Terrill is representing Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team. (applause) Throgmorton: Okay. (reads proclamation) Congratulations! (applause) Terrill: I just wanted to say thank you very much for the proclamation. Uh, the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team thanks you for supporting this. The Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team is, uh, consists of four law enforcement agencies in our area — Iowa City, Coralville, Johnson County Sheriffs Department, and the University Police Department, and also North Liberty, sorry! So five, and uh, the Rape Victim Advocacy Program, RVAP, the... emergency room personnel at both University Hospital and Mercy Hospital, sexual assault nurses, uh, who are specially trained nurses to work with victims who have been sexually assaulted, and the Johnson County Attorney's Office. So all of us meet regularly and are here as a support for victims who have been, uh, traumatized sexually, sexual violence, sexual assault, and I do just want to say that it really is true that a victim of sexual assault will probably go to their friend or family member first before they would ever go to an outside person. So it's very important for all of us to know that, uh, it's important to support that person, to say that you're sorry that happened to them, uh, that you're glad that they were able to disclose it, and send them on their way to get help through our VAP, the police, or the hospital. So thank you! Throgmorton: Thank you. (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 2 ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS ITEM 2a Fair Housing Month — April Throgmorton: Okay, the next proclamation is for Fair Housing Month. Karr: And here to accept the proclamation representing the Iowa City Area Realtors Association is Terri Morrow and Shaner Magalhaes. Closer? (laughter) Oh! Throgmorton: We tried (several talking and laughing) All right. (reads proclamation) (applause) Morrow: I just want to say on behalf of the Iowa City Area Association of Realtors we appreciate Iowa City's continuing commitment to fair housing. Thank you! (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 3 ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS ITEM 2d Health Care Decisions Day — April 16 Karr: Here to represent the Director of Honoring Your Decisions Jane Dohrmann, and she has other introductions she will make during her comments. Throgmorton: How are you, Jane? Hi! Thanks, Hi! Hi, good to see you. Hi! All right, you ready? (reads proclamation) There you go! (applause) Dohrmann: Honoring Your Wishes is a program under the leadership of Iowa City Hospice and a community -wide advisory board. Our mission is to promote a community- wide advance care planning process in which individual's healthcare preferences are discussed, documented, and honored by friends, family, and the healthcare community. We have more than 40 community partners, including hospitals, the Senior Center, not-for-profit organizations, businesses, long-term care organizations, and faith communities. We also have developed regional and state- wide partnerships, and I have with me today Margaret Reese from the Mercy Hospital Foundation; Sarah Myers, US Bank; and Grace Matthews, University of Iowa Healthcare. Our proclamation, um, is a part of the national Healthcare Decisions Day movement; um, the theme is 'It's never too early until it's too late,' and we want to thank you, um, for this opportunity and your support. Thank you. (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 4 ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS ITEM 2c Keep Iowa Beautiful Month — April Throgmorton: All right our fourth proclamation for this evening is Keep Iowa Beautiful Month. Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Jeff Davidson, representing Keep Iowa Beautiful. Throgmorton: Jeff! Dickens: (mumbled) Throgmorton: Great to see you! (unable to hear response) Jeff used to work for the City of Iowa City for ... how many years, Jeff? (unable to hear response) 34 years! So ... (reads proclamation) Here you go, Jeff! (applause) Davidson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Members of the City Council. It's great to be back at City Hall! Uh, as a State affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, the core mission of Keep Iowa Beautiful is simple. Strengthen Iowa communities through community beautification, community development, and economic development. In particular, the small towns and rural communities that are the backbone of this gray state ... great state. I encourage you to check out our web site, keepiowabeautiful.com, to learn more about our mission and how you can become part of it. Thank you very much! (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 5 ITEM 3. STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS ITEM 3a Lucas Elementary Karr: Item 3a is the Student Leadership Awards and we have students from Lucas Elementary. If you'd like to join us up front! Throgmorton: How ya doin'? What's your name? (unable to hear response) Ethan! What's your name? (unable to hear response) Jake! Nice to see you. What's your name? (unable to hear response) (mumbled) All right! So we have some ... some outstanding student leaders from Lucas Elementary and I imagine there are some pretty proud parents in the room. I think I see some taking photographs as we talk! (laughter) All right, so let me read, uh, the first ... and this is for Ethan, uh, but I ... I'm gonna read it just one time and then I'll hand it to you and hand the others to the other two... students. Okay? (reads Student Leadership Award) So, Ethan (mumbled) And ... (applause) ... I think I ... I ... I'm doing these things differently every week so I haven't developed a single rhythm yet. So the ... the, um, next leadership award is exactly the same, but it's for Faith, Faith Reynolds. So let me give this to you, Faith. (applause) And the last one, again, exactly the same is for Jake Roth. (applause) So ... these three Outstanding Student Leaders have brought short statements with them, I think. I hope that's the case! So, Jake, you want to start cause you're right here? I'll hold the mic (mumbled) Roth: Hello, my name is Jake Roth and first I would like to thank the City Council for recognizing students and also myself for being outstanding citizens. Next I would like to thank my family. I am proud of myself because of them. They set ... they set such good examples for me and have guided me to always treat others respectfully and kindly, to be a leader for my class. I love you so much. I would also like to thank all of my teachers because they are truly amazing and make such a difference in my life for me learning from them. My friends and peers are also a part of this. They are all ... they also set a good example for me and also help me through tough and easy times. You guys are amazing too. Lastly, I would like to thank all the other people that helped ... that have helped me at times and have made a difference in my life. Thank you so much. Jake Roth from Lucas Elementary. (applause) Throgmorton: All right! (applause) Those cheers! Okay, Ethan, you're next! Goodrich: Thank you for this honor (mumbled) Student Citizenship Award. I believe I was chosen because I try to live up to the Lucas motto, which is being respectful, responsible, caring, and safe. I do that by helping neighbors with chores, like ya... yard work, raking, um, shoveling, and ... mowing their lawns. I also do chores around the house without being asked. And... especially (mumbled) Wednesdays and Fridays, when my other brother is at pre -algebra, I ... look after my ... I look after my little brother (laughs) and make sure he gets to school on time. I am also very kind and respectful to my teachers and peers. Thank you for giving me this This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 6 award and for the rest of this year and after, I'll continue to be a good and respectful citizen. (applause) Throgmorton: All right! (applause) (mumbled) Reynolds: Hello, I am Faith Reynolds. In my community I participate in Girl Scout Troop 82 and I ... the things I do for it was made toys for the Animal Shelter. I went to the Ronald McDonald House and made them ... dinner. At my church I do lots of volunteering, but most of all I would not be here without these people, so thank you — mom, dad, brother Riley, and friends Sophia, Natalie, and Myra. All my aunts and uncles and my ... teachers, especially Kelsey Kenneger who helped me with this speech. Finally, thank you to everyone I know for helping me try harder. Thank you! (applause) Throgmorton: Yeah! (applause) Okay, let's celebrate all three of our terrific student leaders! (applause and cheers) So as the kids and parents are leaving I'd like to remind you that we need to make sure it's possible to go out the doors, so please make sure there's room ... right there. Jim Knapp: I came for a different purpose but I'd like to encourage what ... the kids are talking about and the people are talking about (mumbled) Karr: Sir, we can't ... we can't (both talking) Throgmorton: Please don't ... don't try to talk yet, because we're waiting for people to leave. Knapp: Oh okay! (mumbled) Throgmorton: Please! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 7 ITEM 4. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED Throgmorton: All right, I think it's quieted down enough now, so we're gonna turn to Item #4, Consider adoption of the Consent Calendar as presented or amended, and what we're gonna do is ... um ... uh, pull Item 4d(8), which is ... has to do with domestic violence. It's a resolution, uh, pertaining to domestic violence. We're gonna consider that separately. So... Mims: So moved. (both talking) Botchway: Second (several talking) Throgmorton: ... could I have a motion? A motion from, uh... from, uh, Susan Mims and a second from Kingsley Botchway. Discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Now we need a motion to approve Item 4d(8), Domestic Violence Resolution. ITEM 4d(8) FREEDOM FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - IOWA CITY RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE FREEDOM FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT Dickens: So moved. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by, uh, Dickens, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? And first we have some people who are going to speak, correct? Maybe I should read one brief statement here, um ... uh, Item 4d(8) is titled 'Freedom From Domestic Violence,' Iowa City resolution to recognize freedom from domestic violence as a fundamental human right. Eglaine: Good evening! I'm Persephone Eglaine. I'm with the University of Iowa Legal Clinic and we're here this evening with our client, the Domestic Violence Intervention Program. We would like to thank the City Council for passing the Iowa City resolution to recognize freedom from domestic violence as a fundamental human right. Currently there is a national movement across the nation to recognize freedom from domestic violence as a fundamental human right and Iowa City just became the 27h city in the nation to recognize that right and the first in Iowa. We believe, and we are glad that you agree, that Iowa City is ready and it is time for them to become a leader in this movement, both nationally and in the State of Iowa. This resolution was there to raise awareness to the subject of domestic violence and also to reassure the citizens of Iowa City that Iowa City is a community wherein we support victims of domestic violence. We have gained huge support from the... organizations in the city to include the Johnson County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Johnson County Local Homeless Coordinating Board, the Consultation of Religious Communities, the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 8 University of Iowa Center for Human Rights, and the Iowa City Human Rights Commission. However... domestic violence can affect everyone in the community — men, women, and children — and there's still stigma that is attached to that. We hope that by adopting this resolution, Iowa City has helped alleviate that stigma for Iowa City and we hope that other cities across Iowa will follow our lead. At this time I would like to thank the Council and I would also like to introduce Bronis Perteit, who is the Director of Client Advocacy Services at the Domestic Violence Intervention Program. Perteit: Good evening! Throgmorton: Good evening. Perteit: My name is Bronis Perteit and I'm the Director of Client Advocacy Services for the Domestic Violence Intervention Program. First we would like to thank, um, take this time to thank the, uh, City Council for adopting this resolution declaring freedom from domestic violence a human right. We believe that every person should be able to live a life free of fear and abuse from an intimate partngr. According to national statistics, one in three women and one in four men will experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime. In 2015, the Iowa City Police Department responded to over 602, um, calls related to domestic incidences and the Police Department reported, uh, making 288 domestic violence arrests. In 2014, DVIP provided services to 765 adult victims, as well as 363 children. We received 12,595 calls for assistance on our crisis line and we believe that every victim of domestic violence deserves to be a part of a community that will support them and will fight for them. We must stand together as a community in order to prevent domestic violence. We are very proud today that Iowa City is the first city in the State of Iowa to adopt a resolution of this kind, um, and by doing this, our hope is that we are able to bring more awareness to this issue, um, as well as getting other communities in this state, uh, to take similar actions, and so again I want to take this time to say thank you for adopting this resolution and our hope is that it renews our commitment as a community to end domestic violence once and for all. Thank you. Throgmorton: Thank you! (applause) Anyone else want to speak to that? No? Okay. Discussion among Council. Discussion? It's great to do it. Thank you. I'm glad you came. Glad you proposed it in the first place! Roll call. Motion passes 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 9 ITEM 5. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA) Throgmorton: I'd like, uh, anybody who wants to address any topic that's not on the agenda to come forward and, uh... I have ... I think there are a lot of people who want to speak, so I'd like to ask you to limit your comments to three minutes each. Not more than three minutes. When three minutes are up, I'll ask you to stop. So... because other people want to speak. And please state your name, uh, before you speak. Knapp: Um, my name is Jim Knapp and I came for a different purpose but after hearing this... previous testimonies and declarations, I ... I feel compassion to ... support what these people are doing and want to do. Uh, what I am ... do belong to is a club called "Over the 70s" but we're passing on so we need to move it down to "Over the 60s" and what I'd like to do is what we do, and it's help people with disabilities or problems develop their talents and their skills so that they can become more self -dependent and less... independent. Um ... I ... personally have been in construction for over ... almost 50 years, I guess, and I would like to start a program where I can train people with carpentry skills, with operating hand tools and small saws and things like that, with concrete tools, and (mumbled) that they will get into the point of being able to be employed and find jobs. Uh... Iowa City would very ... really need more workers in this area once it gets expanded and we start building more affordable housing. And, uh, to that respect I ... I would, if anybody wants to contact me, I'm trying to straighten up my garage, which it never had a vehicle in it because I've got so many tools and other stuff, but I would be glad to work with young people and teach'em the carpentry skills or teach 'em the project management skills or estimating or anything that I know, which isn't a lot but ... thank you! Throgmorton: Thank you, Jim! Who's next? Karr: Mr. Knapp, you still want this handed out? Mr. Knapp, do you still want this correspondence handed out? Knapp: (away from mic) I'm sorry (mumbled) Karr: Do ... do you want this correspondence handed out? (unable to hear response) Okay. (unable to hear response) That's okay! Throgmorton: Thank you, Jim. (unable to hear response) Good evening, Royceann! Porter: Good evening! Royceann Porter,e 136 Appanoose Court. Um, the reason I'm here is, uh, in regards to Rose Oak. Um, I wanted to start this out before the people started comin' up, talkin' to you about this. Uh, there was a meeting called last week. I wanted to put you up on everything from what I know. There was a meeting called last Wednesday at Grant Wood School, um, in conjunction, um, I was called by CWJ and it was supposed to be with CWJ, Iowa Legal Aid, and the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 10 Housing ... the Affordable Housing Coalition to come in, to listen to the stories, and next steps. Um ... because of the urgency of hearing people saying that their lease was up as of March 31 S`, they had gotten letters, no time to really get out of there. They had received letters stating that if they had not been out by Thursday, March 31 S`, Friday evictions were going to start. Now I sat here during the work session I heard Doug Bur ... Boothroy give a great building plan, site plan, everything, demolition. All that needs to be done over there. That needs to be done. But there's a way that it needs to be done, because there are people. These are human lives that live there. Uh, when they talked about different agencies and the services, uh, getting together and talking on how they're going to help and work with the people, adding more money. Chrissy got up and talked about the (mumbled) housing program, that is awesome! None of these people have heard, none of what was said today. None of these people know anything. None of these tenants have been told which way to go. They don't know to go left or right. These people are scared. They are really scared. So when we met on Thursday, we went into management. We was just gonna go there, uh, when we got there police had already been called on us.....stating that we were coming, we weren't going to cause trouble, but that's not what we went there for. The purpose of us going there was to ask to buy more time. Those people whose lease ended on March 31 s`, all we asked was please, give them some more time. They have not had enough time to find a place to stay. Everybody in the city of Iowa City know affordable housing in Iowa City is what... obsolete. I mean so for you to sit and say I'm gonna give somebody 30 days to move out ... no! That's unreasonable. So the ... the one thing I want to read right quick .... I know, Jim, you said three minutes, but I wanted to let you know everything that happened, and from what we saw out there, um, we were able to go into ... they only wanted six of us in there to do a conference call because the man, the new owner, was on the phone, and so we end up ... he end up letting all the tenants in, which was about 40 tenants, a couple of pastors, and myself. I did all the talking. My very first thing was, sir, please ... slow down the process. Please, I said if you're not familiar with Iowa City ... it's not very easy to find a place, and which ... Doug explained. They did give the people a listing of apartments to go to. But these people that live in these apartments are not even eligible. I worked at Shelter House. I've helped people look for housing in this town. You got 45 days when you come into Shelter House to look for a place to stay, to help these people, find 'em a place to stay. Within those 45 days a lot of times we found housing but ... those people did not qualify for the housing, either because of their backgrounds, background checks, evictions on their backgrounds, some type of barrier. So, a lot of things, uh, that's really getting me upset in this town is that everybody is hollering low rent housing, low rent housing. The rent in Dolphin Lake, Rose Oak, Lakeside — whatever they callin' themselves these days — is between $700 and $800. These people are working two jobs, and they payin' this every month. Some of them have been there for years, and for you to just give them a letter and say we're not gonna renew your, uh, your agreement, your lease is unacceptable. It's unreal. It's unfit. Where are we supposed to go? So I wanted to read this really quick. Basic respect for Rose Oaks' residents. On March 30`", dozens of Rose Oaks' This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 11 residents joined together to create a list of demands that would establish basic protections for the over 100 individuals and families whose lives are being thrown into chaos by the changes at Rose Oaks. More time. We ask that so that dozens of kids at Rose Oaks can finish their school year. They were told yes, you would be able to keep your kids there. That was not true. We had two people who were due out of there March 31" who had two kids in Grant Wood School that was told that if they did not leave, they were gonna be evicted. So, we asked for more time. So people have a chance at finding another direct option. Low income housing is extremely hard to find here in Iowa City, and many people at Rose Oaks face additional barriers — racial discrimination, low credit scores, prior convictions, language barriers, and immigration related issues. Pushing people to leave quickly means making a large number of families homeless. Let people whose lease expired in March or April stay on a month-to-month basin ... basis. He agreed to that, yet he kept saying he wanted to talk to individuals. So that's what all these people here, they've been told by the owners everyone of 'em's being told different things. None of 'em ha ... there is no set ... nothing in concrete. Everybody is being told different things. They have given 'em some letters of rec... letters of recommendation and not others, and these are people who owe zero rent. They have no reason to be out. Uh... Throgmorton: Royceann (both talking) Porter: Yes, I'm going to hurry, Jim, but I just wanted to let you know. I'm ... I'm done! I'm good! Throgmorton: Okay (several talking) Porter: Yes. You're gonna hear their stories and I have to say no more. Throgmorton: Good deal! Thank you. (applause) Horne: Hello! Throgmorton: Hi! Horne: How are you all? My name is Chantrice Horne, 2401 Highway 6 East, of course, apartment 1807. I only ask that ... not that you stop the permit for them to demolish, but delay it. Let them understand that we are a community. We work every day, we pay our rent. We're not tryin' to stop what they want to do. They want to change who they rent to, they're a business, they have the right, but what they need to do is respect our livelihoods. Don't treat us like we're just numbers on an apartment door. Treat us as if we live there! When you go home, you walk into your living room, your dining room. Some of you all living rooms and dining rooms are the size of our whole entire apartment. You walk into your living room. If that was your only space, how would you want to be treated? If you want to be treated with respect, then look at what we're going through and This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 12 treat us the same way. You all like numbers. Well I got numbers for ya! They're willing to give us our security deposits back, and if we move out by a certain time, $500. Well, let me tell you what we're doin'. We work every day. Say 40 hours a week. Say you make $10 an hour. So you're bringing in on a monthly basis $1,600. You pay $775 for rent. Light bill, 103; cable bill, 140. I have a high school and middle school and elementary school kids. I have two phone bills, $80. I pay $400 a month for food. So that leaves me with $102 a month to figure out how do I get me and my children back and forth to school, back and forth to work, but you want me to move in 30 days. So let's talk about the cost of movin'. A truck is 150. If I fill out four applications at 35 a pop, I'm payin' $140 for application fees. Movin' supplies $60 cause I gotta put my stuff in something! I'm not gonna put it in a garbage bag. It's going inside of a box! So now you want me to get charged by the light company a fee to move, cable company a fee to move, security deposit, first month's rent, possible two month's rent on the security deposit because it depends on what my credit score is, but I work every day. I pay my taxes. How is that fair? Who am I? So I'm nobody because I'm not in the top ten percent of your income profile? So I'm nobody now! It's a convenience. I live next door to my daughter. My daughter's husband's in the Navy. I have a two-year-old granddaughter. This access so I can help her. I am a parent! These are parents. These are people! We're not sayin' come in and save us because we're savin' ourselves. We're sayin' do not allow them to come in and build what you want to build and put us out where you wanna put us out in cause we're nothing! We're tellin' you all, hey! Slow this permit down! If your job at the end of the day is adopt policies that ensure health, safety, welfare of the current, future inhabitants of the city, act like we're current inhabitants. That's all I'm sayin', because if this happens to me, 10....10, 15 years down the line when I raise my son, who has an IEP, who's graduating from City High School early, who has a 2.8 GPA, who's going to Kirkwood, who gets a job, who gets a place, who moves in somewhere and now he's the next generation to get put out. How fair is that? There's a disabled man in the building, in the ... in the complex. He went to find a place, and they want him to pay $2,350 to move. First month's rent, double security. He has a dog. He went so far as to get his dog certified to help him out, that maybe (mumbled) open doors for him and to get into another place. Throgmorton: (both talking) Horne: ...dog is over 20 pounds. Throgmorton: Pardon me, ma'am. I think there are many other people who would like to (both talking) Horne: There's a lot! Throgmorton: Yeah, I (both talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 13 Horne: Just slow down the permit! Give us time! That's all I'm asking for. You don't have to save us. Give us time! You can allow that. (applause) Thank you. Kelly: Hi, my name is Angela Kelly and I have five children. We have been residents at Rose Oaks for about three years. They're not the best but we call it home. My kids go to school in the area. They are tellin' us to pack our things and to be out in 30 days. That is wrong on so many levels. They do not care that so many families are going to be homeless, including my family. Thirty days is nowhere near enough time to uproot so many people and put them in the streets. So I am here telling you do not issue them permits and do not let them kick me and my five children out in the streets, because issuin' them permits would do just that. I really need you to give me an answer when I leave here today because I need to know if we are going to be homeless or not. In closing I just want to say no permits and do not make our families homeless. Thank you. Throgmorton: Thank you, Angela. (applause) Chesler: Hi, I'm Connie Chesler. I'm the mother of four kids, one of my son in City, have my baby in Grant Wood, and uh, I got 30 days to move, but I pay my rent for the month of April and ... I'm tired of payin' application fees and they keep tellin' me that my credit score and I got a criminal background but I ain't never been evicted. I pay my rent. So ... I don't wanna move, but if I got to I got to. So ... so I wish somebody can help us find a apartment or a house that we can afford cause ... these apartments (mumbled) $900 for two bedroom and all utility, you got to pay all utilities. (mumbled) income and you can't take care of your kids. So ... I'm just askin' you, Mayor, all y'all (mumbled) help us out. Thank you. Throgmorton: Thank you, Connie. (applause) Good evening. Mamona Kabahandelua:(difcult to understand) (interpreter relaying message) We want that our rights as refugees, uh, are to be observed and respected. And we are ... we're not English and we are low incomes. We are asking the office of the public housing ... uh, could make a priority of our situation, that we judge is very serious and unstable. We are, urn ... we are making alarm (mumbled) in front of everyone (mumbled) good will and we're asking that you help us. We have families. We have children in school. And when we can move ... if we move it would be a problem for our kids. It's been a couple months that our brothers are here. Uh, the apartment ... the company (mumbled) said that they reside in the apartment building... although they already knew that they were about to demolish the building. We are wondering why they were accepted to come into this apartment building although they were ... people already knew that it would be demolished. Uh, we are refugees. And this situation is reminding us of what we have been living in our country. But we know that being in the United States ... uh, a country that received us....and which allowed us to be (mumbled) We were thinking that our problems would be resolved. And until now we've been convinced ... uh, it's the reason why we've come with our (mumbled) We are hoping ... we are willing This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 14 that ... (mumbled) you will find a solution for us. Thank you very much. (applause) Throgmorton: (mumbled) Salih: (difficult to understand) My name is Mazahir Salih. I live in 2355 JessupCircle, Iowa City. As President of the Center for Worker Justice, I represent hundreds of low wage workers, uh, from like diversity (mumbled) and you know, um ... it's really concern. I came here today and ... because I'm really concerned. At the Center for Worker Justice, (mumbled) to seek like community, which is inclusive community and you know like, um, justice, you know, in the community. And I'm really concern about those resident because most of them are a member in the Center for Worker Justice and (mumbled) situation. You know as a mother if I put myself in their shoes, this is really frightening for me because I just move like a year ago, you know (mumbled) and it took me four months to find a house. This is really, you know, if you think about it, this is really bad. You need really more time to (mumbled) I am here to request the City Council to start acting as soon as possible in denying (mumbled) for redevelopment. I am sure you have those (mumbled) so ... and you can do such action. Please ... at least give them (mumbled) you know (mumbled) with the owner and with the owner (mumbled) give them more time to find the housing and also a financial compensation to relocate and (mumbled) they can (mumbled) give them the right to stay after they build the new apartment with a fair price, and you know, the last thing I want to say, look at those people. How often you see them here? Not a lot. You know what kind of people come to the City Council. Most of these people, this is their first time sitting in this hall. Please! Do it for them! Thank you so much. (applause) Throgmorton: Thank you (mumbled) Rosenfels: (difficult to understand) I just wanted to say like... Throgmorton: Could you say your name, please? Rosenfels: My name is Jaia Rosenfels. I don't live there but, um, I just wanted to say like I've tried to get housing in Iowa City (mumbled) and it's a human right (mumbled) housing is a human right. This is untolerable. Iowa City presents itself as a UNESCO City. How can ... how can you ... how can we (mumbled) Thank you. Throgmorton: Thank you. (applause) Good evening, Joy. Beadleston: Hi, um, my name's Joy Beadleston. I've been gone for a while (laughs) (mumbled) I'm back! Um, I did want to, uh, try to do this really quickly. I wanted to thank City Council and Simon and ... and um, a lot of the people on the Transit, uh, at ... working at the Iowa City Transit. Uh, I heard through the grapevine that you approved $50,000 for new bus shelters and other money, uh, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 15 that's separate from this to repair bus shelters, which will help the community a lot, especially on the southeast side where ... in the area where, um, a lot of people are living out on the southeast side. There's a lot of bus shelters that are needed. Um, another thing I was going to talk about was the Day of Caring, um, with the University of Iowa, uh, the ... I'm glad that the Keep Iowa Beautiful's here cause they're one of my biggest, um, things that I support. Um, keeping our city clean and beautiful is really important to me, as many of you know, um, and the other thing I wanted to talk about is another reason I've been gone is because I've been severely harassed, um, in the place that I live, which might be considered a middle class (laughs) um, apartment building. Um, near the south ... in the southeast side, and I ... I'm disabled. I have a syndrome that is called Fibromyalgia and other, uh, pain related... illnesses from, uh, a drunk driver that hit me not only once, but I got hit by another one (laughs) I survived those but, um, every day I get up is painful, but I continue to try to contribute to my community. Um...every day (laughs) I ... I'm doing something and I have a ... a lot of things on my list, that I went to a meeting at Lucky's, um, about Red Oak and I found that, uh, even though I've been, uh, really unjustly harassed, I pay my rent every month just like many of these people, um, from Red Oak have talked about, uh, and it's not right. And what I'm seeing as I look for another place for my own well-being (laughs) and peace, which I love, is it's not affordable, not for people that are here that have worked, that are students. Really valuable people in our community that are the backbone of our community, that work at the hospital and as you know, that go to school, factories, um, all over our city and keep us going. We ... we're losing people every day that are really valuable because they have to move to other locations (laughs) and even if you look in Tiffin, North Liberty, in Coralville, which a lot of people mentioned, they're not affordable anymore either because our ... a lot of developers have gone into those cities and built really expensive housing, um ... if you go to Autumn Park, even if it's a two-year waiting list. Just to get in to Autumn Park. We ... we don't have enough affordable housing and we need to have affordable housing when we build it, that is pleasant to live in, a peaceful environment, and not what has been going on at Red Oak, Lakeside, all these different people that have come in to run this place have been abusing these people extremely. Their stories ... I beg the community to listen to them. They're horrible, and we need to get lawyers and .... and all our community, we have a great community for (both talking) Throgmorton: Joy (both talking) Beadleston: I will cut this short. Please get people to support... these... these people and myself (laughs) actually. We need legal help, we need housing, uh, you know, and to come together as a community. I know you guys can't take on the whole burden (both talking) so thank you. Throgmorton:... thank you. (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 16 Minerva Marrero: (difficult to understand) (interpreter relaying message) It's a pleasure that after a period of struggle I'm now a resident of (mumbled). The situation that my brothers are experiencing in Rose Oaks is the same situation that I lived through two and a half years ago. It remains the same company, Eagle Management, even though it has changed its name twice and my reason for being here today is to call your attention to resolve that situation. I believe that the fact that I'm not fluent in English was one of the reasons that allowed them to discriminate against me at Rose Oaks. I arrived from Puerto Rico two and a half years ago and automatically my first place to live is that place. Um, I began to notice some poor administration of that, uh, location, that locality, and I started to with those others around me to express discontent. One of my first interventions with Channel 28, um, where I describe the conditions, the appalling conditions under which I was living and others around me were. The response I would get is that as a Puerto Rican I would .... did not have the right to make these complaints, uh, whereas these were things in the contract that I felt that I had the ... the right to bring to their attention. Throgmorton: Excuse me. I know there's more you'd want to say, but we ... we've already gone three and a half minutes. Uh, could you please... Marrero : Okay, uh ... (interpreter relaying message) Okay. (laughter) Okay, I was driven to write to the Housing Department in Washington, D.C. and they're now looking into the conditions at Rose Oaks. And I hope that justice will be brought to us and to the other residents and that action would taken with respect to the situation. Throgmorton: Thank you (several talking) (applause) (several talking) Isabel Henriguez Aendons: Uh, hi, um, good ... good night, my name is Isabel Henriguez Aendons. I am from Puerto Rico. I have lived (difficult to understand) Lakeside apartment. The reason I am here because I am worry because we receive the letter, and the letter said coming soon (mumbled) demolition the laundry area, remove the (mumbled) I am worry about this situation because in the ... in the letter we receive it said coming soon (mumbled)... coming soon we ... we are starting demolition of the laundry. Where ... where supposed (mumbled) wash their clothes (mumbled) April 18 (difficult to understand) the old building, inclusive my building. (mumbled) I am scared because ... uh... there ... (mumbled) (interpreter begins relaying message) She feels that this stressful situation can affect her health, the fact that there's demolition being announced where she lives and where she does her laundry. Thank you. Throgmorton: Thank you. (applause) We normally stop at 8:00 P.M., at 8:00, for this public discussion period. But I know there are many of you, it looks like there are many of you who would still like to speak. With the Council's permission, I'd like to extend this for another 15 minutes. (several talking) Yeah, okay, so please... someone else care to speak? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 17 Massey: Thank you! Sam Massey, Pastor First Presbyterian Church. Some of my parishioners live in the Rose Oak area. It was a place to start, to move up to other housing, specifically Habitat Housing. I'm a preacher. I point out the obvious to people. I get paid for that, so let me do so. In the Christian scriptures, uh, Jesus says in my father's house are many mansions. The word for that in the Greek is orcamentos. It means all in one household. We get the word economy and ecumenical from it. What we realize from this is also something you realize in the Hebrew scriptures, in the Muslim scriptures, and really all faith traditions that the justice of God is always a justice of hospitality. Open hearted. Open embrace. This I think is the issue which is at hand, and my personal opinion being here eight years, Iowa City has struggled with a hospitality and justice issue. Increasingly if you look at the index of the similarity, we are in the habit of separating, segregating our folks, and whether a separation in my opinion, there is devastation and that's exactly what is happening here. The, what is anticipated is destroying a community. And I think this is probably the wrong way to go. I don't think anything is advanced by, uh, approving this permit. I would recommend leadership looks like turning this rascal down and then sitting down with residents and the business people and perhaps Habitat and try to come up with ... with various players to try to come up ... with a winning solution where everybody profits, everybody makes money, everybody's empowered. I think there are a few out there, I can imagine, and I would simply encourage you to take that course. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Throgmorton: Thank you (both talking) (applause) Good evening. Smith: Hi, I'm ... I'm Pastor Anthony Smith from New Creations International Church. And I too have, uh... uh, parishioners that ... that, uh, that ... that live in this housing, in this apartment complex. And, um ... uh, my concern is, uh, my concern is how ... is how they've been ... how they're being treated. I don't think that this treatment would be done to anyone that lived where I ... in my housing development or in any of yours. Um, I don't believe that the ... I don't believe that if...if this ... if this was happening on the other side of town, uh, and building a complex that they wouldn't... they wouldn't take ... that these sort of actions would not be taken. And I believe that they have, that we have ... that there should be a ... a sense of morality ... not only ... not only, uh.... with the ... um ... with the people that are ... that have bought the place, but with also the Council. And I believe in you all. But I ... but I don't have ... I don't have ... I don't understand how anybody could treat, uh, people that are working hard, people that are trying to make a living, people that are living in substandard housing, and they're calling it home, cause it is home. It's... it's... it's run down, yes it is. I think we all ... we all understand that. But guess what? It's home. And ... and we as a city, as a community, we have to come together and say we're gonna make sure that this is done decently and in order. We as a community should be able to say that these people won't be ran out, but they will ... that there will be a plan, a plan so that they can go and they can be just as prosperous in their ... in their next ... in their next adventure in their next home as they are at ... where they are right now. There has to be a plan, and This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 18 we ... and we as a city have to come together, as ... and not run them out. Slow the process down! The place probably does need to be ... needs to be tore down! And something needs to be rebuilt. But these people need to be taken care of, and they need to be taken care of in a ... in a ... in a moral way that ... that we as a city can say we took care of them, they're ... they have been replaced, they have been been done justice. That's all. Throgmorton: Thank you, Anthony. (applause) Fatima Elbadri: Hello, um, my name is Fatima and I'm a community member student, um, as well as a multi-lingual advocate for, uh, women in the community. Um, and my family's been in low income housing our whole life (mumbled) lived in Iowa City for a while, and um, just seeing, um, everybody and the situations that they're going through and the stresses that they're going through, I feel like, you know, this is my family, these people ... these people are my family, and I feel like my family is ... is ... is stress ... is always stressed out and is being treated some type of way just because of, you know, different aspects of, um, class 'and.. and race and, you know, backgrounds, and I feel like that the city ... I know Iowa City can do better. I know we can do better as a community and I feel like ... we really, really need to listen to folks who come out and talk about these, um, issues because like ... like the pastor said that, you know, this is ... people ... these are people's homes and whether, um, it seems like it to other people or not or people don't, you know, look at, uh, folks in low income housing as, um ... worth anything. I know there is, uh, a sister that was talking about how, um, she ... some of the first paper and the paper that they got for alternatives, one of the first things was, um, to ... to tell people to go to the Shelter, and I know that wouldn't happen in like high class, like better housing areas in Iowa City, to already assume that folks are just ... are gonna ... to just already deem them as some folks who are homeless and that just tells a lot about the kind of rhetoric that, uh, comes with being in a low income, um, housing complex, and I just really, really urge the City to please, please, please maybe just not sign the permits until there is some kind of alternative, you know, of listening to the residents of Rose Oaks. They've said that, you know, they're not saying stop it, um, at this point, you know, but just like give ... some kind of alternative or something, instead of just kind of having folks not know what to do or where to go. So, yeah. Throgmorton: Thank you (mumbled) (applause) Bruce: Uh, my name is Matthew Bruce. I'm a student at the University of Iowa. I'm also a member of Iowa Blac. (clears throat) Yesterday, uh, we had a community meeting with a lot of residents at Rose Oaks and they described to us the situation that they are living in and the situation they're going through now (clears throat) and ... (laughs) I couldn't think of anything to say first but except, urn ... shame on the City for this situation. I'm gonna let it sink in for a second. Um ... shame on the City for letting this happen. This is absolutely inhumane, and somebody stood up here and said that this was similar to the country that they're fleeing from. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 19 That is what's going on. This ... this is third -world conditions that people are being subjected to. Now you guys have the option today ... to either one (laughs) put a, not maybe put an end to the injustice. I don't think that there can be an end put to what these people are going through. But you can one, choose to at least decide that you're not going to let it happen in your own conscience, or ... you can decide to continue to be a part of a machine which ... chews people up and spits them out. So I hope you guys make the right decision. (applause) Throgmorton: Thank you, Matthew. (applause) Anyone else? Luboroff: Hi there, I'm Helene Luboroff. I lived at, uh, Rose Oaks, used to be called Lakeside, about 15 years ago for a short three months when we couldn't afford to live any place else in Iowa City. Had to move out pretty quickly because the black mold in our building was so bad my, uh, partner Tony couldn't breathe and we had to keep taking him to the ER to get breathing treatments. We ended up having to move to Lone Tree cause we couldn't afford to live in Iowa City any more, so I spent five and a half years commuting my children back and forth to the Iowa City School District and going to work, till we could afford to live in Iowa City again. Um, and I would just like to say that ... you know ... granted Rose Oaks definitely needs some work and a lot of those buildings do need to be torn down, but these people do not need to be forced out onto the street with no place to go. In this world if you have money, it protects you from situations like this. Those of us who don't have money have representational democracy. Thank you. Throgmorton: Thank you. (applause) Porter: Good evening, my name's Jasmine Porter. Um, I just want to say that basically it's really hard trying to find housing here. I was a service provider for a year, through Four Oaks, and now I work at the Neighborhood Center. Finding housing for just basic housing where you can actually have a place to sit, have a place to eat, have a plate at the table is hard to find. Whereas housing for campus, $900, the University pays for it. Whereas if you have a family, someone that's actually trying to be a part of the community, it's a lot harder to try to sustain housing or even to try to get it. But, um ... like I said, I don't stay at Rose Oaks, but at the end of the day I see some of the conditions that these people have to live in and it's very ... it's very severe. But ... if you don't have to live in it you just turn the other cheek, and I don't think that's right either. Thank you for your time. (applause) Throgmorton: Thank you. (applause) Anyone else? O'Malley: My name's Keegan O'Malley. Uh, I live at 618 Fairchild. If you allow this to become one more community that's gentrified, uh, I refuse to live in this community, and I know plenty of folks (laughs) that will too. That's it. (applause) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 20 Throgmorton: No one else? All right, uh, I would like to thank all of you for coming tonight... for speaking your truth to us tonight, for speaking from your hearts. We take the situation very, very seriously. We ... things have already been slowed down and ... will be slowed down. We discussed this situation earlier tonight, three hours ago, during our work session. We talked about it, uh, and ... along with two or three other people, and we learned a lot about exactly what the situation is, but ... but you've helped us understand the situation from your own personal points of view. So especially want to thank you for doing that. We understand it's a very difficult situation for you. I'm going to ask our Interim City Manager, Geoff Fruin, to briefly summarize... what we ... what we learned during that, uh, work session discussion and a couple or three key points that you would want to hear. Geoff, can you help us out there? Fruin: Sure. Um, a couple... couple of points I want to make clear. I think it's, uh, something that, uh, I ... I heard through reoccurring comments here. One, I ... I think we all recognize the need ... to upgrade this housing stock, uh, to make it decent housing, uh, for the long-term, so, um, the ... the plans, uh, that are in front of the City right now, I ... I think those are needed renovations, uh... uh, that the ... that should take place, uh, here as soon as we can. That said, more importantly, we hear from you. We know that, um, your lives, your neighbor's lives, your family's lives are impacted, um, by the situation now, and we also need to come together as a community to help you, uh, get through this difficult situation, and so there is this timing issue. And I think it's really important, um ... uh... tonight, uh, for those of you who are here, that we can establish maybe a common base of knowledge, uh, so that we all know ... you know what we know, um, and ... and uh, at least there's some certainty, uh, to ... to the extent that we can provide that, uh, for you. So here's what we know. A site plan has been submitted to the City. Okay, a site plan is essentially the company's, um, ideas, uh, for how they're going to change the property going forward. Their goal is to renovate the entire property, um, and have it completely renovated by the fall of 2017. Okay? When ... when they ... when they say renovate, when we talk about renovating, it's a combination of different approaches. They want to demolish some buildings. Other buildings they just want to renovate. But, when I say renovate, it...it pretty much means everybody has to be out, ripping out walls, um, and rebuilding what's inside. You're keeping your ... your building envelope, the outside of the building the same. You're doing everything, uh... uh, redoing everything on the interior. Very extensive work. A site plan approval of...of this nature is not a decision that becomes before the City Council, okay? The City code, which is essentially our local laws, spells out how site plans are reviewed. Those site plans go through a technical review process, and when I say technical I'm ... I mean we're looking at things like how storm water is handled. Um, are the buildings, um, placed in ... in the proper areas, is there enough parking, lighting, green space, uh, those types of things. That is an ongoing analysis that we're going through right now. It's hard to say exactly when that site plan will be approved, but once they meet those acq ... requirements, our local code says that we shall approve it. Okay? And again, that's not a City Council decision. That's something that our building This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 21 officials here will sign off on once, uh, they meet all those technical requirements. Our best estimate right now is that ... it's at least several weeks away. We've been, uh, having several weeks of discussions with the, uh, developers, the owners of the property, and we ... we still feel they have a long way to go to meet those requirements. So ... um ... I think to say it's several weeks away is ... is pretty conservative. They've got a long ways to go to ... to meet our standards. So what can they do now, and what do they have to ... what, um ... uh, will they have to wait on site plan approval for. What they can do now is they can start to do the interior demolition of certain buildings. So there are buildings that are vacant there, um, there are buildings that are near vacant. They do not need City approval to go in and remove walls and basically prepare for the rebuilding. They can't actually start putting walls back in and plumbing and elec... electrical work until they get a building permit, but if you see a dumpster show up on site and you see people moving, uh, wall ... drywall and other things out, um, that can happen. What they cannot do now is demolish the exterior of a building. They cannot take down a structure without a demolition permit. They have not applied for a demolition permit and a demolition permit cannot be issued until the site plan is approved. So that's again at minimum several weeks away. What we're trying to focus on now is ... is finding the best avenues forward to help you all through the housing situation. What is the appropriate role for .... of the City? We have been talking with local social service agencies that, uh, try to connect people with housing. Um, we are prepared to ... uh, infuse existing local programs with additional City dollars that can provide short-term rental assistance. Every day we are learning more about the situation. We're learning more about, um, some of the hardships that are being faced, and ... um, we'll ... we'll continue to try to stay engaged and to determine the best ways that we can move forward and help. What the plan is again right now is for ... uh, the City to try to contribute to a rapid rehousing program that can help with short-term rental assistance for income qualified households. What we need to do is just ... uh, put, uh, get final details coordinated and then actually, uh, work with a provider to get someone on site so that they can meet with you, understand your situation, and not only try to see if you fit with that program, but make other connections in the community that can help you, uh, find alternative housing, uh, right now. So ... going forward, I encourage you to continue to engage with the management company. There was a management representative here earlier at the ... at the meeting who expressed a willingness to work with folks, to consider short-term extensions if need be, um ... we ... you need to ... you need to continue to do that. Um, if you haven't done that, I'd certainly urge you to do that. And then, uh, we will (yelling from audience) Throgmorton: Thanks, Geoff. All right. Again, thank you all for coming. Curington: Uh, Jim, that's not an answer! Throgmorton: Could you say your name please? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 22 Curington: Venson S. Curington II, (difficult to understand) you know that. Jim, that's not an answer. You will instruct your City Manager to give these people an answer. You will instruct your City Manager to give these people an answer, Jim! Throgmorton: I ... I (both talking) Curington: At this time we didn't ... we didn't see not a sign say give these people time. We're not about ... about to accommodate the oppression that's happening in Rose Oaks. Accepting crumbs off a table! So stop this permit! Now any ... now all of you all came under the Core 4. It's your opportunity to be the progressives that you said that you're supposed to be! Now keep acting like people are ignorant! That was a whole lot of malarkey! What you can do ... and the seven people up here is instruct a City employee ... and you sittin' here givin' all these figures and shit like we don't understand how this works! Now I sat here and I listened to people who were at our meeting and several meetings, and some of y'all were at Rose Oaks, right, on Thursday. We appreciated your presence and that was great! But now you are playing games and you will not play games with my people. Now! You will instruct your City Manager to stop this permit! Fu ... I am not done! I am not done! Throgmorton: Go ahead. Curington: We don't have time to find some (difficult to understand, very angry) social services. Right now people don't have places to live and where to go. Illegal evictions are happening today! And -and ... and under your watch, people are being illegally evicted ... from Rose Oaks. So any .... any type of business development plan with whoever this (mumbled) I wish I could see them. I'll know who you are soon. Whatever type of deal the City has with that is illegal in and of itself. These people are illegally evicting people from their space. Now I'm done! I'm going to be done and I'm going to yield. Now you need to figure this out today, or people will not rest! We ... we don't have time for these weeks to go by, where you continue to figure out a plan. Right now the plan is unjust and you not doing something is unjust! (yelling from audience) Throgmorton: Am I correct in understanding no one else would like to speak to this topic? (unable to hear person speaking from audience) (several talking) (laughter) For the record, no one is being evicted. (people speaking from audience) For the record. (people yelling from audience) I believe ... (people speaking from audience) I ... um ... I ... (mumbled) Sorry, I don't want to be in an argumentative mode. Thank you very much for expressing your views. I understand many of you are very (people yelling from audience) We're gonna move on to Item #6, Planning and Zoning Matters. Karr: Could I have a motion to accept correspondence? Throgmorton: Is there a motion? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 23 Mims: So moved. Dickens: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. All in favor say aye. (person speaking loudly from audience) I'm ... I'm not gonna go back and forth. (person speaking from audience) If you want to speak you have to be over here. (several people speaking from audience) Kelly: Hi, my name is Angela Kelly (person speaking loudly from audience) and um, I was just statin' the fact that we have to be out by the 30th. So waiting weeks to find out if they're gonna get a permit or not, we could be homeless by the time we find out if they're gonna be issued a permit or not. So that's why we're askin' that you do not issue a permit. We have 30 days, and 30 days is not enough. Throgmorton: Geoff ...would you please... contact the representative of the company that currently owns Rose Oaks and share with him the need to contact each individual renter to make sure they know when their lease expires and when they would have to leave and be clear about adjustments that the owner is willing to take. There's an answer. We're gonna move on. Porter: Okay, I just want to tell you that we have contacted... the owners are telling the City one thing, but they have not one time talked ... Jim, they haven't talked to these people. They're tellin' you yes we're willing to do; yes we're willing to do; but they're not! They have not. These people have not heard from anybody, except us in the meetings... other than this, Jim, this is all they got! They haven't heard. These people tellin', sayin' stuff, what they gonna do for the City, tellin' the City what they gonna do, and how they gonna give 'em their deposits back, along with an incentive of $500. It's not happenin', Jim! They're tellin' y'all one thing and tellin' these... they're not even communicatin' with these people! There has been no communication! So, please, all we askin' is to slow down the permit so that until they sit down with the people. Not one person, one tenant at a time. Sit down with all these people, every one of them deserve to have the same... across the board, everybody. Not okay, we gonna let you do this and we gonna let you do that. Everybody deserves the same across the board. There should be ... they won't even meet with the people. They sayin' yes, we're willing ... talkin' to the Affordable Housing Coalition. Talkin' with the Housing Trust. They're sayin' yes, we're gonna do this; yes, we're not gonna put them out because the kids are in school! But that's not true! People have been asked to leave! People are leaving be ... the man sat here today and said 70...74 people will be gone as of April the 30th. That's not true! They're not leavin' on their own! Thirty-one had to be out by March 31 ", Jim! This is unacceptable! This is people's lives. That's all we're sayin'! It's just to slow the permit down. I'm not tryin' to be disrespectful to anyone, but this is so hurtful to me! If you got a heart ... how can you just tell these people it's okay. This girl got five kids. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 24 She ... where she goin'? And then ... and the first thing on the paper that they gave them, the first apartment on the apartment list that they gave 'em was to go to Shelter House! You can go to Shelter House! As if that was an op ... that was an opportunity to just go there! Oh, you can get into Shelter House! It don't... Shelter House don't work like that! And why should I be payin' rent between $700 and $800 a month be told ... to go from my home to go and stay in the Shelter? This is ... this ain't right. I'm sorry! I'm not tryin' to disre... I'm not being disrespectful, but I'm tellin' y'all, there has been no communication to these people, to these families, from the owners! They're tellin' you one thing, but they're doin' another! I'm done! Throgmorton: Thank you, Royceann. So, Geoff, this is why I think it's really important to reach out to the owner and have him connect with the individual renters who remain at Rose Oaks. Fruin: I understand. Throgmorton: That ... that we can do. All right. (person speaking from audience) Smith: ...not that....there needs to be more than just that. You need ... there needs to be someone. These people need to know what's goin' on, and you don't know ... you don't know what they goin' through, and ... and ... and a little deal and they tell you one thing. I need ... I need to know that the City is going to be involved with this. In the meetings with these people. Not ... not just call somebody up and you talk to them, and ... it's over with. The City needs to be involved with the conversations with these ... with these tenants. That has to happen. That has to happen. It can't ... it can't, otherwise ... I know you're tired! But I'm ... I'm sorry. But... it's... but that's gotta happen. Otherwise they're gonna... they're gonna... they're gonna tell 'em one thing, they're gonna ... to make you happy so they can get their permit, but these people won't ... they won't have satisfaction. They won't be ... they won't be (both talking) Throgmorton: Anthony (both talking) Smith: ...and I know it! Throgmorton: We are ... we are taking this very seriously (both talking) Smith: I know it but I just need ya to take it another step, seriously! I need you to be involved. I need you ... we need you to be involved! You were involved at ... at, during the ... I thank you for what you're doing! But I ... we .... we need you involved. Throgmorton: Agreed! So you know we've already moved beyond this particular topic. Uh... you know we had a ... we had a ... an hour-long time when people were speaking, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 25 and ... and nobody wanted to speak anymore. What's on your mind right now? Be short, please. Gilbertson: I will! I heard Mr. Fruin say about the ... the folks at that place can do the internal demolition and ... and essentially are evicting people through the process, but they are not doing the external demolition and that our process, our City codes say that we shall such and such when the technological stuff or when the logistics are ... are good. Who can change the code if not the seven people here? You all have the power to change that and I would like to see that, so that you can say if you are... destroying, putting people into a cycle ... of poverty when ... of...of worse poverty... we can say to them if you're going to be doing that to our people, to our citizens, then you won't get a permit. You have to ... you have to be ethical in your process and that doesn't mean demolishing the inside and moving people around like... things that we move around. These are ... I care about these people. Throgmorton: I understand. Karr: Sir, could I have your name, please? (applause) Throgmorton: Ma'am (both talking) we ... we need to stop! (both talking) We've heard what... everybody's been saying (both talking) Adetayo "Tayo" Oladele-Ajose: I didn't speak though so you didn't hear everyone's, um, idea. Um (noises from audience) and with all due respect, I guess I'm confused with this process, where we speak then you speak, because we keep talking about having a conversation, but that's not how a conversation works, and I understand that you need to regulate the way that you run these meetings, but I think this is a very special case where you need to allow people to respond, because they feel like your responses aren't proper responses to the manner. Like I guess... take... if Amagine coming, being in their shoes. Truly imagine in their shoes. Being (mumbled), being ... taken from a third -world country. My parents, Nigerian immigrants. Try coming to America already on your own, no connections. Then you find really shoddy housing, but you're willing to live with it, and then beyond that you're evicted from the shoddy housing, and then you're just being told you have a couple of weeks. That's not security. That's not the security that we place in your hand when we voted for you. I vote ... I vote in local elections, I volunteer with local elections, and I respect what all you guys do, but right now all I see is... and I'm getting emotional because I ... I see my family coming here and that happening to them. We just ... all (mumbled) all of my, um, cousins, aunts and uncles, just got green cards and (mumbled) five different families that we just brought into our home, but I see this happening to them as soon as they leave, and I don't want to see that happen to my family. So when I see these people, I see my family. Like being evicted, told that they should go to a shelter, and I would never allow ... I would take them in if I could. I would, but ... housing doesn't work that way. I'm a college kid, I can't do that, and I just want to make sure you guys are taking this seriously, you know? Like taking it This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 26 from your own perspectives. Cause... cause I get that being middle class you may not understand exactly where they're coming from, but you've gotta try and see from their perspective. If we come off like we're intense, or like we want answers now it's because if they don't get answers now, then they're gonna be living on the streets, with five kids! That's... that's... that shouldn't even be legal! That shouldn't even be an option. I ... I could not imagine being a child and growing up in a shelter or being told my next option is a shelter! So if we are coming off as like disrespectful or shouting we want answers, it's not unwarranted! So I just want to make sure that, um, one, this is a conversation. I understand that there's a process, but sometimes the process needs to be paused long enough for true conversation to occur. Um, and second, please take these people seriously. This could be anyone at any point in time. You never know what happens in life. Life happens. People end up homeless, so please don't make these people homeless, you know? They haven't done anything to deserve that! Thank you! Throgmorton: Thank you. (applause) All right. Thank you all! So we are going to move on ... to ... to the rest of our meeting, which we have to do. Uh, and we're at Item 6. Karr: Mr. Mayor (both talking) did we have a motion to accept ... we have a motion. Do we have a voice vote (both talking) Throgmorton: ... already passed it, I think. Seven to nothing. 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 27 ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS ITEM 6a REZONING 716 N DUBUQUE STREET LANDMARK — ORDINANCE REZONING PROPERTY LOCATED AT 716 NORTH DUBUQUE STREET FROM HIGH DENSITY MULTI -FAMILY (RM -44) ZONE TO IOWA CITY HISTORIC DISTRICT OVERLAY/ HIGH DENSITY MULTIFAMILY (OHD / RM44) ZONE. (REZ16-00001) 1. PUBLIC HEARING Throgmorton: Gonna open a public hearing. (bangs gavel) John Yapp! (both talking) ...take a deep breath before you start talking! Yapp: Sure! Throgmorton: So before you start speaking, I should ask whether any of our Council Members needs to disclose ex parte, uh, conversations. I ... I have nothing. (several responding) No, apparently not. Okay! John! Yapp: Uh, John Yapp, Development Services, uh, Division. Uh, the subject property for this item is on Dubuque Street, north of Ronald Street. Uh, the property was constructed as a fraternity house in 1931 in the, uh, Tudor ... Tudor revival, uh, style architecture. Uh, it was a fraternity until about 1997 ... when it was purchased for use as an assisted group living facility. Uh, it is a three-story structure with 21 bedrooms, two kitchens, shared bathrooms, uh, and shared laundry facilities. In other words, fraternity style, uh, construction on the interior. Uh, recently the property owner applied for a Board of Adjustment application for a parking reduction. Uh, there are two parking spaces on site; uh, many, uh, structures constructed in ... in that time period had very limited, uh, parking. The request for the, uh, Board of Adjustment was to reduce the parking requirement to allow the structure to be occupied with 21, uh, residents. There are 21 bedrooms. Uh, the Board of Adjustment did approve that application with some conditions, uh, regarding renovations, uh, to the structure and regarding ... and requiring that it be designated as a Iowa City historic landmark. Uh, and that ... that is the request before you tonight. Uh, the property is zoned RM -44 or high density multi- family. Uh, fraternities are allowed, uh, in this zone. Uh, this is a map of the Northside Historic District. Uh, the star is where this property is located, so it is outside of the Northside Historic District. Uh, this is a picture of the property from the late 1950s. Uh, another picture from 1980, uh, still occupied by a fraternity at that time. And ... these are some pictures from, uh, earlier this winter when we first received the application, and you'll see that the ... the exterior of the structure has ... has not changed, uh, that much. The Historic Preservation Commission, uh, reviewed this application and recommended approval, and the Planning and Zoning Commission, uh, recommended approval. What the, uh, historic landmark status, uh, does ... is require that any, uh, changes to the exterior of the property are reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission in order to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 28 ensure, uh, that it ma ... that it is maintained as a historic landmark. Be glad to take any questions. Throgmorton: Are there any questions for Mr. Yapp? Mims: This might be for John and/or Eleanor. I noticed that the applicant has requested expedited action. Yapp: Yes, thank you (both talking) Mims: ...normally we would not do that until the second reading, correct (both talking) Yapp: That is ... that is normal practice, yes. Mims: Thank you. Throgmorton: Thank you, John. Anyone else want to address this topic? Nusser: Good evening. My name is Ross Nusser and I'm a realtor and partner at Urban Acres Real Estate in Iowa City here. I'm also a board member of Successful Living, the current owner and occupant of this house. Uh, Mr. Yapp did a very good job of summarizing what's before you tonight, but I would like to be here to answer any questions should you have any. Throgmorton: Thanks! Any questions? (several talking) Yep! Anybody else want to speak to this topic? King: Good evening. I'm Mitch King. Um, I'm the gentleman going to purchase the building at 716 N. Dubuque. Um, the reason why I asked to expedite the Council meetings is the ... the lengthy process that making an historical landmark takes, and some of the stipulations of this special exception is to have it done by August Is, of occupancy. So that's the kind of timeline I as a renovation are running up against and the longer, you know, I realize it's 15, 20 days but a lot can be done in 15 or 20 days in the renovation process. So that's why I asked for the, um, ex... you know, the condensing of the meetings. If you have any questions on that I'd be glad to ask ... answer'em. Mims: Typically what we do is we don't condense on the first one. If there's not a lot of controversy when it comes to the second reading in two weeks (both talking) King: Yeah. (both talking) ....I heard that but it (both talking) yeah, it didn't hurt to ask, to be honest (laughter) Yeah. So... Mims: Okay. Thanks! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 29 Throgmorton: Okay. Thanks! Anyone else? All right, seeing no one else I'm going to close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) 2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION) Mims: Move first consideration. Dickens: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Thomas: Well I'll be supporting this and I ... I wanted to give thanks to the process. There are a lot of steps involved with this ... to the, uh, Historic Preservation, Board of Adjustment, and the Planning and Zoning Commission, as well as ... uh, Canby Property Management, uh... uh... thanks to all. Throgmorton: I'm gonna make a couple short personal observations. I used to live ... I owned a house directly behind this building for over 10 years. Actually I lived in one directly behind it for ... about five or six years, and owned one right across the street behind it. Uh, and was involved in the, uh, the re ... the rezoning or whatever. The ... in 1997, when the building was initially converted back to that use. So it's like, uh (laughs) old home week in a sense. But ... that has nothing to do with the vote at all, so .... I guess I should ask for roll call. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Botchway: So moved! Dickens: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by ... Botchway and seconded by Dickens. Roll call. I'm sorry, voice vote! Roll (laughs) all in favor say aye. All opposed. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 30 ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS ITEM 6c SOUTHGATE ADDITION, PART TWO — RESOLUTION APPROVING PRELIMINARY PLAT (SUB16-00002) Yapp: Uh, this ... this property you saw (several talking) Oh, I'm sorry! Mims: Move the resolution. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. John! Yapp: Sorry for interrupting! Uh, this property you saw, uh, several meetings ago in connection with the Waterfront Drive, uh, vacation. Uh, what is before you tonight is a preliminary plat. Uh, the property is zoned Community Commercial. Essentially what the preliminary plat is doing is redrawing the property boundaries, uh, within this commercial, uh, property. You had, uh, deferred final consideration of the ... vacation of Waterfront Drive until the final plat, uh, for this property is ready. Uh, tonight is just the preliminary plat. Uh, this image shows and it's ... it's hard to read with all the lines on it, but the existing footprints of the buildings on the property, this is the Los Portales restaurant and Carlos O'Kelly's to the rear, uh, Waterfront Drive, uh, through the center of the property. Uh, what is proposed is a new lot 1, uh, on the west side of the property, a new lot 2 in the middle, and lot 3 where the Car -X Muffler Shop is would stay largely the same. Uh, this is a ... a concept plan for the, uh, proposed new development which would be a, uh, small grocery store on lot 1, a new, uh, Carlos O'Kelly's on lot 2, and, uh, Car -X would stay the same on lot 3. Uh, this concept plan shows Waterfront Drive, uh, having been vacated and the access points onto Gilbert Street, uh, currently there are three, uh, being consolidated into one access point opposite the Hills Bank, uh, access point. Uh, Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval and staff recommends approval. Throgmorton: Thank you, John! Yapp: Thank you. Throgmorton: Any questions for John? I'll ask ya one! I know this is only preliminary plat but do you think bike stalls will be part of this? Yapp: Uh, bike parking is required, uh, under City code. I couldn't tell ya the number, uh, but yes, there will be. Throgmorton: Okay! Thanks. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 31 Taylor: I just have a quick question. So then Los Portales will no longer be in its location, is that... Yapp: That's correct. They would, uh... not be in this location. Throgmorton: All right. So ... we have a motion on the floor, correct? (several responding) Any further discussion... up here? Roll call. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 32 ITEM 7. ASPHALT RESURFACING PROJECT 2016 — APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ASPHALT RESURFACING PROJECT 2016, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS a. PUBLIC HEARING Botchway: Move the resolution. Mims: (several talking) ...public hearing. Throgmorton: Open a public hearing. (bangs gavel) Ron Knoche! Knoche: Good evening, Mr. Mayor and Council, um, Ron Knoche, Public Works Director. Um, tonight you have before you our 2016 asphalt overlay program. Uh, wanted to go over just a little bit first on kind of where we're at with our pavement condition. Um, the ... the map before you, although a little small, is similar to a map that we looked at during the budget session. Um, this is the most current data that we have, 2015, uh, data. Um, this data is collected, um, every other year by the DOT. Um, at no cost to the City. Uh, it ... urn, prior to 2013 we actually paid for the local roads, um, federal aid had paid for the ... the federal aid eligible routes but we had to pay for our own ... our own collection, and we've been collecting the data since, uh, around the year 2000. So we have, uh, multiple year's worth of data here. Urn ... for the ... for the, urn ... (speaking away from mic, unable to hear) um ... so the... the... the pavement condition index, um, is a number from zero to 100, 100 being the best, zero obviously being the worst. Um, our current data, uh, as we see it today, our .... our pavement condition index average for our city streets is about 54. So, um ... we're .... we're in an area, urn ... the ... the recommendation that's out there in that 41 to 60, which we consider in the fair range, urn ... is ... is about looking at one to five years worth of, um, life left in that before we would be looking at doing some type of overlay or rehabilitation, um, in those areas. So, um ... you know, we're ... we're behind, uh, with regards to, uh, keeping up on our pavement maintenance. Urn ... the ... the pavement condition index is .... is driven by multiple data points. Um, the .... the major data point is, uh, the smoothness of the roadway. Um, but the vehicle that they go out and use the data collection on actually counts cracks, uh, the faulting, um, and ... and then also the roughness. So ... uh, there's mult... multiple pieces of information that go into that. Uh, and, uh, you know, obviously on our lower, uh, speed roadways, uh, maybe the smoothness isn't as important, um, but the ... the, looking at the data in regards to the, um, cracks and ... and the condition that way does ... does, uh, have an impact on our ... our system. Urn ... so with regards to..to where we're at today, our, um .... uh, resurfacing will look at Oakcrest, Whiting Avenue, Ronald Street, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 33 um, Wade Street, and Brookside Drive. Uh, so as we ... we look at these streets and we ... we prioritize, uh, where we're moving forward with, uh, you know, we ... we look at the ... the pavement condition index map. Um, it's ... some of the... the uniqueness about the ... the way the PCI is done is, uh, depending on which way they drive the roadway, there may be ... different information that comes back and so, um, for example the Ronald Street piece, uh, shows up in the fair currently, uh, but in the previous map it was not fair. So, um, you know, so if they .... if they drive eastbound instead of westbound, the ... the data point may be a little bit different information. Um, but we ... we do look at the PCI map and we also look at coordinating with other projects that we have going on or have had going on. Um, so for example Wade Street, we did a water main replacement project, uh, down there last year. Um, so we're looking at going in ... in and, you know, cleaning up that corridor. Um, Oakcrest Street is one that ... that is, uh, in fairly poor shape as far as ride goes. It's a PC, uh, street now — or Portland cement concrete — um, and now (mumbled) actually have a sidewalk infill that we're doing in that area. So ... so we have those coordination things that go on. Um ... as ... as, um, was mentioned, our, um, estimate is about $1.177 million. Um, we have, uh, about $1.5 million in the, um, pavement rehabilitation program, as far as the budget goes. Uh, so what we'll.... you'll see coming before you later on in the year will be some PC patching projects, uh, and then depending on the size of the contracts, some, uh, asphalt, um, sealing and joint sealing projects. So, uh, you know, from ... from what we have here, we have about 20 intersections that we'll be doing with this project. So we'll have ADA, up upgrades on all those curb ramps. Um, and you know, we're ... it's costing us roughly on the estimate about $75,000 a block to .... to do the overlay portion. Throgmorton: Any questions for Ron? Mims: Yeah, I had two but you already answered one. That was how they measure (laughter) how they measure the ... the ... and to get the scale. When you said we have an average of 54, is ... I mean are we taking on like a per block or per mile score and then averaging or how's that done? Knoche: Yeah, so, um, it...it kind of...basically it's per block is the way that the ... the averages are figured. Um, you know, we have 240 (mumbled) center -line miles of roadway, you know, so , uh, and that's just center -line miles. So if it's a four - lane road, um, it does count each, um, each northbound and southbound on those. Um, but if it's a three -lane section, it's only counting, um, just ... just that one center -line mile... Mims: Okay. Knoche: ...but, uh, yeah, so it's ... it's basically split up per block. Mims: Per block. Okay. Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 34 Knoche: Yep. Dickens: And what is the cost difference between chip seal and overlay and... and... the projected life of the ... the material? Knoche: Um ... you know, so uh... the, you know, the chip seal piece, really what we're looking at there is, typically it was a gravel roadway that ... that we've just brought up to gra ... you know, bring ... bring it up, just give it a hard surface, kind of a dust - free surface. Urn ... of our program, a ... about $100,000 of this program will be doing the chip seal piece. Um, the ... it is a ... the chip seal piece, um, in the ... I want to say it was in the 80s. We quit doing chip seals on our asphalt overlays. Um, one of the issues that we do have with the chip seals is it's fairly dusty for the... about the first year of life ... on those. Cole: What's the status of east College Street? That's a street with a lot of bikers on it, um, when is that going to be redone? Is the, you know (both talking) Knoche: I .... I don't .... I'm not for certain on that one. Um, you know, as ... as we ... as we, uh, look at kind of the urban core streets, uh, you know, we'll have a priority on those and ... and we'll definitely be looking at those, and ... and, um, keep in mind we haven't been out doing a whole lot of potholing yet, uh, the asphalt will be available....hot mixed asphalt will be available Monday. So we'll ... we'll be out hitting that a little bit harder versus putting the cold patch in because that never stays. (several talking) Throgmorton: There are some pretty impressive potholes out there, aren't there? (several talking) What ... what do ... what do you do when asphalt meets brick? I think there's one intersection at Linn and Ronald Street that involves that kind of intersection. Knoche: Um, so ... so what they'll do is look at doing some ... either looking at ... depending on kind of what the profile of the brick is, um, it may be a matter of just kind of running out and ... and overlaying the brick itself, to a per ... to a certain portion or it may be undercutting out where that brick interface is and just matching it. It ... it'll depend on the situation. Throgmorton:... not paving over the brick I guess. Knoche: Just .... it .... maybe for a certain piece of it. Um, you know, just....just to be able to get that smooth transition between the overlay piece and onto the brick. Throgmorton: Okay. Knoche: ...smoother transition I guess I should say. Brick is fairly bumpy on its own , so.... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 35 Throgmorton: Thank you. Knoche: Yep! Thomas: Ron, one question I had was, um ... I've noticed, at least in ... in the north side, uh, that the flow line of the gutter where the ramp crosses the flow line there's, uh, it's not uncommon to see the water ponding in those locations. So you talked about ADA upgrades at some of the intersections ... so I'm ... I'm assuming, I mean, that ponding really kind of defeats the whole purpose, or much of the purpose, at least when there's water there, of providing the accessible access. So, do you maintain a flow line through there, so we won't see ponding when (both talking) Throgmorton: We ... we do and you know, part of the issue that we have on some of the, you know, the urban core, and ... and I'm sure we'll have some of this on the Ronald Street piece, is you know there isn't intakes at all four corners of the intersection to where we can kind of hold the water from actually flowing across the curb ramp. Um, but that is something that we look at, you know, trying to maintain the flow in that gutter so it's not ponding, you know, right at the curb ramp itself. Throgmorton: Any other questions for Ron? Looks like you're going to get off nearly scot-free! Thanks, Ron. Knoche: Thank you. Throgmorton: All right, is there a motion? Mims: Need to close the public hearing. Throgmorton: Oh! Thank you. (bangs gavel) Close the public hearing. b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION Botchway: Move first consideration ... or move consideration, move for resolution. Sorry! Mims: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Mims. Discussion? I should say, I own ... no, I don't own. My wife owns a house on Ronald Street. Uh, I asked myself and then our City Attorney whether I should recuse myself from this particular vote, because there might be some slight increase in property value associated with the repaving, but there's no evidence that that's the case. So, um ... after consultation I've decided I ... I don't need to recuse myself. So I intend to vote. Dickens: My grandparents own the land (mumbled) Throgmorton: Roll call. Motion carries 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 36 ITEM 8. TRAFFIC CALMING a. LANGENBERG AVENUE - RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INSTALLATION OF SPEED HUMPS ON LANGENBERG AVENUE, BETWEEN SOUTH SYCAMORE STREET AND COVERED WAGON DRIVE Mims: Move the resolution. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? I see Kent Ralston out there. Fruin: If I could jump in real quick. I just want to remind you the ... what we've, uh, requested at the work session, uh, we're asking that you consider Item A tonight but that you allow for a deferral indefinitely on B so that we can have further consultation with the neighborhood. Throgmorton: Right, so we'll vote on 'em separately, right? Yeah. Kent! Ralston: Thank you! Uh, yeah, so Langenberg Avenue between south Sycamore and Covered Wagon Drive have successfully completed the adopt -a -traffic calming program for the City and in the mailback survey they had a 69% majority of responding households in favor of the speed humps and staff is recommending approval, and I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have. Throgmorton: Any questions for Kent? Cole: Other than probably neighbors observing that the cars are going by too fast, were there any specific, uh, was anyone injured or anything like that or what generated this conversation on the speed bumps for this particular (both talking) Ralston: I think you hit it on the nail basically just that the neighborhood believed that traffic was driving too fast, um, it's initiated by a petition. That's the way the traffic calming process works. We receive the petition and then we subsequently, uh, do a traffic study and they did meet the criteria, based on the 851' percentile speed being over five miles per hour over the posted speed limit. So 30 mile per hour in this case. Taylor: Just a quick question on that then. So these kinds of things are generated, um, more by like citizen complaints? Ralston: Correct. The whole ... the whole idea behind the traffic calming program is that's a neighborhood driven process. Yeah, the ... the City asks for a petition and that's This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 37 what initiates the entire process, the traffic study, the public meeting that we hold, and uh, so on. Taylor: (mumbled)... had been some concern expressed by, uh, like the Fire Department as far as rescue times and response times? Ralston: Right, that's correct. There's a ... there's a, uh, email from the Fire Chief in your packets and historically the ... the, all emergency responders will say that they do not like traffic calming for obvious reasons, because it calms traffic but it also takes them longer to get to locations, uh, but I will say that the Fire Chief, in discussions I had, was much more concerned with Seventh Avenue than Langenberg, and that's why as the City Manager had, uh, mentioned that we're deferring on that item tonight, or asked for deferral on that item. Botchway: I know that we talked about concerns as far as, you know, looking at our entire traffic calming process. My only fear in this particular, um, situation is that, um, we're doing this based on some of the concerns that were shared, kind of in a finite amount of time, when there was construction being done on Sycamore Street. Um, you know .... I guess do the traffic calming, or you yourself, take that into account as now the street is open, whether or not that's still, you know, um, cause of issues as far as, you know, that being increased speed on that avenue? Ralston: Right, I don't think it would affect the speeds as much as it does the volumes, and the way the traffic calming program works is it's an either/or. So you can meet the criteria by the 85`h percentile speed, which they did in Langenberg's case, or you can meet it by volume, and it's 500 ... has to exceed 500 vehicles a day for a local or a thousand vehicles a day for a collector. So in this case, they met the speeds and not the volume, so we weren't so concerned with the amount of cut - through traffic they may have had. Uh, it may have affected speed slightly, but I don't think it would have affected enough that, uh, they wouldn't have qualified. Cole: And I learned a new term tonight — the traffic table. Um (laughter) learn something new! When you identify the speed bumps, is there anything else, other than the speed bump, uh, that would allow you to calm the traffic or is it just that's pretty much the tool that's utilized? Ralston: No, there are. It's a tool we use pretty often in Iowa City, um, but when we hold... part of the process is that we have a public meeting. So we actually go out to the neighborhood, uh, and we discuss with them what it is their problems are to try and come up with the appropriate solution. Uh, on -street parking is one that we typically ask, you know, in this case there is already on -street parking. There just isn't enough of it to slow traffic. Uh, we talk about, uh, street trees. In the past we've used chicanes, which are kind of a weaving pattern through a street. Um, we've talked about rain gardens in the past. Uh, street trees, if I didn't mention that already and ... and so forth. So there are a lot of different options, uh, but the one that the City's found most effective are speed humps. It's actual phys This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 38 ...physical modification. Uh, we ask for spot enforcement from police, of course, but that's a temporary measure. So ... that's the one that's typically used and most effective. Thomas: I have two questions. One ... uh, could you explain to those who aren't familiar with the term 85th percentile what that means, and then two, uh, street trees are considered to be a ... traffic calming feature and I ... I didn't go out to the street, but I looked at it on Google streetview and it...at least when that streetview was taken there seemed to be very few street trees. Ralston: Right. Soto your first ... well, to your second question. There are very few street trees because the street is very new. Thomas: Uh huh. Ralston: Um, and if there are street trees, they're not mature. So that ... that is true. Um, and to answer your first question, the 85th percentile speed is the ... is the speed at which 85% of drivers are at or below. So it often gets confused with averages. We'll see, you know, we'll get some correspondence in packets and so forth that, uh, I think confuse it with average speed, and that's not the case. It's actually 85t' per... percentile (both talking) Thomas: So are the street trees then on this street, uh, the City's responsibility to plant? Ralston: Um, I think in the case ... if we were to use it for traffic calming, I ... under the current program, it would be. Um ... to my knowledge we've never used street trees, uh, through the traffic calming program (mumbled) traffic specifically. Throgmorton: I went out there yesterday and had the opportunity to speak to some neighbors, and was surprised to discover that, um, one pair of neighbors that I talked to have lived there for 20 years. So the ... the eastern most block of Langenberg actually is about 20 years old I guess, and actually there are substantial trees there now. But you go past that and it's, you know... Ralston: Right! Throgmorton: ... new development land, but uh, I'm really wondering about, uh, McCollister. So I ... I don't know, I can't remember our capital improvements program, I don't know where McCollister fits in it, at all yet. I don't know if it's scheduled for a particular year. Ralston: I believe it's in FY 19. Fruin: Yeah, that's correct. Throgmorton: Yeah, I was thinking 18 or 19 (both talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 39 Fruin: ...that's the section to get over to Sycamore, yeah, which would be a relief valve for Langenberg here. Throgmorton: Yeah. Any other questions for Kent? All right, I gotta close the public hearing. Did we already do that? (several responding) There is no public hearing. We're gonna close Kent! (laughter) Ralston: Thank you! Throgmorton: All right. Discussion? I want to introduce a topic here. This is a perfect example w ... what ... what's not walkable about some of our streets. The street's very wide — I don't know what it ... how many ... Kent, how wide is..is it 40 feet, I don't know what it is. 34? Ralston: Is it Langenberg we're talking about? Throgmorton: Yeah. Ralston: 28 I believe. Throgmorton: 28, okay. Thank you. It feels very wide (laughs) uh, and there are no trees on it and ... it's de ... it's almost designed to have traffic go at 32 and 33 miles an hour. Nonetheless, that's not the question at hand, so, uh, we need to focus on the actual dis... topic before us. One thing I think is that having par ... cars on the street, parking on the street, helps slow traffic down, especially if cars are on both sides of the street, cause as a driver you think, hey, I don't have ... 14 -feet or whatever width to ... to drive in. I've gotta slow it down so I don't hit a car! (laughs) Cole: Oakland's a perfect example of that. Throgmorton: Yeah. Cole: ...Longfellow neighborhood. Throgmorton: And ... and I think about McCollister, you know. Can....can the, uh, the speed bumps be removed? Ralston: They can, and that's a good question. As part of the traffic calming program, one year after installation we go back and resurvey the neighborhood. We actually conduct a ... the exact same traffic, or excuse me, traffic study and resurvey the neighborhood, and if it does not have 65%, they can be removed ... at request of the Council. Uh, I believe it's happened twice in the time I've been here in the last decade or so. Uh, once was on Highland Avenue and once was on Fourth Avenue south of Court. There were a few speed humps removed there. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 40 Throgmorton: Thanks! Mims: Kent, I have a follow up question from Jim's comment. Talking about the width of the street. I mean I'm assuming when we're doing some of these... they're done at that width because they want on -street parking in the neighborhood, I mean, we're trying to allow for that. I mean how wide do you have to go in order to have on -street parking and still for two vehicles be able to get past each other safely? Ralston: Well, it's a good question. It depends on what kind of street we're talking about. If we ... to the first question, it's in our subdivision code, is what ... it's in our subdivision regulation is why that ... they're typically 25, 28, or 31. Those are typically our local street, collector street, and arterial street standards. Mims: Okay! Ralston: Uh, wider if it's an arterial street with bike lanes and that sort of thing. Um, so that is the root reason why these streets are the width they are. Uh, when we have streets that are 25 -feet wide, which ... are few and far between, uh, newer streets anyway, they are fewer and far between. Uh, that is limited to one side. Mims: Okay (both talking) Ralston: ...25 -feet wide. If it's 28, 31, or higher, uh, parking is allowed on both sides ... if it's not an arterial street. Mims: Okay. Thank you. Ralston: Uh huh. Throgmorton: Thanks, Kent. Okay, discussion? Thomas: Well I agree with you, Jim. My preference in terms ... well first of all I would say that traffic calming is important for the reasons you were just.. just mentioning, that walkability is ... uh, particularly in a residential neighborhood, is probably most ... I would say, there's no more important issue with respect to walkability than the speed of traffic on a residential street. And so ... uh, bad things happen when cars are going over 20 to 25 miles per hour. If you .... if you are hit by a vehicle pass ... you know, driving at 30 miles or over 30 miles an hour, the chances of serious injury go up by many multiples, uh, the quality of life diminishes. So it's a very important issue that we're ... we're facing. I ... I would prefer ... uh... that we ... we try to calm traffic through other means. I'm not particularly fond of...of speed humps because... that's all they're for (laughs) They don't really enhance the aesthetic of the street, um, there're issues that come up with respect to the fact that it is a speed hump and some people... object to that effect. Uh... it's preferable for me if...if traffic lane widths, speed, presence of on -street parking, an active This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 41 streetscape with people walking about the neighborhood slowed ... uh, slow the traffic down naturally. That's what happens in the downtown. People observe the speed limit in the downtown. I think it's one of the few parts of Iowa City where you see that. I don't think most people don't even know what the speed limit is in the downtown. They just ... you drive at 20, which is what it is. Um ... however, uh, I ... my observation is in residential neighborhoods, despite the fact that it's a 28 - foot wide street, which if parked ... cars were to park on both sides, it would have a ... a strong calming effect. There isn't much street parking, so ... it's in effect a (mumbled) lane which is quite wide. Uh, so in situations like this, I think our options are limited, uh, so I ... I will be supporting the speed humps. I think in other locations I would hope we could find other solutions to that ... that issue. Throgmorton: Here's the thing that puzzles me — uh, it's my understanding that the speed bumps on Langenberg would cost $14 to ... what thousand dollars? Ralston: They (both talking) Throgmorton: ... to 20? Ralston: They're roughly $3,000 apiece, depending on how many you have and how many projects you have, but yes. Throgmorton: yeah, and our budget is $25,000 per year? Ralston: Per year, correct. Throgmorton: For speed ... for traffic calming. Ralston: Correct, the entire program. Throgmorton: And there're already two other traffic calming activities scheduled, right? Ralston: Correct. Throgmorton: So we would not be able to get to it this year. Ralston: I had a discussion with the Finance Director, uh, earlier this week and there are excess funds from previous years that he has kept intact. So there should be ample amount of funding, for all the projects that are currently, um, programmed, as well as Langenberg. Throgmorton: Okay. Fruin: (both talking) ....the unused funds from year to year (several talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 42 Throgmorton: Okay, and the only ... then the other thing I was going to say is, uh, given the kind of limits, does it make sense to install the speed bumps when McCollister's going to be built in 2019? So it ... it's a three-year bumping, so to speak. Fruin: Well I guess I would say, um ... we hope McCollister stays on the capital schedule, but if...if you look back just one prior budget, McCollister wasn't even in our five- year plan and it is ... those streets do move out in those years, three to five, um, I do think there's enough pressure in that area that McCollister's going to have to be built, but ... we could certainly revisit it when it is, uh, I do think that will provide a relief valve and we can ... we can always revisit and remove these. Dickens: And the citizens of that area have asked for it, so I guess... Throgmorton: Yeah, they have. Dickens: that's... that's the biggest (mumbled) Yeah, there's a lot of kids. My brother-in- law lived there many years ago and it was full of kids, so ... so I think it's important that we do it, even if it's for two or three years, if that protects one ... one person that's... very important (several talking) Taylor: ...fan of speed humps but from the sounds of the data that we got with the speed that folks are going on there, with the increased number of kids in that area, uh ... (mumbled) to be done. Throgmorton: Okay. Any further discussion? Roll call. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Botchway: So moved. Dickens: Second. Throgmorton: Uh... moved by Taylor, seconded by Dickens. Uh... Botchway: Or me, but.... Throgmorton: Oh, who was it, was it you? Botchway: Yeah. Throgmorton: Okay, uh, all in favor say aye? All opposed. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 43 ITEM 9. TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES (LIBER) — ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 5, ENTITLED "BUSINESS AND LICENSE REGULATIONS," BY ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 3, ENTITLED "TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES". (SECOND CONSIDERATION) Mims: Move second consideration. Botchway: Second. Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? It could be somebody who wants to address this topic, if need be. Uh, I don't see anybody. Discussion? Mims: I think (several talking) Throgmorton: I'm sorry! Roger, go ahead! Knight: (speaking away from mic) Throgmorton: It would have been a shame if, uh, we zipped right on past you while you were way back there so... Knight: I think this is ... a perfect example of one of those things that you just shouldn't touch for ... dollars. Um ... do we need to bring up the Uber shooter? No? We... and I mean kind of extra background checks? Isn't that. I don't know why Uber's fightin' this, other than ... you know, it helps their pockets. It doesn't help this city. It helps them. Any kind of regulations that ... you know, helps to save a citizen, and like we were just ... you guys were just talkin' about. Hey, if it helps save people ... it's good. Well, this is one that ... don't touch it. Deny it! Turn it down. Say no. Not that Uber isn't welcome here. But they should ... have as many background checks as you can. Because ... if you've done anything out there with people, people can drive ya nuts! And ... this is one that you guys should really turn down. Thank you. Throgmorton: Thank you, Roger. Anyone else care to address this topic? Adam! Sullivan: My name's Adam Sullivan. I live here in Iowa City. Um, I just wanted to ask you briefly, um, to support this measure. Um, I recall it was a little more than a year ago that this Council, um, passed (clears throat) taxi cab regulations that effectively outlawed Uber. Um, and I remember that, uh, it made it difficult for Uber to operate here, uh, after that Uber decided not to operate at the time. Um, if you remember months before that and actually a year before that there were a string of taxi cab assaults, um, and part of the reason at the time for passing those regulations was to protect folks, um, so I thought it was unfortunate that it made, um, Iowa City unattractive to Uber because the issue was actually with the traditional taxi cab companies. They didn't even know who was driving their This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 44 cabs. Um, Uber's not like that. Um ... every driver is accounted for. Um, there are issues with Uber. Um, as you know, violence has happened, uh, in business transactions like that, but it's much more common in traditional taxi cab companies. Um, I think this would, uh, enhance community safety and I, uh, I do hope you'll not only, uh, pass this tonight, but also come up with a way ... I know you, uh, City staff has been in touch with taxi cab companies. Um, if there's a way that the good taxi cab companies, uh, can have their regulatory burden, uh, lightened in some way, um, I think that would be great. Thank you. Throgmorton: Thank you, Adam. (applause) Mazgaj: Uh, hello, my name's Dustin Mazgaj. I'm a University of Iowa student and a cab ... a cab driver for Yellow Cab. Um, with the chauffeurs license, um, Uber can hire people at age 19 and at Yellow Cab we have to wait until age 25. Well, all the taxi cabs. Um, the vehicle inspections, they should be on a level playing field, as well, and the Iowa City Police background checks, taxis ... they look for more stuff. There's more strict requirements and there's been a lot of problems with the industry in Iowa, and everywhere, in having those more strict requirements really helps to keep people safer. Um ... Uber may seem like a really great idea. It's less money and really beneficial, but it's having (mumbled) The problems keep coming up with it, whether it's in the United States, whether it's in Iowa, or whether it's in other countries, and right now I don't think we really understand all the future problems that are going to happen, and we need to have a way to deal with all those problems, and I also think it's wrong that when Uber doesn't get its way sometimes, it just pulls out of somewhere and then ends up getting its way, and I don't think Uber should be dictating what laws and what things are in place. We need to have educated people like lawyers ... to make those decisions. Uh, thank you for your time tonight. Throgmorton: Thank you. (applause) Anyone else? Laskowski: My name's Joe Laskowski and I'm a driver for Marco's here in Iowa City. I want to be clear — my concerns go far beyond the unfair competition between Uber and local service industries. I believe that's just a distraction and just the tip of the iceberg. We should be talking about Uber's aspirations to become a monopoly. Their weakening of labor standards, safety of drivers and vehicles, discrimination problems, and privacy concerns. I'd like to remind you folks of some of the comments you made at the last meeting. I think, Rockne, you said ... an app doesn't reinvent an industry. You're absolutely right. Uh, couple of you said you're for it, but with reservations. I completely understand that. I think you said that we need to be more like Austin. Well Google Austin. There's seven sexual assault cases involving TNCs right now. I believe, Susan, you accused those questioning this of being anti -competition. That couldn't be further from the truth. And, Pauline, you said it sounds like apples to apples to you. Kudos! You're absolutely right! All this app does is provide convenience... by taking the place of a simple phone call to a dispatcher. That's all it does. So we're willing to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 45 give up our Iowa City values just for convenience? Uber knows exactly what they're doing. They benefit from these arguments, and the resulting patchwork of laws and local regulations that our community and communities around the world have tried to put in place in order to allow them to operate. We'll be setting a dangerous precedent — condoning and enabling that type of business to operate in our community. A type of business that time and time again finds itself in courtrooms around the world. You may create hoops for Uber to jump through, but Uber prefers legal loopholes. So why are they allowed to operate in questionable legal territory? Right now in New York City they are refusing a review of their records, citing trade secrets. Everybody says they're ... the drivers are accounted for. Sure, there's a digital record of that, but they don't want to show that to the people in New York City, citing trade secrets. They've been ordered to pay refunds to customers due to bait and switch price gouging, or surge pricing, cancellation and other fees. The U.S. Department of Justice has weighed in on Uber's handling of passengers with disabilities, noting that they are not allowed to contract out their Americans With Disability Act responsibilities. This of course refers to Uber's claim that they cannot tell their independent contractors how to do their job. While a court in California has ruled that their drivers are in fact employees, not independent contractors. Uber gets to enjoy all the benefits of the independent contractor relationship while placing all the risks on their drivers, whom they force to behave like employees through the feedback system. Yet they claim they're not a transportation company. We don't need to comply with public accommodations. Can't play that game! Let's call them an app -based employment agency. They still need to follow the law. And these are just a few examples of how they do business. My concern here is with the Uberfication of our local economy. Now think about what that means. Five words: they don't follow the law! We have a clear choice. We can either hold them accountable to federal, state, and local laws and have them follow basic rules, or we can en... enable them, and others that follow, to take advantage of the system and play by a different set of rules. Thank you. Throgmorton: Thank you, Joe. (applause) Bradley: Hello, I'm Roger Bradley. I'm the Manager of Yellow Cab of Iowa City. Um... about this issue, saf...safety is still the issue here. Um ... I do believe that having the Iowa City Police do the background check on the drivers is simply the safest way to go about this. Um, there is a conflict of interest in having the company do them, and make the decision about whether the driver should be driving for them. This is all the more important because under this TNC ordinance that's ... that is under second consideration here tonight, um, the driver issue is important because ... the rules on the vehicles, the only thing that gets transmitted to the customer is the license plate ... in the code ... in the ordinance. Uh, make, model, color are not transmitted to the customer. At least they don't have to be. It's just the license plate. So therefore... you know, the importance of having a good driver that's been adequately vetted, uh, becomes ... you know, even more important. Um, I agree with ... with Joe — the Austin, uh, example. Uh, we put something in This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 46 the late packet, uh, Austin is actually considering, urn ... putting more regulations on its ... on Uber-type TNC companies, uh, because they ... they actually gone down this path. I think we should learn from this. I think we should realize, you know, let's not make a big mistake and, you know, have ... these problems come up and then we're going to be right back here starting over again. Um, at the last meeting it was very clear there's a chauffeur license issue. Um .... the City Attorney said that her opinion it's State law, they have to have it, uh, whereas the Uber representative admitted that in three markets in Iowa they do not require it. So I think it's all the more important that this Council, um, put something into the code saying you must have it for your drivers .... in this (mumbled) operate in this town you should have it. Um ... we had a meeting last Thursday with taxi ... with City staff and taxi cab companies and we went over, you know, what could help ... ease the disparity. Uh, the truth is, urn ... there are some things we can do. It really doesn't go far enough, but not only does it not go far enough, um, realize that... some of the regulations that we have to follow have already begun for the next calendar year. Our company has already started inspecting vehicles... because we have to have our license application in by May 1St. Um ... so if Af Af you pass this ordinance and Uber comes to town, we've already expended all this ... all these resources on getting our cars inspected, licensed, decaled, um.. just the paperwork that I have to fill out, that sort of thing. So it's already kind of too late to make it equal. Urn ... and there's other things that just simply aren't going to be equal. Um, you know, I agree with the issue of records. This ordinance ... uh, requires that, uh, a court order, warrant, or some such device like that is required to get record information out of a company, a TNC company, and even then they have seven days to comply. Whereas we have to ... be available 24/7 with our record information, if the police need something. Um, I think that ... you know, that should be, you know, that ... that should be much more equal than what it is. Um, Section 2 in the ordinance... this was talked upon ... I don't want to repeat myself, you know ... it is ... any more than I have to, but ... Section 2 where it says that TNCs are not for -hire vehicle services. Um, totally ridiculous. Um, they actually are (laughs) you know, by definition I would think. Uh, we tried to find out what the source of that is. Uh, the impression I got coming out of Thursday's meeting was that that language got put in there basically... because Uber asked for it. Urn ... I happen to agree with Saturday's Press -Citizen editorial. There was one line that basically, and I'm just going to paraphrase it, that basically said the popularity of a company doesn't mean that they can just set their own rules, and I think that that's a good example, that Section 2 is just a good example of...of what's really going on here. Urn ... you know, I .... I wouldn't be surprised if Uber actually wrote a lot of this language themselves and said this is what we're going to follow and basically proverbially sticking a gun in our heads saying, you know, if you want us to be there you're just gonna have to say yes! Urn ... so ... I, you know, I ... I think you need to change the ordinance before its final adoption. Um ... certainly ... make the background checks stiffer, make 'ern just like they are now. There's a reason we are at this place now, it's because these ... we've fixed these problems. I think last year we actually got it right, and I just hate to see it all dismantled now. Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 47 Throgmorton: Thank you, Roger. (applause) HerrIn: Hi, um, my name is Christina HerrIn and I actually don't have anything prepared, but I just felt compelled to speak. Um, I'm a senior at the University of Iowa. I've been here for five years now, so this is my fifth year. Um ... and two things I really heard that were, um, highly addressed were safety and I think quality were the two things. Um ... and I just wanted to touch on safety really quickly. Um, I don't know if a lot of you know, um, of how Uber works. I'm sure you do, I'm sure pretty aware, but ... um, as a female and as a college student, I've used Uber in Orlando, D.C., Chicago, Des Moines, I mean I've used it probably 50 times and I've never felt more safe in my life using Uber. Um, it's really, really great. I heard a lot about, um, the fact that you only show license plate number, but when I call for an Uber ride, I get a picture of who's picking me up, I get their cell phone number, um, I always ... I don't ... I always get ... like I normally know what car it is, what color the car is, um .... and right, a license plate number. Um, one thing I love is that on my cell phone I can screen shot that and send it to my best friend, my roommate, my mom so anyone knows exactly who I'm riding with. Um, and I think that's a really cool aspect of Uber, that you don't get with cab companies, because you're just getting into a car with a random stranger. So, that's something that Uber has for safety, that not .... a cab company has never given me that feeling of safety. Um, so I don't know ... um ... there's a lot of females I know on campus, not just females — obviously lots of people — have felt unsafe riding in cab companies, but having that be the only service provide us to get home safely I think is really unfortunate and you're doing a disservice to, um, community members and college students especially. Um, we're obviously a... 30,000 of us here and, um, the nightlife is ... there's a lot of people that go out, and I think having Uber as a safe way to get home for people and it's less expensive, it's more accountable. Like I said, I know exactly who's picking me up and I can share that information with everyone. Um, also with Uber I'm allowed to skip past that driver if I don't feel safe .... like if I ... there's information on there I don't know, but another really cool thing is it's going to create so many jobs for students. So my neighbor could be picking me up or my friend, and the, um, Uber drivers, it's also great because they create their own time. So if they are, you know, in between classes, it's a great opportunity for people to make money and I think that's a really cool thing. So ... um....yeah, that's on like the safety aspect, I guess, but then also on a quality, Uber is not a cab company. Um, it's so innovative and so new, and the technology is amazing, and I think we should utilize that and not be fearful of it, and in regards to Uber making its own regulation and laws, I don't know the coding specifically but I would prefer, um... to allow ... to allow Uber, I guess, to, um, operate in Iowa City because I've never felt more safe, I guess, personally. I don't know, I didn't have anything prepared, but yeah, I've never felt more safe riding, and I ... like I said, you can probably check my Uber account. I've had 50 rides with them and ... and in regards to the surcharges, it's great because sure, if at 2:00 A.M. there's a ton of people taking a cab, I can wait or I can go earlier. There's a lot more choices you have, and you This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 48 don't have that with cabs. You're stuck driving with someone you don't who it is and that's your only ride. So ... um, yeah, I just think you should definitely support Uber and we have ... um ... thousands of students that are aware of the situation and completely support Uber. We ... been getting signatures since January and we'd love to present those to you, of students, not just in Iowa City but all across Iowa that are in full support of Uber, um, in regards to driving and taking rides from it. So, as a consumer ... I know you heard from managers and cab drivers, but as a consumer, um, and someone who actually purchases in the market, that's ... it's the best service I've ever had for a ride ... riding, and yeah, so ... I guess that's all. Throgmorton: Thank you. (applause) Jesse Roling: Uh, hello, my name is Jesse, born and raised in Iowa City, lived here my entire life. Currently a student at the University of Iowa. The proposal before us is not about deferring values. I believe the common ground we can all agree upon is the citizens deserve safe, dependable, and affordable transportation services. Jennifer Mullen, a spokeswoman for Uber, had this to say about our existing ordinance that allows Uber to operate here and I quote: It's unfortunate and ironic considering the City Council is intending to make transportation safer in the city. Jennifer's words were callous at best, a tone deaf remark which mocked the City Council who is only trying to honor its citizens' values and safety. If Uber representatives believe then that they held the ethical high ground on safety, then surely Uber would have not had ... would have no argument and complied with our lowly prerequisites on safety. Hypocritically they did. It was naive, insensitive, and contradictive for Uber to behave derisively upon the best intentions of our elected officials, yet balking at achievable safety guidelines. The reason Uber's not here now is because Uber is holding out, because it is in their beset interest to do so. Not ours. In an attempt to seek the optimal conditions to operate within, which by doing so allows Uber to stack the entire deck of cards against its competition by skirting around local safety regulations. Uber is in the transportation business because they are a transportation business. Without drivers and vehicles, their applications on smartphones would be meaningless. I'm not a taxi driver. I'm not affiliated with anyone at Yellow Cab. However, Yellow Cab's submitted terms for TNCs are completely justified and reflect our values for safety transportation services. Yet due to selfish rhetoric, motivated by agendas based on money, several local or ... area ocl... several local area organizations have put our community's safety values on the proverbial chopping block. I support safety, which means I support Uber being here! But only if the proposed TNC criteria mirrors our taxi safety regulations because it is clearly apples to apples. We owe this diligence to our community and to the taxi companies who have endured decades of costs and guidelines that have helped make Iowa City a place we all love and call home. Thank you. Throgmorton: Thank you. (applause) Anyone else? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 49 Neades: Good evening, Rebecca Neades, Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce. I'll be brief because I don't need to repeat what I said at the last meeting, but two points I would bring to your attention are one, this is ... this is, um ... a service that's being asked for. We hear it all the time in our organization, and when I went back to my office last week and ... and the people in my office heard me speak they said, 'You didn't tell 'em that we get calls every day!' So now I'm telling you! Um, the other piece is ... that we're a business organization and ... as such, um, I have a lot of communication with business people every day who have to innovate and change, and look at the way they do business, and they have to do it differently today than they had to do it 10 years ago, and I really appreciate companies, um, transportation network companies, Airbnb, other types of innovative companies that ... that look at what people want and respond to those needs. So ... if there are ways that, you know, you go back..if there ... if you go back and look at taxi cab ordinances and find that there are ways that you can lessen those regulations for them, um, and still feel like you've met the basic need of keeping our community safe, that's great. But I think that should be separate from, um, what Uber and, um, Lyft and other companies want to do, which is provide a nice... another option for people who ... who need to take transportation, um, at a very competitive rate and in a safe, um, application. So thank you! Throgmorton: Thank you, Rebecca. (applause) Neal: My name's Nicole Neal, Student Rep. You all know who I am! Throgmorton: (both talking) ...look familiar! (laughter) Neal: Um, I just want to speak on behalf of the students and say that we are in support of this. I've heard so many students talk about Uber and ... um, it's the biggest request I've had actually. Last year when this came up for City Council, Evan and I were a little leery about it. We weren't really sure, um ... what the outcome would be and we actually were not in support of it and I think I made a huge mistake not supporting it and now, um ... I hope you consider it tonight, and really remember the students in this decision. Throgmorton: Thank you, Nicki! (applause) Going once! Going twice! There ya go! (laughs) Luboroff: (mumbled) (laughter) Hi, Helene Luboroff again. 1514 Spruce Street, Iowa City. Uh, just want to hit back on my same points. Safety, safety, safety! Uh, no reason Uber can't come to town. No reason Uber can't follow the same rules we do. No reason Uber drivers can't be checked by our police department. No reason Uber drivers can't have vehicle inspections. As a matter of fact, all vehicles for hire should be inspected, not just the ones older than 10 years. Brakes don't last 10 years. Sway bars, tie rod ends don't last 10 years. You know, that ... that gives me no assurance, and the age of a vehicle does not equal safety. Chauffeur licenses, another reason that they are very important that I have not yet heard discussed is the difference with CDLs and non-commercial chauffeur's This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 50 licenses. Uh, the regulations for alcohol consumption in the State of Iowa and please correct me if I'm mistaken in my understanding. The lea ... the legal limit for blood alcohol for driving in Iowa is below .08, unless you have a commercial license or a chauffeur's license, in which case it is .00 when you are on duty, .04 at all other times. So even off duty, we are at half the legal limit of your standard, average citizen, which I think... technically, could mean that an Uber driver who isn't running the app, doesn't currently have a person in the vehicle at the moment, if they do not have a chauffeur's license, could be driving around at .07 legally. Not sure, but it's something to think about. Again, I see no reason why their drivers shouldn't have chauffeur's licenses, background checks, vehicle inspections. Thank you very much. It's been a long evening! Throgmorton: Thank you, Helene. (applause) All right, I don't see anybody else who wants to speak. Council discussion? Botchway: I can start first. Um, I appreciate everybody sharing their concerns. I even appreciate the Austin example, um, in ... um, and I also appreciate the fact that, you know, it was brought up about the taxi cab situations. Um, when we're talking about safety, that's been a main concern, so ... um, I ... I do want to make sure that as we're talking about this ... it has become somewhat personal as I've been asking people. Um, not too long ago one of my friends said they got assaulted by a cab driver; um, there's been multiple people that have come up to me and talked about some of the lewd names and derogatory names that they've been called, um, by cab drivers. I don't necessarily think that's across the board by any means. Um, I actually have many people who ... or I know many people that drive cabs and I have a great amount of respect for what they do. Um, but it is concerning that as we're talking about Uber, um, in this particular way, um, I still haven't heard anything about the constant complaints that I get from families. I know that we talked about low income families, as well, um, that haven't been addressed at all, and frankly it makes me a little upset because we just had this conversation not too long ago about the lack of affordable housing and how people, you know, need help in that way, and then we still haven't talked about how, you know, affordable transportation is necessary and something that, um, I know that Uber has provided in other communities, um, and I believe it would be consistent, um, here as well. Um ... one of the other things I do think is awkward and I'll leave it at that is, um, been kind of the conversation around, um, how we ... how everyone's very supportive now about the taxi cab regulations. I do believe I was on Council at the time, and I don't believe that the ... the tenor of the conversations were supportive of all.... supportive at all about the taxi cab regulations. So, I do understand that things change within a year, and so that's where I feel like, you know, while I ... within a year, I made the same, um ... uh, arguments, um, against Uber, um, for you know ... safety I don't think ... well, safety was one of the concerns as well as the insurance, and as well as, um, some of the other thoughts or feelings around, um ... where this was going and whether or not it was even a viable company, or would it be a viable company, in years to come. Um, that being said, I've been persuaded by a litany of individuals and um ... I ... I get a little This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 51 worrisome that, um, frankly, um, the talk or the discussion about the consumer has, um, has really not been addressed at all. Um, again, I've just.... literally been, you know, bombarded by countless people, not only people, um, that are, you know, of my age and I ... I do feel I'm getting a little older now, um, but also (several talking and laughing) but also of younger folks as well, and then I will say that there is, uh, I wouldn't say a silent majority because they've actually spoken to me, but ... you know, students who have consistently had complaints about, um ... um, transportation issues in relation to, um, cab companies that, again, has not been addressed, and so ... uh... I don't know ... I'm not saying I'm not wrong about some issues, um, that are brought up, um ... and I ... I, actually I'm saying I'm wrong in the past because of the issues that I ... I failed to see, um, moving forward, but ... and while I do understand some of the concerns that have been addressed by many people here ... I still feel supportive of moving forward with this taxi cab company. Again, I think as Tom before he left, you know, ordinances are consistently tweaked on a regular basis and changed based on what happens, and that's what I think we did, um, the past year when it came to taxi cab regulations, and so ... I think now ... (mumbled) different situation where we can look at those different things and, um ... again, I guess I'll be supportive again moving forward. Mims: I will too. There's... there's always, you know, adjustments as you say, Kingsley, that we can make in the future. I don't think either model is perfect. Um, there's issues on both sides, but I think the ... the demand that we're seeing from across the country and more and more cities doing it, and the demand that we're seeing from our ... from our constituents here in this community, um, strong support from the University of Iowa student contingent, um, I think we'll be back tweaking this at some point, but I'm definitely going to continue to support it through these three readings. Dickens: This is a (clears throat) kind of tough when ... you know, you go with your gut and it says it's not really... it's... it's the safety issue that bothers me a little bit, without the background checks and the fact that a chauffeur license in the State of Iowa is needed. It's one of those where 95% of the people you talk to want Uber. You know, it's a popularity... and that ... that's very tough for me to vote that way. I ... but I ... I've talked to so many people that are for it. Over a year and a half ago or almost two years, I don't remember, when we first started talking Uber, they backed out. It wasn't us ... that forced them out. They wanted certain things that this city wouldn't give 'em. They've come back. There's been some give and take. I ... I still think we're giving a lot more than we're ... that we're taking. So, uh, just say riders beware! Urn ... whether you get into a cab or an Uber. You gotta be... you gotta be careful. Uh, I have three grown daughters. I worry about 'em every day. So ... um ... I guess the ... the biggest thing is ... I don't like being dictated to by a company that comes into our town and say'we're gonna do this or we're not gonna come,' and that's... that's been my biggest issue with Uber. But I will be supporting it because of the number of people that have come and talked to me, but that bugs me. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 52 Cole: What bothers me is this question of the chauffeur license, um, we're a country of the rule of law, um, not people and ... I've received an opinion, and I think Eleanor will confirm, that it's your opinion that ... uh, service for profit is subject to the chauffeur, am I right on that? Dilkes: My reading of the definition of chauffeur in the Iowa code is that an Uber driver would be required to have a chauffeur's license, yes. Cole: And so we don't have the power to exempt Uber under State law, do we? Dilkes: No! Cole: I mean so what ... what's gonna happen? I don't know, is the officer ... if he could come up and testify, um, or I guess make a statement (several talking and laughing) police officer (several talking and laughing) If...if we have a circumstance where you're confronted with a ... with a Uber driver who does not have ... a ... a chauffeur's license and you know that they're offering the service for profit, what's your obligation, how are you going to train your officers on that precise question? Police Captain Kelsay: It would be a discretionary ticket. I mean, certainly it could be something that could be written. It would actually be a high discretion, meaning that the officer, the patrol officer would have a lot of discretion to decide how he or she was going to handle it. It would be against the law like ... like any other traffic violation, uh, it's not a moving violation. It does go to public safety, as do all laws, but... enforcement wouldn't be automatic. I would expect it as a captain ... I would expect it to be addressed, and ... it can be addressed through enforcement. It could be addressed through education, uh, for example if I stopped a driver that was an Uber driver for whatever reason, had contact with them, and they didn't have one, if I thought my conversation with them corrected the... corrected that, then that they would stop driving from Uber ... for Uber until they got the chauffeur's license, then that really does what I need it to do. It modifies the behavior. If on the other hand they wanted to argue with me about it and ... that I didn't know what I was talking about, well then perhaps a judge can convince them that ... that they need to have it. So in that case, again, my goal as the police should be to modify the behavior, not necessarily write as many tickets as I could, but it certainly would be a ticketable offense, uh, and that's true with any other traffic violation also. Cole: (laughs) And I guess that answers my question. I mean, I'm probably about ready to be one of the most unpopular people in the city of Iowa City, but it's very hard for me to countenance a ... an ordinance where we're allowing a knowing violation of the law. I mean, is that (laughs) that seems like what ... what's happening here and ... I mean is that what's happening? We don't have the authority to exempt Uber drivers under the chauffeur, do we? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 53 Dilkes: I don't think that's what ... what's happening at all. Cole: Okay. Dilkes: The State law requires the driver to have a chauffeur's license. It doesn't matter whether our ordinance requires them to have a chauffeur's license or not. Mims: We don't always duplicate State law in our ordinances (both talking) Cole: ...situation where we're encouraging people to get a ... an Uber license, and then they'd be able to be ticketed under Iowa law. Dilkes: And I would also say that the... the... the difference is that we don't, the City does not ... does not, like it does with taxi cabs, determine whether the driver is qualified. We're relying on the TNC to do that. The TNC is required to assure that the ... the driver has a driver's license. Under the State code, a chauffeur's license is a driver's license. It is not a commercial driver's license. It is a ... class D driver's license. Cole: Okay. Dilkes: So I do not think there's a conflict between the State code and the City code. Cole: But they could still get a ticket, correct? Dilkes: They could (both talking) Kelsay: I'm sorry. And I don't want (mumbled) what I said you to take they wouldn't get a ticket. What I'm saying is it would be officer discretion. I would expect that sometimes they would and sometimes they wouldn't. Again, police's role should be to modify the behavior and to correct it moving forward, not just how many tickets can they get that day. Uh... I would expec... I just don't want to promise you that every time there's contact there would be a ticket, cause that ... that's probably not true. It'll be somewhere in the middle. Andrew: Really quickly on that topic. Uh, this is something, an issue that the State Legislature's aware of. Um, there have been proposals, uh, recently, um, to remove the chauffeur's license requirement from taxis as well. Um, so it wouldn't apply to either traditional taxis or, um, TNCs, and it was communicated to us through our lobbyists that the State DOT would be, uh, amenable to that change as well. I don't, um, know what the prospects of this passing are, but it is an issue that statewide is being looked at. Throgmorton: Any further discussion? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 54 Taylor: Just another question for the officer. How would, um ... the officer that has stopped this driver be aware that ... that this was an Uber driver? Kelsay: In discussions with staff, that was one of the issues that we struggled with, or that I struggled with. Uber is not, at least the way it's proposed here, will not be marked vehicles. Uh, they won't be being hailed. Uh, really unless there was something obvious, three people piling into the back seat of a vehicle when the front seat's open, I mean something that maybe an officer would stop and check that out, but more likely it would be the result of an accident, uh, result of some other moving violation, or a violation that resulted in a traffic stop, or complaint driven. There was something either the driver was complaining about the person they were... transporting or the fare was comparing about... complaining about the driver. And if any of those situations during conversation ... very likely could come up. 'Sir, where you comin' from? Well I just picked these people up and I'm takin' 'em over here,' I mean, it could come to the officer's attention, but it isn't ... it would have to come out like that or the officer would have to think to delve for it. Uh, we aren't going to modify our procedures where now at every traffic stop we're asking the driver if they happen to be driving for Uber. I mean, that's not going to happen. So, it wouldn't be obvious. It would have to come out in conversation or as part of the investigation. Mims: Quick question on the chauffeur's license. Kelsay: Yes! Mims: What's really required to get it? Kelsay: Uh, you have to be older and I think one of the ... one of the people touched on it. I don't know what the age requirements are (several talking) Dilkes: I'm not sure you do. I was just ... I was, I have not actually looked at the specific requirements, but I pulled up the DOT regs as I was sitting here and I think it's 18. Kelsay: Okay. There's a different test for it. Dilkes: There's a different test. I think the issue about age is, and .... and again, I've looked online. I haven't checked the rules. Um ... I think that is wrapped up in the insurance requirements (both talking) Mims: That's what I wondered. Dilkes: (both talking) ...is the age requirement. Mims: So it's really just a written, different written test that they have to take? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 55 Kelsay: I don't know about ... I know there's a different written test. I don't know if there's a different driving test, but I believe it's just different written test, unless you're gettin' a chauffeur's license that is for a specific class of vehicles, things like that, but for passenger carry I don't believe it's a different driving test. It's just a written test. Throgmorton: I ... I ... (both talking) Dilkes: I think you have to drive the vehicle that you want to be licensed for. There's different types of class D license. Mims: Sure. Dilkes: One is the for -hire. Others are types of vehicles. Mims: Right. Throgmorton: I can see that Helene knows the answer to this question. Would you come up, please? Luboroff: Sure! Throgmorton: Be very brief, please. Luboroff It's simply a matter (both talking) Throgmorton: Say your name again (both talking) Luboroff: Oh, Helene Luboroff. Um, you simply have to drive with an examiner. Um, I don't know what they do for the actual commercial driver's licenses, as you pointed out, chauffeur's is ... this is a non-commercial license, but yeah. You do have to drive with an examiner. Mims: Thank you. Luboroff: You're welcome. (several talking) Cole: ...maybe you can answer the question (several talking) Carroll: It's my understanding (both talking) Throgmorton: Would you say your name, please? Carroll: Uh, Clay Carroll, um ... uh, with Uber Technologies. Um, it's my understanding that if you can pass the background check that we have, um, the only difference that you have to do, the..the only things you have to actually satisfy to actually get This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 56 the license are pay $8.00 per year and take an eye exam, and the eye exam's actually the same eye exam that you would take to be ... to get your regular operator's license. Now ... um ... and I say pass a background check. That's an important distinction, um, to what the lady just said because, uh, depending on moving violations, um, there is a potential requirement to take, um, an additional driving test, but if you pass our background check, you'd be clean enough that you wouldn't have to ... satisfy that requirement, so there'd be actually no driving test required. If that's helpful. Mims: Thank you. Kelsay: One of the speakers did talk about it also, there are then different... the alcohol, for example, is a good example. I mean there are different, and I think it would apply to chauffeur's license, when you are in service, but need to double check that. The per se limit is ... for a normal license is a .08 blood alcohol concentration, but as you move into the various classes of license, and I need to double check on the chauffeur's, but typically if you are working in ... and it might just be commercial motor (both talking) Dilkes: I think it might be just the commercial, but we'd have to check that (both talking) Kelsay: But there are typically additional restrictions that go with it also. Mims: Thank you. Throgmorton: Thanks! Any further discussion? Thomas: I'll just mention that, you know, when we considered this, uh.... the first consideration, and I looked at other ordinances, I was seeing that, uh, it appeared to me that other cities had negotiated ordinances with more regulations with respect to public safety, um, more regulations with respect to how ... the ordinance would require the TNC to provide, uh, surcharges for public benefits, a whole range of things, and ... and you know, wasn't till we came to the meeting that I began to understand that this was the final offer of Uber and, uh, it was a'take it or leave it' offer. So, I don't know that those who support the TNCs understand that, that there are other cities with strong ... what I would consider to be stronger ordinances, with respect to how TNCs are allowed to operate. But Iowa City was not able to negotiate... those, that language into the ordinance. Uh, so we as a Council are left ... I ... I would almost want to say to you, those who support it, you're looking at us and I would ask you to ask Uber to improve the language, you know, look into ... uh, advancing issues of public safety and ... and others. Uh, but ... but that's not where we are at this time. Um ... there is clearly the demand for the service. Uh, it's a very fluid, regulatory environment and I do expect that it will change, uh, but for now this is what ... we could negotiate, uh, with respect to the ordinance. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 57 Taylor: I ... I also have heard plenty of support of Uber and, you know, why can't we have Uber here, but I kind of have the same, uh, concerns John does. I mean, even as close as Des Moines has a lot stricter, uh, regulations on it, for Uber, including requiring the chauffeur's license, which of course as we've discussed.... we've drawn that out I think a little too long, uh, and Susan said we can always revisit this ordinance, but ... we're already revisiting it from ... I wasn't on the Council previously and didn't even realize it had been visited before. So here ... here you folks are again looking at it again, per demand of Uber. Uh, because uh... Uber seems to think they can make their own rules and I ... I do have issues with that. Uh, so this is a difficult decision and usually, uh, when I'm in doubt I would say ... say no, uh, but because of the demand, um, I'm kind of feeling pressured to ... to .... say, uh, yes, but I ... I, it's with reservations, uh, because I don't think ... new restaurants come into town and we don't let them, uh, change the health regulations, you know, but here we are letting Uber make its own regulations and I just don't think that's right. Throginorton: Any further discussion? Roll call. Motion carries 5-2, with Thomas and ... (mumbled) (applause) Taylor and Cole in the negative. Karr: Motion to accept correspondence. Botchway: So moved. Dickens: Second. Throgmorton: Moved and ... by Botchway, seconded by Dickens. Uh, all in favor say aye. All opposed. Motion carries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016. Page 58 ITEM 12. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION Throgmorton: Rockne! Cole: (mumbled) Dickens: We're right in the middle of Mission Creek. So, uh, if you have tickets, great. If you don't, you may be out of luck for some of the shows, but, uh, we have a full week going on, ending up Sunday night. So ... if you get a chance to go to ... there's a lot of free things going on. There's a lot of food. There's, uh, literature, great music, uh... and ... (mumbled) (several talking) I've heard that ... at, uh, The Pines on Friday night when we went to that concert that, uh, Andre had just become a father. So hopefully that's true and I'm not just hearing rumors, so (laughter and several talking) Botchway: Nothing after Terry! (laughter) Mims: Nothing. Thomas: April 13`t', uh, Wednesday, uh, Jay Walljasper will be doing two talks actually, um, one at 3:30 at Old Capitol Museum on ... the notion of the Commons, All We Share, and then at 5:30 he will be at the Senior Center speaking about the 25 Ways to Create Strong Community, so he's a former... University of Iowa student. Throgmorton: Writers Workshop too (both talking) Thomas: Writers Workshop (several talking) (unable to hear person speaking from audience) Um ... two, oh, at the Senior Center, 25 Ways to Create Strong Community. Taylor: Uh, Thursday, April 280' at 12:30 on the ped mall, uh, there'll be a ... a Workers' Memorial Day event, uh, co-sponsored by the Iowa City Federation of Labor, the University of Iowa Labor Center, and the Center for Worker Justice. It's an annual event where they, uh, honor those workers who have died on the job and it's always very, uh, sombering to hear the number. One is too many, but it can vary from 15 to 30. But it's a great event and it's ... all public are welcome. Throgmorton: All right, I'll mention two things. Johnson County Livable for All event will take place on Saturday, April 16th from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. in the County Health and Human Services Building on south Dubuque Street, and the other is ... not to be outdone by Terry, who likes to go to the Englert and listen to good music ... I had great fun attending the Lone Bellow and their performance at the Englert on March 29a'. They were terrific, even though my wife and daughter don't agree. (laughter) They're just wrong about this. (laughter) So bravo to the Lone Bellow and to Andre and Katy and everybody at the Englert. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of April 5, 2016.