HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-03 TranscriptionPage I
ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 2a Day of Reason — May 5
Throgmorton: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Justin Scott, Founder of Eastern Iowa Atheists.
Throgmorton: Justin! (applause)
Scott: (mumbled) So bear with me, and thank you for having me. I have ... haven't done
this too often but I'm very ... just enthusiastic about being down here. I really
appreciate taking this on. Um, National Day of Reason was drafted back in 2003
as a counterbalance to the National Day of Prayer, which has been in this country
for probably 60 or 70 years. Uh, it's a nationwide effort to bring back the idea
that science is great, reason is great, urn ... it's okay to have religious belief, but it's
also great to ... to employ reason and ... and critical thinking in all that we do. Um, I
do want to commend, uh, the Mayor and the City as Cedar Rapids was the first
and only city to do this, uh, in Iowa. Um ... Waterloo just issued this proclamation
last night. So Iowa City is now the third city in the state of Iowa to do this. So
thank you, I appreciate it.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Jason. (applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 2
ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 2b Regenerative City Day — May 3
Throgmorton: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Katie Roche, Sarah Driscoll, and Nicole
Upchurch representing Awful Purdies. (applause) (singing)
Roche: I'm so sorry! I'm so nervous! (laughter)
Throgmorton: You can do it! (laughs)
Roche: I perform all the time but for some reason singing this to you feels ... so, uh, so
different. Urn .... I .... I guess I'll say something before we sing the song which is,
um, I'm really excited about all the conversations you've been having about ... um,
regenerative solutions. I'm really excited about the fact that you.... you're...
you're talking about doing a sample solar project in our city. I'm excited about,
um, the opportunities for composting and, um, so thank you. Thank you for
looking into these things, and now I'm going to sing the song...
Throgmorton: We're excited you're here! (laughter)
Roche: ...sing the song without, uh, being that nervous! (laughs) (singing) (applause)
Throgmorton: All right! Creativity in the Creative Corridor. I like it! Thank you very much for
that.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 3
ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 2c Days of Remembrance — May 4-5
Throgmorton: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Human Rights Commissioner Andrea Cohen.
(applause)
Throgmorton: Nice to see you!
Cohen: (mumbled) Okay, I'm not going to sing. My mother always said I can't carry a
tune, so ... urn .... and I believed her! On behalf of the Human Rights Commission,
and the people of Iowa City, especially those touched by the injustices of the
(mumbled) thank you. This proclamation touches me personally. I am the
daughter of a Holocaust survivor. My grandparents were not so lucky. They
were betrayed, transported to Auschwitz and sent to the gas chambers upon
arrival. This is my legacy. The Holocaust refers to the brutal violations of human
rights executed in World War II, but genocide is a burden we all bear as victims,
witnesses, and bystanders, still today. The words of this proclamation send a
clear, vocal, and public message of support. We remember and honor ... work to
educate against intolerance and persecution. Thank you. (applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 4
ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 2d National Public Works Week — May 15-21
Throgmorton: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is City Engineer Jason Havel. (applause)
Havel: I also will not be singing, unfortunately! (laughter) Mayor Throgmorton and
Members of the Council, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your
support and recognition of Public Works Week. Public Works Week is a chance
to recognize all those individuals in Public Works that help to make possible the
high quality of life we've come to expect in Iowa City. They design, build, and
maintain all of the infrastructure it takes to help our city thrive. These are the
individuals that design our roads, our sidewalks, plow our streets, provide clean
water, and make sure sewers are doing what they should. They are also the
individuals that make preparations to minimize damage from flooding and lead
cleanup efforts after a tornado. We don't have to go far to see how these
individuals are working to help make sure our city is better tomorrow than it is
today. Simply look at the recent (mumbled) completed expansion of the south
waste water plant, ongoing projects, the First Avenue grade separation, or
Washington Street reconstruction projects, or at the Iowa City Gateway project
that is expected to begin construction later this month. Public Works' staff are
dedicated people that play an important role in making all of this possible.
Because of that, I want to thank you on behalf of the 130 employees in the
City's ... City's Public Works department for your support and recognition of
Public Works Week. Thank you. (applause)
Throgmorton: Thank you, Jason.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 5
ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 2e National Nurses and Healthcare Professionals Week
Throgmorton: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Deb Morrissey, SCN Member and Registered
Nurse, UIHC, and Cathy Glasson, President SCN. (applause)
Morrissey: On behalf of all the SCICU ... SICU, sorry! (laughs) I've floated the hospital for
eight and a half years so I worked there too! Uh, I'd like to thank the Mayor and
the Council Members for this proclamation, and for all the nurses in Iowa and all
the nurses in the nation. We, uh, we are very important and we really appreciate
this proclamation. Thank you. (applause)
Throgmorton: Thank you, Deb! (applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 6
ITEM 3. STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS
ITEM 3a Lemme Elementary
Karr: All three of you can come up!
Throgmorton: Hi! I didn't get a chance to say hi to you out front. I apologize. I was distracted
doing other things. So, all three of you are going to receive exactly the same
certificate. So I'd like to read the award and then give it to each one of you, and
then you can read your ... your own, uh, pieces. You all brought something to read,
right? Yeah, great! Okay. So I'm going to say `her' even when I mean you. Is
that okay? (laughter) All right! So ... (reads Student Leadership Award) All
right, so, Tyler, why don't you start and read what you have for us, okay?
Randall: Hi, I'm Tyler Randall. I've enjoyed being involved in sports, music, and school
activities and I'm grateful for the variety of people I've met and the experiences
I've had. (mumbled) tease them or say mean things about them behind their
backs, at school, on the field or anywhere. I try to encourage others not to do this.
A leader is someone who will help others out when they need it, is always
respectful, gets their work and responsibilities done on time, and makes good
choices. A friend in class felt he couldn't accomplish something, was annoyed,
and didn't want to do it. I encouraged him and helped him understand how to do
the research and he continued to work after that. Actions speak louder than
words, and a real leader lives and is a certain way, whether or not someone might
be watching. I try to develop these certain types of qualities in my life, and my
peers and friends know that I care about these things. I'm grateful for their
positive influence on me as well. (applause)
Throgmorton: Beautifully done! Okay! You're next!
Michaeli: Hi, I'm Rebecca Michaeli. This award really makes me think about what it means
to be a leader. When I was selected for this award, it made me think about the
qualities a leader has. I think good leaders listen to all points of view, they do
what's right even when it's hard, and they respect people for who they are.
Everyone in their own way can be a leader. I'm very honored people think of me
as a leader. I have so many people in my life who have helped me become the
person I am and I'm very thankful for all of them. (applause)
Throgmorton: All right, beautifully done!
Westlake: Hi, I'm Andie Westlake. Being a leader means that you're someone that people
can trust and rely on. I'm very glad people think of me that way. I've definitely
had lots of good ... good role models to look up to. All the staff at Lemme have
taught me that being a good person is easy —just be kind. (applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 7
Throgmorton: Okay, I'm betting there's some pretty happy and proud parents out there. I think I
see ... at least one (mumbled) are there some others? Where are the other parents?
All right! Well done! So ... thank you for coming and congratulations for the great
work. Keep it up! (applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 8
ITEM 4. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED
ITEM 4d(3) WINDMILL HEIGHTS — RESOLUTION APPROVING
FINAL PLAT (SUB15-00021)
Throgmorton: Is, um, is there a motion to approve?
Botchway: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Geoff, I wonder if you
or someone on the staff could briefly, uh, respond to the questions that we
received? John!
Yapp: Uh, John Yapp, Development Services. I'll bring up the, uh, image of the
subdivision, uh, on the overhead. And then I will call up, uh, Jason Havel, City
Engineer, to discuss the, uh, design aspects of the subdivision and .... uh... Eleanor
may have some information also. Uh, the subdivision is located on the south side
of Rochester Avenue. Uh, here we go ... between Green Mountain Drive and
Westminster Street. Uh, it is a 22 -lot, single-family, uh, subdivision and the area
in question, uh, regarding, uh, the letter is on the southwest corner of the
subdivision. Uh, storm water, uh, drainage is designed, uh, to be conveyed to the
southwest corner where it is detained, uh, and then flows into an adjacent
detention basin and eventually, uh, flows south. Uh, with that I'll call up Jason
Havel, City Engineer.
Havel: Uh, so I ... I guess a little bit of background about, uh, the situation or ... the process
that went into this. Uh, when the subdivision is originally submitted it goes
through our review process. As part of that review process, we ask that the, uh...
the person submitting the plan submit ... has an engineer take a look at the overall
plan and ... and look at what they intend to do with storm water. That includes not
only determining how much storm water they're looking at as far as runoff, but
also how they plan on handling that. Um, you know we have limits as to what we
allow for a release rate. Um, they're required to submit calculations that show
what that amount is, what their, um, you know, what their release would be, but
also what they would be responsible for detaining. So they ... they're required to
submit calculations that show the area and depth and all of those, um ... necessary
to release .... to really spell out what they're going to do to detain that water. Um,
and ... and not only what they plan on doing, but how it fits in to the surrounding
system to make sure that, uh, downstream they're not creating a situation where it
may look great on site and then immediately downstream it...it can't handle it.
Um, this is no different. Um, they were required to ... to look at that and provide
those calculations. Um, we've looked at those calculations a number of times, a
number of iterations, um, and really the plan overall has been fairly consistent,
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 9
you know, there's been a few tweaks here and there, um, but we feel confident
that, uh.... those calculations are correct and it's, uh, a ... a situation where, uh...
they've gone through our process and done what we've asked them to do with that
process.
Throgmorton: Eleanor, did you want to add?
Dilkes: Sure, I can address the easement situation that was raised by Mr. Hill, and you
saw Sarah's, um ... uh.... Hecktone's response, which was also included. Um, the
research that we have done, uh, shows that the lot, um, that Mr. Hill's lot, uh, that
he purchased it in 1993 and he built his home in 1994, and the sewer system was
in place prior to that. Um, and under Iowa law there are a number of ways that an
easement can be created. One is a written easement, or what's called an express
easement. There's an easement by necessity. There's an easement by
implication, and um, there is a prescriptive easement, and ... it appears to us that
the storm sewer was ... was placed on that property by his predecessor in interest,
which would create a .... in our opinion an easement by, um, implication. In the
event that that actual piece of it was not installed until the Washington Park
subdivision, um ... which still would have been prior to his ownership of that
property, um, we think it would be an easement by a prescription.
Throgmorton: Um, I think it would be reasonable of me to ask if there's anybody who wants to
address this topic, would it not? Is there anybody in the audience who wants to
address this particular topic? Thank you. I don't see anybody. So, discussion?
Dickens: Think it's pretty clear from Eleanor's description that it follows the letter of the
planning and the laws, so ... I think we should approve it.
Throgmorton: Hearing no more discussion, roll call. Motion carries 7-0. Thank you, uh.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 10
ITEM 5. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). [UNTIL 8
PM]
Throgmorton: And we can continue this to, at the most, 8:00 P.M. I'd like to ask if you want to
speak, please limit your comments to not more than five minutes and ... please
don't get up to speak if other people still want to speak and you've already had
your opportunity.
Eastham: (clears throat) Good evening, uh, my name is Charlie Eastham and I'm an
(coughing, difficult to hear speaker) Center for Worker Justice. Just want to make
a few (clears throat) a few comments, uh, about the Rose Oaks sit...situation, uh,
in the form of an update, uh, of the circumstances that the Center, uh, staff and,
uh, leaders, and the ... our work with the, uh (clears throat) Rose Oaks' tenant
association have, uh, developed over the last week and a half or so. Urn ... (clears
throat) as many of us know in the public, uh, Rose Oaks has been one of the few
large, low-income housing options in Iowa City, and Rose Oaks, again, was, uh,
originally known as Lakeside Apartments. Um (clears throat) although it's
changed ownership, uh, several times, changes have not previously resulted in
displacement of residents. Residents were therefore very shocked to receive
letters beginning in mid-March, inforn ... informing them that the property had
been sold, leases would not be renewed, and the buildings would soon be (clears
throat) subject to chaotic construction sites, um, with possible sewage disruption
and all residents were being asked to move as soon as possible. This unexpected
dislocation's created a crisis for many Rose Oaks residents, their families. Uh,
affordable apartments, as we all know, are very rare in Iowa City, and many
residents in Rose Oaks do not have automobiles. They do not have their own
personal transportation, which makes it very difficult for them to look for
apartments, and ... (clears throat) moving also places jobs in jeopardy because
many Rose Oaks' residents work in factories just across the street, across
Highway 6. Uh (clears throat) children of families have been dislocated from
schools. More children will be dislocated over the next several months, and
networks of the ... of their, uh, that have supported those children and their
families. Moving is expensive. Residents have been ... haven't had time to save
for the cost of, uh, moving to a new place, uh, to pay for security deposits, uh,
application fees, first month's rent, truck rentals, possible storage units, and all the
other costs it takes to move. I .... my wife and I had to move as part of the 2008
flood from our, uh, condominium in Idyllwild and I was just astonished at how
much money it takes to actually move from one place to another, uh, at my age
anyway, uh, and I ... I ... I'm very sympathetic to the fact that Rose Oaks' residents,
uh, it...it...are having to bear from their own ... well, much from their own
resources these extreme... these very, uh, heavy costs. Urn ... (clears throat) since,
um, March, residents have joined together to form a tenant's association, with
assistance from the Center for Worker Justice and the Black Voices Project for
collective concerns and meet with the, uh, new owners to reach a community
impact, uh, agreement. Uh, those talks have resulted in one, uh, agreement which
is the owners have agreed to pro ... to, uh (clears throat) that all current residents
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 11
can maintain their, uh... uh, their residence in ... in the complex, although they may
have to change units, until, um ... (clears throat) uh, until August 1" of this year.
Um ... the second, uh.... uh, thing that residents wanted was adequate compensation
for their moving expenses. They, uh, originally estimated those expenses to be
$3,000, which in my experience is certainly reasonable, and they decided to lower
their estimates to, uh, or their ask for moving expenses to either $1,000 or one
month's rent, and the residents could choose. Manag... uh, the owners have
resisted that ask and said that they're not going to put any more money into
providing, uh, compensation for residents, uh, as they have to make new
arrangements for their living. Um (clears throat) I notice the staff memo indicates
that the owners have contributed a total of $30,000 towards, uh, moving expenses
for residents. I think that amount is actually $25,000. Uh, I've heard $15,000
plus $10,000, uh, and I haven't heard $30,000. And then the third, uh, request
from residents was that 20% of their units should be ... remain affordable with
current tenants having the first option to, uh, to reclaim them. The owners have
said that they actually... most residents will not be able to move back into the ... to
that complex, and if they're staying there for some extended period of time, they
will still have to move at some point. So ... (clears throat) we have said that,
uh... uh, we've tried to maintain our talks with the Rose Oaks' tenant association
and with the College Fund Properties too, which owns the complex. Um, at this
point we're not confident that those talks are going to go any further, so we're
asking for, uh, the (clears throat) the Council to contribute, uh, your efforts and,
um, support for tenants to gain adequate compensation.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Charlie.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Botchway: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Uh, moved by Botchway, seconded by Dickens. All in favor say aye. All
opposed. Motion carries. Anybody else like to address us?
Simpson: Hi, Jacob Simpson, University of Iowa Student Government. I just wanted to
quickly introduce the new Vice City Council Liaison. (mumbled)
Nelson: Uh, like Jacob said my name is Ben Nelson. I'm from Burlington, Iowa, and I am
currently a sophomore. Will be in economics and philosophy double major and
(mumbled) position and excited to work with you guys over the next couple years.
Thank you!
Throgmorton: Hi, Ben! Welcome! Uh, you have some big shoes to fill you know! (laughter)
Nelson: Um, I think I can handle it! (laughter)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 12
Throgmorton: All right! (laughter) I like it! Good, we're glad to have you on board!
Nelson: Thank you!
Throgmorton: Okay, anybody else want to address us? Uh, seeing no one else, we'll move to
Item #6, Planning and Zoning Matters.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 13
ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 6b COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT, CAMP CARDINAL
BOULEVARD — AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO
CHANGE THE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF PROPERTY LOCATED
NORTH OF MELROSE AVENUE AND EAST OF CAMP CARDINAL
BOULEVARD FROM RESIDENTIAL 2-8 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE
TO OFFICE COMMERCIAL (CPA16-00001)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Throgmorton: Open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) John Yapp!
Yapp: Uh, good evening, Mayor and Members of Council, John Yapp, Development
Services. Uh, this is an application from, uh, St. Andrew Church, who is the
property owner. Uh, St. Andrew is in the process of developing a church to the
north of this, uh, subject property on the east side of Camp Cardinal Road. Uh, to
orient you, uh, the request for the Comprehensive Plan amendment is highlighted
in red. Uh, north of Melrose Avenue, east of Camp Cardinal Boulevard, and
Highway 218. Uh, the property is currently identified in the Comprehensive Plan
as, uh, residential for two to eight, uh, dwelling units per acre. Uh, when we
consider a Comprehensive Plan amendment, we have, uh, two main criteria, uh,
that are considered. Uh, number one, whether circumstances have changed or
there are ... is additional information or factors that come into light, uh, to warrant
such a change. Uh, secondly that the proposed amendment will be compatible
with other policies in the Comprehensive Plan, including any district plans. Uh,
this ... property was identified as residential, two to eight dwelling units per acre in
a 1989, uh, land use plan. Uh, at that time, Camp Cardinal Boulevard, uh, did not
exist and was not yet planned. Uh, much of the area west of West High School,
uh, including the Galway Hills subdivision to the south, uh, was not yet
developed. Uh, and this was largely an undeveloped, uh, interchange area. Since
that time, uh, Camp Cardinal Boulevard has been developed. Neighborhoods to
the north and to the south, uh, have been developed, and ... the National Guard
facility on the west side of Highway 218, uh, has been developed, as well as the
Johnson County Emergency Communication Center, uh, south of Melrose
Avenue on the west side of Highway 218. Uh, the second test whether the
proposed amendment will be compatible with other policies in the Comprehensive
Plan, uh, the general land use policies in the plan indicate that alternatives to
single-family development, uh, are appropriate, uh, at major intersections, uh, and
to help provide a buffer between arterial streets and nearby residential areas. Uh,
in this case we have Highway 218, uh, an interstate corridor as well as Camp
Cardinal Boulevard, an arterial street, uh... and this property is in between those
corridors and the Walnut Ridge, uh, subdivision to the east. Uh... staff, uh,
considers that office uses are less sensitive to highway noise certainly than
residential, uh, and could also benefit from the higher traffic counts, uh, along
these corridors. Uh, the zoning code recognizes the commercial office zone as an
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 14
appropriate zone near residential areas and in between residential areas and more
intensive, uh, land uses, uh, in this case the interstate corridor and the public
facilities on the west side of the interstate corridor. Uh... with a Comprehensive
Plan amendment, it is not a rezoning. Uh, it does not change any regulations on
the property, but it does set the stage for a future rezoning application. Uh, that is
the impact this amendment would have. Uh, staff recommends approval of
identifying this property as appropriate for office commercial development and
Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval as well.
Throgmorton: Thank you, John.
Yapp: Be glad to take any questions.
Dickens: Is there any difference between the two ... uses as far as sensitive areas or are they
the same?
Yapp: The same. Sensitive areas regulations would function the same.
Dickens: Okay.
Throgmorton: Any other questions for John? Thank you, John.
Yapp: Thank you.
Throgmorton: Anybody else like to speak on this topic? Seeing no one I'm going to close the
public hearing. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Botchway: Move resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by ... Dickens. Discussion? Terry?
Dickens: No, I think it looks.... it's... it's a good use, based on the area that it is with the
church to the north and there's going to be quite a bit of green area between there.
There's quite a bit of green area between the residential area and with the
highway, I think it's a much better use for it than residential.
Taylor: I had a question. Is that ... I drive that way quite often. Is that the area where there
is some grading being done now, and why are they doing ... or is that a different
area?
Yapp: Uh, that is the same area. The applicant had received permission to do some
grading on the property.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 15
Taylor: Thank you.
Throgmorton: Yeah, Terry, I would agree with you. It seems to me that the .... the proposed
Comprehensive Plan designation is consistent with the nearby land uses with the
topography of the site, um, you know, it doesn't fit my sort of idealized image of
great urban planning, but it ... I think it fits really well for this particular (both
talking) Yeah. So ... I'll support it. Urn ... roll call. Motion carries 7-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 16
ITEM 9. HOUSING AUTHORITY'S ANNUAL PLAN — ADOPTING THE IOWA
CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY'S ANNUAL PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR
2016
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Throgmorton: Again, I'm going to open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Tracy, you don't
want to talk about this? You don't have to! (laughter) Sorry, I'm ... I'm only
kidding! (laughter) Get a little humor into the event here! I don't see anybody
who wants to speak. I'll close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Dickens: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? I noticed it's, uh.... a ... a
pretty long, complicated plan (laughs) Maybe you could briefly speak to it,
Tracy. Uh, it's full of all sorts of...valuable information and there's a lot of it. So
can you ... briefly...
Hightshoe: The plan ... um, it's required by HUD. We complete it every year. It's not
necessarily a plan as much as a report and it, uh, reports on our accomplishments,
the programs we offer, and the clientele we serve. So it is a lengthy report, um,
talking about ... uh, we give resident characteristics, urn ... public housing, the
programs we offer, um, so we can answer questions about anything you see in the
report. It's more ... it's essentially a report.
Throgmorton: Okay! Any questions for Tracy? Further discussion? Roll call. Motion carries
7-0. Thank you, Tracy.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 17
ITEM 10. AID TO AGENCY ALLOCATIONS - RESOLUTION ALLOCATING
HUMAN SERVICES AID TO AGENCIES FUNDING FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2017
Dickens: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Uh, perhaps, Tracy,
you would like to address this briefly as well.
Hightshoe: I was just going to go through the process with Aid to Agencies. Um, we allocate
about $378,000 every year to social service agencies. We have applicants apply
through the joint funding process, United Way joint funding process. It allows
each application or each applicant to apply in one application for United Way,
Johnson County, Coralville, and Iowa City funding. Um, because of our City
STEPS plan, the priorities that we ... we moved to with our five-year plan basically
said you are a priority or not. We used to have high, medium, and low priorities.
The Housing and Community Development Commission developed priorities to
help them guide through the 25 applications that we get annually. So I put on the
board, um ... the high, medium, and low priorities. So what the Commission does
is they take all the applications who address a high priority. They allocate funds.
You might not get all the funding you requested. You might not get any, but
they .... they fund the high priorities first. After they fund those high priorities,
they go to the medium priorities, and then if there's any funding left, typically
not, they go to the low priorities. So that's the process that, um, that Commission
goes through. So for the fiscal year 17, these are the agencies who were funded.
That is the budget that we approved. Um ... that is basically recommended to you.
Um, we had 23 applications. We funded 14. The minimum allocation that we ask
is $15,000. Um, we felt $15,000 or more is what it takes to make an impact, uh, a
significant impact on the funds that we're giving you to address one of the priority
needs that we see. Um, and then there was 14 applications that were not funded.
Does anybody have any questions about the process?
Dickens: When did we change this, about three or four (both talking)
Hightshoe: With the 2016 to 2020 City STEPS plan. It was a different way that HUD
processed the information, so we used to have high, medium, and low, and it went
to you're a priority or not. So basically everything's a priority in that plan. So
HCDC needed some way to prioritize applications they were getting.
Dickens: Thank you.
Throgmorton: And they recommended unanimously, did they not?
Hightshoe: Uh huh.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 18
Throgmorton: Yeah. Thank you.
Cole: These recommendations look good. It's my understanding that what the goal is is
to do high levels of funding for some organizations so they can achieve their
funding, as opposed to sort of spreading it around. What I'm wondering is is that
over time ... do some of those other organizations, are they able to sort of cycle
back into that high level of funding? I mean I see an organization like a Habitat
for Humanity, um, I understand they have a very specific mission. They're
getting zero, which to me conceivably makes sense if eventually in the future they
may be able to get that high level of funding. Is ... does that happen where you go
from zero or are they sort of locked out of this process? How does that work?
Hightshoe: It's a very highly competitive process, and it used to be that basically for a lot of
years, once you got funded you got about the same amount of money, depending
on how much the total pot was. When HCDC reviewed it (coughing, difficult to
hear speaker) winners and losers because we went to a minimum $15,000
allocation, and ... if you're a high priority ... so I was always telling the applicants, if
you're.... maybe your agency, um, is not a high priority, but what you're applying
for is — to apply for that. Just to that, so that you bump yourself up to a high
priority. So if a new applicant came along, if they serve that high priority they
would be given consideration for funding. It's just so that you know if you're
funding them you're knocking out other .... (mumbled) funding amounts.
Throgmorton: Any other questions for Tracy? Thank you! I think there may be two individuals
who would like to address us.
Inman: Yes, I'm Devon Inman. I'm the Executive Director of Elder Services.
Throgmorton: Hi, Devon!
Inman: I would like to respectfully, uh, request a reconsideration of the $25,000 grant.
Uh, it represents the continuation of cuts to Elder Services over the past five years
from $54,000 down to $25,000, down from just $30,000 last year. So we're
talking about a 16% cut year over year, a 50% cut over the past five years.
Um ... addressing the concerns here for services we provide, not only are we the
Meals on Wheels, uh, program here, uh, but we also investigate cases of elder
abuse for senior citizens in Johnson County. Um, in addition to what DHS does,
we're actually the recommendations that come into them to try and give them the
cas... the case to make it more apparent that the case needs to be taken by DHS.
Uh, as far as mental health goes, while we are not mental health practitioners nor
do we keep people from homelessness, our information and referral program is
vital in helping seniors find housing. We put people in the Crisis Center, the
Shelter House, number of people that are, uh, actually elder abuse clients that
need a place to stay, they don't know where to go without us. So while there are
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 19
some things here that are definitely very high priority, we are filling those needs
as well. I'll answer any questions (mumbled) (laughs) if I can.
Throgmorton: LA think I will ask one question, uh... partly to Tracy as well, but ... uh, my
recollection is that last year the recommendation was that we fund...uh, Elder
Services to $25,000 and yet as a Council we decided to increase that allocation
to ... to what, 30...I don't .... 35, I don't know what we increased it to.
Inman: 30 last year.
Throgmorton: 30. Okay, thank you. I just wanted to double check that. Good evening, Gerry.
I'd just like to say it's great to see a former Mayor of North Liberty here yet again
(laughter) so welcome!
Kuhl: Thank you. Thank you, and I know most of you from having worked with you
from 10 years on the North Liberty City Council. Uh, the function ... I'm the
Treasurer of Elder Services.
Throgmorton: Say your name, Gerry.
Kuhl: Gerry Kuhl. Former Mayor of North Liberty (laughter) as Mayor Throgmorton as
indicated (laughter) Um ... in looking at your chart, which shows Elder Services,
our primary function is to provide Meals on Wheels and home delivered meals.
Now, we have a lot of seniors in our community and a growing senior population.
Uh, but more than that, when those meals are delivered, we do ... a wellness check
on each and every one of those clients, and we think that's a very valuable service
within our community. The problem that Elder Services is having is really a kind
of a cash flow situation. Um ... we lose about $2.50 per meal. We deliver 19,000 -
plus meals to the City of Iowa City during a year. So what I'm trying to say to
you is the request for $50,000 is really that number multiplied by $2.50. So we
are really in a very difficult financial situation because of those losses on those
meals. And that's what I want to ask you to do, is to restore that to the full
$50,000, which it was four or five years ago. So that is my request, as the
Treasurer of the agency.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Gerry.
Kuhl: Thank you.
Throgmorton: Would anybody else like to address this topic? If not I'm gonna close the public
hearing. (bangs gavel) Is there a motion?
Dickens: So moved. (several talking)
Karr: We already have one (several talking)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 20
Throgmorton: We already have one. Well I closed the public hearing twice then I guess (several
talking)
Karr: No, we don't have a public hearing.
Throgmorton: Well (laughs)
Karr: It's closed! (both talking)
Throgmorton: (laughs) All right, so discussion?
Taylor: Yeah, being unfamiliar with the process here, is there a ... I ... I was concerned when
I saw the amount for the Elder Services and that it was just, um, listed as a
medium priority, uh, because our elderly population is growing, and there is a
large need for the ... the Meals on Wheels and (mumbled) transportation. Uh, and
then when I saw that over the years it's been ... it's gone down by at least 50%,
you'd think it'd be going up, and so I was concerned about that amount. I don't
know .... where you would take it from to give them more (laughs) but I was just
concerned about that issue. The rest of it looks good, but I was concerned about
the ESI.
Botchway: Yeah, Pauline, I think that was the issue that was ... occurred last year. Susan, you
still there?
Mims: Yep!
Botchway: Susan probably has more recollection because I think we went back and forth on
this a little bit because I think I, um, participated in the Meals on Wheels program,
uh, I went on a ride. I saw what they did from that perspective, and so I was
interested in, you know, really seeing that funding increase, especially, you know,
knowing some of the things that, you know, the Executive Director talked about
(mumbled) briefly. Um .... I think the problem or the situation that ... and the
reason why I called you, Susan, was because I think the situation that occurred
was where do you ... where do you pull the funding from. I mean, and also, you
know, if we were to, uh, deliberate on a one particular ask at this point in time,
you know, what about the other, um, organizations that didn't receive funding at
all. So there's just a lot of questions and, um, it's ... it's problematic. Go ahead,
Susan!
Mims: Yeah (mumbled) my take on it. Um .... both Brian and Gerry came to visit me, oh,
I don't know, last ... maybe early last fall, I can't remember exactly when it was
and talked about the need for increased, uh, funding for Elder Services, and gave
me ... I encouraged them to send, you know, a lot of the information in to the staff,
um, in terms of their funding concerns and their ... the shortfall on the meals, and
unfortunately I've been out of town and ... and have not, and as you know I am
tonight, and have not had a chance to go back and find that staff response, but
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 21
it...it...it rebutted a little bit some of the ... some of the statements or ... or comments
in terms of some of that funding shortage and some of these other issues that
were ... that were really a part of this, and so ... from my perspective, um, here's
where I come from. We have a process in place, and we either need to respect the
process or ... or we have to really consider why we're putting any processes in
place if we're going to keep overriding those. Um, you know, this goes to the
Lens, it goes to this, etc. We ... a few years ago delegated this responsibility, um...
to a committee to do, uh, they have the funding numbers, they look at the
priorities on the various proposals, they have decided that the $15,000 is the
minimum to make a significant impact for an organization, they spend, uh, a
considerable amount of time reviewing those applications and these agencies all
have the opportunity to present directly to that group their case of why they
should get the funding they've asked for. Um, I think it is important that we
respect the decision of those, uh, of that group and before we start adding any
more money to any of these groups, I would challenge this Council to think about
the process, respect the process, and if you really feel that strongly that somebody
needs more money, I would encourage you not to do it on an ad hoc (mumbled)
do it tonight basis because you have not done ... we have not done the research and
gotten all of the background information necessary to truly determine if we
should, why we should, or where we should get money, extra money from for any
of these organizations. This is incredibly competitive. There are many
organizations here that are incredibly (mumbled) that are not getting either any
money or not getting as much as they asked for. So to single out one because of
correspondence or because two people coming and speaking to Council, I think
we run the risk of really subverting what (mumbled) process, and so I support the
recommendation that's in front of the Council tonight.
Throgmorton: Other discussion?
Cole: Any increase then comes out of other funding, um, requests then, is that the way
that it works then, Geoff? So I mean we're talking about 378. That's fixed, and if
we did increase, that would mean some other organization ... would ... would have a
decrease, is that correct?
Frain: That's correct. The full budgeted amount is being allocated through this process.
Botchway: Can you flip back to the other ... I guess I could read it from my packet,
but ... (unable to hear person responding) No. Not back, sorry, forward! (several
talking) Correct. Thank you! I just wanted to see it myself. There wasn't any
discussion, sorry (laughs)
Throgmorton: Uh, I'm going to agree with Susan, uh, with due respect to everybody affiliated
with Elder Services, uh, we've asked Housing and Community Development
Commission to review these applications. It's a very competitive process.
They've done what we've asked them to do. I think we need to respect the work
they've done. I ... I'm sorry, that's just the way I come down.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 22
Thomas: It's a tough call.
Throgmorton: It is a tough call.
Dickens: It was one of the hardest things. We used to do it as a Council.
Throgmorton: And it was agony!
Dickens: Three or four years, and it was the toughest thing to do and (both talking)
Throgmorton: Very hard!
Dickens: ...so we had this group that actually was able to sit down and spend more time,
and I ... I have to agree with Jim and Susan that we do have to respect the process
that's been put in place. It's a very tough job and these people really work at it
and it's very tough to cut any of these because they're all .... they're all great
projects. If you look down ... up and down this list, they're all.... they're... that's
what makes Iowa City great is these kind of projects that we have. I just wish we
had more money.
Cole: No, I agree with everyone. But I'm not categorically ruling out in the future a
tweak to the process. Um, so ... I haven't had a chance to look at that but ... I think
for now we have to stick with what's already been recommended.
Throgmorton: Further discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 7-0.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Botchway: So moved.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Thomas. All in favor say aye. All opposed.
Motion carries. Susan, I think I heard an implied yes.
Mims: Yes, you did!
Throgmorton: (laughs) Motion carried 7-0. All right.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 23
ITEM 11. APPROVAL OF THE CDBG / HOME BUDGET -RESOLUTION
ADOPTING IOWA CITY'S FY17 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN WHICH IS A
SUB -PART OF IOWA CITY'S 2016-2020 CONSOLIDATED PLAN (CITY
STEPS) AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT SAID
PLAN AND AMENDMENTS AND ALL NECESSARY CERTIFICATIONS
TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT, AND DESIGNATING THE CITY MANAGER AS THE
AUTHORIZED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Throgmorton: Is there a motion to approve?
Dickens: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Botchway. Uh, Tracy, you want to address us?
Hightshoe: Um, this year we had approximately $1.2 million to allocate. Um, our allocation
of Community Development Block Grant and Home funds goes through a process
that starts in December. Um, applicants file, um, an application in January.
HCDC starts to review `em in February, in March they make recommendation.
Uh, we have close to $1.2 million. We had 12 applications requesting over $1.7
million, and out of that open competitive process we only had about $450,000 to
allocate, because some of these are set -asides, um, the public services - $100,000
goes to your Aid to Agency budget. So that's already taken, uh.... we are going to
do a neighborhood improvement for $75,000. So right now we're applying for
some matching grants, um, that will ... for park improvements at Wetherby. Um,
and then the housing applicants are very competitive, and then we do owner -
occupied rehab, um, we typically do about 25 homes per year for low-income
homeowners. Urn ... so we go through that process. HCDC makes their
recommendation and then it's to you. This year we did have a slight change.
Um, we had allocated about $134,000 to the Housing Fellowship for a tax credit
project. Um, that was in your original allocation, original recom...
recommendation from March. Urn ... after they applied, the Iowa Finance
Authority awarded two tax credit projects in our ... in our county, so they felt
there's a bump that you get for not having a tax credit project in your area for the
last three years. Due to that they didn't think they were competitive. So they
declined the application. They ... they declined our Home award, and so we had to
reallocate that money. 15% has to go to a CHDO, community housing
development organization, which the Housing Fellowship is, so ... HCDC
recommended $58,000 to them, that ... that's our 15% of our Home entitlements.
So since they were the only CHDO that applied. So they'll acquire one rental unit
for affordable rental housing, and then the remainder of the funds got divided up
between Shelter House, so that'll have a complete.... the fuse project will have
$275,000 and then they recommended funding for ARC for $51,000. So
that ... when we did the recommendation, this is the ... this is the budget that you'd
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 24
be approving tonight. Um, at tonight's meeting you can accept it, you can revise
it, um, whatever you do you do it tonight and then we submit that to HUD. It's
due to HUD by May 15th.
Throgmorton: Tracy, can you remind us, please, of what the fuse project is?
Hightshoe: Oh, sure!
Throgmorton: We know, but (both talking)
Hightshoe: Yep! Um, Shelter House is the lead applicant there. They want to acquire a
parcel to build 15 SRO units for, um, frequent users of, uh, high ... high service
needs, like, um, police involvement, University emergency room involvement,
and so ... basically chronically homeless folks that cycle through, made a lot of
expensive interventions. They would house. We would partner with the Housing
Authority to provide housing choice vouchers for the folks that live in the unit,
and then they'd be offered supportive services, uh, whether that be mental health,
substance abuse, whatever the, um, supportive services you need. Um, it's ... they
don't have to accept it, but ... the hope of the program is is lives stabilized. You're
much more able to improve your situation, accept supportive services, and to
stabilize.
Throgmorton: Great! Thank you. Any questions for Tracy?
Botchway: I guess, Tracy ... sorry! I'm just kind of thinking through it. Um, in the discussion,
what happened to the DVIP funding? Or am I reading that wrong?
Hightshoe: Yep! Um, DVIP... funded, but um, they weren't recommended funding as
part ... that's under public facility, and HCDC this year concentrated on housing
projects.
Botchway: Okay. All right. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Would anybody else like to address this topic?
Hightshoe: I'll just...DVIP is out. So they were just funded last year. They're still working
on that project. So there was a comment by a commission member, since they're
still funded, I think they got $115,000 last year. They're still doing that
pro ... project, so they just basically were awarding... and they wanted to prioritize
the fuse project.
Botchway: Okay. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thanks! Uh, I don't see anybody else who wants to speak. Discussion?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 25
Mims: Jim, this is Susan. I would just say, um, certainly the ... the promotion of the fuse
program, when we get to Council comments (cutting out) comments about my
time down here in San Antonio with the CIT, um, and it certainly fits right in with
that and, urn ... we'll certainly (cutting out) more discussions of it when I get back
and at the next meeting.
Throgmorton: Great, Susan. I'm really looking forward to hearing about your trip and what
you've learned down there.
Mims: It's a lot!
Botchway: Yeah, I guess to Susan's point though, I mean ... I guess (mumbled) Chrissy in
here. You know it's ... I'm hoping that we're having the same conversation
around ... with Johnson County and everybody else, with relation to this increase in
funding, correct? Okay. I see heads nodding so I'm assuming that's correct. All
right, never mind.
Throgmorton: Further discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 7-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 26
ITEM 12. IOWA CITY GATEWAY - RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT
AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK
TO ATTEST A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE IOWA
CITY GATEWAY PROJECT [HDP -3715(652)--71-52]
Dickens: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Botchway. Do you hear a certain tone in his
voice? (laughter) It's because we've been dealing this ... with this for a long time.
Jason, are you going to address (several talking) Sorry! There you go!
Clow: Good evening!
Throgmorton: Good evening!
Clow: I am Melissa Clow. I work with Engineering and Public Works, and ... happy to be
up here finally! Uh, just wanted to go up ... go over, uh, a brief schedule with you.
Throgmorton: Uh huh.
Clow: Urn ... we're hoping to execute the contract in a timely manner with PCI. We are
looking at a May 31" start date. Um, one of the first things you'll see, um, once
construction begins is the construction of Park Road, west of the Park Road
bridge approach to Riverside Drive. It's our intention to get that work done prior
to the August... September 8a' opening of Hancher. At that same time, Park Road
bridge can start. We can start utility relocations on Dubuque Street. Um, the
utility relocations require a 10 -day closure of Dubuque Street, south of Park Road
bridge. That's for a 16 -inch water main and our sewer trunk sewer. Sanitary
trunk sewer. Um ... once the sewer and the water get up towards Mayflower, they
cut across over to Terrell Mill Park. We'd start working on the retaining wall and
elevating the southbound lanes. Uh, we expect that to be completed probably the
summer of 2017. It's hard ... we haven't discussed this schedule with PCI. All of
this is based on phasing that's shown in the plans right now. Um, once nor ... the
southbound lanes are elevated, we'll move to elevating the northbound lanes. We
flip traffic over to the elevated. Um, during this whole time the existing bridge is
remaining in use to vehicles. The proposed bridge continues construction. Um,
we're looking at the bridge being completed the late spring or early summer of
2018. At that time Park Road would close down. We'd build up the approach.
Get traffic switched over and begin demo of the existing bridge. It's our intention
to restore full traffic on the roadways prior to August of 2018 at the start of the
school year... and everything else. So ... with that, are there any questions?
Dickens: So the bridge is a two-year project then?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 27
Clow: Yes. That is our critical... component.
Throgmorton: So it's an ambitious and complicated schedule, right?
Clow: It is! (laughs)
Throgmorton: Yeah. Uh... yeah, Susan!
Mims: I was just going to comment I was thrilled to see the bids come in, uh, about $12
million under estimates.
Throgmorton: Indeed! You should have seen, uh, Geoff's face (mumbled) (laughter) what the
savings was. It's really exciting to see. He's still grinning as we speak.
(laughter)
Mims: Yes!
Throgmorton: Okay. So, yeah, that's terrific news and I'm looking forward to the construction
beginning. It's going to be complicated and will be disruptive and then we'll be
done with it. Any discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 7-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 28
ITEM 13. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
- RESOLUTION APPROVING INCLUSION OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING GOALS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICIES
Throgmorton: Is there a motion?
Thomas: So moved.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Thomas, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? I see Wendy Ford.
Please tell us what we're about to do.
Ford: Hi, I'm Wendy Ford and as you know one of the outcomes of your, uh, strategic
planning, uh, priorities was to review and update the economic development
policies. The City Council Economic Development Committee, a subset of you
consisting of Jim Throgmorton, Susan Mims, and Rockne Cole met in April to
begin that process of reviewing and updating the policies, which were last
updated in April of 2014. You, uh, the ... the, uh, EDC, as I refer to the Economic
Development, uh, Committee agreed that the policies need more clarity; that
clarity helps everyone from developers, residents, staff, and City Councilors
understand and operate using very specific standards and expectations, in return
for City financial assistance, which is typically in the form of tax increment
financing. The EDC tackled affordable housing first. The old policies stated that
providing affordable housing was a goal, but they did not clarify how progress
could be made towards achieving that goal. To that end then, a requirement to
create affordable housing units could be part of the trade-off for receiving TIF,
which would help offset increased costs resulting from affordable... the affordable
housing requirement. City financial assistance for affordable housing also helps
ensure that market -rate housing does not become more expensive just to subsidize
the increased costs of providing affordable housing. It was timely then for the
EDC and the beginning of their review process that an ad hoc committee on
inclusionary housing had held a series of meetings last year to develop an
affordable housing policy for the Riverfront Crossings District. One of the
recommendations there was that in any residential project in Riverfront Crossings,
a minimum of 10% of the units in a residential project must be affordable
housing, regardless of whether the, uh, developer was seeking TIF, and if they
were seeking TIF, then a minimum of 15% of the units would have to be
affordable. Since that particular policy translated well to urban renewal areas, this
policy recommendation before you today is for any residential project in any of
the city's urban renewal areas that seek TIF. So ... the new policies are for a ... or
are proposed to be for a development seeking TIF that includes 10 or more
residential dwelling units, one, a minimum of 15% of those residential units must
be priced affordably for a minimum of 20 years, or the term of the development
agreement, whichever is longer. For rental housing, the required affordable
dwelling units shall be rented at a rate affordable to households with a maximum
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 29
of 60% of the area median income, and that's a maximum. So it could be
negotiated, uh, to... be lower than that and more affordable for a lower AMI. For
owner ... for owner occupied housing, the required affordable dwelling units shall
be sold at a rate affordable to households with up to 110% of the area median
income, and again, the City can negotiate, uh, the dwelling units, uh, be priced at
a .... at a, uh, lower threshold, as well. And then finally the fourth, uh, leg on this
is that the City can also negotiate a fee in lieu of providing, uh, on-site affordable
housing with the fee to be used for affordable housing, uh, purposes within the
urban renewal area from which that fee is ... is, uh, garnered. And, those fees could
be used for, uh, for example grants or loans for construction of affordable
housing, for downpayment assistance for income -qualified households, etc. Um,
staff recommended this to the Economic Development Committee, uh, who
approved it at their April 12th meeting, uh, approved it to be recommended to you,
uh, for approval, that is, at... on April 12th. So ... there you have it!
Throgmorton: Great! Thank you, Wendy. Any questions for Wendy?
Dickens: The owner -occupied is (coughing, difficult to hear speaker) condos or ... not ... not
houses.
Ford: Yes.
Dickens: It would have to be condos, or houses.
Ford: It could be, as long as it ... they were owner -occupied, and actually ... the likelihood
of a developer coming in to create, uh, owner -occupied, affordable housing is
probably minimal compared to the, uh, likelihood that developers (both talking)
Dickens: (mumbled)
Ford: ....yeah, the apartment, uh... uh, stock is what we really need and what there's a
demand for .... likely to see in these projects.
Botchway: Another quick question. And so number four, the fee in lieu of, kind of concerns
me a little bit. Um, I really like that particular proposal, um, but the issue with it
is is that, you know, for example if the fee in lieu of for affordable housing would
be, you know, I ... I as the owner or developer would give $100,000, I don't know
if that's necessarily, you know, um .... proportioned to the amount that they would
be getting for not necessarily having that 15% of affordable housing. I mean, I ... I
don't know of a particular project — I'm just throwing those numbers out there.
Dickens: (mumbled) was based on that, a little bit.
Botchway: (both talking) Yeah, no .... and that ... that was one of those pieces where we were
tying the affordable housing to the length of the potential (mumbled) we'd be
giving. I think it was like $450,000, right across from the Rec Center. I guess
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 30
I'm just making sure that with the specificity, are we going to talk about that
specificity within this particular goal or document or is that just going to be
something that you negotiate with each developer?
Cole: Can I make a comment just in terms of where the Committee was coming or do
you want to answer that? (both talking) Well just ... one of the things that the
Committee felt, one of the reasons why we felt we could move so quickly on this
particular proposal is that the Inclusionary Zoning Committee, I think, did some
great work. Uh, Scott McDonough was on the committee, several others, and
what we felt was is that a lot of the heavy lifting had been done with a
broad ... cross section of the community. There's parts of these four that I'm not
actually pleased with and I'd like to have a little bit higher, like a 20%, but for an
immediate change to the policy, we felt comfortable doing that because one, it ties
right in to the previous inclusionary zoning work done in the Riverfront
Crossings, and two, the thing to keep in mind is that we are also going to, going
forward, conduct a review of the TIF policy. We felt that this was something we
could make an immediate change to. Um, so there's parts of the four that I don't
like, but I do think it fo... it reflected like a compromise of the ... of the, uh,
Inclusionary Zoning Committee, and that was a nice template to start, uh, with the
change of the TIF policy. Cause normally I don't think we'd make a change this
quickly for a ... a major change on TIF, at least that'd be my view, so ... I don't
know (mumbled)
Mims: Yeah, I would agree .... I would agree with Rockne. I think ... a huge part of our
ability to move this quickly was was the work that the ad hoc Inclusionary Zoning
Committee had done for Riverfront Crossings so, you know, as Rockne said, that
was a ... a wide group of people from developers to staff to affordable housing
people who came up with those rules for, um, Riverfront Crossings and basically
what staff did was took that and, um, looked at that and looked at, you know, how
we would use that (coughing, difficult to hear speaker) with rules for affordable
housing, um, for anything that involves TIF, and ... so I'm ... I'm really comfortable
with this. I'm comfortable with us moving forward with it, um, this quickly
because of that background work that has been done. Um, unlike Rockne I am
comfortable with the 15% minimum. We can always look at negotiating a higher
one, but I think we always have to keep in mind the higher that percentage, the
bigger the gap and the more tax money the, you know, the greater the TIF, and so
I'd rather start with the 15, see how that works, see what that's going to cost us,
um, and then always have the opportunity to change this in the future and go
higher, or even try and negotiate higher numbers, depending upon the particular
project. Um, related... Kingsley, to your concerns about the fee in lieu of, I ... one
of the things that makes me reasonably comfortable with that piece is that it is
restricting the use of that to affordable housing purposes within the same urban
renewal area. So when we talk about trying to scatter affordable housing around
the city, um, it at least limits that fee to be used within that same urban renewal
area, and I think that's really important.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 31
Dilkes: I'll make one comment on the fee in lieu of It's my understanding ... because
that's a component of the inclusionary zoning ordinance in Riverfront Crossings
as well that there are discussions going on as to how that should be calculated.
Botchway: Okay.
Dilkes: I don't think it's going to be just picking a number out of the air.
Botchway: That was (mumbled)
Frain: And it's ... it's also a discretionary, um, decision, so it's not a ... an automatic option
that a developer would have. It would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and
we wanted to maintain some... flexibility. There ... there may be a situation where
that ... that fee, we can extract that fee and actually leverage additional units, uh, in
a nearby development. So for instance, if there's someone lookin' at a tax credit
project in a particular urban renewal district, it may behoove the City if there's a
separate, uh, TIF project to instead of taking two or three units in that building, to
leverage those fee in lieu of dollars, put `em with the tax credit project, and ... and
potentially get more bang for our buck, uh, that way. So it's really just providing
us a flexibility. It's not a ... it's not an option that a developer has. We'll ... we'll
have that discretion.
Throgmorton: I think I'd like to add only one other point. It's my understanding that this will be
part of the overall affordable housing strategy that we will be discussing in
another, I don't know, four or five weeks, whatever the date is. So ... got to think
of it as part of a whole. All right, uh, further discussion?
Thomas: Yeah I would...
Throgmorton: Yeah!
Thomas: ...I would just echo what Jim said. I think it's important to keep in mind that this
is one tool and we'll need many in order to truly achieve our goal.
Throgmorton: Okay! Roll call. Motion carries 7-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 32
ITEM 18. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION
Throgmorton: Susan, why don't you start?
Mims: I'll make this short tonight because this isn't the most convenient way to do it.
Um, but I just want to say that the last two days that I've spent down here in San
Antonio, um, with the CIT, crisis intervention training, uh, program, have been
incredibly informational. We had the opportunity yesterday morning to
ob... observe some of the training, um, and I think for the officers, my guess is the
training just gets better as the week goes on, but we ... even by Monday afternoon
were seeing some very, very interesting aspects of that training in terms of, um,
the communication that they use. We saw ... had the opportunity to see some San
Antonio officers who've been doing this for a long time and hear some of their,
um, incredibly, incredibly compelling, moving, and emotional stories of the
successes that they have had, um, and the stories and situations that they have
witnessed that have certainly saved lives. Um, we spent today visiting the Haven
for Hope and Restoration Center, which includes ... 40 -plus agencies providing
services from low (distorted) intake to sobriety to detox to, uh, referrals for, um,
job training, social workers, uh, just a myriad of programs. There are 23 of us
down here from the Iowa City area, from non -profits, uh, to various governmental
entities and we've had the opportunity to sit down as a group, um, a couple of
times and really talk about how we might move this forward in the Johnson
County area and so with that I'll just ... I'll leave it for tonight, but I'll ... I'll plan to
either give you a written report and/or talk in more detail, um, at our next meeting
and we will certainly be hearing more from Jessica Peckover who's kind of
spearheading this out of Johnson County, um, Sheriff's office, um, as to how this
will be moving forward. They've already got (distorted) that are working on a
regular basis and so we'll be getting updates from them as well, but... incredibly
exciting, um, process and approach, uh, we're going to have a lot of issues that we
have to work through in terms of organization and funding, um, and that's what
we'll be moving on to next.
Throgmorton: Great! Sounds like a terrific visit, uh, we look forward to hearing from you when
you return, Susan.
Mims: Thank you!
Throgmorton: John, you wanna go next?
Thomas: Uh, we have a house -moving party, uh, tomorrow (laughter) uh...
Throgmorton: Are you going to sit on the front porch? (laughter)
Thomas: Well, we possibly, I don't know. I was thinking of hanging out in College Green,
which is where the, uh, the party will be from 10:30 to 2:00 tomorrow. So that
should be kind of an interesting experience, seeing this house being relocated, not
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 33
too far from its current location, uh, you know, the UAY House. So, um, I would
encourage people to come. I think it should be kind of a ... a really exciting and,
uh, moving experience to see that.
Cole: Literally! (laughter)
Thomas: Pardon the pun! Yeah, pardon the pun!
Tbrogmorton: Pauline!
Taylor: Um, would this be the time that I would, uh, report on John and I's listening post
we had, uh, on April 20a' at the Old Capitol Town Center, and it seemed to be a
good location. We got quite a variety of folks, um, students. I expected a lot of
students but we had some folks that worked downtown that stopped by on their
lunch break. People kind of came and went. Um, which they liked that, that they
could just kind of come in and come and go and speak their mind, um, lot of
concerns about affordable housing, uh, particularly from the students. (mumbled)
always think it's the low-income folk, but they had a lot of concerns about, uh, the
increased costs of, uh, student provided housing in the dormitories and then not
being able to find housing within the city, um, and having to move outside —
North Liberty, Coralville — and not having the transportation, which was another
issue they talked about, but uh, downtown streetscape, a lot of folks talked about
that. Uh, a variety of topics ... it was very good. People thought it was a good
location.
Throgmorton: Yeah, fabulous! Sounds like it worked beautifully! Yeah, great! And we can
praise Nicki Neal, our former liaison for suggesting that we do one ... uh, there.
Yeah. Rockne!
Cole: Relating to the listening posts, I just want to say ... maybe this is more of a packet
issue, but in response to staff s response to our listening post at Pheasant Ridge ... I
can't ... I wasAt was tremendous! I mean basically every single one of the
questions that was presented, we got a very detailed response. Um, and I'm
hoping that should go back out to Pheasant Ridge so we can give that information
back to them. Um ... you provided answers in a very detailed and meaningful way.
Um, so I think it also underscores not only what we should be doing
aspirationally, but also identifying the things we're doing well and to let people
know of those services exist. I did want to also comment on that entrepreneurship
program that's going to be starting here pretty quick. That is precisely what we
should be doing for some of the folks needing opportunities. One thing I'm
wondering is that if we could,uh, maybe get a little more notice earlier on,
because I think I learned about it a couple weeks ago, but I totally commend staff
on that. And related to Bike to Work Week, there' s going to be a lot of events
coming up along those lines. I want to remind everyone, Bill Nesper is coming to
the community May 9a'. I believe it's 6:00 at Mere, uh, for the public to come. I
encourage everyone to go to that, so we can get sort of a road ... a road map, uh, in
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 34
terms of, uh, where we go with our getting to gold status cause that's gonna be a
significant step for us.
Throgmorton: Tent'!
Dickens: All right, really quick, uh, Friday Night Concert Series starts later this month.
Farmers Market (several talking) right across the street here is coming up, so
Kingsley can get his, uh, pastries bright and early.
Botchway: Oh yeah, and it starts tomorrow.
Cole: Oh, the Wednesday one starts tomorrow?
Botchway: Yeah.
Dickens: It's in May, so ... and uh, very good article in the paper, uh, quoting Roger Bradley
from Yellow Cab saying that it was business as usual, even with Uber, that, uh,
did not see a significant drop, which was -which is nice to hear. And I will be
missing the next Council meeting. My daughter is getting married! So I will be
out of the country!
Botchway: I will be going with Terry! (laughter) (mumbled)
Cole: Congratulations!
Throgmorton: It is your turn!
Botchway: Yes, so, um ... Flyover Fashion Fest is happening, um, this weekend and so if you
get an opportunity, tickets are still available, I do believe, $25.00 for the kind of,
you know, fashion piece or the fashion show piece. I will be there, hopefully
without the cold. Um ... Mother's Day, just want to shout out to my mom. She's
not listening, but, um, thinking about Mother's Day in relation to the
proclamation and she's a nurse and so, uh, just made me think of her when,
urn ... uh, when you read the proclamation, so that was an amazing piece, and then
on May 15a`, I think that's next Sunday, I will be running the `Celebrity Mile' and
it's pretty funny running — I don't normally do that too much, or running a ... oh, I
wouldn't do that too much without a basketball in my hand but, um, running a
celebrity mile for, uh, Get Moving for Healthy Kids, and so if you're able to come
out, um, it's an amazing thing, and uh, I'm putting notice on Mark Carlson. I
received a forward of an email from Susie Pollen that he was talking some serious
junk (laughter) and so, um, he doesn't know that I know but now that he knows,
publicly, um, I'm going to destroy him (laughter)
Throgmorton: Oh, funny! Well, all right, so I get to try to trump you just a little bit.
Trump... that (laughter) As Rockne said, Bike to Work Week is coming up on,
what, the 16u' through the 20u' or something like that. It will include a Mayor's
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 35
Bike Ride, and it's going to take ... and that bike ride is going to take place from
3:00 to 5:00 P.M. on May 15, beginning in Upper City Park. So ... you could
(several talking) your bike over or run (several talking)
Dickens: Swim a little bit too!
Botchway: Yeah!
Throgmorton: The other thing I wanted to mention is that the Human Rights Youth Awards
event will take place at the Englert on Tuesday, May 10, starting at 7:00 P.M. Be
a good event, and thanks to you, Geoff, and Stefanie for providing me with
talking points for that.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.
Page 36
ITEM 19. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF
a) City Manager
Throgmorton: Geoff, it's your turn.
Fruin: Yeah, one ... one, uh, item I sent, uh, Tom Markus an email this afternoon or a text
message and I told him he's off the hook because Moody's reaffirmed our triple-
A rating again. So, uh, great news and, uh, just, again, goes to, uh, all the hard
work in our Finance department, and um, prudent budgeting by staff and Council,
so... um, congratulations to you all!
Mims: (distorted)
Throgmorton: It is good news!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 3, 2016.