HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-07-19 TranscriptionPage 1
ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS
Item 2a Paint the Town Purple For Alzheimer's Day — July 29
Throgmorton: So I'm going to read this proclamation and then go out front. I think there's
going to be a photograph, so .... bear with me as I change glasses (laughter) It's a
matter of age and things like that. (reads proclamation) Is there somebody to
accept the proclamation (both talking)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is April Holden (applause) Chair of the Iowa City
Alzheimer (mumbled) (applause)
Throgmorton: (unable to hear, away from mic) ....purple outfits, I love `em! (laughter)
Holden: Thank you! We appreciate you recognizing Paint the Town Purple Day and hope
that you all wear your purple that day in support of all the caregivers that we
talked about. Um .... we also have a Walk to End Alzheimers on Sunday,
September 180', in Lower City Park that we would invite all of you to attend, and
um .... you know we're really doing this for all the caregivers and the people that
are affected by the disease. My family being one of those groups, and, um ... from
2014 to 2015 we just had a new statistic released and Alzheimers is the, um....
deaths from Alzheimers increased by 89%. So ... if that doesn't tell you
something, um .... you know it's just .... it affects everyone, everyone you talk to
is ... is deeply affected, um, and if they haven't been yet .... been yet, wait 66
seconds and they might be. So ... um, we appreciate your support. Thank you!
Throgmorton: Thank you (several responding) (applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of July 19, 2016.
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ITEM 4. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). [UNTIL 8
PM]
Tbrogmorton: So ... what we invite people to do is come forth and speak about any topic that is
not on our formal meeting agenda. Please take .... no more than five minutes at the
most, and we have to end this not later than 8:00 P.M. So .... good evening, Harry!
Olmstead: Good evening! Uh, City Council Members and Mayor (clears throat) my name's
Harry Olmstead and I come to you today with concern that I think it's time that
we started looking at having a commission on disabilities in our community.
There's been many instances, uh, where a commission on disabilities could be
effective and helpful to the City, to City Council, and City staff. Um, namely you
know that I've been concerned about curb cuts in the city. I also realized that, uh,
many communities in our state are going through ADA audits by the Justice
Department and we are going to at some point, but I think it's time that we make
sure that we're prepared for it and that we have our ship in order, so to speak.
Um, I also want to remind you with this that this coming Friday, the City, uh, and
the Human Rights Commission and .... the ARC has been generous enough to help
us bring in a speaker from Disabilities Rights at, uh, the Public Library. She will
speak .... she's an attorney who's blind, University of Iowa graduate. She will be
speaking on the civil rights for persons with disabilities, and it's not just for
persons with disabilities but also for professionals working with peop.... persons
with disabilities, as well as parents, caregivers, guardians of people with
disabilities. Saturday.....and that's from 2 to 4 at Public Library. On Saturday, of
course, is the ADA celebration and we look forward to having you there to, uh,
help us celebrate. That'll be on the ped mall from 10 to 2, and again the City has
been very generous in helping us with that. But I would like first to take up the
idea of a commission, uh, with the City for people with disabilities, uh, because
these activities I talked about are being run by a skeleton crew of volunteers and I
think because the City has been so generous in helping us with these, I think it
really could be a tie-in here. Thank you very much!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Harry.
Ford: Hi, I'm Liz Ford. I'm the Supervisor for Animal Services.
Neades: I'm Rebecca Neades. I serve on Friends of the Animal Center Foundation.
Ford: And ... uh, I'm here tonight, um.....as a celebration and to ... thank the Council for
their support for the new facility, and particularly to thank the public and the
Friends of the Animal Center Foundation as they have, as you learned in the work
session, they reached their goal of raising $1 million to contribute towards the
new facility, and we're able to actually pay it off sooner than later. So,
um .... it.... we are completely funded and, um, through the, you know, generous
donations of many people over many years and .... and lots of support. Um, it's
been a really, really great partnership for, uh, a long time. Started in 1999, the
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Friends of the Animal Center Foundation was just a group of a few people who
were giving their time and giving their money, and they formalized things and
over the years have done ... have allowed us to do many more, you know, things
above and beyond what we could do as a .... as a city, um, saving lives, enriching
animals, and you know reducing the population of coming into the shelter, lots of
really, uh, amazing things, and we're looking forward to many more, huh?
Neades: Absolutely!
Ford: So....
Neades: I would only echo what Liz said and say that I feel so blessed to live in a
community that is willing to step forward in rimes of need and certainly after the
flood of 2008 and .... the very challenging shelter space, which was great to have,
but um, in the years that followed it is so fantastic, we're so grateful to you all,
and to our community and to our founders of the Foundation. So .... thanks, Liz!
Throgmorton: Friends did an absolutely astonishing job, I mean, it's .... a million dollars!
Really? Fabulous. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And, Liz, y'all are doin' a
great job at the shelter.
Ford: Thank you!
Neades: That's what makes it easy! (laughter)
Ford: If you haven't been down yet, I would love to give you a tour. So come on down!
Baltazar: (speaking through translator) Hi, good afternoon, my name is Margarita Baltazar.
I'm a member of the Center for Worker Justice and I'm also a member of the
Forest View tenant's association. Hi, I'm here today with my friends and
neighbors to, uh, present our list of demands to you, um, for the redevelopment
and so we're just hereto share it with everyone. So there's six different points,
and the first is .... so we want to preserve our community and make sure that there
is space for all the current residents in the development. So we want to make sure
that there is room for all 150 families, not just 100 (both talking) We just want to
make sure that no resident is left without a home. We want sustainable housing
structures that are, um, safe for the future. We know that in the current conditions
a lot of the trailers are really old and dilapidated and they'll be hard to move. So
we'd like a ... a redevelopment that includes sustainable and safe housing. We
want a just development for everybody. Thank you.
Throgmorton: (applause) Thank you, Margarita.
Flores: (speaking through translator) Hi, good afternoon, my name is Fulay Flores.
I'm .... I live in Forest View. I'm a member of the Forest View tenant's
association and I'm also a member of the Center for Worker Justice. So I'm just
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going to go through the next two points, which obviously you have in hand,
because we've submitted that document, but I just want to kind of re-emphasize
because what we're .... what we're stating here isn't much. So, uh, we're not
asking for anything outlandish. Uh, we're just asking for, uh, basic human rights
— housing and education and general self -maintenance are pretty standard rights
and that's what we're asking for. So I'm just thinking personally about my
husband and I who live there, and so we're just trying to think like economically,
for example, how is a person going to be affected by this redevelopment in, you
know, a couple three months, something like that. Um, even psychologically
affected by all of these changes. And so for example if we said, um, you know,
if..if in their plans they want to .... in their relocation plans the, uh, rents are going
to be raised, how is that going to affect us economically. Like are we going to
logistically be able to afford any higher rents. Okay, so we're also.... sorry, lots to
translate now! Um ... what we're also talking about here is moving costs. Um,
think about how much it costs to uproot a family and move them across town and
find another affordable place to live. Um, additionally, you know, the time ... we
would need notice, um, to be able to .... to have to relocate, and obviously the
financial burden is on us, not on the developers. They're definitely the larger
financial player in this .... this negotiation, and um.....and... and they're a
reasonably strong actor, and so we just want to make sure that the .... the weight of
this redevelopment is distributed evenly across, you know, people having to pay
for the costs of what all of this entails. And so we just want to make sure that
everyone is taking a moment to reflect for themselves and look at their families
and say what would I do if I were in this situation, how would my family handle
this if we were having to undergo this re .... redevelopment and movement, and
we're not asking for much. We're not asking for a rich sum. We're just asking to
be treated justly and right. Thank you!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Fulay. (applause)
Flores: Hi, good evening, guys. Uh, this is a second time that I'm here, but I'm going to
need my interpreter on a few points cause, uh, I'm kind of, urn .... in a healthy
situation that, uh, I need her and if we don't, this is the second time .... I could be
like the first one and speaking for myself, but uh.... uh, (mumbled) that you guys
got in front of you, it's not too much asking for #5 and #6, which is, uh, enough
time to prepare for the relocation (mumbled) we be talkin' in the future, it's going
to happen. When .... should not (mumbled) previous letter (mumbled) got this
time to move on or to package and whatever. We gotta plenty time, that's why
there's seven members, seven, uh, ways to think differently and at the same time,
assuming responsibility because you are in a place that there is a lot of
responsibility. That's why we vote for each of you, to use #1, justice; #2, be fair;
and #3, create more jobs, be secure city, equal, uh, city for everybody, for new
companies, for old companies, and ... like I told you the last time, companies come
in, companies go out, but the point is, it's money. We don't asking for nothing
else (mumbled) fair to everybody. They gonna (mumbled) a lot of millions, okay!
Good for them! But what about us? (mumbled) human beings, we got respect,
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yes! How much from you guys or how much from the other guys .... we don't
know, but everything should be 50/50 or maybe 51/49, yeah! Could be, or maybe
60/40, yes! The longest why, they treat us with dignity and respect, and you guys
do your job. Why, cause there's a lot of money coming in and there's a lot of
money going around in all directions, and some kind of, uh.... tax break here, tax
break there. The point is, money is money. What about us? Just always asking
this for a decent place to live cause whatever comes in the future is for everybody.
This is my second opportunity to have a house. The first one I lost it. Hey, no big
deal! I just stand up and working hard, but for some of us .... yes, I got a part-time
job. Some of my friends, they got two jobs. Some of my females, they got three
jobs. Some guys, they working right now. Driving ... this company, boxes with
medication to go to Muscatine, Mount Pleasant, um ..... (clears throat) I forgot the
names. But the point is .... they not here to back me up, to speak up. But the point
is, we need time enough .... to be as specific and clearly what is going on.
(mumbled) them, with you guys .... I didn't know nothing about this until last year
when I met you (mumbled) Botchway, I'm sorry if my pronunciation, and Jim
Throgmorton, I didn't know them. Why? Economically bad, I couldn't go to
California to see my handicap kid and I stay here and say, okay, I'm going to go
and find out what is going on cause I hear the rumor they gonna sell out, they
gonna sell out. And finally happen! But please be honest with yourself and do
something for the community of Forest View cause we (mumbled) Forest View is
going to be a 150 more family homeless. Maybe I'm going to be living in my
car ... for how long, I don't know. But if we are equally treated fair and we
(mumbled) justice, everybody's going to be shaking hands and no problems. And
the other point ... point should be that .... (mumbled) didn't know and the fust
(mumbled) I don't know if I said it right in English but I'm getting kind of a...
(mumbled) right now or intimidations and you do something, I know you did! I
know you talk. Why? Because they change one way or the other, they change the
way to treat people, but it's still some kind of a .... uh, question (mumbled) we not
free to (mumbled) to make .... a simple talking to each house. Why? Because the
guys don't open the door. They looking through the window and that's it.
It's ... it's not fair. And we got the right to .... talk to every tenant and some of
them, they sign it to be part of the conversation of Forest View cause why? They
don't speak English really well. I appreciate it so much your time. Be conscious
and do the best you can do. Thank you very much. God bless you
and .... (mumbled) Thank .... thank you.
Throgmorton: (applause) (mumbled)
Coghill-Behrends: Hi, my name is Andrew Coghill-Behrends, 423 Elmridge Avenue. Thank
you for the opportunity to speak. Um, I'm going to keep my remarks brief in the
interest of a response from the Council. Uh, the violence of the last couple weeks
has shaken our nation. Um, black lives being taken by law enforcement, police
officers being killed by armed assailants. It's left a lot of us wondering what we
can do as individuals and as a society to end the cycle. And it's brought me here
to ask you, specifically, I know that there was some broad things laid out in the
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communications, correspondence section of the Consent agenda. Um, but I would
like to know more specifically what the City is doing, what policies, what plans,
what practices are being put in place to, um, ensure that our police officers are
being.... reducing bias in their routine policing and to make sure that Iowa City,
Iowa, does not join the list of Falcon Heights, Minnesota; of Baton Lou... Rouge,
Louisiana; and the countless other communities that for generations have
experienced unjust violence against black and brown bodies by the very people
who are sworn to protect and serve them. More to the point, we are in the process
of selecting a police chief. A person who's going to set the tone for the entire
Police Department. Uh, I would like to know .... what efforts and engagement,
and collaboration with communities of color the City is making, to come up with
a shared set of criteria, qualities and qualifications, for potential candidates.
Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Andrew. (applause)
Knapp: (unable to understand) I'm Jim Knapp.
Throgmorton: Hi, Jim.
Knapp: Uh.... my wife and I were thinking about refinancing our home on Rundell and we
got a terrific deal which would cut our payments about ... keep the payments about
the same but it'd be over 15 rather than 30 years, and then Hills Bank called me
back and they said, uh, well, you'll have to have flood insurance and we have not
had flood insurance up to this point in time because we.....I thought exceeded the
amount of value ratio to.....the value of the property and .... and the ... anyway they
refused to refinance us and, uh, years ago when I was concerned about flood
insurance, I contacted FEMA and they said the reason that.... Rundell Street,
along Ralston Creek, is in the flood plain is because the City underbuilt the bridge
and it does not handle the flow of water that would be going through it at that
time. You know, people subsequently have said well why would you buy a house
in the flood district? We didn't know it at the time. I bought a condemned house
23 years ago and gutted it and rebuilt it. And, uh.... my concern is that .... we have
to pay $4,000 a year in property tax, or a little more than $4,000, and that's about
average for the street. Some of `em pay a little bit more, some of `em pay a little
bit less. (clears throat) I think a portion of our property taxes should go into pay
for flood insurance because the City has put us in that situation. And,
uh.... shortly after we moved in, one night (mumbled) was out selling concrete at
midnight and I went out to see what they were doing and they were running sewer
lines into Ralston Creek. And, uh.... if the bridge is insufficient, dams up the
water enough that we get a backflow and that causes us to be in the flood plain,
then I think that's the City's responsibility to .... repair that bridge or do what is
necessary to do it. Nobody is allowed in any city should be ..... in a flood plain.
The City should have a responsibility. I grew up in Clear Lake, Iowa. We had
stone sewers all over the town. They took the water to the lake and that was the
end of it. Iowa City doesn't have stone sewers. What they got is little sections
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of run-off that go into Ralston Creek or some other flood plain. Uh, so for years
we accept the water that comes down from Summit Street. Where Connie
(mumbled) Champion, a former Councilor lived, and all their water runs off, runs
down, and eventually gets into Ralston Creek and they say, well, that's a flood
zone. And I'd like to know if the City's of a mind to look into this and do
something. I talked with the City Engineer today and he said, yes, he would
investigate and see what could be done, and I talked to the County and they said,
well, we just base it on the appraised value so it doesn't matter if a house sells for
X number of dollars — that's the appraisal we give on your property and, uh, so it
doesn't matter if you're in a flood plain or not. And, uh, but I think it does,
because this will cost us $300 or $400 a month for the rest of our time here and
uh.....I frankly turning 76 in August, I ... I, we can't handle that. And so I don't
know if the City would be of mind to go out and see what they can do about....
repairing Ralston Creek ... not repairing the creek but repairing the bridge or doing
something to by-pass part of the bridge or doing something to do that or else
taking a portion of the flood tax .... the taxes collected in that area and applying it
towards a blanket flood insurance policy for the entire area. And I don't know,
this is a question that I thought I'd bring up to you folks, and I'm going to be
doing more research, but I'd like you to know. Um .... before I end I would like to
say thank you very much for putting the stop signs on Kirkwood and Summit.
Uh, you probably prevented a lot of accidents and .... and damages, and maybe
even some injuries to people, but .... since this railroad bridge backs cars up all the
way along First Avenue, as far as you can't tell, uh, this is been a .... a great
increase in the traffic flow in making things right. And, uh, I don't know if
anybody has any questions about the flood or anything like that, or what you can
do, but, uh, the City Engineer said he'd look into it. Um, I talked with the
building manager or City Manager today and, uh, I was a little bit upset about the
whole situation because.....I've lost the opportunity to refinance my house and so
my payments are going to stay the same, plus if I have to add flood insurance, it's
going to be even worse. Thank you very much.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Jim.
Knapp: And I'm speaking not only for myself, but everybody that lives in the ... the first
three blocks of Rundell Street, the first .... all the way from 500 up to probably 800
or something like that.
Throgmorton: Understand. So, Geoff, if it's possible, it'd be good to be able to .... not right now,
but respond to Jim and then to Andrew as well and give `em some sense of....
what can be done (both talking)
Frain: Sure, be happy to!
Throgmorton: Would anybody else care to speak, uh, yeah! Hi!
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McDowell: Hi, um.....hi, my name's Brad McDowell. I live on the east side, um, and was
quite alarmed at the recent shootings that occurred just about a mile away from
my house. Um, it's the first time it's happened in my knowledge in the 15 years
I've lived on the east side, and to have two shootings occur within about two
weeks of each other is .... is quite alarming. Um, and so I come here for two
reasons. First I wanted to thank the Iowa City Police Department. They had a
very, very quick, and from what I've read, a very, very effective response, and so
I would like to say thank you to them, uh, for that, and also I just want to convey,
this has been a very alarming sort of situation. My son plays in the park where
this ... this has happened and ... or across the street from where it's happened, and
um, I'd just like to make sure it's alarming to you too. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Brad. I ... I assure you we're paying attention to that. Anyone else?
Garcia: (speaking through translator) Good afternoon.
Throgmorton: Good afternoon!
Garcia: (speaking through translator) So I'm coming from Rose Oaks or Lakeside. So I
rent there. So they told me that my contract is over the 30a' of July. So I asked
them to .... to give me a month, until the end of August. So they ... they allowed me
to stay until August and I work there. So then they fired me without giving me
anything. So I've been without a job for a month and I'm sick and, um ... I'm
asking for some sort of compensation. So I came here to see if I have any rights
or if you guys can help me in ... in any way. So that's why I've come here today
because they told me that you guys can help me. So they haven't told me directly
that I have to ... to leave but I've heard other people have .... have been told to leave
and that if they don't they'll call the police. So, um, I .... I'm not from here, I'm
not from this country, but I do have rights. I am a person. I, uh, do deserve some
sort of compensation for being displaced. So thank you for listening (both
talking) so thank you for listening to me and for being here today and I'm happy
to be here. I'm glad to have come for the first time.
Throgmorton: I wonder if you could .... I didn't hear his name. Could (both talking) state it.
Garcia: (speaking through translator) Uh, Santos Garcia.
Throgmorton: Thank you. Thank you, Santos. Good evening, Annie.
Tucker: Good evening. So .... I didn't plan to come with Andy, but I'm going to speak...
I'm going to stand with him, uh, with concern about .... er, interest in the
opportunity that we have. It's been a really hard month ... for community and
policing ... in our country and I think a lot of people are walking around with
different kinds of trauma related to that, just on-going, building up trauma.
Anyway, I think we have an opportunity to consider what's important to us as a
community and .... what will work for all the community members and for the
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police. And so, um, I'm a member of the Coalition for Racial Justice and so a
couple of us are here tonight and we intend to be part of this conversation because
you've invited the community to be part of the hiring process, which is great. I
want to commend you, okay? Um, and thank you. Um, here are just a few initial
ideas of -little food for thought as we go into this. Um, I propose that we have
some kind of. ... learning or shift to ... or inclusion of a com... community policing,
which is different than what we're doing right now. And we'll provide more
information later. But.... essentially for me, community policing is a focus on
developing respectful relationships with everyone in the community, and the
community reciprocating. Right? And the gentleman who spoke about the
shootings, there are some situations.... you know, what we want is versatility. We
have new .... I've heard more than one officers tell me that we have new officers
who've been trained at the Academy and one, this is not what they've said, but in
other reading.... like learning command presence as a.....as a way to approach a
situation. That may work in some situations.... but I would like our officers to be
more versatile. I would like them to understand community policing. I would
like .... that's what I would like. Also, um, I'd like an increase in the number of
community outreach officers, um, and I'd also like .... uh..... and this is the
Coalition too — we were talking about this. Um, to initiate a youth outreach
division in the community outreach.... area. Because what... interestingly enough,
in three diff ..in two different meetings, three different people last week said, you
know, what I've heard from some officers is they just don't like dealing with our
youth. Well, if we had a youth division where that's the call that was coming in,
the folks who were trained and interested in working with the kids could go to
those things and that would be ... actually benefit the kids. Those officers who
don't want to deal with the kids .... I think it would benefit everyone. So I want us
to consider that. I'd also like to, um .... and that was unsolicited. People just
volunteered that in a conversation. Different conversations. So, um, I just want
to also let us know that we currently have a half-time community outreach officer
and some of the outcomes that that officer has helped accomplish this year
include the Summer Fun program that's going on at the Rec Center. That officer
was instrumental in bringing together the initial conversations that led to that.
Um, decrease in negative language from our youth, movement toward community
discussion, having a representative from the Police Department at different
community meetings. Um ... there's the First Annual Do You See Me Now
challenge basketball game between the Iowa City Police and Iowa City youth, and
is that next week? (several responding) Who knows the date?
Fruin: It's the 27"'
Tucker: 27a, okay, good....and what time? We ... we might as well use this as a PR
opportunity (laughter)
Fruin: I don't have the time. I'm song!
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Tucker: Okay! Stay tuned (several talking) Check .... check the internet; you'll find it!
Um, and then also really important things like follow.... following up with parents
when kids have had police contact. How important is that, right, to have
somebody who's able to do that. In addition to a lunch program at two
elementary schools. So, I'm just saying that, um .... this is a really important
opportunity for us as a community. I'm following up on what Andy said. What is
our job description for our new chief? What direction do we ask that chief to go
in? Is that chief going to be able to diversify our police force? Many questions.
So, we'll be in touch. We really appreciate that you've invited the community to
be in touch. I think that shaping our future's going to take all of us, including
hearing from the officers and what they need. Including hearing from the
community and what they need. Thanks!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Annie. I .... I think I would want to say that we have asked, uh, our
City Manager designee to, uh, speak during our next work session about the
process he's set up for conducting this search, and ... and we want to do it because
our work sessions are .... are televised and that way all members of the public
would be able to hear what Geoff has to say, and .... (both talking) sorry, Jim,
before .... Jim, excuse me (both talking) before you speak, excuse me .... excuse me
(both talking) Is there anyone else who has not yet had a chance to speak, that
that's what we ought to do first, Jim.
Knapp: Okay. This is just about community relations with the youth and things. I just
had a comment (mumbled)
Throgmorton: Yeah, I ... I know there are other people (both talking) Yeah, thank you.
Whiston: My name's Dorothy Whiston and I'm also with the Coalition for Racial Justice
and .... just want to, urn ... thank you all so far from what I understand about the
selection process for the new police chief and to .... re-emphasize what an
important opportunity this is. Some of you will remember that the Coalition for
Racial Justice got started.... probably close to five years ago now, in part because
of, uh, concerns that were being brought to the Consultation of Religious
Communities about police/community relationships and particularly, uh, disparate
contact between officers and people of color, and that has continued to be an issue
in our community, as it is nationally. Um, and so now we have a real opportunity
to go in a new direction. I certainly don't, uh, blame or point fingers at anybody
in our Police Department, but .... from my way of thinking, uh, policing took a
wrong turn during the war on drugs, and it became much more about monitoring
and containment than it did about protecting and serving, and it also became much
more involved in creating a very disparate criminal justice system in our country.
Uh, sadly we know that Johnson County has not been immune from that, both at
the youth level and at the .... in adult criminal justice. Um, there have been great
strides made in youth justice to, uh, equal things to ensure greater equity, although
the place where it has not improved much at all is in policing, and so it is time for
Iowa City to become a leader, and I think we're .... we're poised if we want to take
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the opportunity, to become a national leader, um, to set a new direction in
policing that has as a paramount, um .... focus community policing, policing built
on relationships rather than what's commonly called the command presence, um,
between officers and the community and a police force that is dedicated to, uh,
correcting all the racial disparities, from.... policing on which... affects obviously
the entire criminal justice system. So, I hope that as you, uh, put together the
recruitment profile that you will look for someone, uh, at least in the initial...
eventually someone, uh, who has a strong commitment and deep knowledge of
racial disparities in criminal justice and in law enforcement, that has a real
sensitivity to working in a community which on the surface is very liberal and
progressive, but in fact hides, uh, some real racial inequity problems in every... in
every realm of our community, and obviously the police cannot be held
responsible for that, but they can be community leaders in modeling a more, uh...
and better racial justice in our system all around. Um ... so I also hope that you
will look for someone who has either worked already or is very knowledgeable
about and committed to, um, what's broadly called the approach community
policing. So, thank you very much. I'm glad that you're taking this input and we
will continue to offer input and, um, look forward to seeing how it unfolds and for
a new day in Johnson County and in Iowa City based on this hiring. Thanks.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Dorothy. All right, so I ... I think we should move ahead to Item 5,
Planning and Zoning Matters.
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ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 5a RIGHT-OF-WAY VACATION, COTTONWOOD AVENUE —
ORDINANCE VACATING COTTONWOOD AVENUE EAST OF
YEWELL STREET. (VAC16-00001)
1. PUBLIC HEARING
Throgmorton: Gonna open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) John Yapp!
Yapp: Uh, John Yapp, Development Services, and I'll just ... pull up the, uh, overhead.
Uh, this application came to us from the .... from, uh, Judith Crossett, uh, who
intends to move into the house, uh, north of this right-of-way, uh, with her family.
Uh, they were planning an addition to the southside of their, uh, of their house and
discovered, uh, that this was right-of-way. Uh, it is unimproved, uh, right-of-way,
and I'll bring it up on the overhead. Unimproved right-of-way on the east end of
Cottonwood Avenue where it Ts into Yewell Street. It appears that when this, uh,
area was first subdivided in the 1940s, uh, this right-of-way was intended to, uh,
provide for the extension of Cottonwood Avenue to Franklin Street. Uh, however
when the properties on Franklin Street were subdivided in 1953, uh, home lots
were platted and the street was not extended and ... and it has been unimproved
right-of-way, uh, since that time. Uh, that is why you will hear staff, uh, talk
about sometimes the importance of street connectivity, uh, in subdivisions. Uh, in
this case, however, street connectivity is precluded, uh, from adjacent
development. Uh, here's an image of the appearance of the right-of-way now.
There is a, uh, informal driveway, uh, on the right-of-way. And here's another
view, uh, with an access to the Crossett's, uh, property. Uh, the staff analysis for
right-of-way vacation consists of, uh, looking at whether the right-of-way is
necessary for vehicular or pedestrian circulation. Uh, in this case it is not. It has
never been used, uh, for pedestrian or vehicular circulation. Uh, we look at
whether it's needed for utilities or utility access. Uh, both Mid American Energy
and Mediacom have requested the southern 40 -feet of the 60 -foot right-of-way,
uh, be reserved for a utility easement. Uh, and that is in the, uh, proposed
ordinance for right-of-way vacation. Uh, the north 20 -feet, if vacated and
conveyed, uh, could be used for an addition, uh, to the house, uh, at 1420 Yewell
Street. Uh, we also .... uh, met with the property owner to the south of the right-
of-way. Typically in these situations we give the opportunity for both abutting,
uh, property owners to, uh, purchase the right-of-way. Uh, after considering it,
the property owner to the south is ... is not interested in purchasing any of the right-
of-way. Uh.... and therefore the, uh, shared driveway access referenced in the
staff report would no longer be necessary. Uh, the Crossetts to the north of the
property are interested in acquiring the entire right-of-way, should it be vacated.
Uh... we would set the, uh.... conveyance of the, uh, right-of-way at ... with the third
reading of the, uh, vacation ordinance. With that I'd be glad to take any
questions.
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Throgmorton: Any questions for John?
Dickens: Is there any financial.... buyout of this property here or is it....
Yapp: Yes, they would be required to purchase the property based on an appraised value.
I know we have received an appraisal. Uh, and that would be with the
conveyance of the property.
Throgmorton: I don't hear any other questions. Would anybody else care to address this topic?
Hearing none, I'm going to close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Botchway: Move resolution.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Thomas. Discussion?
Dickens: Sounds like a good way to clean up an old problem. (laughter)
Throgmorton: Yeah, what was the date, in the 50s you said (both talking) 40s....
Dickens: .....53!
Throgmorton: Yeah! I don't hear any other discussion. Roll call. Motion carries 7-0.
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ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 5b GLENWOOD SPRINGS — RESOLUTION APPROVING
PRELIMINARY PLAT. (SUB16-00007)
Throgmorton: So, John, go ahead! Uh, do we (both talking)
Karr: Yeah.
Mims: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. John Yapp!
Yapp: Uh, this is a property in Johnson County, outside of Iowa City and outside of
Iowa City's growth area. Uh, the fringe area agreement between Iowa City and
Johnson County provides that the, uh, both the City Council and the Board of
Supervisors approve any subdivisions within the fringe area. Uh, this property is
located on the east side of Dane Road, uh, just west of Highway 218. Uh, the
property is currently zoned residential in Johnson County. Uh, what is proposed
is a, uh, 13 -lot, 22 acre, uh, subdivision. Uh, per the fringe area agreement, uh,
what are called rural design standards apply to the property. Uh, the proposed
infrastructure does meet rural design standards. Uh, couple points of discussion
that came up during the review of this property is whether these, uh, the two cul-
de-sacs ... in this image north is to the left, uh, of the screen, whether these cul-de-
sacs could be connected, uh, for street connectivity. Uh, in this case there is a
ravine, uh, down roughly the center of the property where their storm water
management, uh, is proposed that ... that precluded, uh, any street connection. That
and the, uh.... County's sensitive areas ordinance protects, uh, some of the slopes,
uh, in that ravine leading to the storm water, uh, management area. Uh, private
wells, private septic systems are proposed. Those would need to be approved by
the County Department of Public Health. Uh, the subdivision does comply with
the City's storm water management ordinance. Uh, fire protection would be
provided by the City of Hills, and uh, we have a letter from the Hills Fire
Department that they would provide fire protection, uh, to this subdivision. Uh,
another topic that came up was, uh.... whether the developer would, uh, cluster the
development, which is a provision in the County's zoning ordinance allowing
properties to be clustered. Uh, in this case the developer chose to, uh, meet the
standard County subdivision design standards. Uh, staff has recommended
approval and the Planning and Zoning Commission have recommended approval,
uh, subject to two things. Uh, one is .... dedication of right-of-way for Dane Road
upon any future annexation of this property. Uh, currently Dane Road and most
County roads are easements, not right-of-way. Uh, and number two, an easement,
uh, on the Palisades Place Street, which is, uh, this street here, uh, to provide for a
future extension, uh, if the property to the west were to develop, to provide that
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street connectivity. The, uh, developer and engineer are here if you have any
questions for them, as well.
Mims: So, John, for Dane Road, does that provide enough then for widening and
shoulder and curb and gutter, eventually, if....
Yapp: Upon annexation we would, uh, obtain that right-of-way, yes.
Mims: Okay.
Yapp: That is the goal.
Dickens: And is the cul-de-sac big enough to get a ... emergency vehicles around?
Yapp: Uh, for a City of Hills Fire Department, yes. (laughter and several talking) They
did review the cul-de-sac design.
Cole: How big are those lots?
Yapp: Uh, over an acre.
Botchway: John, kinda to your point though, how does that ... how does that work out? So say
the City of Hills in engaged in another situation. Frequently we're usually called
on to provide some type of level of service. But if it isn't up to design standards, I
mean, it'd be problematic.
Mims: You back the truck out.
Yapp: Yeah, they would just back the truck out. And the, uh, fire departments in
Johnson County do have a mutual ... what they call a mutual aid agreement (both
talking)
Botchway: Right, that's what (both talking)
Yapp: Yeah, if one department can't get there.... another department is called.
Throgmorton: Any other questions for John? Thank you. Anybody else want to address this
topic? Council discussion?
Cole: I don't know, I'm not a big fan of these sorts of developments. Um, the cul-de-
sac, the extremely large lots. Urn .... if we don't come to an agreement on this
what's the impact? Is it ultimately the County's call or ... or is it just sort of
advisory? This is one of my first ones of (both talking)
Yapp: For ... for subdivisions, both the City and the County would have to approve it. I
would note that one distinction here is the property is already zoned residential.
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Cole: And in the P&Z, did they talk about the clustering?' If you could elaborate a little
bit more on that, they identified whether .... is that a (both talking)
Yapp: That was more of a discussion with County staff, uh, Johnson County has a
provision that ... that allows for clustering, but .... but not re ... they cannot require
clustering.
Throgmorton: Anyone else? John, don't sit down! (laughter)
Mims: I'll support it, I mean I hear your concerns, Rockne, about being a huge fan of
this, but I also think, you know, you have to look at there is a certain demand for
people who want to live outside of the city who do want a little more space. Um;
I think as we look at, you know, some of our zoning changes within the city, that
will allow for higher density and achieve some of those goals, we can't expect
that that's going to be the rule everywhere and so .... um, so .... my only concern
was making sure that we've got the ability to .... to take Dane Road up to City
standards if and when that should.... should happen, so otherwise.... and I think
the train makes a huge difference here too. It's like you've got a big division in
the middle of this thing, so .... I'll support it.
Yapp: I would add, even if this were in the City, that ravine and the impact of our
sensitive areas ordinance would ... the result would be something similar to this.
Throgmorton: What can we do if we choose to? Would ... what alternatives do we have, if any?
As a Council. I mean, I know what you're recommendation is and (both talking)
Yapp: Sure!
Throgmorton:.... that's going to get approved but I want to know what the alternatives would be.
Yapp: Well I think the alternatives are voting in favor or voting against. Um ... with a...
with a subdivision, because the property already has residential zoning
designation, and it appears to meet all the County's subdivision standards, uh, to
vote against a subdivision you would have to have a .... a reason.
Dilkes: You have to have a subdivision standard that's not met in order to vote against
a .... a plat. It's a very, very different situation than a rezoning.
Throgmorton: Yeah, good, that ... that's the reason I asked the question is to get that ... that kind of
response. So, yeah, I'm going to vote for this. Any other discussion?
Thomas: Well I would say, Rockne, in response to your concern, my .... my thought would
be how if we're ... if anyone is interested in clustering as an alternative, how do we
incentivize that .... for the developer? So that it...it favors what we would like the
outcome to be.
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Throgmorton: Because it's in the County, that's... that's a challenge. I mean, how could we
incentivize that if it's in the County?
Cole: Well, I'm going to support this. It's lookin' like we don't have a ton of discretion
to deny this. Um, but I do think it's important that .... we communicate at least
what our preferences are in these sorts of things. I'm not a big fan of this sort of
development. Um, I realize we're at the end of a very long process, that there's
going to be some other entities that are going to weigh in, um, but it's extremely
low density development with not a lot of connectivity, and I think ultimately,
um, I think there are some traffic concerns the more and more we push this
development out on the County, so I'm going to, uh, support it, with reservation.
Throgmorton: Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 7-0.
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ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 5e. 4525 TAFT AVENUE — COUNTY CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT (CU16- 00002)
Throgmorton: Is there a motion to approve?
Botchway: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway and seconded by Dickens. John Yapp.
Yapp: Uh, this is an application from Rittenmeyer Trucking and I'll show you the, uh,
location. They are .... on the 4000 block of Taft Avenue, southeast, and my next
slide gives it a little more context. Uh, the red line is .... City limits. Um, and so
Highway 6, Taft Avenue southeast, and Rittenrneyer Trucking. It is an existing,
uh, home occupation in Johnson County. The Johnson County ordinance requires
that for a conditional youth ... use permit in a fringe area, uh, the City Council of
that fringe area make a recommendation, uh, to Johnson County. Uh, the typical
things, uh, that we review in this case is how close is it ... is it being to being
annexed, uh, to Iowa City. Would it interfere with, uh, orderly growth of Iowa
City. Uh, would it create other concerns. Uh, this use has, uh, been there. Uh,
we talked to Johnson County staff. They have not received any complaints.
Uh... it is not within Iowa City's growth area and not in an area that .... that, in the
foreseeable future, uh, we see Iowa City growing into. Uh, staff recommends, uh,
approval. Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval, with a 15 -
year, uh, timeframe. At that 15 -year timeframe, they would have to go through
this process again. We would re-evaluate, uh, where this use is in proximity to
city growth.
Throgmorton: Thanks, John. Any, uh, questions for John?
Mims: I just think given the 15 -year timeframe on this and having to look at it again, and
the amount of growth, the distance that it is from the city and the growth
prospects right now I think it makes sense to do.
Cole: It looks like a pretty intense use but I'm looking at the photo there, there doesn't
seem to be any adjacent properties that would be affected by that use, so ... I, um,
am supportive of it.
Yapp: I would also note that most of their trucks and equipment is kept, uh, indoors.
And I think that makes a difference in a case like this.
Throgmorton: Any other discussion? This'll be a voice vote, so all in favor say aye. All
opposed. Motion carries 7-0.
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ITEM 6. UNIVERCITY SALE, 321 DOUGLASS -.RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING
CONVEYANCE OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME LOCATED AT 321
DOUGLASS STREET
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Anyone care to address this topic?
Seeing no one, I'm going to close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Dickens: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Looks like a pretty
good deal to me!
Cole: I love the UniverCity program!
Throgmorton: Yeah! Hearing no more discussion, roll call. Motion carries 7-0.
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ITEM 8. AMENDING DOWNTOWN URBAN RENEWAL AREA PLANS -
RESOLUTION APPROVING AMENDMENT NO. 14 TO THE CITY -
UNIVERSITY PROJECT 1 URBAN RENEWAL PLAN TO ADD LAND
TO THE URBAN RENEWAL AREA
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Hi, Wendy. Wendy Ford, right?
Ford: Yes! (laughter) I'm Wendy Ford. Good evening, Mr. Mayor and Council. I'm
just pulling up a map here for .... your reference. Okay! The City University
Project 1 Urban Renewal Area, otherwise known as the Downtown Urban
Renewal Area, has been amended several times and we're before you tonight
with, um, the proposed amendment #14 and the purpose of amendment 14 is
simply to add the one -square block in which we're sitting tonight, and that is the
block bordered by, uh, Gilbert Street on the ... on the west, Washington on the
south, Van Buren on the east, and Iowa Avenue on the north, and you can see that
in the crosshatched area in the upper right corner of the .... of the area outlined in a
dark border on the slide. The purpose of adding this area tonight is simply to
make way for the eventual consideration of a project that would happen on this
block. We don't have any particulars for a project yet, but we want to be as
efficient as we can in ... in readying the urban renewal plan to consider one,
and ... and as you all know, um, there has been one out there. We haven't seen it
come forward yet. We don't have any of the details to talk of yet, but we thought
we could be ready with, um, and prepare as much as we can with .... with this
amendment. In order to, uh.... uh, affect a .... an urban renewal area amendment,
three things are necessary. Um, one is that you have to pass a resolution of
necessity, which you did in June, on June 6a'. Um, certain amount of time has to
go by. Staff has to have a taxing, or a consultation with the other taxing entities,
and we post that and make all the requisite notices for that meeting. That, uh, was
held on .... uh, June 23d at 11:30 A.M. However, no representatives of those
taxing entities, uh, came to the meeting, and ... and, uh, as well there were no
written, uh, comments submitted to us, to which we would have had to reply by a
certain time either. So .... today is a public hearing, the last step in that process.
Any questions? (several talking)
Cole: Do we have an approximate timeframe as to when we could expect a proposal or
is that just too early at this point?
Ford: It is too early. We're, uh, you know, any time we see the prospective developer
we nudge him and poke him and say, hey, we're waiting for some details on that,
but .... uh, I know there are several things they're involved with around the....
around the community, so, uh, we can't be too pushy.
Cole: Okay.
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Throgmorton: Any further questions for Wendy? Thank you. Uh, all right, so .... hmmm, I need
to close the public hearing, right? So anybody else want to speak to this topic?
Hearing no one I'll close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Botchway: Move resolution.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Mims. Discussion? It's a required step if we
want to move ahead, so .... if ...if you want to ask a question you have to come up,
please, to the microphone. Yeah, and actually we closed the public hearing (both
talking)
Audience: I'm just curious to know where it is exactly.
Mims: This block we're sitting on.
Throgmorton: It's the block we're sitting in. Yeah. Okay, uh..... discussion? Hearing none, roll
call. Motion carries 7-0.
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ITEM 9. RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS PARK PROJECT - RESOLUTION
APPROVING, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO
EXECUTE AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN AGREEMENT BY
AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND CONFLUENCE OF
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA TO PROVIDE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING
CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR PHASE 1 OF THE RIVERFRONT
CROSSINGS PARK PROJECT
Mims: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion?
Fruin: I'll brief, uh, briefly walk you through this. This project is being led by Julie
Siedell Johnson, our Director of Parks and Recreation. She is, uh, out of town at a
conference and uh, not able to present to you tonight. Uh, she and a group of
staff, uh, went through an RFP process. Uh, they had 12 firms submit for design
services and are recommending Confluence for this phase one. Urn .... phase one,
uh, comes on the heels of the demolition of the old, uh, waste water plant site
there, and um ... with that project we removed all the facilities from that site and
also did some preliminary grading. This takes it, uh, another step further
and ... and will satisfy our flood mitigation grant obligations. We'll need to restore
the Ralston Creek, uh, from the northern edge of the park down to the, uh,
intersection with the Iowa River, and then we will do some, uh, trail work, one
bridge crossing to the east and uh, we'll advance, um, some of the master plan
concepts a little bit further, not to the point where we're doing construction, uh,
but we'll advance some of those planning concepts a bit further. So at the end of
this project, and it's supposed ... uh, it's expected to be completed, um, in the
summer and fall of next year, we'll have a restored Ralston Creek, uh, some re-
aligned trails, a connection to the, uh, east, uh, which was a major component of
the Riverfront Crossings plan, and really a.....a great foundation to .... to build on
for future phases of the park. Um, this does include, uh, further grading and
seeding of the park. So if you've been by there now, it's not been seeded. It's
been graded out. With this phase it'll actually be seeded and uh, begin to actually
feel like a usable park.
Throgmorton: Any questions for Geoff?
Mims: No, just exciting to see it start moving forward.
Taylor: Me too, very excited.
Throgmorton: Me too.
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Cole: Seems like every time we hear Riverfront Crossings it's good news. So, continue
to commend staff for the fabulous work you've done.
Taylor: Very anxious to see the final product.
Throgmorton: Indeed! Okay, hearing no more discussion, roll call. Motion carries 7-0.
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ITEM 12. CITY MANAGER CONTRACT — RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST AN
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY
AND GEOFFREY E. FRUIN, CITY MANAGER
Mims: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion?
Mims: I was .... oh! (both talking)
Throgmorton: Let me say it, if you don't mind. Say a few comments about this for the public's
use. Uh, I'm very pleased to present this proposed contract to the Council and to
the public. I want to thank Eleanor and Marian for all the help they provided over
the past few months. Uh, which I ... I said in a better way (laughs) earlier in our
work session. Uh.... a memo I write on July 14a' documents the steps I took to
craft a good agreement with Geoff. It also highlights two key elements of the
agreement. First it includes a base starting salary of $180,000 per year. This is
slightly higher than Tom Markus' fmal base salary, but it excludes around
$15,000 in vacation and personal hours, and an automobile allowance that had
been included in Markus's contract. The proposed base salary is considerably
lower than the salaries for the city managers, administrators in Cedar Rapids,
Dubuque, Davenport, and Ames, and slightly higher than the one for the city
administrator of Coralville. Second, section 11 of the proposed contract commits
this Council to specify goals for the City Manager. This will initially be
accomplished as follows .... I quote. Within 30 days of execution of this
agreement, the employer shall provide the employee with a preliminary set of
goals for the following year. The employer shall discuss these preliminary goals
during an executive session with the employee and within 14 days of that
discussion present the employee with a final written set of goals. Unquote. So as
I said in our work session, I'll soon be soliciting your suggestions about what to
include in the preliminary set of goals. So, Susan, please.
Mims: I just want to say, urn .... I first met Geoff, and I will never forget this because we
were sitting in our first strategic planning meeting, um, that would have been in
the fall of 2010, correct?
Fruin: 11.
Mims: 11, okay, yeah, okay, cause it took us a while cause we didn't get Tom hired until
the fall of 10, so yeah, it was in the fall of 11. Um ... and we had Jeff Shott and
there was this other guy, I didn't know who he was, and somebody said he was
Geoff and I'd never met Jeff Shott before so I was kind of confused at first about
(laughter and several talking) about who was who here. Um .... Tom Mar ... when
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we hired Tom Markus one of the things that we said was, uh, succession planning
across the organization was really a huge issue. We knew that we had a lot of
people that would be coming up on retirement, you know, department heads, etc.,
and we knew that he wasn't going to be here forever, um, and we wanted him to
really pay attention to succession planning, and he did a fantastic job for this city
in bringing in Geoff Frain as his assistant. I think Geoff has certainly met and
exceeded all of the expectations, um, that any of us as Councilors have had since
Geoff came on board and I am just really thrilled that we're able to keep Geoff,
um, I know he wants to stay here in the community. He's got family in the
community, urn .... and so hopefully we have a long, fun ride together, so
congratulations, Geoff!
Frain: Thank you.
Botchway: I just want to quickly state how.... obviously Susan said it a lot more eloquently,
um, but uh, you know, uh, I don't think I've been a part of, or at least, uh, met
another, uh, City official with such a big job ahead, that there's just been
considerable amount of positive comments made. Um, you know frankly I ... I'll
be honest with you, Geoff. I was diggin' for negative, you know, just to
(laughter) make sure I was doing, uh, my due diligence, um, and coming to the
Council table and talking about, you know, um, whether it be approving him for
the City Manager position, or obviously the contract as well, and again, I still try
to dig, even after we approved this, just to make sure I was doing my due
diligence, but you know, I echo the comments that Susan made and obviously
other Councilors have made previously, and just think well deserved, and so I'm
excited about, you know, the opportunities .... (mumbled) you have and then kind
of where you're going to go obviously (mumbled) Council and your....your input
being provided. So, thank you!
Dickens: Just talk to his neighbors. There's some dirt there . (laughter)
Frain: Please stop looking, Kingsley! (laughter and several talking)
Throgmorton: Yeah, it's a very pleasing thing. I'm really excited and maybe we'll talk more
about all the possibilities in our drive tomorrow up to Des Moines. I should note,
pretty ... in 12 days, meaning the 31St of July, this becomes effective. So, uh, no
more interim, no more city manager designee .... 12 days from now. (laughter)
All right, so, uh.... (several talking)
Cole: ...ceremony or how does that work? (laughter and several talking)
Botchway: ...normally you do like roasting opportunities (laughter) individuals leave but if
there's opportunity to roast him in the beginning, I think (several talking)
Cole: I would like one, Geoff, so .... (laughs)
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Throgmorton: All right, enough of the humor. Let's have a roll call. Motion carries 7-0.
Mims: Congratulations! (several talking)
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ITEM 13. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS. Applicants MUST reside in Iowa City and be
18 years of age unless specific qualifications are stated
ITEM 13e COUNCIL MEMBER APPOINTMENT — State of Iowa League of
Cities Environmental Coordination Committee
Throgmorton: So, I ... I was just stating the ... the first, simply to help people be aware of those
vacancies, but with regard to the State of Iowa League of Cities Environmental
Coordination Committee, can you tell us a little bit about that, Susan? I know you
volunteered to be on it.
Mims: I volunteered. I filled out a Google calendar as they're trying to put together a
meeting, and I haven't seen a meeting scheduled yet, so .... that's about all I can
tell you! (laughs)
Throgmorton: What is the committee, I mean what's it's purview, I mean just environment
generally or....
Mims: Yeah, I think just in general, I mean, Geoff gave us a little bit of information on it,
but it's just the League .... the Iowa League of Cities is trying to do some
coordinating in terms of some environmental issues and policies, I think, between
the cities and, you know, everybody kind of learning from each other. Why
reinvent the wheel, I mean, that's what I would certainly hope some of it will be,
uh, what other people are doing, what they can learn from us, what we can learn
from them, etc., I would hope, um .... maybe some advocacy at the State level.
Geoff, maybe you've got more ideas (both talking)
Fruin: Yeah, and I think, uh, all those things and then weighing in on proposals as they
come forward, particularly related to water quality, um .... uh, water treatment
regulations, uh, those types of things. There's... every session we have, uh, new
proposals that are put forward and it's important that cities be able to respond
with a unified voice, so this brings together, uh, a .... elected officials and, uh, staff
from various communities and ... and the meetings will probably be on an ad hoc
basis, basically as you need `em, um, discuss the proposals, um .... submit
alternatives, feedback, that sort of thing.
Throgmorton: Well Susan has volunteered to serve, uh.... I assume that's fine. Good, thank you!
Uh, voi... we need a voice vote. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of July 19, 2016.
Page 28
ITEM 16. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION
Throgmorton: We'll start with Pauline.
Taylor: I don't have anything.
Thomas: Nothing for me.
Mims: Nothing.
Throgmorton: Nothing.
Botchway: Real quick, I did want to mention, um....I can't remember who brought it to
attention, I think Annie Tucker did, uh, in relation to I think the Police
Department, um, with Henry Harper and Royceann Porter doing an amazing thing
by doing the, uh, Now You See Me. I can't remember the relation to why they
used the name, but um, basketball tournament with the police officers. I tried to
get the date changed so I could play as well, but I couldn't, um, and they're also
doing a soccer game.
Mims: You're not a police officer and you're not a youth so (both talking)
Botchway: I know, but I was (laughter) trying to get in there somehow (laughs) Trying
somehow, yeah. Urn .... but they're also doing a soccer game.
Dickens: Might get drafted!
Botchway: Yeah! But they're doing a soccer game as well and so .... I think it's just a great
opportunity. I think that, um, recently there was a Black Lives, um, Matter
movement in Kansas City that eventually turned into kind of a potluck and then
kind of a come together moment and talking about a variety of issues. Um, and I
think this is another thing that in the wake of the national crisis that's been going
on, you know, the Police Department really stepped up here, uh, especially Henri
Harper to kind of find a different way to engage kids, and I think this is an
awesome thing and so if you can attend, um, you know, I guess all Council
Members can't necessarily go but .... please do if you can, so....
Dickens: Nothing.
Cole: I have nothing to add.
Throgmorton: I have nothing to add either! So .... motion to adjourn.
Mims: Usually ask the City Manager.
Throgmorton: Oh, I'm sorry!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of July 19, 2016.