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ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS ITEM 2a National Hispanic Heritage Month -
September 15- October 15
Throgmorton: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Human Rights Commissioner Joe Coulter.
(applause)
Coulter: On behalf of the Hispanic, uh, Latino, uh, communities in Iowa City, uh, I want
to .... and the Human Rights Commission, I want to thank you, Mayor, uh, for this
proclamation, the Council, and the City of Iowa City, uh, for this recognition.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Joe. (applause)
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regular formal meeting of October 4, 2016.
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ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 2b World Habitat Awareness Week— October 3-7
Throgmorton: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Executive Director Mark Patton. (applause)
Throgmorton: (unable to hear, away from mic)
Patton: First off, thank you very much for issuing the proclamation. Um, we all know
that housing is not a right in this country, um, and that leaves us short. Um, I
want to acknowledge and thank you all for getting ahead of the curve now on
housing and putting some money aside as we go forward and perhaps do some
land banking and sother... some other progressive matters which will... start the ball
rolling and that's all we can do at this point, and thank you for your concern about
those who ... who go without. (applause)
Throgmorton: I'd just like to report that Mark Patton and I, uh, spoke in a dance class at the
University of Iowa last week, uh.... (unable to hear person speaking from
audience) Oh I .... well you fill that in! (unable to hear person speaking from
audience) (laughter) It was great fun too! (laughs) Nice to see you again, Mark!
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ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 2c Fire Prevention Week — October 9-15
Throgmorton: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Fire Marshall Brian Greer. (applause)
Greer: I'd like to thank Mayor Throgmorton for issuing his proclamation for Fire
Prevention Week and obviously we try to extend a little bit more, call it Fire
Prevention Month. (mumbled) like to thank the Council for you know all the
support you have along with the City to support the programs and stuff we have in
place to try to make sure that our citizens here are safe from fire and other
disasters like that that we can do something about. So, thank you again
(mumbled)
Throgmorton: (mumbled) (applause)
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ITEM 2. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 2d Domestic Violence Awareness Month — October
Throgmorton: (reads proclamation)
Karr: Here to accept the proclamation is Kristie Doser, Executive Director. (applause)
Doser: First thing I want to do is congratulate Mayor Throgmorton in gettin' through all
of those. (laughter) Ours was lengthy so that was a bit of a challenge! I do want
to say thank you so much to the Council for your support over the years for
victims of domestic violence. We've been, um, working in this community for an
extended period of time. We were actually one of the first domestic violence
programs in Iowa, and also, uh, some of the first in the nation. Iowa was only
the .... the third state in the nation to have a domestic violence program. And so
from our perspective we really see Iowa City specifically and Iowa as a leader in
responding to domestic violence as an issue. I also want to thank those of you
who were able to come out over the summer and meet some of our staff, and get a
chance to talk a little bit about the impact of domestic violence in our community
and the work that we're doing. You've heard me say this before, domestic
violence is a crime that is preventable. Uh, it's something that we as a
community must take responsibility for, and we must change how we talk about
it. The days of asking the question `why does she stay' must go away. And we
are in a space in our .... in our understanding of these issues and specifically in our
community and how we respond to domestic violence, at a place where we should
be asking `why is this person battering and what can we do to stop it.' So I want
to thank you again for your ongoing support. Because of you we have crisis
intervention services that are critical and life saving. Um, for .... many of us
who've been doing this work for a long time, uh, for me specifically, I worked in
a couple of other communities before coming to Iowa City and it was so
important to me to come to Iowa City just because of the kind of community that
we have here. So once again, thank you and I look forward to a long partnership
with you. (applause)
Throgmorton: It was a pleasure to read the proclamation. DVIP's done great work for a long
time around here. So ... uh, I'm gonna ... I want to read a letter also that does, uh,
not appear on the formal meeting agenda, but this is a timely moment to do it.
This is a letter to Mayor, uh, Ron Corbett up in Cedar Rapids. (reads letter) So,
uh, this is dated October 4th and I think it's already been sent electronically to the
Mayor, right?
Karr: Yes!
Throgmorton: Yeah. Okay. So with that we can move to Item 3.
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ITEM 4. COMMUNITY COMMENT (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA). [UNTIL 8
PM]
Throgmorton: So, uh.....if any of you would like to speak to any item that's not on tonight's
formal meeting agenda, uh, please feel free to do so now, and I'd like to ask you
to keep your comments to not more than five minutes, and .... we can move from
there! And before Roger even starts speaking though I want to make sure I
welcome all of you to tonight's meeting. Uh, it's been a .... a lovely balmy, early
fall day and, uh, you know, it's .... now it's dark out. What can you say? But
anyhow, welcome to our meeting, uh, to the meeting of your City Council.
Roger, I didn't mean to turn you away. I meant to just .... I was just .... just wanted
to say that.
Knight: (mumbled)
Throgmorton: What do you think of that, Roger? (laughter and several talking)
Knight: (mumbled) That's good! All right, um .... sorry for that! Um (clears throat) I just
wanted to kinda air out what I said last City Council, and put a little bit more to
it .... of the police not being able to help out. I don't know what's going on with
the Police Department, but they're bein' less and less visible. There's more and
more problems downtown. I've seen more and more bicycles almost ru min' over
people on the sidewalks where there's a sign ... that says no bicycles, skateboards,
or anyone wearing, um .... roller blades on City sidewalks downtown, or on the
ped mall. Know what that is? That's how close I've seen someone on a bicycle
almost run over a little kid's hand. On the ped mall. That much! Where was the
police? Nowhere! Nowhere to be seen, nowhere to be visible, so this stuff will
continue to happen. I mentioned once before, last time, you call the police.
Nothing gets done! You ask for help .... and dispatch gives you an attitude you
would expect from your teenage daughter or son of `you should be home by 3:00.
(makes sound) You need help? Why? Well, I thought you were the Police
Department. I'm sorry! I've done what I can .... to say `hey, by the way, you need
to get off your bicycle. A few'11 accept it and hear why. A few will not. You
got .... an issue of partyin' around town for the college students. You want to end
it? Well, you need to be stricter on the laws. Enforcing `em and we need to start
having a policy of what Cedar Rapids once had. I know Cedar Rapids is not Iowa
City and vice versa. But college students, when I was there, we were scared to do
anything because the police were always around. You coulda thought a little bit
more .... things will be changed, and those who can get in front of a bicycle and
say `no, you're not gonna ride around me.' This isn't enough. Because Gabe's,
I've gone there and asked them to turn down their music. `Hey, can you turn it
down? I'm two doors down. You're rockin' me out of my apartment!' I don't
live next door. I live two buildings down. What was their answer? They turned
it up! That's right, they turned the music up. Where was the police? (mumbled)
answer that question I'd be greatly .... to hear it. And then one last little thing is,
um .... I understand the buses for Gabe's, um, bands are allowed to park against
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the ramp. But can something be done for .... the diesel generators that they have
on some of those buses. They run all day. They run all night. And those fumes
are very toxic! There's a firefighter here. He can talk to you about how
dangerous they are if you need. Thank you!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Roger. (noises in background; several talking)
Christenson: Uh, I'm Ann Christenson, a resident of Iowa City, here speaking on behalf of
I00grannias.org for a livable future. First, I really want to commend the Council
for the initiatives it's undertaking regarding affordable housing, social justice, and
sustainability. Many, many people, including all 154 grannies thank you for this,
and want you to continue doing what you're doing. You're doin' a great job!
The specific interest of 100 Grannies.... tonight is the sustainability issue. Not all
of you were with us four and a half years ago, but it has been four and a half years
that we have been asking the City of Iowa City to ban single -use plastic bags. It's
a really small (laughs) step in sustainability, but it's a start. Ultimately, we
grannies would like to help Iowa City and the University work together to attain
net zero status. That's a big order. Let's start with an easy course of action.
There is no need to reinvent the wheel! The wheel has already been rolling in
uncountable places in this country and around the world. We're not talking about
keeping plastic bags out of landfill. We're talking about the future of this planet.
Our rivers have become sewers of plastic and other debris, leading straight into
the .... our oceans. The Ocean Conservatory has declared the amount of
unmanaged plastic waste entering the ocean has reached crisis levels. Another
reason for banning plastic bags is they're a fossil fuel burden. Plastic is not only
made from petroleum. Producing it requires a lot of fossil fuel derived energy.
The fact that Americans throw away some hundred billion plastic grocery bags
each year mean we're .... we're drilling and importing millions of barrels worth of
oil and national.... natural gas for a convenient way to carry home a few groceries.
A study by the City of San Jose, California, found that a ban that they passed in
2011 has led to plastic litter reduction of approximately 89% in the storm drain
system, 60% in the creeks and rivers, and 59% in city streets and neighborhoods.
That's an accomplishment! Among the many places in the world that have
banned these bags is California now, the whole state, taking effect a year ago.
Hawaii also has banned, the whole state has banned plastic bags. The bill in
California prohibits stores from providing single -use carryout bags to customers.
It also prohibits stores from distributing recycled paper bags at the point of sale,
unless the store makes that bag available for not less than 10 -cents per bag. The
bill allows and in fact requires.... that all the money collected for those bags be
retained by the store and be used only for specific purposes. That's the same in
England. The whole country has banned bags and that the specific purposes to
which their sale, bag sale money goes, is .... are charitable causes of the .... of the
company's choice. Plastic waste is not only damaging ecosystems and human
health, it is taking a financial toll on fishing industries, urban infrastructure, and
tourist economies. It is time for you, our Iowa City officials, to act on this issue.
Yes, there will be resistance, we know that! There is always opposition to
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change. But what in the world is Iowa City waiting for? We're tired of the
procrastination and dithering. We are your people! We are your supporters!
We'd like to see some issues resolved. Thank you.
Mims: Ann, you might not be aware but that is in the strategic plan that we've approved
(both talking) moving forward.
Christenson: I am aware, but it's been a very, very slow play ... pace! (laughs)
Mims: I agree but I just wanted you to be aware, in case you weren't. I want to make
sure (both talking) we are planning to move forward (both talking)
Christenson: ....know that but what .... what we mostly hear is what it's ... is it going to help our
landfill? Well that's not what we're talkin' about!
Mims: Oh I agree!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Ann. Uh... Simon, you .... you addressed this during the strategic plan
discussion. What's the time table for seeing a draft ordinance or .... you know,
with regard to (both talking)
Andrew: Sure! We discussed a .... a number of things that'll be coming back to you as part
of the comprehensive waste minimization strategy. At the next Council meeting
will be a multi -family recycling, a curbside composting, an electronic's ban, and a
tar policy and then later on in 2016 we'll be coming back to you with a proposed
schedule for the plastic bag ban.
Throgmorton: Thanks. Thanks to all of you for coming! I see Becky! Good evening. (several
talking in background) We talked about all they .... all those bags around you,
Becky! (several talking)
Ross: Yes, I'm the bag monster! I've got a lot of baggage (laughter) I'm Becky Ross.
Um ... I'm going to be probably repeating some of what Ann said, but .... first of all
I would like to thank you for tackling some of these big issues. The .... the waste
management and the, uh, sustainability issues, and I know that single -use plastic
bags are on this list. So we ... we want you to know we will be willing to help in
any way we can. Um, and .... one of the, I just want to say, these bags do not
biodegrade. They only degrade, and they cause more, uh, problems to the
environment and it takes hundreds to thousands of years, uh, depending on where
they are in the environment to ... to degrade. When any plastic is in the landfill, it
takes up to a thousand years. So yes, we know that plastic bags are just the tip of
the iceberg, but when it comes to plastic pollution.... when it comes to plastic
pollution, but we need to start somewhere. So by educating our citizens, people
will learn how much more .... how much plastic pollution there is and how much
damage it is doing. We know that there are several stores in the area that have
already eliminated or have never used single -use plastic bags. Uh, New Pi,
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Aldi's, Costco, just to name a few of the larger ones. And I know there's even a
few, um .... uh.....like fast food kind of places around that .... and I .... I'm not sure
exactly which ones they are so I'm not going to name `em (laughs) cause I don't
want to be naming the wrong one! But, um, I do know that re ... that using a
reusable bag will not change the quality of your life! May .... unless it does for the
better. Uh, I've been refusing single -use plastic bags. I know it doesn't look like
it, but (laughter) for almost five years now, and .... I don't have to take all those
bags to the recycling center! So actually it's made my life easier! Um .... I've also
been collecting all the bags that I get in my home without even trying. Most of it
is packaging, uh, like the newspaper bags, which some of 'em ..... some of these
are newspaper bags, um .... and bread bags, uh, maybe you're wearing them on
your feet (laughs) Uh, magazines and sales promotions that come in the mail with
plastic around `em, and I don't know why cause I used to get all that stuff without
it. Um .... but I'm wondering if we might promote the idea that these items can
also be recycled. Uh, I know that Jen Jordan has told me that any stretchable
plastic can be recycled, right with these, uh... uh.... grocery bags, and I don't think
most people realize that or even think about it. So maybe that could be one way
you could get people to, uh, think a little bit more about the plastic. Cause a very,
very small percent of, uh, the single -use plastic is recycled, and we really should
at least do that. Um .... I would really like to see Iowa City be the leader in this
movement to eliminate these bags. I understand, uh, it would have to be done in
increments, and we've talked about that several times. Education and promotion
of the idea and then charging a fee for the .... using a plastic bag, and I think we
should charge for the paper bags too, because they're both, uh, I mean if people
start using reusable bags, that's the best thing. The .... the paper isn't that great
either. So (clears throat) and then finally eliminating them. And I have a whole
list of countries that have some kind of a .... a.....a charge or a tax and bans.
There's, um, Ireland and Wales and Italy, Scotland, uh, all stores in Germany that
provide plastic bags must pay a recy... recycling tax. That's the .... the stores have
to pay that tax. So I ... I'm sure they must pass that on to their customers, but
um .... England, uh, since October of 2015 has an official bag charge, and .... the
U.S. as of July 2014 has 20 states, 132 cities, um.....meaning some 20 million
U.S. citiz.... citizens are now living in an area where plastic bags are banned.
Mexico fines stores for giving plastic bags to the customers, since August of
2010. Um, Brazil, um, south Aus.... states of south Australia, north .... and north
territory along with some cities have independently banned the bag, uh, and it's
estimated that 400 million bags are saved each year. I could go on and on here,
and I don't know that you want to hear all these, but urn .... there's just so
much ... so many places that have .... done this that I am very confident that Iowa
City could do this and I'm just excited that you're workin' on it and thank you!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Becky!
Kirkpatrick: Hello, I'm Mary Kirkpatrick (clears throat) and I'm one of the chairs of the 100
Grannies bag, uh, committee. We've had a bag committee that has met for over
four years, once a month, and some of the things that we've done that I think are
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helping to lay the foundation for this, um, eliminating plastic bags, we've made
plastic bags, several hundred of them. We've sewed and .... and passed out to
people on the ped mall, with University of Iowa students. We've given them to
elected officials. If any of you haven't gotten `em we'll be glad to share one.
Um, and we've taken them many other places and given them to people. We've
tabled at events around the comm .... around the community, at Earth Day events.
We've had a booth at the Johnson County Fair. We've had ... we've marched in
parades, spreading the word. We have written letters to the editor. We've been
interviewed by local media. We've had people sign pledges that they will not use
disposable plastic bags. We've given awards to stores like New Pi and Aldi who
are showing us that we can do just fine without those disposable bags. So thank
you for taking on this, um, issue. A 100 Grannies, um, you know, we're not the
youngest members of the community and we were glad that this can move
forward before we get any older, and uh, like some of the other grannies said,
we'll be happy to support you and .... and do community education going forward.
Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Mary.
Wildensee: All right! Good evening to the Council. Hi, my name is Kristin Wildensee and
thank you for the chance to speak to you tonight. I'm also here with 100 Grannies
for a livable future, and I do applaud Iowa City's 2016-2017 strategic plan, uh, to
foster a more inclusive, just, and sustainable Iowa City. Tonight I particularly
want to call out priority #6, promote environmental sustainability, which includes
this commitment — evaluate and consider implementation of a plastic bag policy.
I understand, as I think it's been, um, you .... stated, um, that the plan will be
presented to Council later this year and that staff is currently reaching out to the
business community for input as this process is developed. I, along with over 150
members of 100 Grannies for a livable future support Iowa City taking a strong
stand on eliminating single -use plastic bags. If we did so, our city would be
joining over 150 other U.S. cities and counties that already ban or require fees on
single -use plastic bags, as well as many countries outside the United States, as
Becky was giving some examples. And so why is such a thing important? I'm
sure you've heard and we talked about some of the numbers around plastic bags
before, yet the numbers really are astonishing (laughs) and I just had a couple
more I'm going to repeat for context. Worldwide it's estimated we use one
trillion single -use plastic bags every year, trillion, and in the United States I have
read it is an estimated 100 billion bags that pass through the hands of U.S.
consumers every year, and then a plastic bag as.....has been said can persist for up
to 1,000 years inside of a landfill, and yet ... the average operating life of a single -
use bag is 20 minutes. Twenty minutes of usefulness before we are done with it,
and it's disposed of. So the enormous volume of single -use plastic bags creates
all kinds of issues that, to me, obviously outweigh any of the convenience
argument to keep them. In fact, the World Economic Institute says that the cost
of the downside of plastic packaging, such as rampant litter, harm to our oceans,
wildlife, harm to tourist economies, harm to the fishing industry, etc., plus the
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cost associated with greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production is
conservatively estimated at $40 billion a year. That's the cost of all those harms
or ... or .... or, you know, taxing on the ... on the environment, and that $40 billion a
year cost actually exceeds the plastic packaging industry's profit pool. So it's ... it
actually doesn't weigh out. We're just not in the habit in our.....our economic
models to sometimes include those costs, but, um .... that's .... that's the nature of
plastic bags, single -use plastic bags. It makes no sense to trade convenience of
single -use plastic bags for all of the downside that we may not notice every single
day, yet we know it is happening, and we can do something about it. So therefore
I encourage Council to approve a very strong plastic bag policy for the City of
Iowa City that would essentially eliminate single -use plastic bags from our
community. Thank you!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Kristin. Anyone else? Well I hope you can be pleased in another
month or two or however exactly long it takes, but uh... come back, uh.... at a .... at
that timely moment. I'm sure you will! You've done great work! (several
talking in audience) (laughter) Okay, I see no one else who wants to speak
during, uh, public discussion so let's move to Item 5, Planning and Zoning
Matters.
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ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 5a PRECINCT BOUNDARIES - ORDINANCE AMENDING 1-9-313
OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ADD RECENTLY ANNEXED
PROPERTY TO PRECINCTS S, 10 AND 24
2. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Botchway: Move first consideration.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Thomas. Discussion?
Karr: Mr. Mayor, I'd just like to note, this is a procedural thing that, uh, is required by
the Secretary of State's office that we update our precinct maps to reflect the
annexed areas and in many of our annexed areas the population is zero, but it is
necessary that the boundaries show that.
Throgmorton: Right. Thank you. Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion
carries 7-0.
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ITEM 6. PCC PAVEMENT REHABILITATION 2016 — APPROVING PLANS,
SPECIFICATIONS, FORM OF CONTRACT, AND ESTIMATE OF COST
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PCC PAVEMENT
REHABILITATION 2016 PROJECT, ESTABLISHING AMOUNT OF BID
SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID, DIRECTING CITY CLERK
TO POST NOTICE TO BIDDERS, AND FIXING TIME AND PLACE FOR
RECEIPT OF BIDS
b. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Botchway: Move the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Tbrogmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? Does staff want to say
anything?
Frain: Only if you have questions. Pretty.... pretty straightforward maintenance project.
Throgmorton: Yeah. Okay. Uh, hearing no discussion, roll call. Motion carries 7-0.
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ITEM 7. MIDAMERICAN ENERGY ELECTRIC FRANCHISE - ORDINANCE
RENEWING THE FRANCHISE GRANTED TO MIDAMERICAN
ENERGY COMPANY, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, TO ACQUIRE,
CONSTRUCT, ERECT, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE IN THE CITY OF
IOWA CITY, AN ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER SYSTEM TO
FURNISH, DELIVER AND SELL ELECTRIC ENERGY TO SAID CITY
AND ITS INHABITANTS FOR A PERIOD OF TEN YEARS
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Throgmorton: Item 8 addresses exactly the same thing, except with regard to the gas franchise.
So I'm going to open the public hearing now for the electric franchise, but if
anybody wants to address the gas franchise at the same time, that'd be okay,
wouldn't it? All right, so I'm going to open the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
Would anybody like to address this topic? You're becoming a pro at it, Roger!
(laughter)
Knight: I just want to mention, um .... for whoever, for MidAmerica or anyone else that
comes in after MidAmerica, I would like to see if the City can't do somethin' just
to put it in a bylaw or somethin' to prevent what happened in Cedar Rapids with,
uh, Alliant Energy. Um, in case who doesn't know where they .... I don't know,
you can maybe .... um, explain it better, but how they calculated the energy for, uh,
June and July. They didn't do it enough so now all of a sudden the residents are
gettin' $500 bills because they calculated it different. Where .... they said
somethin' about State law, they have to .... get that money, but you're screwin'
over families who thought they were in the clear. They were told they were in the
clear, and then all of a sudden, `oh by the way...' That should not be allowed!
Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Roger. Would anybody else like to address this topic? Good
evening, Mayor!
Bailey: Good evening, Mayor, Council. Regenia Bailey. I live in Goosetown and I
would like to just urge you as you consider your agreement, your franchise
agreement and partnership with MidAmerican Energy, um, to work with the
company on their LED street lighting initiative that they talked about in their
letter, to pursue a more sustainable option for the community. I have a ..... and
when I'm talking about sustainable I don't only mean the environmental impact
because we know LED lighting uses, um, less electricity. We know that there's
an economic sustainability aspect from the economic perspective, but I'm talking
about the public health and neighborhood wellness perspective of LED lighting.
Um, currently, um, I understand that MidAmerican is just using two types of LED
fixtures in Iowa City. One type I understand has a broader, but it's a less intense
light. The other is more focused and probably to the eye it might seem like a
brighter light. Both of these types use the typical LED blue spectrum lighting that
we've heard a lot about that's ... that comes out of our phones and our computers.
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So we're exposed to this a lot. As you can see from the Washington Post article
that I provided, many cities are exploring different LED lighting options. As we
know, we're in a kind of a first generation exploration of using LED lights around
humans and in ... in our street lights, so a lot of cities are looking at other options.
Some of those options include LED lighting that has a more of an amber hue,
similar to this, uh, pressured sodium high-pressure lights that we see now. Some
are using, um, lights that have a lower kelvin rating which means that they're a
little less bright than the current ones, and we have some really bright LED street
lights in our community. Some are looking at some kind of combination. Um, I
think looking at these options are important because of the health implications.
As you can see from the article, we're just beginning to learn about the health
effects of blue spectrum LED lighting, and the Medical Association has, um,
some concerns about exposure to blue spectrum LED lighting. So as we consider
what's the most sustainable option for our community from an economic, from an
environmental, and from a human health perspective, it makes sense to work with
MidAmerican to really, um, balance these interests and explore our options. So
I'm asking you to work with MidAm to use amber hued lighting, um, LED lights,
with the lowest feasible kelvin rating, especially in neighborhoods. I think that
that has a huge impact on our quality of life in our neighborhoods. This .... this
can help minimize sleep disruptions and other health concerns caused by blue
spectrum LED lights. Ensure that the light, um, from these new..... newly
installed LED, um, lights is directed and focused on the streets. These are street
lights and that's their intention. They're to illuminate the street. Um, ensure that
they're focused on the street and not on the houses and the adjacent properties.
There's one in particular in my neighborhood that I .... I've talked to staff about
and I know MidAm is addressing the issue; um, it's casting a wide .... a wide light,
and the shadows are pretty amazing. There are noon -level shadows in the middle
of the night. So make sure that the .... these lights are focused, and also not going
into the night sky. I would encourage you also to consider what we have now, the
LED streetlights, and make adjustments to them. Um, many of them are
unfocused, not .... um, necessarily directed to the street. Um, some along arterials,
I noticed, can cause glare and vision disruptions as you're driving along because
of the way that they bit a windshield, um, depending upon, you know, the height
of your car or your vehicle. Um, many seem to be a higher kelvin rating than
might be necessary along an arterial, but I do know that we need to light our
arterials well so there needs to be a balance there. So I would urge you to look at
those, um, sorts of things. So .... as we consider a community, being a community,
um, concerned with sustainability, I think in the most comprehensive sense we
need to look at the health and neighborhood implications of these kinds of lights.
We have an opportunity to learn from other communities, um, other people are
trying some options so exploring what the best practices are, and then leading in
this area in the midwest. I think there's a real opportunity for Iowa City to partner
with MidAm and lead into some really good sustainable solutions with LED
lighting. Thanks!
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Throgmorton: Thank you, Regenia. You know, I .... I realize I forgot to do something I intended
to do and indicated to the staff that I'd ask them to do .... at the start of this public
hearing. So if you don't mind I'm going to ask our City Attorney to explain the
background, how it is we got to this point, and then Geoff to summarize his
recommendations to us, and then I'm sure MidAmerican officials would like to
speak, as well, and maybe others. So, Eleanor, please!
Dilkes: Urn .... it's hard to know quite where to start with the history because it has a long
one, so I'm (laughter and several talking) Urn .... prev .... bef...we have a .... a
franchise agreement, both gas and electric now, that was, urn .... adopted in ... in
2007. Prior to that, the last franchise agreement had expired in 2001, and between
2001 and 2007, there was a lot of activity around, um, municipalization or the
feasibility of a municipal electric utility. Um, there were studies done, um, both
on behalf of Iowa City and the ... the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities, um,
as well as by, um, MidAm about the cost, um, it .... of setting up a municipal
electric utility. Urn ... and there was a lot of, you know, disagreement on those
issues. Then in 2004, there was a petition, uh, filed, urn ... to, um, put the issue on
the ballot, and the way Iowa law works is that, um, any ... before a municipality
can proceed with a request to the Public Udil.... Utility Board, um, for a certificate
of authority to set up a muni .... any munici.... any municipal utility, there has to be
an election a .... allowing that, and that can be, urn ... put on the ballot by the
Council, but it can also be put on the ballot by petition, and in this case it was put
on the ballot by a petition. Um....it....it....was voted on in November of 2005.
Uh, there was about a 29% turnout and it failed 67% to 33%. So after .... at that
point then, staff.... Council directed staff to go back into negotiations with
MidAm, um, and MidAm and.....and City staff, as well as I believe.....a couple
Council Members, right? Um .... uh, engaged in these negotiations. Um.....came
up with the, um, and there were some .... pretty detailed and .... intense
negotiations. There .... there are .... I'm not going to get into the whole what you
can and can't accomplish with the .... a franchise, but in any event, um, I think
staff and the Council Members that were on the committee felt good about it,
recommended it to Council. Um, Iowa law, uh.... limits the length of a
munici... any municipal utility to 25 years. Um, the current one has a 25 -year term
but....it.....at.....at the two 10 -year marks, in order for it to be renewed or to be
continued, Council must pass, urn .... must take action to....to do that. And as I
explained in the memo, um, the term provision was originally presented to the
Council in a very kind of traditional way where a .... where it would be, um.....it
would go for 10 years and then unless Council terminated it, it would go for
another 10 years, and at that point unless Council terminated it, it would go for
another five. So that's how you got to the 25. And at that point, um .... uh, a
member of the Public Power Initiative, Karen Kubby, suggested that instead of
doing, uh, the termination language we substitute it with the .... with a provision
that we now have in the ordinance, which says, um, it will terminate on the 10`h
year anniversary unless, um, a year prior to that, and in that one-year period,
we're in that period now from 2015, December 4a' of 2015 to 2016, December 4`h
of 2016. Unless there's actually affirmative action by the Council to continue
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that, um, it will terminate at the 10 -year anniversary, which in this case would be
2017. So I think, and in looking back at the transcript and thinking back about
that, um, my recollection is that her thinking was that, um, it would be a more
conscious process by the Council to continue it rather than to just .... have it go on
without anybody paying any attention to it, so.....that's how we .... got to this
point.
Throgmorton: Great! Uh, very helpful, thank you and there's one particular date you reminded
us of during the work session (both talking)
Dilkes: December 4`h of 2016.
Throgmorton: That's when we have to act, uh (both talking)
Dilkes: Right. It will terminate on December 4ch of 2017 if you don't act before 24`h
of. ... December 4h of 2016.
Throgmorton: Okay. Thank you. Geoff, you want to pick it up from there?
From: Yeah, my recommendation to you was ... was very brief. There's a cover memo in
the packet. Uh, in short I feel like we have a ...... a good, strong working
relationship with MidAmerican Energy. Um, locally, uh, they come to the table,
uh, when we have issues and ... and work with us to resolve those. I feel like
they're investing in their infrastructure here locally. Um, on a .... a national, or
I'm sorry, on a bigger scale, at the statewide level, uh, you've received
information on their 100% renewable energy vision and I think they've
demonstrated pretty impressive progress towards that and ... and you could, um,
put, um, their effort in .... in the renewable energy field up to anybody else in this
country, and I'm not sure you'll find anybody that's been as aggressive or, uh,
that has taken the steps that they have, um, to this point. So, um .... staff does not
see any compelling reason, uh, to, uh, hit the pause button or renegotiate. Um, we
had those discussions internally. We asked ourselves if there's anything that, um,
we felt needed to be re .... renegotiate .... renegotiated and, uh, frankly we all came
to the conclusion that, um, renewal was, urn ... the most appropriate action from
our standpoint.
Throgmorton: Great! Thank you, uh, I do apologize for my oversight and not having this
happen, uh, beforehand. Uh, would either of you from MidAmerican like to
address the topic?
Reinders: First of all I just want to say thanks to the Mayor and the Council, and uh,
specifically Geoff and Eleanor for, uh.... uh, getting this to the staff and bringing
it to the table. Uh, appreciate Geoff s comments about the partnership we have
with the City and, uh.... uh, most of that or a lot of that is because of my
colleagues and I .... Perry Sparks, he's the Operation Manager here in Iowa City
and the surrounding area, and he and his team, uh, hopefully do exactly what
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Geoff said about, uh, coming to the table, if there's issues and working with you,
uh, and, uh, if there's things beyond Perry's scope and others in the company, like
Kathryn Kunnert who works I know a lot with Geoff, uh, would be happy to meet
with you and talk about. I'm Mark Reinders. I'm the Franchise Manager, uh,
for ... for MidAmerican so that's my expertise (laughs) I guess is tied in with just
specifically, uh, franchise work across our service territory. And I'd be happy to
answer any questions you had. Mayor and... and I were visiting a little bit, uh,
ahead of time so.....
Throgmorton: Yeah, well let's see if any other Councilpeople have questions they want to ask.
So .... anybody on either end of this table?
Cole: Well I wonder whether you could comment on the difference in prices, and
you've done the studies between municipal power providers and MidAmerican
Energy, because as I understand the proponents' argument for municipal power,
they felt that there would be a pricing advantage in terms of the City's abil... able
to provide the electricity at a lower cost. Wonder if you could comment on that?
Reinders: That was, uh, true I think in .... in years and decades past. Uh, in more recent
times I think the pendulum is .... has swung the other way. Um, right now
MidAmerican's actually the seventh lowest electric rates in the United States.
Um, we're lowest in Iowa, uh, we are either lower or, uh, equal to almost all the
munies in the state of Iowa and .... and the RECs as well. Other providers in Iowa.
Throgmorton: Okay so let me ask you a couple questions.
Reinders: Okay!
Throgmorton: Maybe .... first of all you could, um .... offer a ... a response to what, uh, former
mayor Regenia Bailey was recommending.
Reinders: Um, it isn't part of the franchise, the LED lighting. Um, it is something that's
really coming to prominence again in the last couple years as more and more
cities look at, uh, saving dollars and .... and, uh, improving lighting in their
communities, um, both on a safety level and as well as, uh.....um, in terms of
public safety. We would be happy to work with you and I think Perry and his
team, if..if he would like to speak he can, um, but he already ... he and, uh, Perry
and the team do go out and if somebody has a complaint about a light and we're
pretty good about trying to do what you mentioned, I think ma'am, about
changing the focus to .... to keep it off a house or along those lines, but uh.... uh,
it's something the cities are really driving and asking for and MidAmerican is
partnering with, uh, almost every city in Iowa that we serve, uh, to make this
happen.
Throgmorton: Geoff, I don't know if, um, you've had.... staff has had any conversations along
the lines that Regenia was recommending but ... but everything she said is ... sounds
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spot-on to me, having the light focused down, uh, reducing the, I don't know
the... kelvin of the ... of the (mumbled) so on, I mean, all those particular details.
Have you had conversations (both talking)
Fruin: Internally, uh, Ron Knoche's here, we've had conversations and I believe Mayor
Bailey's been working with Kent Ralston and the transporta.....transportation
planning staff downstairs and, um, the MPO. So, uh, we're workin..... we're
workin' through those issues and, you know, we're still only, I don't know, a year
into the LED process and, uh.... I'm sure that there's adjustments that need to be
made, and there's ongoing conversations that need to take place and ... um, I think
that's outside of the.....the franchise and I would say that, uh, at least in my, uh,
time here I think the working relationship with .... with MidAmerican's been such
that we can call on them, explain the issues that we're hearing and the concerns
that we're hearing, and, um, they'll make a reasonable attempt to .... to resolve
those with us.
Throgmorton: Great, uh, thanks! So I .... I think I said I do have a couple other questions.
Um ... uh, and both relate back to Kathryn Kunnert's letter.
Reinders: Yes.
Throgmorton: Yeah, so, uh, I wonder if you could say a little bit more about the company's
proposed green label program, and about the company's plans to further reduce
reliance on coal-fired electric power?
Reinders: Uh, the green label program is still being worked on, uh, so we're not quite ready
yet to announce a lot of the specific deals.... details on that. Um, in terms of the
wind, uh, we are, uh, among the leaders in the country right now for wind
generation. Uh, right now we have about.... almost 3,500 megawatts of wind
generation. We have recently received approval from the Iowa Utilities Board to
build another 2,000 megawatts, um, with ultimately the .... the dream of, uh,
having 100% renewable energy here for Iowa, for Iowa customers. Um, with
the .... the new approval from the IU ... Iowa Utilities Board for wind I I project,
we'll be, uh.... uh, adding (mumbled) another 2,000 megawatts by the
end....with... with construction starting in 2017. So we really went from, uh,
in ... in the year 2004 we were about 70 -plus percent coal gener... gener... generation
portfolio. Um, now that's less than 35%, um, and wind is right now about 47% of
our generation portfolio, which again is extremely high for any utility in the
United States.
Throgmorton: All right. So, my last question is the one I was alluding to when you and I had
that conversation before, um .... before this meeting started. So ... Kathryn
Kunnert's letter says, um, when wind 11 becomes fully operational, MidAmerican
will generate 85% of customers' annual energy from renewables. So, do you
mean, does she mean .... demand for electricity and natural gas? No, I'm sorry,
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I'm misreading, uh, do you mean energy or electric energy? Does she mean
energy or electric energy?
Reinders: Electric energy.
Throgmorton: Right, so then there's the other portion provided by natural gas.
Reinders: Right. We are at about 16% of our, uh, generation portfolio right now is natural
gas, and part of that also has been the switch away from coal. Uh, we've retired
some of our coal operations, uh, near Sioux City, in Council Bluffs, and over in,
uh, Bettendorf at the Riverside Generating Facility. A lot of those older plants,
um, are no longer, uh.... uh, in commission. So to make up for that generation
when the wind isn't blowing, uh, then we use the natural gas. But our ... our
generation portfol... portfolio right now is about 16% natural gas, about 47% wind,
31 roughly in .... in coal.
Throgmorton: Great (both talking)
Reinders: ....another six in other.
Throgmorton: Okay, any other questions? Thank you.
Reinders: Again, appreciate ya.... the Council's consideration (both talking)
Throgmorton: Anybody else want to address this topic? All right, uh, hearing.... seeing no one
else, I'm going to close the public hearing.
Karr: Motion to accept correspondence.
Botchway: So moved.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Did I do (both talking)
Karr: No, you're fine!
Throgmorton: Okay. Uh, there was a motion by, uh.... uh, Botchway and seconded by Dickens,
right? All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion carnes.
b. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Move first consideration.
Botchway: Second.
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Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion?
Cole: I guess I have a couple comments. I guess in terms of deciding this particular
issue, I really would have wanted to see a side-by-side comparison of the
municipal power generation, and also just for purposes of hearing both sides, you
know, a response from an advocate. So did we reach out to some of the advocates
of the public power 10 years ago, um, in terms of what their thought process was?
I would have really liked to have seen those two pieces of information, um, in
terms of evaluating this issue.
Frain: Um, no we did not reach out to any of the .... the past advocates for municipal, uh,
power. Um .... and the side-by-side comparison (both talking)
Cole: ....the rates.
Frain: The rates of, uh, the rates our residents are paying compared to municipal
providers?
Cole: Yep. Yep.
Frain: We can try to obtain that for, urn .... the second or third consideration, if that's of
value.
Mims: I guess my only thought with that, Rockne, is .... I was around here when there
was a big push to do the municipal power.
Cole: Uh huh.
Mims: And that's not something you're going to do overnight. So .... we've gotta do this
now in terms of, you know, doing this franchise. If it's something that somebody
wants to bring back up in terms of looking at municipal.... municipal power, to me
you're looking at something that is a year's long process.
Cole: Oh I understand that. I think just for purposes of the discussion it would be
helpful.
Mims: Because certainly when they looked at it in 2004 or whatever Eleanor said, um...
at that point in time, you know, a lot of the advocates for municipal power were
saying the rates could be so much cheaper, but when you really started factoring
in building your own municipal power plant and all your own distribution system
and everything, there was no way that it was going to be cheaper than .... than, uh,
what MidAmerican was providing, and to me the other really compelling
argument with this is how much MidAmerican has done in renewable energy and
how much they've done with the wind, I mean, you know we talk about reducing
carbon footprint, etc., here in the city, you know ..... no matter how much we
`reduce,' you're really.... you're not reducing it as much as you think you are
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when... virtually half of the electricity you're getting is already being produced
with, you know, renewable sources, so .... um, for a timeframe I don't see that
we've, you know....
Cole: No, and I understand that, and I think that .... that for my purposes, I'm inclined to
vote yes. Um, I do think though just in terms of the discussion that that's helpful.
I think the other part of it is that did happen 10 years ago. I haven't heard a big
outcry from the community on this particular issue. Um, I think if there was sort
of more of an effort on that, you know, it'd be something that we could
reevaluate, but urn .... we don't really have an alternative at this point, but uh, I
would like to get more information on that.
Throgmorton: I think I'd like to say one thing about this, uh.....my.... I think most of you don't
know that I write a dissertation about the wind energy, uh.... the wind energy
industry in 1983, uh, and in preparation for that dissertation, I read a ton of
literature about the energy crisis we were facing in the United States and about
how the .... the projected demand for electric power was increasing 7% per year,
nationwide, and that most of that power was going to have to be provided by
nuclear power in combination with coal. That was the forecast .... in .... in the late
70s. So it is astonishing to see what MidAmerican Energy has done here in Iowa
with regard to wind energy, phasing out coal. There's still the one nuclear power
plant up at Palo, but phasing out coal, uh, and generating all this electric power,
uh, through.... with this renewable energy technology. It's just amazing. Sol
think.....only a guy named Amory Lovins, back in the late 70s, could possibly
understand what .... what, how this might happen and so he'd be ... he'd be just, um,
just astonished at this moment. Anyhow .... I'm gonna vote for this, of course,
so .... I'm ready to roll! So, any .... any further discussion? Roll call. Motion
carries 7-0. Now we turn to the gas part of this and we've already held some
discussion but for formal purposes I'm gonna open a public hearing but first I
have to say what it is, don't I.
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ITEM 8. MIDAMERICAN ENERGY GAS FRANCHISE - ORDINANCE
RENEWING THE FRANCHISE GRANTED TO MIDAMERICAN
ENERGY COMPANY, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, TO ACQUIRE,
CONSTRUCT, ERECT, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE IN THE CITY OF
IOWA CITY, A NATURAL GAS SYSTEM TO FURNISH, DELIVER AND
SELL NATURAL GAS TO SAID CITY AND ITS INHABITANTS FOR A
PERIOD OF TEN YEARS
a. PUBLIC HEARING
Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Would anybody care to address this?
Seeing no one I'll close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
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ITEM 10. UNDER 21 EXCEPTION CERTIFICATE REVOCATIONS - ORDINANCE
AMENDING TITLE 4, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, CHAPTER 5,
PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS, SECTION 8, PERSONS UNDER
THE LEGAL AGE IN LICENSED OR PERMITTED ESTABLISHMENTS,
SUBSECTION B, PARAGRAPH B, REFERENCING THE CITY'S UNDER
21 LAW, TO SHORTEN THE REVIEW AND REVOCATION PERIODS
FOR COMPLIANCE CHECK FAILURES FOR HOLDERS OF
EXCEPTION CERTIFICATES. (PASS AND ADOPT)
Mims: Move adoption.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Uh, Geoff, would you
like to summarize the, uh.... uh, Partnership for Alcohol Safety discussion?
Fruin: Yeah, well I was able to summarize it in about three sentences in my, um, memo
which .... which tells you there wasn't a whole lot of, uh, debate on the merits of
the change there. Um, I thought it was a .... a good overview. I think the PAS
members, uh, in general understood the rationale behind the change. Um, I think
the one healthy point of discussion that we had, um .... uh, revolved around the
number of compliance checks that the Police Department will be doing and if
we're not, uh.... um .... performing the compliance checks at a ... at a high enough
volume, is that two-year window going to be long enough, and it's really hard to
answer that question at this point. Um, certainly we think, urn ... that it's sufficient
but we can, you know, look back a year or two for now ... from now and if we're
not checking these establishments, you know, uh, multiple times within that two-
year period, it may make sense to push it to a three-year, urn .... or .... or longer, uh,
timeframe but.....um, there were no informal objec... objections and we certainly
haven't received any formal objections from PAS as a whole or any of its
members.
Throgmorton: Yeah, Geoff summarizes what I heard as well, so..... Okay, uh.... any discussion?
Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 7-0.
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ITEM 14. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION
Throgmorton: Pauline, would you care to start?
Taylor: I don't have anything.
Thomas: Nothing for me.
Mims: Nothing.
Throgmorton: Uhhhh, Kingsley?
Botchway: Nope!
Dickens: I'd like to, uh, just thank Mike Brotherton for 35 years of service for our Police
Department. He is, uh, retiring. I was able to attend his event on Friday, uh, my
only time that I really ever ran into him in a police type thing was when I did a
ride -along and he offered to zap me with their stun gun (laughter) but I turned that
down, but uh, a true professional and we're gonna miss him! And also we do
have a pinning ceremony on Monday at 3:00 here in this hall for two new officers
(mumbled)
Mims: Promotions, isn't it? It's promotions 2:00 (both talking)
Dickens: Promotions! It's a pinning.
Throgmorton: Rockne!
Cole: Well yes I just wanted to thank the Council for the support to allow me to go to
the National League of Cities conference in Madison. Um, I learned a ton. I met
a lot of councilors from throughout the United States. Um, primarily was mid-
sized cities, 50 to 100,000, um, and of course it was really fun just to see the
initiatives going on in Madison. Um, in particular they have one $5 million
initiative, a million dollars a year, uh, to assist worker -owned cooperatives. Real
dynamic collaboration with the University of Wisconsin, and what they're trying
to do is get more people jobs and control over their work environments. It was a
very innovative program. Um, it was also fun to see the .... what a really
interconnected bike grid looks like and to experience that, and so as we, as I said
earlier during our, uh, earlier time, uh, to just see how that works and see how
well it works and what a draw it is. Um, they have dedicated bike lanes along the
lakes. Um, they have sharrows. They have dedicated bike lanes, um, and I think
basically it was a mayor in the sixties that went to Denmark and sort of saw what
was possible and sort of put this process, um, into play. Um, also learned about
open space collaboration, um, the unconference method, so it's essentially you
throw out random topics and then organize by the topics you're interested in, um,
so we had some great, uh, discussions on racial, uh, justice, excessive force, um,
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all those various topics. So, it was a real privilege to attend and we also, and the
theme was as collaborative communities how cities can effectively work with
non -profits, um, so we also heard, uh, reports essentially from the Overture
Center. Essentially their equivalent to the Englert. Um, and it was just a real
opportunity, so I really thank Council for their support, and if you ever get the
chance to go to one of these conferences, they're fabulous. I would strongly
recommend it. I learned a lot. It was a wonderful experience, and of course just
meeting the various councilors from throughout the United States. It was sort of
fun to see what issue brought them into politics and what the issues that they're
struggling with. So it was a real opportunity — thank you!
Taylor: Mayor, speaking of bikes, um, I .... wanted to mention the cyclocross. Don't know
if we'd talked about that. Uh, I was fortunate enough when I was in the Cedar
Rapids Airport, uh, last week, heading to Denver, to run into Dr. Meehan and he
was still just glowing and he was so happy to hear of it, uh, I felt that it was a very
successful event, uh, and ... and very productive and profitable for Iowa City and
the surrounding area and kudos to everyone that helped with that and Manan for
the (laughs) welcoming ceremony which was kinda rained out, but still it was a
wonderful event, uh, so I just .... I think it was great and I hope we get to have it
again and ... and um.....Dr. Meehan is just a wonderful person.
Throgmorton: Yeah, excellent! Uh, I'd like to expand on that very briefly, uh, simply to praise
Josh Schamberger and others at the Convention and Visitors Bureau for the
outstanding job they did in putting that together. Uh, you know I'm a member of
the CVB board, so I've heard many conversations havin' to do with what was
entailed, and uh, it was a lot of effort required and they pulled it together and they
got a lot of help from a lot of people but nonetheless. Bravo to them! And then I
want to mention two other things. Uh, first, the Iowa City Book Festival begins
tonight. So .... and it goes on for the next five days. It'll be a terrific event, lots
of, um ... really excellent writers, uh, will be presenting their work or reading from
their work or .... engaged in conversation with, um .... attendees and soon. So
that's a good thing! And last I'd like to congratulate Neumann Munson
Architects for having been one of six architectural firms in Iowa honored at the
Iowa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects annual awards celebration.
Neumann Munson received three excellence in design honor awards, including
one for Midwest One's building in the Riverfront Crossings District. So,
congratulations to Neumann Munson!
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