HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-16 TranscriptionPage I
ITEM 2. STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS
ITEM 2a Alexander Elementary School
Lemme Elementary School
Shimek Elementary School
Throgmorton: We have students from three separate schools. So what I want to do is invite the
students from first Alexander Elementary to come up. Then El ... Lemme
Elementary, and lastly Shimek Elementary. So let's start with ... with the two
students from Alexander Elementary, Ian Moore and Jade Spicker... Spicher. Are
they present? Yeah, I had a feeling they weren't, uh, so .... what should I do with
those two? I should give `em to you, right? Could you pass these along, please?
All right, uh, the next are three students from Lemme Elementary School, Seth
Clayton, Will Dickson, and Markus Van Tassell. And I see .... what, Will
and .... Markus? Yeah. Uh, so before I ask you to read your statements, uh, what I
want to do is draw your attention to this. Can ... can you read what that says?
(student): Iowa City Police.
Throgmorton: Yeah, Iowa City Police, cause one of the things I'm going to do in just a few
minutes is read a proclamation declaring this, um ... National, what is it? National
Police Week, that's the title, right? So I'm looking forward to that, and we just
had a ceremony earlier today, uh, praising our police officers and Councilwoman
Susan Mims was here with me, as was Geoff and Ashley. I'm .... (laughs) Ashley
over there. So, uh, I.....it was fun to do, and I'm proud to wear, uh, this bracelet.
Okay, so who's first? Let me see. (mumbled) So Seth is first, and Seth is not
here, right? Can we set that down? Yeah, okay. So, um, the .... these awards read
exactly the same for both of you, so I'll read them in a minute. But I want you to
read your, uh, read your statements first. So, Will, would you please start? Just
read your statement? (both talking, mumbled)
Dickson: Every morning before I leave for school my mom calls out `be a leader today.'
I'm honored to be chosen as a Leader by my Lemme friends. Being a leader
means to follow the rules, do the right thing, help others pay attention during
classes, not to talk when the teacher is talking, and volunteer in school and
community groups, like K Kids, band, and Boy Scouts. A leader never cuts in
line, always claps for others, and if someone asks you to grab the ball that
someone hits or kicks, you always say yes and help. I will continue being a leader
every day. (applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 2
Throgmorton: Excellent! Excellent! (applause continues) Well done, Will. Everybody clapped
for ya, you noticed that, right? (laughter) (unable to hear talking in background)
(laughter) Okay, so, Markus, you're next! I ... again, I can hold this for ya and you
can....
Van Tassell: Just recently my peers and I were all asked to pick three people that we thought
were good examples of leaders. To my surprise, I was one of the three that were
chosen for this award. Before we voted, we discussed attributes that a leader
would have, and I recognized them as traits I strive to have and help others to
have. Do I have all of them? No. No, I do not, but I can try. Trying to be better
and lead others by example is a quality of the best leaders. Said qualities are the
basic principles we are taught throughout our youth — kindness, responsibility,
respectfulness, and trustworthiness are examples. I'm very happy that my peers
have found the same characteristics in me that I find in my parents, teachers,
leaders, coaches, friends, principals, and various other leaders. I definitely admire
those leaders and their virtues, and hope that I can be a good leader in the future.
(applause)
Throgmorton: Beautifully done, both of you! I'm sure you are outstanding leaders at, uh, at your
school. So here's what the ... the award reads. Everybody wants to know this,
right? (reads Student Leadership Award) So, Markus, this is yours, and Will.
Let's make sure .... (mumbled) So, I know the parents are out there and they're
very ha ... very proud, very happy, uh, and I think there are probably some proud
sisters and brothers and whatever else too. So .... well ... job well done! So, thanks,
both of you! Keep .... keep up the good work! (applause) Exactly right! Nice
job! Okay, so we have three other students from .... from Shimek, and I know I
met `em all out front. So, Ashley.... and.... well, you know who you are! Come
on up! (laughter) Okay! Am I gonna remember your name? You're Ashley,
aren't ya? All right! Good memory, Jim! (laughter) So why don't you read your
statement first and then we'll move on. Okay.
Bentler: Being a good citizen means helping others in your community and treating
everybody fairly, no matter who they are. It also means helping to keep your
community and other places clean. During school I read to younger students,
collect recycling bins in classrooms, and I help my classmates with work if they
are stuck. If I notice if someone is feeling sad, I try to talk to them and see how I
can make their day a little bit better. Even if it means just saying hi. Every
Christmas Eve my aunt, uncle, sister, and I make gift bags for kids at the Ronald
McDonald House, who may not get any presents on Christmas. I also help out
around my neighborhood by walking my neighbor's dogs and helping with their
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 3
garden. Next year I plan to be on the safety patrol and continue to volunteer and
help out my community.
Throgmorton: Excellent! (applause) Bravo! (applause continues) Next is Sydney. Sydney
Wilkes. So would you read your statement?
Wilkes: A good citizen should be inclusive, not exclusive. They should be active, not
passive. Build others up, not put them down. And they should be someone others
look up to. They should be welcoming, grateful, and go out of their way to help
those around them. I think I got this award because I try to follow these rules and
inspire others to do the same. I participate in marches and part of safety patrol. I
help younger students learn to read and contribute to various charities. I will keep
trying to be a good citizen because I think one good citizen can go a long way for
their community and I want to ensure a safe and welcoming community.
(applause)
Throgmorton: Excellent! Thanks! (applause continues) (mumbled) ...gets stuck. (mumbled)
Time out! Is your dad Brad? I thought so! This is Adam Zeithamel. My son
Patrick used to throw pitches to your dad, Brad, way back when in little league.
Senior league if I remember rightly! And I have a photograph somewhere of
them celebrating, leaping into each other's arms, because somebody threw a, you
know, I think it was Pat, threw the ball to your dad and Brad tagged the ... the man
out at home and the team won! It was really great. So would you say hi to Brad
for me? Do you remember that? (laughter) You know you look a little different
than you did back then! (laughter) Oh, sweet! That's really good! Okay. So,
Adam, would you read your statement?
Zeithamel: To me, being a good citizen means always helping people. Cheering people up
when they feel down, and always making sure all places are the best that they can
be. I also think it means not just helping individual people, but raising money for
a good cause. In school I have a kindergarten reading buddy and a third grade
buddy, where we work on reading more fluently. I also help my classmates if
they're struggling with their work. I am part of safety patrol. I helped organize
and raise money for the dance marathon, and I was part of recycling in fifth grade.
Outside of school, I help with fundraisers, play my cello at places like the Library
or at the mall, and even hospitals for everyone to hear. I plan to continue playing
the cello around the community, and would like to start doing some volunteer
work at animal shelters, music shops, and other volunteer organizations.
(applause)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 4
Throgmorton: All right! (applause continues) Good job, Adam! Okay, so I'm gonna read this
statement and the only thing that varies is your name. So .... all right. (reads
Student Leadership Award) (applause) (mumbled) Okay! Thanks! Okay.
Enjoy the rest of the evening. Have fun. I meant to ask you a question about
parks, but that's another thing. (laughter) Brad, it's really fun seeing you.
(unable to hear response from audience) Yeah! We'll wait a second until
everybody's had a chance to depart.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 5
ITEM 3. PROCLAMATIONS
ITEM 3a Kids to Parks Day: May 20, 2017
Horace Mann Centennial Celebration Day — May 19
National Public Works Week — May 21— 27
National Police Week — May 15 — 21
Th ogmorton: Uh, we have four separate proclamations this evening. The first is Kids to Park
Day. I'm sorry, Kids to Parks Day. (reads proclamation) Could somebody
accept this proclamation, please? Hi, Juli!
Seydell Johnson: Thank you and what a perfect night to say this — get out and play in the parks
after the meeting tonight! (laughter) Lots of new playgrounds, lots of new things
going in this summer. It's going to be a great time to gather in our parks.
Thanks!
Throgmorton: Thanks, Juli! Okay, next is Horace Mann Centennial Celebration Day. Before I
read this, uh, I want to make sure that, uh, we take steps to try to get the same
kind of proclamation for Longfellow. I know I tried to do that before, working
with the Horace Mann people, and it didn't quite work out but I ... I definitely want
to read a proclamation for Longfellow. (reads proclamation) I know the Principal
of Horace Mann is here. Could you come up and accept the proclamation?
Voparil: Julie Robinson, Principal, accepting
Throgmorton: Thank you! (laughter)
Robinson: I just wanted on behalf of the students and staff and parents at, um, Mann
Elementary to thank the Mayor and thank the Council for this proclamation.
We're proud to be part of Iowa City and look forward to being an important part
of it for the next 100 years! Thank you!
Throgmorton: Super! Thank you, Julie! (applause) Keep up the great work at Horace Mann!
All right. Next is National Public Works Week. (reads proclamation) Can
somebody accept this proclamation? Ron! I thought you were sitting there for a
reason! (laughter) Thanks for the great work y'all do!
Knoche: Mr. Mayor, Council, I appreciate your recognition of National Public Works
Week. On behalf of our 140 Public Works employees that affect and impact our
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 6
daily lives of our community members, um, I proudly and .... I accept this award.
Thank you.
Throgmorton: Great! Thank you, Ron. (applause) Okay, and the last one has to do with
National Police Week, and as I indicated, uh, speaking with students, uh, Geoff
and Ashley and, uh, Susan and I, maybe some others here.
Mims: Eleanor was there.
Throgmorton: Eleanor! Thank you. Excuse me, um, had the opportunity to be in this room, at
which time I read the proclamation to quite a large number of police officers and
the Chief and so on, uh, and .... we all directed praise toward them that is well
called for. So, I'll read the proclamation. (reads proclamation) Julie, do we have
someone to accept this?
Voparil: Does anybody want to come forward? I (mumbled)
Throgmorton: Okay. I wanted to read it anyhow, whether the Chief -well, you know, I know
where the Chief is actually tonight. He's at Oakdale Prison, listening to the
Oakdale Community Choir conduct one of its con ... uh, one of its concerts. So...
It's a great place to be at this moment!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 7
ITEM 4. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED
Throgmorton: We're gonna remove Item 4d(14), but otherwise I'd like (both talking)
Mims: ...adoption.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Any discussion? Hearing none, roll call.
Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 8
ITEM 5. COMMUNITY COMMENT
Throgmorton: This is for items not on the formal meeting agenda. So anybody who wants to
address any topic that's not on our formal meeting agenda should feel free to
come up and speak. Um, I'd like to, uh, have you limit your comments to not
more ... not more than five minutes, but otherwise you're invited to speak, please.
Hi, Brandon!
Ross: Hey! Brandon Ross. You know .... uh, I'll .... I won't say the whereases, by the
way (laughter) You already got all of them! The, uh.... I find it interesting that
we give a whole week to the police, but only one day ... to mothers, who gave birth
to those people. Just a thought! (laughs) Um ... Kids in the Parks. What I came to
speak about was, um .... was, uh, parks and, uh, the environment, and.....um.....
global warming and considerations as it relates to lawns and in the past years, we
have had lawn ordinances, uh, and I could probably make you guess what is the,
uh, the inch height, uh, regulation limit, uh, and see how well informed you
Councilors really are. Uh, that could be kind of a fun trivia question, but it's hard
because every single year practically it changes. So when I remember one point,
it was about 10 inches, previous to that it had been eight. Then it went to 12, and
then it went to 14. So you could have your grass 14 inches. And, uh, lot of you
are sittin' here thinkin,' man, we're talkin' about lawns at City Council, but you
know, the longer the lawn is, actually, it ... by the way, the lawn now is down, it
went back down to 12 then to 10 then to eight. Now it's at eight. Um ... which is a
concern. I think that we should change it. Uh, I think that this is an outmoded,
uh, type of situation, uh, with global warming and with what we know about the
environment, and children, and asthma, and things like that, less mowing is best.
Uh, higher the grass is better. It's more oxygen. Uh, if you're gonna have a lawn,
which is not the most efficient way of usin' the soil, you should have it higher, uh,
and it's better for everybody. But the constant cutting, uh, adds to air pollution
and noise pollution. How many days have you been sittin' at home, arguing with
your spouse, and you hear that lawnmower goin'. It kinda raises the .... kinda
raises the, uh, the stakes a little bit. For hours sometimes! I had a neighbor, I
swear, he mowed his lawn for about eight straight hours a day. I was (mumbled)
what the heck is goin' on here? He mowed it forwards, backwards, vertical,
horizontal, diagonally, even in a rhombus shape. I think he was just tryin' out
shapes! Anyway, I just thought that, uh, we should put the .... put the limit back
up. That would be the most practical thing anyway, uh, and also I would like to
mention in the spirit of Kids to the Parks, that, um .... that spraying the parks is not
helpful. Uh, you talked about diabetes, want to get those kids out there runnin',
not to be overweight or whatever. I think it's a good idea, but if you spray the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 9
parks, people with asthma and a lot of kids these days have it, uh, suffer. And
also sprays that are herbicidal, uh, which parks do use and people on their lawns
take note as well, they are .... they are dangerous, and they pose a risk, and the
people who are most at risk are the children, and so in the spirit of Kids to the
Parks, I would like to say that our, uh, rules about.... about pesticides, herbicides
in the grass should be more staunch, and I know there's state laws and all this
kind of things, but the City Council is here to protect the people of this
municipality and with consideration for that, I hope that you do take this as a, uh,
an important thing, uh, and will make, uh, make a decision regardingly. I thank
you so much for the City Council, uh.... you guys are doin' a great job and I just
wanted to say that too. Good night!
Throgmorton: Thanks, Brandon.
Ross: I just changed something on the screen. I think we're all gonna have the lights off
(mumbled)
Throgmorton: Good evening.
Rummey: I am Jan Rummey. Jan Rummey, journalist and writer of Iowa City. Iowa City,
the city of writers. There's only three designated city writers in the world. Iowa
City is one of `em. I write, therefore I am a writer. I liked Kurt Vonnegut who
got his degree here. He was quite a thinker. I have two questions to ask, and then
I'm gonna sit down! Oh by the way, Susan Mims, thank you for closing the door
on me today. Question one, this is from Senator Elizabeth Warren .... on Charlie
Rose. What are you going to do with the economic problem, with 90% of the
people getting nothing, while the massive increasing wealth every year. Number
two, Independent Lens/Frontline. What are you going to do with the social class
problem with insanely huge disparities of income and equality going on for
decades. And then I want to make two comments and I'm gonna sit down. It's
not what you make for yourself, it's what you make of yourself. This country can
no longer afford .... can no longer afford absolute abdications of moral, individual
shared responsibility to life. The Pope is really gettin' wound up over this.
Business stuff, that's creating a lot of poor people. Uh.... I'm gonna sit down
now. Thank you.
Tbrogmorton: Thank you, Jan. Those are important questions, but we're not gonna be able to
address them at this particular moment, but thank you for asking. Anyone else?
Good evening, Adil.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 10
Adams: Uh, no more problems. Just I would like to congratulate myself and also (unable
to understand) people, uh, finally America lifted the sanction against Sudan after
27 years of people suffering and (unable to understand) punishing the people, not
the government, and now America (unable to understand) lift this sanction and we
are very happy here and in Sudan. Uh, other issue I like to inform you that
Ramadan will be next week on the 27a' also.
Throgmorton: Adil, when does it start and when does it end?
Adams: 27, in the morning if you want to fast, and I hope all of you fast on 27. Start in
the morning (mumbled) in the morning, not .... nobody eat or drink or have sex or
anything, until .... uh, 8:30 P.M. No water, nothing. And .... I ..... if you can fast
one day, and the money for your lunch, we can support our children in Sudan,
south Sudan. There is a war there, and the people they need any help in south
Sudan. My mom from south of Sudan, my dad from north, but the children, they
are suffering from this war. And, uh, America last week they send, uh, one ship
was (mumbled) food to this people. (unable to understand) 27 years America
send aid to Sudan and we appreciate that. But, uh, if you can announce
everybody in Iowa to fast just one day and this money we can support the children
of south of Sudan. By the way, fasting is for your health. Not for this religion
because prophet Muhammad said in (unable to understand) if you fast, you'll be
healthy. And if you want to not believe me, just try it. Try just to fast. If you
sick, if you fast you be healthy. So I (unable to understand) Council to support
south of Sudan by fasting just one day. (unable to understand) you can fast two
days, three days, and nobody will die. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Adil. Adil, could I ask you, when Ramadan end this year?
Adams: Uh, it start 27 .... it is one month, 30 days. 27 to .... the next, the following month,
so we (mumbled) so I invite you from (mumbled) if you fasting (unable to
understand) by 26 of, uh, June, and uh, we celebrate this day, and I hope (unable
to understand) Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you. I was just going to say would anybody else like to speak? Think the
answer's yes!
Eastham: Uh, thank you, Mayor Throgmorton. My name's Charlie Eastham. I live at 953
Canton Street. Just wanted to continue your conversation from your work session
about the changes in state legislation that made it apparently, uh, easier for
individuals to bring weapons into this Council chamber and other City properties.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 11
Um (clears throat) and I would like to ask if you would reconsider very carefully
your response, um, and resist the state legislature's actions if at all pos.... as much
as can be done. Uh, as you know, many people come to these Council chambers,
uh... uh, because the Council invites people to come here. And you have public,
uh, comment periods, this one. You have comment periods for specific, uh, items
that you're considering, um, and you have many other things that we celebrate in
these ... in this space (mumbled) where the public is invited. We just did a
children's presentation, our youth awards presentation, which the Council's been
doing for years now, and that invites children, youth to come here. Uh, I'm
affiliated with an organization that does a .... uh, that, uh, asks people to come to
this meeting, uh, and talk to you in a public setting, and we rely upon people,
uh... feeling safe in coming here and, uh, and conversing with you about issues
that are of concern to them. If they don't feel safe, they will not be inclined to
attend and our public purposes will not be fulfilled. So (clears throat) and I think,
uh, the presence, or the, uh, the possible presence of weapons in this space will
not, uh, will inhibit people from actually participating in, um, public involvement
with you. So I hope you'll consider very carefully. I think, uh, Mayor
Throgmorton outlined some possible approaches to the legislative, uh,
legislature's action, which I hope the City can ... will pursue. I think the City has a
policy now that says that if I had a weapon, if I'm carrying a weapon, uh, legally.
It's under state law, and I come into this chamber (clears throat) with that weapon,
then I can be charged with trespass or asked to be .... to leave. I think that's a
good policy, and I think we should.... should continue it. Uh, I can't take a
weapon to the school, uh, where the students that were here earlier, uh, come
from, where they go every day. Uh (clears throat) I can't take a .... a weapon in
other places. I don't have an unlimited right to do anything I want
with ... with.....with the weapons I have. So I hope you'll... you'll really buckle up
and fight the state on this. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Charlie. Anyone else? Uh, seeing no one else, uh, we will turn to
Item 6, Planning and Zoning Matters.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 12
ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 6a REZONING DELUXE BAKERY— ORDINANCE
CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 3,440 SQUARE
FEET OF PROPERTY LOCATED 812 S. SUMMIT STREET FROM LOW
DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL WITH HISTORIC
DISTRICT OVERLAY (RS- 5/011D) TO NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMERCIAL WITH HISTORIC DISTRICT OVERLAY (CN-1/OHD).
(REZ17-00006) (FIRST CONSIDERATION)
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Throgmorton: I should ask, uh, whether anybody's had any, um, conversations about this that
should be disclosed publicly. Okay, I don't see anybody. I'm going to open the
public hearing. What did I do with my hammer? (bangs gavel) Open the public
hearing. Good evening, John!
Yapp: Uh, good evening, Mayor, Members of Council, uh, John Yapp, Development
Services. Uh, the property in question is at 812 Summit Street, uh, the Deluxe
Bakery. Uh, Summit Street south of Sheridan Avenue. The property, uh, is
zoned single-family residential, as are, uh, all the other properties on Summit
Street. This is an image, uh, of the property. It's a two-story, mixed-use building,
uh, with a bakery on the ground level and an apartment on the second level. Uh,
the building was originally constructed in ... in around 1900, uh, and has had a
conuriercial use on the first floor since that time. Uh, a variety of commercial
uses over ... over that time period. Uh, the property is zoned residential, so it is
what we call a `legally non -conforming use.' In other words it's grandfathered in.
Uh, and may be allowed to continue as a commercial use, but may not expand.
Uh, the owner wishes to construct an addition on to the north side of the property,
uh, which would include a stair tower to provide access to the second story, uh, as
well as some, uh, ADA improvements, uh, for the entrance. Because it's
grandfathered in and not allowed to expand, the intent of the rezoning is to allow
that expansion to take place. Uh, the property is in the Summit Street Historic
District. So any change to the exterior of the building, including the proposed
addition, uh, would have to be approved by the Historic Preservation
Commission. Couple other views of the .... of the property. The neighborhood
commercial zone is intended to provide small-scale retail sales and personal
services in a neighborhood, uh, area, within walking distance of properties. Uh,
allowed uses are restricted in size, uh, to promote neighborhood serving, uh,
businesses as opposed to big -box stores, uh, for example. In addition to the use
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 13
being non -conforming, the, uh, parking is non -conforming. There are two
parking spaces at the rear of the property. Uh, that limited amount of parking and
limited opportunity to create more parking really restricts the types of uses that
could go into this .... into this structure. For example, restaurants, uh, because of
the parking requirements, would not be able to ... to, uh, occupy this property. Uh,
the Comprehensive Plan supports neighborhood commercial areas. Uh, and I'll
read a couple sentences from the Comprehensive Plan because I ... I think they
really describe what this property is. Uh, neighborhood commercial areas can
provide a focal point and a gathering space for a neighborhood. The businesses
within a neighborhood commercial center should provide shopping opportunities
within a convenient walking distance for the residents in the immediate area. The
design of the neighborhood commercial center should have a pedestrian
orientation, with stores places close to the street, but with sufficient open space to
allow outdoor cafes and patios, or landscaping. Um, as shown in the picture of
this property. In summary, uh, the Comprehensive Plan supports neighborhood
commercial within walking distance of residents. Uh, the property is in the
Summit Street Historic District, and therefore exterior design will be controlled.
Uh, the non -conforming parking will limit the types of businesses that can occupy
the structure over time, uh, and this is something I did not touch on in my ... in my
presentation until now, but, uh, restricting the hours of operation and restricting
the sale of alcohol and tobacco helps ensure the commercial use of the property
remains neighborhood serving and compatible with residential living. The
property is in very close proximity to other single-family structures, uh, therefore
those recommended conditions. Uh, staff recommends approval and the Planning
and Zoning Commission recommended approval.
Throgmorton: Thank you, John. Any questions for John? I don't see any. Thank you. Would
anybody else like to address this proposed rezoning? Uh, seeing no one I need to
ask whether the Council, anybody on the Council is inclined to vote in accordance
with the Planning and Zoning's.... Zoning Commissions' recommendation. If not
we'll have to do somethin' else. So, are you inclined to vote in favor? Yeah.
Okay. So I'm going to close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b) CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE
Mims: Move first consideration.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 14
Mims: I'm very supportive of this. This has been, you know, just an
incredibly... successful business. Uh, neighborhood absolutely loves it. Um, busy
all the time. Urn ... Jamie Powers grew up here in Iowa City and left and came
back, and we're always encouraging young people to come back and ... and thrive
and live in this community, and she's done exactly that and built just a very, very
successful business and I think the restrictions that go with this, with it being in a
historic district, um, you know, make it so that it'll be very ... still be very
compatible, um, with the neighborhood and, um, a destination place, which I
think is fantastic. So .... very supportive!
Cole: And I was just gonna say I absolutely love everything about this property. Totally
supportive of this, and sort of a (mumbled) second topic but, um, I think we need
to do everything possible to encourage businesses like this. I think it's a perfect
fit for the neighborhood and major kudos to the owner and to everyone who's
made this happen.
Thomas: Yeah, a little .... a little gem is just getting a little better. For sure!
Throgmorton: Sounds like there's support. Uh, I'm gonna support it as well, but I wanna note
something that's not a conflict of interest but my wife and I bought our wedding
cake at this particular place. So .... (several talking and laughing)
Taylor: My daughter go hers there too. It was wonderful!
Throgmorton: Okay. Any farther discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 15
ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 6b COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT — RESOLUTION
AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS
MITIGATING IMPACT OF REDEVELOPMENT ON EXISTING
TENANTS OF MULTI -FAMILY BUILDINGS. (CPA17-00001)
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Throgmorton: I'm going to open the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
Yapp: (both talking) One of the ... one of the specific actions called for in the, uh,
Council's affordable housing action plan is to amend local ordinances to address
impacts of tenant displacement associated with major site plans or redevelopment
of multi -family properties, uh, designed to increase notice and to foster greater
communication, uh, with tenants. As many of you recall, this grew out of
discussions related to the redevelopment of Rose Oaks, uh, which was not a
rezoning, uh, so there was no legislative action, uh, that the City Council could
take. It was just a site plan. Uh... site plans currently .... uh, are reviewed to assure
compliance with the City's codes and regulations. Once it's determined that ... that
they do comply, they must be approved. Uh, and then a building permit may be
issued. What we are proposing here tonight is a .... a Comprehensive Plan
amendment that provides the policy basis, uh, for future proposed changes to the
site plan ordinances. Uh, to requite notification, communication with residents,
uh, what we're calling a transition plan, uh, for the residents. The Comprehensive
Plan language proposed tonight is not regulatory. Uh, but it does provide the
basis for future regulatory changes. Uh, specifically there are three, uh, proposed
changes. Number one, to add a goal to the housing section in the Comprehensive
Plan, uh, stating, `Mitigate the impact of redevelopment on occupants of proposed
projects, involving the remodeling or reconstruction of existing multi -family
residential dwellings by fostering communication between property owners and
occupants through sufficient notice requirements and encouraging the developer
to create thoughtful transition plans that seek to accommodate relocation needs of
occupants.' Uh, similar statement would be added to the community vision
statement in the Comprehensive Plan, uh, stating, `Fostering communication
among owners, redevelopers, and occupants to mitigate the impact of
redeveloping existing residential properties.' Uh, and thirdly, adding a statement
in the background housing section, uh, in the Comprehensive Plan. In reviewing
the Comprehensive Plan, uh, for this item, uh, we realized that there's very little
reference to affordable housing documents, uh, in the Comprehensive Plan, uh, so
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 16
we wanted to tie the Comprehensive Plan to those documents, uh, with this ... with
this statement, uh, `The City has several affordable housing related documents,
uh, including the update to the affordable housing market analysis, City Steps
Consolidated Plan, uh, which document housing issues and trends. Uh, these and
future documents provide the basis for affordable housing related discussions,
policies, and legislation.' Uh, a couple other.... items noted in the, uh, staff
memo. Uh, some of the next steps staff will take is to propose amending the site
plan review process. Uh, if these Comprehensive Plan proposals are adopted, uh,
that would be our next step, is the legislative, uh, step to amend the site plan
chapter. Uh, and thirdly, to update the good neighbor policy. Uh, currently the
good neighbor policy is used for subdivisions, rezonings, and special exceptions.
It has not been used for site plans. Uh, but we would, uh, amend that policy,
which is a .... it's an administrative policy, to include, uh, site plans in that
umbrella. Uh, staff recommends approval, Planning and Zoning Commission
recommends approval.
Throgmorton: Thank you, John. Any questions for John? Hearing none, thank you! Anybody
else want to address this topic?
Eastham: I'm Charlie Eastham again, 953 Canton Street. I just want to compliment the staff
for taking this initiative. I think .... as far as I know (clears throat) the ... this
proposal's before you and the ... and the future, uh, ideas will come before you,
primarily because the staff did this on their own initiative, and I think that's a
great thing; compliment, uh, Geoff, the City Manager, uh, Mr. Yapp, and all the
other Planning staff. So (mumbled) can you give `em a raise or something?
(laughter)
Throgmorton: Not a big one! (laughter) Though they deserve it, of course! Anybody else?
Okay, seeing no one else I'm going to close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Mims: Move the resolution.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion?
Cole: Well I guess I'm really pleased to see that we're taking these steps and that ... this
is a classic example of, you know, using the tools that we have, um, to address the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 17
policy issues in front of us, so I'm quite pleased that staff has ... has come up with
this.
Throgmorton: Yeah, um, me too. We had a difficult.... time with, uh, the Rose Oaks' situation.
I'm very pleased to see this particular amendment's being presented to us. I know
we have subsequent conversations that will have to take place, having to do with
the transition plan, havin' to do with the good neighbor policy, and so on. So I
look forward to those discussions. Anybody else? Seeing no one, roll call.
Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 18
ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 6c REZONING SCOTT BOULEVARD NORTHWEST OF FIRST
AVENUE — AN ORDINANCE REZONING 12.28 ACRES OF PROPERTY
FROM LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS -5) AND
LOW DENSITY MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RM -12) TO PLANNED
DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY/LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL (OPD -5) ZONE AND PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
OVERLAY/LOW DENSITY MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL (OPD/RM-
12) ZONE AND APPROVING A PRELIMINARY SENSITIVE AREAS
DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE LARSON SUBDIVISION, A 2 -LOT,
RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION LOCATED NORTH OF SCOTT
BOULEVARD BETWEEN HICKORY HEIGHTS LANE AND FIRST
AVENUE. (REZ16-00008/SUB16-00012) (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Throgmorton: This is second consideration, but staff has requested expedited action.
Mims: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for
passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally
passed be suspended, that the second consideration and vote be waived, and that
the ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by, uh.... um, Dickens. Uh, I should note that I ... I was
supposed to ask for ex parte .... ex parte disclosure. Has anybody had any
conversations? Okay. Thank you. It was on the next page, I just didn't see it.
(laughs) There it goes! Okay, so, um ..... motion's on the floor. Uh, discussion?
Seeing none, roll call. Motion carnes 6-0.
Mims: Move ordinance be finalized at this time.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by, uh, Dickens. Discussion? Hearing none, roll call.
Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 19
ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 6d ORCHARD SUBDISTRICT FORM -BASED CODE — AN
ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 14: ZONING, ARTICLE 2G,
RIVERFRONT CROSSINGS AND EASTSIDE MIXED USE DISTRICTS
FORM -BASED DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, TO ADD ZONING
STANDARDS FOR THE ORCHARD SUBDISTRICT. (SECOND
CONSIDERATION)
Throgmorton: This is second consideration, but again staff requests expedited action.
Mims: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for
passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally
passed be suspended, that the second consideration and vote be waived, and that
the ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time.
Taylor: Second.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Taylor. Discussion? Hearing none, roll call.
Motion carries 6-0.
Mims: Move final adoption at this time.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? Hearing none, roll call.
Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 20
ITEM 6. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
ITEM 6f REZONING 202 N. LINN STREET — ORDINANCE
CONDITIONALLY REZONING APPROXIMATELY 4,550 SQUARE
FEET OF PROPERTY FROM CENTRAL BUSINESS SERVICE (CB -2)
ZONE TO CENTRAL BUSINESS SUPPORT (CB -5) ZONE LOCATED AT
202 NORTH LINN STREET (CORRIDOR STATE BANK PROPERTY).
(REZ17-00004) (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Mims: Move second consideration (both talking)
Throgmorton: I .... uh, are there any ex parte dis... uh, disclosures? I should say that I, uh, had a
brief chat with, uh.... uh, Nick Craig, who's the owner of Bricks. Nick told me he
favors the rezoning, uh, and I said thanks (laughs) (mumbled) so ... but, uh, I did
have that conversation. So, uh... go ahead, please.
Mims: Move second consideration.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? John!
Yapp: Uh, Mayor, Members of Council, at the ... at your last meeting when this project
was discussed, there was some discussion of the design review process. Uh, so I
wanted to briefly present that process, uh, to you, give you a .... a flavor for what
that process entails. Uh, design review is a staff committee, uh, currently
comprised of representatives from the Urban Planning, Building Inspections, and
City Manager's office. Uh, so it's a cross-section of staff and backgrounds. Uh,
when design review is required for a project, the applicants submit building
elevations and images prior to requesting a building permit. Uh, this process
allows for a detailed review and discussion of the exterior, uh, elements of the
building. Depending on the location, and the zone in which a property is located,
uh, there are different standards. Uh, for this particular property, it would be
reviewed under the central business site development standards. Uh, and I'd like
to briefly, uh, run through some of those standards with you. Uh, they have to do
with parking and loading, uh, location, and how that parking is concealed from
view. Uh, they have to do with vehicular access to the parking and to minimize
traffic congestion and to preserve the street frontage. Uh, landscaping plans must
be submitted for review. Uh, dumpster and recycling bin location is reviewed.
Uh, there's a requirement that the ground floor ceiling height must be at least 14 -
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 21
feet in the central business zones. That's to, uh, preserve the ability for viable... a
variety of viable commercial businesses. Uh, primary building entrances are
reviewed. Uh, and must be distinguished by canopies, awnings, recesses, raised
cornices or other architectural details. Uh, access to the residential portion of the
building is reviewed, uh, and there's a requirement that they must have a separate,
uh, entrance. Not always the case in some of our older buildings. Uh... minimum
of 50% of the facade, street -facing facade, must be of clear and highly transparent
windows. In other words, storefront windows. Uh, and for buildings greater than
50 -feet in length, uh, the facade must be broken up into modules to give the
appearance of individual storefronts. So the .... the method of achieving that is
reviewed. Uh, in this particular case, the applicant has, uh, been open about, uh,
their desire to seek a floor to area ratio bonus. Uh, that's a method by which a
building can go taller if they meet certain either architectural or public goals. Uh,
in the CB -5 zone, the base floor to area ration is three. Meaning three floors of
square footage for every one square foot of lot area. Uh, with a bonuses, you can
get up to five. Meaning five square feet of floor area for every one square foot of
lot area. And that's where the five in CB -5 comes from. Uh.... masonry or
architectural metal finish, uh, can achieve a bonus provision of a theater, uh,
funds for street furniture, lighting, and landscaping. Provision of pedestrian
activity areas. Usable open space for residents, uh, such as courtyards, terraces,
and rooftop gardens, uh, and adaptive reuse of historic landmark. Not the case for
this property, but it has been in other .... other properties. Uh, so in other words,
it's an incentive -based, uh, system for achieving greater architectural design, as
well as, uh, public goods, uh, and the incentive is greater floor area, uh, for the
building. So all .... all of these factors are reviewed by the Design Review
Committee, uh, in working with individual applicants, uh.... prior to a, uh,
building permit being issued. Any questions about that process? Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, John. All right, uh, would anybody else like to address this topic?
Mims: Well I'm going to be supportive (both talking)
Throgmorton: I think we're still in the public hearing, aren't we? (several talking) Oh, right!
Sorry, but I want to make sure anybody who wants to speak about it, speaks.
So.....
Mims: No, that's okay.
Throgmorton: Hi!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 22
McGuire: Hello. Um, is this the Pierson property we're talking about? All right, thank you.
My name is Linda McGuire and, um, I'm a long-time Northside neighbor, um,
and .... it .... and I will submit my information. Um .... it's so exciting to see, uh,
development wanting to come in to the Northside Marketplace, cause Lord knows
we are a neighborhood that has been, you know, going back to the founding
of. ... of, um, our neighborhood, and I think ... don't, like this may be alternative
facts. I'm sorry, but I think that this is the third, um, rezoning request that we've
had in that area. Um, and that's fine! Uh, that's the way that it works, but .... at a
point where an area of like four or five or six square blocks, um, starts having
people come in and say .... um, we want to rezone this spot and we want to rezone
this spot and we want to rezone .... now it's the third one, um .... I really urge the
Council to think about this. Uh.... you know, it is an area and it is an old
neighborhood, and it is an old commercial district. And, you know, we have the
opportunity to preserve what's there, and I'm not speaking out against any
particular rezoning. What I am speaking out against is your approach of letting
individual, one -by -one properties come in, cause we can't really respond to that.
So, my request is, um, this, that the, um, the wonderful, uh.... consultants that
you've brought in to help us vision the south.... side and the northside. Um, it's
been very helpful to us as a.....as a community to think about what we want there,
and um, we will be really squandering, um, a wonderful opportunity up in the
Northside Marketplace to recapture some of the history, like two weeks ago I
went down to the beer caves. How many of you have done that? Uh, we ... we
have a rich Czech, German, Irish history that was all .... in that area, and so think
about preserving history, uh, being careful not to overdevelop, and particularly
parking, um....you know, it's a .... it's a real issue if we want to have destination
restaurants and we're losing them, but whatever. Um, you know, to think about
the whole picture. That's I guess what I would .... I would, um, suggest that you
do. So ... let me see.....oh, aging place. You know that's a whole thing that's
being brought up and that's really good cause we love the .... here's the thing. The
walkability of. ... of our neighborhood to downtown is really important, uh, to
keep. So, I will put this here for the record. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Linda, could I ask you a quick question?
McGuire: Yeah!
Throgmorton: I didn't quite follow what you were saying with regard to parking.
McGuire: With regard to parking?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 23
Throgmorton: Parking, yeah.
McGuire: Well, um .... you know, I don't know about the CB -5. Is that the name of it, but
um, what I understand is there may be a request for part of the .... any of these
individual zoning things, to waive down the number of parking area, uh, spots,
and um, we seniors really like our cars. So we're not like willing to give those up.
You shouldn't like fall for that, but also, um .... you know, that City parking lot,
and I don't know what your plans are for that, but that is so critical to the, uh,
the ... I was talking to John, one of the owners at, uh, Blue Bird the other day at our
community meeting and it was great, and he says how important it is for him, and
let me tell you, that's a really hot restaurant right now, to come to our
neighborhood, and people come up and say, "I can't find a place to park!" Cause
they wanna go there. So, any requests that you get to downgrade parking in that
neighborhood will only hurt the businesses that are already there. My two cents!
Throgmorton: Thank you.
McGuire: Yep!
Throgmorton: Good evenin'!
Huber: Hi there! (clears throat) My name is Mike Huber. I'm, uh, about a 10 -year
resident in the north end, and uh, when I was younger grew up by Hickory Hill
Park and in the Goosetown neighborhood. Um, I like my cars as well (laughs) for
obvious reasons, for those of you that know me, but (laughter) but I would say I,
uh, I'm really happy and excited about this project. I might come at it from a
little bit of a different angle. I .... as I understand it, it actually doesn't reduce the
parking, so it doesn't remove parking. Uh, and I want to be able to stay in the
neighborhood when I don't want to mow my yard and cut the grass, and I
understand there's a senior component, or ... or aging in place that's proposed for
this project. I also think that the ... the, from what I've seen so far, they've done a
really, really good job of trying to make it blend into the neighborhood and look,
uh, as I would want it to look! And, uh.... as much as I like the history and
remember going to Pierson's as a kid and having a milkshake, the building that's
there now is certainly not a good use of the space and uh, and I just want to give
my two cents (laughs) probably less two cents than Linda gave (laughter) I
respect her opinion. We're all good Northsiders! (laughter) But I, uh, I welcome
the idea. I welcome the idea of the ... of the, uh, aging in place component. I
welcome the idea that it would have a nice, uh, ground floor, uh, element that
could be a restaurant or ... or other sort of retail, and the talk of a rooftop garden is
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 24
kind of. ... kinda nice and exciting, and gives a great mix to the neighborhood.
That's all... that's the appeal in my opinion to that neighborhood is the mix. Lots
of different styles of architecture. Everything doesn't match. It doesn't all look
the same and .... and, uh, I think this building would do a really good job of
preserving that and the developers, I think, have done a good job of proving that
they're very interested in that and they're very interested in the town and... and uh,
have ... have a long-time history of that. That's my two cents (both talking)
Throgmorton: Thank you, Mike. Could I .... could I ask you a quick question?
Huber: Of course!
Throgmorton: I didn't catch your last name.
Huber: Huber. Mike Huber.
Throgmorton: Huber, yeah. Thanks!
Huber: Yes, thank you!
Throgmorton: Good evening, Ofer!
Sivan: (clears throat) Excuse me! Uh, my name is Ofer Sivan. I live at 801 Brown.
Um .... so I'm a homeowner in the Northside and a business owner in the
Northside, and I'm a Horace Mann parent, and I guess while we're at it, I went to
preschool in the Northside. (laughter) Uh, on Reno Street there. (clears throat)
Excuse me! Um, my .... building, which I own, and my restaurant are immediately
next to this property. Um .... so as a resident and a business owner, um, I have as
much to gain or lose as anyone else about this project. Um, so one of the issues is
the height. Um, I don't see the height as a problem. It matches the building
across the street, that the coffee shop is in. Um, tall buildings mean more
customers and more neighbors, friends, and in an environmentally sound way.
Otherwise, people can live in the suburbs and drive all over the place, and that's
kind of in the past. It's not the 1950s anymore. People want to live close in, they
don't have to drive everywhere. As far as the parking goes, I don't know .... in my
opinion (clears throat) new buildings should be prohibited from providing any
parking. I don't understand why .... we're trying to encourage car ownership at
all. I know that other of my restaurant owners in the neighborhood don't agree,
and I definitely have a lot of drive -up traffic. Um, but it's worth noting that the
highest rents and the most desirable properties are on the ped mall, where you
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 25
cannot drive. Because if you remove cars, you will fill it up with people, cause
people are way cooler than cars. (laughter) So ... (clears throat) I really don't
understand, and like you mentioned, it's a nut. It's.... there's no change in the
amount of parking. Um .... I also used to go to Pierson when I was a kid, before
getting shots at Kammermeyer's office. (laughter) So ... but those days are long
gone. It's been a parking lot for .... seven or eight years now. It's not particularly
use of space. Um, one nice thing about the parking lot, however, is the planter
there (clears throat) which sometimes there's a little duck there with her lil things.
She wasn't there this year but she's been there a few years. Um.....the design that
I've seen is fairly attractive. I don't like how it goes all the way up to the comer.
It's too crowded. Um, I ... talked to .... the developers and they seemed willing to
put some kind of design element (mumbled) open space on the comer, uh, maybe
under... you know, the building would be above it, but maybe open underneath. I
think if they are willing to sacrifice.... that valuable real estate for, you know,
more or less eternity, um, for the benefit of the neighborhood, and .... I think that's
a good sign. Um, I think if they insist on bringing the building all the way to the
corner then I can't support the project at all. Um, because people.... there'll just
be the street and the sidewalk and there's no place to hang out. Um, and you
know, people want a place to mill around. The planter's great. The kids climb on
it. There's ducks in there. You know, it's a place to congregate. Um, the
Northside, you know, if you don't increase the density down there we're gonna
lose out to development on the south side, which is happening like Riverfront
Crossing. Which is great. I'm not trying to compete and beat the south side,
but .... we need to stay on our toes and keep it competitive. Um, we need more
retail space down there, urn .... you know, restaurants come and go.
Usually.... sometimes for personal reasons so I don't think that the zoning has
anything to do with why certain restaurants have closed recently or not. Um, you
know, people do want in on the neighborhood. People do want to retire in that
neighborhood, where there's very little .... I don't know of any condos or any nice,
uh, place for older people. I would like to stay in the Northside when I'm grown
up. I do not want a 2,400 -square foot house. I would like an apartment with no
car .... and I know there's other people like me. Um, it would be nice maybe if
there was some low-income housing in this project. I'm not sure if that's being
addressed or not. Um, I think those are my views and .... covered everything.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Ofer. Anyone else? (several talking in background) Good evening,
Ross.
Nusser: Good evening! Thank you again, Mr. Mayor, and Ci ... City Council. Um, a
couple of reasons why I wanted to come up and speak tonight. One is to address
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 26
any questions or concerns that you've had from the public tonight or from last
meeting. The other is to talk about what has happened since last meeting, and to
talk about the steps that we've done to move forward. The first thing that I'd like
to comment on is the parking as it relates to senior housing. I wanted to thank
you for that. I ... I agree 100% with you, that seniors, like I said last meeting as
well, they don't want to give up cars. If you're gonna age in place, it's not giving
up your entire lifestyle. This is meant to be a transition and not an end -of -the -
line, um, project. So .... with that said, the way that the ... the parking spots work
right now, um, the senior housing would each have one parking spot. It may not
be the two that they, that most people have been used to, but one car is generally
suf.... sufficient, and in my conversations with seniors, um, `with seniors' is a
weird term! It's 55 -plus, 55 is .... is really the start of age in place. I mean it can
truly be going from empty -nester and being able to be here for 25, 35 years. Um,
and that's what I'm excited about in ... in that sense. Um, with that said, I did want
to address real quickly how this building works in regards to height and parking.
And ... right now the plan that I have, um, it shows five stories, and even though
it's a conceptual plan, I am .... I am very well closely committed. One of the
things I'm not committed to is exactly how it lays out. I have spoken with Ofer a
few different times and .... comer cut, very important to not only he, but other
people, and as we saw in the paper this week, we saw that the old Pierson's had a
corner cut! And ... that could be a great community space. Um .... all of these
issues I would like to work out in design review. I am fully, and LA will say this
at the next meeting as well, I am fully 100% committed to senior housing. Ido
not believe that I can do five stories here without doing senior housing.
Economically the way that it would work, should I not do senior housing and try
and do five stories, it would be .... two bedroom, or two units per floor and then
the top floor, one floor would have to be one large, one -bedroom unit. No
developer in this town would speculate on that. Um .... so anything other than
senior housing will not .... it will make it so that this building is not five stories
tall. The parking I wanted to address is that .... some restaurant owners have
expressed concern that the parking will further burden the neighborhood. Um,
one of the things that I've tried to do to address that is that a tenant who I'm
having some fairly serious negotiations with right now .... they.....they would not
burden the neighborhood any further than it would .... it would not be a use that
would require extra parking. It would not generate more foot traffic or cars in the
neighborhood. So I want to say that I'm taking all of this very seriously from
you, and I would like to continue to work forward to address all of the concerns of
not only yourselves but the community. Um .... I did want to clarify one thing,
and I wanted to announce it one more time is that coming up here on May 25`h at
5:30 P.M. at the Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A, we are going to be
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 27
having a good neighbor meeting and I'd like to ask the neighbors and whomever
would like to be there to further comment on the design of the building. Um, the
reason for the timing of that date, that .... I booked that right after Planning and
Zoning. I booked it on April 11th. City Library's full! (laughs) Up until May
25'h, from April 11° . And .... and I wanted to use that location because it's a
neutral public venue. And I wanted to choose that time because it's a time that
generally people are getting off work and ... they can stop by, if they would like to
voice their opinions. I wanted to say that since the last meeting I've spoken, um,
with several members of Trail, which is the senior living, uh, community in the
Northside, and I've had good conversations with them, and we're trying to set up
a more formal meeting. As graduation, Mother's Day has happened, uh,
it's .... it's not happened yet, but that will happen I'm sure prior to the next and
final consideration. Um, I've also spoken to business owners in the Northside as
well as .... to seven business owners on the Northside, as well as, um, multiple
community members out there. And ... and I'm only saying that to orchestrate
again that what I'm asking here is ... I'm asking for a rezoning. Um, and I'm
asking for this land use to be approved, because I believe that it can really benefit
our community. I would like this land use, and I .... and I understand that it is an
ask, but I am fully committed to senior housing and I would like this land use to
be approved as is stated. I think it opens up the door for this diverse project. And
by diverse project I mean that.... mixture of commercial.... on the main level. One
bedroom... sudo-workforce housing. Um, there... there is not an affordable housing
component right now. Like I said last meeting, I serve with the Affordable
Housing, um. .... with the Housing Fellowship of Iowa City and .... if I get a
stronger feeling there, I'd absolutely be open to it, but the senior housing, the age
in place, is something that I'm fully committed to. So one level to serve the
restaurant workers or whomever, near downtown and the Northside; two levels,
which is half of the residential building, to serve age -in-place seniors, and one
level for people who would like to live there, and who would like to own their
units. Um, with a rooftop terrace that I believe could either serve the commercial
or the community or building, which that would be a separate Council proposal. I
would like to thank you all for your time on this and I'd like to open it up to
questions for me.
Thomas: So ... so, Ross, if I heard you correctly, you said if...if you do not have the senior
housing component, the building will not be five stories?
Nusser: One hundred percent correct! Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 28
Throgmorton: Thank you, Ross. Yeah, if...if we, uh, if we have conversation and .... feel good
reason to ask Ross or anybody else a question, we could still do that, could we
not? Yeah. Okay. (several talking in background) Yeah.
Dickens: I needed to disclose ex parte. I met with Ross and the architect.... it's been over a
month ago. It was before the last meeting which I missed, so I didn't think about
it, but I did meet with them and he just showed me the rough plans at that time.
So I want to make that... clear, that I did meet with him.
Throgmorton: I waved at Ross yesterday. (laughter) Okay, so .... uh, would any, let's see, we're
not havin' a .... we're not havin' a public hearing, right? (several responding)
Okay! I ... yeah, uh, would anybody else like to address this topic?
McGuire: I'm just really curious about, um .... and .... I'm .... I am not against senior housing
and whatever, but how does that get enforced? Um .... you know, when a
developer says they want to do that, and we .... we want it but .... doesn't the
market prevail at a certain point? Is there any .... way that the City keeps track of
that?
Throgmorton: Good question, Linda. We'll probably discuss that in some fashion here in a
second. (unable to hear person speaking in background) Sure!
Nusser: The reason why that's able to be enforced and why, um, the building cannot be
five stories without the senior housing is once the plan is submitted to the Design
Review, I will have to enter into a covenant for 55 -plus, and that goes ... for
eternity. The second I enter into that covenant, it is recorded at the Recorder's
Office, urn .... no one can occupy that property or purchase it who is under the age
of 55 years old. Um, as far as the parking and how ... how parking's provided for
that, that's a little bit different there. That's something that's more up in the air. I
am 100% committed to ... just from ... I don't think I can sell them to seniors
without at least one single parking space. I'm sorry, I'm addressing the Council
(laughter) Um .... but .... but that's how ... that's how it would work is that .... for me
to get my five stories, I can't do so with the parking that I'm able to provide,
without providing senior housing. Um, and .... once that is done, that is how the
covenant would come into effect.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Ross. Okay, I'm not seeing anybody else who would like to address
the topic. So .... uh, discussion among our Council Members?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 29
Mims: Well I'm going to support this. I think it's a great, um, revitalization of what
everybody I think has agreed is an underutilized piece of property right now. I
think the .... the preliminary designs we've seen in terms of size and everything fit
in with what's on the other three corners of that intersection. I think that the idea
of more senior housing in the downtown area is certainly in demand. I mean
we've .... we've had people basically want us to underwrite the cost of. ... of really
workforce housing, but for seniors, you know, in the downtown area, and these
are people, some of whom have retired from the University. Then I can only
imagine they have pretty good retirement accounts cause I know the positions
they've had at the University (laughs) and they're saying I can't afford to live
downtown, and I'm like, yeah, maybe you can't but I don't think the taxpayers
should pay for you to live down there either, and so .... for, to get this kind of
housing, um, in the Northside, um, without .... you know, I ... I just think it works
really well in all aspects. I think because of the limited size of the lot and the
parking limitations that are there, which obviously brings up restricted use
under ... under our current zoning policies, um .... another commercial space of
some sort, um, I think it fits in really, really well. I think Ross has obviously
made a lot of effort to really talk to the people in the area, both residents and
business owners and see what they think will work well. Sounds like he's open in
terns of looking at some of the design components, um ... I kind of like the idea of
the ... the cutback on the corner. I know right across the street, um, it .... it's done
that way and it looks nice. So I'm very supportive and we've got this design
review process to take care of those other issues. So, I will be supporting.
Dickens: I think it's a great in -fill project. It's taking basically half a building that was one
story and bunch of parking that will now be used underneath.... will be a great
addition to that area, without taking away from the neighborhood. The size seems
to be right, with.... especially with the building across the street, and of course I
always have to add a little history. My mother worked at Pierson's as a soda jerk,
70 -some years ago, so .... I think it's a great location, uh, people have walked there
for years before there was cars, uh, when all the high schools were downtown, so
I think it's a.....it hasn't changed that much in that ... over the years the Northside
is still a very vibrant area that .... that is walkable and I think this'll only add to it.
Thomas: I would, um, would before speaking to the project, support, uh, Linda's comments
regarding ... uh, a more comprehensive approach towards the Northside planning,
and we do have a ... a real opportunity with Opticos on board. This is part of our
Northside neighborhood planning area. Um, I know that .... I think it was five
years ago when I worked as a citizen at that time, um, on the rezoning of the
Linn -Bloomington corner, that I was concerned, um, with the future of the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 30
Northside, because with the ... with the Linn -Bloomington we had a rezoning
opportunity like this and that rezoning opportunity gave us an opportunity to get a
little bit better fit on that corner than a standard CB -2 by right zoning would have
allowed. The classic, in my mind, comparison is looking at the Red Avocado
building, which was zoned CB -2. There was no opportunity to adjust the zoning
to get a better fit, and that's what we ended up with there. (clears throat) So I do
think that a form -based code for the Northside Marketplace would be a really
useful strategy as we move forward. I'd really like to avoid this parcel -by -parcel
zoning that we .... we are.....we've been seeing. I think that's a very piecemeal
approach, which is not the most effective. With that being said, um, I think the
project, you know I really appreciate Ross' commitment to this project. Uh, his
concerns about meeting with the ... the neighborhood and the larger community in
terms of, uh, the design and the ... the use of the building. Uh, I do have some
concerns about the height. I think ... you know, if you look at that corner, the
average height of the buildings, I know we've been speaking about it as CB -5, but
if you look at their actual heights, they average three floors, three stories. Uh, I ... I
th... you know, I think we can solve that problem architecturally, um, but it is a
concern to me. Five stories I do tend to view as more of a downtown, uh,
building height and, you know, I think all of us understand that the Northside is
not really part of the downtown. It's a separate neighborhood commercial area
that flexes between the neighborhood, the Northside neighborhood, and the
commercial district. So this .... the scale of that is extremely fragile. Um ... but I
think it, again, it's ... it's a good team, it's a good concept, and I'll be supporting it.
Cole: No, I think a ... in addition to I think liking the design, I think the way Ross has
gone about this from sort of start to finish has been extraordinary thoughtful, um,
and I really appreciate you mentioning the public meeting at the Library, in sort of
a neutral location, for residents to share their concerns. Um, I really liked how
you've gone about this process, from start to finish. I do share Linda's concern
though, because I ... I do feel like we do a lot of development by these sort of
increments, where we have these intense discussions around one space, and then
we go to another space. And I think it's right to ask the question that, okay, I
think it does work here and I think the height probably works here, but I think it is
right to ask the question that we should be thinking as a block, as a, you know, the
larger district itself, and set the vision for the neighborhood and let the
development fill in. Much the same we've done with the Riverfront Crossings
District. Um, I think that the ... you have done some good efforts, try to make it
contextually with the ... the rest of the adjacent buildings. I think in terms of the
design, I think that was very thoughtful. But I think it also comes down to, I keep
going back to the CB -2. As I understand it, if you wanted to do a three-story
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 31
building, without parking requirements, if you wanted to do that, it'd be
impractical. And ... and I think that that absolutely underscores the need at some
point to revisit what we're doing to the CB -2 parking, um, because I ... I think
frankly a lot of..we think about what makes this place work. I think a lot of it is
the scale of the buildings. Um, so I ... I do think we need to actually, uh, address
that, but I am going to be supportive of it, because I think that there are a lot of
parts about the project that work, and I think in particular the support that you've
gotten from the neighborhood, as well as from the adjacent business owners. I
think I place considerable weight on, and I can certainly imagine a different
process where this wouldn't have gone through in the way that it did. Um, so
with that I'm gonna .... I'm gonna be supportive of it.
Taylor: I'm also very supportive of it. I think all of the things that you've taken into
consideration, including the terrace on the upper part, cause there's not a lot of
green stuff in that area, uh, and I think keeping the character, the feel of the
neighborhood, cause as it stands now that building there, yes it has the feel and
the history of Pierson's and everybody.... their.... their egg salad sandwich, their
coffee, their, uh.... soda, malt or whatever, uh, but it's not the same. It's ... it's not
that Pierson's. It doesn't have that feel any more and I think, uh, it needs
something like that, something new and vibrant and, uh, I ... I'd love to see a soda
fountain (laughs) in the lower part, but uh, whatever (several talking) I think it's
gonna be a great addition!
Throgmorton: Well, I think we know how this vote's gonna go in general, but ... but I want to
raise a concern. And I've been thinking a .... a lot more deeply about this proposal
since we first held our first reading two weeks ago. I continue to believe it's a
perfect location for providing older Iowa City residents the great site for senior
housing or aging in place or whatever we want to call it, and I am absolutely
convinced that Ross is fully committed to the concept, and I understand that
having these kinds of residential units in this location would be a very big plus. I
think I really emphasized that point in our last meeting. But I need to go back to
something else I said during our May 2"d meeting. At the time, I said that
rezoning to CB -5 is consistent with the Comp Plan. Uh, I've had a lot more time
to think about this, and I think the question is important because as I understand it
at least, the first thing we needed to decide is whether the proposed rezoning is
consistent with the Central District portion of the Comp Plan. So my sense is that
the rezoning to CB -5 is not inconsistent with the Central District portion of the
Comp Plan, but the five -story height of the anticipated building is inconsistent
with the Comp Plan. When discussing the Northside, and I want to detail why I
think that, uh, when discussing the Northside Marketplace, the Central District
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 32
plan states on page 58, and I quote, "Adopt zoning regulations to ensure that new
development is consistent with the existing Main Street commercial character of
the area, and compatible with surrounding residential neighborhoods." In other
words, I'm continuing the quote here, "In other words, encourage two to three
story buildings located close to the street, storefront windows, accessible and
attractive building entrances, and parking located behind or beneath buildings."
So, hmmm, my concern is that it looks to me like a five -story building would
significantly exceed the heights contemplated in the Comprehensive Plan and
would be significantly out of scale with buildings immediately to the north and
east of the proposed building. And I suspect, uh, a five -story building would
significantly increase the market value of those adjacent and nearby properties,
and thereby increase the market pressure to build larger structures on those
properties. I think there'd be a ripple effect that would move its way through the
Northside Marketplace. So .... I want to see the property redeveloped, but I ... I
think it really has to be done in a manner that is consistent with the identity and
scale of the Northside Marketplace. So with that in mind, uh, my sense is that we
need to condition the rezoning to CB -5 upon limiting the height of any new
building to not more than four stories. So, I understand that, uh, this differs from
what others have said, uh, I think my inclination tonight is to vote no, uh,
and ... and then, uh, it seems clear that the .... total vote will be 5-1, uh, in favor.
But I do have a concern about that, and I wanted to express that concern as clearly
as I can. So with that, um, I .... we could have further discussion. Anybody
wanna....
Cole: Well, Jim, I think that gets into this question of, you know, so often we've talked
about our zoning framework and our regulatory requirements, and our
Comprehensive Plan. They're not consistent. And so I think to Ross' point, to do
a two to three-story with the CB -2 type framework wouldn't be feasible, at least
as I understand (both talking)
Throgmorton: Yeah, I'm not arguing for (both talking)
Cole: But that's the point though, is I ... I really think we need to make sure that there's
more alignment, cause even if he wanted to do that, um, but I .... I share those
concerns, but .... I mean it sort of is what it is, but I do think we need to look at the
parking... at some point. For another day.
Throgmorton: Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 5-1.
Voparil: Motion to accept correspondence.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 33
Dickens: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Mims. 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 May 16, 2017.
Page 34
ITEM 8. BREAD GARDEN LEASE — RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A GROUND
LEASE AGREEMENT WITH BREAD GARDEN OF IOWA CITY, L.C.
FOR PED MALL SPACE ADJACENT TO THEIR DOWNTOWN
LOCATION
a) PUBLIC HEARING
Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
Fruin: Mayor, I thought I would, uh, walk you through this, uh, proposal here, if that' [s
all right.
Throgmorton: Sure!
Fruin: Um, this is a resolution, uh, for a ground lease to the Bread Garden of Iowa City.
It's approximately 668 -square feet of pedestrian mall space that they, uh,
currently use and have used for some years, uh, as their outdoor, uh, sidewalk cafe
space. Uh, this lease, uh, would be a 20 -year lease, uh, for that space, uh, for a
rate of 14.70 per square foot, uh, and that would be adjusted every five years,
um .... uh, on an inflationary index. It's a triple -net lease. Um, and as a little bit of
background, um, you're all well aware that the, uh, of the popularity of the
outdoor dining, uh, in .... particularly in the downtown area, but it's certainly not
unique to Iowa City or ... or our downtown. And over the past several years, um,
we have expanded our outdoor dining options, offerings, uh, quite considerably.
Uh, you know that we have expanded into, uh, some select planter areas
downtown, outside of sidewalk areas, and a few years ago we actually expanded
into the streets, uh, on Dubuque Street, which has proven to be, uh, I think a .... a
successful test run there. In addition we're seeing a lot more interest in rooftop
space, uh, for private both residential and, um, commercial uses. And, um, we're
also seein' more, uh, outdoor space, uh, for ... on private property, being dedicated
to the open air dining. So, uh, no doubt that it's a .... a very popular offering, and I
think most, uh, would agree that, uh, it...it brings with it tremendous benefits to,
uh, particularly an urban area like the downtown. There's a .... a street presence
and energy about that type of environment that, uh, not only benefits those
businesses, but benefits surrounding businesses that may not be, uh, in a, uh, food
related business. The way our, uh, sidewalk cafes currently work, they're
essentially a nine-month operation. Uh, we require the removal between
December 1" and the end of February. Uh, we do this on the sidewalk cafe
locations, uh, primarily, uh, for ease and efficiency of snow removal operations.
So in other words, if we lived in a different climate and it was nice 12 months out
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 35
of the year, we would .... we would allow the cafes to operate 12 months out of the
year. Um .... we were approached by the Bread Garden, um, who sought to, uh,
extend their, uh, semi -open, uh, area that they .... that they have on their property,
out onto their sidewalk cafe, and essentially provide a 12 -month experience,
where they have only been able to provide the nine-month experience, uh, in ... in
years past. Um, and this was a ... uh, something that we had not contemplated
before, and uh, took us a while to think through all the variables here, but I want
to, um, walk you through staff s thought process on this, and uh, kind of lead you
to where we are now, which is recommending we move forward with this, uh,
lease. So in considering this request, I think you have to consider multiple
factors. Um, first and foremost, it's .... it's to consider whether this type of
extension would have a, uh, any type of detrimental impact on the surrounding,
uh, public space. Uh, any time you lease public land you have to, uh, think about
what that impact is to the ... to the public space, not only the space you're leasing
but how that affects the public's use of the space, uh, around that. Um, as I
mentioned before, this space is already used nine months out of the year for the
private business purpose of the Bread Garden. Um, we have not received, uh, any
number ... any complaints on the way that the Bread Garden uses that cafe space,
uh, or..or any, um, I guess, uh, intrusions into how the public uses the space
around it. I think, uh, most that you would talk to, if not all, uh, would talk about
how that space positively contributes to that area across from the Library there.
Um, a cr... the creation of a, uh, structure over this area, um, would not, uh, in this
particular location would not impact, uh, pedestrian travel. It would also not
significantly impact the view shed into the pedestrian mall. I don't think that's
the case for all properties in the ped mall, but certainly I think this one is unique
enough, uh, in the way this area lays out. And I'll elaborate that on a little bit.
This particular, uh, part of the ped mall, um, if you observe the way the traffic
moves through there, either during cafe season for outside of cafe season, the
through traffic tends to stay between the Library and the rows of...the row of the
trees to the south there. So even when those cafes are gone, the public tends to
funnel themselves through, uh, that narrow space. Uh.... and thus, that's not the
same, uh, with .... with all the other, uh, parts of the ped mall. And so the creation
of this structure doesn't really change, in my view, uh, the pedestrian flow
throughout that area. Uh, the ... the structure would not impose any additional
public safety risks or require a detour of our fire lane. It does not detract from any
nearby historic structures, and the Bread Garden would assume all responsibility
for upkeep, uh, both inside and immediately around, um, the structure itself. The
second consideration is how this, um, structure would ... would impact the
aesthetics of the ped mall. Um .... the Bread Garden's uniquely situated for this
type of, um ... uh, this type of improvement, in my view. They already, um, kind
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 36
of naturally flow onto the ped mall, the way their building's designed. They have
the, uh, the indoor area that has the .... the opening there, and it feels like an
outdoor cafe experience, and I think a transition into this ... in this would be very
seamless. Uh, you could think of other examples where it may not be so
seamless, the way that a lot of businesses are .... are, um, laid out there, but I think
this one would look like a natural extension and .... and hopefully, uh, if we move
forward and all is said and done it would look like it was originally planned with
the .... the building itself. I think lastly you have to think about, um, the precedent
and what ... what does this set the City up for in terms of other requests. Um, and
certainly the City is under no obligation, uh, to do, uh, this with any other, uh,
businesses, and if we receive those inquiries, we would go through that same
process. We would look at pedestrian traffic patterns, view sheds, public safety,
snow removal, uh, the impact to historic properties, not just the building itself but
nearby historic properties, uh, the aesthetics and... and everything else that I talked
about, um ... I ... I found myself going through a variety of see ... scenarios with
existing cafes in the ped mall and I find it very difficult to find a .... another
situation in which this may repeat itself, so I want to say this is a unique, urn ... uh,
circumstance here. That said, somebody surely will come forward with some
ideas and I think we'd have to, again, consider them the same way in which we
considered, uh, this one here. Finally, as I mentioned, the, uh, lease rate, um,
would be $14.70 per square foot. This is compared to $5.00 a square foot, which
is our standard sidewalk caf6. So it would be a considerable, uh, increase over the
20 -year lease period. It would be, uh, $200,000 or more in lease revenue to the
City, however, as I mentioned in the memo, I think, um, that shouldn't be the
primary consideration before you tonight. I think, uh, it's.... it's.... it's a .... it's an
important factor, but it's not the most important factor when .... when looking at
this. I do, um, have some renderings on the screen, if you would like to see those.
I can go down and pull those up, um.....thank you, Ashley! And then I can
answer, uh, any questions that you have. Uh, Jim Mondanaro is in the aud... uh,
audience and can speak on behalf of the Bread Garden if you have questions.
Should be three pictures, Ashley, if you want to cycle through and....
Throgmorton: What.... what would the exterior be made of?
Fruin: Uh, looks like a glass and steel. Jim, do you want to elaborate on (both talking;
difficult to hear response from audience)
Throgmorton: I think the answer was metal and glass, right? (several talking) Thanks, Jim!
Okay. Does anybody want to ask Geoff any questions? Or Jim, for that matter.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 37
Cole: Geoff, regarding other properties, if they were to do something ... or want to do
something similar to this, we .... hold control over that, so (both talking)
Frain: (both talking)
Cole: ...some sort of precedent, but the bottom line is we retain the discretion to choose
each particular project.
Frain: Yeah, I have no doubt that ... when others see us moving forward with this, if...if
we do indeed, there will be other requests, of this nature. Um ... uh, but again, I ... I
think it's pretty .... pretty unique the way this building lays out and the way that
the ped mall operates in this particular location.
Dickens: There's a setback there, a little bit, because of the Sheraton comes out and has a
second, or the little raised area there, that this actually aligns with that raised area,
so it really is not protruding that much more than that area that's already there.
Throgmorton: Well it's very clear the current outdoor caf6 is tremendously popular and... and a
great success. A real asset to the ped mall and downtown and Iowa City in
general. And, you know, my sense is that this will only enhance its success, so....
Uh, I worried a little bit when I first was thinkin' about it, that it ... it, you know,
it's basically privatization of public space. So I worried about that a little bit, but
(laughs) there's an outdoor cafe there already for nine months out of the year. It's
very successful. So I'11.....I'm gonna support this for sure.
Mims: Do you want to close the public hearing?
Throgmorton: Oh! Good idea! (both talking) Would anybody else like to speak to us about this
topic? So ... nice to see ya, Jim!
Mondanaro: Good to see you too. Alls I really want to say is that we've spent the time and
we're gonna spend the money to make this .... a beautiful addition to the Bread
Garden, and we're gonna make it so that it has that garden feel, and as you see the
wall on the north, it parallels what we have on the wall that's already in the indoor
patio, as we'd say, and they're called nano walls. So they can flex, so that we can
open it up and shut it down, depending on the weather that we're confronting at
that time. But it'd be heated so .... I mean I can see it in the wintertime when it's
snowin', we're out there, we're having some .... we're eating and we participate in
the ped mall, which we don't get to do cause it's cold, but we're gonna be able to
that here and I'm excited about it. Alls I can tell ya is it's not an inexpensive, uh,
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 38
thing to do. But ... we think it's a part of what we want the future to be with the
Bread Garden and I appreciate any input that you have that could make it better
and, um, thank you for your time!
Throgmorton: Thanks, Jim! Uh, anyone else want to address this? If not I'm going to close the
public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION
Mims: Move the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion?
Mims: I'm just excited to see it go forward and I'm not worried about the precedent. I
think when you look at the ... the layout with this particular building and business
versus others in the space .... we just have to look at every one on their own, and I
think this'll be a great use here.
Thomas: I'm especially, as Jim seemed to suggest (laughs) the, uh.... those three months,
you know, that the ... the ped mall could use more life through the winter, and
(laughs) so, uh, that ... I've always loved those sorts of spaces, where, you know,
you .... you're exposed to the elements visually but you're nice and warm (laughs)
at the same time, and uh, this will provide that, so I think it actually will be a very
pleasing winter space to be in.
Throgmorton: Further discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 39
ITEM 10. IOWA CITY DOWNTOWN DISTRICT — BLOCK PARTY POSSESSION
OF ALCOHOL AGREEMENT - RESOLUTION APPROVING AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT TO ALLOW THE
SALE, CONSUMPTION, AND POSSESSION OF BEER AND WINE
DURING THE BLOCK PARTY EVENT ON CITY STREETS AND CITY
PLAZA
Mims: Move the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Discussion? We had a meeting of the
Partnership for Alcohol Safety today. Eric Goers, our, uh, he works in the City
Attorney's office, did a great job of describing the various steps that have been
taken by the City Council since 2000, Geoff? 2001? Uh, with regard to, um,
excessive drinking, especially by underage people. And, uh, you know, that...
one of the things he touched on was the fact that we are considering this, uh,
amendment, and he placed it in the context of that overall, that whole flow of
actions that have taken place over the last 15 -plus years. Uh, he did it very well
also. So, you know, I've had a .... tiny little bit of concern about whether this
might.... um, lead to sort of a backtracking with regard to trying to make sure that
our underage drinkers, uh, residents don't, uh... drink too much. Uh, but I
persuaded myself that won't be the case. I think it'll be a really good experiment.
I look forward to seeing how it .... how it goes.
Cole: To ... to that point, Jim, I think this is something I think the City is doing a better
job at getting right in terms of the balances we're trying to achieve. I think for
example like Taste of Madison, where you have essentially open container
throughout the state capitol, and they balance that very well, so it's good to see
that we are doing this, and I think especially during the summertime, makes a big
difference for me, as opposed to during the school year.
Throgmorton: Any other discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 40
ITEM 11. WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX CREDITS -CARDINAL POINTE WEST -
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE CARDINAL POINTE WEST, LLC
APPLICATION FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX INCENTIVES
PROGRAM FROM THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AT DEER
CREEK ROAD AND CAMP CARDINAL BOULEVARD AND
COMMITTING LOCAL FUNDS TO THE PROJECT
Mims: Move the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. Uh, I think Tracy is going to speak to
this a little bit.
Hightshoe: Okay. Hello, I'm Tracy with the Neighborhood Services Division. Um, we have
four applications before you for workforce housing tax credit. It is a project from
the Iowa Economic Development Authority. It is a State program. The State
program requires a local match of $1,000 per unit. That's why you're seeing
these applications. The applicant can.... cannot, they cannot apply until they get
that resolution of support from the local government entity. Um, in the
administrative code for the workforce housing tax credit, the purpose of the
program is to assist the development of housing projects that are targeted at
middle income households and that the focus on the redevelopment or
repurposing of existing structures. So basically developers are eligible for this
project if the cost of construction and land are less than $200,000 per unit.
There's no rental.... restriction. There's no sales price restriction. There's no
income targeting. It's basically meant to increase the supply of, um, affordable,
modest units, across the state. Urn... developers are eligible for an investment tax
credit up to 10% of the investment, and .... for sales taxes. Um, they're exempt
from sales taxes paid during the construction. So we have the four...four projects.
We have ... the first one is Cardinal Pointe West. Um, we started getting these
applications back in 2015. We have a pro .... we have approved six of them to
date for .... let's see .... I had it. Ah ha! We've approved 448 units so far for
4 .... 408,000. So those are the six projects that we have approved so far. Um,
Cardinal Pointe West LLC is a project by Southgate, over on Camp Cardinal
Boulevard, at Deer Creek Road. Um, 90 units is the first phase, and .... they're
garden style apartments. Um, the developer's willing to ... he plans on providing
5% affordable at the home fair market rent. Um, we talked a little bit earlier, um,
it is compatible with the Comprehensive Plan, but they do not have their zoning in
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the. Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 41
place at this point. They have site control. Um, the reason why staff presented it
was because it was compatible with the Comprehensive Plan. Are there any other
questions .... I didn't know if you had any more questions about workforce
housing tax credits in general or if you just wanted to discuss the individual
projects.
Throginorton: Tracy, I want to ask, uh, one question to make sure I'm clear about a particular
point. And my question applies to Item 11, but also to Item 12. It's ... it's the
same developer, as I understand it, and am I correct in understanding that, uh, in
order for the project to proceed, a rezoning would be required for both of those?
Hightshoe: Yes. I mean we have had that in the past. I mean you just approved zoning for a
tax credit project that we approved at, um, last month. So.....
Tbrogmorton: Which one was that?
Hightshoe: The Orchard Place ones that ... you just did the Orchard Place rezoning today. Um,
so we had already approved.... it's M&W Properties at 619 and 627 Orchard. We
approved that last month. And then the (several talking) set, you just did the
rezoning tonight.
Throgmorton: Yeah. Okay. Thank you! Any other questions for Tracy? Thanks! Okay, so..
we have a motion on the floor. Discussion?
Mims: I'm going to be supporting this and I'll just say this once. I'm going to support all
four of these. I think at this point, you know, we talk about affordable housing
and I realize that this is not technically affordable housing, but a lot of it .... has to
do with the supply and demand, and I think this is a small investment by the City
to really help increase, uh, some of the supply of...of housing that certainly is not
high end in terms of the cost of that housing, and so hopefully, uh, will parlay into
reasonably cost... reasonable costs for residents, um, as they look for places to live.
So, um, I think it's a great program. I .... I hope the State money continues to be
there and that we can continue to increase the supply. So, I'll be supporting all
four of these.
Voparil: Mr. Mayor, we do need a motion. (several responding)
Throgmorton: Uh (both talking)
Mims: I think I moved and (several talking) Terry second I think. (several talking)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 42
Voparil: Thank you!
Mims: Sometimes we go fast and furious! (laughter and several talking)
Throgmorton: Well I want to repeat something I said during our work session, uh, earlier,
um ... this evening. Uh, when ... we have four similar, uh, items before us, involving
requests for workforce housing tax credits. Together they would require the City
to commit $319,000 to those four projects. Now they're gonna bring in
substantial support from the State through the State's tax credit.... housing tax
credit, um, process, but nonetheless, $319,000 from Iowa City. And seeing the
four proposals together at one time, raised questions for me. And as I said during
the work session, I think we need to ask ourselves whether we should financially
support every workforce housing application that we receive, and it's pretty clear
we're receiving right now an uptick, and I don't know if it'll continue. I have no
way of knowing really, uh, but I think we need to have criteria indicating what we
require in order to provide support for such applications ... in the future. Also
especially with regards to Items 11 and 12, and this is the reason I asked the
question of Tracy, I don't think it's wise to authorize tax credits, housing tax
credits, before knowing whether we would approve the required rezoning and site
plan. So I think the ... the one you pointed to, Tracy, is certainly similar, but not
identical, and in my own mind, I knew how I was going to vote on the Orchard
thing and I knew it was coming up in another two weeks or whatever. In this
case, I'm not clear about where I stand on the rezoning, and I ... I .... I don't,
personally do not want to find myself in a position where I've already approved
housing support .... for housing tax credits, for the ... the Item 11, Items 11 and 12
projects, without knowing whether I would support the rezoning. So I .... I can't
support Items 11 and 12. I personally would prefer to see them deferred, their
application, deferred until after we decide what to do with regard to rezoning. I
don't know what that means procedurally, but I wanted to express my views about
that. So, uh, I'd like to hear from the rest of you. About the motion that's on the
floor, I should say.
Taylor: I ... I kinda go along with you a little bit too, Jim, as far as the rezoning, cause I'm
having trouble picturing, and that's my side of town, um, there... there's limited
resources as far as in that area, uh, City Transit doesn't go out there, um, there
is ... uh, grocery about a mile and a half away into Coralville, Coralville HyVee,
but as far as looking at neighborhood kinds of things, I mean, this is a lot of folks
in that neighborhood, uh, I know we're looking at the workforce housing credit of
it and not the actual unit itself, but we don't know what that zoning's gonna look
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 43
like, like you're saying, so .... gettin'....kinda gettin' the cart before the horse, I
think, so I ... I kinda agree with you on that.
Mims: Well, I mean I'll just speak as I did I think at the work session. I ... because of the
long lead time on the State money, I'm supportive of going ahead and approving
these now, even though we don' t have the zoning done. Um, I think .... it should
be clear to the developers that approving this is not a zoning approval. Um, that
still is a possibility that ... that we wouldn't approve, uh, wouldn't approve the
rezoning. They're totally different, um, items, but it does allow them at least to
get in line at the State, with the process that now it sounds like is about two years
out in terms of trying to get money from the State on this. So delaying their
ability to get in line at the State, I don't .... I don't think it does anybody any good.
So I'm supportive of moving ahead on these now, simply so they can get in line,
knowing that all that rezoning still has to be done, and maybe on some of these
items wouldn't even occur!
Thomas: Yeah, I ... I did react a little bit looking through the packet and seeing these four
applications and, urn .... they did look rough to me, urn .... you know, I .... I think
I'm satisfied with ... with Geoff's explanation that they are consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan, but um .... you know, I .... I think (laughs) they will need to
evolve (laughs) through this re .... through the rezoning process, um, I would ... I
would certainly hope and expect them to ... to evolve through that process, and it
does seem that there is a .... you know, in terms of getting in line for these ... these
tax credits, there's some advantage to doing that. I don't think it's an ideal
process, um, I .... I would prefer to see a more refined project before approving,
uh, anything .... any tax credits that would go toward it. However, um .... you
know (laughs) I also wanted to ... the question I would have is how are other cities
proceeding with this, um, and I think as was noted in the, uh, the packet, I mean
we are in that sense competing with other municipalities in terms of getting these
credits. So I ... I'm kind of inclined to say yes let's move forward, uh, knowing
full well that they may not, you know, be rezoned in the future.
Mims: And in which case it hasn't cost us anything.
Thomas: Right!
Cole: I guess one question I have. Eleanor, we can't negotiate to get anything back,
right? I mean so for example we have to do X number of dollars as a condition of
receiving the tax credits. You know, with TIF sometimes we can negotiate where
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 44
the City gets things in return. The statute doesn't allow us to do that, does it?
mean in other words (several talking)
Throgmorton: We're not actually paying them money at this point.
Cole: Well I know, but the point is is that it just seems like we're .... we're giving the
developer money, as a condition (mumbled) getting the tax credits. Am I
understanding that correctly?
Dilkes: They can't submit an application till they have this resolution of support from the
City.
Cole: Yes.
Dilkes: Um, and the ... what the City has to do is say that they'll contribute $1,000 per unit
(both talking)
Cole: Yeah, that's my point.
Throgmorton: But they're not handing ... we would not be handing the developer a check (both
talking)
Cole: ...at this time.
Throgmorton: .... at this time (both talking)
Cole: I understand that! But I'm saying in terms of what the City gets back, we get
workforce housing units, but even to use the term `workforce,' um, is sort of a
misnomer. Because it's not really workforce because there's no income
limitation, and as I understand this rule, we could have a multi -millionaire who
just wants a small house and they could .... they could purchase these units,
couldn't they?
Fruin: Yeah, there's no restrictions on rental costs.
Cole: So I think to Jim's point, I would like to see to the extent the statute permits us, I
would like to see us get some standards that we ... that we can develop here,
because we are ... and I think to the ... to the argument about in .... increasing the
supply, I guess I would like to see if we've done any analysis to say, okay, what is
the impact on housing prices? I mean I haven't seen that data. Um, that said, um,
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 45
I think to Susan's point, getting in line does make sense. I would like to at some
point in the future see, um, some criteria that we come and .... that we develop,
um, cause it just seems like right now it's just sort of everyone that comes up
we're granting them and I don't think that's really enough, because these are
substantial investments the City is making, at some point in the future. And I
think we need to be very careful about that.
Throgmorton: Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call. This is for Item l 1 only.
(several talking) Motion carries, uh, what is that, 4-2?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 46
ITEM 12. WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX CREDITS - IOWA CITY GROVE —
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE IOWA CITY GROVE, LLC
APPLICATION FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX INCENTIVES
PROGRAM FROM THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AT DEER
CREEK ROAD AND CAMP CARDINAL BOULEVARD AND
COMMITTING LOCAL FUNDS TO THE PROJECT
Dickens: Move the resolution.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Mims. Discussion? Uh, this is identical to the
previous. I think just the number of units involved, uh, differs. So .... I don' t
know that we have any need to discuss. Uh, any discussion? Seeing none, roll
call, please. Motion carries 4-2. (several talking) Oh, you .... (several talking)
Sorry, I apologize, 5-1.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 47
ITEM 13. WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX CREDITS - TSB INVESTMENTS —
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE TSB INVESTMENTS, LLP
APPLICATION FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING TAX INCENTIVES
PROGRAM FROM THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AT CAMP
CARDINAL ROAD & GATHERING PLACE LANE AND COMMITTING
LOCAL FUNDS TO THE PROJECT
Mims: Move the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Dickens. I'd like to ask Tracy a question. Uh, do
I, uh, understand correctly that this area's already rezoned properly for this type
of project?
Hightshoe: Yes. It is currently zoned low-density multi -family residential and it complies
with the zoning.
Throgmorton: Great! Thank you. Any discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 48
ITEM 15. CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN CONSULTING
SERVICES — RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE
CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST
AN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA CITY AND
ELEVATE ENERGY TO PROVIDE CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY'S CLIMATE ACTION AND
ADAPTATION PLAN
Mims: Move the resolution.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion?
Taylor: Rockne and I were part of (mumbled) (both talking)
Throgmorton: Yeah! Yeah (both talking) you and Rockne could both talk about that (both
talking)
Taylor: Yeah. Process of, uh, finding, uh, a consultant and I think everybody'll be
pleased with Elevate Energy and what they can help us with.
Cole: No, and I think the community's going to be very excited to work with this
particular organization. I think they key thing that struck me is that they're
experience, and they worked on the Iowa Energy Plan. They worked on the State
of Missouri Energy Plan. So I think what is most exciting to me in terms of
making this plan actually work is that they have a lot of experience in Iowa, um,
and they've worked with local leaders and it really struck me that they've gone
above and beyond the call of duty in a lot of different context. So for example the
State of Iowa, um, they held meetings throughout the state. I think there was a
request to do more and they went ahead and did that. Um, I think in terms of the
cost, this was a good, solid, value -driven proposal. Um, and we're very pleased I
think that the consensus was the ... the presentation that they made to our group,
our selection committee, was very impressive. They had a team of four with a
variety of experiences, and I'm really quite confident that they'll be able to talk
and engage with all sectors of our community. Um, so we're really excited, and I
think there's also going to be some really good economic development
opportunities here, um, and so, uh, I'm really excited to see what we have in
store!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 49
Throgmorton: Well I'm very excited as well, and I'm very pleased to see that, um, the staff was
able to work through the details with the consultant and .... com.... you know,
create a .... a committee that would help review the proposals and all that. I'm
very pleased with all that. Uh, I ... I do have a request. I don't remember seeing a
time table, uh, with regard to the consultant's work. Uh, I did see a list of tasks,
but not a time table. It'd be good to have a sense of what that is. You don't have
to say right now, but .... but....
Monroe: Well I actually have it (both talking) can speak to that a little bit. Um, they did
provide a timeline for the project. Um, the expected timeline for the project,
which is anticipated to take, uh, about 12 months. So when the project starts
to ... to finish and I wrote a couple notes about that. Um, so the preliminary plan is
proposed in ... in the proposal and is part of the agreement, um, they'll be holding
the first steering committee approximately one to two months into the process. So
the first step'll be to meet with staff and just to kind of, um, gather expectations
and .... and decide how they...... we are going to be working with them to go about
the process. Um .... they'll be performing interviews and technical reviews, uh,
concurrently with that meeting and .... and preparing for a public meeting, which
should occur about three to four moths into the process. So they ... in addition to
the ... the widespread community public meeting, um, they'll also be conducting,
uh, public surveys and ... and various other public engagement tools. Um, they'll
be drafting strategies and a technical review, it looks like, pro.... approximately
half way through that process. So they're going to do quite a bit of gathering
information from our community stakeholders, the steering committee, and uh,
staff. Uh, they are looking to share findings in what looks like, uh, fall of this
year, and then, uh, drafting the final, um, components of the plan over winter,
presenting the final, uh, plan in the springtime. So, um .... so we can provide you
the ..... the timeline if you'd like, but it's included (both talking)
Throgmorton: That's helpful. Thank you.
Monroe: (both talking) ....section 7 I think. I believe. Oop, section 5. So, um, is there any
other area you have questions about as far as the process or, um ... know we spent a
significant amount of time on staff reviewing reference calls and, um, overall they
have a really deep bench between the three consultant groups combined as
Elevate Energy that, um, made us really confident in this choice.
Throgmorton: Any questions for Ashley? Uh, I want to say one thing before we actually vote.
Back in .... 1984 I met Scott Bernstein who then was the Director of the
Center ... and Creator, of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, which is one of
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 50
the consulting firms involved in this. I don't know if Scott is still the Executive
Director of whatever, uh, but something very pleasing to me personally, sort of
coming full circle having worked with Scott way back then, and now getting some
help from CNT on this project. Yeah. Okay, any further discussion?
Thomas: Just want to say thanks to everyone involved. Uh, lot of effort went into getting
to this point. It's really exciting.
Throgmorton: Okay! Roll call. Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 51
ITEM 16. ICCSD BOND REFERENDUM SUPPORT — RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT
FOR THE IOWA CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S 2017
GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND REFERENDUM
Mims: Move the resolution.
Dickens: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims and seconded by Dickens.
Mims: We have two School Board Members here in the audience. I'd like to ask if either
one, or both of you, Brian or Paul, would like to speak to this? (laughter and
several talking) I'm giving you a chance to give the public spiel here better than
any of us can, Brian!
Kirschling: Should I sign in?
Mims: Yes, please!
Kirschling: Just cause I can't write and speak at the same time I'm just gonna do this real
quick and I was blessed with an exceptionally long German last name (laughter)
moment. So, uh, thank you for, uh, considera.... consideration of this, uh.... uh,
support for the bond referendum. Um, we, uh, as a school district are, um, four
years into a 10 -year facility master plan. Uh, we have six years remaining. The
plan was derived with, um, significant, uh, community involvement, starting in
2012. Uh, before I was even on the board, and I'm at the end of my fourth year
right now. Um .... the, uh.... the projects throughout our school district affect
every single building, in every one of our municipalities. Um, they bring our
historic schools, uh, such as Longfellow, Mann, Lincoln up to 2151 century
standards, including air conditioning. On a day like today, some of those
buildings were incredibly hot. Including ADA accessibility; including energy
efficient windows, natural lighting, um .... all the things you would hope for
in .... in a school, and yet preserving the historic character in our, um, in our 100 -
year old buildings, such as Mann and Longfellow. We're very excited about the
work that's about to begin. At the same time, um, we also have development, uh,
in .... other regions of our district on the perimeter. We've committed to, uh,
building more space as necessary and four years into the facility master plan, uh,
we have, uh, 12 projects and ... with $155 million completed all on time and on
budget, uh, without, uh... touching property taxes, without any, uh, general
obligation, uh, bond money used. All that money has come from the one -cent
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 52
sales tax, known as SAVE funds which is paid for, uh, statewide, and all school
districts benefit from that. Uh, the general obligation bond allows us to, uh,
continue the remaining six years of the 10 -year facility master plan. The effect,
uh, you know one of the reasons that, um, that I've, uh, enjoyed serving on
the... on the School Board is that, um... I've always said, and no offense to folks
up here (laughs) but when people move to a community, they don't necessarily
ask how are the sewers, what's the zoning look like, how many stop lights are
there. They ask first and foremost: how are the schools? And, uh, whether you
live in an exploding growth area on the perimeter of town or whether you live in a
historic portion of our school district, it's important that all of our schools are
good, and all of our schools are equitable learning environments for our students,
and teaching environments, work environments for our teachers. We don't have
that right now, but we're four years into that. In the ... in the first four years, um,
since you are interested in how it affects Iowa City, in the first four years we have
renovated Twain to add air conditioning, a real size gymnasium, art and music
classrooms. We are finishing up the renovations at Lucas Elementary, which
again involves, uh, air conditioning, um, additional classroom space, uh, etc., etc.,
bringing everything up to 21s` century. We're about to start the, uh, historic, very
exciting renovation for Longfellow Elementary, which as was mentioned before,
was built 100 years ago and we are committing to the next 100 years of serving
the, uh, Summit Street and surround neighborhoods. Um .... let's see, we're
finishing up at Weber over on the west side of Iowa City. We're beginning work
at, uh, West High right now. Um ... am I missing anything in Iowa City, Paul? Oh,
of course! We opened, oh my goodness! We opened Alexander Elementary and
we're about to open new Hoover Elementary, uh, east of Scott Boulevard, uh, on
Barrington Road. Those are the first two, uh, elementary schools built on .... cast
of the river since Helen Lemme opened in 1970. What ... that's the school I went
to! Um, so it's very exciting to have that ... those types of projects completed. Uh,
how the bond referendum affects, uh, Iowa City in particular. Just off the top of
my head we'll see if I can do this. Um .... Mann Elementary School, total historic
renovation. Sim ... similar to ideas as Longfellow — ADA accessibility, air
conditioning, energy efficiency, uh, and I know it's been fun to have those
conversations between the School District and ... and the City Council, and take
everybody's ideas and how public input has been gathered as well, so we're very
excited about that. Lincoln Elementary, uh, very similar, about a 90 -year-old
building roughly. Um, lots to do there. Lots to bring it up to 21 s` century
standards. Southeast Junior High... Southeast Junior High serves all the students
of, uh, east Iowa City. Uh, there's about $15 million worth of projects necessary
at Southeast Junior High, including air conditioning. It's one of our least air
conditioned buildings. City High, there's about $30 million worth of renovations
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 53
necessary at City High. Uh, there's, uh, significant number of renovations, uh, at
West High. I can't remember the dollar amount off the top of my head. We have
plans for Horn Elementary. We have, uh, plans for Wood Elementary. We have
plans for Shimek Elementary. We have plans for Lemme Elementary School.
These are all Iowa City schools. And some of those neighborhoods, um, you
know, are hundred year old neighborhoods. Some of those neighborhoods are 40 -
year -old neighborhoods, like Leanne. Some of those neighborhoods are less than
five-year-old neighborhoods. We have exciting renovations coming to Alexander
Elementary, for instance, even though it's a brand new elementary school, we
have focused, we have introduced weighted resource allocation to make sure that
our, some of our students throughout the district who have the largest opportunity
gaps get smaller class sizes. Alexander Elementary's a perfect example of a
school that we just built, but we changed a policy that's having an immediate
impact on our students, our most vulnerable students, making sure that we have
adequate space because you may have the same number of students in a building,
but smaller class sizes means you need more classrooms. So we're very excited
about the projects that are coming. Uh, the total 10 -year facility master plan is a
$350... $347 million list of projects. We've completed $155 million worth of
projects in the last four years, all of which have been completed on time, on
budget. There's $191.5 million worth of projects remaining, and we're very
excited to ... to see you as a Council considering support for the bond referendum.
I'll be happy to take any questions. I'll do my best to answer them.
Mims: Brian, could you .... I think one of the most important things.... well, there's a lot
of important things in this. One is the equitable learning environment for all of
our students and bringing our schools up to the 21s` century. A lot of people, uh,
will focus on the money, and some of them will want to focus on that in a very
negative way. Can you, um, tell us how that is going to impact, and I'm sorry to
put you on the spot. I should have let you know (laughs) I was going to do this,
um ... how it's going to impact people's property tax, and also where the Iowa City
Community School District ranks in the state...
Kirschling: You bet!
Mims: ...in terms of their tax levy.
Kirschling: You bet. The ... the neat thing about a bond referendum is that it commits the
school district to.....the money is .... is used, it's a very specific check. The bond
referendum ties the school district to only being able to use the money for projects
listed specifically in the bond referendum, which is why when voters go to the
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 54
ballot box on September 12th, they will look at a giant run on paragraph that lists
all the projects. Um, specifically, every one of those projects I just mentioned.
So how to .... um, how it affects property tax, um, so our current bond, uh, debt
which, uh, has been around I believe since we built Tate, and .... what else?
Mims: Close enough! (laughs)
Kirschling: Yeah. Tate and .... North Central Junior High and I think Borlaug, is that right?
Yeah. So our bond debt expires at the, uh, at the end of this year. So essentially
when it comes to bonding again, that commits us to future building projects. We
are the fifth largest school district in the state of Iowa. We have just shy of
14,000 students, just by a few students. We're just under 14,000. We're the third
fastest growing in the state. We're soon to be fourth largest in the state. So we're
fifth largest now, soon to be fourth largest. Our property tax impact for
the .... from the School District is right now $13.98 per thousand of assessed value.
Of the top 10 largest school districts in the state, we are currently IOa'. Tenth out
of 10, despite the fact that we're nearly fourth in size, in regarding the number of
kids that are educated. With bond passage, we would still remain 10's out of 10.
We don't even touch Dubuque, which is 9...9a' place. Part of that is because
growth is good. Growth is very good. As we grow, and historically our ... the
School District, which encompasses multiple municipalities, historically over the
last 10 years has averaged about 4 %2% growth per year. As the pie gets bigger,
property tax impact on the individual taxpayers, the slice of the pie actually gets
smaller. So the actual property tax impact, um, of the bond .... of bond passage
in .... in a .... in the most conservative model that we have which would be 0%
growth, which is unfathomable in this ... in this community, would be 98 -cents per
thousand of assessed value. And again, we're in 106' place. That would keep us
in 10th place. We would not touch, uh, touch Dubuque, which is in 9a' place.
Realistically... realistically because we are going to continue to grow, it's ... it's
likely to be less than that, more like 93 -cents at the maximum. How that affects a
property owner, we actually have all this information on the School District web
site. It is all, uh, publicly available. Um, but we have it broken down by,
uh.... uh, property value. So, on a $100,000 property, the tax impact is $4.25 per
month, on your property taxes. The average home value in the .... across the
School District is $198,000, which is roughly $200,000. So for .... just to use
round numbers, you'd look.... you'd be looking at at $8.50 per month impact on
the average homeowner. In the Iowa City School District. Does that answer the
question you're looking for, Councilor Mims?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 55
Mims: Yes, it does. Thank you very much, and actually if you happen to know this one
off the top of your head, how much further, how far below are we in l Oa' spot than
9''? You said we're at 13 -something?
Kirschling: Yeah, we're 90 .... uh, 99 -cents. Yeah, 99 -cents below them. In a 0% growth
model we would increase 98 -cents, which would keep us just barely below them.
But, um, in a .... in a district like say Ankeny, they're at $19.36 per thousand.
They're the .... they're one of the highest tax rates. Course they're a young
community and they're growing extremely fast. We have an interesting situation
here in that we have in ... incredible growth in some parts of the school district, but
we also have our historic schools that it's absolutely necessary to ... to maintain.
And keep them serving our historic neighborhoods. Happy to answer any other
questions.
Throgmorton: I want to ask one brief question.
Kirschling: Yeah!
Throgmorton: Am I correct in understanding that Tate High School additions, an addition at Tate
High and upgrades to Tate High will be included?
Kirschling: Yes. In January, um, so Tate, uh, Tate initially when it was built was, uh, meant
to serve students .... we called Tate the `school of choice.' Students who choose
to ... to go to Tate to get, uh.... uh, their education, um, you know, when the school
opened, it was viewed as a ... a temporary place to be, but we use Tate very
differently now. There are students that choose to graduate from Tate. In fact it's
one of my favorite graduations every year. We hold it at the Englert and I hope
maybe some people will think about coming to that. But at....at Tate High School
we're adding a gymnasium. Um, you know, the kids who choose to go to Tate
don't have a gymnasium, and that's I think .... I don't think that there's any
research (laughs) that shows that physical activity and physical, uh, commitment
to physical education is a bad thing in a school environment. I certainly haven't
seen any.
Throgmorton: Yeah. I didn't mean to imply there were so (laughter)
Kirschling: No, no, no! We're actually ... I think it's very exciting because , um, if Tate is
going to be a school where students not only choose to go there but choose to
graduate there, they have to receive their physical education somehow and we
need that commitment.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 56
Throgmorton: Great. Thank you, Brian!
Kirschling: Any other questions (both talking)
Throgmorton: Any questions for Brian?
Kirschling: Rockne, Terry, Pauline, John?
Mims: Brian, thank you very much. I know I put you on the spot (both talking) You...
you presented it all much better than I could have, so .... thank you very much.
Throgmorton: Thanks, Brian. Thanks, Paul, for toughin' it out. It's .... you've only been here for
two and a half hours. (laughter) It comes with the territory, right? (several
talking) Okay, so, uh, we have a motion on the floor, is that right? I want to read,
um, the key paragraph in the proposed resolution. So that, I don't know, the
listening public can know this. And that paragraph reads, "Now therefore be it
resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, that the City Council
supports ICCSD's facilities master plan process and encourages voters to approve
the 2017 ballot proposition, authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds
to fund projects in the facilities master plan." And I would say also I am aware
that, uh, this evening we received a couple, uh, communications from residents,
um, giving strong reasons why we should not support this. I appreciate the fact
they've shared their views with us, but I intend to support this.
Mims: I do as well. I ... I think there is nothing more important than the schools in our
community. Um, I spent three years on the School Board and, um, thank you to
Brian and Paul and all the rest. Uh, I'll tell ya it's easier to sit up here than it was
in the School Board chairs. Um, people get very passionate when it comes to
their children and sometimes with that passion, uh, they lose a little bit of
objectivity. So, um, I know what you put up with and the past few years have
been, um, I think incredibly difficult, but you have ... have accomplished an
incredible, incredible amount with getting the community together to develop the
facility master plan, um, to get four years into that facility master plan, and .... and
make such huge improvements and investments in so many of our schools, and...
and I have to give the community who was involved in that so much credit,
because not only were they caring, you know, about the schools, but they also
kind of figured out politically how this needs to work, especially when you cross,
um, many municipal boundaries. And that is you have to develop a plan that over
those 10 years gives something to everybody in every geographical area over
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 57
time, at the same time, but also at every educational level. So to try and pull all
that together where as you go through North Liberty's getting something, Iowa
City's getting something, Coralville's getting something, all kind of at the same
time, but you're also doing things at the same time at the elementary and junior
high and high school is an incredibly, incredibly complex plan to put together,
and I think the ... the literally hundreds of people who worked on that over
thousands or tens of thousands of hours, um, to pull all that together did .... did an
incredible job and we're 40% of the way through it, uh, we owe it not only to the
children that are in our district, but to this community, and when I say community
I mean the whole Iowa City Community School District, as a whole, and the
children of the future to make sure that we have the best possible learning
environments for them, and so I'm very pleased to support this and I hope
everybody listening will not only support it, but get out and work for the passage
of the bond. It's incredibly important. It's also incredibly important for
economic development in this area. People look at our schools when they decide
whether to move here or expand a business here or take a job here. So ... this is
really, really important. I hope everybody will support it.
Dickens: I think it's very important that everybody gets out and votes. Uh, we've seen over
the last many years voters don't come out. This is too big of..too big of project
for the whole city and the whole area to ignore. So, uh, I plan on every Council
Time reminding people to get registered, get out and vote. I think this is an
extremely important ... this is not for me. This is for kids, grandkids, the next
generations past them. Uh... the fact that this is so equitable to all the schools, all
over Iowa City, North Liberty, Coralville, Hills. I think that's probably the most
impressive thing is all these schools are getting something and ... and that's ... I
don't know how you guys did it really, but I think it's a great job that you've
gotten where you have and I just can't see us putting a stop to this. We gotta ... we
gotta move forward and get this vote done.
Taylor: I also think it's .... it's just a very well thought out plan and touches on .... on every
part of the community, and folks that say that, uh, they don't understand why the
Council is getting, uh, behind this or doing this, uh, resolution, uh, schools are the
part of community, as you said, folks ask about the schools in the area before they
move here. It is the heart of the community and so I think that it's important for
us to show support for ... for the School District.
Thomas: It's, um, I know when I first moved here I was, um, and looked at the school
district and its ... the way it allocated its resources toward the, um, the facility
management. It ... I was puzzled by it, because it seemed to be one school at a
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 58
time, and I remember writing an editorial to the Press -Citizen on `we'll all be
better off when we're all better off,' and um, you know, this is a comprehensive
plan, a very large comprehensive plan, and so it...it truly is working toward
achieving equity with the schools and .... and that's something that has been a
challenge over the years. I think any plan this size is going to have those who
have issues with it of some sort or another. I certainly hope over the next, what is
it, four months, um, there will be, um, robust conversations among the community
to try to resolve whatever misunderstandings or concerns that are out there. Um,
but again, I will be supporting the plan and I think.... it's.... it's a remarkable
effort to try to achieve equity within the system.
Cole: I'm going to be supporting this as well. I think what this plan does particularly
well is balance the urban, suburban, and rural components of the community. I
don't know where we rank in terms of that mix, um, but it's really I think
probably one of the more unusual districts in the state of Iowa, that has those
variables to try to manage. I mean you mentioned for example Ankeny. Well
that strikes me as, you know, more suburban, um, and I think that does this
particularly well, and I do want to address one thing. You know, Susan had
talked about the input. Early on one of the initial proposals, a long time ago, four
or five years ago, did involve recommending closure of a lot of schools that I
don't think people wanted to close. Right? Because of that input, because of that
feedback from the community, um, the School District listened, and at least what I
have observed so far is that, um, is that they've followed the plan previously so
far and as far as I can tell, there has not been a departure from the facility masters
plan in the last four years, unless I'm mistaken and viewers listening, if..if there
is a departure, let me know, um, but I don't think there is so in addition to what
we've heard tonight, I think the residents can have confidence that they will carry
through, and as I understand what you said is, not only...it....it essentially
required, um, by the bond to essentially carry through and as I understand what
you said is that not only....it...it essentially required, um, by the bond to
essentially carry through, is essentially what my understanding is, and if I thought
for a second that our cherished schools like Lincoln or Horace Mann were at risk,
I .... I wouldn't support it, but I have no reason to believe that. Um, I have every
confidence we'll move forward with that, and I think that this particular, uh, plan
I think will ... will do precisely what we want it to do, which is to strengthen our
inner -core neighborhood schools, and everything about it tells me that. Now, it's
a lot of money! I don't think any of us want to spend that much money, but I
think it's for a good reason. As Terry mentioned, it's for investment in the future,
um, of the, um, children of...of this community, and I think one final thing related
to population. You know we've talked about our growing communities like
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 59
North Liberty and Coralville, but it's easy to forget the City of Iowa City has
added the entire population of the City of North Liberty, in this, you know, in the
last 20 years. So we ourselves have really experienced enormous growth and I
think this really addresses those long-term needs. So I am going to be supportive
of it, but I want everyone to have a thoughtful and constructive debate, and I want
to encourage other people who are dissenters that we can stay positive with one
another, share our views, and welcome all viewpoints.
Throgmorton: All right! So, uh, Paul, Brian, as they say in French: bonne chance, bonne
courage (laughter) Good luck, have courage basically. So .... yeah. All right, uh,
roll call, please. Motion carries 6-0. Could I have a motion to accept
correspondence, please?
Dickens: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Mims. 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 May 16, 2017.
Page 60
ITEM 17. RACIAL PROFILING / NON DISCRIMINATION RESOLUTION —
RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE CITY OF IOWA CITY LAW
ENFORCEMENT NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY
Dickens: Move the resolution.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Dickens, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? Eleanor, uh, would you
be in a position to very briefly describe this or .... Geoff? I don't know. I....
Dilkes: Probably Geoff (both talking)
Fruin: Um, this was requested by the Council, um, a couple work sessions ago when
Chief Matherly was presenting, uh, to you. Um, what we did is we went back, uh,
to the 2001 resolution that, uh, that City Council adopted. Um, and it was
entitled, um, `City of Iowa City Law Enforcement Non -Discrimination Policy,'
and we felt that, urn .... um, that still provided a really strong foundation. So
we've attached that 2001 resolution to your packet, and then, um, we drafted a
second, uh, resolution that, uh, has a little bit different language in it, but
essentially reaffirms, uh, the City Council's commitment, uh, to, um .... uh... uh,
practices that are not discriminatory within our Police Department. Um, and kind
of a .... a statement of no tolerance when it comes to racial profiling practices.
Throgmorton: Thank you. Uh, I want to mention, I had a conversation with Kingsley, uh, earlier
to day and thought he cannot vote, he did express his strong support for this in
appreciation for the fact that the staff put this resolution together. Any
discussion?
Mims: I think it's just very interesting, you know, when we think about all the discussion
we've had in the last .... three, four, five years around, you know, policing, you
know, in the country and in Iowa City and .... and these various issues that the
Iowa City City Council back in 2001 had basically passed the exact same
resolution. I mean, yeah, you've.... you've tweaked some words but when you
think about the real intent and the real content, um, all we're doing really is
reaffirming... and I ... I don't mean that critically, but we're just reaffirming
something that this Council had already done, uh, basically 16 years ago. And so,
you know, we aren't behind the times. We were maybe ahead of the times. Not
that we don't all need to improve and ... and reassess where we're at, but this really
is, um, a reaffirmation of something that was done, uh, 16 years ago, so.....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 61
Throgmorton: I .... I would agree, Susan. This resolution is consistent with the best of Iowa City.
Uh, roll call, please. Motion carries 6-0. (clears throat) Excuse me!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 62
ITEM 18. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS
Throgmorton: Uh, applicants must reside in Iowa City and be 18 years of age, unless specific
qualifications are stated. So .... help me remember this folks. When we finish
going through these appointments I need a motion and a voice vote to make the
appointments. So .... we have .... a total of 35 applicants for 12 positions on five
boards or commissions. Not an easy task it seems to me! Uh, I would like to
make a request of the staff. Uh, I think from my point of view at least it would be
helpful to have a list of current board members provided to us, kind of right at the
outset, with regard to, uh, appointments to commissions or boards. I ... I often find
myself kind of asking well, you know, what kind of balance do I think the board
needs at this moment in time. I can't answer that question without doin' a lot of
leg work. So ... please, uh, provide that. All right, first on our list, if I'm looking
at this correctly, is the Community Police Relations Board. We have seven
applicants for two four-year terms. One of which is a female requirement, and
Julie, Eleanor, if I make mistakes in stating any of this, please let me know. I
could ... I won't run through the names. Uh... let's do the female requirement first.
Mims: I would do Mazahir. She's already on it. Often times we ... we don't always, but
lots of times we give people an opportunity, uh, for a second term. Urn ... and so
that was my selection. (several responding)
Throgmorton: Yeah, that's what I was going to suggest as well. All right, so we will appoint
Mazahir Salih. All right and we have, uh, what's the number here, one, two,
three.... three, uh, three applicants for the, well, I guess (both talking)
Mims: (both talking)
Throgmorton:... anybody to it, so...
Mims: I picked David Selmer. I thought he had an interesting, um, interesting
background in terms of as an attorney, both defending police but also a criminal
defense attorney (laughs) so he's kinda worked on both sides of it. Um, really
seems to understand I think a lot about... about those issues I think would be good
in terms of looking, uh, if we kind of change .... if we kind of change or expand
some of the things in terms of the CPRB looking .... CPRB looking at policy and
stuff. Um, and also it came into play as I was looking at these applicants for other
commissions. (laughs) And trying to balance who was gonna go where! Um, so
I thought he would do a really good job on there.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 63
Throgmorton: I have some concern about David Selmer. Uh, and I guess I need to be clear
about this. Uh, if I understand correctly, uh, he worked for many years, I don't
know, more than 10 years, in Chicago, um .... defending police officers charged
with various kinds of misconduct or inappropriate conduct, and he has
tremendous experience that is very, very obvious. So I ... I think it's crucial that
this board consist of members who, um, are very even-handed and my concern is
that with that kind of background, given the sensitivity of, uh, of police -
community relations, he might be inclined to, A .... um, give undue support to
police officers who are being, you know, about whom questions have been asked
by the public. And I .... I think .... the rules of the commission already are pretty
strong in .... making it difficult for allegations of inappropriate behavior or
whatever the right language is. Makes it pretty hard for that to be sustained. So
we very rarely see, uh, a particular proposal, or claim sustained. Uh, so .... and
moreover, because, uh, Mr. Selmer has this enormous amount of experience, I
worry that he would be tremendously persuasive, way out of scale, uh, with the
other members of the ... of the commission. So I ... I just need to express that
concern, and I'd be very curious to know what the rest of you think.
Mims: I think that really.... questions a person's ethics.
Throgmorton: Yeah. It's about his experience.
Mims: Well I think what you're saying is you don't trust that he could be even handed
because of his experience.
Taylor: I think it's more, I mean, that there could be a potential bias there. I don't ... I
don't know that it's that, uh, I ... I .... nothing against lawyers, Rockne, but I'm .... I
saw that and that always sends up red flags for me. I think that that, um ... um,
kind of isn't in balance on that ... on that board (several talking in background)
somebody with the legal background, and um, personally I ... I was leaning towards
Charlie... Charles Eastham, just because of his experience in the community
and... and things that he's done and, uh, helped folks out, uh, in the community.
Mims: See, but I would say Charlie brings a ... his own bias to this, as well.
Cole: Wasn't Charlie seeking to be on another commission too? (several talking)
Throgmorton: HCDC if I remember right (several talking)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 64
Cole: So that's what I'm going to support him for, not this. You know the only thing
(both talking)
Mims: ....attorneys, Rockne! (laughs)
Cole: Well the only thing I would say is there can be .... I, about 10 years ago, I'll talk
about my own experience, uh, it was excessive force case I was involved in, and
that particular officer was reported by other law enforcement officers. So
sometimes you can get.... sometimes they can actually have higher expectations.
I'm not ... I'm not saying always, and I think that your concerns are absolutely
valid. I think what we don't want is a decision -maker that is going to bring undue
influence and have so much of...base their decision on experience that I think it
will cause the public to lose confidence. Um ..... I think it's .... I think it's a hard
call. I think it sort of cuts both ways. I wish I could be more clear as far as that
goes, but um, but there's nothing to really jump out in a resume itself, Jim, to
cause you concerns about his experience. I mean in terms of specific acts. It's
more just the general (both talking)
Throgmorton: No (both talking)
Cole: ...think that's important to note, and I'm not saying you're stating that.
Mims: Well and I would .... I would just also, I think you said he was doing it for 10
years. The way I read this it says for four years he defended Chicago police in
civil rights complaints. I mean he still did it; I'm not saying he didn't defend
them, but it was for four ... the way I read this, it was for four years, um....
Cole: Jim, did you have another selection that you wanted to make in lieu of that
recommendation?
Throgmorton: Well, I think Susan makes a very good point with regard to, uh, Charlie who,
frankly, is a very good friend in many ways, but I think he does have a strong
perspective and that could be of concern as well. Uh, so .... I'd have to say ... no, I
feel ambivalent in a way, similar to you, Rockne. If we ... were not appointing
Mazahir. I strongly support her; I think we should. If we were not appointing her
I would recommend Ali Achmed, uh.....but we are appointing Mazahir. So....
Mims: I think David Selmer would be....
Dickens: I don't have any problem with David.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 65
Throgmorton: I understand you to be saying you don't really have any problem with David, and
my .... I'm expressing a concern, if I had a chance to meet `em, talk with `em
(laughs) you know I could just ask him questions and then my ... maybe my
concerns would evaporate. So, uh, but that's not the situation.
Mims: I mean, if I'm reading this right, he also talks about he later worked for a few
years in private practice where I prosecuted claims of civil rights abuse and police
misconduct. So I read this that he's worked on both sides (several talking)
Cole: That's very typical too!
Mims: You know, he's .... he's defended the police, but he's also been against the police,
depending on the position he's been in, so I .... I didn't read it (several talking and
laughing) I didn't read it as .... as that he would necessarily, particularly come in
with a bias of having spent like 10 or 20 years just working in defense of police.
He's worked both defending them, but he's also worked in cases against them.
Throgmorton: Okay. I .... I'll support Selmer.
Cole: That's fine.
Thomas: I don't object to ... I mean I, my preference was with Charlie. I thought Charlie... as
we're moving into this .... this focus on disproportionate minority contact would
be very useful, uh, on that commission, but, um .... yeah, I think there's enough
sufficient support for David now.
Throgmorton: Okay, so uh, we have two appointees there. All right, moving to Historic
Preservation Commission, we have a total of seven applicants for four vacancies,
three are male requirement and one is no gender requirement. Uh, but the
vacancies are divided among Longfellow, Northside, and two at -large categories.
Mims: If my analytical skills work (laughter) that's .... I came up with .... Thomas Agran
for the Northside. Now this is unusual. He's done a full term and a partial. So
that, but....
Thomas: I'm not sure he's done a partial, but I....
Throgmorton: Yeah, that was confusing actually.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 66
Thomas: Yeah.
Mims: Okay.
Thomas: I think he's only done one full term.
Mims: But we don't have enough men. I mean (laughs) basically where we ended up
anyways.
Throgmorton: Can't have too many men! (laughter)
Mims: So .... matter of opinion! (laughter) Uh.... so I had Thomas Agran for the
Northside representative. I had Kevin Boyd, who would be .... he was in an
unexpired tern now as an at -large. G.T. Karr as an at -large.
Throgmorton: Right.
Mims: And then I had .... I don't know how to say .... Gosia Clore as the Longfellow.
Throgmorton: Yeah, I don't know how to pronounce her first name either. Yep.
Mims: So that got us our three male and it covered the geographical.
Cole: I think those are great pics. I'm a huge fan of Thomas (both talking)
Mims: There weren't any .... there weren't any other men left (laughs) so ... (several
talking)
Taylor: I just had some concerns about G.T. Karr, just correspondence I had gotten as far
as that he has done some battles with the Historic Preservation regarding his
siding business and ... and siding.
Dickens: But he's won awards from `em as well, so....
Taylor: Pardon me?
Dickens: He's won awards (both talking)
Mims: He's won awards.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 67
Dickens: I don't know if you saw or read that part, but he has won awards with `em and he
is in a contracting business, so he understands the contracting side of things. So 1
think it's good to have that kind of balance, that he can understand what (both
talking)
Throgmorton: I understand there's some concern. Just so we can all be clear about ... concern
about, uh, I ... I don't know G.T. Karr, you know, some concern about.....
Dickens: I've known him for 38 years, so .... (laughter)
Throgmorton: A .... about how he's, um.....um..... might have a conflict of interest because of the
nature of his business, which is to make certain kinds of, uh, changes in existing
homes that are really inconsistent with Historic Preservation handbook, and I
think he's had some battles with, um, the Commission over those points and, you
know, so the concern is that he might have a conflict of interest.
Mims: Well, we've got a Counselor that has a conflict of interest when it comes to
School stuff, I mean .... so they have to recuse if they have a conflict of interest. I
think .... I ... I guess I look at it this way. It gives somebody who's in that business
the opportunity on that commission to engage in, you know, dialogue with those
people in terms of, you know, are there things that should be changed, you know,
do all the rules that are in place make sense. Um, he's only going to be one
person out of that entire Commission. He's not gonna change it on his own.
Um ... but it might lead to some good dialogue as well, and if there's particular
cases in which he needs to recuse himself, then....
Cole: I .... I agree with you, Susan. I think in small groups it's good to identify
dissenting voices and so to the extent he has that, I think that could create a more
effective, reliable decision-making process. Um, would be my thought.
Throgmorton: Has everyone spoken? I'm not sure. I mean, I ... I clearly hear (both talking)
Thomas: Yeah, I ... I was concerned about the ... the potential.... conflict of interest with G.T.,
um, however, you know, I .... I .... I am, I think Susan's point, which is one that I ... I
had identified as well, which is he's one voice on the Commission, so urn .... you
know, that.....I think that will address... addresses for me satisfactorily this
concern about his conflicts.
Throgmorton: Okay, I hear that. So, I want to ask one, uh, one question just for confirmation
really. If I understand correctly, G.T. Karr will be serving on the Climate, uh,
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 68
Action Steering Committee. Uh, that does not pose a conflict, does it, because...
because of the way we wrote that resolution?
Dilkes: I think so. You .... you said that serving on another commission would not
disqualify them from the Climate Action, um .... (mumbled) (several talking)
Throgmorton: That's the way I remember (several talking)
Fruin: You can serve (several talking)
Throgmorton: Okay, and then I want to ask a question about, uh, alas we don't know how to
pronounce her first name, but, uh, Gosia? Gosia (mumbled) I've heard some
pretty darn good things about her, uh, and the role she's played on the ... on the
Commission, but her application is mighty thin. I wonder if we could solicit
information from her? I mean when I was looking at it today, I was trying to ask
myself, `Who is she really?' Uh, you know, I .... cause I don't know her
personally and the application is very, very thin. I ... she doesn't, well I mean just
look at the application. You'll see what I mean. I'm .... I'm not rejecting her. I'm
just expressing a concern and a wish that we had more information about her as
a .... a person we're appointing.
Mims: I feel like that on a lot of them sometimes. (laughs)
Throgmorton: Well I'd like to really have personal contact with all of our appointees, but....
Dickens: We ask `em to call us, but .... you can lead the horse ... (laughter) but if you
can't ... if you can't get a hold of them, they can't get a hold of you. They don't try
to call.
Throgmorton: (both talking) All right.
Dickens: You can only do so much. (several talking)
Throgmorton: Put it this way, I would like to see additional information for Gosia Clore. So our
appointees, if I understand correctly, are Gosia Clore to Longfellow, Thomas
Agran to Northside, Kevin Boyd and G.T. Karr to, um, the two at -large positions.
(several responding) All right. Next is the Housing and Community
Development Commission. We have I I applicants for three three-year terms.
Two of them are male requirement and one is no gender requirement. Uh, before
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 69
we go on, I hate to see Peter Byler depart as .... I think he's done a superb job as
Chair and ... so anyhow, but yeah, he did not apply, so....
Mims: Well I had John McKinstry. I think he was just finishing up an unexpired term if
I recall that correctly. So I had him as one. Um .... we only had two other males,
so that puts it between Charlie and Nicholas. Um .... and....
Cole: What was Nicholas' last name (several talking)
Mims: He's a Ph.D. philosophy student who's done a lot ... interest in subsistence rights,
which I thought was ... (both talking)
Throgmorton: Yeah, pretty interesting. It's another instance where I'd love to actually meet the
person.
Mims: And there's....I don't know, there's .... I don't know. I think there's this
compelling argument of getting new people involved and .... and, I mean,
Charlie's been on P&Z. He's very involved in a lot of different organizations, in
the community, between Center for Worker Justice, Coalition for Racial Justice,
uh, I can't remember all .... Black Voices, etc., and so there's a part of me that
says, you know, he's doin' a lot of his advocacy and work in those areas, and
what about giving somebody else an opportunity on a City, uh, board or
commission, and so while I .... I hear your point and agree with you, Jim, there's
not a whole lot of information there and we ... not an opportunity to meet, I'd .... I'd
be kind of interested in giving Nicholas an opportunity.
Throgmorton: Well I ... I'm gonna favor, uh, Charlie Eastham, but also, um, Vanessa Fixmer 0...
Oraiz. I know I'm mispronouncing her last name.
Taylor: I ... I liked Vanessa. You talk about the resume and the application, uh, hers was
pretty thorough in what she had to say. It sounds like she's attended meetings and
she had a good idea of what the Commission was all about, as opposed to some of
the others that really didn't have a clue or didn't say anything. So I ... I liked her.
Thomas: I liked Vanessa as well.
Cole: I'll support Vanessa.
Mims: Yep.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 70
Throgmorton: All right, so we have McKinstry and Fixmer Oraiz as appointees (clears throat)
uh, so what are we gonna do with regard to the third position?
Cole: I'm gonna support Charlie Eastham.
Taylor: I'm supporting Charlie.
Thomas: I ... I supported Charlie for the Police Board (laughs) since that (laughs) didn't pan
out, um, I would support Charlie here. I mean he's a very, very savvy detail
oriented person, um, you know, I think he just serves very well in these capacities,
and I just... unfortunately I don't know Nick! So....
Throgmorton: Okay, I think we have four votes for Charlie Eastham. So that's three appointees,
correct? Which brings us to the Library Board of Trustees. We had nine
applicants for two six-year terms, no gender balance requirement. But one of the
applicants, Richard Beebe, um, withdrew today. So, uh, can't ... we can't consider
him.
Mims: I would highly recommend Carol Kirsch. I have known Carol for a long, long,
long time. She's lived in Iowa City for a long time. I know her cause our girls
went to school together. Um ... very good, very detail oriented, urn .... and it's not
because she's got the Library experience. It's more because she's a Library user.
Um, big Library user. And, um, I think she'd be very, very good.
Taylor: Carol Kirsch was one of mine also and the librarian did stand out for me. I
thought that would be excellent (both talking)
Thomas: She was one of my three too.
Taylor: (both talking) ....Richard had library experience also, but I also, um, I'm ... know
Margaret Donley. She was a social worker at the Hospital and worked with her
for many years. Uh, very wonderful person and, uh, loves to (mumbled) spends
quite a bit of time at the Library, and I would strongly recommend her. Margaret
Donley.
Throgmorton: I, uh, I was inclined to support Kelly Forkenbrock.
Mims: So was I.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 71
Throgmorton: A .... a young black woman ... who works for a local education firm, and I say that
partly because, just to be blunt, it seems ... well, lots of friends that I know that
serve on the Library Board tend to be from, uh, a wealthier class, tend to be white
people and so on, and uh, I don't have anything against white people or wealthier
people, but I .... I think we need some balance within that, uh, Commission.
Mims: Yeah, Kelly was on mine too.
Throgmorton: Or Board of Trustees. Uh, so....
Cole: I'd support Kelly.
Thomas: That's fine with me.
Dickens: Yes.
Throgmorton: All right. So, Kelly Forkenbrock and ... who was it? (several responding) Carol
Hirsch? (several responding) Carol Kirsch. Okay. And we have, uh, Planning
and Zoning Commission. We have one applicant for a five-year term. That is
Phoebe Martin.
Mims: Support Phoebe.
Dickens: Sure. She's done a fine job.
Mims: Yep!
Throgmorton: Uh, yep? So, um, we're good to go with Phoebe Martin I guess. Yeah. Okay.
Mims: So moved!
Throgmorton: So you got all those down, right, Julie?
Voparil: Yes!
Dickens: Second!
Throgmorton: There's a motion from, uh, Mims, seconded by Dickens. All in favor say aye.
Opposed. Motion carries. I have to read something here don't I, about
vacancies? So, let me see, I gotta figure out how to do this.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 72
Voparil: There's some we didn't receive any applications for, so we'll need to readvertise.
(several talking in background)
Throgmorton: Uh, so .... uh, we have one vacancy to fill a four-year term on the Airport
Commission. One vacancy, no ... two vacancies to fill unexpired terms upon
appointment to the Airport Zoning Commission. One vacancy to fill an unexpired
term upon appointment to the Airport Board of Zoning ... Board of Adjustment.
Uh, let's see ..... one vacancy for a Jefferson Street representative to feel ... fill a
three-year term on the Historic Preservation Commission. And two vacancies to
fill three-year terms on the Telecommunications Commission. Uh, so uh.... let's
see now, application. When ... when are these due? I guess I don't know when
(several talking)
Mims: Under Item 19.....it says June 13th, but.....
Throgmorton: I don't know. Should I say June 13th9
Voparil: June 13th.
Throgmorton: Okay, uh, so applications must be received for those, uh, appointments by
Tuesday, June 13th. By 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, June 13th. Also, we have, um, one
vacancy to fill an unexpired term upon appointment to the Senior Center
Commission, and again, that application must be received by 5:00 P.M. by
Tuesday, June 13th. So....
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 73
ITEM 21. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION
Throgmorton: Terry, why don't we begin with you?
Dickens: As I stated earlier, get out, register and vote for the School bond issue. Uh, it's
not too early to start thinking about voting. I'm sure they'll have early voting, but
uh, get registered now so that there's no question when it comes time to vote.
Throgmorton: Rockne?
Cole: This Saturday at 2:30 P.M. through 7:00, the Iowa Valley Global Food Project is
having an event out at the Johnson County Poor Farm. Um, there'll be events for
kids. There will be, urn .... Mazahir's here, um, there'll be kids there and there
will be a lot of different sorts of events, so I encourage everyone to go there. Um,
for those of you who don't know, the Iowa Valley Global Food Project, um, are
people from all over the world who have made Iowa City home, and they have a
shared love of agriculture, and so they're working with the folks at Grow Johnson
County to, um, do some wonderful growing projects, and I think this is going to
be one of the first kickoff events. Should be a good time!
Throgmorton: Good deal! Pauline?
Taylor: Uh, I wanted to do a shout out and kudos to the letter carriers. This last Saturday
they had your .... their annual food drive, and thanks to all the folks who, uh,
donated any fau... food projects. They ... it was very successful. That'll all go to
the Crisis Center. I know there's a lot of folks that don't realize how many people
there really are in ... in this community that, uh, struggle to, uh, have food for
themselves and their family, and then speaking of food, this Thursday the, at the
Senior Center, there's ... what they're calling a Sage, S -a -g -e, table potluck. It's a
national event and it' [s at the Senior Center this Thursday at 5:00. It's an event
that, uh... uh, has folks gather to share a meal with LGBT folks and allies at, uh,
all different generations, but particularly folks (mumbled) elder folks and gives
everybody a chance to get together and have conversations and build connections.
So it'll be a great event!
Thomas: Uh, there was a .... last Wednesday, uh, the Northside visioning workshop was
held, and um .... it was a lot of fun. I think there was a real what ... what I was kind
of pleasantly surprised by was the, uh, presentation by the traffic consultant, who,
uh, had drones run over the Northside to determine the, uh, parking patterns.
And... and also looked at, and this is what I found especially interesting. He looked
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 74
at speeds, both when cars are parked only on one side of the street versus two
sides of the street, and discovered that the speeds with cars on both sides hover
right around 20 miles per hour, which is kind of the holy grail with respect to
speeds in neighborhood residential area, so I'm interested to see where that goes,
but it...it kind of confirmed for me in .... in kind of numeric way, uh, what I think
all of us observe, have observed, which is that, you know, when parking is
allowed on both sides of the street, it has a calming effect on speed.
Mims: Couple thing. The Crisis Intervention/. Access Center, uh, Steering Committee is
continuing to meet. We meet, um, either every other week or monthly. Uh, we
finally have representatives from all of the municipalities and the County, to meet
with the governance committee to discuss how this is going to work in terms of a
governance structure, um, some ideas that have been kind of floated is a 28E
agreements between the, uh, organizations in terms of a facility and then
potentially new non-profit that would actually provide the services. That has not
been finalized yet, but that'll be part of the discussion of that governance
committee, as well as some discussion on, uh, property itself, and um, some
different properties that are currently being looked at, so.... That's moving
forward. Um, just lots.....lots of subcommittees and lots of different work being
done that would take an hour to update you, so I won't bore you with it. Um, but
another really important one. I.....as part of that Steering Committee had the
opportunity last week to go to a meeting, um, on the data -driven justice initiative,
and .... you may recall that, and Geoff, you'll have to help me, last.... fall I think it
was maybe (both talking) urn .... we had three community members, Officer Dave
Schwindt, Jessica Peckover from Jail Alternatives, and Chrissy Canganelli from
Shelter House were invited to Washington D.C., um, to kind of learn about this.
They had made some connections, and so they had a big meeting here last week,
and this included, uh, representative from the Arnold Foundation, uh, Lynn
Overman was actually a member of Obama's White House on the science and
technology staff, helping develop data -driven justice initiatives. Um, our team
has been selected as one of the three best in the nation in terms of the kind of
work that they are doing. Um, I think they are a little bit in awe and overwhelmed
at that selection, in that they feel like they are at .... really at the very beginning of
what they're doing. Um, but because of that selection, they have been invited to
go back to D.C. It'll be going in June, uh, for basically a, uh, a .... they'll do a
presentation but they they also will be acting as faculty, um, to these other teams,
to kind of teach them and talk about what they are already doing here. Um, some
of the people that were there, and this is .... I think what was incredibly exciting
for me to listen to, they had people there from Amazon web services, uh, they
had... the.... the lead on all their public health, nationwide. Uh, actually world
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 75
wide, uh, public health initiatives, um, out of Maryland. They had, um,
gentleman who was the head of Amazon web services for the state of Iowa. They
host a lot of Iowa government, um, web sites on their platform on their .... on their
cloud. Um, and again, Lynn Overman was here from the Arnold Foundation, and
um, an individual who is the developer and CEO of a product called The Loom,
and The Loom is basically a platform that can hold all of this data that they need
to do this data -driven justice initiative, and one of the reasons our team is so far
along is because Dave Schwindt spent, I don't know if it was on our dime or on
his own time (laughs) but spent like 40 to 60 hours pulling data and loading it into
this system. Um, much to his delight and/or chagrin, lie has discovered that the
developers of The Loom can actually do what he did in probably about five
minutes, what took him about 60 hours. Um, they can mine data, um, given
access to these. They have developed this program, or this platform, which is
pretty incredible in that the .... the sophistication of it and the confidentiality of it,
it meets HIPAA requirements. It meets all other acronym requirements that you
can possibly think of. So the ... the phase that they're at right now, and what this
meeting was about, was talking to providers who are dealing with HIPAA and
other, um, types of requirements like that, as well as the jail, as well as our police
department is already, of course, putting data in. We're working with them to try
and get all the 9-1-1 calls from JECC loaded in, um, they have .... again, this is just
interesting in the different in technology. They, Dave Schwent had talked to them
about doing it and they tried to upload stuff and it pretty near crashed the 9-1-1
system. Um, so they had to stop. Well, they got talking to the guy who runs The
Loom and he said, `Oh, but if we do this, this, and this, then all the load is on my
servers,' in other words, Amazon's servers and not on yours. I mean ... the
technology understanding just was way over .... was way over my head, but the
point is, they're doing really good things, being able to put all this information in.
They were able to do a couple different data dives during the meeting to show
how, um, and one of `em was out of, uh, Salt Lake City. Four individuals, and
these are ... these are true, these are not just, uh.... hypotheticals. These are true
cases of true individuals, over a two-year period, um, I .... two or four-year period,
had cost something like $2 million in services. I mean, they priced out a night in
the jail. They had priced out the ER services. They had priced out every other
service, but the only way they were able to do it was because all these different
providers of services were willing to put their information into a system where it
could actually be looked at. So you could actually pull up an individual's name
and depending upon your clearance level, if you will, um, you could see every
single service that this person had obtained over the last two years. The idea is,
ultimately, our police officers could be called to a residence and they could pull
up that residence, and they could see all the different calls that have been made
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 76
there. They could see the individuals related to those calls, and.....they could get
a certain amount of information on the types of calls that had been made there.
Now, as police officers they would not have access to information that was
HIPAA classified. But that's the neat thing about this program, is you can ... you
can cut and dice it a million different ways, so that people who have various, um,
somebody in the medical field could have HIPAA information. Police officer
would not have HIPAA information. So ... that's the kind of stuff that's happening
here in Johnson County as one of the best three teams in the country on data -
driven justice initiatives. They will be teaching in D.C. next month, and I would
like for us as a Council to ask them to come and give us a presentation, with the
permission of the rest of you, after they get back. I think it would be really good
to get more publicity, not at 10:15 at night when nobody's going to have bothered
to watch the end of this meeting (laughter) um, but to get them (several talking) to
get them on at, uh, you know, at a reasonable time. I .... I think it's just incredible
what they're doing and what that will allow us to do also, in terms of policy going
forward.
Cole: And it really hooks into what Kingsley is talking about, has talked so much about
is the data -driven solutions.
Mims: Yeah, you have to have the data, and they're starting and it's .... it's powerful
what's available, so .... and also real quickly, related to police, as Jim mentioned
earlier, he and I were here this morning for the ceremony from the Chaplains on
police appreciation week and uh, just thank you to all of our police officers!
Throgmorton: Right! Okay. Thanks everybody. I want to mention a few things I've been doing
or that are coming up, uh, that might be of interest to you and the public. Uh, I
made a short keynote speech at the Human Rights Commission's Human Rights
Award program on May the l Ow. Stefanie Bowers did a superb job of organizing
that as did other people involved in the Commission. Lot of people there too!
Yesterday I took part in the bike -bus -car race. And .... I don't know how to tell
y'all this but .... but I didn't win, you know (laughter) I finished second. I was
only like five seconds behind Mike Havercamp who rode the bus. He went flying
by me in the last seconds. (laughter) Oh well! Geoff and I attended the, uh,
Partnership for Alcohol Safety meeting. Uh, Tom Rocklin's last meeting. And I
praised Tom at that moment, you know, during the meeting. He's done a superb
job for the University and for the City of Iowa City, uh, in his capacity as, uh, at
the University, especially his co-chairing of this, of the Partnership for Alcohol
Safety. Also Eric Goers did a terrific job summarizing what's been done over the
years. Uh... also, there's, uh, an ex ... uh, an ex -offender named Johnathan Kana
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 77
who will be speaking about the struggle of the ex -offender's identity on Thursday
night, from 7:00 P.M. till 8:30, uh, this is May 18"'. Last, I don't know exactly
where he's going to be doing this, but he right now ... or this evening, has been out
at Oakdale Prison, uh, listening to the choir concert out there, and I think, uh,
Mary Cohen who is the conductor of that whole experience, uh, was going to
introduce him and, uh, ask him to say a few words, uh, at Oakdale. Anyhow, he's
staying with my wife and I right now. He's a really fine individual who made a
bad mistake at a certain point in his life. Uh... also, I expect to do my first
Mayor's Walk of the season on Friday, this coming Friday, May 19"'. So with
luck I'm gonna send something to the staff tomorrow so we can have a press
release about that. Uh, also .... I don't think it's been announced yet, we're gonna
have a .... at least not in tonight's meeting, we're gonna have a joint work session
with the County Board of Supervisors on May the 24`h, starting at 5:00 P.M. We
also have an Economic Development Committee meeting on May the 25"' from
11:00 to noon. I think this might be an important meeting of the Committee. I
think we're going to be coming to some decisions and votes and so on about what
to forward to the full Council. Bike master plan, uh, there's going to be an open
house about it at the Senior Center on May the 25`h, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., and I'
shocked nobody mentioned Arts Fest! It's gonna take place between now and our
next meeting.
Mims: Oh, wow!
Throgmorton: It will take place from June the 1" to June the 4"'. All right.
Mims: Just can't believe June is around the corner!
Throgmorton: (laughter and several talking) Okay.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 78
ITEM 22. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM CITY STAFF
a) City Manager
Throgmorton: Item 22, report from the City Manager and the Assistant City Manager, City
Attorney, City Clerk.
Mims: Move to adj.... oop!
Throgmorton: Oh, wait a minute (both talking) I need to ask a question of Julie (several talking
and laughing) With regard to Item 18, Julie, I'm looking at my own notes, did
you get a motion to accept, did you hear a motion to accept correspondence? I ... I
don't think we .... asked for that motion. (both talking) Can I do that right now,
Eleanor?
Mims: So moved.
Dickens: Second... third.
Throgmorton: Okay, so this is a motion to accept correspondence pertaining to Item 18. Moved
by Mims, seconded by Dickens. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion carries.
Item 23, do we have a motion to adjourn?
Mims: No. (several talking and laughing) I forgot one thing that I've been meaning
(both talking) I know! I know, that's .... I got it! Um, you .... you got a memo
about city clerk search process. We are doing interviews on Monday the 22"d of
the internal applicants. I would like for you to look at your calendars and would
like to reserve some time, either Wednesday the 24`n or Thursday the 25th, um,
probably looking at half a day. If we could do, potentially do back-to-back, if we
can do that, for two potentially .... potentially two. I don't know if we'll have two,
urn .... so.....I meant to send this out in an email. Life has just been a little crazy.
So ... the 20 .... Wednesday the 24th through Thursday the 25th, if we can possibly
find .... and if we can't do `em back-to-back, Jim's looking very.....
Throgmorton: Well we have that meeting with the County .... that work session with the County
Board of Supervisors starting at 5:00.
Mims: Right. I'm looking in the middle of the day.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
Page 79
Throgmorton: Yeah, I understand that. Um ... I don't know, what ... I can make time, I think.
Mims: The issue is if we don't, if we can't get it in that week, we go into June. Pauline's
gone the first week of June. We don't end up doing this until the second week of
June. So if we can possibly squeeze it in ... uh....
Throgmorton: So let me get a proposal on the table. Uh... Thursday afternoon. The 25"'.
Mims: We have Economic Development at 11:00 so .... (both talking) 1:00. 25th at 1:00,
would that work?
Dickens: Couple hours.....blocked off.
Cole: Yeah, that should work.
Dickens: (mumbled) ...for each.
Mims: Yeah (both talking)
Dickens: ...what we did the last time.
Throgmorton: John? Pauline?
Thomas: Yeah.
Mims: ...that work? (several talking) Okay!
Throgmorton: All right, so you're saying 1:00.....
Mims: 1:00 P.M. to let's say 3:30. Gives us a little bit of a break .... (several talking and
laughing) ...discuss afterwards, so if you can .... block it....
Throgmorton: So this is interviews with candidates, is that right?
Mims: Right, candidate or candidates. We'll see what we end up with after we meet on
Monday, but ... I guess I would say if you can block out the bulk of the afternoon,
that would be better. But we'll start at 1:00.
Throgmorton: All right.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.
M
Mims: Thank you very much. My apologies for last minute (mumbled)
Dickens: So moved! (laughter)
Throgmorton: So, we need a motion to adjourn.
Mims: I think he already did! (laughs) Second.
Throgmorton: Oh, moved by Dickens, seconded by Mims. All in favor say aye. Motion carnes.
(bangs gavel) We are adjourned.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of May 16, 2017.