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Item 2. Proclamations
Item 2a The University Club Day — September 1
Throgmorton: I understand that Linda VanLoh will be .... is here tonight to accept the first ... well
the only proclamation we want to read. Linda, where are you? (noise on mic)
There you are! Okay. Good! So let me read this and then when I'm finished you
could come up and .... I'll hand it to ya! (reads proclamation) Linda, could you
please come up? (applause) (unable to hear interaction, away from mic)
VanLoh: Thank you very much. Uh, our, uh, club has been around for a hundred years and
we're very proud to be celebrating that. Um, scholarships are a big part of what
we do. We will be (mumbled) awarding three scholarships this year .... again.
The, uh, our biggest group in the club is our Newcomers. Those welcome women
new to the area and new to the, uh, club, uh, and the first four years of their
membership, uh, the Newcomers are a great way to meet new, uh, people and to
integrate into the community. And again, we thank you.
Throgmorton: Great! Thank you. (applause)
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Item 4. Community Comment (items not on the agenda) [until 8 pm]
Throgmorton: So, uh, anyone who wants to speak to us about any topic that is not on the formal
meeting agenda is free to do so now. I'd just like you to, uh, come up, state your
name and then take not more than five minutes to say whatever's.... whatever it is,
uh, that's on your mind. We can only take this to 8:00 PM so if there are a lot of
people who wanted to speak then we'll have to stop at 8:00. I want to say one
other thing too, which I usually, uh.... um ..... try to get out right at the start of the
meeting. Welcome all of you .... to your City Council meeting. Uh, we're very
happy to see all of you, uh, and I'd like to say especially buenas noches to, uh,
those of you who speak Spanish. I do not but I guess, uh, the ... the two words I
just said work well. Anyhow, welcome to your City Council meeting. It's great
to see all of you here tonight. Okay. Would anybody like to address us? On a
topic that's not already on the formal meeting agenda. Good evening, Mark!
McCallum: Hi, how are you doing?
Throgmorton: Good!
McCallum: My name's Mark McCallum. I live not far from here on 113 S. Johnson, and
tonight I attended your work session to hear the presentation from the consultant
on the, uh ... changes, uh, on the Northside and Southside, and the parking study
that was done as well. Um, the question I have thought, uh, about a year and a
half ago I made a .... a overture to the City regarding a parking improvement
district around the College Green Park, and um .... and I was brought in to speak
with the consultant and .... and, uh, give my feedback and I .... and, uh, about what
was going on in the neighborhood, and I guess during the consultant's
presentation, I was sort of left while I agreed with many of the things that are
proposed for the Northside and I want to support those things, I just didn't see
where College Green was included in part of that plan, and my worry is is that
something's going to be done on the Northside, but not in the College Green area,
which also has issues as well. So I just wanted to draw that to your attention and
I'd like to be able to still present. I was told that we had to wait for the parking
study, cause I have been pestering some of you about, uh, the parking district
proposal that I had proposed, and um, was told that I have to wait until we ... we
get the consultant's report and now that the consultant's report, I didn't see clearly
any indication that they were recommending a parking improvement district
around the park. I guess my question is where do I go from here? It's something
I'd like to pursue. I've gotten several neighbors that are ... have signed on over a
year ago about considering this. Uh, if you don't know much about parking
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district, improvement districts, you could use .... what I'm suggesting is that we
meter, uh, partially around the park, uh, perhaps do a permit system for residents
of the neighborhood who live there so we have the same parking issues that the
Northside does, but to use the revenues from both of those funding mechanisms
for improvements to the park. This could be a model or a template plan for other
neighborhoods. For example, if you did a parking improvement district on the
Northside, you might find funding for the brick streets that the City has trouble
finding in their budget every year, or other street light improvements and other
areas as well. So I guess that's all I'd like to put out there is I'd like to work with
the City on a proposal for the College Green Park area. Perhaps this could be a
trial program to be looked at for other areas. Um, but again, after sitting through
that presentation, I'm unclear as to where ... uh.... I stand on that particular ... on ... on
my block of the neighborhood, with regard to parking and my proposal for a
parking improvement district. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thanks, Mark. Um ... seems to me Mark raises a valuable question. Could you
follow up, please ... uh, with Mark?
Fruin: Sure!
Throgmorton: Anyone else? Good evening!
Freund: Good evening, Council. Urn .... my name is Harrison Freund. I live at 312, uh,
East Burlington Street, #24. Um, I'm here to address the Council about the events
that occurred this weekend in Charlottesville, um, I would hope that everybody
who's behind me right now would agree in saying that what happened in
Charlottesville and at the University of Virginia, um, was wholly unacceptable
and wholly un-American. Um .... as a student at the University and as a resident
of this city, I would like to ask the Council, um ... you know, since the University
of Iowa and Iowa City is known as a progressive area, um, what actions are the
Council.... what actions is the Council prepared to take to ensure that a weekend
that like what happened in Charlottesville with neo-Nazis, Klansmen, um, and
white supremacy doesn't come to Iowa City and threaten, um, you know, Jews
and Blacks and Hispanics in the area.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Harrison. (applause) Uh, I'd like you to know that we've ... I've had
conversations, uh, with Geoff, uh, concerning, uh, making sure that we are
prepared for any kind of emergencies along those lines. I've been drafting a
statement to be issued publicly, uh, about those events and ... and to be honest, I
just ran out of time. I couldn't finish the statement before our meeting tonight,
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uh, but I am drafting a statement, and it'll be issued publicly. Anyone else?
Raphael!
Morataya: Good evening. I'm Rafael Morataya. I live at 4419 E. Court. I'm here today
because, um, I'm really concern about the, uh, my kids and other kids in the
neighborhood where I live. When my kids going to attend the new Hoover, and
for the last two week I've been reaching the School Board and then even I took
picture and sent it to them. There's no sidewalk. There's no safety cross. And
that respond from the.....from the School District is .... is a plan, it's coming up,
check the web site, check the Longfellow (laughs) web site and that's it, and uh,
and then, uh, last week I .... I .... I (mumbled) people and they say, `Hey, you
should reach the City, because the City has a plan to do a sidewalk.' And then
when I tell them the sidewalk's gonna be built in one to two years. There's no
immediately. (clears throat) ...so the ... pretty much they blame the City for
(mumbled) the sidewalk, and I told them hat tit's not respons... your responsibility
100% in this and I ... and I went today again and I told (mumbled) and then, uh,
they say they is working with you and the Chief to have a .... a officer to make
sure that kids can cross the .... the street in the morning and the afternoon safe. I
know you .... you take care of this, but I want to make su... I want to (clears throat)
raise the issue because other things (mumbled) School District blame everything
the City. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Rafael. It's important topic. We have been addressing it and ... I could
elaborate on that but it'd be better if maybe you and I talked later on or.. instead
of getting into back and forth about it, but we .... we recognize the concern and
have been addressing it. Anyone else? Okay, uh, no one else? Oh, somebody
just came in! Kyle, did you want to speak about .... in the public discussion
period? (unable to hear response from audience) Oh, well, okay! About
something that's not on the formal meeting agenda? Step up!
Sieck: Are food trucks on the official agenda that I didn't know about, by chance?
Throgmorton: No, they're not!
Sieck: Okay. Cool! So yeah, uh, Kyle Sieck, Iowa City Mobile Vending Association.
Uh, I'm here because I sent you guys a memo last week and I'm just here as one
of the .... wanted to show face and briefly comment on any questions or if you
haven't read it yet, this could be a head's up that the ... the food truckers who
participated in the pilot program have made some recommendations that we'd like
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you guys to consider, and urn .... would you like me to briefly paraphra .... para-
phrase those or save that for another agenda item?
Throgmorton: I don't know. Did .... did everybody have a chance to read that? (several talking)
Yeah .... yeah, we've all read it, but for the public (both talking) briefly summarize
it.
Sieck: Yeah, briefly summarized, so we (mumbled) 20 different vending locations, uh,
20 different dates, three locations. Pretty much, uh, maximum sales each night
was around $200. Average ticket $6.00, 6.00, $7.00, no more than 30 a night.
Um, moving forward, we are interested in having staff and Council change the
ordinance to allow food trucks in the .... those locations we tested, up until 2:00
AM. Uh.... we only had one complaint. DP Dough, the first night of the....the
pilot program mentioned they had lower sales but other than that the entire pilot
program, not one complaint, not one accident, not one issue that's been brought to
our attention. So .... we just wanted to follow up that for the most part it was a
great experience, working with staff. Simon, uh, Mark Rummel, uh, really great
staff and I just want to say thank you and .... yeah! When you guys have time to
consider that in your work session and.... hopefully we'll keep this ball rolling!
So, thank you!
Throgmorton: Okay, good deal! Thank you, Kyle. Anyone else? Okay, seeing no one else, I'm
gonna turn to Item #5, Planning and Zoning Matters.
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Item 5. Planning and Zoning Matters
Item 5a Rezoning (Riverfront Crossings — Prentiss Street) — Ordinance
rezoning 2500 square feet of property from Planned High Density Multi -
Family Residential (PRM) zone to Riverfront Crossings — Central Crossings
(RFC -CX) Zone for property located at 114 E. Prentiss Street (REZ17-
00012)
a) Public Hearing
Throgmorton: So, uh.... does anybody need to make any ex parte disclosures? No? Me neither.
I'm gonna open the public hearing. (bangs gave]) Hi, John!
Yapp: (both talking) Good evening, Mayor, Members of Council. Uh, this property is at
114 Prentiss Street, highlighted by my, uh, mouse here. (clears throat) Uh, and
this is an image of the building. It's been vacant for many years, uh, prior ... in its
previous life it had been an office use, uh, contained residential uses, uh, was
location of the Iowa City Mosque and was also used by the Shelter House. Uh,
but has been vacant for many years. Uh, the applicant would like to, uh... convert
it into a duplex and, uh, to do so has applied for a rezoning to the Riverfront
Crossings zone. Uh, the property is in the Riverfront Crossings District. You can
see the, uh, Midwest One Bank building in the background, uh, to give you some
context. Uh.... duplex is compatible, uh, with the mixed-use nature of the
Riverfront Crossings District and in staff's view, uh, does provide an opportunity
for an adaptive re -use of an existing, uh, building. Uh, this is an image of...uh, a
concept that the applicant would like to pursue by removing some paving, uh, and
adding some landscaping, uh, to the property. Uh, both staff and the Planning and
Zoning Commission have recommended approval.
Throgmorton: Okay! Any questions for John? I don't see any. Thank you, John. Would
anybody else like to address this topic? Okay, seeing no one .... do .... are any of
you inclined not to vote, uh, consistently with the Planning and Zoning
Commission? Okay. I'm gonna close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b) Consider an Ordinance (First Consideration)
Mims: Move first consideration.
Botchway: Second.
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Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion?
Thomas: I think this is a charming little project (laughs) and, uh.... I .... I did the math on
this one. I think it's a very small project, but .... but, uh, in doing the math, two
units on a 2,500 -square foot lot, uh, are the equivalent of 32.....35 units per
acre ... and, uh, in looking.... when... not too shabby in terms of density, and um,
looking at the Assessor's, uh, evaluation, or assessment of the property, uh, it also
translates to an assessed value of $3.5 million per acre. (laughter) So looks can
be deceiving, you know, in terms of a small property, um .... you know, that .... that
packs quite a value on an acreage basis. So it's, urn... it's.... it's a very successful
project in that regard as well.
Throgmorton: So all our budget woes are gonna go away, hub?
Thomas: (laughter) Absolutely! I think this is the key, this little project!
Mims: Dream on, guys! (laughter)
Throgmorton: Uh, any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0.
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Item 5. Planning and Zoning Matters
Item 5b Rezoning (Historic Landmark designation for Unitarian Universalist
Church) — Ordinance rezoning 0.20 acres of property from Central Business
Support (CB -5) to Central Business Support with a Historic Preservation
Overlay (CB -5 / OHP) zone located at 10 South Gilbert Street. (REZ17-
00013)
a) Public Hearing
Throgmorton: Again, uh, does anybody need to make any ex parte disclosures? Okay, I'll open
the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Hi, John!
Yapp: Uh, the Unitarian (both talking) (laughter) Universalist Church building, uh, it's
located at the comer of Gilbert Street and Iowa Avenue. Uh, just to the north of
City Hall, uh, the building we're in now. Uh, the church was constructed in 1907.
Uh, consistent with the Unitarian beliefs, uh, it is built in a residential style, uh,
and does not have elements like a.....like a large steeple. Um (clears throat) a
landmark, uh, designation is consistent with the objectives, uh, of protecting key
historic buildings, uh, in the downtown, and this is an opportunity, uh, to do so.
Just a couple more images, uh, this is the interior of the church in 1907. Uh, and
this is the interior today. Very consistent, very well -kept, uh, in its original style.
Uh, both the Historic Preservation Commission, uh, and the Planning and Zoning
Commission have recommended approval.
Throgmorton: Great! Thank you, John. Any questions for John? Thank you! Would anybody
else like to address this topic? Thomas! Good evening!
Agran: My name's Thomas Agran. I'm the Northside representative for the Historic
Preservation Commission, and I hope not to reiterate too much of what was just
said, but just .... make a few comments. Um, tonight the Commission would like
to thank Jesse Allen and City staff and City governing bodies for carefully
working through a challenge that has faced communities across the nation for
decades, and that is what to do when a congregation in a downtown area
outgrows, uh, their historic structure. This has been a successful example of a
developer, and City government, and the preservation community working
together, and we should all take pride in its commensalistic relationship between
our City's important historic assets and that of new development. Um, while it's
not the only path, uh, this project is also a successful example of using bonus
incentives to save a historic building. Designating 10 S. Gilbert as a local
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landmark is in line with the City's Comp Plan, which supports preserving historic
buildings in the downtown, and based on how the structure illuminates trends in
church architecture, as well as women's history and Iowa City history, we voted
unanimously for 10 S. Gilbert to become a local landmark. And your decision
tonight will allow a cherished Iowa City building, uh, to continue to contribute to
our community for the next century. So, thank you.
Throgmorton: Thanks, Thomas. May .... maybe somebody would like to ask you a question? I'd
like to ask you a question.
Agran: Oh, okay!
Throgmorton: Could you say a little bit about Eleanor Gordon? I .... I don't want to put you on
the spot (both talking)
Agran: (both talking) ...on the spot (laughter)
Tlrrogmorton: I was hoping Ginalie Swaim would be here (both talking)
Agran: I was as well so .... these were her, mostly her comments. (several talking and
laughing)
Throgmorton: Okay, yeah. All right, well I'll say something about her (both talking) Thank
you, Thomas! Anyone else? All right, seeing no one else, uh, are .... are we
inclined to support the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation? All
right, so I'm gonna close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b) Consider an Ordinance (First Consideration)
Mims: (both talking) ...move first consideration.
Botchway: Second!
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? So, may .... maybe I
should say something about Eleanor Gordon (laughs) since I brought her name up
a few minutes ago. Uh, I'll just read some text in front of me. Uh, one of the
reasons this particular building is significant....at....at the national level, is
through its association with Eleanor Gordon and her pioneering impact on
Unitarian ministry and Unitarian church architecture. I understand she was one of
about 20 female Unitarian ministers between 1880 and 1930 who pioneered new
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ideas in Unitarian ministry and church architecture in the west and midwest. And
also she was instrumental in the acquisition of this property and the residential
aesthetic direction of the building. So, I think it's, you know, important to note
that, uh, this particular individual, Eleanor Gordon, who I had not heard of before,
played a major role in the construction, design, etc., of this particular
buil.... building, as well as in the Unitarian, um .... uh, ministry. So, pleased to be
able to kind of convey that publicly. Does anybody else want to comment on the
landmark designation?
Botchway: I think it's just a culmination of, uh, again, kind of the great work that I think
Thomas already spoke about and so, I mean, just excited to ... to see this happen,
um, and again, just kudos to Jesse Allen. I think I, you know, Tweeted that out
that night, that, uh, we were able to move forward on the developer agreement.
You know, it takes a lot, um, to sacrifice some of that time, and sometimes
money, to, um, put that forth, but I think that a lot of people were able to sacrifice
things here and then, uh, put together a really good project that ultimately, um,
helped this become a designation.
Cole: It's a win for everyone involved. It's very pleasing to approve it.
Thomas: I .... I just would add to what Jim mentioned in that what I think is also, uh,
important about the building is how different it is and as an expression of
religious, a building of religious purpose, uh, in that that too was in a way flowed
from the fact, to some degree anyway, that Eleanor Gordon and other women
viewed the architecture of churches, to be .... to, you know, to .... they .... they
wanted it to take on a more domestic form, emphasizing, uh, family togetherness
and comfort over what was more typical of its day, and so we will have this
building as a reference in that regard, you know, expressing those values, uh, very
different values in terms of how to design a religious building.
Throgmorton: Yeah, uh, and I'm pleased to support this as well. It's a 110 -year-old building and
I'm just thrilled we were able to kind of figure out how to preserve it while also
enabling development of nearby property.
Taylor: And I think that was the important part of our discussion initially was that, uh, it
does serve an important part in the history of the faith community here in Iowa
City and downtown, the churches; a number of them are older and ... and of that
older architectural, um, structure and so it was very important to .... to be able to
keep this church.
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Throgmorton: Okay. I did close the public hearing, didn't I, just to double-check? Yeah. Okay,
good deal! Okay. No further discussion? Roll call please. Motion carries 6-0.
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Item 5. Planning and Zoning Matters
Item 5c Rezoning (Country Club Estates - Rohret Road west of Lake Shore
Drive) — Ordinance conditionally rezoning approximately 21.77 acres of
property located north of Rohret Road and west of Lake Shore Drive, from
Rural Residential, RR -1, (4.16 acres) and Interim Development— Single -
Family Residential, ID -RS (17.61 acres) to Low Density Single -Family
Residential, RS -5, zone. (REZ17-00009)
a) Public Hearing
Throgmorton: Uh, this was deferred from August the I", so, uh, anybody need to make ex parte
dis.... disclosures? Okay! I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) John!
Yapp: Uh, this property is located on the far west side of the city, on the north side of
Rohret Road, uh, east of Slothower Road. Uh, the ... part of the property's
currently zoned Interim Development Residential, part of it Rural Residential, and
part of it, uh, Planned Development, five units per acre. Uh... it's proposed to be
rezoned to Single Family Residential. Uh, this zoning is consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan, uh, for the area. Uh, this is a view of the property today, uh,
with the Country Club Estates development in the background. Uh, this is a
concept plan, uh, that was submitted with the zoning application, uh, showing, uh,
single-family lots on the family, a combination of small single-family lots that
would be accessed from a rear alley, uh, medium sized single-family lots for a
majority of the property, and then some large, uh, single-family lots, transitioning
to the existing, uh, development to the east. Uh, really with this property the
infrastructure, uh, issues were the issues. Uh, staff had recommended that, uh, the
developer enter into a subdivider's agreement with the City for installation of
Rohret Road as a public improvement to the first intersection of the development,
so full city street to the first, uh, intersection, and then pay 50% of the cost of
upgrading the remainder of Rohret Road, uh, in the future. In the future, that
would be when the south side of Rohret Road develops or the City funds that
other 50%. Uh.... the other issue that was mentioned in your staff report was
regarding water pressure. Uh, City required a water pressure study. Uh, that
study is complete. Water pressure is adequate, uh, for the development. So that
is no longer a condition, uh, we are recommending, and the applicant has signed
the Conditional Zoning Agreement regarding Rohret Road.
Throgmorton: Okay, good deal. Any questions for John?
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Mims:
Yapp:
Mims:
Yapp:
Mims:
Yapp:
I do, and I'm not sure if I missed it in here if it wasn't addressed. Does Slothower
Road go through right now (both talking)
No it does not. It's just right-of-way right now.
All right. So .... I'm assuming that some day it will go through.
Unlikely in its current location.
Okay, that was my (both talking)
....due to topography, yeah.
Mims: Okay! That was my question was what was gonna be put in in terms of any kind
of design or easement potentially for Slothower Road coming in right behind
those houses (both talking)
Yapp: ...hard to see on the aerial, but.... and.... and Slothower Road is the, uh, City
limits....
Mims: Okay.
Yapp: But if...if and when the, uh, property on the west side of Slothower Road is
annexed into the City, at that time we would determine the location of it.
Mims: Okay.
Yapp: But given the topography right now, it's a level B farm access road.
Mims: That .... that's what I thought but I just was concerned about the back side of those
houses (both talking)
Yapp: ....double -fronting lots, yeah.
Mims: Okay! Thank you!
Taylor: I had a question as far as this development in relation .... kinda goes back to
Rafael's concern about the new Hoover, uh, that it .... it's relation to Weber
Elementary....
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Yapp: Uh huh.
Taylor:
Yapp:
Taylor:
Yapp:
Taylor:
....and, uh, is there going to be sidewalk access then, cause it's very close to
where (both talking)
Yes, and uh, you'll see when you .... when you get to the subdivision application,
there will be a sidewalk, on the north side of Rohret Road.
Okay.
As well as on all the streets.
Thanks!
Throgmorton: Any other questions for John?
Thomas: John, since Rohret, uh, Rohret Road would not be reconstructed as a part of this
project....
Yapp: Just a small piece of it.
Thomas: Just the small piece to the first....
Yapp: Right!
Thomas: ...first entrance, what's the condition of the road? I'm assuming it's in pretty
good condition.
Yapp: The pavement.... well, I believe it's a chip -seal road. It is in fairly good condition.
It's a fairly low traffic volume, um, for an arterial street. Uh, it's about 2,000
vehicles a day. Uh... but at this time our Engineering Department did not feel it
needed to be reconstructed.
Thomas: And how wide is it now?
Yapp: Off the top of my head I couldn't tell ya. Uh... it's a County -designed road, so it's
probably in the range of 28 -feet, with no parking on either side. One thing I
would like to point out is the Planning and Zoning Commission did recommend
that, uh, because of this 50% payment being made that Rohret Road be put into
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the capital improvement's program. Uh.... it would be appropriate that you take
that up when you discuss the CIP later this fall.
Throgmorton: Okay. Thank you, John. Would anybody else like to address this topic? Seeing
no one, uh, are people inclined to support the Planning and Zoning Commission's
recommendations?
Mims: Yes.
Throgmorton: Okay, I'm gonna close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b) Consider an Ordinance (First Consideration)
Botchway: Move first consideration.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Thomas. Discussion?
Thomas: Well I know there were concerns at P&Z on the .... on Rohret Road question,
and .... and I'm satisfied that, you know, leaving it as it is, uh, is sufficient for
now. In fact I .... I measured it on GIS as being narrower than John described it,
so it may actually have some traffic calming benefit if it's kept at its current, uh,
current width.
Throgmorton: Okay. Anybody else? Roll call please. Motion carries 6-0.
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ITEM S. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
Item 5e Stone Bridge Estates, Part 10 — Resolution approving the
preliminary plat of Stone Bridge Estates, Part Ten, Iowa City, Iowa. (SUB17-
00008)
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion to approve, please?
Mims: So moved.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Uh, John, did you want to say
somethin'? You sure? (laughs)
Yapp: Uh, this is the preliminary plat for the rezoning you just, uh, approved. Uh, lo...
lot 147 at the southeast corner, uh, is multi -family. Uh, the four lots at the corner
of Thames and Huntington are proposed as duplexes, uh, and the remainder is, uh,
single-family. Uh, it does have a hammerhead intersection at the .... at the very
north property line to allow for a turnaround in the near to medium term future,
but also would allow for the street to extend further north, uh, if and when the
property to the north redevelops.
Throgmorton: Thank you, John.
Yapp: Thank you.
Throgmorton: I'm assuming there are no questions for John? Uh, dis.... Council discussion?
Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0.
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ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
Item 5f Brookwood Pointe Fifth Addition — Resolution approving the
preliminary plat of Brookwood Pointe Fifth Addition, Iowa City, Iowa.
(SUB17-00013)
Throgmorton: Could I (both talking)
Mims: So moved!
Throgmorton: Mo ... moved by Mims.
Botchway: Second!
Throgmorton: Seconded by Botchway. Discussion? John?
Yapp: Uh, this is a .... a subdivision that was originally approved in 2005. Uh, the
applicant is now seeking reapproval, uh, because the preliminary plat has expired.
It's.... it's located at the southeast corner of Wetherby Park. Uh, would be
accessed from Sycamore Street, uh, as well as Russell Drive, uh, running north/
south. Uh, and this is a view of the, uh, proposed subdivision. Uh, north is to
your right .... on this image. Uh, does provide a street connection to the west, uh,
property line.
Throgmorton: And that connection will lead to some other road that will be built in the future?
Yapp: It .... it will. It would be right about here where my mouse is, so it would connect
in to the Sand Hill Estates subdivision as that, uh, builds out.
Throgmorton: Okay.
Yapp: Along the south side of Wetherby Park.
Mims: And why the cul-de-sac? That's something we're trying to get away from.
Yapp: There's another existing cul-de-sac right to the north, so this cul-de-sac would
be... just be lack of opportunity for connection (both talking)
Mims: Okay. (both talking)
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Throgmorton: Yeah, they'd have to tear down a building to (both talking)
Mims: Okay!
Throgmorton: (mumbled) stuck with the way things are in some points. Uh, I .... I'm assuming
nobody wanted to ask John any other questions? Okay. Uh, so .... Council
discussion? Hearing none, roll call please! Motion carries 6-0.
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ITEM 5. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS
Item 5g Comprehensive Plan Amendment (North District Plan) — Resolution
amending the North District Plan for approximately 70 acres west of
Dubuque Street, south of Interstate 80, and north and east of Mission Point
Road and Mackinaw Drive, to modify the land use map, accept a sensitive
areas survey, and add certain housing, transportation and design goals.
(REZ17-00009)
a) Public Hearing
Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) John.
Fruin: Before John gets started, sorry, um, just a reminder to Council that there is a
active translation taking place tonight, so ... be slow with your .... slower than usual
with your comments. Thanks!
Yapp: Uh, you received a lot of information, uh, on this proposal, uh, through the
Planning and Zoning meetings. I'll try to be efficient in my presentation. I know
there's a lot of people who wish to speak, uh, to this tonight. Uh, the property is
located south of Interstate 80, west of De .... Dubuque Street, outlined in the red,
uh, outline. Uh, it's occupied currently by the Forest View Mobile Home Park.
Uh, the majority of the west side of the property is .... is undeveloped. In
considering a Comprehensive Plan amendment, uh, the City has two criteria.
Number one, circumstances have changed and/or additional information or factors
have come to light, such that the amendment is in the public interest. Number
two, the amendment will be compatible with other policies and provisions of the
Comprehensive Plan. Uh, this is the existing, uh, North District Plan, adopted in
2001. Uh, it shows the Forest View community as multi -family and calls for, uh,
conservation design for a majority of the, uh, western part of the property. Uh,
and this is the proposed, uh, land use map. Uh, in the red is highway and
neighborhood commercial; in the, uh, yellow is mixed residential, medium
density; and in the, uh, brown color is multi -family, uh, medium density
development. This is the actual land use map that would be adopted. Uh, and this
is that same map in, uh, Spanish. Regarding the land use map, uh, what changes
in circumstances have there been. Uh, over 500 new homes have been
constructed. Thornberry Dog Park, commercial and office uses have been
established. Uh, the Interstate 80 and Dubuque Street interchange has been
reconstructed. Uh, and the Dubuque Street and Park Road bridge project is
currently underway. Uh, regarding public interest. Uh, the proposed
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development would provide secondary access to residents of the Peninsula and
Mackinaw neighborhoods, who have been forced to evacuate during flood events.
Uh, and also homes in Forest View Mobile Home Park were constructed prior to
modem safety standards, uh, in 1976. The existing, uh, North District Plan states
that a goal is to maintain and enhance existing housing while providing
opportunities for new housing development .... that complements existing
neighborhoods, protects environmentally sensitive areas, and is affordable to
people of all incomes and ages. Uh, regarding a commercial goal, uh, the plan
states to enhance commercial diversity and activity by encouraging a business
mix that provides goods and services to satisfy neighborhood needs, and to focus
activity in existing nodes along major arterial streets, and to discourage strip
commercial development. Uh, as part of their, uh, process, uh, the applicant also
provided a sensitive areas inventory, uh, estimating, uh, wetlands would be
disturbed versus preserved and there's much more detailed information in your...
in your Information Packet, but this, uh, this inventory would be used as a guide,
uh, through any subsequent, uh, development process. Uh, the applicant's
sensitive areas inventory is more detailed than information we currently have.
Uh, it is generally consistent with the City's sensitive areas ordinance. Uh, and
the North District Plan emphasizes providing for parks, trails, and open space, uh,
and emphasizes conservation design. This is an image of the applicant's, uh,
concept plan ... for the development. This plan would not actually be adopted, uh,
because it is a concept. It will likely change. Uh, what it shows is commercial
development along Dubuque Street, and office and commercial development on
the south side of Interstate 80. Uh, in roughly the middle of the property a new,
uh, Forest View community, which I'll get into in a little more detail as will the
applicant. Um, townhouse, uh, development north of Mackinaw Village and
multi -family, uh, development further north, uh, and east of Mackinaw Village.
Uh, the south, again the south central portion of the property is proposed to
become a new neighborhood. Uh, western portion would contain townhomes
transitioning to higher densities. Uh, the applicant has discussed senior living, uh,
as ... and other multi -family buildings, uh, would be proposed. The North District
Plan, again, states maintain and enhance existing housing while providing
opportunities for new housing, uh, and .... this is something we believe this plan
does. The change in circumstances, again, the majority of homes for Forest View
were constructed prior to modem standards, and the maintenance needs are
becoming of an issue. Uh, the build -out of the Peninsula neighborhood, uh,
there's.... there's one lot left in the Peninsula to be built on. Uh, and other nearby
infrastructure improvements make this property more ripe for development than
in the past. Recreating an affordable community, as outlined in the proposed
relocation plan, is consistent with the North District Plan affordable housing
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goals. Uh, regarding the relocation plan, this is a .... a summary. Uh, number one,
all residents of Forest View would on a .... on the day the Conditional Zoning
Agreement is signed, would receive.... would begin to receive relocation
assistance. Uh, two types of replacement housing are available. One type is
single-family homes that the owner intends to construct through low-income
housing tax credits. Uh, the rent would be $300 per month and would increase at
2% per year. Uh, during the first 15 years tenants would accumulate equity. Uh,
then after 15 years they would have the opportunity to purchase the home for an
estimated sales price of $42,000, or could cash out the equity and continue to
lease the home. Second type of replacement housing is a cash assistance, uh, up
to $7,200, and this would be available to residents who are not income eligible.
Uh, the owner is proposing to provide all residents with advisory services, uh,
which include aid in paperwork, preparing to be homeowners, and moving
assistance. Staff recommends that the material items from the relocation plan be
incorporated into any future conditional zoning agreements. Uh, again, regarding
housing, the land uses proposed, particularly on the western half of the property,
uh, are at higher densities than the current North District Plan. Uh, but the North
District Plan goal of providing opportunities for new housing development that
complements existing neighborhoods, uh, is important in terms of how the
development transitions, uh, to those existing neighborhoods. Uh, regarding the
proposed commercial land use. Uh, the North District Plan states it is a policy to
create and maintain attractive entrances to Iowa City. Dubuque Street has long
been recognized for its scenic character, views of the Iowa River, and woodlands
and open space, transition into the Northside neighborhood and downtown Iowa
City. Discouraging changes in land use that might result in the degradation of the
scenic qualities of the corridor will also protect the Dubuque Street corridor. Uh,
lot of discussion of this statement.... at the Planning and Zoning Commission
level, uh, which .... which resulted in some of the recommendations that are before
you tonight. Uh, the change in circumstances is the growing population in the
larger Peninsula neighborhood. Uh, recent upgrades to the interchange. The
North District Plan goal to focus commercial activity in existing nodes on major
arterial streets, and the City Council's strategic plan goal to proactively seek
opportunities to facilitate development of our interstate entryways in a manner
consistent with the strategic plan. Uh, so staff recommends that any
Comprehensive Plan amendment include a goal regarding the need for conditional
zoning agreement to address and maintain the scenic qualities of the Dubuque
Street entranceway. Uh, a new public street is proposed. Forest View Drive. Uh,
which would be a public street that connects, uh, Dubuque Street at....at the point
where this arrow is, uh, into the Mackinaw Village, uh, neighborhood. This
would be a.....a road that does not flood. It is not in the flood plain and would
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provide a secondary means of access into and out of, uh, the larger Peninsula
neighborhood. Uh, Forest View Drive would connect to Dubuque Street with a
new intersection, turn lanes, and a traffic signal. Uh, the applicant has completed
a preliminary study that ... that does justify, uh, a new access point, based on the,
uh, traffic estimates from the proposed development. Basically to help, uh, to not
have all that traffic use the Foster Road intersection, a new intersection is
justified. Uh, this road is consistent with the existing, uh, North District Plan,
which also contemplated a east -west street connection. Uh, again, it would help
relieve traffic during major flood events and help distribute traffic. Uh, and the
intersection is compatible with the general goal for safe intersections where traffic
volumes support the need for signalization. Uh, in summary .... uh, creation of
replacement of affordable housing and a commitment to the Forest View
relocation plan are a.....are a positive, uh, aspect of this proposal and consistent
with the North District Plan. Uh, provision of secondary access to the larger
Peninsula neighborhood is a ....... is a positive aspect. Uh, creation of diverse
housing types for a variety of households, providing commercial and office
development at an existing arterial street, highway interchange, and a
commitment to maintaining the scenic qualities of Dubuque Street entranceway
through a conditional zoning agreement. Uh.... to summarize staff's, uh,
recommendation, and part of this was amended by the Planning and Zoning
Commission — uh, recommend adopting the land use map; accepting the sensitive
areas inventory; uh, adopting a housing goal to require relocation assistance to the
residence of Forest View, uh, to be offered and made available prior to any
demolition of existing homes; a housing goal to have any redevelopment of multi-
family adjacent to Mackinaw Village to incorporate design standards, set -backs,
buffers, low level lighting, and other methods, uh, to maintain the livability of the
Mackinaw Village neighborhood; uh, commercial, uh, and institutional uses goal
to preserve the scenic character of this primary entrance to the city; uh, any
development of property along Dubuque Street much adhere to strict design
guidelines imposed through a conditional zoning agreement; uh, and this next
goal, #D, is the one added by the Planning and Zoning Commission. A buffer of
existing trees and vegetation should be preserved between Dubuque Street and
any development. Uh, woodlands in between Knollwood Lane homes and
commercial development should be preserved, to provide a distance and visual
buffer. And for the properties fronting on Dubuque Street, the percentage of
preserved woodlands should exceed minimum code requirements. And then
finally a transportation goal, uh.... that upon redevelopment of the property,
access to Dubuque Street, north of Foster Road, may be allowed, provided the
intersection is designed to accommodate anticipated traffic volumes. Uh, you'll
also see from the minutes, lot of discussion of storm water management. Uh,
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during Planning and Zoning Commission review, and there are .... there are some
people here to speak to you about that tonight. Uh, you know, at the
Comprehensive Plan stage, storm water detention, storm water management,
we're not at the design phase, uh, for those facilities. Uh, but the Planning and
Zoning Commission, uh, did make a recommendation to, uh, encourage
cooperation between the developers of Forest View, the Idyllwild neighborhood,
the City, and any other affected property owners in that .... in that watershed. Uh,
also a lot of discussion of the, uh, Idyllwild diversion, storm water diversion
project, that is currently, uh, under design and is a funded project. It's a lot of
information. Be glad to take any questions.
Throgmorton: There's a lot more behind it!
Yapp: Yes there is!
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Yapp: I can feel them!
Throgmorton: Thanks, John. Uh, I .... I'd like to ask you a question.
Yapp: Sure!
Throgmorton: So it's a comp.... Comprehensive Plan amendment.
Yapp: That's correct.
Throgmorton: All right, so.....let.....let's imagine, um.....a.... a scenario, uh, in which the
developer cannot, um .... for whatever reason do a development that the developer
wants. Would the requirements, the goals and requirements that you just
articulated affect any future, uh, property owner?
Yapp: Yes, they would. Uh, those goals and objectives are incorporated into the City's
Comprehensive Plan and would apply to any subsequent property owner or
development proposal.
Throgmorton: Good. I .... I knew you'd say that, but I just wanted to be clear about that. Uh...
not that I think anything's gonna fall apart here, but....
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Yapp: And .... and I'll admit some of these goals sometimes can .... can appear to be a
little, uh, nebulous in that we don't know exactly how they'll play out yet in
a .... in a actual development proposal, but that .... that would be part of the review
process when we get a rezoning or a planned development application.
Throgmorton: Right. Okay. Any other questions for John?
Thomas: Uh, John, on the, um, diversion project.
Yapp: Uh huh.
Thomas: Is the intent of that to divert all the storm water run-off from the upland areas
(both talking) Idyllwild drainage?
Yapp: That's.... that's correct. I would say all the, uh.... uh, overflow run-off. There
will still need to be some flow maintained through the ponds in ... in Idyllwild for
aeration and to keep the water turning over but .... that's correct.
Taylor: And when is that project to start and end?
Yapp: Uh, it's under design currently. I believe meant to be constructed in 2018.
Fruin: Just to clarify that, and Ron Knoche's here. He ... he can jump in as well. It's not
technically under design yet. We have, um, received design proposals, uh, for
that. You all will need to approve the design contract. The price is going to
trigger your approval, so that should be ready for Council approval I would ... I
would guess, and Ron, you can shake me off if this is incorrect — the next 30 days.
Probably sometime in September. Um, and then, uh, John is right, we would look
to complete that project next calendar year.
Throgmorton: Okay. Good! Anything else for John? Thank you, John! I'm guessing other
people would like to address us, like maybe the applicant. (laughs) Steve. Good
evening!
Long: Good evening! My name's Steve Long with HBK Engineering and I do have....
have a short presentation here. Switch pages here in your.... filling up. First of all
think I'll introduce. I ... I won't, I'll try not to repeat what John Yapp just said.
We have a number of people here and, um, some kids that are getting anxious to
be outside (laughter) so I want to introduce, we do have a couple of the owners
here and it's been a really unique project. In my say 20 -plus years of being in
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urban planning, I've never been involved in a project like this. The collaboration
has been phenomenal between the neighbors, the residents who will be impacted,
and the actual owners and developers and so if you do have questions, we have
two of the four owners are here this evening, um, Ed Cole and Kevin Munson and
Cheri Cole. Uh, unfortunately the other two (mumbled) out of town. I also would
like to, um, we do have a couple .... the co -applicant, um, Margarita Baltazar who
is with, lives in Forest View, is the President of the Forest View Neighborhood
Association, and she'll be speaking a little bit later, and also want to thank, uh, the
Center for Worker Justice and Mazahir and Rafael are here as well. Without that
collaboration, um, we wouldn't be here where we are. We've been working
together for .... I think it's been about 15 or 16 months, as a group, and I'll go
through a little bit of that right now and give you a little background. Since John
already went over the proposal I will briefly go over this, but .... the Cole family
has owned Forest View Mobile Home Park for over 20 years and they've been
assembling land for the past, oh, 15 or so years and waiting for the perfect
opportunity. They've had many, many proposals come to them and, um, most of
the proposals, uh, did not care for, uh, the Forest View community and were, uh,
that was unacceptable to the Cole family and so they waited for the right
opportunity and they found the right team. So I'll briefly describe... John went
over it a little bit but if you look on the west side, the .... again, this is all a
concept. The idea is to have senior living on the northwest comer, um, and then
the south is ... is emulating Mackinaw Village with townhomes and duplexes. And
then as you move east, the ... there's a lot of sensitive areas in the ... the area that's
in green is, um, filled with beautiful mature woodlands, ravines, wetlands, and...
you know, the name of the development is Forest View and ... they want to keep
the forest so there's actually a view of the forest, and that's been the theme of this
from the ... from day one. So the density is being proposed a little bit higher in the
woodlands in order to protect the sensitive features, uh, have a higher density, so
you don't.... still working on heights and things like that, um, don't have any but,
you know, probably mid .... maybe a four to six -story (mumbled) in the woods.
Um, and then as you move further east, for the new Forest View neighborhood.
So the existing Forest View Mobile Home Park has been in Iowa City since 1947
and the majority of the 122 occupied homes.... there's 155, um, lots and 122 are
occupied. The majority I would say, at around 90%, were constructed before
1974, which is before guidelines were created, uh, to change, you know, for safety
standards, like aluminum wiring and things like that. Um .... so we worked with
the residents for the past 15 to 18 months, um, through the Center for Worker
Justice, um, to come up with some plans. We have charettes. We've had a lot of
monthly meetings, weekly meetings, um, whatever.... really whatever it takes, um,
to come up with what .... what's needed in that neighborhood. You know,
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playgrounds, uh, soccer fields, a community shelter, I mean a.....(mumbled)
community room with a tornado shelter. Currently in severe weather, um, either
stay in place, go to the laundry room, uh, which is not .... does not meet FEMA
standards or you run to Parkview Church. So we're proposing to provide a .... a
FEMA standard tornado shelter. And then the .... the highway commercial,
neighborhood commercial zone is being proposed as a mix of, um .... office and
commercial. It's still being formulated, um, have talked to a couple hotels that
are interested and through all these neighborhood meetings that we've been
having with not just the residents of Forest View but Peninsula, Mackinaw
Village, Idyllwild, um, a small marketplace has been discussed frequently. A
place to buy a gallon of milk. Um, right now you have to drive to Coralville
or .... you know, a few miles away. (mumbled) everything is in Spanish and
English, so I just want to give a minute for everybody to see. I guess I already
talked a little bit about Forest View, but the idea is .... we want to have the new
neighborhood in the center of the development. It'd really be the focal point.
So.....to get an idea of who's living in the neighborhood, and I now have, um,
over 400 new friends (laughs) um, I .... myself and a translator, Maria Hope, uh,
visited 111 of the 122 occupied homes, and we did that to get an idea what type of
homes to build, and.....um, so I asked questions like how many people are living
in the home, how many bedrooms are currently there, and income, and .... with the
understanding that only I have this information. Um, it does not go to the owners.
It does not go to the developers. It does not go to the tenant's association. It .... it
sits with me and it's in a locked cabinet in my office. And, um .... through that
we're .... I was able to gain very valuable information, uh, to help plan for
the .... the new neighborhood, and also for future funding sources.....which John
touched on a little bit. If you have further questions I'd be happy to answer that.
John also .... you talked about the relocation plan. Uh, we spent a lot of time
working with the residents and the neighbors, and City staff, um, to go over the
relocation plan and make sure we have all of our bases covered. Everyone will
receive relocation assistance, whether you qualify for the new homes or do not
qualify, everyone will receive assistance. Again, the area .... it's a very complex
project! (laughs) Uh, not only is there the human factor, the relocation of a
number of homes, um, and a mixture of affordable, of market -rate homes, and
commercial and office. We have a lot of sensitive areas! Uh, we've done, uh,
archaeological studies, uh, woodland delin... woodland delineation studies,
wetland delineation studies, soil borings, um .... just did a, um, acoustic bat survey
this week. Um (mumbled) Judy Joyce is here from Earthview if I miss anything,
but .... the Comp Plan is very clear, uh, about the, you know, relocation of the
current residents, but also we have a beautiful entryway into Iowa City right now.
Um .... it's.....it's, you know, various types of woodlands, um, and no one on the
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development team, um, or myself who have lived here a long time want to destroy
that beautiful image, and we've worked with, uh, Planning and Zoning, and....
came up with some ideas. You know we .... part of the tricky part is the, to pay for
the whole development and the .... lot of the relocation in ... in the homes, just be
blunt, um, you have to sell some of the prime property (laughs) um, and I'll leave
that to the developers to say more about that. Um .... so how do we do that and
preserve that beautiful entrance? And .... we're looking at proposing ... or P&Z
have recommended, um, having .... so there's a 50 -foot right-of-way between edge
of pavement into the developer's .... or the owner's property, and in addition to
that there would be anywhere from, um, an additional 20 to 40 -feet preserved.
It's... and then, so the light green is a, um, heavily landscaped, will have to be
disturbed, um, for grading purposes. And to preserve as much of the forest as
possible in that particular area be using a lot of retaining walls.... essentially, so
you limit the grading area. Um, so ... you know, until there's an actual.....project,
and we're very early in this process, um, won't have exact but we .... we want to
just make it a point that that's something we want to do. Here's some images
that, um .... Neumann Monson put together. Just kind of give you an idea, you
know it's .... these are always .... urn .... difficult at....at different times of year
there's different images, but .... the idea is .... really in all likelihood, I mean, you
won't see what's there. And the old ... old ways of commercial development was
it's all about visual, you know, the 150 -foot sign and as much signage as you can
get. Talked to a number of marketplace and hotel developers and ... like myself,
um, I rely on my smartphone or internet when I travel. You don't rely ... or you
rely on a blue sign on the interstate and everyone we've talked to is completely
fine with doing this new model (mumbled) for Iowa City new model. Um, so this
is what we're trying.... we're, the goal is. The entrance of the new road would
have retaining walls to preserve as much of the trees as possible. Um, and again,
don't look too closely. There's not a median there and .... those are ... (laughs)
images for later. I think John already went over the proposal. Just some shots to,
um, highlight lot of the meetings we've had and the .... the good participation. I
think this one, uh.... may have been surrounding neighbors. We had a charrette
with residents. You know, I talked about earlier, trying to get an idea of what is
needed in the new neighborhood or what is .... what would you like to see, and
including the style of houses, which is still being, um, debated. I should add,
these are going to be homes on a permanent foundation, uh, kind of shotgun style
with a front porch and, uh, narrow and long. Um, but they will be, uh, stick -built
homes on a permanent foundation. This is just a shot we had in this room right
here. Um, so now at this point I'd like to have, uh, Margarita Baltazar, who's the
President of the Forest View Neighborhood Association and the co -applicant
come up and say a few words. Maybe? Margarita! (laughs)
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Throgmorton: Thank you, Steve. Good evening, Margarita!
Baltazar: (speaking through a translator) Good evening. My name is Margarita Baltazar. I
think this isn't the first time I'm in front of you. I've been here various times.
We're here as the Forest View tenant's association, together with many of the
residents, in order to support this project. Because it's a project that benefits our
community and our children. But before we arrived at this point or this goal,
we've gone through a lot of things together, um, with my neighbors. We've
educated ourselves, we've knocked on doors, um ..... we've organized ourselves,
that's what she said, and united; passing out flyers, inviting people to meetings;
although sometimes my neighbors say `Oh, another meeting!' We run from work
and ... and come together. Um, you know even though we come tired from work
and .... and with our children, um, we've come together to struggle for this project.
But as I've always said, organizing ourselves to fight for something good is
always worth the difficulty. We've been in meetings every month, together with
the developers, we've studied changes, we've studied our goals, uh, we've
listened to the opinions of each person, um, and respecting the opinions of each
person. And now after all those meetings and all those, um, challenges, we're
here together in this point, and this .... in such an important point. I know that this
is a long process. I called a lot of my neighbors and said, you know, don't give
up, this is a long process, but we can arrive at a .... at a, um, at a joyful point.
And ... but we're continuing, um, in the struggle to arrive at a dream, um, that we
desire. Um, so that we can fight for this for our neighbors, for our children, and
even, um, seniors. Because it's the children and senior citizens who need the
most protection and the most support. Um, in this (mumbled) I've had, um, a
really beautiful experience, because I've really gotten to know, um, more deeply
my neighbors. Neighbors who may be, you know, once in a while I
communicated with them before, but there were neighbors who I never .... who I
saw but I never really talked to them before. And now we really know each other.
One example is Donna. I saw her and I used to just say "Hi!" but now I can speak
to her, even though I don't speak English that well. Um, another who I came with
today who, um, I don't even know his name, but I started to talk to him a lot more
through the process. The association is open to all the people. We understand
that there are people who can't come because they're working or because of
transportation challenges. Um, for many things but this association is for
everybody. And we're gonna continue forward. And I think you're the people
who are going to make the decision and who are going to make a fair, uh, just
vote. Because I know that you always work hard to take, um, care of the .... the,
um .... what people most need. We trust you. Thank you very much.
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Throgmorton: Thank you. Uh, Margarita, am I right in understanding that you support the
Comprehensive Plan amendment?
Baltazar: (speaking through a translator) Um, there are changes that I think are .... there,
um, there are changes that I believe are good changes and I understand the
changes. Um, as long as they, um, don't affect the well being of my community.
I support this plan as long as it, um, as long as it affects positively the well being
of my community.
Throgmorton: Good! Thank you.
Baltazar: (speaking through a translator) We want, uh, cause we believe that they can win
and we can win, and we want both sides to be able to, um, move ahead, or to win.
So yes, I support the project. As long as my neighborhood, my family, and the
children, um, are not negatively affected.
Throgmorton: Good. Gracias! (applause) All right, who else would like to speak? I .... I'd like
to ask you to, uh, re .... keep your comments down to, I don't know — how many
people want to speak? Would you raise your hand if you want to speak? Yeah,
would you keep your comments to not more than five minutes, please. I'll be
pretty strict about that. All right, who .... who would like to go first?
(male in audience): (mumbled) four speakers. Can we give our time to the main speaker?
Throgmorton: No. Urn .... no, it's just .... focus on five minutes, please. So, who wants to go
first? Yeah! (unable to hear response from audience)
Davis: My name is Donna Davis. My husband and I have lived at Forest View since
1985. Um, before the Coles had the court, it was really.... pretty much a transient
population. Uh, there were.... sure, there were families who'd lived there for a
long time, but it mostly seemed to be students and people who weren't going to
live there very long. Urn .... when the Coles bought the place, it just became much
more family oriented and much more like a neighborhood, and increasingly was
someplace that we were pleased to live, and urn .... when this whole question of
the sale of the trailer court came up, it was .... it was really terrifying. But the
more we've worked together, the more it seems that something good can come
from this, and we're all just so excited and we've all worked so hard, and um, so
I'm hoping that you will consider passing this, because I think it's a good plan.
Thank you.
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Throgmorton: Thank you, Donna. (applause) Good evening, Ed!
Cole: My name is Ed Cole. I'm one of the owners and developers, and um. .... Forest
View has, uh, really grabbed my wife right by the heart and we are huge
advocates for affordable housing in our area. We recently purchased the Hilltop
Mobile Home Park and we have communities that these are the workers. These
are the hotel workers, the restaurant workers, the people behind the scenes that
run Iowa City and this is an opportunity for all of them to have ownership and it's
just a really.....it's a really awesome project and I just really hope you guys
support it. Thanks!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Ed. (applause)
Kirby: Hi! My name is Martha Kirby and my husband and I live at 400 Foster Road, um,
and I just wanted to make a couple of very quick points, um, first on the history of
this area. I am as near to an Iowa City native as you can get without being one,
and my parents, uh, when they were first married and students at the University of
Iowa they lived in Forest View and I'm afraid that, uh, that was in the late 50s and
early 60s. My three oldest siblings were born while they lived there, and I think
that trailer is probably still in Forest View. Um, my husband and I purchased 400
Foster Road. It's about a nine -acre piece of property. We completely rehabbed
our home, geo-thermal, new wiring, new everything, and um, this is probably
going to be our last home, and so we feel very, um, very tied to the area. The
Forest View, um, new neighborhood is going to directly abut our property. Um,
and there will be many, many homes right against, um, our property, and my
husband and I are here to give full support to this project. I, as a resident of Iowa
City, this is an amazing thing to see the City step forward and make sure that
people have a pathway to homeownership. So I commend the Coles and the
developers for making this happen. Thank you. (applause)
Throgmorton: Thank you, Martha.
Rodriguez: Hello! My name is Margarita Rodriguez. I, uh, came here to Iowa City back in
1990, so I've been here, what, 26 years? I moved right into, uh, Forest View
Trailer Court. My kids were.....grow up here. They went to school here, and uh,
they're gone but they're coming back, I know that (laughs) for sure! Also, uh, I
want to say that this project that's going on, I'm really happy about it because
never had the opportunity to have what I'm gonna have. So .... I want to say thank
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you very much and what you all decide to do, it matters. That's what I have to
say. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Margarita. (applause) (several talking in background) Who's next?
Buenas noches.
Ortiz: (speaking through a translator) Buenas noches (laughs) My name's Angelica
Ortiz.
Throgmorton: I'm song, could you say her name again?
(translator): Angelica Ortiz.
Throgmorton: Oh, yes, yes. Yeah.
Ortiz: (speaking through a translator) I have 21 years living at Forest View. And I have
three, um, children. Since we've been there we've been very happy because of
the Cole family. They have treated us as family. And my kids have felt very
happy to live there and they do not want to move to another place. And
I .... makes me very happy of all the kids that play sports there. And that they have
support and feel very happy with the Cole family. And they don't want to move.
And I'm asking that you support the project please. With all the years that I've
known all the neighbors, we've been very happy living there.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Angelica. (applause) Good evening, Curt!
Kimmerling: Good evening, Mayor and Council. Urn .... need to do a couple things here. That
there, and I've got something on here. It's on the desktop I think. Oh, there it is!
(several talking in background) Thank you .... thank you very much! Um, my
name's Curt Kimmerling, the President of the Idyllwild Homeowner's
Association. We're a, uh.....uh, 92 properties that are .... abut, uh, Foster Road
and Taft Speedway. We, uh, are .... our neighborhood's the first one you see when
you enter into the Peninsula neighborhood, on the left side, so we serve as the
entrance to that .... that area of the city. Urn .... (clears throat) uh.... the Iowa
City .... the Iowa River's to our south and to our north is, uh, 110 acres that drain
through the Idyllwild property. Urn .... this is a.....this is a image of the Idyllwild
property from above, um, oh.....this is.....this is Foster Road, just to give you
some, uh, orientation. This is north. This is Foster Road. This is No Name Road.
This is the Elks, uh, Elks Lodge property. This is Taft Speedway and the Iowa
River's below us. Urn .... for those of you that weren't around in .... in June of
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2008, you....you may not realize it but we did flood in 2008. This is some images
of Idyllwild after the .... the flood of that June. Uh, this is some water that was
from the river coming in to the community. This is the aftermath of that. Um,
this is what we had to do to all the properties in Idyllwild. We had to, uh, remove
all the wall berd... wall board and mitigate any kind of mold and, uh, water
damage. This is another image of Idyllwild right after the flood. Uh, we don't
bring this up to, uh, to dwell on the past but just so you would understand the
sensitivity of the 92 owners, that we are very sensitive to water and water issues.
Uh, in ... in 2016 we constructed our .... a levee along Taft Speedway and along the
east side of. ... of Park Road, or, uh, Parkview Church. This levee is, uh, built to a
hundred -year flood but six inches, which is sufficient to protect us, uh, from flood
waters. You want .... your hundred -year flood description (laughs) Uh, I wanted
to give you a little idea of, uh, what our storm water, uh, conveyance system is.
We have a south pond. We have a north pond. We have a, uh, storm water basin
in the northwest corner of the property, which .... takes all the storm water from
Foster Road between the Elks Lodge and No Name Road, and it takes all the
storm water from the 110 acres that are at ... that are above us, collects it all, and
then sends it to our south pond through a 36 -inch pipe. This image here is another
image of our .... our levee along the, uh, Parkview Church. This is what we call
the Idyllwild storm water, uh.... water shed area. Um, this is Idyllwild here.
This ... this area of the water shed drains directly into our north pond through the
Foster Road storm .... sewer system. This area here .... is the, uh.... the acreage that
drains into our north.... northwest basin and then into our south pond through a
36 -inch pipe, and this is the Foster Road storm water system that drains into the
Foster Road storm water .... storm water system, and then into this... northwest
basin, into our south pond. Uh, here's a .... here's a short, uh, trip through the
Idyllwild storm water system. Uh, this is the, uh, property to our north and west.
There's a stream here, which collects all the water north and west of us. It runs
down through this stream, under this driveway, and into these two 24 -inch pipes
that travel under Foster Road and then into this storm water basin. From this
basin, which collects all the water from Foster Road and the 110 acres, it travels
through a pipe....uh..... oh it's .... it's in here .... right in here, drains through a 36 -
inch pipe to our south pond. From our south pond it travels down to the, uh, east,
to this opening. This is a 48 -inch pipe that empties into the Iowa River. Uh, this
is the, uh, levee that we constructed. This is what we call a `sluice gate.' We can
shut these things when the river's high so the water doesn't back up into .... oops,
excuse me (noise on mic) back up into our ponds. Since the Forest View
development was announced in 2016, we've attended many neighborhood
meetings, plan.... Planning and Zoning meetings have met with the developer
several times, and the City's Engineering staff. Recently we attended a meeting
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with the developer and the City staff, including the City Manager, to discuss our
concerns. We'd like to thank everyone for all this time they spent listening to us.
It's very important and we very appreciate.... we appreciate it very much, and a
special thanks to the developer and Jeff Maxwell, who spent a great deal of time
with us trying to sort out some things. Through these meetings Idyllwild
developed what we think is a reasonable proposal to address our storm water
concerns. Uh, firstly we'd like the City to form a storm water district for the
Idyllwild water shed. This is the Idyllwild water shed again. The district would
adminis.... be administered by its stakeholders, namely the City, Idyllwild, Forest
View developer, and any subsequent homeowner association and business that
may locate in the water shed. We'd like this ... this district to manage the storm
water retention systems. The district would also manage, uh, and fund
maintenance of any future projects to miniska... mitigate storm water run-off. Uh,
secondly we'd like the City to complete construction of the Idyllwild storm water
diversion project prior to any work commencing on the water shed. The diversion
project.....the diversion project will relieve Idyllwild's storm water system during
certain high rainfall events by diverting water around Idyllwild and conveying it
directly to the river. There was a question earlier about what this diversion
system would do. It won't divert water unless it's a high rainfall event. I think
it's a system of...of weirs and pipes. If you can imagine a, uh.... an emergency
drain on your sink, what's up above. When the water gets too high it would go
into another pipe and then run to the river. And this way we could still keep water
running through our ponds and keep them fresh and aerated. And ... and finally
we'd like you to think about div .... uh, to....increasing the scope of the diversion
project and include some sort of pumping facility for us. Uh, during certain high
wa.....high river conditions, we have to shut ... shut the sluice gates on our levee.
Uh, if you look at the ... the data, river data since 1976, about 2% of the time we
would have to have these sluice gates closed. That's, uh, that's a great deal of
time, and when those gates are closed, and we get rainfall events, the water that
accumulates in our ponds, we have to convey over the levee, through a pumping
system. We don't have that system to....at....at this point. We ... we proposed in
our July 14`h meeting that we share the cost between Idyllwild, Forest View, and
the City, and in fact Idyliwild offered perhaps $100,000 towards this pumping
station.
Throgmorton: Curt, uh....
Kimmerling: Yes, sir! My five minutes (both talking)
Throgmorton: Yeah (both talking) seven and a half or something like that now.
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Kimmerling: Thank you.
Throgmorton: Got the three main points across though, right?
Kimmerling: I did.
Throgmorton: Three recommendations.
Kimmerling: Okay, thank you very much!
Throgmorton: Thank you. (applause) Good evening!
McGarry: Thank you. Um, and good evening, Mr. Mayor and Members of the City Council.
Throgmorton: Please state your name (both talking)
McGarry: ...respect your five minute time limit. Um, I can sum up (both talking)
Throgmorton:.... please state your name. Excuse me, sir. Please state .... state your name.
McGarry: Oh, I'm sorry! Dale McGarry. I reside at Forest View.
Throgmorton: Thank you.
McGarry: I can sum up my feelings about the project by quoting a member of the Planning
and Zoning Commission who stated, "I began reading the project and I had to set
it aside because I couldn't believe it. It was too good to be true." I am proud to
have met the team of humanitarians who have brought this proposal before you, in
particular the Cole family and Forest View tenant association, and uh, who are
reaching out to those less fortunate than they are, have set a fine example to
developers across the country, as I can foresee this project making national
headlines, should you approve. Because it is unprecedented and more importantly
it will send a message to our President and our elected officials in Washington
that making America great begins with acts of kindness and reaching out to those
among us who are needing a helping hand. So please join us in setting a new
standard for developers and reminding America why the heartland has a big heart.
Thank you. (applause)
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Throgmorton: Thank you, Dale. Who's next?
Hall: Good evening.
Throgmorton: Good evening! Would you restate your name please?
Hall: Uh, let me stick this (mumbled) get in trouble. My name is Ivan Hall. I live at 14
Idyllwild Court, Iowa City, and I'm an original flood victim, and if you don't
know what 42 inches of water's like bein' in your house, talk to me sometime.
Uh, we in Idyllwild fully support all the .... great things that the developer wants to
do for the low-income housing people up at the top of the street, what they're
gonna do for the Peninsula in making a secondary by-pass road because they need
a second way to get out, but I just wanted to point out a few things, and Curt did
an excellent job, of talking about ..... the plan or .... or coalition we're trying to put
together including.... what he didn't get to say is the developer has suggested 25%
of whatever it is he would be gracious to cover, so we have going in the original
budget for the plan as it stands, expansion to the pump station which may .... there
may be enough money in there. We just don't know yet. Right, cause we haven't
got the details (mumbled) but it .... the site is a challenge. If you haven't looked at
the topographic maps, it's not flat. It's at a angle. Uh, it's gonna be a challenge
for the developer. I'm sure he'll get it done, but it just....takes a way flexibility of
what you do with the water and with all the developments gonna be up top, the
potential to change the direction of the water, where it'll go where you didn't
think it would go as high. The footprint, two to three hotels, gas station,
businesses, offices, whatever — there's a lot of trees that won't be around to
absorb the water, but we're willin' to do our part to meet people more than half
way. We .... Curt showed you the investment of the berm. We did that ourselves.
And I think with this last plan we have an opportunity between us all that we can
do that, and I just wanted to cover ... just couple things that Curt wanted to say and
didn't have time. We want to .... the, to worry about the future of storm water
management for the Peninsula in its entirety, that's why we suggest creating this
coalition of (mumbled) management (mumbled) for the Peninsula itself where
everybody that has a vested interest can participate. There's a thing called
MPDS. It's a .... it's an agreement you have with the state and federal government
to protect people from storm water damage. We think the suggestion we've made
will provide that protection, do the best we can do, and then left ... the rest to be
left with the developer to do creative technology things, which he's talking about,
to absorb the water as it's up on the hill. And we think working together we can
achieve all the goals, the housing, the development, and the protection of
Idyllwild. The first go -around with the flood, uh, we were missed. I guess budget
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priorities and other uses, we really didn't get any investment. We understand how
that works. But we really can't do anything about the water gonna be potentially
thrust down on us from the storm water management cause it's induced, cause
right now we can survive it, but if you do all the development and it disturbs the
land, we don't know if we could handle that. So thank you very much for your
efforts, and uh.... we'll be glad to help provide information and continue to work
with the City, uh, so we can see this together. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Ivan. (applause) Anyone else? Uh, seeing no one else, I'm gonna
close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b) Consider a Resolution
Mims: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion?
Mims: Well there's a lot of information that we got (laughs) to put .... to put it mildly.
Um, and I think the important thing for me is .... remembering that tonight we're at
the point of a Comprehensive Plan amendment. I think .... I know I sit here and
I'm sure the rest of the Council does, feeling like there's an awful lot of details
that still need to be refined before, um, I'm ready to go forward with this. In
general, concept wise, I am totally supportive. Um, I want to commend the Cole
family and the other owners and developers for the work that they have done, um,
to replace the housing for the members, uh, residents of the Forest View Park, uh,
and probably in many cases, um, given the comments about the age of some of
the .... the trailers, probably a lot of `em will be, uh, higher quality residents, so I
think that is an obviously a .... a great thing for people, and the opportunity in spite
of this development to be able to live in the same location, which is really
important to people. Um, for me the other things that are really important as we
move forward is preserving the character of the Dubuque Street corridor. Um,
many people have talked about that. We have correspondence related to that.
Um, that is a premiere entrance to our community from the interstate and I think
the design that comes forward as .... as we move forward with more regulatory
changes is going to be, um, very important. I think it's very clear from the last
comments we've had and ... and certainly having been on the Council now seven
and a half years, to make sure that as those details come forward that the storm
water is dealt with in a way that does not put Idyllwild in any more danger than
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they already are, um, in terms of flooding. Uh, protecting the sensitive areas, um,
I know there's concern with some of the changes that might come with this. Um,
making sure that.....while some trees obviously are going to have to be cut, some
areas disturbed, earth moved .... doing it in a way that preserves and enhances the
beauty of that location as much as possible. Um, one of the .... one of the benefits
certainly that the City is getting out of this, um, is that secondary access to the
Peninsula, which is incredibly important as I think was mentioned tonight, there
may be just one lot left to be developed out there and the last thing we need is to
be telling however many residential units there are out there, 500 or whatever,
that they need to, um, evacuate even though their houses aren't flooded (laughs)
so to get that secondary access, um, without having to put the millions into raising
Foster is certainly a benefit for the City. So, I totally support the Comp Plan
amendment. There certainly are significant details that are very important to me
that are addressed appropriately when we get t,o, um .... further stages down the
road.
Taylor: I think reflecting on what, uh, Susan's comment I believe it was Steve said that
this was a very complex project and I think that is an understatement. Uh, the... it
has many elements and .... and factors that had to be considered along the way,
right down to, as was discussed, the type of signage for the businesses, I mean,
you wouldn't even think about that kind of a factor, but as I've watched this
process unfold it's just been very encouraging to me, uh, cause we as a Council
often speak of Iowa City being an inclusive community and I think this really
speaks to that, that, uh, that we care about people and their living conditions, and
that they're, uh, happy living in Iowa City. Um, the collaboration that's gone into
this has been amazing, and I commend everyone, as others have said, uh, for their
involvement in this, but um, I do, um, and I .... I'm in favor of the amendment, but
I do have concerns and hope that the Idyllwild, uh, storm water issues will
continue to be addressed with and dealt with, with the same sincerity that the
relocation concerns, uh, have been addressed.
Botchway: Uh, I would concur with, um, Susan and Pauline. There's obviously a lot of
details, uh, and the complex nature of this that I think need to be continually
discussed, and I think will come before us in the coming years. Um, but I will
digress just a little bit, um, because I am very excited about, um, this plan and
what it shows me as far as collaboration with this community, um....
empowerment, uh, collaboration, uh, sacrifice — I believe that all these elements
are important, and I think we talked about that a little bit briefly when we talked
about the Jesse Allen project. Uh.... but sitting down with residents and including
them in the process, uh, is not only a statement about the Coles and the other
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developers that are in the room today and not able to be here as, um, as Mr. Long
talked about as well, uh.... but it's also a statement about the Forest View
community, um, the Idyllwild community that's here and the many communities
that are represented in the area. Uh, I remember not too long ago, I think it was
Jim and I, or Mayor Throgmorton and I, uh, in a open field, pasture I guess, um,
talking with, um, meeting with the Coles, meeting with different members of the
Forest View community, um, and you know, I came away from that meeting
thinking that we were a very, uh, far away .... away from looking at this project. I
had positive feelings about it, but I definitely felt like, you know, there were a lot
of different viewpoints that needed to be addressed, concerns that needed to be
heard, and .... I'm just excited that within even though it seems like 15 months,
um, is a long period, I .... from Council standpoint, that's still a short period of
time that people have really put a lot of time in and sacrificed, um...just time with
their kids, um, work time and other things, to put this project before us and make
it easy for me to, uh, support this resolution. So, again, as I agree there's a lot of
details that I think need to get worked out and, um, staff and everybody in the
audience has their work cut doubt from 'em .... cut out for `em, but I think that, uh,
this is an amazing project and I'm glad that as a collaborative group you've come
here today and really, um, supported this, uh, resolution.
Cole: I think the word that comes to my mind is inspiration. (clears throat) What I see
here tonight is one community standing united, from all walks of life, with a
shared vision and shared values. So often with development projects, we see
division, we see displacement, we see conflict, and I think there were a lot of
steps along the road, um, while we're just at this preliminary stage to the Comp
Plan amendment, where this could have gone into division, this could have gone
into displacement, but it didn't go that way, and I think that's a real tribute to Ed
Cole, to the development team, to HBK Engineering, to the, um, the ... the Forest
View residents, because I think really what this required was trust and that trust I
think was earned. Um, I know that we still have a lot of different steps along this
path, but I think for me as I look out at this community standing together on this
project, I am completely inspired by the work that you did because so often
people come to us expecting us to solve all of your conflicts. Well we can't do
that in this forum all the time, but you were proactive and you addressed a lot of
these extremely difficult issues. So we're not gonna have a development that
leads to division or displacement. What's exciting about me is we're gonna have
a development project will it be growth and benefit for all, and so I just want to
thank all of you for all the incredible hard work that has been done, and for the
remaining work, because I know that as Susan points out, there's a lot of difficult
issues that we have to address and as to the ... the storm water issues, that is an
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issue near and dear to my heart. Um, that is something we're going to monitor
very closely. Please email us, contact us via phone, um, that's what our job is, is
to respond to those. I like the concept, although we'll obviously have staff to
weigh in on this, of a storm water district. Um, we've obviously have to get a lot
of details to see whether that's something that's feasible, um, but from what
you've outlined tonight, obviously you have realistic concerns on the issue of
storm water. So ..... um, help us monitor that so we can address that issue, but I
have a lot of confidence in the HBK Engineering, uh, and their skill set, so, um,
just thank you to everyone for all the great work that you've done.
Thomas: Yeah, this .... this was really a remarkable project with, urn.... extraordinary
number of conversations. I just ... thinkin', ya know, Steve had mentioned all the
conversations he had, there were so many conversations that went into, uh, this
development process, which .... which did in the end, from what we're hearing
tonight, bring the community together. Uh, and that's an extraordinary
achievement. Um, the increase in the intensity of the development over what is
now in our Comprehensive Plan did raise a number of issues, uh, whether it's the
relocation of the Forest View residents, the storm water management, natural area
protection, the Dubuque Street corridor, which is Iowa City's front door. It's our
most beautiful and .... and most, um, iconic element as a way into Iowa City, um,
the interface with the adjacent development. There were just so many factors
that, you know, the impacts, potential impacts, uh, really needed to be addressed
very carefully, and as we've been saying, it's .... it's at a preliminary stage.
We're.... we're talking about a Comprehensive Plan amendment, but I think the
framework is .... is well established, uh, additional conversations will .... will need
to take place, but I think what's.... what's so impressive is that the foundation for
those conversations have been established through the process as it's ...... as it's
played out to this point. So I'm ..... I'm very supportive of it. I think there are
really truly landmark aspects to it. Um, I would say particularly the emphasis on
the.....the nature of the Forest View development has been extremely well
articulated. Um, one of my personal interests are our .... related to this project are
how the open space component will be developed, and I would say at this point,
it's the For... new Forest View neighborhood, where as Steve laid out, there's
been considerable discussion as to what that needs to be and I would like to see
that same level of articulation for the open space component developed as the rest
of the project is fleshed out, but .... uh, it's an extraordinary effort. Uh, everyone
involved needs to be commended for it. I think it had four P&Z meetings, I mean
(laughs) uh, P&Z Commission really went through the wringer on this one
so .... uh, thanks to everyone for their work.
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Mims: Can I make one other comment, Jim?
Throginorton: Sure, go ahead!
Mims: Just very quickly! One thing I think that's really important that we not lose sight
of in ... this being I think a really unique situation, and Steve Long mentioned this,
is we have taken I think a very strong stance in terms of relocation and relocation
assistance, particularly with large areas. There's two reasons in my mind that this
is working the way it is, and there's lots of other factors, but two key ones. One is
Ed Cole and his family care about this community and were committed to
bringing in partners that would care as much and work with them to .... to deal
fairly and .... and give people a good home. So his, and his family's, values and
caring for people was number one. Number two was the comment that maybe
slipped by some people, and that was the fact that to do that, they have to sell
property. Okay? That relocation does not come at a cheap cost. So as we move
forward, I mean, I still believe that we have to look carefully at the Dubuque
Street corridor and the storm water and everything else, but the fact is that that
relocation will not occur if they cannot successfully de .... develop and sell
property so they can pay for the relocation. Lot of the other places we've looked
at, there hasn't been that option. There hasn't been other property to sell to pay
for relocation. So that's kind of a unique aspect here that's very important, and
important that we not overlook.
Throgmorton: I just realized I haven't closed the public hearing, have I? Did I close it? (several
responding) Oh good! I didn't check my `close the public hearing' (laughter)
box. Okay, so my turn! Uh, I remember very clearly being in this room about 15
months ago, when the room was full of people feeling very, very anxious about
being displaced from their homes. And now here we are, looking at a
Comprehensive Plan amendment that holds out the promise of making it possible
for people to live, continue living in the Forest View area in better housing, along
with all the other elements of this development proposal. It is an extraordinarily
difficult and complicated proposal, one of the most complicated ones I've seen in
ye .... years of lookin' at this kind of stuff. So I think the .... the development team,
Ed Cole in particular, and uh, the folks he's workin' with, uh, HBK, the tenant's
association, uh, the neighbors who live nearby and would be affected by the
development, the Idyllwild folks who have spoken so articulately to us tonight, all
deserve a great deal of praise for all the time and energy they've put into this
effort, and I should mention the City staff and the Planning and Zoning
Commission as well! So, um, we are at a really important stage of being able to
approve this Comprehensive Plan amendment, but like Susan and others have
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said, there's a great deal more work to come and, you know, it's all about .... you
know, a preliminary plat (laughs) and a final plat and things like that that... are
really hard to understand unless you're deeply immersed in this kind of process.
But we're at a great moment right now and I'm very thrilled actually to be able to
support this Comprehensive Plan amendment. Okay, any further discussion? All
right, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0. Could I have a motion to accept
correspondence, please?
Botchway: So moved.
Mims: Second. (applause)
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway (applause continuing) Moved by Botchway, seconded by
Mims. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion carries. All right, some of you
may want to leave, I don't know — I'm just guessing (laughter) Please feel free to
leave and we'll just take a short break while you're movin' out. And thank you
all for coming!
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Item 7. School Speed Zone — Horace Mann Elementary School. Ordinance amending
Title 9, entitled "Motor Vehicles and Traffic," chapter 3, entitled "Rules of
the Road," section 6, entitled "Speed Restrictions," subsection C, entitled
"School Speed Zones" to establish a 20 mph school speed zone for Horace
Mann Elementary School effective for certain time periods. (Second
Consideration)
Throgmorton: 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.
Taylor: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Taylor. Um .... 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? Uh, I'd to raise one point,
kinda make fun of myself. Uh, I recently crossed Dodge Street, at Ronalds, and
looked to the south and saw three .... three pairs of, uh, signs. The first one said, I
don't know, `School Speed Limit 25 mph,' real big signs on either side of the
road. And then some other signs just down the way, uh, basically warning people
that it was coming up, and then another sign at the light where it was kind of
pointing down, saying `This is where (laughs) ... I don't know, kids are gonna be
crossin' the street.' So I wrote Geoff and said, `Eh, it's .... are these new signsT
(laughs) Well, uh, when did these go up and why are they .... do I .... why do they
say 25 mph instead of 20 and that kind of stuff. So Geoff told me that they've
been there for some period of time, I don't know exactly how long, but it's like,
`Oh, no!' (laughs) It's one of those, uh.... so, uh, the signs have been there
forever and I just now saw `em? (laughter) Anyhow ... I think we're, uh, we're
gonna get all that straight, right, and this ... they're going to install 25...20 (both
talking)
Fruin: ....yep, I believe this week!
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Throgmorton: Good deal! Okay. Further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion
carries 6-0.
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Item 8. Alcohol in parks - Ordinance amending Title 4, entitled "Alcoholic
Beverages" and Title 10, entitled "Public Ways and Property," to allow
alcohol in park shelters. (Second Consideration)
Throgmorton: Second consideration, but 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.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Second?
Cole: I don't think we should be expediting a major policy change to our public parks.
Um, this is a major change. Um, the County is going in the opposite direction I
know with, um, out at the reservoir. There's been some problems with alcohol
related fights. I don't think we've thoroughly evaluated this and we should not be
expediting such a major change to our parks. We need to allow the public
additional time to weigh in, um, because I know two weeks ago when this came
before this, this was a real surprise that we were going in this direction. I thought
it was going to be special event related, um, much in the same way we allow
accommodations in, A ped mall and for certain special events, um, and this
essentially opens it wide up. So I do not think we should be expediting it.
Throgmorton: Geoff, maybe you could explain why the staff has asked... expedited action.
Frain: Um, there seemed to be, uh, strong majority of Council that wanted to move
forward. There's no time sensitivity. If you want to allow an additional reading,
that's fine, but generally, um, on ... on these types of issues we're .... we're gonna
recommend expedited action unless we feel like there's, uh, a .... a strong element
of the public that wants to weigh in. This particular, um, issue was vetted at the
Parks Commission. The public did weigh in at that point, or at least members of
the public did, but if you feel like you want, uh, additional time, again there's
no .... there's no pressing event or shelter reservation that, uh, would.... would, uh,
is .... is waiting for this particular change. So, uh.... it's completely up to you.
Mims: I don't have a particular problem with expediting it. I mean I don't feel super
strongly either way. We haven't had any significant input from people one way
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or the other, I mean, on it and if the fact that it also was vetted by the Parks and
Rec Commission means that it's been out there in the public, you know, for
longer. It's not that it just came up in front of Council, so .... I mean if people feel
strongly one way or the other, that's fine, but I don't have a problem with
expediting it.
Throgmorton: I'm gonna go along with Rockne on this one. Uh.... I think in principle it's good
to go through three readings, and if there were good strong reasons for expediting,
I'd .... I'd say `Sure, let's do it!' But I think I'll just go along with Rockne.
Thomas: I think in ... in deference to your concerns, I think I would support you and ..... and
there isn't anything pressing on this so .... rally the troops, Rockne. (laughter)
Throgmorton: Uh.... so.....
Cole: (both talking) ....three votes (both talking) Is that enough?
Throgmorton: I don't know what, uh (both talking)
Dilkes: It requires a super majority anyway, so.....
Throgmorton: Oh, to ... (both talking)
Dilkes: Looks like it's gonna fail.
Throgmorton: Ah, okay. So, uh.....
Dilkes: It takes six out of seven of you (both talking)
Throgmorton: All right, so given that, let's just have, uh, take a roll call. So motion fails.
Mims: Move second consideration.
Throgmorton: 6-0, right? (both talking)
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Uh, moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? (mumbled) (several
talking) Oh, right, yeah. So discussion?
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Cole: I think my concern isn't .... I think this was brought up as a special event related
accommodation, and I think I would support that. Um, I know that Susan
originally brought up, just in the context of like a wedding reception, um,
relatively.... which.... which I agree with. I think if you're having a special event,
um, and you have a server and there's some insurance involved, I would .... I
would totally support that, much in the same way we do with other parts of our,
uh, public spaces, and I think that that was a necessary and needed change, um,
that I think we should.....that we should support. Um, but the way that it's
essentially manifested itself is that I think that it .... it's a major policy change, and
my concern is is that I know out at the reservoir, um, that there was a number
of... they allowed alcohol for a number of years and there was a number of fights
that re .... resulted from having essentially an open policy on alcohol use in public
parks, and they went the opposite direction. So I just think that we .... we have to
be careful, especially with this, and I really think that we .... I think it probably
does need to be updated and I think people bring up a good point, but not this.
This is too big a change from where we were before, and I really have concerns.
We're allowing up to a pony keg, is my understanding, up to a pony keg, um, and
that we could have some problems in terms of disturbances in the parks, uh,
related to excess of alcohol consumption.
Mims: My thought on that, Rockne, though too is it .... I also want to give those some
deference to the fact that we have a Parks and Rec Commission.
Cole: Yeah.
Mims: And the ... the discussion I think maybe did start .... and maybe they had already
been thinking about it, I don't know, I mean I remember mentioning the one about
the request with the wedding. I had gotten a letter from somebody. Um, so I
don't know if that's the only thing that started it or not.
Cole: Yeah.
Mims: But .... my thought is .... they went through I think and vetted this very carefully
and looked at, you know, just special events versus opening it up more broadly
the way it is now. Um.....we, you know, we ask people to serve on those
commissions and put in a lot of time and effort, and I think we have a very, very
good Parks and Rec Commission, and if they've gone through, and I believe they
have done their due diligence and believe that this is workable, I'm gonna support
Parks and Rec.
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Taylor: I think, um, would be confusing to the public if we do just special events versus
no one else can have alcohol, but if you're having a special event you can. I think
that'd be confusing to the public, and I think, um, Parks and Rec has done a lot of
thought with this as far as it has to be contained within the shelter, and you have
to have the shelter reservation, so I think that's putting the ownership on the
person who reserves that shelter to, uh, contain the folks that are .... that are .... that
might be drinking at their event.
Botchway: I have faith in our community, um, that they will, you know.....drink alcohol
responsibly and make sure that this doesn't become an issue. Um, if that changes,
I think that last time, either I or someone else, brought up that Juli will be back
before us and.....change a recommendation and say we don't need to allow it.
Um, but like I said, I know of a friend who has, um, named maybe John that has
frequented .... I was just joking! It's not John! (laughter) Um, that (laughs) just
to be clear for public record (several talking and laughing) no, but uh, has had
these events and I actually was not aware that, um, or they were not aware that
they needed to have, um, some of these stipulations in it. It's gone fine, and so,
um, I think that, uh, I think we just need to continue with it and .... and, you know,
hear from feedback from staff and the Parks and Ree Commission as well.
Thomas: I think there was a fair amount of due diligence on this, and the Police... Police
Department was involved, um, they looked at regulations in other cities around
the state. At the same time I think we need to see (laughs) you know, okay, how
does .... how is this going to work? My sense is that .... it's trying to align the
policy in .... and the, uh, the ordinance with what kinds of behavior they're seeing
currently, you know, that this is in fact what seems to be taking place, so, um....
let's.....let's revise the ordinance accordingly and, you know, move forward, but
again, I do think anything alcohol related in Iowa City, I think we need to be very
clear (both talking)
Cole: ...especially in the parks!
UN IT,Ir� WIV
Throgmorton: Do I remember correctly that, uh, in our last meeting Juli, ub, Seydell Johnson
spoke to us, but .... but no one from the Commission did, I mean that's the way
I'm remembering it, but....
Fruin: That's.... correct.
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Throgmorton: I wonder if we could have someone from the Commission come in at our next
meeting, uh, and.....help us understand how they vetted the issue and how the
Commissioners talked about it, what, uh, what concerns they discussed, and why
they ended up....recommending what they recommended.
Fruin: Sure (both talking) make that request.
Throgmorton: Yeah, uh, and I .... do you know if any staff members are gonna go to the
Partnership for Alcohol Safety meeting next week?
Fruin: Um .... I... A believe Simon will from our office and, uh, usually we have a Police
representative or two.
Throgmorton: Uh, would you ask Simon or whoever attends to bring this topic up and ask the
Partnership if they have anything they'd like to ... (both talking) advise us on. Uh,
but for the moment I'll vote in favor of this particular motion. Any further
discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries 5-1, uh, Cole in the negative.
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Item 11. Council Appointee Salaries - Resolution on unclassified salary compensation
for fiscal year 2018 for the City manager and City Attorney and authorizing
the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an amendment to the contract of the
City Attorney to provide for the across the board salary adjustments
provided to all city employees
Botchway: Move the resolution.
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Seconded by Thomas. Discussion? Thanks to both of you for doing such good
work over the past year. It's a pleasure to approve this.
Mims: Makes our life easier!
Throgmorton: Yeah. Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call. Motion carries,
uh.... (mumbled) (laughs) some verb just popped out of nowhere. Motion carri...
is carried, passes, uh, 6-0.
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Item 13. Community Comment [if necessary] (items not on the agenda)
Throgmorton: I understand one of our fine student liaisons, namely Ben, would like to speak to
US.
Nelson: Okay! Um, I just wanted to .... lot of times I feel like the only times we ever talk
to you guys is when we need something. Um, not too often do we get to give
updates, just in general, of what UISG is doing, um, so in the future I kind of just
wanted to start taking this time to give you guys an update, I mean, the University
and the students are a big part of the community. Um, and you might not always,
uh, understand what's going on or know anything. Um .... so that's kinda....
Throgmorton: Did you just say we might not know anything? (laughter)
Nelson: You know everything, Mayor! (laughter) Um, apologies. Um, so anyway, uh,
kinda just a brief update of what UISG's been doing over the summer, um, under
the helm of Jacob Simpson, former City Council Liaison, always a pleasure, uh,
over .... uh, a couple of months ago we went to ... or a month ago, we went to the
University of Illinois for the Association of Big Ten Students, which is a, uh,
associa.... or it's a bi-annual meeting of all the student government leaders, um,
from across the Big Ten. I had the pleasure of serving a part of that delegation.
Um, it's always interesting to see what the situation is at other student
governments. Um, believe it or not there are some student governments where
their city council does not talk to them, um, and they don't like them, so I always
appreciate being able to brag that we ... at the very least we always get an honest
ear from you all. Um .... the next thing is, uh, we .... I had a meeting earlier with
the Iowa City Downtown District, um, to talk about implementing, uh, sexual
assault resource posters in all the downtown bars, um, and restaurants. So if
you're ever downtown and you're using a restroom and you see some neat little,
um, posters that advocate about everything from affirmative consent to, uh,
intervention strategies if you see a friend or a colleague, um, potentially being
taken advantage of. Um, that was done in collaboration with RVAP, obviously
the Downtown, uh, along with us here at UISG. Um, and then I also want to
extend an inviki.... invitation for you all to come speak at our Student Senate once
we start, um, coming back. I know last year, uh, Mayor and Geoff, you all came
to speak at our, um, public access, our version of community comment. Um, if at
any time you all want to come speak, feel free to shoot me an email. Um,
otherwise, uh.... certainly I expect we'll be inviting you all to come, so come at
your pleasure. Um, and then the last thing, uh, I'd like to talk about. Just like
RVAP, as we all know the State Senate ... or the State legislature cut its funding so
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it could be shutting its doors soon. Um .... I would encourage you all to donate
and tell your friends to donate, tell your families to donate, um, it's a very vital
resource for the Iowa City community, the eastern Iowa community, um, we, uh,
began a campaign. We've partnered with Brothers and Quinton's; uh, we raised
about ... I think $2,000, could be wrong, don't quote me on the exact amount. Just
in one night. Um, and there's been a strong effort coming from University
administrators and students. Um, and then students are coming back! Greatest
time of the year in Iowa City, right? Um .... the beginning and the end of the
semester is always good. The middle kinda gets kinda shaky! (laughter) Um....
but, uh, that's all I have for you today, so I will see you all next .... in two weeks!
Thank you!
Throgmorton: (several talking) Thanks, Ben.
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Item 14. City Council Information
Throgmorton: Pauline, why don't we start with you.
Taylor: Uh, I'd like to remind folks of the ribbon cuttings for the, uh, schools — August
2151— there are three of them. It's going to be amazing if they pull that off, cause
I think they're starting, uh, with .... and I don't have the list! I apologize, with the
first one at like 4:00 or 4:30 and then there's another one at, uh, 5:00 or 5:30 and
then one ending up at Weber at like 6:00. So that's going to be amazing if they
pull that off, but that's great to see. Uh, good for the School District and for Iowa
City. Uh, I'd like to again invite folks to the Iowa City Federation of Laborers,
uh, annual Labor Day picnic. Students are welcome too, uh, free food (laughs)
uh, it's Monday, September 4, Labor Day, noon to 4:00, Upper City Park. Um,
meat and um, place settings are provided and you can bring a dish to share, but
you don't have to. It's not required. And beverages also are provided. Like to
see ya there!
Throgmorton: I'll be there. Been doin' it for 25 years! (laughs) John!
Thomas: I wanted to mention, uh, last week, Ashley and I actually went on a parks tour, uh,
with the Parks Commission where the Commissioners and Ashley and I saw
the ... the work that has been done over the last year or so on park improvements,
uh, throughout Iowa City. Uh, we saw nine sites. Didn't get... always get out of
the bus, but, um ... saw nine sites. It was .... really interesting to see the variety and
diversity of the projects that, uh, were included in the tour. Uh.... any of you
know what a GaGa pit is? Well I .... I learned on this field trip! (laughter)
Cole: No clue! (laughter)
Thomas: And I have a background in this field. It's become a very popular, um, apparently
recreational element. There's one, uh, in Pheasant Hill now and one in Upper
City Park. So go check .... well the one in ... in Upper City Park is .... is already
installed.
Cole: What is that?
Throgmorton: Yeah, so what does one do in a GaGa pit?
Cole: What is a GaGa pit?
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Thomas: I just (several talking and laughing) It's ... it's this .... it almost looks like a corral,
and uh, what you do in the corral (laughs) I'm not exactly sure (laughter) You
throw a ball around I think.
Monroe: It's a modified version of dodge ball.
Taylor: Oh, okay! (several talking)
Monroe: So the ... they took out the construction fencing at Pheasant Hill. I visited that this
weekend and, or last weekend, and ... um, so you can see it's just a round cement,
uh, space I guess (both talking)
Thomas: ...contained space for (several talking)
Throgmorton: Sounds like the voice of experience! (laughter)
Monroe: I am no GaGa master! (laughter)
Thomas: So I'd just ... and by saying, it was a nice follow up to just having the master plan
presented and, um, this question of. ... of complete neighborhoods, you know, it...
there, I was putting an emphasis on completeness in those neighborhoods where
there's the social equity factor that was identified in the master plan, but on the
tour we saw ... uh, at least two parks that come to mind, uh, if not more, Pheasant
Hill and, um, Windsor Ridge, where these are ... these are upper, middle-class
neighborhoods, shall we say, uh, and they too were not complete without, um, the
improvements, in my view, uh, at Pheasant Hill and then the, uh, Cardigan Park in
Windsor Ridge. I mean, Windsor Ridge only has that Windsor Ridge Park, which
is really a walkway going through the backsides of the properties. So Cardigan
will be, I think, more of a destination opportunity for that ... for that neighborhood.
Throgmorton: Yeah, it's surrounded by all those row houses or townhouses.
Thomas: Yeah, and in fact I think the .... the higher density development with the
townhouses around it was a good .... a good move as well.
Throgmorton: Okay. Susan.
Mims: Just, um, for those people who got their tickets, reminder that the Farm to Street
Dinner is on Thursday. Looking forward to doing that, and for those of you that
didn't get your tickets, you missed out. Did it last year; it was wonderful! Fun
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evening, so hopefully we have good weather for it again. Um, and as was
mentioned earlier, the students are coming back. So watch the traffic, um, we do
still have some one-way streets in the community, and inevitably people are
driving the wrong way on the one-way streets, um, so just be extra cautious with
all the traffic coming in in the next few days and people not being real familiar
with this community, so .... say hello, help `em out!
Throgmorton: Good deal! Kingsley.
Botchway: So, um.....Airport pancake breakfast I believe is the 20"i, coming up this Sunday.
All right, just want to make sure cause I was ... got really excited. I thought I put in
in my schedule wrong, so I'll be there. Um....
Mims: What time?
Botchway: I think it's like 7:00 A.M.
Throgmorton: 7:00 to noon (several talking)
Botchway: Uh, Taste of Iowa City is next Wednesday. I'll be there! And then, I mean,
you've all (mumbled) that I'll be at as well, but, urn .... I'm doing the Pathways
`Men Who Cook.' Um, and I will be participating and using my executive chef
skills to, um, showcase my talents and help fundraise! So I will be, um, making,
uh, Cajun chicken on a bed or, um, creamy macaroni and cheese. So .... just lettin'
ya know! Food work .... Food Network approved!
Cole: I have a couple requests on work session topics. You know Mark has talked
about this question of parking and College Green district for quite a while now. I
know following his public comments we asked staff to respond to that. But I
guess I would like to do at least a work session so we can get a sense of what the
parking direction is for that particular district. Um, right now like with a lot of
our inner core neighborhoods, it's essentially used as commuter parking, and that
affects the adjacent.... the actual landowners, as well as (noise on mic) people that
would like to use the park, um, so I know that staff is gonna look into that
particular request that he made, and I think his concern was is that, um, essentially
the parking study seemed to be more focused just on the Northside. So do we
have any support for that, to do an actual work session on a parking district for,
um, College Green? What do people think about that?
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Mims: My question is is there somethin' that staff would need to do before we do that
or .... where....
Fruin: No, not really. I mean, um, we're gonna look to you for direction. I mean, the,
uh, the report that you received in your Information Packet and that Dan gave a
quick overview of today, um, had the parking component to the Northside. Um,
we .... when we started this we assumed that whatever was determined for the
Northside would also apply to College Green or other areas in the core, so I
wouldn't expect that we need an additional study or anything like that around
College Green, but the consultant's recommendation was not to start with the
permit process. It was to start with allowing parking on both sides, see how that
goes, and then consider a .... a permit process, if you're still not, um, satisfied with
the results, um, but we're not gonna move forward with their recommendation or
a modified version of their recommendation without your .... your guidance. So,
um, as far as I'm concerned you can schedule the.....the work session topic any
time ya want.
Cole: Well I guess that's what I'd like, so we could get the staff feedback, and then we
may decide we not wanna do it, but at least we'd have a work session on it.
Mims: I'm fine with it. (several responding)
Cole: And related to that, Susan brought up a good point in terms of budget, you know
right now the way we left it on our last work session we had a lot of different
things that may or may not (both talking)
Throgmorton: If...if you would, you don't have to say anymore.
Cole: Okay. All right.
Throgmorton: I'm gonna address that when we get into our work session. That's what I was
referring to with regard to September (both talking)
Cole: One step ahead of me!
Throgmorton: Yeah!
Cole: Okay! Nothing else!
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Throgmorton: Okay, so I have a few things I wanna mention. Uh, first as I indicated, uh, in
response to, uh, one of the people who spoke during the public discussion period,
uh, I'm writing a public statement, uh, concerning last Saturday's event in
Charlottesville. Uh... um, Ashley has given me some .... some notes that come
from prior resolutions and I want to convert that into a .... a statement, and ... but
also make sure it really fits the immediate context and it's just been impossible to
get .... time to do it, up .... up till this.... well, I'll go home and do it .... yeah, when
we get home or whatever. You go home and lie in bed and write it or somethin',
but I .... I am working on that. The second thing I want to mention concerns our
next Council listening post. If I remember correctly, the last one we held was in
mid-June, out in Kiwanis Park, and Pauline and John did that one. Do I
remember that correctly?
Taylor: Rockne and I (both talking)
Throgmorton: Rockne.... and Pauline, yeah. Uh, anyhow, I ... so I think we need to schedule
another one, probably for September. Uh, my guess is ... in the first week of
September. And what I was going to suggest is that we do it at Uptown Bill's.
Uh, and ... I haven't had a chance to do one of these Council listening posts, so I'd
be eager to, uh, nominate myself, and I wonder if anybody else would like to join
me.
Mims: I would. I haven't done one in quite a while.
Throgmorton: Yeah, okay, that'd be good, and uh, so.....Kellie, we need to connect with Tom
Gilsenan at Uptown Bill's to see if it'd be all right to use it at a ... a defined
moment for an hour and a half, I guess that's what a typical listening post is. I
think he'd be quite eager but we just have to pin it down with him. And I don't
know if you have his email address. If you don't just .... send me a note saying `I
need the email address' and I'll send it to ya. Uh, next thing I want to mention is
that, uh, tomorrow morning at 7:00 I'm gonna hop on a plane and go to
Burlington, Vermont, and I'm gonna do that to participate in a conference of the
Mayors Innovation Project. It's gonna last until, uh, Friday night or early
Saturday morning, I can't remember which. So I'll return Saturday afternoon. I
was invited to do this by Mayor Cownie from Des Moines, and uh.....once I
looked into it I thought `Yeah, this sounds like a really good thing to do,' so I'm
gonna be able to network with other mayors who are encountering the same kind
of challenges that we're encountering and are pursuing some similar objectives as
we are pursuing. So I .... I think it could be a really terrific event, and I'll let ya
know what I learned.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of August 15, 2017.
Page 57
Mims: You're gonna be 12 miles from my home. I really wish you'd let me go instead.
Throgmorton: (several talking, making noise) Sorry! Uh, so Bill McKibben's going to be our
keynote speaker, and I assume he'll say a word or two about climate change.
What needs to be done. Uh, the last thing I want to mention is that the Gazette is
sponsoring an `Iowa Ideas Conference' on September 201i through the 22nd, up in
Cedar Rapids, and from what I read it's going to include 250 or more speakers,
eight tracks, 80 sessions, nine keynote speeches, and opportunities to connect with
fellow Iowans about the direction Iowa should take. So, um .... I .... I got an
invitation to speak at that and I'll probably accept the invitation, but (laughs) you
know, there are 80 speakers (laughs) Anyhow, you all might want to take a look
at that and ... it might be of interest to you in your own .... for your own reasons.
All right. That's enough for me!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of August 15, 2017.
Page 58
Item 15. Report on items from city staff
a) City Manager
Throgmorton: Geoff?
Fruin: Just real briefly. Earlier this week, um, early Monday morning, we had a pretty
significant fire out at the Landfill. Um .... uh, and I just want to comment how
well, uh, our staff and the mutual aid agencies that responded, uh, handled that.
Um .... in looking back at some of the thermal, uh, camera images that we have,
the fire really ignited, um ... very quickly, um, sometime around midnight or 1:00
and .... and by the time the call came in at, uh, 2:30 or so, it was .... it was a pretty
good size fire at that point. Um, earlier this year we did, uh, a fire, um, exercise
out at the Landfill and brought all the agencies in and that, uh.... um, I think really
paid off because the .... the staff, whether it was Fire, Police, uh, or Landfill staff
really just executed perfectly and got, um, what was a pretty significant again
large fire under control, uh, by noon on Monday. We weren't able to open the
Landfill, uh, because of the rain, uh, that afternoon, but we opened for business as
usual, urn .... uh, first thing on Tuesday morning, so just want to commend our
staff and the ... the responding agencies, uh, that helped with the fire suppression
for .... for the work they did, uh, on Monday morning.
Throgmorton: Way to be prepared! Good job and great job by the staff! Ashley.
Monroe: The only thing I was going to mention was, uh, it's Jamie's, uh, Mr. Porter's last
meeting with us. He's, uh, his last week is this week and, uh, we just want to say
that we appreciated the work that he's done. You've done a great job and we
wish you very, very well. We've been glad to have you! (several talking in
background)
Throgmorton: We're gonna miss you at that desk! (laughter) (unable to hear response from
audience)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of August 15, 2017.