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ITEM 2. Student Leadership Awards
Item 2a Alexander Elementary
Throgmorton: We have one (both talking) Huh? We have one outstanding student from
Alexander Elementary School. Jaylan Graham, would you come up please?
(applause) (unable to hear)
Fruin: Mayor, I (several talking)
Fruehling: No, it's not. (several talking)
Throgmorton:.... try again! (several talking) All right! So, you remember how we're gonna do
this. I'm gonna ask you to read your, uh, your statement and then I'm gonna read
this student award document here, okay? So.....Alexander Elementary, right?
Yeah, good deal! Here you go (mumbled)
Graham: Hello! My name is Jaylan Graham and I am a sixth grader at Alexander
Elementary. When I found out my teachers nominated me for this award, I felt
special. What makes mean outstanding leader is because I do my job when no
one is looking. At home I help my siblings with their homework and clean up
after myself. At school I take pride in my work and demonstrate leadership all
throughout the day. I would like to thank all of the teachers that helped me get to
this moment. Thank you. (applause)
Throgmorton: All right! (applause continues) (laughter) I gotta tell ya, I wish I could do my
hair like you do yours! (laughter) If y'all can't see it, it is really spectacular!
(laughter) Course I don't have any hair left! (laughter) All right! Student
Leadership Award (reads award) Here you go! (applause) Well done! Keep up
the great work. I know.... parents right now are really proud, huh? Good deal!
Well done! (applause continues) (mumbled) to Alexander Elementary a couple
times before. It's a really ... an outstanding school! Where's the pri .... the
principal? Right there? Yeah, we talked actually, right? Thank you for giving
me that tour. Yeah! (unable to hear person in audience)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of March 6, 2018.
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Item 3. Proclamations
Item 3a Special Olympics Month
Throgmorton: And, Joyce, right? Yeah, uh, so I'm gonna read the proclamation, Joyce, and
then.....you should feel free to say something and then you'll have us do what you
want us to do, right? (unable to hear person responding) Okay! Come on up!
All right, so I'm gonna read this proclamation and it's directed to all of you, and
to the public. (reads proclamation) (applause)
Rossie: Thank you! Um, Sarge and Eunice Shriver created Special Olympics in 1968 and
this is our 50th year. Um, Iowa serves over 13,000 athletes in over 22 sports, and
we are celebrating the mid -winter tournament this weekend. Athletes are
competing in basketball, basketball skills, cheerleading, and powerlifting, and this
is our 30th anniversary of having the mid -winter tournament here in Iowa City.
We have two major fundraising events so that once the athletes reach Iowa City,
they have no more expenses. We pay for their overnight stay. We have a banquet
at the Marriott on Friday night. Um, and our day of competition is all day
Saturday. Those venues, we've gotten large enough that we've had to .... we go to
City High, West High, the Fieldhouse, and this year Pro Fit Gym has invited us
to have our powerlifting event at their venue in Coralville. Our two major
fundraising events are the Polar Plunge. Again, if you guys would like to join
me! Come on out (laughter) to the reservoir. It's April 14th this year. Uh,
registration is at 11:00. We plunge at noon. If you'd like to come and be a
spectrator..... spectator, come on out! We also, if you don't think that you can
plunge, we have another category, and it's called Too Chicken to Plunge
(laughter) Um, our second main fundraising event is we (clears throat) in
conjunction with Iowa Football, we have a `Swing With the Celebrities' golf
tournament, and through those two major events, along with some law
enforcement torch run events, we do raise enough money so that we can take care
of all of our athletes that are here, and this year our banquet is for 1,150 athletes
coming to Iowa City. We really appreciate you once again making March Special
Olympics Month, and our.... here to accept the proclamation tonight is Laurie
Ruth, Sandy Slezak, Kristin Knebel, and Sherry McKee. We have one
more ..... honor for you guys tonight, and RaQuishia Harrington is going to
introduce one of our athletes who is a Global Messenger and would like to talk to
you.
Harrington: All right (mumbled) Um, I am RaQuishia Harrington. I am the Program
Supervisor for our local del.... delegation of Special Olympics. I'm here and
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regular formal meeting of March 6, 2018.
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during the mid -winter tournament we will have athletes, um, participatin' in both
basketball skills and basketball team as well as the cheer and dance teams. Um,
we have about 40 athletes that will be participatin' this go -round. Um, Sherry
bein' our Global Messenger will be able to deliver the opening, um, speech durin'
mid -winter, um, tournament banquet and she would like to share that with you
guys right now!
Throgmorton: Okay!
McKee: Hi, my name is Sherry McKee. I am 43 -years -old and live in North Liberty,
Iowa. My mom and my step -brother, Jeff, are my greatest supports. Jeff is the
one who introduced me to Special Olympics eight years ago. Growing up I was
in special ed classes. However, I did not get involved with Special Olympics until
2009. I moved to Iowa City. I am so excited about the mid -winter tournament
this weekend and competin' with the Iowa City cheer team. When I first started
participating in Special Olympics, I comple.... competed in track and field. I did
the pentathlon. Following an injury I decided to .... try tennis. Tennis is one of
my absolute favorite sports during the summer. I really look forward to going to
the USTA events. I like Special Olympics. I am a part of the team, hang out with
my friends, and of course (yelling) win medals! (laughter) In my eight years with
Special Olympics, I have had a lot of fun. I .... have competed in tennis,
basketball, track and field relays, dance, and bocce. It's hard to pick just one
thing that I like the most; however, I can say that Special Olympics gives me so
much new opportunities. I get to try different sports, make new friends, travel to
new places, and try every .... tell everyone who would listen about all of my fun
experience. I look forward for more opportunities and helpful.... one day I, I'll be
able to compete at the national level. With Special Olympics, the possibilities are
limitless. I love Special Olympics (yelling) (laughter) (applause)
Throgmorton: Great job, Sherry! (applause continues)
McKee: Okay, guys, let's do the oath! Let me win, but if I cannot win.....(several talking)
let me be brave in the attempt. (applause and several talking)
Throgmorton: Great job, Sherry! Thank you. Thanks to everybody!
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Item 4. Consider adoption of the Consent Calendar as presented or amended
Item 4d(2) (Revised) Riverfront Crossings Park, Phase 3 — Resolution
rejecting bids received on February 28, 2018 for the Riverfront Crossings
Park, Phase 3 Project and setting a new date for receipt of bids for the
rebidding of Riverfront Crossings Park, Phase 3 Project, directing City
Clerk to post notice to bidders, and fixing time and place for receipt of bids
Throgmorton: And we're gonna pull Item 4d ..... 4d(2) for separate consideration. So could I
have that motion please?
Taylor: So moved.
Salih: Second.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Taylor, seconded by ..... Salih. Uh, roll call please. So, let's see,
there's somethin' else I need to do here. Uh.... I need to state these two items, uh,
additional items of, uh, correspondence. No, they're just part of the motion.
Yeah, okay. Thank you. Uh, all right, so we'll turn to Item 4d(2), revised. This
concerns Riverfront Crossings Park, Phase 3. (reads item description) Could I
have a motion please?
Mims: So moved.
Taylor: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Taylor. Discussion? Good evening, Juli!
Seydell-Johnson: Good evening. I wish I was here with better news (laughs) As you can see, the
bids came in, the bid came in very high on this project, about $300,000 more than
we had expected, and we only had one bidder. So we were concerned about that
as well. Uh, so our plan is to tum around and go back out, rebid again with a
couple changes. First of all we will be bidding for only one of the two restroom
shelters. So this is the one, uh, to the west of the parking circle, closer to where
the event grounds will be. Uh, the reason we chose that one is it's also the hub of
all the power for the .... for the park. So all of the power sources come through
there and .... and it will feed events and different things that happen in the park.
Um, the other part is we will give them a .... the contractors a longer timeline. We
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had originally hoped to be done, uh, by mid-July. Uh, we're now looking at
giving them through October, um, to work on the project, hoping both of those
changes will bring it back down in line with the budget.
Throgmorton: Sure hope so! Any questions for Juli? Okay, thank you, Juli! Hearing none, we
have a motion on the floor. Any discussion?
Mims: Just disappointed, but....
Throgmorton: Yeah. Right. Uh, hearing no discussion, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0.
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Item 5. Community Comment (items not on the agenda)
Throgmorton: Uh, anyone who would like to speak to us about any topic that's not on the formal
meeting agenda should please feel free to come up and speak now. Please don't
take more than five minutes. State your name when you come up.
Atkins: Good evening. Uh, my name is Judy Atkins and I live at 539 Stuart Court, over in
the Bluffwood area. Um (clears throat) I actually, um, came to speak to you about
the deer management issue and I'm extremely heartened to know that, um, you all
seem to understand the plight and are on board with that. Uh, Tony Wobeter,
which, uh, is the gentleman in our neighborhood who, uh, started the petition last
summer, uh, which I believe you have a copy of now, as well as photos, uh, and
some other correspondence from hopefully some of the other residents. Um, you
should have that in hand. Um, Tony would have been here tonight but he had
surgery and so I got elected. Anyway, um, I'm not gonna take up, uh, very much
time on this. I... just....going to put a fine point on it, re -read the letter that I sent
back in August to you, and um.....I'Il be brief about it. (reads letter) I would like
to share my concerns with you regarding increased deer population as of late. I
live on the east side and have witnessed over the years the rise and fall of the deer
numbers, since the years of the last harvest. Many years ago our numbers were
high enough to consider a humane harvesting of the deer on two separate
occasions. These past few years have been ridiculous with not only individual
mothers with their twins, but the roaming of very large herds during the daylight
hours. Two separate neighbors counted 12 and 17 deer respectively in their yards
at one time. Uh, Tony actually is the one that had 17 deer in his backyard, um,
one day last year. Uh, while I know there's some concern about what we plant,
i.e., being the flowers, the hostas, uh, etc., they are also found to eat and damage
foundation plantings and, uh, also ruin trees. I am also sure there are accident
reports which add to the property damage as well. A couple of months ago, a
friend of mine coming into town, in the morning, um, on Rochester, was hit
broadside. He was coming in at 8:00 in the morning on Rochester, going, uh,
what would have been west, and as he approached the intersection of ...urn, St.
Thomas Court, a deer came from his left side, kind of blindsiding him, and just
struck the front of his truck and did a severe amount of damage. Um, I wonder in
a split second, uh, if that deer came at a different time if the damage wouldn't
have been possibly much, much worse. Uh, we were all actually able to see it
because the car following him that morning on Rochester, as well coming into
town, had a dash cam and was video taping him, all the way up Rochester
Avenue. So it was a.....kind of a scary sight to see. Um, I ask you to consider
after almost 20 years that this problem, again, exists. I'm very grateful to know
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that you've already started counts and, uh, you're fully aware, uh, apparently of
the increase in the numbers of these animals. Um, I also hope you will consider
the end result, that harvesting these animals could result in additional meat being
donated to an ever -burdened food bank. So ..... as a part-time employee of the
Crisis Center, two birds, one stone. So I thank you. Um, I realize that this is
something that might not happen soon, but the fact that you are contemplating it
and understand the issues that, you know, we kind of have, especially over on the
east side area. I really appreciate it. So .... thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Judy. Anyone else? I think the answer's..... Nick!
Theisen: Good evening, Council. Sorry, just let me get my sticker out. So, uh, I want to
begin by apologizing for once again, you know, subjecting (both talking)
Mims: Please introduce (both talking)
Theisen: Sorry! Nicholas Theisen. I live at 1240 Esther Court.
Mims: Thank you!
Theisen: I always forget that, sorry! Um, I want to apologize for my semi -regular
bummers. Um, I have another one for you this evening, so ..... sorry! Um,
because .... I don't want to address the issue of the budget tonight, even though
that's one of the subjects for discussion. Um, I've already .... I guess made myself
heard on the issue of what I feel is the already extremely paltry sum of money that
the City allocates to affordable housing, so I'm not gonna rehash that, even
though I just did rehash it in brief. What I want to talk about is the issue of what
that money is actually used for. Now, I have already submitted correspondence
from the previous meeting about the need to actually be extremely focused in
what that money is used for. So for example in 2016 when .... uh, City staff had
made recommendations for what to do with this bucket of money that was then
being created, over 50% of it was going to be just handed over to the Johnson
County Housing Trust, which is not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, but
what's dismaying about this is the fact that ... the City is going to allocate money
and then essentially hand over responsibility for it to someone else. Now the
Trust Fund is a good organization, but there is a real threat, given the fact that you
already have a relatively small pot of money that you're just going to dilute it
across many different programs. Now any one of those programs could probably
use the entire sum of money. So the Affordable Housing Coalition has made the
recommendation, and Sarah can correct me if I'm wrong since she's here, um, to
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actually use that money to finance a bond issue in order to do land banking, to
seriously go after land banking, but the thing is, that is a focused thing that needs
to be done. In other words, use all of the money for one purpose. Um, another
possibility, and again this is in the correspondence that I previously submitted,
would be to use the money to directly subsidize rents for those basically who are
completely priced out .... out of the market. But again, the point is is that it has to
be focused. If you give say 20% here or 15% there, 5% here, 50% to ... frankly an
organization that City Council doesn't actually have any control over, then there's
a real problem there, because as I've said, every single time in the past, the crisis
is extremely serious, not just serious, not just very serious. It's extremely serious.
So what little money that you're going to put into this, it needs to be very
specifically directed towards at least one major project that will have a real
substantial effect that you can point to rather than just saying, hey, we contributed
this amount of money. Let's pat ourselves on the back. And so that's all I wanted
to say this time. No more bummers. Have a pleasant evening, etc., etc., etc.
Thank you!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Nick. Good evening, Ryan.
Sempf: Hi. My name is Ryan Sempf and I'm here on behalf of the Iowa City Downtown
District tonight. Um, Nancy wasn't able to make it so ... frllin' in for her. Uh, first
I want to thank, uh, the Mayor and City Council for, uh, approving the ped mall
project. Uh, that's a great project that's gonna do a lot of good for our downtown.
So we want to thank you for that. Uh, in addition, uh, as you're considering the
budget tonight, um, we want to point out some thing that we would like to see in
future budgets. Uh, one thing in particular is two-way conversions of Market and
Jefferson Street. Uh, the one -ways right now make it somewhat difficult, uh, for
people to get from one side of town down over to the Northside. Uh, and so as
you continue to look at the capital improvements projects, uh, we hope that you
would consider, uh, fast -tracking those two-way conversions to help make the
Northside a more welcoming and inclusive place for people to get to and from.
Um, and that's really the main thing that I'm here to talk to you about. So, I just
wanna again thank you for the ped mall project and in the future, we'll be having
conversations with you one-on-one about this, but ... just keep this in mind as
you're looking at your budgets in the future. So, thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Ryan. Hi, Tracey!
Achenbach: Hi! Tracey Achenbach. I'm not sure where to say I live right now but always an
Iowa City resident (laughs) I'm waiting for co -housing to open. Um .... but I'm
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also the Executive Director of the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County. I'm
also on the Board and Treasurer of the Affordable Housing Coalition and I was on
the Riverfront Crossings committee that Rockne mentioned. Um, and I want to
say, you know, he was very correct when he said that.....the committee that we
were on, the group of us — for-profit developers and affordable housing folks like
myself — worked very hard to come to a consensus on what we proposed as
recommendations. So, um, he was accurate in that .... what we brought to you was
really, um, you know, sometimes we didn't always agree, but we .... in the end
agreed with what we brought to Council. So 1, you know, I think that it's
important to note that, that it was a give and take on all sides. I wanted to also
mention tonight, as I sat in the audience listening to you talk about your, um,
annexation policy, I keep being struck by the fact that I have worked in affordable
housing throughout Iowa in many communities and counties for almost 25 years
now, and .... what you guys are doing is such a big deal. You .... the.....the time
that you're giving, the .... the time that you're allowing staff to work on these
policies and create these ideas, and the amount of money that you're willing to
put toward affordable housing, I just .... I really, it struck me that I needed to stay
for this public comment period just to say thank you, because it really is a big deal
and I really do appreciate it, and I know a lot of people in this community have to
appreciate what you're doing, and um....I just, it's, uh, it is a big deal and I just
wanted to thank you for that. So .... and I'm gonna finish writing my name if you
don't mind!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Tracey. And thanks for stickin' around! (laughs) Anyone else? All
right, I don't see anyone else. We'll turn to Item 6, Planning and Zoning matters.
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Item 6. Planning and Zoning Matters
Item 6a Rezoning 1st and Muscatine for Kum & Go and Hospice —
Ordinance conditionally rezoning approximately 0.5 acres of property
located at 1010 S. First Avenue from Low Density Single -Family Residential
(RS -5) to Community Commercial (CC -2),1022 S. First Avenue from Low
Density Single -Family (RS -5) to Commercial Office (CO -1) and a portion of
1025 Wade Street from Commercial Office (CO -1) to Community
Commercial (CC -2). (REZ17-00019)
a) Public Hearing [Continued from February 6 and February 20 meetings.]
Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Hi, Bob!
Miklo: Bob Miklo, Senior Planner. Um, I would like to let you know that we do now
have a signed conditional zoning agreement, uh, for this, uh, rezoning. We also
had, uh, some, uh, email conversations with the, uh, with the applicant and, uh,
they have indicated a willingness to add, uh, additional features to the First
Avenue side of the building to add more interest, uh, including extending the
canopy, and either a clear story windows on the upper part of the wall or frosted
windows on the lower part. This portion of the building has bathrooms in it.
That's why there would be .... there wouldn't be clear glass. Happy to answer any
questions you might have.
Fruin: Bob, would you mind .... do you have the .... the remote for the projector? It turned
off. Is the remote up there?
Miklo: Oh, I'm sorry!
Fruin: That's okay! We can see on our screens, but for the audience. Thank you!
(several talking in background)
Throgmorton: Oh, good .... sorry! I was tryin' to make sure I was following the instructions on
this (laughs) clearly enough. Any questions for Bob? I'm glad to hear that, uh,
Kum n' Go's willing to make those modifications. Would anybody else like to
address this topic? If not I will close the public hearing, but before I do that I
want to see if the Council's inclined to support or to vote in accordance with the
Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation to approve the rezoning.
Yeah, seeing heads nodding yes.
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Salih: Yes.
Throgmorton: Yeah, okay, good. So I'm gonna close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b) Consider an Ordinance (First Consideration) [Deferred from February 6
and February 20 meetings.]
Mims: Move first consideration.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? Just for the public's
knowledge, we had a lengthy discussion about this during our last meeting. Uh,
we did not vote on anything but we did discuss various aspects of the proposed
development. Uh, so I don't know that we want to plow over that material yet
again.
Cole: Well other than this concept of the windows, I mean is that .... is that a firm
commitment? Because to me that's actually a very significant variable, um, in
terms of the translucent glass as well as additional windows. Is .... is that looking
like that's going to happen?
Miklo: Yes, I was .... I was, uh.... uh, told by, um, the staff person that they would agree to
do that. They just did not have time to get the, uh, drawings updated.
Cole: Okay.
Miklo: And also this will need to go through our Design Review Committee and Board of
Adjustment.
Throgmorton: Thanks, Bob.
Cole: I would just .... want to briefly comment on that then. I, because I was sort of the
most negative on this project, and I drive by this through every day and I wanna
say to you guys that .... on the one hand, I think this is clearly an improvement
over where there's that now, and I think the fact though that you're willing to do
the windows, at least for me, is enough to change .... change my vote. Um, you
know I think when I look at this particular comer ..... I would of liked to see
something different, um, but I think the fact that you guys have really reached out.
You've made the changes. I think it's significant for me, and I don't think it's
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insignificant that we'll have more of a permeable look to it, that we'll be able to
look in and have that light and, uh, I think the wall just for that is .... is
problematic. So, um, I do have concerns about the residential, the loss of the
residential. Um .... but I ...... but I will change my vote, um, on the basis of the
additional modifications that have been made.
Mims: While I don't disagree with you, Rockne, in fact that I think it will look nicer with
these additional changes, that they're gonna make, and I do appreciate that. I
really think as a council, we have to be really careful that when we have a
rezoning like this, and developers are meeting the design standards of the zone,
which we've got specific design standards within the Towncrest area, and they're
meeting those design standards, and because we sit up here as an individual and
happen to have a personal opinion, and Jim, I think you said it really well last
time, that you weren't gonna let your personal aesthetic judgment or I don't know
exactly the wording you used, uh, you weren't gonna let that influence your vote,
and I .... and I think that's really important, that as we look at a particular design
and particularly in a part of town that has its own design standards and developers
have met those design standards, I find it really hard ...... to, for us as .....as
individual, as councilors, to sit up here because we personally don't like
something, um, and vote against it when it meets design standards. So while I do
like the changes they've made, um, I .... I think it's important that if it meets
design standards we support it.
Cole: But it's ultimately a political land use, um, question, and I think looking at the
aesthetics in an area is perfectly appropriate! Um, if this was, I mean, a totally
ugly design, which it is not, um, I think we should absolutely be able to take that
into consideration. It's a political determination and to, um, project, I mean, by
definition involves personal preference as far as I can tell, as opposed to the bare
minimum. So I think it's perfectly appropriate and we should continue to do that,
and I think as a result of that, we're gonna get a better product that will, um,
develop this neighborhood.
Mims: We'll have to agree to disagree, cause (several talking) design standards and they
meet the design standards, then it should be a go.
Taylor: Susan, I think also along with the design are the safety standards. I mean the
moving the sidewalks away from the street, was .... that's an absolute necessity for
many years now, and the curb cuts, having one versus two.
Mims: Much better!
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Taylor: I think ... it far outweighs .... I drove by there not too long ago and I thought of
Rockne because it's a very large home that .... that borders to the south of this
that's going to be removed, uh, but they've made plans for that also with the
planters and, uh, the trees and so I think they've done a very good job of working
with the standards that are there and .... and moving ahead.
Throgmorton: Any further discussion?
Salih: No.
Throgmorton: Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carnes 6-0.
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Item 6. Planning and Zoning Matters
Item 6b Rezoning Foster Road — Vintage Cooperatives — Ordinance rezoning
approximately 53.29 acres of property from High Density Single Family
Residential (RS -12) to Planned Development Overlay - High Density Single
Family Residential (OPD/RS-12) zone for 50.11 acres and Commercial Office
(CO -1) zone for 3.18 acres located south of I-80 between Dubuque Street and
Prairie Du Chien Road. (REZ17-00017) (Second Consideration)
Throgmorton: This is second consideration, but the applicant 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 pa ... final passage at this time.
Taylor: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Taylor. Discussion? I .... I think I'd like to say
that, uh, we've received no opposition whatsoever to this and that influences my
judgment about whether or not to .... uh, to waive second consideration. So, I'm
happy to do that. Tracy, did you want to talk to us about this? I had a feeling
maybe ya did (laughs) Thanks!
Hightshoe: I just wanted to clarify something I said....
Throgmorton: Sure!
Hightshoe: ...um, at our last, uh, at the first consideration. You had asked about a trail from
Foster Road to Shimek.
Throgmorton: Right.
Hightshoe: In the North District plan, it is a desired goal and a feature, but this development
will not put that in. You know, it....it gets closer to that goal, but it's over land
that's not part of this development, or that the developer owns, so while it's a
stated goal in the North District plan, you won't see it actually bein' built, um, to
Shimek with this .... this subdivision, or this (mumbled)
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Throgmorton: Tracy, I'm .... I'm shocked (laughter) Expect everything to be perfectly true
coming from .... I'm only kidding! Yeah, I understand. Thank you. Uh, but
certainly when, if we get to the point where someone else wants to develop the
property just to the south, this will be part of it. Okay, uh.....any further
discussion about the .... the motion on the floor? Hearing none, roll call please.
Motion carries 6-0. I should ask, uh, formally, no I don't have to do that? Okay.
Never mind.
Mims: Move final consideration at this time.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? Hearing none, roll call
please. Motion carries 6-0. Could I have a motion to accept correspondence
please?
Mims: So moved.
Taylor: So moved.
Throgmorton: Moved by Taylor, seconded by Mims. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion
carries.
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Item 8. FY2019 Operating Budget — Resolution approving proposed FY2019
operating Budget, the proposed three-year Financial Plan for FY2018 -
FY2020, and the five-year Capital Improvement Plan 2018 — 2022
a) Public Hearing
Throgmorton: I'm gonna open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Okay (both talking)
Fruin: ...try this again! My apologies for jumpin' the gun on that one. You have
the .... the budget calendar in .... in front of you. Um, it starts with a, uh, summer
work session where you establish your priorities and then from that point staff
takes several months to put together a recommended budget, which then you
consider, uh, and deliberate on in January and February. The State requires
certification of budgets by March 15a', uh, which is, uh, why we have the
adoption scheduled for tonight. Uh, as I mentioned in the presentation, the last
six years have been an .... has been an era of, uh, really robust growth for Iowa
City. We've added about 6,500 residents per Census estimates. Uh, that is top
four, uh, sorry, the fifth highest in the state of Iowa, and the four that are ahead of
us in terms of population added are all in the Des Moines metro area. So that
gives you an idea of the .... the growth we've had. Um, combining the growth of
Coralville and North Liberty, that would just be 100 more residents estimated
than we've grown here. Uh, comparison to the last several decades .... last couple
of decades, you see in the 90s, in 2000s, uh, we added, uh, 2,485 and 5,642
residents respectively, uh, so in the first six years of this decade we've already,
uh, really outpaced what we've done in those last, uh, previous two decades. Uh,
we start with our budget goals each session, uh, and for the last several years our
top goal has really been to respond to the property tax reform changes, uh, while
maintaining our service levels. Um, we want to always, uh, try to make
significant progress towards the goals that you establish in your strategic plan
priority, and then we always look to maintain a affordable tax and fee
environment for our residents and businesses. I believe that this budget
successfully addresses all three of those. We talked a lot about our future
concerns and this is a .... a bit of a broken record, um .... uh, for you to hear, but
A .... we continue to hear talk at the State level about, uh, removing or phasing
out city backfill. There's a .... a legislation that's been proposed recently that
would, uh.....uh, take one-third of that backfill for the budget that we are
discussing, uh, right now, fiscal year 19, and then remove the second third in
fiscal year 20, and have it all completely phased out in .... in fiscal year 21. Uh,
for us that's a, um, $1.5, $1.6 million hit there. You all know that because of the
changes in the multi -residential, uh, taxing that, uh, we continue to see a
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significant, uh, decline in our tax base, or erosion in our tax base there, and you
see the other items that give us a little bit of cause for concern, certainly as a
growing community. We think about having to, uh, continue to bolster our
services to meet the growing population and .... and, uh, having our tax base erode
at the same time makes that challenge.... challenging. Uh, bit of perspective on
those two items that I mentioned. The commercial backfill, which is being
discussed in Des Moines right now, is $1.6 million for us. Uh, and you see some
of the equivalents right there. Uh, it is a significant hit to our operating budget.
The multi -family residential is also about 1.6 million and that grows every year.
Uh, it's about 300,000, $400,000 per year that that grows. So right now it's .... it's
roughly equal to the backfill. Uh, but that's, uh, equivalent to our entire road re-
surfacing budget last year. So again, these are major hits to our operating budget
that we need to be able to navigate. Thankfully we have been able to navigate
them in the early property tax reform era if you will, and that's primarily, uh,
because of the, uh, ex .... extremely robust growth that we've had. So the chart
that you're looking at on the screen right there is, uh, shows you the construction
value, uh, that has occurred in each of those calendar years, and you can see how
over the last two years, the construction permit value has jumped significantly.
This growth has helped us, uh, build our tax base while at the same time this
reform is eroding it. So it's off -set that and it's even allowed us to grow a little
bit. Uh, I won't go through all the narrative there, but the .... the concern is that
we're .... we're growin' at a level that's not sustainable. We can't continue to ... to
average $300 million in .... in new construction valuation per year. It's just simply
not realistic. We provide you that 10 -year trendline to look at what is probably a
more realistic range that we're gonna find ourselves in and that's maybe the 100
to 150, urn .... uh, range there. The property tax rate, um, this is, uh, something
that, uh, certainly we're very proud of, been able to reduce our .... our property tax
rate for seven straight years, and uh, the logical question that goes along with that
is .... with all these financial pressures that you're talking about, how .... how can
we reduce our property tax rate, and that takes us to our next slide, and that's ... it's
because we're reducing it on our debt service levies. So we're not reducing it on
the tax levies that pay for operations, but as our tax base has grown, uh, and our
debt levels have shrunk, we .... we don't have to extract as much money from the
public to retire the debt. So what you see here in the red is our outstanding debt,
and you can see how we've reduced that debt over time. In FYI l it was just over
$80 million and now we're, um, in the FYI year looking at 64 million. So
we've actually reducing the amount of debt that we carry, while at the same time,
our debt limit is growing (mumbled) our debt limit, um, is growing is a sign that
our tax base is growing too. So that is what is pushing the property tax levy
down. That's a different levy than the operations, uh.... uh, so that's sometimes
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a .... a confusing piece of the puzzle there. Uh, when we look at the impact of this
budget to the average, uh, household, um, you can see that, uh, it is a, there's
a .... a small increase, uh, property tax wise because the rate is going down. You'll
actually see, uh, fewer dollars towards the City's, uh, share of the property tax
rate. Uh, we do have a 5% water fee increase and we are accounting for, uh,
some of the changes that we made mid -year to the, uh, waste and recycling fee as
well. So that gives you a .... a .6 increase, uh, .6% increase, excuse me, uh, to a
average, uh, household, which I think is very, uh, very reasonable. Some of the,
uh, highlights, uh, we do still have the emergency fund and while we're not
transferring new dollars to the emergency fund, we feel, uh, really good, uh, with
the level that it's at. It's about 4.9 million, uh, right now. That will certainly help
us, uh, should we lose the backfill, be able to .... to adjust over time to that. One of
your financial goals is to have a .... a strong reserve level and we have achieved
that, uh, particularly in the general fund where we're at the high end, uh, of our
reserve level, uh, our .... our reserve target, which is 35%. Because of the
significant growth that we've had, we've been able to tackle some of, um, or
provide funding for .... for some of our, urn .... uh, more challenging, uh, needs, and
so a few of those are listed here. We have a Public Works facility that has been
long, uh, sought after and a new training, uh, tower for the Fire Department. We
have the funds allocated for that, and we're working on designs for that, uh.... uh,
as we speak. You know that, uh.... uh, we have 2.8 million in this budget for the
Behavioral Access Center, uh, that we are jointly working on with the County and
the other municipalities, and then per your direction, uh, from your, uh, earlier
deliberations on the budget, we have increased the contribution to the affordable
housing fund, uh, to 750,000 and we will revisit that number after, uh, the
legislative session, uh, after we know what the .... the, what's going to happen with
the backfill. You see some, uh.... uh, targeting, uh, targeted improvements, uh,
and service levels with the Police and Housing Inspection Division. Uh,
obviously we, um, we're proud of the way that we were able to implement the
bike master plan and the parks master plan, and the capital budget as well, and
especially this time of year when we struggle with potholes and road conditions,
um, I do want to point out that this year's resurfacing budget is 25% higher than
the previous years, and we have been increasing that steadily over the last four or
five years. So that's something that Council has really provided a lot of
additional funds for over the last several years. As we project out our
contributions to roads going forward, we look to continue to grow that. We know
that that's a .... a real need here, uh, in our community. I'm not gonna go through
all of the strategic plan initiatives. You've seen these in previous, uh,
presentations. Uh, but I do want to point out that we have a number of funded
initiatives that meet your strategic plan, um, initiatives. We had to base it on your
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previous strategic plan, uh, but as you know there's a lot of similarities there. We
do believe we have a... a significant flexibility in the budget too to shift to any,
uh, modifications that you make in your strategic plan. So, we can .... maybe
slowly flip .... flip through these and .... and allow for, uh, folks to .... to skim it, but
won't read through it.
Mims: And, Geoff, just for the public while we're going through this, this'll be on the
web site so people can look at the Power Point.
Fruin: Yes. Good idea! Uh, my final thoughts here, uh, you know, we're really in a
strong financial position. We should be very proud of that, uh, position. I know
it's one of your strategic plan goals to maintain that strong position. Uh, that is,
um, thanks to staff before us, here at the table. That's thanks to Councils that
proceeded this one. Um .... uh, there's been a lot of work over the years to put us
in this position and we really benefit from that. Uh, because of that, we've been
able to tackle major projects in this community, major infrastructure projects like
the Gateway project, like First Avenue, like Washington Street or the ped mall,
McCollister Boulevard, all these projects that are .... that are significant. A lot of
communities would struggle to .... to get one of those projects off the ground, and
we're able to do a number of those because of our strong financial position. You
see a number of the other, uh, goals that I think we can get closer to with this
particular budget. So while we are in a strong position, we do have to always
remain cautious because we are going to be in this era of property tax reform for,
uh, another several years as that multi -family rollback continues to hit and as
backfill continues to be targeted in Des Moines. Overall, I think we have a very
strong, uh, budget. You have very healthy deliberations. We've made those
adjustments and we're recommending approval of the FYI budget tonight.
Throgmorton: All right, any questions for Geoff?
Salih: I just wanna say like, uh, I'm very proud that we, you know, or I'm glad that we
(unable to understand) housing to 750 but you .... you just said like we gonna
revisit. I guess the vote was to increase it to one million if we still have the
backfill. Unless something that we have to revisit it.
Fruin: Yeah, I .... I, you are correct. That was the direction. I don't think we talked
about a scenario that's being proposed in Des Moines right now where the
backfill would be partially removed. So ...... the ..... ultimately that's your call.
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Salih: I don't know, I'm all right because I really wanna make sure I'm clear on this. I
said, you know, my understanding is .... as Rockne proposes, if...you know, the
backfill is still, you know, we receive the backfill, we raise it to one million. If
not, we gonna talk about this, yeah, but (unable to understand) a million if we still
have the backfill.
Cole: That was my understanding and I didn't hear anything different based upon what
Geoff had said, um, that if we have the backfill at the current levels, we would
make that commitment, with the expectation that it was sort of a one-year
increase.
Salih: I don't know, but when I see him say like (unable to understand) 750 but we will
revisit it. You know, just like revisit it, that's (unable to understand) because you
know we don't have to revisit! If the backfill is ... is in, automatically one million.
That my understanding.
Cole: I .... I think that's where we were, right? I mean if. ... if there's a lower of the
backfill, we would have to revisit (both talking)
Salih: Yes!
Throgmorton: Yeah, that .... that's my understanding too, that we said we wanted to increase it to
one million, if the backfill remained, but there's a lot of uncertainty about whether
it or part of it will.....go, whether it will remain or whether part of it will go away,
all or part of it will go away. So there's that uncertainty, and I understand that's
what Geoff meant by we'll revisit, uh, this once we know what's happening at the
state level with regard to backfill payments.
Cole: That's the way I understood it too and if...and if it is lowered, then we would have
to (both talking)
Salih: ...but if not, automatically one million.
Cole: Yeah.
Taylor: (mumbled) understand that it was automatically. I think we still need to look at
the effects, and if it is lowered, whether it is (both talking)
Salih: ...we said .... I said if not .... if not (several talking) saying if not. (several talking)
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Throgmorton: Yeah, I .... I think the Council did, or at least a majority of the Council, did agree
to in .... increase it to one million, if the full backfill remains.
Salih: Yes.
Fruin: We're on the same page. (several talking)
Salih: Just making sure, yeah.
Throgmorton: All right. Any ... uh, does anybody else want to address this topic, like maybe
Jeremy? I don't know. (laughs) Hi, Jeremy!
Endsley: Hi, my name is Jeremy Endsley. I'm, uh, here on behalf of the Community
Transportation Committee. Um, so I just have a statement. I'll try to be brief.
Um, so public transportation is a vital resource that allows households to maintain
employment and housing, access public service and healthcare, and connect with
food resources. In 2015 the Community Transportation Committee volunteers
conducted a survey of residents exiting public service, uh, services in Iowa City,
Coralville, and North Liberty, in order to learn more about their experience using
public transit to get to work. Our survey found that over a third of respondents
either lost a job or gave up looking for a job that they wanted, due to problems
with transportation. Uh, the biggest problems reported were a lack of late-night
services, uh, bus frequency, difficulties commuting between cities, and lack of
Sunday service. Um, as many business managers in food service, hospitality, and
other industries will tell you, a limited bus service, um, hampers workforce
retention and therefore economic growth. Urn .... where bus services are not
available, either due to timing or location, um, and walking is not an option, uh,
workers are faced with paying more for, um, expensive transportation options,
um, to maintain their employment. Um, so Iowa City's budget proposes funding
a transportation study, um, with the potential to help workers and all city
residents, um, gain access to transportation services that meet their needs. Um, so
as the study unfolds, uh, we ask that the Council consider a wider range of
transportation options and programs, um, including other transportation models,
uh, to meet our transpor.... our city's transit needs. Um, thus improving
workforce retention and growing our local economy.....while also staying
realistically in the budget.
Throgmorton: Thanks, Jeremy. Anyone else? All right, I don't see anyone else. I will close the
public hearing. (bangs gavel) Could I have a motion please?
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b) Consider a resolution adopting the annual budget for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2019
Mims: (both talking) So moved.
Throgmorton: This is a, I'm sorry, this would be a resol.... a motion to approve a resolution
adopting the annual budget for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2019.
Mims: So moved.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims.
Salih: Second.
Throgmorton: Seconded by Salih. Discussion?
Mims: Well I'm just glad to see that in spite of, I shouldn't say in spite of. Um, that
we've been able to increase various aspects of the budget that I think really
benefit members of our community and some of the most vulnerable members of
our community, um, and at the same time continue to decrease our tax levy,
which also benefits everybody. I mean that affects rents. Lot of people don't
think so, but when taxes go up that effects the rents for people. Um, and just
makes this I think a more livable and more attractive community for people to live
in, for businesses to come to, uh, and considering where our tax levy is versus the
communities around us, um, I think that's really important that we continue to try
and reduce that while at the same time providing these services, um, and
providing the support to those in the community that are more vulnerable. So,
um, I think it .... I think we've got a good budget. I think we, and I think it
addresses a lot of things that we're trying to do, um, making progress on the bike
master plan, and the parks. We've talked so much about how .... how they are
such an attraction, um, to this community for people who want to come here to
live and work, um, or just to come and vacation here. So .... urn .... this is what,
seventh year in a row that we've decreased the tax levy? So .... glad to see it!
Thomas: Yeah, I too am very supportive of the budget, you know, it's a .... it's a challenge
(laughs) uh, especially with the volatility, uh, that we face in terms of our revenue
sources and .... and expenses that ... that we're responsible for. While at the same
time, as .... as Susan just mentioned, you know, we're pursuing a number of
initiatives that began, uh, several years ago and now we're moving in some cases
into the implementation phase with our bike master plan. Uh, we continue with
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our parks development. So .... on, you know, matters regarding equity as well as
quality of life, I think, um, we .... we've done very well. Uh, one thing I'll just
mention is that today I believe is the vote in Polk County for the, uh, local option
sales tax. There're only two counties in the state of Iowa which do not have a
local option sales tax, one of them is Polk and the other is Johnson. So I'm
personally very interested to see how that vote goes. Uh, I do think, you know, in
terms of questions of road repair and so forth, and we've begun this conversation,
um, in an understanding in terms of how we budget to .... to address our road
conditions, how that plays out, uh, from a budget standpoint, uh, is something I
think we'll be looking at in more detail, but I .... I .... I do think of the local option
sales tax as being one option that could be considered to address both the
volatility of our budget, as well as some of these long-standing, um .... you know,
capital liability issues, such as our roads. But in any event, I .... I think, you know,
this is a budget that ... that is ambitious and has, um, done a good job meeting its
goals while at the same time maintaining that sense of keeping the basic
operations running (laughs) you know, the lights on and so forth.
Throgmorton: Any further discussion? Well I'd just like to observe that our Council went
through a very lengthy process of reviewing and amending, uh, the very excellent
draft budget that the staff gave us and I'm really proud to observe that it contains
so many good elements, uh, ones recommended by the staff and a few that we
added, and I think we have a really excellent budget, so I'd like to congratulate
our excellent Finance Director and, uh, our City Manager, Geoff, and everybody
else involved in the process, and I know departments and .... uh.....others were
involved in developing the draft budget in the first place so .... kudos to them as
well. And .... make, uh, I guess a couple other points, uh, one is .... uh, earlier
tonight when Ryan Sempf was speaking, he was talking about the two-way
conversion of Market and Jefferson, right? So that's somethin' to think about,
seriously, lookin' ahead. I know we've talked about it some, uh, in our own
deliberations. And, uh, one last comment has to do with taxes and rents. Uh,
rents definitely go up when taxes go up. I wish it were true that rents would go
down when taxes would go down, but .... as best I can tell that doesn't happen
(laughs) Uh, well, so it goes. All right, we have a motion on the floor. Any
further discussion?
Taylor: I'd just like to comment how I also .... the budget, it's very impressive how it
complements our strategic plan (mumbled) strategic plan, so kudos.
Throgmorton: Yep. Yep.
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Cole: We're gonna separately vote on the capital improvement, right ... (both talking)
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Cole: ...cause I was gonna bring up the .... the two-way issue in that context too.
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Fruin: No, it's .... you're voting on both the operating and (both talking)
Cole: Oh, we are now? For purposes of discussion?
Throgmorton: No, this .... this is .... (several talking) this is just the annual budget (both talking)
Dulek: One .... one, uh....
Fruin: Two separate resolutions (both talking)
Dulek: .....resolutions, one public hearing.
Throgmorton: Yeah. Okay, hearing no further discussion, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0.
Now we're gonna consider a resolution approving the three-year financial plan
and the five-year capital improvement plan for the City of Iowa City, Iowa.
Could I have a motion please?
c) Consider a resolution approving the three-year financial plan and the five-
year capital improvement plan for the City of Iowa City, Iowa
Salih: Move.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Salih, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Cole: Well I guess now I would like (both talking) I think it would be a discussion on
the Jefferson, Market. Obviously we can't amend that tonight. It's my
understanding that would be about a million dollar project, um, but I would, as we
sort of go through the course of this year, like to further explore that as an issue.
I'm very pleased that the Downtown District is supporting that. Um, I do think
that's going to be absolutely critical towards continuing to make the Northside
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even more lib ... livable. The developments we've seen in North Market Square
Park, we're not gonna make that decision tonight, but I was very pleased with
that, and so as we look out in the next five years, as a Council, we've all watched
Jeff Speck, read his book. I think now is the time to seriously consider that
moving forward.
Throgmorton: Yeah. Any further discussion?
Salih: No.
Throgmorton: Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0. Congratulations to our staff.
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Item 10. Community Comment [if necessary] (items not on the agenda)
Throgmorton: Ben, would you like to .... this is community comment. We're revisiting it
(laughs) in case anybody wanted to, uh, speak to us again.
Nelson: Hi, my name is Benjamin Nelson, University of Iowa Student Government, City
Liaison. Um, my only announcement today, um, is just to kind of let you all
know, let the community know, about the Hawkeye completion grant initiative
that the University of Iowa Student Government is pushing forward. What the
Hawkeye completion grant is, it's a donation -focused drive to, um, collect funds,
which would then be allocated based off of need -based application to, uh,
University of Iowa juniors and seniors who need to pay, um .... uh, some money
off on their U -bill so that they can continue to register or that they can
con ... continue to graduate. Um, it's a .... it's a need -based initiative that's been
spear -headed by, uh, Jacob Simpson and Lillian Sanchez, President and Vice -
President. Um, it's through Goldrush online. I'll be sending you all an email
later this evening. Um, I would very much apprec.... we would appreciate it, um,
if you don't have the means to necessarily donate, um, or if anybody in the
community doesn't have the means to necessarily donate but ... but to push it
through your channels, because, um, you know .... as we talk about college
affordability, tuition, housing, all these factors, they're intertwined and, um, there
are students who are.....who are very vulnerable at this stage, so any .... anything
helps. So, uh, that's all I have. Thank you very much!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Ben.
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Item 11. City Council Information
Throgmorton: All right, we can turn to Item 11, City Council information. Maz, why don't we
start with you and we'll move to your right, which means Rockne would be next.
Salih: Um .... I don't have much to report, you know, I couldn't go to the meeting for the
para -seat meeting because I had like death in the family. My mother-in-law, she
pass away (several responding) and I had to be outside the country, and I came
(unable to understand) really hard time. (mumbled) on the weekend I'm gonna go
to Washington, D.C. to speak at the National Democratic (unable to understand)
Throgmorton: The National Democratic what?
Salih: Committee.
Throgmorton: Oh! Congratulations!
Salih: The NDC.
Throgmorton: The NCC, is that what (both talking) Yeah, congratulations!
Salih: Thanks.
Throgmorton: I look forward to hearing about it. Yeah. Rock?
Cole: Can we talk about our, um, service on the boards now as well? During this
timeframe?
Throgmorton: Well, we're supposed to do that at the end of our (both talking) work session.
Cole: I don't have anything else.
Throgmorton: Yeah. John?
Thomas: There were a couple of things. We .... we, and many of us were at the Affordable
Housing Coalition's, uh, mixer on the 27'. That was a very enjoyable event, and
uh, second, urn .... Jim and Kingsley and I toured Robert A. Lee on the 23`d of
February. Uh, which was very enlightening (laughs) tour, I must say I .... I live so
close and yet I don't take advantage of it, and uh, so I do plan to get a
membership card. It's, the, you know, the work that has been done there has
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really, uh, improved the .... the facility, uh, has a lot to offer, uh, so I encourage
anyone.... who hasn't given consideration to the use of Robert A. Lee (laughs)
give it a look. It's .... it's really a fine facility.
Mims: Um, not a lot. I just got an update here, the, uh, the U.S. Justice Department has
decided to sue the State of California over sanctuary laws, that aid those in the
U.S. illegally. Um, so there's an escalation from the federal government on these
issues, which is .... is not particularly surprising, but obviously, you know, of
concern as we try to make sure that, um, everybody in our community is safe and
that means that people who are here undocumented still can report crimes, um,
you know, and feel that they are safe in our communities and have those resources
available. So it's, um, unfortunate to hear.
Throgmorton: Yep. Pauline?
Taylor: Uh, several of us were at the, um, Crisis Center pancake breakfast this past
weekend, and it appeared to be a great success. Uh, when I got there around
10:00, uh, the persons at the front table said they'd had about 750 people, and by
noon, they reported over a thousand people, so uh, kudos to the Crisis Center.
Great event, and all the volunteers that .... it was, again, really, uh, fun to see the
Hawkeye football players helping as .... as their service projects. That was really
nice, so the community really went all out for that. Uh.... there, um, Saturday,
March 24th, then Sunday, March 25th, is the Shelter House book sale and uh,
that's, uh, 10:30 to 4:00 on Saturday and noon to 4:00 on Sunday, and you can
also donate books up until,uh, that time, dropping them off in building B at the
Johnson County Fairgrounds, Monday, Wednesday, Saturday from 1:00 till 3:00.
So that's also something that, uh, people can help out with. Uh..... I'm excited,
tomorrow I've been invited to go to Longfellow School to talk to, uh, my
grandson's, uh, fifth and sixth grade classes, uh, their career day. Um, the
students, which this gives me great hope for that generation, they wanted to hear
somebody talk about a career in politics, and I think that's really fun and exciting,
so I'm looking forward to that, uh, see the Longfellow Longhorns tomorrow,
and.....I think .... uh, I don't know if (mumbled) Susan and I had the listening post.
Uh, which it was in your IP packet, the report on that, so I won't dwell on that,
but uh, small turnout but, uh.... uh, very real concerns that people expressed,
so ... but I'll be sure to read the, uh, summary on that. Um .... think that's it!
Throgmorton: Okay! Well I'll mention a few things. Along with Geoff and many staff
members, Rockne and I toured Procter and Gamble's Oral-B facility in the old
Menard's building on the 22"d and I want to thank Mike McCleary at Oral-B for
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of March 6, 2018.
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facilitating that tour. It was pretty darn enlightening for me, and uh, I imagine the
same's true for you, Rockne.
Cole: Certainly!
Throgmorton: Uh, also.... Kingsley and I participated in the City of Literature's One Book, Two
Book .... youth award ceremony on the 25°i. That's always a fun event. There
were, I don't know, a hundred kids that got awards. Uh, tomorrow, the 7', I will
be attending the Optimist Club's youth writing awards event. And .... uh..... that
night, tomorrow night, the 7a', I will make welcoming comments at the United
Nations Association's Night of a Thousand Diners event. This is one of those
many kinds of things that a mayor goes to. I'm looking forward to spring break.
I don't know, you know .... there you go! Yeah (laughter) My wife teaches at the
University, so spring break matters to us and our daughter Zoe is a student there
as well. And.....hm, I think I wanna say something about half-masting of the
flag. So, bear with me for a second. I gotta find my correct page here. Um.....I
know we received, or saw.... various, uh, complaints about the fact that City
government lowered, uh, our flag in honor of Billy Graham, and I want to say that
I understand and fully respect why some members of our community would
object ...would object to honoring this particular individual. I ... I, there are people
that have judgments about these kinds of things. However, a resolution that had
been adopted by the City Council back in October of 2009 specified five
situations in which the flag should be lowered, including whenever lowering of a
flag was decreed by the President or by the Governor, and the resolution further
stated that the lowering should be carried out by the City Manager or designee. In
this case, both the President and the Governor decreed that flags should be
lowered to half mast and our City Manager dis... did as is required by our policy.
So .... I just wanted people to know that that's the fact of the situation. All right,
that's enough for me.
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regular formal meeting of March 6, 2018.
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Item 12. Report on items from city staff
a) City Manager
Throgmorton: Geoff, did you want to say anything?
Fruin: No.
Throgmorton: Ashley?
Monroe: I was just gonna note that I have reservations for, uh, Councilor Thomas and
Councilor Botchway for tours at the water plant. Um, the probable tour is on the
23`a of March. Um, in the afternoon at 2:00. There's also a second date. We
have the 16a' of March. So, uh, it is spring break week, but .... you have an
opportunity, you want to partake, just let me know.
Mims: Add me to the 23' at 2:00.
Monroe: The 23d. (several talking) The .... the 16a'.
Salih: You can add me (mumbled)
Monroe: ....would work for you? Okay, great! Um.....
Cole: I'm gone next week. (several talking)
Monroe: Um, 2:00 P.M. So we're just meeting at the water plan on Steve Atkins Drive.
So .... have the .... the three on the 23`d and then, uh.....Councilor Salih on the 16'x'.
Taylor: Can you have more on the 23d or....
Monroe: I think we're....
Mims: Pauline, do you want to do the 23`d? I think I can do the 16111, if that would work
better, so we don't have a quorum. (both talking)
Taylor: If you don't mind, Susan, that'd be great. Thank you.
Monroe: And that is all I have. I appreciated the participants at the other tour of Robert A.
Lee.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of March 6, 2018.
Page 31
Throgmorton: Yeah, it was fun.
Monroe: Glad to do it!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of March 6, 2018.