HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-04-02 TranscriptionPage 1
ITEM 2. Student Leadership Awards
Item 2a Lincoln Elementary
Throgmorton: We have two students from that outstanding elementary school, Lincoln. Lucia
Allgood and Eli Hagedorn. I said Eli. I meant Elli, right? Sorry, I apologize!
Let me stand between you (mumbled) All right, well it's great to see you again,
Elli and Lucia, right? Yep! Okay. So.....Lincoln Elementary. You're gonna get
a new renovation down there, ya know, the school's gonna get transformed a little
bit. We're pretty excited about that. All right, Elli, do you want to read your
speech? All right, I'll hold this for ya.
Hagedorn: My name is Elli Hagedorn and I am a student at Lincoln Elementary. I'm excited
to be here. I would like to thank the City Council for recognizing young leaders,
my teachers and peers for setting a good example, and my family for their
support. To me leadership means being involved in your community by taking
action and making decisions that make a difference. Being a leader requires
kindness, respect, encourage. I have had many opportunities to be a leader at my
school. I have participated in safety patrol for the past two years and have served
as student council representative. In addition, I have raised money for charities,
including Jump Rope for Heart, H2O for Haiti, and the Dance Marathon. I have
also found ways to support things I care about in my community. I believe that
helping even in small ways can have a big impact. For example, I have collected
supplies and raised money for the Animal Shelter and the homeless. I'm super
excited for all the great opportunities I'll get to have next year at Southeast Junior
High. Thank you.
Throgmorton: All right! (applause) Great work, Elli, I mean Haiti and the Animal Shelter and
all that, helping the homeless. That's terrific work! Very proud of ya! Okay, so
we'll turn to Lucia! Yeah. So, your turn.
Allgood: Hi, my name is Lucia Allgood and I would like to thank ev.... the City Council
and everyone who nominated me this award.... nominated me. This award was
given to me because people think I'm a good leader, but I don't think a good
citizen needs to be a good leader. I think a good citizen tries to improve their
community and the lives of people in their community. It was a pleasure to be
here. (applause)
Throgmorton: Outstanding! So ..... we have Student Leadership Awards for both of you. Uh,
and they are identical, except your name appears on them, right, separately.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 2
Okay, so let me read this! (reads Student Leadership Award) So, Lucia, there's
yours. And Elli, yours is exactly the same, except it says Elli Hagedorn! So, here
you go! Proud parents out there, right? (applause) Okay! Well done. Time to
get back to work, uh, you know, homework. Say what? Our former Mayor Matt
Hayek used to make a joke about whether you want to stay here for the rest of the
meeting or go do your homework or watch TV (laughs) or whatever. So, it's nice
to see all of you!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 3
Item 3. Proclamations
Item 3a Bob Dvorsky Day
Throgmorton: We have four proclamations to read tonight, so I've asked my fellow Council
Members to read three of them, but I want to read the first one, which is a
proclamation declaring Bob Dvorsky Day. (reads proclamation) So I'll give this
to Bob at, um, an event that (mumbled) that will be held for him Saturday, I
guess, on the 6a . Okay, next is Arbor Day. John!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2015.
Page 4
Item 3. Proclamations
Item 3b Arbor Day
Thomas: (reads proclamation)
Throgmorton: Juli Seydell-Johnson I think is gonna accept the proclamation.
Seydell-Johnson: And I'll just be very brief to say thank you for all your support for the amount
of tree planting and the .... and the care of tree canopy. As you know, in the last
year we've been doing a tree inventory. Um, I appreciate the fact that we are
recognizing the importance of trees throughout the community. Thanks.
Throgmorton: Here you go, Juli. Thank you so much. (applause) Okay, next is Fair Housing
Month and I think Pauline Taylor's gonna read that.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 5
Item 3. Proclamations
Item 3c Fair Housing Month
Taylor: (reads proclamation)
Throgmorton: Okay, I think we have somebody to accept the proclamation here. That'd be Jeff
Falk. Hi, Jeff! (mumbled) (applause)
Falk: Just wanna thank the City for their efforts in support of fair housing.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Jeff. All right, and the last proclamation is National Service Recogna
....Recognition Day. Rockne!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 6
Item 3. Proclamations
Item 3d National Service Recognition Day
Cole: (reads proclamation)
Throgmorton: Great! Thank you. (applause) I think Crissy Canganelli from Shelter House was
going to, uh, accept this proclamation tonight but ... uh, she ran into a problem and
couldn't be here. So .... Crissy, if you're watching, uh, congratulations and thank
you!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 7
Item 4. Consider adoption of the Consent Calendar as presented or amended
Throgmorton: I guess I really want a motion to approve as amended.
Salih: Moved.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Salih, seconded by Thomas. Discussion?
Mims: What was the amendment?
Throgmorton: Uh, it's one extra piece of communication, with regard to massage parlors, human
trafficking (both talking)
Mims: Oh, okay. Thanks!
Throgmorton: Yeah. Uh, I wanna note a few things. Lots of items on the Consent Calendar.
Uh, one has to do with the fact that we're awarding a contract to do phase three of
the Riverfront Crossings Park. Very pleased to see that. Also we are setting
public hearings for numerous items, including.....uh, an asphalt resurfacing
project for U.S. Highway 1, which involves mainly Governor Street and part of
Burlington Street. Also.... several public hearings concerning rezoning historic
landmark designations, and I'll just mention the addresses of the streets, or of the
properties involved. One is 715 Park Road. The next is 1021.... sorry, 1029 N.
Dodge Street; 504 E. Bloomington Street; 213 E. Market Street; 412 N. Dubuque
Street; 319 E. Bloomington Street; and 410 through 412 N. Clinton Streets. Any
further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 8
Item 6. Planning and Zoning Matters
Item 6a Rezoning Lower West Branch Road - Lindemann — Ordinance
approving an OPD -5 and OPD -8 Sensitive Areas Development Plan for
Outlot H, Lindemann Subdivision, Part 2A, located South of Lower West
Branch Road and North of Anna Street. (REZ18-0001). (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 final passage at this time.
Taylor: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Taylor. Discussion? I .... I guess ordinarily I
would expect, uh, there to be some discussion, uh, on the part of neighbors
(mumbled) expressing their views about the proposal, but we haven't heard
anything from neighbors, so .... and there was a, you know, substantial public
hearing process through the Planning and Zoning Commission. So I think, um,
I'm okay with waiving second consideration. Anybody else? For discussion?
Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carr ... uh, yes, motion carries 6-0.
Mims: Move final approval at this time.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion?
Thomas: Well I did notice that the little common area had a further enhancement from
our .... I believe anyway, was that added to the .... to the drawings? So there's now
a .... a gazebo in the center of that lawn area. So .... (several talking)
Miklo: I believe it's shown on the preliminary plat. We just didn't show it last time.
Thomas: Oh, I see! (several talking)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 9
Throgmorton: Excellent! Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion
carries 6-0. Could I have a motion to accept correspondence please?
Salih: Moved.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Salih, seconded by Thomas. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion
carries.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 10
Item 6. Planning and Zoning Matters
Item 6c Occupancy amendments — Ordinance amending Title 14, Zoning and
Chapter 17-5 Housing Code, to amend and clarify regulations related to
occupancy of residential dwellings and to establish standards to ensure
adequate parking and open space for both rental and owner households that
promote safe, healthy, and stable residential neighborhoods. (Second
Consideration)
Throgmorton: This is second consideration, but the 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. Discussion? Hearing none, roll call
please. Motion carries 6-0.
Mims: Move final adoption.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion?
Mims: I would just say I want to thank staff again for the work they've done on these
ordinances. Um, these are really important in terms of the changes that the
legislature made a year ago, taking away your ability to, uh, do things based on
familial status, and so I think these are really important in terms of our
neighborhood preservation and stabilization. So, thanks to staff.
Throgmorton: I agree, and it's interesting to reflect back on the moment when we first realized
that State was going to enact that legislation and recognized that staff would have
to (laughs) go into some.....go into the trenches, so to speak, and do some, uh,
pretty hard work and so thank you, Eleanor. Thanks to the Planning staff, uh,
NDS staff I should say. Everyone else involved! It's a lot of work! Thank you.
All right, so we have a motion on the floor, right? Uh, any further discussion?
Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 11
Item 6. Planning and Zoning Matters
Item 6d Forest Hills Estates — Resolution approving the preliminary plat of
Forest Hills Estates, Iowa City, Iowa. (SUB18- 00002)
Thomas: Move resolution.
Throgmorton: Moved by Thomas.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Seconded by Mims. Discussion? Uh, good evening, Bob.
Miklo: Uh, Bob Miklo, Senior Planner. Um, you recently, uh.... uh, approved the
rezoning of this property, uh, from, uh, high density, single-family to high
density, single-family with a planned development overlay. Um, this just follows
up with that by creating, uh, five lots, uh, one commercial office lot. It's kind of a
buffer between the interstate and the development, and then, uh, four residential
lots, which will include a variety of, uh, of townhouse and multi -family buildings,
including a senior housing development, uh, and then a large outlot for woodland
preservation. Um, the Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed this at their
March 15°i meeting and recommends approval. Be happy to try to answer any
questions.
Throgmorton: Any questions for Bob? Uh, Bob, I don't know if you were here during the work
session.
Miklo: Uh, no I was not.
Throgmorton: Yeah, so we had a lengthy discussion about, uh, three separate roadways and
roadway designs for those particular roads, including Foster. So surely you will
need to talk with, uh.... um, with Jason or Ron a .... about what we decided, so that
the developer knows what's involved and a lot of conversation'll have to take
place. Yeah. Okay, so .... we have a motion on the floor. Um, no further
questions of Bob? Discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-
0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 12
Item 6. Planning and Zoning Matters
Item 6e Pine Grove Estates — Resolution approving the extraterritorial
preliminary plat of Pine Grove Estates, Johnson County, Iowa. (SUB18-
00003)
Mims: Move the resolution.
Salih: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Salih. Discussion? Bob again!
Miklo: Uh, this property is located within our two-mile fringe, and it is addressed by the
fringe area agreement with Johnson County. It's.... although it's within our fringe
area, it is not within our growth area, so it is not anticipated that this will be
annexed into the city anytime soon. Uh, therefore the fringe area agreement
basically defers to the County standards for development. The, uh, proposal, um,
it's.....the property's located at the intersection of Dubuque and Stewart. Uh, the
proposal is to take one existing lot and divide it into four lots, with a, uh.... uh,
small cul-de-sac, uh, street. There's one house on .... on the property now that will
be removed for this development. The, uh, Planning and Zoning Commission
reviewed this at their March 15'x' meeting and found it in compliance with the
fringe area agreement and recommends approval.
Throgmorton: Bob, I wonder if you could slow down a little bit with regards to some of this,
because, uh, in my experience at least, when a new Council Member comes on
board, this is one of those confusing things. Why is it we're voting on something
that's outside the city limits of Iowa City? What's an extraterritorial agreement,
you know, stuff like that.
Miklo: Sure! Yeah, the State recognizes that, uh, if development occurs right adjacent to
a city, and it doesn't meet city standards and then eventually gets annexed into the
city, that creates all sorts of problems in terns of compatibility with
infrastructure, uh, street design, um, provision of sewer and water. So the State,
um, grants cities the ability to approve subdivisions within two miles of their
boundary, uh, so that we can assure that those subdivisions will not have a
negative effect on the city, or prevent future annexation or ... or growth. Um,
we ... uh, in implementing that provision of the .... the State code, the City has
reached an agreement with the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, um, that,
uh, looks at various neighborhoods, or parts of the fringe area, and has different
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 13
standards, depending on their proximity to the City and the likelihood of
annexation. This particular area is not likely to be annexed. Therefore
we .... defer to the County standards.
Throgmorton: Yeah. Great! Thanks so much.
Cole: Just... just for clarification. Is this one of those situations where we do have
discretion to vote no, or is it one of those situations where if they meet the ... the
standards that essentially we have to? Maybe that's more of an Eleanor question.
Like a preliminary plat, if that's approved then pretty much you have to, but I
know that's different, but do we have discretion?
Dilkes: It's the latter.
Cole: Okay (both talking)
Dilkes: ......it's not a.....it's not a rezoning.
Cole: Okay (both talking)
Dilkes: ....subdivision plat.
Cole: Okay.
Throgmorton: So .... (several talking)
Cole: ...if they meet the minimum standards. Okay. That's what I want to know.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Bob. Any .... any further discussion here among Council Members?
Cole: The only thing that I would say is that if I had discretion, I would vote no. Um, I
don't like these sorts of projects. I don't .... I think that they're sprawl, um, I don't
like `em. But we have to follow the law, and so I will be voting yes but I just
want to make that of record.
Throgmorton: I knew that other foot was going to fall (laughter) Okay, anybody else? Roll call
please. Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 14
Item 7. Airport Outlot Sale — Resolution approving sale of City property north of the
Iowa City Municipal Airport to Harry Hinckley
a) Public Hearing
Throgmorton: I'm gonna open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Seeing no one I'm going to
close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b) Consider a Resolution
Thomas: Move the resolution.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Thomas. Seconded by Mims. Discussion? Could someone explain
what this is all about please?
Andrew: Yes, it's a, uh, very short strip of land that's just north of Rupert Road there. It's
disconnected from the rest of the Airport grounds. Uh, the owner of the Alexis
Park Inn down there would like to purchase it. Right now we have to maintain it.
We send the lawn mower across the street there with really no benefit to us. So,
uh, proceeds from the sale will go to an Airport improvement project that's yet to
be determined.
Throgmorton: Great. Thanks, Simon.
Taylor: Uh, just quick question. Do .... do they have plans to develop on that side or they
just wanted to extend their property (both talking)
Andrew: They just wanted to extend their property. There may be a future development
that this, uh, that helps, uh.... uh, create density (mumbled) You can't develop
this parcel of land because it's in the flight paths but, um, it....it would make their
existing parcel larger. So, if there is future redevelopment, they would be able to
have more density clustered.
Throgmorton: Okay. Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-
0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 15
Item 8. Water Rate Increase - Ordinance amending Title 3, Entitled "Finances,
Taxation and Fees," Chapter 4, entitled "Schedule of Fees, Rates, Charges,
Bonds, Fines and Penalties," and Title 16, entitled "Public Works," Chapter
3, entitled "City Utilities," Article A, entitled "General Provisions," Section 5
entitled "Establishing City Utility Accounts; Deposits Required". (Second
Consideration)
Mims: Move second consideration.
Salih: (mumbled)
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Salih. Discussion? I never know really what's
being referred to when I read a long train of things that are (laughs) bein'
amended. I .... are these like subsidiary parts of (both talking)
Dilkes: ....city code (both talking) Yes.
Throgmorton: Okay.
Dilkes: Starts with the title, goes to chapter, and it .... (laughter)
Throgmorton: (laughs) It's like a funnel. Okay, good! Okay, we have a motion on the floor.
Uh, any discussion?
Salih: I just wanna talk about (unable to understand) Chapter 3A(5) for the deposit,
waiving the deposit if the (unable to understand) How you call that (mumbled) or
SurePay? (several talking) Yeah, SurePay. Um .... yeah, this is really good, but
you know just, uh.... when we .... when we .... when the City trying to do like
policy that really helpful for people, yeah, we .... having the deposit really helpful
for a lot people, but I would like to make sure this is, uh, we are doing it for a lot
people. When we say they have to enroll on the SurePay, that mean they have to
have a bank account and in this case I guess, uh, we are just .... it will be (unable to
understand) people or for the people who really can't open a bank account, and
they are the people who need it the most. Like .... I mean like need the ... to waive
the deposit of course. I don't know, just in the future .... I don't know how you
can do that, but uh, really .... we have to think about including everyone in the
city.... when we try to do a policy that benefit people.
Throgmorton: This strikes me as, uh, a .... a valuable point. So, uh, has the staff had discussion
pertaining to this particular point in the past?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 16
Bockenstedt: Uh, Dennis Bockenstedt, Finance Director. I don't know that we've had
discussion, uh, to that particular point. Uh, but this does allow individual who has
been delinquent on their account, uh, to, uh, sign back up and get that fee waived,
if they enroll in the SurePay discount. So it does provide an advantage to those
that do have....or have been delinquent on their accounts. Uh, but we have not
had a particular discussion about whether or not those individuals do or do not
have bank accounts.
Throgmorton: So if somebody does not have a bank account, they can still enroll?
Bockenstedt: Not that I'm aware of. The general idea is that .... if a individual is enrolled in a
SurePay dis... or in the, uh, the SurePay program, that the money comes out of
their account automatically and the likelihood of them being delinquent, uh, is
diminished, and so we're really.... the.... the point is to encourage individuals to
enroll in that SurePay program, uh, to avoid being delinquent and to avoid having
to provide that deposit in the future. Um, there's been no discussion of how we
could accomplish that if individuals do not have a bank account.
Throgmorton: Good. Thanks, Dennis. Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please.
Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 17
Item 9. Establish TIF District - Ordinance providing that general property taxes
levied and collected each year on all property located within the 2017
Amended Riverside Drive Urban Renewal Area, in the City of Iowa City,
County of Johnson, State of Iowa, by and for the benefit of the State of Iowa,
City of Iowa City, County of Johnson, Iowa City Community School District
and other taxing districts, be paid to a special fund for payment of principal
and interest on loans, rebates, grants, monies advanced to and indebtedness,
including bonds issued or to be issued, incurred by said city in connection
with the Riverside Drive Urban Renewal Plan. (First consideration)
Thomas: Move first consideration.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Thomas, seconded by Mims. Good evening, Wendy!
Ford: Good evening, Council. Um, I'm Wendy Ford, Economic Development
Coordinator, and the long, uh, ordinance that Jim just read was a long way of
saying essentially this is the last step needed to be able to use TIF increment from
any of our urban renewal areas for urban renewal projects. You have to have a
TIF ordinance to have the authority to be able to use those tax dollars, and this is
the final step in, uh, in doing that for the new area that was added to the Riverside
Drive urban renewal area last year, and you can see that .... uh, if I get... get a
cursor here. Um, you can see the Orchard District neighborhood, and you'll recall
that last year that was added to the Riverside Drive urban renewal area. Um, and
this TIF ordinance covers that area, just like the TIF ordinance that covered the
original area covers that. So tax increment can be used then for the number of,
um, of urban renewal projects that are planned for that area that include, uh,
streetscape design, uh, it was used for the Riverside West Apartments there where
the car lot and service area used to be. There are other projects such as a
pedestrian tunnel that will go under the, uh, railroad embankment. River bank
stabilization. Um, a .... a whole signalization of the Myrtle and Riverside Drive
intersection. So the increment that comes out of, um, the entire district, now also
including, uh, the Orchard District, will be able to use, uh, to help pay for those
projects.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Wendy.
Salih: Wendy, can you remind me again, when you say the River Crossing, is this from
Burlington (unable to understand)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 18
Ford: Oh, yeah, I should have pointed that out. Um, at the south end there is Highway
6. So this is the corner with Joann's Fabric and....and, uh, Village Inn, for
example. Um, Hampton Inn is up here, McDonald's, and then all the way up to
Myrtle Avenue, and that essentially is about right across the street from the Dairy
Queen. And then on the left it goes, uh, back up Benton Street, a ways, behind
this first and/or second tier of, uh, blocks here in .... on Orchard, and then to the
west bank of the Iowa River on the east side.
Throgmorton: So, Maz's question had to do with space. Mine has to do with time. So .... no,
we're not getting into the space-time continuum but (laughter) I .... I'm wondering
whether there's, urn .... um.....an end date for this TIF ordinance. In other words,
will it ever come to an end or will there have to be formal action by the Council,
later on, to bring it to an end?
Ford: Um, well this .... this TIF ordinance covers an urban renewal area that was
founded for reasons of slum and blight, and as you know now, those areas, uh,
have a, uh, don't have a sunset to them. Which is not to say that you as a
governing body couldn't put an end to those by voting so, but that's also .... you'd
have to do that for the .... the TIF ordinance as well.
Throgmorton: Okay, so .... the question applies to the next ordinance as well, right, uh.....so I'm
.... I .... I feel some discomfort about.....you know, approving a TIF ordinance that
....goes on forever. So....
Dilkes: (mumbled) I mean it's different. (both talking) It's only a 10 -year length.
Throgmorton: And it explicitly says that? Did I overlook that maybe? Yeah.
Dilkes: For the second one, that's a specific type of urban renewal area that only has a 10 -
year length.
Throgmorton: All right, but ... but this one is .... indefinite, unless we make it definite somehow.
Yeah, I .... I don't know if we ought to do that, but I .... as I was reading the
material today, that's .... or yesterday, that's what .... I found myself thinking. Do
the rest of you have any questions or any, uh (both talking)
Cole: What would the downside concern be of that, Jim? Sort of articulate why that's a
concern of yours.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 19
Throgmorton: Uh, well it would mean, if I understand correctly, it would mean that.... all.... um,
incremental taxes generated within this small portion that we're adding by this
amendment would go, uh, to uses specified by the City for an indefinite number
of years. Okay, so that's good (both talking)
Dilkes: No, because this enable .... you capture the increment, but you don't take it away
until you approve a project for .... for use of that increment. So .... so it's not....
the.....the tax dollars aren't diverted until there's a decision made to use those
dollars for an urban renewal project.
Salih: Can you just really tell me what the different between the (unable to understand)
increment from the small portion area and the whole River Crossing area. What
the different there?
Dilkes: There's not really an difference. Um, it was .... this was .... this was a piece that
was added....
Salih: Uh huh.
Dilkes: ....so we don't have a TIF ordinance, so we have to get it in place.
Salih: Oh, okay.
Dilkes: Yeah.
Mims: And for every single project, if you want to use those TIF dollars, that would be
another vote of the Council.
Salih: Yeah, because this was a .... you added to the Riverfront Crossing, I saw this
automatically, what about (unable to understand) to that area. That was I thought.
Dilkes: Yes.
Salih: And we have to like approve this, you mean.
Ford: It enables you to be able to approve a project that would use those dollars.
Salih: Okay.
Taylor: So these, some of these projects, were they not in our CIP?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 20
Ford: No, they've.... they've been (both talking) they've all been vetted by you (both
talking) and I think most of them have been voted on. Um, and that generally
happens if it's not a development project like the River ... uh, Riverview West
Apartments building, uh, apartment buildings, that will happen at least by our
December I51 certification of TIF projects to the State.
Throgmorton: All right. So, yeah, I gather there's no real concern with regard to this particular
question that I asked.
Thomas: Well much of it has not been redeveloped so I mean I ... I would think that would
be the reason to continue keeping it in place. I mean we haven't seen.... we've
seen a couple of, two to three projects, but....
Dilkes: And the reason you set .... you do the TIF ordinance now is because you wanna do
it before there's a redevelopment. You do it too long after there's a
redevelopment, and.—there's no increment, because the base value is set on the
redeveloped value.
Throgmorton: Okay! Any further discussion? Thank you, Wendy. But you might as well stay
there, cause (laughter) next topic's comin' up. Uh, any further discussion?
Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 21
Item 10. Establish TIF District - Ordinance providing that general property taxes
levied and collected each year on all property located within that area added
to the Foster Road Urban Renewal Area in the City of Iowa City, Iowa, by
and for the benefit of the State of Iowa, City of Iowa City, County of
Johnson, Iowa City Community School District and other taxing districts, be
paid to a special fund for payment of principal and interest on loans, rebates,
grants, monies advanced to and indebtedness, including bonds issued or to be
issued, incurred by said city in connection with the Foster Road Urban
Renewal Plan. (First Consideration)
Mims: Move first consideration.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? Wendy, there's somethin'
special about this, isn't there? Can you....
Ford: Right (both talking) the Foster Road urban renewal area, over which you're now
considering, um, enacting a TIF ordinance, was .... was founded on, um, the basis
of, uh, infrastructure building for an area that serves, uh, non -low to moderate
income people. So.....what's different about this, when it comes time to using the
tax increment generated by redevelopment (clears throat) excuse me, is that a
portion of that increment has to be set aside for use, uh, in our .... for our
affordable housing efforts. And in Johnson .... and that by State law has to be an
amount equal to, uh, the percentage of people at 60% or lower of the area median
income in Johnson County. And that's 45% here. So, of every dollar, um, in
incremental taxes generated in the Foster Road urban renewal area, 45 -cents will
go to the affordable housing fund, and 55....55 -cents can be used for, uh, the
urban renewal project, and in this case, it's the road we've been talking about
since the work session.
Throgmorton: Yeah, it's a unique, uh.....way to use TIF, isn't it, uh, like you said, it's a
special....
Ford: And it has a 10 -year life too. I think I didn't say that but this one is done in 10
years. The urban renewal area sunsets in 10 years, and the TIF ordinance over it
sunsets at the same schedule.
Throgmorton: Yeah. Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 22
Dilkes: (mumbled) explanation, I just make one change. It's .... it's 80%, defined as 80%
....for the income threshold, not 60.
Salih: 80% of the area median income?
Dilkes: You can certainly choose to use it for 60%, but it's anything 80%.
Cole: In terms of the State law standard?
Dilkes: Yeah.
Cole: Okay.
Salih: I just wanna make sure, are we really just establishing TIF districts today or
(unable to understand) future how that kind of TIF, like the City (unable to
understand) we can change it, or we are doing that, all of it now today?
Dilkes: You're really not deciding today to spend any (both talking)
Salih: I know!
Dilkes: ....TIF money.
Salih: Yes I understand but now like .... she was explaining like the 40% and because we
gonna use infrastruction and all this kinds of things. Can we just like, yeah,
establishing this like a TIF district earlier today, but like it's up to us in the future
when the developer come and ask for TIF, to tell them exactly what we want.
Or .... or no, we .... as soon as we done this today, we have to go with what, you
know.....
Dilkes: It's what you said first.
Salih: Okay.
Dilkes: Yes.
Salih: Yes, establish it as a TIF area and (unable to understand) unless they come and
after that we tell them (unable to understand)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 23
Dilkes: Right. The next thing .... well, there are certain requirements a .... about this kind
of district, like Wendy just went through, that we can't change. It canonly be 10
years long. There has to be the set-aside for low and moderate -income housing.
In terms of ...the details of who you're gonna give that money to and the details
of what has to be built, etc., etc., that comes later.
Salih: Sure! Great, yeah. Just makin' sure!
Throgmorton: Any other discussion?
Salih: I'm just new, that's why I ask too much question (laughs)
Throgmorton: Yeah ..... no, no (laughter) I, ask `em! (several talking) Sure! Any further
discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 24
Item 11. Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Allocations - Resolution Adopting the
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Allocations for Fiscal Year 2018
Salih: I just have to excuse myself (mumbled)
Throgmorton: Sure. (continues reading Item 11 description) Could I have a motion to approve
please?
Thomas: Move the resolution.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Thomas, seconded by Mims. So, uh, Mazahir just stepped out I think
because she has to recuse herself from this particular (both talking)
Dilkes: She has identified a conflict of interest and is ... is recusing herself for that reason.
Throgmorton: Okay. Good evening, Stefanie!
Bowers: So this is a, uh, resolution to approve the recommendation from the Human
Rights Commission to fund four of the 28, uh, applications that they got, uh, for
the social justice, racial equity grant.
Throgmorton: Could you say a little bit about what the four grants are?
Bowers: Sure!
Throgmorton: You know, the amount of money, who they are, what they're gonna do (both
talking)
Bowers: So the .... the, um, one is to the Shelter House, to supplement a existing program
that they currently have, that assists persons who are chronically, uh, homeless,
who also have, ub, some mental health concerns, and this is an opportunity to
fund, um, activities and programs for them, at no cost. Um, some of those things
would also include, urn .... recreational activities, uh, to .... to help with, um, people
getting more exercise and .... and doing better just, um, in general physically. The,
uh, other one is to the, uh, Healthy Kids, uh, school-based health clinics. And that
is an extension of a program that they currently offer to, uh, youth who are, uh,
parts of the Iowa City Community School District. Sothis would extend, um,
mental health treatment and/or counseling to, uh, families of those kids as well.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 25
So it wasn't just one person in the home, um, seeking assistance through the
school, and I should also mention that it includes a `Know Your Rights,' uh,
series, uh, that would help, uh, this .... is primarily targeted at, uh, folks who are
refugees or immigrants. So it would also, uh, coincide with the series of `Know
Your Rights,' so that people are more familiar with their rights here in this
country. The, uh, third, uh, grant that the Commission is recommending is for,
uh, Neighborhood and Development Services, um, and that is for $600, and that
is for, uh, `Walk and Roll Wednesday,' and that's, um, is targeted at, uh, reducing
social isolation, to get people, um, out in their neighborhoods to meet their
neighbors, and also to take advantage of some of the, uh, recreational, uh,
facilities that the City has throughout, uh, particularly in this case, the .... the south
of, uh, Highway 6, and then I believe it's east of the Iowa River. So it's targeting
a specific, uh, geographical location here in town, and I should mention the first,
um, grant for the Shelter House, they were requesting 5,000 for that. The second
one, the Healthy -Kids school-based health clinics, that was $12,300. As I just
mentioned, the Neighborhood Development Services is for 600, and then the final
one, they're recommending this to the Center for Worker Justice, uh, to provide
four 10 -week classes for youth and adult that would provide, uh, job training
skills, um, and it would be targeted at immigrants and, uh, folks who are low to
moderate -income, and that request is for 10,900, which would be over the 25,000
if we added all of them together, so the Commission also had a funding request to
the City Council to, uh, consider extending that, uh, funding for the Center for
Worker Justice, uh, for the additional 3,800 so that they would be fully funded.
Throgmorton: Okay, any questions for Stefanie?
Cole: If we didn't do the extra.....so you're asking for $3,800 more?
Cole: And if we didn't do that, then would it be then sort of prorated between the
remaining, um, four?
Bowers: The way the Commission, uh, recommended it is it would cut 3,800 from what
the Center for Worker Justice is requesting, which if you look at their application,
their .... um, you know, the, um, four classes, 10 weeks for 20 youth and 20 adults,
and they're estimating that per class it's about 2,700. So if they do not get the full
funding, it's assumed that they would either not be able to take as many
participants or there would not be as many courses offered.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 26
Throgmorton: Well I'd like to say it seems to me that the work skills initiative that the Center for
Worker Justice has proposed and would be funded, uh, if. ... if we agree to the
3,800 additional amount, is the kind of thing we were, one of the kinds of things,
we were looking for in some of our earlier dis... uh, strategic plan discussions. So
it seems quite reasonable to me, assuming there's no problem from a staff point of
view in terms of allocating an additional $3,800.
Monroe: Yeah, we would probably pull from the general fund to .... to supplement that
grant allocation.
Throgmorton: Yeah. I thought that would be the case but.....
Taylor: I agree, Jim, cause I think we did have a discussion about even increasing the
allocation for the social justice grant.
Throgmorton: Well we did, for the forthcoming (several talking)
Monroe: ...fiscal year 19.
Taylor: ...so I don't think there would be a problem with adding this now.
Throgmorton: Okay, any further questions for Stefanie?
Mims: I'm gonna support these. I think (both talking)
Throgmorton: Thank you, Stefanie.
Bowers: Thanks!
Mims: ....I think one of the things we discussed at our last meeting, and I think we now
have a, kind of a subcommittee meeting set up with Pauline and Kingsley and
Geoff and myself to talk about, um.....some.... some guidance from Council, uh,
going forward, cause I think .... some people had some questions about these, not
necessarily disagreeing, um, but just .... large organizations, small organizations,
new programs, more established programs — those different kinds of things. So I
think .... I think the Human Rights Commission did a great job. I read through all
the applications. A lot of very good ones there. Um, a lot I think of aspirational
things that didn't have a whole lot of strength behind `em yet in terms of what I
would be willing to give public dollars to. Um, but I think the Commission did a
great job in narrowing it down and, um, I think we'll have an opportunity to have
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 27
further discussion about maybe our priorities and some guidance for the Conn...
for the Commission going forward. But certainly with what they've done I'll be
supportive.
Throgmorton: I ... I think I need to clarify a point, Susan. And I think Eleanor and Kellie are
looking at it now. My recollection is that in discussion at our last meeting, we
decided not to create a committee, because that would raise, uh, open meetings
kinds of concerns, and that we were going to have a discussion (several talking)
Monroe: It was more gathering of, uh, feedback and preference from each Council Member
individually, routed through staff. So Geoff is gonna meet with, uh.... with you
all individually, I believe, to gather that feedback, and then we'll come back with
some kind of best practices through.... through Geoff and Stefanie.
Mims: Okay.
Throgmorton: Fair enough, yeah. That's what you were lookin' for, Eleanor. No, something
else (both talking) (laughter) Fair enough! I shouldn't guess what other people
(several talking and laughing)
Dilkes: But that's a good question!
Cole: Yeah!
Throgmorton: Okay, well I wanna thank all the organizations that applied. There were 28
applications, right, so I wanna ex .... make sure they know that we appreciate their
interest and, uh, and the fact that they did take the time to prepare proposals and
apply. I also wanna thank the Human Rights Commissioners for taking the time
to go through those 28 applications. It's, uh, no easy task to do that kind of thing
and then to judge which ones they think were best. That's even harder. And I
want to thank Stefanie. I'm sure you, uh, did a lot of work on this too, as well, so
thanks so much for that, Stefanie. So .... my sense is that the four projects we have
before us are really excellent ones and I agree, uh, with Susan that, uh, we do
need to think a bit about guidance for the future and try to shape... clarify our own
guidance about that, and uh, we'll get to that point later on. Yeah. Any further
discussion?
Cole: The only thing I would say is with these four organizations, the thing I really like
about each one of `em is they all seemed to have a proven track record and an
organizational infrastructure to ensure that these dollars will be wisely spent. So
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 28
think as we continue to have that discussion in terms of what we wanna do, that'll
be a very fruitful work session, I would like to see probably a majority of having,
you know, organizations with a proven track record, while at the same time
identifying the parameters for maybe some start-ups, more sort of seed funding, to
get them to grow too. So I think that's what I view this is allowing existing
organizations to have new programs and then at some point identifying how we
can assist some of those more merging non -profits accelerate their efforts while
ensuring that they have adequate oversight and controls. That's the hardest part
about non -profits.
Throgmorton: I personally agree with you about that particular point, Rockne. Yeah, I think we
want to allocate some funds for those kinds of start-up initiatives.
Cole: That'd be a future discussion.
Throginorton: Yeah. Okay, any further discussion?
Dilkes: I've got a .... a question.
Throgmorton: Yeah, sure!
Dilkes: So, urn .... probably Stefanie can answer this, is .... I see the recommendation for
full funding, plus an additional 3,800, but I .... and then you're got it set out how it
would be different in the car, but I don't see an exhibit attached to the ... grant. So
I didn't know if the presumption was it would just be for the 25,000 or .... sounds
like you are wanting to go with the....
Bowers: My understanding is that would be something for Council to consider, so we
didn't put it as part (both talking)
Dilkes: ....so you didn't put it (both talking)
Bowers: ......intentionally left out because, you know, we didn't want to assume anything.
Dilkes: Okay. All right. So .... so we need clarification as to what the decision is, does it
include the 3,800.
Throgmorton: Sure. My understanding is that it does include the 3,800.
Cole: Yep!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 29
Dilkes: Okay.
Throgmorton: Yeah. All right. We have a motion on the floor. Further discussion? No? Roll
call please. Motion carries 5-0. Maz can return. I'll wait for her to come back in.
Take a short break here.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 30
Item 12. Pedestrian Mall Improvements - Resolution awarding contract and
authorizing the Mayor to sign and the City Clerk to attest a contract for
construction of the Pedestrian Mall Improvements Project
Mims: So moved.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Scott, uh, would you briefly describe this
for the viewers mainly, uh, so that they understand what we're doin' here.
Sovers: Scott Sovers, Senior Civil Engineer. So last Tuesday we accepted bids for the
pedestrian mall improvements project. We had three bids, um .... all, well the base
bid, um, came in lower than the engineer's estimate, um, slightly. Um, we had
three alternate bids, one for the stage canopy, um, two for the ... the second one
was for the Black Hawk Mini Park shade structure, and then the third one was for
the salvaging of the existing bricks. Um, staff is recommending, um, the base bid
and alternate one, which is the stage canopy, for approval.
Throgmorton: Okay, thank you. Any questions for Scott?
Thomas: Scott, what .... was there a .... an outcome on the re ... sal .... salvaging of the bricks
by some other means or......
Sovers: Yeah, so we have .... we've had interest in, um, some other sources to be able to
get rid of the bricks. Part of the base bid is to actually haul the bricks to, um, one
of our parks, um, the Mesquakie Park, so we're not actually haulin' em to the
Landfill. We're actually going to try and find somebody else that may be
interested in them that may be lower cost than what the bids came in at.
Throgmorton: So it's pleasing to see the total cost including alternate one .... is lower than what
we anticipated a couple months ago.....
Sovers: That's correct (both talking)
Throgmorton:.... first discussed this.
Sovers: Yep!
Throgmorton: Yeah, and uh, what's the construction time table if we approve this?
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 31
Sovers: So the late start date for, uh, phase one, which is the Dubuque Street corridor, is
the end of this month. So it'd be the 306' of April is start date, and then, um, the
final completion of the overall project, both phase one and phase two, is, uh,
October 31' of 2019. So it's a two-year construction season project.
Throgmorton: Okay. Ashley, I assume that our social media folks will amply advertise this,
publicize it that is.
Monroe: Yes, I believe they're working actively with the Downtown District to, um,
provide not only the information to the downtown businesses, but also to the
public at....at large. Um, so we'll have sufficient, uh, definitely sufficient, uh,
communications.
Throgmorton: Okay, good!
Sovers: I guess one other thing I'd like to add on that is we do have another, uh, our third
public meeting, um, April 12th. It's from 4:00 to 6:00 and it's at the Library. So,
just one last, um, public meeting to give people a heads up on what to expect
during construction. In addition to that we also had some, um, smaller meetings a
few weeks ago, uh, with the downtown businesses and property owners to kind of
give them a heads up, both what to expect and kind of the phasing. So....
Throgmorton: Okay. Good deal! Thank you, Scott. Uh, any Council discussion?
Mims: I'm just really looking forward to seeing this go forward. As I've talked before,
you know, that ped mall is such an important area for this whole community. The
University recruits students, faculty, staff, etc., it's just a real vibrant part of our
downtown, I think, to get that upgraded. Obviously a lot of this cost is the
utilities, um, but certainly making it safer with removing those bricks and getting
that done, uh, and I'm really pleased and not surprised to see the outreach from
staff to Downtown District, business owners. I think we saw how that worked
really well in the Washington Street project. Um, might not have started off as
smooth from everybody's end, but I think once we kind of got into it and .... and
with the Downtown District and business owners really communicating with the
City, how we can be more helpful and, you know, they did the .... did the ribbons
on the fence and all different kinds of things to really let people know that they
were open .... open for business and things going on, so I think that's gotten this
one off to even a better start in terms of that communication, collaboration, cause
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2015.
Page 32
that obviously can have a huge impact on businesses. So just remind everybody
that they'll all be open during the whole construction!
Throgmorton: So on .... on part of the point you made, Susan. I'd like to note that I've heard
nothing but praise for the work Scott did, with regard to connecting to all those
business... with all those businesses on Washington Street. So, great job, Scott.
Thank you for doing that. All right, any further discussion?
Thomas: I just wanted to say the, um .... I'm pleased we .... we got a bidder who, um, came
in at a price where we could award the, um, performance stage, uh, with the
canopy. I think that's a really important piece of the project, so I'm glad that that
was something we could fold into it, and that .... some resolution was made with
the bricks. The thought of that all going to the Landfill (laughs) was not a .... not
something I like to think about. So I'm glad we came up with a way of solving
that without having to award it as a bid alternate.
Throgmorton: Anyone else?
Salih: I just wanna really thank the staff for doing this. I guess this is like really a lot
work and .... like a lot of discussion back and forth, going (unable to understand)
but you know finally you .... we get to a good (unable to understand) Thank you
for your work. Yeah.
Throgmorton: Okay, hearing no further discussion, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0. I guess I
should have said I'm glad to see us moving ahead with this. I .... I know it's been,
uh, taken a long time to develop the details and all that.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 33
Item 13. Council Committee Appointments
Item 13a Graduate and Professional Student Government Organization (1)
Throgmorton: We .... well, let's have a motion to appoint, please. No (mumbled) we have to
appoint somebody, right? So .... (laughter) Never mind! Uh, hold off on that, uh,
yeah so we agreed at our last meeting to assign a Councilperson as liaison to the
Graduate and Professional Student Government organization. I'm happy that
we're able to do that. I asked Kellie to distribute a current list of the Council
assignments, thinking we need to try to think about balance and .... but, you know,
so that nobody is doin' too much, and maybe nobody's doin' too little, so to
speak, on .... on assignments. But, in the end, I'm really lookin' for a volunteer.
Would, uh, someone like to volunteer to be the liaison? (unable to hear person
from audience) What's that? They have food at their meetings, Ben? (laughs)
(both talking)
Mims: I'm will .... I'm willing....
Throgmorton: (both talking) food then there's food (laughs)
Taylor: Wasn't there some question about conflict, between our meeting and their
meetings?
Mims: They said they would make (both talking) so, I mean they're gonna have to if they
want us to .... to be involved (several talking) Um ..... can you come up for a
second, Ben, cause maybe you can answer my question. Did .... do I recall that
they said they meet once a month?
Nelson: Correct!
Mims: Okay. Cause they're meeting like first Tuesday, wasn't that it?
Nelson: Yeah (several talking)
Throgmorton: Say who you are (several talking) record (several talking)
Nelson: Yeah, Benjamin Nelson, uh, City Liaison, University of Iowa Student
Government, undergraduates.
Mims: Thank you, Ben.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 34
Nelson: And they, yeah, they said they would amend their bylaws to change their meeting
time, so that shouldn't be an issue, so.....
Mims: Well, since I'm the one that kind of pushed this approach, and nobody else is
jumping to the forefront (several talking and laughing) I'll do it!
Cole: Yeah, and that's one of the things I was thinking about, it's sort of like I did go
back and forth a little bit in terms of the optimum way to do this, you know,
because it'd be both a substantial time commitment for the student to participate
in our meeting, but it will also be an extremely significant time commitment for
one of us to go on another Tuesday, and it occurred to me that I don't have that
time (laughs) So .... so (both talking)
Mims: We all have the same number of hours in the day, Rockne (laughs)
Cole: (both talking) ...you volunteer, let's put it that way, so unless there's any other
(both talking)
Salih: (both talking) I'm sorry.
Cole: No! You can go ahead. Yeah!
Salih: I mean like also like if, uh, say for example I wanna come along with you one
day, I can still come, right?
Mims: Oh yeah! (several talking)
Salih: I really would like to be involved with the students, that's why maybe just some
time I will come, but you know (unable to understand) are going on with my five
children, you know, that's why I just don't wanna have like full responsibility but
I .... I will come sometimes.
Mims: Okay!
Taylor: They would be subject to the open meetings law, right? Anyone could attend
(several talking)
Mims: (several talking) ...they're subject to open meetings law but .... (several talking) we
are.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 35
Throgmorton: Well, I might be...
Dilkes: As long as .... as long as there's three of you ... just three or less there, or if there's
more you sit there as (several talking) don't say anything (several talking)
Throgmorton: So I might be proven wrong, Susan, but I think the good news is you won't have a
big packet to read (laughter) to prepare for.
Mims: I won't read! (laughs) I'll be glad to listen and discuss, but....
Dilkes: And as with any committee, if Susan wants to ask somebody to sub for her
(several talking)
Throgmorton: ... consider doing that with, you know (both talking)
Mims: Yeah! We'll just have to see what their schedule is and how it works with mine,
so....
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Mims: I tend to have quite a bit of flexibility, so....
Taylor: I move that we appoint Susan Mims as the liaison to the Graduate and
Professional Student Government (several talking)
Throgmorton: Moved by Taylor, seconded by Cole. Discussion? Hearing none, roll call please.
Dilkes: Uh, voice vote.
Throgmorton: Ah, sorry! Uh, all in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion carries, Susan is
appointed!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 36
Item 15. Community Comment [if necessary] (items not on the agenda)
Throgmorton: Ben?
Nelson: Benjamin Nelson, City Liaison, University of Iowa Student Government. Um,
the only announcement that I have today, um, I've been talking about it is the
First Generation Summit, which is meant to bring awareness and conversation,
um, to the community about, um, what it means to be a First Generation student.
A lot of times these students, you know, their parents hadn't gone to college and
so in terms of filling out college applications or financial aid, um, their parents
can't help them. They're.... they're on their own, and so there are unique
struggles to that particular identity in it, and it's one that hasn't been talked about
in the past. Um, so this is .... this is probably one of the biggest passion projects of
both Lilian Sanchez and Jacob Simpson, um, so they're extremely excited to see it
happen, but it's, um, registration is open. Um, I can send everybody a link if
they're so interested, but it is Saturday and we're really excited for the event.
Um, and then with that said, one meeting left! (laughter) Go Hawks!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 37
Item 16. City Council Information
Throgmorton: Why don't we .... let's see now, start with John and move to the right.
Thomas: Okay, I'll just mention the, uh, this coming Thursday, um, April 5' at 4:30 will be
the groundbreaking for the Housing First facility that's, uh..... sponsored through
the Shelter House. Uh, I think that's a really significant, uh.... achievement that
we're .... we'll be building there. It's the .... the groundbreaking will be at 820
Cross Park Avenue. This coming Thursday, 4:30.
Throgmorton: Okay! Susan?
Mims: Um, had the opportunity on Saturday to go to, um, Sankofa Outreach Conference,
Brighter Future Focused. (mumbled) oriented towards making a better light for
woman and girls of color in our community. Um, so LaTasha DeLoach and
RaQuishia Harrington were two of the key people involved in organizing this.
They had a couple of women come in from South University, which is in
Savanna, Georgia, um, both women of color, Ph.D.s, who work in this area, um,
in terms of looking at demographics and statistics, etc. Uh, great presentations.
Lot of great networking and discussion about what, uh, we can do in this
community, um, to improve things, both short-term, long-term, um, so just
a .... real positive, positive event. I just want to congratulate LaTasha and
RaQuishia and everybody else involved in putting together that event. It was
really .... it was really good. Um, we had a JECC meeting last week. Nothing
really exciting out of that. Um... Steering Committee for the Access Center is
moving forward with things. Um, certainly looking at how the State legislation
affects what we're gonna do here. There've been a few articles in the paper lately
about that and we don't exactly know. Lots of times when that type of legislation
is passed there's still a lot of regulations and .... and administrative rules that have
to go with it. So we don't know exactly the impact. Um, having a lot more
discussion also with the University and their potential involvement in different
ways, um, with that. So, still, uh..... optimistic, uh, still got a lot of work to do,
but hopefully we'll have that up and going here!
Throgmorton: So .... Pauline?
Taylor: Also on Thursday is City of Literature event and actually all this week, uh,
starting tomorrow. We'll have the visitors, uh, don't wanna steal Jim's thunder
cause he likes to talk about the UNESCO City of Literature, uh, but we have the
event tomorrow also. (laughter and several talking) Uh, the City of Literature
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 38
event tomorrow that, uh, we moved our meeting up so that we could all go. So
hopefully folks can go to that. Uh.... this Saturday, uh, I'll be attending the
Leadership Academy, uh, which should be very interesting. I attended their part I
which was very helpful and ... and this one also should be, as far as, uh, becoming
a municipal leader and learning about the ropes of that. You're never too young
to know (laughs) about those things. Um, and Jim and I had the opportunity to
meet, uh, a group from the International Visitors Program, uh, from Russia, and
uh, it was going to be, uh, dealing with, uh, they were community members in
various communities, St. Petersburg and Moscow in Russia, that dealt with
disability issues, and in fact three of them were in wheelchairs, which was
interesting to see, and it just .... they were just .... in their broken English and their
Russian through an interpretor, were so impressed with the things that we as a city
and a community, and the county do, to assist folks with disabilities, mental and
physical, and it just made me realize that we kind of take for granted what we do
and the services that we provide and just even like little things, they .... they
focused on, uh, Jim and I talked about our listening posts and our Council
meetings being televised and how folks can learn about things, and they were just
so impressed and .... and even publishing, uh, notices in the newspaper, it seemed
like that was probably a major ordeal for them to have .... to be able to do those
kinds of things. Made .... made me more appreciative of. ... of what we have here.
Uh, that ... that's it!
Throgmorton: It was great fun meeting with `em for sure!
Taylor: It was!
Throgmorton: Maz?
Salih: I really don't have a lot to report. Just still hanging (laughs) there and uh.... it's
going to City Council's meeting, uh, every day learning something new and, uh,
yeah, the only thing that I guess on Saturday I'm gonna have interview by the
American Voice TV from Washington. They coming here. And also... another
TV from Washington, I guess it maybe they can come and record some like
(unable to understand) City Council meeting (unable to understand) end of month
or something like that. They just like doing story.
Throgmorton: Excellent. Rockne?
Cole: Well I'll provide a few more details about the City of Literature this week. Um,
as Pauline had mentioned, the City of Literature is going to be inviting folks from
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 39
around.... other representatives from UNESCO Cities of Literature from
throughout the world, and so we'll have people coming in from China, from
Baghdad, um, various countries with Europe (both talking)
Taylor: Iceland.
Cole: Iceland, uh, it's really going to be an incredible event. Most of the events though
are going to be closed session. This is actually going to be a working conference,
uh, where they sort of talk about the various initiatives that they have. Um, as
Pauline had briefly mentioned though, there will be one event, uh, that will be
open to the public, that I encourage people to attend. Um, that will be part of the
Thursday's at Hancher program. City of Literature representatives will be in
attendance, and a panel discussion will occur from 5:15 to 6:00 P.M., uh, to allow
community members to hear about what's going on, uh, with this fantastic
program. I also want to continue to shout out, give a shout out to, uh, John
Kenyon. He continues to do amazingly wonderful work. You know, there's not a
huge template for the City of Literature. I think we're one of the first in the
United States.
Throgmorton: We are (both talking)
Cole: ...uh, so for him to be able to do what he's done in terms of programming,
working with the kids, um, you know, enhancing the City of Literature locally,
but at the same time giving us sort of a .... a spot on the world stage, I think really
speaks to what he's done, as well as my fellow board members, who have done a
really terrific job on that, and I'm hoping, Jim, maybe you can elaborate during
your comment a little bit more. I understand that as part of this process we're also
going to be having some of our friends from Baghdad, uh, that will be coming
back, uh, to here, is my understanding, and as sort of a follow up to the trip that
you had done about a year ago, um, as far as that goes. So if you could share
maybe a few more details about that, that would be great! If you know (laughs)
Throgmorton: I do know, and I'd be happy to share (both talking) only one person. His name's
Sadeq Mohamed. He's the Director of the City of Literature for Baghdad. So he
is the person who ... we worked through in terms of getting an invitation from the
Mayor of Baghdad for Chris Merrill from the International Writing Program, and
me, to go there, and we did that back in May. So I .... I think, uh, we sort of owe
Sadeq a debt, so we've arranged to, uh, fund his travel here and I'm gonna pick
him up at the airport, uh, I guess tomorrow (laughs) kinda lose track of time, you
know, but I'm gonna fetch him and the, uh, the Director from Norwich, England.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 40
Yeah, and take them to the Hilton Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn. And then to the
reception, which oughta be fun (several talking) Yeah, so.....it.....it's a terrific
event. We .... we were the first UNESCO City of Literature in the United States
and various cities have turned to John Kenyon for advice about how to put
together an application, how to get it approved, and that kind of thing, uh, so....
uh, John's done really well.
Mims: Can I mention one thing I forgot (both talking)
Throgmorton: Sure!
Mims: Um, next Monday, April 9b, there is a forum on hate crimes at, um, University
Capitol Centre. It's room 2420D, and uh, oh boy, I didn't write down the time.
Hang on! Uh, 5 ... I'm sorry, 6:30, and I know that, um, the Iowa City Police
Department, I believe represent.... representatives from the FBI and others are
going to be there. So would encourage people to put that on their calendar.
Again, it's next Monday the 9' at 6:30 in Room 2420D of the University Capitol
Centre.
Throgmorton: Thanks for bringin' that up, Susan. I wanted to mention several things to you, uh,
a few of which have already been discussed. So I want, uh, just to.....note that I
joined Mayors Lundell and Donahue in submitting an op-ed to all the local
newspapers, concerning the State legislature's possible elimination of, or
accelerated phase out of backfill payments. I don't know if it's .... that op-ed has
appeared in all the newspapers (several talking) In the Gazette Sunday? Yeah, I
don't see the Sunday Gazette usually, and I know it appeared in the Little Village,
but I don't know if it's appeared .... I haven't seen it in the Press -Citizen and I
haven't seen it in the Daily Iowan. So I'm not sure what's goin' on with that.
Also as you instructed me, I have drafted a letter to the Iowa DOT concerning the
widening of I-380. Uh, it's .... um, we need to handle this with some care. So I've
had conversations with Mayor Lundell, uh, people in the Convention and Visitors
Bureau, uh, a group convened by President Harreld, and I'll be talkin' with Jeff
Moore about the draft, but .... the letter is gonna say that we have objections to the
widening of that road and I've been tellin' people that, that there's just .... I don't
warm be subtle about various ways of expressing details. So, action is taking
place. Also, on March the 22nd, Captain Troy Kelsay and I were interviewed by
Sia Molly on KSUI radio about local policies and actions concerning immigrants
and refugees. That was a pretty stimulating interview. Uh, Sia is a .... a really
stimulating interviewer (mumbled) fun to talk to. I also want to praise the Iowa
City students and their March for Our Lives on, that took place on March the 20.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 41
I wish I'd been able to walk with `em. I was not, and didn't, but I was very proud
of them. Also we should note that the Mission Creek Festival will run from I
think April the 3`d through the 8'. If I'm wrong about that, somebody tell me.
And, United World Wrestling will hold its World Cup here on April the 71i and
8°i. So Josh Schamberger in the Convention and Visitors Bureau is pulling his
hair out (laughter) Uh, I think they got disappointing news about Russia and
Iranian wrestlers that .... I know the Iranian wrestlers somehow were told they
could not participate, and I read something a few days ago about the Russian
wrestlers. So I don't really know for sure who's gonna show up. Also, let's see,
there's a `Violence in Schools' panel discussion from 6:00 to 7:30 on Wednesday,
April the 41i. Rockne, I sent you an email about that, earlier today, and one to
Kingsley also, asking if one of you could be on that panel. So if you need to
follow up with me, please do that.
Cole: (mumbled)
Throgmorton: Uh, let's see, there's a Building Workers Power Event on Saturday, April the 7t',
from 9:00 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon, in 2...2520, uh, was it
University Capitol Centre. Is that what UCC means? (laughs) On April the 111i
I'm gonna be participating in the Annual Exercise of Duane Arnold Nuclear...
Duane Amold's, the Duane Arnold Nuclear Power Plant's evacuation plan. I
actually took students to the Duane Arnold Plant, somethin' like 20 years ago and
went on a tour through the plant, to see how that facility was run and where the
rods are in the .... in the water so to speak. It's very interesting. Two more things,
uh, Interfaith Power and Light is holding a workshop on `Energy Use,' from 8:30
to noon on Saturday, April the 141i. And, we have a Joint Entities meeting at the
School District on April the 16°i. Okay, I'm done!
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.
Page 42
Item 17. Report on items from city staff
a) City Manager
Throgmorton: Ashley?
Monroe: I do have just a couple things, one of them being, uh, tomorrow at the reception, if
you're attending, um, you might see other UNESCO cities, outside the Cities of
Literature, that are also U.S. cities that are coming in for business meetings and I
picked someone up from Paduka today. That was very interesting to hear about
their perspective. Um,the Parks and Recreation staff put on an excellent Iowa
Parks and Recreation Association conference last week, so we were hosts, um, in
coordination with Coralville and .... and North Liberty. They did an outstanding
job, and uh, last thing is we've got the water .... waste waster treatment plant tours,
um, this Friday the 6' from 2:00 to ..... starting at 2:00, um, meeting just out at the
plant and, urn .... the 6" and on the 20' as well. So I've got one RSVP for the 200'
and if you'd like to come on Friday, just let me know! That's it!
Throgmorton: Simon?
Andrew: Nothing.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
special formal meeting of April 2, 2018.