HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-09-04 Transcription Page 1
2. Proclamations
2.a. Constitution Week
Throgmorton: (reads proclamation) I think there's someone here to accept this proclamation.
Kathy Pezley, right? Pezley! Hi! Thank you....and when you finish, or before,
you can come up and I'll give it to you. So, Kathy(applause) Yeah.
Pezley: Thank you, Mayor Throgmorton, for this proclamation. As Regent of Pilgrim
Chapter, I am proud to continue the 120 years of service that we have given to
Iowa City. Urn, this proclamation, um.....is.....thanks to, uh, 1955 National
Society Daughters of the American Revolution petitioning Congress for the res
....resolution and it was officially declared, um, Constitution Week in 2002 by
President George W. Bush. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thanks so much, Kathy. (applause) Before we move to the next item, I wanna
welcome all of you to your City, uh, City Hall, especially those of you who might
be new to City Hall. It's a real pleasure to have you appear. And with luck we're
not gonna get a whole lot more rain over the next several days, but we'll see.
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9. Community Comment (items not on the agenda)
Throgmorton: This is for items not on the formal meeting agenda. So if anyone would like to
address us on any topic that does not appear on the formal meeting agenda, please
step forward, state your name, take not more than five minutes please to....say
whatever's on your mind. Hi, Nancy. How are you?
Carlson: Hi, I'm here (laughs) Uh, I would like to talk about the Emerald Ash Borer
problem a little bit more. The neighborhood that I live in, College Green, we
probably have 90% of our, uh, properties are rentals. A lot of`em are new
rentals. When they apply for a license for the rental, they are supposed to have
two trees. They put two trees in....the.....um,triplex that was built a number of
years ago at the end of Evans Street. What they did is the one they....they were
condos so they were separately owned. So the one condo what they did is they
went and got two trees, about this big around, planted 'em this far apart....so that
they could get their....their certificate for occupancy. The next year the trees
were dead and they were taken out and they were never replaced. I have watched
all the...the, urn, rental units around my place that are new, uh, when something
happens to the tree, uh,the tornado took some out, uh, straight wind line....or
straight line wind took some out—whenever one of them disappears, they are
never replaced. So not only are we now....not only am I now dealing with the
fact that the ash trees,uh, along the street are going to go away....there are no
trees in any of the yards, because although it says that proper....or that rental
properties are supposed to have....are supposed to have trees, that is not enforced.
If the City is not going to enforce that, I would really like some special attention
to the College Green area. Without any trees, our neighborhood is going to look
like a slum. There....be.....(mumbled)the trees are the only part.....type of
landscaping that most,uh, landlords put in. Once those are gone, there is nothing
there. What has helped is the street trees. At least there is some green in front of
the house. When the ash trees go away, and they are going away very quickly in
my neighborhood,uh, the 900 block of Market,uh, was not clear-cut but it was
pretty close. And I have watched the ash trees decline in the other blocks on
Market. They're starting to decline on Jefferson. When they go away,there's
going to be no greenery in our area to make it look like a neighborhood. There
are a few of us that are still neighbors who are still trying to hold together a
neighborhood. Be....it becomes more and more difficult because the City doesn't
help us to try and keep up our neighborhood. So I wish that you would look at
ours and maybe other neighborhoods that have problems like this, and have
special attention to them with the ash tree, and it would be great if the Housing
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Department would, uh, enforce their two trees per yard for each rental unit that
they have. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Nancy. If....if the rest of the Council agrees, I think it'd be good to
have staff look into that and let us know....what's being done and whether we can
actually take care of,uh, the problem that Nancy identifies.
Fruin: Sure.
Throgmorton: Thank you. Hi, Davey!
Moore: Hey,how you guys doin'?
Throgmorton: All right.
Moore: I wanna.....my name is Dave Moore and I live at, uh, 425 Davenport Street and I
wanna.....thank Parks and Rec and the City for put-tin' on that preservation...I
mean that presentation, and also for you Councilors for goin' down a road
towards treatment, at least some kind of road. It's gotta have a lot of kinks be
worked out. It's so darn complex and....I'm....I'm lookin' forward to not having
my mind filled with thoughts about Emerald Ash Borer a month from now, but
I've been readin' a lot about it in the last month, and uh.....(mumbled)
information and, uh, I got interested because I found out that....that my own
particular neighborhood was going to, uh, look pretty raggedy,pretty shortly,
and..and then I began to look around town and I began to realize that it wasn't just
my neighborhood, and I was a little bit stunned, but it....and I wasn't gonna even
go online and look into it. When I did go online, it took about 15 minutes for me
to figure out that all sorts of people are doin' it really differently. So....I'm really
glad that Iowa City's thinking about going down this road and I hope you can
work out the ambiguities about the, uh, the marginal trees. You know,there's a
lot of work to do there. Um, I just wanted to, um....point out a few things....the,
that....that came up in the presentation. I hope I don't go more than five minutes,
and just feel free to cut me off if I do, Mayor,but uh, that was also an awfully
long presentation by Parks and Rec, and uh....um.....the figure of....of ash trees
as not being that significant to Iowa City because of maple trees being 19.9% of
our trees, um, I think you oughta look at, see if you can get access to the free
inventory and see if....the ash trees are the majority tree on City right-of-ways. I
think you'll find that they are. And that when it comes to City right-of-ways and
streetscapes, it's....it's it's not a, it's not a minority tree by any means. It's the
majority tree. So that would be one suggestion. Um.....as far as EAB or Emerald
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Ash Borer being....uh,just one of many, um,problems out there for trees, I think
anybody....if you just Google EAB and trees and you'll see what the first 20
pages come up with, or just Google infestation in trees and you'll see that...that,
you know, this ash tree thing's a big deal. If....there may be some things coming
down the pike, but they're not....they're not of this, um, category, so I really
appreciate you guys gettin' your head around this thing. It is very complex, and
urn, let me see what else. These are just scrawled things and, uh.....I actually
thought that I wasn't going to say anything if you went down this road but then I,
you know, because I'm so pleased that you have, and I'm also so pleased that I
think that, uh, Parks and Rec and....and City management is willing to....to go
down this road too, but I just thought I'd throw in a few things,just to sort of
explore some nuances and get 'em on the record. Um, many, many cities are not
just doing this to kick the can down the road until they get around to sawing them
down. They're doing this to let the trees live out their lives and....and, um, a lot
of research shows that that's exactly what happens. Um....someone along the
line, it might have been you, Susan, I don't know. Somebody mentioned the tree
(mumbled)treat a few select trees, like the tree in front of City Hall. Well,that's
a great idea except what are ya gonna tell Pagliai's? You know,they've got three
beautiful trees in front of Pagliai's and I vote Pagliai (laughter) you know. I go to
Pagliai's more often than City Hall (laughter) but, urn......as far as whether
Pagliai's cut the mustard in the gray area or not, I'd say you need to broaden the
gray area out, slow down on the gray area until you figure it out and come to
some kind of consensus, and I would,urn,because we could of done so much
better by our trees had we gone down this road four years ago, I think we need to
lean towards,urn, a stay of execution on those trees. Because they coulda had a...
they coulda had a shot at it four years ago and, uh.....um.....let's see, what else?
Um.....that, um, City Council meeting from October 21st in 2014. I know some
of you were there. Um....I would really urge anybody who has not read that text
take a real close read on that City Council meeting. Um, I might have shared that
with one or two of you, urn, if not I'd be happy to share pages 9 through 220, and
I....I think that you'll find that.....not only is this not a situation that we have to
revisit every five years, indeed this is actually a conversation that has never taken
place, and....and it's a tough conversation, but I'm glad you're ready to go down
that road. You know, of looking at what the best road is. I'm open for....I'm all
ears! You know.....because I've had my own agenda and....and, uh.....and I'm
just a.....I wanna be open to a conversation, and I hope you kinda at some point
open it to the public too, if possible. Urn.....
Throgmorton: (both talking) ...come to your final stanza there(both talking)
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Moore: Huh?
Throgmorton: You gotta come to your final stanza.
Moore: My final stanza? (laughs)
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Moore: Okay, well as Connie Champion used to say when I would come here,where's
your guitar? (laughter) Uh, my final stanza is that, um......I think the tree
inventory needs to come out a little sooner than the first of the year. And I think
it's really important that communities, and neighborhoods, get to see the tree
inventory. For example, the Glenway, Ridgeway neighborhood has lines of trees,
uh, Glendale Road and Ridgeway comin' back has lines of green ash trees
throughout that neighborhood. The City right-of-way is very narrow, so the trees
are in their front yards, on their private space, and I believe that most of the
people in that neighborhood think they are theft private trees. And I don't think
they are. I think they're on an easement and it would be to their advantage,just
for transparency, as....and as property owners,to know....um.....if those trees are
theirs or not, and with a click of the mouse on that tree inventory, I think they can
find out. So anyway, you guys, I really appreciate what you've done tonight and
the same with Parks and Rec, same with management, and uh, I look forward to
seeing what ya do in the future!
Throgmorton: Great! Thank you, Davey. Anyone else? Good evening, Wally!
Plotnick: Hi. Wally Plotnick,430 N. Gilbert. I'll make it short, give Dave some of my
time. Urn, first of all I want to thank Parks and Rec and the folks,uh, the experts
who spoke as well. Uh, incredibly informative and educational presentation, and
for developing a very logical....and cost-effective plan to deal with this problem.
Um, this is also on the Emerald Ash Borer. Um, neighborhoods aren't very
logical though. Uh, Jim, I was really glad that your first response was 'Hey, we
gotta do what we can,' and response from other Councilors as well, particularly
Susan, um, strategic, one on a block. You hate to see the tree go,but it doesn't
ruin the block. Um, what Dave was talking about, there are streets lined with ash.
It's the canopy, and to take them out, even....or let them go until they die and
then take them out, uh....the effects on the neighborhood is pretty catastrophic.
So,thank you for coming up with some other options, for considering, uh, and
strongly considering....treatment for the trees. Um, also, John, thank you for
bringing up the idea that individual homeowners can....pay for treatment. Uh, it
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costs $1,200 to take a tree down and a treatment is now three....effective for three
years. I worked out the cost for a tree so big is 400 bucks. I can afford $1,200,
urn, over a decade to keep some trees alive in my area,until....uh, something can
be done. The disease can...or the, it can be treated better, or at that point bring the
tree down and plant again, but 10 more years for other things to grow. Thank
you. Thank you all.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Wally. Good evening, Regenia.
Bailey: Regenia Bailey. I live in Goosetown, urn, we have a lot of maples in my
neighborhood, urn, including in front of my house. I wanna thank you,uh, for
taking trees seriously. Apparently a lot of us do. Um, thank you for doing the
same. It's....it's in alignment with your strategic goals, fostering healthy
neighborhoods, your environmental sustainability, walkability, and I think it's
really important. I also want to point out to you that for many of us we don't
make it to a park every day, and we have great parks throughout the community
and...and that's really important, but most of us enjoy that green space,between
the concrete of the sidewalk and the asphalt of the street. That's the thing that we
see every day. That's the thing that makes a difference. That's the way I choose
where I'm gonna walk, ride my bike, or even where I'm gonna drive. Nancy
mentioned the 900 block of, uh, Market Street. I don't drive that way any more
and I don't ride my bike that way and I won't walk there in the summer because
it's clear-cut. It really is. And so removal and replace....well.....I'm not gonna
see a tree canopy on that block in my lifetime again, and um, and these things
make a difference to our community and these things make a different in our....in
our neighborhoods. So thank you,but go farther. Be more aggressive. Get out
ahead....Juli is right, there are other things coming with climate change. There
are always going to be other things coming. Let's be aggressive about lining our
streets, lining our public areas with trees. It's....it's a sound environmental
approach to cooling and the heat sink that concrete causes, so be aggressive. I
encourage you to, um, I like the Grand Rapids' budget for their forestry
department, push it farther in the budget considerations. Let's....let's put more
resources into tree planting and more resources into staff so we can get out ahead
of this game. Urn, as you review, um, the tree inventory, I grew up in a
neighborhood that doesn't have right-of-ways large enough for street trees, and
um, it's not very walkable. It's on the southeast side of Iowa City. So as you
review that tree inventory, let's be aggressive about looking to those
neighborhoods that don't have a canopy,that were never planned to have a
canopy. That's just not right and it's just not fair, and they're not sharing in the
same opportunities as some of us have in our neighborhood. I would also
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encourage you to communicate and have more transparency about the policies. I
looked when....when I talked with Dave, when I talked to some other people, I
looked on the web site to see what is our policy? How are we approaching it? I
watched a pretty,urn, daunting YouTube video from 2016, which was very scary.
Urn, it was about removing all the ash trees. So we really need to do a better job
of communicating with our residents. I'm looking forward to the tree advisory
group. I think that will help. I think that there are opportunities, as John
mentioned, to engage citizens, something like the 'adopt-a-drain' program. We
still have that, right? Maybe....maybe we need to be more, urn, invite more
engagement around our green resources, and....and ask residents to be involved,
because obviously we've got a lot of people out here who are true tree-huggers,
and so let's engage them. So thank you, keep it going, look at the marginal trees,
be more aggressive, and when it comes to budget time, we'll be back here
advocating for a bigger budget for our trees. Thanks!
Throgmorton: Good deal! Thank you, Regenia. Anyone else? Okay, seeing no one else we'll
move to...Item 10a.
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10. Planning and Zoning Matters
10.a.Zoning code amendment related to required retail storefronts in the
Riverfront Crossings District--Ordinance amending Title 14,Zoning related
to required retail storefronts in the Riverfront Crossings Central Crossings
Subdistrict. (ZCA18-00001) (First Consideration)
1. Public Hearing
Throgmorton: I'm gonna open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) And ask Danielle to speak!
Good evening....again!
Sitzman: Good evening, Mayor. Thank you. Danielle Sitzman,NDS. Urn, this is a request
for a change to the zoning code to allow for, urn....residential uses on the ground
floor of certain areas of the Riverfront Crossings where it's currently prohibited.
Urn,just a little background for you. Urn, for....before we adopted the form-
based code we had a....a master plan for River...Riverfront Crossings master plan,
and it did identify areas throughout the district, uh, as key areas (mumbled)
ground floor retail. Urn, the discussion of the master plan was allowing some
flexibility for those spaces,while they were encouraged to be retail to kind of
organically transform from possibly a residential use to retail over time. With the
implementation of the form-based code, um, those areas that were previously
identified became more, uh, formally regulated. Um, there was established in the
same areas on the regulating plan, uh, a line that indicated where the retail
storefront would always be required. There was less flexibility in that regulating
plan than the, uh, master plan itself. Um, there is a requirement in the Riverfront
Crossings throughout the district for affordable housing. So affordable housing is
an encouraged, um, component of the development of the Riverfront Crossings.
Urn, there is a, in this particular instance, a development that's occurring along
the south Dubuque Street corridor where several properties are, urn, currently
being redeveloped and, urn, reserving space for affordable housing units, and then
eventually, urn, transferring some of those units to another property at 628 S.
Dubuque Street, the Del Ray Ridge project. Urn....and that project is not
envisioned, or does not desire, to have ground floor retail but is in one of those
areas on the regulating plan that indicates it should be, uh, reserved for a certain
amount of ground floor retail. You should be familiar with the Del Ray Ridge
project. Um, the City Council recently voted to, um, contribute City funds to that
project. It will eventually include 33 units of, uh, apartment housing, 29 of which
will be affordable. It has also been awarded LIHTC, urn, funds by the State. So
the proposed amendment,urn, is to amend that regulating plan, not the
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designation of where the districts would need to have...or where in the districts
there would need to be retail,but to create some additional flexibility(clears
throat) when it comes to areas that may also be, urn, developed for affordable
housing. And the specific district where those properties on south, uh, Dubuque
Street are located is the Central Crossings sub-district,urn, and as I said, the Del
Ray Ridge project is a LIHTC project and does have a certain number of units
that are rent and income restricted. So staff has worked,uh, through a proposal to
allow some additional flexibility in that sub-district. Um, it would allow for the
market flexibility that we think that the master plan envisioned in the first place.
Urn, it's limited only to the Central Crossings district, which is the pink area, the
light pink area on the regulating plan. Urn, the code change that we're pro...
proposing still preserves key commercial corridors elsewhere in other sub-
districts and a node in the, along the park sub-district. It would also have no
effect in some districts where there are none of those areas in....indicated for
retail, a reservation for retail itself. And we feel that the code change we're
proposing aligns with the master plan, as I said. Fairly simple code change
language, it's simply to add that text in red. So, uh, where in the sub-district code
it would read that residential uses are not allowed in those retail storefronts.
There would be an exception for the...only the Central Crossings sub-district for
housing subsidized by a federal or state program that allows at least 60% of the
units to be rent and income restricted. So the Planning Commission did review
this code change and is recommending adoption of it.
Throgmorton: Are there questions for Danielle?
Cole: Did you evaluate at all, a n....any potential businesses that would fit with the
affordable housing complexes that could work on the....on the first floor, because,
um....you know....first floor retail is a huge need in the community and I
wondered whether there could have been some business opportunities that would
have been tailored like a corner grocery or something like that, that would of
worked well to provide....um,well what was explored in terms of(both talking)
Sitzman: ...developer in that project is here tonight so that they could speak to what their
desires are for that property, but our understanding is they're not interested in,uh,
reserving room and not building for anything except affordable housing units,
which is...what they've indicated to us. I think there have been some, uh, earlier
discussions about office use perhaps, that maybe you would, uh, support that
operation but, urn, at this point we're not aware of any retail that would be desired
by them.
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Cole: Okay.
Throgmorton: For clarification,uh, especially for the public's benefit, would this,um....um....
prohib....permitting residential use on the first floor of,uh, of this building, urn,
be permanent or could it be converted to commercial or office use at some point
in the future?
Sitzman: Well with the flexibility in the form-based code, it could certainly become another
use over time and the reservation that we make for,uh,retail currently though is a
different floor plate, a different floor height, a taller height ceiling for retail uses.
So this would not be built with that. So it may lessen the desirability of the space
for future retail because it would not be kind of structurally set up to
accommodate,uh,higher ceilings (mumbled) some of those facilities be...be
located. The zoning code, however, would not necessarily prohibit that kind of
transition later.
Throgmorton: Okay. Thanks! Any other questions for Danielle? Thank you! Would anybody
like to address this topic? Oh, Maryann, you would!
Dennis: I'm Maryann Dennis. I'm the Executive Director of the Housing Fellowship.
We're the developer of Del Ray Ridge. Ur....so....with the LIHTC projects, the
investor that we sell the credits to gets the tax credit, income tax credit every year
for 10 years. They're required to stay in the deal for 15. The units are required to
be affordable for 30. At....at year 15,the LIHTC rules say that a qualified non-
profit has the right of first refusal to buy those units. And so that means....and we
are a qualified non-profit. That's really the reason that we do the LIHTC projects
as a non-profit because we're looking forward to year 15 where we can acquire
those units. We can acquire for$1 and pay off any debt. So we'll....we fully
plan to acquire those units at year 15. They must remain affordable for another
15, but it's the intent of the Housing Fellowship to ensure and manage those units
as affordable units for the life of the property. So....
Salih: And if we don't amended the code, how many affordable unit you could built
there? I know now it 29, right? It will be less,right?
Dennis: No (both talking) if we're required to build,um.....I think that we would have to
return the credits, truthfully,because the way the Iowa Finance Authority,uh,
approves the low-income housing tax credit applications, and the way that we've
already said what we're going to do, that would be considered a material change,
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cause we have to build the first floor with 14-feet ceilings, and....all of the units
in the property...well, I think they'd pull the credits.
Salih: Yes.
Dennis: I really do. So, I hope you can support this.
Throgmorton:Yeah. Any other questions for Maryann? Thanks! Anyone else?
Dennis: Thanks.
Throgmorton: Anyone else? Okay, seeing no one else, uh.....are you folks,uh, inclined to
support the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation? (several
responses) Okay. I'm gonna close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Could I
have a motion please?
2. Consider an Ordinance (First Consideration)
Mims: So moved (both talking)
Salih: Move!
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Did you move?
Salih: Yes.
Throgmorton: Yeah, motion by Salih, seconded by Thomas. Discussion?
Salih: I really like this project and I just would like to thank Maryann Dennis and the
people who are workin' on this. This is really great(unable to understand) some
kind of affordable housing, this city....even though we need to do more,but this
is really good step, and I think that(unable to understand) this,uh, you know,
zoning, it is for these like policies good because we're gonna have more, if we
have(mumbled) means less space for more affordable housing, which is...I really
support this and....thank you.
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Taylor: I would thank you too, Maryann. I'm excited about this project. I think it's....it's
needed. Obviously the affordable housing aspect I think is more needed than the
retail space. So I.....I'm going to go along with this and be supportive.
Thomas: Yeah, I....I'm supportive as well of the amendment. I...I, um, it seems necessary,
especially in this case. I...I do,um,have some just larger concerns about our
supply of what I would call walkable neighborhood commercial districts, and urn,
you know, I don't tend to view neighborhoods complete unless they have that,
if....if it's possible. So, I.....I just hope we...that...that's an issue that's sort of
separate from this particular,uh, zoning matter,but um...it is a concern of mine,
of preserving and promoting neighborhood commercial, walkable.
Cole: Yeah, and that...that was sort of what my question was directed at too, I think
affordable retail and high-quality retail space is a huge shortage in the community
as well. Um, but I really can't think of a better reason than to deviate from that
than for purposes of affordable houses, especially where that'd be a deal...I mean
if that's not an obvious factor. Uh, so really pleased to see it, and another thing I
love about this is its location. It's a prime location. South central Iowa City.
Beautiful view. Close to the park. So, ma...mega kudos and mega kudos, I think,
Hod....Hodge involved in this somehow? They did a terrific job on that too, so it
•
was great to see one of our developers really gettin' behind, uh, affordable
housing, especially in this area.
Throgmorton: Any other comments? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0.
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10. Planning and Zoning Matters
10.b.Rezoning between Burlington and Court Street- Pentacrest Garden
Apartments--Ordinance conditionally rezoning approximately 3.41 acres
from High Density Multifamily Residential (RM-44)zone to Riverfront
Crossings- South Downtown Subdistrict(RFCSD)zone located at 12 E.
Court Street. (REZ18-00014) (Second Consideration)
Throgmorton: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.
Salih: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Salih. Discussion? I'd like to say on August 21'
we voted unanimously in favor of the motion as amended to include a short set of
new conditional zoning, uh, conditions....that have been agreed to by the
developer, and staff has now, uh, requested expedited action. This is something I
had publicly indicated I would do if the amended CZA was approved. So I am
happy to support condensing the readings tonight. Any other discussion?
Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0.
Mims: Move final adoption at this time.
Thomas: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? Well this is a major, uh,
development,there's no question about that, and uh, it's an important rezoning.
Uh, there's a lot more work to be done, havin' to do with height bonuses, and
there's a process that we will go through concerning that. Uh, I don't have a time
table in mind for that. I don't know that anybody does (laughs) yet but we will
have to go through that process and there are certain code requirements that apply
and we'll follow through on that. Any other discussion?
Taylor: I'd just like to make a quick comment that,uh, with our community's efforts to
reduce our carbon footprint, I would encourage the developer to find ways that
would be environmentally friendly and sustainable,uh, energy efficient
appliances, etc.,uh, to go along with that, to help us reduce that carbon footprint,
rather than making a large development that only tends to increase that footprint.
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So I would....I would encourage that. Uh, I'm pleased to see that part of it is to,
urn....better the streetscape of Burlington Street and Capitol Street, so I applaud
you for that, and I look forward to....to seeing that.
Salih: And also I just wanna mention that, uh, I really support this project, and I know
that there is, urn,because of the affordable housing component to it,which will be
good, and even if the....you been approved for height bonus, which is...I'm not
gonna...we're not gonna talk about it right now, but....I really want the developer
to keep in mind affordable housing that area is not gonna be affordable,because it
will be affordable to whom, and when we say we need affordable housing, we
would like to help the low-income families who cannot afford to live somewhere
else and I don't think if we have affordable housing there they will be,uh,the
low-income people will....you know, live on that building with students and...
because this is just kind of student housing, more than...like a family, you know,
housing. Um,just that's really my thought and also 10 years affordable, it will go
like this and I really thinking about that,that's my own idea is a fee in lieu would
be better on this. Just keep in mind that....think about it and we'll talk more when
you come and ask for height bonus.
Throgmorton: Further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0. Could I
have a motion to accept correspondence please?
Mims: So moved.
Salih: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Salih. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion
carries.
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10. Planning and Zoning Matters
10.c.Rezoning East of S. Gilbert&West of Sandusky Drive--Ordinance
conditionally rezoning approximately 18.03 acres of property located east of
South Gilbert Street and west of Sandusky Drive, from Interim Development
Multifamily Residential(ID-RM)zone to Planned Development Overlay/Low
Density Single Family Residential(OPD/RS-5) zone and Planned
Development Overlay/Low Density Multifamily Residential(OPD/RM-12)
zone. (REZ18-00005) (Second Consideration)
Throgmorton: 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.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? I'm not gonna support this.
I think there's, uh...aim....reasonable opposition to the proposed rezoning, and
we need to ensure that people who have a view about the rezoning have an
opportunity to express it, a full opportunity to express it.
Mims: I would agree. Um,typically we don't collapse if there's,um.....much
controversy or....or disagreement with the motion, urn, that we're gonna take up.
So I would agree on not expediting it.
Taylor: I also agree. There...we had received several comments about the, urn, 'good
neighbor' meeting that was held and there was concern there were said they
mailed to 23 addresses,but there were only about four families present at that
'good neighbor' policy, and I think we really need to consider their input, and uh,
had some other concerns also. But I think we need to look at it a little deeper.
Salih: I voted no last time because I really had a concern of the developer may not being
reached, you know, the neighbors and have this good meeting, even though
maybe they did but they didn't like (unable to understand) good job because there
is many opposition. We have been receiving like letters, I've been receiving
emails, and able to talk to us about this, and that's why I'm not going to support
this, the expedited.
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Throgmorton: Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. (mumbled) you wanna
vote no on the motion if you do not want to expedite (several talking) if you do
not want to expedite action. Correct? (several talking) Roll call please. Motion,
uh, fails on a 0-6 vote.
Mims: Move second consideration.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? Danielle!
Sitzman: Mayor! Uh, at your last meeting you did have some questions about the
landscape plan, so I wanted to bring that forward to you tonight. Um, I had to
color code this a little bit so it would be legible at this scale,but urn, it should be
showing the trees, um, with the darker outline, kind of the black circle around
them, as being the trees that are being replanted for the,uh, sensitive areas
ordinance requirements, and then there are some landscape trees along other areas
that are,um,more of a street tree, um, and some landscaping trees, and then a
larger green swath that is the protected woodlands that are,um,regulated by the
sensitive areas ordinance as well. So that is for your consideration and I think
there may have been also question about distances, so I did some quick
measurements. I'm not sure that this is as legible at this scale, but urn,there's a
purple line that I've drawn in here, from the edge of south Gilbert Street to about
this point, which is where the, urn, closest corner of the multi-family housing
would be to these properties here and some dimensions showing roughly 400 and
600 feet, and then the extension of the purple line would be the farthest extent of
the multi-family building as it relates to the existing single-family neighborhood
on Sandusky, and some measurements both to building edges and property edges.
So anywhere in the low 700 feet to closer to 900 feet distances from,um, the
multi-family property that would be located on lot 1. So I'd be happy to answer
any questions about the landscape plan, if you like, or,um, those measurements.
Throgmorton: Um, with regard to the landscape plan, Danielle, um, I'm thinking about
comments that were made during the public comment period about how, urn,
developers are required to plant trees under certain circumstances, and this would
be an example. How do we track whether or not they're....they've actually been
planted, and then whether or not the trees are surviving?
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Sitzrnan: Urn, tree planting would be something that would be checked as the, urn,
certificate of occupancies were issued, lot by lot. Urn, that would be something
that the site plan reviewer would check, urn, to make sure that they're installed.
Ongoing,um....and then the right-of-way trees and.....and the....and those parts
of the development as those are installed and each lot is completed. The ongoing
survival and maintenance of those is not something that we proactively patrol for.
We certainly would respond to any complaints that we might receive. Urn, if we
can see something as we're kind of out and about in the community that's...
noticeable, we would follow up on that, but....we would do enforcement as we do
other enforcement,which is primarily complaint-based.
Throgmorton: Okay. Thank you. Any other questions for Danielle? Thank you. Would
anybody else like to address this proposed rezoning? Sure!
Klein: Joel Klein, 2460 S. Gilbert Street (both talking)
Throgmorton: Hi, Joel!
Klein: I, uh (clears throat) let you know my feelings about the....this development at the
last meeting two weeks ago. I'm the property, the historic property that's directly
south of the development. I'm....I'm....was curious about that, uh,tree planting
plan. It shows like two trees between the southern edge of that building and the
property line,which is 23 feet. Now I'm not an arborist, but that actually seems
to be a fairly small distance to be able to plant two trees that are expected to, you
know, develop into a....into mature trees. So I'm not.....I'm not certain what
the....sort of drawing circles like that doesn't necessarily mean that that's a
feasible plan. Ur....driving around Iowa City right now I....I'd estimate there's
15, 16 multi-story buildings under various stages of construction. You've just
approved a....a very large development over here. There's, uh, 'for rent' signs all
over town. It's difficult for me to see that there's a compelling, uh,neighborhood
need for high-rise or multi-story, uh,high-density construction that's significantly
south of what we would call....most....most of us would consider the downtown
area. Urn, I...I believe firmly in urban planning. I think that having, uh, large....
High densities of people within walking distance of stores and theaters and
restaurants is outstanding. It....it....it makes us a more green neighborhood. It
reduces our carbon footprint. Putting a high-density construction, uh,
substantially south of town, urn, within....it's probably a half-mile walk to the
nearest bus stop doesn't necessarily seem to be in the interests of, uh, developing
our community. So, again, I....I continue my personal concerns regarding, uh, the
adjacent, uh, ness of this large con....of development right next to a National
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Historic Registry,but I would also urge that the City Council look into the
interests of the city and more development is not always the best thing in all
places. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Joel. Anyone else? Good evening again!
Patrick-Ferree: Hi again! Urn, my name is Kelcey Patrick-Ferree. I live at 652 Sandusky Drive
and I'm here again to oppose this rezoning project. Um, I have a few items I
wanna address tonight. One of them is the 20%threshold. One of them is traffic.
I want to talk about Iowa City's segregation, and I wanna talk about the density
issue. Um, after the meeting last time, I went and asked about this 20% threshold
that we had missed to get,uh, a change to how the vote has to work. Urn, I have
with me tonight another petition that a neighbor asked me to bring, not knowing
that that would not affect the vote. Urn, another neighbor told me that she would
bring one, which I think you probably have in your records, and um, the third
neighbor, uh,whose petition would have put us over the threshold at the last
meeting had, urn.....had both of them signed, both of the property owners signed
it, changed his mind but then didn't do anything about it because he was told it
would not make a difference to the vote level. Um, his wife feels very
disenfranchised because of this, because she feels that you did not count her vote
without her husband's permission. I also want to point out that, um, we would
have hit that 20%threshold if you discount all the City-owned property around
the area. Um, we know that this misses the letter of the law but in the spirit of the
law I think you should,uh, change to not supporting this rezoning because of the
high opposition in the affected neighborhood. Um, a lot of neighbors are deeply
concerned about traffic issue. Um, the neighbor whose driveway faces Pepper
already has a lot of trouble getting out of her driveway because of all the traffic,
um, which is partially due to the, uh, the house at the end of the street that is, um,
the group home, and she says that her husband can't even get out of the driveway
at all because he has a neck injury and he can't turn his head to look for traffic.
Um, and as an aside,we have had no neighbors speak in favor of this rezoning at
all. There's a high opposition in our neighborhood. Urn....so at the last meeting,
several people said that they liked the balance within the development, but that's
not our problem here. The problem is the balance within southeastern Iowa City.
Urn, I said before that Iowa City is economically segregated. We don't need more
high-density housing in this part of the city. You're approving high-density
housing in other parts of the city, which I think is great. I think we need to have a
better balance throughout the city of affordable housing and,uh, higher income
housing. Urn, I don't want you to think of this as two buildings and 21
townhouses and 17 homes. This is 72 apartments, 21 townhomes, and 17 single-
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family homes, and this is not going to bring balance to southeast Iowa City or
Iowa City overall. Um, this density has real effect. You know I talked about the
effect on the school system last time and I want to tell you some personal stories
about how this has affected my family. Um, I have a son who is in sixth grade
pre-algebra. Twenty-six kids in the entire Iowa City Community School District
are in this class. Eighteen of those 26 children come from three schools, and that
is what segregation looks like. My children to to Alexander Elementary School.
Alexander's kids are going to be bused across two cities to get to middle school.
They're going all the way across Iowa City and most of the way across Coralville,
even though there is a middle school right by us. That is what segregation does.
We can get to our kids in an emergency. At the hearings about this at the School
Board there were a lot of people who testified that they don't have any
transportation, other than buses, that they cannot get to their children in an
emergency. They cannot afford a cab. And it's up to two hours for them to get to
a child in an emergency....on a bus. Um, there are reduced opportunities for
these kids to participate in after-school activities. That is what segregation looks
like. Now on to the density issue, putting 36-unit apartment buildings in this
zoning area is gaming the system. The zoning is supposed to be for fairly low-
density housing. I believe it's under eight units per acre. This is going to be over
nine units per acre. It's gaming the system to fit more housing into a tiny part of
this rezoned area because a lot of it can't be developed. Now as far as, uh, we had
people mention last time that they thought that adding these 17 houses would
actually help with the economic segregation issue. Urn, I don't think that is
correct. We're talking about a development that is going to be 85% rental units,
and the average income of a household that is a rental household in Johnson
County is $28,115 for a family that has children. They qualify for free and
reduced lunch, with two children, at that income. So I know that not all of these
houses or all of these units are going to be rented to people with children,but I
think that overall you will find that the balance is not going to be going the
direction that it should be. So for all these reasons I urge you to vote against this
ordinance.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Kelcey. Anyone else? Good evening again!
Cochran: Don Cochran and, um, I'm, uh, the other south neighbor, uh, that Joel has and so I
won't add much more than what's been, uh, discussed. I guess I would like to go
back to the,uh, tree outline that we showed. Is that possible? (people talking in
background)
Throgmorton: If you can do it!
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Cochran: I think there were a couple questions asked and, uh, you know, again I'll
emphasize, uh, I still believe as well that the, uh, one high-density building is just
too close, uh....uh,to the line based on really the historic nature and everything
that exists there. I guess having said that, I think there was a question and I've
talked to the builder as well, Joel and I have, and you know they are willing to put
trees back and, you know, I appreciate that (laughs) At the same time, there were
trees there, there was a buffer there, uh, that I would of experienced in my lifetime
that now I won't, and that's okay. I'm into trees. I plant trees that, uh, I won't
ever probably, uh, get to experience. My concern is though that there's not a
buffer there (laughs) and uh, you know, a tree, as we talked about, depending on
what type of tree it is, isn't going to create a buffer, uh, like was there before,
because it was a woodlands. There was bushes, etc. And so I don't wanna be a
stickler, but there is a green space here where you have trees running along and
then there...there is nothing, and....that runs along my property and I assure you
there isn't anything there and after the storm last week,there's even fewer things.
There's only a couple little skinny trees that are popping up, so I just ask that
whatever buffer that you all approve, that it be contiguous, you know, along that
entire property, so that it doesn't in the end come back and say, well,there is this
large space there that I think was just probably misrepresented based on what true
trees were there and I'm sure you could do a.....a tree survey and determine
whether there are trees there or not,but uh, the final thing I think Joel brought up,
if there is two trees there, you know,what is the circumference of those trees at
mature. Are they going to be 20-feet? Are they going to be 30-feet? And so are
we makin' a 60-foot buffer of trees or is that....just a design? Do you see what
I'm sayin', cause that is very important to us as we create a new buffer and I just
wanna make sure that it's very clear to all of us, you know, from the beginning,
uh,what we mean, uh, relative to a buffer. So....thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Don. Good evening again.
Carrillo: Hello again. Alex Carrillo, uh, Project Coordinator for the developer. Um, I just
wanted to....make a couple comments and responses. Um, I think there's been
some talk about the 'good neighbor' meeting, um, by Pauline and Mazahir. Um,
I....I just want to clarify. We had every intention of inviting everyone to that, had
no intention of excluding anyone for that. I didn't know, we didn't know anyone,
urn, surrounding our property, so we....actually I drove and popped in the
mailboxes to all the Sandusky mailboxes and then mailed three to the....two in the
south and one in the north cause I didn't know where those mailboxes were. So,
um, we gave our best intention of inviting everyone, um, and I think there was 10
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or 12 people and it was relatively....positive feedback we had. So....there wasn't
an intention of, uh, upsetting any neighbors. Urn, and then I....I guess as far as
the landscaping, I think that was another comment, um, we have every intention
of maintaining whatever the City Forester recommends. Urn, we met with Don
and Joel and we'd be happy to plant more trees if the City would,uh, recommend
that, or if the Forester would deem that there's, uh, an appropriate spot for it, so,
urn....1 guess we....we'd like to be flexible with that and, uh, I guess at this point
I'd like to answer any questions or concerns or comments that you have from
yourselves or from what you've heard from any neighbors. If there's anything
(mumbled)
Throgmorton: Any questions for Alex?
Salih: I really am not against the building itself. You know, multi-family residential is
needed in this city. You know,but my experience as a community organizer in
this city, uh, real need, you know, I wanna see that the developer and the resident
come together(mumbled) and try to come to common ground. I swear if you sit
down together, you will find some common ground and still you can be....you
will be satisfied and they will be satisfy(mumbled) forward. That my only
concerns because, you know, I...I don't know, like you bringing some like new
resident who gonna live there and they will be the neighbor of those residents, and
there is no like reason for them just to start from now think anyone will come
there,they are not...they will do something wrong for them or that's why I just
feel like we need that connection. We need to bring, you know, the developer and
the residents to come to a common ground.
Carrillo: That's fair. I....I'd say the first concerns we heard was at our Planning and
Zoning, that first meeting when, uh, that was the first concerns we had heard and
we deferred and took time after that to....to try and....adjust the plan, add more
trees in the easements, adjust the circle. There were some townhomes there,
but...but yeah, I think there's ultimately some differences that I think still exist
(both talking)
Salih: ....you still can do that, you know.
Carrillo: That's true, yeah!
Salih: We still have time and you still can do that and you guys can come to like really a
common ground.
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Carrillo: Sure.
Salih: I will be happy(mumbled)that time.
Throgmorton: Thanks, Alex. Anyone else? (talking in background) Yeah, let's....yeah, let's
not do that. Thank you. Anyone else? All right, seeing no one could,
uh.....Council, discuss this. Any....anything anybody wanna say?
Cole: I just have one question maybe for Geoff. Um....I've heard the concerns relating
to socioeconomic segregation. Multi-families are all market rate, correct? There
are no income restricted units.
Fruin: Correct.
Cole: Okay. So I....I think along those lines is that, you know we've all talked about
affordable housing being a huge need in the community, but we've also talked
about socioeconomic and regional balance for that housing and this is a particular
area of town that does have a lot of affordable housing. I don't know that that's a
deficit as much in that part. I think in other parts of the community it really is,
and so for this particular project,um, when you have extended amount of market
rate housing that I think is a very high quality structure, urn.....you know, I....I
think it's gonna be a real asset to the neighborhood is sort of my view and so I'm
gonna be...I'm gonna be a supporter of this. We are getting, what is it, 17,um,
300-plus thousand dollar homes, some nice townhomes, um, and I....maybe it's
because I have a lot of friends that have lived in some of these multi-families and
lot of good memories there. So, um.....I'm gonna be supportive of this project.
Think it makes a lot of sense.
Throgmorton: Anyone else?
Thomas: Well when we talked about this a couple weeks ago, I, you know, expressed
concerns with ..uh primarily the....the question, and maybe this time I'll try
to reframe it a little bit, the...what I would refer to now as the....the need for what
I....what I've been calling the social infrastructure that's required if we're....if
we're truly, if our goal in....in development of residential areas is creating
neighborhoods, uh, the creation of a neighborhood requires a certain level of
social infrastructure in order to....to realize that goal. And....social infrastructure,
to some degree, is almost baked into our single-family residential development.
You know,residents have their own....access to usable open space. You have
sidewalks passing by the residences that exist all around you. Uh, so it's not too
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difficult. You can always achieve perhaps a higher level of...of social
infrastructure if you incorporate front porches and things of that sort, but...the
....the issue I have with this project is....is the lack of that social infrastructure
where the multi-family development occurs. You...by the time you build the
structures and provide the....the parking, some of which is not below the
structure, there isn't that kind of.....those, there aren't those opportunities in
which to engage with your neighbors, and I think that's what's, in my view, is
critical as all the other aspects of....of development. So....that's what I believe
we, you know,moving forward when we talk about, uh, creating, which in my
mind is the sense of belonging, uh, which....which is involved with neighborhood
design that, uh, you....you kind of put down roots in a place where you belong to
it, and if....if those opportunities for creating that sense of belonging and relating
to your neighbors isn't there, the....the chances of that sense of feeling connected
to your place won't be as....as likely. So, again, that's....that's my primary
concern with the project.
Throgmorton: I....I'd like to make one response to something Kelly....Kelcey, uh, indicated. I
think it was you anyway, Kelcey. But it...it, uh, I'll speak more generally because
it's something I've heard from many other people in this city for the past many
months anyhow. Um, lot of people drive through the city, look around, they see
lots of new multi-family structures being built and they say, well why is this being
done, you know, do...do we really need this much? And in fact there is a certain
degree of overbuilding that's taking place. I....I think we have information that
indicates that....that, uh, vacancy rates have been increasing and hopefully that
puts down....will put downward pressure on rents for a while, but it's also a fact
that within the past, I think eight years, the population of our city has increased by
about 10%. These people need to live somewhere, and what we need to do is
have decent housing available for them. And that's part of what developers do, I
mean they, you know, it's a market driven situation,but they provide housing,
among other things, for people who, uh, are...uh, want to live in the area. So...
(clears throat) I suspect you don't....you didn't know that fact and there are many
other people who don't know that fact, but I want to make it part of the public
record cause it matters to decisions we have to make. Any further discussion? I
do want to ask Sue a question. I should have done this,uh, earlier on. Uh, there
have been some references to a, you know, petition to require a super-majority
vote and that requires 20%...people who own more than 20% of the property
immediately adjacent or within 200 feet of the development have to oppose, uh, in
order to invoke the super-majority requirement, and I know that...that some
people who live nearby came mighty close to that requirement, but, um, can you
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please explain the situation as it is now, if you're able to do that, and....and tell us
what the law requires us to do.
Dulek: Sure, urn, the....the very situation that the, urn, resident spoke about did happen,
where you had a husband and wife on the deed and the protest was only signed by
one spouse, and it's the City Attorney's position that it has to be both owners. If
you convey property, both owners have to sign the deed. If you wanna get a
mortgage,both owners have to sign the mortgage. Urn, the same with the
protests. You know, the protests to be valid, all the owners have to agree to
protest. That's...that's the way we've done it.
Throgmorton: So we...we can't.....just kind of arbitrarily change the rules....on....on the fly.
Dulek: That's....that's the....the opinion of what an owner means, it means all the
ownership, uh, interests have to agree.
Throgmorton: Okay. Thank you. Any further discussion?
Salih: I really just don't understand, since I'm new Council Member. I just really....you
saying because we close the public hearing we are not gonna get to that threshold,
even if they get to that threshold (both talking)
Throgmorton: No, no, it has nothing to do with closing the public hearing.
Salih: Okay(both talking)
Throgmorton: Yeah, it has to do with a....a requirement that we...I think of as the super-majority
requirement, and that is if....people who own 20% or more of property that's
located within 200 feet of the prop...of the proposed development, if they oppose
the development, then that invokes a super-majority requirement, which means it
doesn't....it takes more than just a majority of Council to approve it. It takes a
super-majority, like six out of seven have to support, or seven out of seven have
to....a minimum of six out of seven have to support it, uh, in order to overcome
the opposition expressed in the petition.
Salih: Sure. That mean(mumbled) a super-majority, if they.....they can bring that like
whatever percent you said, we still can, you know, before the....third vote, we
still have to (unable to understand)
Throgmorton: Sue, could you (both talking)
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Mims: No, it has to be by the close of(several talking)
Dulek: Yeah, that's State law. State law requires the protest to be filed before the close
of the public hearing.
Salih: That what I was asking in the beginning, yeah.
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Salih: Oh, then why do we have three vote? I thought we did three vote because we
want more input from the public to come. If we close the public hearing on the
first vote, and there is new something come up, or that may be the people didn't
hear about it, and now they are hearing about it and we have more people like
opposing this. Why not gonna take that(mumbled) considerations somehow
because the...that's how it is or....(mumbled)
Dulek: Peop....people can change their votes. You just can't require a super-majority to
defeat it,but three votes will defeat it, but what the super-majority(both talking)
Salih: Yeah,just for the people maybe they vote the first time and after that more input
will give the Council time and then more information change your mind. Get
you. Yeah, thank you.
Throgmorton: Right. Any further discussion?
Salih: I just still wanna encourage the developer to sit down with the residents and I
encourage the resident, if you have more people opposing this,bring them here so
you can convince the Council Members, and hopefully it go the other way, you
guys come to common ground and next time we can have like(mumbled) Yeah.
Throgmorton: Okay. Roll call please. That's a 3-3 vote, isn't it? (several responding) All
right, so,uh,the motion fails (both talking)
Dulek: The motion fails.
Throgmorton: All right! Fine, I mean the motion failed. So could I have a motion to accept
correspondence please?
Thomas: So moved.
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Salih: Second.
Mims: So to make clear, there is no third vote.
Dulek: Right. There is no third vote.
Throgmorton: Yeah, I wanna ask a follow up question,uh, about this in a second. Uh...uh,
could, uh, let's see we need a voice vote. Could, uh, all in favor say aye. This is
about the motion to accept correspondence. All in favor say aye. Opposed.
Motion carries. All right, so.....uh, I....I've, uh, I'm aware of occasional
circumstances when people who, um....the Council Members can change their
votes if they feel it's necessary. In other words there can be a motion to
reconsider. I don't remember the exact process. I don't remember the exact
requirements,but like it's, I don't know,the Council Members who made the
motion and seconded have to....do that again or something, can you help me out?
I don't know if anybody wants to reconsider, but if they do I wanna know what
the process is.
Dulek: I can only help you out a little bit, but we'll get you a definitive answer. It's
usually that when you have a motion that....that's carried, say 5-2, and then
someone wants to reverse it, then somebody voting in the affirmative could do
that the next time. I don't know off the top of my head what happens with a 3-3
vote. But....but we will get you that information. Just so the Councilors know.
Throgmorton: Okay, so, yeah....all right. I...I'd like to have some....I'd like to have an answer
to that question. Okay. Moving ahead!
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11. UniverCity- 109 N Dodge—Resolution authorizing conveyance of a single
family home located at 109 North Dodge Street.
1. Public Hearing
Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Would anybody like to address this
topic? Wowie, 109 N. Dodge! (laughs) All right, seeing no one I'm going to
close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Could I have a motion to approve please?
2. Consider a Resolution
Taylor: So moved.
Thomas: So moved.
Throgmorton: Moved by Taylor, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? I love the photographs that
appear in our packet, showing changes that have occurred within this particular
building. I think it's another instance of the UniverCity program having a
significant and beneficial affect.
Salih: I just wanna ask if you could remind me.....from where we get the money that we
do the rehab from, like which....
Fruin: General fund.
Salih: General fund, and is this like budgeted, uh (both talking)
Fruin: Yes.
Salih: Okay.
Fruin: We budget$60,000 per home for rehab. I think this year we have budgeted three
homes. So $180,000 would be the budget impact.
Salih: Yeah, I understand, you know I finally actually understand UniverCity like
something is not like affordable housing. I don't know why I was thinking that.
We are doing this so we can like have like some kind of affordability for the
people to buy those kind of houses, but finally I find out this is not. This is really
just....you....you guys sayin' it's a part of the neighborhood (both talking)
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Cole: ...stabilization.
Salih: ....and yeah, I....I understand that but is still....I.....I really don't know, because
maybe of the, you know, I wasn't here when you guys bought that, but just
reading through it and trying to understand you know we using this money to
rehab, uh, like a house so somebody can come and buy it, and we are not giving to
the people who really low income so we can like help in affordable housing.
We....we sell it to a person who can afford to buy anywhere,just because we like,
yeah, to do neighborhood stabilization.
Cole: There are some income limits, aren't there?
Fruin: We do have income limits. I don't recall them off the top of(both talking)
Salih: Is it 80%what....I guess you told me that before (several talking) Yeah.
Hightshoe: The program requires you to be under 140% of median income. And if you have
(both talking)
Salih: .....140%. So it's not affordable!
Hightshoe: No.
Salih: Yeah!
Hightshoe: The program wasn't meant to be (both talking)
Salih: I understand what you saying. That's great but....I just wanna point out clearly
we are helping the people that really don't need help. So this program is great
program, but to tell (mumbled)beginning I thought this is like really like kind of
affordable,there is kind of affordable(mumbled) but from the way that I see the
prices I say oh,this is really high price, it's not affordable for a lot of people, but
like just going through like Susan mentioned, City is not like affordable last time
and I...that making me, encourage me to go on read it and that what I found out.
Just keep in mind we helping this...the City is helping people who don't need
help, at the same time they are not doing anything for affordable housing except
(unable to understand) developer. Just like, uh, upside down picture for me.
Thank you.
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Throgmorton: The purpose of the UniverCity program is to help stabilize neighborhoods that are
located close to the University, and that exists for a particular reason. There's
been so much pressure on those neighborhoods from off-campus demand for
student housing that landlords have been converting housing from....from, uh....
uh, owner-occupied housing to rental occupied housing, so much of it, and that's
undermined the neighborhoods that are located within a reasonable distance of the
downtown. So, uh, this is roughly six years ago now I think, Susan, uh, we
started this UniverCity program. It was done in connec...in collaboration with the
University, and the idea was to help en....enable people who worked at the
University be able to....meaning staff, mainly, who....who worked at the
University would be able to find housing within reasonable distance of the...of the
University. Then they backed out of it for one reason or another,but we've kept
it goin' because it's had a huge effect on stabilizing and improving neighborhoods
within Iowa City, like the Miller-Orchard neighborhood, which is definitely not
an upper income kind of neighborhood. It's occupied by basically working class
folks primarily and some lower income people. But it's really improved the
quality of that neighborhood. You can ask anybody who lives in that
neighborhood and they'll tell ya exactly the same thing. So I mean people can
disagree about this, so I understand,but I certainly will support (both talking)
Salih: No, I didn't say I not supporting that. Don't get me wrong, and that's very good
but I just wanna like really make something obvious. You are doing something
here to this height, and you are doing something there to this low. And just if we
can do like everything like(mumbled) same time (unable to understand) they
need to like stabilize the neighborhood and you start like thinking strategically
what you can do and you come up with this plan and you know you doing it for
years now. City money and taxpayer money being spent for this kind of things,
but when we come to something else, you....you guys are not doing something
like the same way. I just....I'm support of this. I'm not (mumbled) get me
wrong,but I would like to see(unable to understand) equally, so we can move
this city together forward. Not too much here, not too much there.
Throgmorton: Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-0.
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12. Resolution to Amend the FY2019 Operating Budget--Resolution amending
the current budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019.
1. Public Hearing
Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Hey! How you doin' tonight?
Fleagle: So this is the first budget amendment for(both talking)
Throgmorton: Please state your name.
Fleagle: Oh! Jacklyn Fleagle, uh(both talking)
Throgmorton: Thank you.
Fleagle: Budget Compliance Officer. Uh, so this is the first budget amendment for fiscal
year 19. Urn, it's made up of three various categories. Urn, first large...well....
uh, large line dollar value,uh, is a carried forward request from the FYI8 budget.
Urn, these are submitted each year by departments and then reviewed by the City
Manager's office and the Finance Department, and they have to follow along with
budget policy car....for carried forwards, urn, minimum of$5,000 or 1% of the
division budget. Uh, another large category is the capital improvement project
carry forwards. A lot of the projects align more with calendar year, um, versus
the fiscal year, and other projects span over multi years. The other category being
just other small amendment amounts that have come up as we've gone through
the fiscal year so far. Then from a....a big picture point of view, the large
category is for revenue that increased with this, our inter-governmental revenues,
um, large part of that being the state and federal grants for CIP projects, as well as
home and CDBG carry forwards. Um, the next largest category under revenues
was other financing services. This is the UniverCity home sales and then sale of
land. And the last largest was transfers in with various (coughing, unable to hear
speaker) and affordable housing increase. On the other side, expenditures, the
largest portion being governmental capital projects. There's a lot of major CIP
projects that were carried forward. Um, then....business type enterprise funds
carried forward with$12.7 million with mostly the major CIP projects within
those funds. Um, the last category being community economic development
mostly carried forwards for CDBG Home and UniverCity programs. Overall the
net change in fund balance decreased 26.3 million. Um, and then in the Council
packet is attached the complete list detailed (mumbled)
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Throgmorton: Thank you, Jacklyn. Any questions for Jacklyn? Thank you! All right, anybody
else want to address this topic? If not I'm gonna close the public hearing. (bangs
gavel) Could I have a motion to approve please?
2. Consider a Resolution
Thomas: So moved.
Cole: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Thomas, seconded by Cole. Discussion? Hearing none, roll call
please. Motion carries 6-0.
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13. Hickory Hill Park Improvements--Resolution approving plans,
specifications, form of agreement, and estimate of cost for the construction of
the Hickory Hill Park Improvements Project, establishing amount of bid
security to accompany each bid, directing City Clerk to post notice to
bidders, and fixing time and place for receipt of bids.
1. Public Hearing
Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Hi, Juli!
Seydell-Johnson: Hi, Juli Seydell-Johnson, Parks and Rec Director. Urn,happy to finally talk to
you about this project being out for bid. It's been a long time coming. Urn, to
remind you, we had the master plan, uh, which was finished, uh, shortly after I got
here in 2016. Urn, lot of public meetings about this that talked about the trails,
talked about the priorities in the park and everything in this project is based on
those priorities. Uh, the project includes trail improvements, uh, maintaining the
crushed gravel or the trush...sorry....crushed rock that's out there,urn, but
improvements to make them more stable and deal with some of the erosion, uh,
areas, especially on the eastern part of the loop trail over there, and then in re-
routing one of the trails kind of the in the northwest section,uh, to get it up out of
the ray....ravine a little bit higher. Urn.....two bridges are replaced, another one
is, uh,repaired as part of the project. So these are all things that, uh, are really
maintenance items throughout the park, things that we've been,uh, needing to get
to for quite a while, urn,but are included in the project. Includes a full signage
package throughout the park, but that's really not that grand. Um, when we did
the master plan, if you remember, we kind of heard both sides of the argument of
we need more signs out there, and then I really like to get lost in the park; let me
get lost. So we've kind of come to a middle ground here. So we'll have entrance
signs, we'll have a few kiosks signs with, uh,maps, but then you can see the
smaller, urn, kind of blade signs throughout, to give you an idea where you're at
or if you're calling police to say (laughs) I can't find my way out, get by a sign
and we'll at least have some locations, urn,to help us with that. So that's in the
signage package. Urn,this is one of kind of three things we're workin on out at
Hickory Hill Park, so I just wanna show you this map. Um, we, uh,the area, the
yellow stripped, kind of in the center there, is the area that mostly the Friends
group has really helped us with to....to restore the forest area there. The, uh, pink
hatches that go horizontal is the REAP grant that we received last year. That will
also be going out to bid for a couple different packages to do, urn,prairie
restoration and some reforestation efforts and stream bank restoration, and then
the green areas, uh, we just recently applied for a second REAP grant and we'll
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hear back at the end of October. So we're just kind of growing the areas that have
had the restoration efforts, in addition to the trails,bridges, and sign projects. So
just a lot of things to really improve the experience within that park. Urn, Friends
of Hickory Hill have been a great partner in this. They've looked through all of
these plans and have given their support as well.
Throgmorton: Okay! Any questions for Juli? Thank you. Would anybody else like to address
this topic? Seeing no one I'm going to close the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
2. Consider a Resolution
Mims: Move the resolution.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion?
Thomas: Well I hope the bids come in well! (laughs) Uh, but I am....very pleased to see
the project move forward, and also I....I....I'm glad you included, Juli, those
other grant programs, uh....that will also be part of the larger scope of
improvements to the park. And, uh....you know, it's....that's an interesting place
in terms of, uh, orientation and signage. You know, both....you do kind of like
feeling lost but sometimes....there comes a point where you're (laughs) half a
mile away from where you thought you were and it's....it can be a little troubling.
So I think....I think we've struck a pretty good balance.
Throgmorton: Anyone else? I wanna say a word about getting lost. I first started wondering
through Hickory Hill Park about 27 years ago and....I eventually kind of
wondered on every trail in that park, and I really love getting lost. It was a very
special thing for me, and....so I'm really glad you're not, uh, putting up signs
everywhere (laughs) you know, directing everybody exactly where to turn and
that kind of stuff. It's, uh,really special feeling to be able to get lost in a city
park. So...any further discussion? Hearing none,roll call please. Motion carries
6-0.
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15. Massage Business Requirements--Ordinance amending Title 5, entitled
"Business and License Regulations," to add a new Chapter 3, entitled
"Massage Business Information Requirement." (Pass and Adopt)
Mims: Move adoption.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? Would anybody like to
address this topic? Hey, Jorey,how are ya?
Bailey: (mumbled) I'll adjust for my height here. Uh, I'd like to....like to just, urn,
provide some follow up for you all, uh, as we proceed with the third reading. Urn,
and I'd like to start,um, by providing a little bit of, uh, little bit of background,
little bit more background for you. Urn, as was provided for you in the polar...or
Polaris study, urn, it gave some national statistics about trafficking and sex
trafficking, the various types of trafficking that occur within the United States,but
I'd like to give a little bit more detail as it pertains to Iowa and some of our
observations in Iowa City specifically. And when I talk about trafficking, I want
to talk about, uh, labor trafficking and sex traffic...trafficking, uh,because we
believe that both types occur and exist,uh, not only in Iowa but within Iowa City,
and specifically within the illicit massage business that we're looking to address
with this ordinance. Uh, I wanna, uh, talk a little bit about the 2017 Iowa
Attorney General's report and provide a few take-aways from that report. Um,
because that report was specific to human trafficking in Iowa, and there were
some good things that, urn,pers....um, observations that we can take moving
forward from that report. First of all I want to make it very clear that the report
details that trafficking, both sex and labor trafficking, exists in Iowa, uh, and....
and specifically, uh, again as I mentioned, within the illicit massage therapy
business. Urn, this report, or this study, by the Attorney General's Office spoke to
survivors of trafficking, uh, law enforcement, uh, in....in reviewing their cases
that they dealt with, and also talked to stakeholders or provider....service
providers, uh,to....to come up with the report that I'm referencing. Uh, a few
take-aways. Uh, it was very clear from the report that law enforcement has very
few tools to deal with sex trafficking, uh, in particular in Iowa, uh, and specific to,
uh, illicit massage. Uh, right now the existing, as I've mentioned before, the
existing tools that we have are related to the existing laws that are on the books,
urn, in relation to prostitution and sex work and really enforcement, uh, of that...
that business. Uh, the other take-away for....from this report was from the....the
survivors who, uh, really emphasized that law enforcement needs to take a victim-
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centered, uh, approach to dealing with human trafficking. And I think....I bring
those two things up together because right now our....our approach can't be
victim-centered. Uh, enforcement is not victim-centered because we know that
enforcement that takes place in illicit massage, uh, can only take place against, uh,
the victims of trafficking, whether labor or sex trafficking that....that, uh, are
working within these businesses. We need other tools. We need tools that help
us to take that victim-centered approach. Right now we provide, uh, lots of
education to our officers. Um, that was another recommendation. Uh....
recommendation to educate officers on how to identify, uh, victims, um, and wor
.....we're working to, uh, continue to do that, and we can always get better, but
we're working to provide, uh, that education to the officers to identify so that we
can provide services to survivors and to victims. The one thing that's lacking is
that tool, that tool that allows us to have that face-to-face contact, that....that
maybe one-time contact with victims that allow us to (mumbled) refer them to
service providers, advocacy groups within the community, to get them the help
that they need. We feel that if we're able to do that with just one,just one, um,
victim,then we're....we're making an impact because it is a very transient and a
very underground, uh, business that....that these.....that this trafficking occurs
within. Locally....locally we've had opportunity, um, from this process and even
prior to, uh, to, uh, observe. To observe various massage businesses, illicit
massage businesses, uh, within Iowa City. And we've taken the opportunity to go
to the businesses, uh, prior to even our open houses and I'll talk about that in a
second, but we've taken the opportunity to send officers, plain-clothes officers,
into businesses to observe, um, and just to....to kind of back up what we're seeing
on the federal and even the state levels, uh, in reference to the two reports that
have been provided—the Blair's report and now the Iowa Attorney General's
report that I referenced. Some of the observations, urn, in sending those plain
clothes officers in are that, um, there's sexual marketing that's occurring,that
many of the businesses—and we believe there to be at least five or six businesses
in Iowa City—but that many of those businesses are advertising on web sites that,
uh, offer,uh, sexual, um....content and services. Uh, many of the businesses are
poorly lit and that the officers are....are having a very hard time communicating,
uh, with those....those people within. In many cases when we send officers in
their intent was to provide information, uh, provide information on the complaints
that we had received. I know Members of Council have received complaints from
community members,uh, on some of these businesses, um, to provide
information on the complaints that we've received in hopes that they'll stop, urn,
but also to provide education, uh, and opportunity for them to be a part of the
solution. Uh, as....as you know we had, uh, two open house meetings with
LMTs, or with licensed massage therapists, and as a part of that, we....we sent
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invitations to all licensed massage therapists in Iowa City. We also took that
opportunity to hand-deliver, uh, invitations to the....those who we believe to be
practicing illicit massage in Iowa City, um, and we did that by sending plain
clothes officers in, as I mentioned, um, in hopes that they would be a part of the
process. Part of the process, part of the solution, um....to some of the issues that
we were bringing forth, uh, but we don't believe we had any attend our open
house meetings. Uh, the ordinance that we have in front of you, as I mentioned, is
a victim-centered approach. Uh, we think that there's layers there that allow for
the Police Department to be on the latter part of, um, of any enforcement that
takes place, and in reality we don't think that the Police Department will have
much opportunity, we hope we won't have much opportunity for any enforcement
because we believe the Police Department will be able to offer solutions and
education instead of enforcement. The layers that exist, uh, first of all the
enforcement of any ordinance, uh, will come on a complaint basis. Much like the
concerns that have been, uh,brought forth, again, several Council Members, uh,
the....the complaints that come forth will be dealt with first by Code
Enforcement, by sending in, uh, Code Enforcement officers to....to ask for the
information, uh, again just ask for it, uh, to verify their state license is already in
place. Uh, it's not our intent to keep that information, uh, in-house, and it's just
to, again, to verify that....that license exists. That's the first step, and again, it's
complaint based. Uh, when that occurs, if they're not able to provide that
information, uh, we believe we'll take the opportunity to educate, on how to get,
uh, to get compliant, to become compliant,uh, with the ordinance, uh,to provide
information, and even at that time maybe even provide information on, um, how
those businesses, or the business owners, can,um....can....uh, can....can move
forward and become compliant. If, uh, if the person is not able to become
compliant with Code Enforcement, then the next step would be a placarding, uh,
as is in front of you, uh, in the ordinance, um, and that's basically just a....a
freeze, a freeze of the practice that's occurring, because right now, um,these
businesses are operating, uh...they're illicit practices, um, and we think instead of
enforcing against the individuals, we have a useful tool in stopping just the
business practice and stopping the building, the brick and mortar structure, from
operating. If, uh, Code....Code Enforcement, uh, believes that something illicit is
going on within that business, at that point law enforcement may be brought in
and we would then in turn reach out to our advocacy partners for assistance.
Now,uh, I'd like to give a little bit of a summary of our, I guess in wrapping up,
my homework....my homework from the last meeting, uh, which was, uh, to.....to
reach out to various advocacy groups within....within the city. I'm pleased to say
that we've done that, uh, that we did, uh, make contact with, uh, RVAP, with
Monsoon, and with NISSA, and we had a very productive meeting this morning,
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uh, here in City Hall. Urn, it was....the outcome of that meeting,uh, I guess the
decision, um....of that meeting that we would all move forward, uh, side-by-side,
urn, not the Police Department ahead of anybody else,but side-by-side to....to
work towards the best solutions for victims, uh, to keep open lines of
communication, uh, on what is and is not working with this ordinance, and to
adjust it as needed. Uh, we already have these working....great working
relationships with these advocacy groups and we think that,uh, through this
ordinance and....and, urn, and through other work, we can continue that great
working relationship. Any questions?
Cole: Aren't unlicensed massage businesses already illegal under state law? I mean so
why don't you....or are they not?
Dulek: No, the State just lic....licenses the individual. There's no business license at the
State level. That's the distinction between the State and the City.
Cole: Okay. So you don't have any State regulatory tools for purposes (both talking)
Bailey: Correct!
Cole: ...and then in terms of hours, are they operated in locations where you can't
regulate hours of the business? Is that correct?
Bailey: Uh, we....we, again we don't have, urn, enforcement against, or ability, against
the business (both talking)
Cole: ....okay, at least at this time.
Bailey: Or even the individuals at this time. You know that's a great thing that, and I'm
glad you brought that up, it's a great thing that the....the State legislature has
allowed us to do. It's allowed us to customize, um, a tool, to our community, urn,
a tool that law enforcement hasn't had in the past, and I say law enforcement.
Really this is a group effort, and we're, again, at the latter part of this, urn, but it's
a tool that we haven't had and that many....many municipalities are doing much
differently that we are. Urn,this....this, instead of even providing us the ability to
enforce that State licensing procedure, urn, this gives us a tool to customize it and
to,most importantly, use our discretion, urn....uh, with our very educated officers
on how to best, uh, serve our community.
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Dulek: If I may, I....just about the hours. That was one thing that Jann Ream and Jorey
and I spoke to the....open house, uh, attendees of licensed massage therapists,
because we thought that would be an obvious one. Just have your ordinance say,
for example, you can't operate between 2 and 5, and they said 'Oh no! Because
we get a call from the surgeon who just got off performing surgery at 3:00 and
they want a massage,' and so they say `No,please do not regulate the hours,' and
the ordinance has nothing about hours for that reason.
Bailey: I do have to thank the....the licensed massage therapists that took part, and we
had about 30 licensed massage therapists that took part in our two open house
sessions. Again we offered invites to everybody, um, operating under....under
the massage, um, that title within the city. Urn, about 30 took place...or took part
in those very open discussions, um, and we had overwhelming support for what
we had brought to the table because, uh, as I mentioned, it's....it's customized. It
....it's customized for Iowa City, um, and we think we can do it different, and we
can do it, um, we can do it a little bit better. Um, we can serve, uh, our community
and we can serve victims, survivors, a little bit better here in Iowa City.
Cole: Super quick, the victim advocacy groups do support this ordinance, is that
correct?
Bailey: Yeah, we....had a meeting to move forward this morning and we're....we're
moving forward with it, uh, together, uh, and with those open lines of
communication. Yeah.
Throgmorton: On that point, Jorey, I was really happy to hear that you had met with RVAP,
Monsoon, and what was the thi....third (both talking)
Bailey: NISAA (both talking) I think we have repre...representatives here tonight. (both
talking)
Throgmorton: ...meeting this morning. Any other questions for Jorey? We might ask you to
come back up in a few minutes. I don't know. Thanks!
Bailey: Okay, thank you.
Throgmorton: Anybody else want to address this topic?
D'Mello: Um, my name is Lata D'Mello and I am an advocate(both talking)
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Cole: Speak into the mic.
D'Mello: Uh, my name is Lata D'Mello. I'm an advocate to Monsoon and one of the
Assistant Directors. Um, we have offices in Des Moines and in Iowa City. Uh,
we serve victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, traf...human trafficking in
the Asian Pacific island, the communities in Iowa. Uh, I think I really appreciate
the earnestness of the Police force here, of law enforcement, to, uh...on this
ordinance. Um, however, today was just the first meeting. So, um, we...while we
support an end to all kinds of trafficking, including labor, including at meat
packaging plants, including at dairy farms across Iowa, you know. It's not just,
uh, the few, uh, massage, uh, parlors or establishments that exist,most of whom if
they are licensed are from the Asian community. Uh, we have(mumbled) our
experience has shown it has been, urn, Asians who have also, uh,no
documentation. That would involve other issues of how....how we would address
this if ICE were to come in, and I think we haven't really thought this through yet,
the whole ordinance. I...I do have to say we did appreciate the effort, but you
know, at this point, when we come in today's....especially this morning, um,
some other concerns have arisen since then, since that meeting, uh, including
what, um, what sex work means really. What does it mean in, um, a town where
there are the means of sex as a commodity and it has been commodified in every
area and it has, um,been over here or(unable to understand) about so how...how
would this be different? How would this ordinance really change the dynamic of
how we view sex as a commodity, how we view sex workers who are not child
sex workers, you know,these are adult consensual sex in a sense. It's a....it's a
commodity like a lot of other, uh, sex work. So those are questions that are
arising. So we are not against an end to any kind of gender-based violence, I
mean that's what we are here for, all gender-based violence, and we look at
gender-based violence, uh, internationally, globally what does that mean as far as,
um, how we....how gender roles play out, how even, urn, we treat our, you know,
girl child,boy child, how we see trans folks,how do we, uh, you know, what do
we feel about, urn, how people are treated because of their sexual desires,
orientation, and the legalities that are involved. So there have been so many
things that have arisen today. It would be, you know, it's really incumbent on us
to look at this again. I....I, again, I support the...or Monsoon does, as does, uh,
RVAP, um, I'm speaking for RVAP and NISSA that's not around, but sister
organizations who do support an end to all gender-based violence. So our
approaches have to be really well thought out, especially when it involves people
of....of color, people who are marginalized, and who would be further, um....
marginalized, you know,based on certain laws and regulations that we pass.
Thank you.
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Throgmorton: Thank you!
Duarte: Can you hear me? (several responding) My name is, uh, Katryn Duarte. I'm the
Assistant Director for Sexual Assault Services for RVAP,here in Iowa City. Urn,
RVAP supports the spirit of this ordinance. Urn, meaning that we want all forms
of trafficking to end. At the same time,urn, there is, urn, some concerns of
unintended consequences, uh, in impact of what this ordinance can have,urn, in
already vulnerable groups of people in our community. Ur....in my experience,
effective policy is the one that includes most perspectives. Urn, and our
involvement, uh, in...uh, this process feels a little bit rushed. Ur....yet at the
same time, I,um.....(sighs) I'm glad that we were brought in so we can go
ahead and work together, because we value our partnership with law enforcement,
and that's why I said that the spir....we're together in the same spirit—we want
the same end goal of ending trafficking in our community. Ur...I think, um...we
might need to slow down and, um, see, uh, what we're missing, urn, so our
outcome and impact can match the intent of this ordinance. Thank you very
much.
Throgmorton: Thank you. Anyone else? Okay! Seeing no one else, uh....let's see now....uh, I
didn't check this box. Have we already made a motion,pass and adopt?
Taylor: Yes.
Throgmorton: Thank you. Council discussion?
Cole: You know I came into this meeting probably fairly certain that I was going to
support the ordinance change, and then if there were any problems with it, and
that may be, uh, viable option, which would be to pass it and then carefully
monitor how it's implemented and then tweak it if necessary. Urn, and that I
think remains a totally viable and reasonable option. I can certainly see how we
may proceed on that line, urn, but I'm....I'm wondering, can we at this stage can
we defer for...four to six weeks, or would we have to...for purposes of modifying
or we'd have to deny it and then....sort of start over again. Uh, how would that
work(mumbled) in other words, we're hearing feedback that they would like
more participation, um, howhow would that work in terms of....changing the
ordinance?
Dulek: If you want to modify the ordinance, you'll have to start from the beginning.
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Cole: Okay.
Dulek: (both talking) ...first reading.
Cole: Okay! Well....I guess that's what I would like to do. So I'm gonna be a no at
this point because I think that we can,urn, I think the stated purpose of this
ordinance is to protect victims. That's something that I know law enforcement
shares. That's something I know that our victim advocacy group shares, urn, but I
think given that that's a stated purpose, and it's no problem. I think the law
enforcement community did a wonderful job, urn,but I think that they should
have been brought in at an earlier stage. Urn, I remain supportive of something to
make sure that we can have, uh, safe commercial spaces that don't involve
victimization. That's absolutely something, but at least from my point of view, I
think we should vote no, urn,bring in these community partners who have a long
history of....of domestic violence and sexual abuse advocacy, and make sure that
we get it right the first time, urn, as opposed to waiting for....you know, how it
would sort of progress into the future. So that's at least sort of where I am at this
point.
Throgmorton: You know I guess I want to express some puzzlement and ask a question, and
maybe I should have done this while people were speaking, but uh I would invite
people to try to answer the question for me. And I'll just plead ignorant so...I do
not understand how the proposed ordinance will make condi...uh, condition...uh,
make conditions worse for both consensual sex workers and victims of
trafficking. I do not understand how it will make things worse. How can it not
make things better? And maybe it's not sufficient, maybe it's not adequate by
itself, you know, but how is it....how would it make things worse? Help me
understand, please!
D'Mello: So I think one of the things with making it worse would involve like how would
you make it better, right? So we don't know how we could make it better. We
have had experience. It's not been unusual for law enforcement or federal agents
to contact us at Monsoon to work with, um, victims from, urn, when....when there
have been arrests or...or involvement of cases where victims have been called in
also. And, uh, none of it has been helpful because what victims really want is to
disappear. They don't want law enforcement involved and we make it a point not
to.....not to have them believe that we are part of law enforcement. Uh, one of
the things we offer them are all the services as we(mumbled) victims of gender-
based violence, uh, what they want is a place to be safe and then to disappear. Go
back probably to the (mumbled) so it hasn't been....so what I'm asking also is in
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what way, we've tried and....and, um,the executive director of Monsoon in fact
does national work and works with an organization in New York where the....the,
urn, victims really, the....the sex workers come through, and even there they have
real difficulty of providing them the resources when they think that they are able
to be self-reliant. So there is....there is, uh, penalizing them and then there is, uh,
providing services that they want, or saying there is a demand for this, how are we
addressing that as well. So I'm not sure how....I'm sorry I didn't answer your
exact question. It doesn't harm them as in, you know, if you're offering services
and as victim advocates. I'm not sure about law enforcement, right? But on the
other hand, even after we offer them, uh, services, if they leave...it's not
something, it's not like someone we've worked with who is a victim of domestic
violence. It's not someone who we've worked with who has, um, maybe, uh,
sexual assault case. This is...these are people who have been doing this work for a
long time. Uh, and the other thing is, especially with the Asian community, it has
been, uh, I...I will tell you most of the victims I have worked with are
undocumented, and that's one of the reasons also, primary reasons, they do not
want to be, you know, they want to be under the radar. So if, um, we say we are
providing you services and then knowing the current climate of ICE being
involved in anything that's even, you know, remotely, um, criminal, uh,
criminally linked,there's going to be other problems. So it's not helpful. I'm
sure, uh, my RVAP, uh, co-advocate will explain more.
Duarte: One way it can cause harm is,um....what....we're assuming that those being
trafficked are not seeking services, or they're not receiving services in any way.
Um, and what we know from domestic violence is that, um....people don't leave
their abusers on the first try. There are several attempts. So with this ordinance
an unintended consequence might be that, uh, that...group will leave and isolating
more victims, and that victim who was connected with service now is in a place
where there's no service, they're new, and that is one of the unintended
consequences that we, uh, might foresee. Urn....there, um, might be others, um,
for example, who's making the complaints, uh, about these? What is it coming
from? Is it coming from good faith, or is it coming targeting a specific group of
people? Um,because that also...we need to go ahead and take in consideration.
Uh, we need to take in consideration who's doing the education, urn, for the
licensing? Um, and, um, in....and who are we alienating, urn, from our
community,um, and those are, um, some, um....things that,uh, I can think of
right now. Uh, and that's why we wanna have more time to go ahead and, uh, be
able to work together, urn, to be able to figure it out. Uh,how can we minimize
that impact.
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Throgmorton: Thank you.
Taylor: I had a question, Jim. I don't know if, uh, maybe Jordy can answer this or one of
the ladies, Lata and Katryn is it? Uh if the business can't produce, uh, the
documents required by this resolution and they're placarded, what will happen to
those folks, those persons that were there....working?
Bailey: Yeah, um, if....if the business can't provide the....the,their license number, that's
pro...provided already by the State. If they're unable to provide or verify they're
a licensed massage therapist, then there would be a placarding procedure, which is
to stop the business from functioning, um, and allow them the opportunity, and
even provide them the education, on how to make that happen. Um, provide them
the education on what they need, andand how to get a license through the State
if need be, and we'd offer that in a number of different languages,um, to make
sure that we're inclusive in that education. Um, and then if, uh, they're unable to
get that, then the business would continue to not operate. The business structure
would continue to not operate until they're able to get that. Urn, what would
happen to the individuals? What we see is that these are....these are large
enterprises that are functioning, urn out....many times out of larger cities and it
would be a transient. It would move to another community, which is part of our
fear, uh, that's gonna happen here. I mean municipalities around us are enacting
these ordinances, and Cedar Rapids as an example had 18,um, those businesses
are also gonna come here, urn, and.....you know, we...it's our belief that we have
an option, um, we....we can do nothing, and we can allow this trafficking and this
victimization to continue to occur,um, or the only other tool that exists right now
is that enforcement piece, and the enforcement piece is only, uh, usable against
the victims, and that's not something that we want to do. Urn, we want to help
people, and we may only get one chance, one chance to have an interaction with
that victim, um, and that's why we....we want our community partners to be on
board and that's why we thought we....we were this morning as well. Um, but we
only get one chance and then, as was mentioned, they may be shipped out,
trafficked out of the area, um, so....you know we have, I guess we have...we have
a couple options, and for us, for the Police Department, doing nothing is not an
option.
Salih: I still don't get your answer for her questions—what gonna happen to those
individual?
Bailey: They'll be trafficked....they'll continue to be trafficked out of this area, and
there'll continue to be sex and labor trafficked in other .....other towns.
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Salih: Yeah but(unable to understand) Police Department, something gonna happen to
them?
Bailey: They'll be....they'll have a face-to-face contact with them and an opportunity to
have our community partners come in (several talking) advocacy services.
Salih: ...even....okay, you provide somehow for them.
Bailey: Yes.
Throgmorton: Further Council discussion?
Mims: I'm gonna support this. I....um.....I wish there'd been discussion, um, earlier
between the Police Department and....and the advocates in the area. But I...I trust
that that will continue to go on. Um, I think this gives us a starting point and I
would hope that with continued discussion between the Police Department
and...and the local advocates, that, urn, if you see from either side that there needs
to be changes to this, um, that, you know, it'll come back to us through the Police
Department and/or the advocates, not hopefully together. I hope that you can
build a good working relationship. I think everybody's on the same page,
certainly in terms of the intent here, um, and so I...rather than delay...getting this
start...I'm not hearing any convincing evidence that this is going to be harmful to
people at this point in time, and so I'd rather get it on the books and get started,
um,have you continue those discussions, urn, get deeper into the weeds with each
other in terms of how you can help each other andand how it works best, um,
and then if we need to make changes in the ordinance, come back to us with those
changes.
Thomas: Yeah, I feel this is a....a vexing problem (laughs) um....I'm a strong advocate of,
uh, what I....what I call deliberative dialogue and II, like Susan said, I wish all
the parties had perhaps started the conversation sooner, uh, and I'm certainly, um,
given the situation feel it's very important that that conversation continues. Uh, at
this point I'm inclined to support it, um, because I have a lot of confidence in the
Police Department to continue that dialogue. Um and if there are any concerns
that you continue to have and ways in which we can, you can work together to
improve the ordinance, uh, that would certainly be, uh, obviously a good thing.
Throgmorton: Pauline, Maz, did either one of you want to say anything?
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Taylor: I think as John said it....it is a good first start. I am concerned, especially with my
healthcare background on the health and safety of every member of the
community and I think it is a good first start but do need to continue the dialogue,
which should have been even before this.
Throgmorton: Any further discussion? Roll call please. Motion carries 5-1. Jody, I'm sure you
and Jorey will do everything you can to work with Monsoon, RVAP,NISSA, etc.,
to ensure that we....we are working toward the same goal and doing it as
effectively as we can. (unable to hear response from audience)
Matherly: Uh, Jody Matherly, Police Chief. Yeah, we decided today quarterly meetings,
and if some....if there's a....a hot issue that we need to address right away that
we'll meet sooner than that and keep the dialogue open, and for the record,
Sergeant Bailey did reach out, uh, weeks ago for a couple individuals and didn't
get any....make any headway. I'm not throwing anybody under the bus, other
than meeting wasn't...just last minute this morning. We met with RVAP,uh,
a....a week or two ago, urn, made attempts for the other organizations. They're
great organizations, some are used to working with us, some are not. Um, there's
autonomy,there's confidentiality. We respect that, and we make sure that they're
able to do their job successfully and we can do ours,but we do work as a team.
We know each other, uh, even better after today. Um, there's faces behind the
names and, uh, you know, some of my staff works with 'em more than I do. I
assure you that conversations will continue. We're as concerned anybody....as
anybody about collateral damage. At the end of the day, keep in mind our job's to
rescue these victims, get 'em the assistance they need, and then also investigate
and find out who is responsible behind this criminal activity, the ringleaders, and
bring them to justice. Not arrest those victims. That's key. This will help us.
We....we appreciate your support in that.
Throgmorton: Great! Thank you. Thank you for coming tonight. I'm sorry I didn't have a
chance to actually speak to you on the phone,but we tried. Yeah. All right.
We're gonna move on to our next item.
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17. Animal Services Fees--Resolution establishing fees for animal services and
rescinding Resolution No. 97-233.
Mims: Move the resolution.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion?
Mims: I think it's important....um, some communication on this, I think when some
people first look at this it's going to look like some of our fees have jumped
drastically, but when you look at how they are combining the fees, um, it's not as
big a jump as people might think, and like with all of our fees, we try to keep up
with them on a fairly regular basis, and this hadn't been done for a while. So I
think this make, uh,makes good sense.
Salih: I agree but I really encourage the staff to like....planning like smaller fee increase
at frequence, you know, time in the future, so people cannot feel it. Like we
waited 20 years and we just like give them this increase, even though yes we did
not increase it those year, but you know if my bill increase like $5 I'm not gonna
feel it but$20 I will. Just plan to do that.
Fruin: Point well taken.
Taylor: I'd....I'd like to see that and in follow up to that, like if the adoption rates
decrease because the fee is increased, or(mumbled) license, etc. (unable to hear
response from audience) Sure!
Brotherton: ...Brotherton, I'm with the Police Department, overseeing Animal Services right
now,because unfortunately Liz Ford has left us. Um, a point about the adoption
is the fee actually doesn't necessarily increase, because before it was kind of a
piecemeal. It included, um, fixing the animals and such forth, and now
everything's included, so (mumbled) it's just a bulk sum, if that makes more
sense. So it didn't necessarily increase. It looks like it when you add it all
together,but uh, it was about like that anyway....before. Does that sound correct
to you?
Throgmorton: Don't run away too quickly. Congratulations on your recent pro....uh,promotion
to Captain. It's well earned.
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Brotherton: Thank you.
Throgmorton: Yeah! Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-
0.
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19. Community Comment
Throgmorton: Gustave, please feel free!
Stewart: Hi, Gustave Stewart,urn, Student Liaison. Urn, I first off wanted to invite you all
to, uh,the joint session, urn, this coming Tuesday, urn, in collaboration....it's
with, uh, GPSG and UISG, and basically what that is is, urn, a formal, urn,
meeting that, urn, with the Senate of GPSG and UISG, to basically,urn,pass a
few resolutions of what the big priorities are for the organizations. Urn,that's...
again that's Tuesday, September 11th, and urn, I'll send details, um....uh, of more
information and then please RSVP, um, after I send that.
Throgmorton: Please do send, uh,more details, okay?
Stewart: Definitely! And then the second thing I wanted to talk about is basically the
Board of Regents' meeting, urn, that will take place, urn, in the IM....Iowa
Memorial...excuse me! Urn, Iowa Memorial Union, urn, the next day, where
they'll go over, urn, different program pro....proposals of the University of Iowa,
urn, and things such as the University, uh, Club and what they're going to do with
that and various things like that. Uh, yeah! Thank you.
Throgmorton: Good deal! Thanks, Gustave. Item 20, City Council Information. So we could
start with John, and move to the right! Oh, did I....I'm sorry! Excuse me, oh
right, community....excuse me! Yeah(several talking) Yes, please! My bad. I
was wondering(laughs) My bad!
Boos: Yes, thanks. I realized I may not understand the process for making a comment.
I had come because I had intended to speak to 8a, but I guess there was no public
comment on 8a, so might I make a comment now or do I have to sign(both
talking)
Throgmorton: I think you should feel free to.
Boos: Okay, great! (clears throat)
Throgmorton: Let's be clear about what 8a is. (several talking)
Boos: Yes. 8a is the issue of sharpshooting.
Throgmorton: Yes, go ahead.
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Boos: Uh, my name is Florence Boos. I live at 1427 E. Davenport Street and I'm one of
a group of persons who have combined to advocate for non-lethal deer
management solutions, rather than sharpshooting. I wanna make three points.
Um, I realize it's been a long night. First, it's cheaper. Secondly, in the long-
term, it works, whereas other methods do not, and thirdly, it is more humane. The
last time the City had a sharpshooting program they spent approximately a million
dollars on killing deer. As even the White Buffalo DeNicola person, uh, admits,
this is not a permanent solution, and so here we are again. That's a lot of money.
We've heard quite a bit about how people need cheaper housing and trees and so
forth. So before one commits this, one should be sure that, um, it accomplishes
fewer deer. Um, long term solutions do work. In the summer I live in a place
where, uh, British Columbia, where their deer are never shot. They do eat
something once in a while. People enjoy seeing them. Um....I think it's false
consciousness to think that it's absolutely intolerable to have a deer in your yard.
There are several things the City could do. It had a commission before, which
made a list of....of non-lethal solutions. Uh, it could send out a brochure every
spring on plants that deer do not eat. It could post appropriate signs during the
season when they do cross roads, something that I know doesn't now occur
because occasionally you see deer sign or something, but it's not accompanied by
deer, since the deer are there in only selected places and at selected times in the
fall. And it'd be a lot cheaper to compensate all of the people who complained
about deer entering their yards by helping them build fences, in which case there
would never be any more deer, uh, rather than shooting again and again. And as
you can see, the people who have complained (mumbled)joining a park and
they're a finite number of people. And in the third, it's more humane. Uh,
sharpshooting is a bloody thing, even though they pretend it's not. Many times
they do not get their target and it takes the deer hours to die. And, um,people
who've witnessed this, uh, older deer need to train young ones on how to cross
the street. It seems an exercise in stupidity to kill the more mature deer and let the
young ones, um, fend helplessly for themselves. We have a web site that we've
prepared which discusses,urn, non-lethal solutions, point out some of the
problems that have occurred in other places when they have,um, attempted not to
use them. So...I wanted to bring this to your attention. We hope the City will
reconsider (coughing, difficult to hear speaker) go ahead with something which is
not only,um, expensive and inhumane,but in the long term, will not produce the
results desired. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Florence. I apologize for almost not givin' ya a chance to speak.
Would you like to address us too? Same topic or something else? Yeah.
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Janes: I was waiting for agenda Item 8a but I think it....
Throgmorton: I'm sorry!
Jaynes: (mumbled) at some point. My name's Allison Jaynes and I was at the deer task
force open meeting that was held a couple weeks ago, and I understand there was
a meeting where all of you had discussed the results of that task force open forum,
is that correct?
Froin: No, that has not taken place(several talking)
Jaynes: Okay. Okay, great! But I just wanted to bring a couple things to your attention
before that conversation takes place. I would really urge you to do the research,
look up the facts. A lot of what was presented there in that open forum, if you go
back and watch the video or listen to the audio, there was a lot of misinformation
being propagated at that time, such as increase in, uh, deer-related vehicular
accidents, which the Police Department has confirmed is untrue. But it
was...there was a quote of 60% of....of increase in vehicular accidents, and there
was also concerns about Lyme disease and I wanted to set that record straight,
that deer do not contract Lyme disease and thus do not spread it to,um, to ticks
that will then come into your yard and get onto your dogs and get onto your
children. So there was a little bit of misinformation, um,being supplied during
that...during that forum, and I just...would like to urge you with caution to move
forward, not to denigrate certain people, or certain entities, um,but to look at
communities that have gone with this option in the past, and maybe specifically
with White Buffalo, and some of the regrets that they've had from going down
that route. Uh, and maybe to even conduct an independent survey of the number
of deer in this area and who they're affecting, not from the person who would
then get the contract to take care of those deer and manage those deer,but maybe
from a....a different entity that would do a different type of survey, which has
been proven to be, urn, more, uh....more.....competent in terms of finding the
number of deer that are in the area. And then, uh, finally I just wanted to say that
I hope we all agree that we would want to be one of those places that's a shining
example of creating, urn, a creative solution to a problem such as this, rather than
just going with the thing that's presented, you know, the easiest and it might not
be the most compassionate, it might not be the most, uh....um, enlightened thing
to do, but to maybe look at some of these other creative solutions. There's
communities around the country that have taken a lot of steps to manage and
reduce their deer populations in other ways besides, urn, hiring....hired guns
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to...to shoot them. So I would urge caution in the path forward, and if you
haven't discussed this, then great, my comments are timely. Okay,thank you for
listening.
Throgmorton: Thank you. Anyone else?
Kendrick: My name is Lori Kendrick.
Throgmorton: Can we....
Kendrick: I would just(both talking)
Throgmorton: Hold on for a second please. Good evening.
Kendrick: My name is Lori Kendrick and I would just like the Council to revisit,um, there
again some of the issues that were pre....presented at the forum. I have...had
emailed communication with the DNR district forester and have read studies that
were written in 2003, where the undergrowth of the forest is not....at Hickory Hill
Park, is not decimated by deer browsing. It's actually a human issue with human
disturbances. So I...I'd like for all of you to reconsider and look a little deeper
into that. I'm waiting to receive the updated 2017 inventory of, uh....the trees
and the habitat of the Hickory Hill Park. And I....I agree, I just think that there
were a lot of emotions at the forum, a lot of members, um,just kind of bringing
out their own feelings,but I would like more factual information on literal facts
versus perceived risks of the....Iowa City specifically the deer herd here, not in
general the deer cause x number of, um, vehicle-deer accidents or overbrowsing
issues. That's my take. I've emailed. Hopefully you'll check into it. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Yeah. Thanks so much. Okay, I....Royceann, you're not gonna address this
topic, are ya? (laughs) Okay! All right, so I apologize to all three of you for...
not giving you a chance earlier. My bad! Where were we? We were....John....
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20. City Council Information
Thomas: I mean Council information, I uh....just wanted to briefly report back on that Ted-
X event, uh, which I did go to, at least at Merge. And I....I'm assuming that since
part of the reason for these events is to record it and then hope one of those
(laughs)presentations goes viral, as they say, uh, I....I haven't seen them being
posted yet, but I'd encourage you to look out for them. I thought many of them
were interesting and,um, it was all...it was just kind of fun to be at the event and,
you know, Ted-X Iowa City, although there one...been Ted-X events in the past. I
also saw those on YouTube.
Throgmorton: I think Mark Nolte pushed the envelope a little bit, in a constructive way I hope.
Thomas: Yeah. It was fun!
Mims: Nothing!
Throgmorton: Pauline?
Taylor: Uh,just a few things to comment on. Um, couple of weeks ago, uh, attended the
Riverside McDonald's, uh, grand reopening ceremony, which was, uh, which was
really fun. Uh, they have kind of a face-lift so....face-lift so to speak. Uh, it's
very nice updated facade and the interior, and I think that's going to be great for,
uh, the west Riverfront subdistrict there and....and, uh, the streetscape, a nice, uh,
entryway into the Riverfront Crossings area, at least a start anyway
towards...towards that. Uh, then, uh, last Thursday was....was really busy. Uh,
I'll throw on the report on committees in case we don't get to that later, was the
ECI...ECICOG meeting in Washington, Iowa,uh, main topic that concerned most
people or most people are interested in was the Corridor Rides express bus
service, which Windstar Lanes has been selected to operate the service,uh, and
they....they still are predicting the launch date to be October ls` and they selected
a name. It's going to be called the 380 Express. So if you see that referred to,
that's what that is. Also that same day attended the UAY open house at Eastdale
Plaza, urn, and I think we're very fortunate to have this resource, uh, for
our....our children and our young families. If you haven't been out there, uh,
they're open to have anybody stop by and tour that facility there. Also that same
day Project Green had their event at Ashton House. I saw...I remember I saw Jim
there. Um, want to thank all of them for all the beautiful things, uh, they've
spread across the community. They do a great job of that, and then just yesterday
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the Labor Day picnic at, uh, Lower City Park. And we, uh, were in the new
shelter in Lower City Park and (both talking)
Throgmorton: ...shelter(both talking)
Taylor: Juli's left...and it's beautiful, everybody commented. We had great use out of the
old shelter that was there, which was fine but it was kind of old and getting kind
of rickety and everybody commented on.....on, uh, the beauty of this new shelter.
It really is nice big open area and the colors are nice and tall and very nice.
That's all!
Salih: I don't have anything (unable to understand) event. That's great! (several
talking)
Throgmorton: Rockne?
Cole: I have sort of two substantive matters. Um, one, as I indicated in the information
packet, I would like to do a follow up and see if there's Council support for a
follow up work session to address issues associated with the Kinnick House. Um,
I don't think we've done enough in terms of follow up, um, since that work
session we did in November of last year. I think we've done one thing as far as I
can tell, which was to adopt a, um, a conflict system, if there's a conflict on the
Board of Adjustment that requires one of the members to withdraw. Um, I had a
very constructive conversation with a lot of members of the neighborhood. I
think that they would have a lot of continued feedback on that, that I think are
very substantive, very well thought out. I don't think this is an emergency topic.
I think this is something that if we can get it on the next six months, I think that'd
be very important. Um, and I think in particular, I would like to address where
we are with our storm water ordinance, our sensitive areas ordinance, cause I
think there's some major concerns that we still need to address, a....arising from
that project in particular, um, there are gullies of extensive amount of water, urn,
that are now creating these huge gullies right along the....the hillside there, that
the resident showed. Now it could be a function of just...not all the construction
is done, urn,but I wanna make sure and I think the residents wanna make sure that
we have the confidence that....that we're up to date in the way that we should.
So....do we have support for that, on the next six months (both talking)
Throgmorton: Rockne, if you don't mind, could we discuss that during the work session, instead
of doin' it here at the end of the formal meeting?
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Cole: Well this is usually when we bring up requests for work session topics, is it not? I
mean we certainly can (both talking)
Throgmorton: No, it's usually in the.....in the work session.
Cole: Okay. I'll....I'll defer on that. Urn....so there's another thing I wanted to bring
up then in the work session(both talking)
Throgmorton: ....maybe....I don't wanna mistake (both talking)
Fruin: They come up at different times throughout the evening. I would say typically
even the pending list is on your work session. It's an IP item, so typically work
session but(several talking)
Throgmorton: ....I guess what I mean is I...I wanna discuss that further and I'd rather end the
formal meeting and then get into (both talking)
Cole: Okay, fair enough! Urn, a couple events, I'll switch to a couple events. Urn, in
terms of upcoming events, there's a Party in the Park at North Market Square
Park, September 16th, from 4:00 to 5:30 P.M. Sounds a lot of fun. It's gardens,
bees, food, and fun. One of my favorite parks. I think you'll probably be there,
um, it should be a great event. Uh, there's a job fair at the Robert A. Lee Rec
Center, September Ila', from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M., so I encourage people to, um,
attend that. It should be a great event. Lot of opportunity for people, and then
finally one of my favorite organizations, Backyard Abundance, urn, the
community garden, um....uh, project in the Wetherby Park will be taking place
September 9th, 2018, from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. So it should be a great opportunity
for some community edible forest gardening with Backyard Abundance. So that's
all I have for now!
Throgmorton: Good deal! All right, I do have a few things to bring up. I think you know that
last week, well on the 22nd through the 24`h of August, I participated in the
Mayors Innovation Project meeting,up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Uh, it was a
terrific meeting for all the reasons I articulated last year after goin' to the meeting
in Burlington, Vermont, and one of the consequences is that I talked with the
mayor of; uh, Grand Rapids and then with a key staff person up there about the
EAB and how they've been responding to it, and I was thrilled to see, uh, Zac
Hall presenting that information, cause they reached out to the mayor and the staff
person and got all the detail about what they've been doin' up there in Grand
Rapids. So it's really good connection, that...that project is a really good
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connection. While there I got a phone call from a woman who's very frustrated
and angry, uh, so (laughs) these are always great fun to receive, you know, but
she was legitimately frustrated and angry about traffic congestion and delays on
Mormon Trek. Yeah? So,uh, I got....I got a full message so I phoned her back
and we had a....a good conversation about that, and I listened to her and then
indicated what I understand we are doing out there and tried to make sure she
knew the facts at hand, like we're rebuilding the intersection and that kind of
thing. Uh, and then she said well I want you to go out there and drive that road,
as soon as you get back from....from,uh, from Grand Rapids, drive it. So I did,
on Monday, after I got back, and I found....there was some congestion. I was out
there around noon time and I can tell ya, it wasn't severe and it....there wasn't
any kind of big delay. There was, you know, a whole two....two lanes on the,
going north that were all shut down because that's where the work was being
done.....but it wasn't....it wasn't really all that difficult. I'm sure there's times
when it is, but it wasn't then! I also participated in one of Dave Gould's Green
Room classes at the Englert, uh, when was it? I don't know, few nights....several
nights ago. I don't know if you know about it but it's a really impressive effort to
get students out engaged with the community and learning about things and doing
this big class. There are 90 students in the class. Doing the class in the Englert.
So they had....Dave asked me to come and talk a little bit about,uh, what I think
are kinda big topics facing us in Iowa City and then they're gonna be processing
that over the next six weeks as part of that class, or course. Movin' ahead with
that. I also attended the League of Women Voters candidates forum in this room
on the 29th. It was pretty constructive and, uh,hey I voted today! I bet some of
you did as well. And I bet somebody up here at the podium knows what the
election results were. (several talking) Yeah so (both talking) Sorry?
Salih: (several responding)
Throgmorton: Interesting! Well congratulations to them. Uh, and so they'll be in the October
2'a election. Let's see, couple other things that, uh, some of us are going to be
participating in a guided tour with our State legislators on the 6th of September.
I'm lookin' forward to that. And I'm gonna be participating in a ribbon cutting at
Longfellow on the 9th. Certainly looking forward to that(laughs) Yeah! Yeah,
Longfellow,where two of my sons graduated (several talking) Yeah. All right.
Enough for me. That's all I wanted to say.
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21. Report on Items from City Staff
a. City Manager
Throgmorton: Geoff?
Fruin: Nothing.
Throgmorton: Ashley?
Monroe: I'll only say that I have some kind of exciting news. We put our final edits on the
climate action plan today. So you'll be seeing it soon!
Throgmorton: (several talking) Outstanding! Very glad to hear that.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of September 4, 2018.