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2. Student Leadership Awards-Alexander Elementary
Throgmorton: Kellie, am I right,none of the students are here?
Fruehling: I did not see any.
Throgmorton: Okay, uh,well too bad. I'm gonna state their names because they would have
been awarded had they been able to be here. Uh, one is Luciano Cardoza-Torres.
Another's Elim Michael, and the third is Cynthia Nava, all from Alexander
Elementary. So I'm sure they've done really good work, uh, at....down at
Alexander and, uh, it's a, uh...I wish they'd been able to be here with us.
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3. Proclamations
3.a. Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
Throgmorton: Bear with me for a second.....(reads proclamation) Is there someone to accept
this proclamation, like maybe Ryan Belk. (applause)
Belk: Thank you,uh, my name is Ryan Belk. I'm a social worker, uh, with the
Department of Veterans Affairs. So as a direct service provider to the vulnerable
populations mentioned, uh, within the homelessness and, uh....uh, food insecure
populations,uh, also a community member here in Iowa City,um, and as a
'representative of the Local Homeless Coordinating Board,uh,it is very
encouraging to know that we have, uh, affirmation that there is an issue, uh,be
that there is,uh, support here from the local governance,um, so again,thank you
for....for offering this support and promoting our cause. I would also like to take
the time to plug,uh, a....an annual event that we are hosting next Thursday,
November 15th, at the Robert A. Lee Rec Center. It's a resource fair directed
toward individuals and families experiencing homelessness and food insecurity,
uh,resources that provide services for,uh,mental health,uh, substance abuse,
um,medical care. Uh,there'll be veteran services, um, employment services,uh,
shelter services, um,housing referrals, and things of that nature. So if you know
of anyone that may benefit from,uh, a resource fair of that nature, next Thursday,
uh, doors will open at 10:00 till 3:00 P.M. at Robert A. Lee Rec Center. So,
again, thank you for, uh, the promotion of this cause and offering support for our
local neighbors. Thanks!
Throgmorton: Great! Thank you, Ryan. (applause)
3.b.National Native American Heritage Month
Throgmorton: (reads proclamation) Joe. (applause)
Coulter: (speaking in Potawatomi)Welcome,my friends, in my native Potawatomi (can't
hear)language. Uh, I want to thank you, Mayor, and all the Council, uh, for what
you've done with this excellent proclamation, and to, uh, commend you for your
leadership last year in declaring the second Monday of October as Indigenous
Peoples Day. This led to the successful effort to have the State declare
Indigenous Peoples Day, uh, so.....(speaking in Potawatomi) Thank you, thank
you,thank you very much.
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Throgmorton: Thank you, Joe. (applause)
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4. Special Presentations
4.a. Jingle Cross presentation
Throgmorton: I think we have Josh Schamberger to discuss Jingle Cross and related stuff!
(laughs)
Schamberger: You bet! Thank you, Mayor and Council. Appreciate the time and again to visit
with you and thank you for all of the continued support,uh, on the annual UCI
Telenet Cyclocross World Cup,which as you know happens here in Iowa City
and,uh, as you also know many of you,uh,just this past year, you know, Iowa
City was recognized, uh,not just as the best in North America,but the best in the
world, and received a....the....the President's Cup, which I know for a while was
here at the....at the City and is now located over at the County. So, Jingle Cross
has become just an excellent annual tradition here for the City of Iowa City, and
for Johnson County. It just recently wrapped up its 16th year. Uh, it's.....the first
13 years, uh,were put on by a....uh, a doctor who now lives in Seattle,Dr. John
Meehan, who....who created this opportunity for the city and continues to take
two or three weeks of vacation to come back and put it on,uh, with the support of
our team and...and many other people in the community, for this community, and
since day one, after 16 years, every single dollar that's been ever raised from this
event has been donated to the Children's Hospital, which is pretty remarkable.
Uh, certainly there's no other event in the world that....that does something like
that. So, uh,we were fortunate with....with a great event again this year,uh,
and....this, the end of September. Uh,the UCI left all of their stuff here in hoping
that we will put in another bid (laughter) That remains to be determined. If we
don't,they said they'll pay to have it shipped back to Switzerland,uh,but,uh,
they're....they're hopeful that they will be able to figure it out and come back
next year. So there're many people with the City and the County that...that play a
big role in making this possible and I just think it's always important that we
show up and make sure you know who they are and, you know, that starts with
Geoff and Ashley and Simon and the team in the City Manager's office. I know
many of you come out there, I've seen you at the event. Uh,you play a big
support role, uh, but....but so do people like Mark Rummel, uh, who was a huge
help again with shuttles. Your Iowa City Airport Director Michael Tharp, uh,
played a big role in helpin' us. You know we got some rain so we had to open up
that old unused runway for some parking and shuttling, and that was a real big
deal. Darian Nagle-Gamm is one of the biggest advocates we have for this event,
because she also is strong enough to ride in it and do really well (laughter) so
that's a big deal, and....and many other people in the community,the....the
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County and City collaboration on this event is remarkable and probably the thing
I'm most proud of. So, uh,Nick Pfeiffer's here with me and as....every year we
try and bring a little memento from the event that kind of captures the year, that
you could hang somewhere at the City and this one is probably my favorite one of
any of the years that we've brought you a little thank you gift, because it is a....it
is a photograph of the actual World Champion, Wout van Aert,uh,who's from
Belgium,who is out just south of Iowa City on Sand Road and he's being moto-
paced by, uh, a guy here who's from this community,Jason McCartney, who
actually is one of the....the,probably the most recognized accomplished
professional cyclists that have ever come out of Iowa. His mom works at the
Hospital and,uh, he actually has rode the big tours, won a stage at the Volta, so
he was the only one we trusted that knew what he was doing with the World
Champion(laughter) So he took 'em out, and this is just a beautiful photo that
was captured by one of our photographers of....it's not too often you see the
World Champion from Belgium out ridin' on Sand Road,uh, so....we'd like to
present this with you and thank you again very much for all the support. (several
talking) (applause)
Throgmorton: Too bad we can't put it up here (several talking and laughing) Nice!
Salih: (mumbled) (several talking and laughing)
Throgmorton: ...don't wanna block out Pauline.... Good deal! All right! I'm gonna set this
over here. Josh, I thought maybe, uh,thought maybe you'd show us a video or
somethin' of Jingle Cross and the UCI World Cup.
Schamberger: Well,we can do that next time,but you can go to the web site too and see as
many as you like! (laughter) There's a lot of`em, so....
Throgmorton: Yeah, your team does a fabulous job on it. It's just amazing how much energy
and...work y'all put into it and you do a brilliant job at it.
Schamberger: You know it's also important to note, and we'll get the numbers I think in January
or February,but you know, last year in last year's race there were 12.2 million
people that watched that in Europe, from Iowa City, Iowa, for three hours. So,
you know, it's....it's like major league baseball and the NFL and Europe cycling.
So it's....it's a really, really big deal and it's pretty special that we're one of two
places in all of North America that they choose to have this event. (several
talking)
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Throgmorton: Good deal.
Mims: Thanks, Josh!
Schamberger: Thank you.
Salih: Thank you, Josh!
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Beginning of Consent Calendar—Consider adoption of the Consent
Calendar as presented or amended
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion to, uh....to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented or
amended?
Salih: So move.
Taylor: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Salih, seconded by Taylor. Discussion? Bruce,there was somethin'
you wanted to say?
Teague: I just wanted to note that, urn, last,uh,meeting I was,uh,put on three
committees, one of the committees do not exist any longer, and that's the
Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee. So just wanted to make that notation.
8.h.Idyllwild Stormwater Drainage Diversion—Resolution approving,
authorizing and directing the Mayor to execute and the City Clerk to attest
Amendment No. 2 to the September 19,2017, agreement by and between the
City of Iowa City and HR Green,Inc.to provide engineering consultant
services for the Idyllwild Stormwater Drainage Diversion Project.
Throgmorton: Okie dokie. Uh, I want...I'm gonna bring up two, uh,two specific points. With
regard to 8h, which is a resolution amending a prior contract between the City of
Iowa City and HR Green Incorporated to provide engineering consultant services
for the Idyllwild stormwater drainage diversion project. Uh, I've asked Jason of
our staff to explain this project and show how it's responsive to Idyllwild's
concerns.
Havel: Sure! Jason Havel, City Engineer. Um, so what this project looks to do is,uh,
like you had mentioned, it's a stormwater diversion project looking at, uh,
stormwater coming from upstream of the Idyllwild development and how we
would take that, urn, ultimately to the Iowa River and....and downstream. Um,
originally we had contracted with the consultant to take a look at that. Uh, we
originally had done a study phase to look at what(mumbled)what options might
be out there and what those alternatives might look like. We further contracted
with them to design,uh,what would be our preferred alternative,urn, as part of
that they were to look at not only, uh,piping or open ditch,how we would wanna,
uh, convey that water,but also the possibility of a pump station, uh, in partnership
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with Idyllwild's flood protection measures that they've installed,how those might
work together. Urn,we've gone through,uh, quite a bit of study of that, again,
not only of the City's project, but Idyllwild's development...or their flood
protection as well. Uh,kind of settled on what we think would be the preferred
alternative, and we are coming back to,urn,basically update the consultant
agreement to reflect that. The original agreement kinda made some assumptions
on what we thought might be,uh,part of that, and so this really just reflects it
now that we have a better idea what that would be. Um, the process has included
communication with Idyllwild. Uh, one of their concern, obviously, is the....the
pump station. Uh,to help with that we've agreed to provide the design of the
preferred alternative for the pump station, and then we will bid it as an al...as an
alternate,um, and then funding would be determined. Urn,in the conversations
that we've had with them in the past is that they would be responsible for funding,
but again, there...there can be,um, discussions on that once we know what that
actual cost will be. Uh,I....I think that....not only have we had conversations
with them,but we also would look to continue those as we finalize the design and
move forward with construction.
Throgmorton: Very good! Thanks, Jason. Does anybody have any questions for Jason? Uh,
would anybody else in the public like to comment on this? Hi.
Thome: Hi! I'm Debra Thome. I'm the President of Idyllwild and I wanna,urn,thank the
City for reachin' out to Idyllwild and setting a meeting up with us. We are so
excited about the diversion project, and our communication the last couple of
weeks has been wonderful. And I do wanna thank each and every one of you for
that. Thanks!
Throgmorton: Excellent! Glad to hear it, Debra. Yeah.
Thome: It's been amazin'. Thank you.
8.k.Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center Cell FY18 Construction—
Resolution accepting the work for the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling
Center Cell FY18 Construction Project.
Throgmorton: Terrific. Okay, the other item I just briefly wanted to mention is Item 8k, which
is a resolution accepting the work for the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center
cell fi....fiscal year 18 cell construction project. I just wanted to note that this cell
is gonna cost,uh, I think it's $1.306 million and I just wanna note,these cells are
really expensive(laughs) and....and....which points out the importance
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of....reducing waste from the start and then recycling what can't be reduced
(laughs) It....it would make a huge difference in terms of our need to build new
cells, the cost that that construction, uh,requires and so on. All right, any other
commentary on the....uh, on the consent calendar? If not, roll call please.
Motion carries 7-0.
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11. Community Comment(items not on the agenda)
Throgmorton: Anyone in the public,uh, should feel free to come forward and speak about any
topic that's on their mind, but which is not on the formal meeting agenda.
(mumbled)just please come up, state your name and take not more than five
minutes to discuss whatever it is.
Brezn: My name is John Brezn. Urn, I'm a student at the University of Iowa. Um,the
reason I'm here today is because, urn, I'm a transfer student and when I first got
to Iowa City, uh, I signed a lease for my apartment, uh,beginning in August of
2018 to July of 2019. Uh....what happened basically was, um....my apartment
manager, uh, notified all of the tenants that we have to renew our lease by
October 25th for the following year and, uh,what I wanted to, urn, I thought that
that was very early. It's two months into my 12-month lease. I'm being required
basically to sign another year lease on top of that, and after speaking to quite a
few students at the University of Iowa, I found that that's, uh, extremely common
with off-campus housing here. Uh, when I emailed my,uh, landlord,um....she
said that that's how it works in Iowa City,to paraphrase a little bit. Uh....I'm
trying to fmd the exact....oh, it said, `Unfortunately the unit will be shown to the
public until the unit is either signed or resigned. In Iowa City the time for
renewals comes in early October.' Um, I kind of wanted to address this because,
uh, I think it's a little bit unreasonable to require college students to sign another
year lease two months into their current lease without first experiencing a little bit
of time in their current apartment. They're not able to make an informed
decision, especially for a young adult. They might just be coerced into signing
basically out of fear of losing their apartment. Urn, in several other college cities,
they've,uh, introduced statutes to, uh, limit the amount of time that landlords,
urn,to restrict the amount of time the landlords can solicit tenants for a year
renewal. In New York City, for example,that's not more than 150 days, so that,
uh, tenants have a chance to at least live in their apartments for a little bit before
having to renew. Uh, the other...the other thing is that goes along with this is,uh,
I'm two months into my lease, a little bit more than two months in my lease, and
I've had four apartment showings, and these are, uh, incredibly disruptive and,uh,
it's not nice having strangers walk through my apartment. Um, I've only lived
there for three months and it's constant. Urn, I'm in a very high-demand area. I
don't see why,urn,they need to introduce this this early. Um....so from the
people I've talked to there was a little bit of, uh, concern about this. These were
the concerns, um, that apartment complexes might not be able to fill vacancies if
they didn't lease in early October. Uh, for that I would say that in even low
demand markets,um,they're able to fill vacancies in one month or less on....on
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average. Um, from here it's 10 months in advance,which seems a little bit odd
because it's such a high demand area. Um, also, uh, if.....if they're having
trouble filling vacancies, I think that would,uh, actually entice them to lower the
rent prices or increase the maintenance of the units. Um, if you look on review
sites for the,uh, apartment manager...apartment complex managers in Iowa City,
the reviews are pretty abysmal, like,uh, a....a lot, there's a lot of issues in
maintenance. I know there's been a lot of lawsuits and,uh, apartment manager
....apartment management company actually had to change their name because of
the lawsuits against their company. So it might, you know, entice,uh, the
conditions to be a little bit better,the rent to be a little bit cheaper. Um, the other
thing is, uh....the other concern was if...if the apartment or tenants can't walk
through the apartments 10 months before they sign their lease how will they
know, um, where to rent. Um, with....with that I would say that it actually
protects tenants a little bit more because doing a walk through 10 months before
you rent an apartment doesn't accurately reflect the apartment you'll be getting.
So in fact, uh, limiting that to....this is my proposal. I'm just gonna cut to the
case, urn, so I....I would....l would like to like propose maybe a statute, I don't
know how it works here. I'm not super familiar. I was just referred here by the
legal office on campus. Urn, a....a,there needs to be at least a 50%of the way
through the lease before the apartment managers can require basically college
students to,uh, sign the lease, and with the walk-throughs, I would say maybe
75%of the way through the lease,just because it's so disruptive, and there's not
really a limit as long as they give you 24-hours notice. So they can theoretically
schedule four....four showings a week and they will because the demand's so
high here they don't really....it doesn't seem like they're very responsive to our
feedback(mumbled) So, thank you!
Throgmorton: Great. Thanks,uh, Shawn. Eleanor....
Dilkes: Uh huh?
Throgmorton: Uh, are there any State prohibitions against us influencing the concerns that
Shawn has just mentioned?
Dilkes: Considerable ones.
Throgmorton: I thought so (both talking)
Dilkes: ...generally,um, the tenant/landlord relationship is governed by State law.
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Brezn: By State law? So I would go to City...or State legislator then?
Mikes: I mean I don't think we can do what you said New York City has done.
Brezn: Okay, gotcha! Makes sense.
Throgmorton: Shawn, you're sitting next to Gustave, right, back there, who's a student liaison.
He's informally a member of our Council, a student representative to the Council.
So maybe the two of you could talk some more. All right, anyone else? All right,
seeing no one else we'll move to Item 12, Planning and Zoning Matters.
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12. Planning and Zoning Matters
12.a.Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center Rezoning Ordinance
conditionally rezoning approximately 5.82 acres of property located at 1914
S. Gilbert Street, 1805 Waterfront Drive,260,306, &346 Southgate Avenue,
from Intensive Commercial (CI-1) to Neighborhood Public (P-1). (REZ18-
00018)
1. Public Hearing(Continued from 10/16 meeting)
Throgmorton: Staff has recommended that we continue the public hearing and defer first
consideration to allow the applicant more time to obtain signatures for the
conditional zoning agreement. So....I'm gonna open the public hearing. (bangs
gavel) Would anybody like to address this particular topic? Okay, seeing no one,
could I have a motion to continue the public hearing and defer first consideration
to November the 20th.
Mims: So moved.
Taylor: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Taylor. Discussion?
Mims: My understanding, cause I asked, uh, staff about it, is that the applicant actually
has the signatures but the County has to sign off on it....before we vote on it.
So....they had a challenge because there were people overseas, etc.,that needed to
sign. So it took a little extra time,but now the County has to sign.
Throgmorton: Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. No (both talking) Sorry!
Thank you. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion carries.
2. Consider an Ordinance (First Consideration) [Deferred from 10/16
meeting]
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12.c.American Legion Road County Rezoning Letter to the Johnson County
Planning and Zoning Commission in opposition to a rezoning from County
Agricultural (A) to County Residential (R) for approximately 11.34 acres of
property located in Johnson County south of American Legion Road and
west of Wapsi Avenue SE in Fringe Area B- Outside the Growth Area
(CZ18-00002)
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion to approve please?
Mims: So moved.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? Danielle.
Sitzman: Good evening, Mayor. Danielle Sitzman,NDS. I'll, uh, quickly give you a
briefing on this one. This is a request as you said for, uh, consideration of a
rezoning outside of City Corporate Limits. Um, shown here on the map it's the,
uh, dashed triangular area, the large pink shaded area is the current corporate
boundaries of the city. Um, a fringe area is essentially the two (mumbled)
jurisdiction that the State allows us to regulate subdivision activity within. We do
that via an agreement with Johnson County called a fringe area agreement . Uh,
we have an existing fringe area agreement that's been, uh, in effect since 2006.
Urn, within that two-mile boundary are two different zones. One that is within the
City's growth boundary. That's the extent of urban development we expect for a
20-year period, and one is,uh,the area that is beyond the growth boundary. The
fringe area, or fringe agreement is structured to regulate the....these two areas
within and without our growth boundary to different standards. Urn, in reviewing
the proposed rezoning in the fringe area, staff does rely on the policies outlined in
that fringe area agreement. Urn, those are intended to provide for, uh, orderly, uh,
development outside of city limits, with the intention that eventually those areas
would be eventually inside city limits and would be prepared for transition to city
services,which are a different standard oftentimes in county services. Urn, the
current property is zoned A, Agricultural. It has some minor development on it,
uh, farm related development, grain bins and such. Uh, their proposed rezoning is
to,um, an R zoning, County R zoning, which allows for single-family homes on
lots of at least 3,000 square feet in size. This would be along American Legion
Road,which currently has many residential properties, uh, in that vicinity. Urn, if
the rezoning is approved, the owners intend to develop a seven, uh, lot single-
family subdivision. Urn, as proposed, each buildable lot is slightly larger than one
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acre and each lot will have its own septic system and a well system, uh, would be
installed to serve all of the lots. Uh, there would be an outlot as well. Urn, the
County recently updated its comprehensive plan and future land use map in their
(mumbled) uh, plan for this property...... um.....as a....or....and designated as
appropriate for residential. Urn, the residential land use category allows for
single-family detached dwellings with the preferred density of one unit per acre or
denser. Although....although the density shown on the concept plan is less than
one dwelling per acre, the proposed rezoning is generally consistent with the
County's comprehensive plan. Um, staff does rely, as I said, on the fringe area
agreement, urn, in our review of these applications as they come to us. Urn
(papers shuffling in background)the....um.....we do recognize that there's a
conflict in the existing zoning, urn, as recommended, urn, between the County's
updated compep....comprehensive plan and our less than updated, uh, fringe area
agreement. Urn, this is corning to you therefore with a recommendation, uh, not
to be approved by the Planning Commission based on the policies outlined in the
fringe area agreement whi...on which we rely to make these, um, determinations.
Urn, we have corn....communicated, urn, the reasons for this recommendation to
County staff and have committed to working with them as they proceed their
fringe area agreement updates. They have several other jurisdictions that they
negotiate fringe area agreements with. They're currently updating other
agreements with other cities and we know that we would naturally need to look at
this, uh,periodically and it's probably due for that. However, this application's
corning through now so we can simply recommend, based on the agreement that
we have. That would conclude my report!
Throgmorton: I'd like to ask you two quick questions. Uh,when was the, urn, fringe area
agreement last negotiated?
Sitzman: 2006.
Throgmorton: Okay. And, uh, the, um, our growth boundary was based on....past growth, right,
and....and projected growth, both, and....but we've seen really substantial growth
over the past....10 years, I mean more than expected, I think. So if we renegotiate
this fringe area agreement, will that involve reconsidering the growth boundaries?
Sitzman: Yes, it would. The fringe area agreement actually is worded such that we don't
automatically adjust that two-mile boundary simply when we adjust our corporate
limits. So anytime when we've in the past adjusted our corporate limits, we
have....cause an additional need to evaluate this as well.
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Throgmorton: Yeah, good. I thought that was the case. Urn, and the other is, there's a, uh, a
difference in, uh, our....our authority differs with regard to subdivision plats as
compared to rezonings, right? So could you explain the difference for our(both
talking)
Sitzman: That's true! So the State gives us the authority to more strictly regulate
subdivisions,but simply have an advisory role in rezonings. Urn,there's a
different process we,um, when we do a rezoning, as in this case we simply write
a letter to the County with our opinion on it. When a subdivision comes through,
we actually conduct a review of it and,uh, review, uh, as to the design standards
that are spelled out in our fringe area agreement. So the fringe area agreement has
a set of design standards for urban, uh, development and rural development. So
slightly more scrutiny for the subdivision. Urn, the things that we do look at
though with subdivisions have more to do with the infrastructure,that once it's in
place are fairly permanent. So road standards and designs to, uh....uh,
infrastructure primarily.
Throgmorton: Great, thanks! Any other questions for Danielle?
Cole: So it's about one home per acre is what we're looking at?
Sitzman: Right.
Cole: And I know we don't, I don't think we have, urn, RS-6 zoning anymore but...is
this about the similar....if this were inside the city limits, this would be a....we
don't even do this type of development(both talking)
Sitzman: It's fairly large-lot. In other areas of our fringe area agreement, other parts of the
fringe area agreement would address, when we would allow,uh, residential area,
encouraging more of a....a clustering of development. So, urn, while this area,
the fringe area doesn't even contemplate that...in other areas that we do we would
still want to see a denser development pattern than simply, urn, a....large-lot
development. Again, the reason we have a fringe area agreement is we have not
planned these areas. We've not studied these, we've not developed
comprehensive plans that would indicate what kind of development we think is
appropriate. This is more of a placeholder or an interim development situation.
Throgmorton: So maybe you've already said this,but I wanna be clear in my own mind. What
are the practical consequences of us writing this letter. In...in other words, you
know the Commission and the Board have their own authority and they'll do what
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they think they need to do, but will they....both, are they likely to both approve
the application and move ahead with it?
Sitzman: I do not...(both talking)
Throgmorton: And in...initiate conversations with us about revising the fringe area agreement?
Sitzman: Right. So they have their process, which includes the Planning Commission
making a recommendation and then eventually the Board taking an action. If they
were to find that they are not likely to agree with the City's position, our fringe
area does allow for them to offer a consult with us, much like we do with our own
Planning Commission, to resolve any potential conflicts or to attempt to resolve a
potential conflict in the fringe area agreement.
Throgmorton: Okie dokie. Any further....questions for Danielle? Thanks so much. Okay, we
have a motion on the floor and discus....Council discussion?
Cole: Um, I don't like developments like this. I think it's way too low density. I
understand that potentially we are just advising them. We don't have the
authority to say no necessarily, but I'm opposed to this. I think if we're serious
about climate change, and we're serious about good land use planning, urn, I think
we need to promote, uh, non-car based, to the extent that we can, um,higher
density developments, and I think that this is.....this particular concept in my
view is....is really out of date. We don't do this sort of development even
anymore. Um, so I'm actually opposed to this and my vote's gonna be no.
Throgmorton: I'm a little puzzled by that, Rockne, because what the recommendation is...is to
oppose(laughs)
Cole: Yeah.
Throgmorton: The....the, uh,the proposed rezoning. So you wanna vote yes. Yeah.
Cole: I was confused by that.
Throgmorton: Anyone else?
Mims: Yeah, I'll vote yes, not....not because of what the rezoning looks like, but because
we need to get the fringe agreement updated. I think we vote, in my opinion,
need to vote based upon what our fringe agreement says and,um,so I think we
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need to, you know, work with the County sooner rather than later since they've
changed their comp plan to get this fringe agreement updated.
Throgmorton: Uh, I do too but I....in principle I oppose it on the grounds Rockne just laid out,
but I think as a matter....a practical matter we need to oppose it on the fringe area
grounds. Yeah. Okay, uh,hearing no further discussion, roll call please.
Dilkes: Just a voice vote.
Throgmorton: Voice vote, I'm sorry! Error! (makes noise, laughter) All in favor say aye.
Opposed. Motion carries.
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13. Council Compensation—Ordinance Amending Title 1 "Administration",
Chapter 5 "City Council", Section 3 "Compensation" of the City Code to
increase the salary and health insurance benefit of the Mayor and Members
of the City Council effective January 1, 2020. (First Consideration)
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion for first consideration please?
Thomas: Move first consideration.
Cole: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Thomas, seconded by Cole. Discussion? For the public's benefit, I
wanna say that we discussed at length during our October the rd work session,
uh, I think it's fair to say I was the person who, uh, proposed this,uh, change. I
proposed them mainly for three reasons. First, to enable more people in the
community to consider serving on the City Council. Second, to bring our Council
Members' salaries, and the Mayor's, salaries more in line with the other large
cities in the state. And third, to provide Council Members with greater flexibility
in accessing health insurance for themselves and for their families. Uh, and....a
lot of our, uh, discussion was based on a....a.....a memo and a table, uh,that
Geoff Fruin provided us, concerning what other cities in Iowa are doing, at least
the other ones that are the 10 largest....the 10 largest plus the two most
neighboring cities, and all of that was pretty compelling. Uh, I....so.....that....
that's the background that I just wanted to make sure people watching or....or in
the audience would know.
Cole: (both talking) ...the other key point to emphasize is this increase will not become
effective by State law until the next election, uh,which I think is really important
for purposes of accountability, and I think that the legislator obviously had an
obvious reason. Any time a legislative body has the authority to increase its own
wages, or its own salary, it should be accountable to the voters,uh, in terms of
whether they think it's excessive or not, and I think that's sort of a....solid policy.
So, for those Members that are concerned that this is too much,urn, anyone who
would decide to run again in the future, um, would be accountable for that.
Throgmorton: You know....now that you've said that, Rockne, I guess I should say what the
salary increases are so people might have those numbers in mind. Uh, the
ordinance would increase the annual salary of Council Members to $11,960 per
year. Currently it's what, somethin' like.....(several talking)
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Mims: 7,000 plus.
Throgmorton: Yeah, 7,000 plus. And it would increase the Mayor's to $14,950 and, I don't
know, it's like 8,800, 9,300, around $9,000 right now. Uh, I don't remember
exactly. Um....so there.....there are, those.....those are basically the increases.
And the ordinance would also make health insurance benefits available to all
Council Members at the rate offered to half-time City employees. It's basically
Council Members and...and the Mayor would, if they signed up, would pay half
the cost of the health insurance and the City would pay the other half. Okay, so I
think that's enough background information, right? So Council discussion?
Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 6-1.
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14. Sidewalk retailing permit—Ordinance amending Title 10, entitled "Public
Ways and Property," Chapter 3, entitled "Commercial Use of Sidewalks," to
provide for sidewalk retailing every day from March through October. (First
Consideration)
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion please?
Mims: So moved.
Salih: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Salih. Discussion? Hi, Wendy!
Ford: Hi! Good evening, everybody, I'm Wendy Ford, Economic Development
Coordinator and the sidewalk retailing, uh, issue here is something that was
brought forward by the Iowa City Downtown District, urn, in hopes of changing
the days allowable to....for businesses to use the sidewalk for their business
essentially. Urn, changing it from Thursday through Sunday to every day of the
week, in the same months that they're....they are now, from March Is`to October
3151, and from 9:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. This just makes that available every day
on an annual permit basis. Urn, this actually follows some of the design,uh,
study recommendations that were done by Kiku Obatu....Obata and Associates,
uh, retail consultants that the Iowa City Downtown District hired a couple of
years ago, um, who are in favor of and....and want the town to activate its
storefronts and one of the ways you can do that is by allowing sidewalk retailing
directly adjacent to and in front of those, uh, and in front of those stores. Those
are my comments on that. If you had any other questions I'd be happy to answer
them.
Throgmorton: Are there any questions for Wendy? Nobody wants to ask you questions!
(laughs)
Ford: I'll get another opportunity I bet! (laughter)
Throgmorton: Okay, anybody else wanna address this topic? Nope. Council discussion?
Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 7-0.
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15. Family and Parental Leave Benefit—Resolution Authorizing the City
Manager to Provide a Family and Parental Leave Benefit to Administrative
and Confidential Employees.
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion to approve please?
Salih: Move.
Throgmorton: Moved by Salih.
Teague: (several responding) Second.
Throgmorton: Seconded by Teague. Discussion?
Fruin: Okay, what I'm seeking from you tonight is authorization to offer, uh, an
expanded leave benefit for administrative and confidential employees, and uh,
that would be those employees that are experiencing birth of a child, adoption, or
serious family medical issues. Uh, so the....I'll give you an overview of the
mechanics of the, uh,policy. It would provide paid leave at 70%of the
employee's regular wages, due to the birth, adoption of a child, birth or adoption
of a child, uh, care for a spouse, parent, or child with a serious medical condition.
Uh, family and parental leave will be available following the first two weeks of
leave. So the employee has to take two weeks of accrued, uh, time, and then will
be limited to any...to a total of four weeks over the, uh, any 12-month period.
And then employees have the option of supplementing the family and parental
leave with paid time off or unpaid leave. It's somethin' that, uh, we have been
looking at for, uh, a....a couple of years, based on some feedback,uh, that we
have received from current employees and employees that have participated in
exit interviews with us. Uh, it's not a benefit that's very prevalent in local
government now, but I think it's becoming more common in the private sector.
We actually modeled our policy,uh, off of a few cities in Ohio that we found
have....have offered similar,uh,parental and family leave benefits. Uh, it eases
the burden on employees with growing families and families,uh, or individuals
that are facing serious, uh, family medical issues. I think it supports a work/life
balance in generally, uh, and generally will help us, uh, get closer to our gender
equity goals that we have for our workforce. This....there is a financial cost to
this. It's not going to increase the budgeted expenses that you see. We budget for
100% of an employee's salary, so you're not gonna see a budget increase
necessarily,but what this does is it would replace what otherwise would be
instances of unpaid leave with partial pay for up to four weeks. Again the benefit
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pays up to four weeks, uh, at 70% of the employee's salary. It's hard to gauge
exactly, uh, how....how much, how to quantify that. There's a lot of variables
that go into that. Across all our employee groups, I would....uh, we estimate that
there'd be probably 30 to 40 qualifying events in any given year, and then
whether an employee elects to take advantage of this or not, um, you know, is one
variable. If they have enough accrued leave, they would probably want to use that
leave and....and take, uh, 100% of the pay as opposed to 70%but....again, I think
this is for us, uh, from where we are in the organization, we think this is an
important, uh, recruitment and retention tool,uh, for our workforce and seeking
your authorization to offer this to employees.
Salih: Discussion?
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Salih: Yeah, I really just wanna say this is really, really good move from the staff, uh, to
maximize the benefit for the employees and also setting an example for everyone
that....that, what the City do for their employees. It is, um (unable to understand)
deserve it. I'm very supporting for this, uh, you know, and I always like support
all the....I would like to move for everything that will support all the City
employees. I think this is really good and we setting example.
Teague: I think when you talk about the Family Medical Leave Act, um, this is something
that would be in support of while people are away, uh, financially, um and as far
as retention and recruitment, I think that's a great tool, urn,to have in place. Urn,
I....I do think that it will, I mean I don't know how the City will work but some of
these individuals, I understand that we won't be, they'll be gettin' their already
allotted pay, uh, but when a staff is gone, someone probably has to do their job.
So I...I do think that there may be an increase, and I don't know what that looks
like, uh,maybe somebody else....and you know, that's not my biggest concern. I
think overall this is a....l think a great opportunity for City employees.
Throgmorton: Geoff, did you mention how this is....how this compares to what we do with
regard to our...our labor unions, employee unions.
Fruin: C...correct. So this is, urn, this is a....a benefit that I'm seeking to offer to our
administrative and confidential, or non-union employees. Uh, this would be a
mandatory subject to bargaining for our public safety, uh,unions. Um, we are
getting set to negotiate with both of them, so they can certainly bring this, uh,
issue up in our negotiations with them, and for our non-public safety union, the
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AFSCME union,um, we would, um, engage in discussions with them at such
time their....their contract came up.
Throgmorton: Okie dokie. Any further Council discussion?
Cole: I just couldn't be more pleased at being able to do this, not only do I think it's
good for the employees, which we're pleased with that it will essentially have,
you know,healthy and productive employees, uh, but I also think it sets policy
innovation and I think we've come to expect with this community that Iowa City
really does need to provide that leadership, and I'm hoping that this will be
replicated, that the other cities that wanna look at doing that won't need to look to
Ohio, but they'll be able to look to Iowa City and see the sort of productivity
enhancements we get through this,uh, humanitarian and caring policy, so major
kudos to you, Geoff, for doing that.
Throgmorton: I agree. Uh, no further discussion? Roll call please. Motion carries 7-0.
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16. Fire Station#5 Lot Purchase—Resolution approving purchase agreement
with Bedrock, L.L.C. for Lot 1 of the proposed Cherry Creek Subdivision for
future use as Fire Station number 5.
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion to approve please?
Thomas: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Thomas, seconded by Mims. Chief Grier! Hi!
Grier: How ya doin' today?
Throgmorton: Pretty good. How bout you?
Grier: We'll see here in a second! (laughter) If the computer works for me! (mumbled)
Fire Chief John Grier. With me I have Deputy Fire Chief Eric Nurnberg.
Certainly excited to be here to discuss this with you. It's been a long time
coming. We've had multiple discussions over the years so....we'll get the first
shot out there. This is the lot that we're talking about at the new development
down there on south Gilbert Street. It's considered to be lot 1. This is a mock-up
drawing of what it looks like. This is Fire Station's 4 footprint sitting on that lot.
So it kinda gives you an idea of how a fire station might be situated on there.
So....excited to share that information with ya. I'll run through some,just some
statistics on how we came to just determine this spot would be a viable option for
us. This is our estimated four-minute response time map from our existing fire
stations. The dark is two minutes, the light is four minutes. As you can see the
south side there of town is, has a little big of lag in our response time, as does the
east, but uh, certainly with the development that's anticipated in that area, this
would be an excellent spot to,uh, locate a fire station. Some of the things that we
consider to be challenge in our call volume. I know we spoke at an earlier session
about our call volume and this,just to give you a quick overview of where we
were, where we're at. We anticipate we'll....we'll top 7,000 calls for service this
year and we expect that to continue to grow as the community continues to grow a
little bit. The other, uh, issue that we have is more folks,more things,more calls.
So we do have some overlapping incidents, and what that does is it takes the first
two available unit out of the district, so that there's not another, uh, we don't
house two in all of our sub-fire stations. So we need to have a call covered, so
having a station down at this location in the future would also help with some of
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that in-fill. As you can see the numbers have kind of increased over the years. A
final thing is the travel time map. What I did is we just put 2017's calls to show
where they are located in relation to the fire stations. And again, it's just outside
the four-minute response time that we try to, uh, adhere to. So the potential
benefits that we see is that it will help us enhance services to all of Iowa City, and
in the event of those overlapping calls at a station from this location, especially
with the, uh, McCollister Boulevard being completed in the future, will help us go
east-west and come to the central district, and this would allow for future looking
to relocate Fire Station 3 also to a little more east and north. That's the mock-up
map of our best guess of travel times with that station plotted. So...again, that's..
that's the lot we'd like to pur....purchase. We hope that you agree, and if you
have any questions I'd be happy to answer them.
Throgmorton: Any questions for Chief? Boy(both talking) scot-free (laughter) All right, any
Council discussion?
Fruin: Mayor, if I can just mention, this, uh, purchase agreement has several conditions,
uh, attached to it. Uh, perhaps most notably is the approval of the rezoning, uh,
and that will be coming to you probably in a few months. I think there's been a
good neighbor meeting scheduled, uh, in that neighborhood and that's gotta go to
Planning and Zoning and ultimately, uh, get your approval. And then there's a lot
of requirements for the developer to....to build infrastructure. So the price
reflects a fully developed, kind of shovel-ready if you will, site and that's
obviously not in that condition now. So,uh, with your approval tonight, we...we
would have the purchase agreement signed, but we probably won't close until
about this time next year.
Throgmorton: So, Geoff,there are clear implications downstream with regard to capital
improvement...our cap....our capital improvements program and our annual
budget, at least as I look at it. Capital improvement meaning we gotta pay for the
new fire station at some point, and then if we have a new fire station, that implies
additional staff to staff the fire station. Right? So I'm sure that's being taken into
account.
Fruin: The latter's, uh, more difficult. Um, I could build the station, you know, on a
five-year plan fairly easily but,um, staffing it is...is tough. When you get your
budget in....in January, you won't see, uh, staffing proposed for this fire station.
We don't anticipate that we'll be opening this station in the next five years. We
do think it's just an opportune time, before the area develops more, that we secure
the parcel that we want. Um, so it's not...it's not imminent and, uh, as the Chief
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alluded to, what we would probably look to do as well as the same time we open
Station 5 is to push Station 3 further out to the east, to cover some of the growth
area out lea....out east that we currently, uh, don't serve within our travel-time
standards right now.
Teague: Is it true to say that if this land was purchased in let's say five years, uh, we
decide that, you know, the station we don't want it there for whatever reason, urn,
the land can be used for something different.
Fruin: Correct. Presumably it would be zoned Public, so we could use it for another
public purpose, or we could, uh, go through a rezoning process and rezone it to
some other, uh, private use and sell the parcel. So yes, we're not....you're not
committing it until you actually vote on the hiring of the officers and the...and the,
uh, construction of the station, but as of today we think this is a....a very good
strategic location for the future fire service needs in our community.
Throgmorton: Any further discussion?
Salih: I just think this is....yeah, it's very good for public safety practice, you know,
I'm....I'm for it, yeah.
Throgmorton: Okay,hearing no further discussion,roll call please. Motion carries 7-0.
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17. Annual Urban Renewal Report-Resolution approving the Fiscal Year
Ending 2018 Annual Urban Renewal Area Report.
Mims: So moved.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? Wendy! (both talking)
Ford: Wendy Ford, Economic Development. Urn, one of the reasons your packet was
so long today is because there were 57 pages of the annual urban renewal report
included in it, and this is a....a required report to the State of Iowa, which is,urn,
actually web-based. It's online, uh, or it will be online shortly after it's approved,
and it....what it does is it looks back at all of the areas that have been established,
all of the urban renewal and TIF areas that have been established.....
Throgmorton: (power outage) Okay, we just got tossed from our horse and now we're back in
the saddle (laughter) Wendy!
Ford: Okay, well my only comment was,uh, while that large document is somewhat
hard to get an idea of what it's actually saying, I also included in your packet
a....a chart that helps with the big picture on, uh, tax increment financing and our
projects, and what it does is show the increase in value over the years of the
projects that the City has assisted with tax increment financing. We started our
first one in 2001 and since then, all the projects that we've assisted with TIF have
added more than$140 million worth of new taxable value to the city. So, that's
my main comment on that. That's the big takeaway that goes with the annual
urban renewal report.
Throgmorton: Questions for Wendy?
Salih: I just wanna ask you, if there is a, you know, to tell you the truth, this is
complicated for me when I start reading it and I just....to tell you the truth I
haven't even gone all the way down, because I start like (unable to understand)
and I just wanna ask you like some question. Is there is, I know there is some
condition supposed to be attached to each one,uh, like a job (mumbled)
requirement of job (mumbled) those kind of conditions.
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Ford: Yes,there are. Urn,with....with each, uh,project the City approves, urn, there's
some degree of public benefit that you all weigh in your decision to fund these or
not.
Salih: And I guess my question will be,uh, are all of the condition attach to these TIFs
being met, like usually.
Ford: Yes! Every year we have to certify that the conditions that were agreed to are...
are being upheld and if they are then we continue with the agreement and disperse
funds as agreed.
Salih: Sure. Yeah,that's only question. Okay!
Throgmorton: Any further discussion or questions for Wendy? Thank you, Wendy. Council
discussion?
Mims: Pretty significant increase in....taxable valuation with these projects, and...and I
think lots of other benefits. I think with the Sycamore Mall, Iowa City
Marketplace, trying to maintain that as a vibrant retail,uh,is really important for
that south side of Iowa City. Urn, some of these....few of'em do involve...
involve jobs, particularly the Heinz Road,uh,projects that involve jobs. So,urn, I
think we do a very good job and we're very cautious and judicious with our use of
TIF in Iowa City, and I think we get good return in many different ways, not just
increased taxable value.
Throgmorton: One example of that, Susan, I think is Sycamore Mall,which you mentioned.
Seems to me its doing pretty darn well right now.
Mims: It is.
Throgmorton: Uh, at least that's the way it looks every time I go out there and see cars in the
parking lot and that kind of thing. Yeah. Okay. Any further discussion?
Hearing none,roll call please. Motion carries 7-0.
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18. Englert/FilmScene Capital Campaign-Resolution approving a grant
agreement for the Strengthen, Grow,Evolve Capital Campaign supporting
the Englert Theatre and FilmScene.
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion....
Mims: (both talking) So moved!
Salih: Second.
Throgmorton: ...to approve. Uh,moved by Mims, seconded by Salih. Wendy? Discussion.
Ford: Good evening. The Englert and FilmSeam....FilmScene have formed a joint
venture called Strengthen*Grow*Evolve, and they've embarked on a$10 million
capital campaign to do just that—strengthen, grow, and evolve. They have
requested$1 million from the City for the `strengthen' component, which
includes improvements at both venues,the historic Englert Theater and the
Packing and Provisions Building in which FilmScene is located. There are three
components to this. I'll tell you a little bit about the other, uh, couple as well.
The `grow' components include outfitting the new FilmScene theaters, education
outreach, and ramping up of familiar festivals we know—Mission Creek, the
Refocused Film Festival, and the Witching Hour. The `evolve' component
involves, or includes starting a downtown artist residency house, a local arts
incubation project, and an arts alliance initiative, among other things. But the
strengthen component is the one that they've asked for assistance from the City.
That includes a 5.1....that includes $5.1 million in physical improvements to the
historic venues. Approximately 4.9 million,that's almost all of it,would go
towards the historic renovations at the Englert, including the marquee, facade,
windows, interiors, and roof, and upgrades to seating, sound, and lighting.
Upgrades at SceneOne, FilmScene, at the Packaging and Provisions venue,
include sound,hearing-assisted sound, new seating, and projection equipment,
and those,uh, improvements total approximately$165,000. The distribution of
the City's 1 million would reflect the relative differences as well and instructs the
joint venture to distribute 83% of the funds to the Englert and 17%to the
FilmScene's Packaging and Provisions venue. To fund the 5.1 million in
improvements, they are working on a package of historic predit...uh,tax credits
that would bring approximately$1.7 million to the project, with private donations
of more than 2.4 million, along with a grant from the City of a million dollars.
We've been working with the staff from both organizations for nearly two years
on this,uh, as they prepare their capital campaign, um, and they've worked with
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the historic tax credit, uh, folks,the architects and everybody else. We've been
working on,urn, getting the timing just right for this request. Um, and the time is
now. You've actually been aware of this since, uh,your budgeting of the fiscal
year 18 budget, one...when,uh,we had 500,000 the first year's worth, or the first
half of the$1 million in the budget. That was never distributed,but it was carried
over. So,um, now what we'd like to do is begin the process, get this agreement,
uh...um, agreed to, and uh, what we would do is have two installments of
$250,000 each, yet this fiscal year, and two more in fiscal 20. Urn, the funds then
can be sourced from the downtown urban renewal area tax increment, which this
year alone has approximately$8.9 million of increment available for us in it.
Even with the request for the Englert's $1 million in there,we would only need to
use a total of 1.6 million of the 8.9 million available. Andre,uh, Perry and Joe
Tiefenthaler are both here, along with,uh, Amy Hospodarsky from one of the
boards, and urn, I,uh, open the,uh, floor to questions, either for me or for them.
Throgmorton: Questions for Wendy? Or....
Salih: When you say like 8.9 million available in increment, and we gonna use 1.6
million of this,what do you mean....what do you mean by that? I really don't
understand, like...
Ford: It means that,urn,the....the taxable value that the City could tap for, uh,use in a
TIF project equals 8.9 million. Now it's important to also know that we,the City
also counts on a good portion of that $8.9 million for general operating expenses.
So it behooves us to manage the use of that very judiciously and this would,uh,
this request would bring.....our need of the 8.9 million up to 1.6 million.
Salih: Okay. You mean.....that's where it come from? Right, from the (both talking)
Ford: Yeah, and it's not sitting in an account somewhere right now. This is,uh,this is
the, an annual amount that's available because of the increase in property values
since the base value was set,back in 2001.
Salih: When you say it's not sifting there somewhere....you mean the 8.9 is not sitting
somewhere.
Ford: It's not in an account anywhere,no.
Salih: Okay, and how we gonna give out like....this money if the money is not sitting
somewhere?
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Ford: What....what.we have to do,the mechanics of it are we make a promise, for
example we say we're gonna provide a....a grant to the Englert. Then we have to
certify,uh, debt with the County Auditor,the taxing entity, and then they actually
collect the taxes and then distribute them back to the City.
Salih: Okay. And is this something we can do it only for this kind of things or for
(mumbled)
Ford: Um,this is the same source of funding used for our,the TIF projects that we have
downtown right now, so, um,the Chauncey, uh, is one, the Park at 201 was one,
any of the projects that we've assisted, uh, downtown anyway have come from
the same,uh, available source of tax increment financing.
Salih: And should be only downtown.
Ford: In this case. Right. But downtown is one of 13 districts we have now.
Salih: Sure. And all of them could have the same thing,because you said earlier there is
13 district,whatever. I don't know.
Mikes: All of...it has, all of them have different urban renewal plans, and you can only
spend the money in ways that are authorized by....the urban renewal plan.
Salih: And each urban area, it has (both talking)
Offices: ....plan....right.
Salih: Yes, good to know! That's what I really....and....and when we gonna pay that?
Ford: Uh, that would,the...the agreement that you have in your packet,uh,has two
payments yet this fiscal year, and would have two payments in, uh, fiscal 20.
Salih: (mumbled) 20. All right! That's all I have.
Throgmorton: Any other questions for Wendy? Or for Joe or Andre or...Amy,right?
Mims: I don't have any questions. I just wanna say what a(both talking)
Throgmorton: Thanks,Wendy.
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Mims: ....what a great job that I think Andre and Joe and their staff and boards have
done in kind of pulling together this collaboration to really help the arts,urn, in
Iowa City and to make sure that we're maintaining these historic buildings, and at
the same time, urn,upgrading the....the infrastructure they need for their
performances and things like that,whether it's lighting and sound and those sorts
of things. Urn, and just the....the outreach, the free events,the reaching out to
members of the community that often times wouldn't go to those things, so it's....
it's much bigger than just....fixing up the buildings. It's...it's a huge
collaboration. This piece is only for the capital part of it. There....that whole
other piece is for that....grow and evolve,revolve and grow(laughter and several
talking) evolve! I think it's strength, grow, evolve? Okay. So, yeah. They've
got a whole plan. It's great. It's great for our community, and they just do a
fantastic job, so....happy to support it!
Taylor: I would have to agree with Susan. I'd actually, after all these years, gone to my
first movie at the FilmScene(laughs) downtown and it was....it was an amazing
experience! I would encourage anybody who has not done that to go there. It's
just, it's different than going into a regular theater, nothing against regular
theaters, but it's just an amazing experience and of course the Englert, I've been
to many events there, and they're....they're both just real jewels,right there in our
downtown area, and uh, whatever we can do to,urn,preserve this bit of history
for Iowa City, I'm in favor of it.
Salih: . I agree too, you know,urn, my question doesn't mean anything really, like
opposing this or anything, you know,but the opposite completely. I like it and
uh, I work many times with Andrew and some people at the Englert Theater
because I start seeing them really reaching out to many different communities,
trying to introduce the FilmScene to them and now a lot people start knowing
about it and it is really awesome and I'm very supporting that. My question just
was I see the City's,they done very good job budgeting$1 million to do this, so
we can do the same thing in something else. That's what,the only question
I....(mumbled) but um, support for this. Yeah.
Teague: I'm anxious to see that the Englert is,you know, gonna,uh, continue, urn,to rev
....revitalize this buildin'. I actually saw Mrs. Doubtfire there as well as, urn....
uh, the Titanic. Both of those I cried through(laughter)well at least Doubtfire at
the end and then Titanic was a hard one for me to get through,but...um, so I've
seen the revitalization of it, the Englert, and to the theater and the things they do.
So I think this is a great opportunity,uh, for our community.
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Cole: The other thing I wanted to emphasize, I was really pleased in the Economic
Development Committee meeting, Englert's also hiring a Community Outreach
Coordinator, which I think is, you know, one of our concerns is to provide a lot
of the benefits that we see downtown,but really to have that outreach component.
I know that that's always been at the core of your mission,um,but with resources
now you're able (mumbled) It won't fund the Community Outreach Coordinator,
but I just wanted to emphasize a real positive development. Just wanna make sure
that the benefits that we have downtown are extended throughout and that's really
part of their planning. I think it's terrific. Susan, you had mentioned the free
events. They've also done a fantastic job of balancing the pay events with the
free events, and free events as we know aren't free, and so kudos to them, and
finally I think they've done some great work in terms of racial justice. I mean
they were really central to bringing in Common,um, and while that was really
a...an amazing event that I was able to participate in. So, you know, sometimes as
City Councilors the best thing we can do is just get out of the way, and I think
with what you guys do down there, I think that's really what our....our objective
is, and assist you when we can.
Throgmorton: John, did you want to say anything?
Thomas: Yeah, I.....certainly the, um,the Englert and FilmScene, you guys are doing great
work. Uh, the programming is just outstanding. Uh, and this is such a beautifully
conceived program, you know,historic credits,uh,the private fundraising, and
the City's contribution. So it's a really kind of a model approach in my view, in
terms of fundraising.
Throgmorton: Andre, if you ever want a photograph of the Englert's....last day,uh,before the
renovations started, I have one. I....I took it on,uh, December the 31a, 1999.
Just gettin' ready to take off somewhere. Anyhow, I'm not gonna repeat what
everybody said. What they said, I agree with. Great job! No further discussion?
Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 7-0.
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19. Annual TIF certification filing—Resolution directing the filing of TIF
certification under Iowa Code Section 403.19 for the 2018 end of year
certification of urban renewal projects.
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion please?
Salih: Move.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Salih, seconded by Mims. Discussion? Wendy!
Ford: Hello again! Every year the City is required to file an annual TIF debt
certification with the County Auditor, and it's a little simpler than that last group
of forms, uh, that you saw. There are simply three forms,uh, included, all
included in your packets. Uh, one certifies new debt, uh, another changes an
amount of debt that has already been certified, and the third de-certifies, uh, the
need to, uh....uh, divert any of the tax increment for any of our projects. Those
are my only comments, but I'd be happy to ask....answer questions.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Wendy. Council discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion
carries 7-0.
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20. Assessment Schedule—Resolution adopting an assessment schedule of
unpaid mowing, clean-up of property,snow removal, sidewalk repair, and
stop box repair charges and directing the Clerk to certify the same to the
Johnson County Treasurer for collection in the same manner as property
taxes.
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion please?
Thomas: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Thomas, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Salih: I just really wanna ask question, you know(unable to understand) is there is any
reason owner does not want to pay that? Is this like really,he have financial
problem or....is something going on here that you don't know of or.....
Dilkes: We don't have any idea what the reason for this is. Urn,the property owner has
been notified that the debt is due, urn, and of the possibility of...of a lien on the
property and we've not heard anything from 'em. (several talking)
Fruehling: ....before we assess, I think the Accounting Department sends out(mumbled) it's
at least three statements.....
Dilkes: Yeah.
Fruehling: ...before we(both talking)
Salih: Like he,uh, whoever,the owner, did not come forward and say maybe I need like
payment arrangement or maybe I need this or this? Nothing? You didn't hear
anything from them, from him(mumbled)
Dilkes: And sometimes at these hearings....we usually have a lot more than just one.
Urn,but sometimes at these hearings somebody will come forward and say there
was an issue and then the Council's practice is to defer that, get some information
from staff, and deal with it for next time. So it's...he had the oppor...he or she or
whoever the property owner is had the opportunity to come tonight, say
something.
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Salih: Okay.
Throgmorton: Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 7-0.
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23. Community Comment
Throgmorton: Gustave, do you want to say something?
Stewart: Gustave Stewart. Oh, that was loud! (laughter) Urn, Student Liaison. So as it
currently stands, it is about 8:25. So, if you're watching Channel 4 and you have
not voted, I encourage you to vote (laughter)have until 9:00 P.M. You can check
your,urn,where....where your poll location is online. It's easy. Go for it! Urn,
and then I also wanted to say,uh, liked what the student said earlier, um, one....
one, through the renter's guide survey and whatnot, one of the things that we, urn,
found out was that 51% of,urn, students, urn, at least according to this survey,
signed their lease November or before, um,which....which is just, yeah! Um,but
that's just putting kind of like the statistics to the qualitative,urn, information.
Anyways,thank you!
Throgmorton: With regard to your advice to follow students in...in voting, did I hear you say
'Run, don't walk?' (laughter)
Stewart: Let's go for that, yes! (laughter) As long as you're doing it safely and you don't
get hurt. Make sure you stretch before and after(laughter)
Throgmorton: All right! Thanks!
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24. City Council Information
Throgmorton: Maybe we could start with somebody, who we gonna start with here? Uh, maybe
we could start with Bruce and move to the right.
Teague: All right. Sounds perfect! Um, and so that I'm clear(laughs) this is just talkin'
about things I've done and (both talking)
Throgmorton: Like playin' basketball a couple days ago (both talking)
Teague: Absolutely! So,um, I was able to attend the Human Rights Award Breakfast,urn,
which was an awesome....awesome and amazing event. I also, urn, went to a
(can't hear) meeting, uh, the same day, and did a Shelter House tour on the same
day. So, three events in a day. It was pretty awesome. Urn....I.....urn, I went to
the `Support Trans Lives, Don't Erase Me,' and that was downtown at the
Pentacrest. And I actually, um, at the end of that, urn, Kurt Friese walked me, uh,
kind of from the center of the Pentacrest all the way to the end of that, urn, the
street there, and we had an awesome conversation, which was, uh, for me pretty
special, urn, because potentially...I'm not sure if he went anywhere else but I
could have been the last person that he saw, urn, that night, and he was there, urn,
supportin' trans lives as well, and so....and we learned of his death the next day
on, urn, Friday the....the, October 26th, so...um,hats off to, uh, Kurt and, uh, his
memory and the things that he did for us,uh, in this community. Uh, Friday
night, um, on the, um, 26th as well, urn, I attended, urn, the NAACP Freedom
Fund banquet, where Chief Matherly was honored and he received a soso....a
social justice award from Iowa City NAACP and that was held at the Unitarian
Universalist Society. Um.....and then Susan and, uh, Mayor, urn, we were at the
South District Neighborhood Association on Saturday, uh, 10/27,urn, to listen to,
uh, some of the cur...concerns that they have in that neighborhood. Uh, ironically
they'll be meetin' again, uh, monthly on the first Wednesdays of every month.
Um....and so the next one will be tomorrow night at 6:00 P.M. That's gonna be
at the Broadway Center, urn, and I do plan to attend. Urn, other than that, urn, I
plan to meet with the Dream Center on the 12th of November. Just to learn more
about their program.
Throgmorton: Yeah, very good (both talking)
Teague: Oh! One last thing....Iowa City employee appreciation is gonna be corrin' up, on
the 15th of November, and I'm excited to be a part of that as well.
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Throgmorton: Very good. Maz?
Salih: I really don't have anything. It was....it was really like starting the week off, you
know, that the day that I hear about Kurt Friese,has become like a....it was really
tough for me to just(mumbled) you know, try to process that information. I just
figure out that like really we handled this differently from culture to culture, and I
just learn a lot of like new thing to me about the deaths in this country or
American cultures, you know, or different cultures. I ask a lot questions so I can,
you know,just like deal with this, but.....(mumbled) last thing was on the Human
Right we sat at same table with the City Manager and some other people and I
learn like two day later about that, which is really (mumbled) sorry to the family
and everyone on the community who love Kurt Friese. And we gonna continue
his legacy. Anyway, that all I have. I don't even remember anything else. Yeah.
We have new space for CWJ (several talking)that's good news, yeah. Uh, you
know, on,uh, we just move starting November 1", and this is our new place is
1556 S. First Avenue, uh, Unit#C. Anyone is welcome to come and visit.
Throgmorton: Very good. Rockne?
Cole: One of the programs that I'm most proud of that the Council has begun to
implement is the racial justice, or social justice and racial equity grant, and uh,
we're gonna be eval....or Human Rights Commission is gonna be evaluating that,
urn, here shortly and there's two educational sessions that are offered so people
can sort of know how to apply for this and what the criteria are, and so, um,
there'll be two sessions that will be offered Tuesday, November 13th, uh, from
12:00 to 1:15 P.M. Um, at City Hall, Emma Harvat Hall—right here—and the
other one is Tuesday, November 13th, from 5:30 P.M. to 6:45 P.M. You know our
goal with this program is to activate as much programming as we can with both
new organizations, as well as more established organizations, and the goal of this
event is to ensure that people are targeting their requests and have the highest
likelihood that hopefully, um, they'll be one of the, um, organizations that will be
selected. Uh....wanted to let everyone know about some upcoming events that
we're in holiday season now. Um, the Iowa City Holiday Market's gonna be
taking place, 2018. Mark your calendars for this! Um, the Iowa City Holiday
Market will be taking place from 8:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Saturday,November,
uh, 17th, and Saturday, December 8th, at the Robert A. Recreation Center, 220 S.
Gilbert Street. So those are two of the events and I wanted to also follow up, uh,
regarding the death of Kurt Michael Friese. Um, you know, uh, elected leaders,
we see each other very frequently for our joint meetings. Um, we have a lot of
policy, uh, discussions and I know, Bruce, you remember when we were at the
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labor event, Kurt was one of those guys, I know my friend, uh, Monique Galpin.
He was one of those guys when there's a big event, I would always go and talk to
Kurt, cause you would always have a great conversation. You'd always have a lot
of laughs. Urn, Kurt was a guy after my own heart. He, uh,he liked to laugh at
his own jokes, and uh,but he also just had this sort of brimming sense of life with
everything that he did,uh, whether it's local foods,whether it's the small
business, uh, that he was able to establish, which as we know in this....in this
market it's a very difficult thing to do to start a successful restaurant. Um, so I
think Kurt was one of those unique people that could really combine both his
passion for social justice, but also he had that pragmatic business sense, and I also
remember as our, urn, County evaluated the minimum wage, uh, Kurt was one of
the first business leaders to speak out and really support that and I think that really
meant a lot to a lot of people. Uh, his contributions, you could go on all night
talking about the impact that he made, um, his presence will remain with our
community for a long time, and when you think slow foods in the City of Iowa
City, you think Kurt Michael Friese. When you think, uh, local economic
development, you think Kurt Michael Friese. When you think innovation and
entrepreneurship, you think Kurt Michael Priese...Friese, uh, and to his family,
um, his loving wife, it...it's just been a very difficult time for them and, urn, you
know, our thoughts and prayers are with that family, and I'm hoping that, uh,
they'll reach out to other friends and family. I know that they have this loving
network behind them. Taylor and Devin and Kim, it's just been a very difficult
process I know and, uh, very difficult for all of us. So I think it's a reminder for
all of us to,uh, you know, seize each day and to celebrate,uh, the wonderful
leaders that we have and the life that they've lived. So, um.....love you, Kurt.
Thomas: Um,just, uh, follow up on that HRC Award breakfast. That's one of my favorite
events. Um. it's really just a....so gratifying to see what....what folks are doing
and being acknowledged for and it's a(clears throat) morning event. What does it
start at 7:00 or something (laughter) which is....is sort of, especially at this time
of year, it's sort of you're....you're getting out in darkness, but uh, once there, I
don't know, there's something....that's kinda fun about being there so early. And
it's a very well-paced event. Urn,just a wonderful thing. And then of course, uh,
of course Kurt's death, uh, I, you know, really shook the community there. Just
wanted to mention the beautiful memorial to him at the Englert last Saturday, uh,
was really a special opportunity to....to, urn, for people to speak about Kurt's
story, which....which did reach in so many different directions.
Throgmorton: Susan?
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Mims: Yeah, I really don't have anything. I mean I think everybody's kind of hit on all
the bases as we've gone around. So I'll just say thanks for everything.
Throgmorton: (mumbled) Pauline (laughs) Sorry!
Taylor: Oh I've got a list of things. It was very....been a very busy last couple of weeks.
Urn....uh, course the toughest was, um....uh, Kurt passing and, uh, as John said,
the Englert, we talked about it earlier,what a wonderful place it is and it was a
beautiful tribute to him and was packed house, which, uh,just showed how the
community cared about him. So, he will be missed. Urn,but events, it was, as I
said, very busy. Uh, back on the 17`s of October, uh, Planned Parenthood had an
open house and was very well attended. It's, uh, they've got wonderful, very
caring staff. It's really a great resource for this community. Uh, that Friday, the
VA Annex ribbon cutting. The Mayor was invited to say a few words at that.
Urn, I... I just see it as a shining example of how, uh, a building can be
repurposed. The first floor has just some beautiful exam rooms. I would
encourage everybody to go and just see how they've redone that. It just, uh, does
not, uh....uh, look like the Post office anymore at all there. It's just a very well
designed space. Uh, course the Human Rights breakfast, uh, congrats to the well
deserved recipients. Uh, it goes to show that, uh, we are blessed in this
community with a lot of people and a lot of organizations that really care about,
uh, the well-being of all persons in this community. Uh, then on the 25th,
Thursday the 25th, the Hyatt ribbon cutting. Again the Mayor was asked to say a
few words at that. Did a good job. Uh, I enjoyed that event and it was nice to be
able to tour the facility and actually see it as I've been watching it be built and,
uh,never saw the inside, and uh, it is a very nice structure that kind of fills the
space that was empty for a long time and the rooms are really beautifully designed
and most have a floor-to-ceiling view of....of the entire city, uh, depending on
which section of the building you have your room in. It's very (both talking)
Throgmorton: ....there's the swimming pool.
Taylor: And the swimming pool's beautiful, yes, it's beautiful. Very nice, and it's
(mumbled)The Rise then with the, uh, little patio in between, so....congrats to
everyone that was involved in that development. Very nice,um, and then a fun
event Friday the 26th, uh, my daughter and I participated in the Friday Shop
Crawl, which was downtown. Uh, it was a really fun way to showcase the
downtown, uh,businesses and despite how it was kinda cool and damp cause you
had to walk outside between the,uh, all the businesses. Uh, it was well attended
and folks including myself were making some purchases downtown. So, uh, I
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think it was good for the Downtown District. I wish Nancy was still here so she
could speak to that,but uh, I look forward to other events downtown like that.
Uh, and then, uh, upcoming, course a lot of Veterans Day events and, uh, on
Saturday, uh, a friend is a veteran so I was invited to go along to, uh, watch the
game at Kinnick, up in the press box. They had a special veterans event for
veterans. So,urn, it was well planned and it included a wave over towards the
Children's Hospital and a fly-over with,uh, with planes and just a nice way to
acknowledge veterans of...of all ages, and on that note, uh, remind folks that,
uh.....uh,the City has Veterans Day schedule on Monday, myself included.
That's usually my trash day, so I've gotta remember that I've gotta take it out on
Tuesday, so uh,remind folks of some of the closures in the City for that, and also
on that note, um, there's a Veterans for Peace ceremony at 10:45 in the morning
on the Pentacrest Sunday morning. Uh, that they have every year. So....that's
all!
Throgmorton: Okay. Well that's a lot. Uh....I.....I don't wanna repeat what everybody said
about Kurt. Y'all spoke very eloquently about that fine man. Uh, and....the....
the main thing I think about, and I don't know if it's true for y'all, but it seemed
to me last week was emotionally really hard, really hard. Not just because Kurt
died so suddenly and unexpectedly,but because of the events in Pittsburgh where
11 Jewish people were assassinated basically at,uh, in their synagogue, and two
African American people were killed down in my home, old hometown of
Louisville, Kentucky. It was just a very hard....week. Uh, but here we are.
Maybe it'll get better(laughs) Hope it will. Let me mention a few things I've
done. Some of you already mentioned various things I've been involved in, but I
attended the Community Foundation of Johnson County's grant awards luncheon
on the 17th of October. Attended the Immigrant and Refugee Association's
annual dinner on the 27th up in Cedar Rapids. Uh, Rockne did as well. Maz, were
you there, I'm tryin' to remember?
Salih: No, I couldn't. My child got sick.
Throgmorton: Yeah. Had lunch with mayors Lundell and Donahue on the 30th, and I think
there's some good news that will be coming out of that, not because we met over
lunch, but from some things I heard at the lunch and maybe we'll hear from Geoff
about that soon, I hope. I don't wanna spill the beans. Later that night I spoke at
the vigil held at the U of I's IMU for the 11 Jewish people killed at the Tree of
Life Synagogue, and the people killed in Louisville. That was...there was a, it
was a wonderfully moving event involving I'd guess 300, 400 people, filling the
IMU. The last part of it, everybody held candles, you know, and....none of'em
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were lit (laughs) So funny, I thought I was holding a real candle and I turned
around to ask somebody to light my candle. No, you gotta flick the switch, Jim
(laughter) So anyhow, but it was quite a moving event. On the 1'and the 3"of
November I attended the vigil and celebration of life for Kurt, and yeah, very
moving. Tomorrow, sorry, I have to wake up at 5:00 in the morning and depart
for a three-day trip to Los Angeles for the National League of Cities City Summit.
I'm looking forward to that. On the 12th I'll be in prison again....this time to
witness the Soweto Gospel Choir join the Oakdale Community Choir in an
afternoon concert. That should be great fun. On the 13th, Susan and I will be
meeting with members of the Old Towne Village Homeowners Association,
learning about matters of concern to them. Yeah. CVB board meeting on the
15th. Things move along. So that's what I'm up to.
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25. Report on Items from City Staff
a. City Manager
Throgmorton: Geoff?
Fruin: Nothing tonight.
Throgmorton: Ashley?
Monroe: I'll just say that we're starting to talk about the U.S. Census, uh, 2020 and we held
a couple of meetings last week. They were small but had some good
conversations and you will see more information, uh, soon as we....as we get it
about the Census, so....that's it!
Throgmorton: Okie dokie.
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