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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-12-18 CorrespondenceItem Number: 8.a. + r ui �1 lat • yyrrmr�� CITY Ok IOWA CITY www.icgov.org December 18, 2018 ATTACHMENTS: Description Barbara McFarland: Ped Mall Benches Robin Kash: Ped Mall benches Jeanette Love: Benches in Iowa City 2019 Mark Petterson: Benches on the Pedestrian Mall Garry Klein: Ped Mall Progress? Sean McRoberts: Ped Mall Benches Ethan Forsgren: Those awful benches Caroline Dieterle: New benches Kellie Fruehlin From: McFarland, Barbara J <barbara-mcfarland@uiowa.edu> Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2018 8:45 AM To: Council Subject: Ped Mall Benches Greetings City Council Members, I would like to express my opinion about the new benches on the Ped Mall. I feel that the new benches with the incorporated arm rests are perfectly fine. I believe it offers a more inviting sitting area to people. I agree with Senior Civil Engineer Scott Sovers statement: "If there's someone you don't know, someone is going to feel more comfortable so to speak if they can have a divider or something to divide their space," Personal space is a viable issue. do not see any reason to change them out. Thank you, Barb McFarland Kellie Fruehling From: Robin Kash <robinkashl807@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, December 08, 2018 4:56 PM To: Council Subject: Ped Mall benches Good Day, One of the great things about living in Cedar Rapids is that Iowa City is nearby. My wife and delight to come there to dine (love Trumpet Blossom), shop downtown (Prairie Lights is one of our stops without fail), visit the library (such a welcoming place), and walk everywhere. I was glad when the Ped Mall was reopened, but shocked to see benches with armrests midway. For one thing, it removes the middle seat! Then I learned how it affects homeless people who have no place to recline and sleep at night. I don't think benches should take the place of adequate housing for homeless people, but since there seems not enough housing, open benches could serve as an alternative while adequate housing is developed. I hope something will be done to make benches more accessible by all. Thank you, Robin Kash 1806 Grande Avenue SE Cedar Rapids IA 52403 Robin Kash Kellie Fruehling From: Jeanette Love <jlovearchaeology2@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, December 08, 2018 6:18 PM To: Council Cc: opinion@press-citizen.com Subject: Benches in Iowa City 2019 To Whom It May Concern: It has been brought to my attention a concern regarding the proposed change of benches in downtown Iowa City to incorporate separation bars, with the intent to discourage people from sleeping on benches. I encourage the council to reconsider this action, and continue to provide non obstructed benches for persons who wish to rest in them. Regardless if a person is homeless or not, a roomy bench is a good spot to relax for anyone. When I was in the Iowa City shelter, folks could not stay there during the day, they were asked to leave and return in the evening to have a bed. For myself, I face high fatigue during the afternoons. As a U of I student, I slept in libraries, parks, and benches. Finding it necessary to lay down, rest to recharge. When my daughter was young, we both stretched out on benches, a bench without separations is also a great place for children. In my experience, disabled persons use the benches as they are currently. It may appear scary at night when a homeless person is at rest, however, many have health issues where a place to lie down, off the ground is needed. The requirements of the Iowa City homeless shelter may not meet every person's needs, such as time schedule for a bed, anxiety, substance abuse, or lack of transport to the shelter. If there is someone on your board who has faced homelessness, and has health issues, this person may have good ideas on how to approach this. Perhaps an agency placed downtown with rooms and cots. Or just leaving the benches as they are for all persons to relax on. I personally prefer the outdoor sunshine to stretch out on a bench in the spring, summer and fall, for a nice nap. Thank you, Jeanette Love Jlovearchaeoloey2@email.com Lyme Disease Survivor Kellie Fruehling From: Mark Petterson <petterson.mr@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, December 10, 2018 8:24 AM To: Council Subject: Benches on the Pedestrian Mall Dear City Council Members: Thank you for all your tireless work to make Iowa City one of the best places to live in the Midwest. I have lived here for over a year, and am proud to call Iowa City home. I am writing to express my concern regarding the handrails on the newly -installed Pedestrian Mall benches. While I am thankful for the renovations to the Ped Mall, I am concerned that the design of the new benches is harmful to the welfare of the city's homeless population, and more broadly, does not represent the inviting community that Iowa City strives to embody. Regardless of intent (and I am not interested in placing blame on designers, the city, or anyone else), the current design that incorporates middle -of -the -bench armrests is an unnecessary impediment to our under - housed neighbors who use public benches to lay down and rest, regardless of the weather. While there are still full benches available, even the optics of the new benches are hostile to our homeless and under -housed friends. This isn't the image that we, as a city, should be projecting. Just as we strive to provide shelter and services to the most vulnerable in our society, we should also design our public spaces to be inviting and open. The homeless pose no threat to the city; they are our neighbors and every bit a part of our community as those with stable housing. I respectfully ask that you act to replace the benches in questions with re -designed benches that do not incorporate center armrests. I would be happy to speak to any council person interested in further discussion on this matter. Sincerely, Mark Petterson 932 East College St. Iowa City, IA 52240 913.231.4972 Petterson.mr@gmail.com Kellie Fruehling From: Garry Klein <garryklein@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, December 10, 2018 1:54 PM To: council@icgov.org; Council Subject: Ped Mall Progress? Council Members, I know that you've likely heard an earful about the benches on the Ped Mall. Beyond the fact that they seems to have a well -intended purpose to give comfort to those with physical limitations and personal space for those who might be company shy, they also have what I perceive and hope are unintended consequences of keeping people from lying on them, of keeping overweight people from having a place to sit, of adding a place for kids to accidentally clang their heads while playing, and of creating a place for bicycles, dogs, or anything else that can be secured to the armrests (and which would deny others the ability to sit). At the very least, it might be good to consider a few benches without those partition bars (or any bars). We are a city that celebrates diversity and this is another opportunity to publicly display that intention. Thanks for your consideration. Sincerely, Garry Klein 628 2nd Ave. Iowa City, IA 52245 Kellie Fruehling From: Sean McRoberts <pastor@stmarks-umc.net> Sent: Monday, December 10, 2018 3:06 PM To: Council Subject: Ped Mall Benches Dear City Council Members, I am writing to express my concern about the new benches on the pedestrian mall downtown. I appreciate the city's efforts to maintain and update the ped mall, which is a unique feature of our community. Unfortunately, the selection of the new benches, with a center armrest, to replace the beautifully painted benches previously on the mall sends a message that some members of our community are not welcome in this space. In particular, the center armrest prevents people from laying on the bench, either to rest or to sleep for a time. In the past, the ped mall has been a welcome space for our neighbors who may be homeless or who may want or need to rest. I am proud to call this community home, and proud of our ethic of welcome and inclusiveness, so I am confident that the inhospitable design of these new benches was an oversight and unintentional. However, now that the impact of the design has been brought to your attention it is important that you take appropriate action to remedy the situation. I recommend maintaining those benches without a center armrest that remain in the ped mall, rather than replacing them next spring. Further, those that have been removed should be restored, so that we will not lose any space for sitting or sleeping. Thank you for your time and understanding. Peace, Pastor Sean McRoberts St. Mark's United Methodist Church 2675 E Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52245 (319) 337-7201 Virus -free. www.avast.com 6,6t,- Kellie .6t,-Kellie Fruehling From: Sent: To: Subject: Dear City Council Members, Forsgren, Ethan A <ethan-forsgren@uiowa.edu> Thursday, December 13, 2018 3:06 PM Council Those awful benches Have you tried to sit on the benches in the Ped Mall? Late Handouts Distributed (Date) I've been talking with people about this bench fiasco and decided to do a little research myself. Behold, the problem is even worse than I thought: These new benches are hostile toward people who want to sleep on them. That's for sure. On top of that, they are also hostile toward anyone who would want to sit on them. Dividing up the bench with armrests, first of all, eliminates the ability to sit comfortably together in a group of 3 or more. A family with children, for example, can no longer sit together. Nor can a group of friends. Because of the armrests, you also can't you vary the distance between you and another person; you either have to sit super close together or section yourselves on either side of a cold steel bar, each of you in your own pen. If you want to rest your hand on the "armrest", you'll find you can't keep it there long because the metal's so cold to the touch. And if you wanted to turn toward your friend and sit side -ways, you'd can't do so comfortably because the seat is so slanted your hips will kink at an awkward angle. These benches are universally uncomfortable. I'm sure you've already received a wave of letters about these benches because of their hostile architecture. I fear you're about to get a whole second wave of letters when the weather's warm enough that people actually try to use these things. It seems Iowa City is now stuck with benches that are doubly bad because they were so clearly designed to repel people that are homeless, and, in attempt to do so, repel all of us... Serves us right, I guess. Ethan Forsgren Ethan Forsgren MD Candidate, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine MPP Candidate, Harvard Kennedy School of Government (515)451-9158 I x8365 Notice: This UI Health Care e-mail (including attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2521 and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete or destroy all copies of the original message and attachments thereto. Email sent to or from UI Health Care may be retained as required by law or regulation. Thank you. Kellie Fruehling From: Dieterle, Caroline M <caroline-dieterle@uiowa.edu> Late Handouts Distributed Sent: Friday, December 14, 2018 4:28 PM To: Council Subject: New benches 12—)1-7 ZI T (Date) To the City Council: The comfortable old 72" undivided benches have concave seats and could comfortably accommodate a mother sitting in the center with 2 or more children. The new ones won't. Whether homeless, temporarily dysfunctional due to inebriation, or simply TIRED, the old benches were inviting. Most of the new bench seats have a length of 64", divided into two seats by an `arm rest', so that each seating area is 31" wide. An ordinary kitchen chair is approximately 16-17" wide. Thus the new benches — which the City insists will provide more seating — really will seat fewer people than the old undivided benches did. The arm rest wastes 2". Two people will ordinarily not want to sit together in one space on the benches: too tight. So now only 2 can sit where formerly 3-4 could fit. A few new benches (those with black rails) have two 34" seats with a 2" wide armrest — but the seats are strongly convex! Mazahir Saleh is the Ione Councilperson who objected to the new bench design. Even her suggestion to leave half the benches 'as is' was not acceptable to the rest of the Council. Why? She was out -voted 6-1. Rockne Cole and most recently Bruce Teague have campaigned on representing the disadvantaged in our community. Why did they vote for these benches? With a professional landscape architect and a city planner also on the City Council, how could the new benches have been chosen in ignorance of the Defensive Engineering field? The Guardian (UK) published an expose' of Defensive Engineering, the new design field (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/feb/18/defensive-architecture-keeps- poverty-undeen-and-makes-us-more-hostile?) Defensive architecture: keeping poverty unseen and deflecting our guilt www.thequardian.com The spikes installed outside Selfridges in Manchester are the latest front in the spread of 'defensive architecture'. Is such open hostility towards the destitute making all our lives uglier? This engineering is specifically geared toward creating methods to prevent the free use of spaces hitherto considered "public", to satisfy corporate 'hygiene' and businesses' desire to get the poor out -of -sight and out -of -mind of shoppers and business owners. Specifically mentioned are spikes in the pavement, periodic sprinklers — and benches with solid metal dividers. Cited in The Guardian article are experts in urban architecture, environmental psychology, and urban geography; an artist, Fabian Brunsing, created a satirical "pay bench" art installation in protest. Chinese officials took Brunsing seriously, thought the idea was wonderful, and used his design to make and install park "pay benches": spikes on them are retracted for a limited time in response to feeding coins into a built-in meter. Will we be seeing those here next? In contrast to the old benches, the new ones look sterile, cold, and corporately ugly. As soon as the shine of newness wears off they will look shabby and cheap as well. Caroline Dieterle i Anti -homeless spires: 'Sleeping rough opened my eyes to the city's barged cruelty' 1-Yornelessness The spikes installed outside Selfridges in Manchester are the latest front in the spread of `defensive architecture'. Is such open hostility towards the destitute making all our lives uglier? Alex Andreou 1�,c 1 E; ' 'c; � 2('15 12,30 FS' Last �-nodif ed oti I hL;,, 112 Al! >G18 05 EDT F w' 6 Metal studs outside private flats on Southwark Bridge Road, London, Photograph: Guy Corbishley/Demotix/Corbis More than loo homeless people are "living" in the terminals of Heathrow airport this winter, according to official figures — a new and shameful record. Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have warned that homelessness in London is rising significantly faster than the nationwide average, and faster than official estimates. And yet, we don't see as many people sleeping rough as in previous economic downturns. Have our cities become better at hiding poverty, or have we become more adept at not seeing it? Last year, there was great public outcry against the use of "anti -homeless" spikes outside a London residential complex, not far from where I live. Social media was set momentarily ablaze with indignation, a petition was signed, a sleep -in protest undertaken, Boris Johnson was incensed and within a few days they were removed. This week, however, it emerged that Selfridges had installed metal spikes outside one of its Manchester stores — apparently to "reduce litter and smoking ... following customer complaints". The phenomenon of "defensive" or "disciplinary" architecture, as it is known, remains pervasive. Sign up to the Art Weekly email From ubiquitous protrusions on window ledges to bus -shelter seats that pivot forward, from water sprinklers and loud muzak to hard tubular rests, from metal park benches with solid dividers to forests of pointed cement bollards under bridges, urban spaces are aggressively rejecting soft, human bodies. We see these measures all the time within our urban environments, whether in London or Tokyo, but we fail to process their true intent. I hardly noticed them before I became homeless in 2000. An economic crisis, a death in the family, a sudden breakup and an even more sudden breakdown were all it took to go from a six -figure income to sleeping rough in the space of a year. It was only then that I started scanning my surroundings with the distinct purpose of finding shelter and the city's barbed cruelty became clear. I learned to love London Underground's Circle line back then. To others it was just the rather inefficient yellow line on the tube network. To me — and many homeless people — it was a safe, dry, warm container, continually travelling sometimes above the surface, sometimes below, like a giant needle stitching London's centre into place. Nobody harassed you or moved you on. You were allowed to take your poverty on tour. But engineering work put a stop to that. Next was a bench in a smallish park just off Pentonville Road. An old, wooden bench, made concave and smooth by thousands of buttocks, underneath a sycamore with foliage so thick that only the most persistent rain could penetrate it. Sheltered and warm, perched as it was against a wall behind which a generator of some sort radiated heat, this was prime property. Then, one morning, it was gone. In its place stood a convex metal perch, with three solid armrests. I felt such loss that day. FacebookTwitterPinterest Hostile architecture on the former Coutts Bank, Fleet Street, London. Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian "When you're designed against, you know it," says Ocean Howell, who teaches architectural history at the University of Oregon, speaking about anti -skateboarding designs. "Other people might not see it, but you will. The message is clear: you are not a member of the public, at least not of the public that is welcome here." The same is true of all defensive architecture. The psychological effect is devastating. There is a wider problem, too. These measures do not and cannot distinguish the "vagrant" posterior from others considered more deserving. When we make it impossible for the dispossessed to rest their weary bodies at a bus shelter, we also make it impossible for the elderly, for the infirm, for the pregnant woman who has had a dizzy spell. By making the city less accepting of the human frame, we make it less welcoming to all humans. By making our environment more hostile, we become more hostile within Lit. Defensive architecture is revealing on a number of levels, because it is not the product of accident or thoughtlessness, but a thought process. It is a sort of unkindness that is considered, designed, approved, funded and made real with the explicit motive to exclude and harass. It reveals how corporate hygiene has overridden human considerations, especially in retail districts. It is a symptom of the clash of private and public, of necessity and property. Pavement sprinklers have been installed by buildings as diverse as the famous Strand book store in New York, a fashion chain in Hamburg and government offices in Guangzhou. They spray the homeless intermittently, soaking them and their possessions. The assertion is clear: the public thoroughfare in front of a building, belongs to the building's occupant, even when it is not being used. Setha Low, a professor in environmental psychology, and urban geographer Neil Smith, in their book The Politics of Public Space, describe the phenomenon as a creeping encroachment that has "culminated in the multiple closures, erasures, inundations and transfigurations of public space at the behest of state and corporate strategies". They contend that the very economic and political revolutions that freed people from autocratic monarchies also enshrined principles of private property at the expense of a long tradition of common land. Sculptor Fabian Brunsigg brought a satirical eye to the issue by creating the "pay bench", an art installation of a park bench that retracts its metal spikes for a limited time when the prospective sitter feeds it a coin. Chinese officials, completely missing the joke, thought that this was a great idea and installed similar benches in Yantai Park of the Shangdong province. .' Ati. 111' Av i. FacebookTwitterPinterest Concrete spikes under a road bridge in Guangzhou city, Guangdong, China, Photograph: Imaginechina/REX The architecture of our cities is a powerful guide to behaviour, both directly and in its symbolism. One of the very first acts of the newly elected Syriza government in Greece was to remove the metal barriers between the Hellenic parliament and Syntagma Square. The effect on the centre of Athens of the removal of this barricade — which represented the strife of the last few years — was almost magical, as if an entire city breathed a sigh of relief. The symbolism of a government saying that they were a part of the people, rather than apart from the people, was understood by all. Artist Nils Norman has been documenting the phenomenon of defensive architecture since the late gos with thousands of photographs. This "vernacular of terror", as he calls it, has its roots in leftover space or "gap sites": plots that are too small to develop but large enough to encourage loitering. He sees the loss of public space as directly related to a loss of public life. "City space is quietly altered to maximimise its control and circulation," he says. "Benches become bum -free, which in turn become `perches', which are in turn removed. As city spaces become cleaner and more symbolically `safe', defensive design becomes more abundant and paranoid." Recently, as I walked into my local bakery, a homeless man (whom I had seen a few times before) asked whether I could get him something to eat. When I asked Ruth — one of the young women who work behind the counter — to put a couple of pasties in a separate bag and explained why, her censure was severe: "He probably makes more money than you from begging, you know," she said, bluntly. He probably didn't. Half his face was covered with sores. A blackened, gangrenous - looking toe protruded from a hole in his ancient shoe. His left hand looked mangled and was covered in dry blood from some recent accident or fight. I pointed this out. Ruth was unmoved by my protestations. "I don't care," she said. "They foul in the green opposite. They're a menace. Animals." Spikes keep the homeless away, pushing them further out of sight It's precisely this viewpoint that defensive architecture upholds. That the destitute are a different species altogether; inferior and responsible for their demise. Like pigeons to be shooed away; urban foxes disturbing our slumber with their screams. "Shame on you," jumped in Libby, the older lady who works at the bakery. "That is someone's son you're talking about." We curse the destitute for urinating in public spaces with no thought about how far the nearest free public toilet might be. We blame them for their poor hygiene without questioning the lack of public facilities for washing. It costs £5 to take a shower at King's Cross station. Wilful misconceptions about homelessness abound. For instance, that shelters are plentiful and sleeping rough is a lifestyle choice. Free shelters, unless one belongs to a particularly vulnerable group, are actually extremely rare. Getting a bed often depends on a referral from a local agency, which, in turn, depends on being able to prove a local connection. For the majority of homeless people, who have usually graduated from a life as itinerant sofa -surfers, it is impossible to prove. This tripartite pressure of an increasingly hostile built environment, huge reduction in state budgets, and a hardening attitude to poverty can be disastrous for people sleeping rough, both physically and psychologically. Fundamental misunderstanding of destitution is designed to exonerate the rest from responsibility and insulate them from perceiving risk. All of us are encouraged to spend future earnings through credit. For the spell to be effective, it is essential to be in a sort of denial about the possibility that such future earnings could dry up. Most of us are a couple of pay packets from being insolvent. We despise homeless people for bringing us face to face with that fact. Poverty exists as a parallel, but separate, reality. City planners work very hard to keep it outside our field of vision. It is too miserable, too dispiriting, too painful to look at someone defecating in a park or sleeping in a doorway and think of him as "someone's son". It is easier to see him and ask only the unfathomably self-centred question: "How does his homelessness affect me?" So we cooperate with urban design and work very hard at not seeing, because we do not want to see. We tacitly agree to this apartheid. FacebookTwitterPinterest Spikes installed outside Selfridges in Manchester. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian. A homeless man, Pawel Koseda, was found dead last year; bled out, im aled on the six- inch spikes of the metal fence that surrounds St Mary Abbots in Kensington, the Camerons' chosen place of worship. He had high levels of alcohol in his blood and was wearing hospital pyjamas under his clothes. Koseda used to be a university lecturer in Poland. Ed Boord, who found the body, said that several people walked by and didn't even notice. "It upset me that someone like that spends their life not being noticed," he said, "and even in their last moments people still walk past." Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's research says that UK homeless numbers have increased by a third in the last five years. Benefit sanctions are cited as the main reason. In this context of depressed wages and soaring living costs, reduced services and lack of housing, we are facing a humanitarian disaster. The Red Cross is involved in food aid in the UK for the first time since the second world war. Can our response as a civilised society really be limited to moving people on from our doorsteps? This, more than anything else, will determine our future as a species. Our ability to share will be key to our survival. The rough sleeper's bad fortune is intricately connected to someone else's good fortune. The person sleeping outside the expensive Bond Street boutique is part of the same nexus as the person inside spending £foo on a pair of socks. Resources are scarce. Infinite wealth creation is a fairytale. Real wealth — land, food, water, fuel — has physical limitations. If some take more than they need, others go without. We obsessively focus on the external: carbon emissions, recycling, charity work, social security, saving the snow leopard — all of them excellent goals — while doggedly refusing to look inwards and make the adjustments that might allow us to coexist more equitably. A ray of hope from Vancouver — benches that unfold into shelters and read "This is a bench" during the day, but light up to reveal "This is a bedroom" at night. Perhaps a small step on what David Harvey, author of Social Justice and the City, calls the "path from an urbanism based on exploitation to an urbanism appropriate for the human species". Defensive architecture acts as the airplane curtain that separates economy from business and business from first class, protecting those further forward from the envious eyes of those behind. It keeps poverty unseen and sanitises our shopping centres, concealing any guilt for over -consuming. It speaks volumes about our collective attitude to poverty in general and homelessness in particular. It is the aggregated, concrete, spiked expression of a lack of generosity of spirit. Ironically, it doesn't even achieve its basic goal of making us feel safer. There is no way of locking others out that doesn't also lock us in. The narrower the arrow -slit, the larger outside dangers appear. Making our urban environment hostile breeds hardness and isolation. It makes life a little uglier for all of us Kellie Fruehling From: Isaac Doucette <isaac.doucette@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 4:23 PM Late Handouts Distributed To: Council Subject: Ped Mall Park Benches /.2/e/.0 (Date) City of Iowa City Council: Thank you for your continued efforts to make Iowa City an inviting and inclusive place. It has come to my attention new Ped Mall park benches infringe on this inviting and inclusive environment.They do not allow the homeless to sleep on the benches.The homeless are valued people in the community. We need to uphold their inherent dignity and keep Iowa City an inclusive place. We do a great job supporting the homeless. Let's continue to do so and keep Iowa City inclusive. Best: -Isaac Isaac V Doucette 1 Item Number: 8.b. + r ui �1 lat • yyrrmr�� CITY Ok 10WA CITY www.icgov.org December 18, 2018 ATTACHMENTS: Description Carol deProsse: Recycling bins [Staff response included] Kellie Fruehling From: Jennifer Jordan Sent: Monday, December 10, 2018 11:22 AM To: 'Carol deProsse' Cc: Council; Geoff Fruin; Ron Knoche Subject: RE: Recycling bins Hi Carol, Thanks for your email. The Council did not mandate the larger recycling bins. However, like many other cities across the county, we are updating our program and providing 65 -gallon carts for several reasons: to increase recycling participation and volume, decrease the amount of recycling that is getting landfilled and reduce staff lifting. While waste reduction is always our first goal, we also aim to provide convenient recycling programs and have had an overwhelmingly positive response to the new carts. The footprints of the carts are very similar to the 18 -gallon bins but I understand the carts do take up space. The trucks we are using can accommodate both the 18 -gallon bins and the 65 -gallon carts so if the cart is a major hardship for a household, we can take the customer off the delivery list or pick up the cart if it's already gone out. However, we are not purchasing additional 18 -gallon bins as we phase those out so we'll replace those as needed in the future with the 65 -gallon carts. If you'd like me to take your name off the delivery list, I'm happy to do so. Please email or give me a call with your address if that is the case. Please note that the organics carts (yellow lids) are not required—we're providing those only for the customers who are signing up to use for yard waste and food waste. Thanks, Jen Jennifer Jordan Resource Management Superintendent City of Iowa City 319-887-6160 iennifer-iordan(aDiowa-citv.orQ Never miss an update or schedule change! Sign up for service notices at www.icciov.orq/subscribe. From: Carol deProsse [mai Ito: lonetreefox@mac.comj Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2018 5:21 PM To: Council <Council@iowa-city.org>; Jennifer Jordan <Jennifer-Jordan@iowa-city.org>; Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa- city.org> Subject: Recycling bins Did the Council adopt an ordinace mandating the use of the new blue -topped recyling carts. What the hell are those with smaller yards going to do with one big boy for garbage, an almost big boy for recycling, and yet a second almost big boy for composting. If it's not a law I don't want any of these, but since I have the garbage one and use it that's fine. But where am I to stash the blue one? You think my neighborhood will be enhanced when all the driveways have plastic carts lined up on them? Item Number: 8.c. + r ui �1 lat • yyrrmr�� CITY Ok 10WA CITY www.icgov.org December 18, 2018 ATTACHMENTS: Description Lori Kendrick: Deer Management [Staff response included] Sara Jacobmeyer Pinkham: Bow hunting for deer management Julie Mock: Deer Management Lynn Gallagher: bow hunting Margot Bilanin: Oppose bow hunting Kellie Fruehling From: Lori Kendrick <kendricklori@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2018 6:03 AM To: Geoff Fruin Cc: Council; Bill Campbell Subject: Re: Deer Management Mr. Fruin, Thank for your quick response. I'll forward this information on to Iowa City Deer Friends. Sincerely, Lori Kendrick On Mon, Dec 10, 2018, 8:59 PM Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruingiowa-city.org wrote: Ms. Kendrick, Thank you for your email. Iowa City's request will be in front of the DNR's Natural Resource Commission this Thursday, December 13th. You can access the agenda and meeting information at httos://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/Boards- Commissions/Natural-Resource-Cor-i_,ii_iS'; ",-) n (scroll down to see a PDF agenda). It is my understanding that the meetings are fully open to the public. I misspoke at the last City Council meeting about the Deer Commission. The group is not continuing to meet at the current time. The City is awaiting the NRC's decision. If our request is granted will conduct a follow-up deer count and discuss options for continuing any activities after we have that information. In the meantime, it is best that you share your thoughts, ideas and comments with Captain Bill Campbell of the Iowa City Police Department. My apologies for the confusion caused by my statement. Best, Geoff Fruin From: Lori Kendrick <kendricklori@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, December 10, 2018 5:28 PM To: Council <Council@iowa-city.ore> Subject: Deer Management Dear Council members, I'm writing in regards to your recommendation to Iowa City Deer Friends at the December 4th City Council Formal Meeting. Geoff Fruin stated that the Deer Commission will be looking at short term needs, as well as long term needs, and it would be appropriate to work with that group. Can you please provide how best to contact the Deer Commission? It was also mentioned that there would be an upcoming meeting with the DNR and NRC. Will that meeting be open to community members? If not, would a representative from our group be allowed to attend? It is our hope that we can work with all who are involved with the future of the Iowa City deer herd to consider adding a sterilization project to the current sharpshooter program. Sincerely, Lori Kendrick Iowa City Deer Friends 319-504-1851 Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Kellie Fruehling From: Sent: To: Subject: Sara Jacobmeyer Pinkham <sarajacobmeyer@gmai .com> Friday, December 14, 2018 12:46 PM Late Handouts Distributed Council Bow hunting for deer management Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council Members, f2 -l/-7 �C g (Date) I oppose bow hunting as a deer management method in Iowa City. Thank you for all your work so far as you continue to address this issue. Sincerely, Sara Jacobmeyer Pinkham 1125 Pickard St Iowa City Kellie Fruehling 8� From: Sent: To: Subject: Mock, Julie M (UI Health Care) <julie-mock@uiowa.edu> Friday, December 14, 2018 1:03 PM Late Handouts Distributed Council Deer Management Dear Honorable Mayor and Council Members, I oppose bow hunting as a deer management method. Sincerely, Julie Mock 3923 Stewart Road NE, Iowa City, IA 52240 (Date) Notice: This UI Health Care e-mail (including attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2521 and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete or destroy all copies of the original message and attachments thereto. Email sent to or from UI Health Care may be retained as required by law or regulation. Thank you. M Kellie Fruehling ENNNNN� From: Lynn Gallagher <lynngall726@gmail.com> Late Handouts Distributed Sent: Friday, December 14, 2018 7:34 PM To: Council Subject: re: bow hunting A-7 (Date) Dear Mayor and Council Members, I do not understand why the NRC forced you to have a public forum about deer management and then ignored the wishes of the community. It appears that they had an agenda from the start. Please stand firm against bow hunting. I appreciate the fact that you understand that is is inhumane. We need to have respect for wild animals and if an intervention is necessary, it should be with the most humane method possible. Sincerely, Lynn Gallagher 4674 Sutliff Rd NE Solon, la 52333 a Kellie Fruehling From: Margot Bilanin <mbilanin@mchsi.com> Late Handouts Distributed Sent: Monday, December 17, 2018 7:47 AM To: Council Subject: Oppose bow hunting f �/ 7 (Date) Dear City Council, Please hear my voice. I oppose the inhumane practice of bow hunting and the ineffective long term practice of sharp shooting to reduce deer herds in city limits. Thank you. Margot Bilanin 3923 Stewart Rd NE Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Sent from my Whone Item Number: 8-d- M .d. + r ui �1 lat • yyrrmr�� CITY Ok IOWA CITY www.icgov.org December 18, 2018 Submission of FY20 TCDD Budget to City Council. ATTACHMENTS: Description Meeting Agenaa and Budget Meeting Minutes Ito IOWA CITY DOWNTOWN DISTRICT DOWNTOWN IOWACITY.COr Open Public Meeting Review To Review Fiscal Year 2020 Iowa City Downtown District Preliminary Budget 1:30 pm December 11, 2018 City of Iowa City City Hall Helling Conference Room (off Lobby) 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 AGENDA: Call to Order New Business • Review of the Preliminary Draft FY20 ICDD Budget provided by ICDD Advisory Committee • Recommendation to Approve/ Deny /Amend to the ICDD Board of Directors Adjourn Iowa City Downtown District FY19 BUDGET comparison to proposed preliminary FY20 Budget December 2018 1 INCOME 2 SSMID Property Tax Assessment 3 University of Iowa Contribution 4 Program & Initiatives Income 5 Events & Sponsor Income 9 TOTAL INCOME 10 11 EXPENSES 12 District -Wide Marketing 13 Event Expense 14 Programs & Initiatives 15 Membership & Community Engagement 16 Office Administration 17 Personnel 18 Contingency 19 TOTAL EXPENSES 20 NET GAIN / LOSS FY 19 Budget FY 20 Proposed Budget Percent Change $421,139 $421,139 0.0% $195,500 $199,250 1.9% $99,700 $99,700 0.0% $334,000 $334,000 0.0% $1,050,339 $1,054,089 0.4% $150,000 $150,000 0.0% $264,000 $273,000 3.4% $194,500 $194,500 0.0% $11,500 $11,500 0.0% $54,200 $42,200 -22.1% $359,850 $365,850 1.7% $16,289 $17,039 4.6% $1,050,339 $1,054,089 0.4% $0 $0 0.00% IOWA CITY DOWNTOWN DISTRICT Advisory Committee Meeting Meeting Minutes from Public Review of FY20 Budget December 11, 2018 ICDD Public Advisory Committee Representative Present: Michelle Galvin ICDD Staff Present: Nancy Bird Iowa City Staff, ICDD Ex -Officio Board Member Present: Wendy Ford Members of the Public in Attendance: 0 Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 1:30pm, December 11, 2018 at City Hall Lobby Conference Room. Discussion The Preliminary Draft FY20 Budget was briefly discussed and approved by the Advisory Committee representative and will advance to the ICDD Board of Directors in 2019. No members of the public attended to comment on the budget review. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 1:50pm. + r ui �1 lat • yyrrmr�� CITY Ok IOWA CITY www.icgov.org December 18, 2018 ATTACHMENTS: Description Paul Roesler: Interns Ruthina Malone: Interns Item Number: 8.e. Kellie Fruehling From: Geoff Fruin Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2018 7:37 AM To: Simon Andrew; Ashley Monroe Cc: Kellie Fruehling; Eleanor M. Dilkes Subject: FW: Interns FYI. Geoff Fruin City Manager From: Paul Roesler [mailto:proesler@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2018 7:15 AM To: Rockne Cole <Rockne-Cole@iowa-city.org>; Susan Mims <Susan-Mims@iowa-city.org>; Pauline Taylor <Pauline - Taylor@ iowa-city.org>; John Thomas <John-Thomas@iowa-city.org>; Jim Throgmorton <Jim-Throgmorton@iowa- city.org>; Mazahir Salih <Mazahir-Salih@iowa-city.org>; Bruce Teague <Bruce-Teague@iowa-city.org>; Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa-city.org> Subject: Interns Good Morning Council Members and Geoff, This morning I read in the Press -Citizen that you are looking at the possibility of adding paid interns to help those council members do their council work should they choose to have an intern. This comes on the heels of the approval of a raise for council members that will now pay you between $11,000 and $14,000. 1 would ask that you stop and really think about what you are asking for and how that comes across to those of us that also currently serve the public in elected positions as well as the public in general. As more money goes into your own pay as well as the possibility of paying someone to help you do your job one has to think if the funds you have are endless and if that is the case why can't we have more money to complete needed projects in Iowa City, for example putting in sidewalks around Hoover Elementary so kids have a safe way to walk to school or an Eastside Sports Complex that would bring people to town where they will spend money to support our local businesses, the list goes on and on. As you all know I am a member of the Iowa City Community School District School Board, an elected position that is strictly done on a voluntary basis, without pay. Of course, I knew that was the case when I decided to run. When I was thinking about running for the position I met with current and former School Board members and one question I always asked is how much time do you spend on School District things to do your job successfully as a board member. The answers I got back were all over the place. After getting that feedback I discussed that with my family and my workplace to make sure that all sides were aware of the time commitment. I then had to make the decision if I was willing to put in the time and work to serve if I was elected. After being elected and serving on the board for over two years now I know that in our role at times the workload is very demanding, yet I have found the time to do it and still be successful in my career, my family life, my coaching career and still finding time for me. I do not know the amount of work that you all do to serve in your current roles and I do not know the amount of time that your full-time job if you have one, demands of your time. If the workload of a council member is that great that you can't do both then I tend to question if the decision to run was the right decision for you to make. I appreciate the comments in the article from Susan Mims and would love to hear the other side of the argument from and councilor that would be in favor of this idea. If this is truly needed, please help me understand the why. Thank you for your time. Paul Roesler proesler@email.com Kellie Fruehling From: Ruthina Malone <rawest45@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2018 12:45 PM To: Council Subject: Interns Dear Council, I am hopeful that after careful consideration, you will hold off from implementing paid interns for council members. While I can appreciate the amount of time you all are devoting to serving our community and can support the recent pay increase that was voted on to help compensate you for this time, I'm more hesitant to add resources to fund paid interns as well. I can see the value some students, who are pursuing public office, can gain from this experience, but I don't think this is an action you should move forward with as noted by comments that Council member Susan Mims in the Press Citizen article. I believe that when a person decides to run for public office, they should recognize that a delicate balancing act must take place to meet the demands of the office they will serve, family and work life. Because of this, I resigned from other committees within my professional organization, waited until my child was a senior in high school and often times find myself declining to get involved in time consuming commitments in order to serve effective as a school board member. I respect that this balancing act can be difficult but have faith that as elected members of the community, you can meet these demands without the assistance of a paid intern. And im hopeful that the pay increase will been seen as an acknowledgement of your dedication to your roles. If this position was for the sole benefit of interested students, I think an unpaid internship that allows them to work on projects/committees spearheaded by council members or city officials could give them that experience. Thank you for your time and continued service. Ruthina Malone 2628 Catskill Court Iowa City, IA Item Number: 81. r �, CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT December 18, 2018 Installation of "Do Not Enter" sign at 1301 South Gilbert Street. Prepared By: Sarah Walz, Acting Transportation Engineering Planner Reviewed By: Kent Ralston, Transportation Planner Tracy Hightshoe, Neighborhood & Development Services Director Fiscal Impact: None. Recommendations: Staff: Approval Commission: N/A Attachments: Executive Summary: As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A (1); Install (1) "Do Not Enter" sign on the west side of South Gilbert Street, adjacent to the exit -only driveway located at 1301 S. Gilbert Street. Background /Analysis: This action is being taken to alert vehicles to the exit -only driveway. This south driveway is designed for right -out traffic only. Late Handouts Distributed -4 7 Page 1 (Date) Date: December 18, 2018 To: Geoff Fruin, Ashley Monroe, Iowa City City Council I , " From: Thomas Agran, Director of Public Art for the Iowa City Downtown District; •� Funding Committee of the Iowa City Public Art Advisory Commission , :; Re: Proposal for funding FY19 Public Art Program through Hotel and Motel TieE DEC 1 8 1018 Introduction: City Clerk "Iowa City is defined by its flourishing arts and culture scene. We recognize the important rcifilWiatGibt OWE and culture play in engaging our increasingly diverse population. We seek to promote arts and cultural programs and projects that educate, entertain, and inspire the public and that preserve cultural heritage and enhance economic development."—2013 Iowa City Comprehensive Plan At the most basic level, public art enhances the attractiveness of Iowa City and adds to the cultural vibrancy of the community. However, public art can also be a vehicle for community engagement and investment both emotional and financial, with far reaching ripple effects. The recent and projected growth of hotel capacity in Iowa City presents an opportunity to re-establish funding for public art programs and broaden the mission and impact of city-wide cultural resources. This proposal is designed to avoid any dramatic decrease in funding for other departments, and may serve as a new strategy towards ultimately increasing the revenue source it stems from, which is in flux. Public art pays dividends every time Iowa City shows up on a top-10 quality of life index, helps achieve complementary City objectives, and improves the real, day to day life of our citizens. We appreciate your consideration of this proposal during preparation of the FY19 budget. Background Since funding for the Public Art Program was eliminated from the Capital Improvements Program in FY 2010, the annual budget for Public Art has decreased from $100,000 annually in FY 1994-1997, $50,000 in Fiscal Years 2004-2009, $14,750 in Fiscal Years 2010-2012 and $2,750 for FY 2013. Recent upticks have brought the budget for Public Art up to its current level of$25,000. • From 1999 to 2001, the annual public art budget was $100,000. In today's dollars that would be $147,000 • Iowa City's population in 1999 was about 61,000 people, amounting to $1.63 per capita-spending on public art. Adjusted to today's dollars that would be $2.45 per person • Today, Iowa City's population is about 75,000 people, but even after a modest increase last year, the public art budget is only$25,000 --just 33¢ per person. • This amounts to an inflation adjusted drop of 87% in per-capita spending on art. Iowa State law requires that the City allocate 50% of all Hotel and Motel Tax revenues to activities promoting tourism. Currently, police services receive 47.5% of Hotel/Motel Tax revenue, Parks and Recreation receives 27.5% and the lowa/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau receives 25%. Page 2 "While more rooms can be a boon for consumers, the metro has little in the way of new"demand generators"— Once the nine hotels come online,they will represent about a 35 percent increase in the number of hotel rooms available in the Iowa City metro."–Gazette, Sept 30 2017 2018 hotel demand growth (through October 31) is running at 4.2%which is about 1.2% higher than 2017 and about 1.5% higher than state average. 2018 hotel supply growth is at 19.5%, and over the next 18 months supply will have increased by more than 34%from 2017 levels. By enhancing the identity and character of a community, public art directly supports cultural tourism and economic development strategies, including attracting new visitors. Pertinent Guidance from the Comprehensive Plan: • "Explore new funding sources for Arts and Culture projects and programs such as Hotel/Motel tax revenue, crowd-funding, a "percent for art" ordinance, and new grant funding." • "Seek the participation of diverse populations (e.g. young and old)when developing cultural programs." • "Increase visibility and awareness of Arts and Culture programs." • "Explore opportunities for new Arts and Culture venues that will attract visitors to IowaCity." FILED • "Seek representation of diverse populations on the Public Arts Committee." • "Develop an Arts and Culture plan that includes all neighborhoods." • "Continue to provide opportunities for Neighborhood Art." DEC 1 8 2010 Proposal City Clerk Iowa City, Iowa The recommendations from the 2013 Comprehensive Plan solicit reflection on public art funding in Iowa City as it currently stands. With current funding levels, the Public Art Program will not have adequate funds for purchases of new public art installations such as sculptures, murals, or other potential projects. Additionally, the Public Art Program does not have funds to adequately maintain and conserve existing public art works. External grant opportunities are also limited as most require some level of matching funds. The only current opportunity for growth in funding is tied to development bonuses, but those can only be generated and spent in the Riverfront Crossings District. No other district has these provisions or opportunities, and even if this manner of funding was implemented more broadly, it is regressive in nature. This proposal would allow the City to follow through on its goals set forth in the Strategic Plan by allocating the needed funding for our Public Art Program to continue to provide high-quality public spaces throughout our city, enhancing both economic development efforts and the quality of life for Iowa City residents. Most importantly, this restoration of funding would allow for a paradigm shift in public art in Iowa City from a soft benefit to one of civic infrastructure, empowering and lifting neighborhoods with a bottom-up approach to public art, as opposed to top down. "The haphazard and makeshift nature of a project marks it as truly local.The more makeshift it is,the less intimidating it becomes to mimic or interact with the art.When it's clear that art has come from"the people," it puts the onus on "the people"to create more. It becomes a call and response kind of interaction that fills a place with a human touch. In the[top down]case,the public become consumers of art projects that formal groups are then expected to deliver. [The City she loves]did not come prepackaged or designed by Page 3 government policy, [but]was built slowly by good neighbors going a little above and beyond ...The most successful public art is the result of community desires and goals, not top-down planning."—Gracen Johnson, Strong Towns Public art programs are recognized both across the country and in Iowa City as a contributor to the quality of life and the attraction of businesses and visitors. Public art helps establish the sense of place that creates the unique character of Iowa City. "Citizens see public art as promoting the city and individual neighborhoods as desirable places to live,work and visit, and improving the attractiveness and pedestrian friendliness of city streetscapes. Planning studies articulate the potential of public art for expressing neighborhood history, identity and sense of place, and for fostering intercultural harmony and understanding in our increasingly diverse city.They embrace public art as a partner in promoting the vitality of commercial nodes.""[Public art is a] powerful tool that places artists at the core of civic action in shaping the form and experience of the city."—St. Paul Public Art Plan Proposed Recommendation: We recommend budgeting a percentage of the newly accrued Hotel/Motel Tax to the Public Art Program. Included in this memo is a recommended ratio designed to restore the funding of public art roughly to 1999 levels, adjusted for inflation, implementing the instructions from the 2013 Comprehensive Plan. Economic Impact: The adoption of this approach to funding will borrow from the allocation for Parks and Rec and Police, but might be viewed as a new strategy to achieve the same goals. Cultural investments have broad reaching impacts that overlap with the goals and objectives of other departments. We know the power of renovating the Englert to drive the revitalization of downtown, and the power of an artistic bus stop to encourage public transit and walking, or the after school art program that contributes to a reduction in crime. We know the power of a few homemade benches that transform the right of way into a pocket park, or the power of a mural to change the entire perception of a community. Because public art benefits the local economy by stimulating foot traffic and sales tax revenue in commercial areas and enhances the attractiveness of all of Iowa City as a place to live and locate new businesses, we believe that the long-term economic impact of this allocation would be positive, resulting in an increase over time to the budgets of all organizations or departments receiving Hotel/Motel revenue. As the CVB agrees, growth will not come by running the same playbook. FILED DEC 1 8 2018 City Clerk Iowa City, Iowa Page 4 Below is the scenario proposed for budgeting Hotel/Motel Tax revenue, based on a 13.5% allocation to Public Art programs: FY 2018 Hotel Motel Tax Revenue: $1,045,696 Currently revenues are then divided according to these proportions: • 25%to CVB= $261,424 • 47.5%to Police = $496,705 • 27.5% Parks= $287,566 Suggested reallocation: • 25% to CVB = $261,424 • 41.5%to Police = $433,964 (6% reduction of$62,741) • 20% to Parks = $209,139 (7.5% reduction of$78,426) • 13.5%to Public Art Fund $141,169 FY 2019 Budget Impact • Public Safety Budget: $24,574,756 new budget would be$24,512,015 0.25% drop in revenue • Parks and Recreation Budget: $7,003,110 new budget would be$6,924,683 1.1% drop in revenue • Public Art Budget: $25,000 new budget would be $166,169 = 565% increase in revenue Recommended Contingencies of Funding: • Immediate development before the start of the fiscal year of a new 5 year strategic plan for public art that ensures spending is equitable across all districts and outlines vision, goals, and objectives. • In line with the Comprehensive Plan, a plan should be developed to increase diversity on the PAAC, possibly through a degree of district based and at large representation, similar to the HPC. • Consider ways to increase community access, awareness, and participation in PAAC meetings. • A required annual report by the PAAC, outlining where funding was spent and how spending aligned with strategic goals and objectives. • A percentage of annual funding to be determined should be set aside to support a maintenance fund for projects, until a reserve amount is met. • An increase of funding to the grant program and removal of matching fund requirement under a certain high threshold. Close monitoring of where grants are disbursed • To help manage this funding, a portion of the budget might support a part time staff member, consultant, City Artist in the spirit of St. Paul's residency program, or alternatively a re-envisioning of the role of the PAAC. FILED DEC 1 8 2018 City Clerk Iowa City, Iowa • Page 5 Select Municipal Programs for Comparison The recommended 13.5% of Hotel/Motel Tax funding would be roughly equivalent to a 0.5% "Percent for Art" program based on Iowa City's FY19 CIP budget. Municipality Population Program Ratio Lawrence, Kansas 97,000 Percent for Art 2% of CIP Lexington, Kentucky 321,000 Percent for Art 1% of CIP Missoula, Montana 73,000 Percent for Art 1.5% of CIP Columbia, Missouri 121,717 Percent for Art 1% of CIP St. Paul, Minnesota 306,000 Percent for Art 1.5% of CIP Equivalent to Iowa City, Iowa 75,000 Hotel/Motel Tax .5% of CIP References and Resources: All planning documents associated with the St. Paul Public Art Ordinance Program: https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/financial-services/public-art-ordinance-program Gracen Johnson's Strong Towns articles about public art and the strength of communities: https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2017/5/15/public-art-project-vs-process https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2015/7/15/call-and-response Basic tenets and strengths of municipal art programs as outlined by Americans for the Arts: https://www.americansforthearts.org/sites/default/files/PublicArtAdvocacy talkpnts.pdf i ILED DEC 1 8 Z018 City Clerk Iowa City, Iowa 13 n" Prepared by: Eleanor Dilkes, City Attorney, 410 E. Washington St. 52240,(319)35&5030 Resolution No. 18-293 Resolution Removing Appointee to the Civil Service Commission Whereas, Iowa Code Section 372.15 requires that the removal of a person appointed by the Council to a city office must be by written order detailing the reasons for the removal and the appointee must be given notice of the removal and the opportunity for a public hearing; and, Whereas, on March 20, 2018 the City Council appointed Emily Bushman to the Civil Service Commission for a 4 -year term starting on April 2, 2018; and, Whereas, since her appointment staff and the Chair of the Commission, Rick Wyss, have contacted Ms. Bushman by email, text and U.S. mail and have received no response. Contacts include the following: 3/23/18 Welcome letter and information (recent meeting agendas, minutes, etc.) sent by Human Resources Administrator. Email notifications of employee events such as badge pinnings and swearing in ceremonies sent by Human resources staff. Notice of and agenda for 8/21/18 Commission meeting sent by staff. Ms. Bushman did not attend meeting. Email on 8/21/18 from Chair to Ms. Bushman sent after 8/21 meeting noting her absence, introducing himself as the chair, speaking to the importance of the commission and asking her to communicate with the Commission's staff contact. (copy of email attached). 8/27/18 text from Chair to Ms. Bushman asking her to contact him about the meetings. 10/4/18 letter from Chair to Ms. Bushman by mail and email asking her to contact him by October 19th or he would have no choice but to ask Council to remove her from commission. Chair also sent text. (Copy of letter attached) particularly problematic in the event of an appeal by a civil service employee fWhereas, the Commission has only 3 members. The lack of a full Commission will be suspension, demotion or discharge; and, rom a Whereas, it is in the best interest of the City to remove Ms. Bushman from the Civil Service Commission so that a replacement can be appointed. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, that: 1. Emily Bushman is removed from the Civil Service Commission for the reasons set forth above. 2. The City Clerk shall send a copy of this resolution to Emily Bushman by certified mail. Ms. Bushman shall be granted a public hearing before the Council on all issues connected with the removal if she files a request for a hearing with the City Clerk within 30 days of the date of mailing the resolution of removal. Passed and approved this 6th day of November , 2018. Ma�46r Appr Attest 4�11t D.--� i, r l d ity Clerk City Attorney's Office It was moved by saiih and seconded by Taylor the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were: Ayes: V.4 Nays: Absent Teague Cole Mims Salih Taylor Thomas Throgmorton November 9, 2018 Emily Bushman 100 Petersen Hall Iowa City, IA 52242 Dear Ms. Bushman, �r Will CITY OF IOWA CITY 41 0 East Washington Street Iowa City. Iowa 52240-1826 (3 19) 356-5000 (3 19) 356-5009 FAX www.1cgov.org On November 6, 2018, the Iowa City City Council adopted Resolution #18-293, removing you from your appointed position on the Civil Service Commission. A copy of the resolution is enclosed. If you wish to contest the removal you may request a public hearing before the City Council. A request for hearing must be in writing and be filed with the City Clerk's office within 30 days of the date of this certified mailing. If you have any questions regarding, please contact me at 356-5041. 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