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2-7. Beginning of Consent Calendar (Items 2-7) — Consider adoption of the
Consent Calendar as presented or amended.
Throgmorton: We need to consider adoption of the Consent Calendar, minus Item 5.d., which we
are going to give separate consideration to. Could I have a motion to consider
adoption that way?
Cole: So moved.
Salih: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Cole, seconded by Salih. Discussion? Hearing none, roll call please.
Motion carries 7-0.
5.d. Housing Trust Fund Contribution — Resolution authorizing the City
Manager to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Housing Trust
Fund of Johnson County for the contribution and use of $500,000 for
affordable housing.
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion to approve please?
Salih: Move.
Teague: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Salih, seconded by Teague. Discussion?
Salih: Yeah I'm .... I'm the one who pull out this. I just want to say that, uh, first, you
know, I really appreciate everything that has been done by the House, uh, Trust
Fund for providing affordable housing and, uh (mumbled) also I'm very happy
that, you know, the fund continue to be five, uh, hundred thousand this year, and
hopefully we continue for the future. But the only thing that I really concern
about, not like concern, I just wanna add, uh, everything here look great, but if we
look at number D, for the report that we receive. Uh, I just wanna add another
like (mumbled) like, uh, information: The report must include the following
information in each project, one, two, three, four, and I just wanna add number
five, which, uh, I .... I wanna know the initial rent on all the unit, uh, because,
um .... the purpose for that is I just wanna know like how our money has been used
to reach very low income people, uh, you know, to the .... to really lower their rent,
and I think that is really a good use of the City money, but if we document it, will
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be great, and I ... that the ... the information they have, it is not something that yet
they have to go and calculate it or do it. It is there. Just I need to see it on the
report.
Teague: I think it's a reasonable request.
Throgmorton: But we need to get a little bit of information here. I wonder if anybody on staff
could respond, uh, to the suggestion, and I also noticed that Ella McCabe from the
Housing Trust Fund is not present, and this is an agreement, is it not, between us
and the Housing Trust Fund. So .... go ahead. Introduce yourself please (both
talking)
Hightshoe: This is Tracy Hightshoe with Neighborhood and Development Services. Um, yes
it should be easy to report the rent, but .... when I say easy to report, it's the rent,
the maximum rent that they can, um, so they report the maximum rent. Now
earlier your comment was .... how much does it reduce it from the market (both
talking)
Salih: No, no! (both talking) ....analyze that as a city.
Hightshoe: I don't think that should be an issue.
Salih: Yeah.
Hightshoe: (both talking) .....from the Housing Trust Fund, but we can add that as a reporting
requirement.
Salih: But to your point, Jim, that this is agreement between us and the .... we are the one
who giving out the money. We are the one .... we set the priority for how the
money should be used, and we are the one should request what information we
need from them in the report. That what I really think. This is no need to be like
consider. I appreciate what you said (mumbled) this is like a commitment
between two agency, like between us and this agency. They been great, they
doing the report. That's what we .... I think we can ask this. This is not something
difficult and as you said, they already have the data. I'm not asking them to
analyze it. I just need a figure.
Mims: Is there a timing issue with this, Tracy? I mean Ellen's already signed this, so if
we're going to make a change to it I'm assuming we can't approve it tonight. It'd
have to be deferred. Is that....
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Dilkes: No, I think you can approve the resolution subject to that change in the, um,
affordable.... in the memorandum of understanding, and then we'd have to come
back to you if somehow that wasn't acceptable to the Housing Trust Fund.
Otherwise (both talking)
Throgmorton: So there is no objection, as best you can tell, Tracy, and given (both talking)
Hightshoe: Not from staff, no.
Throgmorton: Uh, given what, uh, Eleanor just said, it sounds like it's a reasonable thing to do.
So without objection we'll just assume that's the case.
Dilkes: Well, you should make an amendment to the .... to the resolution (both talking)
Throgmorton: Could I have an amendment then to do what Eleanor (laughs) just suggested? Uh,
somebody (both talking)
Teague: So moved.
Salih: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Teague and seconded by Salih. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion
carries. Okay, so we have an amended motion on the floor.
Mims: I just want to clarify. So number five is going to say .... (both talking) the initial,
the maximum rent, what .... I mean (both talking)
Salih: The initial rent on all unit.
Mims: Initial's not maximum. So I just want clarification. So....
Salih: The initial they're gonna start with, because my understanding is maybe it will
increase next year or something like that, but they (both talking)
Mims: Tracy used the word "maximum," so that's where I'm trying to clarify.
Hightshoe: Typically when they fund a unit doesn't mean, especially if it's new construction,
you won't know, you know, the rent could change, the fair market rents. Usually
they will .... what they will report is that rent is limited to the fair market rent or
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some type of calculation. They can report that. If you're talking about the initial
rent, if it's new construction you're waiting for several months before that unit
gets built (both talking)
Salih: ...that's okay for .... for new construction (both talking)
Hightshoe: ....whatever the agreement. They'd have no problem reporting when they enter
funding agreement with a non-profit or a housing provider. The rent that's in that
agreement they can report.
Salih: That what I mean!
Dilkes: So what's the language, Tracy? The initial.... what, how should we phrase it?
Hightshoe: The rent that was approved in the agreement, funding agreement with the non-
profit or the affordable.... put the housing provider.
Salih: Uh huh!
Hightshoe: They would know like five units at the fair market rent or five .... they would
know that, when they allocate the funds.
Salih: That sound good to me.
Throgmorton: Okay, any further Council discussion?
Teague: Um, I just wanted to say that often times this is....their funds can be used for gap
funding, um, in a way, and so ... they would be at the.... sometimes (mumbled)
AMI, um, and so I .... I really don't see any concern with them addin' this figure.
Like Maz said, they do have that.
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Throgmorton: (mumbled) Anyone else? Hearing no one, roll call please. Motion carries 7-0.
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8. Community Comment (items not on the agenda)
Throgmorton: This is a moment when anyone can speak to us about any topic that is not on the
formal meeting agenda. Please come up, state your name, write it down, uh, on
the form there, and take not more than (mumbled) three or four minutes or at the
most five (both talking)
Martin: My name is Joe Martin. I was here a couple weeks ago .... back again talkin' about
the .... I don't know if the City can help me get to rezone the Hawkeye Waste.
Cockroaches, rats, and stuff in the yards. It can help me? Oh .... is there anything
the City can do?
Throgmorton: Geoff, can you answer that, please?
Fruin: We're looking at it. The issue, um, is that the .... the property Mr. Martin lives in is
adjacent to, um, Hawkeye Waste. So it's not like a dumpster on the property, it's
actual waste facility, where they store their trucks and whatnot. So they have pest
problems there and they .... pests don't respect property lines and they're.... they're
comin' over. So we'll work with our staff to see what we can do. I'm not sure
there's ..... a great solution there but....
Throgmorton: Is it a public health issue that could be addressed that way?
Fruin: We'll have to dig into it a little bit more.
Martin: I hope you guys can help me. It's getting' ridiculous. Every night I sit out and kill
cockroaches. Spray'em, people say why don't you spray? I say I can't afford
spray, you know. Landlord's supposed to do it, but he's not doin' it. Uh, so ... I'm
puffin' up with 'em. They're gettin' in my house and everywhere. It's ridiculous.
Throgmorton: Yeah, it doesn't sound good. Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Joe.
Martin: Okay, thank you, sir.
Throgmorton: Hi, Ann.
Christenson: Hi. Um, I wanna thank you (both talking)
Throgmorton: Please state your name, Ann.
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Christenson: Oh, I'm sorry! Ann Christenson, I live on Dearborn Street. Um, I'm here to thank
you partly, uh, for listening to your constituents about the climate action, and....
uh, think it's great that you're revi.... you've revisited that. Um, that's only the first
step, and you know that. So tonight I wanna propose a very, very small step that,
uh.... that you may have visited a little bit earlier. Um, last winter you had a visit
from, uh, group of pre-schoolers, asking for action on plastic straws. Um, the
Mayor declared a day, uh, for, uh, called Day Free of Plastic Straws. I think the
kids deserve better than that. Have there .... has there been any follow up on that?
I would like to see a resolution banning plastic straws in Iowa City. The states of
New York, California, and Hawaii, 15 U.S. cities, and more than 32 countries
have already banned plastic straws. Exceptions are made for people with
disabilities. The Blue Bird Cafe here in town and a few other local restaurants
have stopped using plastic straws. Good for them, they should be emulated.
Eliminating plastic straws will not solve the pollution of our oceans. It would
have a negligible effect on the City's climate action goals. We get that. But this
fight has to start somewhere. Plastics are fossil fuel products. Plastics are killing
life forms on sea and land, including humans. We've all got plastics in our system
now. We know the State passed legislation in 2017. It was legislation pushed by
the Koch Brothers, um, the ... American Legislative Exchange Council or...um,
ALEC, preventing Iowa City or any Iowa cities from banning plastic bags. Did
that include plastic straws? Has the legislature learned anything about climate
crisis since 2017? Let's find out. Let's pass a resolution and let the che... chips fall
where they may. Most cities' straw resolutions start something like this: A
restaurant shall not provide a single -use plastic straw to a consumer unless
requested by the consumer. Is that too difficult? Can't we do that in Iowa City?
Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Ann. Anyone else? Good evening.
Dixon: Hello! David Dixon. Uh, I was here a couple weeks ago and we talked about
some traffic issues and I just wanted to briefly follow up on that. Um, and maybe
raise a .... a related issue that .... has come to my attention in trying to gather some
of the information, some of it that, uh, was presented last week that I was trying to
dig a little more on. Um, it's .... it's become clear that on a number of the City's
projects, it's not clear who's signing off or approving various changes along the
way. Um, lot of things that are engineering matters that require a stamped, signed
drawing, um, that the ... the City is having difficulty producing. Um, some things
that are matters of public safety in both .... as Eleanor talked about last week,
issues pertaining to compliance with the law. Uh, where.....where engineers are
required to do certain things, uh, whether it's a speed limit or as I've .... I've
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included in my letter regarding the bike lanes on Clinton Street, there ... there are
specific things that are required and .... that aren't being done, and it's .... we've
been struggling to figure out who it is that has failed to do something or who it is
that's ultimately making the decision to do something a certain way. Um, and in
that process one of the things that became clear is that Iowa City doesn't have, at
least not that we found, a traffic engineer on staff. They have civil engineers.
They have various people with various activities related to construction and
utilities and everything else, but there's nobody with a ... with a traffic engineering
specialty. Um, maybe something the City needs to look into or at least have a
common contact point for which engineer is gonna carry that load of making sure
that things like bike lanes and speed limits are put in place for everybody's benefit
in a way that's both safe and legal. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, David. Anyone else? Seeing no one else, we're gonna tum to Item
#10, approval of the 2019 fair housing choice study. No, I'm sorry. I ... I flipped
the wrong (laughs) flipped to the wrong page. Item 9 (both talking)
Pawlowski: Can I sneak in here?
Tbrogmorton: Sorry! Yes, ma'am. Go ahead! We're still with conummity comment. Please
state your name!
Pawlowski: I'm Dawn Pawlowski and I would just like to be another voice, uh, in support of
buffered bike lanes on Dodge and Governor Street. And, uh, thank you also for
declaring a climate crisis. And I think the....um, bike lanes are essential for
safety and .... that if we make it safer for people to travel in sustainable ways that
that's in all of our best interests.
Throgmorton: Great. Thank you, Dawn. Okay, would anybody else like to address us in
community comment? I'll try again then. So we're gonna move on to Item #9,
Planning and Zoning Matters.
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9. Planning and Zoning Matters
9.a. Rezoning south of Scott Blvd and north of Tamarack Trail — Ordinance
conditionally rezoning approximately 36.81 acres of property located south of
Scott Boulevard and north of Tamarack Trail, from Interim Development
Single -Family Residential (ID -RS) to Low Density Single -Family Residential
(RS -5).
1. Public hearing
Throgmorton: So I will open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Tum things over to Tracy. I'm
sorry ...Tracy! Danielle, sorry!
Sitzman: Thank you, Mayor. Danielle Sitzman, Neighborhood and Development Services.
This is an application for a rezoning tonight for the, uh, area, uh, to be called
Tamarack Ridge at the time of subdivision. As a reminder, this is just the
rezoning case. As you stated it's for approximately 36.81 acres. On the map you
can see it's bounded by largely undeveloped area. To the east is the Harvest
Preserve. To the west is some land owned by ACT and then there are existing
subdivision, single-family residential neighborhoods to the south. (clears throat)
This exhibit shows the surrounding zoning of that property. Um, the proposed
rezoning tonight is to low-density single-family district. Um, there is another
application that has been working its way through the Planning Commission and
which will be on a future agenda for you, which is the preliminary plat. So just to
be clear we're not discussing the plat in-depth tonight; however, um, my next slide
will show it. Um, they did hold a good neighbor meeting on June 10th, uh, for
this rezoning. The reason that I'm showing you the preliminary plat is that we are
aware of it and it has informed some of the conditions that staff has crafted in
reviewing the rezoning. So, um, this is a single-family subdivision design that is,
uh, as I said, making its way to you, approximately 61 lots, uh, with one, uh,
internal street. As part of the rezoning, what staff does though is focus on
compliance with the comprehensive plan and consistency with the existing
neighborhood of the land uses that are proposed. So in this case, um, the
proposed rezoning to RS -5 is, um, consistent with the, uh, both comprehensive
plan and the district plan for this area. Um, the comprehensive plan indicates
(clears throat) in yellow on the left there, a conservation design, uh, due to the
sensitive land features like slopes, woodlands, and possible archaeological
resources in the area. Again, as I said, we also look at compatibility of the
existing neighborhood. So as I mentioned, largely surrounded by undeveloped
areas or singer-fambl .... single-family residential areas (mumbled) this, um, land
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use would be extensive of that, uh, sim.... very similar land use, um, to the north.
I mentioned environmentally -sensitive areas. The rezoning this night, tonight, is
not to an OPD, um, because while there are environmentally sensitive areas,
they're not proposing to, um, exceed the requirements of our ordinance, so they
don't need to ask for any waivers. Um, there are, like I mentioned, slopes,
woodlands, and potentially archaeological resources. The applicant is working
too, uh, with the State archaeologist to determine if those .... any additional studies
need to be conducted for the, um.....uh, cultural resources. We do also look at
traffic implications. Um, in general as I mentioned this is a 60 fa ..... 60 -lot single-
family subdivision. (clears throat) Staff has estimated, um, the extension of
Tamarack Trail, um .... will, uh, estimated capacity of sur ...the surrounding street
network and the additional access point that would be provided through the
development of this land eventually, uh, like I said looked at the capacity of the
surrounding arterial street network, uh, Scott Boulevard and First Avenue. We're
also aware that there are some improvements to the .... arterial street network
outside of this subdivision planned for our 2020 CIP. Um, we also look at design,
just kind of preliminarily, um, again I'm talking about plat now, but uh, that's not
the case before you tonight. We do ... are aware that, um, considering the existing
topography, sensitive areas, and development constraints that street connections in
this area would be limited by those things, um, so likely street connections to the
east and west would be limited, and the largely, uh, would be a north -south
connection reliant for the street network. So without those connections the block
length might be longer than desired and we had some initial concerns about, uh,
related to travel speeds. Uh, when you see long streets without any, uh, breaks in
them for blocks that is a concern that we evaluate. Therefore staff did craft a
recommendation to help reduce speeds. Uh, there were several design factors, or
design considerations that staff, um, identified and actually are including in
conditions at the rezoning, with this case tonight. They include reducing the curb -
to -curb roadway paving, paving to the minimum, uh, that we can, which is 26 -
feet. Also, uh, requiring the incorporation of traffic circles, um .... um, distances
along the extension of the future north -south street, and also recommending tree
planting as a way to reduce, uh, speeds along the street. (clears throat) Just to
outline the next steps, uh, highlighted in blue is this case tonight. Land has
previously been annexed and rezoned, uh, and now is being rezoned, as I said, to,
uh, request single-family, uh, low-density development. Um, there is an
additional case coming to you, um, it's already been to the Planning Commission
and will be on a future agender...agenda for you (clears throat) and then just as a
reminder, the final plat process would be, um, by resolution as well. Um, so
based on staffs analysis, the proposed rezoning is consistent with the
comprehensive pa .... plan, uh, compatible and/or complementary with the existing
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neighborhood and will not overburden public facilities, such as the surrounding
street network. Um, staff therefore did recommend approval with some
conditions, uh, to the Planning Commission. At their July 18th meeting, the
Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval of this case
to you tonight, with two conditions as proposed by staff. Um (clears throat) there
have been some minor changes to those conditions from when staff initially
proposed them to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission basically
allowed for further negotiation with the applicant on the mechanism and timing of
when tree planting would occur. Uh what you see in your CZA in the packet is
the result of that final negotiation and has been signed by the applicant. So
essentially there will be tree planting required (clears throat) prior to the issuance
of COs along the, um, main north -south street that alter the total count of trees
somewhat from what the Planning Commission initially discussed, but we have,
um, updated them at a subsequent meeting on that and they had no further
concern or comment about the, um, number of trees. And then the second
condition really deals with, um, requiring the traffic calming design features for
street width and, um, well I should say just traffic cirf...circles as part of the
eventual preliminary plat design. (clears throat) As you probably saw in your
packet, there has been.... have been calls and emails regarding the proposed
development from the surrounding neighborhood, and the applicant did notify, uh,
and invite folks to that good neighbor meeting, beyond the required, uh, distance
requirement. Um, many of the concerns that, uh, are in those emails and calls, uh,
relate to the preliminary plat, not so much the rezoning, but because, um, some of
the conditions tonight on the rezoning also cross over into that territory. Just
wanted to point them out to you as well. Um .... there was a protest petition also
filed. However, it did not meet, or to my knowledge.... has not met the statutory
threshold necessary to alter the City Council's vote to trigger a super -majority. So
protest petition received, but not altering the requirements of the vote tonight.
Throgmorton: That's correct, right, Eleanor? Yeah, okay.
Dilkes: That's what I understand.
Sitzman: I believe that concludes my report.
Throgmorton: Good deal, Danielle. Thank you. So I wanna ask you one question about the
intersection of First Avenue and Hickory Trail.
Sitzman: Uh huh.
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Throgmorton: So the .... some of the concerns expressed had to do with basically left turns from
Hickory Trail onto First Avenue, especially at certain times of day when there's a
lot of traffic on First Avenue. So what's the staffs view about how to ameliorate
that? Is it best .... is that question best addressed in the plat process or .... it seems
to me it's appropriate for now.
Sitzman: Sure. Um .... well, Kent Ralston is here with the MPO. He can speak a little bit
beyond my expertise on this if you require, um, we did not require a traffic study
for this, uh, development. To truly answer the .... whether there is a level of
service concern at that intersection we need to study that further. However, at this
point I don't believe that anyone on staff has concerns about that truly being a
level of service issue. Um .... again, the two streets that you mentioned, First
Avenue is the arterial street and would have priority over traffic entering or
exiting, uh, the other collector or local streets. So a little bit of delay to make a
left tum onto a larger street is perhaps anticipated and acceptable. Again, Kent
can speak to that if you need him to.
Throgmorton: Great. Thanks! Would anybody else like to ask Danielle questions?
Salih: Yeah I have a question. You just talk about the petition that the ... been filed. If I'm
correct, I count like over 70 people file this and you just said you think, but you
didn't say like you sure, and also (both talking) that's my understanding.
Sitzman: Sure.
Salih: I just really need to know how much is the ... do you know details about the
threshold and....
Sitzman: So the petition was received on Monday morning, I believe, and they had until
just now to file additional, uh, signatures. I'm not aware of any new signatures
coming in, but of the signatures that we reviewed, they do not meet the threshold.
(both talking)
Salih: The ...... over 70 signature is not meeting the threshold.
Sitzman: Right, it....it depends on where you live whether your petition is within the
boundary that can file petition.
Salih: Okay.
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Throgmorton: Could.... could, uh, Danielle, could you or Eleanor explain that? I think it's new
information for Maz and would be helpful.
Dilkes: It .... it, in order to require a super -majority of the Council, there has to be protest
petitions by the land owners of 20% of the land within 200 feet of the, um, of the
property to be rezoned. So as you can imagine, there's considerable property that
is not part of the neighborhood.
Throgmorton: So it's not the number of people who sign a petition, it's the (both talking)
Salih: .....the owner could be like a husband and wife own one and they sign both of
them. It's not the number, it's the owner of the (both talking)
Throgmorton:... of the property.
Salih: Like how many land that make 20%?
Dilkes: The owners of the land that comprises 20%.
Salih: Yes.
Dilkes: Or more.
Salih: Okay. Yeah.
Throgmorton: And that's a matter of State law. Yeah.
Teague: And can ... if there's two owners to one property, husband and wife are co, are they
considered to be....
Dilkes: The owners of the property would have to sign. If they were husband and wife
they would both have to sign, but it's not gonna (both talking) It's not gonna make
any difference in the final calculation. It's based on the percentage (several
talking)
Salih: That people own.
Teague: I get it. Yes.
Salih: Maybe 10 people own 20% (both talking)
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Dilkes: Let's say you have, uh, land to be rezoned and you got a 200 -foot area. You could
have a hundred people owning this much and one person, you know, it's not
(several talking)
Sitzman: And if it helps that is the case in this circumstance the majority of the land is
owned by owners who did not sign the petition.
Salih: Again, we haven't received anything until now. You said, you just said you are
not sure, but I just wanna make sure we have not received (both talking)
Dilkes: No, NDS typically does those calculations and I was informed by NDS today that
they do not meet the threshold, and that was not surprising to us because of the
(both talking) code provision.
Salih: Okay.
Throgmorton: Any other questions for Danielle?
Cole: I'm somewhat concerned about the density on this. It's the lowest possible
density. Um, and it's my understanding that this is gonna be only single-family
housing. There will not be one duplex, one quad-plex, um, and related to that, is
it possible to conditionally, to put a condition, whether it would be some more
diversity of housing types?
Sitzman: So the land use that they're requesting, so ignore the preliminary plat that you've
seen, the land use that they're requesting would allow for duplexes on comer lots,
should they choose to, but that is not mandatory.
Cole: Okay. And we can't impose a condition to require some more.... duplexes? Okay.
Throgmorton: But I think you open up a topic that we should discuss, uh, in .... in a different way,
probably at a different time.
Cole: Well I mean there's 60 units, I mean, and I think we can exercise our discretion,
can't we, in terms of whether we wanna authorize it or not, and that's a concern of
mine. So....
Dilkes: I think the Mayor's right. It's a question of what's allowed in your RS -5 zone.
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Cole: Yep. Okay.
Dilkes: And that's a code amendment.
Cole: Okay.
Throgmorton: Any other questions?
Teague: So traffic speed and stuff like that, I know that there was no traffic study done,
um ..... and I know you referred to Kent comin' up to talk on that.
Sitzman: So traffic studies generally deal with the count, the generation of traffic and the
allocation of where it will be going from where it's generated, um, design speed
is, or the speed of, travel speed is more about the design of the facility, and so the
width of the road, the ... whether curves or rises and falls, has more of an impact on
speed and so those are the things that we've tried to address in our conditions,
rather than what we don't, did not identify as a capacity or, uh, issue with, um,
level of service.
Teague: And you talked about the good neighbor meetin' takin' place, um, what was some
of. ... can you maybe share some of the concerns?
Sitzman: So the comments that I summarized here were generated both at the good
neighbor meeting and at the various Planning and, uh, Zoning Commission
meetings. So they fell under the category of whether the Tamarack Trail, the
current road, should connect. Um, some questions about the width of proposed
lots came up at the good neighbor meeting when perhaps the plat was not as
certain. Um, the street trees have certainly been a topic of discussion at those, uh,
later meetings. Vehicle travel speeds and volumes, the left turn movements that
were questioned. There's been some interest in storm water management and how
that will be finally designed. That's a detail that doesn't happen until a final plat.
So there are City ordinances that are required to be met that are still being
designed to, and then, uh, some questions about where.... whether, uh,
construction traffic could be routed, uh, into the neighborhood one way or
another, or prohibited.
Teague: And I .... I guess my question was really what was the, um.....the greatest
consensus of concern? Would it have been the traffic, um, travelin' down Hickory
to First Avenue?
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Sitzman: I haven't tallied or tried to quantify that but my sense has been it's largely about
traffic and .... and the traffic calming.
Ralston: Yeah, thank you, Kent Ralston, Transportation Planner. Uh, everything Danielle
said, uh, thus far is accurate. I just wanted to add that a few things. Um, one is
that no traffic study was done at Hickory Trail and First Avenue, primarily
because we don't anticipate more traffic at Hickory Trail and First Avenue. It's a
little counter -intuitive, but because we're adding an entire new access onto Scott
Boulevard, the 60 lots that are .... that are proposed as part of the rezoning, or we
anticipate to be proposed as part of the rezoning, are, uh, pale in comparison to
the housing that's already on Hickory Trail. So through just a quick analysis of
what we think will happen with the 60 lots, if 60% of. ... the existing
neighborhood and the new neighborhood use Hickory Trail, it'll still actually
produce less traffic using Hickory Trail than it does today. You know, once you
get above 60%, and I don't know how travel behaviors will occur, you know, once
the .... the development moves forward, but somewhere around the 60% threshold
you still have the same amount of traffic on Hickory Trail. 70% it's like an extra
100 or 200 cars a day, and then it goes up from there. Um, but assuming a 60/40
split, there'll actually be less traffic using the existing access point today than
there would be after the proposed development.
Thomas: Kent, do we .... do we have any traffic information of the existing conditions, such
as speeds on Tamarack Trail and Hickory Trail, or volumes?
Ralston: We have, uh.... we have an estimated volume, but that was the second point I
wanted to make was we are ... have not seen it yet, but my understanding is our
office received a traffic calming petition from the Hickory Trail neighborhood.
So that's a process that we can start working through now. It's unrelated, I mean
it's related I think as far as the neighbors are concerned, but as far as staffs
concerned, that's sort of an unrelated element and we can start working on that
traffic calming, uh, petition today and move forward with that. So that's typically,
you know, installation of speed humps is what we typically do when it comes to
Council because they're effective. Uh, there's thresholds that have to be met. We
have not collected our own data yet. That's one of the first steps, and then we
have a neighborhood meeting. But we'll.... we'll start that process, regardless of
what happens with, uh, the proposed development.
Teague: When you .... when you mentioned that, you know, you don't anticipate, well
because Scott Boulevard will be there and, you know, residents will be usin' that,
but if they were to take the south exit, wouldn't that be closer as far as like
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distance, because .... (mumbled) I mean a part of it is it could be like a half -mile
to, uh, a mile and a quarter.
Ralston: Yeah.
Teague: ...distance. Because the way our streets run.
Ralston: (unable to hear, speaking away from mic) (several talking) Sorry, Mazahir. So
if...if you, if you look at this, um, it .... it's a little.... north would actually be to the
left side and the existing development's to the right side of the image. If you look
at that, you know, it's hard to anticipate what folks will do, but I will assume at
least half that neighborhood closest to Scott would always be taking Scott,
because otherwise it's sort of this long, circuitous route down Tamarack and then
through Hickory Trail, even if you are .... you know, trying to head south or head
west, uh, into Iowa City. Um, and that's sort of where we come out. I ... I
estimated this 60/40 split. It could be 70/30. It could be 50/50, whatever it is,
um, but assuming 60/40 and that's .... this new traffic, and the existing traffic, with
a 60/40 split, 60% accessing First Avenue, 40% accessing Scott Boulevard, there
would actually be less vehicles at the throat of Hickory Trail at First Avenue.
Less daily vehicles. And at 70% it adds maybe like 100 vehicles a day, which to
be honest would be imperceivable to most people that live on Hickory Trail. Over
the course of 24 hours, that would be like 100 vehicles a day.
Taylor: So just to clarify again consideration of the .... the number of lots, the width of the
lots, the possible cost of the homes, potential homes, uh, extension of the trail,
traffic concerns, and storm water management wouldn't necessarily go into, uh,
the ... a decision on the rezoning?
Sitzman: Correct. Your .... your decision tonight is about the use, and whether additional
single-family, um, zoning is appropriate in this location.
Salih: Uh huh.
Throgmorton: Kent, do you happen to have, uh, do you recall off the top of your head what the
traffic volume is on First Avenue, at Hickory Trail or at least on that stretch?
Ralston: I ... (both talking)
Throgmorton:.....and then what the traffic volume is on Hickory Trail right now?
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Ralston: I do, if you would give me one moment to find my notes. The .... let's see .... uh, in
2018 .... sorry, one moment here. Uh, First Avenue had about a .... an average daily
traffic count of about 7,500 near the intersection at Hickory Trail and First
Avenue, and Scott Boulevard had an average, uh, of about 5,100, near ...roughly
near were the new Tamarack Trail would....
Throgmorton: ... and Hickory Trail is....
Ralston: Oh I'm sorry, Hickory Trail, I .... we don't have data that we have collected, but
using our estimates, it would be .... it's 121 households and they would produce
roughly 1,150 trips today. Give or take a few hundred, but roughly in that neck of
the woods. And the proposed 60 lots would produce about 500 trips. So ... 570
trips or so. So you're about, you're adding half the amount of the existing traffic.
Throgmorton: Okay. Thanks. Any other questions for Danielle or Kent? Thanks. We might ask
you to come back up. Who else would like to address us on this topic? Please
come up, state your name, write it down on the paper there. Good evening.
Protexter: Good evening to you all. My name is Terry Protexter and I live on 1007
Tamarack Trail and if I may, uh, we have a short .... if I could get the .... screen to
close. Okay (mumbled) (several talking) Please don't stop the ... start the clock
yet (laughs) Oh, here we go! All right! I think that's ours. And .... all right.
(several talking) Yeah, thank you. Appreciate it, and if I may, while Danielle's
still up here, urn .... wanted to clarify two things that several of you were asking.
The petition for 75 citizens was a petition, uh, of what we ... people who we could
contact within 24 hours, before the first, uh, Planning and Zoning Committee.
The other, uh, thing for tonight is the protest of the zoning, which requires, um,
and again .... this is right out of city and state code, it says that 20% of the owners
in the adjacent 200 feet, um, can request that the .... the, uh, protest, well (both
talking)
Throgmorton: I think that's not correct (both talking)
Protexter. It's right here.
Throgmorton: It's owners of 20% or more of the property that's located adjacent to the proposed
rezoning (both talking)
Protexter: Correct, absolutely. And there's eight property owners: ACT, uh, Doug Paul,
which owns the preserve; and then there's six, uh, homes within our Tamarack
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Trail, that abut the, uh, development. That's eight. So 20% of eight is actually...
you only (both talking)
Throgmorton: No, it's land area. It's.... it's 20% of the, or more, of the pro .... owners of 20% or
more of the property located adjacent to the proposed rezoning. It's not the
number of owners, it's property.
Protexter: I would defer... obviously to legal counsel, because there's.... there's two ways of
looking at it. There's two 'or's in here, so we provided, I guess we felt, uh, out of
the eight property owners, and it does say property owners, or properties, uh, we
provided five people. So that was more than the necessary 20%. So we're a little
surprised tonight about that. I'll defer to ... to, uh, legal counsel on that. So if I
may, let me just start from the beginning here a little bit. I had shared some of
this background with some of the, uh, City Council Members earlier and I just
mentioned the 74 -plus. We actually have four or five more since I put this
together. We feel there's some disadvantages we have because we're .... we're
losing some significant things that are part of our lives. The loss of, uh, a quiet
peaceful neighborhood. We are having increase, as mentioned earlier by the
engineer, increased traffic anticipated here, uh, that 500 cars, and I'll show you
some information in just a second, uh, and also the safety concerns for the
children. Many of us built our homes in this Tamarack Trail subdivision or
bought houses, based on those four, uh, elements. Peace and tranquility, if you
will, for one thing. And let's see if I can maneuver to the next slide. Here we go.
We do have a recommendation. I never like to come .... I used to be in business 40
years, never liked to come to a meeting without at least having offered some
solutions. We do have one solution, which was rather obvious to all of us, is the
idea of having, uh, no connection between our Tamarack Trail and the new
subdivision. I mean that's one approach, and there's safety and issue concerns,
and I'll address that in just a second. We have actually identified several other
ways that could mitigate the traffic, provide for fire and safety for both of the
neighborhoods, and we would like to, and I guess our message is the bottom, is
we'd like to be able to sit down with the, uh, City, the developer, and our
concerned citizen group and sit down and explore some of these other options,
versus just pushing the street on through. So that ... that's our first and most
important message to you, um .... and as far as traffic and safety, uh, that was
mentioned earlier. I won't belabor that. It's 500 -plus cars comin' through our
neighborhood, and I won't belabor the fact that there has been no comprehensive
traffic study, as you folks identified in your conversations with the City staffjust a
second ago. Um, our neighborhood is a straight shot, a long straight shot from the
top of our hill down, uh, on a slope and then it curves around and, uh, our big
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concern is how fast cars go down, and some of the studies we've looked at, the
longer the stretch of, uh, street, the faster the cars go, whether that's, uh, factual in
our city or not, I can't say. Uh, and when people are sayin' a lot of the traffic will
go out of the new subdivision to the north onto Scott and out. Uh, I've lived there
23 -plus years in my neighborhood. Most of us that live in that area are either
going to, uh, HyVee, City High for kids, uh, Regina for kids, going over to the
University, going over to the Hospital. None of. ... and going downtown for the
businesses downtown. Few people are gonna go up and around, and I'll show you
what I mean by that. Um .... if you look at this map, and I've got it sort of color
coded for ya. The, uh, route that, uh.... uh, the green route, which would be
starting from the furthest most house at 10, uh, 1077 Tamarack Trail in our current
neighborhood, if you take that all the way up to First Avenue and Rochester, that's
1.1 miles. Okay? The green, uh, line. If you look at the next option, which,
uh.... uh, folks were mentioning, City staff were mentioning earlier, if you go out
through Scott Boulevard, around and down to First Avenue, if you're heading
south toward, uh, First Avenue and Rochester and then choosing which direction
you're gonna go from there, that's actually 1.65 miles. Someone suggested, well
maybe people will wanna go all the way around Scott Boulevard and land ... and
come back on Rochester to go downtown. I hardly doubt that, but I .... I'm going
back to sort of personal experience, common sense. You take the least path of
resistance when traveling, uh, you know, you're not gonna go an extra half mile
between, uh, going out to the north on Scott Boulevard and then down First
Avenue, if you're truly heading south. So we're just using I guess human common
sense in terms of human reaction I should say to what ... what, uh, the traffic
pattern will be. We're not traffic experts. We don't really claim to be. Um, and
we are concerned about fire and safety. We wanna make sure that's true, but
our .... our neighborhoods been there over 30 -some years, 35 -plus years, with only
one exit. No one seemed too excited about that over the last 30 years. Um, and I
saw that, uh, the initial long-range planning that was shared earlier this evening.
We've seen that before. So, you know, we're talking about traffic again, uh, for
fire and safety. So I'm not gonna belabor (mumbled) let me just go straight to,
uh... um, the, uh.... map, but let me hit that last bullet first. It appears to me that
there was some issues with the Peninsula, which never addressed. That's a single
access entry point. A lot of homes in there. There's a gated street in Lexington
Avenue, if you've ever driven down there. There's a huge metal gate. And there
are cul-de-sacs are throughout the entire, uh, community. So if we're worried
about fire and safety, which I think we all should be, if you look at the, uh, green
line, that would take that furthest house, 1077 Tamarack, and go out, uh, down
Tamarack Trail, out on Hickory, and up on First Avenue over to the fire station or
reverse, the fire truck (mumbled) truck's coming to us. That's one and a half
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miles. If you went out of the fire station and the red down to that house, it's 1.35
miles.
Throgmorton: Terry, excuse me.
Protexter: Yes, sir!
Throgmorton: You've already gone over five minutes.
Protexter: Oh, okay!
Throgmorton: (both talking)
Protexter: Let me just wrap up then. My point is, it's only five second difference for the, uh,
for the fire and safety folks. I'm gonna skip that. Here's the references we found.
These are all federal references, etc., etc. This is our message: let's come
together as a community, uh, both the concerned citizens as we are, 75 -plus, the
staff working with us, and the developer working with us. Let's come up with a
good solution for connecting that street. A safe solution. That's all I have. Thank
you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Terry.
Protexter: Thank you for .... my time.
Throgmorton: Anyone else? Good evening.
Thiel: Hi. I can't speak and write at the same time. Uh, my name is Kristi Thiel. I am a
recent resident of Hickory Trail. My family and I just moved, um, there, uh, June
19th of this year. Um, so we didn't own the property at the time of the good
neighbor meeting, and so we were quite surprised to hear of the plan to, um,
increase the size of the neighborhood by 50%. Um, I am, uh, appreciative of the
opportunity to speak to you tonight, and I really would like to, uh, just kind of
reiterate and support many of the points that Terry just made, and um, make three
requests to the Council. I'd like to request, um, a traffic study to determine the
impact of the traffic on First Avenue, um, not only from Hickory Trail and the
new development on Tamarack Trail, but we also have to take into consideration
that there's a new retirement community being built on, uh, Scott Boulevard, as
well. So that could also add to the traffic that we're not considering at this
moment. Um, as was very nicely pointed out by the gentleman here, um, there is
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no traffic engineer on staff. Um, and my second request is for a, uh, traffic study
to determine if Hickory Trail and, um, Tamarack Trail are connected to the new
development, what will the impact on Hickory Trail, uh, be. I really appreciate
the, um, City staffs analysis of how to reduce traffic flow on the new
development, but I would like to see those same measures applied to the existing
development that it's going to be connected to, and so I think a formal traffic
study would be warranted, um, especially in light of the fact that the Council
knows that there is already a request for a traffic study on Hickory Trail. Um, and
then the last is, uh, request is to, uh, for the street to be constructed prior to the
installation of utilities to minimize the, um, the construction traffic on Hickory
Trail. Thank you very much.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Kristi. Welcome to Iowa City.
Teal: Thank you! Well, I've been here for 12 years. (laughter) New to the
neighborhood! (laughs)
Throgmorton: Anyone else?
Dorsweiler: Hi, I'm Dick Dorsweiler and I'm on the neighborhood council for this area, and
uh, what I would say to all of you, and to our neighbors, is everybody bought in
an area that was known to be surrounded by Harvest Preserve and ACT, and we
said, 'Well these are not the developer kind of things; so there was a perception
that this would be the way it would be forever. So I got a call from one of the
neighbors and said, you know, they're.... they're plotting lots over here and I said,
you know, don't worry, that's ridiculous. ACT is not going to develop this land,
and of course .... it is being developed. It is zoned for this. It is, you know, we're
just trying to figure out how to be smart about doing this, but part of it is the
neighbors are kind of gasping cause they just.... decades go by and it's just lovely
and green and pastoral. So, uh, I have one technical question on how to entice
traffic to not go down Hickory Trail and to Har ...and to, uh, Hickory Trail, but the
narrowing of the street, uh.... exiting onto Scott, would that be a deterrent for
anyone that lives on Tamarack to go on the slower, narrower route out, or if it was
just as the rest of Tamarack is, uh, would it be an .... if it looks narrow and
complicated leaving the neighborhood or maybe it won't even be perceptible, but
to avoid going onto Hickory Trail. The other thing, uh, to ... go on the Oaknoll
development is coming, and uh, the intersection of First Avenue and Scott
Boulevard, uh, that backs up very much, 8:00 and 5:00, you know. It's not too
bad the rest of the time, but it really is backed up then and ways to manage the
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traffic through that. We'll have Oaknoll and a full, uh, Hickory Trail, uh, how that
affects the traffic counts and so, uh, just like to put those out there.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Dick.
Dorsweiler: Sure.
Throgmorton: Good evening.
Kardos: John Kardos. I live at 956 Tamarack Trail. (mumbled) Uh, I'd just like to point
out that, uh, to start with that I support what Terry and Christy have told you, uh
(clears throat) We're not against the fact that there's a new development coming
in. That's fine. We are concerned about the safety problem and (clears throat) uh,
when you think about this, and those of us who live there see this all the time, um,
people, if you put 60 new homes on the north side there (clears throat) and you're
asked how many of them, if they have business in Iowa City will be going out to
Scott, around to First, and then that way. The answer is not very many, because
it's a further way to go, and the answer they'll be coining down Tamarack Trail,
takin' the shortest way out (clears throat) and you'll have an awful traffic jam,
particularly, uh, rush hours, uh, at First and .... and Hickory Trail. So ... we really
need to have a traf...careful traffic study done, which means actually goin' out
there and countin' cars, uh, to find out what the traffic is, and (mumbled) how
many cars might come down the hill and add to that, and I, um, afraid that I don't
have much faith in what's been said so far about what these numbers will be. So
(clears throat) I would like to see that done. Uh, another item, the, uh, matter of
trees. On the current Tamarack Trail, we do not have any trees in between the
sidewalks and the street, cause that's where the utilities are. Now, if you (clears
throat) suddenly have trees up on the other side of the street, and it's continuous,
then you're changing the look.... discontinuously from one side to the other. Um,
and probably that should be taken into account, particularly about where you're
putting the trees with regard to the utilities. Trees have a way of finding their way
into the utilities. And, uh (clears throat) so those are the issues that I, uh,
particularly wanted to emphasize and say that, uh, I generally support, uh, what
the others have said. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, John. Anyone else? Good evening.
Rude: Don't wanna take all your time. I'm Scott Rude and I'm at 1035 Tamarack Trail
and .... my neighbors have done a great job of telling the story. One of the things I
know is at the end of this conversation, um, you're gonna talk about moving it
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forward of course, and one of the things we probably don't, aren't aware of and
don't understand as well, we went to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Um,
at the end of it they said the only thing we do here is basically make sure it's
within code and it's within the law, and so we move it on. We don't listen really to
what you have to say. We're sorry, but we can't listen to what you have to say.
What I really wanna put forward is .... when is the time? You may actually say,
well, it's not our job necessarily to say whether it's rezoned or not. I mean we're
gonna talk about whether it's rezoned. When's the time for the citizens to actually
input? When do we have input on what happens? That's where I'm concerned.
So I just wanted to make that point, uh, put that point out there and hopefully we
can have that kind of conversation, if we're moving forward.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Scott.
Rude: Thank you.
Throgmorton: Anyone else? All right, seeing no one else, before I close the public hearing, I
want to ask Council Members if they are inclined to vote in accordance with
Planning and Zoning's recommendation, which was to approve the rezoning. If
not, uh, then I would continue the public hearing to allow for a consultation with
the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Salih: I really prefer to continue the public hearing because I just been saying that the
person even understood the petition different than what the City is saying, and I
saw Eleanor pulling up the book and I guess they need more time, at least to
understand if they need to put like, to bring more people to talk about this or not
and just ... because of that purpose, you know, we just need to give the people more
time to come together and give them more time to understand. I wanna
understand too, because I feel like confused. I'm a City Council (mumbled) not
understand this. I don't know also the public will be like having the same feeling.
That's why I really would prefer to continue the public hearing.
Throgmorton: What do the rest of you think?
Mims: I'm supportive of moving forward. I .... I think we have to keep our focus on what
rezoning is. There's a lots of other concerns and issues that need to be talked
about and discussed, and I think as, you know, Pauline listed off a number of
things and asked specifically that these are issues that we can't really consider
tonight in terms of the rezoning. Those come when we approve the plat. So to
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me, this is an area that fits with the comprehensive plan, um, is suitable use, and
so I would support mov.... I will support P&Z's recommendation.
Thomas: Well my .... based on staffs comments, my understanding is that the .... issues I
have concerns with, which have to do with the, um, impacts of the project on
traffic speed particularly are not part of our .... uh, decision process as it pertains to
this .... this vote. Um, so I .... I support the rezoning and I have serious concerns
about the impacts of the project, in terms of traffic.
Taylor: I echo what John just said. I have a lot of concerns about this development,
particularly with the density and the effect on traffic, and the concern that, uh, 75
people signed this petition, you know, we .... we need to listen to them and listen
to their concerns. Uh, that's very important as a Council, uh, but as Susan said
and as I was told that, uh, that really doesn't play into the actual rezoning of this
property.
Dilkes: I think there's some confusion here. Um, rezoning is about the density. Okay?
This isn't (laughs) we're talking about what .... what rezoning we're gonna impose
on this property. So RS -5 is our lowest density zone. That's.... that's what the
request has been. So if you wanna talk about density, I mean you can do that now.
In terms of the protest petition, the code is quite clear that it is the owners of land,
that it comprises 20% of the area surrounding the .... the area to be rezoned. Um,
so.....similarly if there are conditions that, um, are imposed because of needs
created by the rezoning, that is something that can be dealt with at the rezoning
stage. That's why the conditions have been proposed by staff, in terms of the...
the trees and the .... the, urn .... you know, the traffic circles and that kind of thing.
So I don't (laughs) I don't want you to think that we're gonna vote tonight and then
we're gonna somehow handle all these issues at the subdivision stage, because we
aren't.
Thomas: So some of ...so then my concerns with the traffic, because there are conditions
that have been placed on the design of the extension, uh.... it does fall under the
rezoning then.
Dilkes: Right. Once you close the public hearing, you cannot impose.... conditions. So
the conditional zoning agreement has to be signed before the close of the public
hearing. If there are conditional conditions that you wanna consider or you wanna
discuss, then we need to keep the public hearing open and.... and..... and, uh,
continue it.
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Throgmorton: And, John, remember at this point all we're asking is are you inclined to support
the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation. This is the first reading
of an ordinance. There will be two other readings.
Thomas: Right, but if (both talking)
Dilkes: But that includes the conditions (both talking)
Thomas: ...based on what she just said, yeah (both talking) the, my concerns are addressed
by the conditions of the rezoning, so therefore, um, I .... would .... would like a
consult. I .... I do not support P&Z's recommendation.
Throgmorton: Okay, so we've heard from not everybody. Rockne? Bruce?
Cole: I share, um, John and Mazahir's view. Um, I .... I do think we have to be, I mean,
as Councilors in terms of the zoning, we wanna be as predictable as we can. I
think especially in this public process we can't be too ministerial in the sense of
we're .... we're making a decision and so I want more time to talk to residents of
the community, um, to get feedback in terms of the density issues. Um, I may
think it may be a little higher density, so I don't know if you necessarily want that,
but, urn .... sol ....I do have concerns about the density, in terms of whether RS -5
is appropriate here. So I do have those concerns.
Throgmorton: But it's not gonna be a lower density.
Cole: No, I understand that. I understand that. So I would still like to have a consult
with Planning and Zoning.
Dilkes: It's also consistent with the comprehensive plan. I think that's gonna be your issue
with density is .... is this density is consistent with the comprehensive plan, which
is really the guiding principle of a rezoning.
Throgmorton: Uh, well (clears throat) I know Bruce hasn't spoken yet, but I am inclined ... I am
inclined to support the Commission's recommendation. And I'll explain why.
Teague: Sure, so the, um, so as far as the residential, um, single-family, um, because it's,
you know, in line with the comp plan, although I think we need to look at that at
some point, um, so that part I think is fine for me. Um, the request of the
neighbors to ... you know, have the communication with develop.... developers, I,
you know, again I'm not sure that we have any say in that. I would encourage all
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the residents to go there, um, and knock on the (laughs) knock on the door of the
development and, um, see what conversations you can have. You certainly can
come to staff and have those conversations and ..... as well as any of the
Councilors, as some of you have already done. So the comp plan, you know, I....
I'm good with that. Talkin' to the developers, I think you can certainly do that.
That's .... I don't know that that is really a .... urn ..... a .... a Councilor decision, or
a ... or intervene. I don't think we can intervene there. Talkin' to Plannin' and
Zoning about, you know, I really think that maybe we can do a condition of just
the roadway.
Throgmorton: What do you mean do a condition?
Teague: Um, just have more conversation about, you know, the access, some of the speeds,
as John had stated. So maybe .... I don't know if we do a condition of a... I
wouldn't want to totally say a traffic study, but explore like traffic patterns.
Cole: So you support the consult, Bruce, or....
Tbrogmorton: Do you .... do you support the Commission's recommendation (both talking)
Teague: Is there a way to do a (both talking)
Throgmorton: ... want to have a con .... cause we'll have to do a consultation (both talking)
Teague: Right. So the question is, is there a way to do a condition based on the traffic?
Dilkes: If. ... if you believe that this rezoning is creating traffic problems, then you can
address that in .... with an appropriate condition. That's what is being
recommended to you now. If you think that condition should be different,
because the problems you see are different or if you think that a traffic ... it needs
to be conditioned on a traffic study, then that's something that you can talk about.
If you wanna have a conversation with the .... with the Commission about that, and
talk to them about why they were in favor of the conditions they imposed and....
what they might think of the conditions that you might suggest or believe
are .... are possible, then you can do that.
Teague: Sol....so I guess for me, just to take it, you know, straight to the punch, I am
supportive of it, but with the condition if others, you know, support it of a traffic
study.
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Throgmorton: I wouldn't. What do you (both talking)
Fruin: I think it's important to ask, what do you want to get out of the traffic study?
Teague: Um, so ... I think what, you know, John talkin' about speeds and, as well as like,
um, Oaknoll is gonna be comin' over there as well. Will that now become like a
short cut, um, so it ... I mean it is a, the perfect opportunity to have more traffic
safety. We don't, you know, I .... I don't do traffic, I don't know traffic, um, and
so .... and Hickory Trail I understand is gonna be havin' a traffic study.
Fruin: I think .... well, with the traffic calming program, yes. We'll look at that, as Kent
articulated. Um, staff is already doing traffic analysis at the corner, or at the
intersection of Scott and First Avenue. In our CIP we have funds to address that
intersection. So we're already going through that process. You can spend $10,000
or require the developer to spend $10,000 on a traffic study, but we're adding 60
single-family lots. It's not that .... it's not incredibly complicated. We'll know
generally how many trips are going to be produced by each household. There's
pretty clear standards on what those will be. Um, yeah there's some.... there's
some debate on the split that they'll take, but a traffic study's not gonna, you
know, they're gonna make an educated guess as well on what that split will be. So
I .... a traffic study sounds like the appropriate thing to do. We do it very rarely
with rezonings. Um, and only when we really think that there might be a
significant problem that we need to get ahead of. In this case, I .... I really, I really
don't believe spending that money, or requiring the developer to spend that
money, is .... is gonna get you any better information than you have right now.
Teague: Okay. You know the one thing that this will be like, uh, single families. I think
it'll be, um .... you know, the price point of the houses and the, you know, the type
of people that will be there, I ... I feel will be responsible, um, on some level.
Um ... I don't know this. So I think for me, I am gonna support it, because I .... I
feel like the ... the comp plan is there. As far as the traffic, you know, I do hear the
concerns of all of the, you know, the residents that live there, and .... and I do
understand safety and .... um .... if ....if we're, so I'm gonna support it.
Throgmorton: Okay, so I hear four people in .... indicating that they are tentatively inclined to
support the Commission's recommendation. Uh, which means that we are in a
position now to close the public hearing, but just for the public's information, this
is the first reading of an ordinance for rezoning. There will be another reading
two weeks from now, and another reading after that. So there are opportunities
frankly to change people's minds, if ...if you wanna try to do that.
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Salih: But can .... can they, are they just disqualification, can they bring more petitions,
more people, after that?
Throgmorton: (both talking) The petitions matter at an important level of, you know, people
expressing their views, but the petitions don't matter legally for the reasons that
Eleanor's already described.
Salih: No, you don't understand me. That's a .... that's a law saying that if 20....20% of
the area, they came and present, even though if all of us agree 10)% everything
there is perfect, no traffic, no anything, and we agree, but 20% came up, we have
to have a super -majority, right?
Mims: There's no property owners that own .... enough property around there. As long as
ACT doesn't sign a positi.... a petition, or a protest, and as long as Doug Paul
doesn't sign a protest, and he actually owns this land, it is impossible to get 20%
(both talking)
Salih: They own the bigger area! (several talking)
Throgmorton: It's the percent of (both talking) The owners of a percent of property.
Salih: Okay. I still wanna continue the public hearing but....
Throgmorton: Okay, so .... at this point, given the four, uh, people, uh, who are inclined to
support the Commission, I'm gonna close the public hearing. (bangs gave])
Could I have a motion to give first consideration for this rezoning?
2. First Consideration
Mims: So moved.
Teague: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Teague. Discussion?
Mims: Well I'm gonna support it because I believe that this does meet the comp plan. I
think we have very limited land left within Iowa City proper for rezoning and for
residential. We know how hard it is to find property, how expensive property is
and a lot of it has to do with the supply and demand within the city. Having said
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that, I want the local residents to understand that I and I believe all my fellow
Councilors certainly understand the concerns you have about traffic and safety,
and I'm interested in talking more with staff and hearing more with them in terms
of what other ideas and .... and possible solutions there are to that. I don't see
within the development itself per se, and I know we're not getting into the .... the
prim... preliminary plat, but Danielle did show us because it relates to some things.
I'm not seeing a lot within there that can be done to address that particular issue.
So it has to do with what, to me it has to do with what other kinds of things
potentially can the City do to .... try and address, remediate some of those
problems. I will support the rezoning.
Thomas: Well I'll .... I'll try to explain where .... where I'm coming from on this in terms of
the traffic. You know I support the rezoning but the issues I have here is that we
have an existing condition we don't know exactly what the speeds on Tamarack
Trail or Hickory Hill Trail are now, but that's kinda the base condition that the
residents are experiencing, uh, and I wish I .... it would be helpful for me to know
what those speeds are, because that's kind of the baseline existing condition that
in my view then sets the standard by which we try to evaluate how this project
could impact those speeds. Um, because it....it will, uh, very possibly change
them. Um .... with .... with respect to the, um, addition, the extension to the north,
you know, staff has recommended, uh, two traffic circles, if I'm not mistaken, uh,
along that stretch, and .... I .... I support the idea of the traffic circles. I think they
are, um, when you're designing a new road, I would .... I would prefer seeing
traffic circles to speed humps, because you can actually integrate in the .... the
traffic calming effect, rather than putting a band-aid on the street. My feeling is
though is that there's spacing, uh, if they're to function in a way similar to ... to
speed humps, which typically have a distance of roughly 300 to 500 feet between
them. Uh, that standard, uh, doesn't apply to the spacing on the traffic circles, so
I .... I would prefer to see an additional traffic circle installed to .... to establish a
rhythm similar to what we would see with, uh... with speed humps, to ensure that
at least along that extension, uh, the .... the speeds are held down. Uh, the other
concern I have is that, you know, there's a lot of hypothesizing here, you know,
it's .... staff feels there'll be a 60/40 split. Uh, the residents question that. I kinda
wanna say'Who knows?' We have no idea what the, um, what the split will be. I
think there is a compelling argument by the residents who live there that there will
be in their view a .... a preponderance of the additional travel will be south and exit
onto, um, ultimately exit out onto, um, First Avenue. So my feeling is is we don't
know what the impacts will be in terms of traffic volume. We do not really know
what the impacts will be with respect to speed. Uh, I do think.... adding a ... an
additional traffic circle would .... would help with....with the extension, but I
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would also wanna add, you know, and it was interesting to hear that the, uh,
there's a petition that's been filed for traffic calming on Hickory Hill Trail. My
concern is is that my .... my sense is that the existing speeds on Hickory Hill Trail,
uh, we're not .... are lower than what the, um, the ... the thresholds are for the traffic
calming program, and so they may see an increase in speed, but it may not trigger
a traffic calming project because it won't exceed the, um, the threshold on our
traffic calming .... to ..... to trigger traffic calming, based on our program. So my
feeling is is that we shouldn't use the .... if .....if that should come to pass, that
speeds increase, which we don't know, but if it should come to pass, that rather
than using the ... uh, standard as based on our traffic calming program, which is 30 -
miles -per -hour, uh, I would .... I would ask, as a condition, that if we find speeds
exceed the existing speeds, that, uh, traffic calming be implemented on Hickory
Hill Trail, as well.
Throgmorton: (mumbled) ask staff to provide information about existing speeds?
Thomas: If we could get that between now and, um, you know, during our readings, that
would be helpful.
Mims: I guess my question for you, John.....I'm trying to understand, is—the things
you're asking, if I'm hearing you correctly, the things you're asking are things that
we as a Council can ask of staff. Or did I miss, is there a specific condition that
you would want to put on the rezoning, because if there's not a condition on the
rezoning (both talking)
Thomas: The condition... the actual physical change, urn .... that would be I think part of the
conditional rezoning would be adding a third traffic circle, because that affects the
plat.
Throgmorton: But that doesn't affect traf -would not affect traffic speeds down on the southern
part of Tamarack and Hickory Trail.
Thomas: Correct. That... that's why (both talking)
Mims: And it doesn't affect rezoning, because you could put that in (both talking)
Thomas: No, but it .... it's a potential impact of the project, but yes, it....it does not affect
this project, but it....it locks into place the .... the, uh, affect that the .... the petition
that has been, uh, or the process that's currently underway of seeking traffic
calming on Hickory Hill Trail, uh.... as that pro .... given that process, there are
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certain thresholds that they need to meet, which they may not meet because of the,
um, you know, the 30 -mile -per -hour threshold that's required in order to trigger
traffic calming.
Mims: I guess what I'm still not.... understanding, and pardon me if I'm being thick, what
actual conditional zoning, additional conditional .... what additional condition
would you wanna put on the rezoning, that we can't just request of staff but
actually have to put in the conditional zoning agreement?
Thomas: Right, well that, as I said, I think .... what would need to be added, from what I can
see, is the .... the addition of the third traffic circle, which is part of the .... it's a
revision to the .... the condition that's there now, which talks about the traffic
circles, as reflected in the preliminary plat. If we change .... the number of traffic
circles from two to three.... Eleanor, would this ... is this a different condition that
I'm getting at, it seems to me I am.
Dilkes: A requires, the first condition requires substantial compliance with the
preliminary plat attached, meaning it's just an example right now, that identifies
traffic circle. So if that was different than .... that would be a different condition
(several talking)
Fruin: If I could clarify, Kent, would you mind pulling up the plat, or Danielle? You
need to look at some of the existing conditions of that property as you think about
adding a condition like this, uh, or stating that that's what you'd like to see with
the preliminary plat. So the .... the existing, um, Tamarack Trail and I think it's
shown on the plat there. And, Danielle, if you can stay up there. Can you circle
where the end of that ... just right outside the plat area there's an existing cul....
Cul-de-sac there. (several talking)
Throgmorton: So there are three circles is what you're drawin' attention to.
Fruin: What I'm drawing to is the existing subdivision has that ... that bulb at the end that
will become a third traffic circle there, and .... and when you look at the space in
between there, the ... where the cul-de-sac comes down and you've got your lots 20
thru 11 there, with 15 at the bulb in the cul-de-sac, uh, as it ... as it reaches out
there. That's strategically placed because that's where the topography allows for
developable lots. So that .... that traffic circle at that intersection cannot (both
talking)
Thomas: ....that would not change.
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Frain: So you're pretty limited on where you can fit (both talking)
Thomas: You could pull it back up. Where I'm proposing would be where .... where that
cul-de-sac intersects the extension. The mid point between the traffic circle at
that intersection and the existing traffic circle is where I would be proposing.
Frain: So lots 55, 56, somewhere in there?
Thomas: Yeah, somewhere in there.
Mims: I get a ... I mean....
Throgmorton: Well (both talking)
Mims: ...traffic engineers, and I .... I get a little concerned about us trying to put in
specific traffic -related.... adjustments when we're not traffic engineers.
Throgmorton: Seems to me, if you're .... wanna make a motion to amend this thing, you should
make a motion, and we can focus our attention on that.
Thomas: Yeah, if that's, urn .... if that's possible.
Throgmorton: So you (both talking)
Thomas: Yeah, I'd like to make a motion (both talking)
Dilkes: You ... (both talking)
Salih: Amend.
Dilkes: The conditions, the time for imposing conditions have passed. We can't make a
motion to amend the conditions. The only option you have at this point is to vote
down the rezoning. That's what .... that's the point I was trying to make about
closing the public hearing and trying to subsequently add conditions.
Throgmorton: Okay. Would anybody else like to, uh, offer your comments about this proposed
rezoning?
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Teague: So again I think I talked about, you know, the comp plan, you know, is .... is, um,
it allows for this. Um, the low-density single-family, um, is what we're talkin'
about. Right now the residents within the community does welcome that. I think
the biggest concern is the traffic, and .... and the unknown of what that might look
like, um ... I do encourage residents to still go to the developers. I think y'all did a
great job comin' up today and speakin' to, um, us here. I hear John. I think it's
just that, um, you know, the concern of the traffic, um, within this neighborhood
because it will be a short-cut for anybody else, you know, comin', um, west on
Scott Boulevard, wait, not Scott Boulevard... well, comin' down Scott Boulevard
at that point.
Mims: I don't think people on Scott are gonna cut through this neighborhood.
Teague: You don't think so?
Mims: No. It's 35 -miles -an -hour on Scott. You've got no curb cuts or anything. People
typically drive over 35. I don't see anybody using this as a cut -through. I mean I
think .... I think you're gonna see ... and obviously just depends on where people are
headed, but I think a lot of the people north of that cul-de-sac, you know, you
probably have a fair number of them that will go out the north end who, I mean
who knows whether people goin' to Cedar Rapids to work, goin' out to the
interstate. I wouldn't hazard to guess, you know, percentage (both talking)
Throgmorton: I think we .... you mentioned a point that I intended to bring up and that is all the
discussion so far has been about traffic that would be wanting to go downtown or
in that direction. There's the interstate and I'm willin' to bet everybody in this
room uses the interstate. So a substantial amount of that traffic, from Tamarack,
is gonna go north and then tum right or left in order to get to the interstate,
depending on what direction they wanna go. And that's not really been accounted
for yet. So .... I think it should be.
Cole: So my position is I would like to, uh, allow the community more time, um, to give
input on this. I think my concern of the development process in general is that
we .... we're doing better with our good neighbor meetings and I appreciate the
efforts of the developer to reach out to the residents. I have not heard the
residents say no under any circumstances to this particular development, and I ... I
think what they said is we can make it better with the feedback,and so to me it's
always either too early or too late. There's never that optimal time to address it.
So until those additional contacts have been made, um, I am not gonna support the
development at this (both talking) rezoning.
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Throgmorton: With due respect to you and to, uh, neighbors, all of whom, some of whom are
good friends of mine .... um, the (laughs) the only sort of happy agreement I've
heard so far is to stub ends of Tamarack so that it .... there's no road going straight
through. That's the compromise people wanting us to make, and I don't see that as
being a compromise. You know, that's an either/or kind of choice.
Mims: And that would be at the platting stage.
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Salih: At ... what the stage?
Mims: The plat, not at the rezoning (several talking)
Taylor: Yeah, that's why I anticipate that at the platting stage there's going to be a lot of
discussion, lot of stuff that's been brought up today. There's going to be a lot of
discussion about this, because, ub, I have heard some of the residents say that
they're not necessarily opposed to the rezoning and .... and some homes being built
in there, but there are several other issues that I think .... they have very valid
concerns that need to be listened to, and if it's (mumbled) at that step, at the
platting stage, uh, then so be it. We'll (mumbled) done with the rezoning, but
certainly bring up these concerns at the platting stage.
Throgmorton: Any further discussion? I guess I wanna say a few things, additionally to what
I've already said. First of all I wanna thank everybody who's come and spoken to
us to express your views about this particular rezoning. It clearly matters to you
and therefore it matters to us. But the question before us is is it reasonable to
rezone this property from IDRS, Interim Development RS to RS -5, knowing that
RS -5 is the lowest density residential zone in the built-up part of the city. So is it
reasonable for us to do that? And then also, is it consistent with the
comprehensive plan, for us to do that, and it seems to me the answer's clearly yes,
for both of those questions. So ... I .... I hear the concerns about traffic. Uh, I live
on a street that has traffic too, I mean you know, and John, you routinely complain
about traffic on Brown Street, and for good reason, but it's, uh, part of the
situation we live in. So ... I mentioned the traffic going up to the interstate. That
will happen for a lot of people that live on Tamarack, including people who live
on Hickory Trail. They might not wanna go over to First Avenue and then go up.
They might just go up Tamarack (laughs) I .... I don't know about that, but also
some.... some, uh, some of the speakers said ... what's wrong with a cul-de-sac, at
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the northern end of the existing Tamarack and at the southern end of the new road,
because there are cul-de-sacs all over the city. That's true, but that was a result of
prior development decisions and code, the way the code was written before. The
code has been revised, and it's revised .... I don't know (mumbled) that done in
2005? Was that ... or Doug, maybe I should ask you (laughs) Was it done in 2005?
Dilkes: Zoning code was 2005. I'm not sure, I think the cul-de-sac standard might be in
the subdivision standards. I don't know.
Throgmorton: Yeah, so it's true that some existing cul-de-sacs are there, but ... that doesn't mean
we want to be building more cul-de-sacs. The answer's no, we don't wanna be
building more. Some people referred to the Peninsula as an example of a .... a
development that it's the end of a road and there's no other way in and out, except
that road. That's true, but we're build .... we've enabled construction of another
road that will provide secondary access. And .... traffic congestion at First and
Scott, that's been brought up. Uh, it's in our capital improvements program to do
something about that intersection, either by installing traffic lights or by installing
a, uh, traffic, what is it, a roundabout. So I don't think there's sufficient grounds
to deny the application, so I intend to vote in favor of it. Uh, but I wanna
introduce a couple other topics, just to get 'em on the table. I don't want any
discussion about this, I just want you to hear'em. I also think we need, at some
point, to instruct staff to propose amendments to the City code .... that require new
developments that explicitly address how they will help the City achieve its
climate action and affordable housing goals. So, uh, I think this came up earlier
with regard to duplexes. One of the speakers said something about that. So, I .... I
don't wanna get into discussion about it. I'm just sayin' I think we need to point in
that direction. And .... the item that appears next on our agenda is quite relevant to
this point. We'll get to that later on. So that's my view, and....
Salih: Can I ask question?
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Salih: You know, I really just ask Geoff because, you know (unable to understand)
development here and I hear a lot residents they are not against like having more
people living by them or extending their neighborhood or anything. I know that
the people concern concern about the traffic on the, between I guess, uh, Hickory
Hills and .... and the Tamarack Hills. Yeah, Trail. Just by asking Geoff, he said
because somebody I guess he propose that just don't open that, don't extend that
street and make the new development enter from Scott Boulevard. And now if I
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understood Susan right, she said this is could be discuss on the plat, right, is that
true? (several talking) It can, during that time. Today we are just approving the
zoning, whether we are doing this like the change or not, but the details, if we
want to extend the street or not or change, this is gonna be later?
Dilkes: Can someone speak to our subdivision standards (laughs) on the cul-de-sacs?
Fruin: Yeah, I don't think this is .... maybe, Danielle, um, if you know the .... the
maximum cul-de-sac length, um....
Sitzman: Sol....I'm not an expert on our subdivision code, but I did take a look at it and
there are clear goals, or directives, that streets should connect to other streets,
sidewalks to sidewalks, trails to trails, uh, across the development and to the
property line to provide for their extension to adjacent properties in the future.
Each subdivision must contribute to the larger inter -connected street pattern of the
city to ensure street connectivity between neighborhoods, multiple travel routes
resulting in the diffusion and distribution of traffic, efficient routes for public and
emergency services, and to provide direct and continuous vehicular and pedestrian
travel routes to neighborhood destinations. There are some dimensions about,
um, maximum length of blocks. Um, that is the... spacing of the, uh, traffic circles
that you see on the plat, uh, was developed to emulate a block pattern, um ....uh,
of 600 -feet and cul-de-sacs should not exceed 900 -feet in length. Uh, the existing
Tamarack Trail I think is about 1,000 -feet. The extension of Tamarack is shown
here, is about 1,800 -feet. So those are borderline the limit and this would clearly
exceed the limit .... of a cul-de-sac.
Ralston: Sorry, Kent Ralston, Transportation Planner. I just wanted to add one thing too.
I'm, uh, nearly certain, and I would want Legal staff to look this up, but I'm nearly
certain actually you cannot have a cul-de-sac anymore, as far as the subdivision
code allows, unless it meets one of I think four exceptions, and it's topographic
related, which'd be how this particular cul-de-sac would be, um, allowed or
permitted, because it's.... there's no place to connect to, because of the topography
and because of the neighboring properties. Um, and there's a few others, but
basically unless .... my understanding is, again we'll have to check, but I believe
it's ... if you meet, you have to meet an exception and there's like four, and
topography's one and there's other hardships with.... about connectivity and so
forth, so I don't know that you could allow a cul-de-sac unless it met one of those
exceptions.
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Dilkes: I think that's right. I'd have to look at the specific provision to .... to verify that,
but .... but I think .... I think we all know that it would be very unusual for us to
approve a preliminary.... or a preliminary and final plat that had two abutting cul-
de-sacs when you could have a through street.
Ralston: I can say with some certainty that the code frowns upon that.
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Salih: Uh huh.
Throgmorton: Okay, uh, we've discussed this quite a bit now. Uh, any further discussion?
Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 4-3. All right, so could I have a
motion to accept correspondence please?
Teague: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Teague, seconded by Mims. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion
carries.
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10. Approval of the 2019 Fair Housing Choice Study — Resolution adopting Iowa
City's 2019 Fair Housing Choice Study which acts as its Analysis of
Impediments to Fair Housing Choice.
1. Public Comment
Throgmorton: (several talking in background) It's all yours, Kurt.
Lehman: Okay! Thanks for having me. I'm Kurt Lehman, Community Development
Planner with, uh, Neighborhood Development Services. I just wanted to briefly
go over the Fair Housing Choice Study, what it is, why we're doing it, and then
mostly I wanted to focus on whatever recommendations found within it, what are
the goals and the strategies that we're going to try to use. Um, so generally in
terms of background, fair housing is the right to choose housing, free from
unlawful discrimination. Um, so that is based on protected characteristics or
what's called protected classes. It's a number of characteristics, as listed on the
screen, include... includes age, disability, color, race, national origin, (mumbled)
religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation. Marital or familial status,
presence or absence of dependents, and then also, uh, public assistance is a source
of income, which does include housing choice vouchers or .... or other vouchers of
that sort. So it is guided by the Human Rights ordinance in Iowa City, but there's
also associated federal and state regulation as well. So it is the City's duty, uh, as
a recipient of federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development, uh, to affirmatively further for housing, um, so that means taking
meaningful actions to overcome patterns of discrimination, uh, to promote fair
housing choices, and then also to foster an inclusive community. So as part of
that duty to affirmatively further fair housing within Iowa City, um, Iowa City
conducts a Fair Housing Choice Study every five years, or what's also called an
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. Um, and it provides an
opportunity for the City to try to identify those impediments to fair housing
choice that exist within the city, try to identify some strategies to overcome them,
and then again, uh, there's a process of implementing those actions and then also
documenting all that's been done too affirmatively for their fair housing. So for
this study we've been working on it approximately a year, uh, and it's really a
culmination of a set of public input processes, which included three, uh, public
meetings, six focus groups, and then a public survey as well, and then also data
analysis, just looking at, you know, what's happening in Iowa City, what does the
census tell us, what does, uh, different federal and local private data sources tell
us. Um, so the .... the plan has been completed around since mid-June and we've
been in a public comment period ever since. Um, so far we've received four
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written comments and then, uh, we also have included in the packet those
comments that were received in the public meetings (mumbled) excuse me, that
we had. In terms of general themes from that public input, um, the first and
foremost is that housing affordability is one of biggest barriers of fair housing
choice in Iowa City, um, especially with a large student population, incomes don't
always match those housing costs in a high demand area and so that .... that can be
a barrier to fair housing choice. Um, other concerns that were noted were
displacement due to rising housing costs, discrimination generally, and then also
community opposition to affordable housing can be an issue as well. Um, some
other themes that .... that continually came up was related to the housing stock,
where, uh, the quality can be challenging sometimes for fair housing choice,
where sometimes protected characteristics are experiencing higher circumstances
of, um, sub -standard housing or especially cost burden, um, and then also in
especially older areas of the city, accessibility issues can become a challenge,
because disability is protected class. Uh, and then also diversity throughout
neighborhoods, having different opportunities to live in different neighborhoods,
whereas, uh, the opposite would be everything being the same within one area.
Uh, public policy also came up frequently where sometimes, uh, codes and
processes can increase costs or limit flexibility that are there, uh, and then also
that funding needs to be aligned with a lot of the goals that .... that Council puts
forward and that, um, especially through the consolidated planning process and
your strategic planning processes, and then coordination. Just the understanding
that fair housing choice is a regional, uh, circumstance and so it can't just be, uh,
solved under jurisdictional basis, and then also the need for education within Iowa
City, especially, uh, eyeopening was within the survey, 26% felt that they had
experienced some form of housing discrimination in Iowa City, but only 3% filed
a complaint, uh, because they didn't know what good it would do for them, but
also feelings of helplessness or other associated issues. So the need to, um,
educate everyone about fair housing rights and responsibilities came up as well.
So towards that end, four different goals were developed, each with three or four
strategies to try and address some of those goals and that's what I'll just run
through briefly as .... as the rest of this presentation to kind of give you an idea of
what we saw and then what we think we can do about it. Um, so first and
foremost is .... improve housing choice throughout the community. Um, this is
speaking in terms of types of housing. So large families, looking at small
families, looking at accessible homes, and then also in terms of price points,
where, um, sometimes you can't find a lower priced home within different areas
of the city, and some of that is driven by need, or by demand, uh, but that there is
an opportunity to try and facilitate a range of housing types throughout the
community. Um, so that's the first strategy then is facilitating a range of housing
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types, whether that be by having different zones throughout the community and
then also within zones allowing diversity of housing choice. Uh, strategy two is
looking at lowering the cost of housing generally. So things like fees, uh, on a
broader sense trying to keep people in their homes because that's one of the best
ways for (mumbled) to, uh, to provide affordable housing; looking at rehab and
lowering utility costs through things like energy efficiency improvements; uh, and
then also looking at alternative living arrangements for, uh, unique populations
that Iowa City has, such as students. Uh, and then strategy three is continuing to
invest in affordable housing throughout the community. Um, so that .... that is a
strategy that you can use to .... to guide a diversity of housing choice throughout
the community, and then also strategy four, retrofitting housing for equal access,
and this is looking at procedures that are required to retrofit a home, uh, for
accessibility, for example, um, or also helping people age in place, age in their
home because that is overwhelmingly, uh, what people want to do. Goal two is
looking at facilitating access to opportunity then. So this is looking at, you know,
what are the opportunity areas within the city, what are areas where there might
not be as many services or amenities or...or what have you, and then, uh, trying to
connect those as well. So the first strategy then is emphasizing variety and ... a
variety of housing types in the areas of opportunity. So looking specifically at
what's close to jobs, what's close to transit services, other amenities, uh,
affordable childcare, and can we put a variety of housing, uh, near those things
that are in high demand. Strategy two is kind of the flip side to having a balanced
approach where you don't just wanna invest everything in those areas of
opportunity because they already have opportunity. So trying to turn other areas
of the city that may not have that plethora of resources, etc., uh, whether that be
through investing in amenities, investing in housing, uh, and that sort of thing,
and then strategy three is enhancing those mobility linkages, whether that be
transit, walkability, bikeability, to connect areas of opportunity to other areas and
hopefully integrate the city better through those methods. Goal three, uh, is really
speaking to that final point that I mentioned during the public input, which is
looking to increase education and outreach, um, so for this strategy one is looking
at the demand side and this was, uh, the most important according to the Housing
and Community Development Commission for .... for this set of, um, strategies,
and that's looking at who are the users of housing, whether that be tenants, buyers,
mobile home park residents. Uh, they tend to be less organized so there's an even
greater need to reach out to those folks about what are their rights, uh, and then
how do .... bow do they make sure that their rights are followed. Um, strategy two
is the flip side of that, where there does tend to be more organization. It's people
like bankers, it's industry groups, landlords, making sure that they understand
their responsibilities and they understand their clients, uh, housing rights and
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helping them share what are best practices, what are ways that we can, uh,
continue to improve our education. Uh, strategy three is regu... regulator
awareness. So that is looking at, uh, Council, commissions, staff, anyone at the
City that makes a lot of these decisions and making sure that we have an eye to
equity as we make our decisions, and then strategy four is providing meaningful
language access, cause you can do all the education in English that you want, but
we do have substantial, uh, limited -English proficient populations, especially'
Spanish and Mandarin, um, so looking at ways that we can make sure that they
also have access to this information. And then four is improving operations, or
operational improvements. Um, this is generally smaller processes within the
City. It is .... it's less focused on those large themes and more what are ways that
we can tweak what we're doing now to try and really, uh, further fair housing
choice within Iowa City. So the first is improving fair housing enforcement
transparency. Again, maybe people don't know that they can file a complaint or
they don't, um, feel safe, or they are afraid of retaliation, and so a need to help
alleviate those fears and especially tracking outcomes, making sure that we're
encouraging that they report those, uh, issues that they're facing, and then also
combating those fears of retaliation. Um, strategy two, reviewing implementing
procedures of regulations. Um, this is really looking at what are we currently
doing, how .... how, what are the unintended consequences of the things that we
might do in terms of equity, and then also making sure that rules are as easy to
follow as possible for everyone involved. Um, strategy three is improving
regional cooperation, so making sure that we're working with neighboring
jurisdictions, but also within... others within the housing market region. So
whether that be builders or .... or landlords and making sure that, um, the
University, uh, making sure that they're all part of this solution as well, and then
strategy four is improve data collection. Lot of times with local programs we
don't always track data, so making sure that we're really tracking all that data,
protected characteristics and not ... we can see that we're moving forward with our
goals. So in a nutshell, those are the four primary goals and strategies, so thank
you, uh, for having me and if you have any questions, happy to answer them!
Throgmorton: Great, thanks, Kurt. Uh, very impressive study, so I want to thank staff. I assume
you played a role in this too, um, for producing such a thorough and informative
study. Beyond that, I wonder if any of our Council Members have questions for
you?
Cole: I wonder if you've looked at the pattern and the historical connection between
single-family only zoning and socioeconomic, as well as racial segregation, the
link between those two, if any.
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Lehman: We did not look at that specifically within this study, but we did look at the .... the
zoning map and whether or not it allowed for diversity of price points and
different types of homes. So some of our recommendations within the study do
specifically address some of those items.
Teague: Great study, and I think, you know, affordability is somethin' that we've been
lookin' at for a long time. So, um .... appreciate the data. Uh, I .... I do think that at
some point, uh, it'll be very helpful for us to really know how many people within
our community really do need affordable housing. Um, some data on that,
because you know we have this, we know that there's a need, but we really
don't .... have any data on how large is that need, and so .... and.....and then the
other thing is, you know, um, once we know how many people have that need,
you know, what type of need is it? Is it a one -bedroom unit? Four-bedroom unit?
You know, that type stuff. So, um, this was great data, I appreciate it. (unable to
hear person speaking in background)
Taylor: I just had a question. You mentioned once the mobile home communities came
up, and I .... I know that that, uh, that does, uh, facilitate a range of housing types,
includes... gives a little extra option, but we're seeing recently, uh, that this
population is very vulnerable. How will they fall into this and how is there
something that we could include in there that could help protect these persons?
Lehman: Yeah, so it .... as one of the things that we were looking at in policy, displacement
was one of those items, and .... and the mobile home parks really came up in that,
because a lot of that was coming to a head as we were .... as we were looking at
that. So they are included within that displacement section somewhat, but making
sure that they are aware of their rights, um, and John McKinstry also submitted a
comment, um, that really encourages you to look at mobile home communities
and how they might fit into fair housing choice within the community. Um, that
came during the public comment period, so the draft was complete at that point,
but we did incorporate it, um, into especially like the outreach and making sure
that they're aware of their rights and that sort of thing.
Taylor: Thank you.
Salih: I just think this is really great study and it should help us in like because we
identified needs and it should help the City on like doing more toward affordable
housing in the future. To the ... to Bruce point, we do have that data. I guess we
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have census (mumbled) I just saw it somewhere, but I think that there is, uh
(unable to understand) I don't know when it was. 2018? 2008 or .... something...
Fruin: Somewhere around there we updated it, about three, four years ago.
Salih: Yeah, and I guess it was like (both talking) 1,100 families who paying more than
50% of their income toward rent and this is not include student. I'm talking about
family. You know, and that what I saw. There is some data. There is grave need.
That's why we need to work on affordable housing. I appreciate the study. That's
what really highlight the needs too. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Any other questions for Kurt? Thank you. Would anybody else like to address
this topic?
Eastham: Charlie Eastham, 953 Canton Street. Just to respond more to, uh, to Council
Member Teague's, uh, comments about needing, uh, firm numbers on how many
people need affordable housing. Uh, there .... there is .... that information is
contained in the Consolidated Plan. It's not necessarily in the Fair Housing Study
plan. And it's in the range of, I think Mazahir just, uh, just spoke, that if you look
at numbers of households, of different, uh.... uh, different numbers of members
within those households, and include, uh (clears throat) there are 1,300 or 1,400
households that are spending more than half of their income for rent, which in my
mind is an estimate of housing need. There are also twice that number of student
households who are spending, uh, who are also similarly cost -burdened
(mumbled) Thanks.
Wu: Hello there, um, Austin Wu, UI Student Government City Liaison. Um, this is all
in approval of, urn.... approving this Fair Housing Choice Study, but just a few
points I'd like to make. Uh, so point one, uh, the results of the 2018 Fair Housing
Choice Study confirms what is already known by many, that a continuing lack of
affordable rental housing continues to keep housing prices high, albeit to a lesser
extent than before, and that discrimination on racial and socioeconomic basis, of
which I have experienced the former, continues to impact less privileged members
of the Iowa City community. Uh, point number two, landlords must be kept
accountable for their actions or lack thereof. Um, and the University rental
impact area, too many landlords continue to nickle and dime tenants, often
students, and neglect their properties to the point of complete loss. Uh, the
demolition of Tennessee Williams' former home on Clinton Street this summer,
demolish or decay is an example of the irreversible results of such behavior,
which I believe was, um, the previous owner of the house prior to the University
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was Prestige Properties. Uh, to sign a lease is just not a contract, landlords must
be held accountable to keep their end of the deal as well. And then point three is
that the supply of housing in the city must continue to increase, but that alone will
not be sufficient in keeping the price of housing down. Uh, in -fill development,
loosening restrictions on rental occupancy, and accessory dwelling units in back
alleys could all serve to increase supply and density in core neighborhoods
without significant alterations to local streetscape, and that additional City
investment in the public housing, including into units in buildings directly
operated by the City, would be crucial in supporting the most marginalized
members of society, as well as keeping the (mumbled) cost of housing relatively
low, and then finally of note, this was not, um, on my initial notes, but um, I
would encourage everyone to look at the late handout, um, there's some pretty
good takes from UI students and uh.... (mumbled) brief recap of some of her
points. She notes that more specifics are needed in regards to sustainability in,
uh, the study's summary, especially in light of the Council's recent declaration of a
climate crisis and she makes a very, um, fair point that density does not
necessarily equate to affordability, that expecting new construction in places such
as Riverfront Crossings to aid in affordability over time as suggested by some
market urbanist circles is not only patronizing to the less well off, but also takes
place at an unrealistically long time line. As (mumbled) goes, the best time to
plant a tree was 20 years ago, but the second best time is now. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Austin. Anyone else? Okay, seeing no one, could I have a motion to
approve the....
2. Consider a Resolution
Salih: Move (both talking)
Throgmorton:... uh, the resolution.
Teague: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Salih, seconded by Teague. Discussion?
Salih: It's great.
Throgmorton: Uh, well I'll say somethin' about this. Of course I do wanna thank staff for
producing such a thorough and informative study, and I think we should take the
study quite seriously and initiate changes in the zoning code for RS zones,
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specifically I think we should instruct staff to propose amendments to the code
that require developers to ensure their proposed developments will help the City
achieve its affordable housing objectives. I have one specific, uh, idea in mind
and it won't surprise any of you, I think, and that is to permit a certain percentage
of duplexes and four-plexes, or maybe I should say require a certain percentage of
duplexes and four-plexes, that conform with missing middle concepts, to .... to
require, to permit them by right. So that, uh, the developer doesn't have to apply
for a special exception or something like that. Uh, that could achieve benefits that
are good for... from an affordable housing point of view, but also from a climate
action point of view for reasons that Martha Norbeck described in that email we
got from her that's part of our packet somewhere, and it really has to do with
shared walls. The more you have shared walls, uh, the .... the greater the energy
efficiency of the units are gonna be, all else being equal. Yeah, so I think, you
know, duplexes and four-plexes, and enhancing mobility alternatives would be
very good. So at some point I hope we do direct staff to draft .... uh, an
amendment to the code having to do with.... permitting duplexes and four-plexes,
maybe tri-plexes, by right, within single-family zones, so long as they are ... I
should say within RS zones, so long as they are .... um, what's the word I'm after
here? Um .... conform with this missing middle concept, which we've discussed a
thousand times now.
Salih: Uh huh. Agree.
Throgmorton: Anyone else? Any further discussion? Okay, so we have a motion on the floor.
Roll call please. Motion carnes 7-0.
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11. Council Liaison to CPRB — Ordinance amending Title 8, entitled "Police
Regulations," Chapter 8, entitled "Community Police Review Board," to
create a City Council liaison. (Second Consideration)
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion please?
Salih: Move.
Cole: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Salih, seconded by Cole. Discussion? Would anybody like to address
this topic? Anybody in the public? Good evening, Orville.
Townsend: Good evening. Orville Townsend, 713 Whiting Avenue. Um, you guys kind of
been wrestlin' with this and, you know, I just couldn't understand why it was such
a problem. You just couldn't.... couldn't see it, but then it dawned on me. I think a
big part of the problem is ... you know, the Council, you appoint members to the
boards and you know and then you just leave it be, and I guess it's probably not
too many times that you have a member of one of those boards (laughs) that come
to you with a recommendation, a suggestion like I'm doin' here. Uh, the reason
for it is that .... one of the major emphasis of our board as the City is to assure that
citizens rights aren't bein' violated. I know you guys have a lot of boards and
you're probably a little leery about start a ... settin' precedence, but I think our
board is a little different, because we're talkin' about citizens rights. Uh, actually
I ... I see it as a win-win. You know, if you approve this and it's needed, it's there.
If it's never used, then that means that things are goin' okay, but you know we're
in good shape right now. We've got an excellent police chief, you know, uh,
Council is kickin', but .... we can't guarantee that that's gonna happen. Like our
police chief, he's excellent, but it's probably somebody else is gonna notice that
and kinda steal him away from us, uh, so we don't know what's gonna happen, but
the one thing about it is is if there is a liaison appointed to our board, then that
means that any time a member has concerns, they could talk to that liaison. Uh,
you appoint members to boards. I can pretty much stand on my own, but you
have a lot of citizens, you know, they're not warriors. And when they have an
idea and people snap at 'em, they kinda bury their head in the sand and just leave
it be. But if they had a .... a vehicle that they could use, where they could privately
communicate, they would probably do it. Uh, another thing is initially we said
that we wanted the liaison to meet with our board twice a year. We backed away
from that because it's not necessary. The liaison would only, you know, be
contacted if a member had some concerns. Uh, we're not askin' you to get into the
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board activities. We're just sayin' that, hey, if there's a situation where someone
feels the need to communicate, doesn't feel comfortable comin' before the Council
like I am now, uh, they would have another vehicle to do it that would be more
comfortable for 'em, and like I say, you know, if we don't need it or use it, that
means that things are goin' well, but if there's a case where we have members that
do need to use it, it would be there. Not to necessarily solve grievances between,
uh, board members, but basically just a vehicle for communication, and it might
work out that the .... it may just improve communication. I mean you can't have
too much communication. So I would encourage you to, you know, approve this
suggestion.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Orville. Anyone else? All right, seeing no one else, Council
discussion?
Thomas: Well I approved it before, and I'll support it again and thank you, Orville, for
showing up and expressing your views on it.
Salih: I also approve it before. I'm gonna continue approving it but I really would like to
just talk about the City Manager memo, that you send it to the Council, for the
public information, and uh, it just telling that there is 63 complaint has been filed
during the last 10 years, starting 2018 to 19, and out of the 63 complaint, only
four of those complaint has like the .... the CPRB had disagree with the police
chief. That's true, but the thing that I really would like to highlight for the public,
and the complaint has been filed between 2008 and 2013 was 35 complaint. None
of them has been sustained, like all of them was agreeing with the police chief.
And from my perspective, I'm gonna tell you why, because I joined that, uh, I
joined CPRB on 2013 and uh, during that time, before I join even, there was like
really minority, uh, like the people of color are minority on the board. And there
was a former police officer there. There is many (unable to understand)
expressing my own view, and I think after I joined, and we start having more
people of color (mumbled) on the board, and I remember we have a Latino person
too, was seven there. We sustained the first complaint during this 10 year, which
is in 2014. Another one 2014, like two (mumbled) one of them for (unable to
understand) and the third one is 16, and the fourth one is 17, and that's we tell you
because we have people who look like the people who complain come on board
and now we have diverse people, and staff, but before that, 20, you know, 35,
never been, nothing has been sustained, and that I think my reason for why we
have four, but it still, four out of 28 during five year, great job! Thank you. I'm
supporting it 100%.
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Throgmorton: Anyone else?
Teague: So I've talked about this with, um, Orville, as well as a lot of, um, maybe a few
other Councilors. So I do believe that a part of the request really is for, um, is...
is kinda two -fold for me. So one is Councilors historically has not gone to any of
our boards and commissions. Um, and so often people don't even know, um, they
may know of Councilors, but they don't have that interaction with Councilors. So
I do see this as an opportunity to have a liaison, a person assigned, um, just like
we're assigned to boards and .... and, uh ourselves, where we go to, uh, we have
assignments. Just for someone to be identified, um, hopefully someone among
the Council, who would say 'I would like to be that person,' and....and this is the
reason why, urn .... that has police, CPRB type knowledge and history, and it's not
really the goin' to, um, as Orville said, not to solve issues between board
members, but to have a private discussion with a .... a councilperson. So I am in
favor of it, just for, um, to try it out to see where does this lead, you know, I will
be very interested in a year, while .... and we've discussed startin' this January 2nd,
um, next .... next, uh, next year. So I'm interested in it. I do realize that this will
be, urn .... you know, somethin' that will be an ordinance that will, um, essentially
be the law of the land for ...for us here, so I'm gonna support it.
Mims: Well I didn't support it last time and .... and since then I've sat down and met with
Orville and we had a good conversation and when I still go back and look at the
language within the ordinance, I have significant concerns about what this really
means. Um, you know, Pauline last time quoted part of this ordinance and I
apologize if I'm repeating what she did last time, but it says facilitate
communication between the members of CPRB and members of the City Council
about the overall make-up and function of the CPRB. Okay? The overall make-
up of the CPRB, I guess I'm not sure what that means. If members of the CPRB
are trying to .... have influence over who the new appointees are? I guess I'm not
quite sure what that is ... is getting at, and the function of the CPRB, I think, is
pretty well laid out in whatever documents establish the CPRB in the first place,
and so .... the logic just doesn't work for me there, and .... and the other part was,
um, allowing the Council to receive information needed to be aware of concerns
related to the function of the CPRB and make decisions/changes when necessary.
I am not aware that once we appoint members to any of our boards or
commissions that we have any authority to get involved in making decisions or
changes within that board or commission. And so to me, what this ordinance,
language in this ordinance is contradictory to what our role is as a council. And
so I will not be supporting it.
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Throgmorton: I'm tryin', among other things, to imagine.... what we would do if we did appoint a
liaison and that liaison met with a member of the board or more than one member
of the board, and then came to us. How ...help me understand this, how would that
liaison, who's a member of the council, how would that liaison.... convey to us
whatever it is that he or she hears? And then beyond that, what, uh.... what's, uh,
what .... what would the board majority expect the council to do in response to
whatever the council hears from the liaison? I just don't understand. So if a
liaison comes and says, uh, talks to John, and says, John, I've got these concerns
about the CPRB, about the way it's functioning, or about a member of the board,
or about a couple members of the board, or about what, I don't know what else.
What are you supposed to do then? Are you going to come to one of our work
sessions and then say I .... I had this conversation, as your liaison I had this
conversation with a board member. The board member said this and that and that.
What are we supposed to do then? And then if we act, and there's a majority of
the CPRB.... that didn't know this board member was coming to us, and then we
act and tell the board to do something differently, or whatever, I .... I don't
understand how that works either.
Townsend: I think one of the problems is that the way that we discuss it and the way it end up
bein' written up kind of complicated things, you know, I'm makin' it very simple.
The liaison basically would just .... say if I had a problem. Okay, let .... let me just
tell ya where this is comin' from. When I first got on the board, we had a situation
where .... there were a couple people that had the mentality 'we gotta look out for
our boys in blue.' So anything that came down, they always supported the police.
I mean the, uh, the .... the police, the policeman. We had a police chief that
basically, you know, personally I felt he didn't warm deal with the issues. So as a
result of that, citizens rights were bein' violated and .... the system wasn't working,
and as a commission... as a board, we weren't working. Uh, if you read the
literature there, I don't think that's the intent we had, you know. I think maybe we
may wanna look at just rewritin' it and makin' it very simple. Uh, I .... I guess I'm
also a little concerned that I'm hearin' you say that if the liaison came back to
the ... to the council and said, look this is a problem that... that's been brought to my
attention, are you guys sayin' you can't do anything about it?
Throgmorton: I .... I did not say that, Orville.
Townsend: I guess that's kinda the way I was pickin' up, you know, uh....
Teague: Individually the liaison, they can't do anything about it. Council can.
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Townsend: Okay.
Teague: And so part of the (several talking) Well....
Salih: You saying (several talking) if the person brought this to the attention of the
council, is the council gonna do something about it. That what I guess your
question, right?
Townsend: I guess what I'm sayin' is citizens rights are bein' violated and it's brought to the
attention of the council. I ... I thought I heard you, was hearing you say you can't
do anything about it.
Mims: I didn't hear you say citizens rights being violated.
Townsend: Well this is what it's all about, like I did say, I say, you know, when .... the police
chief and .... you know, a lot of the people on the board who are lookin' out for the
boys in blue are voting in favor of the policeman. Then obviously it's not a .... it's
not fair. The citizens rights are bein' violated. You know, the way it works is
when a citizen files a complaint, the police chief looks at all the information and
then writes a report sayin' he finds fault with it or that there is no fault. And then
it comes to the board. We look at it and each .... and then we make a decision as to
how we feel about it.
Throgmorton: Can I say something? If I could, Orville, I mean I .... we've heard a .... you had talk
about this now. We understand your view. So ... and it's really important, cause we
all love ya, you know, but we need to figure out what .... what we think.
Townsend: Well you know one of the things I.....I would suggest is the language, the way
that that's written, that is really not the way that .... it should be, because it's too
complex. You know, I think we need to take a look at maybe lookin' at the
language, the way that it's written, and makin' it a little more simple. You know,
but uh.... you know, I'm the kind of person .... I believe in bein' realistic, like when
I see somethin' there's a problem, like I coulda came before the Council .... I
coulda came in foamin' at the mouth, callin' the system racist, sayin' that it was
not fair, but that wouldn't have proved anything. It would have been a .... a good
thing for the press, but it wouldn't have been good for our city, and for the, you
know, what we're tryin' to do. So I believe in just gettin' in the system, workin' to
make the system work, and it's very simple. This is why I feel that if there's a
liaison there, then you guys will have a chance to know what's goin' on, and if
there's a problem, you can fix it.
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Throgmorton: Okay. Thanks (mumbled)
Cole: (both talking) speak yet? Um, I .... this year we had a joint work session with the
Citizens Police Review Board about policy recommendations, a joint work
session with them. I don't necessarily know that we would have to have
additional work sessions, but ... and that obviously did not derive from a citizen
liaison, or a Council liaison, but I would anticipate it would just be, he said it's to
'consider the overall functioning of the board.' Are there tweaks that could be
made to make the board better, which they did just this year. I don't anticipate...
didn't we just have that work session, three to four months ago? Yeah, and I think
that's what we're (mumbled) and I think what he's getting at is, as I see it, is that if
the community loses confidence in this board, and that it does not function as an
impartial board or is not achieving what we intended to achieve when the Council
implemented this in the 90s, that's a big problem, and we need to know about it,
and to the extent that people said well they can talk to all of us. We have very
well established protocols in terms of board members talking to individual
councilors about individual issues of concern. I mean that is not typical, and so
this would be a change from the protocol, right? That it would be that they would
be able to identify one councilor that they could communicate with, and in turn
that one councilor would have some duty to ... to hopefully communicate, and that
it would be there. Um, I don't think we have to, um, figure out every single detail
now, um, and this has been identified as a concern, or else the community will
lose trust in this board as a functioning board, and it doesn't seem like that is the
case cause we have a good functioning board at this point, but I .... I just don't see
the concern, cause didn't we just do the work session, this .... this year, and we
changed it, and so I think it would be sort of along those same lines, except it
would be more formalized.
Throgmorton: We could do that (both talking)
Cole: Exactly! But we would facilitate future changes, and for a long time there were
not changes and I think that there were some problems that were not brought to
the attention of the Council, and there were some problems with that. So I remain
supportive of it (both talking)
Throgmorton: I think it's pretty clear from prior discussions, tell me if I'm wrong, the majority
favors the ordinance. So we probably could move ahead. I would .... make just
one point, and it has to do with, it seems to me the .... Orville's got his finger on an
important problem, and that is ... who gets, well, not a problem. Potentially an
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important problem. Who gets appointed to the board matters. Okay, but who
does the appointing? The City Council. So I think, you know, the .... the real need
is to ensure that the Council appoints fair-minded people who can be trusted to
look for the truth and treat everybody fairly, whether the person is an officer or a
complainant. That's (laughs) that's what we need, it seems to me. And I think we
have that right now. And, uh, I'll take Orville's word for it that in the past that
wasn't the case. Uh, at least in some instances. I don't wanna globalize too much.
Uh.... so I....it seems to me that this is not the best way to solve or address the
problem that Orville's drawn attention to, but I don't wanna make a big deal out of
it. If there's a majority in favor, why .... why don't we just kind of find out
(laughs) about that and make a vote on that particular thing. We have a motion on
the floor, don't we? So....
Salih: I will second it, yeah.
Throgmorton: Yeah. All right so unless anybody else has a strong need to say something
else ... you ...you mentioned something to me (both talking) did you wanna bring
that point up?
Mims: I'm not sure what you're referring to. I mean I said what I wanted to (several
talking)
Salih: I guess Pauline need to speak?
Taylor: I just wanted to make a quick comment because it's, uh, different than .... than
previous because .... as Susan mentioned, I ... I read that and in reading that, I ... I
really didn't understand the intent, but after thinking about it and talking to Orville
and .... and just reading the phrase, and I think he's spot-on when he says maybe it
needs to be rewritten, needs to be shorter, because primarily it's ... the overall
make-up of the board that's.... that's a concern, cause that can influence decisions
made by them and how people were concerned that the other boards and
commissions would want a liaison also, but I think that the CPRB is trusted with,
uh, kind of a unique task of...of things, um, questions that do affect a citizens
rights, uh, and sometimes have been violated, and um, can affect someone's life in
the long run, the decisions that are made. Um, so I .... I've since thought about it
and thought I think somebody brought up last time that ... it wouldn't hurt to try it
and .... and just see how it goes. We wouldn't lose anything by trying it.
Salih: That's good.
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Throgmorton: Uh, is there any interest on anybody's part in terms of making this a trial
appointment, for a trial period, I mean like a two-year (both talking)
Salih: I don't know, Jim, but I really warm highlight something here. I been watching
that and been seeing you. When you are agreeing about something and you find
four people, you will say I think clear support, we have four people agree, and
now because you are disagreeing, you want us to try .... there is a clear five people
supporting this. Let's move.
Throgmorton: Does anybody else have an opinion about what I just... asked about?
Thomas: Making it a temporary or (several talking)
Throgmorton: Two year, uh, trial....
Teague: Well, if it's an ordinance, it's an ordinance.
Salih: That's it!
Dilkes: You would do a sunset, if you wanted to do that.
Throgmorton: I don't wanna push it hard. I'm wondering if anybody would be interested in that.
Salih: Five people's enough, Jim. Let's move forward.
Cole: I don't support that, Jim.
Throgmorton: Anyone else wanna comment?
Teague: I know for me personally, um, I did mention, you know, I wanna do it as a trial
basis, but, um, and I understand we can do a sunset, um, I think that we put it in
the ordinance and then ... the Council, whoever's here at that point, they can always
(mumbled)
Salih: Sure.
Throgmorton: Okay. Roll call please. Motion carnes 5-2.
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13. Bikes, E -bikes, E -scooters, E -skateboards — Ordinance amending Title 9,
Entitled "Motor Vehicles and Traffic," Chapters 1, 3, 4, 8 and 10 to enhance
bicyclist safety, to prohibit dooring, to expand the definition of electric assist
bicycles, and to provide for the operation of electric scooters and electric
skateboards. (Second Consideration)
Throgmorton: Again this is second consideration and.....I'm sorry, it's second consideration but
staff has requested expedited action.
Mims: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for
passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally
passed be suspended, that the second consideration and vote be waived, and that
the ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time.
Taylor: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Taylor.
Frain: Mayor (both talking)
Throgmorton:.... discussion?
Frain: Okay. Before you jumped in on that vote, I just wanted to make sure that we get
some public comment first.
Throgmorton: Hi.
Wyatt: Hi!
Throgmorton: Please state your name.
Wyatt: Um, my name is Mark Wyatt.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Mark (both talking)
Wyatt: 864 Foster Road. I'm also Executive Director for the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Uh,
this is one of the .... one opportunity as I have where both sort of opportunities
blend of being both a resident here and, uh, part of this work that's been put into
this. Um, I urge the Council to take action and pass this ordinance. There's many
good provisions in here that, uh, certainly can't wait any longer to be, uh, to be
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debated. Um, this isn't a complete list of everything that we would like to see.
Uh, we've done a .... an examination of local bike ordinances across the state. We
found, uh, 269 communities have them, and we found 269 versions. (laughter)
Um, a lot of them developed in the 50s. Um, and so we've been slowly working
through communities. So I'm encouraged by Iowa City's action, uh, to move
forward with several of these changes that we'd like to see. Um, some of the good
provisions with the safe passing, uh, distance. Um, it isn't everything that we
want to see, uh, we'd like to see language, um ..... encouraging vehicles to, uh,
change lanes when they pass. Uh, however, in Iowa City you can't split lanes.
You have to be in one lane or the other. So in a roundabout way you're doing that.
Um, there's a definition of traffic, which I think was needed. Um, so it's, uh,
contains all conveyances including bicycles. Um, the lights at night, in fact I find
it hard to believe that that .... has existed not in the Iowa City ordinances for such a
long time, but uh.... uh, having the opportunity to have lights on bikes, not just
reflectors. so it's an either/or situation; I think is great. Uh, the door zone
protection, uh, especially with this mini parallel parked cars are in the city. Um, I
think that's a great step. Uh, the class two and three e -bikes, I think, accurately
reflects the market of bicycles being sold in bike shops, uh, currently. Um, there's
one exception to this, uh, as I read this, um, it establishes electric bikes, or
electric -assist bikes, as their own device, uh, rather than lump them under bicycle,
as State Code does. I'm curious as we move forward if there's any untoward
effects with that. Um, so, um, in other.... here's the great example that we've, uh,
bumped into, um .... certain trails say'no motorized vehicles.' Um, does the
electric -assist bike fall under the motorized vehicle or not? If it's defined as a
bicycle, it is a bicycle — not a motorized vehicle, um, which would meet a
different definition than .... in the State Code. Um, how that plays out in the City
ordinance I'm not sure. Um, there's also some missing pieces that I did wanna
highlight, um, since I had the opportunity. But as I said, move forward on this
part. What you have in front of you is good. I think that there's more work to do.
I think this is a great incremental first step. Um, the first one is crosswalk
protection. Um, I received a call a couple years ago from a young woman, and I
may not have the jurisdiction completely in Iowa City, cause this is really on the
border, um, coming down from Carver Hawkeye Arena, heading towards
Coralville. There's a trail there. Uh, vehicles turning right on red at Hawkins, uh,
she's hit in the crosswalk. And she wants to know why she shares the liability
with the vehicle, because the vehicle in City code and in State Code doesn't
require, uh, anybody to yield to bicycles, just to pedestrians. Uh, so that was one
of the recommendation that we had. Especially since cities are building so many
widen sidewalk facilities, uh, and encouraging their use by bicycles, um, the
crosswalks I think is one of those liability areas that needs to be cleared up. Um,
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the far -to -rights provisions within the code, currently it's a little bit ... messy, you
know, aren't all codes? Um, but currently requires vehicles to be in the right lane,
uh, but if you're a slow-moving vehicle, you need to be as far to the right, or as
close to the right, as possible, or close to the curb as possible I believe the way it
reads. (sighs) Now, um, the bicycle isn't a slow-moving vehicle because we're
not a vehicle. Vehicles can't be human powered according to the definitions in the
Iowa City ordinance or the State Code. Slow-moving vehicle isn't defined in the
Iowa City ordinance. So I'm not sure whether or not the bicycle falls in that far -
to -the -right category or not. Um, there's a lot of exceptions that should be in the
far -to -the -right part or it could be eliminated completely, since the bicycle can just
use the full lane as needed. Um, the right -arm right turn signal is one that we've
been, uh, hoping to see. Um, currently, uh, the Iowa Code requires you to use
your left arm to signal a right turn. Go to a bike rodeo and try to teach a 10 -year-
old how to do that. It's nearly impossible. They just think we're waving. They
don't understand that's the direction that we're going, but we have to use this arm
to do it. Um, so I encourage that. Urn .... simple one is two abreast, being...
bicyclists that are traveling two abreast, which is legal in the City now, uh, should
be able to pass other bicyclists traveling two abreast. Um, we've seen that written
in other city ordinances and find that, uh, positive, and also two abreast allowed in
bike lanes. Um, those are just part of the model ordinance that we've developed,
uh, that is being adopted in other communities. And then finally, um, I'll take my
Iowa Bicycle Coalition hat on and do the personal one. Um, there's many
communities in many states that are adopting, um, an exception to stop signs,
allowing bicyclists to treat them as yield signs. Um, you may have some quick
opinions, but I urge you to do some research. The safety factor is you want
people to yield, um, the stopping part is .... is the procedure, um, but the yielding
part is .... is what we should be focusing on, as.....as an action. In the
communities and the states that have done this, Idaho is one of them. In 1980-
somethin', um, they saw a reduction of crashes by 14%. It allowed bicyclists to
use side streets much easier, because momentum's a problem. If you have a stop
sign every 200 -feet, um, that makes it hard to use that side street. So, um,
focusing on the reality of bicycles are different than motor vehicles, uh, so the law
should be reflected differently. Um, appreciate that. If you have any questions,
I'll be available.
Throgmorton: Thanks, Mark. So we have a motion on the floor to waive, uh, what is it, uh,
waive second consideration. Discuss.... Council discussion?
Cole: The only cla.... clarification I think that, um, needs to be made to the community
is the scooters on the bi.... sidewalks downtown. I think that information is really
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going to have to get out into the community, as well. It's my understanding they
will be treated just like bikes, correct? Okay.
Throgmorton: Any other comment? Roll call please.
Mims: Move final consideration at this time.
Thomas: Second.
Tbrogmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? I ... I wanna agree with mark
about a couple things. As a long-time bicyclist, I guess I've been riding for 30
years here in Iowa City, I agree that greater clarity is required about whether a
bicyclists should be treated like a pedestrian at crosswalks. Uh, there's always
been confusion about that point. Uh, at least here in our town. So, I'd like to see
that cleaned up. And also I get your point about having to yield at ... stop signs, if
you're a bicyclist, because you're goin' so slow anyhow, you can see whether
vehicles are coming, and .... and if you have to stop, you gotta stop. So to keep
your balance, get your feet down, whatever, and then you have to start pedaling
again. I think it's not necessary for that. I'd like to see, personally would like to
see, that particular.... amendment adopted, but not now, not tonight. Any other
Council discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 7-0. Could I
have a motion to accept correspondence please?
Salih: Move.
Teague: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Salih, seconded by Teague. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion
carries.
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14. Community Cats —Ordinance amending Title 8, entitled "Police
Regulations," Chapter 4, entitled "Animal Services," to establish
trap/neuter/return requirements for community cats. (Second
Consideration)
Throgmorton: This is second consideration, but again staff requests expedited action.
Mims: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for
passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally
passed be suspended, that the second consideration and vote be waived, and that
the ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time.
Taylor: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Taylor. Discussion? Please, feel free! State your
name please.
Whittenberg: Howard Whittenberg. Uh, last Council meeting I got a chance to talk to the lady
from the Animal Shelter after the .... after she left, and she, uh.... had said that
they're gonna do this catch, neuter, and then release, and then if they're caught
again, they might be considered as a nuisance animal and then put down. Uh,
they're already a nuisance animal. That was my point at the last Council meeting.
They are .... they've been a nuisance animal for umpteen years.... along with the
private pets that are let loose. Uh.... I just remember a few years ago when
chickens wanted to come into town and every .... so many people I know were, are
afraid these chickens were gonna run loose, and now we're wanting to dump wild
cats back onto the neighborhoods? It doesn't make sense to me, I mean, we're
breakin' our own leash laws just because it's convenient.... to deal with these cats,
or not deal with'em I guess basically cause you're gonna just leave'em out there.
Uh... givin' 'em a fancy name, community cats, I mean doesn't make 'em less of a
nuisance. Uh, nobody likes to see an animal put down, but when they're a
problem, if this was dogs, you had too many dogs, and a lot of 'ern weren't fit to
be adopted, I know exactly what you'd be doin' with'em. You'd be puttin"em
down, just like you're killin' the deer. Urn .... at the last Counme... Council
meeting, brought up, uh, the wild animals, you know, the raccoon and keep in
mind, we moved in on their territory. I mean them and the .... the deer actually
have more rights to be running around than these damn cats. And I just .... I just
can't believe you're gonna dump'em back on us and we have to put up with'em
again. Uh... it .... it's .... it's like you guys aren't really solving a problem. You're
just becoming part of it, you know, and uh.... if this is what you're gonna do, I
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guess I found four more .... or seven more neighborhoods I can relocate the ones I
catch in my yard.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Howard. Anyone else? Seeing no one, Council discussion on the
motion to give sec .... to waive second consideration.
Teague: So moved.
Throgmorton: No, no, we already got a motion. Discussion is what I'm lookin' for. (several
talking in background) Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 7-0.
Mims: Move ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion?
Mims: I've supported this before, and I'm going to continue to support it, and one of
the .... one of the big reasons that I am supporting this is ... what they have told us in
terms of the studies that this actually helps to reduce the feral cat population,
because if you still have the cats there and they are neutered, obviously they're not
reproducing, but you don't have other cats moving into the area and over time you
get a reduction in that population,and so that's one of the reasons that ... that I think
it makes the most sense, that ... people have shown that with various studies that
we've seen, so....
Throgmorton: Any other discussion?
Whittenberg: These cats won't reproduce, but you still have the ones who, from the, uh.... the
cat owners that are ill responsible, they'll let their cat out in the first place, which
started this whole business. You aren't doin' nothin' with them! And I ... I can't
believe you guys are even gonna catch any, I mean this problem has gotten this
bad because the Animal Shelter hasn't done nothin' to this point, as it is. They're
not gonna drive around and catch 'ern like they do dogs. Uh, it'll be up to private
individuals to catch'em and turn'em in.
Throgmorton: Okay (both talking) Thank you.
Whittenberg: (both talking) They're just gonna keep on breedin' , the cats that they are lettin'
loose, the tame ones or what they'd call their private pets.
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Throgmorton: Thank you. Any further Council discussion? Hearing none, roll call please.
Motion carnes 7-0. Could I have a motion to accept correspondence please?
Salih: Move.
Cole: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Salih, seconded by Cole. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion
carries.
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16. Community Comment
Tbrogmorton: Austin, did you wanna speak?
Wu: Again, uh, it's Austin, UISG City Liaison. Uh, first I'd like to welcome Charlotte,
uh, the new Deputy on board. Uh, she's just returned from many months abroad,
uh, so now she's back in Iowa City with all of us. So ... welcome, Charlotte!
Throgmorton: And Charlotte's last name is.....
Wu: Lenkaitis.
Throgmorton: Sorry?
Wu: Lenkaitis.
Throgmorton: (mumbled) Canyou spell it?
Lenkaitis: (difficult to hear, away from mic) Lenkaitis, L -e -n -k -a -i -t -i -s. It rhymes with
bronchitis (laughter)
Throgmorton: Welcome aboard!
Salih: Okay! Welcome!
Wu: Uh, so classes at the University started again next Monday, the 26th. So this week
we'll see the move in of around 5,000 new Hawkeyes to Iowa City. So, let us all
work towards offering them a warm welcome into our city, in spite of the inherent
headaches associated with moving that many people in. Uh, and since we also
have the first game this weekend, as well (mumbled) and go Hawks! (laughter)
Throgmorton: All right!
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17. City Council Information
Throgmorton: Could we start with Bruce and move to the right?
Teague: Yes so .... um, I have no updates, um, for this period.
Salih: (mumbled) Just the community thing or...which one, which (mumbled) (several
talking) Okay. No, I .... I don't have anything. I just warm tell everyone that it's
something like personal, uh, the Sudan have signed transition of military, from
military council ... (unable to understand) civilian on the (mumbled) last Sunday,
and I guess most of the, all of the Sudanese people in Iowa City are very happy
that something gonna happen and, uh, they live the, on the (mumbled) democratic,
uh, you know, uh, country (unable to understand) everything, and now they warm
see that back home I think this happening. I just warms congratulate everyone
who really work hard for that.
Throgmorton: Yeah, it's great news!
Salih: Yeah, it's great news. That's all I have!
Cole: Jim, I don't have any updates.
Throgmorton: Okay. John?
Thomas: I don't either.
Throgmorton: Susan?
Mims: I just, um, piggybacking, um, on Austin's comments, just welcome back all the
students and faculty and staff to the University, and welcome to the new residents,
and for everybody who lives in Iowa City, watch out on the one-way streets
(laughter) We don't have very many of them, but inevitably there will be the ... the
car or the truck or wha ... whoever going in the wrong direction. So be...be patient
and be cautious, um, as we have a lot of new drivers in town. So there's always
somebody goin' the wrong way!
Taylor: Guess I'll make up for everybody else. Um, attended a number of things, uh, one
of the events was the South District Neighborhood Association meeting at the
Broadway Center. They had a really good turnout. They always have speakers at
every meeting. This was the league of Women Voters talking about voter
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registration, which that district it's really important. They've got a lot of people
coming and going from there, and uh, need to get'em registered and they had a
good discussion afterwards, uh, and kinda following that, couple of days later, uh,
Black Voices Project meeting. It's a very diverse group of people, individuals
that attend that and, uh, as is usually true in Iowa City, they're not shy about
letting you know what's on their minds, and uh, they're also very open to hearing
whatever you have to say. Um, most recently, this Sunday, I saw the Mayor there,
some of you others might have been there to, the Moms Demand Action event on
the Pentacrest. Uh, was really well attended. I would of liked to have seen, uh, a
lot more people attend cause, uh, it was particularly eventful cause, uh, it was held
across the country in every state, and in Iowa, Iowa City was selected to be the
city for .... for this event. So I woulda liked to see a few more people there, but
um....it....it was really important because the number of deaths are increasing by
gunshot and (mumbled) somethin' needs to be done, so that was a good event.
Later that evening, on a lighter note, uh, attended Summer of the Arts
performance, uh, which was rescheduled from a Friday Night Concert Series, uh,
my favorite group The Faz and it was in a new location. John's Northside
neighborhood. They actually, the City — thank you to the City, whoever did that -
closed off Linn Street from Bloomington to Market, and then the band set up a
stage there and there were probably 200 or more people, uh, in seats and ... and
listening to that concert, and uh, they talked about that they might have that
location again, cause it turned out, uh, to work out really well for parking and
seating. So that was .... that was good. That was fun! Um .... let's see
here... upcoming, uh, Labor Day, uh, there's the Iowa City Federation of Labor, uh,
picnic at City Park, uh, at noon. Everybody's always welcome, general public.
There'll be music and food and probably a lot of speeches, I'm anticipating, and
actually the Sunday before that, Sunday September 1st, the Musicians Local also
has a fundraiser at The Mill. Starts about noon, and that's always fun. They have
seven or eight groups playing, uh, different sets and that's fun. Also upcoming,
tomorrow is, uh, oh! I didn't mention I'd gone to, um, Iowa City Community
School District meeting and they updated on many projects and one of which is,
uh, Lincoln Elementary, which tomorrow they're having a ribbon cutting for that
at 4:00. So I'm anxious .... I haven't driven by there to see, but I've heard that it's
really quite impressive, and upcoming in September in a couple weeks is, will be
the Mann one, so more information upcoming on that. Um ... that's all!
Throgmorton: Did we start with you? (several talking) Okay. I guess that gets to me. All right,
well I attended Rob Cash's promotion to Sergeant on the 12th and that was really
fun to do. Did it here in .... in this room. He was pretty happy, as was his .... wife
and mother-in-law and so on, you know. It's great to see families come to such
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events. I also wanna let you know that I met with a reporter named Justin
Worland of Time Magazine on the 12th and he asked me a whole bunch of
questions about our climate crisis resolution. On the 14th I toured the town with
Ottumwa Mayor Tom Lazio. That was pretty much fun. Tom's a really pleasing
guy. Also his wife (mumbled) connection to another name. There ya go! Happy
about that. And we had a really interesting conversation too. I learned their, uh,
their property tax levy's a lot higher than ours. That was a big surprise to me. Uh,
I had the pleasure of taking part in the Farm -to -Table event on the 15th, and I
want to thank Brenda Nations. Thank you, Brenda, for saying a few words on my
behalf at the start because things went awry at home for reasons I don't need to
talk about, but she really stepped in. Tomorrow, you didn't mention this I don't
think Bruce. Bruce and I are going to tape an interview about our climate crisis
resolution for Ben Kieffer's River -to -River show, and it's going to be broadcast on
Thursday at noon or at 12:30, I'm not sure which because it1I be a half hour
interview. And ... tomorrow I, uh, no. On Thurs ... which date? Tomorrow I'll also
be speaking to a group at Walden Place Retirement Home. And I wanna mention
two other things that have relevance more direct personal relevance to you folks,
and that is I received an invitation from Joe Tienfenthaler to tour Film Scene's
new facility, and I think staff and maybe some Councilpeople, I'm not sure, did
that several months ago, I don't remember exactly when, but Joe has asked
whether I and some other Council Members would like to tour the facility. So,
I ... I think there would be interest. So maybe could staff kinda organize, uh,
somethin' for us?
Fruin: Sure!
Throgmorton: And the last thing is .... may be too late to ask this question. I think it's time for
City ...that City government had a float in the University of Iowa's homecoming
parade. Now I don't know when homecoming is and I don't know if we have
enough time to pull this off, but (both talking)
Cole: (laughs) Geoff will organize it, right?
Throgmorton: Yeah. If we do, I'm won ... if we have time, I'm wondering if...you, my fellow
Council Members, would support the idea of Iowa City government having a float
in the homecoming parade. (several responding)
Thomas: ...in the past or is this a new idea? (several talking)
Throgmorton: I don't think Iowa City government's ever had (both talking)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of August 20, 2019.
Page 65
Fruin: The Library's always participated (several talking) historically I don't know. In
my time, nobody else. (several talking)
Throgmorton: Geoff .... (several talking) balloon right in front and we could tether him and, you
know (several talking and laughing) So I .... I'm hearing interest. So, Geoff, could
you (both talking) look into it, see if it's possible. I don't know if, you know,
maybe the slots are all full, you know, all that (several talking)
Cole: You're not talking about this fall (several talking) Okay. I was thinking give'em
a little more time, I mean don't you have to organize (several talking)
Throgmorton: Staff is really good (laughs) I mean I understand there might be logistics
problems and if in fact there are .... next year, next fall, you know, just kinda
(several talking) get it goin'! Okay! That's .... (several talking)
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council
regular formal meeting of August 20, 2019.