HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-02-04 TranscriptionPage I
Council Present: Bergus, Mims, Salih, Teague, Taylor, Thomas, Weiner
Staff Present: Fruin, Monroe, Dilkes, Fruehling, Sitzman, Russett, Heitner, Kubly,
Laverman, Fleagle, Severs, Seydell-Johnson, Bockenstedt, Ralston
Others Present: Lenkaitis (UISG)
Review staff's growth boundary analysis and discuss the update to the Johnson County
Fringe Area Agreement f IP31:
Teague/ Welcome to our City Council work session agenda for Tuesday, February 4a , and we are
going to .... start with, um, review by staff on the boundary analysis and discuss the
update to the Johnson County fringe area agreement, and that is IP3.... on 1/30.
So ... hello, Anne!
Russett/ Hi, good afternoon. Anne Russett with the Planning Division of Neighborhood and
Development Services. So, um, for this presentation my colleague Ray Heitner and I
have, uh, prepared some slides regarding the fringe area agreement, which is an
agreement that allows the City and County to coordinate on land use planning efforts.
And for the past year or so we have been working on an update to this agreement. Um,
I'm gonna give some background on the fringe area and our current agreement, and then
Ray and I are going to go over the analyses that we've, um, completed over the past year
or so. Ray is gonna discuss the build -out analysis and then I'm going to discuss some
areas that we'd like the Council to consider including in our growth boundary. Um, but
to start just a little bit of background on the fringe area. Johnson County does have land
use authority in the unincorporated areas and these are all of the areas that are outside our
corporate limits. Uh, however, the State allows cities to review subdivisions within two
miles of our boundary, and this two-mile area is known as the fringe area, and fringe area
agreements allow cities and counties to negotiate land use planning authority and to ... to
coordinate planning efforts. Here's a few maps that kind of show these different areas.
This is a map showing our corporate boundaries. This map here shows the two-mile
fringe area, in the striped, and this is, again, where the City and County coordinate on
land use planning efforts, and within that fringe area, the City has identified a growth
boundary. That growth boundary is shown here in the dark gray. And the growth
boundary defines the City's potential corporate limits. It includes land that is anticipated
to be needed to serve the City's growth over the next 40 years and this growth boundary
was adopted as part of our 2013 comprehensive plan. And this last map just shows all of
these areas together, so our corporate limits, the fringe area which includes the growth
boundary in the dark gray, and then those remaining areas outside of that growth
boundary. The current fringe area agreement was executed in 2006 and it is a component
of our comprehensive plan. It outlines the jurisdictional review authority, as well as, uh,
provides land use policy guidance, on land within those two miles, the .... the, that fringe
area. The current fringe area agreement outlines, uh, the review authority for various
land use proposals. Uh, the agreement is divided up by land within the City's growth
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boundary and land outside the growth boundary. The vast majority of the types of
projects that we review in these areas are rezonings and subdivisions. For rezonings, uh,
whether it's within the growth boundary or outside of the growth boun.... boundary, the
County has the ultimate control and the ultimate decision. However, a review and
recommendation is required from the City. And the same is true for areas both inside and
outside the growth boundary. For subdivisions, review and approval by both the City and
the County is required. So for land within the growth boundary, development is subject
to our, uh, urban design standards. So that includes standards related to stone water,
street design, and other public utilities. For areas outside that growth boundary, the
County's rural design standards apply. There have been some issues that we've identified
with our current fringe area agreement. As I mentioned it was adopted in 2006. Since
that time both the City and the County have updated their comprehensive plans, and that
has resulted in some inconsistencies in the policy direction that's included in the plans,
um, versus what's in the fringe area agreement. This is .... this is a timeline to kinda show
how we got to this point. Um .... so again the, in 2006 the fringe area agreement was
adopted. And then in 2018 the County updated its comprehensive plan. And shortly after
the County updated its comprehensive plan, the Board of Supervisors submitted a letter to
the City Council requesting an update to the current fringe area agreement. In February
of 2019 we had (mumbled) an initial discussion with City Council on this update, and
between February, uh, 2019 and today, we've been coordinating with County planning
staff, and we felt it was important to do a couple of different things as part of this update
to the fringe area agreement. First, we wanted to conduct a build -out analysis, which is,
um, we wanted to determine if the City's exis... had an existing capacity with our current
zoning and our current land use policit.... policies, uh, to meet our growth, and we also
wanted to re-evaluate that current growth boundary. So those are the two things that the
rest of this presentation will be dedicated to. Uh, last thing I just wanted to mention that
in January of 2020, the Board of Supervisors did reach out and requested to set up a
working group with two Supervisors, two Council Members, and staff to help move the
fringe area agreement forward. So with that background I'm going to turn it over to Ray,
who will be discussing, uh, the build -out.
Heitner/ Hi, um, I'm Ray Heitner. I'm an associate planner with, uh, Neighborhood and
Development Services, as Anne mentioned. Um .... so, uh, Anne touched on this, but the
build -out summary and the purpose and the reason why we wanted to do this is just to
kind of get a .... an idea of what existing capacity we have, um .... both in the city limits
and in the current growth boundary as its currently situated. Urn .... we tried to get a .... an
estimate for residential and non-residential growth, or .... kind of in other terms, uh,
potential jobs and potential residents. Um, once we got our results from the build -out
analysis, we compared those results to, um, projections in the Johnson County's MPO's
2045, uh, estimates for population and employment growth. Um, overall big picture we
found, uh, from our analysis that through 2045, um, staff believes that there is capacity
within the city and growth boundary to accommodate, um, projected employment and,
uh, residential growth. Um .... I'm gonna just briefly touch on the methodology that we
used for the build -out analysis. Um ... I don't warm get too much into the weeds on this,
but ... um .... essentially what we used for the basis of the, urn .... build -out analysis was,
um, we .... we took vacant and underutilized parcels within the city and within the growth
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boundary and this is a methodology that we borrowed from a previous study on .... on
vacant and underutilized parcels within the Riverfront Crossings area. Um, essentially if
a parcel was vacant or underutilized, um, its land value exceeded the value of any
buildings or improvements on that land. So if we saw parcels where land value exceeded
total improvement value, um, we assumed that those parcels were either vacant, in a lot
of cases they were vacant, or, um, underutilized. Um, once we kind of got our list of
vacant and underutilized parcels, we applied either the, uh.... City zoning designation, if it
was already within the City limits or in the cases of properties that were in the growth
boundary, we applied, urn .... a land use designation based on the comprehensive plan or,
um, one of the district plans, to .... to assign density. Um, one note I do wanna make, uh,
we did exclude, urn ... historic resources such as local landmarks, uh, local historic
districts, conservation districts, and also the area of our downtown that is being pursued
for designation for the National Register of Historic Places. Um, we did this as kind of a
way to go about providing a conservative estimate, assuming these, um, these parcels will
continue to remain in their current form. Urn ... so again, once we had our list of vacant
and underutilized parcels, uh, with the applicable either zoning designation or .... or land
use designation, um, we were able to then estimate density based off of, uh, the
prescribed dwelling units per acre from that zoning designation or land use designation.
Urn .... and also the square footage, or the commercial square footage for non-residential,
uh, parcels. Um, we did apply couple of discount factors to, urn .... to each property, just
to assume that the entire use wouldn't take up the entire, uh, base of the ... parcel or 100%
of the property area. Urn .... once we had our total number of dwelling units, uh, we were
able to estimate population based off of, um, MPO estimates of 2.32, uh, persons per
dwelling unit. Um, and we were also able to estimate total number of jobs, uh, based off
of our non-residential square footage. So here's, uh, an overview of the build -out
analysis results. Um, you can see on the bottom there is what the Johnson County MPO
has projected for increases from 2017 to 2045. Urn .... that, the MPO estimates about
23,000, uh, new jobs for Iowa City, uh, and 22,000 new residents. Uh, our build -out
analysis showed that.... between the city and the growth boundary area, um, we can
accommodate up to 38,000 new jobs and 61,000 new residents. Here's a look, um, kind
of breaking this down, looking at the analysis at the level of the city limits. Uh, again
keeping those MPO projects at 23,000 and 22,000 for jobs and population, urn .... within
the city limits we estimate at about 20,000 jobs could be accommodated. Um, we
estimated about 37,000 new residents could be accommodated. Um, one note I do warm
make about the residential capacity. A lot of that comes from the Riverfront Crossings
area. So, um, about 24,000 of that 37,000 or roughly 65% comes from that area. Um...
so here are some key findings. Again, uh, as I just mentioned, about 65% of residential
units are from the Riverfront Crossings area. Urn ... again, the city has capacity to absorb
projected gains, based from the MPO's analysis on dwelling units, uh, and population.
Um, and then just reiterating using our kind of conservative approach to assuming that
kind of downtown form would probably remain, um, as is. We believe there's limited
capacity for growth downtown. Just a kind of a quick look at, uh, this analysis as it
applies to the growth boundary. Um, we estimated employment at around 18,000 for the
growth boundary. Um, so not quite matching the .... the MPO's projections of 23,000,
um, but then we .... we estimated 23,000, um, in terms of new residents for the growth
boundary, uh, which exceeds the, uh, MPO projection for the city at 22,000. So in
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closing just kind of overall key finds here, um, land in the city and growth boundary we
believe can accommodate, um, at full build -out about 61,000 residents. Um, which
greatly exceeds the MPO's projection at 22,000 new residents to the city. Um, between
the city and growth boundary, uh, we believe the, um, city can accommodate about
38,000 new employees. Again this, uh, greatly exceeds the MPO's 2045 projection at
23,000 new jobs. So ... with that I'm gonna turn it back over to Anne, who's gonna talk to
you about growth boundary expansion areas.
Russett/ So in addition to the build -out analysis that Ray just went over, we reviewed our current
growth boundary. Um, and .... staff reviewed these boundaries and considered many
different factors in identifying the potential expansion areas, which I'll go through one by
one. We looked at potential gateways to the city; highway adjacency and access; areas
where there was planned commercial or industrial land uses .... in Johnson County;
whether the area could be served by sewer and water; uh, adjacency to areas envisioned
for residential or commercial development; and then preservation of existing sensitive
areas or other factors that might promote future land development. So in total we have,
uh, five areas that we'd like the City Council to consider for inclusion in our growth
boundary, and they're identified here in red. Again the current growth boundary is the
gray area ..... and then this whole area is the fringe area. Here's another map that shows
these five areas, overlaid with the Johnson.... Johnson County's comprehensive plan, their
future land use map designation. The first .... the first area that we wanted to discuss is
west of 218 off of Highway 1 and Sharon Center Road. You'll see in these next several
slides you'll see lots of maps that look like this. I just wanted to outline what you're
seeing here. So this .... this dark black line is ... is the area that we're proposing for
inclusion in ... in the growth boundary. The dark gray here is the current growth boundary,
and then the colors — the yellow, the red, the purple — that's the County's future land use
map. So based on the County's comprehensive plan, the envision this area in yellow for
residential growth, the red for commercial, and the purple for intensive commercial
development. Um, based on our current fringe area, the land use policy direction is to
maintain agricultural uses in this area. Um ... with .... with the exception of those parcels
that are currently zoned for non-farm development. So in terms of our kind of staff
comments or concerns and the reason we wanna include this in the growth boundary is
that we wanna limit commercial development in the unincorporated areas within the
fringe area to ensure efficient land planning. We wanna avoid leapfrog development.
Um, we wanna ensure that more intense commercial development has access to city
services, water and sewer, but also fire and police protection. And lastly we wanna
reduce vehicle trips to the outer edges of the community, which could result as
development in these areas, uh, occur, and directing commercial growth to .... to our
corporate limits is a common theme that you'll see, and in many of these areas that we're
proposing for inclusion in our growth boundary. Additionally in this area, in this area up
here, um, based on our Southwest District plan, there's an area, um, that's planned for
development here and in our capital improvement program there is a tru... trunk sewer that
is planned to be expanded and constructed in 2023, and that will open up this area for
development. Including this area in the growth boundary will help to ensure that there's
more consistency in that residential development pattern. The next area is south of, uh,
Route 218 and Riverside Drive. You can see here that in the County's comprehensive
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plan they've identified this as appropriate for commercial development. This was
actually a recent amendment to their future land use map. Uh, the .... the County staff
requested, um, input from the City on that proposed future land use map amendment. We
expressed several concerns regarding that map amendment. Ultimately the Board of
Supervisors did change the land use map and designate this area as appropriate for
commercial development. Um, our current fringe area agreement, the land use policy
direction for this area recommends agricultural uses, um, with the exception of those
parcels that are already zoned for non-farm development. So again here we want to
direct commercial growth to areas within the city for the reasons I previously mentioned.
Um, and I also wanted to mention that tonight there's a pending rezoning for this area,
um, that's on the Council's formal agenda. The applicant has proposed around 30 acres
be rezoned to commercial in this area. The next area is, uh, north of Highway 6, um, near
Taft Avenue. It's adjacent to the City's industrial park. Uh, the County's comprehensive
plan for this area envisions agricultural to continue. Um, that is consistent with our
current fringe area policy, which also recommends agricultural land uses. Um, staff
would like to include this area because of its adjacency to the industrial park and we
wanna plan for potential future expansions of that park. The next area is near Herbert....
Herbert Hoover Highway and I-80. You can see here that this is another area that the
County has planned for commercial development. The current fringe area agreement,
um, recommends agricultural land uses continue in this area; however, it does allow
limited commercial development for properties abutting the interchange. There is quite a
bit of commercial land that is zoned for commercial in the county in this area as well. So
again we wanna direct the commercial growth to the city. Um .... and in addition there are
improvements to Taft Avenue that are planned. They're several years out, but this could
make this area more desirable for.... for development. The last area is off of Highway 1
north near Rapid Creek. This area is planned for residential development, um, based on
the County's comprehensive plan. And the current fringe area agreement recommends,
um, agricultural land uses continue east of Highway 1 and residential is allowed, um, and
can be considered west of Highway I in our current fringe area agreement. Staff has
received a rezoning application for 115 areas west of Highway 1 in this area, and that
rezoning application is going to be considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission
this Thursday. So you'll be seeing it on a future agenda. Um, the .... the City has actually
received several, uh, fringe area rezoning requests since the County updated its
comprehensive plan. And so these applications seem to be res.... responding to those
changes in land use that are now in the County's plan. Um .... and although in this area
there is still a lot of development that can occur within the city in terms of the office park
and the commercial development, we'd like to include this area in our growth boundary
to kind of plan for potential future conflicts and provide more of a buffer between, uh,
future commercial development in the city and, uh, large -lot residential in the county.
The .... there are several questions that we wanted to get some feedback from the Council
on. Um, we'd like your feedback on the proposed expansion areas of the growth
boundaries, if there are any concerns. Um, we are also curious to know if there are areas
that you'd like us to consider that we haven't contemplated yet. And then lastly, um, as I
mentioned previously, the Board of Supervisors did request a working group, and so we
wanted to know if the Council would like to, um .... start a working group prior to staff
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providing you with recommended policy language on the fringe area agreement. That
concludes my presentation. I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Mims/ Anne, can you go back to the one that shows the overall growth boundary please? Fringe
area and growth boundary. Thank you. Thank you. If you wanna go back to the
questions (mumbled)
Teague/ One of the questions I had, urn .... was related to like the commercial development that
you mentioned that some of the ones that the City's lookin' at, uh, is convertin' them
from commercial, that the County wanted to be commercial. I was really wonderin' like
for the ones that we're wantin' to capture, is there any more commercial.... outside, or
near there, adjacent to there that the County, that we're not looking at that the County
would be still tryin' to make commercial or thinkin' to make commercial?
Russett/ No, those ... those are the .... the three main areas that the County has identified as
commercial on their future land use map.
Teague/ Okay. All right. Great!
Weiner/ Are there... any areas among those areas that have ... that would be considered sensitive
use or places that should not be built, such as wetlands or other areas that we would want
to preserve within those areas?
Russett/ There .... in the commercial areas or just in general?
Weiner/ General.
Russett/ Yeah, there are some actually, urn .... sensitive areas in this area. There's.... there's
woodlands and there's also a flood plain here. Um .... this area has woodlands and a
stream corridor. I think those are the main .... the main environmental constraints.
Fruin/ I think the County would have taken those into consideration when they updated their
future land use amendment as well.
Thomas/ Well I would start by saying I'm, um, I found it interesting that it looks like within our
own current .... city limits, uh, we have the capacity to accommodate growth for the next
25 years, urn .... so that was interesting (laughs) I mean I .... one, and it's especially
interesting to me in that I .... I think my concerns with .... with the question of growth
beyond our city limits have to do one with how it would affect our goals with respect to
climate change. I mean we, I think we understand that as you .... as you grow out, um,
especially at low densities, uh, that .... that growth may generate more vehicle miles
traveled, urn .... and so .... so you're ending up with increasing our carbon footprint in that
regard. Uh, and then the other issue, which .... which I've raised before in various settings
has to do with the ... the sheer cost of that infrastructure and extension. Uh, depending
upon how the land is developed could over the long term, uh, exceed the .... the revenues
generated by that land use development. So you end up in effect, uh, under water, so to
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speak, with resp .... with regard to the revenues versus, uh, City liabilities. Now I think,
you know, in looking into this issue, I've .... I've seen that there are ways .... uh, you know,
through consulting, uh, with (mumbled) a fairly broad understanding that that is a
potential outcome with... development at the periphery, and so, you know, professional
firms are looking at that and trying to understand how do we avoid that scenario. Um,
so .... so my interest at this point would be to try to understand how if we were to
incorporate these areas, which in some cases makes sense, partly because it seems we get
into these conflicts with the County, uh, and in trying to control the outcomes more
effectively, uh... we may wanna grow anyway, but it does seem that the ... part of the reason
we see growth on the edges — land is cheaper! And so there's always that, um, temptation
or attraction for developers to grow on the edge because land acquisition costs are less.
Um .... so it's.... it's complicated (laughs) I think is what .... is what I would say, you know,
kind of in summary, but it does seem to me if we are going to consider growth .... that we
have .... we.....we need a better understanding of the consequences of that growth, uh,
with respect to the liabilities it will bring. Uh, and also have an understanding of how it
could affect our climate change goals as well.
Mims/ I would agree with ... with what you said, John, and I think the thing that .... that I kind of
focused on in looking at this is in expanding the growth area, we're not..... we're not
committing to anything as a city in terms of annexation or additional infrastructure or
anything like that. I look at it from the perspective of it actually gives us more control in
certain cases. Um, if. ... if we're talking about property that's inside that growth
boundary. So .... we still have, you know, we still haven't annexed it, we still haven't
committed to infrastructure, but in the meantime we're getting additional control, which I
like the idea of that. So, um .... I'm supportive of the recommendation of staff and you
folks have certainly put the time and effort and the expertise into looking at this. Um, I
guess the one question I have sometimes when I look at these, and that is .... are the
straight lines drawn just because it's more convenient to draw straight lines, because I
think sometimes of the topography and how the straight lines don't fit with topography at
all in terms of wetlands or sensitive areas or forested areas, and so kind of. ... you know,
where that rationale is between a straight line and ... and trying to accommodate different
features of the landscape.
Teague/ So one of the things I, uh, heard John say is, um, with all of the growth that's happening,
uh, even within our community already, um, and then lookin' at this, you know, where
we're gonna be possibly expanding, it is that infrastructure cost, which of course Susan
has made it, um, plain that that's something that we don't have to .... we may never have
to do it if that's not what we want, but I do think that it's, urn.... important to just....
mention that we do have ... you know, our climate action goals that we want to really
achieve, and so if we're, you know, acquirin' more land, you know, what, you know, what
does that really, um, do .... what are we really sayin' if we're acquirin' more land and, um,
cause typically if you acquire somethin' you're gonna....
Mims/ But we're not acquiring. I mean that's (both talking) We're just getting more control.
That .... that's the nice thing. We're getting control without acquiring because it's not
coming inside city limits, unless we do an annexation (both talking)
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Teague/ We're not gonna annex it, but um, which .... I guess my question is .... are we .... we're
gettin' the control because that is good as far as control, and thanks for makin' the point
about we're not gonna annex, um, because I do worry about that as, if we are .... if it
wasn't for the control (laughs) then it may have another underlining, um .... uh, attempt
that we're, you know, goin' after, um, within some of these areas. So I guess with that
bein' said, um, I would be more inclined to, you know, support staff, um .... uh, on this
matter here.
Bergus/ Is there a connection between, um, expanding the growth boundaries and annexation,
does it create some kind of expectation or lower the threshold for that to happen?
Russett/ Well typically they .... they are adjacent to our current corporate limits and that's kind of,
you know, the main requirement, but we also look at serviceability and infrastructure and
costs, you know, to the City to serve that area and other things as part of the annexation
process. So it's not a guarantee. It's a .... it's another process.
Bergus/ And it's not a prerequisite either, that they be within the growth boundary prior to
annexation?
Russett/ That is typically what happens, yeah. Yeah.
Fruin/ The item before you tonight, um, is a County rezoning, but we ... we're located directly
adjacent to that, our corporate limits are. That would be a property that would be eligible
for annexation. So .... I don't think ... it may .... raise some questions from property owners
about future annexation, but it certainly doesn't commit us to annexing, uh, this property.
And you know really encourage you to really think of this as a planning tool, a planning
document. This is about collaborative planning between the County and the... and the
City here, so when we're expanding our growth boundaries, we're really saying these are
areas where ... that require more attention, particularly in light of the County's recent
changes to their land use, and for those of you Council Members who have been on fon..
for quite a while, you've known in the last year, you've seen more County applications
than you did probably the last two or three years combined. So, uh, as Anne mentioned,
we have another one goin' to P&Z. I think it's gonna continue to happen, and we really
feel like it's important that we have a stronger voice in these, uh, new, uh, five growth
areas here.
Teague/ You know we do need to update our fringe agreement, uh, I think that's pretty important
for us to do.
Bergus/ If the intent of this is to, for some of those areas, gain control so that it might not
become, or might not have the uses that are currently designated by the County and their
plan, what's our next step as far as designating what we think is the appropriate use in the
growth boundaries? How do we do that? Or do we?
Fruin/ That's part of the .... the collaboration with the County (both talking)
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Bergus/ Okay, so we work together (both talking)
Fruin/ ...yes, cause you know, just because there's commercial showing doesn't mean that there
can't be, you know, we can't make it more compatible commercial with what we think.
Um, obviously in some of these corridors, like the 218 corridor before you tonight, we
would agree long-term that is probably commercial property. It's ... it's interstate frontage
there, um, it's probably commercial, but it's really important to us that that's the right
commercial, so that when we are growing down in that area in five or 10 years or
whatever it may be, that it doesn't .... we don't have to build around it, right? We build
into it and it's seamless as .... as ..... as you could hope for.
Teague/ I know, um, do we want to think about which two Councilors would like to be a part of
the working group? Is there anyone?
Mims/ I would be interested.
Thomas/ I .... I would be too.
Teague/ Anyone else?
Taylor/ I think Susan and John are ..... would be excellent representatives.
Teague/ Awesome! Sounds like everybody's in agreement, so ... we have our two, uh, Council
Members that'll be a part of the working group, so that'll be great! Anything else for
Anne or for staff?
Mims/ Can you go back to the questions, Anne? Have we answered....
Russett/ I think you have touched on all of these. Um....
Mims/ I couldn't remember (both talking)
Russett/ But if the, I ... yeah, if there are any specific areas that concern you or other areas that
you wanna look at .... just let us know.
Teague/ Thank you!
FY 2021 Aid to Agencies Grant Funding f IP41:
Teague/ All right! We're gonna talk about IP #4 from the ... January 30a' packet, and this is the
fiscal 21, 20, uh, 2021 Aid to Agencies grant funding. I know, Geoff, you had a memo,
um, here. You wanna (both talking)
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Fruin/ Yeah, I'll just briefly describe what's.... what's in that memo. We gave you first a history
from FYI to FY20 on the awards that we have provided through the Aid to Agencies,
uh, grant program. Uh, at the bottom of that table, uh, which is on page 33, uh, you will
see not only the total grant dollars for that program, but also the number of agencies that
have received grants, and in the text of the memo I called your attention to that because
that's.... that's important to keep in mind and one of the.....one of the historical trends
that we've had is the constant pressure to add agencies to this program. Uh, so you can
see from 10 to .... uh, looks like..... 15 we went from 15. We were up to 19 agencies, a
couple of times to 17, and then I described for you the changes we made in fiscal year 16.
So in fiscal year 16 we changed, we upped the minimum award to 15,000, and we did
that for two reasons. One, to make more impactful awards, and then two to ease the
burden on grant administration from our staff, and you can see we went from 17 agencies
down to 13 agencies. Since that time we've crept back up, uh, to 18 legacy agencies and
a handful of emerging agencies too. So the .... the point of that .... uh, message is .... as
long as you keep adding agencies to this process, and the budget stays the same or even
has a .... a fairly, you know, modest inflation factor, the average grant's going to go down.
Uh, that's.... that's simple math there. So the Council just needs to recognize that that
the .... the pressure to add agencies will never go away. Um, there'll always be pressure
to .... to add agencies, and as you know, there will always be competition for the funds
that go into this program. So hopefully that history was .... was beneficial. Um, the next
section.... details some of the ways we've supported agencies outside of the Aid to
Agency program from fiscal year 15 to 20. Uh, you can see, uh, those numbers, which
ranged, uh, from 40,000, uh, up to this year what we project is 3.6 million. Of course 2.5
million in the access center contribution there. (clears throat) I'm sorry, that was
a .... that was fiscal year 20. Uh, so again just important to know that we have been
focusing more dollars to support community organizations and social service agencies.
They've just been going through different programs, and some of those are programs that
align with your .... your strategic plan. At the very end of the memo, uh, on page 35 of
your packet, I just provided some scenarios to you so that when you determine your
budget dollar, you can .... you can pick these, you can modify these, but you'll see the last
two years of funding on there. Course the FY21 is when .... when the, uh, Council
decided to double the general fund contribution to that program. You can see staff's
proposal. That's your FY21 budget proposal number. That hasn't changed. The
proposal from HCDC, from the Agency Coalition, and then I threw three out there, uh,
that kinda filled in some of those gaps. As I told you before at the previous meeting, we
don't need to .... you don't need to worry about altering the tax rate to cover, uh, any
increase that you wish to provide. Uh, we are projecting a .... a, um, 36% general fund
reserve, which is slightly over our target of 35%, and we can use that 1% cushion, uh,
to—..fund this first year and then, uh, staff would make it a budget priority in future years
to make sure that we don't dip back down, uh, after fiscal year 21. Happy to answer
questions. Hopefully that information is helpful for your deliberations.
Mims/ Well when I look at this, and um .... as we all know there's.... there's more need than there
is money, and that will always be the case, and .... and the need continues to grow and
with more agencies and organizations. Um, but I....I do appreciate, urn .... the showing
all the things that have gone, uh, all the expenditures and ... and investment in the
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community, outside of the Aid to Agencies process, because I think it's important to look
at the full picture, and um, certainly we have added a lot to that with our affording
housing dollars over the years. What I would be interested in proposing is .... is kind of a
compromise between the staff proposal and the Agency Coalition proposal, and that
would be I guess taking that modified scenario #1, um, that's in the packet and upping the
total to the 500. I think that ... it gives us a little bit higher than that kind of 2% average, if
you started back at 2010 I think is what staff had talked about. If you looked at that as a
"base," and did a 2% per year, that kinda got us to where .... what their recommendation
was for this year. I mean it's clear that .... that the agencies can use more than that and can
use a lot more, but I think we also need to look at this as real.... literally in doing it this
year, this is setting a stage for a continue .... a continuation of our budget. Um, I mean last
year we did a one-time big lump sum and said, okay, that's just for one year. I think as
we sit here now and look at the overall needs, we need to really look at this as, okay, is
this something that is sustainable within our budget, um, and yes we've got good reserves
now, but we also have potential of some real lean years coming. So, um, I'm comfortable
going up a little bit higher than staff has proposed, kind of taking that, um, in between the
Agency Coalition proposal and staff, and landing on that 500.
Thomas/ Scenario one?
Mims/ Yes! Modified scenario one.
Teague/ (mumbled) do appreciate seein', um, globally, you know, if I'll call it that, you know
what we've done, uh, for the Aid to Agencies, um, fiscal year 10 through fiscal year 20,
um .... I think that does show that we are doing, um, what we can for the community. Of
course the .... the need is greater, or um, than what our monies has allowed. It's always a
challenge because as we see some of the other programs that we've done, such as the...
the winter shelter and the access center, which is gonna be coming, um, we know that,
um, the access center is gonna be, uh, very novel, um, and we are not exactly sure what
that financial need could be long-term.
Mims/ And I think we're set. We haven't committed a dollar for operations. That's on the
County and the region (both talking)
Teague/ ...to do anything else (both talking)
Mims/ Right! Yeah, we .... we've been very clear that we committed for capital costs, and we've
not made any commitment to operational costs. (both talking)
Teague/ And do we know (both talking) if...if the operational costs is even determined what
that'll be .... with the access center?
Mims/ We have a budget, but I think until we actually open and start operating, it's .... it's
probably going to take six to 12 months to get a real sense of what both the reve... the
expenses and revenues look like. Um, so ... it's real iffy, but the County has committed
dollars to it. They've just gotten a commitment from the region, which is the healthcare
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region, um, for some dollars as well. They've committed to Linn and Johnson County,
um, so I'm not sure what the gap is on that, but we've been very clear in all of our
discussions, from Geoff's office and from my participation on the committees that the
City's commitment has only been to the capital costs.
Teague/ I....I do have worries that the operational costs, as you say, is .... is (both talking)
Mims/ Oh, everybody's concerned. Yeah. Everybody's.....
Teague/ So I .... with .... with, and I .... I bring it up because I know that at some point we may be
faced (laughs) uh, with a request there, but, uh, because we do wanna make sure that it is
successful, uh, the benefits for the community will be great. Um, so there are some un...
unknown things that I know might be comin' down, uh, the line. I'm a huge fan of the...
of the agencies, uh.... um, that are listed. Um, some, I mean, I know better than others
and uh, some of the work, I .... I can definitely attest is very important within our
community, especially if we're lookin' at, um, just the basic human needs and human
rights within our community. And so that's kind of where I'm at as far as like the request.
I .... I mean I can be maybe a little bit in the middle, um.....but I will definitely at this
point support the full ask of 641,250. (several talking)
Thomas/ What about the emergent ... so ... so that the 641,250 is the legacy piece.
Teague/ Yes.
Thomas/ And then we have the emergent.... emerging piece?
Teague/ Yes.
Salih/ Yes.
Thomas/ So .... are you referring to the HCDC proposal (both talking)
Teague/ Yes. So I am (both talking)
Thomas/ Are you including the emerging piece as well?
Teague/ No, I just refer to the HCDC for the legacy.
Thomas/ Okay.
Teague/ And the emerging .... I would, you know, one of the challenges with the emergin'
agencies is, uh, 33,000 when you're lookin' at emergin' agencies (laughs) that's kind of
small when .... it's a small pot. Um .... and so 675 total is what I'm looking at. Maybe
(several talking)
Thomas/ Oh okay, well that's what I...
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Teague/ Yes.
Salih/ I agree with Mayor Teague. Uh, we should fund the full amount that HCDC ask for since
I .... I like their presentation last time (unable to understand) lot thing that, uh, personally I
wasn't aware about it, and uh, as also I will second what Bruce said about basic human
needs. All those organizations are really serving basic hum .... human needs. And I think,
uh, you know I really .... I was one of those client for many of them when I came new to
Iowa City, uh, and I thinks it helped me and made me the, when I need it, it was there for
me and until I become really like self-sufficient, I know how it is very important and I
use it myself. That's why I know like how it helped me, myself, and uh, I think this is
really something important and it will help a lot of people, and it will make our people
self-sufficient at the end because, you know, while you are working a low-wage worker
or you study at the community college or you are just new to Iowa City, you need this
service, and uh, little by little you will grow out of it and you will leave it to somebody
else. Maybe we gonna come to the point where nobody need it, and that's what we want,
but as long as, you know, there is need in the community, we have to really give them the
full fund .... the full amount that the committee requested, and I .... I just thinks this is...
this is important thing that we have to do, and even I propose that the full amount, plus
2% increase every year, because I thinks things are .... uh, you know, until we see like
clear picture that, uh, you know, there is no more like .... the needs in the community bein'
reduced or anything like this, but I .... I agree that we have to (mumbled) full funding,
which is 6....675.
Thomas/ I too was impressed with the presentation and, you know, placing it within the, uh, in
effect the economy, our local economy and its effect on that as well. Um, I'm also very
supportive of the.... the.... the Agency Coalition approach, because I think that, and I
know, Susan, you've talked about this, this ... how well are these agencies coordinated and
...and the, you know, Geoff mentioned that they are increasing in number. Uh, and that
potentially could, and most likely would lead to an increasing cost to the overall
spectrum. So I think one cost control measure on that is having the Coalition. I wish
every non-profit.... group, so to speak, or groups, you know, like in our arts and culture
would have similar coalitions because I think there is a .... urn, a better understanding, just
like we have within our own City budget when departments are talking to one another I
think there's some benefit to that in terms of everyone understanding that no one's going
to be getting everything out of this thing, and ... and so we need to in some cases
compromise. Urn .... you know, for now I .... I will support the .... the HCDC proposal. I
mean I may be naive, but I do hope we are in sort of a dark period here in terms of where
we are as a .... society, both at the local and national level, and that, um, you know, we
will see improvements with regard to how .... we .... we take care of those in our
communities who are most, um, exposed to trauma, which I think is really in some ways
for me what it boils down to, and if you don't address the trauma, uh, it doesn't go away.
It in fact can .... can be accelerated and expand, so .... it's .... it's, um, I think in some ways
this is preventative, a way of trying to avoid that trauma from growing. Urn .... but I do
hope through conversations among the agencies, uh, to help better coordinate, uh, the
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services that they provide, that we won't see a continuous escalation in the cost of the
services.
Bergus/ I'm also in favor of supporting the full requested amount, but maybe for different
reasons. Um, I think that the Coalition has done an excellent job of showing the Council
and the City, um, their willingness to work together. I think they've presented this to us
as .... as kind of an opportunity for a course correction, um, not that things were heading
in the wrong direction, but certainly, um, we received input about the kind of
competitiveness for dollars when the dollars are so limited and for myself I would be
willing to increase the funding with the understanding that the .... the collaboration and
the teamwork and the .... the evidence that we're being presented with, and the .... the care
in reporting will continue, and that would be the expectation for ...for an increased
funding amount, and my caveat for my colleagues would be .... this, we would not
entertain those kind of special circumstances that are completely outside the process or
that would be in really, really limited circumstances because what we're doing is setting
up a path with more resources and what we know is relatively, you know, um, better
access, lower obstacles for those agencies that .... that would want to ... to come in and seek
funding when they're new. So I think the emerging agency piece and the opportunity for
more smaller grants is an important component relating to that, um, trying to lower the
competition, um, but that would be my request to Council is that the hope would be that
if we increase the funding, then we can reduce some of the angst and time and effort and
um, staff energy and all of the expense that goes along with that with some of these kind
of outside the box requests that we know will come forward, because I ... I don't think
the .... the need is going to be reduced overall. I think we're doing great things, but our
community continues to grow, and we know that support from outside of our community,
from what we've heard from the agencies, continues to be reduced. So I don't wanna... I
don't wanna be naive and think that we're fixing the problem, but I think we can rely on a
system that based on the Coalition, and the Commission, um, seems to be working well
and seems to be .... on a path for, um, a careful and thoughtful process for allocating those
dollars.
Teague/ I did wanna make one clarification. We're .... um, which one are you actually
supporting?
Bergus/ The 675.
Teague/ All right, thank you.
Weiner/ I would support what virtually everything that .... that, uh, that Laura Bergus said and
would add as well that the whole point, one of the whole points of working together with
other communities on the access center is to provide services to people at presumably a
lower cost and get them back into the community, functioning at lower cost to a variety
of City and County services which may also then advantage the .... the, help .... help not
just the economy, um, but costs to the City, costs to the County, and um .... and raise
productivity.
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Taylor/ I'm going to go down just a little bit of a different road. Uh, I would be in favor of the
HCDC proposal for both the legacy and emerging, but uh, mostly because of the fact that
we have appointed these folks to that, uh, commission and uh, by appointing them we
trust their opinions and their decisions, and I think this one they did not take lightly.
They gave a lot of thought to it. Uh, and were concerned about these agencies that are
out there that ... that need the funding, and I think the, uh, Agency Coalition project gave
a .... a very, um, compelling report, which was very helpful. I don't think we'd realized
that, uh, the amounts had been stagnate for so many years but yet the increase in the
services that you're providing and the materials that you needed had increased so much.
So, uh, I would be in favor of going with that proposal.
Teague/ Okay. So, Geoff, sounds like we are goin' with, um, the full HCDC 6....675. Do you
need anything else from us? All right! Thank you so much! We will move on to....
Discuss.....um, the strategic plan ... uh, planning process, IPS. Geoff did make mention of
this, uh, in the (both talking)
Discuss 2020-21 Strategic Planning process f IP5:
Frain/ Yeah, just real briefly, um, it's been recent tradition that after a new Council is seated, we
embark on a new two-year strategic plan. Uh, you can see the seven goals on the screen
there. There's also a .... a page in your packet on 38 that has that same information. Um,
typically the Council has spent a .... a couple of work sessions, uh, reviewing these seven
goals, making modifications, and then within each goal area, listing any specifics projects
that the Council would like to see staff, uh, pursue in that two-year window. Uh, with the
budget largely behind us, we would like to, uh, get started on that process and I'm
seekin' a little direction from you on how in-depth, uh, you want, uh, the planning effort
to be. Uh, in the past we've used facilitators to ... to help the Council craft their strategic
plan. Um, and we've also had, uh, work sessions outside of your regular work sessions.
So maybe a half-day work session or...um (clears throat) something, uh, off-site. I think
we did it at Terry Trueblood once, uh, to .... to help, uh, get us moving in .... in the, uh,
right direction. So based on conversations I've had with each of you individually, uh, and
uh, my understanding is I .... I don't think there's going to be a lot of changes to these
seven goals. There might be some refinement that takes place. I also haven't heard a lot
of, uh, push for new projects. Uh, if that is an accurate assessment, then .... then I don't
believe we need to hire a facilitator. I still think there would be value in having a, uh,
work session outside of your regular time, and .... and finding maybe three or four hours
to .... to review each of these and have some more in-depth conversations. Uh, but I think
staff and... and the Council, I think we could just self -facilitate that process. Uh, if, um...
if you .... if you agree we'll work with you offline and get that scheduled, but ... if you want
something different, now's the time to let me know.
Mims/ I'm good with that suggestion.
Taylor/ I am also.
Salih/ Me too.
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Fruin/ (several talking) ....looked for somethin' in, uh, early March, would that ... be okay?
(several responding) We'll just work offline and find some time.
Clarification of Agenda Items:
8.c. Maximum Property Tax Levy Resolution Setting a Public Hearing on setting the
maximum property tax levy for certain levies for the proposed budget ending June
30, 2021.
Teague/ Great! (talking in background) All right! Thank you! So clarif.... clarification of
agenda items for our formal meeting. Anyone have anything? I did wanna make mention
of Item 98.c., that's the maximum property tax levy. Urn .... it doesn't state, um, the next
meeting. Uh, that's when ... this is setting the public hearing and that's for February 18`h.
I will mention that in the formal meeting. And I did just wanna bring that up.
Information Packet Discussion [January 23. January 301:
Teague/ Seein' there is none .... oh, there's a few, um, IP items listed, info packet items listed
here. So we'll go to info packet, uh.....January 23`d first. Urn .... and maybe .... I guess
people can, maybe we'll have, um, we'll discuss IP2 first. IP2, this is a memo from the
City Manager relating to City, uh, sister city information. If you wanna give us a little
information there!
Fruin/ Yeah, this is a ... urn, follows a conversation that Mayor Teague and Council Member Salih
and I recently had. There was a .... an interest in learning more about sister cities. You
may have heard of other communities that have sister city relationships with, um, folks
across the globe. Um, we do not have a formal sister city relationship, um, but many,
again many cities do. I gave you some stats on that and... and even, uh, cities in Iowa that
have sister cities. It's a .... it's a fairly large undertaking, uh, to create a sister city.
There's typically a Council -appointed commission, uh, that would not only lead that
process, um, but maintain the sister city relationship and steward that over the .... uh, over
its lifetime. Uh, I've worked with sister cities before, and we certainly have plenty of
good resources out there if the Council wants us to .... to go down that path. Um, I would
...I would strongly encourage ya though, if you do, to ... to get folks in the community, get
a commission. You could start off with ad hoc if you wanted to, um, but they need to be
passionate about this cause, um, again it's not, uh, two or three months commitment.
You're talking a .... a commitment of decades, uh, so happy to answer questions, but I
think it's largely self-explanatory.
Mims/ Yeah, I mean those .... I mean my response in ... in reading it, or my reaction to reading it is
I think that these can be incredibly beneficial, um, relationships to develop, um, but I
think it's clear that, I mean, it takes the City, it takes a lot of people in the community
and, um, probably at least a couple people from City Council who really wanna .... maybe
dedicate a lot of time to .... helping some of that initial, um, organization and .... and in
getting those commitments of people who really are gonna stay with it long-term. So,
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um, it's not something that fits in my schedule of life at this point. Um .... but if there's
other people who really feel they wanna take that on and see if we can get that real
community involvement, then I've got no problem with it.
Taylor/ I agree with Susan. When I was reading this and I've of course heard of sister cities
before and, uh, I'd like to say that it's a very nice thought and .... and a wonderful
program, uh, certainly helps cities and .... and states to make connections with other parts
of the world, uh, but I believe that Iowa City already has a lot of programs that kind of fit
that bill — the Mandela Fellows Program, the UNESCO City of Literature. We already
have connections, and I think it would also be difficult for us as a city. We're such a
melting pot. We've got so many, uh, folks from all over the world, uh, wouldn't want one
to think they were being slighted over another one. How would you .... how would you
pick it, and as Geoff mentioned, there's a lot of work to it and you can't just say Iowa
City and, uh, City A are now sister cities. Uh, there's a lot of work to it, and I think, uh,
we as a city, we have our transit study, we have our climate action plan, we've got a lot
on our plate right now, so uh, I'm not condemning the program. It's a wonderful
program. But I just don't .... don't think it fits like into our .... our plan right now.
Salih/ I think I .... I'll have time. I can .... I can be on that committee. No worry! If somebody
else wanna be with me, they just require two Council. I think this is very, very good
programs. I read a lot about it, and uh, we thinking all the time as Iowa City as
internationals city where really this could happen, especially we have people .... we start
having people from .... from different, you know, countries in Iowa City, and that's ... to
build on that we can do this. I read about it in like Chicago have I guess 23 sister city or
something like that. And even in Iowa there is many thing .... many, many across the
country, and if we ... if we really get the commission together, as Geoff said, you know,
and the people who really passionate. They have to be passionate about this. I agree with
Geoff on that, but I thinks there is many people there. There is some kind of, uh,
something similar to this, I guess, with, uh, what's the group called, the (mumbled) or
something like that.
Mims/ Rotary?
Fruin/ Rotary?
Salih/ Yes!
Mims/ Yeah, Rotary has a lot of (both talking)
Salih/ Yes, they have like some similar to this and I talk to some people like about this and I
guess we will find people who are very interesting (mumbled) the commission, who have
many, many different commission and (unable to understand) all of them work very good
and we have a lot people apply and we never like we don't find people to volunteer on
those commission, and .... I .... I really support of it and.....wanna do it.
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Weiner/ I've largely been on the other end of sister cities. When I .... when I was serving abroad I
would see ones that worked well and ones that didn't work so well. The ones that tended
to work well were where, um, cities found each other that had congruent interests or
congruent programs, whether it was universities, whether it was businesses, whether
it's ... it's not just nationalities, and that indeed there was a, uh, a concerted effort, and a
commitment, to continue working at it and .... and grow from these exchanges. So it's...
it's, um, the ones that were essentially just on paper and maybe there was an occasional
interaction were more work than they were worth, uh, but if there .... if there really is a
commitment and both parties work at it, then it can be very beneficial to both sides.
Bergus/ I liked the, uh, note in the memo about the UNESCO City of Liters.... Literature, and
you all appointed me as the Council liaison on that board, um, and I ... I was just thinking
that if there are elements of the sister city program that we really like that are the most
appealing, um, you know, I just recently learned that the .... there are a number of creative
cities that designations have been, um, rapidly increasing, so there's a lot more cities that
we could try and network with, within that network support that we get by being a
member. So if there are elements of the program that we think are really kinda what we
would be looking for, I would recommend that we kind of go down that path and see
what options there are first, and then if we can maybe build the inertia around kind of
what we want those pieces to be. I'm hesitant to adopt the whole sister city idea, um,
without really knowing what our primary elements would be. That'd be my concern,
especially on the kind of the staff bandwidth level.
Salih/ What do you mean by the primary element, you know, like (both talking)
Bergus/ Like what we want to get out of it. What do we think would be best for Iowa City about
it?
Salih/ Uh, I guess it is .... normally when I read about sister cities (unable to understand) in the
U.S., it will be like, uh, sister like real look the same, like how they can benefit from each
other, but the, you know, most likely, uh, of course people will benefit more from the
U.S. than the other. (mumbled) doesn't have money involve, but resources and people
will come (unable to understand) like, uh, yeah and cultures -wise and, you know, uh,
something like this maybe Iowa City will benefit from that and .... but most likely people
who are from (unable to understand) they looking for like the (mumbled) housing, work.
Maybe some group of people will come here and visit our facility and see how things
work here so they can go and implement the same thing there. You know, those kind of
thing that I ... I being seeing, uh, but uh....I guess the thing is.....(unable to understand)
like something or .... most likely, but usually it will be like something we have and they,
uh, they are (unable to understand) like another city that they have the same thing that we
do here, but we are here doing it in like (both talking)
Bergus/ That was the part about the City of Literature that seemed like an, you know, kind of an
obvious match as we've identified (both talking)
Salih/ Yes! That's what it is (both talking)
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Page 19
Bergus/ ...have that same (both talking)
Salih/ Exactly (both talking)
Bergus/ ....interests.
Salih/ If you don't have the same interest, they are not going to benefit out of it. If they need
something that we really don't have here, was the point.
Bergus/ Right.
Salih/ You know, that's really the main thing about it. I .... I read a lot about it and very
passionate about (mumbled)
Mims/ Laura, through the City of Literature, do you know, I mean, do they have kind of
programs where cities kind of match up and do some things or .... maybe you're not into it
far enough yet (both talking)
Bergus/ Yeah, I think they kind of do, and I would certainly be happy to .... to talk with, um, staff,
you know, John Kenyon and .... and get more precise information, or even, you know,
kind of bring it to the board as the Council being interested in, um, you know, looking at
having more of that city -to -city collaboration, right, because it really is the network
support that they provide that I think we could maybe use.
Mims/ I think it would make maybe more sense to start in that direction where you have an ... a,
an automated connection through these creative cities, whether it's literature or whatever,
and get more information on that first before, um .... (both talking)
Salih/ But that's completely different.
Mims/ Well I ... like I say, I'm not willing to put the time in. I don't have the time and I ... I'm not
hearing an overwhelming support. Maybe I'm not (both talking)
Thomas/ I .... I think it is something that needs to be driven by....
Mims/ The community.
Thomas/ ....and then, well an individual. Maz, I mean you're really interested in this and... and I
think that's great. Um, I do believe cities are laboratories of innovation and creativity,
and if you're interested in pursuing that, I think it's wonderful. I mean I ... we hosted the,
um, City of Literature, what was it like an annual convention? Yeah, um, that was an
incredible (mumbled) really enjoyed it and .... it brought my attention to these other cities
that are part of that City of Literature network and .... (laughs) I would of lo .... I would
love to visit some of them. They're fascinating, but um, I think it really does require
someone who really is passionate about it and so I would say go for it.
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Salih/Yes! So far we have three!
Teague/ So if...if I.....did you wanna say something?
Weiner/ I was just going to note that maybe one other area of congruence with some other cities,
if we pursued that, uh, since we do have a climate action plan now, could be to hook
up ... try and hook up with .... with other cities that are really focused on, uh, climate
change and different ways to approach that.
Teague/ So it sounds like, um ..... there is enough support. I do support this. Um....
Bergus/ I don't know enough of what it means as far as what the City's investment would be.
Salih/ But four people saying .... (several talking)
Bergus/ ...what are we directing (both talking)
Teague/ I know .... I know what you're asking. Um, so you're asking what is the, like how do we
essentially get started?
Bergus/ No. Like I don't know if I agree with it or not because I don't know what it entails, from
the City's commitment. I love the concept, but just as far as like what we would do, I
don't know that I'm willing to support that, because I don't know what it is.
Taylor/ I .... I kind of go along with Laura, uh, cause as I've mentioned, I think we always hate to
duplicate efforts, uh, and last year we had a group of Mandela Fellows, uh, from .... like
20 of them from various parts of. ... of, uh, Africa, and they were mostly concerned about
climate action, and they were very curious about what we were doing, uh, with recycling
and those kinds of efforts, uh, and they took that back to their country. They had a lot of
innovative ideas about, uh, food, uh, and .... and doing things with food. So we already
have that sort of base going and .... the same with City of Literature. It's not just talking
about books and authors, but sharing that sort of, uh, knowledge about literacy and ... and
encouraging that in your communities. Um.....
Salih/ Mandela Fellow is part of, you know, is a program that Civic do, like every year. I'm on
the board of Civic, and if I knew that (unable to understand) this is completely different,
you know the Mandela Fellow and other like programs that come by the State
Department is only like for certain cities, and so that they can get the, you know, the
(unable to understand) and sometime even not every single person from difference, like
kind .... like in Africa, if from any country can join the Mandela Fellow. Sometime we
will wait for, uh, we need like many people to come with Mandela Fellow and we find
out we end up by few people, because this is through the State Department and they go
through a lot of thing, but .... you know this is .... this is completely different. I don't
know, go read about it. Maybe dig into it in more (mumbled) this have nothing to do
with Mandela Fellow, or even the, uh (unable to understand) Read about if you warm,
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you know, like learn more about it. (unable to understand) cost the City money, which is
the key all the time here for like something to be rejected, and if we have volunteer in the
community who are passionate about it. We do have many commissions, a lot
commissions will, you know, uh.... all the commission I mean they working very .... like
wonderful and those people like volunteer, and nobody's get paid for it, and we been.....
we, I guess we done so like that any committee that that's not working because where
they cannot find (unable to understand) Uh... I'm passionate about it. If there is another
Council wanna be with me, that's fine. (mumbled) other than that I can continue be
myself, like there by myself.
Teague/ So, um.....I... it does sound like at least, if. ... if I hear, um, John and Janice correctly are
supporting this idea.
Weiner/ I'm .... I'm probably, uh, I mean I'm interested but .... uh.....not sure right now where it
would lead, and again I ... if ...if you're passionate about it, let's go ahead and find out
more about it and see if it's possible, and not...
Thomas/ I .... I (several talking) I don't wanna (several talking) discourage Maz.... Mazahir (both
talking)
Salih/ You have a lot of experience.
Thomas/ I ... I just simply wanna encourage Maz to pursue it. I personally, at this point, also....
I .... I really am interested in what other cities do, but we respect to the sister city concept,
you know, you're gonna have to lead it and convince me at some point (both talking)
Salih/ Sure!
Thomas/ ...um, but, you know....
Salih/ Yeah. A lot people .... you know, when I came up with this idea, there is some people reach
out to me and they said why Iowa City is not have a sister city program, and I, you know,
the first thing I said, are you willing to work on those kind of commission. People said,
yeah of course .... we will, you know, and that's why I know there is some people there,
and they're passion about it. This is not something I brought it up from like nowhere.
Uh, a lot people in the community talk about it and they came and talk about me. I know
like City of Madison just pass like similar program, and I know a lot ... after that I went
and heard about it, and there is also as (unable to understand) ....good information if you
went to that website you will learn more about it, but I will get you, John, on that because
I know that you like .... like to learn more about (mumbled) and cities. Maybe you gonna
be my second person. (laughs)
Mims/ I think the key is ... is really, and ... and maybe you already have, you know, have those
connections and have found some people that are interested, but I think in .... in reading
all the information that was here, what is absolutely critical is to get that large group of
people in the community who are willing to dedicate their time and energy to this, I
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mean, forming a 501 c3 and getting your bylaws and your board of director and, I mean,
forming a 501 c3 can take 12 months or 24 months, I don't know with all those kinds of
things. So I mean ... (both talking)
Salih/ It doesn't... it doesn't have to be that way. It could be just like a commission. Geoff,
correct me if I'm wrong.
Mims/ I would not suggest we do it as a commission (both talking) of the City. LA think that
brings too much of a workload on to City staff, and the one thing I got out of reading this
is they highly, highly recommend that it's a 501 c3 and ... and that you have, that it's really
community -run.
Salih/ Most of (both talking) them are commissions through cities, and this is not taking a lot
time from the staff because the .... the, you know, the.....the people who are volunteer,
they are the one who are doing the work, just like the.... another commission that we
have. Maybe a staff would be there sometime if (both talking)
Fruin/ It's usually staff time, uh, and there's a mix of 501c3s in ..... in commissions. I don't
know... this, um, to be fact but I would guess most are commissions of cities. Um, and
with any commission there's open meetings, there's minutes requirements, there's those
types of things, and generally the staff would be responsible for, uh, staffing the meeting.
Maybe not necessarily chairing the meeting, and participating in .... in the planning
activities, but at minimum it's gonna be those duties to ensure that the commission is
operating within the parameters of State law.
Salih/ Yes! True!
Teague/ So it....it does sound like, um, at least from what I'm hearin', is that people want a little
more information about this item. Is that a fair .... Maz, do you think you can bring us
some more information on this? Maybe at a future .... (both talking)
Salih/ What kind of information (both talking) I get my information from Geoff (laughs, both
talking)
Teague/ Yeah .... but I guess my.....(both talking)
Bergus/ Sorry! I think for me it's that .... that community support element, right? So if. ... kind of
coming forward with a proposal of what for people who've you've identified or who have
come to you with that interest in doing it, maybe help frame up for us what that ... what it
really looks like, right? Like what are they doing, what are their tasks, what is the work
that's involved, because before I'd be comfortable authorizing an additional commission
because of the, kind of the staff component and just how that fits into, okay then are they
recommendat... making recommendations to us and are there budget implications. You
know, I'm not prepared for that ... right now and so just maybe framing it up with that
community interest. That's what I would be looking for.
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Salih/ But you know as long as it is, uh, a commission, as he sa... as Geoff said, uh, even if I
wrote those people and they said yeah they are willing to put the time and effort to the,
uh, those in the commission and to be part of the commission, it still as long as it is a
commission and there is a city, as Geoff said, staff have to be there, maybe not to chair it
but ... to be there, and this is would be like a monthly meeting, just like any other
commission, and .... I (both talking)
Bergus/ I think our....our existing commissions, as I understand them, have kind of like their
charge, right? Like what they're supposed to be doing with specific outcomes in mind,
and so that's the part that for our city, I don't know what this commission would be really
aimed at, right? Cause the sister city program does a lot of different things, and so I think
that community input on what they wanna see, and ... and then them saying, yeah, we're
willing to work towards those goals, you know, that's the kind of thing that I'm ... that I
would be looking for.
Salih/ Yeah but I think any commission that if we really agree for the commission itself, as Geoff
said, have to have a staff, right, Geoff? Or...or if not at all, this is something else, but at
least for the commission that I been in, staff always comes there so they can ... take minute
or something like that.
,s
Dilkes/ Right, but I think one of the very first things we do whenever we have a commission is
we ... we identify either by resolution or by ordinance what ... what the charge of that
commission is, what the parameters of the program are, what .... are they gonna be making
recomm... that kind of thing. So that .... that we would have to know ahead of time before
we even get to the point of staffing a commission.
Salih/ Okay. I don't know what you guys need from me. I .... I .... I get the information from the
City staff. As a Council it's not I guess my job to go out and looking for information. We
always direct the staff to do it, to bring us some information.
Mims/ I think as individual Council Members, if there's something we feel really strongly about
I don't think it's necessarily something that we can or should be putting off on staff to get
that information. I think that is on us as individuals, if there's something we feel really
strong about that we wanna convince other Council Members of. Otherwise (both
talking) individuals throwing... work at the staff.
Teague/ Yeah. I'm .... I .... I think that we can, I mean, if we have an idea and we want, I mean the
climate action, you know, someone come with that idea, you know, brought it here and
then we directed staff. So I....
Mims/ If we have a majority typically. I mean if the issue is (both talking)
Teague/ Absolutely, if we have a majority! So the...so I guess my question would be is, um, if
maybe .... we can get more, like a small presentation. I think it's very important for
maybe the Councilors to understand kinda, um, what that charge would look like, you
know, what are.....just a few things that we would find beneficiary, uh, beneficial, um, by
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bein' a sister city, cause I ... I still hear Councilors saying yes they would like to do this,
but .... I need more information is what I hear. And so.....
Salih/ I think since there is four people agree, like not agreeing. Like have interest (both talking)
Teague/ Yeah! Yeah!
Salih/ I guess this is .... usually that I been seeing for any single thing if there is four people
interest, they will direct the staff to come up with something, so we can ... after that we can
all of us, maybe we gonna have more people interest, but this is (both talking)
Teague/ Yeah, Geoff (both talking) I think Geoff (both talking)
Fruin/ We can gather more informa.... I ..... I know what you're looking for. We'll come back to
ya at a later date and, uh, try to give you a picture of what it would look like if we had
one. Okay? So what ... what is the typical charge, what are some of the programs that we
might expect here in Iowa City, um, we can go through and maybe pull out some annual
reports from sister cities of, uh, other similar communities so you can kinda see what they
may be accomplishing, uh, and maybe give ya little bit clearer vision on what this could
look like, if you decide to invest the time. Sound okay?
Weiner/ Sounds good. I would also suggest, and this is something if we can find a couple of
contacts, that I would be willing to do is to talk to a couple of other places in Iowa or
nearby that have these relationships, and get a sense as to how much effort they have to
put into it and whether they feel .... to what extent they believe it's worthwhile.
Fruin/ Sure!
Taylor/ (mumbled) ....included in that, particularly in the initial setup. Some of `em have been
sister cities for quite some time, but maybe some of the newer ones, what kind of an
effort they really did have to put forth, and how many people, uh, took the charge to
develop it.
Teague/ All right, moving on, uh, #2, IP .... 3 ... urn, and IN. This is the summer meeting
schedule, and so Geoff did make mention, uh, in his memo, and I don't know if people
had an opportunity to see the schedule. Um .... any questions or....
Mims/ Works for me!
Teague/ Okay.
Taylor/ Works for me.
Thomas/ Yeah, I was fine with it.
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Teague/ All right, so we're good there! All right! Um, movin' on to ... uh, IPS, memo from the
City Clerk, 2020 listening post tentative schedule. And....
Mims/ My only concern is I think next week is too soon for the first one. I think the last one that
we had, Maz and I went to and we didn't have anybody there. I think we have to really
make sure that we're getting these publicized, and I think making a decision on it tonight
and then holding it some time next week isn't necessarily enough time. So that was my
only thought.
Teague/ Okay.
Thomas/ Yeah, I .... I agree with .... with you, Susan. I'm .... would be interested in doing it in
May, if, uh....
Teague/ Is there another time in February, Kellie, that you think we can (both talking)
Fruehling/ Oh sure! That's just a suggestion based on past (both talking)
Teague/ Sure!
Fruehling/ Or even if there's ideas of location that I can check into in the meantime.
Mims/ I mean I think later this month or the end of the month is just fine. I just felt like that was
a little bit too shorter.... short of turnaround to get a location, get a date, and get enough
publicity out was my thought.
Taylor/ I agree with Susan on that and, uh, I ... liked her suggestion for Pheasant Ridge and the
Senior Center. I'm .... I'm.....I've done one at the Farmers Market and also at a Party in
the Park, and of course that wouldn't be in the February one, but... they.... they aren't very
conducive really to, urn .... talking to people, cause people are mo ... mingling around all
over the place, but I would like to suggest something on the south side, uh, like the
Neighborhood Center, um, on the south side district, at some point in time as one of the
sites, and I'd be willing to do, uh, the May or the August.
Mims/ Who wants February? (laughs)
Taylor/ (mumbled) (laughs) ....I can do February, if somebody else'll do February with me.
Teague/ I'll do it with ya, Pauline!
Taylor/ (laughing) All right! And....location?
Teague/ Well, let's first find a date (laughs)
Taylor/ Oh, that's right, we're going to do February sometime.
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Teague/ Uh....
Fruehling/ And I can certainly, I mean, email the two of you and work on it, a date (both talking)
Teague/ ....looking at, uh, Thursdays typically.
Freehling/ Doesn't matter.
Teague/ Okay (both talking)
Fruehling/ Whatever works best for you.
Teague/ Right now I'm looking at the 27a', because (laughs) (mumbled)
Mims/ Well we'll let Kellie.... coordinate that with you guys.
Teague/ All right! Um, and then do we want to go ahead and .... dole out the rest of the, people
can put it down tentatively or....
Mims/ Nab, we usually do it two or three weeks ahead of time, maybe, as people know their
schedules a little bit better.
Teague/ All right! Sounds good! Um .... IP6, memo from the Neighborhood Services
Coordinator, emergency funding criteria.
Fruin/ (both talking)
Taylor/ I'd like to (both talking)
Fruin/ ...something that Council asked, um, after the Houses Into Homes request. So, uh, Erica
Kubly is here, can answer questions, but I think did a really nice job in pulling together
some criteria from other sources, uh, that are .... that are tested, if you will, and uh,
staff.... staff feels very comfortable with .... what's in this memo.
Taylor/ I .... I agree with, uh, what Geoff said. I found it very helpful, and especially after, uh, the
events of the past three or four months, um, it .... was very well thought out and should be
more, uh, a little more clear and helpful as far as, uh, any emergency funding requests
that .... that would come up, and uh, so I think verifying the criteria and .... and the process
is going to be very helpful.... with any future requests.
Mims/ I would agree. I thought it was well done, very well done.
Bergus/ This is kinda what I was referring to in talking about increasing the other funding is we
have set criteria for what would be an emergency, so thank you, staff, for putting that
together.
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Teague/ Yeah. I liked the fact that it....it.....it really clarifies the process for emergency funding
requests. I do believe that we have to have emergency funding requests, um, opportunity
for people. Um, things happen, um, and it may not be able to wait for regular cycle, so
um, thanks to the staff for doing this! Movin' on to .... info packet .... is there any other
items from info packet, um, 1/23? Movin' on to info packet 1/30, and we'll start with
IP7. This is the memo from the City Manager (both talking)
Fruin/ Yeah, so.....um, surprise, surprise we got a change in plans here! (laughs) Um, the, uh,
both, uh.... Council Members and School Board Members, we had more than a work
group that was interested in participating in this discussion. So, um, I ... uh, have changed
my recommendation, uh, and .... and, uh, have talked with Superintendent Murley and we
think it's probably best just to advertise and have a regular work session, uh, a full work
session, and .... the maj.... looks like the majority of both the Council and the ... the Board
could participate. Um, we're limited in our window of time, because we really feel it's
important for the consultant to be there. So, uh, Superintendent Murley polled the School
Board and their preferred time is February 1961, from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. And I'm hoping
that will work for at least a majority of you. I've heard from several of you that had, um,
time available.
Salih/ It doesn't work for me. (mumbled)
Teague/ It works for me.
Taylor/ Works for me.
Salih/ Is this a work session you say?
Fruin/ It's a work session.
(female)/ February 10, 3:00 to 5:00 (several talking)
Salih/ ....and I warm be there. Because, you know, if this a work session I warm attend it. I'm
not available on that day. Uh... is there a .... (several talking) or maybe you have, you go
back to the (unable to understand) the Council. But if you require all the Council, it
doesn't work with me and I think you guys have to work with me ... if it doesn't work with
me.
Mims/ Well I think when we're trying to schedule a special meeting and we're trying to do it
across two different entities, I think we all have to accept the fact that it's not necessarily
(both talking) I'd like to finish please! I ... I think we really have to accept the fact
(talking in background) always going to work for every single person. (talking in
background) And we have to pick what is gonna, you know, work best for the majority.
think it's unfortunate if it doesn't work for everybody, but it's .... (talking in background)
Taylor/ February 19', correct?
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Fruin/ February 19"'.
Taylor/ That's a Wednesday.
Fruin/ From 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. here. (talking in background)
Salib/ Yeah, it work for me!
Thomas/ It does work for you?
Salih/ Yes it does! Yeah.
Thomas/ So that would be here?
Fruin/ Yes, that would be here.
Salih/ Yeah, song!
Teague/ It's a Wednesday. I'm, yeah, it's a Wednesday. Anyone else have any conflicts with that
date?
Mims/ I might. I may be traveling but that's fine.
Fruin/ A lot of what we'll cover is what we covered with you in a previous work session, cause
the School Board is not familiar with form based code, so we're gonna have to start back
with them. The difference with this work session is we'll have the draft regulating plan.
A regulating plan is ... is an important visual that will give you an idea of neighborhood
layout, kind of concepts for neighborhood layouts. You'll start to see some proposed
street networks. Just helps you visualize a little bit better on, uh, what you may see after
we have some subdivisions filled out, but if you do miss it, if any of you miss it, um, one
it'll be recorded by City Channel 4, uh, but two, know that you've already received this
information in a previous work session. A large portion of this information in a work
session.
Mims/ Okay. Thanks.
Teague/ Great! IP8, um, and this is gonna be .... happening next .... uh, Tuesday, I believe, when
we have our joint meeting with the UISQ and GPS ... Q and any questions about that
agenda? So happy to be joining you all!
Lenkaitis/ Yeah, we're very excited, um, and I just wanted to give you, um, a few updates. So
the meeting, I mean it's been stated before, but it'll start at 7:00 P. M., but the room'll be
set up and ready to go at 6:00 P.M. So, uh, y'all are welcome to come any time before
then. Um, or before 7:00 P.M., and.....um, as far as the length of the meeting, urn ... I
mean we don't have like a two .... I mean two hours is our ...hard cutoff, but I'm guessing,
I think, an hour would be plenty of time. Um, I know when (mumbled) met with Ames
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Page 29
city council, um, they just had their agenda scheduled for an hour. Um, so we'll probably
try to stick to the same amount of time. Um, but yeah, as far as the draft, I just wanted to
show you all kind of a ... um, a .... setup of how the meeting will run and just some, um,
possibilities for those new items, and .... uh, yeah! Just wanted to know if anything stood
out to all of you. I know you had indicated last meeting that, um, you wanted the agenda
items to kinda be student selected. Um .... but, yes, I didn't know if anybody had any
feedback.
Mims/ Looks good! (several talking)
Lenkaitis/ All right! (several talking)
Teague/ Lookin' forward to it!
Lenkaitis/ Yes! Looking forward to seeing you all next Tuesday. You all should come too!
(mumbled) (laughs)
Council updates on assigned boards, commissions, and committees:
Teague/ Great! Any other items from IP...um, I'm sorry, any other items from info packet,
January 30'9 If not, we are going to move on to .... Council updates for assigned boards,
commissions, and committees. And we're gonna start with, uh, Council Weiner!
Weiner/ So, um, on .... well we had the .... the MPO meeting, everyone participated in here pretty
much. The one that I participated in since was ECCOG. Uh, and um, we essentially...
it's ... it's definitely an organization which was suggested at one of our last meetings that
I ... I, just having been to one meeting now, I think it would be incredibly valuable if we
can figure out how to change the term that one person sits on that board. Because various
other organizations have people who've been on it for multiple years. They understand
how it works. They understand the budgeting. They have a much .... they have much
greater insight than ... than I'm .... than I'm sure that I will gain in one year into how the
process works and how we can be effective and be....be our own, um, strongest lobbyists
in that organization, or most effective lobbyists, so .... um, I ... just having been to the one
meeting, I ... I can see why it would be extremely valuable to figure out how to change the
rhythm at which, uh, which we change our representation on it. We, uh, basically we
passed the budget, which was of course for those of us new it was .... sure, let's pass the
budget, but (laughs) but my real .... my real take -away is that this is ... it's a .... it's a region -
wide organization on which we will be better served as a city, I believe, if we have
somebody who represents us for more than one year.
Taylor/ And I think having served on that, um, what she's referring to is currently it's one year is
the City and one year is the County, and we rotate that way, um, because I .... I was the rep
on that for the four years, so every other year. So one year and then I was off and then I
was back on again, and that was very confusing.
Teague/ Okay.
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Bergus/ Nothing since the last meeting. Thank you.
Thomas/ Um, I will mention .... I don't know if you ... did you attend the MPOJC? I think (both
talking)
Mims/ No. I was gone then.
Thomas/ I just wanted to mention, we did get an update on the transit study, which I think, uh,
you know, the Crandic Line, uh.... and uh, that ... that I think is, you know, that analysis
will be coming shortly. So I think it's timely, because we're doing our transit, bus transit
study, and this may have some .... some relationship, you know, between the two. Um,
and then we had our first Economic Development Committee meeting, and uh, Susan will
be Chair and .... we discussed the, um, a request from the Riverside Theatre, uh, and
approved it.
Mims/ Yeah, had EDC and then had a JECC meeting and passed the budget.
Teague/ All right!
Salih/ Same thing, yeah, just Economic Development meeting. That's it!
Teague/ All right.
Taylor/ In relationship to the MPOJC meeting, back to that, uh, I wanna mention that John was
elected as .... as the Vice Chair, so congratulations to him (laughs) and as he'd said, you
know, we discussed budget and transit and rails and trails projects, but I think what was
the most exciting thing for me was the very last item on the agenda. Uh, for those of you
familiar with the Severson Challenge, uh, the City, Iowa City, and it'd been quite a long
time since Iowa City had .... had actually received this award, although I think it was
somebody.... somebody told me it was Terry Dickens that actually designed the trophy
and it kinda got started from a City staffer that was here, Severson, um, but Iowa City
won. So I wanted to congratulate all of the City staff that put a lot of effort into it, fun
things like the ugly sweater contest and the donut hole challenge and the soup lunch, it
was wonderful and you... you.... your efforts didn't go unnoticed and hopefully we're
going to get the trophy. It was somewhere in North Liberty (laughs) but nobody seemed
to know where it was, cause they were the last ones to get it, but congratulations on your
hard work on that. Um, I had mentioned in January when Bruce was making the
assignments, uh, the Chief Elected Officials Board was still on our list of things, and I
said I would check into that and I did, and, um, with a follow up on that, it has been, uh,
decided by someone, somewhere, that only County Supervisors would now qualify for
seats on that board. So I don't know what it takes to take that off of our, if it's in our
bylaws or what it is as far as our committee listings, or just -just remove it from our
(talking in background) committees. That's all!
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Teague/ All right! The only thing ... I don't have anything local, but um, Mayor Pro Tem Maz, uh,
Salih and I went to the Mayor's Innovation Project in Washington, D.C., and that was
January, urn .... it was just a week ago, and that was phenomenal. We left with a lot of
information and we're ready to bring `em all back to Iowa City and make us the greatest
ever! Um, one of the things that, um, there's was lots of things that people talked about.
Transportation, affordable housing, um, definitely were on the top of people radar, um,
some more equitable things, libraries are huge, urn .... um, no -fine libraries, no fines in the
libraries. Urn .... there's been cities that, you know, started with a sub -group and now
they've moved total no -fees, and they've, um, had some data to support how positive it
was. Um, no negative, um. ... outcomes. It was really, uh, informative. If you ever wanna
look at my notes, which I have lots of them, just let me know, but there were lots of great
things that I do think, at some point, uh, maybe through conversation I'll be sharing some
of the ideas that, uh, people did share from, uh, city reports. I did get an opportunity to
represent Iowa City and share, um, and show off what we're doin' here, um, from a
social, uh, justice standpoint, and the questions afterward were, ub, enormous.
Um ... cities, there's big cities and small cities, and um, some of the big and the small cities
came, askin' us information. One thing that we're doin' a great job on is gettin' data, and
so that's um kudos .... kudos to the staff, cause they really appreciated the data, and I'll be
sharing.... some of the data with, um, many individuals that requested some of the things
that we're doin'. So wanted to share that. Anything else for work session? All right!
We're adjourned. See you in .... at 7:00!
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