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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-03 TranscriptionPage 1 1. Call to Order Teague: We did have a pillar in our community pass away, um, William F. Sueppel, and I wanna take a few minutes to acknowledge the recent, uh, passin' of him. (reads statement) To the family of Bill, we do wish, um, that this time is gonna be very sacred, and we really do appreciate all that he's done. So, thank you, Bill. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 2 2. Student Leadership Awards - Mark Twain Elementary Teague: We're very excited to have two young students with us, and I'm going to invite you up here and I'm gonna come around! All right! I'll stand in between you here. So we have two leaders from Mark Twain Elementary and we're very excited that you two are chosen to be, um, the Student Leaders for today and I see that you have some.... some people here very interested in, uh, your accomplishments. So why don't we start with you, Joshua, and have you say a few words. Alvarenga: I think I was nominated for this award because when one of my friends has a problem or something, I listen to them. The second reason I show being a leader is that having good grades make me look good in my future job and at school. A third reason is when someone is gone for their job at school, I try to fill in for them. A fourth reason is because I get my work on time and I'm also trustworthy. Last but not least my parents always say if you do something good, someone will do good to you, and thank you all for having me here. Teague: Great! (applause) Thank you so much for those words. Now we're gonna go over to Mohamed Abdalla and you have some words prepared as well. Great! Abdalla: (mumbled) Hi, I'm Mohamed. I think I was nominated for this award because I try my hardest (clears throat) to help my friends and my family, and make them happy. My dad is a big influence in my life. He always pushes me to get the best grades and live good and do my best, and I thank him for everything he has done. Another reason I am a leader is that I try to help anybody that needs help and I will help if you need it. I love school and my friends and my family. I thank you for this award. I appreciate it very much. Teague: Great! (applause) Well we're very proud of both of you. Very proud of both of you! So this award that I'm gonna give to you, you'll be able to insert both of your names as I read it. Uh, they're very identical, and it says (reads Student Leadership Award) So thanks to both of you! Great job! And you have a fan club here, don't ya? (applause) I'll have your family and your principal, thanks for coming, wave to us! Thank you both. You can have your seats. Thank you! (talking in background) ....and I'll give you your certificates (laughter) (talking in background) Holdin' onto it! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 3 3. MidAmerican Energy Company — Energy Rebate Incentives, Iowa City Public Works Complex Phase 1 Knoche: Mr. Mayor, Council, Ron Knoche, Public Works Director. Uh, thank you for the opportunity tonight. Uh, tonight we will be receiving an energy rebate check, uh, presented by MidAmerican Energy for the Iowa City Public Works complex, phase 1 project. It's a combination of two rebates. The first is for LED lighting in the amount of $23,274 and the second is a custom energy incentive strategies rebate for $37,594, for a total incentive amount of $60,868. The Iowa City Public Works complex, phase 1, new construction program verification report, prepared by MidAmerican Energy Company's sub -consultant Wilden indicates the measures taken in energy conservation strategies has a projected energy cost savings of $21,000 per year and further the simple payback analysis for the incremental costs associated with the more efficient systems anticipated a payback in 9.3 years. The Public Works Department would like to thank our project team, including design consultants Neumann Monson Architects, HDRMDG, C -Wise Design and Modus Engineering, and our general contracting team of Merit Construction, and their associated subcontractors, and MidAmerican Energy Company, together with their consultant, Wilden, uh, and also would like to thank Brian Gibbs, who's with us here tonight, and he is our MidAmerican Energy Company liaison. Gibbs: Thank you very much for allowing me to come back and present another check. This is the favorite part of my job right here! (laughter) And, uh, we always look forward to these types of projects and we look forward to doin' a lot more with you, so ... thank you! (several responding) Teague: Yes! Knoche: Mr. Mayor, could you step up here in front and uh, we'll do the check presentation and get a few photos! (talking in background; laughter) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 4 4. Proclamations 4.a. Special Olympics Month Teague: And this is exciting! So we're gonna .... yes! This is awesome! (talking in background) Hello, hello, welcome! Taylor: Hello again! (several talking) Teague: Yes! Come on in! Yes, hello! (talking in background) And I'll stand (mumbled) read this. (mumbled) This is a very special.... special proclamation today. Yes! Great! (talking in background) Well thank you all for coming! (several talking) Yes! And I'm gonna read a proclamation .... I'm gonna read a proclamation. (reads proclamation) Thank you! And .... and we have Joyce Rossie that's gonna talk to us! Rossie: Okay. Sergeant Eunice Shriver founded Special Olympics in 1968 with less than 100 athletes. Their first competition was in Chicago. Special Olympics Iowa has served Io ... Iowans with special .... um, intellectual disabilities for the last 42 years and in 2019, Iowa Special Olympics provided training competition in 22 sports to over 16,000 athletes and unified sports partners across Iowa's 99 counties. This year .... we really appreciate your March Special Olympics Month because our mid -winter tournament.... our banquet is March 131i. We'll have a full day of competition on the 14`x. We have basketball, basketball skills, cheerleading, gymnastics, and power lifting. Once our athletes arrive in Iowa City they have no expenses. Um, through out fundraising efforts, which is the Polar Plunge on April 251i. I offer this every year and no one ever takes me up on it, but you're more than welcome to join us out at the reservoir. Another one of our fundraising events is, uh, our Swing With Celebrities Golf Tournament. This year it is June 261i. The Iowa City Council gives our Special Olympic athletes that they so deserve, by making March Special Olympics Month. Here to accept the proclamation is Zach Knosp, Jill Michalek, Mallory Earnest, Justin Conklin, Chad Sissel, Leah Reisinger, Blake Whipps, Tyler Kurtz, Nate Kleese, Michelle Snider, Don Gorvin. One other thing is you have always been so awesome to us that Special Olympics Iowa would like to present the Iowa City (moving away from mic, difficult to hear) Teague: Thank you! (several talking) Awesome! (applause) (talking in background) Let's give them one more round of applause! (applause) Great! Thank you! (talking in background) Well that was awesome, and amazin' ! (laughter) Yes! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 5 You as well, thank you. Congratulations! We really appreciate the gift! Very nice! (talking in background) Yes! 4.b. Bruce Anne Day Teague: (reads proclamation) (applause) Aune: I'll just say a few words that, uh, Iowa City has always been a very, very important part of our viewing area here in Eastern Iowa, extremely important community, and we have had wonderful relations with the City, with the people here, and we hope that continues for many, many more years, and we hope that we're doing an adequate job for you as well. So if we're not, let us know! Uh, but thank you very much. This is very humbling and I really, really appreciate it. (applause) 4.c. International Women's Day Weiner: (reads proclamation) And we have, um, Bijou Maliabo from the Human Rights Commission here to accept this. (applause) 4.d. Census Day Taylor: (reads proclamation) And accepting is Ashley Monroe, and I'd like to first thank her, uh, for everything you've done, uh, to ensure that we have a successful, uh, Census count. (applause) Monroe: Well the Census Proclamation, thank you for reading that. It's quite wordy, and uh, it says it all, but I will just add that it's incredibly important for our community to participate, all members of the community, from young children to, uh, adults, in every living circumstance possible. Um, we have a group of very committed community organizations that are working hard at, um, encouraging and ensuring that, uh, people are able to respond to the Census Bureau. So you will continue to see notices and information coming out about the Census. Uh, as the proclamation stated, there will be mailers going out, uh, the week of March 126i. They will continue through, uh.... generally through the middle of April, uh, before you start seeing people come around to the neighborhoods. They still need people to take the Census, uh, or be Census takers. So you can apply to the Census Bureau for jobs still at this point. Um, if you want more information, just go to either 2020census, uh, .gov or uh, you can go the Iowa City website at icgov.org/census. Thank you. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 6 Teague: Thank you, Ashley, for all you're doin'. All right! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 7 11. Community Comment (items not on the agenda) Teague: And this is a time where the community can come up and, um, share anything that they would like to, that is not on our formal agenda. We do have stickers in the back of the room that you can place on the sign -in sheet. Um, when you do come to address Council, please state your name and sign in on the sheet, and please keep your comments between three to five minutes. Welcome! Jaynes: Hello! Allison Jaynes. I'm gonna bring the mood down a bit, sorry about that! I'm here today to voice, uh, more ongoing concerns about the killing of mass quantities of the deer population taking place in this town currently. I'm very happy to see that Mayor Teague is at the helm and I envision great things ahead for our city. I was particularly moved by his State of the City speech delivered at the February 18th meeting. All the topics addressed are of critical importance, and I feel proud to be part of a city that highlights these issues, instead of turning a blind eye. I did resonate specifically with the section on Parks and Recreation, and wish to point out that most people value parks and open spaces for their connection to nature, that they can obtain while there, and this includes the various wildlife and the deer populations that roam that space. Therefore, I see the wholesale shooting of deer for profit as incompatible with the commitment to the City's parks. Since December Yd, I've counted 10 letters entered into official Council correspondence that raise concerns about, or ask to stop, the sharpshooting and/or plans for a bow hunt. Except for Dawn Frary, whom I know, I don't know any of these people who are writing to you and they are not in any way affiliated with the Iowa City Deer Friends Advocacy group. Instead they are citizens hearing about this in the media, or from City announcements, and feeling that it is imperative they speak out. One individual claims she heard rumors that shooting would take place in the land next to her house, but the City could not verify this, nor would adjacent land owners be notified of any shooting activities. When I looked up this address, I saw that the property in question is about two blocks from my house and about two blocks from 50 other single- family homes. The area includes a large wooded area around Ralston Creek, where neighborhood children play. In fact one of our neighbor's children ran away during the summer for a few hours, as you do when you're 10 -years -old, and was in fact in this plot of land during the time when he had run away. There are no signs and apparently no way for even immediate neighbors to know when and where men with guns will show up. It's absolutely appalling. Another bait site, where presumably shooting is taking place right now was recently found by someone who communicated to me that it was within 50 to 60 feet of the new extension of Foster Road, that contains both a sidewalk and a bike path that are This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 8 frequently used. There are no private property or no trespassing signs in this area and until this road was recently built, it was a wooded area seen to be an extension of Shimek open space. There was not then and is no way now to tell where the Shimek land ends and this private property begins. There are no signs indicating that guns are pointed at that spot. When asking the City which private properties were being used to bait and shoot, the Deer Friends group was told that these were unused spaces, where no people are expected to be. I can tell you that is flat out wrong, and I can't believe there hasn't been a close call yet. I still can't quite wrap my head around how this all got initiated. There wasn't an increase in deer -related traffic accidents. There was no request from the Parks Department to shoot the deer, and actually if you go back and look, it all started with one petition from one wealthy neighborhood and I just have to think .... man, they've got some friends on this Council. Even after 400 less influential citizens signed a petition to leave the deer alone, this whole plan was carried out. I appreciate Council Member Taylor bringing up concerns, community concerns, at the January 21' meeting but was dismayed to see Council Member Mims completely shut down the conversation, claiming that the concerns were based on misinformation. So shame on you for not taking the very real concerns of the community seriously, and shame on you for inviting these hired guns into our community. The last thing I wanna say tonight is that this is just a small selection of the animosity and safety issues that will come up during an amateur open bow hunting season. These sharpshooters are supposed to be professionals, yet they've caused strife in this town. Imagine what happens when people who don't even live here are allowed to come in, walk around with weapons in public, shooting at things that move in the woods. I urge you to reconsider the decision to allow an open bow hunt in Iowa City this fall. Thank you! Teague: Thank yo for sharin'! Anyone else? Please come up! Vogel: Good evening. Teague: Good evening! Vogel: Um .... get to my notes here. (both talking) Teague: Yep, will you please sign in as well. Vogel: I did! Teague: Oh, thank .... I didn't notice that! (laughs) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 9 Vogel: (both talking and laughing) Uh, my name is Linda Vogel. I am new to the community. I just moved here from Lake of the Ozarks about six months ago, and have had the opportunity to become the newest Commissioner, um, at the Senior Center, or the Center as I prefer to think of it. We're, you know, not seniors as far as I'm concerned. Um, and when I was at Lake of the Ozarks I also worked with the community in the Senior Center area. I must say moving up here is exciting. This is just everything we would of ever dreamed, uh.... when we.... when we were at the Lake. Um .... with that, I wanted to say things about a couple of the projects that we've had going on. Um, I do know, and I'm still learning these things, that the RFP ...RFP is coming up shortly, which will help us a lot with the master plan that we're working on as the Commission. The, um, Commission group that we have, Ashley's met ... very high-energy, really open to a lot of ideas, thinking outside of the box, all of you up there, plus everyone here really .... some day you're gonna age, whether you think you are or not. We're putting things in place .... that are gonna be beyond exciting.... for everybody. Um, with that, we had sent a survey out. We sent 5,000 surveys out. Um, my background is marketing, so I'm always happy.....if I sent 5,000 out and I got 500 back. We've gotten well over a thousand, and that was as of, I believe, yesterday. Urn ... I have not seen them, but the ones that are looking at it saying they're giving us a lot of answers, some what they'd really like to see in the community, um, as it grows. It's... it's.... another thing that's very exciting with it. Um, the other thing is we've just completed, um, Black History Month, and it .... we all feel like it was a big success. I think last year they just had a hand full of people show up, but at one of the things they had well over 100 to 110 people .... show up .... for the event. So, moving forward, um, I'm sure various Commissions are going to come and talk to you, and give you updates. Um, obviously if any of you have not done the survey, it's too late. But you can always come and talk to any of us at the Commission, on any ideas that you've got, so .... we're looking forward to it! So ... that was it! If anybody has any questions. Teague: Thank you for sharing! Yes! Would anyone else like to address Council? All right! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 10 13. Prentiss Street Bridge Replacement - Resolution approving project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the Prentiss Street Bridge Replacement Project (BROS-3715(663)--8J-52), establishing amount of bid security to accompany each bid, directing City Clerk to post notice to bidders, and fixing time and place for receipt of bids. 1. Public Hearing Teague: This is gonna be a open .... I'm gonna open the public comm.... hearing. (bangs gavel) And hello! We will have a little presentation! Clow: Good evening. Teague: Good evening! Clow: I was here previously in December (clears throat) uh, my name is Melissa Clow, I'm in the Engineering Division. Uh, quick reminder.... for Prentiss Street, we're looking at reconstruction of the bridge at Linn and Prentiss, with a, uh, triple - reinforced concrete box culvert. We would be replacing the pavement on Prentiss Street from South Dubuque Street to just east of Ralston Creek. We will increase capacity of the storm sewer to reduce surcharging during large rain events, and the sidewalk and ADA access, um, improvements to also occur at these intersections. Um, as I stated, I was here at the beginning of December. We had previously approved Prentiss Street. Um .... during .... plan review, prior to bidding, um, it was determined there are a number of revisions required per the Iowa City approved supplemental specifications. These changes include pavement and sidewalk thickness; ADA ramps were checked, some were adjusted, um, for locations. We addressed utility conflicts, provided some updated details in the, um, most recent supplemental specifications. Um, Engineering staff looked at the bridge deck paving and drainage details. Um, we coordinated some fencing and bridge barrier location and type, and also reviewed access for future maintenance issues within the creek, um, within Ralston Creek. Other than that, the typical section that was previously, um, shown has not changed. We're still looking at 31 -foot overall pavement width, with 10 -foot travel lanes, and street parking available for eastbound traffic. Our estimated project costs are at about 1.7 million. Uh, the schedule, uh, the revised bid letting date is April 21't of 2020, with construction beginning May 26th, to wrap up, um, by November of 2020. Do you have any questions? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 11 Teague: Thank you! All right! Public discussion? Would anyone like to address this topic? I'm gonna close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) 2. Consider a Resolution Mims: Move the resolution. Thomas: Second. Teague: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Council discussion? Roll call please. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 12 14. Water Distribution East Pressure Zone — Resolution approving project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the Water Distribution East Pressure Zone Project, establishing amount of bid security to accompany each bid, directing City Clerk to post notice to bidders, and fixing time and place for receipt of bids. 1. Public Hearing Teague: I'm going to open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Hello! Durst: Good evening. I'm, uh, John Durst. I'm your Assistant Superintendent of the Water Division. I'm gonna speak to you tonight about our water pressure zoning improvement projects, uh, specifically the purpose of this project is to increase the level of service to our customers on the east side of town, uh, by increasing their available pressures. Uh, that'll help our existing customers and future developments. So I'll briefly go over the project and, uh, ask if there's any questions. So our system is 270 miles of water distribution main. The line weights shown on this map show the relative size of those mains. Uh, we have four ground storage reservoirs and one water plant. We're a completely pumped system, as you all are probably aware. We have no water towers. So that our pumps provide the pressure to the, uh, residents of the city. As, uh, the pressures change or the elevations of each home changes the available energy in that water also changes. So currently our system is set up with a single pressure zone. That single pressure zone is represented by that center bar. The boxes surrounding it are actual GSRs. This graph is shown, based on elevations. As you can see on the side bar, it goes from about, uh, 690 all the way up to 910 -feet of elevation. In water we like to reduce things down to feet to represent the available energy. With a single pressure zone, we tend to have areas that have high pressure and areas that have low pressure. As one would expect, the lower areas in the city have higher pressures. Uh, just because there's more available energy cause we don't have to push it up hill as far, but there are areas in the city ...... (mumbled) go back. No, I'm right on it. That have lower pressure, and as you can see most of those low pressure areas are presented by the purple dots, or out to the east side of town. Therefore, when we looked at the solutions available to us to provide better pressure to those areas, uh, it makes the most sense not to try to increase the level of that entire bar, but to break off a portion of it and then elevate that pressure. Uh, increasing pressure over the entire system can have drastic impacts to customers that then need to reduce that pressure before it can enter their buildings or it can further damage water main, uh, that isn't used to being at that pressure. So our solution is to, uh, effect projects that essentially isolate the, uh, east side of This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 13 the water distribution system to be serviced by our Rochester GSR, uh, to then increase the pressure on that side of the city. In order to do that we have to do some projects in order to, uh.... uh, separate the system, but still allow some interconnection should we have any emergency events, which would be a loss of power, uh, a main break, or um .... loss of power, main break, and .... a fire situation. Sorry! So this is what the hydraulic grade lines look like after we separate the two zones. You can see there's one purple box off to the side, that is the Rochester GSR, and we have an east pressure zone that is above what the central pressure zone is currently at. Uh, the other areas would continue to be in the central pressure zone, and you can see there's some interconnections with those lines that move back and forth. Those are check valves and pressure reducing valves that'll allow the two zones to, uh, transmit water between them, should it be needed in any of those emergency situations. The initial projects that we will be doing are geographically dispersed, uh, as one would expect in order to ... to break the zones into two separate areas. Uh, a lot of them will be focused on First Avenue, uh, there'll be a few up in ... around Dubuque Street on Ridge Road and Virginia, at Kimball, Dodge, and down on Muscatine. Uh, the areas in the zone itself weren't chosen arbitrarily. The size was, uh, basically based on what Rochester GSR could service into the future. Um, with that, our timeline here in 2020 is to establish these boundary locations. Uh, our work will occur between April and August. The cost of this project is about 240,000. In 2021 we'll create our pressure reducing valve stations. That's those two areas where you saw the check valves and pressure reducing valves. Uh, those'll be part of other projects, specifically the Rochester reconstruction and the American Legion and Scott Boulevard, uh, work. In the future as our system continues to grow, we will likely need to do improvements to the Rochester GSR to make sure that can continue to service that area. Um, and there'll be other projects, as always, with the system as it continues to grow. (mumbled) ....is there any questions? Teague: None! Thank you! Durst: Thank you. Teague: Would anyone from the public like to, uh, address this topic? Gonna close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Could I get a motion to approve resolution? 2. Consider a Resolution Salih: Move. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 14 Weiner: Second. Teague: Moved by Mims, seconded by Weiner. Council discussion? Salih: Move by me. Teague: Oh, Salih! (both talking) Thinkin' about Weiner. All right, thank you! I said it in my head! (laughs) Roll call please. Motion passes 7-0. Before we move on, I do wanna go back to, um .... a correspondence, for Item 8.a. Could I get a motion to accept the correspondence please? Mims: So moved. Bergus: Second. Teague: Moved by Mims, seconded by ..... Bergus. All right! All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion passes 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 15 15. Scott, Napoleon, Fairmeadows Park Improvements — Resolution approving project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the Scott, Napoleon, and Fairmeadows Park Improvements Project, establishing amount of bid security to accompany each bid, directing City Clerk to post notice to bidders, and fixing time and place for receipt of bids. 1. Public Hearing Teague: I'm gonna open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Hello! Welcome! Hall: Good evening! I'm Zachary Hall, Superintendent of Parks. I am filling in for our Director, Juli Seydell-Johnson, and tonight I will be going over the Napoleon, Scott Park, Fairmeadows, and Wetherby, uh, park rehabilitation projects. So first off, uh, just to give you a point of references, um.....and I won't laser point too much. Uh, Scott Park, uh, in the upper northeast portion of the city, and then Fairmeadows, Napoleon, and Wetherby in the, uh, southern portion of the city. Uh, Scott Park is our, urn .... uh.... first one that we'll go over. Uh, we have an existing playground, which we'll see in the next slide, um, but as you can see, uh, hopefully is the existing playground here, uh, closer to some of the, uh, homes, and so one of the, uh, items of the project, per our Parks master plan, was to, uh, get some ADA access and some, um, accessibility, uh, to that. We currently don't have any kind of sidewalks or accessibility to the playground. So it's kind of, uh, out there on its own, uh, as you can see here in our, uh, existing conditions. Uh, also we have a shelter on the opposite side of the road, and so, uh, part of the project will be removing, uh, the playground, uh, removing the shelter, and then moving the playground, uh, a little bit to the south, as seen here on the plans, and then making a connection, and adding the connection to a new shelter! Urn .... it might be easiest to go through any questions one -by -one since we do have, uh, four of these projects out there. So I guess I'll ask if there's questions in particular to Scott Park. Thomas: I think Scott had some flood plain issues as well, does it not? Hall: Uh, we (both talking) We do, uh, we do have some wet conditions in Scott Park, and that's, uh, typically localized, uh, to the south, um, southeast of, uh, where the current playground is, on the other side of the drive. So where you can see the existing trees, um ,is typically where we have most of the moisture build-up that we get. Uh, thankfully the playground that is existing, um, we haven't seen any issues as far as moisture, but we are pulling it away from the, um, the boundaries, uh, next to the homes, um, and keeping it out of that, uh, that wet area. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 16 Fruin: Just real quick, Scott .... Scott Park is actually a storm water detention facility, uh, first and kind of a park second. So you do see it fill up particularly around the dog park, between the road and the dog park area, uh, and that's... that's by design. Hall: I'll just add one note that's not, uh, on the .... on the slide. Um, to the left of the playground, basically along the hillside, we will be establishing, in a separate project, establishing prairie along that hillside. So that's one feature that's not discussed in here, but ... is an item that will be coming. And this is just a rendering of what the, uh, playground will be like. We did a public, uh, input session, uh, last year at Rita's Ranch Dog Park as part of the Party in the Park and got some really good response from the neighbors. Moving on, Napoleon Softball Complex. Uh, this is an interesting one. We have, um, we have an existing playground that's outside of, urn .... the, uh, outfield, next to one of the exiting shelters, about right here, uh, and we've, uh, had some wet conditions, uh, we've had some drainage issues there the last couple of years. We've had to close down the playground due to drainage issues, uh, and so we worked with our consultants to look at what we could do as far as a little bit of a different design. So this is the existing playground, and um, this has been closed on and off for the last couple years because of drainage issues. We do have, uh, drainage tile that was put in there in the original design. Uh, we believe that that's been compromised and so we're looking to pull it out of that condition, or that existing, uh, location, move it closer to the concession area, and provide a little bit different experience and kind of localize the activities, especially during tournaments and .... and big play. Uh, and so .... what you see here, it's kinda hard to see on the screen, but um, this is the concession area, uh, footprint of it. Uh, we have a, uh, trail, the ... one part of the trail system coming through here. Another part of the trail system coming through here. So we're making this connection, uh, from both trail sections through the concession, uh, through some of the playground nodes, and um.... this'll be, um, like I said, somewhat of a different experience. So we'll have a couple different sections. It won't be a traditional, stand-alone unit. So we'll have different, uh, components. And we are looking at, uh.... adding in some shade structure, if the budget allows. So, I guess at this time I'll take any questions on the Napoleon. Thomas: Could you show the .... the site plan again? Hall: Sure! Thomas: So are there trees around there? That would help with that shade (both talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 17 Hall: Uh, we have some trees. Uh, what you cannot see from, uh, the image, and I apologize, it's kinda washing out.....uh, we do have a, um, outfield fence, uh, for... for, uh, the .... the, uh, ball field that is fairly .... in fairly close proximity. Um, as far as allowing for any kind of tree planting in between that fence and the ... and the playground, we do have tree coverage over along the trail system here. Um, and again, we have another outfield fence, uh, in this area. So it's a.. it's a little bit, um, tricky as far as placing any trees in that particular location for playground. Thomas: So, yeah, a shade structure on the, or a shade element on the structure itself is the way to go. Hall: No other questions? All right! And Fairmeadows Park, uh, this is an exciting one. We've had a lot of, um .... urn, upgrades to this park recently over the years, and uh, as you know it's a very popular splash pad. My kids love this splash pad. Uh, we have a new shelter, or excuse me, a new restroom, uh, that was put in in 2014, 2015. Uh, and the pump house associated with the, uh, with the splash pad. The existing playground is over here, uh, off of Miami, so once we did the upgrades here, uh, one thing that we, uh, definitely heard from the neighborhood and .... and users is that there's a .... there's a wall or a barrier, uh, and you know, parents who have their kids over at the splash pad can't see their kids playing over at the playground. Um .... and this is one of our older playgrounds. We still have sand as one of the surfan .... surface materials in a portion of this playground. And so what we are proposing, uh, what the project is going to do is move the playground over to this area, urn .... demolish the existing shelter, and then add a new shelter, uh.... connecting with the existing, uh, pathways, and so ... these are the existing conditions as far as the shelter and the playground. And.... again, this gets pretty washed out, but um .... (clears throat) this is the, uh.... splash pad. This is the new shelter. We have connections, uh, coming off of Miami, uh, coming through and making a connection up to the, uh, up to the existing parking lot, and so, um, full connectivity between the parking lot, the playground, the splash pad, the shelter, and then back again on over to Miami. And this playground, we coordinated, uh, with the School District to better understand what playgrounds they are putting in at Grant Wood and what they've done with their upgrades, as far as their playgrounds. So, um, knowing that the splash pad is a popular site, especially for some of the younger children, um, we went with kind of a younger age, uh, playground design. And ... project timeline for all three of these projects, uh, public hearing tonight, bid letting in April, uh, award mid April, and then, uh, construction late April, and a final completion late October. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 18 Teague: All right! Thomas: Yeah, again, just general comment and I ... I was looking at the, uh, on uh... the screen here that we have, and it's a little bit, uh, the idea of planting trees around these gathering spaces, and it looks like there might be some gaps in that canopy cover, um .... not that one, but the next one. Hall: Yeah, we actually, um (both talking) Thomas: Yeah, to the ... I guess it would be to the west, perhaps. Hall: As part of our Arbor Day tree planting program, uh, we will be coordinating with Grant Wood School. We are going to wait until next year, once this project is complete, so we better understand what the site conditions are going to be like. Um, we fully expect to be planting trees around this neighborhood, and we're really fortunate that the, um, the existing, uh, tree canopy coverage, especially to the southwest, which is really what we want, um ,is really ideal, um ... uh, for the location of that playground. Um .... I'll also note with the, um, removal of the existing playground, we're also looking at some type of tree planting in that corner off of Miami. Weiner: During the construction would the ... would the old playground still be there, or would it be demolished? Hall: The old playground will, um, that's a great question. So with, um, Scott Park and, um, Scott Park and .... Fairmeadows, um .... both those playgrounds will stay in place until the construction is over and then actually our staff will, uh, remove those. Napoleon Park, the ... the playground already has been removed because we've had such wet conditions, we wanted to get that out of there. Teague: And I know on the first one you....you know, brought the park a little closer for ADA. Hall: Uh huh. Teague: Um .... can you speak a little bit about the equipment and how it.... Hall: Sure! Um ... that's a great question. I'm gonna go back to .... um, actually, if you don't mind if I hold off until our Wetherby, um..... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 19 Teague: Yeah! Hall: ....playground? That kinda gives a more comprehensive view and has a number of different components that I can talk with ... talk to that. Any other questions regarding those projects? Teague: Thank you! All right! You'll be back up in a little bit. All right! Public discussion on this item? Seein' there's no one, I'm gonna close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Could I get a motion to approve the resolution? 2. Consider a Resolution Bergus: So moved. Thomas: Second. Teague: Moved by Bergus, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? Roll call please. Motion passes 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 20 16. Wetherby Park Improvements — Resolution approving project manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the Wetherby Park Improvements Project, establishing amount of bid security to accompany each bid, directing City Clerk to post notice to bidders, and fixing time and place for receipt of bids. 1. Public Hearing Teague: I'm gonna open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Back so soon! (laughs) Hall: Thank you! Zachary Hall, Superintendent of Parks. Uh, so the Wetherby Park project, again, is another, uh, shelter, restroom, uh, playground redesign, a ... really a full park redesign, uh, of the amenities in this park, and Wetherby, uh, is really special. We've had a lot of programming,. U, as you know, uh, two years ago we had the sport court that was installed. We had the edible forest. We had the community gardens, uh, trail system. We've, uh, expanded some prairie down in the southern portion of it. So just a lot, uh, going on in this park, and we have the disc golf course that's there as well, so.... Um .... but this is one of our older playgrounds. Uh, very well used playground. Um, and one of our older shelter styles that is the attached, uh, kind of theme. So the restroom is attached to the shelter. So one of the things we wanted to look at, um, and move towards, uh, per our Parks master plan is separating the shelters and restrooms. So, uh, folks can have, you know, different experiences. If someone's at the shelter, it doesn't feel awkward that you're in a restroom area, things like that. So, urn .... you'll see that on the .... on the site plan here. And I apologize again, it's very washed out. Uh, but ... this park as well has a, um.....has a greatly used splash pad, uh, in this area, and so .... the, uh, existing playground is located in this area, and we are .... uh, essentially moving that kind of up the hill. Uh, the restroom will stay in its general location, uh, that it is now, and then the shelter will basically move, uh, to the north, uh, down the hill to where the existing playground is. And so we'll have a connection coming off the .... off the pathway, uh, up to the shelter, again, up to the restroom and then, um, a circular connection all the way around, uh, the ... the playground, and we have kind of two components here. We have a main playground featured area, and then we have, uh, a swings area, and then benches around, and then a connection up to the splash pad. And so as I, uh, alluded to with, uh, the last projects, this playground has a lot of great features, and Mayor, to speak to your question, um, as far as, uh, ADA components or components for folks with, uh, different needs, um, this playground has a number of, uh, great features. One thing that we look at is can we give users a different experience? We've definitely heard at our conferences and our, uh, our playground, uh, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 21 trainings. We have a certified playground safety training that's occurring right now at Robert A. Lee, uh, this week, and one of the things that we look at is different experience for different users. So spinning items is one that is definitely a, um, high on the list for, uh, folks with different needs. Climbing, uh, balancing, and so this playground, uh, if you've been to Longfellow, Mann, um, and then a number of, uh.... our newer playgrounds around, this has components from all of those different playgrounds. So definitely something that users will be, uh, that they can identify with or .... or children can identify with, but uh, giving some different experiences as well. We have some musical components with it as well, so.... I don't know if that answered your question, but.... Teague: Yes! Thank you. Hall: Yep! And as far as project timeline, uh, again public hearing tonight, bid letting April 1, award date April 7, construction April 201, and final completion late October. Teague: Any questions? Taylor: Will the splash pad be closed then during the construction? Hall: No. The splash pad will not. That's a great question (both talking) Taylor: It's very popular! (laughs) Hall: Yes, it is. Um, the splash pad will not be closed, um, that is on a separate water service, and so, uh, that will not be closed. Thomas: Is there a drinking fountain? Hall: Uh, yes! The drinking fountain, that's a great question. I ... I'll have to double check on the project manual, but I believe it's up at the restroom. Thomas: Okay. ' Teague: All right, thank you! Would any .... would anyone from the public like to address this topic? Seein' there is none, I'm gonna close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Could I get a motion to approve the resolution? 2. Consider a Resolution This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 22 Thomas: So moved. Teague: Moved by Thomas. Weiner: Second. Teague: Seconded by Weiner. Discussion? Thomas: I'm really happy to see the, uh, change with the, um, shelter facility, which not only replacing the one that was there, but moving it up the slope. I think it...it will have a better position within the park. One of the things I .... I'm really fond of at Wetherby is the openness of that open field, and this will, I think, have a stronger, uh, relationship to the ... the playground will have a stronger relationship to that open area than it does now. And, urn ..... and then as .... as Zac was saying, there's kind of a nice rich palette of play features here that I think will draw a nice diverse crowd. Teague: I like the separation of the shelter and the bathrooms as well. You can see ... from each vantage point (mumbled) shelter at that point. Anything else? Roll call please. Motion passes 7-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 23 19. Community Comment Teague: So who's gonna take a stab at it, Austin or Ryan? (laughs) You'll go first, huh? (laughs) Wu: Hello there, Austin Wu, UISG City Council Liaison. So first I'll just start, uh, kick off with one event of note this weekend. Uh, Nachte Raho 2020 will take place this Saturday, the 7a' of March, from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. at Hancher. Uh, per the Facebook event page, it's Iowa's Bollywood fusion dance competition 18 years running, uh, free for UI students, $10 for UI faculty and staff, $5 for children five and under, $14 general admission, and $16 at the door. And then the second thing I have is, uh, welcome, Ryan. That was his first City Council meeting tonight. Um .... so, you can come up here, say a few words, say hello, introduce yourself. Longnecker: Hello, everyone! Uh, my name's Ryan Longnecker. I am a first year student at the University of Iowa and then I'm the new Deputy City Liaison. Um, thank you for having me tonight and for accepting me. Um, I am a political science and economics major, um, minoring in Arabic on the pre -law track. Um, and I have a love for politics and government, and uh, having served as a student liaison to my school board back in Bettendorf, this has reminded me a lot of that, just on a much bigger scale, so I'm really excited to be back and involved with, uh, local government and excited to see, uh, how I can be of use between students and local government and I'm excited to get to know all of you. So thank you! Teague: Great! (several responding) Yes, well welcome! Wu: And with that, Ryan, welcome to Channel 4 public record! (laughter) Teague: Great! Great, great, great! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 24 20. City Council Information Teague: And we're gonna start with.... Councilor Thomas! Thomas: Um, so this is looking forward, um.....I can't even read my own writing here. (laughs) Uh, well we will be having our strategic plan, uh, discussions coming Tuesday. Is that open to the public? It is, okay, so urn .... anyone's interested in that conversation. I think it's a .... it's a important one that we have on Council so, uh, would encourage those interested in strategic planning matters to consider that. Uh (both talking) Mims: It is at the Eastside Recycling, right? It's not here. Just (both talking) Thomas: Yeah, Eastside Recycling, don't (both talking) don't show up here! Uh, and I thin that's it. Mims: 1:00! Thomas: 1:00. 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. is the timeframe we're looking at. That's it! Teague: Okay. Mims: Um, not a lot. We've got that. I .... I will just mention, uh, I'm not sure if any of our Councilors would have known, but we just recently, um, lost one of our former police officers, uh, Steven Fortman, who I think had been with the Department 30 years maybe. Um, had moved back to Missouri and passed away just recently. So there will be, uh, for people maybe who knew Steve while he was in this community, there will be a visitation on Monday the 9s' from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. out at the Iowa City Church, out on American Legion Road, and a celebration of life from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. next Monday. Teague: Okay. Salih: I really don't have anything, but I guess this Saturday we gonna have the pancake service for the Crisis Center at the (mumbled) church. I guess invite everybody to come and eat breakfast! Yeah! Taylor: I think I'd be remiss, uh, I'm gonna start, uh, on .... on somewhat somber notes and comments. The Mayor talked about Bill Sueppel but, um, just wanted to say that I was wearing the Home Rule button in honor of him and .... and his role, uh, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 25 in doing that. I, uh, I told his family at the visitation that until I was on City Council I really didn't understand the importance of...of what he had accomplished with that, uh, and of course what is slowly being, uh, taken away from us, but it is important and so this is in honor of him, and then also, um, just our thoughts are with the folks in Nashville, Tennessee and the devastation of the tornado that went through there. Um .... back to other items, Laura had mentioned the joint meeting with the, uh, School District, and I thought it was a very good presentation by Opticos. Um, the southeastern side of Iowa City has great potential and I hope that developers can, uh, be inspired to follow some of the suggestions that they've made, and I look forward to watching this area develop, and .... lot of promise in that area. Uh, that was, uh, last Wednesday, Thursday, A the Mayor and I had a listening post at the Senior Center. Participants came very well prepared, uh, to discuss things that were on their mind. Uh, a lot of it related to the Senior Center. Um, with a lot of topics of concern relating to that. I believe the Mayor will be writing up a summary of that and it'll be included in one of our ...our next packets, so look forward to seeing that. Um, Friday of course, somebody else had mentioned, the City awards luncheon. It's always a nice event and always impressed to .... to see the many years of, uh, tenure of our City staff, uh, and we, uh.... have truly have a lot of dedicated, uh, staff and their service is, uh, really appreciated... by us. Uh, Mazahir mentioned the community Crisis Center potluck. Uh.... or, I'm sorry, pancake breakfast this Saturday, from 7:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at the Iowa .... Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. It's always a great event, and usually, if you're a Hawkeye football fan, they're usually, uh, the players are there as a community service event. So it's always fun to see them too. Uh, this Sunday, March 8a', don't forget that it is Spring Forward, daylight saving time, tam .... turn your clocks forward. Uh, that's... that's about all I have! Weiner: So there is, um, we have, those of us who are new have MPO orientation tomorrow at 6:00. So that we can .... learn about yet another portion of this city and area, and I'll be participating in a couple, one with ... with Bruce, one with I don't know whom, of readings for Iowa City Community School District book mag ... book magne.... book madness.... over the next couple weeks. Maybe I'll learn to read by then! (laughter) Teague: All right! Bergus: I'll just put in my monthly plug for the South District Neighborhood Association which is happening tomorrow, Wednesday, March 4°i, from 6:00 to 7:30 P.M. at the Broadway Neighborhood Center, and this month's meeting is an open This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 26 discussion, just collecting feedback and input, networking, meeting your neighbors and uh, individuals who, uh, live or work or want to know more about the South District, and then on Thursday evening is an event at The Chauncey called Luna Fest. It's the, um, Girls on the Run of Eastern Iowa annual fundraiser and it's a, um, they show a number of films, um, really focusing on empowerment for women and girls. So that is a ticketed event, but it's a fundraiser for the Girls on the Run of Eastern Iowa, and everything else has already been mentioned, so.... Teague: All right! There's one thing people didn't mention, and ... and that is on ... last, uh, Friday .... last Friday, the annual award, um, celebration for the City staff. (several responding) Oh, okay, so I .... I listened (several talking) I was ... I was payin' attention! (laughs) Maybe that's when I was makin' my notes. Bergus: I thought you were going to say the Soul Food dinner! (several talking) Teague: That is another one, the Soul Food dinner, and the, which was the, you know, really celebratin' Black History and just having so many various people, from all walks of life, uh, to be a part of that. It was a great event. Um .... and there were lots of events for Black History Month, and I guess what I will say is that Black History Month and the .... and the, um, accomplishments of black, uh, individuals within our community, local and even historically, I think let's not just make it a month, but let's keep it going, and so with that I will.... uh.....(talking in background) Absolutely! Weiner: On March 11°i is the night of 1,000 Dinners, which is always a great event as well, at the Rec Center starting at 5:00! Teague: Great! Great, great, great! Thank you! And then on Friday, um, Mayor Pro Tem Mazahir Salih and I, along with, uh, City Manager, Assistant City Manager, um, Ashley Monroe, we attended here in City Hall a, uh, conference, just a meetin' with Kosovo leaders. Um, it was a great, um, they were just comin', uh, to talk to us about potentially bein' a sister city. They reached out to us and we gladly accepted the invitation just to talk to them, and there was a lot of things that we learned about their community, as far as like some of the things that they're dealin' with. They've only been 11 years I believe .... 12 years, um, yeah. Independent country, and so some of the things that they're accomplishing, like I feel like we have, um, been through the waters and found solutions for. (laughs) And so, um, it was .... it was great interaction. They left us with this wonderful plaque. Uh, it's really beautiful. I would really encourage you to take some time This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020. Page 27 to look at it. Um, it's kind of a city on a hill and lots of things. So great conversations. I know that, um, they are real, uh, interested in creatin' more partnerships with people in the U.S., and never know what might happen here! But that is definitely something Council will bring up. Weiner: Yeah, they're only .... the only Consulate that we have in Iowa is the ... is the Consulate of Kosovo in Des Moines and that was started because of the, a relationship with the Iowa National Guard. Teague: Great! Salih: And they invite all of you to visit their country on July because I guess Governor is also going there (both talking) Teague: Yes! Yes! Yes! All right! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of March 3, 2020.