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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.
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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.
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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)
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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!
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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.
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Teague: Thank you, Ashley, for all you're doin'. All right!
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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
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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)
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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!
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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?
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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.
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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.....
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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.
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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,
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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
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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.
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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!
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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,
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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
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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
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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!
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