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Home My WebLink About2020-08-04 Council minutesr CITY OF IOWA CITY ',�� MEMORANDUM Date: August 11, 2020 To: Mayor and City Council From: Kellie Fruehling, City Clerk Re: Electronic Council Work Session, August 4, 2020, 5:00 PM, Zoom Meeting Platform Council: Bergus, Mims, Salih, Taylor, Teague, Thomas, Weiner UISG: Longnecker, Van Heukelom Staff: Fruin, Monroe, Kilburg, Dilkes, Fruehling, S. Bowers, Havel, Hightshoe, Russett, Bockenstedt, Nagle-Gamm, Seydell-Johnson, Ford (A transcription is available in the City Clerk's Office and the City website.) Electronic Meeting (Pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.8) An electronic meeting was held because a meeting in person was impossible or impractical due to concerns for the health and safety of council members, staff and the public presented by COVID-19. COVID-19 Update City Manager Fruin provided an update regarding a proposal for a rapid response housing / utility support program that could be implemented as the pandemic progresses. Staff worked with Councilors Bergus, Taylor and Weiner to create the proposal. Neighborhood Services Director Hightshoe and City Attorney Dilkes provided additional information. Individual Council members expressed their views. City Manager Fruin recapped the original funding request and program details from Better Together and gave an update as to where the program was currently at. Individual Council members expressed their views. Action: Staff will prepare resolutions providing the City Manager authority to replenish the three locally funded housing programs up to 1.5 times the original funding amount during the COVID pandemic through December 31, 2020. The increased spending authority will total $225k. Staff will work with Shelter House to modify the local relief fund rules as proposed in the 7/30/2020 Information Packet memo (IP7). Staff will also prepare a resolution contributing $25k for a phase two BIPOC owned business COVID recovery grant program to be administered through Project Better Together. Councilor Weiner asked for information on the face covering mandate and University of Iowa move in. City Manager Fruin noted the mandate had seemed to have a positive impact with a higher level of compliance. There were 17 calls for service with no citations issued. UISG Liasion Longenecker stated that the University was not testing students unless they were symptomatic or had known exposure, move in's are being scheduled as one hour time slots with a limit of 2 people in addition to the student. Council Work Session August 4, 2020 Page 2 Councilor Bergus asked for a PPE update. City Manager Fruin updated the Council on the City order of PPE and distribution efforts. by the Minneapolis Police and calls for action from protesters and residents Mayor Teague noted IP3 of the July 301 Information Packet - BLM & Systemic Racism Detailed Status Report. Mayor Teague also asked for updates from Council members and their thoughts on potential processes to help the Council reach the deadlines for their goals. Individual Council members expressed their views. City Manager Fruin provided additional information. Action: Council moved ahead on discussions relating to its commitment to draft a preliminary plan to restructure the Iowa City Police Department towards community policing. Follow-up includes: • Staff will build a repository of ideas to be compiled from public input, the non-profit community, City staff and any other community stakeholders. • Listening posts will be scheduled both in-person and electronically in order to hear ideas from the public. Councilors Bergus and Salih will work with the City Clerk on a date for the first event. • Staff will create a web form to solicit feedback on community policing ideas. The form should be accessible on the BLM and Police Department pages of the website. • Staff will work on data compilation and community policing efforts to date to inform discussions on the preliminary plan. 400 N Clinton Preservation Proposal Update Senior Planner Russett presented a power point providing background, comments received, Historic Preservation Commission input, existing conditions vs. redevelopment potential, and revised plans/elevations. City Manager Fruin provided additional information. Individual Council members expressed their views. Action: Staff will contact the owner of 400 N Clinton and proceed ahead with code changes should the developer indicate a willingness to proceed. Council's preference for affordable housing will be noted to the developer. (Adjourned to Formal meeting at 6:50 pm — Resumed Work Session at 7:56 PM) Clarification of Agenda Items No discussion — after formal meeting. Information Packet Discussion rJuly 23, July 301 ➢ July 23 — No discussion. ➢ July 30 1. (IP7, Memo from Neighborhood & Development Services Director: Shelter House Eviction Prevention Update) Teague noted the item had already been discussed and Council direction given. Council Work Session August 4, 2020 Page 3 2. (IP9, Human Rights Commission minutes: June 16 — Council direction requested: Consider a Resolution on becoming Fair Trade City [Previously distributed in 7/21/20 agenda packet (3.e)]) Councilor Taylor asked for additional information. City Manager Fruin provided examples and a brief summary of information. Individual Council members expressed their views. Action: Staff will take the lead on making sure the City satisfies the requirements to become a Fair Trade community. 3. (IP10, Memo from Parks & Recreation Director: Happy Hollow Park Baseball Field Infield Conversion [Previously distributed in the 6/25/20 Information Packet (IP4)]) Councilor Thomas provided a background summary of correspondence sent from Michael Muhlenbruch from the July 7 agenda packet (7.i). City Manager Fruin and Parks & Recreation Director Seydell-Johnson provided additional information. Individual Council members expressed their views. Action: Staff should plan to include discussions on the ballfield in the 2022 outreach meeting for the Happy Hollow playground improvement project and should consider possible expenses with a field conversion and update the CIP budget submittal accordingly in the coming year. Clarification of Agenda Items • [8.f] James Alan McPherson... Councilor Taylor mentioned there was a protocol for naming parks and other public spaces and asked for staff to update the Council on the process. Mayor Teague provided information regarding the request and the accomplishments of McPherson. Teague also suggested leaving the request to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission for their recommendation. Individual Council members expressed their views. Action: Staff will place the City's park naming policy in the Information Packet. The future Truth & Reconciliation Commission will be charged with considering renaming of parks and other public spaces in recognition of the BLM movement. • [6.a] Amending the Purchasing Manual... Councilor Taylor stated she was happy to see the minimum wage preference added. Council updates on assicmed boards, commissions and committees Councilor Weiner thanked everyone who has been wearing face coverings and encouraged others to wear them. Weiner also offered condolences to the City of Beirut where there had just been a very large explosion. Councilor Bergus noted the City's progress tracking regarding Black Lives Matter resolution at icgov.org/BLM and highlighted the current board and commission vacancies. Adjourn 6:46 p.m.