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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-18 Council minutesr CITY OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM Date: August 25, 2020 To: Mayor and City Council From: Kellie Fruehling, City Clerk Re: Electronic Council Work Session, August 18, 2020, 5:00 PM, Zoom Meeting Platform Council: Bergus, Mims, Salih, Taylor, Teague, Thomas, Weiner UISG: Van Heukelom Staff: Fruin, Monroe, Kilburg, Dulek, Fruehling, Havel, Hightshoe, Sitzman, Bockenstedt, Nagle-Gamm, Seydell-Johnson, Ford, Brotherton (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. Storm Update City Engineer Havel recapped the derecho storm event information and the damage left behind. Havel gave an update on the City's Public Works response to the storm. Parks & Recreation Director Seydell-Johnson gave a parks, trails and cemetery update since the storm. Individual Council members expressed their views. City Manager Fruin provided additional information. (Meeting recessed from 5:22 pm — 5:56 pm due to technical issues) COVID-19 Update City Manager Fruin had no new updates for Council. Individual Council members discussed the COVID-19 issues at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, local enforcement plans, urging students to wear face coverings and the need for additional signage regarding face coverings. Interim Police Chief Brotherton provided additional information. Action: Staff will continue to push mask messages out and also focus on signage that can be displayed as constant reminders to the public. Staff will also reach out to the Landlord Association and encourage them to post signage at their properties when such space exists. Continued collaboration with the Iowa City Downtown District, Better Together and the University of Iowa is important as well. by the Minneapolis Police and calls for action from protesters and residents Mayor Teague noted the contract for consultant services regarding the investigation into the June 3rd incident that was in distributed the 8/17/20 late handouts. City Manager Fruin provided information on the contracted group and the services included in the agreement. Mayor Pro Tem Salih and Mayor Teague asked Council members to consider forgoing the independent contractor and keep the Council Work Session August 18, 2020 Page 2 investigation in house due to their recent review of the video from the June 3 incident. Individual Council members expressed their views. Action: The contract for the June 31 protest incident review will be placed on the September 1 meeting agenda. (Recess to formal meeting 6:49 pm — Resume Work Session 9:46 pm) Clarification of Agenda Items No discussion — after formal meeting. Information Packet Discussion fAunust 6. August 131 Y August 6 1. (IP2, Memo from City Clerk: City Naming Policy) City Manager Fruin asked for confirmation as to whether the Truth and Reconciliation Commission would be making recommendations on renaming of facilities. Individual Council members expressed their views. Action: Parks and Recreation will proceed with a formal recommendation to Council regarding the park renaming requests for Mr. James Alan McPherson. v August 13 1. (IPS, Memo from Assistant City Manager: Iowa City Telecommunications Commission report submittal) Councilor Mims asked for a timeframe for ImOn and the installation of fiber throughout the City. City Manager Fruin provided information. Individual Council members expressed their views. Action: Staff will request that the Telecommunications Commission further investigate grants that could be used to help bridge the digital divide in Iowa City with a particular emphasis on subsidized services for low-income households. 2. (IP7, Iowa College Access Network (ICAN): Careers in Building Trades Brochure) Councilor Mims noted all the really great information in the brochure and asked if the information could be pushed out to the public and/or translated. City Manager Fruin provided information. Action: Staff will look for opportunities to promote the Careers in Building Trades Brochure that was included in the August 131" Information Packet and explore translation with the team that created the document. Council uadates on assigned boards, commissions and committees No discussion. Adjourn 10:03 p.m.