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Home My WebLink About2020-09-15 Council minutesr CITY OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM Date: September 23, 2020 To: Mayor and City Council From: Kellie Fruehling, City Clerk Re: Electronic Council Work Session, September 15, 2020, 5:00 PM, Zoom Meeting Platform Council: Bergus, Mims, Salih, Taylor, Teague, Thomas, Weiner UISG: Longenecker, Van Heukelom Staff: Fruin, Monroe, Kilburg, Dikes, Fruehling, Bockenstedt, Hightshoe, Knoche (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. Affordable Housing Plan Update Neighborhood & Development Service Director Hightshoe presented a power point on the Affordable Housing FY20 year end report. City Manager Fruin provided additional information. Individual Council members expressed their views. Action: Staff will reach out to Shelter House, CommUnity and CWJ to inquire about staffing capacity to administer existing COVID relief programs. If there is an expressed need for additional staff time, staff will draft a recommendation for use of supplemental local funds to provide temporary staffing assistance. Staff will also develop a recommended process for soliciting input on a new affordable housing plan. The process recommendations will be presented to Council in October. COVID-19 Update Mayor Teague noted the extended face covering mandate and thanked all who have been wearing them. Councilor Weiner asked to continue to have a plan moving forward as restrictions are lifted in Johnson County and Councilor Thomas noted an article "America is Trapped in a Pandemic Spiral". City Manager Fruin asked Councilors if there was interest for staff to investigate and develop a CDBG business support program that targets income qualified business owners in Iowa City using the next round of CDBG funds. Individual Council members expressed their views. Neighborhood & Development Service Director Hightshoe presented additional information. City Manager Fruin additionally asked Councilors for input regarding staff development of a utility relief program prior to the time when water shut offs will resume. Individual Council members expressed their views. Council Work Session September 15, 2020 Page 2 Action: Staff will develop a concept for a CDBG COVID small business support program. The program details will be shared with Council and formal approval of the program will be secured before any final decisions on use of the funds are made. Staff will also develop plans for a local utility relief program that will aim to help people with past due accounts well before the city begins reinstituting water shutoff procedures Mayor Teague noted the Black Lives Matter status report (IP4 of the 9/10 Information Packet). City Manager Fruin suggested a format for the upcoming City Council Listening posts. City Clerk Fruehling will send the listening post schedule with the focus groups and service providers to City Councilors. City Manager Fruin stated there was interest for a student focus listening post. UISG Liaison Lonenecker provided information. Individual Council members expressed their views. Councilors briefly discussed various items from the Black Lives Matter status report/movement. Action: Staff will email Council the dates / themes and attendees for future listening posts and work with UISG on a student -centric listening post. Clarification of Agenda Items • [2] Proclamations... Mayor Teague noted there were several proclamations on the agenda and asked Councilors to contact him if they would be willing to assist in presenting. [7.j] Black Lives Matter Movement/Systemic Racism/Police Policies... Councilor Mims stated she would be asking City Manager Fruin to respond to the questions received on the form letters for item 7.j. 1. (IP3, Community Police Review Board: August 19) Councilor Mims pointed out the attached annual report and noted some of the information. ➢ September 10 1. (IP6, Memo from City Manager: Resolution 20-159: Body Worn Cameras and In -Car Recorders) Councilor Mims gave a summary of her discussion with the City Manager regarding malfunctioning body cameras and issues when a body camera is known to be malfunctioning. 2. (IP10, Memo from City Clerk: Taxicab Regulations) Councilor Thomas asked for confirmation regarding the direction needed from Council and noted information on the City of Marion's requirements. City Manager Fruin provided information. Individual Council members expressed their views. (Recessed to formal meeting, 6:50 p.m. — Returned to work session, 11:03 a.m.) (cont. IP10, Memo from City Clerk: Taxicab Regulations) — Discussion was continued after the formal meeting. City Clerk Fruehling provided additional information. Individual Council members expressed their views. Council Work Session September 15, 2020 Page 3 Action: Staff will present an ordinance reducing the minimum taxicab vehicles from four to two. 3. (IP11, Memo from Climate Action Coordinator: 2019 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Update) Councilor Thomas mentioned the update and asked everyone to think about adaptation and mitigation regarding climate action. Council updates on assigned boards, commissions and committees None. Statements by Councilors Weiner and Taylor. Adjourn 11:11 p.m.