HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-10-20 Council minutesCITY OF IOWA CITY
MEMORANDUM
Date: October 28, 2020
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kellie Fruehling, City Clerk
Re: Electronic Council Work Session, October 20, 2020, 5:00 PM, Zoom Meeting Platform
Council: Bergus, Mims, Salih, Taylor, Teague, Thomas, Weiner
UISG: Van Heukelom
Staff: Fruin, Monroe, Dilkes, Fruehling, Nagle-Gamm, Hightshoe, Knoche, Havel, Sovers
Bockenstedt, Seydell-Johnson
(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.
Review recommendations from the Iowa City Area Transit Study
City Manager Fruin recapped the takeaways from the October 61h City Council work session and turned
it back over to Council for further discussion and direction for staff to proceed with final public input,
implementation planning and general direction on any expansion efforts (e.g. Sunday service, fare free,
new routes, etc.) to prepare financial plans accordingly. Individual Council members expressed their
views.
Action: Staff will move ahead with the proposed changes to bus fares and finalize implementation
details with the City of Coralville. The Council expressed general concurrence with the proposed route
changes and OK'd the department to proceed with implementation planning. Staff will work together on
expanded information aimed to allow the City Council to make final decisions on Sunday service,
expanded late night service and on -demand service. That information will be presented to Council in a
future work session.
City Manager Fruin referred to the memo in the 10/15/20 Information Packet and asked if there were
Council questions regarding City operations or responsibilities of property owners. Individual Council
members expressed their views.
Action: Staff will review the network of wide sidewalks in the community and identify any gaps in snow
clearing where currently there is no obligation for an adjacent owner to clear snow. Those areas need
to be monitored and cleared if no private entity is taking responsibility
COVID-19 Update
Individual Council members voiced their concerns on the number of COVID cases, large gatherings,
the upcoming flu season, and asked if there were City policies regarding face masks versus cloth
masks. City Manager Fruin provided information.
Council Work Session
October 20, 2020
Page 2
Mayor Teague noted the series of six City Council Listening Posts had just finished up and the noted
the value of those voices who came to be a part of them. Councilor Bergus mentioned IP6 from the
10/16/20 Information packet, Memo from City Manager: Community Policing Public Input Summary and
that it needed Council direction. City Manager Fruin asked Councilors for specific guidance for staff to
draft a preliminary plan and any takeaways from the listening posts. Individual Council members
expressed their views.
Action: Staff will lead the creation of the preliminary plan to restructure the Police Department toward
community policing. The preliminary plan will be released on or before December 15th
Clarification of Agenda Items
No discussion.
Information Packet Discussion [October 8, October 151
➢ October 8
1. (IP6, Invitation: Our Children Spoke - A South District Neighborhood Mural Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony - October 23) Councilor Mims noted the invitation.
➢ October 15
1. (I136, Memo from City Manager: Community Policing Public Input Summary) Discussed
during earlier work session item - Continue discussion of Resolution (20-159) of Initial
Council Commitments addressing the Black Lives Matter Movement and Systemic
Racism in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police and calls
for action from protesters and residents.
2. (IP7, Memo from Asst City Manager: Introduction to solar study concept from Johnson
Clean Energy District) Assistant City Manager Monroe provided a summary of the memo
and asked for Council feedback. Individual Council members expressed their views.
3. (1138, Memo from Assistant to the City Manager: 2021 State Legislative Priorities
Development Schedule) City Manager Fruin provided a summary of the memo and
asked for Council direction for scheduling. Individual Council members expressed their
views.
Action: Staff will work to schedule a special work session with state delegation and
contract lobbyist after the anticipated November 17"' approval of our legislative priorities.
Council updates on assigned boards, commissions and committees
None.
Adjourn 6:46 p.m.