HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-02 TranscriptionPale 1
Council Present: Bergus, Mims, Teague, Taylor, Thomas, Weiner
Council Absent: Salih
Staff Present: Fruin, Monroe, Kilburg, Dilkes, Fruchling, Sitzman, Hightshoe, Brotherton,
Ford, Bockenstedt
Others Present: Longenecker (UISG)
Discuss 2021 State of Iowa legislative priorities:
Teague: Well, good evening, everybody. It is 5:00 P.M. and we are at our November 2nd work session
for the City of Iowa City. Welcome to all the Councilors. I did wanna make mention that our
Mayor Pro Tem Salih will not join us for the work session, but she'll be here for the formal
meeting today. And we will jump right into our work session, um, and well have our Assistant
City Manager... oh, I ... I'm sorry, the Assistant to the City Manager, Rachel, uh, help us with our
discussion on the State of Iowa legislative pri, uh, priorities. So we'll just jump right in there.
Kilburg: Great, thank you. Um, good evening, Mayor and City Council. Kellie, did you want to share
the memo or would you like me to?
Fruehling: I would ... didn't know that you were going to have me pull it up. So if you have it handy,
that'd be great!
Kilburg: Might make it a little bit easier for us. All right. Can everyone see that okay?
Teague: Yes.
Kilburg: Okay, so this is, uh, the memo, uh, that I shared with you, um, in the information packet for
today's work session. So this is just a draft, uh, list of priorities for the 2021 State of Iowa
legislative session. Um, in the past, City Council has adopted your State legislative priorities,
uh, by a formal resolution. So it's our recommendation that you, uh, will do so at the next, um,
City Council meeting on November 17`s. I'll also quickly mention that we do have a special
work session scheduled, uh, for the morning of Monday, November 2P. That's scheduled to
start at 8:00 A.M., um, and we've invited our State delegation and our contracted lobbyists.
Um, so that will be a great opportunity too for you to ask any questions about, uh, legislative
activity in the upcoming session, um, but for tonight, uh, well just ... would like to start
discussion about these priorities, um, get a little direction from you all so we can prepare that
resolution for, uh, the next meeting. Um, I tried my best to lay these out, uh, in context of your
strategic plan. So I'll try to run through these and be brief, um, and then we'd just like to hear
your thoughts on it. So, I'll go ahead and dive in. Um, first, uh, for our strategic plan objective
of demonstrating leadership in climate action. Um, we're just expressing support for climate
action initiatives. Uh, specifically, we're interested, um, in having the State develop a statewide
climate action plan, um, and while it's actually an administrative action rather than a legislative
one, uh, we'd also like to encourage the State to adopt the 2021, um, International Energy
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Conservation Code. Uh, these next two, um, align with, uh, your objective to advance social
justice, racal ... racial equity, and human rights. Um, these will be really important for us in the
upcoming session, especially as we are developing our own plan to restructure the police. So,
uh, in alignment with your 17 -point resolution you passed in June to address systemic racism,
we have listed here that we're encouraging the State to support criminal justice reform
measures. Um, these include, uh, increasing authority for the Community Police Review
Board, decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana, and, uh, state standardized and
automated collection and analysis of race and ethnicity data during traffic stops. This last one,
uh, is also a recommendation, um, that was included in the policy recommendations released by
the Governor's Focus Committee on Criminal Justice Reform, um, that was released last week.
Uh, and then we also have listed here, uh, just that we are also encouraging the State to amend,
um, the Iowa hate crimes law to include harassment as an enhanceable offense, uh, in alignment
with our own local ordinance. Um, another big piece of the conversation (mumbled) and our
next one, uh, is just gonna be ... well, another big piece of the conversation around community
policing has been, um, how to provide better response and service to individuals who are
experiencing a crisis. So locally, uh, our police department is been involved in a really small
pilot phase, um, using a crisis report system, which basically enables law enforcement to
document their contact with an individual, um, when they are responding to someone who is
experiencing a crisis, and then being able to share that information with, uh, health... licensed
healthcare or, uh, social service providers, when they're making a referral or simply just to
improve any like future contact they would have with the ... the individual. So, um, like I said,
they've been in kind of a small pilot phase, uh, and the last big step of this is that, um, they need
to get a change to State Code to ensure confidentiality protections. Um, these reports would
obviously have identifying information. So, uh, the way the current language reads... wouldn't
guarantee that we could maintain, uh, confidentiality of these reports, especially if we were
to ... to share them with other law enforcement agencies in the county. Uh, and then going along
with that is just kind of acknowledging how critical it is to just, in general, expand and
strengthen our mental health resources in our state. So, uh, we're encouraging the State to take
actions which will support the proposed six judicial districts civil mental health court, um, and
then, of course, make other investments that would be needed to support that kind of a system,
um, assistive outpatient treatment, increasing the reimbursement rate, uh, for mental health care
providers, uh, and then just making sure we have an adequate number of psychiatric hospital
beds too. Urn ... so next, uh, we have our objective to invest in public infrastructure, facilities,
and fiscal reserves. So this is a ... this is a priority you're probably familiar with, uh, from years
past. Um, but will have a renewed emphasis on it this year, uh, as cities are grappling with
additional financial pressures from the pandemic. Um, as you know, the 2013 property tax
reform rolled back commercial and industrial property tax, um, and the State has been
reimbursing these localities, um, through what is called the backfill, and these backfill payments
have helped us control property tax rates, uh, and service levels, and there have been
discussions at the state level of either drastically reducing or phasing out these backfill
payments. Um .... uh, so we just wanna continue to maintain this as a priority, um, and that's
something you'll probably see too in the Iowa League of Cities and Metro Coalition's 21
priorities, when those are available as well. Um, we also have, um, so the ... the REAP grant
program. Uh, we've benefited from the REAP grant program in recent years. Uh, one recent
example is ecological restoration at Hickory Hill Park, um, and then last year we also received
some funding, uh, to restore native species at Terry Trueblood. So we've seen the benefit that
these have here locally, um, but current State Code only authorizes REAP funds until fiscal year
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21. So, uh, we're just encouraging the State to continue funding this program. Uh, we have a
couple here, uh, related to your goal to foster healthy neighborhoods and affordable housing.
So this first one here is probably also familiar to you, fairly straightforward, um, just
recognizing that how cities are often uniquely positioned to innovate and respond to local
needs. So we wanna continue to be supportive of protecting, uh, local control granted by the
Home Rule, and this ... this is one we also typically see on the Iowa League of Cities and Metro
Coalition's priorities as well. Uh, next we, uh, joining with, uh, University of Iowa Student
Government in support of legislation which would require the use of rental property move -in
checklists, um, as a protection against unfair security deposit withholdings. So, uh, actually in
the last session, Senator Wahls introduced a bill addressing this issue and it unfortunately did
not move forward. Um, but we would be supportive of resurrecting that bill, um, in ... in the 21
session. Uh, this next one actually, uh, also had a bill sponsored by Senator Wahls in the last
session, um, and it just ... was a bill, um, that ... largely came out of the recommendations from
the Johnson County, uh, Mobile Home Task Force, which, uh, I believe released
recommendations last year. Um, and locally, uh, we've kind of seen what the impacts are when
these kind of communities are bought by large multi -state, um, corporations and, um,
manufactured housing communities are also really important, um, enfordable ... affordable
housing source in our community. So, uh, we ... we just want to be supportive of resurrecting
this bill as well in the 21 session. And ... so this is another one, uh, that we've become kind of
aware of as we've seen jobs and schools move online due to the pandemic, um, and that's just
been the inequities in quality and affordable broadband in Iowa City, um, and ... and not just
here, but really across the state too. So we're encouraging the State to invest, um, in the
infrastructure and public/private partnerships that ... that would be needed to improve access and
affordability for high-speed broadband, uh, and we'd like them to ... to really maintain that focus
on ... on our moderate and low-income neighborhoods as well. Um, a couple here, uh, that tie to
your objective of promoting an inclusive and resilient economy. Um, so ... this first one, um, is
also a priority continued from last year. It's for additional support for our schools. Um, this
year, like most things, uh, we're also just asking for an emphasis on any new or pronounced
needs due to the pandemic. Um, I'd like to call out one addition here, which is, uh, just an
emphasis on expanded access, affordability, and quality of early childhood education and
childcare. Um, COVID-19 economic recovery will be very difficult, if not impossible, if
households can't enter the ... enter or stay in the workforce, um, because of childcare barriers.
Uh, and I guess that kind of leads into our next one, uh, which is just simply recognizing, uh,
how deeply our community's feeling the impacts of the pandemic and also recognizing how
crucial the State's investment, um, of CARES Act dollars have been to our ...our own operation.
So our hope is that any futul ... future federal funding, um, or relief packages will also, um, help
support cities support their residents, uh, and local businesses in recovery. And then finally, uh,
here under strengthen community engagement and intergovernmental relations. In the past,
City Council's adopted legislative priorities have typically included support for the efforts of the
Iowa League of Cities and Metro Coalition. Uh, I alluded to ... to some of those as we've gone
along. These are two organizations which we typically tend to be like minded on a lot of issues.
Um, so we have that included there. So that was a really abbreviated version, um, kind of what
we have laid out for you to consider at this point. Um, we'd just like to hear your thoughts, uh,
so we can prepare a formal resolution, uh, for ...for the November 17th meeting.
Teague: Thank you for sharing and, Councilors, we can just chime in and ask our questions or, um,
make any recommendations at this time. I do have (both talking) Please, go right ahead!
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Taylor: I really liked the addition of the childcare language because that is really important. That's
something we're hearing over and over again. So, uh, I ... I was really pleased to see that in
there. Thank you.
Teague: I know that this is, uh, kind of a unique year in some ways, tun, but I wonder if the ... the
League of Cities or specifically the Metro City, uh, the Metro Coalition, if they have any type of
initiatives that they're promoting in relationship to, um, either Black Lives Matter or systemic
racism. Um, do we know that they have anything that they're promoting this year?
Kilburg: Uh, at...at the time that we prepared this memo, uh, neither of those two organizations had
released their priorities for the 21 session, but, um, we ... we can certainly work with them to try
to be on alignment of any of those efforts.
Teague: Yeah, I think it'd be important just to learn, you know, where... where... they land on some of
those items, specifically, of course, Home Rule, you're exactly right. Traditionally they've
always kind of promoted that. Um, but I think when we're talking about just the systemic
racism, some of the efforts there might be, um, advantageous if we're, you know, not the only
city in the state promoting that. So we probably want to make sure that we're ... makin' those
suggestions and, um, just seein' where the ... where other cities will be in promoting it.
Fruin: Mayor, if I may jump in. Um, I ... I expect a number of cities and maybe the League of Cities and
Metro Coalition will, um, really look at the Governor's Focus Committee recommendations
pretty hard, and I wouldn't be surprised if Af those are something that ... that the cities get
behind. And then there's also a, um, task force that's been set up between the Iowa Association
of Chiefs of Poli ... Police and the NAACP, and I do not believe that group has made their
recommendations public yet, but I ... I would expect that those'll come out in the next couple of
weeks. So, um, that's another, uh, another group that we could potentially align with, uh, when
it comes to our legislative priorities.
Teague: Great. Yeah, I think it might be advantageous for us to go ahead and, you know, kind of make
some decisions tonight, but realizin' that we may come back. I wanna change some of our
language or effort, just so that it's in alignment, um, to make it a little more streamlined for the
State.
Fruin: Yeah. The other thing I'd ... I'd mention, maybe remind everybody of is, you know, we put these
together in—in November, December typically every year, and by February we're really focused
on a whole other set of issues because we're either playing defense on things that are introduced
that we didn't expect, or there's new opportunities that come up. So this is really important in
that it establishes your values, and we can communicate those. It's kind of a good ... good
kickoff, um, but once the game starts, the focus changes quite a bit. Um, that's the ... least that's
been our recent, uh, experience.
Weiner: Um, I would join Councilor Taylor. I'm very happy to see that... the... the focus on childcare.
Childcare reimbursement rates are stuck at 2008 rates right now, which is ... does not provide
nearly the incentive that various providers need financially in order to take on, urn, the people
who ... who get childcare funds from the State, and the other thing that I ... that I think is really, I
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mean there are many important things on here, but one other thing I just wanted to point out
was the ... is the specialty courts. Um, we could... could really benefit from a mental health court
and I know that ... that the Iowa Judiciary has suffered from ... from a number of years of reduced
funding. Um, the State claims to be in a good financial position. It would be a really good year
for a number of cities and ... and counties to band together and ... and try and increase funding for
that, but mental health court would... could... would be a really good pairing with some of the
other things we're talking about, as well as the Guide Link Center.
Bergus: Yep, I was gonna, um, mention that civil mental health court as well and totally agree with
what, uh, Councilor Weiner just said. Um, and I appreciate also, Mayor, that question about
aligning with what some of those other organizations may ...may come out with, but I would say,
Rachel, what's prepared in this memo looks good to me and was what I was hoping to see based
on the conversations we've had so far.
Thomas: Yeah, I'd like to ... to thank staff. It's a very, um, comprehensive list, lots of issues covered.
Uh, it was nice to see that, um, there was reference to a statewide Climate Action Plan. I think
on a number of these issues the more we can see consistency and alignment, uh, from the City
through the Metro through to the State, it seems the, you know, the ... whatever the issue may be,
it will ... it will get better attention and perhaps more acceleration.
Mims: I would agree with ... with John. It's very comprehensive, and what's interesting is that is, um, it's
different than what we have tried to do in a lot of years past, in terms of trying to focus on a few
issues, but I think this is, uh, a very different year and ... and a lot of different things on our plate
that really, um, I think it's ... are important for us to put out there as priorities, even if we don't
see much movement at the State level, and I would concur with everybody else. The more
alignment we can have, um, with the ... the other cities in the state, the better.
Weiner: Yeah, and I just add really briefly that we don't know what the State legislature is gonna look
like. We will... presumably within a day or two, um, and that could really change some of the
things that we're able to help push forward this year.
COVID-19 Update:
Teague: All right, well, sound like we have some direction from Council on this. So thanks, Rachel, for
doin' this and really appreciate it. And we'll have it on our agenda next, um, next meeting.
So ... all right, well move on to ... unless there's anything else, well move on to COVID-19. Any
updates there?
Fruin: No updates from staff, but we're happy to try to answer any questions that you may have.
Teague: Well we know that Halloween just finished and (laughs) we also know that, um, there will be
some holidays coming up, and so just to people out there who want, of course, the celebrations,
we know ...will happen. We just want people to be aware of COVID-19 is still present in our
community and do what you canto protect yourself. Wearin' mask is very important, it's
proven to be, uh, probably the best defense, uh, in addition to hand washing and stayin' six feet
away. So just wanna make sure that people are adhering to those as, um, and keep it in the ... in
the forefront of their minds.
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Weiner: So, uh, my..my propensity for talking about COVID hasn't gone away. Um, the number ...our
numbers are spiking statewide. We've been ... relatively speaking because I believe of the face
covering mandate, fairly fortunate in Johnson County so far. Um, but our numbers aren't in the
10s and 20s anymore. There ... they were at 53 today. They were at 80 or 90 the other day, or
60. It's, um, it is ... it's a serious matter, and it's a serious matter statewide. We're hitting record
hospitalizations in the state every single day for the past number of days. Um, UIHC is ... is
ending up with patients from all over the state. Um, and ... the, um, it's gotten to the point where
the CEO, the CEO of UI ... UIHC put an op-ed in the local papers, in the Press -Citizen and ... and
spoke to reporters from the Gazette as well, and he said that we are again in danger of losing
control of this pandemic in Iowa. Our COVID positivity rates skyrocketed twice before, but
this is the first time that we've seen rates this high, while also dealing with record patient
hospitalizations. It will require immediate behavior modification by each one of us. If COVID
cases continue to increase on the same trajectory, the healthcare system as we know it will look
very different in 30 days. And I don't think that's anything any of us want. There's some
hospitals in north and north -central Iowa that currently have zero beds available. Um, so he
exhorts Iowans to avoid indoor, in-person gatherings. As you said, Mayor, to wear a mask, stay
six feet apart from those you don't live with, wash your hands frequently, and then I was ... I had
a brief conversation with Dr. Jorge Salinas at the U ... UIHC chief epidemiologist, who echoed
that and also stressed that we really should be limiting indoor gatherings to ... limit gatherings at
all to no more than 25 people. Um, so we as a city don't have the power to impose any of that,
but ... but, you know, as tired as we all are of this, the virus isn't getting tired of it. So, please do
whatever you can.
Teague: Yes, it is certainly serious out there and I appreciate you chiming in on that as well.
Taylor: And to echo what Janice (garbled) about the hospitals, uh, I still know several nurses that work
there and they say the ones that are there, the COVID patients are there, are very, very ill. Uh,
they're on the ventilators, they're needing the ventilators, and if...this is very serious and people
need to keep, uh, believing that it's a serious issue and ... but ... but to stay well, stay safe, and
follow the guidelines. Please follow the guidelines.
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:
Teague: All right. Well ... we will continue to do what we can to promote COVID, um (laughs) uh,
seriousness within our community. Um, and we just ask that people really do what they can to
keep themselves and others safe. We're going to move on to the next item on our agenda, which
is the Black Lives Matter movement and systemic racism. I do know that, um, we have a ... so
there's a lot, you know, a part of this. So I wonder if we didn't take a little time just to look
at ... the ... I think its in our 10/29 info packet, just the status report of the Black Lives Matter and
systemic racism, kind of look at that report. I know that, uh, our City Manager Geoff had a
memo for affordable housin' as well, which we could also potentially bring up durin' this time
and talk about that. But I thought we might want to just take a ... a .... a moment and just look at
where we are, um, with everything on that report, just to make sure that we're on task. And if
we need to accelerate anything or review anything, we can do that now. Are people comfortable
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with that? All right, if I can share my screen... because I do believe I have it up. Let me see.
All right, are you all seeing ... the progress summary? Okay, great. Creat. All right, so I'll just
go up here a little bit to the ... um, I don't know, I ... I tend to go up here (laughs) and look at every
item, and then go down below. So maybe we'll just start up top and just go down below, and
then just jump in and ... and give some comments about where ... where we think we are. So, um,
first is the development, a preliminary plan to restructure Iowa City PD towards community
policing. We have tasked that to the City staff, City Manager's office, and then we'll be getting
that report. Um, I think the latest is in December, so...
Weiner: Um, I ... I think as a part of that, I mean, the ... we're doing things as we go along also as ... as ... in
addition to the greater restructuring. But I'd really like to ... to point out the ... the memo or the
that was ... that was in our packet and that has been released to the public about, um, the ... the
approach toward traffic enforcement and the chain ... the changed approach for at least a ... a ... a
pilot program, which is very similar to what they were doing in Lansing, Michigan, which
strikes me as a really positive approach.
Teague: Yes ... and I wonder if (garbled) can just mention a little bit (garbled) I don't know that we have,
um, the interim police chief here.
Fruin: Yeah, um, Chief Brotherton's on ... on the call here. Um, Denise, do you wanna talk a little bit
about that ... that traffic memo?
Brotherton: Okay, can you hear me?
Teague: Yes!
Brotherton: All right. Yeah. So we instituted this back, um, last week on October 29th and it is a pilot
project, but it's something that we hope works well and that we'll continue, um, to implement
and, you know, it's focusing more on those safety violations that we want our traffic, uh,
focused on and not, um, equipment violations, though those can be a safety-related issue. And
so we ... if you read through it you'll see we divided them up between primary and secondary.
Now we still want to maintain, um, public safety, and so there will be times that, you know, a
stop could be made, but they'll have to articulate why they made that secondary stop and how
that applied to the bigger picture of...of public safety. We've, uh, had lots of discussions with
the officers and their understanding of it and ... feel that they can do their jobs and continue to,
you know, keep our streets safe and ... and, um, you know, make sure that everyone feels like
they're treated fairly and that our intentions are based on community safety.
Teague: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right, so we'll be getting, um, a report from ... as to
what those efforts look like, I guess. Um, I .... is that a six-month trial period?
Brotherton: So we didn't put a timeline on it. We have .... in 60 days we'll be looking at the data and...
and so we'll ... well be looking for compliance, and then we'll be also looking how does this
affect street safety. Do we see our collisions going up. (talking in background) Uh, that's....
that's our main focus, you know, um, what ... what a lot of equipment violations are stopped for
is at night, you know (mumbled) they may stop that. Taillight out and you'll have the drunk
driver that you may not have stopped... where they could have gotten to a crash later. That's
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what we'll be looking at. Do we see some of those crashes increasing in those late night hours
because we're not getting some of those drunk drivers. Cause the overall... what... what do we
want, again, public safety. We ... we wanna keep our crashes down. That's why we conduct
traffic stops. So that's what we'll be looking... did... did it make that big of a difference in
(talking in background) not making the secondary violation stops. You know, did it affect our
crash rates... and... and that is really our ...our main focus. Does it affect our OWI rates? Um,
and then again we'll also want to look at compliance, uh, which, you know, I feel we won't have
an issue with, the officers are understanding of it, and it is as ... we looked at the data, a small
portion of the stops that are actually made are for those secondary, uh, equipment violations.
Teague: Great, thank you.
Thomas: I just wanted to quickly, uh, make a few comments on this. You know, my understanding, it's
a ... it's a I think referenced as a 60 -day pilot, something to that effect. So I do ... I think that's
fine, you know, let's ... let's look at how things, uh, you know, the ... the data changes, uh, over that
period. I ... I did have some comments though related to some of the items that are still
considered primary violations, and in my mind this wasn't a question of necessarily, uh, no
longer doing the enforcement, but how ...how do we do the enforcement? Uh, and is it possible
to ... to provide the enforcement without necessarily doing so with a traffic stop. And so ... so
one ... a few of the things that fell under that category for me, under primary violations, would be
things like the, uh, expired license plates, the two or more inoperable tail or brake lights, uh,
possibly the failure to wear a seat belt or child restraints. It ... it seems like some of these things,
uh, could be addressed by a field, the field operations where they would note ... note the violation
and then, uh, contact the ... die, uh, the owner of the vehicle through the mail, uh, that such a
violation took place, uh, rather than having the traffic stop. Uh, and part of my feeling about
the ... that is that, um, the ... the risks involved with the traffic stop, if it's ... if it's not something that
seems to have a significant impact on safety. Are there ways we can enforce the law without
having that traffic stop, which from the data I was reading is considered to be the most
dangerous interaction our police officers have with the public, followed by domestic violence
calls. Uh, for example, uh, I ran across a ... a statistic that between 2000 and 2009, 118 police
officers were killed, uh, as a result of traffic stops. So it's not just the violence that could occur
with the .... of police on the public, but of public on the police. So my hope is ... is we can try to
come up with ... with ways in which we can use technology to help us with law, traffic law
enforcement. Um, and of course, you know, when it gets more into the moving violation issues,
that clearly requires police action, but ... we still have what I would call equipment failure type
stuff that's considered to be a primary traffic violation.
Brotherton: I ... I would just like to know that (mumbled) after dusk, and that's why they became
primary when you have those lights out, uh, because that's a significant safety issue. You can't
see the back of a car or the headlights aren't on and ... and I would just add, with the seat belts
that making that stuff and having the person put the seat belt on may save them down the street
if they get in a crash. So it doesn't always end up in a citation. Sometimes we can just fix that
problem ... right there or, you know, they know they can get that ... we can give them that bulbs
ticket or if it's someone that isn't in that situation, just didn't know the lights were out or
sometimes you have those newer cars where you don't know your headlights are on it. It looks
like they are, and therefore stop `em and they can switch those headlights on real quick. And so
we can prevent a crash, cause that's our ultimate goal is really to prevent those crashes in those
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lights on and those seat belts on and those kids in those car seats. Sometimes we can help get
the kid in the car seat or get them right away to the fire department to get a car seat, and we can
get that done really quickly before someone gets hurt.
Teague: All right. We'll move on to the next one, and this is, um, receive a report from the ICPD
involvin' in the use of tear gas and flash bang devices. So we have this. Um, do we have any
updates on where we are?
Fruin: Um, I ... I don't have any updates other than to say I know that they are making progress, uh,
because we've, uh, we're aware that they've been conducting interviews. Um, so the 90 days
was, uh, that ... that clock really started in September. So I think we're gettin' pretty close. But I
don't have a ... a date from the OAR group yet.
Teague: Okay. Increase accountability and oversight authority of CPRB where legally possible. We do
have this a part of our, uh, legislative priorities. And I know that there has been, uh, in some of
the reports from CPRB, some of their efforts or discussions, as well, on this.
Fruin: Yes, that ... that commission is actively putting together recommendations for Council
consideration.
Teague: Great. Improved transparency and accessibility of detailed ICPD budget expenditures.
believe that's still on our website. Is that correct?
Fruin: Yeah, we ... we put up some additional information on the current budget and then, uh, once we
get through the ... the budget this year, we'll... we'll expand on that with the ... the new budget.
Teague: And then this says the review of, uh, inventory of military -grade equipment in Iowa City PD.
Um, I know that we have listed the materials, um, but we really haven't had a conversation
about the inventory. Is that fair to say?
Fruin: We ... that information was in your packet probably a month or...month and a half ago.
Mims: Yeah, I mean that was marked as done on ... as you scroll down, and I guess I thought it was
because, um, we had had the memo from the City Manager, um, on that, and we had that
opportunity to discuss it. I don't recall if we did much discussion, and then the MRF letter was
sent. So my understanding was ... as the ... it, the, uh, chart indicates that that one is done.
Teague: Yeah, I ... I guess for me what I recall, of course, we saw the list of material. What I recall from
the conversation is one, w still have a study coming back and we're askin' a part of that study.
what can we use, um, should somethin' like, you know, should we have an event where we need
to crowd control. If...if that's the most appropriate tern to us. Um, because I personally didn't
feel educated enough to make decisions on, uh, what are appropriate equipment to use, um, you
know, if there should be, um, an attack on a ... a specific group or...or, you know, on our city. So
we need to ensure that we have somethin', um, some tools, um, that we can utilize if needed,
but I just didn't feel educated personally on what to keep and take away. Is it fair to say
that ... this is somethin' that we're waiting for the report back on the event of...of June and
hopefully see what the recommendations are there?
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Frain: Yeah, Mayor, we have, uh, one more use of force kind of review left, so we ... we initially made...
we made some initial changes, excuse me, to our use of force policy in the police department.
Um, but we still need to go back into that use of force policy and really focus on, um, use of
force during, um, protests and ... and really kind of defining, um, what ... what the available
resources are to the department, what the appropriate resources are, what's a peaceful protest,
what's not a peaceful protest ... I mean those are really tough discussions that ... that we need to
have, um, and I think it makes sense that, uh, we do that after the (mumbled) our report is ... is in
hand, so that there's a ... a better understanding of exactly, um, what happened, um, on that day,
and then, um, yes. Any recommendations that that group has for alternative approaches, uh,
training, uh, best practices, that sort of thing, uh, would be great to incorporate. Um, this is
something that a lot of police departments across the country are talking about. So I imagine
there'll be other policy updates from across the country that we can look at as well, um, in a few
months.
Teague: Okay. So then the next one is general order to expressly ban the use of choke holds and any
maneuver that cuts off oxygen or blood flow. We did that. And then ... Iowa City Police
Department policy and practice to consider whether Iowa H ... House File 2647 ensurin' police
officers in Iowa have not committed serious misconduct.
Frain: Mayor, this is one, um, we ... we have the policy and practice in place, but there was a new State
law, uh, passed, uh, late spring, early summer, um, and we're waiting for the rules of that new
law to come out, just so we can make sure that ... that we're gonna follow the prop... the proper
State reporting mechanisms. Um, so again, this is one that, uh, I feel like we're already there
100%, um, but there's gonna be some new, uh, reporting communication requirements on cities
and police departments. Once those are released we'll be able to ... to ... to ensure that, uh, we're
compliant and then, uh, move this over to the fully accomplished. It's just not something that's
within our control as far as the time frame goes.
Teague: Great. The next one is invest... investigate compliance and evaluate disciplinary action related
to proper use of body cameras and vehicle recording devices.
Frain: This has been done.
Teague: Uh huh. And the next is ensure the duty to intervene and stop excessive force, and both ICPD
general order and ... and MOU with an area law enforcement agency. So I know we did this. We
sent that out to other law enforcement agencies. And then pro ... prohibit use of tear gas, rubber
bullets, and flash bangs against peaceful protesters. Um, that was City, uh, directives to our
police department. That's been done. (mumbled) 2021 State legislative priorities, um, and we
just did this. And of course it talked about, um, authority, enhance authority for the CPRB, and
decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana. That was also included in that language. So
we've done that.
Mims: I just (garbled) second to clarify. When I look at the chart, which for me is easier to go by
because it shows what is and isn't done, it doesn't show the tear gas, rubber bullets, flash bangs.
I thought that was still something we would be talking about more after this report came back.
That's not something that's been actually completed, is it?
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Teague: So ... I ... I think (both talking)
Mims: It ... it follows the same word, note ... right there. Yes, it's not done. It's still in process because
it ... won't part of that come out of this report? And so that further discussion.
Fruin: Correct. That's what I was alluding to earlier is that that's really what, um, we need to do is we
need to go back into the use of force general order and make ... make changes. What the ... the
amendment to the use of force was, um, that was already done, uh, has to do with those, uh,
airway restricting maneuvers in the choke hold. So we did that right away. But we have to go
back in a second time to address crowd control protests, uh, and ... and those types of incidents.
Mims: Right, that's what I thought. Thank you.
Teague: Okay. And I can go off the bottom if that is easier for people to see.
Mims: I don't know that it's easier to see, but I think for public that are watching on Zoom, if they
haven't looked at our packet, I think it might be helpful for them to be seeing this as we're
talking about it, cause then they can also see the chart and how we have the chart marked, in
terms of where we are, rather than just listening to the discussion. They can see it visually,
might be helpful.
Teague: Okay. All right, well, I'll continue here. Everyone can see the chart and then ... urn, awaiting
Council action is the first column; plannin' or action currently underway is the second; and then
some or all actions accomplished is the third column. So then we're at the Truth and
Reconciliation, develop Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and we are underway with that.
Um, we have November 10`s, if I recall, by 5:00 P.M. is when anyone interested in bein' a part
of that commission, application needs to be submitted to the City.
Weiner: Please apply!
Teague: Yes.
Weiner: If you out there who are interested, please put in applications.
Teague: Yeah. All right. And then one million committed to the social justice, racial equity efforts and
affordable housing plan. We do have a memo from Geoff. Um, I don't know if we wanna bring
that up now or just save that for later in the discussion now. We'll come back to that affordable
housing plan. All right. Uh, but that is underway, and then the 100 ... the $1 million
commitment to social justice, racial equity efforts. We haven't totally started to earmark those
funds, um, as Council, but I anticipate that we'll be, um, utilizin' those funds really quickly...
when some of these commissions and, uh, some of the affordable housing plans get underway.
Equitable recruitment, hiring (noise in background) staff training.
Fruin: This is a ... this is a tricky one. I don't know where to put the, uh, the circle, so to speak, on this
one because it's ... it's been something that we've been doin' for five years and it's gonna be
somethin' we're gonna be doin' forever going forward. I don't think you're ever ...done with this
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one. But technically, we've ... we've provided Council with the information that you requested
about, um, our ...our, um, changes we've made to hiring processes and recruitment processes.
Um, about our workplace demographics, you have all that information and in ... in one of those
documents we even kind of, uh, foreshadowed some of the additional things that we'll be
looking at this coming year. So, you can move this over to complete, but what I think we all
just need to know, ifs ... it's never (laughs) it's never complete.
Teague: Any ...any follow up thoughts on this?
Mims: I guess my thought would be to leave it as in process and not put it in the complete column,
because I think it would be easy for somebody to look at this and see it marked as complete and
think that we're no longer working on it. So while it may look ... look like we haven't
accomplished what we set out to do right now, as Geoff said, you know, they've given us a
report on the things that have been done and are ongoing, and we just need to understand and
help communicate that to the public, that this is never gonna stop. This is ... this will always be
an ongoing issue. So we ... I think if we kinda keep it in that column, it keeps ... helps keep our
eyes on (garbled) so...
Taylor: We almost need a column that just says ongoing, continuing.
Teague: Yeah, some things I think you're correct. It .... it's be ongoin' and continuing. Um, such as the
next one, which is the racial and equity toolkit expansion of use ... in education. Now that's
something that I think will... continue to be used ongoing but also educating, um, as well. The
next is increase art, plus celebrations of communities of color. And so this is, um, is kind of in
the ... actions in progress. I'm not certain. I ... I guess it's still in the waiting, uh, City Council
action, and a lot of that has to do with the, uh, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, I believe
there ... it was tasked to them ... to ... to do some celebrations.
Fruin: Yeah, so ... so this one's, uh (mumbled) markers on there. We've ... we've started, your Public Art
Advisory Commission has been workin' hard on this and, uh, you've seen a little bit of that
work filter up your way. Um, but ... but the specific language in the resolution also, um, calls for
a public festival dedicated to the celebration of black culture, and that's... that's what we're really
waiting on that direction from, and, uh, I don't know if that's gonna, if...if Council wants to have
a conversation about that or if that's something that you'd ask the, uh, the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission to consider, um, during their ...during their, um, during their
deliberations, um, but that's... that's one ... I guess what we're trying to signal with that one is that
staff is not actively working on, um, a festival of that nature, that ... that we're lookin' for a little
bit more direction from ... from somebody on that.
Teague: I...I think personally that can, uh, go on to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Fruin: Okay.
Teague: Any other comments? And then the last is establish Juneteenth as an official City holiday. I
know that there was some ... I don't know where the City is with this, because I understand
with ... the number of holidays already agreed upon and what the union ... I'm not sure if...this has
been kind of solidified, finalized.
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Fruin: Yeah. This one, um, I'd say we're ... we're 80% of the way there maybe, um, and, uh, hopefully
by the time you meet again, this will be a ... a done deal. We have, uh, holidays are ... are
bargained, um, and we have three collective, uh, bargaining units. And so it's just been working
with each of those units who, uh, have been very receptive to the idea, um, but they have to get
votes of their membership, they have to get feedback from their membership, and ... and we have
to develop, uh, side letters, um, to, um, address that in the, um, bargaining agreements
themselves. So, uh, we've got one more union, uh, to finalize that with and I ... I hope that that's,
uh, done here in the next week or so, and then we'll get that announcement out.
Teague: Okay. All right. Well, it doesn't look like anything actually moves on ... on this chart. Um,
once we do our legislative priorities, that'll move ... that looks like that's gonna be in the near
future. There's a few others in the near future. Some does require the OAR report, um, before
it can move But ... all right! We've gone through that just to get us a little bit up to speed on that.
Any additional comments... anyone like, would like to say? If not...
Mims: I would. I'm sorry, I was slow to quick the unmute button. Um, I would just like to, you know,
thank staff for, you know, the efforts that they've made, um, to do an awful lot of the heavy
lifting since we passed the resolution. Obviously Councilors Weiner and Bergus on the Truth
and Reconciliation ordinance, but I think it's helpful and I appreciate, Mayor, you taking the
time to go through this, um, item by item tonight, because I think it's easy for the public to feel
like we haven't really done anything or we're... deliberately slowing things down or whatever.
And I just ... I would say to people, please try to have faith that we ... we hear you. We heard
(garbled) summer. We still hear you. We're trying to work on this. We are working on this. A
lot of these things do take time, um, but I think we've gotten an awful lot accomplished in a
relatively short period of time. Um, I think the public input sessions that we had this fall were
very much—very helpful and very much appreciated by the members of the public that came,
and we're gonna continue! Um, we're ... we're not letting this stuff slide. We take it very
seriously, um, and were gonna continue with that. So while it takes a while to go through every
single one of these items, um, probably it's a good thing to do. Maybe one meeting a month and
maybe doesn't need to take this long every single time. But to kind of run through those
and ... and refresh everybody's mind where we are, what we've gotten accomplished, and kind of
what things are on people's plate, um, as we move forward, because I,1 mean, I feel really
strongly that this Council and our staff take all of this very seriously and very, very committed
to continuing to work on.
Clarification ofA¢enda Items:
Teague: Great! All right, if nothin' else, we'll do clarification of agenda items. Hearing none ... we will
go to October 22°a info... information packet, and we do have ... from there ... maybe we'll go
ahead and do that now as well. Um, is the proposed Council meeting schedule. So while
people are thinking about what they want to talk about from that packet, I'll just bring up the
schedule for the January through April 2021. Um, I think everything is our typical Tuesday
through ... uh, Tuesday sessions first and third, um, Tuesdays of the month.
Mims: I was just gonna ask a question. I have been, um, well actually, what ... is the University having
spring break or...I was gonna start to ask if that 16th was during spring break, and are some
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schools are canceling spring break, and now I'm forgetting if Iowa has...
Weiner: I ... I think they canceled it. I mean, I can't ... I don't know ...do we have a ... is Ryan ... Ryan there,
but I thought that I remember they canceled.
Longenecker: Yes, uh, the University of Iowa did, um, cancel spring break for this year. And so we are,
uh, they're adding an extra week to winter break. Um, so we come back ... I think that last week
of January now. Um, and then we also have two like random off days, um, one in March and
one in April, I believe.
Mims: Okay. Thank you. I was just questioning that March 16th, just making sure that we weren't
hitting spring break. But I was thinking that was canceled. Um, I really appreciate the way
scheduling is done for the budget. I think we've managed to condense this somewhat from what
it was 5, 6, 7 years ago (laughs) um, so I know it's a lot of work for staff and I know from
Geoff's Friday memo, they're deep into that right now getting all that ready for us. So, um, it
makes for a couple of longer days, but that Saturday, uh, for our special work session and then,
uh, that following Tuesday, you know, just combining that CIP session with our regular meeting
certainly makes the scheduling easier. So as far as I'm concerned, the schedule looks fine.
Teague: I ... I personally would like to propose that we move the first... Saturday, uh, the department
budget Saturday (mumbled) the following Saturday, which would be the 9th of January. Um, I
can give all types of reasons and rationales, but I ... I think for the sake of, um everybody having
a little (laughs) opportunity not to rush back if they're out of town ... with family, staff included,
um, that we ... because the 1 st is the day before. Um, so that's what ... that would be my
recommendation. I don't know if any other Councilors would support that or if staff has any
thoughts or comments about movin' that.
Fruin: It's not a concern to staff at all. That ... it works just the same for us. It ... ultimately there is a firm
end date in which you have to have your budget adopted and ... and staff needs a few weeks prior
to that to prepare everything and get the State forms ready. So I ... I think the only risk to it is ... is
you take a week out, uh, from that time frame, which just shortens your deliberation period.
Mims: rm fine with going with the 9'h if that's the preference of...of the majority, but I can work with
either one. I ... I hear the Mayor's point. If people do wanna do any traveling and with the
holiday, since the holiday's on Friday, um, to have that entire weekend and not have to be
rushed back. I ... I also hear City Manager's point, and we may have some tough discussions.
So I think, in any event, I think we need to be prepared that we might have to schedule, um, a
special meeting to get through all of our discussions on the budget.
Teague: One thing I might add is that in the ... in the month of January, we do have five Saturdays and
not four, if that helps anyone (laughs) um, but ... (laughs)
Taylor: Well, when you put (garbled) that sounds pretty reasonable. Uh, I ... I would go either way too,
either the 2nd or the 9th would be fine. But as Susan said, be aware that we may since this is
kind of a different times now, we may have to throw another meeting in there somewhere
during the week.
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Bergus: (mumbled) the 2°d or the 91 also.
Weiner: I join the wishy-washy crew, doesn't really matter. So (laughs)
Teague: Okay. So is it ... so is it fair to say that we'll look at the 9th as being the Saturday (several
talking, garbled) when we camp out all day (laughs)
Mims: Yeah, let's give everybody that holiday weekend.
Teague: Great!
Mims: Good suggestion.
Teague: Great, and then so ... what about the CIP budget meeting. Do we want to just ... push that
through the 19a'? Do we want to have, um, you know, a special meeting ... tor that?
Mims: Does it really matter to you, Geoff, which order we do `em in, I mean, I know this would be
different than we normally do it, but does it really matter?
Fruin: No, it really doesn't matter. I suggest you just keep it on the 51.
Teague: All right, we'll do it. Okay. Okay. All right. So I think Kellie got that and Geoff got that
change. Any other items on 10/22 info... information packet people wanna bring up?
Bergus: Um, just relating to our December schedule and the ... can we expect that the work session on
the 15th will include the preliminary plan for the police department and is that enough time?
Fruin: Um, yeah, so my...my goal would be, um, to get that report out in that information packet that
precedes the 15th. Um, but I hate to, um, I know there's a lot of work to do to pull this plan
together. So, um, if I'm ... if I don't meet that December 10th deadline, then I would actually be
releasing it on the 15th in a special packet, um, and I'd be happy to kind of, you know, walk
you through that at the ... at your work session, but I just don't expect that you'll have a whole lot
of time to ... to really review it. And frankly, even if it comes out on the 10th, you're probably
going to struggle to review it all cause it's... it's... it's going to be fairly lengthy.
Mims: It is a preliminary plan and we put that word preliminary in there for a reason (laughs)
Bergus: Maybe a different way of asking the question is do we want to have a meeting where we
actually have a chance to go through it.
Fruin: Yeah, it's really up to you and how you wanna process that. It's going to be a fairly lengthy
document, um, and if you prefer to have a little bit of time just to kind of read that yourselves
and then talk about it, that's fine. If you'd rather have me kind of walk you through at a high
level ... what the sections are and what kind of the higher level recommendations are, I'm happy
to do that on the 15th or any other day.
Mims: I think doing that on the 15th, you know, to ... to have the City Manager really kind of walk us
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through it. Um, and ... and kind of give us his take on, you know, where we need to maybe focus
our energies and efforts in looking at it and the real new pieces, etc., might be helpful before we
spend hours reading it and diving through it as well. So even if we don't get it till the 15th and
don't have a chance to really, um, spend a lot of time reading it, I think his introduction to it
could be very helpful. And then, you know, we've got the holiday along with our budget that
we can just, uh, spend on City business.
Bergus: That sounds like a good plan to me if other people are agreeable to that, and then just making
sure that we move into the new year with, um, our new police chief will be coming on, I think
the second week in January if that's right, and just making sure that we have some plan to circle
back so that we're actually addressing the plan and evaluating it moving forward in the new
year.
Teague: Yeah, I mean I think that works. The ... at least for me, I think the public weighing in on it is
pretty important as well. And so ... if, you know, the preliminary plan, I ... I assume probably
won't totally be ... voted on, you know, it'll just be discussed, uh, which is good, and then we'll
be able to get input from the community and then Council will be able to make some, uh, final
decisions and ... and deliberate as to what we want. So ... I ... I think this ... this would be a good
plan just realizin' that, um .... public will have an opportunity to weigh in.
Frain: Yeah, I really think this is a plan that you ... you modify and adopt in the spring. Um, it's not
gonna be somethin' that you're gonna wanna adopt in January or probably in February, because
it's going to take a lot of time for the community to ... kind of soak it in and raise additional
thoughts that ... that, um, they have and for you all to consider those. So, definitely don't feel
rushed about this one. Um, that plan needs to breathe a little bit before you...you put die ... die
final stamp on it.
Teague: All right. Anything else before we move on to information packet, uh, 10/29? So there's two
items from information packet that we wanna go through and that's IP6 and IP8. While people
are gathering their thoughts on any other item that they wanna discuss, uh, why don't we go
ahead and have our City Manager Geoff Frain, uh, kinda just update us on the, um, affordable
housing plan, um, that was submitted, the memo there.
Frain: Yeah, I'll be pretty brief here. Um, the Council asked for staff to put together kind of a
framework, how to go about the plan and ... and most of the Council Members have been a part
of...of a number of different planning efforts and know there's a couple of ways to go about it.
Um, you know, one of the more traditional ways is to hire a consultant and have the consultant
lead you through a public process and compile it. Um, those processes can be valuable and
we've used `em for a number of master plans that we've done, uh, that have been very
successful. But they're also very time consuming, I mean just the process of selecting a
consultant's gonna take you four to five months usually. Um, so with this one, um, I think as
staff we recognize we have a lot of, um, really knowledgeable and talented people here in the
community that are passionate about affordable housing, and so we feel confident that, uh, we
could get a committee together, um, much like we did, um, for the inclusion area zoning
ordinance, uh, in Riverfront Crossings. So it's not even a Council -appointed committee, which
as you know carries with it, um, time and effort to put together, uh, based on what you've, uh,
recently done with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but this would be more of a ... a
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staff led committee, um, where we're bringin' people in, uh, that we think could be really
effective in developing a plan and, um, letting that group develop a set of recommendations that
we ultimately present to you. Um, I think, uh, I ... I think we'd be able to do it fairly quickly, um,
and I know that there's a lot of people in this community that would ... would love to kind of be a
part of that ... that planning process. So, um, from a basic step standpoint, um, we would want to
have an initial work session with you, just so we can make sure we're understanding your
expectations of the plan and what is it that you're... you're, um, hoping to address. Um ... uh,
what's kind of the tolerance, uh, or desire to increase the budget considerably. I mean, it's
helpful to know, are we kind of working at a status quo budget and thinkin' about how we use
existing (garbled) or are we dreaming a little bit bigger and ... and hoping that well be able to
provide more funding behind it. Um, we would then spend, uh, a little bit of time pullin'...
pullin' together a committee and then, um, using some of the, uh, early 2021 census updates
from the American Community Survey to ... to really, um, just make sure we're all working off
the same data and that were ... we're, um, understanding, uh, what the current situation is and
what the trends are in the community. Um, we would take a look back at how we've been
spending money. Um, we would develop a public input strategy and ... and really look to, um,
have some good meaningful public input sessions in the community. And then with this plan, I
think it would be really helpful to be very intentional about the programs that we're ... we're
developing or policies that we're... we're... we're thinking about, to really focus in on those ... on
those different income, uh, levels of the spectrum. So what are we really thinking at for those,
um, 0 to 30% area median income households versus the, uh, 30 to 60%, versus 60 to 100% and
almost kind of develop strategies for each of those segments. What would be the top two, three,
four, or five strategies for each of those, um, income brackets, and then, um, weave those into
a ... into a final plan, uh, at the end. A couple of the other things that we really wanna look at,
um, would be, um, the, uh, regulatory piece of this. This is kind of that one piece of our initial
plan that we never ...we never fully got to, but really look at how do we make more of the
housing decisions by right and a little bit easier, um, and that's gonna be lookin' again at local
and state regulations, and then I think it would be really helpful, um, to look at non -housing
related burdens on households, um, and really try to do some type of analysis to ... to make sure
that, um, the ... the dollar spending in affordable housing maybe couldn't go, um, couldn't go a
little bit further and help those same families in a place like ... or, you know, in like childcare or
transportation, um, because it can be really expensive to ... to ... to, um, make that progress with...
with affordable housing, and so I'm not ... by no means sayin' that we shouldn't be investing
there, but I think we should be looking also at, um, the total household cost burden and not
just ... not just housing. How does transportation play into that? How does healthcare play into
that? And just see if there's some strategies that might stretch our dollars a little bit better and
provide the same relief, uh, or similar relief to ... to those households in the community. Uh,
with ... might be a little bit ambitious, but I would like to try to get back to you in October with a
set of recommendations. So really I think what we're looking for tonight from you all is ... kind
of a ... does the process make sense or are you looking for something a little bit, um, more similar
to, um, that first scenario I described, which is let's ... lets hire a consultant to ... who can kinda
guide us through this process and maybe spend ... twice as much time on it, but ... but maybe get a
better product or maybe a comp ... more comprehensive set of perspectives, uh, based on their
expertise and maybe their knowledge of other communities.
Mims: I guess my thought is ... your comment, Geoff, about, yeah, we have a lot of...expertise in this
community and ... and people who are (garbled) and put a lot of time into this, and I think maybe
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have a better sense of what can work in this community. Not to say that consultants couldn't
bring us some other ideas, but I think ... to spend, you know, maybe twice as long, by the time we
go out and hire consultants and pay that money, when we're at a time of also kind of wondering
what our budget's gonna look like over the next two to three years. I'd rather start using this
approach. Um, it doesn't mean that we can't in the future, you know, go back out and say, hey,
you know, we've done this. We've tried this. We ... we need to do more, and maybe the next time
around we do consultants, but I'm ... I'm comfortable with what staff has proposed. I think it
allows us to get an awful lot of input, um, use the resources we have in the community, and I ... I
really like the idea of breaking down, um, by the three segmentations of median income to look
at different strategies for each of those. I think that's really a good idea, as well.
Taylor: I liked your... your, uh, comment, Geoff, too about the, uh, non -housing cost burdens, and I
think, uh, when we're looking at this affordable housing plan, we do have to look at the whole
big picture. We can give them all the money they need for housing, but they could still be really
challenged when it comes to some of the other costs in their life — childcare and you mentioned
healthcare, uh, can really, uh, blow people out of the water financially. So I think that ... that's a
good point to also keep that in mind.
Thomas: Yeah, I would agree. I think the, um, household concept, uh, is ... is an important one. And,
um, for example, um, you know, typically I think housing and transportation are the two largest
household expenses. And, um, I've often felt that that's really the framework we should be
looking at is trying to, uh, identify ways to reduce household expenses as it relates to both of
those items, uh, rather than simply looking at...at the affordable housing component. For
example, if we ... if we can get a ... if a ... if a household consists of two adults and we can get the
transportation down to one automobile, as opposed to one automobile per adult, uh, that's a
significant change in the household expenses. I mean, that's a major, major reduction. So it,
you know, if we can advance our transportation systems in such a way that households can
make ... have that choice, you know, you're talking very ...very possibly 600 to $700 a month in
reduced household expenses. I think another way of...trying to bring in the work of not ... not ... I
agree that I think we should try this, uh, sort of in-house, so to speak, or with... with... with our
own resources. I ... I think it would also be helpful to be looking at studies that ... and ... and
programs that have been done elsewhere, to try to learn from ... from those exercises. In a way
would be bringing in, you know, the ... the lessons learned from ... from those programs, and
I've ... I've mentioned to Councilors... the Invest Des Moines, as one example. Uh, Cedar Rapids
has some programs, a number of cities have ... have programs, uh, that we could be looking at
and trying to learn from.
Weiner: (mumbled) in the age of Zoom, as we seem to be (mumbled) endlessly we can bring in, um, to
meetings potentially experts from around the state and even around... around the country,
potentially what... depending on where we end up. Um, I think this idea's ... you know, if Af it
turns out we need something, we could potentially have someone ... to hire someone as a
facilitator to get all these folks, um, working together, but I did wanna ask on the ... when you...
when you list the people or the groups that you would include, Geoff, um, under local housing
advocates, does that include all the lo ... was that ... was that sort of a catch-all for all the local
groups, such as the Affordable Housing Coalition, Habitat for Humanity, and so forth?
Fruin: Yeah, you know, um, I'd say with this ... with this memo, I was really ...tried to be focused on
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the ... the how, not the who. Um, I wanted make sure you were comfortable with the ... with the
process. Um, and I listed those, the ... kind of eight categories, although I'd said, you know, the
commission is probably 10 to 12 people. So you might double -up in some of those areas, but
number one is the Iowa City nonprofit housing providers and funders. So that's gonna be a
subset of groups, and then you've got local housing advocates on there too. Um, I didn't name
specific organizations, uh, cause I just really didn't want that to be the focus, uh, tonight. Um,
I ... I did ... I did list the realtors, the, um, Apartment Association and the Home Builders, and kind
of what my distinction was in my mind there is that I really look at those three groups as being
spokespersons for that entire industry, and I just wasn't sure that there was one group that spoke
for all the non-profit kind of housing providers and funders and advocates out there. So I left
that pretty general, but, um, if this framework's acceptable, we would start to ... start to drill
down and ... and really identify the, uh, the folks that can, um, you know, are, one, excited to
contribute and two, that would have a lot to offer. So, um, I guess the short answer is yes, they
all get kind of lumped into that number one and number eight.
Weiner: Thank...
Teague: I think for me at least with the number one and number eight, um, specifically, who isn't, you
know, who's going to be under those... groups is pretty important because we've had so many
people in our community that are, I mean really movin' the needle when it comes down to
affordable housing and, uh, Councilor (mumbled) mentioned Affordable, um, Housin'
Coalition, Habitat for Humanity's, and then even (mumbled) group. Um, these are people that
have done a lot of hard work in our community and so ... I would anticipate that they would want
to be a part of this group. I don't know that for certain. But how do we plan to make sure that
there is space for ...some people that we know have been pillars in this community, um, because
potentially we wouldn't be able to have everyone on here. And the other thing that I think is,
uh, missing from this group is the Iowa City, um, Community School District. Because I think
affordable housin' really does affect .... is important to them for various reasons, and so havin'
them on, you know, a part of this group, I would think is pretty important as well.
Mims: I guess my thought would be, and I think ... if what we're looking for here is a group to help come
up with a ... a solution, and I'm not sure if that's the right word, but ways to, uh, address the
problems of affordable housing. Um, I guess I've got two points. One, I'm not sure that the
School District needs to be a part of this. Obviously they are impacted by it. They have clearly
in the past, you know, given us information in terms of, um, how concentration of low-income
families and students, uh, affects the School District in terms of how they use their resources.
So I think we want it ... we want to engage with them and have those understandings, but I'm not
sure that they're necessarily the people that want... necessarily have the time and energy to help
"solve the problem," and I realize we're not actually solving it. We're just ... we're trying to
move the needle on it. And secondly, I understand where Geoff is coming from in terms of
trying to focus the conversation tonight on the process, not the who ... of it... is selected. I ... I
think those are conversations we can have later. Um, and we probably all got phone calls from
the same people, or at least one person, who wants to make sure that they're named to this. And
so I don't ... I don't want to go down that rabbit hole tonight. I want to focus on, um, are we
comfortable with his recommendations of how we move forward with this, and I am and I trust
our staff to know the ... local housing advocates and non-profit providers, and who will work
well with other people and who will be strong, um, participants in this. And obviously we can
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all talk to Geoff off-line about who we think he ought to be considering, um, but I'm ... I'm
really comfortable with what's been presented to us tonight.
Teague: And I guess personally I'm very comfortable with, you know, how this will play out as far as
like people comin' together. That'd be led by staff. I ... I think goin' that route is fine. Um, I am
a little concerned about actually ...who will be a part of this, and I think as ... as Councilors, we
know that affordable housin' in our community is a big deal. And we have people that's been
workin' hard and so whether that is, um, we give it back to staff and then staff brings us who
that final list is within the steerin' committee. I think I'm more, um, I think that's important for
us to know what that steering committee will be ... who ... who will be there on the steering
committee, potentially. There could be, you know, somethin' that is a red flag for one of us that
we need to, you know, alert everybody to, because, you know, I don't know, or...or there's
someone missing from here, from the steering committee, that probably didn't have the
information about, um, or staff wasn't thinkin' about when they were doin' the selection. I
mean, either honest oversight or just someone that they thought would not be, um, appropriate
for this portion of the group, but Councilors think different. So .... I guess that we can certainly
give it back if, you know, Geoff want the green light on this. I ... I think I hear majority of staff
or Councilors saying we have ... I give you the green light. Um, but I do believe that me
personally, I want to know who is on here for final approval, um, or for final input.
Fruin: I think the one ... one challenge I, you know, there's a fine line here because if the Council
appoints a committee and asks for recommendations from that committee, then you're gettin'
into an official commission, and, um, then you're... you're triggering the ... the, um, all the
processes that come with that. You know, that, again, you just went through that with the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission. So I've got no problem, and if you look at this list of eight
and ... and you say there's a certain organization or a certain person you want on there, then I
think ... I think then just let me know. Um, but I don't think you can name a steering committee
or:..or kind of have final say in a steering committee and still ... uh, and ... and then not have that
committee kind of be a committee of Council. It's just ... it's just a real fine line there. So, um,
again, if...if I'm missin' some... somebody specific that you want on there, uh, or if it's a school
district or whatever the case may be, um, that's fine. I think ... I think you can do that. I just
don't think you wanna get to the point where you're... you're going to be naming every person,
unless you wanna take that next step and formalize it into kind of an ad hoc planning
committee.
Bergus: I think for me what's really important is a mechanism to include wide, like really broad input.
And so when I see in the memo that you've provided, Geoff, is that it would include, you know,
a public input strategy as part of this group, and ... and I think as long as that understanding
happens early enough in the process so that those who would be positioned to provide input, to
really help in making plans going forward, know that the process is happening, and can, you
know, sort of help self-select cause part of my concern is, you know, for myself, I think I heard
a lot during, you know, before I was on Council about affordable housing, and I .... I think I have
a general idea of the ... the ... those who are most active in that realm, but you know, I ... I think,
um, talking to the providers and talking to those people about who else we need to include and
forming that commission. Um, I do trust that ... that staff would do that in an inclusive way and
that would be my request, you know, that ... just to make sure that that happens, rather than us
naming specific groups and, Mayor, I don't know if that gets to kind of what you were talking
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about or not close enough.
Teague: I mean, I don't wanna make a huge deal out of it, except I ... I personally would like to know
who's selected for the group. Urn ... and so I understand that staff, um, we walk that fine line
(laughs) of, you know, creatin' a commission, and I do respect that. Um, and I don't have any ..I
don't have any worries that some of the pillars within our housing, um, won't be included. I ... I
really don't have that worry, um, but I would like to know who's on there, so...
Thomas: I guess one question I have is ... is what we're doing tonight, uh, item one City Council work
session to establish expectations, or is that something, uh, at some point in the near future?
Fruin: Well, that ... that would be a separate work session. We ... we'd probably develop a number of
guiding questions for ya to ... to help us just, uh, get off to the right start.
Thomas: Because... because one thing I'll just put forward now because it's ... it ... I think it does relate to
the question of...of who might be involved in this, and that is, uh, allowing for, um, a process
whereby, uh, we have a ... we kind of employee a kind of a district concept, uh, to the ... to the
strategy, so that we're looking at a specific neighborhood or geographic area, whether we wanna
call it a neighborhood or a district. Uh, as a way of framing the, um, the affordable housing
effort and building on it, so that it's not simply ...about the housing, but it's also about trying to
incorporate the assets that a particular area of Iowa City have, uh, taking advantage of those
assets, um, in ... in the process of...of looking at ways to ... to address the affordable housing
question, but also as we are kind of expanding this notion of, you know, looking at household,
um, the whole -ism of the ... the household as it relates to affordability. The ... the impacts of, uh,
neighborhoods ... a neighborhood or district, on how that particular part of Iowa City
would ... would be able to incorporate and build on an affordable housing strategy, uh, which
again, I've seen in other cities and towns that, um, you know, have looked at questions of
affordability. So you would in effect be trying to address issues of quality of life and
neighborhood stability, at the same time that you would be providing affordable housing.
Teague: All right. Any more comments on this item? We'll go on to IP9, and this is a memo from the
Interim Police Chief and Police Sergeant, trainin' accreditation. So we will .... I don't know if,
um, Interim Chief Brotherton is going to lead us through this discussion.
Fruin: I can get you through it real quick, Mayor, and then, um, Chief Brotherton can ... can answer any
questions that you have. If you're not familiar, uh, with our accreditation, uh, process, that's
done through an organization, uh, referred to as CALEA and, uh, Sergeant, uh, Hart provided
some of that background in the memo, just so you have a little better understanding of what
CALEA is. Um, we are one of, uh, 4% of law enforcement agencies in the country that are
certified. It's a ... it's a big deal in law enforcement to ... to have CALEA certification. It takes
a ... a lot of dedicated resources in-house to do it because you're constantly reviewing, um, your
policies, um, and, uh, making sure that they are reflective of...of the best practices and the
evolving practices in law enforcement. Our accreditation process is starting back up and ... and
Chief Brotherton and the team over there picked four, uh, as part of the process, picked four
kind of broad categories to focus on this time around. Those are listed in your ...in your memo
there, but it's the, uh, demonstrations we had this past year; officer well-being; minority
recruitment; and community policing; and so we're, uh, just (mumbled) kind of kickin' this
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thing off right now and the assessors, uh, who are external to the police department, um, are
going to be conducting interviews on the 16th and 17th of this month and would like to hear
some perspective from elected officials. Um, so were just seeing if there's any volunteers that,
um, our staff can work with to get those scheduled. Um, it's again completely voluntary, but if
there are a few of you that want to share perspectives and thoughts with the assessors, uh,
that ... that goes a long way, uh, to this accreditation process.
Bergus: Should we just let you know our availability for that, Geoff, or anyone...
Fruin: I think if you just say I'm interested, uh, well have, uh, someone from the police department,
probably Sergeant Hart, just follow up with you via email and get that scheduled.
Bergus: Great. I'm interested. Thank you.
Mims: I'm interested.
Taylor: I would be interested too.
Weiner: I'm as well and I actually emailed him (laughs) cause it was in the packet.
Thomas: Yeah, I would be interested as well.
Teague: (mumbled) five. I think (laughs) I think you probably have more than enough.
Fruin: Excellent. I appreciate that. I really appreciate your extra time there.
Teague: Great!
Brotherton: And just want to say my thanks too and we'll get that information to Sergeant Hart. This
really does help us keep our mission of excellence in service. So thank you.
Council updates on assigned boards, commissions, and committees:
Teague: Great. Any other comments here? All right, we are at boards and commission reports. So just
chime in, whoever is wantin' to give a report.
Weiner: Um, ECCOG met last week, urn ... nothing, I mean, they're getting... they've gotten a fair
amount of CARES Act money, but there... there's, um, nothing earth shattering to report. They
were... they were still waiting on a project that they re...they're trying to get funding for for
Better Together and that had not happened yet.
Teague: I also think if Council is in agreement, we can give any type of general updates that we
normally give at the end of our formal meeting, community updates, if Council is in agreement.
Weiner: Any updates? Please vote. There's been great early voting, polls are open all around Iowa
from 7:00 A.M. tomorrow to 9:00 P.M. Um, you can register same day. You need to bring an
I.D. with you, and please, um, you can ... you can look up your information if you don't know
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your polling place at the ... at the Secretary of State's website and at the Johnson County Auditors
website. It's supposed to be a beautiful day. Um, Coralville and Iowa City are both providing
free bus service, as well as a couple of extra shuttles in Iowa City, to places that aren't usually
served by buses. So please exercise your franchise and vote.
Thomas: I'll mention an event this coming Friday, November 6th. The Iowa Law Reviews is holding a
symposium, uh, titled "The Future of Law and Transportation." It's an all -day event. Uh,
they've invited 14 legal scholars or legal scholars will be participating, and, uh, if you're
interested, if you were to search under Iowa Innovation Business and Law Center, it would
provide information as to how to attend that meet ... that event.
Teague: There's a few things I'll just mention. I did on Thursday, October 22nd I was a part of, um, I
did a presentation for the Hawkeye Caucus, which is a nonpartisan student organization that
focuses on student advocacy, and it was really great to interact with the student advocates. Um,
lots of great questions, um, that they had and it was also an opportunity for me to present, uh,
public service within the City operations and opportunities for people, um, to boards and
commissions, and even through listening post, um, how people can become engaged with our,
um, with our City operations. Um, on the 29th, Friday, there was the South District
neighborhood mural, the ribbon cutting. That was a very exciting event and, um, it was a
beautiful day with great weather, by the way. It was a little chilly, but we got through it and, uh,
it was just a great time to celebrate the mural and, uh, what that community developed
themselves. And then on the 26th of October, I was a part of the Civic, which really is a
international visitor leadership program. And thanks to Councilor Weiner and her involvement
and introduction, um, on that and that topic was really LGBTQ+ and talking to people from
Ukraine, and so it was really interesting to have that opportunity to, uh, give some thoughts
from, uh, my perspective when it comes down to, uh, to LGBTQ+ and government here in the
U.S. And also, again, my own personal involvement. I was a part of the ... on the 27th. It was a
all day, or actually was from 12 to 6:00 P.M. A trainin' on events in racial equity, the role of
government. I know that all the Councilors have been invited to be a part of that. It's called
GARS, G -A -R -E, and I really recommend this. It ... it really, um, for me ... really had an
opportunity to express with other people in government, um, things that you've experienced
personally, which are to be confidential. Um, because it really was for you to become very
vulnerable and have an opportunity and space for you to really enhance your knowledge on how
to be ... operate when it comes down to equality. Other than that, um, that is all I will mention as
of now. I did attend on Thursday the Johnson County, oh, and probably (mumbled) and IFR co-
sponsored a meeting that I attended that virtually on Thursday. Um, that is all the updates that I
have and tomorrow's election day. So want people to get out to ... to the polls. Any other
updates? It is actually a minute after our ...oh, we still have time! Any other updates? Hearin'
none, we will be back at 7:00 P.M.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of
November 2, 2020.