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2. Proclamations
2.a. Injury Prevention Day
Teague: (reads proclamation) And here to accept this... proclamation is Pamela Hoogerwerf, and we
welcome you now.
Hoogerwerf: Thanks so much, Mayor Teague. Um, and thanks to the rest of the City Council for
supporting this proclamation. Uh, it's an endeavor (mumbled) actually a national endeavor for
an inaugural event to raise awareness, um, that pediatric unintentional injuries, many of them
can be prevented, um, and just by choosing safer behaviors. So, uh, leading children's hospitals
around the country have, uh, decided on November 18th is the day that we're going to join
forces and promote that. I also want to thank Kellie for helping us find some landmarks in Iowa
City to light up green. Green is our chosen color, um, for that day, and again, uh, I want to
thank the ... the City Council and Mayor Teague and the rest of the community in supporting, uh,
this important message.
Teague: Great, thank you again, Pamela. This is a very important, um, prevention effort. So thanks for
all that you're doing.
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formal meeting of November 2, 2020.
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9. Community Comment (items not on the agenda)
Teague: And this is an opportunity for people in the community to address any topic that is not on the
formal agenda. And we ask that you raise your hand, or if you're on the phone press *9 and I'll
call upon you, and we ask that you keep those comments three to five minutes please. All right,
the first person is David. Welcome, David.
Drustrup: Thank you, Mayor, um, I'll be quick today. Just wanted to quickly address, uh, the traffic
proposals that were brought up during the work session. Um, you know, as we're addressing
these questions and problems, uh, within the police department (mumbled) appreciate that. It's
not always the most fruitful things go to the police for those answers (noises in background)
Um, just kind of see (garbled) what was happening, uh, the other, uh, the last meeting with the
(mumbled) model and, you know, going... applying for that grant seems to be following what the
police were hoping to do, uh, in that question. So, Captain Brotherton said something about,
um, you know, for example these proposed changes, uh, the officers would have to articulate
why they made the stop, um, and this is just sort of an example of another sort of band-aid
reformist, um, attempt to make some change because police have always had ... have always
made stops for racist reasons, and they've... they've always been able to justify that in various
ways. So, you know, things like that don't really make any meaningful change, and as long as
police still have the discretion to be making these stops, then there's always gonna be racism
and classism for them. So, you know, looking through some of the proposals, that was in your
packet meeting, uh, IFR does not see any systemic shift in the process (mumbled) just like
another sort of band-aid reform to give the appearance of progress without actually changing
anything. Um, and of course this is a systemic problem. Iowa has a very serious systemic
problem with traffic stops. I remember even being in ... all the way back in high school, uh,
hearing about disproportionate minority contact, things like that. Um, so we share, uh, the
question that Councilor Thomas brought up, which was, you know, about how do we actually
limit the number of stops necessary, and, uh, I think we remain most interested in some of those
proposals Councilor Thomas brought up that would, um, be able to rely on ... on actual changes
to the streets. Uh, I think some of the ... some of the things he was referencing was the self -
policing streets, as well as technology to do some of that for us. Thank you!
Teague: Thanks, David. Would anyone else like to address Council? All right, we do see, uh,
Trapayne. Welcome!
Bathe -Bey: (garbled) first I'd like to, uh, rise and give praise to Allah for creatin' (mumbled) to you
guys for allowing me this opportunity to, uh, speak on behalf of, um (mumbled) I'm tryin' to
get a proclamation basically for Moorish Holy Week and what this is is, um, as I iterated in the
email is that Moorish Holy Week has to do with the people that are misnomered as Negro,
black, and colored, um, and that right there is a de -nationalization, which is a ... international
crime. So what I am trying to do is bring forth the time we give honors to the one that had
brought forth our nationality, um, when it was, uh, when we got freed from slavery in 1865, uh
Moorish Holy Week runs from January 8 to January 15th. This is a commemoration of
(mumbled), the one that was, uh, that had got the education and had approached, um, the
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incumbent Woodrow Wilson to, uh (laughs) for his assistance in it and get told him it was gonna
be harder to ... uh, it was gonna be easier to put pants on (garbled) a mule than to educate your
people that they are not Negro, black, and colored. Um, so the 15'...January 8th is (mumbled)
uh, birth ... birth right and January 15th is the Moorish New Year. Um, what I was askin' the
City Council to do was to approve this so that we ... we are able to, um ... so educate those in who
they truly are. Because you can't be property of any person's government. You have to have a
nationality. Every person has to have a nationality and this is where we, uh.... uh, stand united
and, um, bring forth, uh.... uh.... who we truly are, and we celebrate that in this... during this
week. Um, I have reached out. I also sent some other documents in other states
that... where... where they had approved, uh, approved, um, the proclamation, and that ... and that's
(mumbled) such as Chicago, um, North Carolina and there was one other that I'm unable to
recall right now. I don't have the information in front of me, and, um, that's basically my, uh,
presentation right there. I know you guys got the documents. I don't know if you had a chance
to look at it, but it...it is, uh, very, um, intensive, um, has a lot of good information in there, and
it basically tells you, um, what I said in short. With that, I'm ... I'm done.
Teague: Thank you. Would anyone else like to address Council? All right, seeing none, we will move
on to the next item on our agenda, which is 10, Planning and Zoning Matters.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular
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10. Planning and Zoning Matters
10.a. Zoning Code Amendment — Commercial Reuse Exception Ordinance — Ordinance
amending Title 14, Zoning Code to allow a special exception from standards for the reuse
of existing buildings in certain commercial zones. (REZ20-0006)
1. Public Hearing
Teague: And I'm going to open the public hearing... and staff presentation please.
Sitzman: Good evening, Mayor, Council. Danielle Sitzman, NDS. This is the first of two staff -
initiated zoning code amendments on your agenda tonight. This is, um, for an amendment to
the zoning codes to allow a special exception from standards for reuse of existing buildings in
certain commercial zones. Um, our current code has a variety of flexibility built into it for just
such, u m, waivers and exceptions to be granted, uh, as tools for the new zoning code to provide
us with some flexibility to adjust standards when unique or nonstandard (garbled) occur.
(mumbled) a different level of flexibility and of course funding, increasing the level of scrutiny
that's given to it. This slide outlines the three basic, uh, mechanism we have in our zoning
code, including regulations having to do with non -conforming situations (mumbled) uses,
structures, developments on lots (garbled) changes in the zoning code over time (mumbled)
non-compliant. It's kind of the lowest level, most hands-off approach in our zoning code.
Basically a lot of (mumbled) solutions continue as they are, regardless of (mumbled) changes.
The next level is an administrative or staff review level, either for a minor modification or a
minor adjustment. Um, minor adjustments are unique (garbled) district that minor
modifications are circled (garbled) code or slight changes to the (mumbled) standards. As I said
(garbled) handled administratively. We do include a public, urn ... uh, not ... not a public hearing.
Administrative hearing, excuse me, with notices to surrounding neighbors, um (mumbled)
before a board or commission. This is something with a staff member. And then the third level
of certainty in the additional flexibility was granted through a special exception, which is heard
by the Board of Adjustment. Um (mumbled) with it, um, additional notification and, uh,
specific criteria in the code to be (garbled) request. Again those are to ensure that larger
changes to the zoning code (mumbled) more formal (mumbled) process. Um, in brief tonight,
the proposed amendment would expand upon these existing mechanisms of the special
exception process that are already included in the zoning code for certain commercial uses, and
a set number of zoning districts, and the purpose of the amendment is to provide additional
flexibility for the zoning regulations, where altering or expanding a building, an existing
building, is difficult due to building (mumbled) the streets, and in such cases where staff is
proposing that the Board of Adjustment be able to waive or modify certain additional zoning
standards by the special exception process. And over the past two years, Urban Planning staff
has noticed that several developments that they've had meetings with, um, potentially interested
parties, having a (mumbled) with the zoning code that (mumbled) to resolve (mumbled) Um,
the specific ordinance tonight would most directly benefit a property 1120 N. Dodge Street.
Just.. just simply the most recent example of (mumbled) staff has become aware of (mumbled)
years and has therefore addressed this (garbled) As I said, the focus on the amendment is to
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flexibility in certain set of, um, lower (mumbled) commercial zones shown here in this table.
The more intensive commercial uses are not being addressed, um, simply because they
(mumbled) commercial, um, and various for small-scale commercial areas on smaller sites
(garbled) proximity to those areas. Um, again, this could apply to existing buildings, not
encouraging tear down of existing structures or to find (garbled) Also, this was designed not to
encourage tear downs or impact (mumbled) structures (garbled) flexibilities involved with this
(garbled) As I said, the list of potential exceptions, uh (mumbled) in this code. It's a fairly
expansive list. However, focuses mostly on dimensional standards and site improvements, with
a wide variety of places (mumbled) those constraints on small-scale, um, development. This
proposal would not alter the basic uses, um, allowed in each, um, circumstance. (mumbled)
with the property not the owner of the specific business. As I said some ... that was the list of
things (garbled) list of things that were eligible. There are some things (garbled) not on the
table, um, because of the nature of their importance to maintain some of those having to do with
minimum separation distances, sensitive lands and features such as (garbled) to wooded areas,
wetlands, and then (garbled) In regards to this proposal, um, as I said, it would be a special
exception before the Board of Adjustment. Um, every Board of Adjustment special exception
case has a set of seven general criteria that they must, uh, show the (mumbled) meet. In
addition, this particular exception has (mumbled) five additional standards, in ... in addition to
the (garbled) criteria, and those standards were tailored for the, um, specifics of ensuring
compatibility with the, um, exceptions that (garbled) neighborhood, in which the exception took
place. Um, as part of staff's analysis, we did look at all of the areas where this (garbled) would
be applicable. This is a map showing all of the eligible, um, zoning code districts throughout
the city, as well as where there is an existing building on such (garbled) property. As you can
see there... throughout the community, citywide, um, we do acknowledge that some of these
areas are probably not small-scale neighborhood, but because of the need to apply these
(mumbled) districts, some of them fall into this (mumbled) Um, staff believes that essentially
this additional criteria would sort of weed out, um, an applioa... applications from truly
inappropriate requests, because again as I said, that goes to the Board of Adjustment for their
review and consideration. Um, when drafting code changes, staff does take, of course, the goals
and aspirations of the comp plan (mumbled) strategic plan into account in creating those, as we
review all zoning code changes to the criteria of both of those, urn ... I will just say that this is a
adopted by ordinance (mumbled) three readings (mumbled) to you after having been (mumbled)
Planning and Zoning Commission. Based on a review of the relevant criteria and potential
impacts, staff drafted and recommended (mumbled) zoning code we amended to illustrate, um,
the, um ... the standards, uh, reflected in the staff report and your (mumbled) small neighborhood
commercial knows by allowing the Board of Adjustment to provide additional flexibility in
terms of (garbled). That concludes staff report and I'm happy to answer questions.
Teague: Thank you. Any questions for staff? Hearin' none, would anyone from the public like to
address this topic? If so, please raise your hand and I'll call upon you, and if you're on the
phone, press *9. Seein' no one I'm gonna close the public hearing ... and can I get a motion to
give first consideration?
2. Consider an Ordinance (FIrst Consideration)
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Salib: So move, Salih.
Taylor: Second, Taylor.
Teague: All right. So before we continue with this since ... um, this did go through Planning and Zoning.
I wanna just make sure are Councilors, um, likely to vote in favor of Planning and Zoning...
recommendation? I'm seein' noddin' of heads. All right. So Council discussion?
Thomas: Well this is a good idea, um, you know, it's often found in cities that we really, you know, the
parts of cities that we really like we discover, um, existing places that we really (mumbled) um,
if we try to replicate them, we find that our zoning doesn't allow us to. So this is ... this is, I
think, an example staff has noted that .... what, uh, proposals will come forward and, uh, our
zoning just in effect prohibits the development of these sites. So, um, you know, I think
(garbled) idea. I think the, um, applicability standards will ... I would ... would hope and feel
fairly confident will avoid any kind of negative consequences, unforeseen negative
consequences. So this is a (garbled) in trying to revitalize some of these (garbled)
Teague: Yeah, I think it's a .... a great opportunity to be more creative when we're thinkin' about
existing buildings. So thanks to the staff for bringing this to, uh, the forefront for, uh, some
changes to be made. Hearin' no other comments, roll call please. Motion passed the 7-0.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular
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10.b. Zoning Code Amendment - Parking Reduction and Commercial Zone Ordinance —
Ordinance amending Title 14, Zoning Code to allow parking reductions through the
minor modification process in certain commercials zones. (REZ20-0007)
1. Public Hearing
Teague: I'm going to open the public meeting, and staff presentation ... and actually open the public
hearing. I wanna just clarify that.
Sitzman: Thank you, Mayor. This is the second (mumbled) on your agenda tonight (mumbled) staff
reconsideration. Um, this is to address constraints, again, on the small-scale (mumbled)
neighborhoods. Um, this particular application, this particular proposal, is to reduce parking
requirements, up to 50% of the required number (mumbled) the minor modification process
(mumbled) in the last presentation the minor modification processes (mumbled) staff
administrative review. (mumbled) an administrative hearing but not as rigorous in its
evaluation of criteria as the, uh, special exception process, in not allowing (mumbled) reduction
in the (mumbled) proposal. Again, this is limited to a certain number of, uh, types of zoning.
(mumbled) again is based on staff's awareness that parking is often a barrier to the development
of in -fill commercial (mumbled) properties. Again, our code is rife with flexibility, sometimes
making it difficult for folks to, um, navigate, but really trying to ensure that there's lots of
different ways to accomplish good developments and allowing for different mechanisms for
doing that. Everything from fee in lieu instead of parking to reductions for different
characteristics of, um, development, including historic, um, historic protections for properties.
Again, staff identified a gap in all of this flexibility in the tool set that we currently had and
(mumbled) tonight to, um, meet a certain ... fill a certain gap in that toolkit. Often, um, these
parking reductions do not apply to multi -family uses in mixed use developments. So
(mumbled) until it relates to something (mumbled) Um, the proposed, uh.... code change would
actually replace an existing but unused option that's currently in our code for neighborhood
commercial zones (mumbled) based on setting aside land for future development of parking in
the land bank (mumbled) Staff recognized there's no real use of that, um, flexibility (mumbled)
to replace that with something else. Again, this prop... proposed code change would be for new
construction, redevelopment, or alteration (mumbled) zoning districts. Um, both for
commercial and residential. Again (mumbled) required parking to be waived, uh, instead of
that (mumbled) into the minor modification process. Um, to ensure that this is tailored towards
the (mumbled) circumstances that staff has identified needing to have additional (mumbled)
Um, we've crafted into the ordinance limits on the square foot of the footprint of the building.
Also required a parking demand analysis to, um, accompany that request to ensure that, uh, full
consideration is being given to the actual fee for parking, on a case-by-case basis, and then
making sure this is not competing with other (mumbled) properties. Um, City analysis, as I
said, was based on no location (garbled) identified difficulties in the past, looking at, uh, zoning
districts citywide, and when this, uh, potential code change would apply. Some commercial
areas, again, may be eligible, but not entirely. The purpose of the code, again, the minor
modification process does include some eligibility in consideration. So there's (garbled)
completely appropriate (mumbled) very appropriate once the supporting documentation to
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proceed. As I said, again, staff (mumbled) the comprehensive plan (mumbled) the City Council
as a basis for crafting such ordinances. (mumbled) require three readings so that (garbled) and
then, um, based on the review the relevant criteria and in fact staff did draft the attached
ordinance (mumbled) say in the last, um, presentation that it was reviewed by the Planning and
Zoning Commission and they do recommend approval of the proposed changes. Happy to
answer questions at this point, if you have any.
Teague: Sound like you're gettin' off again, Danielle, with no questions. Thank you! Would anyone
from the public like to address this topic? If so, please raise your hand, and if you're on the
phone, press •9. Seein' no one. I'm gonna close the public hearing. Could I get a motion to
give first consideration?
2. Consider an Ordinance (First Consideration)
Weiner: So moved. Weiner.
Teague: Moved by Weiner, seconded by...
Thomas: I'll second. Thomas.
Teague: Thank you. And then I just wanted to make sure that, um, are Councilors, um, in agreement to
go on with the recommendation of the Commission? Just shake your head. Okay, great. All
right, Council discussion?
Mims: Again, I think this is another good, you know, move by staff to, you know, see things that aren't
working well, that fit in with what our goals are for the community, and to be proactive in
bringing these things to us. So thank you.
Teague: Roll call, please. Motion passes 7-0.
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10.c. Rezoning at 109, 111, 115, 117, and 121 E. College Street — Local Historic Landmark
— Ordinance rezoning approximately 0.55 acres of property from Central Business (CB -
10) zone to CB -10 with a Historic District Overlay (CB-10/OHD) for property at 109, 111,
115,117, and 121 E. College Street. (REZ20-02)
1. Public Hearing
Teague: And .... I'm sorry. I'm gonna re -read that. (reads I O.c.) I'm gonna open the public hearing,
and staff presentation, please.
Sitzman: Thank you, Mayor. Uh, this (garbled) location of that range of addresses. It's located on the
south side of the pedestrian mall, between Clinton Street and the Graduate Hotel (mumbled)
street. Um, this is a local landmark rezoning, so the underlying zoning of CB -10 remains
(mumbled) an additional layer of, um, a historic district overlay. Um, that allows for and helps
to ensure the preservation of historic resources and (mumbled) required historic review
(mumbled). Um, this does include the (garbled) over the history of this, uh, part of town. The
application is submitted by Tailwinds College Street Iowa City LLC, as it requested the ... to
voluntarily landmark properties and to designate it as an Iowa City historic landmark. This
does bring an additional overlay zoning district, as I said, not changing the underlying district.
It also brings with it additional restrictions and additional code flexibility. The designation of
the property as a historical landmark, an Iowa City historic landmark, will require condition
approval (mumbled) Historic Preservation Commission approval of any significant changes to
the exterior of the building. And it also makes the property eligible for special exceptions that
would allow the Board of Adjustment (mumbled) modify certain zoning requirements, as well
as (mumbled) federal tax credit (garbled) Um, this request is part of a larger proposed
development project that would create a new apartment building in the south portion of these
lots, while still preserving the historic storefronts. Um, as, um, just a side note, the City of Iowa
City is currently working towards nomination of an area of the downtown to be listed as a
National Historic... or on the National Register of Historic Places. So the subject properties in
this application fall within that, um, proposed district, but there's really no conflict tonight with
this application. The Planning and Zoning Commission review of this application is because
this is landmark (mumbled) overlay and therefore requires them to review the, um, applicable
criteria of the comprehensive plan. (mumbled) being met, very much so through this process.
Um, the Historic Preservation Commission also reviews these applications and makes a
recommendation to the Planning Commission in the process. In May they conducted a public
hearing and reviewed and evaluated the historic significance of the properties in this address
range, and the Commission determined that all of the properties meet the requirements for
landmark designation, and did vote to recommend the (mumbled) Um, the landmark
designation process has several parts. There are some prerequisite, um, standards that need to
be met, and then some additional, uh, standards that can be (mumbled). Um, this series of
slides just (mumbled) you the buildings today, all of the properties met the prerequisite
requirements and, uh, went above and beyond that in several categories. Um, there was a,
urn ... site inventory forum. Basically Historic Preservation research that went into these
designations and supports that, uh, recommendation by the Historic Preservation Commission.
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So as far as this, um, development, what we call the Tailwinds Project, shown here is the step
that we were at with the historic landmark overlay rezoning. There's also some additional steps,
which will involve some Council (mumbled) project proposal and development agreement in
the future, and there's also a Historic Preservation Commission review of (mumbled) pending
this month, and then there's some (mumbled) reviews of site plans and building permits. So
basically the applicable review criteria of each board, um, staff for the various boards did
recommend designation (mumbled) said that was supportive of the Historic Preservation
Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission. (garbled) happy to answer questions!
Teague: All right, hearin' no questions. Would anyone from the public like to address this topic? If so,
please raise your hand. Seein' no one, I'm gonna close the public hearing. And now we are
moving on to ... urn, could I get to, uh, Council. So, could I get a motion to give first
consideration?
2. Consider an Ordinance (First Consideration)
Taylor: So moved, Taylor.
Mims: Second, Mims.
Teague: All right, and I just wanna know if, um, Councilors are, uh, inclined to agree with the Planning
and Zoning recommendations. If so, please shake your head. All right. Council discussion?
Mims: Well, I think this is just really important to get the preservation on these buildings. Um, as you
walk downtown and walk along the ped mall, these are absolutely critical to that whole
ambiance, vision, etc., along that part of our downtown and just make up such a huge part of
that ped mall. So, really happy to see this happening.
Thomas: I am ... I am as well and I ... I'd like to thank, uh, staff and, uh, Historic Preservation, the
Planning and Zoning Commission. These, uh, these are projects that really require a lot of work
to get to this point, uh, and so it's, you know, congratulations to everyone involved to get us
here. Uh, I think this is a really interesting opportunity. It's right in our downtown core. It's
four adjacent, continuous properties. So we are preserving not just a building, but four
buildings that, um, essentially form that section of the block. It's not the complete block, but it's
a significant portion of the block. And, uh, we're ... we're taking advantage, I think, of an
interesting opportunity that the deep lots provides, so that we can preserve the historic frontage,
while develop with... the... the backside of the property, because it's ... deep enough to allow us to
do that. So we ... we preserve the past, we preserve the building frontages, the ... the grain of
those four buildings, while moving forward with a ... a pretty significant development project,
which also in a sense ties in with the strategy that ... that I've begun to observe on the, uh, south
side of the ped mall on College Street, and now you have Plaza Towers, the Graduate building,
and now this proposed building on the backside of these properties, that will ... form its own kind
of architectural composition, um, and complete it in a sense. So I'm ... I'm really happy that
we're preserving the past while, um, allowing that past to have a new life, uh, so we have that
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continuity and time between past and present, as well as the continuity of the building face
along College. So it's, I think, a really interesting example of, you know, how we can make that
adaptation, um, and ... and preserve what we ... we find valuable, while still allowing for change.
Teague: Hearin' no other comments,...roll call please. Item passes 7-0.
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11. Annual TIF Certification to the County - Resolution directing the Filing of TIF
certification under Iowa Code Section 403.19 for the 2020 end of year certification of
urban renewal projects.
Teague: Could I get a motion to approve?
Thomas: So moved, Thomas.
Bergus: Seconded, Bergus.
Teague: All right, do we have any staff that would like to, uh, talk about this?
Ford: Sure. Good evening, Mr. Mayor and City Council, I'll have just a couple of brief words here.
This is the annual certification to the County for any changes that the City is making in its
collection of tax increment financing revenues, and every year we need to do this by December
1 st and ... and we're a little bit ahead of the game this year, which is a good thing. Um, really it's
very similar to other years where we've presented, but I might, um, call out just a couple of
things. There are three forms that we can use to submit to the County indicating any change,
um, in what we wanna do. Uh, form one starts a tax increment collection and, um, you may see
on the list of forms that we're turning in that Foster Road for the first time is ... we're going to be
collecting, um, TIF revenues there. An interesting... interestingly in that project, um, if you'll
remember, that's where 55% of the tax increment that comes out of that, um, district will go
towards the Foster Road project, while 45% of it will go towards LMI or affordable housing,
and so that begins, um, that project, um, going forward. And ... and then one other, uh, form of
note is the form three, which, um, reduces the amount of, uh, TIF funding that we're requesting.
Form three on the Sycamore Mall and First Avenue TIF district is for, um, reducing our request
for what would have been FYI 9, 20, and 21 rebates to the Iowa City Marketplace project,
which had defaulted on that. So those are probably the two, um, bigger pieces of note, but I
would be happy to answer any other questions if you had any.
Thomas: Wendy, I ... I ... there's a lot of forms there (laughs) and, uh... um, one ... one kind of general
question I was trying to ... to ... if you could help me understand what, if any impact, COVID and
the economic impacts of COVID have had on our, uh, TIF program.
Ford: Oh, that's a good question. I ... John, I don't believe I'll ... I'd have an answer to that right off the
bat. Um, you know, because our TIF projects are kind of spread out over a big length of time,
um, that I think that impact also is, um, so right now I can't say that we're seeing any direct
impact from it, though things may change, economics may change going forward. I don't know.
Geoff, I saw you pop on. Do you have somethin' to add?
Fruin: I ... I ... I think you're, um, right, Wendy. I don't know that we've seen anything yet, but, uh, if you
think back to our recently completed TIFs in the last five to 10 years, uh, there's a number that
include office space and you have to wonder, um, how much demand there is for that office
space going forward. So I ... I wouldn't, uh, be surprised if we had conversations with some of
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those folks about the possibility of converting some of those upper floors of office to, um,
residential, which is very much in demand right now. Um, and then, you know, one, uh, TIF
that we never got off the ground, but that we ... we started ... least through the urban renewal
process, is the, um, Forest View Development, and that included a substantial number of, uh,
office, uh, types of buildings along I-80, and again, uh, pretty ...pretty reasonable to think that,
uh, everybody's gonna probably give that type of land use second thoughts going forward, um,
at least in the short-term. So nothing imminent, but I ... don't be surprised if we get some
requests to ... to make some modifications or if ones that we expected to come through are a little
different than what we originally anticipated.
Teague: Any other comment for Wendy ...or questions? Thank you, Wendy. All right, would anyone
from the public like to address this topic? If so, please raise your hand and I'll call upon you.
Seein' no one, Council discussion? Roll call please. Motion passed 7-0.
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12. Annual Urban Renewal Report to the State - Resolution approving the Fiscal Year Ending
2020 Annual Urban Renewal Area Report (AURR).
Teague: Could I get a motion to approve?
Mims: So moved, Mims.
Weiner: Second, Weiner.
Teague: And would staff like to address this topic?
Ford: Sure. Well, if that last item was a look forward to, um, a request for the, uh, tax increment
finance dollars, uh, we need going forward, then this AURR, the annual urban renewal report to
the State, is really look backward in a sort of compendium of the projects that are in process
that, um ... uh, a snapshot to today. As you noticed, that was a 60 -page document in there, um, in
your packet (laughs) but I ... and we apologize for that. It's the State, not us. Um, but I think that
the ... the thing that ... is important to draw from that is the increase in the taxable valuation that
our TIF projects have meant to our city, and so I always update a form called `new value
created, uh, by Iowa City's TIF projects,' and essentially it just lists all of our urban renewal
projects, uh, their dates, their beginning values, and their end values, which, uh, the difference
of which is that increment that creates that, um, ability to help participate financially in those
projects, and in this, uh, spreadsheet here, the total of the base values of all of the TIF projects
we've assisted over the years has been $28 million, but those same projects current valuations is
up over $215 million now. So, um, the importance of that is the City being able to assist in
these projects that, um, that raise the taxable value in the community and really does end up
helping with property tax relief. So, just wanted to point that out to you.
Mims: Thank you, Wendy, because that ... I think is something that people... don't... don't understand
oftentimes cause TIF is complicated. Um, and over the years when I've been on Council when I
have talked about TIF being, um, an investment in our community. Obviously there's a lot of
the other things that we want to see out of it, but it...it is almost also purely investment, in
increasing our tax valuations so that we increase our tax revenues over time. If they're done
right, and I think Iowa City's record shows that we have done them right for a long time.
Teague: Yeah, when I first came on Council, I totally didn't understand TIF, and of course I got my TIF
101 and began to understand TIF a little better, but your numbers of going from 28 thous ... uh,
28 million to 215 million, um, says a lot about how TIF is really an investment in the
community and it... it helps with so many other programs that are important to us. Allow those
social services that we provide. These are some of the funds that we can use to really enhance,
uh, some of the, uh, operational things that we wanna do within the city (mumbled) Um, I ... I
was very happy to see this illustration in the packet.
Weiner: Thank you for your, um, tireless explanations about TIF, Wendy; they ...they help a lot.
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Teague: Would anyone from the public like to address this topic? If so, please raise your hand and I
will call upon you. If you're on the phone, press *9. Seein' no one, Council discussion? Roll call,
please. Motion passes 7-0.
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13. Assessment Appeal—11313rd Avenue — Resolution adopting an assessment schedule for
snow removal at 1131 3rd Avenue and directing the Clerk to certify the same to the
Johnson County Treasurer for collection in the same manner as property taxes.
Teague: Could I get a motion to approve?
Mims: So moved, Mims.
Salih: Second, Salih.
Teague: All right, and do we have staff presentin' on this item?
Laverman: I'm Stan Laverman, City Senior Housing Inspector. I'm here if you have questions. Uh, we
did submit a Council action report that's laid out the ... the timeline of the events, um, the
experience of snow event, uh, roughly the 24th of January. Um, on the 3rd of February, we had
an inspector that observed snow on the sidewalk at 1131 3rd Avenue, and at that point no snow
had been removed. Um, the property was posted, uh, according to our procedure. I know that
the violation was mailed to the property owner, and on February 5th the property was cleared by
our snow abatement contractor. Um, at that time there was mainly, uh, patches of ice on the ... on
the sidewalks, and if you look at the ... the pictures provided, you can see evidence of that. Uh,
on the contractor photo number one, it appears that there is even a wheelchair... wheelchair
tracks going through that snow, and I, um, let me know if you have any questions!
Teague: Okay, thank you. Any questions for Stan at this moment? Would anyone from the public like
to address this topic. If so, please raise your hand and I'll call upon you. Welcome, Bill.
Wittig: Good afternoon. Good evening.
Teague: Good evening.
Wittig: So on, urn ... um, late August, um, I sent a letter to, uh, Miss Ogden, uh, which is kind of Stan,
um, directed me to do and it...it kind of outlines the ... the three issues that, um, I'm kind of
contesting with this. Um, the work done and the need for the work, um, and ... and by the way,
make it very clear that ... that after the, um, notice was, uh, posted, the sidewalk was cleared.
And as the pictures note, uh, there was just small patches of ice. Um, so, um, it...it kind of
shows that, um, there ... there were, um, there was a response to ... to the notice. Um, the price of
the materials and the labor for the vendor are what really concerned me, and it doesn't just
concern me as a landlord, it concerns me as a ... as a, um, taxpayer and ... and as a ... as a layman.
It claims that they took an hour and 25 minutes at $85 an hour to ... to do this spreading of a
small amount of sand and salt, and, um, I did a little summary of that that, um, it probably could
have been done in about 15 minutes. And so if you ... if you take the $85 an hour and you put,
um, 35% labor overhead with ... coming from my construction background and ... and being in ... in
that, I ... I pretty well knew that labor ...labor overhead will run around 35%. Throw 10% profit
on and that would bein' the worker receive $46.75 cents an hour. Um, I'd love to see that
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payroll statement, cause I doubt that that ... that that worker got paid that much. Um, and then
you've got $72 for ice melt and sand. In the letter that I sent ... I sent to, um, Ace Hardware,
prices on 60 -pound tube of sand for 6.59 and a ... and a 10 -pound bag of ice melt for 5.99. Uh,
that totals $13.33, uh, including tax. So there was no ... and there was no surplus material left on
the job site. Um, so, um, he's got a profit margin there of 81 %. So then on top of...of an over-
billing and ... and just what I call price gouging, um, then it...it gets sent off out of...out of the
city, uh, to Cedar Rapids to be billed, and I get a bill for $100. Um, to process an invoice for
$178, which seems completely exorbitant. And what's really bothersome is as a commercial
assessed taxpayer, I pay over $5,000 a year in yearly income taxes, and this is a transient,
homeless housing project. I have City CDBG grant money. I have Housing Trust Fund, uh,
money, and, um, and then I get something like this. Now when ... when this occurred in
February, COVID wasn't occurring. Uh, there was some ... some (mumbled) understanding that
something's going on, but this work was done in February. It was billed in March by the vendor
to the City. Then COVID came in and I got the bill from the City in June, and ... and, um, I just
kind of look at that and I go, my goodness, um, I'm expected to pay a bill that is just a ... a total
over -billing, and ... and, you know, and I ... I actually think it's kind of, uh, of a, uh.... I'm not sure
I know the word for it, but I think it's over done to have to be in front of City Council to appeal
something like this! Um, I oughta be able to do it with Miss Ogden, and ... and come to a
settlement and a ... and a compromise. Um, so I'm ... I'm just looking forward to some kind of a
reasonable, um, settlement of this, that ... that's fair, uh, because the... the labor and the materials
billed certainly is fair, and it seems kind of odd and ... and, um, overdone to send $100 bill to
send a bill. Uh, that, um, and... and... and to add on to this, now I end up having to pay the bill
when the CDC puts out that I can't evict tenants, when they don't pay rent. So now I have
transient, homeless people that run out of their Johnson County assistance. They run out of
their Shelter House rapid rehousing, and they just decide, well, I don't have to pay anymore,
cause he can't kick me out. And so now, I have to sit and wait till December 31 to see if the
CDC renews this, to see if I can start collecting any rent. And ... and what's really disturbing is I
have tenants in the building that pay their rent every month, and then I have the people that
work the system. And I got a couple of `em now workin' the system, are just livin' there free,
and I can't do a thing about it. So that's my appeal. I hope that's helpful.
Teague: Thank you, Bill. Um, Crissy. Crissy? You can join.
Canganelli: Good evening, Mayor. Can you hear me?
Teague: Yes. Good evening.
Canganelli: Thank you. I ... I'd just like to, uh, recommend that, uh, Mr. Wittig, who's well aware of our
services, also avail himself and his tenants of homeless prevention and eviction prevention
funds that are available both at the State level and at the local level, funded through both the
City's Community Development Block Grant funds and through, uh, emergency services grant
funds. Uh, there's substantial resources for tenants who find themselves unable to meet their
rent obligations, and this should not be a burden for property, uh, owners and landlords Um, we
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would be happy to, uh, provide that information and would encourage him to reach out to the
network of service providers. Thank you.
Teague: Thank you. Would anyone else like to address Council, and Bill, I'm sorry. We only allow
once to address Council. But that was Crissy Camp, uh, Campanelli from the Shelter House, if
you would like to reach out to her. And Crissy Canganelli, sorry about that. All right. Anyone
else like to address Council? Seein' no one. All right, Council discussion?
Thomas: I guess I have a question, uh, Stan. (clears throat) Do ... have you evaluated the, uh, the
charges with regard to this snow removal and... determined that you found them reasonable
or...or not?
Laverman: We found them reasonable. It ... there's the actual work that has to be done, and there's the
mobilization cost of getting someone there, and we've also in the past two years went through
purchasing. So this is bid out. It's not a situation where we're cherry picking a contractor. Uh,
there was a bidding process. We've received multiple bids, and this was the contractor that had
the most favorable bid for the City.
Teague: For the ... I just wanted to make sure that I understood the pictures correctly. So the two, um...
there's six pictures here. Are these all on the same day that this, um, that the removal
happened?
Laverman: They are not. Um, there should be pictures that are labeled contract removal and they
should have, um, larger date stamps on them. One shows the pre -picture, um, February 6, 2020
at 10:00 A.M., and then there's a process photo in there where it shows at 10:36 it has material
on the ice that is, uh, causing it to melt. I ... unfortunately I don't think I have the post -picture in
here.
Teague: Yeah, and I ... I think that's where... cause I think what I see is ... there's ... when they came to
remove it, there's a lot of...there's a lot of...sidewalk shown.
Laverman: (both talking) That ... that's correct. Um, but take a look at the picture on February 5th. This
was taken by us, uh, to document that we needed to still send them out there, but this was the
same day that we received another complaint from a citizen who was going through there and
felt it was an issue. So our ...our standard is full width and down to concrete. Um, and that's
what we hold people to.
Taylor: Stan, in those pictures you're... you're referring to kind of the edges of the sidewalk that have
some remnants of snow and ice on them, and that's what this company moved and charged that
phenomenal amount for?
Laverman: Yes that just, I mean if you look at some of the first pictures closer to the street. Urn ... uh,
there's a larger portion that's covered. Urn .... yes, and it's ... and it's ice at this time. So, it ... it's
not as simple as just going out there and ... and removing it in 15 minutes. (mumbled) materials
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been on there, that ice has been on there for quite a while. It takes a little bit of effort and
product to get that to move.
Teague: Yeah. So, yeah, and I ... so I do see the 2/5, uh, picture and I guess it was the 2/3 pictures that...
I just wasn't clear if on 2/3, um, it was still to this degree or...or had there been change... because
of (both talking)
Laverman: On 2/3 it was completely covered, in our estimation. If you look at the pictures on 2/3, it
was completely covered, and we had ... maybe some was removed, maybe some of it had melted.
If you look at the snow melt on the ... on the grass, I would say it was melting. Um, but there's
still snow and ice on the sidewalk on February 5th when we called the contractor, which is a
week, over a week after the snow event.
Teague: Okay. Yeah, I...
Bergus: (both talking) I ... I think the ... the picture from, um, February 5th is particularly compelling to
me. (distortion on line) ...when you have a case where, you know, there ... there was some
change after the first notification, at least the, um, property owner tried to get somebody out
there, but I think the standards that ... that we have are pretty clear. And certainly we do a good
job of communicating those, that it needs to be cleared, and I think the ... the picture from the 5th
with the, um, wheelchair tracks in the ice is ... is notable. Um, this owner understood that there
were individuals who would be needing to pass by the house and, um, made some attempt to
clear it, but as ... as, uh, Stan indicated that was more than a week after the snow. That's well
beyond what we would typically allow.
Teague: Yeah, I ... I mean, ifs ... it's always a ... a challenge when you're, you know, listening to this. I
think there's a few things (mumbled) you know, like the pricing and that type stuff, but, um, I
am going to ... urn, not, you know, approve anything different. Um, I think that it's pretty
important, especially when we see the, you know, the wheelchair track, and that ... that really is
evident that people are utilizing this. It's very important for people to remove the snow as the
City requirement is, uh, laid out for people. There was, um, you know, certainly that
opportunity for the snow to be removed, even before they actually got there. Um, so I'm going
to uphold this decision, um, or this ... this fine at this time. Hearing no other comments ... roll call
please. Motion passes 7-0.
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14. Council Appointments
14.a. Public Art Advisory Committee - one vacancy to fill an unexpired term; upon
appointment through June 30 2023
Teague: And Council discussion, and we only have one appointment tonight. And so we can navigate
through this.
Taylor: And just to clarify that ... that appointment is for an at -large seat, and not ... cause I know there
were three of the applicants that actually, uh, stated, uh, for the art or design professional seat.
So, uh, does...that makes a difference. I assume.
Mims: Pauline, I don't think it does, and staff can correct me if I'm wrong, but my recollection from
previous discussions of this was the professional designation was added to this commission to
make sure we had at least one, and I don't remember if it's one or two, um, people with
professional art background, experience, skill set, whatever on the commission. So, the idea is
that we have that minimum number of professionals. I don't think there is a problem with
having more than that. And if...if I'm wrong, staff, please correct me.
Fruehling: That ... that's correct. And right now it looks like from the ... the demographic that there's
already four art or design professionals.
Mims: So in other words, Pauline, we could pick another prof ...art professional on here.
Bergus: Well I would ... I would recommend we appoint Sandy Steil, um, who has a landscaping and
design background, which I thought was a ... could be ... was maybe different than some of the
other fine arts backgrounds that we have represented and thought that was intriguing. Um, I
know Sandy from having talked to her about her interest in the South District form based code
and she thinks holistically about the community. So ... I recommend her.
Mims: That's fine. I will agree. I ... I thought there were a lot of good applicants. Um, none that I know
personally. So, you know, if others know people personally and advocate, I'm happy to listen,
but Laura got hers out first. So I guess (laughs) I'm happy to support that one.
Thomas: Yeah, I ... I was also, um, felt Sandy had a ... some interesting qualifications going into this
particular appointment, with both a BFA background and some practical experience, uh, with,
um, lands ... as Laura mentioned, working with landscape architectural and civic ... civil design.
So it...it seemed like, uh, you know, it's always useful to have those kinds of ..that sensibility
and experience to bring to the ... any commission that one works on, if it's relevant.
Teague: And I can support Sandy. I ... I have to tell you that, um, there were lots of people that had some
great opportunities and, um, it struck me that hers wasn't from like ... art, total art design but the
interest was there, and so I can certainly support it ... support her. So unless someone else has
another recommendation, it sounds like we have majority of Council, uh, supportin' Sandy
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Steil. All right, so if that is the case then, um, could I get a motion to appoint Sandy Steil to the
Public Art Advisory Committee?
Salih: So move.
Thomas: (both talking)
Teague: Moved by Salib, seconded by Thomas. Roll call please.
Teague: Motion passes 7-0.
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16. Community Comment
Teague: We are at item number 16, community comment, UISG. I think Ryan is with us.
Longenecker: Good evening, Council. Um, just ... not really any updates tonight as still everything is
virtual and so there's not too much happening on campus. Uh, everything's online, but just
wanted to say again, um, students, please go out and vote tomorrow, if you have not. Um, the
residence hall polling locations for the west side residence halls, uh, is at Carver Hawkeye
Arena and there will be a shuttle outside of Reno Residence Hall every IS minutes to take you
there. The east side residence halls are ... their polling place is at the Campus Recreation
Wellness Center, and for Mayflower, theirs is at Parkview Church. Um, if you're living off
campus, you can check out, uh, where your polling place is on the Secretary of State's website,
um, and I encourage you to go out and, um, use your voice. So other than that, that's all for me
tonight, Council, thank you.
Teague: Thank you.
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17. City Council Information
Teague: Any City Council updates? I know that we did most of `em at our work session. Any final
updates or...I know Mayor Pro Tem, we missed you at work session, so... wanna give you an
opportunity.
Salih: I don't have anything but, you know, tomorrow is the elections. Everybody have to go and vote.
If you don't until now, please, please go and vote. It is very important. That's all I have.
Teague: Great. I know that we all second that.
Salih: (laughs) Also I'm going to Sudan, but Pm going to still, uh, doing this from there. Hopefully the
internet connection will be great. So I will join you from far.
Teague: Great.
Mims: Have a safe trip and enjoy.
Weiner: Safe travels
Taylor: Stay safe.
Salih: Thank you.
Teague: Absolutely. All right.
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