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2. Proclamations
2.a. Ambassadors of Wintry Cheer
Teague: (reads proclamation) ...and here to accept this proclamation is ... is Phill Seebeck. Welcome!
Phill Seebeck: All right. Perfect. Can you hear me?
Teague: Yes, we can!
Seebeck: Excellent! Thank you, Mayor, uh, Mayor Teague and Council Members, for this
proclamation. I accept it on behalf of all the families of Rita Lyn Court. Each year we try to
add more lights and glitz to our displays because we enjoy it and our kids enjoy it, and frankly,
we like the attention of the folks who visit our little court. This year we've got a new addition
to our displays. Uh, thought we'd have camera on, but, uh, you'll notice `em if you drive down
there .... there are some yard signs that promote and encourage those who enjoy our lights to
share a donation with Table to Table. In mid-October, when we first began discussing this idea
around the block, I had hopefully speculated that maybe by partnering with a non-profit we
could maybe raise a couple hundred bucks and, um, you know, we're halfway through the
summer and we've eclipsed that expectation four times over, and we've raised enough funds for
Table to Table to rescue over 4,000 pounds of food so far. Traffic is only picking up to the end
of the holiday, uh, season (mumbled). This generosity by our ...of our (mumbled) showcases the
power of community to come together for a shared cause, and it's an honor to witness such a ... a
shining example of Iowa nice. As Iowa Citians have driven down our street, their views of our
twinkling lights and inflatable penguins, but our view is of the goodness of holiday spirit of
passersby for helping to make Sugar Plum Lane into a true ... a true winter wonderland. So from
our street to yours, we hope our lights help you discover some wintry cheer and we wish happy
holidays to all and to all a good night. (cheering in background)
Teague: (laughs) Sound like there's quite a few people there. We should have had the camera on. All
right, thank you all and, uh, good wintry cheer to everybody here in the city of Iowa City. All
right!
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9. Community Comment
Teague: We're gonna go on to item number nine, which is a ... a time for Community Comment, and as I
just previously mentioned, this is an opportunity for anyone that is not ... for any item that is not
on our co, um, on our agenda (mumbled) that you would like to address the Council. If you
would like to address, uh, at this time, please raise your hand or press *9 on your phone
and ... urn, the first person, it is iprogzl. Please state your first and last name, please.
Keever: How ya doin'? My name is Stephen Keever.
Teague: Stephen, uh, repeat your last name.
Keever: Keever, K -e -e -v -e -r.
Teague: Thank you!
Keever: Uh, my question has to do with employment opportunities in Iowa City, Iowa. I know
currently that you guys are looking into affordable housing. You're looking into a couple other
things, but what are we doing to progress or to be able to utilize the University of Iowa's, uh,
technical training or schooling to bring it into the community, because I know in the past couple
of years there has been a large, uh, commodity of people leaving our district versus, uh,
otherwise, and for the most part I fi... I live in Colorado right now, but I'm an Iowa City resident,
uh, planning on moving back because my kid lives there. But, um, the issue being is there is
no ... larger economic stability there for me at this point. Like it's pretty much University or
something within the government in order to be able to stabilize anything. So my question is,
what are you guys doing to give more skills or to be able to regulate or standardize any of the
current jobs to create better opportunities?
Teague: And I ... I ... I should have just made mention that Council typically, uh, do not respond, uh,
durin' this time, but we do hear your comment and appreciate you raising that with us and
sharin' your, uh, thoughts on that with us. Um, we do allow three to five minutes. Would you
like to continue your time or are you, uh, done with your comments for now?
Keever: Nope, that's fine. It's completely fine. Um, do you know is there a better time to bring this up
because this has been a consistent issue my entire life. I've lived in Iowa City for 25 plus years.
So I mean, a lot of my friends are moving out of the city, moving to bigger opportunities, and
that's a problem for me.
Teague: Urn, I would encourage you to reach out to, um, the City direct, um, City Manager's office or
to any of the Councilors through email or by phone. Thank you for joining us tonight. Pm
gonna move on to Nicholas. Welcome.
Theisen: Thank you, Mayor and Councilors. Um, I'll have quite a bit to say about the ... the annexation
later tonight, but I wanted to address something that sort of broadly came up in the work
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session. Well not even broadly. There is a specific instance of this. So, um, in the past, um,
several of you had expressed an interest in the CAHOOTS model in terms of dealing with
community relations and how to restructure policing. So I have to say I was actually incredibly
shocked to find that the City Manager's recommendations not only included nothing from that
model, but he actually felt the need to openly and publicly degrade it. So I was just going to
suggest as you are all thinking about, you know, his recommendations, you might want to
actually ask your City Manager why he felt the need to denigrate a model that has not only been
suggested by many, many community members, but also has been favored by yourselves. I
mean, I think that's a reasonable question to ask him. Thank you!
Teague: Thank you, Nicholas. Would anyone else like to address Council? If so, please raise your
hand. Seein' no one ... all right, we are going to move on to 10.a.
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10. Planning and Zoning Matters
10.a. Carson Farm Annexation — Resolution to annex approximately 196.17 acres of land
located west of Highway 218 and south of Rohret Road. (ANN20-0001) (deferred from
12/1/20)
Teague: And, um, the applicant referred... request deferral; additional correspondence included in the
12/14 late handouts, uh, gave us some informations there. Could I get a motion to defer to
one ... to January 5, 2021.
Mims: So moved, Mims.
Weiner: Second, Weiner.
Teague: All right, 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, and we ask that people keep their
comments three to five minutes. Welcome, Nicholas.
Theisen: Thank you again, Mayor. I guess I could have included this in my earlier comments, but I
wanted it to be attached to the specific issue at hand. Um, I don't really have a lot to say that I
haven't said in the past. So I'm gonna be brief. Um, I would actually like to personally thank
Councilors Thomas and you yourself, Mayor, for actually debating this issue and for doing
something that I think is really important, because in the discussion, uh, in the work session
about this annexation, several people tried to make it seem as if like, oh well, you know, this is
just this stage of the process, you know, this is just a limited thing. It's not a limited thing.
What both of you recognized quite astutely is that in fact that this is what gets the whole process
underway in the first place. That by doing this, and by the City actually committing to, you
know, provide infrastructure and to annex this (mumbled) to, you know, include it in the City,
quite literally, like that gets the ball rolling. And that's what actually ends up committing the
City to a lot of the decisions that later down the line you may not necessarily want to make.
And I actually wanted to praise both of you for recognizing that fact and actually trying to think
through what the ramifications of these decisions are. And so, thank you! That's it!
Teague: Thank you, Nicholas. Would anyone else like to address, uh, this topic? If so, please raise
your hand. Sara Barron... welcome!
Sara Barron: Hi, Council, um, Mayor Teague, I love your tie. Um, I just wanted to emphasize a point
that was raised by Councilor Weiner, um, and ... and reinforced by, um, City Attorney Dilkes,
that, um, you will have many opportunities to weigh in on this project, but, um, if you do the
annexation on the 5th, you will be agreeing to the current terms of the annexation policy, which
will mean that you'll ask the developer to commit 10% of the units to affordability for a period
of 20 years. Um, that may be what you want to go forward with, but if it isn't, I think it's worth
considering, um, a review of that before you make that decision, because that will govern, um,
what you can ask for from the future, and so I don't want to see that opportunity squandered if
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you wanna put additional, um, requirements or restrictions on the annexation that you're
offering. Um, I think there's a lot of wonderful potential here to consider. We're really looking
forward on partnering with it. Um, I can't speak for our non-profit partners, but I will say that I
think you have some non-profit developers in the area who would be more than happy, uh, to
work with the developer to create some really outstanding, um, affordable housing opportunities
in the neighborhood, if you choose to go that route. Um, but we'll want to have the strongest
foundation possible to build on. Um, and so I just wanted to remind you of that and offer that if
you'd like to discuss that in more detail before your January 5th meeting, well we would be very
glad to do that. Thank you.
Teague: Thank you, Sara. Would anyone else like to address this topic? Please raise your hand if so.
Seein' no one, Council discussion? I'm gonna do a voice vote on this. So, all in favor say aye.
Um, We just saw Martha (laughs) raise her hand. I think with Zoom ... we're in the ... we're in the
middle of a vote (laughs) So all in favor say aye one more time. Any opposed? Hearin' no
one, um, it passes 5-0.
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10.b. Carson Farm Rezoning — Ordinance conditionally rezoning approximately 196.17
acres of land located west of Highway 218 and south of Rohret Road from County
Residential (R) and County Urban Residential (RUA) to Interim Development Single -
Family Residential (ID -RS) zone.
1. Public Hearing
Teague: And I'm going to open the public... public heating. All right and public discussion, and Martha,
welcome!
Norbeck: Thank you. I wasn't quick enough on the drop! Um, I am glad that this, uh, annexation and
rezoning are getting, uh, more scrutiny. Um, as you all know, that my...my commitment
(garbled) every aspect of my life is to think about how we can address environmental issues that
we've kind of created for ourselves, and so when I look at this annexation and the rezoning, I
want to circle back to a conversation that got started with Mayor Throgmorton, uh, last fall, uh,
which is to question single- family zoning as a concept. The City of Minneapolis has done
away with single-family zoning. Now when I say get rid of single-family zoning, that doesn't
mean just go to multi -family. Um, it means allow... there's... there's a ... a list of ways that you can
consider this, um, and in different types of neighborhoods you might do it differently. But when
you get away from single-family zoning, you could do a duplex or a triplex, and currently those
are only allowed at the corner lots in certain areas, and if you look at the documents that were
prepared, uh, by the City, you can see that there's almost no duplex permits being issued, and
when you have single-family zoning on large lots, that means houses that are 300,000, 400,000,
$500,000. So you've got a ... an economic equity issue there when you're not ... only allowing
these large lots, medium lots on single-family units. So, by introducing more diversity, you're
actually reducing some of those unit costs so you can have more economic divi... diversity in
your community. The other piece is, uh, if you wanna do a little research on our current way of
doing subdivisions, it's deeply embedded in classism and racism. So if you do a search for
history, single family zoning, racism, or history single-family zoning, classism. You're gonna
find in pretty short order that this vision of the American dream that has been pushed on us was
actually created to ... to exacerbate, uh, classism and racism. Now, I'm not saying that our
current approach inherently does that, but I'm saying that it...it creates the opportunity to not
make it better, or possibly make it worse. And then there's the environmental piece, because
when you space units further apart, you've got more linear feet as sewer, more linear feet of
water. You've got trash trucks have to travel further. Human beings have to travel further
between units. There's more lawn to mow. There's more concrete to pour. It's tremendously
inefficient, and these types of developments tend to promote and even, uh, codify the
requirement for large units, which larger units use more materials and require more energy to
operate. So you've got ... you've got knock on effects from an environmental standpoint, and
then there's the cost issue to the City because the City absolutely does not charge enough
for ...for the extension of sewer and water and roads to cover your costs for maintaining these
spread out units. They're very inefficient, and if you look at studies of the income from tax
revenue in communities, these types of neighborhoods are terrible. They are a big drain on city
services. So I think you need to step back and do a serious reevaluation. I'm very concerned
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about the comprehensive plan because I currently have not ... I am not aware of. I'm not saying it
hasn't been done, but I am not aware of...of an analysis of the comprehensive plan through the
lens of race, of class, and of the environment. And if we don't start looking at our planning
through those lenses, we're not gonna change the way we do it. You can't just keep, you know,
chugging these units out like it was ... like they didn't have any impact. They have a big impact.
And so last ... the last closing thing I wanna say is that I remember one of the Council Members
last year when this came up, when Throgmorton said maybe we need to allow duplexes and
triplexes by right ... rather than by exception. The comment was, well, this is gonna be hard.
Yeah, it's gonna be hard ... because you have comfortable people who want to continue being
comfortable, and they want to live their comfortable lives in the way that they re used to,
without having to question things, and it's your job, looking forward and forecasting and
looking at the broader community. It is your ...your position where you have that ability to look
more broadly at the impacts of what you're doing. And sometimes you're gonna have to say no
to the comfortable people when they ask to not be made uncomfortable. Because chances are
high that when you make choices to keep the comfortable people comfortable, that there are
unintended consequences for people who are all ready uncomfortable, and when we start
looking hard at these issues of social equity and environmental equity, we have to
start... challenging the comfortable people, and I know it's gonna be hard, but I know you're up
to the task. Thank you.
Teague: (mumbled) Martha. Uh, John Yapp, uh, welcome!
Yapp: Sorry, I had to unmute. Uh, good evening, Mayor, Members of Council. Um ... just to be clear...
and to reiterate the documents we have submitted, our request is ... is not for single-family
zoning. Our request is for a mixed-use, mixed -income neighborhood. Um, working for two or
three years with Planning staff to design that neighborhood. Uh, with that, we have requested
deferral tonight. Thank you.
Teague: Thank you. Would anyone else like to address this topic? If so, please raise your hand or on
the phone, press *9. Seein' no one, Council discussion? Could I get a motion to continue the
public hearing and defer first consideration to January 5, 2021?
2. Consider an Ordinance (First Consideration) (Deferred from 12/1/20)
Taylor: So moved, Taylor.
Mims: Second, Mims.
Teague: And I'm gonna do a voice vote. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion passes 5-0.
Mims: Isn't it six?
Teague: I'm sorry.
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Weiner: Yeah, Mr. Mayor, I think...
Teague: 6-0 (laughs) Yes (laughs) All right.
Fruehling: Mayor?
Teague: Yes?
Fruehling: Could we accept correspondence for I O.a.?
Teague: Absolutely! We're gonna go back to I O.a. Um, I was trying to get Martha comment up there
(laughs) So 10.a., uh, could I get a motion to accept correspondence please?
Bergus: So moved, Bergus.
Weiner: Second, Weiner.
Teague: And all in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion passes 6-0.
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10.e. Rezoning — 4 acres at Myrtle Avenue and South Riverside Drive — Ordinance
conditionally rezoning approximately 4 acres of land located at Myrtle Avenue and South
Riverside Drive to Riverfrout Crossings — West Riverfront District (RFC -WR) zone.
(REZ20-0003) (Second Consideration)
Teague: ... and the applicant has requested expedited action, um, and the correspondence was in our
Council packet.
Mims: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for passage at
two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally passed be suspended, that
the second consideration and vote be waived, and that the ordinance be voted on for final
passage at this time.
Thomas: Second. (garbled, several responding)
Teague: Uh, move, uh, moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas, and would anyone from the public like
to address this topic? If so, please raise your hand. Welcome, Angie Jordan.
Jordan: Can you hear me okay?
Teague: Yes, we can.
Jordan: Okay, I could be totally wrong on this part, so if it is, let me know. Um, the South Riverside
Drive, uh, rezoning. (garbled) just wanted to just express how exciting it is to see that area, uh,
getting rezoned. I think this is the part that's having, uh, consideration for the tunnel. Um, I
believe that's right, and I think that's super exciting. I just wanna remind Council and all those
listening that on the south side, we also would love to learn more about this process for the
Highway 6 and, um, getting access, business access, neighborhood access. They're gonna have
so much with that, um, entry, exit access point, and I think that's acces... absolutely awesome
and just wanna make sure that we get some, uh, information so that we can maybe do the same
thing one day, uh, in our side of the town. Thank you.
Teague: Thank you. Would anyone else like to address this topic? Council discussion? Roll call
please. Motion passes 6-0. And could I get a motion to pass and adopt?
Mims: So moved.
Weiner: Second, Weiner.
Teague: Would anyone from the public like to address this topic? Council discussion? Roll call please.
Motion passes 6-0. Motion to accept correspondence?
Mims: So moved, Mims.
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Bergus: Second, Bergus.
Teague: All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion passes 6-0.
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10.f. Zoning Code Amendment — Changes to the Riverfront Crossings, West Riverfront
Subdistrict Ordinance — Ordinance to amend Title 14 Zoning to expand the West
Riverfront Subdistrict boundaries and to increase the maximum bonus height in the West
Riverfront Subdistrict to seven stories for properties north of and near the Iowa Interstate
Railroad. (REZ20-0004) (Second Consideration)
Teague: ... and the applicants have requested expedited action.
Mims: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for passage at
two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally passed be suspended, that
the second consideration and vote be waived, and that the ordinance be voted on for final
passage at this time.
Taylor: Second, Taylor.
Teague: Would anyone from the public like to address this topic? If so, please raise your hand.
Welcome, Martha, and we ask that people keep their comments three to five minutes.
Norbeck: So while I'm, uh, on the phone, I thought I would take the opportunity to mention that the
density bonus, um, can be awarded based on a number of criteria, and I'm sure you all acutely
remember this, um, from the Court Street project. At this time, the Riverfront Crossings, uh,
density bonus does not require certain energy performance standards to achieve ... uh, receive a
density bonus. You have a menu of options. This stands in stark contrast to the TIF
requirements that says you must meet this level of energy efficiency. Um, I think it's high time
that the Council apply the same criteria, basically just translate over that TIF criteria, uh, to the
River (mumbled) Crossings, and 1 know the City Manager wants to go through a whole process,
but we already went through that process for the TIF component with the developers, with, uh,
interested parties in the community. I ... you're not ... it ... it's been litigated in the public, so to
speak, in the TIF process. It would be a pretty straightforward option to just say, look, we're
gonna apply the same criteria here to the density bonus, and I think it's overdue to have this
conversation. So I encourage you to press for this conversation, and I will remind you that the
Council Members have the option to just choose to vote to make this decision and, uh, to ... to
say we're not gonna wait to reopen this public comment process that we've already invited the
stakeholders to on one occasion. Just translate over the policy for the density bonus, and if
you're gonna expand your zone with an increased density bonus, it just increases the need and
importance for that, um, energy requirement tied to any density bonus, just like affordable
housing is tied to any density bonus. Thank you.
Teague: Thank you, Martha. Would anyone else like to address this topic? Welcome ... and this is, um,
and I am (both talking) Please, uh, state your name, first and last name.
Keever: Stephen Keever. In representation of the zoning laws, um, in Colorado they have done
something similar to the affordable housing, as well. It did not turn out well. That's all I'm
gonna say, um....
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Teague: Thank you, Stephen. Would anyone else like to address this topic? Council discussion? Roll
call please. Motion passes 6-0. Could I get a motion to pass and adopt?
Mims: So moved, Mims.
Thomas: Second, Thomas.
Teague: Anyone from the public like to address this topic? Council discussion? Roll call please.
Motion passes 6-0.
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10.g. Fringe Area Rezoning — Rapid Creek Road NE — Letter to the Johnson County
Planning and Zoning Commission in support of a rezoning from County Agricultural (A)
to County Residential (R) for approximately 40.62 acres of property located in
unincorporated Johnson County, south of Rapid Creek Road NE and Rapid Creek Trail
NE intersection in Fringe Area A — outside of Iowa City's Growth Area.
Teague: Could I get a motion to approve?
Mims: So moved, Mims.
Thomas: Second, Thomas
Teague: And staff presentation.
Sitzman: Thank you, Mayor, Council. Danielle Sitzman Neighborhood and Development Services.
This is an application for a rezoning shown in the dotted white line here. If you're not familiar
with those, uh, street intersections, it's generally north of I-80 and east of Highway 1. Um, at
this time Yellow Rock LLC, the property owner, would like to rezone the parcel to develop a
county subdivision. Um, because this land is subject to our fringe ar...our current fringe area
agreement, it's coming before you tonight for recommendation to the County on that rezoning
decision. Um, if the rezoning is approved, the applicant intends to develop a county subdivision
and divide the land into approximately seven single-family lots. Um, City approval of that
subdivision would, uh, be a separate application and also subject to our fringe area agreement.
Um, this property is, as I mentioned, within the fringe area, area A. It is outside the City's
growth area, um, located in this portion of the city ...portion of our fringe area agreement, I
should say. Um, the current comprehensive plan for Johnson County calls for it to be
agricultural uses, a very limited residential development, um, 40 acres or larger in size. So this
would be a change, uh, from the existing conditions. Um, talking a little bit about the existing
conditions. This shows the surrounding County zoning. It's currently agriculturally zoned and
they're requesting to change it to a County rural zoning designation. Um, little bit of context.
Um, the southern half of the property is woodlands, um, natural open space, and contains a
creek with a ... a floodway associated with it. Urn, development would have to respect those, uh,
flooded areas and cluster away from that. Um, we do use two criteria for reviewing, uh,
rezonings. Again, our fringe area agreement (mumbled) representing the comprehensive
planning, uh, perspective from the City. We also look at the County's comprehensive planning
and compatibility with the neighborhood. As I said, our fringe area agreement is the
component ... uh, a component of the City s comprehensive plan. It applies to areas outside of
the City s jurisdiction that we don't, uh, plan for in our district or subdistrict plans. It does
provide guidance for areas within two miles of the City s corporate limits. I also mentioned, we
look at the County's comprehensive plan. Um, the County ...County has recently updated its
comprehensive plan. So it's a bit out of touch with our current fringe area agreement, which
we're currently updating with, um, County staff and will eventually get to a ... a new fringe area
agreement for you to adopt. Um, this shows the areas that the County has included in their
long-range planning as appropriate for residential. Again, the subject property is highlighted in
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that green color. Um, this would result in, um, residential development of the character, fairly
similar to what's in the vicinity already, which is larger lot growth, uh, development. I'm sorry
(mumbled) slide. Sorry about that. Um, as I said, the County's comprehensive plan is a little
bit more current than our current fringe area agreement. So there's a bit of a conflict; however,
looking forward to what staff has anticipated the revised fringe area agreement would, uh,
embody, we don't see that as a ... a long-term conflict. This area's well beyond the City's
intended growth boundary and would be appropriate for County style, um, residential
development. As I said, um, this does go on, proceed on to the County for final approval. They
go through a recommendation process with their Planning and Zoning Commission as well,
before the Board of Supervisors. Um, and so based on review of the relevant criteria, including
the future land use planning that the County has done and that staff is currently, City staff is
currently working with the County to update our fringe area agreement, we did recommend
approval of the proposed rezoning. At its December 3rd meeting, the Planning and Zoning
Commission concurred with that and also recommended approval to you tonight. I'm happy to
answer questions!
Teague: No questions. All right. Um, would anyone from the public like to address this topic? If so,
please raise your hand and keep your comments three to five minutes. Welcome, John!
Yapp: Sony, I was muted. Uh, John Yapp, representing the applicant. Here to address any questions.
Teague: Any questions to ... the applicant? Hearing none, and I believe we have Stephen. Welcome,
Stephen.
Keever: How you doing, my question is, is that you guys have further development, uh, standards you
guys are going to comply with or is this going to be a continuous thing? Uh, I ... I'm sure
members of the community would like to know what's going to happen with their areas or any
new monetary value is going to be added to their houses or taken away.
Teague: And, Stephen, just so that you know, typically a developer, we, uh, allow Councilors to ask
questions, um, but anyone from the public that would like to address the topic, we just ask for
you to give your comments, um, on this item. But we heard you and thank you for sharing.
Would you like to add anything else? 'Thank you, Stephen. Would anyone else like to address
this topic? Council discussion?
Weiner: Basically to be clear, and I'm still not 100% clear on what ... on, um, on the fringe areas, but it
sounds as if basically this is not something that we really have any say over. Is that correct, but
that were just sort of being consulted because it's in this fringe area, but it's not within our
projected growth areas?
Teague: We don't make the final decision. I mean we weigh in. We can weigh in on it and let the
County know our thoughts, but, um, the decision lies with them.
Weiner: Thank you.
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Teague: Any other comments? Hearing none roll call please. Motion passes 6-0.
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11. Idyllwild Drainage Diversion — Resolution approving project manual and estimate of cost
for the construction of the Idyllwild Stormwater Drainage Diversion Project, establishing
amount of bid security to accompany each bid, directing City Clerk to post notice to
bidders, and fixing time and place for receipt of bids.
1. Public Hearing
Teague: I'm going to open the public hearing... and staff presentation please!
Reichart: Hello, I'm Jason Reichart, Senior Civil Engineer with the City of Iowa City. (clears throat)
Excuse me. So this is a presentation for the Idyllwild storm water drainage diversion project.
To give you a little background on the project, after the 2008 flood we experienced, uh, some
inundation on Foster Road that prevented access to critical infrastructure and neighborhoods in
the Peninsula area, um, and access to our wells, our water wells. Um, Stanley Consultants
completed a study in 2009 evaluating potential flood mitigation options for this area. Following
that study, we, uh, hired HDR, um, and they (clears throat) looked at, excuse me, uh, the
feasibility and impacts of constructing the various flood mitigation alternatives discussed in the
Stanley, um, report, and from those results, HDR recommended rerouting off-site drainage to,
uh, around Idyllwild, um, to alleviate pumping needs and reduce the risk of flooding caused by
locally heavy rains. Uh, Council then directed staff to evaluate the drainage area flowing into
the Idyllwild subdivision and determine the best method to reroute the off-site storm water,
based on HDR's recommendation. Um, in the current project, um, we hired HR Green to
complete a study of the drainage system. Approximately 80 acres drains into the Idyllwild
subdivision, um, and determine, uh, bypass alternatives that could be used. Uh, like I said, they
evaluated this watershed and identified deficiencies within the existing storm sewer system and
developed two alternatives at a preliminary level. Um, we then continued working with HR
Green to evaluate the results of that study, determine the best alternative, and design that
desired alternative. Uh, the alternative that we arrived at was essentially an open swale, as you
can kind of see on the image on the right, um, with storm piping, uh, going under Foster Road
and Taft Speedway. This project will, uh, also include a bid alternate of a small pump station.
Um, throughout the study phases, uh, we have conducted a ... a number of public meetings, um,
with the surrounding neighborhoods and interested parties. Um, City staff has also met with the
Idyllwild HOA and the Forest View developers to discuss stormwater concerns related to the
existing and anticipated post -development stormwater management, uh, in the watershed north
of Idyllwild that drains to the subdivision. As a part of these discussions, there's particular
interest from the neighborhood to include a pump station with the project. And as I said, we are
including that as a bid alternate with this. Um, so the stormwater diversion portion of the
project is funded by the stormwater utility (clears throat) and again, City plans to include a
small pump station as a bid alternate, and I'd like to make the distinction at this point that, um,
the stormwater diversion addresses flooding concerns, uh, in the storm sewer system as part of a
locally heavy rain storm. The pump station would be part of a larger flood mitigation system
that would work in tandem, uh, and ... and be more beneficial during river flood events, and
based on the consultant's recommendation, a pump station isn't necessarily required to, um, for
the ... the diversion portion of the project. However, like I said, as ... as part of a larger flood
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fighting, um, effort, a pump station could be beneficial. So as I've stated, uh, the diversion
portion of the project is funded by the stormwater utility, um, and then based on how bids come
in, any extra funds will be used, um, is funding towards the pump station, if the budget allows,
um, and if there is a funding shortfall depending on, again, how bids come in, we have, uh,
discussed potential funding agreement with the Idyllwild HOA to cover the difference. And
with that, if there's any questions.
Teague: Thank you, Jason. Hearin' no questions. Would anyone from the public like to address this
topic? If so, raise your hand and keep your comments three to five minutes please. Welcome,
Terri!
Chair: Yes, hello.
Teague: Hello!
Chait: Yeah, great. Um, so I'm Terri Chait and I own several condos at Idyllwild and I've been active in
that community since its inception. The original developers at Idyllwild in the early 1990s
worked closely with the City to design a water control system that would move excess
rainwater through a retention area on the corner of the Idyllwild property, into their newly built
ponds and then through underground pipes, and it would move that water into the river. For
many years that system worked just fine. But over time ... then as ... as Jason talked about, there
was more construction in the surrounding area, up on the Peninsula, and as streets and
sidewalks and buildings went up, more water runoff was increased in the development at
Idyllwild. This was especially problematic in 2008 when Idyllwild experienced catastrophic
flooding, which was brought about by several events at the same time, not just by the runoff,
but by, um, the overtopped reservoir, which happened because there was so much rain coming
down from the north, um, in the river. There was heavy rains for weeks. The river was backed
up and clogged at the Park Road bridge area, and there was a coffer dam in the Iowa River and I
thought... at Iowa Avenue, and there was the runoff from the bluff, that are about 80 acres north
of Idyllwild. The good news is if there's so much that has happened since then, the Idyllwild
owners, urn, financed and built a berm around the development. They installed sluice gates,
which which shut off the water pipes between the Idyllwild ponds and the river, so that the river
water can't back ... back up into the ponds and flood Idyllwild. Um, the City has raised Park
Road bridge, you know, that, um, has allowed for easier flow of the river and hopefully less
debris to get clogged in that area. The coffer dam is gone out of Iowa ... from Iowa Avenue. So
all those things are great, and tonight to have this ... this last piece starting to fall into place is
wonderful. We're just...we are, um, all of us at Idyllwild are very excited to see this final piece
of the project happening, that ... that will hopefully help control the water in this area, and we'd
like to thank the City planners and engineers who had the insight to develop the project, and
thank you to the Mayor and the City Council for putting aside funding, and discussing and
supporting this project. We appreciate it very much.
Teague: Thank you, Terri. Would anyone else like to address this topic? Welcome, Tammi.
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Craft: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My name is Tammi Craft. I'm the current president of the Idyllwild
Condominium Owners Assoc... Association, and I just wanted to briefly echo Terri's comments
and express our appreciation and our excitement that this project is continuing diverting this
runoff water, um, away from Idyllwild, would be a huge, uh, improvement to our area during
heavy rain falls, and we thank you and urge Council approval of this next step.
Teague: Thank you, Tammi. Would anyone else like to address this topic? All right, seein' no one ... I
am going to close the public hearing. Could I get a motion to approve?
2. Consider a Resolution
Weiner: So moved, Weiner.
Taylor: Second, Taylor.
Teague: Moved by Weiner, seconded by Taylor. Council discussion?
Mims: Well I ... I will be in support. (garbled) I have to say over the years, my 11 years on Council, I've
certainly had a lot of conversations and meetings, uh, with members of the Idyllwild, uh, area
and this ... this is a huge, huge piece for them. And as they indicated, to finally get this final
piece in place. It's been certainly a challenge, um, over the years in terms of responsibility on
various issues, and I'm glad that our City staff and the members of that development have been
able to work together and get this final piece in place and that we hopefully will be willing to,
uh (garbled) funding so we can get this done and protect that area.
Taylor: I wanna thank, uh, Jason for his presentation, and I'm also, like Susan, I'm ... I'm very glad and
happy, uh, to see this. It's a ... a much needed project, uh, for a long time, uh, as we'd heard from
the neighbors in that area, uh, a big improvement for this neighborhood and ... and very happy to
see it and vote for it.
Teague: I'm gonna support this tonight as well. Um, I think my question went to who's responsible,
you know, and so, uh, what I do know is that when ... when I heard about, uh, which was
presented a very, nor ... um, informatively by Terri about all the things that happen, that
contribute to the flooding over in ... in this area, and so, um, the City did a lot of investment. We
raised the Park Road bridge and did other things to really ensure that, um, some of the issues
with the water over in this area are at bay, um, and Jason did a great job, even though he
(mumbled) through his, uh, beard a little bit (laughs) Um, yeah, so I'm gonna support this
tonight. All right. Roll call please. Motion passes 6-0.
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12. Unbiased Policing Ordinance — Unbiased Policing Ordinance (Pass & Adopt)
Teague: Could I get a motion please?
Thomas: So moved, Thomas.
Taylor: Second, Taylor.
Teague: And would anyone from the public like to address this topic? Welcome, Nicolas.
Theisen: Um, I'm just gonna beat the dead horse... again. Um, I'll just reiterate the same points that I
made last time, even though I know you're all gonna pass this anyway. Um, I would like to
reiterate that every single one, as (laughs) your ...as your own City Manager's, um, summary
statement about this ordinance says very clearly, all of these policies were already in place when
literally last year an ICPD police officer racially profiled a black man. So egregiously and in
cahoots with a County Attorney, no less. So egregiously that a federal judge felt the need in
public court to scold both of them for what they had done. That's almost unheard of. So, I
mean, you're gonna pass it. I'm ... I can't change your mind. No one can change your mind. You
all think that this is a great idea, but it's ... it's... it's not gonna do anything! And then ... I wish you
guys would understand that. Thank you.
Teague: Thank you, Nicholas. Would anyone else like to address this topic? All right. Kevin Sanders,
welcome.
Sanders: Hello, Mr. Mayor, how are you?
Teague: Happy to—happy you're with us tonight. (laughs)
Sanders: Thank you. As President of the Iowa City NAACP, I would like to say at this time that we are
definitely in support of the City moving forward with this ordinance, and I would also like to
reiterate that this is just a first step. I have been meeting with the interim team as well as the
other teams throughout the county, and there are plans to address a lot of the concerns in regards
to the discrimination, racial profiling, and I will also say that Iowa City law enforcement has
had their issues. But I do know that they are trying their best to make sure that preventive
measures are in place for 2021. So on that note, I'm very in support of passing this ordinance
and ... that's all I have to say.
Teague: Thank you. Would anyone else like to address this topic? Seein' no one, Council discussion?
Mims: I'm very much in support of us. I think it speaks to the values of our city, um, and our ...our staff
and our ...and I believe our police department, um, without any ...without addressing any ...the
individual instance, I think. You can express your values and have it very important to put that
out there publicly and in this form. Um, it doesn't mean that we accept when people don't do
the right thing. But simply because there might be a case of someone not doing the right thing
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is not a reason to not pass something like this that strongly expresses our values and how we
want things to ... to work with our officers and their interaction with the public. So I strongly
support this.
Teague: All right, I'm gonna agree with Councilor Mims 100%. I believe that this speaks to our values,
um, and I ... and I'm ... when we're talking about equitable treatment, uh, if you read the ordinance
it really does, uh, talk about how we envision and what we plan to do, and so ... this is right up
the line as to what I believe ours ... of what we want our Iowa City to look like, what ... how we
want our Iowa City police to operate, and very much so in support of this, um, and hopefully,
uh, as it has in the past, it has passed. So that's what I'm lookin' forward to.
Taylor: I'm also very much in favor of this cause I think it is very important to ... to have it, uh, codified
into an ordinance and ... and have it right there in black and white. So I'm ... I'm in favor of this.
Teague: Roll call please. Motion passes 6-0.
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15. Community Comment
Teague: We are at item number 15, which we will welcome Ryan Longenecker, if he is present or Anna.
I don't see them tonight. They're with, uh, University of Iowa Student Government, and of
course we wish all of our University, uh, students a nice little break, for those that, um, aren't
continuin' (laughs) in some fashion, um, for a little bit over the winter.
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16. City Council Information
Teague: ... and we're at item number 16, City Council updates. Jump right in there, Councilors.
Taylor: I'll start then, uh, because, uh, this is fresh on my mind. I, uh, earlier this afternoon I had the
opportunity to tour the, uh, Streets, Public Works facility and fire training tower out on
Napoleon Drive. Uh, thank you to Brock and, uh, I ... I don't remember the other, uh, persons'
names. There was a group of us there, uh, from the different heads of the departments at the
building there. Uh, it ... it's just an amazing facility. For those of you who have not been out
there, uh, I would encourage you to arrange a tour of it. It's just massive, and I ... I just think
that, uh, the entire grounds area, uh, was in the Council, um, budget, uh, a few years back, and I
was part of that, and I just say it's money well spent. It's just a wonderful facility. Uh, a lot of
thought and planning went into it, and it's just very impressive. Um, so thank you, Brock and
Ron, as I said, but I'm sorry I don't remember the other names of the other individuals, uh, but
do take ... take the time to ... to take a tour of that facility. It's really wonderful. Um, the other
thing I'd like to say with the holidays coming upon us very quickly, uh, there's still time to buy
local, buy local out there. A lot of the ... lot of the stores, local stores, even have online options.
Uh, but others of them, uh, are allowing folks to come in with a mask, uh, limited number of
folks in there, but ... but do that. There's some wonderful shops downtown and in the local area,
and happy holidays.
Bergus: Mayor, I just wanted to note that our Truth and Reconciliation Commission is getting
underway, and I know we already have members of the Commission who are active and ... and
you know, sort of holding that mantle as Commissioners and representing us very well in ... in
the community. So I'm just very excited for that work to get underway and I just really
appreciated our work session this evening and just wanna say as we end the year, Black Lives
Matter and I'm so excited to continue our commitment heading into 2021. Thank you.
Weiner: Um, I, um, thank you for that, Councilor Bergus. I would actually just like to recognize the
passing of Marvin Bell. Um, he was the ... he ... he died yesterday. He was the first (dog barking
in background) sorry there's a dog barking in the background, can't do anything about that. He
was the first, um, Poet Laureate of Iowa. He wrote more than 20 books of poetry and taught for
40 years at the Iowa Writers Workshop, um, and ... and he also, um, wrote a poem that was part
of the submission for Iowa City s application to be a UNESCO City of Literature, and I
considered reading the poem. I don't think I'm gonna do that this evening. But, um, but he
was ... he was a really meaningful voice and presence in this community for many years.
Mims: You know, I'll just comment. I don't know why it's kind of skipped my mind that this actually
was our last meeting of 2020 (laughs) till Councilor Bergus said that. And I do wanna wish
everybody all the best, um, through the remainder of the year. I know most of us are anxious to
put 2020 behind us and, um (garbled) a much better year as the vaccine is rolling out, um, and
what that will mean for our economic situation. But in the meantime, encourage everyone to,
you know, stay safe. Continue to mask up. Socially distance. I've talked to people recently
who are, uh, really sad ... very, very sad about the holidays. Not getting together with family.
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They always get together and so this is a real challenge for people, um, and I, as I've said to
people and I ... we've all heard and read, you know, we stay apart now so we can be together in
the future. We don't wanna get, you know, our friends and family sick and lose them. So we
need to tough it out for a few more months until we can get more and more people vaccinated,
and hopefully by late spring, early summer things will look a lot different. In the meantime,
thank you to all of our City staff who have done just an incredible job in the last, gosh, what
have we been now, nine or 10 months basically doing this, and while I know we'll discuss it in
our next meeting, I do just want to say to Geoff, thank you very much to you and all of the staff
who put together, uh, just an incredible document for the community and for us as Councilors
to, um, digest and react to in terms of policing in Iowa City. It's just a phenomenal document,
um, and there's no way ...we discussed early on who was going to do this, um, and I'm very, very
appreciative of the fact that you suggested and recommended that the staff do this, because
certainly, um, reaching across all of your staff, there's the expertise and the deep thought, um
(mumbled) that we as Councilors couldn't... could never have brought to the table. So you've
given us a very, very good place, and the community a very, very good place to start from. I
hope people will take time over the holidays to read that and have (garbled) to give us input
over the next few months as we look at this. So thank you and best wishes for the rest of the
year to everybody, and we'll see you after the new year.
Teague: I wanted to acknowledge that the Community Foundation of Johnson County celebrated their
20th year anniversary virtually, and so congrats to them, and if, um, I think all of our Councilors
know that they, um, their presence in our community allows a lot of not-for-profit work, um,
within our social services arena, as well as other arenas here locally. So we say congratulations
to the Community Foundation of Johnson County within their 20th year. So the Bravo Awards
happened, um, and maybe still happenin' (laughs) so I probably can't give too much
information, but for anyone that has received a Bravo Award from Think Iowa City, uh,
congratulations. I will acknowledge three people that I was, uh, that I attended, um, and that is
Kate Brown, who actually was very influential in getting a lot of the, uh, the literature out
through social media and also on the website, uh, through Better Together. All of the efforts
relatin' to coronavirus, some, um, business messaging to support local, which Councilor Taylor
talked about here recently. Uh, Jamie Powers, who is the owner of Deluxe Bakery and, uh, she
even started ... was a part of the Food for Love, uh, here locally and I ... and then another ...the last
person that I was a part of was ... and actually the first person was Supervisor Royceann Porter,
who is just awesome and amazin', and so congrats to all of these individuals and to everyone
out there that have or will be receiving a Bravo Award, um, secretly. Other than that, um, yeah.
That's all I wanted to say, and happy holidays to everybody within our community. Mask up
and stay safe.
Mims: Can I make one more comment real quickly? I'm sorry. I ... I know everybody does a lot of
giving at the end of the year and that is absolutely wonderful. And I encourage everybody who
possibly can to donate wherever their heart and mind takes them. I do want to mention one
thing that depending on your news source, people may not have heard about, and that was the
fire at the Lodge, um, which is housing for six individuals who are men who have mental health
issues. It's part of the Shelter House program. It's the ... a very much a supportive environment.
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They ..they came together through Shelter House to make this their home and to support each
other and help each other, and ... and accept the social services and support that Shelter House
gave them. This is a devastating fire. Fortunately, nobody was physically injured, but as you
can imagine, for people who do have those kinds of mental health issues, this was, um, an
incredibly devastating and emotional issue for them. Shelter House is very much in need of
help to support them, and so you can donate online. They ...they are taking some... some... gift
cards, I think, is maybe their first choice, as well as cash, to help these individuals. So if you
hadn't heard about it and you're still looking for places to donate to before the end of the year, I
would certainly encourage you to look at Shelter House and specifically for the residents of the
Lodge. Thank you.
Weiner: Thank you for raising that, Susan. Fair Weather Lodge is a ... is a really important, um,
supportive community and it's really basically unlivable now.
Teague: Yep. Thank you.
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17. Report on Items from City Staff
Teague: All right, we are on to ... Item ... 17 (laughs) and Geoff Fruin, any comments from you our City
Manager?
Fruin: Not tonight, Mayor. Thank you.
Teague: All right, and our Assistant City Manager Ashley.
Monroe: Hi. I just wanted to say thanks to Council for all the work that you put in this year as well.
Thanks.
Teague: Appreciate that! Eleanor our City Attorney... City Attorney?
Dilkes: I'll just echo that. It's been a heck of a year and ... and let's hope 2021 is on the uphill go and I'm
gonna drive down Rita ... Rita Lyn Lane or whatever the twinkly place is on my way home.
Teague: Awesome! I'll probably be behind ya. All right. City Clerk Kellie, thanks for all that you're
doing in the background, keeping these zoom meetings, but...
Fruehling: Hopefully nobody noticed that we had Zoom glitches tonight. So ... if you didn't, then we did
our jobs. Thanks to Lily for bein' my backup.
Teague: Yeah. Yes, thanks to you and Lily for all the work you do to keep our Zoom meetings going,
um, so thanks to you all.
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