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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-15 TranscriptionPage 1 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! This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 2 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 3 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 4 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 5 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 6 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 7 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 8 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 9 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 10 Bergus: Second, Bergus. Teague: All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion passes 6-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 11 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.... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 12 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 13 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 14 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 15 Teague: Any other comments? Hearing none roll call please. Motion passes 6-0. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 16 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 17 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 18 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 19 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 20 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 21 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 22 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 23 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 24 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020. Page 25 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council regular formal meeting of December 15, 2020.