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Council Present: Bergus, Mims, Salih, Teague, Taylor, Thomas, Weiner
Staff Present: Fruin, Monroe, Dilkes, Fruehling, Bockenstedt, Hightshoe, Havel
Others Present: Longenecker, Van Heukelom (UISG)
Introduction of GuideLink Executive Director Abbey Ferenzi:
Teague: Well go ahead and get started on the work session for December 1St. The first agenda item is
gonna be, uh, the GuideLink Executive Director Abbey, but I'm gonna introduce Matt Miller,
um, who is the Project Manager for the Johnson County GuideLink Center. Is he present? Yes,
I see him. Welcome, Matt.
Miller: Hey, how are you guys?
Teague: Awesome. Great to see you.
Miller: Yeah, thank you for the introduction. Um, I appreciate you guys having us on tonight. Um, we
have a ... a ... Abbey to introduce to you as the Executive Director. Um, before I did that though, I
just wanted to take a moment to (mumbled) to give you a quick update on our current timeline
of things. Um, our building is ... construction is going quite well. Um, they expect to be
wrapping up around the first of the year. Um, so once we take occupancy of the building,
there's still some work that has to be done. We need to get our furniture in there. The County
needs to run its network there, um, and then we just wanna give staff time to get in there and go
through training scenarios and get comfort... comfortable and familiar with the building as well.
So we're ... we're looking at opening, um, in February at some point. Uh, tentatively we're
targeting February 8th, um, but that's kind of in flux as there's a lot of variables that are, uh, you
know, still have to, uh, come to fruition before we actually open, but that's our target date right
now, um, and so I guess with ... with no further ado then I'll go ahead and introduce Abbey. So
Abbey Ferenzi is ... has been hired as the Executive Director, and she can give a quick update on,
uh, her background and what's been goin' on in her world lately.
Ferenzi: Hello, everybody. Thank you, Matt. Everybody hear me okay? Okay. All right. Sorry, had
to, I was in transit. So I need to do this from my car. Um, very nice to meet you all, virtually.
Again, my name is Abby Ferenzi. Uh, I have worked with the, uh, I was previously the
Director for the Iowa City Mental Health Center, um, and have been with ... I've been with the
Mental Health Center about six years now. Um, but I've been in community mental health
services for a little over 15 years. Um, I've worked in a variety of roles — case manager, crisis
counselor, uh, housing coordinator, uh, all of which I think have helped prepare me, uh, to take
on this role, which I am exceedingly excited about. Um, I ... I was hoping that I could be a part
of, uh, an access center when I had first heard about them, and so, uh, being able to do that and
to do that in, uh, the Iowa City and surrounding... with the surrounding communities, um, I'm
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just really happy ...happy for the opportunity. Um, so just to kind of let you know, um, where
I'm ... where we're at. I know Matt gave a ... a brief summary. Um, right now, uh, I am in the
midst of coming up with a lot of policies and procedures, working with the four providers who
will be providing services out of the GuideLink Center, which will be Prelude, um, Community
Crisis Services, Penn Center, and then the Abbe Mental Health Center. Um, so we're working
on provider agreements, um, and like I said those policies and procedures. I was just over in the
building today doin' a walk-through. Um, practice... practicing some scenarios we might run
into. So, um (clears throat) that's what we're workin' on right now. Um, I was able to secure
some CARES Act grant funding for, um, PPE and other tools that are going to help us operate,
uh, an access center with all the challenges of a pandemic. (laughs) Um, so I was ... I was happy
to be awarded that money and I've ordered a lot of, like I said, PPE and equipment, um, so staff
and clients and whoever else may be in the building, uh, so we can all be as safe as possible.
Um, so that's just, again, brief summary of where we're at. I was curious if anybody had any
questions for Matt or I.
Weiner: Welcome, I'm really happy to have you here. Where ... do you know where things stand with
the winter shelter this year, because the Shelter House was the one organization you ... you didn't
mention.
Ferenzi: Well, um, so Shelter House, uh, operates separately from GuideLink. So I'm not the executive
director over Shelter House. They just happen to be in the building next to us as well. Um, so
Crissy Canganelli, um, and Mark Sutter, uh, as far as I know, I have heard from them that they
plan to open ... I believe ... they had said December. So, I believe, anytime now.
Miller: I can ... I can give you guys kind of an update though. They're... they're initially gonna open up in
the old Carquest building by the County facility, where they've been the last couple years. Um,
then as soon as we get occupancy, um, of the new building, they'll move in there right away. So
really I anticipate the start of January, they'll be in there.
Weiner: Thanks very much.
Teague: Great, thanks to both of you, and we're excited about the GuideLink Center.
Miller: Yeah, if I canjust say one more thing. Um, certainly this ... this project has been a long time
coming. Um, we've been working on this for several years, and, uh, it's definitely getting hectic
right now, and I just wanna, uh, commend Abbey on the job she's done. She's had an incredible
amount of things thrown at her in the last six or seven weeks since she started, and she's
handled it really well. So she can get through this. I ... I have no prob... I have all the faith in the
world that we'll be pretty successful. So thank you, Abbey, and thank you, uh, once again for
you guys continued support and we'll, uh, I'm sure we'll be talkin' to you guys again soon and
givin' you a tour in the very near future.
Ferenzi: Thank you.
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COVID-19 Update:
Teague: Great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Any, uh, any other additional comments from
Council? All right, thanks you two. All right COVID-19 updates. We just had Thanksgiving,
so Yes. Any thoughts there from anyone. And I do hope everybody had a Good Thanksgiving
(laughs) Yes! Any thoughts there from anyone? And I do hope everybody had a, uh, a good
Thanksgiving ... even though it was different. I think just be mindful of, um, continue to be
mindful of activities. Uh, moving forward, I think, um, everybody knows by now what the
three things are that can help slow the spread so ... we'll just continue to monitor that. All ri...
Weiner: I ... I just say thank you to everybody who's ... who is wearing a face covering. Thank you to
everybody who's doing, um, what you need to to help keep you and other people safe, um, and I
think we've seen a ... a number of...of articles recently in the media of people who just got tired
and let their guard down and it did not end well. Please, th... (laughs) there is light at the end of
the tunnel with the vaccines. Please keep it up, and thank you to everybody who's continuing
to, um, do what you need to—for on ... particularly on behalf of our healthcare workers.
Continue discussion of Resolution (20-159) of Initial Council Commitments addressing the Black
Lives Matter Movement and Systemic Racism in the wake of the murder of George Flovd by the
Minneapolis Police and Calls for Action from protesters and residents:
Teague: Yes, well said! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right, we're gonna move on to, um,
Black Lives Matter movement and systemic racism. Um, any updates there? I know that there
was one update, um, which maybe we can bring it up now. Um, it's in the info packet. I think
it's November... 25th info packet. Um, no. It's in the formal agenda. So, and that is the ... the
commission, the HRC Commission. They had a recommendation to staff. I don't know if, um,
many of us read their recommendation, but it related to IFR havin' a seat at the table. So I think
we should address that, and we can probably do that now ...if people wanna have that
conversation. I'm tryin' to bring up ... okay, there. So ... the Truth ... the HRC met and they did a
recommendation to Council, and I'll read what the recommendation was, specifically their
wording. Um, so be it resolved, the IFR having a named representative, have a seat at the Iowa
City Council ... at the Iowa City City Council, to participate in all topics related to the June
resolution, subject to the Mayor's direction, voted on annually. So that is their recommendation
and I wanted to, um, I ... I think we should have the discussion and ... we did have this discussion
as they even mentioned throughout their minutes. Um, they had a pri, uh, previously and then it
came up again when they received a formal, another request from IFR.
Mims: I'll start I guess. 1, as you said, Mayor, we had this discussion previously, um, and I don't have
to say my position on this has not changed, and I don't think that any of the circumstances have
changed. Um, I think the majority of us felt this way before, um, and I know you did, Mayor,
and ... and Supervisor Royceann Porter, who's been a longtime activist in this community said the
same thing, and that is ... there's two really big issues for me. One is ... I still am not convinced
that IFR represents the broader part of our community of people of color. Um, I guess I don't
see how we can give them a seat at the table and not the South District Neighborhood
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Association, for example, or Black Voices Project as another example. Um, so I ... I don't see
that there's any one group that has ... that really shows me that they really represent that broader
constituency. Um, and I think it's our responsibility to make sure that we are listening to all of
those people. We are ... I believe all of us are always open to ... whether it's phone calls, emails,
um, even in this pandemic a lot of us have had Zoom calls, and in the summer, uh, we even had
meetings out on the Pentacrest, um, with individuals, and I think we're all still very much
willing to do as much as we can, probably not out on the Pentacrest today, but, you know, with
phone calls and Zoom meetings, etc. So I don't ... I'm not convinced that they represent that
broader community, uh, well, in terms of having that representation. And secondly, I think it
sets, um, a precedent that I would not want to be a part of, because then I think anytime we get
to a bigger, more complex issue, we end up with the same thing of one group, one organization,
saying, `hey, we want a seat at the table,' and I guess I would just reiterate Supervisor Royceann
Porter's words. `If you want a seat at a table ... at the table, you run and you get elected.' Um, in
the meantime, we are all, I believe, very much open and willing to conversations and I speak I
think both not only for myself, but I believe for the whole Council. So I do not support the
recommendation.
Taylor: For me ... go ahead, go ahead, Mayor.
Teague: Oh ... no, please, go right ahead.
Taylor: I was just going to say that, uh, I echo what Susan is saying, although I ... I respect, uh, the
members of the Iowa Freedom Riders and their opinions on things, I think, as she said, even
Royceann Porter, who I ... I admire greatly, uh, says that is why, you know, if you really want a
true seat at the table, to speak on ... on whatever issues that come before the Council, you know,
run for Council! That's a great thing to do. Uh, but as far as one group having a specified seat
at the table, there's... there's many other groups that have interest in items that come before the
Council. My goodness, and we listen to `em. We've always listened to `em. As Susan said,
that's a big key thing is to listen, listen to people. Uh, the 100 Grannies, for instance, you know,
they've never begged to have a seat at the table, but they're... they're present when there's issues
that concern ... they care about, and goodness the climate action folks, and ... and they came and
they spoke and they changed, uh, they ..we turned around some things according to what ... what
they were saying. So, you know, and we have the listening posts. Uh... uh, also we've had
groups where, uh, if someone wants to come before the ... the Council and has a lot to say, uh,
maybe two people can consolidate their time and so they wind up with nine to 10 minutes, one
person talking, because the other person chooses not to talk then, because they have the same
things to say. Uh, we've always listened. I think we've always given people time, uh, to talk.
Uh, so I ... I agree with Susan totally ...on this.
Teague: Um, I ... I, of course, wanna thank IFR again. As I've mentioned, um, they really started the ball
rolling when it came down to Council comin' together and makin' some changes. Um, our
resolution. Yes, IFR came and they brought us, um, some items and some demands that...it...it
really put Council in a position to really think hard and ... and ... and rather quickly about that
resolution and how we wanted our community, uh, you know, what we were gonna strive for, as
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a community. So I do thank them 100% for that. My position hasn't changed on this and it has
a lot to do with, um, what is, you know, what is the role of Council, um, who is a part of the
Council. These are elected seats, um, and this is an opportunity for, um, when ... when we're in
our meetings, is an opportunity for ...for people to come from the public during the open
comment section, give their comments. Also, I noticed, um, in the minutes that it was stated
that Council is hard to get a hold of and ... and have meetings with. Um, there is no
conversation, and without that conversation, you know, a lot of things can't be accomplished.
So, um, I know that this Council had appointed two, uh, Councilors, both Councilor Bergus and
Councilor Weiner, um, to be the liaison, uh, between IFR and even the South District, as well
as, um, Black Voices Project, and in anyone related that was interested in the topic of, uh, the
Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but not only ...it wasn't just limited to that. It was really
limited, A ... an opportunity for anything related to, um, our resolution. So I believe this
Council is, um, accessible. I myself have, um, the members of the IFR have my number, um,
and I have on there, um, especially with some of the younger people, um, durin'...especially
durin' the protests. I have on there `must answer,' you know, because I wanted to make sure
that they were safe and if there was a concern, I wanted to navigate that immediately, um,
because there were some, um, some counter- protesters out there, and so for me, again, it's ... it's
not about not allowing your voice to be heard, uh, because you are always welcome to this
Council. Um, you're always welcome to, um, to share your... whatever IFR as a ... as a group, or
as individuals want to share with the Council, you ... you're always welcome to ... to do that. I
mean, it's no secret that there are some ... a few things that I don't agree with, um, when it comes
down to a few of the ideations of the IFR, but I won't let that stop me from working with IFR or
any member, um, with the IFR. I truly appreciate and I thank you for all that you've done for
this community, because you did. You started somethin' that I am looking forward to continuin'
in my role as Councilor and in my role as Mayor. So thanks to IFR. I do not support, um, a
seat at the table as .... as I think has been referred to, um, at the Council table, but ... you are
certainly welcome anytime at any of our Council meetings, and you're also welcome to call me
directly. Many of you have my direct personal number. Use it anytime!
Bergus: I would just echo what my colleagues have said and ... and thank the Mayor for stating it so
well. I hope that IFR remains engaged, if we decline to grant, um, this ... this recommendation,
we don't take up this recommendation. Um, I absolutely know that those members who've been
involved, those individuals who identify themselves as speaking for IFR will continue to be
engaged, and I hope they continue to be engaged, and I hope that, um, we have facilitated a
process in...wherein so many different people can participate in local government and that we
can be accessible in a way that I ... I think, um, really does credit our commitment to this process.
Uh, like the Mayor, um, my cell phone number's on the website. I will take a meeting, phone
call, um, with ... with really anyone, have done so with IFR members repeatedly and will
continue to do so. So I hope those, uh, individuals who represent IFR will continue to be
involved and keep holding our feet to the fire.
Thomas: Yeah, I ... I would agree with, uh, my fellow Councilors and frankly, I was a little bit surprised
to read in some of the minutes from that, uh, HRC miss ... um, commission meeting that, uh,
this ... the sense that the Council wasn't listening because I ... I certainly feel I ... I and I think
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everyone on Council has really put ... really an extraordinary amount of time into listening and
trying to advance the conversation, and I felt, uh, personally that we were making real progress
on the policy matters, which I think is where we are at this phase. And, uh, if...if anyone
on ... with IFR or anyone in the public in general feels that we're not advancing, uh, the policy,
uh, in a way that they're pleased with, I certainly would like to have that conversation. Um, but
I think thus far it's ... it's been productive. I've appreciated that, you know, what I've learned, uh,
from this process, and I think, uh, IFR ... I've contributed to their understanding as well. So
it's ... I felt it was sort of a mutual exchange that was making progress, um, in a significant way,
and I hope it continues to make progress.
Salih: (mumbled) my position also hasn't changed. I really support the Human Right Commission
recommendation to give the IFR seat at the table. IFR not only start the ... rolling the ball, but
they continue like bringing all this issue and reaching out to similar groups in the community,
try to reach out to everyone from Black Voices Project to South District, to everyone, try to
include everyone. My position (garbled) not going nowhere, but I guess for the record, I
support their ...the Human Right Commission recommendation.
Weiner: I think someone, at least one person mentioned that our numbers are on the website. Um, if I
can't pick up the phone when someone calls and you leave a message, I'll call you back. If...if
you write me an email, I will write you back. I'm happy to talk. I'm happy to phone. I'm happy
to Zoom, um, in ... in groups or otherwise, uh, what ... I can really only echo what most of my
colleagues have said. I don't support the ... the seat at the table, but I do support continuing to
talk and continuing to learn in both directions, because it has been an incredibly fruitful two-
way street.
Clarification of Agenda Items:
Teague: All right, any other comments there? All right, we're gonna move on to clarification of agenda
items.
Thomas: I just had one question. I noticed, um, on the traffic calming, 6.d., you know, that the work
had been completed. I ... one question I had was whether we, uh, do a kind of a post -installation
assessment of, um, how the ... the traffic calming elements, uh, have changed the, you know, the
speeds on the streets where they've been installed.
Fruin: Uh, John, I can probably, um, confirm that, uh, with you before the, uh, before the vote, um,
takes place tonight, but I believe that, yes, we will go back in and we'll do kind of a post, uh,
traffic assessment and compare the speeds, um, and volumes with the ... the precondition. Um,
but again, I'll ... I'll need to just check with staff and verify that, um, and I'll ... I'll let you know
before that vote.
Thomas: Thanks.
Information Packet Discussion (November 19, November 25):
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Teague: Any other items on the formal agenda? Movin' on to info packet No ... November 19th.
Mims: Well I would just mention the climate action report then, if nobody, uh, lot of good information
in there. I would encourage people to take a look at that, uh, their annual report.
Teague: Yep. Um, and I know we got the, uh, the City Manager ...Juneteenth holiday, um, and that was
also kind of broadcast everywhere, over Facebook and probably Twitter and some other City,
uh, communication avenues. So this is great ... um, great news. (laughs) So lookin' forward to
this, um, holiday here at the City. Info packet November 25th.
Thomas: I did want to, um, make a few comments on ... on the, um, IP7, the sidewalk snow clearing
guide that I sent all of you, and I ... I hope you had a chance to look at it. Uh, this ... this was in a
sense a follow up to the Council discussion of, um, which was on October 20th, of the 2021 ice
and snow operations. And, uh, I just wanted to make some comments and ... and offer something
for your consideration. Uh, first, for those who are listening who were not at that meeting on
the 21 st or the 20th rather, I ... I just wanted to provide a little bit of context, uh, for this. Uh,
the ... the curb ramps, there was some discussion of the curb ramps at that meeting, and the curb
ramps are an essential element in providing universal access in the public right-of-way for
pedestrians. Uh, and Iowa City has actually been very proactive in addressing, uh, gaps in our
pedestrian infrastructure through, uh, filling some of the, um, areas where our sidewalk network
is not continuous, as well as in serving, uh, installing curb ramps, uh, in various locations. Uh,
the ... the curb ramps, you know, as a former landscape architect, retired, uh, they are a very
complex feature in this pedestrian infrastructure. There are a lot of factors that come into play
with how a curb ramp works in a specific location. Um, so they ...they've been taken on by the
City. The City does the design and installation and maintenance on those. So the question
that's ... that came up, uh, was this matter of, you know, how do we deal with the snow removal,
uh, over the winter months. And, uh, the sidewalks, as we noted, and this is really State code.
Uh, the snow clearing resulting from natural snowfall is the responsibility of the adjacent
property owner, and on the curb ramps, the corner property owners are encouraged to clear the
snow, but the city doesn't have enforcement power over that. So my observation, which I made
on that night, was that our current approach is generally. in ... in my view from my experience
and observations, it's not working very well. And it's, you know, it's a challenging issue. Um,
you know, the piles of snow that are left by our City snow plows is ... is difficult to clear, um, and
I think that contributes to why, uh, you know, some property owners on the corners may ...may
do the removal. Sometimes they'll do it and then the plow will come through again and ... and,
you know, have to do it again. So it's ... it's a challenging problem, um, for the adjacent property
owner to deal with. So I ... after that meeting, I continued to do some research, uh, on the
question of how to remove that snow at the curb ramps, and, um, I would add that it's, in my
view, taken on an increased significance because we're ... we're living through COVID. People
are spor...spending more time, uh, near their home. Um, everyone's at home with them. And so
the ... the need to get out sometimes by yourself, uh, for some relief, uh, tends to be in the
neighborhood in which you live. So eventually I came upon that document, uh, which I shared
with you, um, published by the Department of Public Health, uh, which is ... which is in the
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November 25th information packet for those who are watching, and that ... the guide included
snow clearing at the corners, which, uh, were referred to in this guide as snow windrows,
and ... and it went on to say that the snow windrows are especially troubling for people with
disabilities, seniors, guardians with baby strollers or pregnant women, as walking or rolling
over piles of snow can be extremely difficult or impossible. The guide then goes on to say that
some cities do their best to clear snow windrows at the corners, as part of their plowing
procedures, and other cities have crews dedicated to clearing the windrows after snowplows
have cleared the streets. So in ... in reading that, and again many, um, kind of case studies of
what cities in Minnesota, as well as other places where it snows, have ... have dealt with these
issues. And where ... where I've kind of landed on this, uh, after having read them, was that since
the snow piles obstructing pedestrian access results from our snow plowing operations, I ... I do
think it's fair and reasonable for our snow clearing operations to include the corner ramps,
which are constructed and maintained by the City, and so I would ask for your consideration in
support, uh, of this change in our policy and that we ... we direct staff to revise its snow clearing
procedures, uh, to match up with the ... with this concept, which would be that the curb ramps be
included as part of their snow plowing operations.
Mims: John, are you referring to all throughout the city?
Thomas: Um, you know that ... that's a question and .... and as you can see there are, um, you know,
there's ... it's really an open field as to how we wanna address this. Um, you know, that ... that
may be something for our City Attorney's office to ... to weigh in on, whether it's possible to
identify priority areas where it would be necessary or something that we would, um, do
throughout the city. Um, but my hope without, you know, having had a conversation with staff
on this is that as much of this as possible could be, uh, accomplished through changes in our
snow plow operations, and obviously it would take more time, um ... but to the degree we could
just simply revise our plowing procedures to achieve this. That ... that seems like the most
reasonable starting point and, you know, I don't know how you would make that a priority, um,
but it's certainly something that could be part of the conversation.
Mims: I just ... I have to say my initial response is ... is one of, um, grave concern, and I read the whole
packet and it was ... it was interesting to see, you know, that various places in Minnesota, and I
think there's some in there from Wisconsin even, wasn't there, some examples? But, I mean,
same issues we've talked about and the conundrum you have of trying to keep these areas clear
for anybody and everybody to walk, uh, strollers, wheelchairs, people with canes, whatever it
might be. Um, but as I think about just the geographical area of our city and the amount of time
it takes our crews just to get the streets plowed and safe for vehicular traffic, to slow them up to
try and plow every single corner and intersection differently, so that they don't plow any snow
up onto the curb ramps. Um, I'm just ... I'm really, really hesitant about how that can be
accomplished without, one, um, really slowing down the clearing of the streets and, two,
significant—potentially significantly increasing the costs of snow removal, and at this particular
time in the pandemic and not knowing what our budgets look like, uh, I'm ... I am really, really
hesitant about heading down this path. I think if we do anything, I think it has to be, um, very
focused on ... very, very heavy pedestrian areas and we may even already and, Geoff, can you
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answer this, maybe already doing more in the downtown area on the curbs, etc. Um, I hear
what you're saying. I ... I appreciate the problems for people with mobility, but I think trying to
foist this entire responsibility on the City is going to be incredibly, incredibly expensive, um,
and not necessarily what City residents are gonna wanna see when they see the cost of it.
Taylor: I somewhat agree with you, Susan. I think it probably, uh, will be ... would be something that
would take more time and staff and equipment, uh, and on those lines maybe we could ... I think
we should seriously consider this though, and perhaps a ... a trial. And you mentioned the
downtown area. Maybe in that surrounding area around there we could try that, and I think, uh,
what John was talking about, uh, in some of the other cities. They just ... they actually have a
separate, uh, smaller, uh, plow that comes behind that ... the big plow, and clears just those, uh,
walkways and ... and you mentioned how difficult is to ... to clear piles left by the plow, and
having had to clear my driveway after the plow comes through and leaves those big, big piles of
snow that gets sort of packed hard. Uh,I can imagine it is hard, uh, to even clear the... the, uh,
ramps, uh, if a person is a ... abutting that property there and has to do that. Um, so I ... I think we
should at least seriously consider it and even maybe start with a trial with some of the smaller
areas of town.
Fruin: If I can jump in, I'll just let ya know what we're currently doing, um, started last year. We put
more staff focus on the ramps downtown. (static noises) So we do have, um, staff that after
their main plowing duties are done, um, in the downtown parking, and Park staff, they will try
to clear as many of those as possible. Um, I can tell you we have thousands and thousands of
curb ramps and, um, in a lot of those cases, you're not gonna be able to drive a ... a vehicle over
them. If you think about older parts of town with ... with, um, really, um, the smaller sidewalks
(mumbled) four- or five-foot sidewalk, you're not gonna be able to take a vehicle over there. If
you look at some of those other cities, a lot of them probably focus on, um, the ... the very high
pedestrian areas that probably have six- to eight -feet, um, trail types of sidewalk. Um, I think I
saw in the Minneapolis version, if I'm not mistaken, that they only do it after four inches of
snow or more, and in that case, even only in ... in very targeted areas, but if we wanted to try to
take this citywide, you'd be looking ... I hesitate to even give you an expense, but, um, it...it
would be, um, hundreds of thousands (laughs) easily, um, to ... to do this, to do this type of work.
Um, we can't just adjust the way snowplow or snow plows drive and ... and not put that snow
anywhere. I mean, that's... that's a common question that we get, because it...it frustrates people
that clear their driveway and then the snow plow comes through and you gotta go out and clear
the bottom of your driveway again. Um, when you're moving that much snow, it has to go
somewhere and, uh, it's gonna go to the side of the road. So, um, I ... I would say that we're
already doing this as best as we can, um, downtown, with the ... our current resources. If you'd
like to put more resources to it, um, we can kind of try to maybe give you some examples of
what that looks like. Uh, we can contact some of these cities that were ... that were pointed out
and really kind of focus in on what their priorities are and how they do that, um, but I'd ... I'd be
prepared at expenses measured in six digits or more.
Teague: Kind of hard to gauge staff or...or how much staff you would need for this, as well, um, based
on how it's presented, if we were to, you know, service the entire community, but I do kinda
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like the idea, um, of just doing a little research, just to find out more about how the cities are
operating. So that we'll have some ... some knowledge of what's happening. Snow removal, as
we know, it...it is a challenge, uh, for a lot of individuals, various reasons why. People have an
access, you know, usable sidewalks. We want to be a walkable community, even in the time of
snow. Um, I think it...it (garbled) has some challenges there, um, and if we can just do a little
research, find out what other cities are doin', um, maybe there is a, um, kind of an
assistant... snow removal assistant program we might consider or someone is on a main street,
for example, and they're getting a lot of snow ... at their curb, which they have to, you know,
remove that snow. Um, I don't know the ... the limitations of, you know, the individuals. Maybe
they have a limitation of not bein' able to do it or have to wait for somebody to come, and
maybe that's where they call on the City to just assist with that corner. Um, so I think there's,
uh, some ways that we could look at this, and ... I'm ... I'm not optimistic that we will be able to
do all of the programs as they're listed here. But I thank John for bringin' this to our attention
because snow removal is a major issue livin' in the Midwest, so, um, thanks for bringin' it to us,
John.
Fruin: Mayor, if I may, I think ... I think this might help. I'm gonna share my screen for just a brief
moment. Um, hopefully you can see this map here. This is a .... a curb ramp inventory that we
have on our ...on our website, and all these orange dots are curb ramps. Um, so at any
intersection, uh, you're going to have typically eight curb ramps on a ... on a standard, um,
intersection, and this is College Green Park. So we're kind of in the ... in the downtown, central
part of town. But as I ... as I zoom out, you will notice the orange dots grow exponentially. And
you could just think from this area right here, if we had to have staff, even if you had a
little ... little like, uh, tractor type of equipment to get all eight of those spots at each intersection.
That's a very time, labor intensive effort. And then as you scroll out in the city, you'll just, I
mean, you can see these orange dots just become huge clumps, and the magnitude of the issue
is ... is daunting. And ... and I'm ... I'm not saying that to dis... to dismiss it, but,, um, if you're
going to be focusing on citywide efforts, this is huge. This is massive, massive, uh, type of
undertaking, and, um ... um, I don't know how you, you know, we could ... we can definitely
present you with some scenarios. Um, but I ... I just not sure how ya accomplish this citywide in
any type of timely manner, as well. Um, if you ... you know, you think to how we handle snow
complaints on sidewalks, City ...you know, when it comes to forcing the ... the removal, we have
to hire that out right now, and that's a pretty exp ... you've seen some of those bills on appeals,
uh, for what private snow removal costs, and that's just for a couple of squares of sidewalks
usually. Um, when you start gettin' into more complex curb ramps that require more hand
removal, um, again, I just wanna prepare ya for ...for what that ... what that may look like.
Weiner: I just wanted to throw out the ADA perspective, um, be ... because, I mean, I understand this,
that ... that it's almost certainly not feasible citywide. Um, but I wonder in addition ... if in
addition to the downtown, it would be...it would be feasible to look at areas around assisted
living facilities or places where there are ... there are... there... where we know there are many
people who—who need to take the SEATS buses and who ... and who may not literally be able to
get out, um, to the corners. Those are the places that are of real concern to me personally, in
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addition to what people can ... can do themselves, but those are folks who need the ... the
accessibility and the ability to get down a curb ramp.
Bergus: Geoff, I would just, um, urge communication on this issue like ... like we always do, um, in
asking for the community's help with this, and you know, appealing to those who can help their
neighbors to please do so, and those who live on corners to please clear those ramps. I think
hammering those messages, especially in the COVID moment is ... is helpful. And I'm ... I'm
grateful to John for highlighting, you know, that ... that issue as well, and Geoff, I was just
wondering if you could remind us what additional snow clearing we're planning for, um, this
winter with the pandemic. I know we're doing additional trails and, um, park areas are ... and I
think there might have been a press release about that, but just if you have a general idea.
Fruin: Yeah, we are expanding, um, the, uh, amount of trails that we're clearing and, um, parkland, I
guess, that we're clearing. Uh, typically we'll use, uh, we'll have some of the non -heavily
trafficked trails just remain snow covered. Uh, same with some of the outlying trails area. So a
good example that probably everybody can picture would be Terry Trueblood. We typically
don't plow Terry Trueblood Recreational Area, um, and ... and people can use it for snowshoeing
or...or, um, winter walking, I guess. This year we will clear it to try to make it a little bit more
accessible for ...for people. So if you ... you can, uh, drive over and ... and walk comfortably along
that trail, and there's several other locations throughout town that we're doing as well.
Thomas: I just wanna thank everyone for your comments and ... and, uh, I ... I certainly, um, view this
as ... as the guide suggested, there's really a wide range of response... responses that cities.,,,have
made regarding snow clearing. Everything from not only doing the ramps but some cities to the
sidewalks as well. So it's ... it's, um, I think a ... a choice that a city has to make. And clearly, we
can...look at different approaches toward, you know, how to have the program match up well
with our resources, but, um, you know, there are many ways we could carve it out. IVs ... there
are certainly parts of Iowa City that people rely more on walking than others, uh, that are more
walkable. Uh, as Janice mentioned, there may be facilities that we want to try to ... consider, um,
our mass, you know, our public transit concept that we're developing. Are there certain routes
that might be considered to, um, provide better pedestrian access to those bus stops, which are
another piece that, you know, I didn't really want to put it on the table because, uh, you know,
sort of focusing on the ramps, but another question, as you saw in the guide, was, uh, the
question of the bus stops. Um, so it's, you know, it's one of those things where thees... these
issues all kind of tie together, and if we're trying to promote alternative means of transit, you
know, as I've tried to emphasize, you know, there's always a walk involved with that. So, um,
it's not simply the ramps as sort of a, you know. Um, for ...for pedestrians, uh, on a walk, it's
also tying into our ...our multi -modal concept of mobility that we're trying to promote.
Teague: Great. Any other items from November 25th?
Weiner: So (mumbled) see, I can't recall right now offhand is the, um, good neighbor program also a
portion ... part of the regular agenda for tonight?
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Fruin: It's in the information packet.
Weiner: I mean is it just in the November 25th information packet (mumbled) it's not on (mumbled)
because one of the ... I just wanted to call attention to that briefly, because, um, it...it brought to
mind, um, some things that ... that I've heard over sort of the past year plus of...where, um, where
we ... maybe need to sort of sit down at some point with the ... with the building
committee... community and ... and find out what, um, what makes ... what increases the cost of
building when we're taking a look in particular at affordable housing. What ... what really does
increase the cost. What could ... what suggestions would they have that could decrease the cost.
Now I'm not saying that necessarily the good ... the good neighbor, um, meetings are ... are a
prime example of that. It just jogged my memory that that's something that ... that I would really
value us as a Council taking a look at, um, not down... down the road, in conjunction with
the ... with the ... with the community builders, as we look at affordable housing. What ... what are
the things that have been added to the code that ... that they ...they believe make ... make things
much more expensive to build, um, and where could we find some compromise.
Council Updates on Assigned Boards, Commissions, and Committees:
Teague: Those are some of our pending work, um, work session topics, um, especially when it comes
down to discuss development of a new comprehensive plan to promote affordable housing, and
we also have the affordable housing plan. So I think you're onto what is, um, definitely a hot
topic here for Council in our efforts to create more affordable housing. So, um, I think as we
move forward and even on some of our work sessions, um, we'll be havin' some of those
discussions as well. Some might get altered and put into something different, but, um, we do
have some work sessions related to that, on the pending... pending list. Any other items from
11/25? All right, um, updates on assignment, boards, commissions, and committees. I'll start.
Uh, so today actually, I met with the Partnership for Alcohol and Safety, um, and that's
(mumbled) it's a collective of, uh, University, um, Downtown District or the businesses in ... in
the community, um, of course, the City, uh, County, and so it's just a collective of people that
come together and have discussions, and today we had a great discussion. Um, there was a
couple of presentations. The GuideLink Center did present and gave an update to us. So of
course they were here on our agenda tonight as well, um, and then, uh, the Downtown District
did a presentation of reimaginin' downtown safety, and so they are continuing to have
discussions on, um, a variety of things when it comes to safety, and so that was a great
presentation. And then we' heard from, um, the Vice President of Student Life at the University
of Iowa and ... and what the discussion by her was it was reimagining campus safety, Action
Coalition, and so they have a ... a group that is talking about the safety there on the campus. So
there's a lot happenin' and one of the themes throughout all of what was discussed was
definitely, um, equity, bein' equitable and ... and really considering how just... just havin' a good,
uh, open conversation about race, and so ... and makin' sure that whatever they do is equitable.
So I really appreciated those conversations today. And that's all I have to report there.
Mims: JECC had a meeting last week, no ... week before. Last week was Thanksgiving, um, and has
gotten a preliminary budget ready, um, so that should be going to, um, I think the Board of
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Supervisors. Um, Tom Jones was gonna be presenting that. So pretty much in line. We've got
some major changes, if you will, just because of contracts being up on the radios and that
makes, um, a big difference as they go forward, but trying to make sure that we've got some
consistency from, uh, year to year and avoiding some major spikes, because the maintenance.
So I just wanted, uh, just speak for Tom Jones. He just does an excellent job as the Executive
Director out at JECC and, um, really keeps us informed, does a great job with the budget as
well. So we do have a ... actually have a turnover in the kind of second in command position.
Individual left to take another job, um, which Brandon left, which is unfortunate for us, uh,
because he's done a great job there. He was kind of the direct oversight... overseer for ...I had
oversight for the dispatchers. So a new position or replacement position here, but things are
going really well. Budget looks good. Um, just some things with the ... as we knew would be
coming up, with the radio contracts.
Teague: All right, any other comments or updates? I did meet with Think Iowa City. We meet
routinely. Um, I'm on the ... on the DMO Board of Directors. Of course, their year has looked a
lot different when we're talkin' about bringing, uh, events to the community, but overall they are
still in planning mode for 2021 and, um, remainin' optimistic. So, yeah, I'll leave it at that.
Anything else for today? We will be adjourned into ... until 7:00, which will be our formal
meeting, and that will be on a different Zoom link. So, we'll see you all at 7:00.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of
December 1, 2020.