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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-01 TranscriptionPage 1 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of December 1, 2020. Page 2 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. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of December 1, 2020. Page 3 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of December 1, 2020. Page 4 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of December 1, 2020. Page 5 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of December 1, 2020. Page 6 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): This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of December 1, 2020. Page 7 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of December 1, 2020. Page 8 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of December 1, 2020. Page 9 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of December 1, 2020. Page 10 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of December 1, 2020. Page 11 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? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of December 1, 2020. Page 12 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 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session of December 1, 2020. Page 13 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.