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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-01 TranscriptionFebruary 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 1 February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session 7:16 P.M. Council Present: Staff: Agenda Items: Bailey, Champion, Dickens, Hayek, Mims, Wilburn, Wright Helling, Karr, Dilkes, Fosse, Davidson, Rocca, Morris Hayek/ We'll start with agenda items. ITEM 10. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 5, ENTITLED "BUSINESS AND LICENSE REGULATIONS," CHAPTER 2, ENTITLED "TAXICABS," TO PROHIBIT ELECTRONIC SIGNS ON TAXICABS AND TO CLARIFY VEHICLE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS (FIRST CONSIDERATION). Wright/ I've got a question on Item 10, the taxicab signs. Um, exactly what type of... of electronic signs is this cab company proposing that...raise such concern? Karr/ Well, actually I haven't seen the actual sign, but I have seen similar signs in major cities. It is, uh, a sign that is mounted, and it rotates a message with flashing lights, so it's easily interchangeable for different customers and different clients. The issue was the...the signage and the flashing lights, and the mixed messages it has to the citizens and the public. Wright/ Would this then, um, as I'm reading this, it looks like it would outlaw a...a scrolling message sign, as well? If that were mounted. Karr/ That...that's correct. Anything that...that flashes, whether it be on a scrolling message or whether it be another digital sense, yes. Wright/ I think this may be a little too restrictive. I've seen plenty of taxicabs in other cities that have the...a scrolling sign and there's no way you could confuse that with an emergency vehicle. Karr/ Have you seen them...I was, Mike, have you seen them in other cities in Iowa? Because this seem... Wright/ (mumbled) other city in Iowa (laughter) Karr/ This also came up with...with the interpretation by the County Attorney, uh, of the State law, as well, on emergency vehicles, so that was one thing we did spend some time on, is taking a look at that... element as well. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 2 Dilkes/ We had a lot of discussion in my office about whether such a sign that does that, you know, goes around like that, um, is a flashing sign and we decided since it was a matter of State law that we'd let the County... send that to the County Attorney and she was of the opinion that it would be, um, so...whether we do it as a matter of City law or not, um, I think we do want to include the provision that requires them to be in compliance with State law, and they're not going to be able to do the sign, per...unless they want, um, go to (mumbled) County Attorney on that issue. City Manager Search (IP3 of 1/28): Hayek/ Other agenda items? Okay. Hearing none, why don't we move to the City Manager search. Placed a memo in the info packet last week, uh, just intended to start us thinking about this process and try to focus the discussion tonight, and uh, to be clear that the one decision we should emerge from tonight having made is whether to hire a professional search firm or not. Um, so that should be our primary discussion. I threw some suggestions out, uh, regarding how we might, uh, handle the, I'll call it'semi-finalists' stage of the process and we can discuss that tonight, if people would like (coughing, unable to hear) don't have to make decisions about that tonight. Mims/ I like the idea of using outside search firm. I think...I was involved when we hired, uh, the last superintendent, Lane Plugge, and I think using an outside firm, just with the contacts they have and coordinating all the initial stuff, um, really gives us an opportunity I think to get more and better candidates, uh, on our radar screen, and I think when you're hiring the head of an organization, whether it's a superintendent or a city manager, you've got real issues if you're trying to do all that in-house and the people who potentially are going to work for this person are receiving and handling paperwork and that sort of thing, so I think it's...to get both better number and quality of candidates as well as some of those other issues, I definitely support using an outside firm. Champion/ (mumbled) choice. Wright/ Yeah, I...I've really thought about this one quite a bit, cause I'd love to save some money on this, and the other...the other thing that, um, kind of stuck when I was thinking about doing this in-house is, I don't know how small the community of city managers is out there, but...and I don't know if the problems that we had last year with the city manager are...are known around the country or not, but a search firm can help sell the City, and indicate that...that it's actually a pretty great place. And that's something we'd have a hard time doing ourselves, at least with credibility, because no city's going to say, naw, you don't want to come here (mumbled) Dickens/ I guess my only problem was that the last search committee was highly recommended and they did not seem to do a very good job, just what I've heard so... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 3 Wright/ Unfortunate...well, we don't have to worry about them anymore! (laughter) Dickens/ No, I know, they're no longer in business so...so there's two ways to look at that too. Hayek/ (several talking) Ross? Bailey/ ...without question! Wilburn/ There are...I agree much of what you had said, Susan, um...the benefits and advantage of contacts, um, if there are folks out there that are currently looking or have in the past indicated that at some point in their career that they may be looking towards moving towards, uh, a city such as Iowa City, um, you know, they would have planted that...that seed, that information, with the firms that are out there doing the searches, so I...I think it gives us, uh, we would benefit from having, uh, their past contacts as opposed to, um, starting purely from scratch with...with a search. I think that's...that's the benefit that, uh, headhunters offer to companies, so I think it's, uh... a more efficient way that you can get the process going. Mims/ And it keeps the process moving too. Bailey/ (several talking) be a challenge to do in-house really. Wright/ Good point. Hayek/ Yeah, you absolutely need a quarterback (mumbled) um, and you get that with an identified person whose sole job at least when they're dealing with us as a client is...is to handle that. Um, now how you utilize search firm, and the extent to which you utilize a search firm... can vary. Last, uh, in the last process, um, the search firm was used heavily, uh, in connection with creation of a city profile, a recruitment profile, and some of those things. Now those are materials that we still have. Uh, they're only two years old, uh, and they... as I put in my memo, might only need some minor tweaking, and... and we may not need a search firm to engage as heavily on those issues, since (several talking) um, the...the initial vetting where we, you know, they take it from, uh, the gross number down to a net number that...that then we, uh, deal with. There are several ways we can approach that, uh, with a search firm involved heavily or not involved, I mean, those are decisions we can...we can make. Um, I, you know, the...certainly the recruiting angle where they're out there... seeking out the most qualified applicants and encouraging them to apply may be, uh, among the most important things the firm does. Wright/ I think it's the most valuable thing that they do. Hayek/ Okay. I don't...we don't need to decide all of the specifics of...of that tonight, um...but staff wanted to know from us if we want to go in that direction, sounds like we This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 4 do, and they will be prepared to, uh, put together a request for proposals, uh, that we can then issue, and uh, I...I have received calls from a number of, uh, firms, uh, and individuals representing firms, uh, I've not engaged in discussions, uh, because I didn't want to get ahead of the process, and quite frankly, I'd rather there be a consistent forum for them to make their pitch, um, but I know there's interest, and I have no doubt that when we issue a request for proposals we will see considerable interest (several talking) Karr/ Sorry, Regenia, I'm sorry, we can't hear you. Bailey/ Oh! I'm sorry. (both talking) I said I just think it'll be more competitive this time for consultants. Wilburn/ I had a firm approach me too. Should I just get that to HR and the City Clerk, or...HR? Okay. Karr/ Why don't you give it to me. Wilburn/ All right. Champion/ Well, I think, um...we should get started as soon as possible. Time flies by. I mean, it's...February's ashort month, remember. Hayek/ I would say...I would suggest we almost work backwards. I think it's realistic to have a permanent City Manager hired by fall. Champion/ Yes. Hayek/ Uh, and it would be advisable to do that because, uh, that person would have a couple of months on his or her feet, uh, before the budget process (laughter) arrives. Um, and...and uh...and it's an exciting time to come to town. Um, so if you work backwards from that, I mean, we...we have plenty of time, but not time to, uh, to go about this, uh, with any delay. So, you're right, Connie, we want to move (mumbled). Dilkes/ I think our plan, if this was the way you decided to go, is to get, um, the RFP on your agenda for the next meeting, that'd be the 16th, and once you approve that then we'll send it out....get it going. Hayek/ Okay. Um...do we...do we want to discuss the...the softer, second part of my memo (both talking) Champion/ I think we should; we have time. It's not a busy work session. Hayek/ Yeah. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 5 Wright/ Although I would...I'd be also curious to get feedback from whatever search firm we end up with, about those ideas. I'd like to hear their thoughts on that too. Bailey/ (several talking) one question, I mean, when we had candidates in before, we did have department heads and we did, um, do tours, and you didn't mention that here, and I think that that was a good component, as much for the candidates as for us, and I... I think that that's something we should consider again if we want to do that as well. Wright/ I think a tour is...people would ask for that if it wasn't (both talking) Bailey/ I think so, yeah. I think so. Wright/ Um, as well as the meeting with department heads, I think, is very important. So were you thinking of these...two committees in addition to, or in place of? Hayek/ Um, potentially I (both talking) no, no, I mean, I thought about that because, you know, this...this adds to the work while they're here, whether it...uh, warrants displacing something we did the last time around or not is something we have to decide, but you may be right, for us to wade into these issues heavily tonight, before we even have a search firm on board, um... Champion/ Well, I don't...I think you're wrong! I think we're in control of the (laughter) they're not! Wright/ That's true, we could still do that, but I really would like to get the feedback from a search firm before we start setting a path. Champion/ Well, they're going to do whatever we ask them to do. Bailey/ Right, if you recall there was some reluctance for the very public participation from our previous search firm, I mean, that's something they hadn't typically used, and we asked for it, and we basically set it up. So I mean, they'll do what we...um, what we want to do or they'll...they'll weigh in on the ways to approach what we want to do. Wright/ Yeah. Mims/ I like the idea of getting these people involved that you've recommended, Matt, in these three committees. I think they bring a lot of expertise and knowledge of the City and...with the former mayors working with the City...with the City Manager and what really that entails, and qualities that are important, um, but I don't discount certainly the importance of meeting with, you know, department heads and doing tours. So it's a matter of how can we put that together say in a two-day visit type of thing to get (several talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Wright/ ...adds about roughly three hours of talk time. Page 6 Bailey/ I can't remember how we scheduled it, but it might take up that evening, that might have been open, you know, it could take up later into the day...with the commission, because that would be a logical time to meet with the commission, but (mumbled) Hayek/ Yeah, I definitely envision this being a...a, no more than an hour with each commission. (several talking) If... if that. Bailey/ The tour, I think, was the longest, most time consuming component of what we did last time. Wilburn/ Yeah, the, uh, I guess caveat or something to pay attention to, uh, with that additional format piece would be, uh, you know how difficult it is to get people's schedules to coordinate and things like that. I would recommend we put it out there, if we go that route, as an opportunity....but, you know, here's the day that it's going to be done, as opposed to...trying to...if you can't make it (several talking) Hayek/ Yeah, that's a very good point. Wright/ No massaging schedules to try and make it all work. Champion/ No, you can't. Mims/ No. Hayek/ You have 21 people, and that's just the interviewers! (laughter) And, uh, in the case of the commission chairs, their designees, and so we select a date, we try to do it as early as possible, to give notice (several talking) but, um, it'll be what it is. The, um, former mayors have been contacted and expressed a willingness to assist with the process. Wright/ I think that'll be tremendous, um, sources of input for this. Champion/ I think you have to be a little careful when you have all these people doing these interviews. I'm all for it -don't misunderstand me - I think the more that people get involved...the better it is. I think you have to be careful though that they don't decide who's going to be the new city manager. So I think you have to be careful that they don't recommend somebody to us, that they...they should not be allowed to rank these people. They should be...only allowed to give us comments. Because otherwise, if two of them come up with the city manager, and that's not the person we chose, do you see...understand what I'm saying? (several talking) Wright/ It's basically one of those situations where we need to be clear that we value their feedback and their input, but that doesn't necessarily (both talking) they're going to have their way. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 7 Dickens/ Strictly as an advisory. Wright/ Yeah. Dickens/ It's not unusual. Hayek/ But...but we'll need to...we'll need to be clear about this when we get into it, because you know you can get, um, nothing but comments, or you can get a recommendation that is nonbinding, or you can get a recommendation that you believe you're stuck with. You know, that's the...those are the ends of the spectrum. Um...I...I assume we're all clear that nothing that would come from these three committees would...would bind us in it, but the question will be, do we want a recommendation from them? Champion/ I think it's why you don't. Wright/ No, we don't want a recommendation. Champion/You want comments. Wright/ We want constructive comments and observations. Champion/ Because if they come with recommendations...you'refust asking for trouble. But they can certainly make comments and you'll be able to tell by their comments. Mims/ I was going to say, if they're wise with their comments, we'll know who they want! Champion/ Right, but...but at least if there's not a ranking like 1, 2, 3, 4...but the comments can be, what do you call it when you put 'em all together? Marian, you're good at doing that! (laughter) Hayek/ Set of comments? (laughter) Champion/ A set of comments, uh, then you... Karr/ You mean you just want them compiled as general individual comments about a candidate. Champion/ Yes! Wilburn/ Just to further go along with what you're suggesting, uh, Connie, is um, perhaps a fairness question amongst the groups. If...if the commissions get to make a recommendation, but the staff doesn't, or the public doesn't, um, then it's, well, why didn't we get to, and then if you open that up then you're essentially asking for people to take a vote and this is...not a vote. Champion/ But nobody makes a recommendation but us. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 8 Hayek/ The goal of this is... Dilkes/ I have to...just say one thing though. It is very common, I think, in interview process to have different committees who are interviewing the candidate, and then... giving their opinion on who they think they would hire, if it were their decision, understanding it is not. So...maybe that won't work in the...you know, in the city manager, more political arena, but I don't think it's uncommon for that to happen. Bailey/ Well, and that is one way to provide feedback. We can still call it feedback, and if they chose to make it in the form of that (both talking) Champion/ Then you have to assume that they all agreed on this recommendation. (several talking) And that's another thing. Wright/ How they report it back to us, is that ultimately going to be the committee's choices? Champion/ I mean, that's what's good about just comments, because... Wright/ We can request that... Hayek/ Yeah, although...although we can give them clear marching orders. We would like you to do this, and...and the form of your response we would like to look like this. And...expect that of them. But...but we'll obviously have to decide that before we, uh, set them loose. Champion/ And then what if, like we have these mayors, what if two of 'em, I mean, I...I want to avoid the recommendation thing. I mean, I personally think it's not good. I've worked on these things before, and it's not good! Nobody comes out a winner. They'll make it clear in their comments who they like and who they don't like. Karr/ Perhaps we could, um, as...we could provide a tool that each of the committees would report back to you with, and we could share that tool with you at the front end and perhaps that might assist you in...and assist them, in how they would communicate that back to you. And maybe that would be some basis for discussion at a future meeting. Hayek/ Well put! All right, well, we're not wedded to this approach, but it does sound like the group is interested in preceding with these three committees...the specifics of the approach to be decided later. Okay. Champion/ Will they, um, I want to get back to what Regenia said about department heads, um... Bailey/ Which we did last time, as well as the tours. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 9 Champion/ Yeah. And, I think it's important that the department heads meet with these candidates. Wright/ I think it's critical. This is going to be their new boss, and they need to have a chance to... Bailey/ If I were a candidate, I would want to meet my department heads. Wright/ Exactly! (several talking) Bailey/ So, I mean, I think it's as much for them as it is for...for us. Wright/ I think... Helling/ I think that's...that was a consensus of department heads too. It was nice to get to know them, um, but it wasn't necessary. We didn't see ourselves in a role of being advisory, in terms of the selection. It was just an opportunity to get to visit with these candidates for, you know, an hour. Champion/ So everybody's in favor of (several talking) Hayek/ I thought the public meet and greet, uh, sessions were very important (several talking) I learned a lot at those, and it was an important outlet for the community to join in the process. Wright/ (several talking) comments and the observations that we got from those. Bailey/ And I thought they were a way to...to involve the public in...in a very focused and um, efficient, and they were short events, but a lot of people got an opportunity to be there. Hayek/ They were packed! Bailey/ Yeah! And so I thought that worked well. Hayek/ Okay. Anything else on that item? Let's move on to the more mundane. Info packet discussion from January 28. Information Packet (January 28, 2010): Mims/ I was just glad on, uh, IP9, I think this was the long memo from Dale on the various flood stuff to see that, um, flood plain management ordinance update is...being considered and thought about. I had mentioned once before, um, my concern about allowing people to build in flood plains, so that flood plain ordinance is relooked at and updated in light of our last two major floods, um, I'll be interested to see what the staff recommends on that, so I was glad to see that then. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 10 Dilkes/ If you... if you look at your most recent League update too, you can follow what the State is doing, has a couple different bills, as to what they're going to do with flood plain property and... Hayek/ Anything else on the Info Packet? Karr/ I just have one correction. Um, the memo on the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce banquet, the response date is the 1 lth, not the banquet. The banquet's the 18th, so if you'll let me know by the 11th if you'd like to attend for the 18th. That's IP...IPS. Mims/ And then I don't know at what point on IP12, that was the...uh, public television, they wanted a response from us on who could host each month, and suggested topics. So I don't know when...we want to take a look at that. Hayek/ You know, Katie Roach is really, she...I think she's going to coordinate most of this on her own. Um...I...my sense is that she was encouraging you all to contact her, um, and I think if that doesn't happen, uh, she'll start tracking you down, or I will (laughter). Mims/ I just didn't know if people had particular months they wanted to do, or couldn't do or how.. . Hayek/ If anyone wants to jump up now, that's great. Helling/ It's fine to communicate with Katie, but if you know and... and we, you know, a date that works for you, we can communicate that to her as well. One less thing she'll have to do. Wright/ I'll do May. It's Bike to Work week and Historic Preservation, I cheated! (laughter) Mims/ So it's nice that she'd given a number of possible topics. Wright/ Yeah, there's all kinds of stuff to consider. Mims/ Well, she sounded like March was her main concern, I mean, I think getting somebody... scheduled... Helling/ Right, because (both talking) they're taped ahead of time. Mims/ Right. Helling/ So she wants to get that together. Probably...when Idid the January one I did it before the holidays. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 11 Hayek/ Any takers for March? Champion/ Well, I could do it if it doesn't, I mean, I have jury duty...the first week. Hayek/ She'll coordinate around... Champion/ I can't imagine anybody's going to put me on a jury, but you never know (laughter) Wright/ Stranger things have happened! Champion/ I was on one once. Hayek/ First week of March? Mims/ You'll film it before then. Hayek/ You'll probably do it in February. Champion/ Oh, yeah, I could probably do March. Hayek/ All right. Dickens/ I'll jump in on April. I'll do April. Hayek/ Okay. Dickens/ I know I'll be here. Mims/ I'll do June. Hayek/ Unless Regenia and Ross want to jump in tonight, I'm comfortable with us planning this into June. That gets us some (mumbled) get stuff done. So...no pressure...yet! Okay, anything else on the, uh, IP packet? Wright/ I'm glad you brought that up. Mims/ The only other thing I had that wasn't really in there, and I'm not sure when and where to talk about it is...we need to chose a rep for the JCCOG committee, to serve on that ICCOG assessment structure subcommittee, and I don't know when and where we do that. I know we had email from John today about that. Karr/ If it's okay, I don't know about John's schedule. I saw the email myself. We typically put them on, and notice the appointments, just like all your other appointments. Now do you think it can wait to the 16th? I never thought...I was going to put it on the 16th. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Mims/ I have no idea. Page 12 Karr/ And then that would give you time...among yourselves to talk about it and to...we just put it on at that time. Unless somebody's willing to do it now, but typically we...it is a Council appointment. It isn't like...any citizen can apply. But we do ratify it at a formal so we'll take care of it on the 16th. Champion/ But if we decided who wanted to do it, they could probably go to a meeting without being ratified. Karr/ Yeah. Champion/ Is that the word? Karr/ Well, I, as I said, I just got it this afternoon and was going to put it on the next one anyway. (several talking) Mims/ Yeah, I just wasn't sure. Hayek/ Why don't we take it up the 16th? Karr/ Okay. Hayek/ Okay, anything else? Council Time All right, let's move on to Council time. Open it wide up...hearing nothing (laughter). Budget Priorities Budget? Champion/ We're done with the budget! Wright/ We just always have this budget update thing. Hayek/ It's just a placeholder. We're not done till we vote! (laughter) Helling/ You do have a public hearing coming up. Hayek/ Okay. Summary of pending work session issues, that's IP, uh, Info Packet 4 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 13 Summary of Pending Items (IP4): Mims/ I just had, um, the community sustainability plan had gotten added to this, and a week or two ago I was talking to somebody, and who that is escapes my mind, but we were having a conversation, and a number of communities evidently have, and I had talked about this in the campaign process of...would like to see the City have an... city-wide strategic plan, and a lot of communities evidently have a strategic/sustainability plan. They're all kind of part of the same document. So I'd be interested in...when we get to this, I guess having a discussion kind of looking at combining, um, a strategic/sustainability plan, I mean, that addresses a lot of different issues. Hayek/ The...I don't disagree. I...but I'm wondering, wasn't the sustainability more an environmental assessment? Helling/ That's my understanding, yeah. Hayek/ But we might... Jen Jordan is spearheading? Helling/ Rick's here. I (mumbled) Fosse/ This...this is part of a process that we began a number of years ago when Ross was mayor and signed...what was the term of that document...it escapes me right now, that...the Mayor's, uh, it had to do with greenhouse gas reduction, and...and we've completed our greenhouse gas inventory, and then this is the next step and, uh, in examining ways that we can reduce that, and it is acity-wide... Wilburn/ Climate agreement. Fosse/ Climate agreement! There we go, Mayors Climate Agreement, thank you! I've been searching for that for a couple days now. Um, but..but this does engage, uh, everyone in the community, including uh, business, industry, and commercial ventures, as well as residential. It's just not municipal operations, and uh, we'll be putting together a steering committee to help us through that. Are you looking in the sense of community wide, are you talking about that, or integrating it with...with our (mumbled) plan is... Mims/ Well, if this is community-wide, then maybe...then maybe that's not a place for it, but I mean, the conversation I was having was really talking about as you look at a community, as a Council, for the City, and having a strategic plan. This...this individual's actually quite surprised that, one, that we didn't have that, but we also at that point didn't have a sustainability (coughing, unable to hear) for the city, and talking about really how the two can go hand in hand in terms of as...as a staff and as a Council, as we make decisions, as Council makes policy decisions, and with Iowa City being a relatively progressive community and, you know, sensitive to the environment and all our things on biking and trails, etc., that you This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 14 know, that should drive some of our decision making, and to have these kinds of issues as part of our strategic plan, and so whether you have, you know, two separate documents or whether it really is the sustainability issues are built into your overall strategic plan for the City, um, you know, as we're making decisions. So, that's kind of where I was coming from. I'm no expert on (mumbled) believe me, but just trying to get it on the table. Fosse/ No, I see where you're going with that, and I have seen examples of other communities where...where they incorporate that, and they have a decision matrix that looks at, uh, the sustainability aspect of every decision that they make. Helling/ Well, I think it's still on Council's agenda at some point in time to pursue a strategic plan, probably after you have a new City Manager, and uh, certainly this is...this document would be in place and it would be an integral part I think of your formulation (mumbled) plan so... Wright/ I would like to see a strategic plan (mumbled) one of the earlier things in the new City Manager's docket. You know, after we give them a week or two to adapt (laughter) Mims/ Yeah, I mean, we have obviously plenty on our plate. I don't particularly see a problem with starting on a strategic plan, even before we have a new city manager. I mean, I think that also gives people looking at coming here...how do we plan to operate, what do we think is important, and...and how do we want to get there, and how do we want to...what do we want guiding our decisions. Um...not that a new city manager couldn't bring a lot of added value to it, at the same time somebody who's that new doesn't know this city either. Now they have other experiences that they could bring to the table, but...I don't think it's essential to have them on board before we start it either. Champion/ I don't think it's necessary, but I don't see how we're going to fit that into the schedule...until after they're in place, but it's something we've talked about before, and I've been a strong believer that we need a strategic plan, but...I...I don't see how we're going to get it done before we have a new city manager, since it is already February and then summer comes and even developing how you're going to develop that strategic plan takes a lot of time...and so I think we're probably going to have to wait until we do have a new city manager. But I agree with you, we need to have one. Hayek/ And...and in terms of, uh, laying out some of the history, um...I think it's fair to say that there's some internal discussion, whether...to what extent our Comprehensive Plan covers many of the aspects of the strategic plan. That would have to be an existential discussion so to speak for...for us at some point as well. Um... Bailey/ I also think if we're going to take on a strategic plan, this is something we should include in our upcoming, I mean, it's a budget consideration, as well, I mean it's not a This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 15 huge expense, but it does end up being an expense if you do a comprehensive, um, stakeholder involvement, um, plan. So I think that that... is something we should be thinking about. Hayek/ All right. Well, we'll move forward on the community sustainability and, uh, later in the month.. . Wilburn/ Did you need a copy of that...fire (mumbled) Fosse/ I've got it. Wilburn/ Okay. All right. (mumbled) Hayek/ Okay, anything else on the Info Packet? Or, uh... Helling/ It is a combined meeting on the 16th, so...we will try to schedule in the things that are...that are, uh, currently on the work session agenda for the 16th. I don't know if anything else would come up between now and then that... Wright/ That's some, uh, meaty topics for a combined meeting. Helling/ They are, yeah. If there's...if there's nothing else, you can maybe get as far as you want, or you can, uh, pick one of the three that, you know, you might...we might push back, um... Hayek/ When do we anticipate starting that meeting? Karr/ Typically that's up to you, but traditionally...5:30 is the earliest many of you were able to come. Now if you can start earlier, we certainly would. Bailey/ The formal agenda's short, though we can also bounce (both talking) Karr/ You can return back, that's correct. Hayek/ Yeah. Mims/ Because I may be...I'll be in Cedar Rapids that day and I may be late getting back. Karr/ So we may just want to notice the...the front end stuff, and as Regenia said, we could adjourn to ...back. Bailey/ If we have a meeting like we did last week (several talking) Dickens/ ...on TV, 37 minutes! (laughter) Wright/ As long as we have a short agenda that'll work. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 16 Bailey/ Right, exactly! Hayek/ We have...that's the State of the City is February 16th. That will lengthen that a little bit. (several talking) Karr/ Susan, if you're (noise on mic) going to be late... Hayek/ ...back by, what do you think realistically? Mims/ Quarter to six, 6:00. Hayek/ We start at 6:00? You're a little bit late....we can just... Mims/ I... yeah, I can... I should definitely be able to be here by 6:00. Helling/ That's fine. Do you want... Hayek/ We could try to take up... some of the things we don't need to take votes or get consensus on, uh...if you're running a little late. So that the meaty stuff is... Helling/ Yeah, the, uh, inclusionary zoning one has been on there for a long time. I know staff can have it ready whenever, uh, I mean, we will have it ready for the 16th, but if that should get pushed back, that probably has less (both talking) Champion/ ...lot on there for that night. I think we should think about putting something (both talking) Wright/ Yeah, I'm a little concerned about...having us...um, quick discussion on inclusionary zoning and scattered site housing. That could take up the better part of a regular work session. Champion/ I would like to see us move that to when we have, um, a full work session. Hayek/ Okay. You want to move that item? All right. So then on the 16th we'll take up the, uh, Council policy on voting and the community sustainability plan. All right. Anything else on pending work session issues? If not, uh, upcoming community events or Council invitations. Upcoming Community Events/Council Invitations: Karr/ Mr. Mayor, we do have an email, if you have additional questions, certainly Jeff is here to talk about it, there is a cultural advocacy day in Des Moines sponsored by the Cultural Coalition, and there's a number of Great Places, um, ceremonies and there's three in particular we'd like to know if there was a Council interest in attending. One of them is February 17th, 1:00 P.M., at the State Historical This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 17 Building, uh, a signing ceremony involving the Governor, and the Memorandum of Understanding for the six new 2009 Great Places. And then followed by, uh, there's a session, uh, with the Leadership Development Session and staff at 2:00 P.M. This is February 17th. And then that evening, that...let me see...the 18th there is a breakfast, 7 to 9 A.M., and...I guess staff is looking for whether there is Council interest and availability to be there, and if not... certainly staff will follow up then. Davidson/ We can be there if you'd prefer, but just since it's going to be an event with the Governor, we thought there might be some interest on Council's part. Hayek/ Yeah, I...think I got an emai15:00 this afternoon on that, and I have not looked closely at it. Um, so I...I can't commit to those dates sitting here right now. If...but if there's interest among the rest of you to make the trip (mumbled) Karr/ Why don't...yeah, let Jeff or I know so we can kind of monitor and... Hayek/ Okay. Davidson/ Yeah. Karr/ The arrangements, and also if there's a block of...there's a block of rooms also reserved that if you would like to stay overnight, because it is a breakfast meeting at 7:00 A.M. the next day, depending...would you like something in writing so you could take a look at your schedules? Davidson/ The Holiday Inn Jordan Creek. Wright/ I know I'm going to have a tough time making that one (several talking) Karr/ Not going to work? (several talking) Okay. I'll just cut and paste and we'll hand it out tomorrow night. Davidson/ If you could just maybe let us know by the end of the week. Wendy's gone this week, um, so just let me know, or Marian. Um, by the end of the week. Otherwise we'll just line up some staff to be there. But since we are being named one of the Great Places, we thought we should be represented. Champion/ We're not being named the Greatest Place? Davidson/ We know we're the Greatest Place! (laughter) Hayek/ Okay, any other, uh, community events or upcoming invitations? I think I'll handle the KXIC on Wednesday morning. Karr/ You will? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010. February 1, 2010 City Council Work Session Page 18 Hayek/ Yeah, I can do it. Champion/ I just want to add a footnote to that thing on the 17th. I would love it if some Council Member could go. Doesn't have to be (mumbled) Bailey/ I do love Des Moines, but I'm (mumbled) that day. Wilburn/ I'm using three vacation days to go to D.C. next week so...I'm running out of vacation time! Hayek/ Yeah. Okay, uh...anything else? All right. Meeting schedules, anything to discuss there? I don't think so. Karr/ Speaking of going to D.C., there's three of you going to be gone. Is there anybody able to do the Wednesday show, the 10th? Because we have three Council Members gone, for the KXIC show? Wright/ Tenth of this month? Karr/ Tenth of this month. Be next Wednesday, because the number of people are going to be gone. Mims/ I can. Karr/ You can? Mims/ Yeah. Karr/ Great! I'll do a reminder as well. Mims/ Okay. Karr/Okay. Mims/ Let me know what I'm doing where and when. Karr/ Okay. Hayek/ Okay. Anything else for the good of the order? All right. See you tomorrow night. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council work session meeting of February 1, 2010.