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ITEM 2. Student Leadership Awards
Item 2a Shimek Elementary
Throgmorton: And we have three outstanding students from Shimek Elementary - Caitlyn
Bowman, Norah Mettemeyer, and Nora Ziehr. I wonder if y'all could come up
please! All right so I'm gonna get back here between you, just like I promised.
So .... Shimek School, huh? Great school, is it? You really like it? Outstanding!
Okay. So .... we are gonna begin with Caitlyn. Caitlyn, could you please read
your statement and then I'll ask Norah and Nora to read yours, and then I'll read
one time the Student Award.....statement, uh, even though it has each of your
names on it, okay? All right, so we'll start with you.
Bowman: Okay. To me being a good citizen means that you go out of your way to make
other people's lives better by picking up trash, volunteering at a homeless shelter,
recycling, or mowing your neighbor's lawn. At the church I attend I help make a
gift box that is sent all around the world to kids who don't get to have the joy of
receiving gifts on Christmas. At school I have a kindergarten reading buddy who
I help learn what reading looks and sounds like. I also am part of safety patrol,
where I walk younger students to the bus, lower the flag, or help others cross the
street. (mumbled) is another group I am part of where we encourage physical
activity for a healthy lifestyle. Next year in junior high I hope to volunteer at an
animal shelter and continue helping my peers any where I can. (applause)
Throgmorton: All right! (applause) (mumbled) Caitlyn, thank you. So, Norah Mettemeyer,
would you go next please?
Mettemeyer: Sure. I think that being a good citizen means to be kind to everybody and spread
love not hate. I also believe that being a good citizen means to adjust to people's
abilities and disabilities, and including everybody. Some of the ways I try to be a
good citizen are participating in Girl Scouts and UNICEF. When I get
the .... when I get an opportunity to mark for what I believe in, I do. I have
marched in the first and second women's marches in Iowa City. We all need to
try our very best we can to be a good community. Thank you so much for this
award. (applause)
Throgmorton: Wow, you were involved in both those marches! Wow, fantastic! Well done!
Yeah, good. Okay, and Nora Z .... Ziehr? (pronounces several ways)
Ziehr: Ziehr.
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Throgmorton: Great! Your turn.
Ziehr: Like many others, I think being a good citizen is very important. I try to show
that every day by doing many different things at school, outside of school, and
around the house. After school I enjoy going to (mumbled) It encourages girls to
run and at the end of each season, we do a community service project. Last year
we made tie blankets and .... (mumbled) homeless and retired veterans. During
school (mumbled) reading buddies with the first graders and go around the school
collecting recycling. (mumbled) and with my family after school. We have gone
to a couple different parks on Earth Day to pick up trash. Also on Earth Day we
don't use any electricity. (mumbled) at home I help my little brother and sister
with their homework. In the winter I shovel my neighbors driveways (mumbled)
driveways, help my parents with dinner and other chores like that. I see many
people helping our community in other so I believe whether you do things big or
small it can still make a difference in the world. (applause)
Throgmorton: Well done! What a great set of kids here, uh, doin' terrific work at Shimek. So
let me read the award statement here.....if I can open this up. All right, so it
reads: (reads Student Leadership Award) So, parents, you should be so proud of
your kids. They're doin' great work! That means y'all are doin' some good work
as well. So, bravo! (applause) So (mumbled) should be yours, and Norah, that
should be yours, and that should be yours then. Great! Thanks a lot! Now that
the kids have left, uh, I would like to ask all of us in the room to bow our heads
and take a few moments to remember and honor the 17 students who were
murdered last Wednesday at Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. So,
please go with me for just a couple minutes. (moment ofsilence) Thanks so
much.
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Item 3. State of the City
Throgmorton: This is a statement that the Mayor, I guess, is required. Is it by State law or is it
by City ordinance, required to read .... prior, by the Charter, prior to the 28h of
February, if I remember right. Okay. So.... (reads State of the City address)
Thank you. (applause)
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Item 5. Community Comment (items not on the agenda)
Throgmorton: Uh, anybody who would like to address any topic that is not on the formal
meeting agenda is invited to do so now. I'd like to ask you to keep your
comments to not more than five minutes and when you come up, please state your
name so we know who you are. Good evening, Nick!
Theisen: Nicholas Theisen. I live at 1240 Esther Court. Just give me a sec. Um .... bra,
I'm .... I'm in a bit of an odd position, because originally I wanted to speak tonight
about recommendations that I and my colleagues from the Iowa City DSA had
submitted for consideration. I realize I submitted them very recently, so you
probably haven't had a chance to read them, but .... given the Mayor's comments,
just now, I thought I'd like to talk a little bit about developers and landlords.
Because there's something a bit (mumbled) about the way the City has
approached the affordable housing crisis in this city. I mean, I don't doubt the
Mayor's integrity at all. This is not a criticism of him and it's not even really a
criticism of the Members of Council. But you can't on the one hand laud what
developers are doing in this city, and then also claim to take seriously the
situation, the housing crisis, that we have in this city. So one of the things that I
submitted to Council was actually an addendum to the Cook Appraisal. For those
in the room who are not familiar with the .... the multi -residential housing survey,
um, it's a survey that's done by Cook Appraisal every two years, if I remember
correctly, and one of the findings in that appraisal was basically that vacancies in
the city for, at least for rental units, had increased substantially. And develop....
and landlords are already crowing about this and developers as well. Now, out of
my own curiosity I actually asked the people at Cook Appraisal to basically dis-
aggregate that vacancy number, because aggregated information is basically
useless, and what I wanted it broken down by was basically by rental brackets,
and so they did it by essentially $200 rental brackets. So 600, 800 .... well,
actually it's 600, 700... initially it's 100 and then it increases as it goes up. And
what's really interesting about that is the fact that if you look at the housing that is
in the City's .... by the City's own definition, the affordable range, so basically,
you know, one -bedroom, roughly apartments that are under $800 a month. Um,
the vacancy numbers are actually incredibly low. Um, in fact in some brackets
they're nearly 1%. The average for the city is about 4.6%. So it's well below the
average, and that 4.6 is well below the average for the entire country for vacancy
rates. But then if you look at the bracket, I believe it's the 2,000 to 2,200 a month
bracket in zone 1, it's roughly 12%, and in fact overall, the higher end units have
much higher vacancies than the lower cost units. So the thing is, when you praise
something like The Rise building or ... Hieronymus .... or basically any of the .... the
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giant monstrosities that are going up in this town, they are the problem. I feel like
I need to repeat that. They are the problem. They are not going to put downward
pressure on the housing market. They are already over -saturated, I mean .... those
projects are not finished yet. We already have an over -saturated market in the
higher end. Once those buildings come online, it's gonna get worse. So, frankly,
I'm a bit bewildered. I mean, my colleagues and I are currently working on a
long-term proposal for public housing in the city, and I'm just curious as to .... I
don't even really know how to ask this question.... because, like I said, I had
initially (laughs) intended to talk about something else and I'm not really good at
speaking off the cuff. But.... developers are not, I mean with the exception of
senior housing, and the thing is this is really laudable. Some developers are
building low-cost senior housing and that should continue. I .... no problem with
that. But aside from senior housing, nothing on the lower end of the market is
being built, particularly not in the downtown area or in the so-called Zone 1 area,
the one -mile radius around the Pentacrest. So, I mean I talked last... at last City
Council meeting about the fact that people making minimum wage are completely
priced out of the market. Someone making, by the way, and this hits a little
home, someone making what I make is also basically priced out of the market.
The only reason I can live, or I do, is because we have a second income in my
family. So... frankly .... so this is what I'd actually like to see from the City in
general. Incentives aren't enough. You need to actually impose fines. You need
to actually impose additional levies, particularly need to impose additional levies
on units that have sat vacant for a long period of time. I mean this is actually
common in the hotel industry. I mean they regularly lower rates so as to basically
increase occupancy, and to make more money, but developers in the United
States, strangely, don't want to make more money. They'd rather have their
buildings be luxury condos and luxury apartments, and if you let poor people live
in luxury apartments then they don't get to be luxurious anymore. So I'm just
gonna leave it at that. I'd actually like to see .... so in closing, I'd just like to see
something. I'd like to see direct intervention, direct intervention is what's
necessary, not these little incentives, not tax incentive financing. You need to
actually stop the bad behavior, and the bad behavior is pretty clear. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Nick! Anyone else? (unable to hear person speaking from audience)
Sure! Could you say your name please?
Harris: Yes! Yes, I'm David Harris.
Throgmorton: Yes. Hi.
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Harris: I wanted to ask if Item 4d(6), was that approved? Things moved very quickly.
Throgmorton: That was part of the Consent Calendar, so yes, it was approved.
Hams: Okay. Thank you.
Throgmorton: Sure! Good evening.
Jerkovich: Good evening, my name's Grant Jerkovich. I'm....
McCleary: I'm Kaci Mccleary.
Jerkovich: And we're .... I'm a pharmacy coordinator at the Free Mental Health Clinic, and
Kaci's one of the medical coordinators, and uh, that (unable to understand) by
myself so I'm gonna go ahead and read (laughs) Uh, there is currently on average
a six-month waiting period to see a psychiatrist in Iowa City. Now, four years
ago, I personally as one of those individuals who did not seek help because six
months was just so far off my calendar and I never even got a call back to begin
with. Now, that's taking into consideration that we have 33% of the psychiatrists
in Johnson County in the state. We have a huge concentration and it's still
incredibly underserved. Now the Free Mental Health Clinic is an off -shoot of the
Free .... of the Free Health Clinic and provides a solution to this. It's nearly 100%
student -ran, with staffing with social workers, physicians, and pharmacists that all
volunteer their time. Now, here .... here's the ask. So, 45% of our patients do not
own cars. And we had a survey going out that asked what was your largest
barrier to reaching our facility, it's at the Abbey Center, and ... they say
transportation. Now we know there's a bus stop .... right there, so we're
curious.... where things are kind of falling off (mumbled) too much of a barrier
and as I explored the City resources I saw there's the disabled bus pass program,
and merely requires physician's signature. So that's one thing we're looking at,
but I guess a question for you guys is what other resources does the City have to
offer, and what else is the City doing .... to alleviate this, what I perceive as a very
significant issue, in the city and across the country.
Mccleary: Um, another thing that I would like to ask (both talking)
Throgmorton: Could you state your name please?
Mccleary: Uh, Kaci Mccleary. Um, another thing that I would like to ask is that you
consider the Abbey Center, uh, which is where we have the Free Mental Health
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Clinic, but also where the Community Mental Health Center is run out of. Um,
when you're designing.... or like deciding where to send more bus routes if we
need them, and especially on Saturday mornings when we have our clinic, um,
because there were only I think two bus routes that went over that way. Um, so
just kind of remembering that ... people with mental health issues often have
trouble doing things like bus transfers or multiple bus transfers, um, and
considering that when you're making your routes.
Throgmorton: Great! Uh, thanks. Geoff, could you have Darien or whoever the appropriate
staff person, uh, is get in contact with David and Kaci. (both talking) We need to
get contact information from y'all.
Fruin: We have an email from Grant, I believe.
Throgmorton: Oh you do?
Fruin: So we'll follow up with ya. (several talking)
Throgmorton: Great!
Jergovich: Thank you very much!
Throgmorton: Thank you!
Nelson: Good evening. Um, I'm speaking tonight on behalf of, uh, a number of
conversations that I had over the past week, in regards to a recent Gazette article,
um, that related to Apartment Downtown. Um....
Mims: Ben, excuse me. For the audience, could you introduce yourself, please?
Nelson: Oh, yes, I'm sorry! Um, my name is Benjamin Nelson, the City Liaison for the
University of Iowa Student Government. Um, the news broke last week that the
company was forced to, uh..... uh, make a large payment in a wrongful death
lawsuit. The lawsuit was not missed among several students, whether it was on
Facebook or in person. Um, they were concerned with the quality and the attitude
that Apartment Downtown generally takes towards, um, their interactions with
students, um, particularly this is important because Apartments Downtown largely
rents to students. Um, this poor character permeates daily into the interactions of
the company to their tenants, urn..... anecdotes of low -quality conditions, missing
necessities, and deposits that disappear are all too common. Um, from the
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example of the Clark family, it's clear that we can do better at protecting our
citizens, both students and long-term residents. Um, from the conversations that
we had last .... last year, um, as it pertained to missing deadbolt locks in the City
code, I would really encourage the City Council to remain cognizant with students
and long-term residents to fix holes that are missing in the .... in the City code.
Um, and last, this is completely separate topic but I would be remissed in my own
role if I did not publicly praise the students, the middle schoolers, the high
schoolers, even as we saw today the elementary schoolers who rou .... routinely
march and advocate for change. Um, all too often students are at the forefront of
making change. After all students will be living for the next 80, 90, 100 years.
So the future is ours to inherit and I am incredibly inspired and.....frankly just
speechless. I wasn't able to attend those rallies last night as I was in Des Moines,
um, but nonetheless, uh, our peers in college are applauding them endlessly, so...
thank you very much!
Throgmorton: Thanks, Ben. Anyone else? All right, seeing no one we'll turn to Item 6,
Planning and Zoning Matters.
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Item 6. Planning and Zoning Matters
Item 6a Rezoning 1st and Muscatine for Kum & Go and Hospice —
Ordinance conditionally rezoning approximately 0.5 acres of property
located at 1010 S. First Avenue from Low Density Single -Family Residential
(RS -5) to Community Commercial (CC -2), 1022 S. First Avenue from Low
Density Single -Family (RS -5) to Commercial Office (CO -1) and a portion of
1025 Wade Street from Commercial Office (CO -1) to Community
Commercial (CC -2). (REZ17-00019)
a) Public Hearing [Continued from February 6 meeting.]
Throgmorton: I'm gonna open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Good evening, Tracy.
Hightshoe: Just working on getting the Power Point up. Um .... Bob had presented this last
week. We had deferred the, um, public hearing. Staff is recommending deferral
tonight, due to, um, boundary adjustments and the outlines need to be legally de
....described before we have .... we close the public hearing. The applicant did
submit....uh, revised elevations that you had requested, and I can go through
those, and the applicant is here to discuss, if you wanna do that right now?
Throgmorton: Yeah, sure!
Hightshoe: Okay! You can see with the elevations, the original was submitted on top, um,
the revised is on the bottom. Design elements were added to the shelter over the
gas pumps, um, on the first one. Your major concerns were over the .... the vista
between First Avenue, Muscatine. Um, they added another row of windows
along Muscatine, and then on the First Avenue you see another roof element, um,
on top of. ... on top of that. Now you can give additional feedback if you want to
talk to the applicant, um....
Dilkes: The public hearing is open so anybody else can talk.
Throgmorton: Good evening, it's nice to see you again.
Harmon: Hi! So good evening, I'm Siobhan Harmon with Kum n' Go and we have not
been before, uh, Council for a couple years so I thought I would just give you a
couple updates on Kum n' Go's activities. So we continue to update our
prototype in response to customer feedback, um, we're continuing to increase our
food program, especially with fresh food offerings. Um, those continue to be our
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focus. We continue to give back 10% of our profits to the communities that we
do business in. Um, we have recently started a food rescue program here in Iowa
City. So we're working with, um, it's called Table -to -Table. So, um, we
implemented it a couple months ago and, um, you know, basically we have food
that is available in the stores that, after a certain time period we do not sell it to
the public. However, the food is still good, it's still fresh, so, um, we've worked
with them to install coolers in our stores and they do pick-ups on a regular basis
and then that food is redistributed throughout the community. So it's cut down on
our waste in our stores by about 20%. Um, we are continuing to build all of our
stores to LEED specification, and based on our latest prototype that was
submitted to LEED, um, we .... based on points, it's a LEED gold building. We
continue to offer full line-up of fuel at the pumps. So, you know, besides, um,
you know, premium and diesel, we've also got E85, E 15, and we are now in the
process of getting into the electric charge, uh, area as well. So under the
Volkswagen, um, lawsuits that happened, we have, um, they are .... instead of the
government directing that money into charging stations, Volkswagen is actually
rolling that program out. So we've been working with them to add electric charge
stations to, um, stores. So as it stands right now, most of those stores are
interstate stores because, you know, most people charge at home on the overnight
and don't need to go to a convenience store in a local community in order to
charge the car. So, we're starting there. So those are just a coup .... a couple quick
updates on .... on what we've been up to since we've been at Council last. And
I've turned over to Brian.
Throgmorton: Thanks, Siobhan.
Boelk: Good evening, Council, Mayor. Uh, so as (both talking)
Throgmorton: Brian, could you (both talking) last name (both talking)
Boelk: Brian Boelk, HBK Engineering.
Throgmorton: Thanks!
Boelk: And, uh, we have been going through the process of rezoning in collaboration
with Kum n' Go and CDA. Uh, and as you're aware, at the last, uh, Council
meeting it was, um, voted to continue the public hearing. Since then, uh, we have
provided everything that we believe has been asked, uh, both in terms of, uh,
questions and discussion from the Council, as well as staff, uh, Kum n' Go, and
CDA, as .... as noted by Tracy and shown here as provided, uh, additional
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renderings and elevations, trying to address the aesthetic nature, which I know
was certainly a .... a discussion point at the last meeting, and certainly I know Dan
or others could address any of those, uh, further detailed questions in regards to
those looks as that goes. Um, on the rezoning side, we did adjust the boundary
line and what was the issue there was the south boundary line as it, um, is
adjacent to Hospice. And previously the boundary line was, uh, mid, uh, the
parking, or the drive I'll actually say, between Hospice and Kum n' Go that they
are utilizing shared parking spaces on. Uh, per our discussions with the City staff,
and Bob Miklo, we adjusted that line, and CDA adjusted that line on their site
plan to the north, um, to incorporate the whole drive aisle into the Hospice
property, and as a result then we provided a revised legal description for the
rezoning, as well as revised boundary adjustment drawing. Both of those were
provided to Bob and staff last Thursday. Uh, so we feel that we .... we met those
desires and needs as asked, um, by the City and by Council. Uh, in addition, all
the, uh, from the original staff report, all deficiencies and discrepancies, uh, have
been addressed to our knowledge, and then I .... I know this was somewhat noted
last, uh, meeting as well, but we just wanted to feature a couple things here with
this, um, redesign and with the building itself. Of course the intent of cleaning up
this corner just in general, the two gas stations that are currently there, uh, to
provide a very nice looking, um (mumbled) and fresh market, uh, to the
neighborhood. Uh, we are taking two driveways and access points on Muscatine
and reducing that down to one to better, uh, help with traffic flow. Uh, so .... so
we certainly feel that, uh, Kum n' Go has gone above and beyond in terms of
meeting those desires and be happy to answer any questions there.
Throgmorton: Could .... could you or, urn .... uh, or Brian, not Brian. Siobhan, uh, say a few
words about landscaping. I know there was some concern during the Planning
and Zoning Commission hearings.
Boelk: Sure, yeah. I'll let .... I'll let Keith handle that one here.
Throgmorton: Keith, good evening (both talking)
Weggen: ....Civil Design Advantage. We had, uh, there were a couple landscaping
comments that have been brought to our attention. One was relative to some trees
along the south side of the Kum n' Go, the proposed Kum n' Go store. So we
have incorporated some additional trees between Kum n' Go's property and the
Hospice, and then we were asked for some additional screening up along
Muscatine Avenue and we have incorporated screening along that side as well.
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Throgmorton: Good deal! Thanks. So, fellow Council Members, y'all have any questions for
Brian or Siobhan or Keith or Tracy?
Cole: I guess I had a question. In ... in terms of looking at, and this could be whoever
would answer it, cause I see the big difference between the original and the
revised. We have the Kum n' Go red sign and a few more windows. Am I
missing other design changes or .... are there any other changes on the building
itself?
Garneau: Dan Garneau, Site Development Manager with Kum n' Go. I figured we'd get us
all up here since we came down. (laughter) Um, in addition to the changes that
you mentioned, we did increase the amount of glazing, um, to a .... to the 50%
required on, I think that's the Muscatine Avenue side. And then we brought the,
um, the field brick color, which is that dark, the chocolate brown, earth tone,
around to the, uh, what was the sort of longer elevation. And then raised up the
parapet there also. So we have a change in height variation along the parapet, uh,
wall and then we also changed material there. Um, so those are some of the other,
and then, uh, we were asked also to help identify the entry, on the Muscatine
Avenue side, so we .... we did that, uh, by putting the little small, uh, Kum n' Go
oval sign over the entryway.
Cole: Okay, thanks!
Botchway: Is there a door on the First Avenue side?
Gameau: Uh, there's a .... there's a door there but it's not meant to be a customer entry. It's
for receiving. Um, we have two other primary entries, um.....one sort of at the,
uh..... so the side with the canopy, and then off of Muscatine Avenue.
Botchway: Uh, my other question goes back to what was already discussed in relation to the
trees, and so it's like one tree, two trees, five trees?
Garneau: I think we were asked to put, was it two or three trees? Two additional trees
(several talking) And then I just wanted to point out also that there's a .... a
retaining wall, on the back end of our property. Uh, we've designed it so that
there's a .... the top portion of the wall will actually be able to have, uh,
landscaping in it also. So in addition to just sort of being a wall, will have that
feature that acts as a screen also.
Throgmorton: Any other questions? Thanks so much!
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Garneau: Thank you!
Throgmorton: So we've been asked to continue the public hearing. I .... I wonder, Eleanor,
you .... you gave us some new guidance about .... ex parte, uh, disclosures. Would
this be a reasonable moment to .... for you to ex .... explain that to us and to the
public? Yeah.
Dilkes: Sure. Sure. So, um.....uh, my advice that you disclose your ex parte
communications, which simply means a communication with an interested party,
outside the Council chambers. Came back in 2007 based on a .... Iowa Supreme
Court case. Um, there's recent case law from the, um, Supreme Court, uh,
analyzing kind of the whole situation of whether, um, when something is an ex
part ... or extra quasi-judicial body and when it's a legislative body, and I .... my
reading of that case law is that, um, you are performing a legislative function
when you do a rezoning. Um, even though for purposes of how that ... how a court
reviews that decision is called a .... uh, quasi-judicial. So because you're
exercising a legislative function, I don't think it's necessary to make those
disclosures.
Throgmorton: Okay, so that'll be a change in our practice, instead of routinely asking for ex
parte disclosures....
Dilkes: Right.
Throgmorton: .... we won't be doing that, right?
Dilkes: You will not. Obviously the main issues to keep in mind is the need to stay
impartial, certainly before the close of the public hearing. Um, and to, um, afford
everybody an opportunity to .... to have their say.
Throgmorton: Great, thanks! Okay, uh, we need a motion to continue the public hearing to
March the 6a'.
Salih: Move.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mazahir. Oh, I'm sorry. Siobhan!
Harmon: I'm sorry! Can I make a .... a request to actually vote on it tonight? We have met
the requirements. We did submit everything that was required from us. Um, we
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started the rezone process, um .... back in December, before Christmas, and we are
trying to get the store under construction by July 1. So if we're continued, it's
another month and that would be our.....what reading, that would be our .... third,
yeah. So .... I, you know, again, we do believe that all the information has been
submitted and that everybody's had it for review, in .... in accordance.
Mims: Well I actually wanted to ask Tracy that for clarification, because, Tracy, you had
indicated.... staff was asking for a deferral, or maybe it's to Eleanor. Is it just
that.... staff hasn't had it long enough to review it? I mean Monday was a
holiday, so if they got it (both talking)
Dilkes: No. The position that staff has taken, um, and I communicated with Brian about
this earlier, and .... and reminded him of an earlier email, is that the boundary
adjustments have to be made, have to be legally effective. We .... we need, and
it....it sounds like the determination has been made that we need a subdivision
plat to make that happen. So that's the first issue, and the CZA, the Condi .... the
Conditional Zoning Agreement, as well as the rezoning ordinance, have to include
the accurate, uh, description and, um, we can't .... get the CZ ... the CZA has to be
signed before the close of the public hearing, which brings me to another issue.
The Clerk tells me that we do not have a signed, uh, Conditional Zoning
Agreement. More importantly, the Conditional Zoning Agreement, uh,
essentially the only provision of it is that, urn .... that, uh, they must comply, or....
substantially comply with the, um site plan that's attached. Urn .... so.....in order
to move forward you have to be certain that your site plan is acceptable.
Boelk: Brian Boelk, HBK. Uh, so I guess my only clarification there was that we feel
that the boundary adjustment, both the drawing as well as the legal descriptions,
were provided as mentioned, um, last Thursday, reflecting what is .... currently and
will be the .... the, uh, proposed property lines there.
Mims: But what I'm hearing from Eleanor it's not that ... what they will be, it's what they
have to be and have to be in place. Is that what you're saying, Eleanor?
Dilkes: Right. We just have a difference of opinion in terms of what needs to happen, and
in my opinion subdivision plat to be approved.
Mims: Okay.
Botchway: I have a separate question. Um, one more question in relation to the property.
Um, so I'm glad we at this at least interim, um, conversation. I'm interested on
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that retaining wall in the back, um, how does that play out with kind of, and this is
out of my depth area, but just kind of water and ... that's not there currently, and so
just interested in how that plays into with, you know, water trapping on that other
side of that retaining wall.
Weggen: Keith Weggen with CDA. If I understand your question correctly, you're worried
about drainage....
Botchway: Yep!
Weggen: ....on both sides of the wall.
Botchway: Thank you for using the correct term! (laughter)
Weggen: So (laughs) generally the site, um, flows, falls kind of from southwest to
northeast. So we have, urn ..... everything on the north side of the retaining wall
would drain to storm sewer intakes and pipes to the existing detention basin. On
the south side of the wall, uh, would have a similar system but separate from .... it
won't go to the north side, if that makes any sense.
Botchway: Okay!
Weggen: Wall would also have, uh, the wall would also be engineered to have a sub-
surface drainage system in it, as well. So to minimize or alleviate any concerns
about the structural integrity of the wall. So we wouldn't be changing any
drainage patterns from what are out there today. Um, additionally, the proposed
design has more landscape or green space than what's out there currently, so in
effect we'll have less run-off from the site than what it does today.
Botchway: Okay.
Taylor: But in relation to Kingsley's question on the south side of the wall, isn't that the
pavement, the parking lot, or am I confused?
Weggen: There is pavement, yes. There is. Um .... but it will, that pavement won't drain
over top of the retaining wall and onto the north side. It'll have it's own storm
sewer system contained within the south side of the retaining wall.
Taylor: Okay.
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Botchway: And then last question, this isn't necessarily a question.... this is more of I think a
convenience question for the community. Um, car wash. And so that will be
removed, but not a car wash going in.
Weggen: That's correct.
Botchway: Okay.
Throgmorton: Thanks. So it appears as though we have a disagreement but we have, uh, we still
have an opportunity to make a motion here and vote on the motion. (both talking)
Yeah...
Dilkes: I have not seen a signed Conditional Zoning Agreement. (several talking)
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Dilkes: That .... that kind of answers the question. Um.....and I'd also, you know, to avoid
further delay, if you all have comments about.....this is the plan that's going to be
attached to the Conditional Zoning Agreement. So .... if.....if you all have
additional comments about design, and changes you're gonna want to see, please
make them now so we can.....
Fruin: Yeah, and....(both talking) to Eleanor's point, if there's a rush to get goin' on
construction, if we can address any remaining elements that may be of concern to
you, there's a possibility that you could collapse the second and third readings and
play a little catch up here. (several talking)
Cole: That was gonna be my concern, cause I think you had some good conversations
with staff about substantive changes, but as I recall our last discussion it was not
overly substantive in terms of feedback from us. So that's what I was hoping, is
that we'd be able to express our views in terms of the project. Can we .... we can
still do that?
Dilkes: Yes, absolutely. You .... you should!
Cole: Okay.
Throgmorton: (mumbled) that would not take place right .... right now. We'd have to get this
motion on the floor first or .... what?
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Dilkes: No, you .... that can take place right now.
Throgmorton: Yeah, okay. Rockne, is there something you wanna say?
Cole: Well I'll .... I'll just say, I don't like the design. Um, I .... I'm not supportive of it.
I don't like .... I think this is suburban design for an area that could be more of a, I
don't know if it's a zoning problem for us, but for me I don't like the design and I
don't know, um, whether you can make the changes, at least to satisfy me. That
may be someone else. As I look at this particular district, I view it as a walkable,
bikeable district, not a suburban entry. And I ..... and I, you know, I'm a little bit
ambivalent in the sense that, um, you know, I don't love the gas stations that are
there right now and so I think as compared to that, this is an improvement, um,
but I just don't like the design. I .... I still think I'm looking at a wall and I think
we can do better in that particular district. Um, I do appreciate your efforts to
come back to it, but at least in terms of where I'm coming from, I .... I'm not
supportive of the project. I.. A......I just don't think it adds value to the district
as a whole, and I'm also concerned about the loss of two residential structures, is
my understanding, um, and I'm just not supportive of the project.
Botchway: I would agree actually with Rockne in part. Um, I'm not necessarily as worried
about the residential structures, even though those are relatively important to me
as well. I really feel like, you know, and I think I used this analogy or a kind of,
um, example at our last conversation. This reminds me, um, of the one on
Riverside, which I think is, you know.... perfectly, um, allocated to that particular
location. You know, and again I'm going to be honest with you, there's
community bias. I live literally.... maybe a half a mile, um, down the street. It
doesn't .... it doesn't fit with the community right now, and I'm not saying the
current, um, gas stations fit as well. Don't get me wrong, but I .... I feel like
something else can happen here and, um, you know, I'm disappointed that while I
do see some substantive changes and I am appreciative of those, I .... I did want to
see, um, a .... a little bit different design. I would agree, I mean, I see a wall and I
do think that it's in relation to how we're viewing the actual location, um, or
viewing the actual image, um, but again I .... again, to me it speaks to suburban,
and this isn't really ...... I .... I keep talking about how .... how.....how upset I am
about traffic in the area, how I have to, you know, navigate around bicyclists and
all these other things, I mean, these are comments that I've made before to speak
to the fact that, you know, this isn't necessarily an element that speaks to kind of
the community that's there.
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Mims: I guess I ... would disagree with the two of you, and .... and I guess, this is where I
come from. If you take what's there and we're going from two curb cuts to one,
which I think is a huge improvement, especially close to that intersection. And
any time you put a gas station on a corner, all right, if you're trying to get the
entry into the pumps as far away from the intersection as possible, which helps for
traffic flow, which is exactly what has been done here, you're.....you're
somewhat limited in terms of how you design the interior space of that building to
be functional, because as they've indicated, you're.... you've got two entrances,
one off from Muscatine and one on the east side from where your pumps are. So
really the side towards First Avenue, if you will, is kind of the back of the store,
from a functional standpoint. And what they've done there, and I think this is
what they did on Riverside, is they've..... they've put glass on there. They've got,
I don't know, maybe a 8 or 10 -foot walkway, you know, inside of there. So it's...
it's not really accessible to the public. It's not really functional maybe in that
way, but at least you don't have the blank wall. Um, because .... but it is, as I say,
the back of the store. I think.....while in some regards it may not be the prettiest
building in the world, I also understand when you've got companies that are....
that are doing a lot of work for efficiencies, they're.... they're kind of setting
standards and, urn .... what do I want to say? You .... you've got your .... you've got
your plans that you use and use `em, over and over for efficiencies and you
modify for that particular location. Um, and I.....I guess I don't .... I don't see
how you necessarily make something.... when you look at this location and the
location of the .... the pumps, what you want to do with the back of the store,
which is already glass, and I think maybe, Kingsley, you said, I think maybe part
of the problem is the rendering is shown that actually emphasizes the worst part of
the building if you will. You know, on that .... on that corner. I .... I guess I
don't... I don't know what you're asking for.
Throgmorton: So let me say a few words about this as well. I'm not prepared to reject the
proposed rezoning on the basis of my own aesthetic judgment. It seems to me
that the proposal is not ... not totally ideal from my point of view, but it's better
than the way things are right now. So I .... I'm not gonna raise aesthetic judgments
and aesthetic objections. I think you've more recently have improved, uh, what
was initially proposed, and you know, I .... I'm not gonna.....I'm not gonna vote
against this on the basis of. ... ofthe aesthetic aspects.
Taylor: Maybe (both talking)
Thomas: (mumbled)
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Taylor: Oh, go ahead!
Thomas: I ... I would agree in the sense that I think the .... the site plan, and we don't have
the existing site plan to look at, but um, that what's proposed is a better site plan
than what we have. Uh, if there were one thing I would like to see improved
further would be the, at least on this corner of the intersection, uh, if we can
improve the .... the safety of. ... the .... the crosswalks, crossing, um, through that
intersection, uh, with the alignment of the curb along the work that we're doing.
Geoff, I don't know if this is something that we .... we could look at, uh, in the
interim that we have of seeing if we can't reduce the crossing distances
(mumbled) as we can effect them on our comer .... of development.
Throgmorton: But .... but that doesn't have anything to do with the rezoning.
Mims: Yeah.
Thomas: No, but as .... as a part of the project, uh, if we're reconstructing the curb, in terms
of the .... the work being done as a part of the project, we're .... we're promoting
and .... and emphasizing the question of walkability as it relates to this
redevelopment area, uh, and one of the keys then is, you know, and we're
promoting how we're improving pedestrian flow on the corner itself, but the
crossings..... could be improved. And if we're reconstructing the curb on that
corner, this would seem to be the .... the time to do that.
Taylor: I think John raises a good point because that particular area, uh, the number of the
Southeast Junior High students are probably going to frequent this as well as the
HyVee across the street and some City High students walk by there too, uh, so I
think that's a very good point, but um, going back to Rockne's point about the
suburban and .... and Jim's, uh, and Susan's about the aesthetic quality of the
building, it's not the prettiest building but it's kind of, uh, that's the,
uh .... identification that people have for the Kum n' Go. Um, but I .... I like the
fact that the gas pumps are no longer right out there in front, uh, because that was
not very attractive. Um, I do question the suburban aspect of whether.... whether
or not this should be here because right across the way is the humongous
Walgreen's and on the other side, uh, to the north is a massive HyVee and up ... up
a block or so is the CVS Pharmacy. So you kind of have those already large
businesses there, so I don't know, uh, that that's really a very valid argument
because it already exists. The precedent's been there for those businesses.
Frain: Can I make a .... oh, go ahead!
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Salih: I just .... it's okay with me, the project, especially after revise it and adding some
windows there. It look like really better than the first one. I will support this
project.
Frain: (mumbled) emphasize a few things from .... from staff perspective. One, I .... I
can't really, urn .... uh, say, uh, say it enough to ya, the traffic management piece
of this is huge. Cleaning up this .... this intersection with two gas stations is a
huge benefit. Not only for automobiles, but for pedestrians, bicycles, um, the, uh,
sidewalk adjustments that they're able to make by pushing the sidewalk further
from the street is a huge, uh, a huge improvement. So we see a lot of value in, uh,
that particular part of the site plan. The .... you know the whole reason the
building is where it is and looks like it does, yes, Kum n' Go has their template,
but it's our design standards that are really forcing this issue. So .... you know,
you talk about it bein' a .... a suburban location. Actually what we're doing here is
we're forcing an urban model on a .... what's .... what's really a suburban
community out there. That was an intentional, um, decision that we made when
we adopted the Towncrest plan and the Town .... Towncrest design standards.
This building has to be built to CB -5 standards. That's our Central Business
Dit... District standards. So that is what is forcing the building up to the corner.
I'm sure if given a choice, Kum n' Go would probably have it face the other way,
like you would see most traditional gas stations. That does, as Susan points out,
creates some design challenges for the team, um, having that third entrance is not
something that they would normally do, having kind of a false hallway back there,
to accommodate the glass windows. You see that on the Riverside location. So,
part of our design standards are pushing them to this, which may not .... may be
causing some of the concerns that you're articulating here. Uh, you know, for
example I think the ... the wall that you're lookin' at on the corner there, if I read
the .... the plans correctly, that's the restrooms. It's hard to extend the windows
any further there. Um, but there's also probably a reason why those restrooms are
in that place. So, um ...... I think if you've got some concerns with .... with the way
that this is, um .... uh, that this is being situated on the .... the site, um, that we
probably need to think about our own design standards, looking forward, past this
project and .... and ask ourselves — do we really want the buildings to be pushed to
the corner here, uh, or pushed to the .... to the frontage, uh, because I think that's
what's driving a lot of the consternation that I'm hearing.
Throgmorton: Uh (person speaking from audience) yeah, sure.
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Hannon: (speaking from audience, difficult to hear) ...renderings from (unable to hear) that
showed the other side of the building. I guess just one quick thing, just to
expound upon the comments that have been said, that this building's actually
taller than what we traditionally build. But, as has been said, the design standard,
um, they went off of what a standard retail height is, that this building could be
repurposed in the future if it wasn't a c -store and they came up with a universal
height, and so that is why our building is taller. Um, but we've also made
changes to actually, our canopy is lower than it would be in other locations,
because we are in a neighborhood area, and has been stated, um, the, you know,
the canopy is facing away from pedestrian areas. Um, and then one other quick
comment is .... in regard to the sidewalk on First Avenue. The sidewalk actually
used to be on the curb of the street. And we've actually, we're dedicating right-
of-way to push the sidewalk off of the street so that pedestrians are actually safer.
Throgmorton: Thank you. All right, I....
Botchway: Jim, I have a quick question. These same design standards would be used in other
parts of the community as well, so if I plopped a Kum n' Go (several talking)
Fruin: This is the Towncrest design standards, uh, it just so happens that's .... it's very
similar to what we did for the Riverfront Crossings area, which is why you saw a
similar placement of. ... of that building, but .... so the Towncrest design standards
require that this be to the CB -5 standard and then as part of the Towncrest design
manual, there are standards on window glazing, for example, at 50% has to be,
uh, you know, covered with windows. So .... um, in the Towncrest area, if there
was another convenience store to be located somewhere, it would have the same
requirements. Not necessarily along Highway 6 or other retail corridors.
Throgmorton: I hope you have heard enough about our general assessment of. ... the design
and.....and you know, I mean I'm hearing that a majority of people don't want
you to change the .... the design. Some do advocate changing it. A majority does
not. That's what I'm hearing. I hope that's useful feedback for you. All right.
Now, but we do have a question (laughs) so we have .... we don't have a motion
on the floor yet, is my recollection.
Dilkes: You can do one motion to continue and defer, continue the public hearing and
defer first consideration.
Throgmorton: Okay, could I have a motion....
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Salih: Move.
Throgmorton: Well .... uh, let me just state it, okay? I'd like to get a motion to continue the
public hearing and defer first consideration to March 6.
Botchway: So moved.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Mims. All in favor say aye. Opposed.
Motion carries. So, I .... I hope this whole thing can be worked out satisfactorily.
(several talking) All right, let's move to Item 6b.
b) Consider an Ordinance (First Consideration) [Deferred from
February 6 meeting.]
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Item 6. Planning and Zoning Matters
Item 6b Rezoning Foster Road — Vintage Cooperatives — Ordinance rezoning
approximately 53.29 acres of property from High Density Single Family
Residential (RS -12) to Planned Development Overlay - High Density Single
Family Residential (OPD/RS-12) zone for 50.11 acres and Commercial Office
(CO -1) zone for 3.18 acres located south of I-80 between Dubuque Street and
Prairie Du Chien Road. (REZ17-00017)
a) Public Hearing
Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) All right, I need to ask you folks, well
I can do that after we.....listen to the public hearing. Never mind. Good evening,
Tracy, again.
Hightshoe: Hi. Um, our senior planner is gone this week on vacation, so you have me tonight.
(laughter) We do have a rezoning request for the Forest View, or what staff has
been calling this development. It is to rezone 50.11 acres to Planned
Development Overlay, High -Density Single -Family Residential, OPD/RS-12 and
to rezone 3.1 acres to Commercial Office. This .... this area is located, um, south
of I-80. Um, this is Prairie du Chien coming up the north -south connection.
Dubuque Road is over here. We do not have a development proposal rezoning for
this area west of the subdivision, but this is the area. Um, as you can see, Foster
Road, well .... B'Jaysville, if I can pronounce it, comes up there. Foster Road
would be extended all the way up through here, up until Prairie du Chien. Um...
this area is part of the North District. The North District encourages clustered,
conservation -designed housing to preserve open space and to protect
environmentally sensitive areas. The plan also encourages office and institutional
use development at the intersection of Foster Road and Prairie du Chien, mostly
as a buffer between, um.....I-80 and residential uses. The area's largely
undeveloped. Um, there is some single-family and some small multi -family
residential development on B'Jaysville Lane, a private road, which is going to be
extended to Foster Road. There's also single-family manufactured housing along
Prairie du Chien Road, up in through here ..... and St. Annes Drive. Um, as you
can see, grading and (mumbled) has already been done through that Foster Road
corridor. Um, so there has been water main installed along this .... this road. This
extension also allows a east -west street route across the northern part of the North
District that may relieve some of the traffic on Kimball Road. It also creates new
opportunities for .... to connect existing neighborhoods, such as on Oak Lawn and
St. Armes Drive to Foster Road. The traffic capacity of an extended Foster Road
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could accommodate development of small apartments, townhomes, and single-
family homes, and the development will be con.... constrained by rugged terrain.
Um, it's wooded. There's a 100 -foot wide gas pipeline easement that cuts across
the neighborhood. The reason why we're going with the overlay, or planned
development, is so that you can cluster dwellings into multi -family dwel.... units
or buildings, to preserve those sensitive areas. There is .... there are protected
slopes. There's woodlands. There's wetland ba. ... buffers, and there's a stream
corridor along this part. The development plan shows 53 units senior housing
cooperative and 59 townhomes. In outlot A, this will be dedicated to open space.
It's 23.87 acres. Um, this also serves as a buffer between the interstate and the
residential development, as required in our subdivision code. Lot I is this
Commercial Office. This is the buffer between I-80 and .... and residential. It is
covered by woodlands and has critical slope in the southwest corner. Applicant
will need to demonstrate compliance with the sensitive area pris.... provisions of
the code. Um, but it is a ... it is a use that is consistent with the Comprehensive
Plan. Lot 2 would be a seven -unit residential townhome-style building. Lot 3 is
the senior housing. So this would be a 53 -unit senior housing, with parking
located in the lower level and the rear of the building. Lot 4 would be 33
townhomes in nine buildings. Three of the buildings are proposed to front onto
Foster Road, six of the buildings are proposed on a private street with alleys to
provide rear access to garages, and then finally lot 5, down below here, would be
15 townhome-sty.... townhouse -style multi -family in four buildings and two
duplex buildings. The buildings.... face Foster Road will have vehicle access
through a rear lane, which leads to driveways and garages to each unit. If the
rezoning is approved, a subdivision plat will be necessary to create the proposed
lots within the plan. The developer did have a good neighbor meeting on
November 6a'. Um, no negative comments were received. Elevations of the
senior housing are proposed right here, as well as the multi -family units, the
townhouses. Staff does recommend approval. The density and design of the
planned development are compatible with adjacent development in terms of land
use, building mass and scale, open space, and general layout. The proposed
development complies with our sensitive areas ordinance, and P&Z Commission
did recommend approval with a 6-0 vote. (mumbled) any questions?
Throgmorton: I don't know if you're the right person to ask about this, Tracy, but could you say
a little bit about the .... the road and how this project is related to the construction
of a road.
Fruin: I .... I can jump in with that, and Jason Havel can .... can help out, but you have,
um, an urban renewal area that's also un ... that's also workin' its way through the
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legislative process as .... as well. It's been to the Economic Development
Committee, um, and Council'll be havin' more discussions on that, uh, on that
soon. Um, currently what we are looking at is the developer, uh, to build the
entire road, from, uh, B'Jaysville, you know, all the way, you know, basically
back from Dubuque, all the way up to Prairie du Chien. As you can see from that
image right there, the .... the developer does not control, um, all of that, uh,
property, uh, fronting the road. Uh, so what we anticipate is a, um, tax increment
financing agreement, uh, whereby the developer would, um .... uh, build the entire
road to our standards. Eventually it becomes a public road. Um, and we would
reimburse, we'd do a 10 -year, uh, TIF agreement to reimburse the developer a
portion of the cost, not .... not all of the cost of the road but a portion of the cost of
the road. This would also be, um, the first time that it would trigger the, uh, State
contributions for affordable housing. So .... we talked about this with the
affordable action plan a couple of years ago, but when you build infrastructure,
uh, when you .... when you use TIF to build infrastructure for predominantly
residential development, uh, that requires a set-aside for affordable housing, that
you can use either in this development or outside of that development, and it's
roughly about 50% of the increment generated. So as you see the taxable value of
this area start to increase with the development, you can think of 50% of that, uh,
that increment, uh, again speak in very rough terms, 50% of that increment going
towards affordable housing, uh, throughout the entire Iowa City community.
Cole: How much will that be, Geoff, approximately? I know it's hard to predict exactly
but it's .... big, pretty good money, right, I mean....
Fruin: It's a sizable amount. Wendy, do you recall?
Ford: I think it will be around.... 300,000 a year, the portion that could go to the
affordable housing.
Cole: Perfect! Thank you.
Fruin: We'll circle back with ya on that as the .... as the development agreement comes
before ya, uh, sorry we didn't have those figures tonight for the rezoning, but
that's generally what we have .... what we have proposed. Tonight is just focusing
on the rezoning itself.
Cole: Okay.
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Salih:
Hightshoe:
Salih:
Hightshoe:
Salih:
I just would like to ask if there is any, yeah, just like really a lot housing. Is there
some kind of affordable housing you need here or just like .... this is normal.
This is private market housing.
(unable to understand)
(both talking) ...proposed.
Uh huh.
Throgmorton: Money would be generated in a way that (both talking)
Salih: Yeah, I know. Yeah.
Dilkes: That's why when, the code requires when you're using TIF to support residential
housing that doesn't have an affordable housing component, then you capture a
piece of the increment, the 300,000 or so a year, for affordable housing.
Throgmorton: Any other questions for Tracy?
Salih: (mumbled) I really just think that's not enough. We need to do something really
about that, but this is not now (mumbled) specific things here.
Taylor: (mumbled) excuse me. Tracy, you'd said it wouldn't be the affordable housing,
but the senior housing aspect of it, is that going to be somewhat affordable or not?
Higbtshoe: Not that I know of I don't think so.
Taylor: Thank you.
Throgmorton: Thanks, Tracy. Would anybody else like to address this topic?
Keitel: I'm Dennis Keitel, um, I'm a resident of Ridge Road, which is right in the
neighborhood. I've lived there for about 25 years. I've been waiting for this road
to go through for 25 years, so that we get the traffic off of Ridge Road, because
right now it's great because you've got Ridge Road closed at Dubuque Street. So
we don't get all the through traffic. But... this.... this road is really needed in our
neighborhood, to take the traffic off Ridge Road. So ... I'm wholly supportive of
this project.
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Throgmorton: Thanks, Dennis. Anyone else? All right, I need to ask Council Members whether
they, you are inclined to vote in accordance with the Planning and Zoning
Commission's recommendation and it was a unanimous recommendation, or 6-0,
to approve the rezoning. (several responding) Okay, I'm gonna close the public
hearing. (bangs gavel) Could I have a motion to, uh.... um, for .... uh, to approve
first consideration.
b) Consider an Ordinance (First Consideration)
Thomas: Move first consideration.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Thomas and seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Botchway: Geoff, what did you .... what did you say just about the affordable housing action
plan? You made a comment and I missed it.
Fruin: Well one of the number.... there's a number of strategies introduced, and one
was .... one was to start looking for opportunities to use TIF for residential
development because it would generate dollars that the City could use, uh, and
that was it. So I think when we .... when we talked to the, to you about that plan,
back in 16, we focused on McCollister Boulevard and the opportunity that might
be there, that this wasn't on our radar at the time, but it's the .... it's a similar
situation.
Botchway: Okay.
Mims: I'd just like to ask Eleanor a clarifying question. Um, with .... when we're looking
at rezonings, and this has just become more, I think more of a consideration, um,
as we go along, does the Council have the, uh, the authority, the ability, whatever,
to consider the affordability of the potential development as they make a decision
on rezoning.
Dilkes: I mean the focus of the .... the Council's focus needs to be on the land use. We do
not have a, um .... an inclusionary .... housing ordinance as we have in Riverfront
Crossings. For this area.
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Mims: Well I'm glad to see the road going through. I think it's gonna help some of those
side roads. I think it's just gonna help people like that live out on the Peninsula,
um, easier access over, even like to HyVee on .... on north Dodge and other
locations, so I think it'll be a good.... good, uh, in -fill network, uh, for our
roadways.
Cole: I agree with Susan. I was a little bit of a negative Nellie on the last rezoning, but
uh, I really like this. Um, I love the mix of housing types. The senior housing
component to it. I would have li.... you know, obviously affordable housing is
wonderful, but I think there's a lot of different housing types and I think that's
really what I'm focused on, and I like the increment that we're going to be able to
generate in the long-term, which I don't know how long the TIF is going to take,
but it's gonna really generate real funds. So, um, incorporating the sensitive
areas, getting the infrastructure, there's a lot of components to this that I really
like, and I would note, um, although again I was negative on this last project, I'm
really liking some of the developments we're seeing on the periphery of our
community, um, that does include these different types of housing. Um, so I'm...
I'm gonna be in favor of it.
Botchway: Eleanor, I have a clarifying question, I mean, just for the fact that this is a
rezoning doesn't mean we can't talk about affordable housing, right?
Dilkes: You can talk about affordable housing. Your .... your decision has to be made on
what you think is the appropriate land use here, in terms of density and ... etc.
Botchway: Right, so the, I mean, I think, Susan, you made that comment previously and, you
know, I've .... my ..... my comment to that was, you know, I'm gonna bring up
affordable housing, you know, at any time and especially at this particular time
because when I look at this area, my ... my first thought isn't necessarily just for
the affordable housing but, um, I think the gentleman came up and talked about
the over -saturation of the area. I mean I think that Ridge Road has obviously
been impacted and this road will help and so I'm not knocking the road
construction, because I think that's important, but I do think we need to consider
some of these things that may .... it's definitely not appropriate at this time, but as
we think about.....as we try to accelerate and move some things forward in the
affordable housing plan, these are the things that I think we need to affect, I mean
I think that, you know, I ... it was mentioned before was around inclusionary
zoning, um, across Iowa City because in order to have these conversation .... or in
order to continue to .... to, I feel like make the dent that is necessary to actually
make, um, affordable housing a more actual reality, um, we have to .... we have to
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do something, and so I'm .... I'm in general support of this particular plan. I think
the road is a huge element. I'm ac ... I'm interested as well as the money that's
going to be generated, um, but again, you know, this is another, um, rezoning
that's going to happen with one .... some component of affordable housing, but
ultimately, um, I think, you know, housing that's going to be market rate. It's
gonna price up. To me the majority of our residents, you know, maybe I'm just
speaking from my standpoint, so....
Taylor: Focusing on the land use part of it I ... I think you look at the original picture and
the Baysville Lane and it just stops and there's just a few little houses. The
development in there it's almost like a puzzle with missing pieces and I think
using the land for this development, which comes almost as close to the missing
middle concept that we've been looking for, uh, as .... as we've seen so far. So I
think it's very appropriate use for the ... for the land.
Throgmorton: Yeah (both talking)
Thomas: There's certainly some positives, um....
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Thomas: ....associated with this project and, uh, you know .... kind of, the ... that integration
of the developed area within what's essentially a natural area, I think, is one of the
distinguishing attributes of it. Uh, and there is some contribution to our
affordable housing, uh, fund that will be generated by it, uh, and it....it will
provide another way of getting from Prairie du Chien over to Dubuque, and that...
there are a number of negative outcomes which have come with the current
roadway configuration, so.....
Throgmorton: Yeah, well, uh, I'll say a few things that have already been mentioned. It .... uh,
perhaps one that's not been mentioned. It's consistent with the Comprehensive
Plan. I know, Tracy, you pointed that out, right at the start. John, like you said,
it's gonna end up preserving a substantial amount of sensitive areas. That's a
good deal. It's gonna provide a road that's .... many people have wanted to see
built there for a long time, and there's actually a pathway to finance it now, uh,
provided by the development. I can remember walking through that area with
Bruce Glasgow 20 years ago and talkin' about that road (laughs) so, uh, yeah, so I
think... and.... and the design of the buildings and the mix of buildings, I ... Rockne,
I agree with ya. I think it's a pretty good mix of elements. Uh, so I'm gonna
support it, but I ... I do want to ask Tracy one question, which I forgot to ask when
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you were up, uh, it's a topic that came up somewhere during the Planning and
Zoning Commission's discussions, and it has to do with access to Shimek school.
Yeah, so is there going to be a trail to Shimek school from .... from this
development, even though it goes through somebody else's property probably.
Hightshoe: Um .... the P&Z report said if Foster Road is extended the plan also calls for the
development of a pedestrian trail between Foster Road to Shimek school. So...
Throgmorton: Excellent. I think that's really crucial. Uh, Shimek schools' sort of straight south
of that development, but it's through some.... wooded, ravine type area. So, good
thing for the kids. Okay, any further disc .... thank you, Tracy. Any further
discussion?
Dilkes: I wanted to make one clarification. Um, from Tracy's, uh (mumbled) the outlot A
is private open space, not public open space.
Throgmorton: Right.
Dilkes: Just want to make sure (both talking)
Throgmorton: Yeah.
Fruin: Just because I know it's a topic of interest to .... to Council, um, we are
progressing with the road design and so you know where we're going, we're
looking at two-lane road with buffered bike lanes. Uh, so it's roughly a 36 -foot
wide road. So it's a pretty wide road. That's two 11 -foot lanes, uh, two 5 %-foot
bike lanes, and then a .... a foot and a half of buffer on each of those bike lanes.
So, you don't necessarily need to take this up tonight, but if you've got concerns
with where we're goin' on the design, please communicate those to me.
Throgmorton: Okay, let's see. We have a motion on the floor. Discussion....any further
discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 7-0.
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Item 6. Planning and Zoning Matters
Item 6d Rezoning Sensitive Areas Plan for Lincoln School — Ordinance
rezoning approximately 3.6 acres of property from Neighborhood Public (Pl)
to Planned Development Overlay Neighborhood Public (OPD/Pl) zone
located at 300 Teeters Court. (REZ17-00016) (Pass and Adopt)
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion please? (several talking) Kingsley has to recuse himself.
Salih: Move.
Throgmorton: Moved by Salih.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Hightshoe: Can I make a comment?
Throgmorton: Sure!
Hightshoe: This was defer from.... deferred from last, um, time is because it was missing
some elements that Engineering had to review for final plan. Engineering has
reviewed that plan. They approved it. So we are ready.
Throgmorton: Thank you for pointing that out, Tracy. Any further discussion?
Thomas: I just wanted to say it's a .... a good day for the friends of Lincoln Elementary, and
um, a little shout out to Mary Murphy. Those of you who know Mary, she
(laughs) had some concerns about the .... the, this project so, um, Mary, this vote's
for you! (laughs)
Throgmorton: I wonder if Mary's watching. All right, uh, so roll call please. Motion carnes 6-
0, uh, Botchway recusing himself.
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Item 7. Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center Cell FY18 Construction -
Resolution approving plans, specifications, form of agreement, and estimate
of cost for the construction of the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center
Cell FY18 Construction Project, establishing amount of bid security to
accompany each bid, directing City Clerk to post notice to bidders, and
fixing time and place for receipt of bids
a) Public Hearing
Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Seeing no one I'm going to close the
public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b) Consider a Resolution
Mims: Move the resolution.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion? Uh, for the public's
information, uh, the estimated construction cost for this new Landfill cell is
$1.565 million and it will be funded with Landfill revenues.
Mims: They don't come cheap!
Throgmorton: I know! (laughter) Any further discussion? Roll call please. Motion carnes 7-0.
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Item 8. Pedestrian Mall Improvements - Resolution approving plans, specifications,
form of agreement, and estimate of cost for the construction of the
Pedestrian Mall Improvements Project, establishing amount of bid security
to accompany each bid, directing City Clerk to post notice to bidders, and
fixing time and place for receipt of bids
a) Public Hearing
Throgmorton: I'll open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Good evening, Scott.
Sovers: Good evening, Scott Sovers, Senior Civil Engineer. Like to just give a quick
update on the, uh.... uh, ped mall project. Uh, generally speaking the project
includes just complete renovation of the pedestrian mall, um, more specifically,
we are, um, designed some utility upgrades. We have all new water main in the
Dubuque Street corridor, and then in the College, uh, Street corridor, east of, uh,
the weather dance fountain, a new, all new telecom system, um, we're enhancing
the storm sewer system to improve drainage within the ped mall, excuse me here.
Uh... uh, all new electrical, uh, we're goin' with multi -layered lighting framework,
which includes pedestrian (mumbled) lighting, um, uplighting some trees,
and ... and story walls, um .... we're also doin' some canopy and structure lighting.
Uh, we're also creating some secondary destinations at the .... the stage canopy at
the, just south of the weather dance fountain, near the Graduate Hotel and then
also at the, um, the stage, or the shade structure at...at the Black Hawk Mini Park,
and then lastly, uh, we've got a couple story walls at the west entry into the ped
mall and then, uh, within the Black Hawk Mini Park. The, um, full .... we're also
replacing the.... completely replacing all the pavement, um, replacing existing
brick, uh, pavement with.....with new brick pavement. Uh, the difference is
we're incorporating a, uh, PCC sub -slab, so we can hopefully, um, make it so it's
more, um, sustainable and .... and long-term solution to frost heave. Uh, all new
site furnishings. Um, which generally includes new trash receptacles, tables and
chairs, uh, new drinking fountain just south of the, um, Iowa City Public Library,
uh, bike .... bike racks and benches. Um, we're also going to be repairing the
limestone planter walls that are now leaning. Uh, we're going to shore those up
with new foundations. And then lastly, we are enhancing the planting areas,
adding some .... some new trees and some .... some ground cover, and increasing
the overall, um, the .... the planting areas themselves. (mumbled) slide here, it's
gonna talk about, uh, the phasing. So the construction phasing is, uh, is a two
construction season project. The first.....first phase of the project is the Dubuque
Street corridor, and that is scheduled for 2019 .... 2018, excuse me. Um, and we're
hopin' to get that underway, um, late April. And then phase two is the, uh,
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College Street corridor, including the intersection of, um, Clinton and College,
and that's scheduled for, uh, 2019, and that one, that phase will start, uh, after
graduation, 2019. With that, I'd open up to any questions anybody has.
Botchway: Sorry, could you repeat the, uh, north phase one, when's that starting again?
Sovers: Uh, the late start date for that project, or for that phase, is April 30's.
Botchway: Okay.
Throgmorton: So there's gonna be a base bid with three alternates, correct?
Sovers: That's correct. So the base bid includes everything, um, including the stage itself
at the weather dance fountain. Um, the bi... the bid alternates are the shad ... the
shade structure at the Black Hawk Mini Park, the canopy for the, um, stage, and
then the third alternate is for salvaging, palletizing, and storing off-site, uh, the
brick pavers for, um, potential use by residents.
Throgmorton: Okay, and the bid, not the bid, the .... the Engineer's estimate.
Sovers: Sure.
Throgmorton:... is lower than it was two weeks ago.
Sovers: Yep!
Throgmorton: .... and you know, we've had some discussions about that, but could you explain
why there ... why it's lower?
Sovers: So the base bid for the project is now at 6.8 million. I believe the ... the main
reason for the .... for the base bid going down was there were some errors in the
calculations of how much of the, um, the limestone planter walls we were actually
salvaging versus what was new. So I think that .... there was a big swing there in
the ... in the overall construction costs.
Throgmorton: Good deal, and I guess I have one other question.
Sovers: Sure!
Throgmorton: With regard to the Black Hawk Mini Park, I don't know, awning structure.
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Sovers: Sure!
Throgmorton: My understanding is the base bid contains.... includes, um, a .... a foundation for
that awning structure.
Sovers: That is correct. Both the, um, the shade structure at Black Hawk Mini Park and
then the, um, the canopy structure for the ... for the stage, both have the
foundations put in as a part of the base bid.
Throgmorton: Okay. Now would the foundation extend above the brick, the level of the brick?
Sovers: No, it'll be just below the brick paving. So we can take up the brick and extend,
or put on the canopy without affecting much of the paving.
Throgmorton: Okay, so if we choose not to do that alternate, I'm not sayin' what we're gonna
do, but if we choose not to do that alternate, we'll have a foundation under the
brick (both talking)
Sovers: That's correct.
Throgmorton:.... not visible.
Sovers: That's correct. Yep.
Throgmorton: Okay. Good. That .... that's helpful.
Sovers: Sure!
Throgmorton: Do we have other questions for Scott?
Thomas: I had a couple. So, Scott, you were saying some portion of the performance stage
will be part of the base bid but not the overhead?
Sovers: Not the canopy, yes, so the entire stage would be built. It just won't be the
canopy part of the (both talking)
Thomas: Uh huh, and uh.... the benches (clears throat) are all of the benches going to be,
existing benches, going to be removed?
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Sovers: Yes, that is correct.
Thomas: And what happens to them? Do we have any salvaging (both talking)
Sovers: Yeah, we're gonna salvage all the benches that are out there, especially probably
the benchmark benches.
Thomas: Uh huh.
Sovers: Then the idea is with the benchmark benches, we'll actually incorporate that back
into the ped mall, on the east leg of College Street, but they'll all be new benches.
Taylor: Clarifying, that ... the benches in the ped mall itself will be new and those current
benches that people went to a lot of work to paint.
Sovers: Yes.
Taylor: ....are going to be relocated where?
Sovers: I don't know that we have a plan for relocatin' those at this time.
Fruin: We .... we would go and .... and (several talking) evaluate the condition of each of
`em. They could be deployed in other parks, um, there could be, uh, uses, uh,
other non-traditional uses that we identify, but keep in mind the benchmarks
program was intended to turn over every year, uh, that wasn't .... it wasn't like a
bench was painted and meant to last forever. It was an annual program that saw
those turn over, but uh, we haven't really got as far to think about where we might
deploy those. I'm guessing some of the benches are of a condition that we
wouldn't warm redeploy `em in another area and some are probably in decent
shape.
Cole: Help me understand the bid alternate process. How will that work mechanically
with, for example, the .... the shade structure, sort of moving forward, uh, we get a
bid on, you know, the baseline bid and then .... how.....how do we incorporate
then the, um, bid alternate?
Sovers: (both talking) So we'll get a base bid, the (mumbled) submit a base bid and then
he'll submit a bid for each of the three alternates, and then we can.....um, award
the base bid plus any .... any version of the alternates, or any combination of the
alternates.
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Cole: Okay. And will we be able to vote on each one of these when ... once we get the
(mumbled) Okay.
Fruin: Yeah, you'll get to pick base bid plus A, B, or C .... any combination of A, B, or C.
Cole: Okay.
Botchway: The timeline, urn— Jor phase one is April 30°i. Is that just the timeline based on
the bid going out?
Sovers: Correct.
Botchway: Okay.
Sovers: And so we're.....assuming, you know, you guys approve plans and specs and
ready for bid, you know, bids'll go .... plans'll go out to bid tomorrow, and then
we'll receive bids on the 27°i of March.
Throgmorton: Any other questions for Scott? We may .... we might ask you to come back up,
depending (both talking) we hear.
Sovers: Absolutely!
Throgmorton: Thanks. Would anybody else like to address this topic? Good evening, Nancy.
Bird: Good evening. Nancy Bird with the Iowa City Downtown District. I just, um,
here tonight to express my support for the project and really appreciate all the
lengths that City has gone through and the consultant work for really years and
years of planning. Um, you know the culmination of this project, uh, really is a
huge step forward. You know, Washington Street went very well. I think that
the .... the product at the end, there's a lot of appreciation for the businesses
recovered in that .... that year, um, they recovered well. I think there was a lot of
collaboration between both the City and our organization, to make sure that
project went well, and the pedestrian mall is kind of a whole .... a whole other
ballgame, especially when it comes to the conditions of the brick. So in my mind
just the....for viability and for safety, and all the other pieces that we need to
really improve downtown, um, kind of restoring the brick elements of the .... of the
pedestrian ral... the pedestrian mall are quite critical, including really the setting
of, um, the stage, so to speak, for the community living room — the benches, the
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uplighting, making sure people feel comfortable to be there and feel safe, um, all
those things are set by the ambient elements of the .... of the design. So we
appreciate your support for it. We recognize it's probably not perfect in a lot of
ways. I can't pretend to understand all the costs, um, except for it's complicated
and we've appreciated the fact that we've had the consultants work with every
single one of our businesses during the outreach. Um, I would say most of the
businesses feel comfortable moving this forward, even in light of events that are
happening this summer. Um, there's always going to be an event in the summer,
so it's really hard to avoid it, no matter what the scale is. So, um, we appreciate,
you know, your support, um, moving through this and we hope we get this .... this
project approved and moving and ready to go. We're .... we're set to, um, help
support with placemaking activities and making sure the marketing for these
businesses goes well, as well as help provide signage, um, during the course of
the project. So, I think on our end, you know, everyone's really ready to get
moving, so .... thank you.
Throgmorton: (several talking in background) Thank you, Nancy. (several talking in
background)
Botchway: Hey, Nancy, I had a couple quick questions. Um, the two questions that I had,
you know, before you come back before us in regards to the Washington Street
project and asked, you know, for additional funds, that won't be necessary this
time for the ... any type of placemaking or any type of signage around the
construction area?
Bird: Um, actually we've worked with, um, Geoff a little bit on that. You know last
year we had $25,000 that was provided to us for placemaking activities. This year
we'll be using that and having, you know, special tailored programming
that.... that will also help, including the signage, um, for those businesses. So it
may go into public art. It may go into events or live music, or things that program
and make sure that the pedestrian mall stays relevant, even though there's....
there's construction happening on that block. So it's.....there will be no
additional request and, um, I would add that it seems like it's.... it's kind of settled
out that the one area, the Black Hawk Mini Park, which you know the reason we
started programming that area was because there was nothing there, and it was
noted in our planning that that was like an unsafe spot that people identified
because there was just nothing there. So the fact that there is some space
available to program has seen really great response. So we would love to
continue to keep doing that, um, it is an operational cost for both us and for you,
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um, if it seems like that's a .... it's a good program moving forward, we'd love to
continue it. So....
Botchway: And the other question is related to kind of the, I mean you kind of talked about it
in general, but the .... the downtown block party and other events that happen, I
mean there's going to be some facilitation as far as what that looks like in the
construction season as well?
Bird: Yeah, we don't have, um, we don't have the plans like cemented right now, but
the block party, we've asked to extend one of the streets so that we have a little bit
more room to move around comfortably. Um, hopefully we'll have some
improvements to our alleys and we can help use those as functional pathways to,
you know, have some walking, breathing room, because it was quite a crowded
night, and we'll, you know, use those same tactics during RAGBRAI, and I think
we'll get through it. It's, you know, it's interesting. It's one, really one block
downtown, so I want to remind everybody out there listening that, you know, this
is construction, but all businesses will be open, um, there will always be a path to,
um, at least an 8 -foot path for all pedestrians to walk around that one area, and
then otherwise everything should be, you know, as normal, and maybe even a
little bit more fun. You just really never know!
Botchway: Thanks!
Throgmorton: Thank you, Nancy. Hi!
Birla: Um, my name's Puja and I, um .... um, I had two questions. One related to the
timing of, um, phase one and in light of the fact that RAGBRAI is going to be in
Iowa City. Iowa City is the last overnight stops, um, is it .... is it a good idea to
begin this project in April when I think RAGBRAI is here on the 271i of, uh, July,
and urn ..... do we lose a lot if we postpone the project? Um, I guess by a year, and
um, I don't understand funding, uh, for all of this stuff, but I was curious to know
whether neighborhood parks in .... in and around Iowa City, um, sort of do they
get, um ..... do they get a....the shorter end of the stick because, um, we are putting
in so much money in the ped mall, so uh, I may be wrong about the second part,
but I was curious to know about it.
Throgmorton: Good questions, Puja. Thank you. Geoff, you wanna answer .... or Scott maybe,
answer the question about tryin' to ... I mean (several talking)
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Fruin: RAGBRAI? Yeah. Um, Scott could talk about the scheduling and maybe the
implications of, um, pushing the project another year, cause that's a .... you know,
if you waited till after RAGBRAI, you're essentially delaying it a year. Um .... I
would say, you know, we had a lot of talk about the timing of RAGBRAI and...
or .... or applying to be a host city and .... and it would certainly be nice if the entire
pedestrian mall was open, but it's also nice to bring 12,000 riders and all their
support, uh.... uh, persons that come with them to the downtown area to support
those businesses that are struggling, uh, because of the construction. So, um, we
would .... we would look to .... to really try to incorporate RAGBRAI, um, into the
downtown area to support those businesses that might .... might be experiencing a
little bit of downturn because of the instruc.... construction. So, um, somebody
mentioned it earlier. I don't know if we, you know, if we wanted to host
RAGBRAI and we waited till all our projects were done, we'd never (several
talking) we'd never host. That's probably.... apparently been our strategy for the
last 42 years (laughter) because we .... we haven't hosted. It's just, there's a lot
going on, whether it's Dubuque Street or, uh, downtown projects, um, you know,
you look at your .... your CIP. You just finished Washington Street. You have a
two-year pedestrian mall project, and then towards the end of the five year you
have the reconstruction of Dubuque Street. So, there's really no window within
that five-year period downtown where we could have hosted RAGBRAI, except
for this past year when the routes weren't aligned correctly. Um, Scott, you
wanna talk about what the .... the delay until July would mean.
Sovers: Sure, so .... we're, just with the .... with the schedule that we've got right now, um,
starting in April, late April, um, the contractor, you know, based upon the
schedule that the consultant has provided us, wouldn't finish up until October, at
the end of October. So we're .... we're pushin' that .... that window, um, even if we
pushed it back a month, I don't know that we'd have enough time to get the entire
phase one, um, completed as a part of the 2018 construction season. I mean I
guess you could make the case that if you ... if you push it back, you could make,
you know, part ... make phase one smaller and include it in phase two, but then
that .... then you wouldn't have enough time in 2019 to get that phase done
between May and ... and October, at the end of October. So .... we went and .... and
thought about this several different ways and looked at different dates and .... and
timelines and... and what the lead time on materials, um, we just feel like that, you
know, pushing it back isn't gonna give us enough time to .... to get the project
done.
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Botchway: To that extent, are there gonna be different elements open or is that entire, um,
I've been thinking in the sense of RAGBRAI in particular because I appreciate
(mumbled)
Sovers: Sure!
Botchway: ......that's why I asked a question about the timeline and whether or not, you said
April I think.
Sovers: Yep!
Botchway: You know, is that canopy stage going to be ready to go for RAGBRAI or is that
kind of a.....
Sovers: Yeah, we're tryin ...... we're tryin' to push actually the .... the area around the, um,
intersection of.....of, um, Dubuque and .... and College. We're tryin' to .... we've
got that split out as a separate part of the phasing. So, you know, phase one is the
entire Dubuque Street corridor and the intersection of College and .... and, uh, or
I'm song, College and .... and Dubuque, but we split this area out as a separate,
um, phase within phase one, with the hope that we can, you know, get that piece
done before RAGBRAI comes to town.
Botchway: Thanks!
Throgmorton: Yeah, I think I'd elaborate just a little bit.
Sovers: Sure!
Throgmorton: For Puja, just to try to respond a little more directly to .... to Puja's question, but
that north -south corridor, that's going to be worked on first, so the east -west parts
are gonna be open, fully open, uh, plus the north -south corridor, as Nancy Bird
just said, will always .... all the businesses in that north -south corridor....
Sovers: Right.
Throgmorton: ... will be accessible the whole time during the construction.
Sovers: That's correct. We'll have, up against the buildings, when the interior part of the
....the ped mall is under construction, up against the buildings we'll have a
minimum 8 -foot sidewalk on the west side, for phase one, and then on the east
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side we .... we've gotta, um, reserve a fire lane route for fire trucks, so that's a
little bit wider. I think we're at 11 or 12 -feet on that east side. So, yeah.
Whenever we're doin' the construction on the interior part, we'll have the
pedestrian traffic up against the buildings, and then when we go to the, um,
construction up against the buildings, then the pedestrian traffic'll be up in .... in
the interior part of the .... the ped mall. Very similar to what we did on
Washington Street.
Throgmorton: Yeah, great. And one other thing, Puja, with regard to your larlger question about
other parks throughout the city, I think it's a totally reasonable question and it's
one we kinda ask all .... all the time about whether we're being fair in terms of
where to allocate money for capital improvements. But what I can tell ya is we
just, you know, a few months ago, adopted a .... a new master, uh, parks plan that
calls for investments in all .... all the parks basically, or almost all of `em,
throughout the city. Just tonight we're voting on, um, bids and specifications and
so on for Happy Hollow Park, and there's also a .... approving issuance of, uh,
construction to Cardigan Park, uh, tonight, which is a new park on the east side,
or the far east side of town, and I don't know, at last meeting or the one before it
we did something similar with regard to Frauenholtz-Miller Park, which is a new
park, again, on the east side of town, and this is happening all .... all the time.
We're putting money into these various parks around the city. So .... yes, I think
it's still a completely reasonable question, but we are .... doing these kinds of
things. Would anybody else like to address us on this topic? Miss Kubby, good
evening.
Kubby: Got here just in time!
Taylor: Yes you did!
Kubby: Good evening, my name is Karen Kubby. I co-own Beadology Iowa at 220 E.
Washington Street, and so we kind of lived through this construction, uh, last year
and we did survive it, and a lot of it was because of the good collaboration
between the City and the Downtown District, and the individual businesses. So I
know that the hearing is really about the bids, but that $25,000 to do those place
(mumbled) activities was really critical, and those weekly meetings, um, that
Scott kind of organized and people came. We got to ask questions, talk about our
concerns, and when we talk about April through October as a timeframe, as with
the first block of Washington Street .... that was done, there are unforeseen things
underneath what we view as the streetscape. All that underground stuff, there....
things can happen and so that portion took longer .... than expected, which meant
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the second part of Washington went later than expected and went through, uh,
Thanksgiving. So that kind of interrupted holiday time sales for us, but um, it's
important to start on this April date, so that if unforeseen things are found
underneath, and they need more time to work on them, we're not going into that
winter, deeper winter season. So I would encourage you to keep to that April
timeframe, and I really .... I think the Downtown District with the.... downtown
block party last summer really showed that they know how to organize the
logistics for safety, to work with the City, to have a really big party downtown,
and if we just need another .... a different block, um, I .... I think that we can easily
accommodate RAGBRAI during this construction, and as Geoff was saying, I
think it's an advantage actually because it may help those businesses that are
going to be under a little bit of extra distress, not be so down. And I think that's
one way the City can help them out as well. Thanks.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Karen. Anyone else? All right, seeing no one else, I'm gonna close
the public hearing. (bangs gavel)
b) Consider a Resolution
Botchway: Move resolution.
Mims: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Mims. Discussion?
Mims: Well I'm gonna support this. It's, um, as we all know it's a lot of money, but
when we talk about infrastructure, um, you know, some new water lines, and....
and all various stuff, and certainly safety is an issue down there with the .... with
the condition of the bricks and the frost heave and .... and they can tend to be
slippery, etc. This is, as people have said many times, this is kind of the front
room of our community, um, and I think it's really important that we invest in the
ped mall, and if you hear.... there's not very many ped malls, um, that are
successful across the country anymore, and it .... it's kind of ironic that this is one
of them, and another one is in Burlington, Vermont, which is like 12 miles from
where I grew up, and .... and both of them I think do a lot of similar things.
They've got a lot of unique, uh, locally -owned businesses, um, have a lot of
opportunities for cafes on the street, lot of opportunity for music and art and
different kinds of events, um, placemaking going on, and they are really, um,
they're really, uh, attractive to both the people who live in the area and people
who visit, and that is, uh, really essential for the economics of our businesses
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downtown and just to attract people to come here in the first place. So, um, I'm
highly supportive and, um, hopefully we get back some good bids!
Botchway: I'm supportive of this as well. I think it's gonna be, um, an amazing project. You
know I think about Washington Street and, um, you know, others. I think there's
some things that we've, uh, and maybe even the businesses as Nancy had talked
about, and as Karen talked about as well, have .... have learned from as far as how
we can work together as a city maybe in some ... some new ways and I'm just
excited. You know, I think that, you know, I think Susan already highlighted the
businesses. You know, I honestly think that the, you know, the ... the culture of,
um, you know the protests and the marches that occur on the ped mall are
important to highlight as well and want to make sure, you know, there's.... there's
a safe avenue to do these things. Um, I don't necessarily know, when are we
talking about the different structures, right now? Whether or not we support the
different .... (several talking) um, but uh.... but in general I think that, you know,
I'm supportive of that. I'm also supportive of how we've outlined the different
alternatives as well. I think it's providing a level of flexibility, um, within this
particular loca.... um, location that I think is going to be interesting.
Thomas: I'm .... I'm supportive of the project and .... and, those of you who've been
following this, at least as far back as our work session in mid-January, I .... I did
express some concerns about the cost esc.... escalation for the project. Uh, last
year the....the, uh, the CIP, the capital improvement program, had 6.2 allocated
for the ped mall and this year it's 7.8 million. So it went up $1.6 million, and uh,
you know as .... as Puja noted, the, um, the .... in my view there are opportunity
costs with that expenditure, and some of the elements in this plan, um, the
uplighting, some of the various enhancements — the kiosks, uh, the story walls and
so forth — in my view were enhancements that were clearly supported by the
project, uh, you know, the community, um, advocates for the project. Uh, but
they added cost to the project which in .... as a Member of Council I felt given the
extraordinary demands that we have on our .... our CIP and the .... and the funding
that we have to ..... pursue affordable housing and the whole range of things —
parks, uh, street repair, you know, could go on and on, that uh, I was .... I'm still
concerned about the fact that ..... the cost of the project has escalated 26% in the
last year. So .... my response to that, uh, at this point we're talking about an
engineering estimate. We do not know what the actual cost will be. Uh, but....
we developed, and it comes later in our agenda, a strategy .... or I suggested a
strategy, uh, to the neighborhood when we had a meeting on Happy Hollow, uh,
which had a .... on a much smaller scale, a similar issue of a project coming in
higher than we wanted the .... the cost to be. And the same opportunity costs, uh,
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were affecting the Parks Department's ability to implement, uh, other projects
throughout the community. So what I suggested to the .... to the neighborhood
was that the neighborhood itself, uh, take upon itself the .... the goal of raising
funds within the neighborhood, to help offset the cost of the project. And .... so,
co... coincidentally we have on the same agenda a project which has in a way on
a much larger scale the similar issues. Uh, so what I would .... I would put forth
would be, uh, to ask the community, you know those who have supported this
project in all its forms and elements, uh, to consider.... contributing financially to
the project, uh, to help offset, uh, the project costs. Uh, it is a symbolic place, the
ped mall, in terms of Iowa City. It is truly one of the .... the centers of our
community. Uh, I would hope, since it is such a center, that people would
acknowledge the fact that, yes, this .... this element, this project does have
elements that, um .... are truly betterments beyond, you know, the kind of basic
infrastructure that I think we all agree needs to be done — the utilities, the
pavement, um, the performance stage, uh, you know, all of those things are
obviously foundational to this project, um, but I would want to ask the community
if they would be interested in helping, uh, bear the cost of this project, given that
the nature of it includes elements which, um, frankly I do think given our need are
something that are secondary or a lower priority. So as I said, I approve the
project but I'm hopeful that, um, we can find some resources within the .... within
the community to help pay for it.
Throgmorton: Rockne? Pauline?
Cole: This is gonna be an absolutely stunning project and I'm very proud to support it,
but ultimately although it's going to be a very beautiful project, part of what's
driving it is just the baseline guts of the ped mall. The electrical, the water line,
the utilities, telecommunications, um, I don't know how many years ago we had
that water main break on Washington. Was that two or three years ago? I .... I'm
not saying that that's gonna happen on the ped mall if we don't do that, but I think
what that really did was is illustrate the cost of inaction, uh, and there's really
costs of doing nothing, as well, and so I think for this, it is a huge commitment. I
hear your concerns, Puja, about, you know, what we're doin' in other parts of the
community, but I am proud to say if you look at our total budget, what we've
done in Wetherby Park, um, we're not gonna indicate yet what .... what we're
going to do on Happy Hollow, but I'm really confident that we ware getting really
good infrastructure throughout the community, and I know that that's a concern
that we all share, and, you know, Susan mentioned, this is the actual heart of the
community. We constantly think about whether we, um, you know, are putting
too many resources into the ped mall, but I really think that this is the central
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heartbeat of the community, and we have to make that in ... that infrastructure
really reflect sort of a world-class city, which we aspire to be. So I will support
this. We'll get the beautiful infrastructure as well as, uh, an innovative place for
everyone to enjoy.
Salih: I really like, you know, I love the ped mall and of course I would like to see
improvement. Even though (unable to understand) cost a lot money but looking
to the breakdowns, I find out like most of the big dollars go to the like
demolishing and pavement and infrastructure, which is like something we must do
it. Um .... I looking forward to it and I guess I like it and I will support it here.
Taylor: I'm also supportive of the project itself. I was concerned about the cost and, uh,
obviously the infrastructure is gravely needed. Uh, the pavement, if you've
walked there recently, the ... the bricks are uneven and .... and it's not safe, uh, to be
walking there, and the water mains, the storm sewers, the electrical — that all
needs to be done, but I did have concerns, and I guess when the bids come out we
can look at the more individual items, such as, um, the uplighting. I just really
don't see the need. It seems to me it'll be kind of a lavish, uh, item that maybe we
don't need, but uh, perhaps I could be convinced that that would be a nice thing to
have, uh, but um, all in all, I'm .... I'm supportive of ..of the project.
Throgmorton: Uh, I likewise am gonna support the project for all the reasons that have been
articulated. And I want to note that the .... the estimated cost, uh, will be funded
by general obligation bonds, so property taxpayers. All right, so .... no further
discussion?
Mims: Can I make just .... I'd like to make two really quick comments. In .... in terms of
the ped mall, I think one thing that people really have to remember with this, and
with all of our downtown, is how important the University of Iowa is to what we
are as a city. And when they bring in faculty, staff, or students and their parents
come to this community to think about attending the University. They don't go
out and visit Townerest or .... Mormon Trek in general, and those different parts of
the community. What they're looking at, and what their .... what their impression
of Iowa City is, is downtown Iowa City. And the ped mall is a huge part of that,
and so when we think about how important the University and the students
and ... and faculty and staff are to what we are as a city and the economics of our
city, um, to me it goes without saying that this .... this is an investment, a
reinvestment, that we absolutely need to make. We need to keep that face of our
community, um, as welcoming and vibrant and safe as we possibly can. And the
second quick comment, as I understand, appreciate John's concerns about, um,
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the increased costs, and .... cause you guys hear me talk about money all the time
and trying to save money. One thing I think we .... I think it's important for public
to recognize and for us to remember is lots of times when the original engineering
estimates are put on these projects, two, three, four, five years out, they haven't
done a lot of the detailed work and it's only maybe within the last six to 12
months, as they're really digging more into the design that they can get more
accurate costs and so lots of times that's what's reflected in those big increases,
not because the actual costs went up. It's just that now they have more actual
details that they're using to use for estimates. So ... it's not that they do a bad job.
They just haven't put all the details in until closer to the deadlines. So....
Taylor: I'd like, also like to comment to Puja and thank you for coming and expressing
your concerns, and you might touch bases with Juli or, uh, go in and review our,
the parks master plan that we've got, because one of the points when she was
presenting to us, she stressed that the .... looking at the plan, uh, they really did
consider the inclusiveness of each of those parks and .... and the quality of what
they were putting into each of them, whether it was the play equipment or, uh, the
restroom facilities or .... or the shelters. They .... they really did look at that and so
you might take a look at that.
Throgmorton: Any further discussion? Geoff (both talking)
Fruin: Just wanna make one point, a clarification on the reason for the, uh, increased cost
that was articulated earlier. Um, that was very intentional as we made our way
through the design process. This wasn't a .... a, something that kind of just snuck
up on us. Uh, we expanded the scope from what we originally had thought, um,
was needed and there was really two primary points driving that. One is the
College, uh, intersection with Clinton. Um, originally as this project was
envisioned in the master plan and even the conceptual design phase, we did not
think that we would be into the intersection making improvements there. Um, as
we got deeper into the analysis, we quickly realized that that intersection, um,
needs a lot of attention and it just made sense to bring that into the project now as
opposed to doing it two years down the road or three years down the road. And
the second piece was the, uh, amount of brick, uh, replacement that we were
doing. Originally it was going to be a, urn .... uh, a selective replacement of
bricks, and um, again, you know, after a few more years of winter and heaving,
we quickly came to the realization that if we're gonna do it, let's .... let's do it
right. Let's get all the bricks replaced, um, so that we don't have to continue
to .... to patch, uh, for the next several years in those areas that we didn't touch.
So those were two of the primary drivers in why the cost increased, um, from
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what was in previous master plans, CIPs, to where we're.... what's in front of you
now. I think it's .... in line, uh, pretty well when you compare, try to compare with
other major street re .... reconstructions that we've done. You look at the cost of
Davenport Street or the Washington Street project, um, and you look at, you
know, what those projects cost, I .... I think we're pretty close here. I don't see a
whole lot of bells and whistles on this, um, project, but um, we .... we (laughs) we
tried our best to keep it down, knowing that those budget pressures are real.
Throgmorton: Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 7-0.
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Item 9. Graduate Hotel Agreement - Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign and
City Clerk to attest an agreement with Graduate Iowa City Owner LLC
concerning the pedestrian mall improvement project
Mims: Move the resolution.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Uh, somebody should
explain (both talking)
Fruin: Yeah, this is, um .... uh, something that, uh, the City and the Sheraton Hotel did,
um, 20, I guess the 1990, uh, for 1999 pedestrian mall improvement project, but
the .... the Graduate Hotel, um .... uh, their property line extends into what most
people would consider the .... the ped mall. So the stage itself is actually on
Graduate Hotel property. Um, but it's treated like the ped mall. So this
agreement, um, gets into how we're handling the improvements on those areas, on
their property; allows us continued use of those properties, but requires us to, uh,
actually construct those improvements, not only on that stage frontage area but
also their, uh, outdoor service area as well. In exchange for that, we get the right
to .... to use the stage and make it available to the public, although it's on their
property.
Throgmorton: That came as a surprise to me when I was reading this material. I had no idea that
was partially owned. Okay. Uh, any discussion, folks? Hearing none, roll call
please. Motion carries 7-0.
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Item 10. Sidewalk Cafe Fees/Ped Mall - Resolution amending the sidewalk cafe policy
to waive the annual fee during the pedestrian mall improvement project for
cafes located in City Plaza
Botchway: So moved.
Taylor: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Taylor. Discussion?
Taylor: Think it's, uh, only fair that we do this since the precedent was set with the
Washington Street project.
Throgmorton: I agree. Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 7-
0.
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Item 11. Amendment to Title 2, City Ordinances - Ordinance amending Title 2
entitled "Human Rights," Chapter 1, entitled "Definitions" to remove
reference to "masculine" and "feminine" from the definition of gender
identity and make it inclusive of non -binary expression. (Second
Consideration)
Mims: I move that the rule requiring that ordinances must be considered and voted on for
passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally
passed be suspended, that the second consideration and vote be waived, and that
the ordinance be voted on for final passage at this time.
Botchway: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Botchway. Discussion? Hearing none, roll call
please. Motion carries 7-0.
Mims: Move the ordinance be finally adopted at this time.
Thomas: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Mims, seconded by Thomas. Discussion?
Taylor: I thought it was interesting that we got, uh, mailings from all across the country
(several talking) receiving national attention, so I think this is a pretty big deal!
So thank you, Eleanor, for looking into this.
Throgmorton: Further discussion? Hearing none, roll call please. Motion carries 7-0. Could I
have a motion to accept correspondence please?
Botchway: So moved.
Salih: Second.
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Salih. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion
carries.
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Item 12. Happy Hollow Park Restroom and Shelter Replacement 2018 - Resolution
awarding contract and authorizing the Mayor to sign and the City Clerk to
attest a contract for construction of the Happy Hollow Park Restroom and
Shelter Replacement Project 2018
Throgmorton: Could I have a motion (both talking) to approve please, I guess (laughter)
Botchway: (laughing) So moved!
Throgmorton: Moved by Botchway.....
Mims: Second!
Throgmorton: .... seconded by Mims. All right. Good evening, Juli!
Seydell-Johnson: Good evening, uh, Juli Seydell-Johnson, Parks and Rec Director. Uh, just want
to fill you in. After the last meeting you had asked for us to host a neighborhood
meeting regarding this project. I'll get to that in just a second. I also want to, um,
make sure we review how we got to the cost estimates that we're at on this project
cause there's been con ... some confusion about that this past week. Um, this
project started out with $150,000 budget. Um, that.... actually that budget pre-
dates me but we were pretty sure it was set based on the prices of some of the
similar res.... restroom facilities built at Fair Meadows, Court Hill, um, and
Kiwanis Park. So the .... it was based on that and some other park projects that
we've done. Early on in the project we realized that the 150,000 was .... likely not
enough, uh, due to the historic nature of this neighborhood. So we had said, okay,
probably 180,000 and that had been the estimate we worked with going into the
first round of bids last summer. Um, as you know, those bids came in
substantially higher than that. So we went back to the drawing board, um, did
some smaller design changes, tried to .... hoped that we had a different bidding
climate and we bid again this fall, um, but still raised the estimate figuring that
that 180 was a low estimate. So the estimate as we went into the last bid was 220,
um, as you know the final, or the low bid this time is, uh, 258. So still
substantially higher than even the .... third iteration of what the project budget was.
Um, you had asked that we meet with the neighborhood and talk about some other
options. Were they willing to have us move forward without the restroom, just
build the shelter and possibly just some other, um, amenities within the park. Um,
we had a really good turnout for the meeting last Tuesday at the Rec Center, about
12 families represented from the neighborhood. Um, resoundingly they want the
restroom, resoundingly they, um, understood the trade-offs for the project, but
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still felt the restroom and shelter were both important, um, and were willing to do
some fundraising; however, um, you know, we don't have an exact commitment
to that as you contemplate, um, going forward with the project tonight. So .... um,
one other item that I would mention they talked about was Parkside and I think
you want to talk about that a little bit tonight as well. So...
Throgmorton: Juli, what fraction of the total cost is caused by the restroom? Or.....
Seydell-Johnson: The restroom is about $100,000 and it remained kind of steady at that $100,000
range through both bid cycles when it's itemized within the bids. So the restroom
itself, um, was kind of ...was about what we predicted it would be. So....
Throgmorton: Other questions for Juli?
Mims: Juli, can you clarify for me in .... in our.....packet that came out on Thursday, it
showed the cost of construction at 258, and it said there'd be an updated staff
report and the updated one shows 269.
Seydell-Johnson: Okay, there are two alternates that we are also recommending. Um, in the..
in the bidding documents, there was an alternate 1 A and 1 B, which were two
different finishes that you can see the, um.....
Mims: Okay.
Seydell-Johnson: .... the finishes here on the bottom of the shelter. Um, we wanted to get a true
accurate cost on those. If we didn't do it with the project, because of the, um,
historic preservation requirements, our staff would have to do that later. We feel
like the price given in that alternate is a fair price and probably as much or less
than what we could do it with our own staff. The second one is a water line. Uh,
we talk about this being a historic park. Well, it's become more and more evident
the water line is quite historic underneath as well (laughter) and needs to be
included as an alternate.
Throgmorton: Other questions for Juli?
Mims: What are .... what do we have, how many of our other parks have .... I mean this is
gonna be a restroom with running water, correct?
Seydell-Johnson: Correct.
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Mims: How many of our other parks have full-fledged restrooms like this?
Seydell-Johnson: I don't know the exact number off the top of my head. Similar ones, um, to
this, with a separate restroom, would be Fair Meadows, Court Hill, um, Kiwanis,
and then you have the larger parks — Wetherby, um, Willow Creek, um, Hickory
Hill .... I forget some by doing it this way. There's (both talking) larger shelters
and then the athletic facilities typically have, um (both talking)
Mims: And then when do we .... when ..... is it .... is it totally weather dependent in terms
of when we shut those down in the fall, so we don't have freezing pipes?
Seydell-Johnson: Yeah, we don't want freezing pipes. It's usually not long after Labor Day that
we close `em, maybe a month or so later at the most, um, mainly because in order
to get through the entire system, someone's gotta be first, someone's gotta be last,
so....
Mims: I don't know (laughs) I'm sorry, I sit here and think about $100,000 for restrooms
that are .... closed probably six months of the year.
Seydell-Johnson: Give or take, yes.
Throgmorton: Isn't there a restroom in the.... the.... the park located next to U Heights? I've
forgotten the name of the park.
Seydell-Johnson: Tower Court.
Throgmorton: Tower Court.
Seydell-Johnson: No, I don't believe there's a restroom there. No. There's a splash pad there
but no restroom.
Mims: Do any of our parks have .... like porta-potties within like an enclosed (both
talking)
Seydell-Johnson: Um, Scott Park has that, um, the south side of Terry Trueblood Park, Water
Works Prairie Park, couple others have ..... and we have built enclosures around
so....
Mims: So you're not just seeing a porta-potty.
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Seydell-Johnson: Correct.
Throgmorton: So one of the things that makes this unique is that there has been a restroom there
for a very long time.
Seydell-Johnson: Correct.
Thomas: The .... the other thing, Jim and Susan, that I looked at, um.....after our last
meeting was what's the relationship between restrooms and ball fields? And
typically where you have a ball field you have a restroom. Um, that's... that's true
throughout the whole system, uh, not only at the larger, you know, aggregated
ball fields, but also at Creekside, which is getting a renovation this year I think.
Seydell-Johnson: Correct.
Thomas: It...it....it has a restroom, shelter, and ball field as well. So that ... that's a
consistent policy throughout the system.
Fruin: I would .... John and I have exchanged some .... some emails on this. I .... I think,
personally our recommendation and the .... the Council report's from me is that we
proceed tonight. Um, if we were building this park from scratch, I don't think I
would recommend including a restroom in there. Um, yes it has a ball field. Uh,
it has a single ball field. I don't think it's, uh, that the use is equivalent to that of
a ... uh, some of the other, uh.... uh, athletic fields that we have. Lot of the other
restrooms that are placed in smaller parks are also along, uh, trails that .... that
serve a much greater neighborhood, um, so .... I .... I do think it would be an
opportunity to .... to scale back again, if we were starting from .... from scratch, but
given that it's there, um, that there has been programming built around this, uh,
that is in the park, uh, Taproot for example uses Happy Hollow as a .... a.....a
gathering spot for their program. So there has been programming built around it,
but um, I do think that this would be a .... a little bit unique, and certainly going
forward, you know, with a ballpark .... or oops sorry with a park, with one ball
field, um, and no trail through it of this size I would not think that we'd be
building restrooms there and I wouldn't want that to, um, to .... to be a stated
policy going forward cause I don't know that we would, financially I'm not sure
that's the, uh, route that we'd want to establish.
Mims: In the locations where we have the porta-potties, are those accessible 24/7, 365
days a year? Do we lock those up at all or.....
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Seydell-Johnson: They're out .... they're out year round and usable year round.
Mims: And are we starting, it seems like there was something in our packets, putting like
automatic locks on these. Are they like locked at night from a.....
Seydell-Johnson: Um, that's our hope with all of our regular restrooms, like the one in .... that we
would put in this park, is that.... currently when they're open, uh, during the
season, we have staff that has to go around and physically lock and unlock each
day. So that is in the operating budget for FYI to, uh, get these all to auto locks
so that they will at least lock up at night without (both talking)
Mims: And that's a vandalism issue I assume.
Seydell-Johnson: Um, to lock `em at night?
Mims: Yeah.
Seydell-Johnson: Yes.
Throgmorton: Any other questions for Juli? Thanks, Juli. I wonder if anybody else would like
to address this topic? Hi, Thomas.
Agran: Hi, how are you?
Throgmorton: You're a patient guy!
Agran: I know, I should have been watching from home, right? (laughter) Okay,
interesting conversations. Um, I, urn .... my name's Thomas Agran and uh, I know
most all of you, I think, but I'm a resident of the Northside neighborhood. I'm the
Northside neighborhood representative on the Northside Neighborhood
Association, and I also am, sit on the Historic Preservation Commission, as you
know, as a representative for the Northside. So, those are all kinda my tie-ins
there. Um.....uh, there were sort of some positive seeds, um, or crumbs (laughs)
tossed out early tonight, although I think the conversation happening is .... is
interesting and, um.....(mumbled) just hearing, again, what the, urn ... I have
unprepared comments and prepared comments. These are my unprepared
comments (laughs) first I guess. Hearing, uh, again that that bathroom is going to
cost $100,000, um, I .... I do have .... you know, I do, um, at the risk of
undercutting what I'm going to say after this, uh, it does sort of concern me, I
mean, uh, since this information is all public record anyway and everybody
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snoops on the County Assessor's website anyway, I bought a house in the
Northside for $174,000. The house, the land, two bathrooms, two bedrooms,
whatever, 1,200 square feet, I don't know what it is. Um, I had a lot of concrete
actually because it used to be a rental property, which there's a lot of concrete as
part of this project too. Um, my parents just built an addition on their house. You
can look up the permits for that too, I think it's like a $35,000 project. That
includes a year-round bathroom, it's a living room, includes a heat source, all
inspected people that are doing it. Have a living wage. So, I do look at that
number and I find it alarming and really in the scope of all the City projects, you
know, I just don't understand it and I don't think anybody understands it when
they see these numbers. Uh, what .... kind of expectations the contractors have in
working with the City, what they can get and what they can't, I don't know. It's a
mystery to me. Um, all of that said, I think people in the neighborhood have been
waiting a very long time for this project. The, what the .... the facility that's there
is .... is a detriment to the park. It's not an asset to the park. Um, and so anyway
I'll now proceed with my prepared comments (laughs) whatever that's worth.
Um, I .... I did want to say that the, how we got here, for whatever qualms I might
have about the .... the price and how this bidding process works. Uh, it did follow
the established process, and we have plans that the neighborhood feels really good
about. Uh, the park plans meet the neighborhood's needs and they were approved
unanimously by the Preservation Commission, all those steps — it went out for bid
twice, urn ..... as you read in your staff report, and Juli talked about today, the, um
.....and John alluded to as well, stealing a little bit of my thunder with this thing,
um, there was a neighborhood meeting and there was a lot of enthusiasm for the
project. You know I think that the park is ready for a rejuvenation and we're
excited to see the vitality and the sort of growth and gathering of the community
and Happy Hollow as we saw it happen in North Market Square Park. Um, it's
the reason why we chose to live in that neighborhood, because we saw that park
getting reinvested in. There are certain things that a neighborhood can rally
around to make it a better place and we, you know, we can have a community
planting day, we can come and we can plant trees together, we can lay down logs
to prevent the dad's parking their pick-up trucks on the outfields, um, or
whatever, which is a problem. Uh, and we can write PIN grants to get plants and
all of that stuff, uh, we can also come together to make a new sign, which when
you're looking at the line items of this budget, I recommend you just axe that, uh,
and let the sign be up to the neighborhood to figure that out. Um, what we can't
do in a weekend necessarily, although I do wonder maybe for the price of
$100,000 I would .... I would take this bid, um, I don't believe that we can as a
community, as a neighborhood, rally to make a new bathroom and a shelter and a
drinking fountain. Um, that's not something that happens in a weekend. So, um,
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I understand that the money doesn't come out of thin air and that this pulls
projects, or pulls money out of other projects for the Parks Department, um, but I
do believe, as John alluded to, that many of us in the neighborhood are prepared
to, uh, do what we can to raise money to try and bridge that gap, um, you know,
in all of the years that I've lived in the Northside, I've never had anyone come
and knock on my door and ask for money for a project and whether it was me
asking or me being asked, this is a project that I can get behind and I'm prepared
to take that on, because I see value in this, uh, project. So, you know, the
neighborhood believes in the project and we're willing to work to make the
improvements a reality, and, um, while for future projects you might question
why does it cost $100,000 to have this bathroom, uh, your .... that's not even year
round or whatever, uh, you know, I hope that our expression of faith as a
neighborhood in the project inspires you as a Council to do the same with this
project, um, and to vote to make.....these really sound and well supported
investments in the park regardless of the drama of the cost. So, thank you very
much.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Thomas. Anyone else? Council discussion?
Taylor: I think, um, the cost of the .... the restroom, we're kind of forgetting that it's not an
ordinary restroom, as I think Juli had pointed out to us at one of the meetings, uh,
they tried to keep in scope of the historical nature, uh, of the neighborhood, and so
as you can see from the photo, it doesn't look like, uh, say a restroom at the
Kiwanis Park or .... or, um, any of the other.... Willow Creek or any of those other
parks, City Park even. It's a beautiful, uh.... uh, building and I .... I find it ironic
that we were discussing the ped mall and people didn't seem to blink at a six to
seven to eight million dollar figure, and now we're haggling over $100,000 for a
restroom, which from the healthcare standpoint, as I've pointed out, I ... I think is
important. I also think it .... it, uh, having this beautiful building, it's .... that's a
very busy street that.....that goes by there. Um, it's.....it's visible. Uh, people
see this when they drive by and I think this'll be a much nicer thing for them to
see than what's there currently. Uh.....so just from the, uh, historic nature of it,
I .... I approve of it, and I was happy to see that staff finally said that they would
go with the bid.
Botchway: So .... you know, I ... I'll probably going to be in the minority here. I .... I'm not
supportive of, um, the restroom, uh, for a couple of different reasons. You know,
I .... I appreciate your comment in relation to the ped mall. I do see it a little bit
differently in the sense that the ped mall is, um, something that is relatively large
in scope and is for, I mean, basically our entire Iowa City. I'm not saying Happy
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Hollow isn't, uh, a park that people could use, but, you know, I had to just double
check on the satellite cause I drive by this every single day and I frankly, you
know, miss it. I don't even think about it. I'm not saying no respect to .... no
disrespect to the community. Obviously I have my own community park that's
kind of, you know (mumbled) and nobody can see and I love it, but I also.... made
me think about my own community in a sense like well, why not have a restroom
there and I think Geoff articulated that it's not necessarily feasible from that
standpoint to think about having restrooms in all our parks. I.. A would, I guess I
come to a singular point. Um, if this was something separately that we could
consider and it came out of a different budget line item, I think I would feel
differently about it. For the fact that it's coming out of a budget line item, that
will be towards other projects in other parks in other areas, I can't....I can't ... I
can't in my right mind say that's okay. Um, you know, especially as we talk
about this park master plan and we talk about how do we want to ensure an
equitability across all the different parks. It's almost like we're stating that but
then shooting ourselves in the foot. So, um, again like I said, I know that, um,
I'm .... I'm probably in the minority in this sense, but uh, I'm not going to be
supportive of, um, this particular bid.
Mims: I'm not either, Kingsley. Nope, go ahead, Mazahir! I'm sorry!
Salih: (both talking) I'm sorry. You know I just like thinking about $100,000 for just
bathroom. Forme this is really a lot of money. Uh, because Iike....I just would
like to know like the way that we spend our money. A bathroom for $100 and
I'm asking to increase affordable housing fund, they increase it 100. Like a price
of a bathroom in the park. I think, you know, this is really .... we have to think
about our (unable to understand) using money, even though I know this from
the .... this one coming from the, you know, the miscellaneous of the park fund,
but it still, this is, you know, I support park and I support this .... this is gonna be
good for a lot of people, who live around the area, but really spending 100,000 for
just a bathroom is kind of ridiculous. And not thinking about what our priority is.
(unable to understand) lot of money to parks. Parks important, but still, you
know, we have to think about the ... what the priority for this city. Uh, I really am
not supporting this project for the bathroom, like 100 for bathroom, but .... the rest
of it is fine with me.
Mims: I would agree. Um, particularly I guess it concerns me, and that's why I asked the
questions. When we do these bathrooms, and I totally understand and support
Parks and Rec's, uh, policies in terms of locking the bathrooms because of
vandalism, I mean obviously that's come from experience. You have to do it.
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But also the fact when you have the water line in there, we've got that thing
turned off for almost six months of the year. So we're putting $100,000 into a
facility that can't be used for half the year, or close to half the year, whereas
putting in the porta-potties in a nice enclosed area like they've done in some of
the other parks, those are available all year long. So somebody can be in the park,
if we happen to have a nice day in March or a nice day in October or November,
and they still have a place to go to the bathroom, because those are available. So I
think for the available versus cost, um, and .... and I agree with Geoff, I mean this
is .... there's one ballpark here, one ball field here. This isn't like the other ones
where we've got multiple fields. So .... yeah, I can't support it. It's .... I've said
this many times, and I .... and again I don't mean this as critical of our staff in any
way, but Thomas, you said the same thing that I've said many times — how in the
world can a .... a shelter that has minimal electricity, no sheetrock, no insulation
(laughs) no utilities cost $160,000 which is what it is if the restroom's 100,000.
And it just blows my mind that that one thing, our bids keep coming back the
same, and again I mean that of no criticism of our staff, but it's just crazy how
much those are costing us. Urn .... and, so I can deal with that, but I can't go with
the $269,000 for the whole shebang. So I'll be voting against it.
Frain: If I could just real quick on that restroom, cause that's an important point that
everybody seems to be brea... bringing up, but I might ask Brian to .... to help with
this. HBK's our .... our consultant on this, uh, project. (both talking)
Botchway: I was wondering why he was still here! (laughter) It's like, man, he's a marathon
(several talking and laughing)
Frain: You know, when you're building a restroom to commercial standards and public
standards, they are a lot, uh, steeper than .... than residential standards, and Brian,
I'm puttin' ya on the spot here, but could you talk to that, so we know. You
know, as I look at the bids, uh, that you have in your Council report here, the
engineer's estimate on the restroom was 97,000, which is right where Calacci
came in. They're the low bid. But the others were 117, 120, 137,192 in terms of
where the other companies bid those restrooms. It's consistent. We'll get the
same numbers on Creekside. You know, there's a little bit of extra, um .... uh,
features here because of the historic nature of the park, but that's what it costs,
and .... and I've had this conversation, um, a number of times with .... with
Councils in the past and that's just what it costs to build restrooms to a public
standard in a park like this.
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Boelk: Brian Boelk, HBK. Thank you, Geoff. Uh, yeah and I guess what I'll say is too,
we've been involved in these in a number of different parks and/or seen them
through bid process and generally you're seeing 80 to 90,000 on a restroom in the
parks, whether it be Kiwanis, Court .... Court Hill, and I'm sure Juli could correct
me if I'm wrong there, but from everything I've seen on bids, you're generally in
that 80 to 90 range. We bumped up that estimate, knowing again the historic
nature, and adding that different, uh, architecture .... architectural component and
aesthetics to it, as you see in these pictures, to meet the desires and needs of the
community and where this takes place. So, we knew there would be some addit
....additional upcharge because of that, and we saw that with the bids, and .... and
Geoff's right, it was consistent, it was consistent on both bids, um, that it was at
that range, and it....it is just a common .... I mean it's common, and we've done
`em in other communities beyond Iowa City, uh, small towns, even, uh, similarly
last year in West Branch and had the same thing. We were 85,000 for a .... for a
restroom there at the park. So, I .... I think two things to note is obviously that
restroom has existed for a long time and is utilized, as you said, not only by those
attending the park but other large, uh, full-scale groups, and we've heard that in
the public meetings and in the neighborhood gatherings, um, but in addition it's
an expectation that's already been there. This is just providing it on anew basis
as a separate, uh, structure. Be happy to answer any other questions while I'm up
here, if there are any.
Cole: So I am (both talking)
Throgmorton: Thanks, Brian. Thank (both talking) thank you.
Cole: I was just gonna say, I am going to support the project. You know, I know that all
these choices are really tough choices and I know on the part of Councilors that
are saying no, I totally get it. Um, we're called ... it's much easier to say yes to
something than say no. Um, but in this particular project, in this particular park, I
view this as a destination park. Um, it is in a historic neighborhood. Um, and
with historic neighborhoods, sometimes it is more expensive, whether it's in the
renovation, whether it's in the construction, whether it's in the design standards,
um, it is not .... not only services the .... the neighboring, uh, residential component,
but it also serves lot of University students, lot of non -profits. Um, I think it's
more than just a typical neighborhood park, and I think it really has the potential
even more so to be a magnet, to be a destination, so not only this particular
neighborhood, but people from throughout the community can come and enjoy
this particular park. Um, in terms of the bathroom, I wish it weren't so expensive,
but .... I have reason to believe that the commercial construction standards, you
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know, are more robust, are more expensive to construct. Um, so for that reason I
am gonna be supportive of this. I think it's going to be a great and exciting
project, and I'd love to see it move forward.
Thomas: I'll (clears throat) I'll just add a few more words, and I did kind of mention during
the ped mall, you know, the approach that I felt was appropriate in terms of
financing the project. Um, but programmatically, another thing that wasn't
mentioned is Taproot is based out of this park. So a number of things are
connected to this park that extend beyond the neighborhood. Uh, but in terms of
the fundraising, what I am personally committed to is raising $15,000 to help
cover the cost of this project. Not to mention all of the other future phases.
This ... this is going to be done in multiple phases. The ADA is 2019. The target
for the master planning is 2023. So unlike Creekside, this is going to be done
over an extended period of time, um, and in the interim, as Thomas mentioned,
there .... the community is very interested in, through sweat equity and any other
funding sources, making minor, uh, improvements to the park over that period.
I'm too old to wait to 2023 (laughs) for the master plan, um, should it come
(laughter) Urn .... so this is....and I .... I view that financial contribution as
important actually, in terms of, uh, the effort that will go in ... into that fundraising,
um, in showing that kind of. ... you know, sweat equity and .... you know, financial
equity that the .... the neighborhood is intending to put into the project, um ...... so,
you know, I .... and aside from that, everything was done in good faith in this
process. You know, everything. Uh, so .... I.....I hear the thing on the cost, but as
Brian said, the cost is what it is. You know, there is some upgrade, but it's not....
you know, we're not talking about it should be 50. No, when we build restrooms
in parks, this is roughly what they cost. So of course I'll be supporting the
project, but um ...... I certainly hope it moves forward.
Throgmorton: Well this is a difficult question for me and obviously I'm the deciding vote on
this. So.....at least if I count correctly, three and three. So I'm thinking about
what Rockne said with regard to this being a destination park. I think that's true.
Uh, partly because of the historic character of the neighborhood, uh, partly
because it used to be a ..... brickyard and some of the buildings nearby, uh, were
occupied by the owners of the brickyard and, uh, all .... so, historic character of the
neighborhood and, uh, why that makes it important for these structures to fit into
the historic character. Community expectation is a big deal. If there had not
already been a restroom there, I think like Geoff, I'd say, well, too bad, no
restroom. Uh, but it's been there for a long time and.... and.... it's hard to break
away from what people have for .... maybe decades, I don't know exactly how
long, uh, what they've already grown used to. John makes a very generous offer,
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um, perhaps others in the community, um, neighborhood especially, will eagerly
join in that endeavor and help generate funds externally. We can't count on them,
but they could help. But I'm also thinking about opportunity costs, which is sort
of a technical economic term that basically means you got a hundred thousand
dollars that you're proposing to spend on this restroom, but how else could you
spend it? Could you get something better for that $100,000? So, Geoff (clears
throat) how else would the $100,000 be spent?
Fruin: Yeah, Juli can answer that. The master plan talks about the use of the
miscellaneous park fund, which is a line item in your CIP that we fund at
$100,000 per year and we roll those funds over from year to year.
Seydell-Johnson: Yeah, and I want to be clear that even from the start of this project we knew
there would be a .... at least a small amount from that fund going towards this, uh,
very early in the design, but not the $117,000 we think now will come out of that
fund. Um, it's used for priorities throughout the rest of the park system. So
specifically things that the master plan called out are accessible picnic tables,
helping with some of the accessibility paths that we're working on, um, new park
furniture throughout, so new trash cans, recycling bins, um, benches where
needed, um, park signage, and then court, um, sport courts for the basketball court
(mumbled) refinishes throughout the system, and then smaller, um, shelter
renovations. So in other words if a shelter needed a new roof before it came up in
the overall master plan, for a full replacement, park annual improvement funds
would be used for that. Um, it's also the fund we go to, uh, when a .... a
community group comes to us with a great idea or a neighborhood and they need
some matching funds to finish out something within the park, uh, we have used it
for that in the past too.
Throgmorton: Thank you (several talking)
Salih: And how much you have in the miscellaneous?
Seydell-Johnson: I believe it's about 239,000 because we have been holding it back, waiting for
this project to .... to, um, bid out so we knew how much was going to Happy
Hollow, so....
Salih: And have .... have we budgeted already for the, I don't remember, the west side?
We .... we were thinking to have another park at the west side. We already have
money for that?
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Seydell-Johnson: Um, that's future years, about three or four years out in the CIP, and there's a
number of projects, um, already budgeted out for the next, uh, through the next
five years. So....
Throgmorton: So the answer's yes (both talking)
Seydell-Johnson: Yes.
Fruin: And I will say we have used the .... the park improvement fund for, to cover
overages on bids before. That's.... that's part of a nice luxury of having it is, uh, I
think the last one I recall were maybe the pickle ball courts that .... that came in a
little bit higher, but.....
Seydell-Johnson: Um, yeah .... well, actually Cardigan which you approved tonight will have
about 10,000 from that project come from the park annual improvement fund as
well.
Fruin: It's .... it's just the .... the magnitude of this one that gave us pause. Ultimately we
think because the fund balance is where it's at, 230, that we can take this. It still
gives us 115, whatever, to work with. Um, and then come July l' there's another
100 in the budget, so, yes it....it.....it takes away our ability to do some of the
improvements that ... that Ju .... the types of improvements that Juli mentioned, but
we still have ample funds to make a lot of those improvements in the parks.
Botchway: Hey, Juli, another quick question. Just within, in relation to the .... the bid
tabulations, is there a reason why some of these things just fluctuate so
dramatically? I mean looking at mobilization, um .... from Tricon compared to, is
it Calacci? (several responding) Calacci, I mean it's like .... I mean it's a $15,000
swing, I mean there's a couple of `em that 6 to.....6,000 to 5,000 swing, and then
I think, you know, $192,000 for the restroom, compared to (both talking)
Seydell-Johnson: So it depends on .... on some of the sub -contractors each one has used and
where they got their pricing from for different things.
Botchway: Okay.
Seydell-Johnson: Um, as you can tell in this case, the construction of the actual, um, restroom
and shelter, other than the really..... there's one really outlier there. It's pretty
consistent across the board, but the differences are the mobilization, the
demolition, um, some of the other items that have a little more, um, they aren't as
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fixed of cost. So indeed that's what contractors make their.—their bets on is how
much .... how much they can charge for those things, I would say. Um, and that's
why you see such a variance. We had hoped that, um, bidding it the second time,
we would be in a better bidding climate. In other words, uh, contractors looking
more for work than they had been at the first time. Um, if you look around Iowa
City and see the amount of construction going on out there (laughs)
Botchway: It's not that much!
Seydell-Johnson: It just wasn't the case, in the School District projects, yeah (laughs) Sorry!
Um .... there's just a lot of construction going on. So I think that .... that played
into that. Uh, you see the actual cost of the structures themselves not varying that
much, but a lot of the other items do.
Throgmorton: Thanks, Juli. Thomas, you wanted to say something else? Be brief please.
Agran: Very briefly I know, I understand that everyone wants to go home. Two things.
One is, if you reject this based on the cost of the bathroom, I can say that this
neighborhood will be looking at all of the other bathrooms that you choose to not
build based on that same logic in all of the parks. I mean the part .... the price for
the bathroom is fair. So ... what I .... what I want to say is that if you, what the
neighborhood really wants to see is investment in this park, and if you decide that
$100,000 is not actually what you want to pay for bathrooms, in any park, by the
way which is really what you should .... what you're saying if you do that, then
fine. Figure that out and stop building bathrooms for $100,000. What the
neighborhood wants to see is investment in this park, okay? So if you do cut the
bathroom, if you do choose to do that, we don't want to go back to square one.
People want to see the investment happen. There's a water line out there. People
really want a drinking fountain. So, make sure that that happens, and if you do
cut it, there are other ways to invest in the park to make it a place that they want
to be. If you're going to save, I don't know what, $80,000 because you're going
to put two, uh, porta-potties out there, then I'd like to see 40,000 of that then go
into, you know, part of this bid doesn't include anything that has to do with
landscaping, and while I would happily write a PIN grant and go out there and
plant the bulbs, I .... damn well think actually the City should be doing a lot of
that, not just the neighborhood. So if you do decide to pull $100,000 out of this
budget, I ask that you do not just erase it completely from what is largely a.....an
investment in the park. So please, for the sake of the neighborhood, maintain
your commitment to investing in the park at the level that you had committed to
originally. Thanks!
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Throgmorton: Thank you, Thomas.
Botchway: And I would (both talking)
Dilkes: Before you vote, can we get some .... I just, you don't have to do it right now, but
some clarification on the sign, what's happening (both talking)
Throgmorton: On the sign, is that what you said?
Dilkes: Right!
Fruin: I'11.....I'll lead off and then John is the one that raised this, uh, initially with staff,
but, um, the path that we're going down with all of our parks is to have a standard
park sign, and you've seen those start to come up at .... at, uh, a variety of our
facilities, um, so when we go into parks for improvements, we're including the
new sign. There's been some concerns, uh, first raised by John. We've heard
some concerns from the neighborhood too. You heard, uh, Thomas talk about it
tonight, that the .... the sign that we're, uh, our .... our prototypical sign, if you will,
uh, does not fit the historic nature of the park and we'd be better off designing
a .... a new sign that better fit the character of the park. So, um, this does, you can
see that the .... there's a bid line item for a new park sign. Um, it's a small
amount, uh, actually Calacci only bid it at $250. It was probably an error, uh, in
their ... in their bid document. Um, it's .... it's probably at least a several thousand
dollar item, but it's a small enough item in the grand scope of the project that we
could, um .... we could just use a change order process to take it out. We'd ask
if ...if you don't want that sign, uh, in the park, that you just give staff the
flexibility to work out the arrangements on how we do that, cause it could very
well be that we just try to get the sign placed at a different park, where it would be
more appropriate.
Throgmorton: All right, so, uh, I .... I feel very conflicted as I think you all can probably see. Uh,
and I don't want to, uh, um burden anybody with my own internal conflicts I see.
I'm just torn because there're things I like and need and are committed to on both
aspects of this, both parts of this. I'm gonna support the .... the motion. So....
Botchway: A quick comment! So, you know, to Thomas as well, you know, there's, I mean,
to me there's no ill -will in this. I mean I am thinking about it in the general scope
of, you know, all the parks, and I really was thinking of, you know, as far as scope
and size of this particular park in relation to the park right next to my, um, my
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townhome I guess, um, that there's no bathroom, and so that's part of the reason
why I'm making, you know, my ..... my determination.
Throgmorton: Okay, no further discussion? We have a motion on the floor. Roll call please.
Motion carries 4-3. Could I have a motion to accept correspondence?
Botchway: So moved.
Salih: Second.
Tbrogmorton: Moved by Botchway, seconded by Salih. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion
carries. Do .... do you need a specific direction from us about the sign?
Fruin: No, I think, I mean.....do you want us to work on a different sign concept, or ... or
at least pull that sign out altogether and revisit it in the future? Is that .... (several
talking)
Thomas: ....sign that .... that, you know, at our neighborhood meeting everyone said it's
fine. Just leave the existing sign. (several talking) For now.
Throgmorton: I'm okay with that.
Mims: That's fine.
Fruin: Okay.
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Item 13. Council Appointments. Applicants MUST reside in Iowa City and be 18
years of age unless specific qualifications are stated
Throgmorton: We have, there are two, uh, commissions for which we have received
applications. So, um, maybe I should deal with them first. Uh, one is for the
Airport Zoning Commission. Dennis, uh, oh Dennis gone. He was here the
whole time. Anyhow .... uh, we have.... there's, um, one vacancy to .... no.
There's one vacancy for a six-year term and we've received one application from
Dennis Keitel. Uh, and we can make that appointment if we choose to, can we
not? We have to wait (several talking) wait a week or two or something, right?
Okay, so we're gonna defer action on that.
Taylor: I had a question on that though. It said that, um.....term expired from Matthew
Wolford. So that was a male. Did we .... did we have two males on there? And
not one female, one male? So that's why we're lookin' for a female now? I was
just a little confused.
Mims: Well we might have made that appointment after the gender requirement had gone
by, so (several talking)
Taylor: ....it's a six-year term. Okay. All right. But I.....on.... on his application, um, he
expressed interest in the Board of Adjustment, Planning and Zoning, Parks and
Rec, and also this. And .... there is an .... an opening, male opening for Board of
Adjustment. But .... it says no applications. If they're applying for more than one,
do they need to do separate applications? Eleanor?
Dilkes: The Zoning Board of Adjustment, he....
Taylor: He just said Board of Adjustment. Do you think he (several talking)
Dilkes: Well that would be probably the Board of Adjustment (both talking)
Taylor: ....Airport Board of Adjustment. Okay. (both talking) Thank you. I .... wasn't
clear on that.
Throgmorton: All right, so we're gonna defer action on, uh, appointment to the Airport Zoning
Commission. We also have .... on the Senior Center Commission, one vacancy to
fill a, for a three-year term and an application from Robert Finlayson, uh, and he
seems completely appropriate to me. Would the rest of you agree?
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Taylor: Very familiar with the Center.
Throgmorton: Okay, so we'll appoint, uh, Mr. Finlayson. All right, otherwise I should just
announce these vacancies.
Dilkes: Can we get a motion to appoint Mr. Finlayson?
Botchway: (both talking) So moved.
Throgmorton:... have that motion?
Taylor: Second.
Throgmorton: Uh, motion by Botchway, seconded by Taylor. All in favor say aye. Opposed.
Motion carries. All right, we have one on the Airport Zoning Board of
Adjustment. We have two vacancies to fill five .... two five-year terms. On the,
do I have to reannounce the, um, Airport Zoning Commission? No. Okay. Uh,
on the Board of Appeals, one vacancy to fill a five-year term. On Historic
Preservation Commission, one vacancy for a Jefferson Street representative to
fi... to fill a three-year term. On the Telecommunications Commission, one
vacancy to fill a three-year term, and.....uh.....when are these due, Kellie? These
applications.
Fruehling: Um .... sorry, you threw me off, sorry. It'd be Tuesday, March 13a'.
Throgmorton: Okay. Applications for those positions must be received by Tuesday, by 5:00
P.M. Tuesday, March 13, you said?
Fruehling: Correct.
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Item 15. Community Comment ]if necessary] (items not on the agenda)
Throgmorton: Uh, Gustave, Ben?
Botchway: Didn't you just come and talk before us? (laughter)
Nelson: Yeah! But this is like more casually (laughter) I'll keep it short and sweet. Um,
you guys mentioned talking about, uh, getting more involved in, um, advocacies,
particularly with other politic ... like political bodies in Des Moines. Um, so
therefore I'd like to invite you all to Hawkeye Caucus Day on March 27`h. Um,
the Hawkeye Caucus Day is specifically University of Iowa advocacy day in Des
Moines, where it's the ... the State capitol gets all decked out, um, so if you're .... if
you've never done it before, if you'd like to get your feet wet, I'll be there. A lot
of other University of Iowa people'll be there. Um, and really it .... I think it
would be a great way for the City to also show unity with the University, um, in
terms of advocacy that way. Um, I'd also like to announce the First Generation
Summit is April 7'h. That's a Saturday, in the IMU. It's a showcase of first
generational students. Oh, I thought you were .... you're just (mumbled) (both
talking) No, you're good! (laughter) I thought you wanted me to do something
(laughter) I'm so sorry! Um....
Dilkes: Imagine that!
Nelson: (laughs) Um, and then I have two birthdays to announce. The first one is 17151
birthday of the University of Iowa on February 25'. The second birthday is the
215` birthday of mine, February 28'11 (laughter) and you'll always remember that
because every time it says the ex parte discussions, that memo was written on
February 28`h, I think, in 2007, so now you'll remember my birthday for the rest
of your life (laughter) um, and then I have four more meetings to go, 63 days.
Thank you, Terry Dickens! (laughter and several talking)
Throgmorton: Phil, good evening. I hope you got my phone message.
Hemmingway:Um, no I'm sorry, uh, I .... I have, my phone ... I do not have a good phone and my
wife and my daughter have been after me to change it, so I might take that under
advisement.
Throgmorton: Yeah. Good evening to you (several talking)
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Hemmingway:Phil Hemmingway, 415 Elmridge Avenue. Um, I'm .... I'm here to, uh, thank....
Councilman, uh, John Thomas and Rockne Cole for their support of our, uh, ag
education and FAA program. Uh, John Thomas, uh, wrote a very good email to
the board members before our decision, uh, on that, and uh, Rockne came and
spoke very eloquently at our last board meeting, and uh, it's .... it's a .... service,
and uh, to our community and to our students to provide this type of, uh,
curriculum, and I urge the rest of the Council to support it, and uh, and help us
with it. Uh, money's tight everywhere, and I think, uh, after the discussion you
just had, uh.....uh, the need for vocational, uh.... uh, jobs and careers don't need
to be, uh.....uh, spelled out any more than that. Um, and, uh, you know, after the
discussion on the $100,000 bathroom, uh, I've got some, uh, storage sheds in
Hills I'd like to show ya, uh (laughter) how much they cost and, uh, cost many
times is specifications too. As you were right on. Uh, it's.... it's.... it's what you
have. Also, um, I'd like to thank the, uh, businesses in our community and you
were talk .... had some discussions on fundraising. Uh, year ago, um, within 10
days I raised, uh.... close, over $2,500 from, uh, local businesses to, uh, sponsor a
student trip to the Chicago an .... autoshow. Uh, and charter a bus and everything
like that. So, uh, our auto.... there's, and this year when I went to raise the money
for it, again, uh....the checks were given, that I didn't have to do any arm -twisting
that way, so .... our community is very giving and everything on those lines. Also
I'd like to thank, uh, Chief, uh, Jody, uh, for, uh, his assistance. On Monday we
had a situation where our students, uh, walked out and did a protest, uh, kind of
spur of the moment type of thing, and uh, I happened to be driving across town,
um, and saw the students on the street and was kind of concerned, and uh, saw
that, uh, they had a police escort and everything that way. So, uh, kudos to, uh
....uh the Police Department for stepping in in such short order and addressing the
safety concerns that way. I know as a board member I would have liked to have a
heads up on it myself, but kids are kids. Uh, so, uh, with that, but thank you again
for, uh, the Councilmens support on the FAA programming, and I .... I meant to
come here earlier and talk on the ped mall situation, but uh, I, uh, didn't get a
chance to get in on that, but I .... uh..... um.....rest assured that you made the right
decision to make sure that we have the proper facilities for our students to vomit
in, so ...... (laughter) Thank you very much.
Throgmorton: Thank you, Phil! Nice to see you. Thanks for your patience.
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Item 16. City Council Information
Throgmorton: Why don't we start with.... start with, um, Kingsley and move to the right.
Botchway: I actually had a question for Ben. Can you tell me again, you said the First
Generation Summit is when?
Nelson: That is, uh, Saturday, April 7th, in the IMU.
Taylor: And the Hawkeye Caucus Day?
Nelson: Hawkeye Caucus is March 27h. That's a Tuesday, I believe.
Botchway: What ... what time is it at the IMU?
Nelson: Um, I'm not sure yet. I'll get back to you!
Botchway: Okay.
Nelson: (mumbled) passing legislation to fund it tonight (mumbled)
Botchway: Nothing!
Throgmorton: Nothing? Maz? Yeah (several talking) Council information (several talking)
Botchway: Sorry, so um, one of the things is, uh, and I wasn't able to get it to you this packet,
um, but .... and the reason why I was speaking about lobbying and trying to
present a different message to our legislature and everything else, is that I'm....
I'm gonna send in the next packet a prior bill, um, that was rejected by our
legislature, in part because .... I think that it was a .... a, I shouldn't say ridiculous
bill, but it was a .... a bill that was, um, that incorporated a lot of, um, professions
that I think needed to have a, um, licensure. So, social workers, um, other things
that I thought were important to ensure that, um, there's a license process. I
would say that that is .... I feel differently about barbers, and in particular as we
talk about economic development, um, specifically for our communities of color.
Um, being a barber is something that is steeped deeply into, um, African
American culture. I did think that the legislator.... legislature did hit that button
right on the head, um, and I'm gonna be sending, um, again that bill to have
another discussion on how we can use our lobbyists, not .... I've talked to Simon,
not for this session, but be mindful in planning for next session, because there
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are .... I can tell you, four, five, six individuals off the top of my head that could be
gainfully employed, and many parents with many kids, that would love for there
to be more barbers in the area, and there's just not. Um, and so that's .... I think
that's a problem not only in Iowa City, I've had this conversation in Cedar
Rapids, Des Moines, and other areas across the state, and so I did want to
highlight that, because you'll be seeing it in the Thursday packet.
Salih: Uh, I really don't have anything. I just....I want to (unable to understand) speaker
and it was nice, just, uh, seeing Newtown in Iowa, uh.... was, uh, I guess they
have like 9 ..... 900,000 people or something like that and it was nice and just
attending the Chambers of Commerce also is .... it was very nice event, and....
attending Iowa City (unable to understand) also was nice and .... that's all I have.
(mumbled) Yeah.
Cole: Um, to follow up on what Phil Hemmingway had said about the students. I did
want to comment briefly about that. I am so inspired by the leadership that the
junior high, the high school, and students took, not only from City High but from
West High School and Liberty High School, from throughout the community.
Um, you know, as I said earlier in my comments, I would like to focus on the City
of Iowa City and municipal issues, but unfortunately these national issues are
something that I think we're .... we're going to increasingly have to comment on
because we do have a platform on that, and with the tragic events of last week,
you know, a lot of people feel very strongly about the various issues, but I think
the reality is, is that our state and national leaders of both parties have provided no
leadership on the question of safety for our children, for our families, for our
communities, and I know these students would have much preferred to stay in
school, would much prefer to learn their math or their reading, study their history
and their culture, but they had to take to the streets, and I think that is what's
going to be required going forward because this current generation of political
leadership is not acting in the best interest, and I think it will take students in the
streets. I think it will take students in the plaza. I think it will take all of the
communities acting together to provide the leadership, and I think it's fitting that
that happened during this month, the .... the month that we celebrate one of the
greatest Americans we've ever had in this country — Martin Luther King Jr. -
because he too encouraged students to march, to be in the streets, to be in the
plaza, because I think that's where democracy occurs, um, and I'm so inspired by
that leadership that the students exhibited here, um, but also Emma Gonzales,
the .... the courage statement that she had made, and you know, as a Councilor I
know that we would like to get back to ... to sort of the local issues, but I don't
think we can in this incredible time, as you said in your statement, Jim. And so I
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think we're all just going to have to stay positive with one another. I liked Jim's
comment about supporting one another, you know, hopefully in Iowa City we'll
continue to, you know, give each other constructive feedback and, you know, uh,
you know, provide constructive criticism. I think that's important for an effective
democracy to work. Um, but by the same token, I think we do have to stick
together. Uh, we have to maintain the .... the kindred spirits that support one
another during these times. So, urn .... you know, these are sad times, um, but you
know those .... those students, I think, really provided some rays of hope and to all
the students out there, the parents out there, you should be very proud of the
courageous actions that they took, and I thank you.
Botchway: All right, John, follow that up! (laughter)
Thomas: It's the best of times, it's the worst of times (laughter) um.....I'll just mention
that, uh, next Tuesday, on the 27h, Affordable Housing Coalition will have a .... a
mixer at Big Grove from 4:30 to 6:00, which should be a nice event.
Mims: Rockne, I'm going to piggyback on one thing you said. We were having a
conversation, my husband and I, this morning, um, and listening to some of the
coverage from this latest mass shooting, and the comment that .... that one of us
made was, 'It ... it's going to take more than just the junior high and high school
students.' We need the college students. The college students are the ones that
were the biggest protesters against the Vietnam War. They're the ones that really
.....it was built on their backs in terms of the major protests. And .... um, I would
encourage you to really be thinking seriously in your leadership positions about
how you can get .... your colleagues at the University of Iowa and across the
country to really start stepping up and taking .... a very active leadership role,
because that's what it's going to take. We've seen too many years, too many
shootings, and all we get is thoughts and prayers from our leaders, and we're way,
way, way past time for that. So ..... I would agree with you on that. The other
comment, um, I would make .... um, you talk about constructive criticism.
(laughs) I'm gonna go there real quickly. Um, Mazahir mentioned that we had a
nice, uh.... uh, Chamber of Commerce banquet last week. Um, at the end of that
banquet, I did have a number of people come up to me, and it was rather
awkward, and thanked me for staying till the end. I would encourage Council, as
we look at events going forward, that if there are conflicts that we divvy up who's
going where and not be leaving in the middle of events, um, particularly
something like that that is a, basically a formal dinner banquet. Um, many, many
people noticed that all the Councilors that were there, except myself, left. And I
realize you had another event that you wanted to go to. I understand that. I'm
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just saying that does not reflect well on the Council or the City in general from the
comments that I heard. So I would just encourage in the future that there's some
planning and people make decisions of, okay, you know, I'll go to this one this
year, you go next year, that sort of thing. Um, it....it did not set well with a lot of
people that were sitting there with a table of eight, and only three people, two
staff members and myself, stayed for the whole function.
Taylor: Well I don't know how I can follow that, because I was one of the ones that left
because.....organized labor's very near and dear to my heart, and I have passed up
on the Chamber event in the past, and just gone to the chili supper, and this year I
felt that I .... I really wanted to be a part of the Chamber event also, so chose to go
to that first, sit through the dinner, and the only part I really missed was the end,
which talked about the future, and I had heard from some who stayed to the end
that that wasn't the best part of. ... of the presentation and so I kinda take offense
to that because I .... I felt I divided my time, and I ... I can't believe in, uh, that a
room full of 200, 300 people, that they noticed that our table had—and we didn't
all get up and leave. We planned that. We did plan that, that we would stagger
how we left. So, at any rate, that's.... that's neither here nor there and we
won't .... we won't talk about that, cause I've got a long list of things here, uh,
because I did go to that, uh, but I would like to recognize the Employee
Recognition potluck. Uh, I believe Geoff had said there were 85 people on that
list, ranging from five years to 45 years of service, and .... and that says a lot
for .... for our city and our employees, that we've got so many folks that have
stuck around that long and .... and are valuable employees to us, so that was a
wonderful event, and um, that evening was the Soul Food dinner, which also was
wonderful with lots of good food and lots of good company and conversation.
Was a great event, again, you know, couple hundred people or so there. And then
there's a lot of upcoming events. Uh, Susan and I have, uh, listening post this
Thursday, uh, at um, Iowa City Kirkwood campus. That's a different location for
us, so it could be ... will be interesting. That's at 4:30. That evening, uh, is the
DVIP Souper Bowl, uh, fundraiser at the Clarion Hotel, which, um, I have not
gone before but I've heard it's a great event. Uh, and you get a lovely bowl with
it. Uh, then that, this Saturday, the 24`h, um, have to put a plug in there for the
Iowa women's basketball team. It's their final home game of the season. They
play Indiana. So, uh, folks should try to get out for that, 11:00, uh, but also this
Saturday and Sunday, then Saturday 10:30 to 4:00 the Shelter House book sale,
uh, and then Sunday the 25`h, noon to 4:00, that's at the Johnson County
Fairgrounds and that's always a great event. Lots of great books and good prices
on that. Um.....John mentioned, urn .... Tuesday the 27h, the Housing, uh, mixer,
and I .... I found it interesting in their invite (mumbled) they mentioned `come and
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celebrate the affordable housing progress that we've made in Iowa City,' so it
was, uh, good to see them recognizing that. Saturday, March Yd, is the Crisis
Center pancake breakfast, from 7:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., Our Redeemer Lutheran
Church, on Court Street. $6.00 adults, $3.00 children. That's always a great
event and looking forward to getting our invite, usually (several talking) Yeah,
it's .... it's still almost two weeks away, a week and a half away so .... she may not
send out, um, we usually help serve or clear the tables and that so I'm sure she'll
be sending it out pretty soon, but otherwise, just go and volunteer to help when
you get there. Um.....that's it!
Cole: I'm terrible, Jim. One Book, Two Book, I forgot to mention that during my
impassionate speech. Um, so February 23rd through 25d', check out the schedule
OneBookTwoBook.org. John Kenyon does a fantastic job. I'd love to go. It's
going to be really great, so OneBookTwoBook.org.....this weekend. (several
talking and laughing)
Throgmorton:.... at least twice now, uh, and it's .... it's pretty fun to do. Yeah.
Cole: Yeah. Okay!
Throgmorton: Yeah. So, um.....um, I think, uh, the businesses of our community are extremely
important to Iowa City and I think the labor unions and workers of our city are
extremely important, and I'm very proud to have attended both events, and I was
very disappointed about being compelled to divide my time. So .... that's what I
would say about that. With regard to other events that I've attended, etc., uh, in
light of the time I don't think I'm going to do that.
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