HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-03 TranscriptionIowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[00:00:21]
Again, welcome to your City Hall. It is November 3, 2025, and I'm go- going to call the City of Iowa City
meeting to order. Roll call, please.
[00:00:29]
Alter?
[00:00:30]
Here.
[00:00:30]
Bergus?
[00:00:31]
Here.
[00:00:31]
Harmsen?
[00:00:32]
Here.
[00:00:32]
Moe?
[00:00:33]
Here.
[00:00:33]
Salih?
[00:00:34]
Here.
[00:00:35]
Teague?
[00:00:35]
Here.
[00:00:36]
Weilein?
Page 1
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[00:00:36]
Here.
[00:00:37]
Alright. Well, we are going to get started in our agenda. Item number 2 is proclamations, 2a is Color the
World Orange for CRPS/RSD Awareness Day. Whereas complex regional pain syndrome, also known as
reflex sympathetic dystrophy, is a nerve disorder that causes chronic pain, whereas the symptoms of
CRPS/RSD are often described as burning that is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury and
can include swelling and extreme sensitivity to stretch, to touch. And whereas, while CRPS/RSD, was first
identified during the Civil War, it remains a poorly understood condition which has no cure. And
whereas the National Institute of Neu- Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and other institutes of the
National Institutes of Health support research relating to CRPS/RSD. And whereas members of the CRPS
RSD community will spread awareness in November and whereas on November 3, 2025, members of
the CRPS/RSD, community will celebrate the 12th annual Color of the World Orange Day to spread
awareness of the poorly understood pain disorder. Now, therefore, I Bruce Teague, Mayor of Iowa City,
do hereby proclaim the month of November 2025 to be CRPS Awareness Month and do hereby proclaim
Monday, November 3, 2025 as Color of the World Orange for CRPS/RSD Awareness Day in Iowa City,
Iowa. And to receive this proclamation is Emily Hannah and Michael Hannah. Great [APPLAUSE]
[00:02:53]
Hi, I'm lyad Hannah. My brother Mazahir has CRPS, and the work that you do and this proclamation that
we've had the last three years now makes a huge difference for him. It's easy to not feel seen, heard,
valued and supported when you're dealing with things that other people might not understand and
nobody can understand anybody else's lived experience. I see all these signs out here, and I agree with
that. Everybody needs to feel seen, heard, valued, and supported in this country, no matter who they
are. And this is part of that. I'm so grateful. Thank you.
[00:03:34]
Thank you.
[00:03:34]
Thank you [APPLAUSE]
[00:03:42]
All right. We're going to move on to our consent agenda. Items 3-8, could I get a motion to approve,
please?
[00:03:48]
So move, Salih.
[00:03:49]
Second, Moe.
Page 2
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[00:03:51]
Anyone from the public like to discuss this topic? If you're online, please raise your virtual hand. Seeing
no one wanted to address these topics, items three through eight. Council, discussion?
[00:04:08]
A quick question for our city manager at 78 Taft Avenue. I understand this is the public hearing for
acquiring Agland, but is the actual construction next summer or the following summer?
[00:04:21]
It'll be a couple of years out.
[00:04:22]
Two years out. Okay. Thank you.
[00:04:26]
Roll call, please.
[00:04:28]
Harmsen?
[00:04:29]
Yes.
[00:04:29]
M oe?
[00:04:30]
Yes.
[00:04:30]
Salih?
[00:04:30]
Yes.
[00:04:31]
Teague?
[00:04:31]
Yes.
[00:04:32]
Weilein?
Page 3
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[00:04:33]
Yes.
[00:04:33]
Alter?
[00:04:34]
Yes.
[00:04:34]
Bergus.
[00:04:35]
Yes.
[00:04:36]
Motion passes 7-0. Alright, we're going to move on to community comment. This is an opportunity for
anyone in the community that will like to speak to come forth. If you are here and you want to speak,
will you please raise your hand, and I'll see how many individuals want to speak? Seven. So seven and
eight. Alright, great. Everyone will be given 3 minutes each if you need extended time. Because of
interpretation, I will allow that. Great. Welcome. Please state your name and city you're from.
[00:05:29]
Good evening. First of all, I just want to thank all of you for giving us the opportunity to speak freely. My
name is Eva Castro, and I'm here because I feel like families and immigrants deserve dignity. And that
our workplaces are respected. And that we don't have injustices. Like you all know, we're the family of
Jorge. A worker who was violently taken without an order of arrest. And without any support from his
workplace. So for this in the name of all the families, immigrant families and workers. We ask with lots
of respect that you pass the resolution and workplace safety. I also work in a downtown place. I also
have fear to be taken by the same form that Jorge was. In no minute did his worker or other employees
helped him or intervened for him. I think this is in part because of the lack of education regarding how
to defend us and how to help us when these situations arise. Thank you [APPLAUSE]
[00:08:17]
And I'm going to ask people to refrain from clapping. But please welcome.
[00:08:23]
Did Plaza. Okay.
[00:08:28]
From reactions. Yes.
Page 4
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[00:08:30]
Thank you.
[00:08:31]
Yes. Thank you. Welcome. Please state your name and city you're from.
[00:08:43]
Good afternoon. My name is Lauda Castro. I'm a resident of Iowa City. I'm here to demonstrate what
happened to us so that this doesn't happen to anyone else again. You all know Jorge Azar was arrested
25 September without a warrant. We're not asking that businesses interfere with ICE, but there's some
kind of procedure that they would ask for an order, a warrant. Today we are a separated family. This is a
very difficult process. Jorge was our head of household and he's no longer with us. We don't want this to
happen to other families. That's why we're asking for this resolution workplace safety so that businesses
can support immigrants and it doesn't happen again. Thank you.
[00:10:50]
Thank you. Welcome.
[00:10:59]
Good evening, Members of the council. My name is Jackie, and I stand here today as an immigrant. As
someone who came to this country searching for safety, opportunity, and dignity. We immigrants have
our own voices. When you do not let us use them, you take away part of our humanity. We're not here
to be used for our labor alone. We have the ability to contribute if only we are given the chance. Do you
think we don't know the risks that we take every day? The risks we took coming here? We know them
better than anyone yet we keep going because we believe in something better for our families and this
community. We do not call on the government to do everything for us. We work together as the
immigrant community to care for one another. We are Escucha Mivos. We fill in the gaps when others
turn away. We ask you to help with workplace safety, food, housing, and understanding that these are
not handouts but acts of human dignity. Stop listening to your worries and your fears. Start listening to
us. Here are the people who live this reality every day. Do not be fooled by the few voices that speak
against us. Listen instead to the many, to the quiet, hardworking people who simply want to be treated
with respect. God has a plan for each of us. As we wait and work toward that plan, I ask you, which side
are you on the side of fear or the side of humanity, justice, and hope. Stand with us. It will take courage,
but you can pass this resolution. God bless you.
[00:15:28]
Thank you. Welcome.
[00:15:43]
Good afternoon. My name is Julery Castro. I'm from Colombia. I work in cleaning. I'm here because I
believe that immigrants deserve protection and not fear in our jobs, leaving the house with our children,
to go buy cloth or to go and buy things, to go out into the street. Today, we come to ask you, we ask the
city to protect us because the children are the ones who suffer. Please approve this resolution for due
Page 5
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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process, for work protection, for protection in the streets so that there are now no more separated
families. We are immigrants who are good people. We don't come to do bad things. I hope that you
approve this resolution and that you listen to us, the immigrants. And thank you very much.
[00:17:44]
Thank you.
[00:17:53]
Welcome.
[00:17:54]
Thank you. [FOREIGN] in Iowa City.
[00:18:00]
Hello. Good night. My name is Alita Contreras. I am from Colombia, and I reside here in Iowa City.
[00:18:05]
[FOREIGN]
[00:18:10]
1 thank all of you for being here tonight, listening to us.
[00:18:13]
[FOREIGN]
[00:18:34]
1 am here to ask that you approve this rev -resolution for um, worker safety, not only for the workers,
but for us women who are um, housewives and who stay at home with the children.
[00:18:45]
[FOREIGN]
[00:18:56]
As a stay at home mom, I live with a constant fear that my spouse will not arrive home after work.
[00:19:01]
[FOREIGN]
[00:19:05]
And I know that I'm not the only woman who lives with this fear.
[00:19:07]
[FOREIGN]
Page 6
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[00:19:13]
1 don't know.
[00:19:14]
[FOREIGN]
[00:19:32]
Um, I ask you all with the power that you have that when ICE arrives to a workplace that- that they are
able to receive due process.
[00:19:41]
[FOREIGN]
[00:19:46]
We don't want ICE to abuse their power anymore.
[00:19:48]
[FOREIGN]
[00:19:51]
We're not against the law.
[00:19:52]
[FOREIGN]
[00:19:58]
We just want the process to follow the laws.
[00:20:01]
[FOREIGN]
[00:20:05]
We don't want more separated families and no more tears falling.
[00:20:09]
[FOREIGN]
[00:20:14]
The pre- the first people who are affected in this situation are the children.
[00:20:17]
[FOREIGN]
Page 7
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[00:20:29]
Um, there are children who have to see their fathers, mothers, other family members only through a
screen, and they are missing that, like, their- that warm hug.
[00:20:37]
[FOREIGN]
[00:20:47]
It's very easy for people who don't have this lived experience to give an opinion.
[00:20:51]
[FOREIGN]
[00:20:59]
But tonight I ask you to put your hand on your heart and use the power that you possess.
[00:21:04]
[FOREIGN]
[00:21:10]
You are the voice of not only immigrants, but of all the citizens who live in this- in this country.
[00:21:15]
[FOREIGN]
[00:21:18]
Thank you very much. Have a good night.
[00:21:20]
Thank you. [OVERLAPPING]
[00:21:27]
Welcome.
[00:21:28]
Sounds good. Thank you. Good evening. City council, thanks for having us. [FOREIGN] over here. My
name is Claria Cortes. I live here in Iowa City. Um, I'm here today in order to support my brothers and
sisters. All has a Salvadorian immigrant. I know how it feels. Um, and I think every single person
deserves to have a safe place to work in- especially our community, right? I live here in Iowa City, like I
said, and for me, it's just heartbroken to see, you know, things that are happening right now. Uh, for me,
just heartbroken to just imagine that a parents, like in the morning wake- wake up, go to work. No
wonder what is going to happen later. Are they going to come back to see their childrens in the
Page 8
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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afternoon? When they got home, what is gonna happen? I have childrens, too. Um, please approve that
resolution. Please help us, helps our brothers and sisters. Um, I really like to see community safe, and
it's- please, um, like to say, put you- touch your heart, and it's like, let's protect our brothers and sisters
immigrants. Thank you so much and- and God bless you all.
[00:23:01]
Good job.
[00:23:01]
Thank you.
[00:23:02]
[FOREIGN] Iowa City. [FOREIGN]
[00:23:17]
Ma- hello. Good night. My name is- [FOREIGN]
[00:23:20]
Heidi.
[00:23:21]
Heidi, and I am a- I work in cleaning, and I am a resident of Iowa City.
[00:23:26]
[FOREIGN]
[00:23:51]
The reason that we are here tonight, we are a family of immigrants, and we are here to touch your
hearts and to ask you to approve this revolu- this resolution. We don't want anything more but to work.
[00:24:02]
[FOREIGN]
[00:24:19]
Through this work, um, all we want to do is provide for our children. It's very traumatic for children to
um, have to worry about if their parents are going to return home after work.
[00:24:29]
[FOREIGN]
[00:24:47]
Page 9
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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We are also asking um, for help with the food benefits being returned um, from the loss of WIC and the
loss of SNAP. Um, there are a lot of families who use these services because their husbands have been
deported or because they are single mothers.
[00:25:02]
[FOREIGN]
[00:25:18]
We are united and we deserve respect. We know that you have the power in your hands and so that we
are asking that you- you use it. Thank you.
[00:25:27]
Thank you. [NOISE][FOREIGN]
[00:25:38]
Good night. Thank you all in the city council for taking the time to uh, listen to all of our voices.
[00:25:45]
[FOREIGN]
[00:25:50]
My name is Yadira Castillo. I live- I live in Iowa City and I work in cleaning.
[00:25:54]
[FOREIGN]
[00:26:05]
1 am here because I believe immigrants deserve um, fair wages and fair working conditions in order to
um, continue the life that we deserve.
[00:26:15]
[FOREIGN]
[00:26:29]
We want you to put into le- like, put into effect laws and policies that help protect workers um, and that
the workplace is a place of respect for us.
[00:26:42]
[FOREIGN]
[00:27:02]
Page 10
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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Immigrants are essential for um, for this country, um, and we are hoping that you can protect our
workers' rights and prevent the discrimination, um, such as the case of Jorge that they took him from his
job without a judicial order.
[00:27:19]
Um-
[00:27:21]
[FOREIGN]
[00:27:27]
He did not have a workplace that was safe or that respected his humanity.
[00:27:32]
[FOREIGN]
[00:27:36]
Because they arrested him with a treatment that was kind of inhumane.
[00:27:39]
[FOREIGN]
[00:27:39]
Um, independently of his migration status, every worker-
[00:27:49]
[FOREIGN]
[00:27:53]
Every worker should be treated with dignity.
[00:27:55]
[FOREIGN]
[00:27:59]
With the dignity that is inherent in every human being.
[00:28:02]
[FOREIGN]
[00:28:02]
Including in um, detention.
Page 11
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[00:28:07]
[FOREIGN]
[00:28:14]
We ask that you approve this resolution um, for due process and work security.
[00:28:19]
[FOREIGN]
[00:28:20]
Thank you.
[00:28:22]
Thank you.
[00:28:38]
Welcome.
[00:28:40]
Hello. My name is Clara Reynen and I live in Iowa City. I'm here tonight as the unity chair on the
coordinating committee of the campaign to organize graduate students uh, COGS, UE Local 896. I'm
here tonight to bring you up to date on a continuing issue we are having with NightRide, which is a
transportation service offered by the university. But before I do that, I just want to say that my union
stands behind Escucha Mi Voz. Um, we have worked with them many times, and they've always been
great. Um, I think something like, providing know your rights trainings for city employees would be
awesome. COGS has worked with the Immigration Law Clinic at the university, and we're doing a Know
your rights on November 6th. If any of you are interested in coming, um, I'll email you the flyer
afterwards. I would encourage you to. Okay, with the time I've got left, um, NightRide has consistently
been a method of transportation available for students to use past standard transit hours in order to
reach their homes. In 2023, this service was expanded and even included the Guidel-ink Center as a stop
within their boundaries. However, on August 6th this year, the university announced changes to
NightRide structure, which would mean students could no longer be dropped off at requested locations.
And Instead, um, a route was adopted that had set stops, which was nearly identical to campus routes.
It simply had extended hours until 4:00 AM. This new schedule was adopted on August 15th, less than
two weeks later. This has caused major disruptions for graduate students, particularly those who are
living at Aspire at West Campus. This complex, despite not being university housing, is consistently
suggested as a location for graduate students to move to. And many students we've talked to only opted
to live at this location further from campus because NightRide was highlighted to them by leasing agents
as an existed service that they could utilize. Additionally, many students enrolled at the university's um,
reach program utilize this service as well. Students living at Aspire have collected hundreds of signatures
from students and community members, and during meetings with the Department of Public Safety,
um, they've also stated that they've received large numbers of complaints, but have yet to make any
substantial changes, claiming budgetary restrictions and lack of employees. If the university continues to
Page 12
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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drag their feet and does not rectify the situation, COGS is asking you to step in and advocate on grad
students behalves. Students who live at Aspire are valuable members of this community, and many of
them now need to take a nearly hour long walk home at one, 2:00 AM. Additionally, in speaking to
community members about transportation, it has come to my attention that there are no Iowa City bus
stops on Oakdale Boulevard. Even though this is technically Coralville, there are many businesses utilized
frequently by Iowa City residents. In particular, I have heard from members of Agudas Achim synagogue
who have to walk across the IAD overpass if they want to use public transport to get to their synagogue.
Thank you.
[00:31:43]
Thank you. [BACKGROUND]
[00:32:05]
My name is uh, Mary Gravitt, and I'm a Iowa City resident. I've come to- tonight to talk to the city of
Council and the people of Iowa City about the power of the vote. Iowa City is the only blue city in the
red state of Iowa. Therefore, it is a target of state aggression. Seven million march for No Kings, but how
many will vote for No Kings? Trump fears the vote. Else, why- why give orders to red states to redraw
routing- voting boundaries. Regardless of the money and bribes he receives from the Zionists, the white
nationalists, and the American oligarchs that have all but destroyed our democracy in 10 months. Trump
still fears the power of the vote, local and national and organize- and the organizing of the American
people against fascism, Nazism, he represents. Americans use the term fascism, when Nazism is the
proper term for what we are dealing with. Remember, Hitler was voted into power. Revolution did not
bring him into office. The vote did, so get out and vote. The prophet warned at Matthew 10: 28, not to
fear those who can kill the body, but those who can kill the soul. The vote is the soul of our democratic
system of governance. And I want to speak about the patron elevator in Iowa City Public Library. It was
a- a- a half-hearted attempt at cleaning the patron elevator was made. This is not enough. Respect the
patrons and have a full time maintenance person to properly clean in the corners in- of- of the walls and
replace the- and shampoo the carpet, vacuum it daily, and most of all, scrub the metal plates that lead
into the elevator itself on both floors. Bus shelters. Winter is coming, and after long summer bus
shelters, at least on the Town Crest Route. That's my route. Except for Autumn Park have not been
installed. The installation of bus shelters is crucial- crucial opposite Walgreens and Hy-Vee on the out by -
downside of the Town Crest Route. Follow the wooden benches for other outbound location. This
demonstrates respect for the voter and for those living in Iowa City. We- we need the vote. We need the
bus shelters. We need the elevator clean because that's for the health of the people. And most of our
hope the people outside listening who have not voted will vote and and- and keep the- the- this- the city
of Iowa City like it is. We try. I notice all the people come here to complain because they know that you
will listen. So, and it- it's important. Voting is the lifeblood. And in 10 months, [NOISE] this man has
wrecked us. Thank you. [OVERLAPPING]
[00:35:17]
Would anyone else like to speak during this time? Seeing no one else. Okay. I'm gonna- could I get a
motion to give uh, accept correspondence, please?
Page 13
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[00:35:34]
So move to, Alter.
[00:35:35]
Second, Weilein.
[00:35:37]
All in favor say Aye.
[00:35:39]
Aye. [OVERLAPPING]
[00:35:39]
Any opposed? Motion passes seven to zero. All right, we're gonna move on to item number 10, which is
regular formal agenda 10A, Terra Mill Rollers Park Project.
[00:35:53]
Resolution approving project manual and estimate of costs for the construction of the Terra Mill Roller
Park 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. I'm going to open the public hearing, and
welcome.
[00:36:12]
Hi. Julie Sydal Johnson, Director of Parks and Recreation, here to give you a really brief presentation on
this project. Uh, Terrell Mill, Roller Park project is a renovation of the current skate park site. It is on
Dubuque Street, uh, the northeast side, kind of by the, uh, the boat house for the University of Iowa.
The current skate park, you can see from the road there. So this project will renovate that site to
increase our skating and bicycling experiences, increasing safety for the users. We're going to add a
beginner friendly area. I'll show you some photos here of some renderings in a minute, and the addition
of a pump track for the bicyclist. We had several public input meetings and an online survey, but that
was back in January, February of 2024, and you may ask why the wait. Uh, we receive federal funding for
this project, um, and it was put on hold for a short amount of time. So it has now been released so that
we can move forward through that Land and Water- Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. There's
the map showing where it is on Dubuque Street right on the river. The new project, as it says, includes
keeping the current skate park. You may remember at one point we were planning on having that torn
out with the project. They determined that the unsafe part of that is that it's not safe for beginner
skaters. So what the new part of the skate park does is give us a really nice learning and beginner area
so that the more advanced skaters can still use our current skate park. And then it also adds- adds quite
a bit of a longer roller park loop or loops on the north side. Um, some renderings that show what this
will look like, cement and asphalt with additional paths to get to the project. There's showing the pump
track. A nice, um, addition with the area across away our ice house single track bicycle trail and through
the woods. Uh, this one will give you some beginner areas to learn some of those bicycle skills, and then
you can take off on the other trail that is just across the parking lot. Schedule is, uh, setting the public -
Page 14
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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holding the public hearing tonight, bid letting on December 2 with construction March to November. So
next spring through the summer. Estimated cost 1.82. Any questions?
[00:38:40]
Um, I just want to confirm that the old skate park will still be available to skaters while this is under
construction.
[00:38:47]
Yes.
[00:38:47]
O kay.
[00:38:48]
It shouldn't affect that at all. Access could be a little, uh, impeded somewhat with the construction, but
we will still remain open.
[00:38:55]
Um, and other concerns that I had even from some of the skaters themselves is the wanting to preserve
as much of the prairie as possible, that this is going to be eating into, which I know is unavoidable but -
and I thought I had heard some plans on incorporating, like, uh, the prairie as much as possible.
[00:39:15]
Yes, so remember, the prairie, there is only a couple of years old. We created that prairie, so it's not an
endangered or a regulated prairie area, but you can see in the middle of the rollers track, we'll have
plantings. Er, we're doing our best to keep as much of it as possible, but it will affect what you see right
now.
[00:39:33]
It's just a little bit of my naivete. I am curious. I'm excited about this project. I want everybody in Iowa
City to have unique ways to recreate. Uh, does the city offer programming for people who want to learn
this?
[00:39:48]
We don't currently. Historically, we have from time to time. Uh, in fact, they used to have some, um,
obstacles and different things in the Mercer parking lot years ago, so they could actually offer it along
with the rec center several years ago. And we haven't in recent years. Doesn't mean we won't once this
becomes available.
[00:40:06]
Okay. Thanks.
[00:40:10]
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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All right. Hearing no more questions. Anyone from the public like to address this topic? If you're online,
please raise your virtual hand. Seeing no one in person or online. I'm going to close the public hearing.
Could I get a motion to approve, please?
[00:40:30]
Don't move, Masada.
[00:40:31]
Second, Harmsen.
[00:40:33]
All right. Council, discussion.
[00:40:36]
It's exciting that it's come past.
[00:40:37]
That's great. That looks great.
[00:40:40]
1 probably wouldn't take those classes, though. I got to be honest with you. I don't have that kind of
coordination so.
[00:40:45]
Just get on and you go, and then you fall down and you get back up.
[00:40:49]
It's the getting back up part that I'm not so sure about?
[00:40:51]
No, I'll go and watch because it'll look off.
[00:40:53]
Oh, yes.
[00:40:56]
Sorry, I should have asked this as a question. Are any- are these renderings publicly available anywhere?
I just had a lot of people ask me, are there renderings, uh, that I can look at?
[00:41:08]
They'll be available somewhat on the cable TV, would they do the little update of council afterwards. We
can get them out. We just had these made for this meeting. The design has changed some through the
progression, so, we can get those out.
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[00:41:21]
Thank you.
[00:41:24]
Roll call, please.
[00:41:25]
M oe?
[00:41:26]
Yes.
[00:41:26]
Salih?
[00:41:27]
Yes.
[00:41:27]
Teague?
[00:41:28]
Yes.
[00:41:28]
Weilein?
[00:41:29]
Yes.
[00:41:30]
Alter?
[00:41:30]
Yes.
[00:41:31]
Bergus?
[00:41:31]
Yes.
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[00:41:32]
Harmsen.
[00:41:32]
Yes.
[00:41:33]
Motion passed at seven to zero. Ten B, parking ticket appeal process and towing empowerment
procedures, Ordinance amending Title 9 Entitled motor vehicles and traffic, Chapter 5 entitled parking
meter zones, and parking lots. Section 6, entitled penalties parking tickets to provide for an updated and
streamlined process to appeal parking tickets and Chapter 9 entitled towing and empowerment
procedures. Section four entitled empowerment for accumulated parking violations to increase the
amount of accumulated parking fines that result in adding a vehicle to the empowerment list from $50
to $150. And this is a motion to get First consideration, can I get one, please?
[00:42:19]
So move Moe.
[00:42:20]
Second, Weilein.
[00:42:22]
Alright. Move by Moe. Second by Weilein. [inaudible 00:42:25] Either one. Alright, we'll give it to
Weilein. All right. And please come on up.
[00:42:38]
Good evening, mayor. Council. Darian Nagelgam, Director of Transportation Services with the city. The
proposed ordinance amendments you see before you tonight are intended to update and streamline the
process for the administrative review of parking violations, otherwise known as our parking appeals
process. Um, the goal in our anticipation is that the changes are going to increase the efficiency of the
process. We're really looking to reduce the citation appeals backlog that we have and also improve our
turnaround time and our customer service for the public. This is important for several reasons. First of
which is because we simply receive more requests to review citation appeals than we can adjudicate
each month, and that results in the backlog that is growing. Our current process provides some
structural hurdles that we're really hoping to overcome with some proposed changes before you
tonight. Before I get into those proposed changes, I just want to let you know we, um, kind of our
background and research process, we really have quite a backlog, and we reached out to a number of
different peer agencies or peer organizations that manage parking, such as we do to find out their best
practices. Um, it turns out in multiple ways we are an outlier, um, and that's why we're bringing some of
these proposed changes to you tonight and they are, in fact, contributing to our- to our backlog. I think
other communities have some really great best practices to get through the process faster and provide
better customer service. So in terms of those proposed changes, I want to walk through each of the
four. The first and probably the most impactful is our excuse not three agency, but three representative
Page 18
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three department review panel that we have. So we have a committee that reviews every single a, um,
citation appeal request that we get from the community. And so to get three folks from different
departments coordinated on a schedule on the regular basis, um, to be able to adjudicate those appeals
can be challenging so if one person's out of town, for example, we can't meet by code so what we're
proposing is to shift from a committee, um, a committee type appeal approval process or adjudication
process to what the best practices that we learned is more of a two tiered staff based process. And so
what we're proposing is that we adjust the code to allow for a first tier review by a staff member from
Transportation Services, could be a customer service team member, and they would adjudicate the
simplest basic, um, very typical requests that we get either for, um, and they could either uphold them,
which we often do for, say, um, members of the public, um, who have paid on the Park Mobile app, but
they used they indicated a license plate from a car they weren't driving at the time. You could have
multiple, um, license plates available to you as a Park mobile user. They would be able to adjudicate
those simple upholds and also manage simple denials based on preset criteria that we provide and
oversight of our management team. Now for the more complex, um, parking appeals, those would get
we're proposing that those get moved to tier two, and that would be one of our experienced parking
operations supervisors who currently sits on the committee, they would, um, be charged with
evaluating all of the more complex reasons customers reach out to us to appeal their citations outside of
the predetermined ones we assign to tier- tier one. So that's the first and probably the most impactful
proposal we have tonight. The second proposal, again, is to decrease our time window for customers to
actually submit appeals to us. We found that we have a much more generous appeal window than- than
our peer communities that we evaluated. We were given 20 days for folks to respond back to us after
they receive a citation. Say, the average is around seve- seven to ten. We are proposing seven days to
move that window from 20 days to seven days. I think the 20 days was probably really helpful back in
the day when it was all handwritten appeals and you had to put something in the mail. But now that,
um, somebody could receive a citation, they could pull out their phone, and they could appeal it within
minutes on their phone. I think seven days makes a lot more sense. The third proposal tonight is to
establish a ten day window for customers to an appeal an internal decision, city decision, whether that
would be tier one or tier two to a magistrate court. So really, this is kind of a third tier that all of our
customers in the community have. If they don't agree with the city's appeal decision, they have a right
to take that to a magistrate court. And this would just establish a ten day window for that to happen
within. Last but not least, on a related note is to raise the threshold for, um, unpaid parking tickets that
result into a vehicle being added to the tow or the impound list from $50 to $150. This is much more in
line. We actually probably should have cleaned this up when we raised the parking citation fines last
year, but it's much more in line with how we actually practice. In fact, we actually our average, we
usually don't tow vehicles or impound vehicles. I'd say the average is about 280 to $300 worth of
accumulated fines. I think $150 is still generous and gives the public plenty of time to, to pay off their
accumulated fines. I'm happy to answer any questions you have about what we're presenting before
you tonight or any questions about the parking Appeals adjudication process.
[00:48:26]
How long do you anticipate? Um, I know the backlog right now is pretty lengthy. So how long do you
envision sort of that backlog being able to go down as you transition into this? I mean.
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[00:48:41]
Hopefully very quickly. We really hope to be able to move through with a process where it's not
committee based, then it's individual based. We're hoping to be able to move through them a lot
quicker. I haven't forecasted exactly how long, but I would expect within months we would be able to
get up to date. And then our internal department goal is to create a very short turnaround window so
that we don't get into a backlog, whether that's, you know, a month or six weeks, we haven't definitively
determined that yet, but that's substantially better service than we're able to provide today. Thank you.
[00:49:15]
Question just for clarification on the, uh, dropping from 20 days to seven days. And you said something
about the average was seven. Is that average of seven days for people to appeal or average of seven
days in other communities around us?
[00:49:30]
Yes, it's a great question. Um, let me clarify. So when we looked at the other nine or ten peer
communities, we found that many of them had it was very common to see a seven day window for the
customer to issue a request to review citation. So it basically gives the customer some guardrail. So a
year later, you can't review a citation that you received a year back. You really have to do it. You know,
within a week.
[00:49:57]
Do you know about currently now here in Iowa City, what's the average amount of time for people who
do?
[00:50:04]
1 don't know that offhand. We can probably calculate that, but I don't know.
[00:50:07]
My question is there a whole lot of people 7-20 days? And if so, what's the efficiency on our end of
dropping it to seven days, like, from 20 if most people are kind of going early.
[00:50:20]
Yes, I would suspect that most people probably submit a citation appeal very quickly after receiving
fairly quickly after receiving. I would suspect, if we looked at the data that would probably we'd
probably see that number decrease as ten, 15, 20 days past. Yes.
[00:50:37]
Yes.
[00:50:38]
Is there still, um, an opportunity to appeal, like, by coming in, paper, what have you?
[00:50:45]
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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Yes. Thanks, great point. Information on how to request an administrative review or appeal is and will
continue to be on the actual parking ticket. So that's on the back of the ticket. If you flip it over, actually,
it might even be on the front of the ticket. It is on the ticket. I can tell you that. So customers can
request a review through the online portal, so they can find that on our website, but they can also
download a form online, or they can come into the parking office and get a form and fill it out. So there's
three different ways that customers can submit an appeal.
[00:51:16]
1 want to follow up a little bit on Counselor Harmsen's questioning about the seven to 20. When you
were doing your analysis of peer communities, did they involve college towns? I just my concern is as we
have these week long, like, Thanksgiving break week where kids might go home, leave a car behind. Like,
are we going to accidentally catch people? That's my only thought is, like, is this normal practice in Ames
and Cedar Falls or.
[00:51:42]
1 have that data. I don't know if I can necessarily quit it, because we did talk to Ames. We did talk to
some universities, the University of Iowa, of course, one because they manage parking too to get the
feedback. So I'd have to parse it out to see who- who had what size of window. But the sample of the
communities we evaluated was both university communities and some non university communities.
[00:52:06]
And I guess since we're on that, what is the university's policy right now? Well, Sorry, I'm asking you all
of these very specific questions on the fly, but it's a lot of people don't differentiate between Iowa City
and the university when it comes to parking.
[00:52:20]
So the universities has ten calendar day window, the University of Iowa?
[00:52:24]
Yes.
[00:52:24]
Has a ten calendar day window, specifically.
[00:52:29]
Okay. That's really helpful. All right.
[00:52:36]
Sorry, I was so I wasn't I felt like I wasn't able to get a clear answer when I brought this up in the past,
not anybody's fault, but I had a few people reach out to me concerned because, uh, because of the big
backlog of appealed parking tickets, they obviously, if they're appealing them, they haven't paid them
yet. People have said that has contributed to pushing them over the $50 threshold, and then their car
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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gets towed. Is that something that happens? Because I've had multiple people tell me that that has
happened, and then they're out 300 $400 because they have to get it out of impound?
[00:53:23]
Yes, those are not included. If somebody submits an appeal, those numbers are not included in the- in
their collective, um, and they aren't considered as part of their collected fines that would qualify them
for potential tow. They're not included until it's adjudicated.
[00:53:40]
O kay.
[00:53:42]
Um, I was also wondering what type, uh, of oversight and, um, relationship do we have, uh, or with, uh,
what- what company do we contract with, um, for towing?
[00:53:56]
It's, uh, I think the city's contract right now is with Holiday, I believe.
[00:53:59]
Yes
[00:54:00]
And that's out in Tiffin, right?
[00:54:02]
Correct.
[00:54:03]
Um, one- one main thing that, uh, is really challenging for a lot of people, and, 1- I, you know, I- I just
don't really know the layout for where these, you know, impounds are and these towing companies are,
but some people their car gets towed, how are they gonna get out to Tiffin, and they spend even more
money, you know, Ubering out there or, um, I- I guess I just didn't know if there are any other contracts
or is there- has there been a conversation about that trying to get things as close as possible, because
people have been bringing that up a lot, too.
[00:54:40]
Yeah, I can- I can appreciate how much of an inconvenience that would be. Um, it's on the bus route.
It's- it's so- it takes some effort to get there. Um, I- I don't- I'd have to look into where we're at in the-
the- the contract. I know it's evaluated periodically, um, so I don't know where we're at in that. I could- I
could certainly find out. But, um, to that point, I think our department has been evaluating some
alternative options, because we understand that there are- it is a struggle to get to- to Tiffin to where
it's at, um, to- to get vehicles. So we've been, uh, evaluating other potential options. Um, mobilization
devices to help facilitate the program, um, in such a way that- that doesn't require the vehicle to
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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actually move. So that's something that we hope to bring to the Council in the future for consideration,
but, um, and just on a climate note itself, too, um, since that's always a topic that we're- that we're
talking about, it seems very not climate -friendly to pick up a vehicle with another vehicle, to take it all
the way to Tiffin, um, as part of our- it's- it's our citation recovery process, but I feel like there's better
ways to do it nowadays with technology. And- and that's some of the options that we've been looking,
um, looking into, and again, hope to bring you in the future.
[00:55:52]
And things, uh, devices like that, you're thinking about the barnacle, right?
[00:55:57]
Correct.
[00:55:57]
1 used to be very anti -barnacle, but now, I see- I see the wisdom of the barnacle, um. [LAUGHTER]
[00:56:03]
Stuck in place kind of thing.
[00:56:05]
Yeah.
[00:56:05]
I'm just not familiar with it.
[00:56:07]
So it's like a big thing that, like, uh, blocks the windshield and it like suction cups on it.
[00:56:11]
Oh.
[00:56:11]
So you can't drive your vehicle. But you can, like, correct me if I'm wrong, but you can pay to get it
removed, and then you drop it off, so it's significantly less, like you said, climate -wise, uh, and cost -wise,
and it can be cost wise.
[00:56:26]
Yeah. Got you. And you don't have the emotional panic of "Where's my car?".
[00:56:30]
Yeah.
[00:56:30]
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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You know? And that's- that's something that we're- we were thoughtful and considerate of, too,
because it is automatically, I think, everybody's initial it "My cars gone, you know, did my car get
stolen?" And then they check and- and they realize that they were on the tow list, or they knew that
they were on the tow list, whatever the case may be. But the barnacle could help to alleviate-
[00:56:46]
Yeah.
[00:56:47]
All of those situations and provide a quick way that- that, um, people can pay for their- their- their
overdue fines really quickly themselves and manage the process themselves.
[00:56:56]
Because, uh, either one year ago on Thanksgiving, or, like, on Thanksgiving Day, I woke up and my car
was gone. And-
[00:57:04]
Make sure we're asking questions.
[00:57:06]
Sorry. I'll bring it up during Council discussion.
[00:57:08]
O kay.
[00:57:09]
Thank you.
[00:57:09]
Thank you.
[00:57:10]
1 have a question about the criteria. Sorry, Darian.
[00:57:13]
Yeah.
[00:57:13]
Um, so there's the list of criteria that are, um, reviewed at the admin- administrative -review level just by
staff.
[00:57:22]
Yes.
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[00:57:23]
Is that list like an automatic no, we're not going to consider- like an automatic that's not a good enough
excuse, or is there some additional information that the person who has gotten the ticket can provide in
order to have that review be more substantive?
[00:57:41]
1 would say that if it was, um, characterized in the way that we had it outlined in the memo, and we will
actually publish out on the website and say, these are- these are not valid appeal reasons. Um, so we
will also notify the public. We want to be very clear about that, and that was a best practice that we
received from multiple other communities, too, and they said, if you just are upfront with what the
reasons are, and if there's extenuating circumstances, um, we would hope that they would indicate
what those are, and that would be something that would probably get passed on to Tier 2 for review.
[00:58:10]
O kay.
[00:58:10]
Okay, yeah.
[00:58:11]
That's really helpful. Thank you. I appreciate that.
[00:58:13]
Okay.
[00:58:17]
All right. Thank you. Anyone from the public like to address this topic? If you're online, please raise your
virtual hand. Seeing no one in -person or online, Council discussion.
[00:58:32]
Uh, I was just going to say that I, um, uh, felt that fear. I- I just assumed my car was stolen on
Thanksgiving Day, and it wasn't a very good feeling because the day before, uh, because of a parking
ticket I got three years prior. Um, and that I must have forgotten about or something, and then got a
subsequent one. Uh, so, uh, I'm just really happy because I feel like streamlining this process will make
things like that not happen anymore, and also raising that criteria to 150, while I think it could be higher,
it's, uh, definitely I don't know. Um, it's definitely the right direction. Yeah.
[00:59:16]
Agreed. Roll call, please.
[00:59:21]
Salih?
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[00:59:22]
Yes.
[00:59:22]
Teague?
[00:59:23]
Yes.
[00:59:23]
Weilein?
[00:59:24]
Yes.
[00:59:25]
Alter?
[00:59:25]
Yes.
[00:59:26]
Bergus?
[00:59:26]
Yes.
[00:59:27]
Harmsen?
[00:59:27]
Yes.
[00:59:28]
Moe?
[00:59:28]
Yes.
[00:59:30]
Motion passes 7-0. Item 10C: Ordinance adopting and incorporating SUDAS Design Manual and
Specifications. An ordinance amending Titles 15, 16, and 18 of the City Code to adopt and incorporate
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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the SUDAS design manual and specifications, general supplemental design standards and specifications,
and City of Iowa City Design Supplement and Specifications. This is a motion to give second
consideration, please.
[01:00:00]
So moved, Bergus.
[01:00:01]
Second, Moe.
[01:00:02]
All right. Anyone from the public like to discuss this topic? Seeing no one in -person or online, Council
discussion. Roll call, please.
[01:00:15]
Teague?
[01:00:15]
Yes.
[01:00:16]
Weilein?
[01:00:16]
Yes.
[01:00:17]
Alter?
[01:00:17]
Yes.
[01:00:18]
Bergus?
[01:00:18]
Yes.
[01:00:19]
Harmsen?
[01:00:20]
Yes.
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[01:00:20]
Moe?
[01:00:21]
Yes.
[01:00:21]
Salih?
[01:00:21]
Yes.
[01:00:22]
Motion passes 7-0. Item 10D: Assessment Schedule. A resolution adopting an assessment schedule of
unpaid moving, cleanup of properties, snow removal, sidewalk repair, and stop box repair charges, and
directing the city clerk to do the same to Johns County Treasurer for collection in the same manner as
property taxes. Can I get a motion, please?
[01:00:49]
So moved, Alter.
[01:00:51]
Second, Moe.
[01:00:52]
All right. Anyone from the- is anyone going to present this to us from staff?
[01:01:01]
It's pretty typical, um, either for mowing or snow removal, uh, off the top of my head, I can't remember
which is on there, but there's only two.
[01:01:09]
Okay.
[01:01:09]
So not a huge list.
[01:01:11]
All right, great. Anyone from the public like to address this topic? Seeing no one in -person or online.
Council discussion. Roll call, please?
[01:01:22]
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Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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Weilein?
[01:01:23]
Yes.
[01:01:24]
Alter?
[01:01:24]
Yes.
[01:01:25]
Bergus?
[01:01:25]
Yes.
[01:01:26]
Harmsen?
[01:01:26]
Yes.
[01:01:27]
M oe?
[01:01:27]
Yes.
[01:01:28]
Salih?
[01:01:28]
Yes.
[01:01:29]
Teague?
[01:01:29]
Yes. Motion passes 7-0. We're at Item Number 11: Council Appointments. We have, uh, quite a few
Council appointments. And so we'll just go each one. One by one, we'll start with 11A: Climate Action
Commission. Um, there is, um, three vacancies to fill three-year terms: January 1st, 2026, through
December 31st, 2028. And Council discussion.
Page 29
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[01:02:03]
I'm going to jump out with a couple of names, and then, you know, that way, at least starts throwing
names out there for discussion, and others can add in, and then we can start talking. Does that sound
agreeable?
[01:02:15]
Yeah, get us going.
[01:02:17]
So I had John Clayton, Catherine Peterson, and Alyssa Bedford.
[01:02:23]
How many people, Weilein?
[01:02:25]
Three.
[01:02:26]
Those were three that came to my mind.
[01:02:29]
You said John?
[01:02:30]
Yes, John Clayton, Catherine Peterson, and Alyssa Bedford. I'd like to note that there were some really
good ones. Um, this has been a bumper crop for applicants across all of the commissions.
[01:02:46]
Yeah.
[01:02:46]
So-
[01:02:47]
1 had across all the commissions, just had a great time reading all of the applications, and, uh, also thank
you to those who reached out, um, and emailed us for all the various commissions. Um, hard to respond
to all of you, but it's, uh, um, it was great to read.
[01:03:10]
1 would just add Ryan Hearn to the climate action list.
[01:03:14]
Page 30
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I really like Ryan Hearn's application and was also excited for him for Parks and Rec.
[01:03:19]
Well, that was the thing is- I saw him. He showed up in Parks and Rec, and noted that that was his first
choice. I had Ryan heard actually in climate action.
[01:03:27]
Same.
[01:03:28]
And then I noticed him in Parks and Rec, and that he said that that was his first choice. So I moved him
over to Parks.
[01:03:33]
And that's most my logic, also.
[01:03:35]
Yeah.
[01:03:35]
So I guess I caught his name, and yes, I like him. Yeah.
[01:03:38]
Thank you. Thank you for catching that. I had it backwards in my brain, but I also had Catherine Peterson
and John Clayton.
[01:03:44]
Catherine Peterson. It was also, yeah, the captain.
[01:03:46]
For this one, yeah.
[01:03:47]
Yeah, because they're strong.
[01:03:48]
1 would have Ryan for the climate action also.
[01:03:55]
1 would be agreeable to, uh, [LAUGHTER] like I said, there's a lot of, you know, I just, like, wrote down
every name, to be honest.
[01:04:07]
Page 31
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Pretty much.
[01:04:07]
Same and I've got. I- I know we're not on Parks and Rec yet, but I think, uh, you know, with that in mind,
I agree with that Ryan is a strong candidate for both, but I- I would be happy if we, I mean, kind of keep
him as a strong for Parks and Rec since that was his first choice. Um, but, you know, so, yeah, I think the
other ones you all had mentioned, Catherine and John, and I'm forgetting somebody. Who am I
forgetting?
[01:04:41]
1 feel like since we have- we have him and boss, and we have other people, I- I really want also. Like,
we're not talking about Parks and Rec, but if we want to do, I want to do Mary Helen for that, for Park
and Rec, and Ryan for-
[01:04:59]
1 think we've got three for Parks and Rec.
[01:05:01]
Yes.
[01:05:02]
1 know.
[01:05:03]
Okay.
[01:05:03]
But, okay.
[01:05:05]
And Alyssa Bedford you also mentioned also.
[01:05:06]
For me, I don't like that. Like, I put Ryan on the- on the climate, and I put Mary on the Parks and Recs.
Yeah, but it doesn't matter.
[01:05:16]
And Alyssa is also Alyssa Bedford who's also a Parks and Recs as an applicant.
[01:05:25]
Yes, Alyssa. That's also on my list.
[01:05:28]
Page 32
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Councilor Alter, can you remind me? I know that you started with John Clayton and Catherine.
[01:05:33]
And then Alyssa.
[01:05:34]
And Alyssa. Okay.
[01:05:35]
For climate action.
[01:05:36]
Yeah, John Clayton is on my list, and Ryan on my list, and, uh-
[01:05:45]
So I guess if I was to, um, kind of rally Council on support, and I think I would agree a lot of great
applicants. Um, is there any other nominations beside the four that has happened, which is Alyssa John,
Ryan, and Catherine?
[01:06:06]
How about Cole Cruz?
[01:06:08]
He also.
[01:06:11]
Yeah, I have-
[01:06:12]
Council Bergus that said that. Who said that? Okay.
[01:06:15]
Council Bergus did.
[01:06:18]
1 have John Clayton. I don't know if you have mine. John Clayton, and I have, uh, I have Ryan and I have
Cole.
[01:06:28]
Okay. I could go with Cole.
[01:06:32]
Me too.
Page 33
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[01:06:33]
It looks like we may have four for Cole. Mayor Pro tem, did you say Cole, as well?
[01:06:38]
Yes. Yes.
[01:06:39]
Okay. I think we've got Cole.
[01:06:41]
Yeah. Then we got him. We got Cole for-
[01:06:44]
John, Catherine, and Cole.
[01:06:48]
And is there enough support for John Clayton?
[01:06:53]
1 like his application.
[01:06:54]
Yeah.
[01:06:54]
Yes.
[01:06:54]
All right.
[01:06:55]
Aye.
[01:06:55]
And Catherine Peterson?
[01:06:58]
Yes. Yes.
[01:06:59]
All right. And let's see, none of them have- they're all the same date. So that's great.
Page 34
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[01:07:05]
Yeah.
[01:07:07]
All right. Could I get a- could I get a motion? I'm sorry.
[01:07:11]
Okay. I move to appoint all those three.
[01:07:14]
Yes.
[01:07:15]
Catherine-
[01:07:15]
Clayton, so John Clayton-
[01:07:19]
Catherine.
[01:07:20]
Cole Cruz- Cruz and Catherine Peterson.
[01:07:23]
Yes.
[01:07:24]
I'll second that.
[01:07:27]
So moved by?
[01:07:28]
Salih.
[01:07:29]
Salih. Seconded by Moe. All in favor say Aye.
[01:07:33]
Aye.
[01:07:34]
Page 35
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Aye.
[01:07:34]
Any opposed? Motion passes 7-0. We're on to the next Item 1113 is Human Rights Commission. Three
vacancies to fill three year terms, January 1st, 2026 through December 31, 2028.
[01:07:52]
This was one where there's- of course, there's so many great applications.
[01:07:56]
Thirty-two.
[01:07:57]
Yeah. Thirty-two applications to this.
[01:07:59]
And several people reached out to sort of brandish their qualifications. It did follow up with, you know,
I've known Mark Priest for a while and wanted to follow up, too with what his history was, because
some of these people, I think we need to decide as a Council, how much do we want people to return
versus allow opportunities for new people on, um, because there's benefits to both. There's benefits to
experience, and there's benefits to allowing new people on. And, um, you know, I like Mark. He's- but he
has kind of an interesting history where he served, and then took a break, and then serving again. So I
like him, but I also want to hear what you guys all think about. Again, we have some other candidates
who I think are seeking extensions, and I like that from their experience perspective, but also-
[01:08:43]
I- I- I- oh, no, you go ahead.
[01:08:47]
Go ahead.
[01:08:48]
I've been jumping you.
[01:08:48]
1 just wanted to say that I think he did not have a full term, did he?
[01:08:55]
So our wonderful clerk here was able to give me the- here's just her email.
[01:09:00]
His- his current term -
Page 36
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[01:09:02]
He served for Jan-
[01:09:02]
He was-
[01:09:03]
January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022, and then had a break. And according to our rules, that's a reset.
[01:09:11]
Yes.
[01:09:11]
And he's currently serving unexpired term, so you're correct.
[01:09:15]
Exactly.
[01:09:16]
From July 11th, 2023 until December, 2025.
[01:09:20]
And our history, since I've been in this Council, we always say we would love to give somebody a full
term.
[01:09:27]
Right.
[01:09:28]
So, yes, if we can give him full term, I'm okay with Mark.
[01:09:32]
Yeah.
[01:09:34]
Yeah.
[01:09:35]
All right, that was a long way to talk about one person.
[01:09:37]
We're still nominating people?
Page 37
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[01:09:40]
Yeah.
[01:09:41]
Yeah.
[01:09:41]
1 do have a slightly different perspective, just simply because he has cumulatively served four years.
Talisa Miller has served three months thus far. And so I would like to give her a full term.
[01:09:58]
My list, as well. Yep.
[01:09:59]
And then looking at 32 people, she's the only one that I was thinking to extend to return, simply because
she hasn't had much experience yet. Um, I know Mark, and he's fantastic as is the other candidate who -
or not candidate, current commissioner, but there's just so many. And so that's- that's my two cents
worth.
[01:10:25]
I- I would agree with you for that- for her, but also Mark.
[01:10:31]
But I think also Viana Qadoura has only done a partial term as well, is that correct?
[01:10:37]
Okay, then.
[01:10:38]
Is that- is that- I believe that's correct. So, I mean, that's- yeah, and so I'm torn, because, you know, it's
also somebody who I think has done a nice job, I know that Viana has done some wonderful things in
the community with the Mariam Club. And so it is really, really active in that. But we have also just the
played- I don't like the phrase "devil's advocate," but just to play advocate of another side, you know,
we do have a lot of- of great applicants here, too. So, I mean, I think I'm probably okay with everything
that everybody else has said. I just, you know, I just got 32 wonderful applicants.
[01:11:14]
So also, like, diversity is important. That's also bring diversity by-
[01:11:20]
Oh, yeah, no, I agree.
[01:11:21]
Page 38
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Yes.
[01:11:21]
Yeah. And we have a lot of- I mean, there's a lot of diversity in this list, too.
[01:11:24]
Yes, I know. But I think like the people we just said, they bring both.
[01:11:29]
Yeah, no, no.
[01:11:31]
So there's- I have three names written down right now: Mark, Talisa, and Viana.
[01:11:37]
Are there any other nominations?
[01:11:41]
Throw some names out.
[01:11:42]
1 was going to throw out, um, Viana, as well. Um, and also, Jaden Bartlett, uh, just someone who I know
personally, just, like, worked- um, and works tirelessly, uh, and is a young person, as well, um, at the
university. So, um, that's somebody I had written down, uh, that was- that has not been said yet.
[01:12:14]
1 had three others that haven't been said yet as well, Yaneli Kanelis, Savannah Heinlein, and Steven
Gross.
[01:12:32]
1 also had Tiana Madison for um-
[01:12:37]
Altina?
[01:12:39]
Madison. Oh, myself.
[01:12:48]
Yeah, I had Tiana as a- as a strong, maybe.
[01:12:56]
1 also had Susanna Rodriguez written down. We can just make two human rights commissions.
Page 39
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[01:13:06]
1 know. There are a lot of great.
[01:13:07]
So many rights, so many humans.
[01:13:08]
1 do think this is what happens when we do a good job of promoting the vacancies.
[01:13:13]
Just as, I- you know, I don't want to make the list any longer, but I just want to give, if nothing else, just
kind of an honorable mention, uh, Cliff Johnson.
[01:13:21]
Yes.
[01:13:21]
Because he has done, uh, you know, I think, amazing work for the city, and I- you know, I think he's
done, you know, honorable and admirable work with the TRC. Uh, he also does a lot with the boxing and
with youth and things like that. So, whether or not- whether or not this is the time, uh, that we have a
room for him on this com- commission. I think he's somebody that I'm very interested in either now or
in the future, having on because I think this would be a wonderful fit.
[01:13:47]
He was also on my list.
[01:13:48]
Sorry, I forgot to list him to begin with.
[01:13:50]
That's okay. Give me a chance to throw one to make our job harder and throw another one in the hat or
out in the contention.
[01:13:58]
All right, so we have a big list.
[01:13:59]
So, yeah, um, it does sound- did anyone want to second any of the other names that's been mentioned
so far? I guess.
[01:14:11]
What is it?
Page 40
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[01:14:11]
Tiana- Tiana Madison did get some seconds, and that was one. Um, I mean-
[01:14:17]
1 saw Viana has four.
[01:14:17]
[OVERLAPPING] I think I had four for Viana.
[01:14:20]
Yeah.
[01:14:20]
At least.
[01:14:21]
Viana Cadora probably had-.
[01:14:23]
You have Viana.
[01:14:24]
Yes.
[01:14:24]
1 like Viana.
[01:14:25]
1 counted four Vienna.
[01:14:26]
Okay, four for Vienna. I mean, I was referring to Tiana Madison because I heard some support for her for
multiple people. I think, I mean, probably in terms of, like, now we're going to pick where our three
actual hard nods go, um, I think everybody that's been mentioned, I think, has been great, but if we
have to come down to making choices, I think before I'd like to put Talia Miller, like, do that name.
[01:14:58]
Yes.
[01:14:59]
1 agree.
Page 41
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[01:14:59]
She had a short-term three months.
[01:15:02]
Okay. Talia, we have four for Talia. What about Mark?
[01:15:06]
1 mean, I could support Mark again.
[01:15:07]
O kay.
[01:15:08]
Yeah.
[01:15:08]
Three for Mark. One more.
[01:15:13]
Uh, I had- um I seconded Tiana and Mark.
[01:15:18]
Okay then.
[01:15:19]
'Cause I do think that Tiana has four.
[01:15:22]
Yeah.
[01:15:23]
Yeah, and now Mark has four. That's it.
[01:15:32]
But we can only take one more.
[01:15:37]
We have Vienna and Mark and Tiana.
[01:15:41]
No, Talia.
[01:15:42]
Page 42
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Talia, I mean Talia.
[01:15:44]
Talia Miller and Viana Cadora I think we've agreed on, have four each.
[01:15:48]
And now Mark had four.
[01:15:49]
Mark and Tiana Madison had four.
[01:15:52]
Who? Tiana Madison?
[01:15:55]
Who were the four for Mark?
[01:15:57]
Oliver. And we three.
[01:16:00]
Oh, okay.
[01:16:01]
Yeah.
[01:16:04]
So how do we- who were the four for Tiana, then?
[01:16:07]
Who's the four for Tiana? That's a quota.
[01:16:09]
1 like Tiana Madison.
[01:16:10]
Yep. So somebody had to be-.
[01:16:12]
That's three.
[01:16:12]
So that's only three. And you didn't vote for Tiana? I'm sorry.
Page 43
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[01:16:16]
We vote for Mark.
[01:16:17]
1 said she looks- I mean, she seems awesome to pick, huh?
[01:16:22]
Which, you know, only get so many.
[01:16:23]
Alright, so it is Mark Preece, Talia Miller-
[01:16:30]
And Viana.
[01:16:30]
-And Diana, who we will appoint? Can I get a motion, please?
[01:16:36]
And I can make a motion for Vienna, Mark and Taila.
[01:16:41]
Second.
[01:16:42]
All right. All in favor say Aye.
[01:16:44]
Aye.
[01:16:45]
Aye.
[01:16:45]
Any opposed? Motion passes seven is zero.
[01:16:47]
Man. That a possible.
[01:16:49]
Can we get a motion for correspondence for the-.
Page 44
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[01:16:51]
Yes can I get a motion for correspondence, please?
[01:16:54]
So move Tomson.
[01:16:54]
Second. M.
[01:16:56]
All in favor say Aye.
[01:16:57]
Aye.
[01:16:57]
Aye.
[01:16:57]
Any opposed? Motion passes seven is zero. We're on to 11C Parks and Rec Commission. Three vacancies
to fill four year terms, January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2029. All right. Council, discussion.
[01:17:15]
We've all talked about Ryan, I think, or we've started to talk about Ryan, and I would like to support
that.
[01:17:22]
Agreed.
[01:17:23]
And I would like to support Mary, Hellen.
[01:17:32]
Um, the two-.
[01:17:35]
So anyone else 'cause I know Ryan was a major part of the First Commission. Anyone else? Because here
we have three vacancies as well. And I hear Ryan and Mary. You can support both of them.
[01:17:51]
And I'm sorry. I did not get as much information on this group who the two that are currently finishing-
[01:17:59]
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Aaron and Connie.
[01:18:01]
Aaron did he miss his application last time and now he's back?
[01:18:05]
He did. Yeah.
[01:18:06]
And the Brian and Connie are currently expiring now, right? And sorry, guys. So yeah, Connie- Connie is
ending a one first term, right? But unexpired term.
[01:18:24]
Unexpired?
[01:18:26]
Unexpired term.
[01:18:31]
So similar logic, somebody serves it. So Connie is serving an unfinished term, is that correct? Okay.
[01:18:39]
How many people serve unfinished term?
[01:18:42]
Um, Connie is the only one I'm aware of that's currently applying to stay on after finishing-.
[01:18:48]
And do know what that how many months or how long served?
[01:18:53]
1 don't know.
[01:18:54]
Okay, no that's fine.
[01:18:56]
1 think since we-.
[01:18:57]
We did that with Talia also.
[01:18:58]
Page 46
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Yes, exactly. We should do it with Connie?
[01:19:01]
Yeah, that seems consistent.
[01:19:03]
Annie, Ryan and Mary.
[01:19:08]
Are there any other names for nominating?
[01:19:11]
The- And is Aaron the one that you were speaking of who had been on the commission, didn't get his
application but because of the timing issue, but now he has it in.
[01:19:20]
1 mean, he's-.
[01:19:21]
He'd be great, too. Just wanted to get that- say that.
[01:19:25]
Yeah. I'm okay with either Aaron or Mary as the third. They both-
[01:19:31]
You know, Mary has reached out. I mean, they both have.
[01:19:35]
Yeah. They both have advocated for themselves, so.
[01:19:41]
1 like Aaron a lot-.
[01:19:42]
And Connie.
[01:19:43]
Yeah.
[01:19:46]
If no one has objection.
[01:19:48]
Page 47
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Yeah. So yeah, Mary.
[01:19:52]
Okay. You want me again to be down motion. Okay, I move to appoint Kenny, Ryan, and Mary.
[01:20:01]
Can I get a second?
[01:20:02]
Second, M.
[01:20:04]
All right. All in favor say Aye.
[01:20:07]
Aye.
[01:20:07]
Aye.
[01:20:07]
Aye.
[01:20:08]
Any opposed? Motion passes, seven to zero. Alright, we are moving on to 11D Public Art Advisory
Committee. We have an art or design professional one vacancy to fill a three year term, January 1, 2026
through December 31, 2028.
[01:20:30]
Um, I had down Aaron Mosley um, because of his involvement in um, working uh with individuals with
disabilities and the radical inclusion of bringing them into the art world. Uh I think, is an amazing
perspective to have with um- and through that uh program that he works with, I don't know him.
Personally. But I've seen a lot of the work that that organization has done uh to uh lots of individuals
served there, so it's- um I think that's a great choice.
[01:21:17]
1 would agree. And there has to be one professional and one at large, correct?
[01:21:22]
You can appoint a ardor design professional for the at large. The bylaws, say, of the seven appointees, at
least- at least three, you need to be an ardor design professional, but you could have more.
[01:21:33]
Page 48
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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But my question is, this gentleman sounds great. Does he qualify as a pro?
[01:21:39]
They both do.
[01:21:39]
Oh, they both do.
[01:21:40]
Okay. Yeah, then cool.
[01:21:43]
1 think I remember actually, him coming up once before, for whatever reason, but I remember I believe
nominating him before. Anyway, I remember his application.
[01:21:55]
They both sound good to me.
[01:21:56]
She sounds amazing, as well. I think they'd be tremendous assets for the commission.
[01:22:02]
Do we need two separate-.
[01:22:04]
So we'll need one to be appointed at large, should we identify them?
[01:22:09]
Yeah, you could. That way, we have to track it, too, should people fall off and we need to keep track of
the three who are-.
[01:22:16]
Sure.
[01:22:16]
-In that position.
[01:22:18]
Um.
[01:22:18]
No, I think this is fine. Uh, Bike.
Page 49
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[01:22:21]
Just arbitrary, but let's do Aaron as the professional and Susan as the at large.
[01:22:26]
1 will second that motion.
[01:22:28]
Cause someone needed to say something.
[01:22:30]
Yep, yep.
[01:22:31]
And I think the rationale as Aaron was his name came out first.
[01:22:35]
There you go.
[01:22:36]
Alright.
[01:22:36]
You put that motion?
[01:22:38]
Yes. Alright. So that we have a motion on the floor by Councilor Burgess. Anybody want to second?
[01:22:44]
Second. Mo.
[01:22:45]
Oh. Second by Mo. He gave his name. Alright. All in favor, say Aye.
[01:22:50]
Aye.
[01:22:50]
Aye.
[01:22:51]
Aye.
[01:22:51]
Page 50
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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Any opposed? Motion passes seven to zero. 11E, Senior Center Commission, two vacancies to fill three
year terms, January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028. And we have two.
[01:23:09]
Two for two.
[01:23:10]
Both looked wonderful-.
[01:23:11]
Two for two.
[01:23:14]
Yes.
[01:23:15]
Yeah, Yes, I agree. They both look good. Addition to being the two.
[01:23:18]
Alright, could I get a motion to appoint Emily and John to the Senior Center Commission.
[01:23:24]
1 moved that Emily and John get appointed to the Senior Center Commission.
[01:23:28]
Second Alter.
[01:23:29]
Okay.
[01:23:30]
Move by most. Seconded by all. All in favor say Aye.
[01:23:32]
Aye.
[01:23:33]
Any opposed? Motion passes seven to zero. Item 12 announcements of vacancies previous. The Boards,
Commissions, and Committee applications can be found at the following at our website, and it's all listed
in our agenda. 12A is announcements of vacancies previous, Airport Zoning Board of Adjustment, one
vacancy to fill a five year term, Airport Zoning Board of Adjustment, one vacancy to fill a five year term.
Board of Adjustment, one vacancy to fill a five year term. Board of Appeals one vacancy to fill for a
licensed electrician to fill a five year term. Board of Appeals, one vacancy for HVAC professional to fill
Page 51
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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unexpired term, Historic Preservation Commission, one vacancy for Brown Street, representative to fill a
three year term, Historic Preservation Commission, one vacancy for Jefferson Street, to fill a three year
term. Historic Preservation Commission, one vacancy for Lunde Avenue to fill a three year term.
Vacancies will remain open until filled. We're at Item Number 13, City Council information.
[01:24:42]
There's an election tomorrow.
[01:24:43]
Yep, yeah. Go vote.
[01:24:44]
Oh.
[01:24:45]
Polls are open until 8:00.
[01:24:46]
Yes.
[01:24:47]
You realize.
[01:24:47]
Hellen told me?
[01:24:49]
Yes.
[01:24:50]
Is that true?
[01:24:52]
Any other announcements? Going to move on to Item Number 14, reports on Items from city staff, city
manager's office.
[01:25:01]
Yes, real quickly, over the last week or so, I think every one of you have made a call, or inquiry into me
about the impending or what is now no longer pending, loss of SNAP benefits and what the city can do
to assist. So um I think it's going to certainly be an evolving conversation, but to get started, I'm really
proud of our team that put together a food drive that was just announced this afternoon. Uh so
beginning tomorrow, we'll have drop off locations where individuals can make donations of non
perishable foods at city facilities. Again, 10 different facilities spread across the entire city. At those
Page 52
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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locations, there'll also be opportunities to make financial donations through a QR code on those
donation bins. And then um, we will also do a couple of different food drive events in the coming weeks.
So we'll uh, have three different food drives at local grocery stores, including the North Dodge IV, First
Avenue, Hi V, and Mormon Trek Fairway, and then we're going to do some neighborhood based events,
too, and we'll have three pop up food drives uh on November 17, 18th and 19th at Happy Hollow, James
Allen McPherson and Wetherby Parks. So that information was just released publicly a few hours before
your meeting started. Uh feel free to grab that information and share it out, and we'll do what we can to
help support the local food bank at Community Crisis Services and Food Bank.
[01:26:37]
Thank you, and thank you to- sorry.
[01:26:39]
Go ahead.
[01:26:40]
Thank you to City staff that worked on this. I think you maybe had mentioned to me that Tshalen was
instrumental in this, so shout out to- to her for her efforts on organizing all this.
[01:26:51]
1 guess this is like the drive where people bring the food, right?
[01:26:55]
Correct.
[01:26:55]
Yeah, I just want to encourage the public not to rely on only canned food because a lot of low income
and immigrants they don't eat canned food. And I encourage them to bring something like flour, you
know, flour and oil and, like, dry intens and, you know, dry beans, those with rice, those kind of things,
you know, not only just like canned food because immigrants do not eat canned food. Still, you can bring
can food for the people who like can food. But, you know, as I know, here is almost 70% of the low
income in this community are immigrants and refugees. So bring variety of food.
[01:27:43]
Does that also include, like, infant needs, like diapers and formula? Is that-.
[01:27:50]
Correct, yes.
[01:27:51]
Same thing. I will put in the plug for that. It's expensive, but also the sort of generic stuff, it's just- it's not
very good for babies. So if people can afford it, get the better stuff, get a variety of it, and, um it's going
to be desperation time. So if you can, formula and diapers, as well.
Page 53
Iowa City City Council Formal meeting of November 3, 2025
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[01:28:15]
Yes. I agree.
[01:28:18]
Alright. City attorneys?
[01:28:21]
Nothing for me. Thank you.
[01:28:22]
All right. City Clerk?
[01:28:24]
No.
[01:28:24]
All right. Item number 15, can I get a motion to adjourn, please.
[01:28:30]
So move. Sole. Second, Alter.
[01:28:33]
All right. All in favor say Aye.
[01:28:35]
Aye.
[01:28:35]
Aye.
[01:28:35]
Any opposed? We are adjourned. [MUSIC]
Page 54