HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-04-06 Council minutesr
�!"'p° CITY OF IOWA CITY
Z--- a �-' MEMORANDUM
Date: April 14, 2021
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kellie Fruehling, City Clerk
Re: Electronic Council Work Session, April 6, 2021, 4:00 PM, Zoom Meeting Platform
Council: Bergus, Mims, Salih, Taylor, Teague, Thomas, Weiner
UISG: Longenecker
Staff: Fruin, Monroe, Kilburg, Dilkes, Fruehling, Hightshoe, Sitzman, Russett, Ralston, Knoche,
Havel, Sovers, Bowers, Seydell-Johnson, Nagle-Gamm, Bockenstedt
(A transcription is available in the City Clerk's Office and the City website.)
Electronic Meeting (Pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.8)
An electronic meeting was held because a meeting in person was impossible or impractical due
to concerns for the health and safety of council members, staff and the public presented by
COVID-19.
Process for interviewing City Attorney applicants
Mayor Teague noted the upcoming retirement of City Attorney Dilkes and thanked her for her years of
service. Mayor Teague initiated the discussion on how councilors wanted to review the submitted
applications to narrow them down and what the interview process should look like. Individual Council
members expressed their views. City Attorney Dilkes provided additional information.
Action: Councilors Mims, Bergus and Teague will review the City Attorney applications and recommend
a list of possible candidates to interview to the full City Council. The target for completing that review is
the week of April 26th. Tentatively, the Council will meet in Executive Session to determine an interview
pool on May 4th. The City Attorney will share interview questions previously used in Assistant City
Attorney interviews with Human Resources.
Discuss Capital improvement Plan and Market/Jefferson one-way to two-way conversion project
City Manager Fruin summarized the memo (IP3) included in the April 1, 2021 Information Packet.
Individual Council members expressed their views. City Engineer Havel and Transportation Planner
Ralston provided additional information.
Action: Staff will update the Market / Jefferson unfunded project narrative to include a note that the
conversion should be pursued when traffic light replacement along the corridor is deemed necessary
and will give consideration to conducting preliminary engineering on the project in the next few years.
Explore text amendments to facilitate more neiahborhood commercial in residential areas
City Manager Fruin provided background information and summarized the memo (IP4) included in the
April 1, 2021 Information Packet. Individual Council members expressed their views. Senior Planner
Russett and City Attorney Dilkes provided additional information.
Action: Staff will process the City Council's discussion on neighborhood commercial and determine
possible next steps. Thoughts to consider include expanding options for daycare, as well as residential
options in commercial zones. Staff should also discuss potential special exception guidelines for
Council Work Session
April 6, 2021
Page 2
expanded commercial uses in residential zones. Lastly, there was a suggestion for the city to promote
current opportunities for home-based businesses.
Clarification of Agenda Items
No discussion.
Information Packet Discussion rMarch 18. March 25, April 11
➢ March 18
1. (IP3, Memo from City Manager: Overview of OIR, Preliminary Plan and CPRB
Recommendations) Councilor Bergus asked about scheduling a special work session to
discuss the Preliminary Police Plan. City Manager Fruin and City Attorney Dilkes
provided information. Individual Council members expressed their views.
Action: A special work session was set for May 11 at 3:00 p.m. to discuss the
Preliminary Police Plan.
2. (IP1, Council Tentative Meeting Schedule) City Attorney Dilkes noted the legal review of
the CPRB proposed changes to the ordinance would have to wait until the legislative
session was over due to some bills that may pass that will influence what can and can't
be done with the CPRB.
3. (IP4, Memo from Historic Preservation Commission Chair and Historic Preservation
Planner: Historic Preservation Commission Annual Planning Session Report and Work
Plan for Calendar Year 2021) Councilor Weiner pointed out the work plan and how
thorough it was.
March 25 — no discussion.
➢ April 1 — no discussion.
Council updates on assigned boards, commissions and committees
Council members reported on various assigned boards, commissions and committees.
Adjourn 5:40 p.m.