HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-07-06 Transcription Page 1
7. Community Comment(items not on the agenda) [UNTIL 7 PM]
Teague: This is an opportunity where we give people from the community a opportunity to
talk and we ask that you keep your comments three, uh, three minutes, and if you
would like to talk, please come to this podium and I will call upon you, and this is
for any item that is not on our formal agenda. And at the podium, uh, if you
didn't do so outside, there will be a sign up sheet where you list your name, first
and last, and your address. Welcome! Please give us your first and last name and
your address.
Hiatt: First and last name,Temple Hiatt. My address is 1717 Grant Wood Drive here in
Iowa City.
Teague: Great!
Hiatt: My name...again, my name is Temple Hiatt. I've been a resident in the South
District for nearly 40 years. I'm a committee member with the South District
Neighborhood Association and I'm also a volunteer with Moms Demand Action
for Gun Sense in America. One year ago, this Council repealed a gun safety
ordinance prohibiting guns in local government buildings and on public
transportation. I don't think any of you wanted to repeal the ordinance,but due to
the State's punitive preemptive law, you felt you had no choice. Today I stand
before you with an opportunity to wash away that sickening feeling you felt when
casting your votes. I share with you the lens of my gun violence prevention
advocacy work along with my participation in the amazing things that are going
on in the South District of Iowa City. These are not my creations,but I see how
wonderfully aligned these efforts are. Communities all across our country have
adopted strategies to reduce gun violence by reshaping public spaces. This work
is often called `crime prevention through environmental design,' as it involves
deliberate efforts to change the physical environment to reduce crime and increase
community safety. These programs encompass a wide variety of approaches and
efforts to rehabilitate areas and make violence less likely to occur. Violence can
be discouraged by these visible signs that a community is cared for and watched
over. Examples of these efforts include community clean-up, gardening,
beautification efforts, and murals. And I hope that sounds familiar,because we've
already done some of these things in the South District. Many of you know abut
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the Diversity Market pop-up. Thank you to those who have stopped out and I
invite all of you to join us on the last one this Saturday, from 3:00 to 7:00. The
Diversity Market is one example of the revitalization efforts possible under the
South District's self-supporting municipal improvement district. And the SSMID
is a perfect example of a crime prevention through environmental design strategy.
It's really amazing and exciting. I see those in the South District devoting
countless hours towards revitalization, which is essential for these efforts to
succeed. But we can't do it alone. We need help. So I urge the City Council to
commit to investing part of the American Rescue Fund in the South District to
match the investment and current committed support to business and
neighborhood revitalization efforts through the South District SSMID petition.
Gun violence is costly. But we can save hundreds of dollars for every dollar that's
invested toward these efforts. This is an opportunity for the City to demonstrate
good-faith effort for this underserved area of Iowa City, and support efforts that
can reduce crime and increase community safety. Thank you.
Teague: Thank you. Welcome!
Jordan: Hi! My name's Angie Jordan and my address is 1125 Apple Court, a fellow South
District resident with Temple. Um, I'm going to be kind of brief; three minutes
here we go! I want to formally invite everyone here, everyone listening, City
folks that work for the City, or Council. You guys gotta come to our last Diversity
Market! It is this Saturday at 3:00. Temple talked about it. It goes till 7:00, but
the fun happens from about 3:00 to 6:00! That's when the free face painting is,
the bouncy house. Uh, this last one we're actually going to be creating more
space, as requested by market-goers and the vendors themselves. Over 30—we
have a wait list. Um, they want us to do more with the entertainment, so we're
going to have some dancing. We're going to have some singing. We need you
there! We need to see your faces. I need you to also know, and this is my serious
face, um, this was 100% done by a neighborhood association and a South District
business that has only been there for under one year. She's done a whole bunch of
stuff—Tasha Lard—she's, uh, JD Beauty Supply, and she's in the former police
substation. Um, and I just...I just have to point that out because the other parts of
the team are the League of United Latin American Citizens, LULAC; Dream City;
Kingdom Center; and the Multi-Cultural Development Center. None of us are
getting paid to do this. Um, we also...I personally do this to revitalize my
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neighborhood; and business, entrepreneurial development, that's a...believe it or
not, a small piece. Right? Uh, like Temple was saying, we can't do this alone.
So what I'm just putting out there for anybody who's listening to me is to invest
in people like me. We've got so many incredible resources, but there's a
disconnect. Right? A disconnect to the actual people. So people like me and
the...Elizabeth Bernals out there, and all those folks that are brown and women—
I'm just gonna say it out loud—urn, we need investment so that we...our efforts
are sustainable. Not for a department or an organization or a business to try to
take what we've created, and what we've been vulnerable to create...constantly
having to prove ourselves and many folks not believing in us. Um,this is a space
and chance for our City to continue to believe in people like me and people like
us, and when I say that, that is supporting efforts that are going to financially keep
us sustainable. Okay? So I just want to say you're invited, Saturday, come see
how amazing and awesome it is, and um, imagine what it would be like with even
more support. So, thank you!
Teague: Thank you! Welcome!
Theisen: Uh, good evening, Council. Uh, nice to see you all back in a room again. Um, I
wish I had something as fun as what Angie and Temple just had to talk about, and
by the way, the Diversity Market is really great. You should stop by.
Teague: Would you please state your first and last name (both talking)
Theisen: Oh, sorry! My name is Nicholas Theisen. I live at 1430 Eastview Drive. Sorry, I
forgot that (laughs) So I guess I come here tonight with a question, and the
question is why does the City Manager still have a job? Why is he still
employed? Why is he still in the position that he is currently in? You see the
thing is, when you were having your discussion about the MRAP during the work
session, you seemed to have completely forgotten about what actually motivated
you to send that letter last summer. Because I actually remember those
discussions. You said, Mayor, explicitly, we are not in favor of having militarized
equipment. You didn't just say an MRAP. You said militarized equipment in our
police department. And when it became evident that ICPD can use the County's
MRAP, basically whenever they feel like it, without even asking. You were
actually asked by a reporter why it is that that is the case, and instead of actually
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leading, you deferred to the real mayor of this city, which is Geoffrey Fruin. So
the thing is the reason why I ask this question—why does he still have a job—is
because...he and his subordinates acted directly against this Council's stated
wishes. It's in writing! It's not only in writing, it's been recorded. And now I
don't know, I mean, a lot of you own businesses. A lot of you have subordinates,
but if you had an employee who literally did the exact opposite of what you told
them to do, would they still be in a job? Would they still be doing whatever they
feel like? Would they still get to run the police department however they feel? I
imagine not! And the thing is, it's not just once. It's not just this one time. That
same MRAP was staged twice against protests in this city last summer, including
on the night in which ICPD officers tear gassed protesters, assaulted them,
attacked them. So if I'm a little upset about this issue, if I'm a little irritating to
you all, it's because I'm really sick and tired of you saying again and again and
again things like `Black Lives Matter,' `Oh, it's so important that we reform the
police department.' You're not reforming the police department! Geoffrey Fruin
is reforming the police department to his liking, and what is he doing with it? He
is expanding police power. And so the things is on the one hand you have this
feeling of like 'Oh, we're opposed to militarized equipment in the police
department,'but the second someone actually comes to you and says `Okay, well
then why is ICPD allowed to use this f-ing tank,' you demure. You defer to the
person who actually runs this city, your City Manager, who frankly should be out
of a job. Fire Geoffrey Fruin now and if you don't, well, who cares what your
opinions on these matters are.
Teague: Thank you. Welcome! Please state your first and last name and your address.
Kauble: Hi, um, my name is Dan Kauble and I live in Manville Heights. Um, I'd like to
first talk about the MRAP,just because it came up in the work session. I'm sorry,
but this Council needs to take action now regarding this issue. The MRAP has
been used disproportionately in BIPOC neighborhoods and let's be real—it's a
form of racist terrorism. Uh, the alternative, a BearCat, is less intimidating,but
it's still a military vehicle! And, um, because it....people think it's less
intimidating than...than the MRAP, my fear is that it's going to be used more, and
let's be real! I fear that...that City Manager Fruin and ICPD, based on their
histories, they're going to use it and use it more and terrorize people more,
because it's still a military vehicle! Um, another thing I would like to say,just
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quick, I would like to, urn, voice support for the Excluded Workers Fund. If you
talk to folks from the Catholic Worker House, they...it's....it's, the testimony that
they have in their presentations regarding it are very powerful, so I recommend
everyone on this Council become educated about it. Urn, regarding the Project
Better Together presentation, during the work session, I'd just like to say that
some of those people are pretty bad actors in regards to BIPOC and immigrant
businesses in our community, and that should be taken into consideration and
Council should question them about it. Now why I'm here, I would like to talk
about City Manager Fruin, because, um, we should have known that Fruin would
not save...work to save our community from the terrorism of the ICPD. Based on
his statement from last year where he said `I have not done enough addressing
issues of police, over-policing.' He also went on to praise Iowa City Police
Department. I mean the...the statement was pretty disingenuous. Urn, and again,
Council said last summer that they...that the MRAP has no place in law
enforcement in our community! Yet Fruin has continued to use it as a form of
racist terrorism,because that's what it is! Urn, the Mayor when asked by the
press about the City's position on the MRAP even deferred to Fruin! However,
Fruin answers to this Council! This Council needs to take responsibility for
Fruin's actions and Fruin's knowing disregard for the will of the Council who
represents the people of Iowa City. Urn, Fruin's plan expands the presence of
Iowa City police in our community! And...Fruin personally is not...this is not
someone you want to have in charge of efforts to change the police system! The
example, he got me arrested because I was peacefully demonstrating outside of
his office! I stepped away from the building after City staff asked me to move,
and yet he still set armed policemen on me. So, um...he...he's not a very good
City Manager! And frankly, our ci...the City Council needs to hold him
accountable for disregarding them, and he should be given an award for worst city
manager. I wish I had one! Oh, wait! I do!
Teague: Thank you. Thank you. (several talking in background) Welcome. Please state
your first and last name and your address.
Noah: All right,uh, my name is Noah. I live in Iowa City. And I'm just going
(mumbled) second and third concerns about why Geoff here still has a job but you
should fire him today ideally, but tomorrow would work as well. Urn...also on a
different note um, I have a question for the City about why we have so few
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community gardens in our parks in the city when we have an abundance of open
green space, where we could have parks in our community giving(mumbled)
local food to our people (mumbled) urban farms and just more plots for
community members to garden in. So I mean that's something that y'all really
should do something about, so we can grow food in our city instead of having it
from our terrible food system we have currently. Thank you.
Teague: Thank you. Welcome!
Kohn: Hi, um, my name is Taylor Kohn. I live on 420 Church Street. Urn, real quick, I
also think Fruin should lose his job. I also think we have no business having an
MRAP or a BearCat. It's not a civilian armored vehicle. It's a military vehicle.
Um, and I also support the Excluded Workers Fund. Um, I also want to talk about
how at the end of this month, tenants—many of whom are students—have to deal
with `homeless week,'or the time in July and early August when lots of renters
have a lease gap and nowhere to live or store their things. It's called `homeless
week,'but some are two or three weeks long by the way. Some renters are lucky
enough to have families who can take them in during that time, but some people's
families are far away or can't afford to or aren't willing to. Some students live in
their cars during this week, if they have one. Even in the best case scenario,
`homeless week' means hundreds more dollars in moving expenses, in storage
costs, or in the cost of the University of Iowa lease gap program, which charges
people by the night to stay in the residence halls and doesn't include storage.
Many students do not have that money to spare or to borrow from their parents.
The Obermann Center recently shared a study that showed that 60% of students
had missed a meal because they couldn't afford it. How many of them do you
think can spend an extra $500 to move twice in one week? `Homeless week'
being a tradition that's gone on long enough to have a name is just one way the
City shows us you are not concerned with the needs of students as residents of
Iowa City. Every time one of you says that we do have affordable housing, that
there are ways that people can get over these barriers, that you've already been
working on this project for a while and if there was a way to improve it it would
have happened by now, so you'll vote yes anyway. That's a slap in the face.
When you say that what we have is good enough, the message is it is okay that
some people slip through the cracks, so that you can turn your attention to single-
family housing, and while one person slipping through the cracks is too much,
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this is not a case of the occasional exception to the rule. Let me remind you again
that 60% of students missed a meal due to a lack of money. So many renters here
are students, taken advantage of by the likes of Apartments Downtown, because
they cycle out of here soon enough that you don't have to actually care whether
this town is a good place for them to live, and everyone in this city suffers for it!
When we don't have enough multi-family housing and what we have is set up to
take advantage of students, what do you think that does to the rest of the
community? Graduates often don't stay here because of this. Renters who aren't
students suffer under the same tyrannical landlords. The remaining population of
this city will get richer and whiter as a lack of affordable quality housing makes it
difficult for marginalized and working class people to come or to stay here. What
you really have here is an emergency you're not dealing with, while you
congratulate yourself on the progress you've made. Also I should say that like
full time actual homeless people in this city are worse than abandoned, because
homelessness increased an estimated 300% since the beginning of the pandemic,
and what you have done this year, together with Public Works and the police, is
steal from them, destroy their encampments, take their bags and their beds and
their stoves. Another one of your mistakes that Iowa City Mutual Aid is now
trying to repair. They have an Amazon wish list for this. You can find them on
Google.
Teague: Would anyone else like to address any item that is not on the agenda at this time,
please take the podium. Seeing no one I'm going to close community comment.
Thanks to everyone for, uh, that shared.
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8. Planning and Zoning Matters
8.a. Rezoning—Hickory Trail Estates—Ordinance conditionally rezoning
approximately 48.75 acres of land located south of N. Scott Boulevard and
west of N. 1st Avenue from Interim Development Single-Family(ID-RS) to
Low Density Single-Family with a Planned Development Overlay(OPD/RS-
5) zone. (REZ20-0016) (Second Consideration
Teague: Could I get a motion please?
Mims: So moved, Mims.
Bergus: Second, Bergus.
Teague: Would anyone from the public like to address this topic? If so, please take the
podium. Welcome. Please state your first and last name and your address, and if
you don't have a sticker, there's a little sign-in sheet there, and I should have told
the earlier people as well.
Synan: Thank you. My name is Ann Synan. I live at 833 Cypress Court in Iowa City.
And I would just like to address you, Mayor Teague, and the rest of the
Councilors, and just say that my husband and I, urn, are just asking...we urge you
as Councilors to propose a change to the current plan that's being proposed by the
developers and City staff. Um, we request that consideration be given to
eliminate the proposed through-way street that would go from Scott Boulevard to
north 1st Avenue. Um, instead we are asking that you please proceed, consider the
original plan to have two cul-de-sacs, and this was a plan that was put forth by the
Northeast District plan and reaffirmed in 2013. Urn, this was originally planned,
we believe, with a very thoughtful and, um, strong purpose. Um, we were told at
that time that it was intended to minimize potential traffic liabilities at the
intersection of north 1s`Avenue and Hickory Trail, and in addition would help
preserve the integrity and natural serenity along the perimeter of Hickory Hill
Park. Um...we ask you to please advocate on behalf of all of the citizens of Iowa
City, not just the neighbors in the Bluffwood area. Um, as one of our, um,
Planning and Zoning Commissioners...actually two said it but one stayed strong
through the whole Planning and Zoning process, um, and as she said, we need to
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get this right before it is finalized, because once it's done, there's no turning back,
and I believe Councilor Thomas also had some suggestions for how this plan
could be better. So we just ask for a better plan, and that you do the right thing.
Thank you very much.
Teague: Thank you. Welcome! Please state your first and last name and your address.
Kohrt: My name is Casey Kohrt. I live at 435 Rundell Street. And I am the Chair of the
Board of Friends of Hickory Hill Park. Um, I would like to mention something
about citizen participation and I hope that...now that we're back live we don't take
away the option to....to join by Zoom. That was a great way to get citizen input
over the last year. Um, Friends of Hickory Hill Park opposes this plan in its
current form, um, as it does not meet the planning goals of the Northeast District
and comprehensive plan. Twenty-five years ago, as lSt Avenue was being
developed, urn, the City made a promise to its citizens and enshrined those design
into the Northeast District plan. Um, Friends of Hickory Hill Park did not exist at
that time, but formed soon after, and many of our forming...our founding
members, um, sat in on those meetings and helped develop those plans. Um,
since 2004 when we were keeping records, Friends of Hickory Hill Park has
contributed over 15,000 hours which is over seven work years to the park to
improve it. That's a value of over$320,000. And we've engaged 4,841 people
in...in work...in our work days in the park. So here we are. The plans that came
out obviously did not meet the Northeast District plan and the comprehensive
plan. The first two were terrible. And we did meet with the developer and asked
that they conform to the plan. It did get better with the single-loaded street, but
we still feel that cul-de-sacs can happen, and they should happen where they...
where they....where it's important, environmentally important, and this is one of
those places. This...the City Council did approve, um...cul-de-sac off of, um,
Rapid Creek Road,just a few months ago when this same plan was up for...for a
vote. Um (clears throat) so we ask, we did our part. We ask that you do yours.
You can vote against this. We can get a plat that meets other City goals including
climate action and affordable housing. You just need the courage to do so. Thank
you.
Teague: Thank you. Would anyone else like to address this topic? If so, please take the
podium. Welcome!
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Kauble: Hi, urn, this Dan again. Urn, I would just like to comment about some of the...the
ways that the public hearings regarding this issue have been conducted over the
last few meetings, urn, specifically the last meeting. It was really frustrating and
it looked really bad for the Council to let the developers talk over the three
minutes that had been allotted for them. The image that came...has come away
from these public hearings regarding the Hickory Hill rezoning is that Council
does not care about the wishes of the ordinary people. Because as, I mean I...this
issue has been up for public hearing for...god, I don't even know how many
meetings, but it's been quite a few. Lots of people have come out, lots of people
who live near Hickory Hill Park, and I don't live there...near there,but I...I do
there quite a bit and I see the beauty that they're talking about and the passion
with which they want to defend it and prevent these, I mean the encroachment of
this development into that area, and for Council to disregard the wishes of these
citizens, it's...it's frustrating, and I mean it's the kind of thing that zaps people's
confidence in their local government, because the government takes the word of
developers of, um...just the bigger guy. It doesn't listen to the people! Uh, and
that's really what's been going on throughout the course of these public hearings,
and even at the last one. The developer was talking about, oh, we've put all this
effort in and blah,blah, blah, blah, and we've met all the City requirements, so
you should pass this through,blah,blah, blah, blah, blah,but I mean just because
they've put all of this effort into it, it still does not meet the wishes and the
demands of the people who live there, the vast majority of them, and so I would
say that the Council should vote against this until the community who's living
there is in a greater, urn....is more pleased with the Hickory Hill rezoning plan.
Because until that happens, I think it's really messed up for Council to go ahead
and approve this rezoning. Thank you.
Teague: Thank you. Would anyone else like to address this topic? Seeing no one, Council
discussion?
Thomas: Well I'll...um...begin the conversation, and um...what I....what I've been trying to
focus on over the last couple of weeks is to try to understand, you know, the
process by which we got here, and uh, see if that provides any indication of how
we might move forward, uh, so I've prepared some comments, urn, in that regard.
And, uh, you know, I've kind of titled them, if you will, `getting to yes, a project
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that all stakeholders will support.' The City Council should always strive for
outcomes that employ a win-win strategy. This is especially critical today. Iowa
City faces great environmental equity and economic challenges requiring the
efforts of all of us working together. The actions should strive to bring diverse
stakeholders together by working to find a common ground, strengthening
community along the way. So what is the nature of a win-win strategy? Win-win
strategies require a mediated good-faith public engagement process in which
every stakeholder is at the table. Focusing on issues, stakeholders work together
in a fact-finding effort. Together they develop criteria and discover or invent
options that fulfill those criteria, thus achieving mutual gain. The citizen planning
process resulting in the Northeast District plan was, in my view, such an effort.
Through a negotiated conversation among stakeholders, it generated planning
principles that were then fulfilled and depicted in illustrative form as a design
option. Together the principles and the illustrative plan gave Iowa City residents
confidence that future development west of l s`Avenue in that Is'Avenue
extension would preserve the natural integrity of Hickory Hill Park. Over the last
several months, the public conversation over future development east of Hickory
Hill has taken place at the Planning and Zoning Commission and now at City
Council. The current application has generated considerable comment from the
public and debate among P&Z Commissioners and City Councilors. If the
application is approved, the strategy has gone from a win-win to something else.
For some, we have achieved a compromise that is consistent with the North
District plan. I'm sorry, the Northeast District plan. In my judgment, the
application's inconsistency with the Northeast District plan results in a win-lose
outcome. As I stated at our last meeting, the application does not satisfy the
public's need for a sufficient buffer to preserve the natural integrity of Hickory
Hill Park. It lacks the green open space buffer between the park and urban
development, described in the Northeast District plan's neighborhood planning
principles and depicted in the illustrative district plan. The restorative benefits of
Hickory Hill's natural park experience depend on a sense of being removed from
the urbanized surroundings. This sense of being away will be significantly
impacted by the visually prominent ridge line development to the east. At our last
meeting, I asked the Council to consider that the many purposes of the planned
development overlay, which have in my judgment been successfully utilized with
the senior housing element, could also be applied to the west side of the property.
Through a negotiated process, similar to what took place when the Northeast
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District plan was developed, options for an adequate green space buffer could be
discussed, as well as other economic equity and ecological considerations. It was
said....also said at our last meeting that we should not sacrifice the good project
for the perfect project. I ask that we not sacrifice a better win-win project on this
important site.
Taylor: At the last meeting, uh, reading of this proposal I was led to believe that as a
Council our hands were tied and that we had no choice but to approve it. Uh, I
was uncomfortable with that and it caused me to vote with some hesitation. Now
that I've had three whole weeks to more thoroughly digest the many pages of
information that were given to us, I took a bit more time to discern the merits of
the comments made by so many community members. Those individuals were
not just saying that they didn't like the project. They were citing actual language
from the comp plan and the Northeast District plan. I...so I took a little more time
this time around to look more carefully at those plans, and it seems that the
individuals who wrote in had some sound arguments in regards to those plans.
There does seem to be some inconsistencies between those plans and the impact
of this proposal on Hickory Hill Park. These are some of the things I found in
those plans, and I quote: uh...it should be managed such that the environmental
quality of the community is not sacrificed. Balance development and buffer the
park. Create public vistas. Protect the natural integrity of the park and minimize
the visibility of residential development from the park. Keep development away
from park perimeters. Discourage parks that are surrounded by private property.
And also, uh, I noticed that the buffer shown, uh, and mentioned, uh, in...in the
plan is...or actually in the comp plans and Northeast plan is 175 to 200-feet wide.
Uh, the buffer in this plan is nowhere near that number. Also the plan as was
mentioned shows, uh, cul-de-sacs, uh, but this proposal shows the through street,
which contradicts those plans. So it seems there are indeed consistencies between
this proposal and the comp plan and the Northeast District plan. We have plans in
place to help guide us in our decisions, so why don't we follow them? Hickory
Hill Park is seen as a unique treasure in that it is not a typical neighborhood park,
such as Willow Creek Park or even Mercer Park. It is a natural park, that people
have described as a respite from city life, blissful and quiet. We need to do what
we can to preserve that feeling. I'm not against development,but let's be sensible
about it, and follow the intent of the comp plan and the Northeast District plan
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when making plans for a development in this area. At this time I will be voting
against it.
Mims: This has gone through, urn, I think three Planning and Zoning meetings. Urn,
staff has had a lot of input with the developer and recommendations. Urn, one of
the things that keeps coming up is the cul-de-sacs and that is something, and I
think somebody...and I don't remember the date, but I think somebody said the
Northeast plan was done like 25 years ago. I think what we have found many,
many times is that when we have these comprehensive plans for various areas of
the city, that they give us a concept of what we want, but also certain aspects of
that change over time. And certainly one of the things that has changed is...with
the planning in the...the desire not to do cul-de-sacs unless they are absolutely
necessary, urn, from an emergency vehicle perspective and a safety perspective.
So when we...when we talk about that comp plan, I think it is...it makes sense that
not every aspect of that is going to, um,be followed when you're looking at 25
years down the line, and also as we've talked many times over the years, these
are, if you will, aspirational. They give ideas. They are not specific plans, and
that's why we do rezoning and get the actual plats and the specific layouts. I've
been involved in these rezoning hearings for...11 'h years on Council, and I would
say, uh, we have some that are pretty easy and non-controversial. And we have
others that are very difficult and people have very different opinions of what we
should do and...and what is particularly appropriate. Urn, you know, Councilor
Thomas talked about, you know, mediated good-faith criteria options, you know,
design options. You know, in a...in a perfect world I would absolutely and totally
agree with you, but I think when you get into certain aspects of some of these
rezonings, I don't think those things are possible. I think the views are so, uh,
divergent in what people want and what people have a right to do with their land.
One of the things that staff made really clear to us was that this land was already,
urn, zoned as interim development single-family, and we either needed to approve
this or certainly give the landowner/developer a path forward, um, in terms of
doing it. We've talked about the buffer, um, I don't think there's anything ideal
necessarily in this process or perfect in the way it's done,but given the extensive
staff review,urn, the three meetings by P&Z, and the adjustments by the
developer to get it through Planning and Zoning, I think it meets, urn, the
Northeast comp plan and while it is not perfect, I think it is very workable for that
particular geography and I will support it.
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Bergus: I agree this is not a easy decision; very grateful to hear from the members of the
public who have come to multiple Planning and Zoning meetings, have written,
uh, correspondence to our Planning staff, to our Planning and Zoning
Commissioners, and to us as City Councilors. I think one of the challenges that
we have sitting in this seat is that we have....our job is at the policy level. And
we don't have the...authority or expertise to say, well, this one specific thing could
change and maybe someone can come back with, you know, a better plan that
might do A or B or C or D. Throughout the process, we...rely on the staff, on the
Planning and Zoning Commission, and owner of the property to provide us with a
plan, and at the end of the day we're here now with voting yes or no on what's in
front of us, that's gone through several iterations. It's not perfect. It is a difficult
decision. I love Hickory Hill Park. I've lived here my entire life and used that
park regularly, all seasons of the year. I looked very carefully at the plans. How
big is the buffer? Where is the existing tree line? What will be preserved and
what will be enhanced? And I think it's important to remember, this is adding to
Hickory Hill Park by over 14 acres, that the buffer along the entire west side is...at
its narrowest 116 feet, which is within the existing forested tree line, and at the
widest is over 500 feet. And so it's not that there is no green space. It's not that
the development will be within the park, and so I will be continuing to support
this project...for this reading.
Weiner: There are two aspects of this that I...that I would like a little more information on,
if I can get it. One is the issue of buffer, because it seems...it strikes me that if...
more...more buffer is needed in the way of evergreens or whatever in...in order to
mask the, uh, mask the development from the trail and from certain parts of the
park, whether it's in...whether it ends up being in I think outlot A, on City
property, or on...on the developer's property, that's something that...that ought to
be completely doable. I don't know how that works when, um, when...which is
why I'm asking this question, when we're already on the second reading of, uh,
the...(mumbled) of this rezoning. Um...there...we are required, I believe, that
if...if we have, if we want to change or we have an objection, that there be, urn, a
specific public need that be addressed, not a general need such as affordable
housing, which doesn't apply here,but a specific need to protect say a specific
area, such as...such as the park. Um, so it strikes me that this would fall...this
would fall within that. My other question has to do with the...with the...with the
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question of, uh, of the cul-de-sacs, urn, I understand that...that...that in general in
City Planning, cul-de-sacs are not preferred for all the reasons already articulated.
However, there...there, I believe there's also an exception for...for, urn, for specific
areas, such as...such as the park like this, so it's (mumbled) when you're trying to
preserve a particular area. Urn, so I guess my question is, um, to...to City staff or
to the City Attorney what can...what can reasonably be done to...that (mumbled)
neither of those would have a significant impact on the proposed development.
They would both allow the development to go forward, and they would at the
same time, urn, they....address some of the specific issues that...that have been
raised many times, uh, and then allow everything to go forward. So my question
is where...what happens at this point, if we want...if something...if we wanted to
change one or both of those? Obviously my guess is that if it's on... what ends up
being City property, that's our decision to make, urn, it has...the question is
what...if it's on developer property.
Goers: Well I'll try,um...see if I can address your questions. Um...first I'll agree with
you, anything that's on City property, uh, we'll be entitled to do as the City wishes
and as, uh, Council Member Bergus pointed out, there is going to be 14-plus acres
more of City property that, uh, we would then control, control that we don't now
enjoy. Um...insofar as your other questions about, um, compliance, I want to
make sure I'm understanding your question. Your question is...uh...if you
don't...if....if....if we as a Council don't think that it's complaint, is there
something we can do about it now? Maybe I just better ask you to restate that
part of your question.
Weiner: Well it's...basically is...is it possible to sort of...to...to shift somewhat to...to....
somewhat mid-stream like this without...undo...without essentially saying we're
not going to move forw...it's not that we're not going to move forward with this.
It's a hypothetical obviously. At this point it's not that we're not going to move
forward with this, it's that we would like to see one or both of those things, urn, in
addition to what's already been...decided.
Goers: Well....I mean, obviously one option would be just to, uh, communicate those
wishes to the developer and ask that they in good faith, uh, take seriously, uh,
Council's considerations for, uh, the development of their plan and...and how they
wish to move forward,but if you're looking for something, you know, that would
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be enforceable, um, and would be a substantive change in the plan,uh, that's been
put forth of your consideration today, urn, that would probably have to be...well, if
you're looking at a condition, for example, then that would have to be included as
the conditional zoning agreement. That's already been signed. It's required to be
signed before the close of the public hearing, uh, which was at a prior meeting.
So if that's something that the Council wanted to pursue, urn, you would at least
need to reopen the public hearing, send it back for, you know, obviously o...open
it up for public comment once more, urn, see if the developer's willing to make
the changes you're proposing...or that the Council would submit, urn, and then it
would be, uh, perhaps going back to Planning and Zoning, depending on whether
or not it's the kind of thing that they've already considered. Uh, if not, uh, then
they would need to be at least consulted, um, before it comes back to, um, the, uh,
Council for a first consideration. Urn, is that an answer to your question or have I
danced around it?
Weiner: It's...it's probably as clear as my question (laughter)
Fruin: Yeah, if I could add to that. Urn, I think what's important is...is that last piece, uh,
that Eric just mentioned and that's, you know, whether these topics were... were
thoroughly discussed at the Planning and Zoning Commission. In the case of cul-
de-sacs and buffers, I would say yes, those were thoroughly discussed at the
Planning and Zoning Commission and if you wanted to move to a plan that... that
does have two cul-de-sacs, um, I would think it's appropriate to start this process
over so that that full process....basically the...the new project, um...uh, would be
fully vetted, uh...uh, from the start. Urn, particularly with the cul-de-sacs. That's
a...very, very significant change, urn, that would have impacts beyond just street
layout. That impacts lot layouts and...and that has a ripple effect through this
whole process. That's a very significantchange at this stage in the process. Um,
and then I would agree—if you're just looking for more vegetation on the outlot
to provide that visual buffer, urn, my recommendation would be to, you know,
have City staff, urn, supplement that, once we take ownership of those 14 acres,
so that our Forestry crews can have, um...uh, early-on, you know, hands in the
design and implementation of that enhanced buffer, if that's something that
you're...that you're seeking.
Weiner: Thank you.
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Salih: I also...I agree with you that we need to talk about the cul-de-sac and the buffer.
So,um, I would really propose, even if it's going to take us to like start all over,
you know, I...as Pauline or I guess John said in the beginning, we need it to be
win-win (mumbled) situation for the resident and for the developer, and as
Pauline said, we are not against this developer,but I really would like to see the
problem, uh, you know, to solve the problem that the resident have and I, uh
(mumbled) so I...I really would like to see if we can have the cul-de sac and also
the, you know, the buffer, to increase the buffer, even if this going to take us to
postpone this and start all over. That's going to be my request.
Teague: At the last meeting I think I requested that we see the buffer. Do we have...um...
any of the...project here that we can see?
Fruin: Danielle, do you have the packet....or the presentation from the last time up?
Teague: Okay. All right.
Fruin: Um, can you...can we display the packet on the screen? (several talking in
background)
Teague: Well, I...I know that at the...at the last meeting, for myself, I wanted to see, um,
specifically, you know, all of the vegetation, and looking at the buffer specifically
for this project, and so what I recall is...it wasn't perfect, um, certainly I know that
we got some more correspondence that kind of, you know, envisioned...what
could take place. Um...for more buffer. Um, and it's not that I'm not against it. I
guess if we can...maybe just walk through that again. I don't know if Danielle
can show us.
Froin: Yeah. Danielle, can you come up and assist us and just try to find the right
exhibit...in the packet there. (several talking in background)
Teague: While they're finding that, so the cul-de-sac for me, um, I think we've had this
discussion, and I know it was mentioned that there was a project that just was
approved with a cul-de-sac. So I do know that some projects will be approved
with cul-de-sacs, some won't. Um, this one as was just mentioned, this would
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change the development, which is not the end be...that's not the end all for me.
Urn, I...I do believe that this is an appropriate project for a through street. So I'm
not sure that the...my concern is not the, urn, although I do hear the public
mentioning this, urn, about the through street. Um...that I am more interested in
relooking at the buffer, uh, situation and seeing what we can...what additions we
could do. If it is mainly on the City property, urn, then, you know, is it
worthwhile doing a...a good faith, urn, request of the developer. Um...I think
that's something we could consider, not to say that having this process start over,
uh, if it needs to start over then that's...it needs to start over. Um...but for me I
think it's more the buffer. So you have it up. Can you just give us a....a little
overview please?
Sitzman: Certainly, so outlot A is the area between Hickory Hill Park and the western edge
of the development. Um, the street's oriented north-south; on the screen it's left
to right. Um, the lots, uh (mumbled) completely along the east side of that street
and only partially along the west side of that street, so it results in a street that is
only single-loaded, meaning houses only on one side of it for a large portion of
that roadway length, as it connects from the north to the east.
Teague: I'm sorry, are you able to move the mouse? I know you don't have the pointer.
Sitzman: Yeah, sorry(both talking)
Teague: Thank you!
Sitzman: Yeah, right, so this is north, this is east, this is the area where there...a double-
loaded street, and then a single-loaded street for the remainder of it. Um, I
believe Council Member Bergus mentioned the distances from the lot lines to
property lines. I don't have that table with me...
Bergus: It's on page 318 of the PDF.
Sitzman: I have a different PDF open at the moment so that's not going to help. Urn, but
anyway, um...so the...there's a different width here. That's the...kind of the
narrowest between a lot line and then the property edge, and then, urn, additional
Hickory Hill Park land would be in this area, um...sor y, I'm not probably helping
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too much with that. (several talking in background) Does that help, Mayor, or do
you need something else (mumbled)
Teague: I...I wanted to really get the overview of...what we're looking at for the buffer
currently, as well as the green space, and I think, at least for me, you've done that.
I don't know if anyone else has questions for Danielle.
Thomas: Well, uh, since we're showing some of the images, Danielle, can you show an
image of the, uh, illustrative plan from the Northeast District plan?
Sitzman: (mumbled) staff report here. Image on the left?
Thomas: Yeah. So...so now north is up, Scott Boulevard is to the north, and 1st Avenue is
on the right side there. So the, you know, we're...we're talking about the buffer
and the cul-de-sacs. In some sense they're being described as discrete elements,
and, um...I would want to say that it's...it's...the buffer is actually...part of the
buffer concept is that separation that occurs between the two cul-de-sacs as shown
in this drawing. So the...the area that is of most concern, um, with respect to the
proximity of development to the park is where that cul-de-sac off of Scott
Boulevard ends. That section south of that cul-de-sac, toward the bottom corner
there is where there's the sensitivity in terms of the...the impact of development
on Hickory Hill. The...the other benefit, which isn't articulated in the...in the
narrative,but is in a sense articulated in the image is that the...the other benefit of
the way in which this configuration is shown is that the natural area of Hickory
Hill is then connected to the natural area to the east, that ravine. If you look at the
image on the right side, you can see how the...the proposed development runs
through continuously, and so that connection between the natural area of Hickory
Hill and the ravine to the east, uh, remained as discrete natural areas, uh, rather
than being connected, uh, which has its own value. So the...the question of the
buffer, the question of the cul-de-sacs are in some ways inter-related. And...and
so I think it's important to understand that the...the cul-de-sacs are not just simply
a circulation element in the plan. They actually serve an ecological, uh, function
and they also serve as a way of being the buffer, uh, concept as it relates to
making sure that development doesn't impact the...the natural character of the
park.
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Teague: So I...I guess, John, since you're mentioning that, my assumption is with the
current proposed plan, if there was going to be, um...cause we...we got some
correspondence today that was...just pointing out how the buffer(both talking)
Thomas: Yeah, that (both talking) that meant...that letter from...from Martha Norbeck is
based on the assumption that the current proposal goes through.
Teague: Uh huh.
Thomas: So if...if it goes through, uh, this is how one would address the need for screening,
the need for a buffer, uh...given that configuration that we're...the...is shown in the
current plan.
Teague: And...and a significant part of this is really City.
Thomas: What is?
Teague: Of...of this.
Mims: While they're looking at it, can I ask a question? What's the total width of the
street and sidewalks, approximately? About 60 feet (both talking)
Sitzman: So the right-of-way for, uh, a local street in a neighborhood is 50 feet. The
pavement...60 feet, sorry! The pavement would be within that, and the sidewalks
would be on just...within that as well.
Mims: Okay. So when I'm looking, and I think I'm looking at the same page Laura was
in tonight's packet, it was on page 318 of the packet, it shows the distance, closest
distance to a lot is 116 feet from Hickory Hill Park. And then it doesn't show
exactly on the straightaway,but just as it starts to curve on the very south end, it
shows a measurement of 159 feet, which is to the inside, probably the inside of
the right-of-way. So if we take approximately 60 feet for that full right-of-way,
we still have roughly 99 to 100 feet of City property between the outside of the
street...sidewalk, if there's one there, and current Hickory Hill Park. So for me,
when I look at that, that we essentially are adding 100 feet to Hickory Hill Park,
um, linearly along that street and the idea that we can direct staff to direct the
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Forestry division to really look at ample screening along there, then I think with
100 feet, we can get quite a bit of screening to protect that view from, you know,
from these properties and from these houses, um, back into Hickory Hill, and
obviously if we need to put more trees in the existing Hickory Hill Park to help
with that screening, it would be City properl...property and we would have that
opportunity as well. So for me, I think we can work well with the buffer that's
there to do the screening that we need to do, um, if that's deemed necessary,
which obviously I think a lot of people feel that is really important. I haven't
walked it, so I don't know exactly what there is there for trees and what more we
should put in.
Bergus: And just to clarify, as we look at the diagram, so in our late handouts we got
correspondence from Martha Norbeck, and I agree with you, John, that this was
premised on the...the current version of the plan, but I believe the entirety of the
additional buffer that she was recommending is on City property. So within that
outlot A...what would be conveyed to the City.
Teague: And I appreciate you bringing up the, kind of the distance, because I think the...at
the last meeting, that was also pointed out. Urn, I...I certainly wanted to get a...a
clear...clearer picture tonight once again, um, especially since residents have come
forth, uh, consistently about the buffer area. I think it is important to, you know,
do what we can to make sure that there is a buffer, urn, to really protect the...the
natural feeling, uh, within the park, and so...being that...you know, all of the
proposed...not to say that this is what we need to go by, um,by Martha....um,by
one of the late handouts. Urn, I believe that we can direct our City staff, um, to
create this buffer, um...and so with that being said, I will support this project
tonight.
Weiner: Yeah, I believe that...that the, um...that Martha Norbeck's letter re...referred to
running the path, running or walking that path, and that in order for there to be
appropriate screening there would need to be from...from what's going to be built,
urn, to preserve the natural...that natural sense there would need to be additional
buffer put in there. Um, evergreens or something...something that's also fast
growing in order to help screen that and...and preserve the natural sense.
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Teague: Any more discussion on this item or are we ready for a vote? And...Councilor
Weiner, did you get all of your questions answered?
Weiner: More or less, yes. I guess...I guess my question is if we...can....can we, um,
as...if, can we as part of this direct that...City staff and Forestry or...or whomever
work closely with the....with the landscaper of...both our own land...both Forestry
and the landscaper who's working with the developer, to ensure that it's done and
done well, because...I mean there are plenty of reasons to put in more trees,just
one of them is as a buffer, um, climate related and so forth as well, as...not to
mention the fact...not to mention the part of the tree canopy that we lost from the
derecho last year. So...so it, I mean it all...there is...it all adds up to very good
reasons from my perspective to ensure, and to be positive,both for ourselves and
for the residents here, that this would happen.
Fruin: I can, uh, answer that(both talking) Oop, go ahead, Mayor Pro Tern!
Salih: No, I just want to talk to Councilor Weiner. I think we need really to do it
properly and to make sure we are doing it for the resident and for the developer.
We should just go ahead and direct the, you know (mumbled) because as, uh, you
know, our City Manager said, in order to do this this is have to go back and start
all over, and if we really want to do that, let's do it! Why not? Why we are in
hurry? We can do it, if we really...I thinks...I don't know where you standing now
because, uh, I think there is clear, uh, like majority saying that we need the
residents to like become (mumbled) So...let's do it!
Fruin: I just wanted to offer in response to Councilor Weiner's comments that Council
has directed us, uh, as staff to do supplemental landscaping before with...with
rezonings. Uh, the last one that comes to mind was, uh, the Forest View rezoning.
Council requested that we initiate street tree planting in the Mackinaw, which was
the adjacent neighborhood, uh, to the Forest View area, and as you know that...
that street tree planting is going on this year. Uh, so that's, uh, that's probably the
last example, and I also want to mention that our...our, uh, Forestry and
Horticulture staff was involved in the review of the landscape buffer that's
currently proposed, so they are very familiar with this, um, buffer and, uh, again
if....if Council wanted to direct (mumbled) we even do further supplements to
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what they were involved with crafting that, um, we can absolutely do that. Again,
on outlot A, once it becomes our property, or within the existing park.
Bergus: I just wanted to note in the conditional zoning agreement itself; uh,page 2 of that
agreement, which is on page 603 of our packet, does say that contemporaneous
with the final plat approval, the subdivider's agreement has to include a woodland
management plan, um, that would be prepared by a woodlands specialist and
approved by the City Forester and has to be completed before we would accept
the outlot A dedication and also the landscaping plan, um, being approved by the
City Forester, as well. So, urn, I guess maybe just a question for staff is with the
conversation that we're having tonight is that sufficient to kind of direct what the
City Forester might deem adequate in that plan?
Fruin: Yes, I think this conversation can inform that review.
Teague: Okay. Any other...thoughts? Any other comments or questions?
Mims: I guess I would just make a final comment. It seems clear to me that it is the
majority, if not unanimous opinion, of the Council that we want to make sure that
there is a sufficient buffer there, in terms of the planting of trees, and that there's
no question whether we need an additional resolution or just additional direction
to staff or if they have enough direction at this point that we will make sure that
that happens. So basically that becomes a separate issue to me from the actual
approval of the rezoning tonight, cause we can and will make that happen based
on the will of the Council.
Salih: But what about the cul-de-sac? If that could be happen also just we can direct the
City Manager and the staff to do that?
Mims: No.
Salih: Okay then!
Fruin: We...we can work...so what we would do is we can, even when we return with the
plat, we can describe the approach that we're going to take. So our Forestry staff
can, um, dive into this immediately and...and give you those thoughts, uh, when
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the plat arrives, but yes, we can do this and we can follow through,uh,just like
we do with any number of other directives that you provide.
Salih: Geoff, can you do cul-de-sac too?
Froin: No, that would have to go through the legislative process, in my opinion.
Salih: Okay.
Thomas: (both talking) I would just quickly...emphasize that, you know, the...one of the
questions before us is this...this question of consistency with the comprehensive
plan and the Northeast District plan, uh, which...which did include for, as I tried
to articulate, a variety of reasons, um...the....those, urn, cul-de-sacs were...were
kind of a...were critical element in terms of; uh, the buffer as we've been
describing it. They were a critical element in the sense of connectivity between
the natural areas that are really the dominant feature of this area. It's mostly
natural area. Uh, and so this...the cul-de-sacs were providing a way in which
these natural areas could be connected, which is in terms of natural area policy,
uh, you know, it's...it's something where we're not simply trying to preserve
natural areas but enhance them, and this...this would be an enhancement, and then
as some have said, the...the question of traffic, uh...I think does...and...and on all
of these issues, obviously, one...one has to exercise their own judgment, but urn,
the...I think the question of through traffic, uh, from my point of view, is a valid
one, as it relates to the, uh, intersection at l s`Avenue. Uh, and so...there's that
aspect as well. Urn, cul-de-sacs in my view are something, uh, that are...really
need to be considered and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. And,uh...so it was
for all these reasons, I think, why you...you see the cul-de-sacs in this particular
plan.
Teague: I did just want to make mention that our work session, at least the plan(laughs)
for me is that we'll start the conversation of rezoning, um,just zoning, urn, at our
next work session, which will be on...July 27`h. So,um...because this is a point of
contention where we're looking at old plans and we're trying to place current
values on them. Urn, this may not be the perfect example, but when we're talking
about affordable housing, urn, that not even being an option of discussion for this
plan. So on the 27`h we will have that conversation. If nothing else, um, I will
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call this to a vote. Motion passes 4-3. Could I get a motion to accept
correspondence?
Mims: So moved, Mims.
Bergus: Second, Bergus.
Teague: All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion passes 7-0.
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9. 2021 Summer Sidewalk Repair—Resolution approving project manual and
estimate of cost for the construction of the 2021 Summer Sidewalk Repair
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.
1. Public hearings
Teague: I'm going to open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Staff presentation!
Havel: Good evening, Jason Havel, City Engineer. I just wanted to give you a brief
overview of the sidewalk repair program. So for this program we divide the city
into 10 sections and typically what we'll do is the first year we'll go through in...
in one section and we'll go...we'll have City staff go out and inspect existing
sidewalk locations. What we're looking for is areas that have damaged panels,
uh, tripping hazards, other safety issues, and so we'll mark those squares. Um,
and then once that inspection is complete, we notify the adjacent property owner
and then they typically have a couple of options for making those repairs. They
either have until the following May to make those repairs themself or they can opt
to have it included with the larger City project, which comes through and repairs
any unrepaired, uh, sidewalk panels in that section. So this year's, uh, section, we
call it section five is...is roughly the College Green area and some surrounding
areas. It's the area that would be bordered from approximately the river on the
west to 7th Avenue on the east, and then Burlington Street on the south, up to
Jefferson and Rochester. So that's kind of the approximate area. So, again, this
would be in that area. It's a...a program that we'll go through. We'll hire a
contractor. They'll go out and repair any unrepaired areas. So that would be
anything that the property owners haven't repaired since the inspections last year,
or if...it would be anything that would be City-owned squares or those squares
that, um, again, haven't been repaired yet that were inspected last year. So, that's
a very brief overview,but happy to...to answer any questions.
Teague: Thank you!
Havel: All right! Thank you.
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Teague: Great! Would anyone from the public like to address this topic? If so, please take
the podium. Welcome! We ask that you give your first and last name and your
address.
Traore: Mohamed Traore, address 1002 Hillside Drive,Tiffin, Iowa. So I would just like
to ask in terms of this plan, uh, why is it that it's purely focused on downtown
from what I'm hearing(mumbled) east side of town. Why aren't we looking at
anything in the South District in this?
Teague: We...we can't answer that, but um, this is a citywide plan.
Traore: Uh, from what I just heard the focus was on central locations to the city. I never
heard a street that was in the South District, so I would just like to know(both
talking) if that is going to be left to those residents to take care of on their own.
Teague: I think what we'll do is when we get(both talking)
Mims: Jason's coming back up to answer.
Teague: I...we can't answer any questions from the public,but we do hear you.
Traore: Thank you.
Teague: Thank you. Yep. Do you want to...and I should have asked you to sign your
name, um, on...on the side of the stage, on the side of the podium. Anyone else
like to address this topic? I think we can answer that during Council comment.
Welcome.
Noah: Hello, um, Noah again. Um, so you are all...all of our employees, so why can't
you answer our questions?
Teague: Uh, this is an opportunity for you to express to Council anything that you want to
express.
Noah: Yes, that's what I wanted to express is why will you guys not be responsive to the
community you're supposed to represent?
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Teague: Any other comments?
Noah: Uh, yes (talking in background) Act like a democracy and respond to your
people, and actually listen to when your constituents talk to you. And fire Geoff
Fruin,just again...just cause!
Teague: Thank you. Any other comments?
Havel: One thing I can add is, uh, as I mentioned this is one of 10 areas. So every 10
years we do go through the entire city, um, so this just happens to be the year that
we're focusing on section 5 so...every 10 years we do make a complete round,uh,
throughout the city, so...
Teague: Thank you. Any more comments? I'm going to close the public hearing. (bangs
gavel) Could I get a motion to approve please?
2. Consider a Resolution
Mims: So moved, Mims.
Thomas: Second,Thomas.
Teague: Council discussion? Roll call please. Motion passes 7-0.
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10. Glendale Park Improvements—Resolution approving project manual and
estimate of cost for the construction of the Glendale Park 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.
1. Public Hearing
Teague: I'm going to open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) And welcome!
Yoder: Hi,my name's Ethan Yoder and I'm a Civil Engineer with the City of Iowa City.
I'm just going to give a brief overview of the project. Um...so the plan for
Glendale Park, uh, is to install a new playground, uh, concrete sidewalk from the
entrance back to the playground, and then also include an open shelter, and we did
hold a public open house to get some feedback on that as well. And then on this
slide here is the mock up of the playground. Um, it was chosen to go with earth
tone colors and construction will be completed this fall. That is it!
Teague: Great! Any questions? Thank you.
Yoder: Thank you!
Teague: Would anyone from the public like to address this topic? If so, please come to the
podium. Welcome back! State your name and address....or you can just state
your name again!
Traore: Mohamed Traore. Uh, I would just like to ask, when it comes to this park project
here, is this one also going to include, um, one of those bike-fixing transfixtions.
Uh, one thing I've heard from the South District is that when it came to the
Wetherby Park project that they didn't get any funding for bikes actually there.
So when it came to properties to...or just things to fix, bikes in that area they
didn't get that and they had to come up with the funding themselves and also
when we look at...redoing all of these parks and we really need to remember that
we do have an area of this town where we do see kids that don't have a lot to do
in the summer and that are going through a lot right now. So I would like us to
focus a little more on the South District as well before we just keep going around
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and expanding these other parks, and just putting all this money into these other
spots and places. I'd like to see something such as a permanent air pump in the
Wetherby Park area because a lot of these kids don't even have the money to buy
air pumps for their basketballs. So they're not using the park and that's an issue.
Thank you.
Teague: Thank you. Anyone else like to address...this topic? Seeing no one, I'm going to
close the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Could I get a motion to approve?
2. Consider a Resolution
Salih: Move...Salih.
Mims: Second, Mims.
Teague: Council discussion?
Bergus: I had a chance to see, urn, this park on a recent Parks and Recreation tour and
very glad to see the sidewalk installation. It's kind of this long, narrow park and
being able to access the playground from the street, with the sidewalk going into
the park I think is great, um, and I base that on my experience at Wetherby, where
they just...installed the paved, uh, trail and it's made parts of the park much more
accessible! So glad to see that!
Teague: All right! Roll call please. Motion passes 7-0.
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11. Petsel Place Storm Sewer Improvements—Resolution approving project
manual and estimate of cost for the construction of the Petsel Place Storm
Sewer 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.
1. Public Hearing
Teague: I'm going to open the public hearing. (bangs gavel) Welcome!
Clark: Hi, I'm (mumbled) from Engineering. I was going to give a....just a quick
presentation of the project. So this is the Petsel Place storm sewer improvements
project. It's a fairly straightforward project. I'll just show you guys quickly
where the project is, what the problem is, how we're going to fix it, and then
we'll, um, talk about the schedule. So the project's located on the west side of
town, between West High School and Mormon Trek, roughly. And we'll...we'll
zoom in here a little bit. This is, um...more specifically where the project is. And
keep...keep your eye on that cul-de-sac. So...that cul-de-sac floods when we get a
fairly significant rain, and there are actually three things going on here. Urn, one
is we've got an inverted cul-de-sac, meaning that the...the middle is actually lower
than the outsides, and we've got a small....small pipe size that drains that area,
and it also has a beehive that tends to clog up. So the proposed fix is just to
replace the existing pipe with a larger pipe, and put in a couple different
structures, urn, that don't clog quite as easily, and then we'll reconfigure the entire
end of the street and raise the center part of it so it doesn't flood quite so easily.
The estimated cost is, uh, $220,000. Um, we'll take bids July 20`h, and hopefully
be awarding a contract at your next meeting on the 27th. Um, construction to start
roughly in August and be done by the end of the season, end of October,
November. Does anyone have any questions?
Teague: Don't hear any. Thank you! Would anyone from the public like to address this
topic? If so, please approach the podium. Seeing no one, I'm going to close the
public hearing. (bangs gavel) Could I get a motion to approve please?
2. Consider a Resolution
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Weiner: So moved,Weiner.
Taylor: Second, Taylor.
Teague: Council discussion?
Weiner: So how does like an inverted cul-de-sac get...built to begin with, I mean that
doesn't seem to make sense (mumbled) Yes it has to get fixed, but to have
something that...that drains the wrong way. Is that....was that....something that
was built by the, um, put in by the developer when that area likely was
developed? How does...(mumbled)
Clark: The quick answer is that's how they used to do them 40 years ago (laughs) I
don't really know the answer, but...
Weiner: Okay, thanks! (laughter)
Teague: Any other...comments? Roll call please. Motion passes 7-0.
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12. Comprehensive Master Plan for Recreation Facilities and Programs—
Resolution authorizing the procurement of consultant services for a
Comprehensive Master Plan for the City of Iowa City Recreation Facilities
and Programs.
Barker: Thank you. Good evening, everybody. My name is Brad Barker. I'm the
Recreation Superintendent with the Parks and Recreation department.
Teague: I'm going to have you hold for one second.
Barker: Yeah!
Teague: (laughs) Could I get a motion to approve please?
Mims: So moved.
Salih: Move. Second!
Teague: Moved by Mims, seconded by Salih, and now (both talking)
Barker: Okay! I'm sorry(laughs) Um, like I said, my name's Brad Barker. I'm the
Recreation Superintendent with the Iowa City Parks and Recreation department,
and the resolution before you tonight would approve the procurement of
professional consulting services for a recreation master plan to really look at
our...our facilities and our programs that we have in our department, and this
would be a 10-year master plan that would really kind of drive the direction of our
department over the...the next decade. Um, the primary goal in creating this plan
would be to prioritize resources to provide aquatic and recreation facilities, along
with community recreation programming that is equitable, accessible, and
responsive to the community's needs and requests. Urn, central to the creation of
this master plan, uh, would include a comprehensive, uh, needs assessment with
the community and extensive outreach to the underserved population, cause we...
one of the things that we do recognize is that we...we have a lot of people that
utilize our facilities, and we hear from them all the time on...on different things,
on what their wants and needs are, but we don't necessarily hear a lot from the
community that doesn't participate in...in our recreation programming and come
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to our facilities, and we want to find out why. Um, so that's going to be a real
driving force behind this recreation master plan, so that we can better meet the
needs of the community as a whole. Um...also...we're also going to be focusing
on the, urn, City Park swimming pool. It is in its 72"d summer, urn, so it is an
aging facility, to say the least. And it's...it's critical that we come up with a plan
for the future outlook of the outdoor swimming pools that we have. Our
recreation centers also are aging a bit too and so we wanted to really do a
thorough assessment of, urn, structural integrity, but then also if they're also
meeting the needs of the community as well. Um...the project will not include
playgrounds, trails, splash pads, outdoor shelters, restrooms, or natural areas and
parks, as those were part of the master plan, the Parks'master plan in 2016 and
the natural areas plan in 2017. Urn, ultimately with this project, this RFP that we
put out, we received eight proposals. Uh, we interviewed five of those firms, and
ultimately we...we wanted to go down a different path with this recreation master
plan than what...a lot of what they're used to. They're used to doing parks and
recreation master plans, and we've broken it up into two different sections there.
Um, and...and kind of going back to the community engagement side of things.
We really wanted to find out what are some of the barriers to, uh, residents
participating in recreation programs and really delving into that. So kind of
taking a unique approach to their community engagement method...methodology
and so we wanted to hear from them on their approach to that, and...and if that's
something that they're comfortable with doing, and so ultimately we...we landed
on our recommendation would be BarryDunn, urn, Consulting firm, and they are a
well established, independent municipal government consulting firm, and they
have a branch of their firm that specializes in parks and recreation master
planning, and so they've done a lot of different projects like this and they're very
adaptable to, um, kind of tailoring their approach to the needs of the community,
and so we really felt comfortable, like we would be able to have a good
partnership with them. Um...they also have a unified team of architects that they
work with that would be analyzing our recreation centers and swimming pools.
Urn, a team that they work with on a regular basis. So they integrate a few other
architectural firms with this project, um, but they...they have a lot of experience
working together as a team, and so ultimately our recommendation would be to,
urn, move forward with BarryDunn Consultants for one-year agreement for this
master plan in the amount of$145,000...$145,670.
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Teague: Okay! Questions for Brad? I have a question. So will this also include
potentially new recre....like facilities?
Barker: Yes.
Teague: Potentially(both talking)
Barker: Yep, kind of looking at are the current facilities meeting the needs and are there
other potential locations or other types of facilities or amenities that the
community would want.
Teague: Great, thanks!
Barker: Anywhere! Yeah.
Teague: All right! Thank you.
Barker: Thank you!
Teague: Anyone from the public like to address this topic? If so, please approach the
podium. Welcome!
Kauble: Hi, um, this is Dan again. I'm really happy that they're focusing on City Park
because...and the pool there because, I mean, some of the things that were brought
up were things that....I visited...I visited it a few times this summer and it does
kind of need some upgrades. It's a really good facility, um,but I think kind of
more expanded concessions and other such things would be good, but, um, that
said, I think we still need to focus on making sure that these facilities are
accessible to the public because right now like if you want to go swimming in the
evening, it's like $2.00 to go. It's a very reasonable rate, but my concern would
be upgrading these fac...upgrading these facilities would cause the cost to go up,
and so I think we want to make sure that we keep an eye on the fact that keeping
these facilities accessible and affordable for the public. Urn, and also just keeping
an eye on,um, how well all of this is serving the community as a whole, and
making sure that it's access...that these things and these improvements are
accessible to everybody across the board. Um, thank you.
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Teague: Welcome again!
Traore: Mohamed Traore again. Urn, I don't think there's any way this plan for this
consultant group should be passed if they don't look to immediately hire on
someone that lives in the South District,because we're talking about getting
actual representation from minorities in the community and people that are
underserved. A big reason you don't hear from them very much is because
they're never at the actual table when it comes to making these decisions and they
don't trust you guys. So it's really important to give them a power position,
because that's the way they're going to bring the rest of the community that lives
in these areas to the table to make...to help make these decisions, such as when it
comes to the actual plan right now for how the, uh,American Rescue Plan funds
are going to be distributed. The reason you're not getting minority voices in this
is because you're not directly going to minority communities to ask them what
they want. You're just putting it online, and a big issue with that is if you don't
see the social media post, if you don't see the actual email, you're not going to
answer the survey. A lot of these people are working overtime jobs. They're
working two jobs, so they are not seeing your emails. They are not seeing your
social media posts that you're putting out maybe once every other week, maybe
once a month. So I think that's something that should be really considered here,
and additionally I think a very good spot for a new community recreation center
would be right next to Dream City(mumbled) Center. There's an empty lot right
there, so we're talking about accessibility. How about we put it in the
neighborhood with a lot of minorities and underrepresented people, so they don't
have to go downtown or to the north side of the city, or wherever else you're
going to decide to put these new facilities. Thank you.
Teague: Thank you. Would anyone else like to address this topic? All right. Council
discussion?
Weiner: I think both the...the, I'm glad to hear that this is supposed to be looking at the
entire community, and accessibility for the entire community, because my sense is
that both...both the south side and the west side are seriously underserved, that it's
very difficult for people, particularly young people who live in those areas to...to
get to any...to get to any of the current facilities, urn, and...and I also take, um, Mr.
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Traore's point that we've seen the...and we've seen this also when we've been
talking about things like...trying to get buy-in for vaccines. We need people from
the communities, to go into the communities, to talk to people in the communities,
and...and be where they are, meet them where they are, so that we can really get a
better understanding of what their needs are, uh, and that needs to be, in my view,
built into this plan.
Salih: Especially when, uh, if this have like really new (mumbled)recreation center as
Janice said the west side, a lot people on the west side been talking about this, and
the west side also need (mumbled) recreation center, but, uh, you know, the
(mumbled) when he was talking about the survey. (mumbled) the surveys,just on
the website or...how we get like...the minority to vote on this survey or to fill out
this survey?
Barker: Yeah, that's a great question. Urn, so with the survey, so we're doing...we're
doing a couple different methods. So with the surveys we....we opted not to do
a....a statistically valid community needs survey for, urn,just recreation
programming as a whole, because we really wanted to able to get more out into
the community, um, on a personal basis. So we're looking at doing this in the
summer, the remainder of the summer, and into the fall is going to be a big part of
our community engagement side of things and so we're actually wanting to get
out into the community, uh, make those connections with the stakeholders within
the community, urn, so that we can hear feedback from people that may not
necessarily have access to, urn, to email or to the intemet on a regular basis. Urn,
but have more of that face-to-face interaction. So we plan to get out into the
neighborhoods to be able to make those connections for this. Urn,but there will
also be online options, electronic survey as well. Urn, with this statistically valid
survey that we're going to be doing for the pool side of things, urn,we....we're
gonna have that be the typical methodology that they would use for that to make it
a statistically valid survey, urn, but they...but people will also be able to comment
online. They'll be able to go on after the survey is completed. Um, they'll be
able to come into our recreation centers if they wish. Urn, we also have a lot of
different events out in the parks, through our Rec &Roll program, urn, our Party
in the Parks, where we also plan to have a lot of community engagement as well.
So trying to get out to those different neighborhoods to be able to make those
face-to-face interactions.
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Salih: That's great, you know, I really appreciate that, but to add to this, if, urn
(mumbled) translated or(mumbled) the people who going to engage with the
community have to be bi-language. We...we need those kind of things so we can,
uh, you know,just, uh...when we talk to the people, we talk to them by their
language, you know, using their language. So is there translated survey, or the
people who going to make the engagement to be bi-language?
Barker: Yep, and so, uh, BarryDunn has experience working with, urn, diverse
communities with their needs assessments and their, um, master planning, and so I
believe that they did mention that that is a possibility. We also have some people
on staff that are able to help with translation services and then also we have a firm
that we use for translation services where needed as well. So that... that's a great
point and that'd definitely be something that we'd want to be able to do with this
project.
Salih: Thank you very much.
Barker: Thank you!
Teague: I think you're good! Thanks!
Taylor: I'm happy to see that, uh (mumbled) to, uh,hire a consultant. We've been very
successful in the City with consultants with our transit system and with our
environmental, uh, issues, so I think it's a good idea. I appreciate Mr. Traore's,
uh, comment about the Dream Center. For those of you who don't know, it's just
an excellent place, uh, and does a lot for young people. So a location near there
would be wonderful. So I do hope and...and I know myself, uh, and I know
Royceann Porter from the Supervisors, and I think probably the Mayor, uh,
several of us have...have met with people from the South District at certain events
that have been held there, and we have heard that from people in the past, that we
need some type of rec center, not just the Robert A. Lee Rec Center downtown,
but someplace where youth can go to congregate after school, uh, to recreate and
study, have study help, those kinds of things. So I do hope that the consultant
takes that into consideration. A big part of other consultants have been, uh,
getting community input, uh, with forums, etc., uh, so I...I hope they do look into
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that and take the South...South District, and the west side,being a west sider, uh,
as Janice Weiner had said, that would be an excellent location too.
Teague: One of the reasons why I asked the question earlier about the facilities, if it would
be considering the facilities, is because certainly on the South...in the South
District we've heard continuously for a need, urn, for a...really a recreational
center. Um, growing up in Chicago, I know that for myself, urn, that's kind of
where I got a lot of support, urn, through community, uh, facilities, and so I...I
think it's very important that we open up the survey, make sure that we get it to
people that are, um, typically, you know, we need to make special outreach, uh, to
people in the community, and I think we're going to be surprised at some of the
needs that people voice, and so, urn, I'm happy that I can take the survey
personally, and I look forward to it.
Thomas: Yeah, I think this is a great...an important step in terms of, uh, understanding our
assets and liabilities as a public entity,uh, and...being able to apply at this point,
you know, the question of equity, environment, and so forth, urn, as we move
forward. I...I do think this emphasis on youth is really important and I think with
youth, uh, access is a critical factor. So how...how do we make sure that, urn, our
youth, our kids, have easy access, safe easy access, to recreational facilities, uh,
and in that regard, you know, I've tended to favor the notion of a distributed
system,because the more distributed it is, the more easy it will be for...for kids
who, uh, are not able to hop into an automobile to access, urn, these places, and
with that in mind, it does...raise issues of cost. I mean you, you know, okay so we
try to expand the system, make it more accessible. Are we talking about new
facilities? Those are expensive. They're expensive to build, they're expensive to
staff, uh...recreation is a....is a very expensive part of our...of our services. So
one...one strategy that I've always been interested in is how can we, uh,join
together with other public entities to see if we might share the facilities...through
joint use agreements. So, uh, you know, working, uh, certainly with the School
District, for example, might be an opportunity there, uh, to see if...if their facilities
could expand their programming, urn, so we don't need to build a new building,
which we then have to maintain for...for perpetuity. Uh, so anyway, I think it's a
great step forward. We...we right now are kind of in the dark as far as our
recreational needs and their costs that are associated with them. So, you know,
this is a wonderful important piece.
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Mims: I would agree, and I think another piece that really needs to be considered with it,
and maybe it's not part of the survey,but something I think the City needs to be
thinking about going forward after this, and that...you talk about accessibility is
what kind of transportation do we...does the City need to provide, because you
can't build....you can't afford to build enough recreation facilities so that every
kid in the city can walk to a recreation facility.
Thomas: So the bike is the other piece.
Mims: The bike(both talking) and buses, yeah, bikes, trails, buses, urn, potentially our
special routes during certain times of the year or after school or whatever to really
make those facilities accessible. So again, it does come back to what you're
saying, John, the expense is something that's going to be....going to be a real
serious consideration. I totally agree with the idea of trying to, um, do
agreements with other entities,um, and the School District obviously has facilities
in Iowa City. What I have seen in the past, having been on School Board and the
years on Council is the challenge there are their facilities are, number one,
incredibly busy, and when they're not busy in the summer, it's because of
maintenance, and so you can't get into them because they're maintaining them.
So it's certainly worth looking into. I don't mean to diminish that, but it will be a
challenge.
Bergus: I'm grateful to see that this, uh, proposal's not just for facilities, but also for
programming and approaching, um, you know, fresh look at programming for our
underserved populations, especially I think there's probably a lot of opportunity
and as I think, Mayor, you mentioned, we may be surprised of what people want
and what we can make available. So not just building new facilities, but having
programming as well.
Teague: All right! Sorry, I've already closed public comment. All right. Any more
comments? Hearing none...roll call please. Motion passes 7-0.
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16. Community Comment [IF NECESSARY] (ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA)
Teague: The USG, so welcome!
Van Heukelom: Thanks, Mayor, um...so Student Government is just currently establishing our
initiatives and reviewing our platform for the upcoming year. Urn, and we expect
the Board of Regents to approve a $280 tuition increase, um, so we're just
currently brainstorming ways to reduce costs for students in other ways. Urn,
we've reached out, urn, and connected with a couple of you to collaborate our
ideas. So, urn, if any other of you....any others, uh, that we haven't met with yet,
if you have time in the corning weeks, we'd like to connect with you,um, on
ways to, um, further those...those ideas. So thank you, guys!
Teague: Great! Great, great, great!
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17. City Council Information
Weiner: I would just like to, um...congratulate Johnson County on being the only county
out of 99 in the state of Iowa to not only meet but blow by the President's
vaccination goals. Um, it is really essential right now that people continue to get
vaccinated. The CDC has just declared the Delta variant to be the predominant
variant circulating in the United States. Um, you protect yourself, you protect
your loved ones, you protect people who are immunocompromised and you
protect the kids in our community who cannot yet get vaccinated, by yourself
getting vaccinated. So, urn, please continue the good work. Um, we have a lot to
be proud of in...in this county for reaching the vaccination levels that we have.
Urn, let's please keep going.
Teague: I'll just mention that this Fri...this Saturday...as, um,Angie Jordan mentioned, it
will be the last Saturday for the, um, Diversity Market, um, which has been held
at the Kingdom Center, and that's going to be Saturday, um, the 10th, from 3:00
PM till 7:00 PM. So encourage people to come out!
Bergus: I agree with that, Mayor. It's a really, really good time and awesome to see what
community organizing at that scale can do. Pretty...pretty powerful. Also just
want to note our new transit fares went into effect today, which was mostly, um,
improvements, right? Free fare for additional, uh, members of our community,
uh, making....lining up with Coralville Transit, um, so please see, uh, our City
website for all that information with new routes going into effect August 2nd. So
hopefully everyone's keyed in to that.
Teague: (laughing) Yes! Any other comments? All right!
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