City Council - Regular Meeting

All right. Well, it is October 20th, 2026. It's just after 4 p.m. I'm going to call the City of Iowa City Works session to order. First, hello, everyone. Welcome to your city hall. All right. We're going to start with item number one, which is University of Iowa Student Government Updates. Welcome.

oh wow great great well welcome to your new role and welcome to iowa city thank you guys yeah thanks that'll be all for us then great thank you both all right we're going to move on to item number two which is clarification of agenda items i wanted to acknowledge that counselor wylon is online well is calling in can you just say a quick hello

All right, great, great, great. We can hear you loud and clear. All right. Hearing nothing of item number two, we'll move on to our information packets. We'll start with October 8th.

I just wanted to thank Angie for taking very complicated stuff and making it understandable for us. Yeah, so thank you. Great. October 15th. I would like to highlight the memo that I put in the packet today. I hope you all have had the chance to read it. Remember when the downtown, this was before I was elected council, I remember when downtown ambassadors were appointed or were starting up their program. And, you know, I think there was just some miscommunication that happened. And all of the posters were being taken down mostly that people were putting up downtown. And there was a, you know,

Jeff, can you remind us the timeline for design of Iowa Avenue refresh?

I know that there was some communication with the council at some point from you, Jeff, pertaining to the kiosk. If you can maybe just remind us of that.

I'm wondering if, and Oliver if you have, chime in on this, but I'm wondering if actually the Public Art Commission might, there might be room for their voice in this conversation. And specifically what I was thinking about is the fact that now there is a University of Iowa ex-officio person on that commission, right? And that there might be some space therefore for the University of Iowa to become involved in this conversation as well, that there might be space within on the campus in addition to, you know, whatever we might be doing in terms of our plan for downtown as well.

I personally think it makes sense to have something like a release valve for people to put their things so they don't end up everywhere. Absolutely. And I ask that question about when is the actual design for the Iowa Avenue as it seems appropriate that people become accustomed to being that's the sort of place where now everyone goes for most of the posters that it becomes part of that design. But I understand the budget's going to keep pushing that out. I was hoping it would be sooner and we could have the design conversation about that sooner, but it sounds like maybe not.

Yeah, and I would say that doing a little bit of research about, you know, this is something that's come up in many communities across the country, and it's... Because, you know, I think that there's a lot of people, you know, moving towards social media and less of physical media. And sometimes people think they look trashy or bad. And a lot of the communities such as like Burlington, Vermont or Toronto that have had these same types of conflicts that have been years long of, you know, artists and, you people begging the city to do it and then eventually doing it and just simplifying the desi

Yeah, Betsy Potter brought this up the last time she and I met, and I think the conversation we had was even something much simpler. You know, the main idea is that there needs to be something that's very, know will take the wear and tear of being in the downtown which i think they know well as far as potential infrastructure but i do think that particularly these days you know having a place where people can communicate i think you said outlet or you know like a pressure valve i agree with that framing and also just um Yeah, I recall a couple of years ago when this became an issue and the amb

And yeah, they're not public. I think that, yeah, I think that... what we talked about what i talked about with the downtown district and also with jeff was saying you know currently four of the main ones that we had um were all on the same street and so you know it's not even just putting up the ones that were there but Where does it make sense and to where we can have the most coverage, the most trafficked instead of just having four of them on the same two blocks. So getting creative on placement and working with the downtown on that I think would be great. I think it could, yeah, could be

So I guess the question to the council is are we. What are folks filling as far as like just directing staff to work with. The downtown district for placement on some of these kiosks.

My understanding is the ones that are there are going to stay until they can't stay.

And then include them, I would propose include them in the streetscape project but maybe others have more ideas.

So it would only be the two long-term is what we're, I mean for now.

Yeah, and I think just having those two on that one block does not cut it for five years. I think a part of this was to, in that time frame, like, yes, I do think we should incorporate them in whatever we come up with with the downtown district. But in in that plan but i think for now we could uh uh come up with locations with the downtown district and put them up um wherever we you know wherever they feel is good wherever the university might have ideas uh however that comes up because i think that it will kind of the problem will continue to get worse if we just wait and just leave these two

All right so if I understand now I clearly understand your request Councilman line you're asking the Council if we would kind of reconsider what was kind of the plan since 2015 2016. with the kiosk, that is what you're asking, not just with the few that remain right now to kind of keep them up until their useful life ends. Is that correct? You're wanting us to reconsider what was the path in 2015, 2016? Yes.

Because, especially with the two that we have right now, they're both kind of right next to each other on the same block. So it's kind of not... it doesn't cut it. And also people with the wayfinding board also on the same block, you see people just using it for that purpose. So I think it's something that the public uses constantly to the point where they're using all of these things that are not kiosks. So I think it'll be better for our public works and for the ambassadors and for the downtown district if we keep these things and figure out where we can expand them to. Yeah.

I guess I personally have mixed feelings about know keeping up kiosk um i mean i certainly there are some valuable opportunities for them um although there are other places uh where you know they can be posted if we're talking about The ones that have already been removed, trying to find a new placement for them or putting them in the same place. It seemed like a huge reconsideration in my mind.

One question I have is actually before we would commit to something is I'd be interested in a costing exercise to find out what options there were because we just got done with the strategic plan and we just, you know, we all committed to and actually got a presentation on sort of the slope that we're on. And so I think it just is prudent to understand what would it cost for something very utilitarian but to understand what scope we're looking at. to understand perhaps with the downtown district would be willing to help with uh... maybe to have a conversation uh... as well as to to think about

Yeah, and I suppose that with, I imagine that that would be part of the conversation with the downtown district is the financial aspect of what kinds are there? What have other communities done? What can the cost sharing be between various entities? They seemed willing, the downtown district, willing to have that conversation. this be something that they're eager about because they really dealt with what I call poster war one. And we're trying to avoid poster war two right now, which is where everybody is up in arms about people taking away their public places where they can go post whatever t

In regards to free speech, maybe I'll ask our city attorney, is this something that folks can kind of have some undesired postings?

They do that. And there's nothing stopping someone from going downtown and yelling a bunch of racial slurs if they want to. But the public would have issue with that. So I think that this is just another forum, another avenue. It's a canvas. It's a platform for people to say and do what they will. And I think we're running out of those in the world right now. So yeah.

i think one of the trade-offs that i learned from the the conflict from two years ago was the that people will put up flyers right they will tape them they will packing tape them to any surface and that was the concern that i think raised the issue for the downtown ambassadors as well as you know that's happening on city lamp posts and that kind of thing so i think as far as potential trade-offs it's much better to have a designated place where people can know that they can express themselves and you know use a staple gun or a piece of tape that's not going to rip the paint off of our custom-m

Yeah, I mean I will be amendable to that and I guess I don't know if staff or other counselors are amendable to that.

I think that we should have a place for people to put things and how that happens and I would prefer for economics reasons to make the ones we currently have last as long as possible. Like that's my preference. I mean I get that that's not possible given we salt every year and they're made out of metal and they will fall over but the ones that were recently restored I think looked like they're in good shape now and they could last a little while longer and I think that when we do the new project it should be part of it. The rest of it I think you're wise to suggest that we understand what the

um and if there's an opportunity for the arts commission or downtown district to do something in the interim that might be nice placement would be key um certainly throughout the entire downtown on every block doesn't no i don't know that that's what council is asking for or envisioning so yeah yeah it seemed like we have a majority with that so all right

You know, not quick as in like tomorrow, but when I went to say like next month or something to have had some conversations, because it's something that I think the problem, as long as it goes on, it's gonna get worse and worse. And people are gonna get, these communities are gonna get more upset and people are gonna continue to put posters on things, putting wear and tear on our infrastructure. And I would like less of that. And I think it will mean a lot to people

All right we're going to move on to item number 4 which is discussion of board and commissions appointment process. And this is an item that Council put on the pending work session so it's kind of up to us to determine where we want to be on this discussion.

We have a lot of appointments today. I mean, I think the intent potentially of this discussion really was related to process. which means a lot. It can mean a lot. And so maybe if there are some things that people want to maybe just throw out as just a statement of process that maybe it It has good intent but sometimes it has challenges or process that works well.

And I think that, you know, I've struggled with this a little bit too, but I think it's kind of just up to us to be able to make the distinction of, well, yes, this is someone who I know and respect and like, but also be able to say, I think, you know, like if my best friend wanted to be on the airport commission, I'd be like, you don't know anything about airplanes. No. So I think it's up to us to be able to say like, yes, I'm familiar with this person and I respect the work that they do. And I think that they're competent with this because I know them so well versus I just want you to be on

You know one of the things that we're talking about process, maybe a no maybe this might be for you Kelly, but just kind of to since we're discussing it to remind us and remind the public like what is sort of the from the time we announced an opening how often you know and then the time to you know, then the applications are the deadlines how that people can apply you know that sort of kind of that nuts and bolts of what the actual process is.

And I think to a certain extent, I hate to complicate it but it depends on the commission because there are certain ones that are very small and have a very few number of applicants and there might be somebody who is applying for another term and they're the only one so if we were to say no because and it's just a well-known fact hrc has a lot more applicants than there are spaces and we're like and i'm again this is hypothetical but for example purposes to say nope we're only going to have one term so that more people can have the experience right and we're going to do that consistently, then

I also personally tend to think no matter and here I am, I'm someone who actually did have a full term on ACDC and then I applied and got onto ACDC again for a second term. I had to resign because I'm here now. But I happen to think actually that if you serve one full term and it's a popular, You know, there are enough candidates that we shouldn't automatically say, we know them, they did a great job, it's wonderful, or we love that they want to do this. If there are more candidates who want that opportunity, I think we should at least have the conversation about whether it makes sense to do m

Yeah, no, I'm... Starting to think a little bit differently about different commissions and how we would approach them very differently in the 2 that I would contrast would be planning and zoning versus HRC and I think the planning and zoning a little differently in that 6 years and 2 years now with HRC is that correct yes.

It's changing to two because of state code.

So the years are, I mean, so the years also, I just wanted to mention.

No, that's, thanks for, yeah, setting the level, setting that. But like the, you know, I'll hold up the P and Z as an example of one where, it's so rule bound and it's so it exposes the city to a lot of litigation too if we do it incorrectly that like having people who know what the job is really well know the risks and also maybe have two terms makes a lot of sense to me where other ones I might think about them very differently. So I think we might be saying the same thing, but per commission, I think about them very differently. And that, you know, PNZ is the one where I can't think of anot

So what we heard from Mayor Pro Tem is the second round is where, you know, kind of got some things under the belt. You felt pretty strong about your role, a little more confident. When we're talking about a two-year commission versus a six-year commission, Two-year for HRC now, six-year for P&Z. I don't know. You keep saying six.

Okay. Yeah. All right. I thought it was six years. I knew it was longer than our typical. All right. So five-year for P&Z. I don't know what thought process went into that longer term. Probably that. It's darn complicated. But it could be that. I'll tell you that. There are some folks that get elected to certain seats like myself that have no, I had experience with the city on a different level, just not politically, not on the boards and commissions. I was probably on the opposite end of it, a user. And so that's how I kind of knew some of the things happening within the city. There are place

But I do think, you know, having, which we already do, I think we have established some protocols that we, you know, loosely follow where, you know, someone has had a full term, sometimes with certain commissions, um you know we'll be like no and then you know the next time around we'll be the same commission be like yes we'll give them another round for whatever reasons you know um it can be related to if you look at the ones you know the commissioners that are on the right at the moment Maybe they're all nor maybe they there isn't a longevity commissioner on there and there could be some val

Because I don't have a I don't have a proposal. I'm just speaking out loud So I think I've got like I kind of approach this kind of a little bit differently and one thing is like Kind of like so we have the part of the process that is the application process, right? And I think we're all pretty comfortable with with that as it exists and we're talking about now is our decision-making process I don't know that I'm a hundred percent comfortable with like a blanket well, so As a person, as an individual, I have sort of a default of if somebody's done one term and there's no real reason to think t

Would we be able to just say, regardless of it, if someone is filling a resignation or something like that, you know, because we have somebody who has been serving for six months and is now for reappointment, is it okay, would we be able to just say, if you are appointed, then you get a full term, so we don't even have to have that conversation?

I mean I appreciate what Sean you said about that issue which is well then it's not really even vacant right if it's a if that's a rule and I don't want us to I would prefer that we have that kind of informally as I think we do now which may be a little bit different than what that rule reads are informal yeah you get a full term after your partial term but I wouldn't want to bind us to that being a definite yes

And we've had a couple of extreme examples where we've had... things not work with commissioners not work out. So I think that that allowing that room for discretion is a good one.

I want to just make sure that can you tell us in layman terms I want to make sure that I understand the rule about a full time appointment.

And that's where I was saying I think what we tend to do might not fit that part of the rule. It just depends how you count that reappointment.

This has been a very helpful conversation. I think when at our weekly meeting with Jeff on Friday, I think he maybe summarized it as like it isn't a great process but there's maybe not a better one. That's what this discussion is making me feel that like we kind of understand what we tend to do. We want to leave some leeway. Different commissions have different considerations for how we would approach appointment and reappointment and qualifications. It may just be that you know surfacing these factors is enough to kind of keep us doing what we're doing.

And that we're all doing, that we all are having the conversation so that we're all aware of these different factors, like that it's surfaced, right? And for anybody who's listening, like these are the factors that we are thinking about, but it's not done all in this secretive way. Right.

And like mostly in agreement with everything you said very concisely except for the vetting process is the piece that I still feel like we did we spent a lot of time talking about reappointment like the initial vetting process is something that I just worry about because I don't know that I'm doing it as fully as I would if I were hiring somebody for a job sure and maybe that's an expectation that we should not have.

I know, but we should have the same expectations that they're going to show up and know the job and that they're going to take it really seriously, I think.

And it's also, it is a learning experience, not for every commission, but at a certain point it is, you're learning on that commission yeah I I mean I came in for I mean and in concert silly can't sell I can speak to this as well. I learned about housing through being on HCDC I came in with the quote unquote transferable skills. I knew how to read applications and grant applications and could work collaboratively with people. All of those things that sound really squishy and then I actually was able to dig into what does it mean for CDBG and home and what are staff looking for and what does it

And that's not what I said either. I guess what you just described is exactly the process that ought to work and did work for you and that somebody actually asked about your transferable skills, saw that you had them and then you learned. And that's I guess the piece where I'm just saying I'm not sure that that's always happening. And I feel like I need to restate what I said because the response I got was not at all what I intended to elicit at all. That we should look for people who have subject matter knowledge is not at all what I said or intended to say. I am just saying that we should ha

and i don't recall if you were on the council at this time josh but i i know at least once we have held open right we've said we have applicants and we see their interest and there's something about the pool that we want to maybe just make it bigger you know which isn't necessarily the situation you were talking about but i do think we retain that discretion to say let's make sure we've marketed this effectively you know get

applicants that we think are qualified um yeah i feel like we've done that at least a couple of times i've done at least once inside that okay so yeah i'm familiar with it and it's usually because we have one applicant yeah and not the opposite where we have 40 to review but i i hear that i'm i think what you said about repeating what city manager said is yeah it would be great if we had a different vetting process but we maybe just

It is helpful to talk about it, but it's also helpful to read about it or hear about it in our rooms. And also I'm looking at the right now where folks can go and apply or reapply. And it says, can I be reappointed to a board or commission? And it says, reappointment to a board or commission will be considered without regard to incumbency. I am guilty of looking at if someone has served a full term, where we give someone another opportunity. But that is given regard to incumbency. And I know that there has been some hurt feelings over my position and worries that, you know, I'm given, you know

Thanks for sharing that, Mayor, because I think it goes both ways, right? When I heard Eric read it, my brain sort of filled in without preference for incumbency, right? Which is different because you're saying that you, the incumbency to you is saying that's, you know, we're going to get new people in instead. And yeah, you're right. We shouldn't, it's not a factor in the way the rule is written for that. reappointment, but clearly it is because we talk about it.

Yeah. And I think that even our conversation today, you know, we've said that if someone was given a full term, you know, we will we tend to give a highly desired commission, other folks that are applying another opportunity. And so I was abided by that with good reason. And, you know, I get I think good logic. I have to consider, you know, the other, I have to give a little more consideration, not to say they automatically will get it. I have to look at, you know, really consider their application. And I think that's where I just got sidetracked. I'm happy to see this language. I'm happy to h

I just want to circle back to, and I apologize for using that language. I hate the corporate speak. However, I do want to actually talk, go to the flip side that Josh was talking about with the vetting process and I think that one of the things that I think, we've noticed throughout applications and kind of as each of us have done our reviews is simply to encourage anyone who is listening now or is going to listen to the recording is that if you are interested in a commission fill the application out fully you don't have to do pages and pages however if you are interested do indicate why why y

All right, any. Thing else on this discussion, it sounds like we'll we'll just have to sit with it and just realize that it would be. In the moment decisions, I think. OK, all right, we're going to move on to item number five, low income utility discount program IP two. And that is from the that's from the April 20 2420 April 2025 but is in our last I P in October 15.

No, I think just kind of an overview so that people know what we were talking about, because it has been more than a year, it's been a year and a half since we talked about this. But I think what we asked Jeff was to help us understand in a cost neutral way, you have individuals who are on the utility discount program, that currently receive a set percentage of the base rate that is discounted. And so if we were to instead look at a percentage of the entire bill, and that was applied in a expense neutral way, what would we be looking at as far as the overall percentage of the discount? So the

When you say cost neutral, would that then mean fewer people would be able to be helped, but the people that would be helped could potentially be helped to a greater degree? Am I understanding correctly? Yeah.

Sean I answered your question on we're solving for the percentage of the number of people.

Yes, but you know the number that makes it where you said Reverend Reverend neutral that's the part I was wondering if that meant that that would be this the cost of the program would stay the same it would be an allocation would be different.

And so like the criteria to be eligible would stay the same.

Would that be variable each month then? It will be variable.

i'm sorry if this is in the memo and i missed it but if we do have somebody and they are on the discount program and they're using a lot of water does the city engage at all or do we do we do anything do we call and say hey is there a broken trade we treat them like any regular customer our staff wouldn't distinguish between who's in and who's out of the program but if there are spikes in usage and yes we we can at times flag them we don't always

The other thing that comes to my mind is if there is a varying amount, can our system handle that, like just our financial system?

You're higher. You get the gauge. Yes, exactly. It's like, oh, you're using more than an average house. Yes, you have this.

I only wish actually because in Huntsville I was paying my mother's water bill and there was a water bill that was a thousand dollars. My mother was no longer living in that home and it was because there was an issue with the toilet and so they didn't let me know it was I had to find out and there was no discount at all whatever it was awful but so thank you for doing that and because there could be I mean again this was like my particular situation and it was a one-off I lived out of state and all of this but to be able to alert a family who doesn't know that like because the toilet still ran

I just had one quick question. When it comes to if you see a spike in usage that seems unusual in a tenancy, do you contact the property owner or the tenant directly generally?

Okay. Because I know my, we just kind of pay a, we reimburse our landlord for water. So it's in his name. So in that case, it would be on the landlord to communicate with the tenant about the issue that's going on.

all right so sound like uh conversations are continuing on that yes all right great look forward to an update We'll move on to item number six, council updates on assigned boards, commissions, and committees.

Yeah, I've got one this time around. Coming from the UNESCO City of Literature Board, a couple of things real quick here. First of all, congratulations to Christopher Merrill, retired director of the Iowa Writers Workshop and this year's recipient of the Paul Engle Prize from the UNESCO Iowa City of Literature. It was awarded this past Sunday in a ceremony at the Cornelville Public Library. Very well attended. very wonderful conversation, super interesting to listen to Mr. Merrill's stories and his experience as a writer, as a poet, as a journalist, and also as the director of this wonderful p

And may I don't want to be out of order and of other people have board and commission that when we stop talking about I P's I did have one of their item.

I am so sorry no problem yet we'll just finish this and then we'll go back. Thank you. You're nothing else on item number 6 we're going to return back to item number 5. Well we'll return back to information packages that yeah number 3 or number 3 item number 3 information packet October 15th.

I just wanted to flag for everyone, I also sent it by email to all of you, but I had put in a memo just trying to share information with the public about the current status of what has happened with the shooting that occurred on September 15th, where Allen Lemberg died. And Jeff also had a response or a supplement to that memo as well. So both of those were in the late handouts that came out yesterday. But as I understand it, just to, you know, again, trying to increase transparency around this. The Division of Criminal Investigation for the State Department of Public Safety has finished their

I'm just my mind is going to our strategic planning. The discussion that we have there and maybe I thought staff maybe staff could just speak to what What they understood from that discussion from the Council as far as like their actions is it was a more. Because there were some of the examples that you mentioned like having a line item and the budget having to see IP.

So we know affordable housing is extremely important to you as well as the rest of the council. So that was a part of the discussion that we had during our strategic plan. Well, my question is, I guess, to council or to staff, um and maybe this is my understanding was staff was going to walk away with all of our strategic planning discussions and then present something back to us and then from there is where i understood we would have continued conversation but maybe help me if that wasn't i think that was strategic sorry i'll let

But that's just a bit that go ahead. I was going to say I think it. What comes to a lot is looking for is for us to be able to knowing the high level with the strategic plan that the verbiage is is then actually tried to have a conversation in advance of budget season probably so that then the department division and Jeff can have a little bit more of a sense of like what we are the meat on the bones. for the upcoming year. Is that kind of where you're at with what? Yeah.

And in the same way I think it would be helpful because we now will have a stronger estimate of what kind of monies we're looking at to be able to

scope out what looks so I mean I think I would be in favor yeah no I I know that we're so I know we need to have the discussion the question was do we wait for the strategic plan um to come back to have that as a guide uh when we're having that discussion although we know some of the tools that we're you know, that we utilize.

Sure. And I'm trying to just gauge when we should have this, because we have three more meetings before the end of the year.

Yeah. So that's the reason for the questions. I'm trying to figure out.

Do we have other work session topics? I know like today we were kind of getting to ones that we hadn't in a while.

Right. And that's what we're doing. I'm trying to figure out like where do we put it in? Do we wait for the strategic, you know, refresh?

information prepared to share at this point because it's so it's so no right.

But I think tethering it to the affordable housing action plan makes sense to me because I think that's what you're currently working off of that it seems like maybe We're not all in alignment of exactly what it says and how we should be prioritizing. Because it's really not a question of whether we want to do affordable housing as prioritizing. Is that a fair way of saying it? So is it just a review of it to say this is what the plan says and what we agree on or don't agree on? Is that?

I think the items we have left in the plan are not entirely what we're talking about. I think that it's a bigger conversation that just in terms of the memo that you mentioned, Jeff, that has like these are, in my mind it was like, and it's $15 million. Correct. That one, if that could be updated, I would find that very helpful. And including the allocation from Lost, of course, in that. So we kind of can scope what we're talking about and how... Sure. Where we see that in different places in the budget.

So it does sound like if we can have those updates, then we'll be able to have the discussion.

So you're asking for a proposal from staff. I just want to make sure. I mean, like, not proposal, but... Because we're needing to make sure we're not having a full discussion on this. But what do we need to prep for that meeting?

And maybe if you could include a reminder for us to dig in on the dashboard, which I think we said we would do in preparation for that conversation, that would be helpful.

All right. Anything else. All right here nothing we are adjourned until 06PM will be back for a formal meeting.

that's just a poor choice all right it is 6 p.m on october 20th 2026 and i'm going to call the city of iowa city meeting to order roll call please alter here fergus here harmsen here mo here select yeah teague here y line all right well i want to welcome everyone that's present to your city hall and to those that are joining us virtually welcome as well we are going to move right into our agenda which is proclamations item number two uh 2a is a very special proclamation adoption month whereas the city of iowa city recognizes the importance of providing children with permanent safe and loving f

Thank you. that lady is awesome and amazing she makes people lives very easy so thank you for all the resources and support you give we're going to move on to 2b election heroes day and this will be read by mayor pro tem alter

Whereas free and fair elections are essential to the health of our democracy, and whereas democracy is powered not by institutions alone but by people who step up to serve, and whereas election officials, their staff, poll workers, poll rovers, and poll observers put in countless hours setting up our voting system, and ensuring that polling sites function properly and ballots are counted accurately. And whereas, our democracy could falter without the dedication of these individuals. And whereas, the City of Iowa City and the League of Women Voters of Johnson County want to thank all of our ded

Thank you. We're going to move on to 2C, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and this will be read by Councilor Hermsen.

Thank you. Whereas the purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to provide education about disability employment and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities, and whereas October 2026 marks the 81st anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, And whereas its history traces back to 1945 when it began as a week-long recognition of people with physical disabilities, but later evolved into a full month that acknowledges the importance of increasing the workforce inclusion of people with all nature of disabilities. And

I can't read my handwriting, that's Marco. Marco, I'm sorry.

Thank you. It's all 3 of you for coming except in those proclamations really appreciate to for highlighted them here at the city. All right, we're going to move on in our agenda. Can I get a motion to approve consent can calendar 3 through 7. Some of them. And anyone from the public like to address this topic. Welcome. Please state your name and city you're from. And there is a sign in unless you have a drop in. Okay. Welcome.

Thanks. Thank you. Anyone else like to address any other items on our consent agenda? Items three through seven. And if you're online, please raise your virtual hand. See no one in person or online. Council discussion. Roll call please burgers yes Thompson, yes, Mo yes, so yes Teague yes, why line. Yes alter yes motion passes 7 to 0 we're on to item number 8 which is our can community comment. This is an opportunity for folks to speak on an item that is not on our regular agenda and we invite you to come up at this time we do ask that you limit your comments to 3 minutes. Welcome. Please state

Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else like to address an item that is not on our agenda? We also have someone online. So please raise your hand if you would like to speak. If you're online, please come forth. Please state your name and city you're from. And there is a sign in.

Thank you. Anyone else like to address a topic that is not on our agenda? Welcome.

Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else like to address a topic that is not on our agenda? No. Please state your name and city you're from when you are ready. Great.

And please direct your comments to the council I would OK.

Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else like to address the topic that is not on our agenda. Seeing and hearing no one. We're going to close the cup community comment section. We're going to move on to item number 9 which is a regular formal agenda 9 a is the sell of 1913 Taylor drive. Resolution authorizing conveyance of a single-family home located at 1913 Taylor drive going to open up the public hearing and welcome.

How long has it been, sorry, how long has it been ready or on the market, so to speak?

All right, anyone from the community want to speak to this item. If you're online, please raise your virtual hand. Seeing no one. I'm going to close the public hearing can I get a motion to approve please. So moved Mo.

Like to just echo those sentiments had a chance to tour some of these a couple months about 2 months ago and yeah they they look great and they have done a lot of great work and it's transformational for the neighborhood. So thank you very much.

It was one of the first things that I talked about at the Council so it was great to to see this program continuing so thanks to the staff and again to those that are out there listening. I know that we still have some in inventory that may not be ready yet, but keep your eyes out. Roll call please.

Motion passes 7-0, 9B, Highway 6 Trail, Broadway Street to Fair Meadows Boulevard project. RESOLUTION OF PROVEN PROJECT MANUAL AND ESTIMATE OF COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HIGHWAY SIX TRAIL BROADWAY STREET TO FAIR MEADOWS BOULEVARD PROJECT ESTABLISH AN AMOUNT OF BID SECURITY TO ACCOMPANY EACH BID DIRECT CITY CLERK TO POSE NOTICE TO BIDDERS IN FIXED TIME AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF BIDS. I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WELCOME.

Joe, can you briefly talk about snow maintenance, how it works on these 10-foot-wide sidewalks, and especially when we have kind of gaps, which I know you guys are filling in as fast as you can.

Truck with a blade and it's parks. Thanks. Perfect.

I've got a number of questions. And they all kind of are hovering around the First Avenue Highway 6 piece.

Something is making noise on my computer. Thank you.

Sure. So one of the questions that I have is I did, I was jotting down notes. And so you're going to have, I know that you have one piece of new signalization in already, right?

And then a sidewalk going along Earl May, which is wonderful. That's great. You mentioned also that there's going to be a traffic island at that. Okay. So is there going to be also like I guess an accommodation made for pedestrian crossing at that place? Okay. Wow.

Yeah. And I apologize, I think I was probably in the middle of like dashing out my notes as you like went through this slide. Yeah. So thank you for going over it again. One other question and maybe again, you said it's $21 million project, it's DOT funded.

I thought I heard you say that we have a really nice trail. Yeah, right. It's all about their. Thanks sorry about that. So you said it's usually it's an 8020 split yet that we are providing more than 20% we are quite so yeah, can you walk us through that a little bit why.

Okay. And then my final question is what kind of plans do you have for the disruption that there will be to the traffic flow when you are working specifically at Highway 6 and First Avenue?

THANK YOU SO MUCH. This is a super exciting project my neck of the woods, I'm very very excited to be able to cross that at 1st Avenue, it's going to be huge for kids going to Southeast middle school as well. I'm just curious it on the Western end of this project does the trail go all the way in to the Broadway street intersection or does it connect up with the Hollywood OK alright so go there's an addition.

all right no other questions thank you anyone from the public like to address this topic if you're online please raise your virtual hand welcome hello hi uh yeah this project looks great glad it's happening i just have some a couple questions about it so like the signals are these

Thank you. Anyone else like to address this topic? Seeing no one in person or online.

There's public comments right now. Yes, all right. So there's no one else from the public wanted to make comment. I'm going to close the public hearing and I get a motion to approve please so moved to alter. Second progress Council discussion.

I just wanted to say sorry about that. I just wanted to say. That, you know, someone who's worked in this area for a long time, I think this is a huge step in kind of our long term. plan to make this area of town way more livable, a place where people want to go, a place where people want to walk their dog and feel safe having their kids go to school. So I'm really excited about this and I appreciate all the work that you put into it and I can't wait to see it come to fruition.

Yeah, I'm just going to echo what's been said. This is my district, and it's a great addition to the area, as well as as we take a look at, you know, what happens when on that Sycamore Mall First Avenue area in the future for continued vitalization and revitalization. This is a key piece of infrastructure, I think, that will only help those efforts.

Mo? Yes. Sala? Yes. Teague? Yes. Weiline? Yes alter yes Burgess yes Thompson, yes motion passes 7 to 0 item 9 see Robert a Lee recreational center rooftop unit replacement project resolution approving project manual and estimate of calls for the construction. The Robert a leak and we are recreation center are to you replacement project establish an amount of bid security to a company each bid director city clerk to post notice fitters and fixing time and place for see the bids going to open up the public hearing and welcome.

Are these effectively one-for-one exchanges as far as heating and cooling capacity and airflow, or is it some kind of upgrade?

Seeing no one. I'm going to close the public hearing. All right Council could I get a motion to approve some some of the second alter also discussion. Sound like a necessary innovation. Yeah.

Thank you. Thank you so much for taking good care of our public infrastructure and the upkeep, a hugely important piece of the downtown. And it's very much appreciated. Thank you.

Yes alter yes Burgess yes harm son yes Mo yes motion passes 7 to 0 fireworks ordinance amendment or nested ordinance amending title 8 police regulations chapter 5 miscellaneous offenses section 12 fireworks to further restrict the days and hours during which the discharge of fireworks remain legal and this is a motion to give first consideration I get a motion please.

Does this bring us in alignment with our neighboring cities largely? I remember this last year in the Press Citizen, it was a little confusing because they're subtly different because of the way the holiday fell.

Okay. I'm curious whether the county has any, what their jurisdiction is because when I think about people who want to go and, you know, make loud things go bang if they go out in the country, if they can do that. I guess I just don't know if they have any rules on the books or if that's allowable or is it just within the city limits that we're talking?

All right here nothing else or nor the questions anyone from the public like to address this topic. Yes, welcome please state your name and city or from.

Thank you anyone else like to address this topic. See no one in person or online. Council discussion.

Yeah, sorry to end with that all right, thank you.

Roll call please Teague yes, why line. Yes alter yes Burgess yes, Thompson, yes, Mo yes, so yes motion passes 7 to 0 at 9. Or in this amendment to utilize the barnacle device for recovery of unpaid parking fines and fees or this amending title 3 finances taxation and fees and title 9 motor vehicles and traffic to allow the transportation services department parking division to utilize the barnacle device for recovery of unpaid parking fines and fees. This is the first consideration to get a motion please so move to move second alter and welcome Chris O'Brien.

Thank you. I had a couple of questions. First, did I hear you say that it isn't a particular contract we have or will have with a company?

Okay, because I think I remember in my conversations with the city manager saying that we wanted to make sure that there was something about... making sure that this is kind of like the minimum fee so we are not asking the public to pay more than they need to.

I also was going to ask, I think I remember when we last had the discussion where we raised the threshold for telling or doing this type of enforcement action from I believe it was $50 to $150. Do we have a... a sense of what the average amount of unpaid tickets is that gets this enforcement mechanism? I think I remember it being pretty high. Is that correct?

I have two questions for Chris and maybe one for Eric. The first one is kind of the, how do you get to $150 in fines or more? I mean, is this like three, four, five citations? It depends on the type of citation. Right. It's like if you're parking a handicapped zone, what is that?

And then I guess the other question for you, Chris, is when you get the code, let's say you pay, you call in with I assume a credit card and you get it disabled, you drop it off?

The area where we're we're we're centralize yes or in the central business district is will be. And I guess in the air question is does this if somebody sees this and they're angry and tries to dry off drive off with the barnacle on it like this is city bear new liability for that. I don't think so I mean that would clearly be crazy but driving yeah, I mean I don't think so OK.

And I'm assuming these are not easy to get off once they have been engaged.

Oh yeah. If we you know a couple of months in kind of see patterns about the subscription versus the cost of you know the 50 dollar fee. If we are getting substantially more than the subscription month after month then it's possible for us to go back and re examine what that fee might be potentially lowering it.

appreciate that when I was having conversations with staff about this beforehand, that the goal was not revenue generation, but as minimum as we can go to pay off costs. I was just thinking in the future, if for some reason we are like, wow, we are getting more than we think, maybe there's an opportunity for us to go and re-examine that as well. Yeah.

So here I did one more question. If we once this is approved them to will they econ eventual contract come back to us for approval or will this approval of the ordinance just signal to city staff to go ahead and move forward. When there.

All right. Thank you. Anyone from the public like to address this topic? If you're online, please raise your virtual hand.

Welcome. Please state your name and city you're from.

Welcome please state your name and city you're from.

Thank you. Anyone else like to address this topic? If you're online, please raise your virtual hand. And you've already been up once, is that correct or no?

All right, welcome. Yes, please state your name and city you're from.

Thank you. Anyone else like to address this topic? Seeing no one in person or online council discussion.

Yeah, I would just say although this is something that you know, is still imperfect. It's still not a perfect solution. I just have so many stories specifically with tenants through the time of the Iowa City Tenants Union that through, you know, just so many anecdotes of low income people having their vehicles towed and almost being evicted because they couldn't pay to get it out, sat there for multiple days, had no way to get there, had no way to get to work. I've heard so many horror stories about us telling people to Tiffin. And I think that this is just something that could drastically imp

So. If if someone else is more wanted to speak already had.

I was just going to say I appreciate the comments about like why are we assessing a fee when it's not a lot of money and I think one thing we've learned since we implemented the fair free transit is we were. expecting to be able to maybe subsidize the the bus service with more parking revenue than we've been able to and so for me that's kind of the trade-off is like yes it is an additional fee for these users and we know that it's helping us keep other really important services going

I do like the suggestion about looking at ways to protect from private towing companies and private lots and just a very so that would be something I'd be interested in seeing if we have any recourse or any.

No no as something totally separate I apologize I apologize for an and separate a separate issue.

And through the looking into other communities, I'm sure the issue of if someone gets their car and is physically unable to get the barnacle off. I would imagine that staff would look into a way to have, that would be an instance where staff could come out and assist the person. So yeah, I think that could be a process of looking into what other communities do in situations like that and make sure we're not leaving anybody out to dry.

So when it comes down to multiple ticket one, I think this is a great opportunity. I echo all the words that my fellow counselors have said, especially when it comes down to lowering in the moment cost, when it comes the difference between touring a vehicle, all the challenges and the needs that go to recover that vehicle versus the barnacle. um i i am curious to know and maybe chris you don't have an answer sorry but at the time that someone occurs gets a ticket they are not able to pay that day online i'm assuming is it already in the system

That's all the clarification that I needed. Thank you.

Thank you. We have vehicles with automatic license plate readers that go around.

I guess I just now need additional clarification of you said Eric to get on the toe list it's not just that initial citation do you know criteria or staff know criteria for like how to get on the toe list how or what the grace period is to pay fines.

Hearing nothing else. Roll call please why line. yes alter yes Burgess yes Thompson yes Mo yes Sala yes T yes motion passes 7 to 0. we are at item number 10. Council appointments we have quite a few We'll go through each one of them separately so we'll start with 10 a board of adjustment. One big city fellow 5 year term. January 1st 2027 through December 31st 2031 already.

I think we should appoint the person who applied.

Yeah, I'm hearing yes, yes, yes, all right so to get a motion to appoint Chris child's Jean or Jean Chris Stiles area. Second Thompson. All in favor say aye aye any opposed motion passes 7 to 0. We're at item number 10 be board of appeals what they see for building design professional to fill a 5 year term. January 1st 2027 through December 31st 2031. And we have one individual that is certainly have an unexpired term and they get on. It was May 17th, 2022. But it's only one person.

I would move that we appoint Thomas McInerney.

Moved by Alter. Second. Second by Sala all the favor say aye aye any opposed motion passes 7 to 0 item 10 C climate action Commission. climate action Commission has 3 vacancies to fill 3 your terms. January 1st, 2027 through December 31st, 2029. And so all of these are on the same cycle so that's one last thing that we have to consider there were only 2 applicants before us.

Mister mayor this is one of those and it's interesting that we talked about this early in my mind I'd like to throw out the idea that we put this one back up for 2 reasons one we only have 2 applicants for 3 spots and the other one is that there's one of the applicants I don't feel like gave me enough information on their application that I would feel really confident making that appointment so you know just and that that's just not not for me to go go on on that to to to in good conscience appoint someone to commission so I I'd be I'd be perhaps making a motion that we re up this one in re re

So I know you're making a motion. But I'm supposed to actually just allow it I wonder. If there's any well or I can make a motion you make the motion so a motion to defer by Council Hermson.

We could discuss at first I could withdraw the motion temporarily and have other people chime in, but I'm willing to make the motion to you made the motion and it's okay to make them as many as 4.

Do we have a second for the motion to carry a second by burgers. All right now discussion.

And for what it's worth, I felt comfortable with one of the applicants. I don't know if we want to wait for a larger pool altogether, but I do feel comfortable moving forward with an appointment for one of the candidates and then

Yeah, I guess for me I will be open to entertaining. Any motions on the floor for. One of both you know for any of the applicants seem like that would be a part of them.

Could I amend my motion to just say we would. We advertise 2 of the 3 spots.

And that's kind of what I was originally thinking about, just suspending all of them.

Well, I think I mean that's an interesting question, but the motion is do we just defer and get a pool and then just point all 3 of these positions in the later time we we need to go back anyway because we don't have enough applicants for all 3 positions.

So yeah, so that's what I would defer and we can just open it if that makes it cleaner to get a larger pool.

I mean what I will say is that one there's January 1st of when this takes effect so there is some time but if there are you know nominees that folks want to and I respect any comments from my fellow colleagues and if someone you know want to accept the proposal to kind of defer all then that's their prerogative. But if there are people or counselors that want to throw out a name for consideration, I at least want to hear that and see where the support is personally.

Yes, and I think we'll agree. I think what we're doing is... Because the motion is there, we really have to talk through this process or through the entire situation to determine if this were in one's individual vote will be, in my opinion. But your point well taken.

I'm not sure where the Climate Action Commission fits in terms of, you know, attendance. I know quorum has been an issue for other commissions in the past, so I'm wondering if we have the confidence to appoint somebody, if it is better that we do it, you know, because one person can make a difference in those situations. If it would be better to just say yes to one of the applicants and for the other that we might want more information from, we could just reach out and say, hey, man, Can you give us a little bit more and then we can see and also open up the applicant pool?

If I understand the timeline right, we would be able a month, right? And then by our December meeting, we could be. Yes, I think there's sufficient time to put it out again if that's what council chooses.

Okay that makes that makes more sense, thank you.

So that it yeah, no, I'm just willing to move forward with the proposal and voting.

Call the question essentially all right. So this will be a roll call.

I guess my hope would be we'd be able, we have three meetings left and probably the December meeting. It would have to be the December meeting, I think.

I mean, that's, yeah, I mean, that's- gives people times the climate action Commission to so I feel like that might draw some interest in and I think they have a more robust pool would be a good thing for the city.

So so all the motion to the river put them out again, yeah, it's one of them again with everybody out. yeah yeah so all in favor say aye aye aye any opposed motion passes that's fine Motion passes. I think it was 7, 0. I wasn't sure if you said 7, 0. I didn't hear anyone. I was in the minority. All right. Human Rights Commission. Yes, majority anyway. Human Rights Commission, two big C's to fill. And this is item number 10 D to make cease to field to your terms January 1 2027 through December 31st 2028 one they see to fill a one-year term January 2027 through December 30. First 2027 and counci

Hi. I would say that I'm in favor of reappointing Susana Rodriguez since she has only served a few months. Yes. I agree. Okay.

I would... Agree with that and do we want to just talk about the one at a time or should we offer up that's I think you know we can take nominations on the flight that I would offer up a Scott just person and Ed Marino thank you I saw for that the same person.

I had a few written down. I had Scott, Zaria, and Nicole Yeager. So I think we share Scott with some of us.

One that I don't think anybody else has mentioned that jumped out at me, I thought was kind of interesting was, and hopefully I pronounced this correctly, Hui Wang. Hui Wang, a researcher, has some really interesting connections, you know, and a member of the Chinese community and some connections there. I thought it had a very strong application as well.

Do we have to maybe OK so it does sound like we have Scott Jasperson and who Wayne with majority votes and others don't Susan Rodriguez says that she's the number of 3 years. oh yes yes you all i had already counted her as approved yes all right three so that would be yes so now we just have to determine um we have two with two-year terms and then one with a one-year term i would be tempted to say that uh for uh miss rodriguez for a two-year term and uh you know that i think that would be the other would be like the

Susan Rodriguez and Wayne who Wayne for the 2 vacancies to feel 2 year terms and

for Scott Jaspersen to fill the one big C for one year term. What you said move by a lot second by alter all in favor say aye aye any opposed motion passes 7 to 0. We're at item number 10 e parks and recreation Commission to the exceed to fill 4 year terms. January 1st 2027 through December 31st 2030.

I think Rachel McPherson should serve a full term.

All right. So, yes, it sounds like we have a majority there. Any other nominations on the floor?

I thought Michael Hamilton seemed interesting.

There's one of the ones I had on here, too. Never mind. That was on the wrong list. Beg pardon. So many notes. Yeah.

Yeah. I had Sarah Maxwell Lickband written down. I thought that was a very strong application.

So sound like we have a majority for Rachel McPherson and Sarah Maxwell like bad. Yes. They get a motion please so moved no second burgers all in favor say aye aye aye any opposed motion passes 7 to 0. We're on to item number 10 F public art advisory committee one big see for an art or design professional to fill 3 year term. January 1st 2027 through December 31st 2029. And we do have just one applicant there. Serving an unexpired term, but their first date was of appointment was September 17th 2024.

OK can I get a motion to appoint Sophie done to so moved. All right move by most I got my burgers all in favor say aye aye I oppose motion passes 7 to 0. 10 G public art advisory committee one big support at large representative to fill a 3 year term. January 1, 2027 through December 31st. 2029. Council discussion.

I thought that the the person who was finishing the first term once another also had a really strong of the arts director. Leslie I mean that was the cleaner as the cleaner. Jumped out at me at this one of the thing and and I'm just not realizing this that one of the applicant applicants here was has actually somebody from the earlier one that I was concerned about not having an almost. So but this application is actually way better. The actually does give me it's a different one. It's a different thing. There's actually a lot more information there. But I would point out that in this particul

And even so we have 3 applicants but even the other applicant Kathy great opportunity. Yeah, but I it's not like there's a majority for Leslie finer. Yeah, you can get a motion please. Yeah, yes, one appointment.

I move to approve. Our point Leslie finer.

Yeah second. I'm some are moved by a burger second by harm to know if they were say aye aye any of those motion passes 7 to 0. We're on to item number 10 H senior center Commission to make seats to fill 3 year terms. January 1st 2027 to December 31st 2029.

three individuals again we have I think yeah both he and Warren had had strong the strongest apps I'd be I don't have a strong preference

So it sounds like there's a motion for Raimondo, Serafin, and Warren Paris. Are there any other nominations on the floor? Anyone want to put it on the floor? All in favor say aye. Aye. We didn't have a motion. Oh well, there was a note that was a that was nominations on the floor to get a motion. To appoint Warren Paris and Raimondo Serafin.

Moved by Salah, seconded by Burgess. All in favor say aye.

Any opposed motion passes 7-0. That is all of the appointments for the night. We are at item number 11, which is an announcement of vacancies previous. 11 a airport is on the board of adjustment one big C to fill a 5 year term. Airport zoning board of adjustment with a city to fill a 5 year term. Board of appeals will make sure for a licensed electrician to fill a 5 year term. Board of appeals will make sure for H back professional to fill an expired term historic preservation Commission one big C for a round street representative to fill a 3 year term. Historic Preservation Commission on vaca

I mentioned this during our work session, but just to throw it out there one more time, Iowa City Book Festival began this past Sunday, goes through this coming Sunday. A number of events all through the rest of the week and into the weekend, all throughout downtown and beyond. And to find out the schedule, iowacityofliterature.org or just Google Iowa City Book Festival.

There was a very successful Habitat for Humanity Women Build fundraiser honoring Liz Swenson who's been a dynamo in the community. And like it was the same night as the African-American Museum honoring Billy and Orville Townsend. But it was a wonderful event and Liz was, Still rallying the dollars even that evening and so there was like I want to say $93,000 raised and $15,000 of that goes to helping hands which is like home repair program and so there was some really it was some amazing features that were done and And in particular one house that was completely reno'd for actually a young boy

We're going to move on to item number 13 reports on items from our city staff city manager's office. And our city clerk. All right, we're item number 14 to get a motion to adjourn and we'll do again. Second by power second by burgers all in favor say aye aye any of those motion passes have a good evening everyone.