City of Des Moines, Iowa 2023 City Council, 7 Aug 2023

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From YouTube: 8-7-23 City Council

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Des Moines City Council regular meeting on Monday, August 7, 2023.

View the agenda: https://DSM.city/CouncilMeetings

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Good afternoon. welcome to.

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The city of des moines meeting.

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For august 7th. clerk, please.

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Take roll. [ roll call].

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You have a quorum. item. 2 is approving the agenda as presented and as a mended.. I will say that on the consent agenda, this evening, item 36 was added as policy.

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Move approval., aisle I'll second. all in favor, say aye.

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aye. any opposition? move on to item 3. item passes. item 3 is.

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Approving the consent, agenda. items, 3-46. item, 5, county.

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V: otes no. item 11, mandelbaum.

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Wishes to speak. move.

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Second. please vote.

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that takes us to the hearing.

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Items. this evening, for the.

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Hearing items this evening,, we have one dismissal which no.

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Public comment will be taken.

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Several conveyance hearings, three zoning hearings, items.

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5 0-52. several public.

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Financing hearings one informal hearing. for the zoning hearing only which are again, 50, 51,.

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And 52, we'll hear from the parties in interest first and then from the general public.

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Remind everybody that the party in interest for the zoning items include only the applicant for the zoning and those persons living within 250 feet of the property to be rezoned, to which the city has sent notices.

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After all, those parties have.

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Communicated, we will open it up for the general public to speak on the zoning item.. I will anyone else. Please don't step up to the microphone unless you you are that applicant to begin with or you're a person in that 250 feet that received that mailed notice.. If anyone approaches the mic before it's time,, you will be compared to the list.. If you're not on the list,, you will not be recognized for the remainder of the m eeting. zoning items, after.

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All the parties and interest have been called upon,. The general public will be called.

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Upon for the public comment.

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not to exceed one minute per person to a maximum of seven.

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Minute. any person making comments not to exceed one minute per person. for all other hearings. This evening, any interested person may make.

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Comments, not to exceed the one minute to a maximum 5 minutes.

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Per hearing. with that,, let's go ahead and get started with.

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Our first hearing item. item.

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47. [agenda item read].

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I move item 47.

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Tim 47 has been moved and.

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Seconded. please vote.

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Item 48. [agenda item read].

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Again, germane comments from the general public.. Anyone want to.

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Make anything regarding this.

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Excess property?, I move item 48., second.

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48 has been moved and s econded., please vote.

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Item 49. [agenda item read].

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Statement on the agenda,, the general comments from the public will open it. Up. anybody want.

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To speak to the conveyance 29.

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Hartford avenue?.

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I will move item 49.

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Second. moved and seconded., please vote. .

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Item 50. [agenda item read].

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First, we'll ask, again, for parties on this zoning item. any parties in interest on this.

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Item?, seeing none. we'll ask.

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For any comments from the general public regarding this.

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Rezoning. seeing none. I move.

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Moved and seconded.

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Item 51. [agenda item read].

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We'll ask if there any parties.

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In interest here that wish to speak to this?, seeing none. I'll ask if.

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There's any comments to be made from the general public.

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R egarding this? property at.

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3103 forest. I'll move 51a and b.

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Moved. six yes.

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Item 52. [agenda item read].

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We'll ask if there's any parties.

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In interest who wish to speak on.

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This? seeing none., let me ask.

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If there's any comments from the general public regarding this I?.

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Second. moved. six yes.

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Item 53. [agenda item read].

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We'll ask if anyone from the general public would like to make any comments regarding this.

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Amendment to the urban renewal.

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Plan? seeing none., I will move item 53.

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Moved and seconded.

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Item 54. [agenda item read].

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We'll open it up see if there's any comments from the general.

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Public. we have one speaker.

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Hello. adam callanan, ward, 3. council voting on whether to.

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Take the debt is part of new project known as nationwide building.. I'm asking the congress to postpone this.

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B, uilding and hold listening sessions.. The decisions should not be taking on millions of dollars of debt without details.

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There have been press releases and no votes. The project could.

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Be discussed and planned behind closed doors.. The fact that it's happening behind doors makes it hard to comment on.

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There's not much public information about this.

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Step forward.: is there anyone else to speak?.

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Kristin anderson., I second what adam said regarding the.

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Lack of transparency regarding this plan., assuming that it is a plan to fund a new police station.. I would like to ask you not to move forward with that.. I opposed any effort to further move funding towards policing that already takes up 35% of the general budget..

G

Those funds can be used in a variety of different ways that will be better spent like more.

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Bike infrastructure, infiltration system for des moines, public school classrooms,, affordable housing,, improvements for bathrooms, city parks and.

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Allow them to be open. public.

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Bathrooms,, more recreational.

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Facilities, mental health resources. any of these will be.

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Better spent funds than a new police station. thank you.

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Is that the last speaker on this item? anyone else that.

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Wants to speak, raise your hand. go ahead, sir.

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I pay pretty close attention..

H

I would like the council to clarify some of the points that first speaker had., I'm not sure.

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If that's accurate. I like to know if any of those were accurate.

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Jolene prescott. the police station,, the police still need to do their work.. The building is getting old over.

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There. it needs to be updated.

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I know people don't like the police, but,. We need them., we need to support them.. Thank.

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You. all right. council?.

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I move 54, 54a., second., 54 and 54a moved.. Please.

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Item 55 [agenda item read].

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We'll open it up., anyone want.

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To make any comments on this?.

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I'm adam callanan., it's all.

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The same, council communication underneath it. planning to spend millions of dollars to.

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Boost pd. we've seen things.

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Happening on those now suddenly.

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Without a lot of discussion,, without asking the public, if that's what they want. we're, seeing this get pushed through behind closed doors, it's not transparent.! That's what's happening here.. I understand.

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Lot of people do support the police.. I don't understand if that's the case,, why we can't have listening sessions where people can speak. police department can speak and talk about this plan.. I understand why that's not happening.. It.

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Should not be blind support without any questioning or any.

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Publication. thank you.

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Anyone else to speak? jolene.

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? jolene prescott., the police station is getting old and it needs to be updated. plus,.

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We're having other community entities in this building also. we're going to end up saving.

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Money in the long run by.

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U pdating our building.

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I'm in favor of this. thank.

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You., I wanted to add that that was.

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An issue I did show up for.. It was the ways that we look at the leasing and specifically, that.

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Bit about how we prioritize.

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Marijuana., I was an opponent in the at-large.. I think, if you remember, may be your team asked for my endorsement.. That was one of the issues they asked. If.

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If I consider, perhaps think.

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Hadding -- thinking about the way to talk to the police about how to handle the marijuana.

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Today, something historic, h: appened.: we can go couple of hours to the north and people there have the freedom to grow and possess their own medicine.. We can go couple of hours to illinois and people have that.

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Freedom., I think it's reallial.

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Shame that people can still get.

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Harassed on our city streets, just for having that freedom., I would ask carl,, do something.

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About that, and I would appreciate it very much.

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I'll move this item. these.

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Bonds are for hvac, electrical.

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And plumbing improvements.

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Second. moved and seconded.

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Item 56. [agenda item read].

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Let's open it up for comment.

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Adam callanan.

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All of these items about the.

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Bonds are relate to the same council communication, which specifically talks about all of the bonds.. It's not clear from the item which one is which.. You can spend an hour to figure out which is which.. It's part of my comment, in the agenda.

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It's not clear what these items.

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Are for the way that the main agenda is., I like more on that.

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Can I clarify? the items are labeled. at the end of the I tem, this item, for example, is gcp-3.. There is an item in the blue letter,. All of these are in the same blue letter.,.

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There's a section in the blue letter c alled gcp-3. that has.

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Four line items. that portion.

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Of the blue letter., that is what this particular item is for. four line item, under.

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Gcp3., the previous one talked about the hvac, electrical and plumbing.. This item is energy conservation at city facilities, city, wide,, public art and swimming pool, and aquatic infrastructure.. The.

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Blue letter does correspond to the agenda item.. That's all. I.

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Was pointing out.? The discussion was not about the specific item for these specific bonds.. If the concern was about.

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Transparency, the goal was to make sure folks know what this particular bond is for.

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The language makes it vague.

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Any comment? again, councilmember mandelbaum has it correct that the link to this communication is shown on the screen? Will give you all the details, each of.

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These. first, several are not.

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Dealing with the aspect of the.

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Nationwide. okay, thank you.

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exactly what the item says.

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The roll call as well. either one of those two will get.

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You to all of that detail.

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56 and 56a move and seconded.

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Item 57. [agenda item read].

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We'll open it up.

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Second. moved and seconded.

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57 and 57a. six yes.

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58 [agenda item read].

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Open it up. anybody want to.

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Speak? I'll move, 58 and 58a.

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Moved and seconded.

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Item 59. [agenda item read].

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We'll open it up again. anyone wants to make general comments. ?.

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I'll second. moved and seconded.. Please.

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Item 60. [agenda item read].

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Any comment from the public?.

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Seeing none. do we have a motion?, I will move 60 and 60a.

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Second. moved and seconded.. Please.

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Item 61 [agenda item read].

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We'll open it up for any comment.

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Seeing none., I will move 61.

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And 61a. second. moved and seconded.. Please.

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Item 62 [agenda item read].

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Move. seconded.

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Moved and seconded. please vote. six yes.

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Item 63 [agenda item read].

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Anybody from the general public?.

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I'll move., 63 and 63a.

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Second. 63 and 63a moved and.

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S econded. six yes.

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Item 64. [agenda item read].

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Open it up for general comments.

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I'll move item 64.

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Second. 64 is moved and seconded.

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Item 65 [agenda item read].

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Open it up. anybody want to comment on the storm water.

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Management?, I will move item 65 and 65a.

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Second. moved and seconded.

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Six yes.: let's note it is 5:29.

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We will move back to item 11.

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Completing our hearings. item.

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11 [agenda item read].

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Councilmember, mandelbaum?

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thank you, mayor.. This is the same item that we had.

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Discussion on, work session.

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Several weeks ago., this action represents continuation of the status quo on this project.. I don't think the status quo is.

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What's best. as we know,, a complete replacement is significantly more expensive than the repair and rehabilitation option. we're looking at $17 million for.

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Complete replacement, $5 million.

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For repair., I think we can convert this bridge and do it in a way that allows us to envision.

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Something better and make it a pedestrian only bridge that will bear less road, deteriorate less quickly and provide a better amenity for the community for fewer dollars.. The arguments that I heard to keep this road,.

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I don't think hold up under.

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Scrutiny., particularly given some of the actions that we actually just took., one of the.

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Abilities is that we need walnut.

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Street to serve as a t horoughfare., I been on the council for six years. in that.

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Entire time. walnut street.

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Never been open, continuously.

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We just took action that will move on funding and bonds that will help move forward with the nationwide building. one of the.

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Recommendations from the city manager's office is that we close a portion of walnut street.

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As part of that move., we will never have -- as we're going.

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Forward --, we will not have walnut street, be a.

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T horoughaffair to the western part of: do you thinks to the eastern part.? We took action that moves us in that direction.

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Other argument is that we need the walnut street bridge for traffic redundancy.. I find that.

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Argument to be even weaker when you look at the data. between.

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Grand,, locust and court avenue bridges.. There are an estimated.

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17,000 vehicle trips, a day., the.

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Capacity of each of those b ridges is 12,500 vehicle trips, a day. for 17,000 trips,. We.

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Have 50,000 in vehicle capacity. if we eliminated one bridge entirely,, there's still capacity.

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For 37,500 trips., if we take.

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The walnut street bridge out entirely,, we would have more than double on those four bridges, the current capacity that we actually have on those.

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Downtown bridges. the abundance.

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Of capacity is even greater, if you add the mlk bridge., that's a bridge that has capacity for almost 40,000 vehicle trips, a day. estimated that about half of that capacity,. I think the estimation or the calculation is probably on the high side, we're using about half of that.

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Capacity spending $12 million.

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For redundancy at this point seems wasteful to me. as part of this process,. We should be imagining how we can use that space and those dollars.

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Differently and better., we have.

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Multiple bridges per vehicular traffic.! Why not imagine this bridge as a pedestrianbridge.

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It's a great opportunity to think about how we can do things.

J

Differently., the only reason we don't is because we have a bias towards the stats quo.. I don't think the status quo cuts it in.

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This case., I'm not going to be supportive of this item.. I'm.

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Hopeful that we still find time.

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To revisit how we can do this.

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Differently. I, also, am not supportive of.

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Replacing this bridge., I think there are better ways to spend our dollars. traffic counts.

M

Don't justify it. I'll, be.

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V, oting, no on this., that's what the biggest expense is.. I think until we understand the make-up, what the market and district and growth we could have in the east village,, I think it's a little premature.. We have to fix it in.

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Anyway., I'm supportive of fix.

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The bridge and keep people moving across., it's used other than just travel across.. I don't think status quo to fix a bridge.. You still have to fix.

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It anyway. you have to do some.

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Maintaining of it. it's a terrible condition at the base.

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It's not as much on the top.. The base is the biggest expense.

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I'm supporting to get this.

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Thing: replaced. I'll move item 11.

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Second., I also support the redoing.

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This bridge., we are known as a city of bridges and connectivity.

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From the east side to west side., it's a symbol of people that come and show that we are open for all people,. All movement of.

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Traffic. we created the bike, pedestrian bridge even south, of.

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Court avenue.: we are a.

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C: onnected city.. I think that.

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With the expansion of living downtown,, continuing working.

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Downtown and also entertaining downtown,, this connectivity on all those downtown streets is what has been happening for over.

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A 100 years. we need to support.

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That connectivity for all of our.

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People to move about in the city.

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In the means that they have.

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Whether they are walking,, b, iking, or riding a bus or a.

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Car. well said. 4, yes, 2 nos, motion, passes., all right.! That takes us now.

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To informal hearings. 66.

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Ask the general public if they have any quick comments: r egarding, the 63rd street trai?.

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Mr. mayor,, I I'll move item.

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66. second. moved and seconded.

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Item 67. [agenda item read].

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Is there an a?.

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Council? we have a motion.

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Second. moved and seconded.

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Item 68. [agenda item read].

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I will move item 68a and b.

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Final consideration is a.

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Moved and seconded.

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Item 69 [agenda item read].

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I'll move, 69 and 69a., I know there's not support for it,. There was an interesting editorial in the paper about.

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Fireworks. we are making a mockery of our police department of how we won't allow fireworks to be used.. Capital allowed.

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Them to be sold everywhere., I would encourage others that are.

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Sitting up here to may be think about that as we enter into next.

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Year's fourth of july that possibly,, we would look at whether it's one day or a couple of days allowing fireworks. Use. people are going to use them, period., it's not going to stop,.

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Especially without it being sold every quarter., I know it's not.

C

Something that no one up here.

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Wants to do. better think about.

E

What we're doing here to our police department.? This is basically bringing.

C

Our codes in conform with the state law., we can't do anything -- the state allowing fireworks to be sold. Basically any commercial property and the state is demanding that we change our code because we only had it sold in industrial area..

C

It's going to be like that for a.

N

While. I'll second it. can I make one comment?. Can I request somebody to check in --.

N

I don't understand why it allows the fireworks to have five and.

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That was then removed. that.

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Wasn't allowed. the signage.

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Restriction, would otherwise be zoning.. That's going to be a.

N

Problem. we'll be happy to look at that for you. I december it's --, I guess it's true.. I think it's odd.

N

That they get to put up signs.

C

Everywhere. just dirties up every street corner. they put the tent up too.

C

our hands are tied. only thing.

M

We're doing is making a mockery of our police department, but not being able to enforce the law that consumers going to use. as long as you're checking in on this,. Could you explain how, by one get four free, works?.

M

I never been in retail., I don't get, how that can work.. How is.

E

That possible?.

E

I appreciate we can do away.

E

With everything., you give them one day: they'll take ten., no one,, the calls that I receive and the disturbance and the chaos that it as as you -- it.

E

C auses,, I don't like the law., we have to abide by it.. We have to do something to protect the people in this community,. The.

C

Noise and the disturbance and the damage to our parks alone is.

C

Terrible., that's what we could focus.

C

O n. focus on our parks. focus on the damage. That's being c aused by that, instead of trying to run around and answer 800 calls in one day is what we're trying to do., where we can't enforce anything., we could enforce.. We could put in.

J

Extra protection for that.

J

I agree to enforce our parks.

J

I don't fully understand why we're not taking that targeted approach to help with our parks..

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I think we should talk about.

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How we can better enforce in a.

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Targeted and strategic manner., that's applicable either way.

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Councilmember boesen said,. We allow it for one day,. We still.

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Got the same problem., I welcome.

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The conversation about how we can strategically enforce and provide our residence a little more relief and accountability than we're currently providing.

J

I share the frustrations that.

C

Others have mentioned here with.

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The state tieing our hand and.

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Forcing us to allow the same and.

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To allow it to be more visible,.

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In more places., I don't think.

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What's going on is the right way to do it. I move 69 and 69a.

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Moved and seconded., I think this conversation needs to continue. six yes.

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That brings us to item 70.

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Item 70 is our request to speak from the general public.. I will.

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Say for those persons to speak this evening under the public speaking item on the agenda,, we'll only be calling on those who registered to speak. all.

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Speakers must comply with the rules regarding their names and.

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Addresses., please keep your own time. at the two minute mark,, the clerk will be shutting off.

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Your mic and say time and we're going to move on to the next speaker.. We want to hear from all of our residents and we.

D

Encourage residents to be.

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Respectful of other viewpoints.

D

Let's open up and start with.

D

Anna campos., I have some picture that I want to put up here. anna.

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Campos, 1418d., wolf street. on.

D

May 17th of last year,, I came forward to you guys as a mother in pain. by lost my daughter --.

D

I lost my daughter emma in a hit-and-run accident. Last year. came to you guys to come and help me to better our streets.

D

On may 23rd, when I came, on.

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June, 2nd, we did a walk for emma.. Couple of members of the board came to our walk.. It has been over a year and big.

D

Progress has happened. for me,, it's been progress., we still have a lot to do.. I want to thank each and every one of you guys for your help, because you guys always get bombarded with.

D

Negative stuff that you guys not doing your job., you done your.

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Job helping us. linda.

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Westergaard and carol voss and.

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Steve naber have been in communication with me. carol.

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Voss,. Thank you so much for.

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Pushing vision, zero. linda, your phone call,, your persistent with everybody to get stuff d one,. I really appreciate it. last week,, when I decided that I.

D

Was going to speak, the reason.

D

Why was because I received these pictures of the progress being.

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Done on university and e.17th.

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Street. they were preparing to.

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Make the crosswalk there.

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T oday, they put the most important spot on there.. You.

A

Guys have been for me easy to work. With. we gone back-and-forth.. I appreciate you guys. my family,, my.

F

Neighborhood appreciate every one of you guys and city c ouncil. thank you.

F

F

I like to make a few comments about a few things.. One is the walnut street item on the consent agenda.. It was a great idea to --.

F

Talk about all movement of traffic., the replacement project will be all movement of cars.. I can tell you somebody that does bike downtown,. The bridge is support to bike a cross.. It would have been a big change.. I want to say that in public speaking time., I want.

F

To iterate things,, we need.

F

Virtual access in hybrid m eetings., there are lot of people that cannot come to the.

F

Meetings., there's people who can't put their kids in day care.

A

Or can't get here., we need to have that., we spent how many millions of dollars in one.

A

M eeting.: we should be able to find way to make our meetings.

I

Open to everybody. thank you.

I

Jolene prescott.

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I'm jolene prescott., I'm going to tell you something about myself.. I have had bouts with anxiety and depression.

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Since my freshman year in college., I know firsthand experience, even though I may be struggling with mental health issues,, I still need to show.

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Professionalism in and with the workplace. that includes asking.

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For help and getting time off, if.

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Needed. in 2014, I did so. in.

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The end, I ended up taking early retirement and left teaching..

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It was one of the hardest things.

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I have ever done. it's something I needed to do for my.

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Mental health., please show some.

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Professionalism. ignoring the city of des moines and your constituents is not acceptable. if you're not up to dealing with the situation,. Please get someone to talk to the city on your behalf.. You owe it to the people who represent you. it's time indira.. I know that connie.

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And carol have been picking up the slack from indira's absence.

A

Thank you so much for doing t hat.. It shows the importance.

N

At-Large people., thank you for.

N

P

Susan hook.

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The rt lofts, we have 166 families within that loft alone.. We have to pay to park., we have to pay to work.. I would.

P

Venture to say that one of you have to live in your.

P

Neighborhoods and have parking meters to plug just to live.

P

Downtown or go to work, or we have amazing art projects that.

P

We can't even take people to.

P

My family won't come to des moines because they have to pay for parking.. I have a stack of.

P

All these businesses,.

P

Ingersoll, we encourage business,, we have restaurants,, we have o pportunities.

P

Everything on ingersoll is free.. You come down and you're talking about building a bridge down here. why?, so you can put up another parking meter, so somebody has to pay to come?.

P

That's 166, f amilies, just in rt loft.. Nobody is addressing the f amily's need.. You are wanting to purchase the des moines.

P

Police department.: we have such a greater need that an a new.

P

Police department., if you walk through,, there are so many people down in des moines.. I would challenge any of you to walk by the library,. Thank god they just hired a social worker,.

P

Permanently at the library., we have homeless people.. We are not doing justice for them..

P

Instead of paying all this money.

P

-- I support police --. We have more shootings, not just at the place on ingersoll, but in the.

P

East village. one night there.

J

Were eight shootings that night.

P

I think there's a greater need.

A

And more parking meter.

A

We need to move on.

A

Q

Carolyn uhlenhake walker said she would not make it. we'll move on to david hellstern. good evening.. I live at 803.

Q

Hickman., I'm an attorney. I'm here tonight to represent at.

Q

Least five ward, one residents. we're asking you to take action.

Q

It remove indira scheumaker., it.

Q

Comes down to timing. we've.

Q

Given her five months., there's been no response,, there's been no help.. I echo previous.

Q

Speaker, statements. ward, one.

Q

Needs to have representation., we can't wait until her reelection,. Her term is up and that's january 2026,. We can't.

Q

Wait to force the ward one residents to take court action., you guys have the ability to just set this for a hearing.. All you got to do is give her a notice.. She shows up,, we have back-and-forth and present evidence.. You guys take a vote..

Q

If you vote to remove her,, we can get it on the november.

Q

Election, still., the timing.

Q

Will work. you can put it for.

Q

Hearing august 21st, we can have it for the november election.. If you force the ward one residents to file a p etition, pay a filing fee,, get a bond, go through a court hearing. when they finally get the order,. Guess what,, there's going to be to be a special election. who will pay that, the taxpayers. rather than put.

Q

This on a special election and.

Q

Force these taxpayers to spend bunch of money up front and money on a special election,. How.

Q

About you guys set it for hearing and we get this issue resolved and behind us once and for all. get it on the november election.. You guys are done.

A

I'll move to receive file.

B

7 0a, b, c, d and f.

L

Moved and seconded. please.

C

A

Six yes. make a motion to adjourn.

A

It's been move and seconded. all in favor? aye. any opposition? we sit adjourned.. I want to thank all of our citizens for attending this evening and for your input.

A

And your patience as we work through our agendas., we look.

A

Forward to your input again. at this time,, this meeting is adjourned.