City Council Information Packet June 10, 2021 IP1. Council Tentative Meeting Schedule June 15 Work Session IP2. Work Session Agenda IP3. Memo from Assistant City Manager: American Rescue Plan Act Outreach & Engagement IP4. Pending City Council Work Session Topics Miscellaneous IP5. Memo from Assistant City Manager: 2021 State Legislative Session Recap IP6. Memo from City Clerk: Transition to in-person meetings IP7. Memo from Neighborhood & Development Services Director: Update on City Assisted COVID-19 Housing Programs IP8. Memo from Neighborhood & Development Services Director: Neighborhood & Development Services Annual Report Draft Minutes IP9. Ad Hoc Truth & Reconciliation Commission: May 27 IP10. Historic Preservation Commission: May 13 June 10, 2021 City of Iowa City Page 1 Item Number: 1. June 10, 2021 Council Tentative Meeting Schedule ATTACHMENTS: Description Council Tentative Meeting Schedule Item Number: 2. June 10, 2021 Work Session Agenda ATTACHMENTS: Description Work Session Agenda Electronic City Council Work Session Agenda Tuesday, June 15, 2021 Zoom Meeting Platform 4:00 PM Electronic Meeting (Pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.8) An electronic meeting is being held because a meeting in person is impossible or impractical due to concerns for the health and safety of Council members, staff and the public presented by COVID-19. You can watch the meeting on cable channel 4 (118.2 QAM) in Iowa City, University Heights and Coralville, or you can watch it online at any of the following websites: • https://citychannel4.com/live • https://www.youtube.com/user/citychannel4/live • https://facebook.com/CityofIowaCity If you have no computer or smartphone, or a computer without a microphone, you can call in by phone by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting ID 964-0822-4186 when prompted. Attending in person is not an option. • American Rescue Plan Act Outreach & Engagement [IP3] • 5:00 PM - Joint meeting with Planning & Zoning Commission [Rezoning – Hickory Trail Estates] • Clarification of Agenda Items • Information Packet Discussion [June 3, June 10] Council direction needed on the following items: 1. (6/10) IP1 Memo from City Clerk: Summer Meeting Schedule / Council Tentative Meeting Schedule 2. (6/10) IP6 Memo from City Clerk: Transition to in-person meetings • Council updates on assigned boards, commissions, and committees Item Number: 3. June 10, 2021 Memo from Assistant City Manager: American Rescue Plan Act Outreach & Engagement ATTACHMENTS: Description Memo from Assistant City Manager: American Rescue Plan Act Outreach & Engagement Date: June 10, 2021 To: City Council From: Rachel Kilburg, Assistant to the City Manager Re: American Rescue Plan Act Outreach & Engagement The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law in March 2021 and established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, which provides significant resources to state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The U.S. Treasury has allocated $18.3 million to the City of Iowa City. The City expects to receive up to 50% of this allocation in the coming months and the remaining balance approximately 12 months later. At the May 18, 2021 Work Session, City Council authorized staff to develop a public outreach and engagement plan in order to collect community feedback on how to spend the ARPA funds. Community Education The American Rescue Plan Act is supplemented by lengthy and comprehensive guidance from the U.S. Treasury on use of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery funds. Although states and localities are granted broad flexibility for deploying these funds, the guidance outlines important considerations for funding decisions and clarifies ineligible uses. To ensure community input and submitted ideas are in line with allowable uses under the Treasury guidelines and adhere to the intent of the American Rescue Plan Act, City staff will take steps to provide educational information: Website The City has launched an ARPA webpage at icgov.org/ARPA. This webpage will be updated periodically with information, resources, and public input opportunities as they are developed. Videos/City Channel 4 The Communications Division has created two short videos providing an overview of the ARPA and an introduction on eligible uses. Additional videos and a Community Connection on the ARPA will be created as needed in coming weeks. June 9, 2021 Page 2 News Releases On June 3, 2021, the City issued a news release about the City’s ARPA funds and a survey opportunity. Additional news releases will be released as input opportunities are developed. Social Media The Communications Division has developed a weekly social media posting schedule for ARPA information, including translated versions (Mandarin, Spanish, French, Arabic). Flyer (Translated) An overview and eligible uses flyer is under development and will be translated into Mandarin, Spanish, French, and Arabic. These materials are anticipated to be ready by July 1, 2021. Community Input City staff have identified the following strategies to launch a public input process on use of ARPA funds: Survey A simple survey for residents to suggest ideas and rank priorities is available online at icgov.org/ARPA. This survey was shared via news release on June 3, 2021, in the City’s Video Update on June 7, 2021, and will be promoted weekly on all of the City’s social media platforms. E-mail As an alternative to the survey, residents can also submit ideas by e-mailing [email protected]. The translated flyers will include the e-mail address and individuals are welcome to send ideas written in their preferred language. Public Input The City will host two listening sessions to provide a brief Sessions overview on the ARPA, eligible uses of funds, and the City Council’s guiding principles before allowing attendees the opportunity to vote on priorities and submit ideas. • Listening Session #1, at a public park (details TBD) • Listening Session #2, via Zoom (details TBD) • Table at Farmer’s Market on a TBD Saturday in July The City will extend an offer for Johnson County to participate in all public input opportunities and/or to share responses. Targeted Stakeholder The City will hold small meetings and focus groups with Meetings individuals from the following targeted stakeholder groups: • Excluded Workers Fund organizers • Agency Impact Coalition • Small business support groups June 9, 2021 Page 3 City Boards & A letter inviting input on use of ARPA funds will be placed in the Commissions June or July agenda packet for each Board & Commission. Neighborhood A letter inviting input on use of ARPA funds will be sent to each Associations Neighborhood Association. Non-Profits + Social The informational flyer (including translated versions) will be sent Service Agencies to the City’s contacts at local non-profits and social service agencies to encourage those they serve to submit ideas via the online survey or by e-mail in their preferred language. Next Steps The City has expressed interest in collaborating with Johnson County in the collection of public input and remains interested in that prospect and ready to partner. City staff intend to invite County participation in planned public input events, seek opportunities to share survey data, and explore ways the City can participate and/or learn from input Iowa City residents provide to the County. City staff respectfully requests City Council’s review of this plan for community outreach and engagement. The community input phase for the first tranche of ARPA funds is estimated to extend until August 15, 2021. City staff will compile all input and ideas for presentation to City Council at the first regular formal City Council meeting in September. Item Number: 4. June 10, 2021 Pending City Council Work Session Topics ATTACHMENTS: Description Pending City Council Work Session Topics PENDING CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION TOPICS June 8, 2021 July 6, 2021 1. Presentation by Project Better Together officials regarding an inclusive regional visioning process Other Topics: 1. Consider a plan for rubberized surfacing at park playgrounds and develop strategies to address equity gaps noted in the Parks Master Plan and plan for the equitable distribution of destination parks within an easy and safe distance of all residents. 2. Discuss possible changes to residential zoning classifications to allow and/or require a greater diversity of housing types (i.e. missing middle) 3. Consider establishing a cost of development framework that can help guide decisions on how best to accommodate future growth 4. Discuss development of a new comprehensive plan to promote housing affordability throughout the City 5. Discuss snow removal policies regarding curb ramps 6. Review low-income fare free transit options Item Number: 5. June 10, 2021 Memo from Assistant City Manager: 2021 State Legislative Session Recap ATTACHMENTS: Description Memo from Assistant City Manager: 2021 State Legislative Session Recap Date: June 8, 2021 To: City Council From: Rachel Kilburg, Assistant City Manager Re: 2021 State Legislative Session Recap The 2021 State of Iowa legislative session adjourned on May 20, 2021. Prior to the start of the session, the City Council adopted state legislative priorities to guide staff’s work with our elected delegation and lobbyists throughout the year. Please note that the Iowa Legislatures operates on a two-year timetable and the 2021 session marked the start of a new biennium, meaning any bills that were introduced and not withdrawn during the 2021 session but failed to move forward will be considered “alive” at the start of the 2022 session. Due to delayed U.S. Census results caused by the pandemic, the State Legislature is planning to reconvene for a special session to conduct redistricting later this year (anticipated August 2021). Although additional legislative activity is unlikely, City staff will continue to work with our lobbyists and elected delegation to monitor any other activity that may be considered. The following summary highlights City Council’s previously adopted legislative priorities alongside notable legislation that passed, failed, or was considered during the 2021 session.