Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Votes at a glance: Iowa City Council approves multiple franchise ordinances, zoning and pipeline actions
Summary
At its June 2 meeting the council approved franchise ordinances for MidAmerican Energy (electric and gas) and Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative and voted on a pipeline easement and first considerations for zoning and human-rights code updates; most roll calls were unanimous (7–0).
At the June 2 formal meeting, the City Council voted on a series of ordinances and resolutions, many approved on expedited consideration.
What passed and key details
- Pipeline easement for renewable natural gas distribution: Council approved conveying a gas-pipeline easement on city property near the wastewater treatment facility to accommodate distribution of renewable natural gas. Vote: 7–0. (Staff: Eric Goers.)
- MidAmerican Energy electric franchise renewal (five-year term): Council moved to suspend rules for expedited consideration and passed the ordinance to renew MidAmerican’s electric franchise for a five-year term. Vote: 7–0. (Ordinance number not specified in the meeting transcript.)
- MidAmerican Energy gas franchise renewal (five-year term): Council similarly expedited and passed the gas franchise ordinance. Vote: 7–0. (Ordinance number not specified.)
- Eastern Iowa Light and Power Cooperative franchise (electric, five-year term + 2% franchise fee): Council passed an ordinance granting franchise rights and authorizing a 2% franchise fee on gross revenues for franchisees. Vote: 7–0. (Ordinance number not specified.)
- Zoning-code text amendment (first consideration): Council gave first consideration to an ordinance amending Title 14 and Title 15 for code cleanups and to align with state law on communication tower siting and accessory dwelling units; Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended approval 7–0. Vote (first consideration): 7–0.
- Human Rights ordinance amendment (first consideration): Council gave first consideration to amendments adding a definition of “Sex Stereotyping” and changing Human Rights Commission terms to two years to comply with state law. Vote (first consideration): 7–0.
Context and next steps
Several of the franchise ordinances were handled under a motion to suspend the rule requiring two separate readings; council approved final passage in the same meeting. The zoning and Human Rights ordinance items were advanced on first consideration; if adopted at final consideration they will alter code text and commission terms respectively.
The council recorded unanimous approval on the listed final votes and first-consideration votes; ordinance numbers and final-adoption dates were not specified in the transcript and are marked as not specified in the record.
