HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-10-27 Agenda
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IOWA CITY CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 27, 1992
7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CIVIC CENTER
410 EAST WASHINGTON
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AGENDA
IOWA CITY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. OCTOBER 27, 1992
7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
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ITEM NO.1. CALL TO ORDER.
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ITEM NO.2.
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ROLL CALL. Q '- L.
<.il "!-((a,y ~
C~ERADOPTION OFTHE CONSENT CALENDAR AS PRESENTED ORAMENDED.
a. Consider approval of Official Council actions of the regular meeting of October
13, 1992, as published, subject to corrections, as recommended by the City
Cierk.
b: Minutes of Boards and Commissions.
(11 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting of October 15, 1992.
(21 Broadband Telecommunications Commission meeting of September 16,
1992.
(31 Civil Service Commission meeting of September 30, 199?
(41 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting of October 7, 1992.
15) Historic Preservation Commission meeting of September 8, 1992.
16) Historic Preservation Commission and Planning and Zoning Commission jOint
meeting of October 6, 1992.
17) Historic Preservation Commission meeting of October 13, 1992.
18) Design Review Committee meeting of October 19, 1992.
(9) Committee on Community Needs meeting of September 23, 1992.
c. Permit Motions and Resolutions as Recommended by the City Clerk.
11) Consider a motion approving a Class 'C' Liquor License for La Casa Ltd.,
dba La Casa Ltd., 1200 S. Gilbert Court. IRenewal)
12) Consider a motion approving a Class 'C' Beer Permit for Deli Mart Corp.,
dba Deli Mart, 525 Hwy 1 West. IRenewal)
(3) Consider a motion approving a Class 'C' Liquor License for Velder
Enterprises, Inc., dba the Que, 211 Iowa Ave. IRenewal)
(4) Consider a motion approving a Class 'E' hlGuul L:"oRse Beer Permit for
Eagle Food Centers, Inc., dba Eagle Food Center #157, 600 N. Dodge St.
IRenewal)
(51 Consider a rosolutlon Issuing a Dancing Permit to the Que, 211 Iowa
Avenue.
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Parks/Rec Presentation page 1
Courtney I Before we go on to item #2, we have some people from
Parks and Recreation who would like to talk to us. Teny.
Teny Trueblood/ Good evening. ["()r those of you who don't know me,
I'm Teny Tlueblood, Parks and Recreation Director. We're here
tonight to inform you about the velY nice award that we
recently received. And one that's a velY nice honor for Iowa
City, we think. Before I get into that, there are two people with
me I'd like to introduce. lvIike Moran, Superintendent of
Recreation and Cindy Coffin, Program Supervisor in charge of
Special populations. lvIike's the one on my left. We'd like to pass
the wards around to you- the award. So you can get a close up
view of it. While you're doing that.
Coffin! If you're strong enough.
Trueblood/I'd like to explain a bit about the award. You can see that
three plaques. One of them is the actual award. The other two
are fmallst plaques. They're called the National Gold Medal
Award. And as the name implies, it is a national award. In the
Parks and Recreation profession it is considered to be probably
the most prestigious award of the departmental or community
nature that is available. One of these awards, they're both
called the national gold medal award. One is to recognize
excellence and overall park and recreation operations and
programming. And the other is to recognize excellence in
programming and activities for special populations. The word
program is a cooperative effort between the national recreation
and park association and the sports foundation, Inc. The city of
Iowa City is the only community in Iowa to have ever won one
of these awards. And this year, we were the only city in the
entire counby to be finalist in both categories. Unfortunateiy,
we didn't bring home the gold so to speak in the regular gold
medal competition. It was quite an honor just to be a finallst.
We did however bling home the gold for the special recreation
award. And that's the one that's just been distributed around
the table up there. We're here tonight not simply to just show
off this award but to share it with you and to say thank you for
the SUpPOlt of the city council and the city manager for your
past support of park and recreation activities., hopefully your
continued support. We're also here to say thanl( you to the
conullunlty because even though the name on the plaque says
park and recreation department, city of Iowa City, it is truly a
conullunity award and not just one for us. Now we don't have it
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Parks/Rec Presentation page 2
with us tonight, we do have about a 12 minute video that was
prepared as part of the presentation for the final competition.
And perhaps at some future meeting If you'd llke to do that, we
can make arrangements for that to be done. So this concludes
our very brief presentation, and we'd like to say thank you for
time. If you have any questions we'd be glad to answer them.
Horowl Congratulations.
Trueblood/ If there are no questions, we'll just take our gold and let
you be on with your lllccting.
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Agenda
Iowa City City Council
October 27, 1992
Page 2
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d, Setting public hearings.
(11 Consider a resolution setting a public hearing for November /J: 1992 at
7:30 PM on plans, specifications. form of contract and estimate of cost for
remodeling of the Civic Center Main Lobby.
Comment: Remodeling of the Civic Center Main Lobby consists of removal
of the existing counter and construction of a new enclosed information
booth and copy center with A TM and handicap telephone facilities.
Installation of a fire protection system and upgrade of lighting, heating and
cooling are also Included. Estimated cost of construction Is $52,000,00,
(2) Consider setting a public hearing for November 10, 1992. on the City's
proposed Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy ICHASI Annual
Plan for FY1993,
Comment: Iowa City is required to prepare a CHAS Annual Plan for
FY1993 In order to be eligible for certain federal funds. The document also
provides an opportunity for the City to review its affordable housing needs
and goals addressed in the FY1992 Plan. Public Input Is required and any
comments received must be addressed In the final CHAS document,
e. Motions.
(11 Consider a motion to approve disbursements in the amount of
$4,874.697,89 for the period of September 2 through September 30,
1992. as recommended by the Finance Director subject to audit,
f. Resolutions.
1a.,m
(1) CONSIDER RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE WORK FOR THE STORM
SEWER. WATER MAIN AND PAVING IMPROVEMENTS FOR WALNUT
RIDGE PART II.
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Comment: See Engineer's Report.
1 a. J90
(21 CONSIDER RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE WORK FOR THE SANITARY
SEWER. STORM SEWER. WATER MAIN AND PAVING IMPROVEMENTS
FOR MT. PROSPECT ADDITION, PART V.
Comment: See Engineer's Report.
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131 CONSIDER RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE WORK FOR THE SANITARY
SEWER. STORM SEWER. WATER MAIN AND PAVING IMPROVEMENTS
FOR A PORTION OF BLOCK 1 , BRAVERMAN CENTER,
Comment: See Engineer's Report.
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(41 CONSIDER RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE WORK FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
92 STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.
Comment: See Engineer's Report,
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Agenda
Iowa City City Council
October 27, 1992
Page 3
<i;J- d'1?_____ (5)
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PUBLIC HOUSING MANAGE.
MENT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (PHMAPI CERTIFICATION OF THE IOWA
CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY.
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Comment: The Department of Housing and Urban Development requires all
Public Housing Authorities to submit form HUD.50072 PUBLIC HOUSING
MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (PHMAPI CERTIFICATION FOR
FY92 per Federal Register published January 17, 1992. The PH MAP
Certification is HUD's new approach to assessment of the Public Housing
Agency IPHA) performance. HUD does not require additional reports from
PHAs for the purpose of data sources. The PHMAP Is based only on
operational performance and form HUD.50072 is certification of six of the
twelve Indicators that HUD will use to assess the PHA performance,
g, Correspondence,
111 i:lJuu, flam Sholl;. L. I{I.",~ ,.~uestln~ elllAformetleA, eorr9spnnrleRGe, ~ :
!1lpu,.., etc., regarding the Iowa City Airport Helo"",iuII res31illlltv St~dy, ";Jl~;
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12) Letters expressing support for the Public Access Television from: '
la) Todd Chase
Ib) Glenn Getz
Ic) Gretchen A. Hersman
(d) Jim Levi
(e) Gayle Sand
(fl Teresa Carbrey
(gl Emperatrlz Arreaza
131 Letter from the Iowa Department of Economic Development regarding
Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company,
(4) Letter from Pat Knoble regarding ban on burning yard refuse.
(51 Letter from Marjorie G. Davis regarding recycling.
161 Letter from Loret Mast regarding the proposed pesticide ordinances,
17) Letter from Julie Law regarding date designated for 'trick or treating.' A
reply from the City Manager Is attached,
(8) j.ettar from 17 al," ,..Idents regarding construction on the corner uf EYall~ k
and.Jeff4lillfHl,.etS, ~~
191 Letter from Bonnie Love regarding air quality In Iowa City.
1101 Memorandum from the Traffic Engineer regarding the addition of protected
left turn signal for Mormon Trek 80ulevard at Its intersection with Melrose
Avenue,
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Agenda
Iowa City City Council
October 27, 1992
Page 4
(111 The following letters regarding the proposed pesticide ordinances were
furnished to Council members In the Information packets during recent
weeks, They are being placed on the agenda to be officially received and
placed on file:
(al Frank Gersh and Martha Gordon
(b) Jack Tank of Ag Risk Insurance
Icl Sue Futrell of Blooming Prairie Warehouse
(dl Peter Small
(e) George Carlo, Health and Environmental Sciences Group
(fl Daryle Johnson, All American Turf Beauty, Inc,
~e# _ (12) Letter from Leah Cohen regarding date for "trick or treating".
;_ h. Applications for City Plaza Use Permits,
(11 Application from Lynda E. Tocci for permission to set up a voter registration
table on City Plaza during the period of October 12.16, 1992. (approved)
(2) Application from Johnson County ERA Coalition for permission to set up a
voter registration table on City Plaza during the period of October 19.24,
1992, (approved I
13) Application from Jacqueline Gharlb for permission to set up a table on City
Plaza on October 17, 22, 24, 29, and 31, 1992, for the purpose of
distributing literature and offering crafts for donations, lapprovedl
14) Application from Latin American Human Rights Advocacy Center for
permission to set up a table on City Plaza during the period of October 5-
18, 1992, for the purpose of distributing Information and offering crafts for
donations, (approved)
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END OF CONSENT CALENDAR .
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ITEM NO.3. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS.
a, Public hearing on a resolution adopting the Iowa City Historic Preservation Plan,
Comment: At its October 13, 1992, meeting, by a vote of 6-0, the Historic
Preservation Commission recommended the adoption of the Iowa City Historic
Preservation Plan, The Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning and
Zoning Commission held a joint public hearing on the Historic Preservation Plan
on October 6, 1992, The minutes of that meeting have been forwarded to the
Council, Copies of the Plan were submitted to the Council under separate cover.
A memorandum concerning the Plan from the Design Review Committee, dated
October 22, 1992, Is included In the Council packet.
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City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
DATE: October 27. 1992
TO: Mayor, City Council, General Public
FROM: City Clerk
RE: Additions & Deletions to Consent Calendar
Deletions:
2 g.(I) & (8) previously accepted at 10/13 Council Meeting
2 g.(13) Letter from Mona 8ond, Iowa Alliance of Environmental Concerns, regardin
registry for citizens pre-notification of pesticide application.
2 g.(14) Letter from Woodlawn Historic District residents regarding leaf pick-up.
2 g.(15) Letter from Robert Dostal regarding garbage collection.
Additions:
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COUltney! Moved by Nov, seconded by Horow. Discussion.
Kubby! I had a question about item f.(5), one of the resolutions on
page 3.
COUltney! Okay.
Kubby! I don't know if anyone's here from the Housing Authority. I
don't see anybody, but my question Is, on the actual
certification document It says, the annual average number of
calendar base for vacant unit to be prepared for re-rental is
142 days. That seems like an awfully long tinle to have some
public housing empty with no one occupying that space, so If
that could be checked Into as to why. There's probably a good
reason or else there's a typo.
Nov! Do you think It might be 142 units sit empty for one day?
Kubby! Shouldn't be.
Courtney/Shouldn't be that.
Kubby / Shouldn't be that number If we only have less than a 15%
vacancy rate. You don't have that many units.
Horow/ But that's the average?
Kubby / That's the annual average number of calendar days for
vacant unit to be prepared for re-rental in between
occupancies.
. Atkins! We'll prepare a report for you.
, Kubby/ A one sentence answer would be fine. Thanks. That's all I
" have.
Atklns/ A report of one sentence. Okay.
, .' Courtney/Any other discussion?
" "Roll call-
Consent calendar is adopted.
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Courtney;' I would like to open the p.h.
Doug Russell! I am the chair of the Iowa City H.P. Commission. I
thank the mayor and city council for the time to speak on
behalf of my colleagues on the Commission. This is our
opportunity to present the long range Historic Preservation
Plan(l-IP Plan) to the people of Iowa City and to the members of
the city council. We began the long range planning process in
earnest over a year ago. Our goal was to protect the historic
buildings in neighborhoods in Iowa City and our purpose in
doing this was first to enhance the economic well being of the
community and second to maintain and improve the quality of
life in Iowa City. To help preserve that which makes Iowa City
the town we like so much. There has been much publicity and
much public participation in the process already. In August
1991 the Commission distributed a lengthy survey of some 100
questions to 1783 residents of some of the older neighborhoods
in Iowa City. 695 of the recipients of the surveyor 39%
completed the survey and returned it to us. That is two or
three or even four times higher rate of return than one would
expect for such a survey. This was followed by dozens of
interviews of conllllunity leaders and citizens by our planning
consultant, Marlys Svendson. There were five public planning
sessions which the public was invited to attend. There was a
focus group of conullunity leaders who looked at the plan.
There have been two public hearings by the P!Z Commission.
There have been 23 meetings of the HP Commission at which
the plan or some aspect of the plan was an agenda item. There
have been several newspaper and television stories over the
past severaimonths about the plan and most recently even
some stories in the classified section of the Press Citizen. There
was mention in the Northside newsletter and there has been
mention at various meetings of the Iowa City council over the
past year on aspects of the plan. The Design Review Committee
has approved the relevant aspect of the plan which they
reviewed. The P/Z Commission has approved the plan and
ordered it to you with the unanimous recommendation that it
be approved. The HP Ordinance is not a new thing. It was
passed in 1982 and the liP Commission \Vas created then. As
part of the planning process we have an opportunity to review
our own track record over (he past ten years and we find that
the HP Ordinance has been a very workable policy for Iowa
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City. There are two historic districts at present: South Summit
Street and Woodlawn. A review shows that of the 52
properties in the South Summit Street district, 40 of them Or
78% did not find it necessary to contact the Commission to ask
for a Certificate of Appropriateness for any exterior changes to
their buildings. 22% did find it necessary to contact us for a
Certificate of Appropriateness. All of them were approved. In
the Woodlawn district about 50% did not find it necessary to
ask for a Certificate of Appropriateness. That would be 7 out of
13. But 6 out of 13, again about 50%, did find it necessary to
ask for a Certificate of Appropriateness for an exterior
renovation, a construction of a garage next to a house in the
district, or something of that nature. EvelY Certificate of
Appropriateness that has been applied for has been approved.
None of the persons making the application has found it
necessary to appeal to the Iowa City council as is their right.
And reportedly there have been no law suits or litigation
concerning this ordinance. I wanted to say a few words about
what the plan does do and what the plan does not do. Tllis is
very important because I think there is some misconception
about what the plan does. The plan is an option list of policy
choices of the city government and for the citizens and the
neighborhood associations of Iowa City. It is a road map for
the future. It is a menu from wllich to select pollcy choices for
decision in the future. The plan itself is part of this process of
citizen participation, neighborhood conselvation, llistoric
preservation. Some things that the plan does. Number one it
makes recommendations for the future Jor the identification
and survey of historic resources in Iowa City. We don't knolV a
lot about some of our older buildings. We would like to know
more. The plan recommends economic incentives to encourage
historic preservation of older buildings in the neighborhood.
The plan recommends the pr0\1sion of technical assistance
from the city planning staff so that citizens who have an older
home and who want to renovate can get free advice about how
to do it appropriately. We also IVould be providing technical
assistance for citizen's or groups who would like to have their
property listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We
can help them do that project themselves. We also recommend
an increased focus on heritage tourism in Iowa City. Everyone
knows that Old Capitol is the focal point of
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the town. We think that there are other equally imporlant
places that visitors would like to visit. Including Plum Grove,
for example. which is an under used resource. The plan also
recommends increased cooperation between the city of Iowa
City and the Univ. of Iowa. And the city and the state
government. And among the various preservation agencies and
planning agencies in the Iowa City community. Secondly the
plan recommends changes to the present HP Ordinance. First it
would recommend a creation of a thing called a conseli'<ltion
district. This would be a designated area of Iowa City where
there would be some over sight about demolition of buildings
and constJ'uction of new buildings. The restrictions would be
less than in a historic district. We would also recommend-the
plan recommends creation of a municipal landmark ordinance
so that an indMdual building or a pair buildings could receive
the same protection that an histOlic district receives now.
There are many older homes or older commercial buildings
that me not now in an area that could be designated an histOlic
district. Tins would give us a chance to protect more buildings.
The plan also recommends tightening the penalties on the
demolition process. So that persons who violate the law by not
obtaining a demolltion permit would suffer more serious
penalties than they do under the present ordinance.
Importantly the present HP Ordinance doesn't have any escape
clauses for special circumstances. We are reconllllending in the
plan two such escape clauses. The first is an economic hardship
exception. There may be cases where persons have historic
buildings that are located in historic districts and they are
financially unable to comply with the ordinance. They could
request permission to be excepted. There is also the
recommendation that there be special merit exception to the
ordinance. So in that rare occasion where an older building
might be giving way to a project of conllllunity benefit. A
cultural center taking the place of a row of old houses, for
example, they could also seek exception from the liP
Ordinance. We are trying to build in more flexibilIty. Now it is
very important to note that all of these pollcy
recommendations are subject to the later political process. All
of them require future action by the HP Commission. the PiZ
Commission and by the Iowa City council. All of t11em would
have p.h.s, notice to properly owners at all levels before new
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legislation was adopted. Thirdly the plan focuses on 12 areas
or neighborhoods of Iowa City and has a series of specillc
pollcy choices for each of those neighborhoods that are interest
to neighborhood organizations, the Chamber of Commerce, and
so forth. Not all of these 12 are \~ewed as potential historic
districts. In fact only parts of five of the 12 are presently
viewed as potential historic districts. Not all of the 12 are
viewed as potential conservation districts. Parts of 7 of the 12
areas re viewed as potential conservation districts. And three
of the areas which are designated in the plan are not
considered appropriate for either kind of district designation. i
know there have been concerns voiced about the future of the
NOlthside neighborhood as it involves historic preservation. I
think it is impOltant to say early on that at present and in the
foreseeable future the only part of the northside which is being
contemplated as appropriate for an historic district would be
Brown Street and Bella Vista Place. That means that the vast
majority of the Northside, including !\'Iercy Hospital, for
example, the Market Street/Linn Street commercial area are
not presently viewed as appropriate for historic preservation
district. And the IIP Ordinance only applies to those districts.
It is important also to say a few things about what the plan
does not do. Number one the plal1 does not create any historic
districts or conselvation districts. It only contains a list of
. policy recommendations of what areas might be appropriate
for that treatment later. Secondly the plan does not designate
any Iowa City municlpallandmarks. The program is to
recommend certain buildings for landmark status. The plan
does not define the boundaries of any districts for historic
districts or conservation districts. The plan has a rough outline
r"'r;<':\,::: J ,:.' ',.. Identifying where these neighborhoods and areas are. But no
':{li;;1):F~:i<;{;;\X,; boundaries have been drawn. Nobody is in and nobody is to by
'))'1" ,. ..,.,. ",definition. Fourthly the plan doesn't change the current iowa
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"~:(::1'1:::'):;;:\:;"i!'i:i.!:;siding and panting. These are things that are not controlled by
~t~f)i~i!l~):i;~ti;'K;g,(:theordinm~ce. And the plan, does no~ change :he present law
1,\Ji"I\",'!h~{I;',i;:'ii:,:\'.~whlch reqlllres p.h.s and notice and city counCil approval of all
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'::ij:NN1.;!,,:,ltl1echanges that are recommended. So the public's right to
~~;~~1:\~iiA;p~.tlCIPate will continue. The city's lIP Comm. has done it's
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work now. We have prepared a plan. We are submitting it to
the people and to the city council as our best judgment. It is
our policy recommendation to you. We are not here tonight
expecting that the plan will be voted on and approved tonight.
'vVe are not here to debate with any critics who may speak. We
are not here to argue with any critique that may be made. We
are here to listen to the public views as is the city council. We
will follow up with the city council. We will respond to the
concerns of the council and to the citizens and we do hope for
early approval of this plan. We do ask, and I speak on behalf
of my fellow commissioners, we do ask that the city approve
the HP Plan because it will be an important tool in preserving
Iowa City's past. We want to do that because we think it is
good for Iowa City toclay and we think it is good for Iowa City
into the future. Thank you.
Larson! Doug, will you tell people how they can get familiar with
. i what is in the plan. Where they can see it or get a copy of it or
whatever.
;...,'. ' 'I Russe~~~~~~PD~~:~ il~ ii~ ~1~~~V~~I~~~~~~~~ I~:~;~t~~~,ti~~~~~va City
(.j;,;.>:,i. . i Library for inspection. Anyone who would go to anyone of
::.~~rf:~01;~i:.?:';,!,,:, ~~~~6s~W\~~~~~~~ ~~~~l~eg~r~t ~;lli~~~~~ ~~~heo~;~'~~f ~~~a~;an.
"'fl,'''"".,:: ,.', .,' ," . There is both a plan and the summary of the p!,m available.
\ ~i:'''' 9d:::;);,',,!" j " There Is a ten page executive summmy that sUllunarizes the
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';4~;i";/'~::'.!'" . policy recollunendation. There is a separate document called a
)),(>::,},;;::,: ,"'/.;,' .,' neighborhood strategy document which is a 16 page excerpt
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::J:~~;~!:,t;,;.;!,: \' ':' from the plan In separate covers which concerns each of the
'''\~{:i,di';::k?' ,"i '.' ' " area or neighborhood policy reconunendations.
":i~,ii:\b;)':::')'IiIrson/Anymember of the HP Comm., city council member, and city
:\~i;~i;(\X/,:j;';.:;i ,: ,: , : planner Bob Miklo could answer questions.
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"~\%;1i?\J,:(:i:li,;/;,;:~ps~ell/ Absolut,;ly. We will be glad to J'iled a~lY and all questions.
!f/il;;";':}i2M:~;~:J;;;\;.,r,.We are available by phone. ~ou can wnt~ to us through the
'J,/:!:iiii;,:!V::":';~'f::,/..:.Plannlng Department at the City of Iowa City.
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.iiR0i:H:~6Llljneyl Thank you, lliug.
i!$~\bY~i1;JpQc~BarretV I am a member of the lIP Commission andl am going
'i'fi~0%1W,present a short slide show for your entertainment, I hope.
;!;~~t\0;(P~FSENTS SLIDE SHOW)
~lm~~~~~dt:eO~t 828 North Dodge. First thing I would like you to
o)lslnvlte everybody on council to my pumpkin party for
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childrcn. It is a 12th annual one scheduled for this Friday.
And it is a very happy event for a lot of childrcn in this town.
Has aIlYone ever comc to it. It is at 828 North Dodge. It starts
at 6 PM. About 300 children in costumes, if you can imagine.
It is a good affair.
You probably read my aIticle in thc ncwspaper. Thc rcason I
wrote that was because I took the time aside to rcad all the
documents related to thc HP Pl,m other than the Executive
Sununary which has been made available to most of you. Has
anyone had the chance to read tlle appendixes. Okay.
Courtney / We got all of them-
Russo/ I am not going to run through it all then. But I will just touch
on a couple of things that were of course a concern for me and
triggered my decision to write, at my expense, that letter or
notice in the paper. On page tllree of thc Executive Summary
this language appear, 'By adopting this plan, the City of Iowa is
not assuming the responsibility of each objcctive...." That is on
page three. So the chaI'acterization of the adoption of this plan
as a relatively innocuous pact which carries with it no mandate
for action is not all appropriate characterization in my
judgment. Admittedly it is the initial stages of further action
but it is not, in my judgment, as suggested here, anything otller
than the first step toward the implementation of the plan. And
if you look further into the goals that the city of Iowa City will
be basically ratifying or adopting if it adopts this plan you will
realize to the extent to which tllis is not an idle step but rather
a genuine substantivc move. Goal two is to enhance the initial
policy of protcction of historic resources and implement this
pollcy through effective and efficient legislation and regulatory
measures. Now that appears on pagc five of the cxecutive
sunullary. Implcment this policy through cffective and
efficient legislation and regulatory mcasures. So by adopting
the preservation plan thc council is cxplicitly-the council is
basically committing thc city to the proposition that a goal of
this city will be to, through Icgislation - regulatory mcasures.
,Implement the conservation plan or thc HP Plan. Thc
objectives, and they arc also listed bcneath Goal Two. And
. there are five of them. The objectlvc of thIs goal number two
Is - thcre are fivc of thcm. Thc first on is the most Important
. . one to bear In mind. Incorporatc into thc HP Plan. Incorporatc
theHP Plan Into thc comprehcnsive plan and then amcnd the
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1t3a page 7
HP Ordinance to include landmark designation. conservation
district designation, economic hardship provision-the list goes
on. So it is kind of buried in this document. If you read it
closely all of a sudden you realize that you just aren't
committing to a concept of HP. You are also committing to tllis
concept of enacting legislation and regulations to further tllis
concept of preservation. And indeed you are adopting as an
objective the passing of ordinances to implement the HP Plan.
Now the AppendL'\es which were attached to-are apparently
are apart of this packet. but I don't think they have been very
closely read. As a matter of fact when I read the appendLxes
that I decided to write the letter that I wrote in the newspaper
because vel}' few people were aware of what appendL'\es N.
solid. That appears on Page N 1. and it is a memorandum
prepared by Bradford White of _______ Associates, Inc. I
don't know who he is but apparently he was a consultant that
was involved in the preparation of the plan which is being
presented here. Right off in the introduction he indicates what
his purpose is. You have asked us to review the draft of the
Preservation Plan and provide some guidance for the objectives
that will require legislative action. So already behind the scene
we have a consultant who Is gMng guidance on how to
implement this tiling. How to put teeth into this preservation
plan by enforcing it through legislation. He then goes on to say
tlJa t the purpose of tllis memorandum is to build on the
information you have already received and to provide
recommendations for improvement of existing HP Ordinance.
Then, if I could direct your attention to page 11 of his
memorandum. I-Ie says under the existing HP Ordinance all
actions requiring a building permit are reviewable by the HP
Commission. He expresses the view that this leaves out a
significant number of actions that could have a major impact on
individual landmarks and buildings in the historic district.
Therefore the following language should be incorporated into
the HP Ordinance. And thcn hc goes on to say and I am not
going to read the whole thing but he says the Ccrtificate of
Appropriatencss should bc required before the following
actions affect the exterior featurcs of any iandmark or
propcrty within a historic district may be undcrtaken. And
what are his suggestions. 1\001' repiaccment, replacement of
windows, installations of sidewall insulation. I alllnot sure
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#3a pagc /\
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what that mcant. I suppose the holes that are drilled in the
side would not be permitted without a Celtificate of
Appropriateness. I concedc that this is not the law. And by
passing or adopting a HP Plan tonight you are not adopting this
man's reconullendatlons. But in a lot of ways it is not an
accurate statement to say that by adopting the HP Plan you are
not adopting or you arc not setting in motion the legislative
process for the enactment of precisely this sort of legislative
rules and regulations. I am velY concerned as a citizen with
the expansion of government into all of our lives. It is
occUlTing at unprecedented paces. The presidential elections
this year have brought to the forefront among many other
issues is that people want govenUllent to retreat a little bit and
allow them to flourish and develop businesses and llve their
lives without intervention. Without undo intelvention. I have
to tell you that in all the years that I have practiced law here
In Iowa City, this is the second time tilat I have come to city
council meeting. I am not one to come to city council meetings.
I am not one to get involved in pollticalmatters, unduly. But I
have to tell you the Certificate of Appropliateness just put me
through the roof. I just don't think. that any citizen in this
conununity should have to get a Celtificate of Appropriateness
from any body to do these sort of things to the outside of their
home. For instance, changing fences. Although this is not
necessarily what is going to be adopted we are heading in that
direction. So I thought well it is appropriate to just take It on
frontily. That no one has referenced this appendix, particularly
, appendixes N. What the future holds in terms of the
enforcement of the Plan that you adopting here is suggested
most certainly in this. The other thing that I was just going to
say Is this. This economic hardship thing. !vir. Russell, who I
poldin the highest regards as a person and as an attorney,
,pointed out that some what proudly that an economic hardship
;:!i~1:ii1;:,~j;:'/ : ... . .,' procedure would be available to thc citizens who somehow
1~*k~9;;:,I~;;,':::I' ,;." didn't qualify for Certificate of Appropriateness. Well. if you
,;f~i,~\~~!i!->,~'I::'<. "., ' )ook. at Appendixes N which sets forth this gentleman's'
\~~\i::!{*i,:j;ih(\\':I!.:..:,.recoll1illendatlons regarding tl~is econon~ic l~ardship provision-
'i~I"[I\ii[;'I\;y;.!:'.:\,:.....)Nhat was his namc. Brad While. You WIll fmd that the
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':?,7,{t{;\Miih,~tW+:::.,economlc hardship provision is going to involve to some extent
Plj!~'li~iVA10>:.i?idivulging the financial status of the citizen who didn't get thc
. ~"'f~:K{i;;qertlflcate of Appropriateness. In other words, tax returns. A
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current balance on any mortgage. This is a matter of public
hearing. Now again I know that this isn't up tonight. This isn't
what you have to deride. This is the stuff that you are
inheriting necessarily if you adopt this plan, in my judgment.
At least in my best judgment. There again the Certificate of
Appropriateness put me through the roof. But when I read this
economic hardship thing I stayed up there. I couldn't believe
it. I just-I don't think that citizens should have to account to
govenuuent in this fashion no matter how well intended the
function of the law is. It is just too much government. I live in
a very old home. It is one of the oldest homes on the North
end. And it is a home that I have maintained the flavor of and
the historical dimensions of and I will voluntarily comply with
all of these activities or alterations that you would otherwise
perhaps need a Certificate of Appropriateness for in the future.
I will do that voluntarily because I like my home and I like the
old flavor and I think people who share in my esthetic
preferences and share the values of the lIP Commission will do
so also. But for those who can't afford to I think that it is just
unspeakable to subject them to the publlc embarrassment of a
,I);, hardship hearing where they divulge their finances publicly in
'---.':" '. order to escape the mandate or the value to get the issuance of
"I,,' ,'..' the Certificate of Appropriateness. I share In many respects
:,;\i'!"ii!iWit, ."~' , f;~~ ~~.~~~~t~yg~~SI~;~et1~I~e~^d~~;~h~ftl~~~c~I~lil~~~ 1;~I~i~~d~ld
',."""""" I ~:~~~. tI~;eI~~~~e~~n Ii~l!~(~~;'~l~~~O~~'~~~ ti~~:;~;~~~l~/~~~?reciate
government at this time to legislate the preserwtion or is this
appropriately something that individuals should decide to do
on their own and on their own volition. I am inclined to think
It Is the latter. And I just want to conclude by first of all
thanking the council for the opportunity to speak to them and
secondly by emphasizing that as it appears on page 3 the
council by adopting tIlis plan is endorsing the concepts and
'0i,(~":'I;, <: "': policies Included In the plan and goal 2 says legislate this thing
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:<'i,;\~r:;llc~',,' '" 'Into existence. Legislate this puppy in. And we have read-I
,( ,'i,,:;i ."":.' ',,, ",.,,'have read to you and shared with you the recommendations of
~~J~).;;:"'"",,,;;,"<,aconsuItant regarding how to Implement this plan and so I
:H/:MRI;C:;:ii:;i:;,'::/r.;:"lthlllkthat it Is very appropriate that the council in deriding
'!;~~;ii;\"i;8)';;,:'i.:;:::"i;'ihowto act tonight consider what necessarily it is hoisting on
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T" ';"':!'i:i)~;\,:(,ji'~~'i',::!",:;.j the citizens of this community by adopting the policies and
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concepts. They aren't self effectuating. They are only going to
be placed into existence through more regulation. Another tier
of bureaucracy the people have to wade through to live their
lives and I am opposed to it for that reason. Thank you vety
much.
Larson! Do we have any kind of limit on the number of lawyers we
will let speak to this crew, Darrell.
Couru1ey / No.
Jay Honohan/ I am a partner at Old Feed Store Associates and unlike
Nick, I have been down to the council more than a couple of
times. I am here. of course, as a property owner in the district
that is designated in District 10 and I am not going to get up
twice. I see you have two p.h.s and I am going to say all I want
to say this time and you can read it into the second p.h. I, like
Nick, appreciate the efforts of the people that put this together
and the work that they did and their earnestness of what they
are tlying to do. I don't think anyone can object to what they
are tlying to do. I may not llke the method however that they
want to enforce these regulations. Like Nick, I don't appreciate
more bureaucracy. I think I can say, unlike most of the people
that support this, that I have a personal experience. My
partners and I have a personal experience in this area. We
have a building, I didn't see the picture in this book, but at one
time I saw the picture in the near northside study or near
south side-excuse me. And when I saw that picture it just
upset my stomach because knew the city would target us if
anything developed along this line. And I am sure our building
will be targeted. That is a bullding, to use Doug's words, I don't
think it needs any protection. And I am always worried when
people In goverlUuent tell me they are going to protect me.
That makes me velY nervous. I got concerned when Doug said
oversight. To me that means control. Telling me what we can
do to my building. He also indicated penalties. I agree with
what Nick said about a lot of the pro\~slons. He indicated that
they were going to have flexibility. We didn't need any
flexibility when we remodeled our building. We didn't need
any Incentives. We didn't need any city staff to be a Design
Review Committee. We did it on our own. I think that you will
find there are other methods 10 get these kind of things done.
Other than passing a comprehensive plan like this. I just toss
In one little thing. The city stafr at the time that we bought
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il3a page 11
tl1is building had it slated for demolition because they thought
it was a run down building and it ought to be torn down and
something put in its place. I get very concerned when I see the
objectives on page 5 of this HP Plan Executive SummalY, when
it says, "Selected design review authority to ensure speedy
review." My experience with the City of Iowa City, both as an
employee and as a citizen, you never get speedy review. It
slows everytl1ing down. As Nick said, this-and as Doug said,
this is not the ordinance. But this is the first step and I have
yet. being an Iowa Citian and knowing sometiling about city
goverlUuent since 1963, seen a compo plall adopted that wasn't
implemented with ordinances there after. And I would expect
the same thing to happen here. I know we have rights to p.h.s
But once one of these things is passed it is set in motion and it
seems to be in the histOlY of this conullunity that it is
ine\1table. I think we can spruce up our city. We can do nice
things for buildings as many people have done. As the lady did
in the picture that they showed us. As we have done with our
building. I don't think we need design review committees. I
don't tllink we need ordinances tllat protect us. I don't think
we need penalties for violations. I think we can do a lot of
things and a lot of the buildings that they shown in the
pictures have been done without this compo plan. My partners
at Old Feed Store Associates objects to this proposal.
Courtney! Thank you, Jay.
Any other public comments on tllis item.
.ro~nie K1nsey!423 Church Street. I am a newcomer to Iowa City. I
moved here a year ago, purchased an old house. I teach at the
University of Iowa in the Art History Department. I teach art
and architecture of the lh1ited States. The histOlY of those
things. I would like to speak in support of this plan. I was
here to hear to see the P/Z Commission presentation and
thought it was quite well conceived, executed and proposed. I
have read the plan. And I would like to encourage council to
consider not only the past when you are thinking about this
issue in terms of what has been done. But as well what will
happen in the future. Frankly. when I arrived In this town and
looked for housing. And for that matter since I have lived here
and looked around a bit more J, frankly, am appalled at the
lack of zoning, planning, consideration for both historic
preservation and design considerations. There is an inordinate
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113a page 12
amount of inconsistency within neighborhoods. Which point
towarJ~ <1 lack of a plan precisely such as this in the past. And
I think it behooves you to implcmpl1t some kind of design
guidelines whether they be legislated or mereiy encouraged.
The legal ramifications are not my specialty. But I do think
that it is certainly is to the benefit of both the people of the
city at this point and certainly to the people of the city in the
future to consider strongly ad\1sing homeowners. developers.
etc. to seriously consider the impact that they make on their
neighborhoods as they make alterations to existing stl11ctures.
Or for that matter to construction of new ones. As I said, the
plan is extremely well considered and quite reasonable in it's
proposals. It is not some kind of dramatic govermnent
infringement upon people's property rights or for that matter
even people's aesthetic judgments. I do think that what we
have here is something that is for the benefit
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 92-97 SIDE 2
maybe indulgence on the part of their construction project to
come and propose whatever it is they plan to do to a tribunal
such as yourselves. I don't think that is an inordinate request
on the part of the city because we all live here and we all have
to look at what evelybody else does to the property. I think it
is in the best interest whether financially or even aesthetically
to consider this plan quite in a positive light. Because
ultimately people such as me, who come to this city, who
looked for a place to live, who want to live in perhaps an old
house or something in that part of town, tllat it is better for
property values. It is better to attract new people who come to
town. Who see a neighborhood that is not controlled but taken
care of in the sense of making it aesthetically pleasing and
historically consistent. I am not talking about rampaging
through and insisting that everybody change what they have
got. But in the future when situations present themselves for
alteration-if they can be allowed to work or adjusted if
necessary to make them more in keeping with historic values.
Then il is going to improves ultimately the neighborhood itself
and I think as well the financial property values of those
homes. So it is in people's best interests 10 go along with this.
It is not some kind of big brother act that says you have 10
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ii3a page 13
follow our rules. It is nOl1hat at all. It is a guideline. It is
something that encourages people's attention to this issue. I
think it is something that you should definitely consider with a
positive view towards the future. Thank you.
Courtney/ Thank you.
Cecile Kuenzii/ President of the Longfellow Neighborhood
Association. In as much as the Longfellow neighborhood had
one of the highest rates of return to the survey which was
passed around last year on the Historic Preservation thing, I
would like to speak to that on behalf of the Association. It
seems to me as we see our oider neighborhoods succumb to
development which is inappropriate to the character of
residential neighborhoods in particular. Development which is
often dictated by the commercial interest of the developer. It
is important tllat council support and, yes, implement policy
which protects the important and recognizes tlle import<mce of
a neighborhood in tlle history and in tbe life of a tOlvn.
Because, after all, the life of a town is made up of its
neighborhoods.
Jtfl~ Holbrook! To tell you the truth I have been real busy for the
jlelle last year so I haven't been pestering you guys I have a lot of
faitll in this council. I was here a year ago speaking in behalf
of Hying to save some buildings. The church property,
churches. I have been born and raised in Iowa City. My father
was born and raised on the northside on Dodge Street, the
Moore residence. It is still standing. I haven't been aware too
much that was going on. I wasn't able to go to the
neighborhood meeting. But I started getting some phone calls
from some of the elderly on the northside. Started with
running into somebody at Eagles. What are you going to do.
And I said 1 haven't had time to really participate in the
northside this year. I really wasn't aware until she started
rambling on how worried they were and then the phone
started ringing as it did a couple years ago when 1 was
president of the Northside Association. 1 guess 1 formed a good
relationship with the elderly in tlle neighborhood and so they
depend upon me kind of 10 speak for them. Their concern,
they have lived in these homes for years and years. Some of
these ladies were born in the same house that they are living
In and they are in their 80s. I am concerned. I live in Brown
Street. And there is nobody in Iowa City that believes more in
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113a page 1-1
historic values than [do. We have got probably one of the
larger homes on Brown Street and I have been involved with
the historic side of the neighborhood. I fully believe in saving
all of the churches, all of the historic buildings in Iowa City.
But when it comes down to somebody being told what they can
do with their property when you have worked for years to pay
for it and still pay over $3000 a year taxes on it to llve there.
It seems to me that might be against your constitutional rights
to have somebody say no, you can't color it this color. You have
to put this certain kind of rood on. You have to do tillS and
that. I don't ti1ink that is fair to the homeowners. Our
property is for sale. And I heard that today. Somebody said
why are you worrying, you are moving anyway. If anybody
wants a big house, you know where to find one. But I have-
that is why I am saying I have a lot of feeling for the northside.
I have got some dear friends there. Neighbors tl1at I really
don't want to leave. But I also feel a little bit about Brown
Street being on the historic list. I use to think oh this is great.
This is wonderful. We are going to get tl1is done. And then
after I have talked to a few other people this last week, I am
beginning to think what Is the penalty if they said you can't
pay your house and I paint it pink anyway. What are they
going to do about it. Has anybody ever answered that. Are
they going to get a big fine or are they going to get a big crew
out and paint it white again. Has anybody ever thought about
this. I feel that after a person has worked hard and we all
work hard. We all buy property and we pay for it half of our
lives. Still pay high taxes in this town. And I don't think
anybody really lets their own home go down. Rental property
might be something different. But I think we are all proud in
our house. We all keep them up. And I think that some of
these older people in the neighborhood, I wish they would
have turned up tonight. They were at the meeting [was not at.
Some of them. And they know more what is going on than [
do. [think that if this was cut in half and liberated out a lillle
bit it might be great plan. But I also think like Nick Russo. I
think it is pretty strict and where does our freedom come from.
After all, who has the right to tell us what we can do with our
property. J have a gentleman wanting to buy mine that none
of you wan1 to buy it because I know what he is going (0 do
with it and I won't do that to the neighborhood. [was asked
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113a page 15
by a good neighbor, Lordy, Lordy. We lost a sale because of it.
So I have a lot of strength and faith in the northside. But I still
think that when it comes down to doing some111ing to your own
property, nobody has the right to come in and tell you what
color. That deck has got to be this way. You can't put a porch
on here. It has got 10 be such and such. If you have got pride
in your home You are going to do it the right way anyway. End
of sermon. Thank you very much. Nice seeing you all again.
Jim Throgmorton. 1026 Friendly. Professor of Urban & Regional
Planning at the University of Iowa. And I am a member of
Environmental Advocates Urban Develop Committee. It is a
pleasure to speak to you tonight about your Preservation Plan.
I will cut to the quick. The E.A. Urban Development Committee
strongly supports the plan. We want to commend you,
conullend 111e HP Commission, the Dept. Of Pl,mning and
Community Development, Svendson Tyler, and all the 0111ers
associated with 111e plan and l1a\~ng developed it and for
hm~ng plalUled such a useful and intelligent document. Iowa
City needs to develop in such a way as to preserve and
improve the quality of its existing neighborhoods. Does that
mean we claim to understand all the nuances of the plan and
all of its ramifications. No way. I have read it all, just like Nick
did. And there is no way I can claim to understand all of its
ramifications. Nor does it mean that we support every
provision with equal vigor. We are disappointed, for example,
to find-and this will sound trivial but I hope you don't
understand it to be trivial. We are disappointed not to find
anything in 111e Plan about 111e 260 generations of people who
lived here before European settlers arrived in 1830 or there
about. Those people and the ways of live deserve to be
remembered. Perhaps we could learn something important
from them. SimIlarly we are concerned that the plan pays too
little attention to the destructive effect that automobile traffic
has on older neighborhoods. To preserve the older parts of this
city, Iowa City needs to discourage traffic and encourage public
transit, bicycling, walking and the like. But overall we are
quite pleased with the overall lhrust of the plan. We all
particularly excited by the plan's brief references 10 improving
the design appearance of the d.t. And to improving Iowa Ave.
between Clinton and Gilbert. By allmealls get rid of those ugly
parking spaces along Iowa Ave. And reline that Ave with
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1f3a page] (i
trees. But don't stop there. Imagine a redesigned Iowa Ave.
Think about connecting that redesigned avenue with the
pedestrian 111all and with the University's new pedestrian mall
that extends from along Capitol north from the Pentecrest. So
that and you wiII create a vital and attractive and healthy d.l.
I would like to make a side comment about government and
property rights. First, government, you the city council and we
Ihe people testifying before you are not apart from the
community. Governmental action is a valid way for the people
to express their hopes and dreams. And to say that those
hopes and dreams are somehow the effects of a alien and
distant governmental bureaucracy trying to impose its will on
the people is terribly misguided. Further, property does not
exist in isolation. Homeowners never buy just a house. As I
know having bought three houses in 111Y llfe. You always buy
into a neighborhood. Like Sue Horowitz bought into her
neighborhood on Kirkwood. Real estate developers never buy
just land. They always buy location, location, location. That is
the value of any person's property in Iowa City largely
depends upon the value of tile land and buildings surrounding
it. Presel'\~ng the historic value of a neighborhood if done well
can do nothing but enhance the overall econumic value of that
neighborhoods houses and other buildings. So you should
consider that adoption of this plan is likely to increase property
GiM/'"e values to the benefit of all Iowa Citians. Thank you.
~ Swaim/ 1024 Woodlawn. I have lived in older homes and
apartments In older homes since I was a junior in college here
in 1971. And all of those homes were in neighborhoods that
are mentioned in these plans in North Linn Slreet, on Clark
Street near the College Hill area. And now with my husband
and two kids on Woodlawn where we have lived for almost ten
years. And why I think this plan is desen~ng of our approval
and respect is because it deals with neighborhoods. Not just
individual properlles. [think, as a homeowner who has
Invested recently a lot of money Into my home, that HP Plan
are important because they provide production and security to
the homeowner and to the investor of that building. They give
me some assurance that the neighborhood that I have chosen
to call home and where I am putting my money will retain
some of the qualities for which [chose Ihat location. I think
that historic preservation helps to develop pride and
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113a page 17
stewardship in your properly and surrounding properties
which helps property value. It helps to develop a sense of
neighborhood which I consider essential. Especially for
families who live in the older sections of town who are raising
children. Last summer my husband my husband and I wanted
to make some changes to the exterior of our house and had a
limited budget. And because we live in a historic district and
because of the nature of those changes we had to seek a
Certificate of Appropriateness. I had never gone through that
process before. I wanted to say what I was going to do with
illY house and I was a little nervous and I found the process
helpful and expeditious. They did what they could to keep us
on our construction schedule. And the advise that they gave us
was like having an architects advise for free. The things that
they suggested, matters of proportion and placement., were
things my untrained eye would never have thought about.
Historic preservation is something that we owe our neighbors
and our comlllunity. A considerate homeowner reallzes that
the e.xterior of her house is probably seen more by passersby
and neighbors than by herself. A good-making exterior
changes with a sense of harmony and design and materials is
comlllon sense and common courtesy. A good looking home Is
more salable, visually appealing to those in the area and a
greater asset to the community. I am particularly pleased with
this plan because it recognizes that Iowa City is made up of a
variety of housing. That houses and neighborhoods worth
preselvlng are not just all large Victorians built in the l880s.
That smaller homes built between the two world wars or 19th
centtuy working class homes are just as important in terms of
the history that they reveal about our community. I think we
need this plan because it is a big picture. I think we need to
broaden the definition of economic value when we look at
houses, neighborhoods and commercial buildings. [n tenns of
the planet earth we are finally learning to look at a forest for
the value of the lMng trees, plants and animals. soil, the
community rather than just putting a dollar I1gure on so many
board feet of lumber if the forest is cut down. The more I see
Iowa City expand the more [ value the older core of the town.
We need t protect the unique community we have and we need
thoughtful long range plans such as these 10 make sure that it
happens.
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113a page 18
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lan Nash I live on South Lucas Street. I would like to encourage the
city council to adopt the HP Pian. I am sure no one has
forgotten Bluffwood, the 1875 Gothic revival cottage built by
William and Emma Haddock. I recall Susan Horowitz's
frustration at that time. A frustration shared by all of us that
the historical significance of tlmt site was not known until il
was really too late. Once land changes hands it becomes
subject to new development. Finding a compromise which
meets the public's and the developer's needs is seemingly
impossible. Somebody loses. The greater population of Iowa
City, present and future generations, just really shouldn't lose
truly significant sights representing or heritage. So tIlls is it.
TIlls is the plan for looking ahead and avoiding more
Bluffwoods. I encourage you all to work with this plan and
ultimately to adopt it for all of us. Thank you.
Mar~' M~laIrJ/ I live at 730 East Ronalds which is, as I understand
as I read the plan, would be in the conservation area. I have
been the proud and broke owner of an old house since 1973. I
love my house. It is my home. I intend to retire there. Be
hauled out of there. I love it. I love my neighborhood. I love
my neighbors. But when I read the appendLxes the fine print
of this plan I was a little disturbed. I was a lot disturbed. And
I felt that maybe there should be more dialogue over the real
nuts and bolts if you will pardon the pun talking about houses.
Nuts and bolts of what is proposed. Now I don't know how
many people in this room have dealt with built in gutters. I
imagine quite a few. But I dealt with built in gutters for quite
a while. Mr. Brandt, who was the gutter expert in Iowa City
when I moved here, said I don't touch built in gutters. Lady,
you know. And I rep[aired and I spend money. And finally in
this last year I had to cover the built in gutters because the
water damage inside to my interior plastered walls was so
enormous that I couldn't afford to keep feeding these built In
gutters. I used the built in gutters because this is part of the
problem wilh old homes. That you can romanticize them. But
when you have to deal wilh them. /vIy basement is only half
paved. Half of ills dirt because that is the way il was. You can
romanticize front porches. Who wanls to sil on a front porch
when the automobiles that Ihls other gentleman was talking
about pollute the all'. When a fel\' horses were going up and
down the street in 1903 I am sure sit ting 0 the front porch was
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!:3a page] 9
a wonderful way to pass the time. Lets not get so romantic
about this. I think the north end has provided a wonderful
place for young people with families. For the elderly who have
lived there for a long time. and for people like me. When I
moved here in 19i 3 it was the only place I could afford to live
that I could buy. It was a dump. But it was structurally It was
a good house. It was worth working on. The neighborhood was
good. But I have trouble with people having to pay penalties
because they don't have the money or the where with all or the
will or whatever to come up to some kind of code that is
arbitrarily set by someone who says that this is the way it
should be. I have pumped a lot of money and a lot of time into
a 1903 home for the last 19 years. I think there should be
more dialogue about the real nuts and bolts of tile foundations
that are wearing away. What can we do. How can we help.
Can someone really say that a young family should spend all of
their money cnhancing tills house to come up to some
preordained idea of what is right when they have kids to send
to college on down the line. I am sony. I don't agree with
that. I'll close with the little qllote from one of the
neighborhood philosophers. Perhaps not of great note. Frank
Buckeye Ball. I went over to Bucky's hOllse one day and said,
you know the government is doing this program. I havc this
little flyer and they will help you put on your windows and get
your place ready for the winter, Buck. And Lester was sick at
the time. I said that I think it would be a big help and he said,
"girlie, you let the government in your life you will never get
them out. If you let them in your house they are going to be
telling you how to live and what to do in your own house." I
can't top Bucky. Thank you.
MIke Lewis-Beck! 4li Brown Street. I am vice president of the
Northslde Neighborhood Association but I am speaking in my
own behalf. I am not represent1ng the Association In ,my way.
I have lived in IOIVa City for 18 years and I live in a older
home. We think it was buiit in 1890. I am very happy to be
here and happy the hearing is going on because this is good for
my neighborhood. So many people r like are speaking against
me and I think that can only produce good things. What I
think that this suggests to the council is a couple of things. The
encouraging thing is that people in the neighborhood who are
ongoing Involved in the neighborhood ane! r would say the
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Jt3a page 20
majority of the Board in the Association has spoken tonight or
will speak or has spoken. And there is divided opinion but
people care in the neighborhood about what is going on. And
what they care about is the character of the neighborhood and
what we can do to keep that. Now I am a professor and
perhaps because I am a professor [ am skeptical of planning. [
know that every semester [ have a course outline and I never
quite get to the end. So I have some concerns about planning.
I think this carries over into all sorts of government and I am
temperamentally indisposed to planning. But at the same time
I feel in my guts that if we don't have a plan we will lose what
we value. We value these old homes and they will go. The big
picture is this. We are a University community. We have a
huge University, medium size town. If you look at what is
happening to this countIy. If something is not done the things
that we value get wiped out. Go to Bloomington, Indiana. The
neighborhood-there is a tiny llttle neighborhood that is old.
The houses cost so much that no one can live there except the
retired full professors, the Deans. We don't want that. We
need to be proactive and do something. Now the details are
really not so important. We have to take a direction because
tills is such a community resource. In our neighborhood now.
I live on Brown street. Kids go by on a weekly basis, several
times a week, school kids from Horace Mann or from the junior
high or the University will come down the street and they will
look at the houses or also their botany classes that look at the
leaves. They wllllook at the whole texture of the
neighborhood and it is something that is valued. So we have to
figure out a way to keep this. This particular plan, the details
may not be exactly right. But we have to attend to this. We
can't just let this drift away because if we do it will go away
like top soil in Cedar County. Then it wlll be gone and there is
no conservation program that will bring it back. Thanks.
Paula Brandt! 824 North Gilbert on the North side. I am speaking In
support of the lIP proposal. First I want to thank the city
council for caring enough about preservation to partially fund
Marlys Svendson doing this. I think she did a l~lbulous job.
Anyone who has read the full report learned a lot about Iowa
City history that we weren't aware of before. I particularly
was interested In learning about neighborhoods that where I
don't live. J founclthat absolutely fascinating. And I do want
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il3a page 21
to remind people that I guess now, in retrospect, I don't think
she realized how brave she was to include all of those
appendL'\es which are memos and things and to remind people
that that is all they all. They are an appendL'\ and not the core
of this whole report. From the start as was evident in the
surveys that were returned to Marlys it was obvious that there
were two strong and velY opposing views. There is the one
side that says that no on is going to tell me what to do Witll my
property. And I suspect that some of these people are the
same ones that aren't very fond of tlle zoning and they don't
particularly like building inspectors very much either. And
then there are those of us who are asking the city to help us
preselve our neighborhoods to keep them good places to live.
Now one of the proposals that I fOWld very interesting because
it was totally new to me was the conservation districts. Now
we wouldn't go into a neighborhood of ranch style houses and
split foyers, demolish a few houses and move in the Close
Mansion, pre restoration, fill it Witll students and expect the
neighborhood to accept that.! And yet many property owners
and developers think notlling of demollshing old houses and
building new structnres that show no sympathy with its
neighbors. I hate to see most old neighbor's old buildings
demolished because we can see what people like Mary Beth did
with the house on North Lucas and we can see what happened
to the Close !vlansion. Some people have a vision and a lot of
people don't. And that is part of that. I hate to see most old
buildings demolish. But I could handle it a lot better if there
were some assurance that people who were building new
structures were going through a design review process that
would assist them developing things that were compatible with
neighborhood. And I don't think that is asking too much for
anyone who is building something new In an old neighborhood.
As my husband might disagree with this. But we are going to
be getting a bullding permit in the near future. or course
exterior work on our house. And I know some people in this
audience are going to think that [ am crazy but I am looking
forward to being in a conservation d,strict and getting that
kind of input from those people. I want to do what is best for
my house. I want to do what is right for my house, I want to
do what is right [or the neighborhood and I am looking forward
to looking towards that kind o[ guidance. And even though
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it3a page 22
they don't regulate the colors, There is nothing in this policy to
regulate colors. If they want to give me some advise, hey, /
will take it. Why pay a color consultant when you can have
this kind of ad\1se for free. The bottom line for me is / hope
this plan discourages people who don't love old houses from
buying them. And that it saves them for those of us who uo.
Thank you.
Dean Sullivani I live in a 9S year old house on South Governor
Street. I am thankful for the opportunity to speak. Also /
would like to say that / am at this point neither necessarily for
or against the proposal as written having not read it in its
entirety. I would like to say and be counted as one that
supports the concept of preservation but does not support the
concept of control over personally property rights by a
governing agency. / would just like to pose the question of
whether a lot of this might be accomplished by judicial
rezoning of areas from multi family to single family zoning.
Thanks.
Carl Klaus/ / have lived in Iowa City for the past 30 years. The last
22 of which / have spent living on Reno Street in a 19th
century brick home. The brick for which was made by the
Bortz family which quarried the materials from Happy Hollow.
Which in turn proVided brick for many of the historic buildings
d.t. So obviously / have an intense interest In the issue. Right,
Right, for Old Brick. And based on my experience of living here
those 30 years, I have had the chance of witnessing what has
happened without a plan as well as what has happened when
we have had some plan. Before we had nay plan In town/
watched, as did others, the disappearance of degradation of
historic properties, buildings, and homes on Clinton Street, on
Dubuque Street, on Iowa Ave., in Goose Town where /live, and
in d.t. All one need do in order to discover the difference
between what It means to have a plan and no plan is simply to
compare what has happened under the HI' guidance to
Woodlawn Ave. and Summits Street and compare the results
there with what has happened in Goose Town. When ll1rst
came 10 this city and saw whal Goose Town was like what /
saw were homes that were immaculately kept by the GO-90
year old Czechosiovakian, Irish, German, and other middle
European residents. Homes-nol only the homes that were
immaculately kepi but the alley ways. Alley ways that were as
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1f3a page 23
vividly worked up with gardens as the front yards. Alley ways
so striking that Larry LeFlore in his historic book about Iowa
City, called Iowa City Classic. is worth reading, took pains to
write about Goose Town and it's alley ways. In fact in those
alley ways were so well kept that 20 years ago they were part
of a Project Green tour. Now without a plan what I suggest you
do is walk down those alley ways now. They are an eye sore.
The gardens don't exist any longer. The fences are unpainted.
The yards are unkempt. Look at them and then compare what
has happened there without a plan with what has happened on
Woodlawn and Summit Streets with a plan. With respect to the
objections that have been raised to the plan by Mr. Russo and
lIonohan, I think it is important to remind them of the record
to date in handling Summit and Woodlm\~l historic districts. It
is not as if this city has no experience with the lIP Plan. It is
not as if we are going into it blind. We have had now 10 years
of experience with it. And the record to date seems to suggest
that there is a predisposition on tile part of the people who are
involved wit tile plan not to legislate or conduct business so
narrow mindedly, so strictly, so intolerably as to make it
difficult or impossible for tlIe homeowners. Rather it seems to
be to suggest that they have gone out of their way to make it
possible for people who live in those districts to handle things.
I might also add that I suppose that people who buy homes in
histOlic districts in the nature of things cherish those homes
and so there would be a predisposition on their part to be
receptive to such guidance and guidelines rather than be in
opposition to them as Mr. Russo himself has indicated. In other
words I don't think that people buy homes in those areas if in
the first place they are not predisposed to be responsive to city
suggestions and guidance. And as for the notion that any of us
is completely free when we buy homes in this city, this Is an
illusion. Whenever we buy property in the city we tacitly
commit ourselves to all the ordinances that exist. We are part
of the community. We live by the ordinances that have been
legislated. I can't build all the way up to the back of my
property if I know about setbacks. And there are all sorts of
ordinances that we would buy. So this is not something new or
as if we were completely free when IVe buy property. Now let
me speak with respect with what I think are some of the
benefits of such a plan. Well, it goes without saying of course
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N3a page 2-1
that there are significant esthetic and cultural values as well as
social values to be gained from the preservation of historic
building and homes and neighborhoods. It speaks for itself just
in the llse of the word historic. What is less evident or seems
to me what has been less emphasized this evening are some of
the economic benefits to be gained from tilis plan. It seems to
me that what the plan assures us is what I would speak of as a
richly vaIied portfolio of housing and building and
neighborhoods in this city. I tried to imagine what it would be
like if we didn't have such historic homes and neighborhoods.
It would be just llke any other conllllunity of 60,000 built up in
the last 30-40 years. This is the kind of community that
attracts businesses ,md business people and professional
people, tourists, and conventions. I think, for example, of what
has happened in Galena, Illinois. Or what has happened in
Dubuque, Iowa. Those communities are attracting many many
people and they are attracting them precisely, many people
and many businesses, precisely because they have such historic
neighborhoods and communities, homes and buildings. So I
think for many reasons this is a really splendid plan and I
commend the HP Board for drawing it up.
Courtney / Nick, lets give everybody their first chance before we
start.
Russo/ I thought everybody was done.
Courtney/ Well, maybe they are. Anyone else. Yes.
Larson! You naive young man.
Mary Beth SJo.lfger/ I am going to be uncomfortable talking up here
but I feel the need to speak to you for a minute. I am the
person who with my husband did the stone house that you saw
earlier. I as well own a house that we live in on Davenport
Street in Goose Town. Those are two reasons why [ am in favor
of a pian. But the third reason is that for the last two years I
have received grants form the Iowa Humanities Board to collect
orai histories from older residences in Goose Town. Talking to
them about their immigrant families and why they come to
Iowa and why they settles in Goose Town and their stories.
And in doing this [ have talked to-I have interviewed almost
100 eider residents of Iowa City. Not all of them live in Goose
Town. They live throughout the city now. But their family
roots were based there. In talking to these people it has been
I11Y l110st wonderful experience to know that they care about
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da pagc 25
Ihis area of Iowa City and thcir past. And it culminated in I
think for them and for me in an exhibit at the Johnson County
Heritage Museum this summer, and they participated in
loaning things to the exhibit and were part of the exchange.
And I have not asked them about the plan or how they feel
about preserving homes in the neighborhood. tv!y spirit. my
feeling is that their spirit is to try to preserve the
neighborhood. I feel like for awhile I was alone In trying to
preserve Goosetown. I knoll' I'm not now. But I get very
worried every time I see a house go on the market. What's
going to happen to it because of student housing. The houses
have been gutted some of them. And as Carl said, their gm'dens
have disappeared and the whole appearance of the houses
have changed. One house was pulled down last year on
Fairchild Street, and I think these things in my vies, are very
fragile. That this em1ronment is fragile, and that if there isn't
some kind of plan, I won't say all the specifics are correct, but
if there isn't something, some kind of caretaker about these
thing, they will be lost. And this deeply concerns me. Thank
you.
.Ian Dulli 320 E. Jefferson. I'll be vcry brief, but in what I mainly
want to say is that I'd like to urge you to support the Historic
Preservation Plan. There's been a lot of talk from this council
and the city about neighborhood support and integrity and I'd
like you now to put your words into action. I think that this
plan provides tangible support to neighborhoods that are
striving to preserve their uniqueness and their integrity and I
hope that you will support that effort.
Tom Charlton: 82 I S. 7th Avenue. I wanted to speak in general
support of the l.c. Historic Preservation Plan. My support is
neither absolute, nor unqualified. But I do appreciate the great
amount of effort the city staff, the Historic Prcservation
Commission members and Marlys Svendson have put into the
plan, and I believe that the many Iowa Citians who went to
some or all of the meetings should also be credited with
helping develop it. I've got a couple of points. Basically I think
that we need a historic preservation plan. ['mnot certain that
all the details as it exists, this is the one that should be
llnquallf1edly adopted. One of the things that I'm going to
mention is that I think it has overstress on neighborhoods and
residences andneglerts other aspects of historic preservation
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1;3,1 page 26
including some such things as industrial buildings. And I think
that what we need is a number of, and these are in the plan
but their not stressed to the extent that neighborhood
strategies are. We need a number of cost cutting themes
eventually which would integrate and unite the community as
opposed to focusing on neighborhoods per se. So I think these
are of conullunity importance and should be looked at. The
second point I want to make has to do with an emphasis, and
this was mentioned before, on the archeological wrecker. I
believe that this is mentioned. It should be strengthened in a
revision of the, in any revision of the plan. I think we must
avoid a repetition of the tragedy which is being perpetrated at
College Green Park through Project Green's Activities where
potential archeological historical infol1llation has been lost
through a failure to consult in a timely fashion with the office
of the state archeologist, despite statements in the Historic
Preservation Plan about this. Just because it's physical broken
not written.
CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 92-98 SIDE 1
and data derived from written documents, and so I think this is
a thing we ought to look at. It applies not only to Iowa City's
". Historical record, it applles also to prehistoric occupants in
, .....: i, ,.'.. Iowa City and definitely we have evidence of them. So with
"..i>:. ,'/ . reservation, I support the plan. I request that you consider my
.,.'"..""',',
,,o..:.:., suggestions, which I think might improve it, and subsequently
" ;/ adopt a plan lor the benefit of all of us. Thank you.
'. Mrs. Joseph Baker/ 30 S. Governor. I'd like very much to support the
',I' Commission's Historical Plan. We had headed, Joe and I had
, , .', headed, in 1967 when we started out to save Old Brick, if we'd
have had a comprehensive plan then, it would've helped us, it
would have saved us a great deal of trouble and expense in our
five year fight to save Old Brick. We finally accompllshed it. it
i " .t" ''', ' would've been some help to have had some ideas of what to cia
.ii,!b:;;\;~!ii:''::: . , :, about It, how to address the problem that we had. And so
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"'i':,X;:,.'.','''' :'<', cons er t lat lor t le uture 0 some 0 important listorlc
'\;i;ik:,i,<;(,::"..' buildings that you woulcllike to save. Thank you very much.
'!'i::('r:{i,~.:",\, :'!" .~': ,J-; '::, ,11: " ,
:'1;fh~1{:1:~~Y;;.!;~~t:':r>},/:,.\, :,':, Thank you.
~t!'~!if;:;:,;,r:;;i\:i:.,:-90l1Itney! Anyone else have input on this iteml We\e got one more
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Steve Vanderwoude' 730 N. Van Buren. I own seven houses on the
north side. And for the last 18 years I've been working to
stabilize and revitalize the Northside. ! like this plan. It not
only tells us where we've been but where we can go. Plus gives
us the tools to do that. One of which is just historic districts
which seems to have gotten a lot of the attention tonight. I
encourage you to support it and help maintain the quality of
life in our older neighborhoods.
Courtney/ Thank you. Anyone else before we start on the second
round?
Nick Russo' I'm standing up until I get penllission.
Courmey / Go.
Russo! Reference was made as to what the penalties would be. As I
indicated in my remarks earlier, without question, this is the
first step in adopting ordinance and regulations with teeth in
them to enforce the goals of the preselvation plan and again
returning to the appendices which I slept with for a few days
and gained a great deal of familiarity with and I'm referring
specifically to appendix N, the work of Mr. Brad White who I
read to you earlier from his work and would, of course you
recall the certificate of appropriateness that re referenced. The
penalty section, I believe Eileen mentioned, what will happen if
somebody doesn't comply with the aesthetic standards
proposed by an ordinance that's adopted. He points out that the
Historic Preservation Ordinances typically include a penalty
section that provides the city with the power to fine properly
owners in violation, that violate portions of the ordinance. Then
he goes on and suggests an ordnance from Maine which carries
with it reference to a fine that would be imposed In the event
that the historic ordinance is willfully violated or with gross
negligence of $1000 but nolmore than $25000. It's also
suggested by this gentleman that the, in the reference to the
Portland, Maine Historic Preservation Ordinance, that for a
period of 25 years and alteration or construction on the
offending property should be subject to this arlicle and further
that no permit shall be issued for any otl1er alteration or
repairs for 5 years follOWing the date of \10iation. Now folks,
you aren't at the point where you have to decide what the
violation Is, but if you adopllhis plan, at some poinl you're
going to have 10 reach thai conclusion. And if you aren't
prepared to do that in the future, if it seems onerous, if thaI
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1/3a page 28
seems unduly burdensome on citizens and property owners,
than I think now is the lime to conclude that this plan, as
\'aluable as it is, should be implemented through the private
sector and not through the forces of govenuuent. If I may just
say this, the gentleman that spoke a few moments before I got
up here, referenced on two occasions, said, my remarks. I can
only say in response, his obselvations that when we buy a
home, we are agreeing that we are subject to regulations and
rule of law. I wouldn't dispute that. However logic of the
position because you buy a home, and you're subject to c,xisting
zoning regulations that some how, through some tacit
agreement you agree to assume additional regulations
regardless as what their purpose is or what their goal, escapes
me. I don't think because there's existing zoning, we
necessarily deserve more. And once again, r tIlank you for the
opportunity to speak.
Cour111ey / Thank you. Before we close tile p.h. Doug, could I get you
back up? r think, as we discussed in the informal session last
night, r don't think council's really prepared to vote on this In
two weeks and you suggested you might like to take some of
the comments and suggestions back to the, your commission to
discuss and bring back any reasons or suggestions to us. Is that
kind of the plan you'd like to follow /i'om here?
Doug Russell/ At present we have not met to discuss Possible
revision in light of the public comments. The cOlllmission will
meet next in the first week of November. And we will discuss
the matter then and we'd like to place this back on your
agenda immediately following our next meeting. And we'll be
glad to meet with the commission in its Monday session to
discuss proposed changes if there are any, and be present for
further public hearings as necessary. We would like to do this
as quickly as the council is prepared to do it. But yes we will
meet to discuss all the public comments and we will tJlen come
back to the council.
Courtney' Okay. I would suggest that council digest the thing as
early as you can and pass along any suggeslions or comments
to the commission before they have their meeting. You said
first I
](ussell First Tuesday in November.
Courtney' Firsl Tuesday ill November. And [hen we'li get it back on
our agenda afler that.
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lt3a page 29
Russell Mr. Mayor, if I could have the opportunity to make a couple
of brief comments in response to some of the critiques. We do
this because you do have a television audience. Number I,
Eileen's house can be white or green or ptuVle. She's not in a
histOlic preservaUon district now and there are no controls on
her property by us. In the event that Brown Street is
designated as an historic property under the present ordinance,
it could be any color she wants. She doesn't have to talk to us
about it. Secondly, if Marty lvlilani's house were in a historic
district, which it is not foreseen will happen, she IVould not be
barred from using intelior or exterior gutters as she chose. And
finally in the matter of penalties on violations. I think it must
be understood by the council and by the citizemy that there is
a reasonableness aspect to the entire process. No one is going to
be barred a building permit for 5 years because we don't like
the color of their paint or because they put up a fence that was
not approved in advance. The enh,mced penalty provisions
focus on future legislation options. They focus on demolitions.
And I think the public IVould agree that while severe penalties
would not be appropriate for disagreements about design,
there should some punishment or some penalty for a person
who does not obtain a demolition permit, violates the law
willfully, intentionally, and takes a historic building down in
the middle of the night. I don't think anyone would disagree
that that kind of law violation should not be punished. So that's
something for further discussion, but I do not want your
viewing audience to be misled about what the ordinance does
now.
Kubby/ I have a question. If someone is in a historic district now,
and they want to do some passive solar or active solar, some
kind of alternative energy technology on their house, is there a
way of incorporating that into a historic structure?
Russell/ Yes. It can be done and we'd be glad to consult with them
about the best way to design it and the best way to place It.
Larson/ Mr. mayor, my concern is that when Doug spoke of
immediately getting It back on the agenda, two matters. One,
I'd like us to receive in written form the minutes of their
meeting prior to it coming on so that we can digest those things
rather than just have them come and present a consensus type
thing. Secondly, I know that there have been many, many
meetings and that the plan has been years in (he making, but I
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il3a page 30
think that [came to this council as an outsider somewhat and [
think there are an awful lot of people that would be affected
by historic districts and legislation that bm' you from doing
things to your property until further steps are taken, that
aren't following the process, that when they see a notice in the
paper that says Historic Preservation Commission Plan being
discussed. that doesn't mean anything to tllem. That only when
it comes as a precursor to possible ordinances and legislation
does it grab some 30 or 40 thousand people who don't pay
much attention to a lot of these things but would be affected. I
don't wmlt this thing to come up and have someone feel like
josh by the time it got to the council, a month or two later
they're voting on it. I just think that matters of such grave
importance as legislating what people can do to their personal
property, or their property, need to have some kind of
breatlling space and discussion in the general conullunity and
those kind of things before they're voted on even as a plan
ratller than ordinances, and so I would ask that we do
whatever we can to keep the topic alive and provoke
discussion among the conullunity before we get to a voting part
on it. I'd be uncomfortable voting even three weeks from now
as that timetable seemed to suggest.
Ambr! Darrell, for those reasons as we discussed last night, do you
feel there's a need to continue this public hearing rather than
closing this one and opening up a new one at sometime future?
Courtney! I guess I have no objections to it.
Ambr! Just con~inue it? Because I agree with evelything the speaker
on the council has said that sure you've had countless meetings
as a preservation group, but only those people that have a real
intense interest in it Doug, and I have to agree that those are
the kind of people who show up. But whenever it comes time to
pass an ordhmnce I guarantee you this body starts hearing
about it. And so with something of tllis impact. I'd like to have
as much public Input. I wish the press would just cover this
evelY other day for us. I hope this tape is shown over and over
again.
Courtney! It will be.
Ambr! Until we have met the, every citizen outlhere and given
them an opportunity to express themselves before any
legislation Is even considered.
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Ida page 31
Russcll The Prescrvation Commission is in favor of full and fair p.h.
and we hope that every person who opposes the plan or any
aspect of it has an opportunity to consult with us and witl1 the
council. We want everyone's views and when all those views
are heard, we will make any amcndments that we think are
appropriate, forward them to you, but we do hope that this will
be on your active agenda and we hope that the matter can be
concluded and voted up or down certainly by the end of this
calendar year.
Courtney / [t struck me as ironic as I llstened that we had immense
amount of input from the North end cmd those folks have been
up and down this road before, so that doesn't surprise me. We
did get some representation from Goosetown and one or two
from the Longfellow area. There still remains several other
designated areas that we haven't heard from.
Ambr/ About nine of them.
Courtney / And I would've expected and hoped for more input from
the Longfellow Neighborhood also and I encourage the
Association to see if we could get more input there. As well as,
I don't know how many of the other districts have a formalized
association, but.
Larson/ And Mr. Mayor, it seems to me the issue that has not been
talked about but has to be looming for everybody is, we're
going to have to decide whether we wanta historic
preservation plan that requires people to not do things or that
gives them incentives to do things historically correct. And I
think that that is really the cm" of the matter we haven't
heard one word about that choicc. We've got people who don't
want any control. We have people who think controls is the
only way to do it. I'd like the commission to speak to how can
the plan be implemented without those powers and with
inccntives in it or some combination of less restrictive powers
and some incentives anclthose kind of things. 'Cause [can't, [
think without that in terms of how to implement these
ordinances it's hard to talk about the plan without seeing how
we can do those.
Russell/ The commission will be glad to addrcss every specific
concern and we'll do all we can to help move this along on the
agenda.
Larson/ I'll talk to you directly.
Courtney! Thank you.
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1i3a page 32
Russell; Thank you.
Courtney. I'll entertain a motion to continue the p.h. to.
KarT. November 107
Courtney' Do we need to have it on the next meetings agenda or can
we go indefinitely!
Karri If you're going to continue the p.h., you should give a date
specific.
Ambr! I move we continue this p.h. to November 10.
Nov/ I think we ought to move it along a lillle bit. How about the
first meeting in December?
Karrl That would be December 7?
Larson/ If they're going to meet the first week of November, we
won't have minutes for two more weeks.
Courtney/ The 24thl
Karr/ December 8th would be the first meeting of December. The
24th would be the last meeting in November.
Hol'Ow/ How many times, how many considerations do we have to
give this before we pass it?
Larson! Once. It would be a resolution. The implementation
ordinances would be later if there were any.
Horow/ Because I would like to get this certainly done before the
end of the year.
Nov/ Well my first thought was the last second meeting of
November, but that's thanksgiving week and that seems to be
not fair.
Horow/ We can certainly get their minutes and have this on the
10th.
Larson! Of November?
Hol'Ol\'/ Sure. if they meet on the first Tuesday.
Ambr/ Well my point of using November 10. that's our next meeting,
and if nothing happens then we continue it the additional two
weeks. I'm just looking at process.
Larson/ But when it's on the hearing, it's on the agenda, then people
come and if we just continue it because we don't have those
minutes or we just got them a few days before, then it doesn't
make any sense to me. I don't see the urgency if.
Horow/ Why don't we ask for the minutes to be gotten to us in the
packet we get on Friday the sixth? I mean that's no different,
we've been able to do that for other things.
Larson/ That would be two days after they have their meeting.
Horow/ Right.
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113a page 33
Courtney / Karin.
Larson/ To have the minutes done two days after the meeting?
Horow/ That's happened before. Sure.
Larson! Then why do I give them a month or two months after the
meeting most of the time!
COllltney/ Because YOll don't ask.
Larson/ They're a little untimely then.
Kubby / If Karin says we can do it, let's do it.
Courtney! Okay. it's been moved and seconded to continue the p.h. to
November 10 meeting.
Karr! Who moved and seconded it.
Courtney / Any further discussion.
Motion passes.
Kubby / Maybe we should've asked Bob that question.
Karr! Mr. Mayor, can we also have a motion to accept
cOlTespondence received as part of the p.h.?
I-Iorow/ So moved.
Ambr! Second it.
Courtney! A motion to accept the correspondence received tonight.
Discussion.
!\Jotion passes.
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Agenda
Iowa City City Council
October 27, 1992
Page 5
b. Public hearing on a resolution amending the Comprehensive Plan by Incorporating
the Executive Summary and the Neighborhood Strategies from the Historic
Preservation Plan into the Comprehensive Plan.
Comment: At Its October 15, 1992, meeting, by a vote of 6.0, the Planning and
Zoning Commission recommended that the Comprehensive Plan be amended to
Include the Executive Summary and Neighborhood Strategies from the Historic
Preservation Plan, Copies of the Historic Preservation Plan have been distributed
to the Council under separate cover,
Action: ~ / /./t..-u, ~:J 7J;- /'lto a.L( ,
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c. Consider an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance by changing the us~
regulations of approximately five acres of land located at 1301 Sheridan Avenue
In Iowa City, Iowa, from 1-1. General Industrial, to RS-8, Medium Density Single-
Family Residential. (REZ 92-001111First consideration I
Comment: At its September 3, 1992, meeting, the Planning and Zoning
Commission recommended, by a vote of 5-0-1 ICook abstaining), approval of a
request submitted by John Shaw, Jill Smith and Barbara Ludke on behalf of the
Longfellow Neighborhood Association to rezone an approximate five acre portion
of the ADS site located at 1301 Sheridan Avenue from 1.1 to RS-8, The
Commission's recommendation Is consistent with the staff recommendation
Included In the staff report dated August 20, 1992. Comments concerning the
ordinance were received by the Council during public hearings held on September
15, 1992, and October 13, 1992.
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d. Consider an ordinance vacating the alley loceted adjacent to the east side of 410
Reno Street. IV AC 92.0003) (First consideration)
Action: A-wJJ j t<1~
(
Comment: At Its September 3, 1992, meeting, by a vote of 4-2 ICooper and
Starr voting no), the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial of the
request to vacate the nonh-south alley located east of 410 Reno Street, The
Commission's recommendation Is inconsistent with the staff recommendation
Included In the report dated September 3, 1992, Comments regarding this
proposal were received by the Council at the October 13, 1992, public hearing
on this Item. A memorandum from Mary Lee Dixon, Property Consultant, dated
October 19, 1992, is Included In the Council packet, A letter from six area
residents also is included with the agenda.
Action: jp(}..J ~)
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COUltney! We have had a verbal request by the appllcant to
withdraw this ordinance. However we don't have It in writing
at tills time. So we would need to defer this consideration until
the next meeting to receive written request for withdrawal.
Moved and seconded (I.arson!Horow) to defer this item for two
weeks. Discussion.
Allin favor (ayes)
Motion passes.
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Agenda
Iowa City City Council
October 27. 1992
Page 6
e, Consider an ordinance amending Chapter 36 of the Code of Ordinances of the
City of Iowa City, Iowa, entitled 'Zoning' by adopting regulations permitting non.
required off-street parking on a separate lot In commercial and Industrial zones.
IFlrst consideration I
Comment: At Its September 17, 1992, meeting, by a vote of 5-0, the Planning
and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the proposed amendment to
allow non-reoulred parking spaces on a separate lot. Heretofore, the Zoning
Ordinance only permitted WIl!lli parking spaces to be located on a'separate lot.
The Commission's recommendation Is consistent with the staff recommendation
Included In a memorandum dated September 17, 1992, No comments
concerning this amendment were received by the Council at the October 13,
1992, public hearing on this Item,
Action: \I 1111 / /-k...D
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f, Consider an ordinance vacating portions of Dubuque Road right-of-way, (VAC
92-0002) (First conslderationl
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Comment: American College Testing IACT! of Iowa City has requested that a
portion of the Dubuque Road right-of-way be vacated to restrict publiC access to
a portion of this road within the boundary of the ACT property, At its September
3, 1992, meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission. by a vote of 6.0,
recommended denial of the requested vacation of Dubuque Road. This
recommendation is not consistent with the staff recommendation set forth in the
staff report dated August 5, 1992. Comments concerning this proposal were
received by the Council at the September 15, 1992, and October 13, 1992,
public hearings on this item, This ordinance Is being given first consideration
again because of a change required to maintain access for a farm operation in the
area, See enclosed memo from PCD, In order to facilitate ACT's expansion
project, staff requests first and second consideration of the ordinance,
Action: 'sn:,f) } ~ /.,;/# (!. n :l n.Jn If j"n/.b:v 1(J&u %
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g, Consider a resolution approving the final plat of Walnut Ridge, Part Three, Iowa tll.P<<t
City, Iowa. ISUB 92.00191160.day limitation period: October 27, 1992.)
", I'.
Comment: At its October 1, 1992, meeting, by a vote of 6.0, the Planning and
Zoning Commission recommended that the final plat of Walnut Ridge Part Three,
a 19.59 acre, 13.lot residential subdivision located north of Melrose Avenue on
Kennedy Parkway be approved subject to staff approval of legal papers and
construction plans prior to Council consideration, The legal papers are being
reviewed by the City Attorney's Office, Construction plans are being reviewed
by the Public Works Department. The Commission's recommendation Is
consistent with the staff recommendation included In the report dated September
17,1992.
Action:
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Courtney! Moved by McD, seconded by Horow to collaspe fIrst and
second considerations. Discussion.
Rollcall-
Nov! Wait a second. I was opening my mouth as you said discussion.
Jeff said he had some explanation for us and he came all this
way and sat through all of this stuff. Let him talk.
Davidson! With respect to the need to collaspe the-the staff's request
to collaspe the considerations. It primaIily has to do with the
ACT being able to maintain a time schedule that they have for
beginning their development project. They are essentially
waiting for council to finish up on this item. It basically adds
two more weeks to it if you do not collaspe the readings.
Nov! Can you explain what is going on with the lOOT.
Davidson! Sme, I would be glad to. Subsequent to your last fonual
meeting where you took action 011 this, we discussed with lOOT
the prospect of vacating the public access over the pOltlon of
the Dubuque Road r.o.w which they own. In past, in the past,
there has been a process whereby for certain reasons public
access could still be maintained. Such in this situation the
desire of council to have access for our fanuing operations
preserved over that. The tort llability for lOOT has gotten so
bad that they are now not giving that special permission,
basically, and they declared to us that when the public access
easement Is vacated that they would go out and fence the
property until which time they were able to affect teh sale to
ACT. That could be six to eight months. Basically there would
be no public access over that propelty. Given council's
indication that they would like to see the farm access for the
Hunter's maintained that is the reason for the change that you
have seen tonight.
Nov! And some of the propelty owned by the lOOT doesn't
necessarily go through ACT and that Is going to remain open.
Davidson! Would you repeat that please.
Nov! I had the Impression from looking at a map that some of the
property owned by the lOOT goes through someone else's land
rather than ACT's land.
Davidson! We are discussing the Dubuque Road r.o.w and then the
adjoining r.o.w. which was purchased when the interestate
went through. What lOOT wants to be able to do is have a
stllvey of that property and determin what they need for the
Interstate and sell the rest to ACT. Their policy is where it is
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the same property owner on both sides of the r.o.w, which it is
in this instance, they will take an appraisal and for the
appraisal fee they will sell it to the adjoining property owner.
Nov! So none of the lOOT property goes tiu'ough the ACT neighbors
land.
Davidson! That is COJTeCt. None which is under consideration for
vacation.
Horow/ How do tiley suggest then the Hunters maintain the ability to
move back and forth while they are doing tilis survey.
Davidson! The vacation which you are being asked to approve will
be effective- That portion which tile state owns will be
effective with the sale of the property to ACT.
Horow! Okay.
Nov!Thank you.
Bill Meardon! I'm am not here to give any kind of an argument but I
do have a question. Do I understand now that the area which
is being closed is somewhat smaller than the area that
originally we wwere thinking about at the p.h. Is that accurate.
Moen! That is my understanding. Mr. Davidson, do you have a
drawing that you ucould share with Mr. Meardon. It is easier
when you could look at it than just talk about it.
Davidson! The propelty which is now at least maintained by ACT
that they own tile property underneath is a little over two
acres. The lOOT property is approximately ten acres. So tile
Immediate vacation will be for a much smaller area than what
was originaliy proposed.
Meardon! May I ask-just tell me on Dubuque Road where does the
closure start and where does tile it stop at the present
situation. That is what I wuld llke to know.
Davidson! I have a diagram that I would be glad to show Mr.
Meardon. Would counc illlke me to do tilat at tl1is time.
(presents diagram)
Meardon/ Is tilere some specific description on that. Can you just
give it to me tomorrow or sometime.
Davidson/ Sure. I would be glad to.
Kubby / So to make it real clear. The gate is going to be in one place
and when the sale to DOT happens it will be in anotiler place.
Davidson/ That is correct, Karen.
Meardon! just by way of report we have not as yet received any
agreement of any kind. I am speaking for the Hunters. The
council is aware of that. Thank you.
Courtney! Any fUlther discussion on the collapsing of the reading?
Rollcall- (motion passes).
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Moved by McD, seconded by Horow to give the ordinance
second consideration.
Discussion.
Kubby! My problem with tins is that ACT is not willing to keep the
road open until the city can get a viable altemative not just for
the families that live along tilat property or need access across
that propelty. But evelyone in town who uses tllat road or has
potential to use that road so again, I will be voting no.
Courtney! Any further discussion?
Rollcall-
Ordinance passes second consideration, Kubby voting no.
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#3g. page 1
Courtney! Moved byMcD, seconded by Ambrl.
Discussion.
Kubby! Weren't there some things left hanging as of last night that
needed to be completed by today? And if that's true, were
they?
Franklin! That's true, and they were.
Kubby! Thank YOtL
Franklin! The construction plans have been approved.
Courtney! Any other discussion?
Rollcall-
Resolution is adopted.
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Agenda
Iowa City City Council
October 27. 1992
Page 7
ITEM NO.4. PUBLIC DISCUSSION
-0
ITEM NO.5- NOTICE OF VACANCIES.
a. Design Review Committee - One vacancy for an unexpired term ending July 1,
1995. (Kay Irelan resigned.) This appointment will be made at the December 8,
1992, meeting of the City Council.
ITEM NO.6. CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS,
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a. Consider appointments to the Riverfront and Natural Areas Commission to fill two
vacancies for three-year terms ending December 1, 1995. (Terms of Loren
Horton and Roger 8runer end.1
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ITEM NO.7. CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION.
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ITEM NO, 8. REPORT ON ITEMS FROM THE CITV MANAGER AND CITV ATTORNEV.
a. City Manager.
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b. City Attorney,
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Courtney! lvIiss Kubby.
Kubby/ Yeah. I have a couple of things. Two are things tilat I would
like to be put on informal agendas and to be talked about at
some point. One of them was, Mr. Ambr had requested we look
into taping infOl'lllalS as an experiment and cost estimates. I'd
like us to discuss making a decision as to whether we should
tape and broadcast Infonllal meetings. There are people
interested in it.
CourtJley! Do we have a repOlt coming on that? Or maybe.
Helling!I'm tlying to remember. I think we do have just some
information as far as what the technical problems might be but
they're not insurmountable at all and I think we don't want to
pursue it too much further until you decide If timt's what you
wanted to do. It would entail buying some equipment and
relatively minor purchases to give the quality we want.
COUltney! Before we place tlllS on there, we need to have cost
estimates and we have evelything ready so whenever you're
ready for it.
Helling!That's pretty much consistent with what I gave you a couple
of weeks ago.
Courtney! You're ready to talk about it, behind the camera there?
Bob HardyIYes sir.
Courtney! Are you ready? Do you need any more experimentation or
anything before we place it on the agenda to make any final
decisions?
Bob HardyINo. There'll be some reconullendations, mainly they're
technical reconullendations to help facllltate getting some of
the special thIngs that happen in a work session on the air.
Other than that we can start any time.
Kubby! All the wrestllng and tussling.
Hardy!But mostly It's like maps and presentations. Work sessions
traditionally have a lot more presentations than the regular
council meeting.
Courtney! Okay. thanks. So whenever you are ready, we can place it
on there.
Kubby! The other item is, since we passed the site plan review
process, If we want to do anything about design review, we
need to direct P!Z and staff that we want to look into that.
Karin Franklln had said that if we want to go in that next-that
was taken out of the site plan review process and if we want to
discuss it we need to talk about it and direct people to start the
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#7 page 2
discussions. So I wanted to know if people are interested in
having that discussion.
Nov! I am interested.
McD! \Vhat are you discussing, Karen.
Kubby! Whether or not in the site plan review design considerations
are part of that site plan review process. It is not currently. In
tenus of compatibility with the neighborhoods. Not in tenus of
Historic Preservation Plan but with other site plan reviews.
That was in there Oliginally and it was taken out. If we want
to discuss whetller or not that is a thing we want-
McD! You mean as it is being reviewed by P!Z it would also be
reviewed by Design Review.
Kubby! Not necessalY. I don't know what form it would take. It
would be something that would have to be discussed.
Larson! Not the Design Review Committee but just P!Z and staff
doing it to look at the design.
Nov! The site review plan is just staff at this point, isn't it. I don't
think there Is any committee work on it. And when the staff
decided to take it out, all they had put in was design should be
compatible but we did not define compatible.
Kubby / There was no criteria.
Nov! Without specifics it Is just never going to work. So if we want
to direct them to design specific criteria we should at least
discuss It.
Larson! That is what Karen is asking. Do we want to have a session
on putting that back in.
Kubby! What are the pros and cons of it. What form do we want it
to take. And to have them explore.
Larson! I am not interested
Courtney! No.
Ambr! No
Horow! I don't see anything wrong with discussing it.
McD! My initial reaction is I wouldn't be interested In having that as
part of tlle ordinance. No.
Courtney! Okay.
Kubby! I can scratch that off my least of things to talk about.
I want to let the public know that we had a discussion last
night about HickOlY HIlI and tile Storm water Retention areas
will now be not dedicated parkland but it will be functionally
parkland. The fences will come up. People will have access to
the parkland and any activities that will happen there can be
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#7 page 3
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programmed by P / R. So if you have ideas, feel free to call P! R
if you want to help. Some people have talked about planting
some praiIie grass in there. We need to raise some money and
have some footwork done with that. And some people have
already volunteered that kind of thing. So if you are interested
in those issues please contact P!R.
Atkins/ If I may comment. I talked to Teny today about it and I
think the commission would like some sort of resolution of
support for that. So we will prepare something to put on your
ne.xt agenda.
Kubby! And lastly I wanted to remind people about some of the
activities to commemorate tile Nov. 1 shootings. Saturday at
tlle Aguidas Achim synagogue tllere will be carnations
available. As well Sunday morning all over town at many of
the community churches and other meeting places there will be
white carnations available and 7 PM this Sunday Nov. 1 at
Clapp Recital Hall tllere will be a musical celebration or
conUllemoration of the events.
Nov! Karen, is that time definite. I received something in the mail. A
list of University performances which called it at 7:30.
Kubby / Be sure to look In your newspaper for tlle pelformance at
Clapp Recital Hall Nov. 1
Nov! It Is definitely Nov 1. A Sunday evening. But I am not sure
about time anymore.
Kubby! No. I guess I am not sure about time. So pick up a white
camation. That is all I have, tlmnk you.
Larson! Just a few sentences about the Trick or Treat decision that
has got some good publicity in the Press Citizen today because I
have got more calls about this then I have for months about an
issue. And I understand why because it directly affects
people's lives. But I wanted to pass on some of the reasoning
behind leaving it on Sat1ll'day night. The football game on
Friday night Is so much later than the football game on
Saturday that it was felt like it was not just a question about
east side vs. west side but the interference on Friday night
really more during the time than the interference on Saturday
night. These are tllings where neighborhoods can put together
their own nights. If they would whether do it on Sunday or
Friday or find a time to go on your own small neighborhood.
But I really hope that people understand t1lat there is so much
confusion involved in having kids out on three different nights
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#7 page 4
that we just felt like it was best to have the official night be on
Saturday. If you just wait a little later than maybe you would
like to and accompany your kids. tvlaybe the football traffic
will be gone and it will be the best tinle for everybody. I
didn't want people to think that we just didn't consider these
dates. They have been considered for months and I give strong
credibility to police chiefs reconullendations In these matters.
He is responsible and aware of all the different things going on
In the collullunity and when he says Saturday is the best, that
is why we did that. I had people saying well you just didn't
think about these issues. We may be wrong but we did
consider them.
Courtney! Just to expand on that a little bit. However I have given
my blessing at least to select groups on the west side who are
insistent that they go out on Sunday night and I understand
their concerns with the Saturday night time. Having gone to
those games ever since 1967. I know what happens on the
west side and I think that we-as I said last night this is not a
law we passed. This is a suggestion that evelY year on what
night it should be and we are not going to go out and aITest
anybody for going out on Sunday night. It has become an
absolute no win situation for me. The east side doesn't like it
on Friday night and the west side doesn't like it on Sunday
night. I have had calls form people who think there shouldn't
be anything happening here on Sunday because it is Nov. 1 and
it is commemorating the anniversmy and so. I think that just
to warn the west side residents that I think that you are going
to have some visitors on Sunday night as well as Saturday
night and please save tilem some candy.
Larson! Just waming people that I will be at the Springsteen concert.
There will be no food at my house Friday night. I am home
evelY Saturday night.
Horow! I would like to add that those people who are concerned
about baby-sitters on Saturday night. If you don't want your
kid to go out with a baby-sitter Saturday night tell the baby-
sitter to don't take them out. Just make sure that the baby-
sitter knows about this. I have had requests for that. Frankly
I would llke to question whether or not we need to put out a
resolution about this each year.
Larson! I think it Is good to coordinate it kind of. But tins year It is a
difference of opinion.
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#7 page 5
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Horow/ Heavens to Betsy, cities have had Halloween nJghts for
decades without having to pass a resolution.
Courtney/ Just so evelyone knows, next year it is on a Sunday night,
the 31st.
Nov/ I have a couple of things. I read an article recently about
municipalities are beginning to retread their truck tires to save
money, to save landfill space. And I asked our city manager if
we do this. I have a memo from Terry Reynolds. We have
been dOing this for 15 years and we have used our tire casings
and retreaded them as many as five times over these years. I
am proud of us.
Horow/ How come we don't get awards for tllls sort of thing.
Atkins/ Just part of the job.
COUltney/ We are in Bagdag counlly. Evelybody retJ'eads truck tires
around here.
Nov! It is still nice to know that we were ahead of the rest of tlle
world, right...
Also I want evelybody to know well ahead of time tl1at the city
is planning a low hupact trail in Ryersons Woods. We have
received a REAP grant and before anybOdy gets upset, tllis is
goIng to be announced. I am not sure when they are going to
start digging. It Is not going to be velY serious. It is going to
be velY low hupact stuff...handicapped accessible. It Is going to
have a couple of parking spaces.
Kubby I What would be good it to have a notification at the site
Instead of just saying it here or having a small press release.
To have a notification at the site with the approximate date.
Maybe an explanation of the plarl, a picture of the plan or
something.
Novl I am sure that Is going to be accomplished sometime next
year...
Larson! I think we need more site notices that tell us exactly what is
going to happen.
Kubby lit Is tlle obvious thing to do.
Atkins! Ryerson Is the tough one to notice.
Nov! But there are still people who say I love Ryerson's Woods.
Atkinsl We will figure something out.
Novl I would like to say Happy BiIthday to Hancher AuditOlium and
whoever feels like celebrating come join us on Oct. 30.
Ambrl We have a memo In our packet that isn't widely disseminated
o tile public but I tlllnk it is of significant interest
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#7 page 6
to many people. Particular t those on the west side of town. It
affects evelybody In the conullunity. Tlus is from the traffic
engineer. We would direct the installation of protected left
turn signal indications for north and south bound tJ"afftc on
Mormon Trek Blvd. at its intersection with Melrose Ave. This
action will take place shortly after Oct. 28, 1992. I think that
that is a great impact to a lot of people and we are happy to
say tllat too.
Larson! I have gotten great credit from the people that asked me to
get that done two years ago. The speed with which I achieved
that matter.
Ambr! I have one other item. I have been asked by an organization
in the community to make this announcement because they are
so modest and compassionate type of group. They failed to
show up here tonight to tell you. This noon the Iowa City Fire
Chief, Mr. Pumphrey, and Andy Rocca accepted a check for
$9,400 which Is a direct gift from the Independent Agents
Insurance Agents of Johnson County.... they asked me to make
the announcement. The money is to be used toward computer
enhancement. Tlus Is just another of a series of gifts that have
been given by this group to the city over the last sLx years. I
. think If it were all totaled between the computers that were
.."'..,." , purchased by both the fire and the police department. It
Ilt;~rx .... .lr:~:E!:~1:ue~d;~~5:~~:ii.~t;rSUCh
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W:.ilii);'\.,;,:,\!:,:..t....:.....,.,alllo es gIOUp.... lan you.
:W1i!!;iM$'~')d()\i!K:Horo",/BIll stole my thunder on the turning lane with Mormon Trek
~':'\fij;(~t,\,~,}!:!t\:;.;r:X;:ai1d Melrose. That I am really happy to see that that is coming.
\~11/, ';:~~:"~ ~\{::.., :i',":- ":.' ~: "', '..' -'
i~;!~;ti\I)'~:;r:U:;/k:,I~~d the occasion to attend the Senior Center VollUlteer
"."",:;r,c;;.J;;i;:\{[:;,:;;:tgecognition Banquet last night and it was truly marvelous. [
~\~M:X:e:Utistwanted to thank all of the volunteers.
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;sPi,'.Ip!'edlct that we are going to be done before midnight tOlught.
,Qlu;tney/ IXm't bet on it.
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;':Ys,QuUhave to start eating before these meetings...
:j;,m{'Jhave no business, Mr. Mayor.
,tnbr/Please remind people. Tomorrow night at 7PM Ms. Horow,
l!j\:::1} Mayor Courtlley, and councilor Ambr along with staff member
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#7 page 7
Jeff Davidson will be present at the Grantwood monthly
meeting at the Grantwood school. 7 PM fur those of you that
are in that neighborhood or anyone in town that wants to come
out. They have things that they want to discuss with these
three members of the cotUlcil, we will be happy to have a
dialogue with you and we will certainly bring back the
infonnation to our co-councilors. Just feel free to come.
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Courtney / tv/s. Burnside
Burnside/ Nothing actually as city attorney since I am not city
attorney. But as assistant city attorney. / work with the
Human Rights Commission and I would like to remind evelyone
that this Thursday mOlning is the Annual Human Rights
Awards Breakfast at the Holiday Inn. I think at about 7:30.
That Is all that I have got.
Kubby/(can'thear) .
Cecil Kuenzli! I have a question-comment. You said that you would
like to hear more form Longfellow Neighborhood about the
Preservation Plan. I thought that since so many people had
answered the sUlvey more that from any other neighborhood.
In the interest of keeping your hearing short this evening they
would just send me out to speak for them. Do you really want
me to bring lots of people here next time. Is one voice
sufficient.
Courtney! I guess I was just surprised that there weren't more and I
didn't realize that you had been appointed for tile whole
neighborhood.
Kuemlil There were lS people here this evening but they didn't
want to all say the same thing and make it longer than it was
already.
Courtney/Thank you. I appreciate that.
Larson/ I had no complaints about your brevity.
Courtney/...
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Agenda
Iowa City City Council
October 27, 1992
Page 8
ITEM NO.9.
'i~-o:lq$_
CONSIDERA RESOLUTlONRA TIFYING PERFORMANCE BASED COMPENSA TIONFOR
FISCAL VEAR 1993 FOR UNCLASSIFIED POSITIONS OF CITV MANAGER. CITV
CLERK AND CITY ATTORNEV.
Comment: This resolution ratifies compensation given to the unclassified positions
of City Manager, City Clerk and City Attorney. Prior resolutions authorized and
established unclassified salaries, so this resolution ratifies performance based bonuses
established via work performance evaluation of the three personnel on June 8 and
June 22, 1992.
Action: lIMn / JfflW
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ITEM NO. 10 - CONSIDERA RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AMENDED CONSENTTO SUBDIVISION
1J. J,9" AND DEDICATION OF FIRST AND ROCHESTER, PART THREE, AN ADDITION TO THE
CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA.
Comment: The Original Consent to Subdivision and Dedication of First and
Rochester, Part Three, an Addition to the City of Iowa City, Iowa, which was
accepted by the City and recorded In Book 1 004, Page 323 in the Johnson County
Recorder's Office, did not Include a dedication of the streets and easements In the
Subdivision. This Amended Consent to Subdivision and Dedication corrects that
omission by dedicating all streets and easements to the publiC as provided by Iowa
law,
Action: .M) J 17. ~)
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ITEM NO.11 -
9::>- .3553
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO VACATE, AS A CORRECTIVE LEGAL ACTION, THE
WESTERLY 105.29 FEET OF THE ALLEV BETWEEN MAIDEN LANE AND GILBERT
COURT AT LAFAVETTE STREET. BLOCK FOUR. LYON'S FIRST ADDITION, IOWA
CITY, IOWA. AND THE NORTHERLY PLATTED ALLEY IN BLOCK FOUR, LYON'S
FIRST ADDITION, IOWA CITV, IOWA, (SECOND CONSIDERATION)
Comment: This Is the last of a series of actions being undertaken to correct clouds
on title to property at the corner of South Gilbert and Lafayette Street In Iowa City,
Iowa, now owned and occupied by Capitol Implement Company at 702 South Gilbert.
While the City Is able to locate some documentation for prior vacations of right-of-
way and prior conveyances of unnecessary city property, not all documents have
been found and not all documents are properly recorded in the Johnson County
Recorder's Office. The two steps of vacation of right-of-way and conveyance are
needed In order to satiSfy Iowa title standards, and to remove clouds on the title to
the property. Capitol Implement Company has been using this land and paying taxes
on It since 1972, so these actions are corrective only, City Attorney recommends
approval, and requests expedited action (collapsing second and third readlngsl.
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Courtney/Moved by Horow, seconded y Ambr. Discussion.
Kubby! ! am really glad that we are doing this through resolution.
Over sight or not. Technicallty or not it is a good thing that this
was brought to our attention and will be done.
Larson! ! want to say just briefly that some of what you may heard
and seen on t.v. about this matter is a complete distortion. In
my opinion, probably deliberate for poor motives. And if
anyone has concerns about it cali any of the council members
and get a fuller explanation. I don't think it warrants a fuller
discussion at this point. There is no question that this should
be done. There is no question that it wasn't neglected to be
done earlier for any other motives. !, for one, thought it was in
the resolution about the salaries. That the bonuses were
included and enough said.
Courtney/Any othei" discussion.
Roll call-
Resolution is adopted, Kubby voting no.
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Agenda
Iowa City City Council
October 27, 1992
Page 9
ITEM NO. 12.
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CONSIDER A RESOLUTION CONVEYING. BY QUIT CLAIM DEED. A PORTION OF
VACATED MAIDEN LANE AND A PORTION OF LOTS 3 AND 4 OF COUNTY SEAT
ADDITION TO IOWA CITY. IOWA. AND ALLEVS LOCATED IN BLOCK FOUR, LVON'S
FIRST ADDITION. IOWA CITY, IOWA TO CAPITOL IMPLEMENT COMPANY, AS A
CORRECTIVE LEGAL ACTION.
Comment: Upon va,ation of the alleys noted In item 11 above, the Council will be
ready to adopt the resolution conveying the vacated portion of Maiden Lane and
certain alleys, together with portions of Lots 3 and 4, to Capitol Implement Company,
as a corrective legal action. City Attorney recommends approval.
Action: ~/Dt.;~Pv
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ITEM NO. 13 . ADJOURNMENT.
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City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
DATE: October 23, 1992
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager
RE: Work Session Agendas and Meeting Schedule
October 26, 1992
6:30 - 8:00 P.M.
6:30 P.M.
6:50 P.M.
7:00 P.M.
7:30 P.M.
7:40 P.M.
7:55 P.M.
City Council Work Session - Council Chambers
- Review zonin9 matters
- Historic Preservation Plan - Presentation by Historic
Preservation Commission
- Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission regarding
Hickory Hill Park and Stormwater Retention Area
- City Council meeting days and times/Holiday schedule
- City Council agenda, Council time, council committee
reports
Consider appointments to the Riverfront and Natural
Areas Commission
Monday
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October 27, 1992
7:30 P.M. - Regular Council Meeting - Council Chambers
November 9, 1992
6:30 - 9:00 P.M.
Tuesday
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City Council Work Session - Council Chambers
Agenda pending
Monday
November 10, 1992 Tuesday
7:30 P.M. - Re9ular Council Meetin9 - Council Chambers
November 11, 1992 Wednesday
VETERANS' DAY - CITY OFFICES CLOSED
PENDING LIST
Appointments to the 80ard of Appeals, Senior Center Commission, Mayor's
Youth Employment 8oard, and Board of Examiners of Plumbers - Noyember 10,
1992
Appointments to Board of Adjustment, Parks and Recreation Commission and
Human Ri9hts Commission - November 24, 1992
Appointment to the Oesi9n Review Committee - December 8, 1992