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Home My WebLink About1993-02-02 Agenda I: ..... ~ - \ .......-- ------. ..-------T~__ ......-____, _ ....___ .. - - .........., r ... ---y .. - -,~ .. ...""V- ..., :"::'''::1.'".:, '~i~,i,:. .~-~:~,:",..~':,"'" ',:. i ,,",' ':<,<,' . . " " I ' 'I' J 1 ~. , . ". ',. " " ..- I." (. ',', . ," " ,.' r',;'. ~,\ .. t. ,', ;I~. . :,,'~ :,':~\ ',_ ~ ,.', ''to.' "" . ~ \. : >' V',. IOWA CITY CITY COUNCIL AGENDA I I , I , , 1 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 2, 1993 7:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CIVIC CENTER 410 EAST WASHINGTON -~"---"" -~-- ,,--.-...-- \ I I. I I I I I , i .. . ..-.......--..~- r-.- ,......_____.......,..~ ,.~ ." ~ --..... ---....--~ --r--'" . ,. ,', ,','" "'*'1'" Cf' ;'c:(: :' '. . ,:;':::","",':,,:,' :.<:, '.r: ",'..:,::(~:, ' ':.1,81'1 ""::~n!'" :, ...:. :' ::' :~,O:"'.';' :.:<' '\"""" I., .,J.-i;,... "'_"'. ._ ,. . "." ',' "'" '" . . '. t . \ ~. " '~" .' \. . AGENDA IOWA CITY CITY COUNCIL REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING . FEBRUARY 2, 1993 7:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS ~ ~ tj ITEM NO.1, CALL to ORDER. 7J!Uu/ ~ ~ ROLL CALL. ITEM NO.2. MAYOR'S P.ROCLAMATIONS a. American History Month. February 1993 - Aev ~~ b. Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Days, February 10.12: 1993. c. "rtoma's Freedom Week, February 14.20, 1993. .fuJJw W ~-:t-13.he..~ ~ib $5 ITEM NO.3 '"CON IDER ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALE~OAR AS PRESENTED OR AMENDED. a. Consider approval of Official Council actions of the special meetings of January 12, 1993, and January 14, 1993, and of the regular meeting of January 19, 1993, as published, subject to corrections, as recommended by the City Clerk. b. Minutes of Boards and Commissions. (1) Riverfront and Natural Areas Commission meeting of December 16, 1992. (2) Senior Center Commission meeting of November 16, 1992. (3) Planning and Zoning Commission meeting of January 21, 1993. (4) Airport Commission meeting of December 15, 1992. c. Permit Motions and Resolutions as Recommended by the City Clerk. (1) Consider a motion approving a Class "C" Liquor License for R.T. Grunts, Inc., dba R.T.'s, 826 S. Clinton St. (Renewal) (2) Consider a motion approving an Outdoor Service Area for R. T. Grunts, Inc., dba R. T.'s, 826 S. Clinton St. (Renewal) (3) Consider a motion approving a Class "E" Liquor License for John's Grocery, Inc. dba John's Grocery, 401 E. Market St. (Renewal) (4) Consider a motion approving a Class "C" Liquor License for Mike's Place, Inc., dba Mike's Tap, 122 Wright 51. (Renewal) (5) Consider a motion approving a Class "E" 8eer Permit for QuikTrlp Corp. dba QulkTrlp #509, 323 W. Burlington St. (Renewal) (6) Consider a motion approving a Class "C" Liquor License for Vanessa's of Iowa City, Inc., dba Glvannl's Italian Cafe, 109 E. College St. (Renewal) , .<,'" ,.I\o:t);"'.:~:.'" ~,."'; :'~.t..i:"t>fi"';::".;:-.:, :.>:,..":,.,:,,.'.'.::' 1"'(.1 ..,~ .IL \ I . .., ", I .. ., . I ,l ",' ~ ,'l . '. '. "',' , , , . . ' '," " .' \" .'.", , '., ,I"... ','...,,, ".'_' ," " .... '," '.' ~". ,.\ ".1:. "~'" j. ., ~ .\ . it2a page 1 Courtney/ Proclaim Febnlal)' 1993 as American History Monll]". We have someone here to accept this proclamation- / Pilgrim Chapter of the [}aughters of the American Revolution is very appreciative of the proclamation of February as the American IIiStOI)' jvlonth. II will be framed and placed at the speakers table lor our American History Luncheon this Saturday. The National Society of Daughters of the American Hevolution lounded in 1890 by lour women, two northern and two southern, when the Sons of the American Revolution rejected their application lor membership. Their goal to heal the terrible wounds of the bJccding of the Civil War. The launders believed that a call on the common bond, the ancestors who fought together in the I~evolution to liberate us and found our company would be unilYing and a the healing process. Our objectives are three. IIistoric preservation. SeveraJ of pilgrim chapter's bronze markers are visible in lowa City and West Branch. Promote education. We have two DAR schools and support sb; others including two American lndian schools. Patriotic cndeavors. Annually we award ROTC medals to deserving army and air force units at the University of Jowa and Good Citizenship's on thc high school level. Pilgrim Chapter \Vas chartered in 1898 in 10\Va City and has becn active since that time. membership is open to interested individuals who want to trace their lineage to the American Revolution. We welcome interested individuaJs at our meetings. Thank you mayor and thank you council. Courtneyi Thank you. , \ .......-- - ~...... --.., -...,- .......". T9"~------"'-"-"'-----""" ,-- y ."",- y " "':t' \,rj:. "tf ,,:.,;.,'.(, : ',,:':-,,',"..':,,;. ':. ,\,,: ::;.<;. ,"~::t.;,..~' )~r:.; ~':\=r <: ';~':. ,.",;: .',: '\: ". '...>...':. . ;.~"::':', Agenda Iowa City City Council February 2, 1993 Page 2 (7) Consider a motion approving a Class 'C' liquor License for Motif, Ltd., dba Bo James, 1 18 E. Washington St. (Renewal). 93 - 2C? (8) Consider a resolution Issuing a Dancing Permit for R.T.'s, B26 S. Clinton St. (q) QRR.,. a.dcidldY/ d. Setting public hearings. (1) Consider a resolution setting' a public hearing for February 23, 1993, on the FY94 Proposed Operating and Capital Improvements Budget. c,~. 21 Comment: This resolution sets the public hearing on the FY94 Proposed Operating and Capital Improvements Budget on February 23, 1993. Detailed Information on the budget will be available for public inspection beginning February 12, 1993, at the Public Library, the City Clerk's office, or the Finance Department. e. Resolutions. '13.n (1) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THE RELEASE OF A LIEN REGARDING A PROMISSORY NOTE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1114 EAST DAVENPORT STREET. Comment: The owners of the property located at 11 14 East Davenport Street received a three.year declining balance loan for $5,000 through the City's Housing Rehabilitation Program on June 7, 1978. The lien expired on June 7, 1981, and should be released. 93.1:3> (2) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THE R~LEASE OF A LIEN REGARDING A PROMISSORY NOTE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 515 OAKLAND AVENUE. Comment: The owners of the property located at 515 Oakland Avenue received a declining balance loan for $ 1 5,400 on August 26, 1985. The lien expired on August 26, 1992, and should be released. <)3, 2..(.1 (3) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN' AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THE RELEASE OF A LIEN REGARDING A PROMISSORY NOTE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 406 NORTH VAN BUREN STREET. Comment: The owners of the property located at 406 North Van Buren Street received a flve'year declining balance loan of $10,000 on August 22, 1984, through the City's Housing Rehabliltatlon Program. The lien expired on August 22, 1989, and should be released. ~ - ......'-- .. ..- -...----~'f ~-....., , y _ _ :"', t: ',<l" :..' .'~.":'';' . ',.\"':",,, "':~;'tHJ' , . ,'\, . ,,:....,~ ':::"::"'.. <.~~, ;',:,;' .....,.I'I'.,,;7'I..,~ I'" ," .,' ,. . " I~\' d, './ ',' I' .1, ':.. . ,~ ., \ ., , I " ,: j . I' . ' . ~;. .:.\'.:'.;\ .....". \.~.r::; , L"'~:' ;. ,"'..' ,~ '.:. ': : ..:.: .; '.'.' ':', ~J City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: February I, 1993 TO: llayor, City Council, General Public FROM: City Clerk R E: Additions to Consent Calendar 3-c. (9) Permit Motions Consider a motion approving a Special Class "c" Liquor License for Leegh Enterprises, Inc., dba Legends Sports Diner, 224 S. Clinton St. (New) 3 f. Correspondence (5) Letter from Ed Flaherty regarding monitoring well sites for Iowa City water supply. (6) Letters regarding the Melrose Avenue Project from: (a) Don McCloskey (b) John and Michaelanne'Widness (c) Nicholas Johnson (d) Mark and Carole Ramsey (7) Letter from Mayor of Lone Tree regarding an invitation to attend a meeting in Lone Tree on February 22, 1993 on I.C. Water Supply Plan. POSTH, 2N~3 "/-:"IOpM sF ;, ...... ~ - 'y-"------ ~. .................-. ..... ~ - .....". ~ .... - - . - r-- _ - ., - ..,.. -...,.. - r ......,...._ I:,~ .~ ;:.> ,:::p:'~'" , :',: __~:, ,,\.;~....,I '~, :".... :", "'.?,,, .:\.....,~.:.:,<.' . '., '1" .4).,,~ . . " ." , '.. ,'" ',. ",' -!.' .,' ':. "." I, ; " ,I l '; , ',..:' '\' "'.', :. '. ' '.' " ; " ., . I, 1 '). 'j I ~_ ''''1 .', ,',' ,'. ," .,' "','-,' ',\,.. I', ,\~.!., "I, _..... '..-;, , . .' ,'..',; ", ' ',.' Agenda Iowa City City Council February 2, 1993 Page 3 05.2.5 (4) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THE RELEASE OF A LIEN REGARDING A PROMISSORY NOTE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 903 WEBSTER STREET. Comment: The owners of the property located at 903 Webster Street received a declining balance loan for $17,500 through the City's Housing Rehabilitation Program on October 16, 1984. The lien expired on October 16, 1991, and should be released. CI~, 2.1.> (5) CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST THE RELEASE OF A LIEN REGARDING A PROMISSORY NOTE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 927 EAST DAVEN, PORT STREET. Comment: The owners of the property located at 927 East Davenport Street received a declining balance loan for $17,500 through the City's Housing Rehabilitation Program on December 21, 1984. The lien expired on December 21, 1991, and should be released. f. Correspondence. (1) Letter from Robert E. Seaholm regarding parking In the Capitol Street Ramp. (2) Letters supporting downzonlng of property in the area bounded by Dodge and Clapp Streets and Market and Jefferson Streets from: (a) Susan Kratz (b) Todd Kratz (3) Letter from Myrna Arner regarding pedestrian safety when crossing Highway 6. (4) Memoranda from the Traffic Engineer regarding: (a) Parking prohibition on the east side of George Street. (b) Metered handicapped parking stalls on the north side of the 300 block of East College Street. (9) t ((,. )i~)J.ee (tcfcUZ7",,(/ ~/ #V~) END OF CONSENT CALENDAR 6lA 11 MUJ...,AI o--P I/-,u.6 &;/0 ~ ako..J. ~ f.h. M~ ...., \ ~ - y-'---- .. .. -.-..-...- ....., ~- ""'-r ~.,t'."~:',", ,:,~..'.: ,'.~ "":I'~"'" :'~. .;~.. <~;,(I" '':'::'\ " '.1 ..,., , '1,;;;:;'.1 r 'm' 'It ,', ',' .' :,'. ..... -;':;,1" ,j-:I:: ':'.'i\':-'I~ ':':':\~t ":',,\:'~: :,<~,:. 'J.',' "~:\',,:,, ;.'. ',i.._:" ..J ".. ." \,~,., "~ "" '. L " , _ t-~ ....i':.."\:...,\.t),~',I. ',.-;.\ "~l""" ",i.' '" .,.... Agenda Iowa City City Council February 2, 1993 Page 4 ITEM NO.4. PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS. a. Consider setting a public hearing for February 23, 1993, on a resolution amending the Iowa City Comprehensive Plan by Incorporating revised growth policies for Iowa City into the Plan. Comment: At Its January 21, 199-3, meeting, by a vote of 6- 1 (Dierks voting no), the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended In favor of proposed amendments to the Population, Developable Land Analysis, Development Sequence, Annexation Polley, Fringe Area 5 and Fringe Area 6 sections of the Plan. These amendments incorporate the findings and proposals of the growth policies report prepared by the staff. Action: J.6JJJu., / /}l~l) -===:J I o.1L9..-. W b. Consider setting a public hearing for February 23, 1 9~n a reso~ ~ approving the voluntary annexation of an approximate 240 acre tract, known as Windsor Ridge Development and located east of Scott Park, south of Lower West Branch Road and north of American Legion Road. (ANN92-0002) Comment: At Its January 21, 1993, meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission, by a vote of 7-0, recommended approval of the requested rezoning of the Windsor Ridge tract from County RS to RS-5 with the clear understanding that all of the costs associated with providing Infrastructure for development of the subject tract will be paid by the developer, and subJect to 1) the developer dedicating 6.9 acres of open space (a centrally-located four acre neighborhood park with the remaining 2.9 acres developed as greenway trails linking the tract to Scott Park), the locations of which shall be negotiated with the City of Iowa City, 2) the developer dedicating a minimum 13-acre school site, the location of which shall be negotiated with the Iowa City Community School District, and 3) City Development Board, an agency of the State of Iowa, approval of the annexation. This recommenda- tion Is consistent with the staff recommendation. Action: M,I h~1 nO(J a~~~ ~f ", \ ,,: .: ,,':,~,:,. :',..1:~-"_ .'\ "1'.', ,,' "" .,' .:\ .:,,': . I, " l' ,':7\-1., .. t.+j' '. : ", ' I' . ," , ' '. ,', " " , ":.:'.,' :1~/. \ ,:.,,"~ ,:'j ""'. ,::1;' "",: " .':: ":'" :..~, .', "i.~;: .. ", '>:~ .' . "\1. ,J", t; l'. - . , . . . \ . \ '. . . .! ",,\,' ,.~\.,~ ,,~ : Iii ':'\ ,'''., " ''': ,,'.".' ,\'; .'J- Agenda Iowa City City Council February 2, 1993 Page 5 d, Consider setting a public hearing for February 23, 1993, on an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance by adopting Section 36,10.5, the Neighbor- hood Conservation Residential Zone (RNC.l 2). Comment: At Its January 21, 1993, meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission, by a vote of 7,0, recommended that the Zoning Ordinance be amended by adopting Section 36.10.5, the Neighborhood Conservation Residential Zone (RNC,1 2). The Commission's recommendation Is consistent with the staff recommendation. Action: .M/ l'\~ , aHaff~~ e. Consider setting a public hearing on February 23, 1993, on an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance by changing the use regulations of property located in the RM'12 zone in the general vicinity of Johnson Street on the west, Clapp Street on the east, Market Street on the north and Jefferson Street on the south, from Low Density Multi-Family Residential (RM.12) to the Neighborhood Conservation Residential Zone (RNC- 12). (REZ 92-0018) Comment: At its January 21, 1993, meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission, by a vote of 7,0, recommended that the Zoning Ordinance be amended to change the zoning designation of the subJect property from RM, 12 to RNC,12. The Commission's recommendation Is consistent with the staff recommendation. Action: '(\~ / ~ { ad1fl ~._ f. Consider setting a public hearing for February 23, 1993, on anv ordi= a..&.a..J. amending the Zoning Ordinance by changing the use regulations of a 70.05 acre tract, generally located north of Rohret Road, between Hunters Run and Southwest Estates subdivisions, from ID-RS, Interim Development Single- Family Residential to RS-5, Low Density Single-Family Residential. (REZ 92- 0016) Comment: The Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to act on this application at its February 4, 1993, meeting. The applicant, Kennedy' Hilgenberg Enterprises, by a letter dated January 27, 1993, has requested expedited consideration of this application. Action: 'II M) / knth '='( . I'J/Y' r ~ak.'; g. Consider setting a public hearing for February 23, 1993, on an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance by changing the use regulations of a 14.25 acre tract, generally located north of Rohret Road, between Hunters Run and Southwest Estates subdivisions, from ID-RS, Interim Development Single- F.amlly Residential, to P, Public. (REZ 92-0016) Comment: See f. above. This site Is the proposed location of the new public elementary school. Action: cJ<u.14 / ~) fl t?t7 a~ ~(,of \ . ."... :',-:.-:"' >', 'lii/;: ,:/'\' ~,~'.zt):' :....:.:.,:' ~ i;',.,': .),"~;;:, ,..11 "I~' 1.2:. 'If':'.,'" "'" " ". ~c<' ;~~;\.,r./_,;~";~ :,.: ~ ,I~.:. .'11~~~ '. <<, '. ,': ~, ~:.~ " ,(..> Agenda Iowa City City Council February 2, 1993 Page 6 '13. "7 h. Consider a resolution approving the final plats of Park West Subdivision, Parts Two, Three and Four, Iowa City, Iowa. (SUB 92-0026) (60-day limitation period: February 8, 1993.) <t3- 2.<6 Comment: At its January 21, 1993, meeting, by a vote of 7,0, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the approval of the final plats of Park West Subdivision, Parts Two, Three and Four, a 39-lot residential subdivision located at the end of T eg Drive between the east and west portions of Aber Avenue, subject to approval of legal papers by the City Attorney's Office and of construction plans by the Public Works Department prior to City Council consideration of the final plat. This recommendation is consistent with the staff recommendation Included In the staff report dated January 21, 1992. The legal papers are being reviewed by the City Attorney's Office. The construction plans are being reviewed by the Public Works Department. Action: !twJJ J (aN ( ~ IK<flw ? e-/t-, -e., ~ ~ pvJ,~~ ~ t/tna~ i. Consider a res lutlon approving the prelimina ''hnd final plat of Country Hills Subdivision, a three-lot, 40.07 acre subdivision located In Johnson County Fringe Area 7, approximately one mile southwest of Iowa City on Highway 1 West. (SUB92-0027) (60-day limitation period: March 1, 1993) I r I I I I I I Comment: At its January 21, 1993, meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission, by a vote of 7-0, recommended approval of the requested preliminary and final plat for Country Hills Subdivision, subject to a fire rating being established by the applicant's engineer, submittal of a letter from the Hills Fire Protection District to the City of Iowa City, and approval of the legal papers by the City Attorney's Office. The Commission's recommendation is consistent with that of staff as contained in the staff report dated January 21,1993. Action: ~/ nl>tJ . .. ~ Ylo, 13 Ccni4;~O'".Q. ~ ITEM NO.5. PUBLIC DISCUSSION ~ ~t0 f.frzo ~ .ju.;#,,) ~ ~..... ~- - .---- . .. ~.-~--....-" "--r - - ~....,-- ,.: ':' 1:' ',t'" ,:;a: i ':,2: ':",';;::1": ,., .'. :'; :;':- :,.': ,: ."..::;' ",I~'.. ',{':' ;j:'" -, '.<~.', ",','.J71":I'.'.:~'-:::]"', I..'," '; I; ,,~', ":-", .' I "~.i ..' ~... ~I~ ;;1 ,~ , \~. /'/ " , " : . ,I: h'. .. " .r,. 1" _ . , . #4i page j Courtney/ Moved by Ambr, seconded by Nov. Discussion. Kubby/ Monica. will there be a house built on each lot or just on the two. Moen/ No. There is presenlly a hII'm house located on the jot. One of the smaller of the two lots on the south side of the road. That is intended as a farmstead split. The balance of the Jand on the south side of the road is sizable and it is expected that in the future the owner may come forward and request that that larger Jot be further subdivided. The city would then have an additional opportunity to review that. Nov/ Have all the papers been in order. Moen/ Everything is in order. Courtney/Any further discussion. Roll call- The resolution is adopted. ! I I ; \ I I I. ! ; I ! - .- -~ ..... -- u "1I:I.M1lStl1' . j,ilo.__ lJL 1I~_________ \ ",.' ' " ,: .': ",::'7fl ',' '/tfi"~': ' ~:, "'8' '.' '" ,'", ,: ". ',' " ,,:'.. ': : ,,' ',;/:' '", ,.:1:1", IZ" "." ," ' "", ".' "'..' '; ", ,':: ., "'. ,1':'.'" "-:" _. .' I .' .,,'.: " .', -, t' ... .' \ ,\ - 'f 't{, ,,-...;, ' ~'. .' , . . ..', ',.' ..' . 1:5 page I Courtney.' Now moving back to item 5, public discussion- Ivlichaelanne Widness/ I have handouts and I am wondering- Courtney/ You can just start them over there and they will run them down to us. M. Widness:629 Melrose Ave. Which is directly across the street from the finy foot hole that has been excavated in order to accommodate the new Eye Clinic and Family Care Center. I was here the last time to speak to you about-to urge you actually to adopt the Historic Preservation Plan that was being widely discussed. And I want to say, first of all, thaI I ap;)Jaud your vision in adopting that proposal. You arc going to hear tonight, again, about vision and so ] hope you are ready for that. You have a handout that consists of an outline lilr what I am goJng to say. I am sure that seems rather arrogant but the reason that you have that is because I am a member of the Ivlelrose Ave. Neighborhood Association and in trying to get together our presentation we decided to keep redundancy to a minimum one of us would rough out the overall game pJan. The overall concerns that we have and other members would speak to specific points. And since I drew the short straw I am here to begin by giving you this big picture. Noll' the rest of the handout consists of largely of photo copies of pages in a document that was much discussed Jast night which is the arterial street plan lor the Iowa City urbanJzed area that was put out bY.JCCOG. There is a copy of the first page of the letter from Steve Atkins and on the very last page Ihere are a couple of maps of Melrose Avenue and Iowa City. So. my outline may not be exactly as yours is but we will try to keep in sync here. First of allll'e will begin with complaints about the process. And our first complaint is that lI'e feel thaI we have had very little notice to look at this document carefully. Document, J should say proposal. We have received two letters from the city describing the plan that is being proposed. The first letter was dated I:\!cember 4. That was Denny Gannon's letter and he, of course, is the project manager and Ass't. City Engineer. The second letter was Steve Atkin's letter dated .January 21st which we received a week ago Saturday. This is ten days later and as ~'layor Courlney pointed out last nJght. you will all decide whether to give the go ahead 10 the engineering department to send the proposal to the plans and speCification phase in three weeks. So we have nol had very much time to really \ "" ~ ..---......~-....~ ,.....-~....-r-- ._-,.-- -.----.,r~~-.. ~............--. ;, ': >',( ,: :'.;.,;;~I, :'"::~~''/,:<l'1Y'~',''' ,', ,,',~,\ ':' ': ,; '\);:' : 0" " I 'r f " I~' ,~.. IPl' '. " .I ~;:::fr .' . ," .', r" '.~ , 'l ..... : !',;\.,,..; ......,\~.:.., ~,,~.~. 1: ~' ~".~ ;'.. .,'\, :. o' ':.: ':~.:,': :.:.. ;',;,.1 ifS page '2 adequateJy study the proposal. J might also add here that there is a great deal of confusion among my neighbors as to whether this pJan had already been adopted or not after i\Jr. Gannon's leller was received. He didn't make it very clear that this was still a proposal and so some or my neighbors fell that perhaps this had already gone through and there was really nothing to be done except wait for the second phase to come about. The second point we have here is that our neighborhood concerns have not really been taken into account in drawing up a proposal. I know Mr. Larson took great issue Jast night with the statement or the insertion that this was the case. And I want to read-it wouJd seem not be. I didn't make a photocopy of Denny Gannon's Jetter but I read one line that says many factors are beJng considered including-talking about the proposal-including existing and future traffic, the impact of the current expansion of the University Hospitals and Clinics, impact on the neighborhood and other factors. Some of my neighbors and I met with Mr. Gannon last week and in referencing his Jetter I asked him specifically what was the impact on the neighborhood. What were the neighborhood concerns that you took into account when you worked on this proposal. And his answer was there were none that I know 01'. So II is not ludicrous to suggest that we have-that our neighborhood concems and reaHy concerns of the larger communJty have not been taken into account in the drawing up of this proposal. This is not a good thing because the perception on the part of many or the people not only in my neighborhood but in Iowa City is that this is a done deal. That this process has closed us out or tJle process and as such it is exclusionary and wiII never arrive at the point we need to arrive at without more input on the part or arrected partJes. Let's go down to item 2. which is concerns we have about the proposal and I will tI)' to be brief here because, as I say, other peopJe will speak to these points. Will it work, now and in the future. Will it work to solve the problem or congestion along Melrose Ave. There me two problems with this and both were raised last night. The first one concerns the bOllleneck that currentJy exists where Melrose Ave. meets Koser Gn the west end of this very short stretch or road and at the other end where Meirose Ave actually becomes Grand Ave. and comes down to Hiverside. Jell Davidson, who is the Ass'\, City Planner, .--. L. _J'" "*wi.. "Il'IIU<<~~ 'Tf"--~ -...- .~ .. ,- ....' - .. ..--., ~F- ....... .,......... - ._~ -- ....~ ... ....T- ....... ~ ,,' p:, '''.' ,..'~..-,i. , i': Hi' >::' "itzl' '~. , :' ::'-";:: ':"',':' :' " C:::, \ ,', ":1/.., 'IQ.,. r 1 '" , ", '" , ~~,', ,:" ~l\:~ . ,:, :{'\~~ ":::,:'f"~.:'" , ! _ ."\ .' ,.' <.~ . '.. ',1: ,': .''''' " .' !i5 page 3 in describing both of these bottlenecks said last night, these will be on going concerns. There is really not much to be done about these bottlenecks at the present time. The second concern that we have about whether this plan will work to soJve the congestion problem has to do w!th access points and I have a slide here and also you have in your packets a copy of the map that we are gOing to put up here in just a minute. And it is on the very back page if you want to flip this whole package over. CouJd we show this slide. Would it be possibJe to do that at this point. I don't need thaI. tllank you. I am just showing one slide. Great. This is a slide. A representation, not done to scale, but we hope which will be a reasonable representation of the point-approximately ,45 mile stlip of ~'lelrose Ave. currently under discussion. Does tllis look busy to you. This should look very busy because it is a very busy place. And we made this slide in order to point out what are called access points. By that J mean ins and outs along Melrose Ave. There are 17 access points and we are not taJking here about driveways into single family residents.! We are talking about ins and outs to multi-vehicular areas. And we will just take a stroll down this section of Melrose Ave., if I can figure out how to turn on my little-press the button of course. Press the button. They are all numbered and we will start here with #1 which is-this of course is the blidge. There is the railroad and the bridge. This is the parking Jot inlo, excuse me the access into the parking lot behind the stadium. Next we have Hawkins Drive. Next lYe have a question mark and I will come back to it in just a minute. 114 is the current entrance Jnlo the Field House parking Jot. IfS is South Grand Ave. fIG is the exit Ii'om Slater Dorm onto ~Ielrose Ave. #7 is Grand Ave. Court. One of the through streets in this parI of town. fiR is the entrance to the parking lot behind the Native American CulturaJ Cenler. J hope offended that group but I think that is the name of ii, 119 is the parkJng lot to the Law School. Coming back going west on the south side we have-the asterisks here indicate day care centers. There are f"ive day \ ~<:.: '1"':1" ,.' :: ~!~I': ..:;:;tFi' ',::. · : '~"-l " . "",:'1' '.:,.'.. '~':' ~. ,'.. ,'~ \ ..:' .' L ", ',.,,' ". ~_: I' . \"" I ,.\, , ""'. ' , 'L "', i . .~, '.,',":':1\. ,,': . r,: ~"<': . ':~'I'. . "'~',~'" I ';.' .,' .:. .'" ~,' .~" . .,:,' #5 page-+ care centers or cooperative child care centers located along Melrose. I fail to point oulthe one on the Northside here. Coming back we have three of them in the very most eastern part of the street and they share a common driveway. 1110 1111 is Lucon Drive. #12 is the entrance to the parking lot by the AA Building. We won'l go back over all of that ground. #13 is Melrose Court. Melrose Court is a significant player in this proposal because although it is not perhaps thought of as such, it is the onJy through street to MyrtJe Ave. and Greenwood Drive. Greenwood Drive ultimateJy going to Benton which is the other east-west artery in this part of town. #14 Coming back up here is Melrose Circle. #15 is the Melrose Ave. Day Care Center and there is a driveway that serves their-two driveways, actually, that serve both the day care center and United Campus Ministlies which is the building directly west. #16 Js tvleJrose PJace. 1117 is TriangJe Place. We have not mentioned Cosane Court. I didn't know it had such a name but this is actually more of an alley that runs behind Olive Court, the first street in Universitv JHs. lt provides parking for the peopJe on Olive Court and I believe there are some houses back in there. So that makes 17 existing access points. Now we come back to 1/3 which is the question mark and we found out about this in detail last night at the elty council meeting here. The University, as you know, is putting in the Eye Clinic and l~lI]]ily Practice Center here and they are aJso building just east of that hlCility a rather large parking ramp. The magnitude of this came as something as a surprise last night, I must confess. This is going 0 be five stories and will park 1,000 cars. And the Hospital is going to have three entrances/exits into thJs parking ramp. One will be 01T of the road that will come up and go over, off of Hawkins Drive. One will be here almost directly across the street from the entrance to Melrose Circle. And the other one that was talked about Jasl night, I must confess I was a little bit confused about what was said, but I am under the impression that there was some taJk about pUlling in another entrance, a subterranean entrance here that would go in and out olT of South Grand Avenue and would go under the Held House. There was aJso some I I I i \ ~ - .".-. ---- - ~ .--~,.~- ....... '--r - ~ ...,...,....-.......- ..... ...~....T- ......... ;',' :/'.':...'::..'~ '. ,,':. .,:' <8" ":':,"". '. ..,'.,', ,....,........:..", ;:', .j",,.. '-4U'", '! ", '. ., '. ,~.:".':',f\.1: :':'J_~.;j,:. .,12;; :': '.c;,:.' ,.'.'.". '..:' , :-:' :,::' '.,' ,t,.."" "'l ,. ~.. ,. '\ " \ '. ','". _ 1'. '~, #5 page 5 discussion about whether 1f4 which is the entrance to the riled House parking Jot would be closed Jn order to permit the free now of these 1,000 cars into Ihe parking ramp It3. Bul, again, it was not clear what they intended 10 do. On Ihe subject of this-thank you, J clon't think I have more points to make about this so I will just swIng around here. On the subject of this parking ramp J wantecllo just say-J wanted 10 just quote .lefT Davidson and in describing it last night he said that access, i.e. the access into Ihis new road that will serve the parking ramp In the new compJex. That access wiU impact negativeJy on the capacity of Melrose Ave. I believe that was the understatement of the evening last night. To have 1,000 cars coming in to an already very congested last than a half mile strip of road would certainJy have a negative impact on the capacity. This leads me to the next point we want to make which is this is not a good arteriaJ streel despite il's designation as such. And I will refer you in this booklet. I hope this isn't too confusing in it's design. II' you will look on the page number 3 at tile bottom. And if you turn to page number 3 there is a circJed item 4 and this references the design standards for arterial streets. I realize that these are the standards that would be used in the desIgn of the new arterial street but I think it is important to point out that we have old arterIal streets and how do they do when you look at these design standards. Melrose Ave., at Jeast this stretch of MeJrose Ave., doesn't do too well. There are three points here that I am goJng to caU te your attention. The second point says design standards should include vehicle design speed of 35 mph or greater. The only time I can imagine reaching 35 mph on this stretch of MeJrose would be about 2:30 AM There is simply too much tralTic to ever attain any speed. Certainly not a speed of 35 mph. We can skip down to peripheral locations 10 neighborhood's bufTers jf" possible. I believe that is self expJanatory. And Ihe mosl important one has to do with continuous corridors. 1\ continuous corridor is a road that is desJgned to move traffic from one point of lown to anolher. Jeff Davidson said last night his estimate, the estimate of the city planning departmenl, is Ihat perhaps-weU, certainly more than hall~l1C has laJked to me aboulmllch Jarger percentages- certainly more limn haJf of the traffic that comes on 10 this section of IvJelrose Ave. stays 011 this seclion of Melrose Ave. ~ fCl - ,,-._----1I---..-...........--..-......,.., '\'" :.::"":. \."/f" ,,:: :.'Mj"\,: ,.'::.:~"" :'" ": ',':.: ,::\,',,:':,':,' '0, ". ",,,1:1;,,. I~; ~" ,"',.." , ..." .",.' ,,' ".., " "\ ',' : ".. , , ,'~ " .) , ' " 1 .,' , .' "'.,,, .',.' ,,",\ ,,\~~ t,,~,,\'1' ~ ',', . , . ',,' """; '. '" .", ., ,.' , , liS page (1 \ Going to day care, going to Law School, going the Hospital Complex. going in to the Filed House parking lot. and so forth. Which means that if you will skip down to the bottom of the page, Melrose Ave.. by function, really is more of a properly access or collector street. We really shouldn't be thinking of arteriaJ here because it is really acting as a funneJ to bring people into this part of town. Given that this is not a true artery. will widening help. We believe that there arc serious questions about that question. One of them has to do with the fact that if you look at the traffic on lvlelrose Ave. you will note that111e problems come Ii'om, in most instances, Ii'om cars trying to make turns. Usually left turns across trank. Since 1 live across there and since I go to the Field House a lotI have a reaJ good opportunity to see these log jams that occur during the course of the day. And the two reaJ problems along that strip occur at the entrance to the Field House parking Jot and at lvlelrose Court where traffic coming in Ii'om the south to make a Jeft turn to go west. Melrose Court has a lot of traffic. There are many student apm.tments that are south of Ivlelrose and they either walk or tJley drive cars up Melrose Court and it can be very very congested. Will adding two more lanes make a difference. We arc not sure because when you have to wait for two Janes of traffic to go west on lvlelrose Ave or when you have to IVait for an opening across two lanes of trallic to get into the Field House parking lotI think the time clement is actually going to be increased. I think turning cars will have more of a problem. Ah, but you may say. what about this additionaJ outside lane. This will be continuous trallic. You wiII be able to sail aJong without being impeded by turning traffle. And I would suggest there is very little sailing done at any pJace on Ivlelrose Ave. because, once again, you have people that have to slow down to turn into the four cul-de-sacs, to turn into the three through streets. to turn in to the day care centers. to turn Jnto various points aJong both sides of the street. In addition. we have bus service. There are two bus lines that run along Melrose Ave. You have the city bus line and I don't know how often the city buses run because I ride on the Cambus which is the other bus. And it I'l1ns every ten minutes. So almost, at any given moment, you arc slowing down In this outside lane for somebody to mak: a lurn. This will not be smooth sailing and continuously flowing traffic. ~.... ..... \ f'I'l -- y-.--- .,; .. ______.-~--.,..-r--' -... -. ~ '--r- -- ."....... -. ......"..- ...... ....,...-- ',' :', ~:, .'t";" ":',;~I"" "''7,' , : ':t'"':l" : ,:' '.. ' \",,~' , :.: ....':';, ",' :,; :' :;:.,~. "i/,' '",,' "'l~:: ..:: )"', "'",Ir.,: ,......,.. '. ,:'~:~, " ,":, ,,~ ;,->:~ "" .\", '~'" \, ,.' ",1..... '.. "" 'r, ',' . ,t,,"'., ".., ":"',' ,'.' I,' r,', ,'" itS page 7 Noll' .lefT Davidson talked about well if we do generate problems with this cross traffic-with all of this turning we pJan to PUI another signal in. There is already a signaJ althe entrance to Hawkins Drive. And the signaJ will apparently be put in either at Melrose Court of the entrance into this new road that will serve the Eye Clinic and the ramp. I ran this idea by a couple of local engineers. traffic engineers. Jn Jactl mentioned this 10 one of the architects who had worked on these pJans. J said you know they plan to put another light in. He knew nothing about this, first of all. He thought about it Jar 30 seconds. Then he said. you know I am not sure that is going to make things better. The plan with these signals, according to .lefT Davidson is to bunch up the traffic. Jf you put traffic lights in strategic places you can create breaks in the traffic and it is during those breaks that cross tramc can turn and pedestrJans and bikers can get across the street. I went a little further than the Jocal engineers though and talked to Robert "olland who is in the traffic con tral division of the federal Highway Administration in Washington. And I ran all of this by him and the fact that maybe there would be another signal. He was concerned about how close it would be to tile signaJ at Hawkins Drive. He said we try to be velY carefuJ about the placement of tralTic sJgnals. Because of they are too close together of it conditlons are not exactly right for signals what you can end up doing is creating a continue line of traffic from one tramc light to the next in which case gridlock. No one gets across the street. Pedestrians. bikers. no cross turning cars. Next point. Will this plan create new or exacerbate existing problems. We are very concerned that it will. And again, there is a big bug up here. [will just flick it off. Well, he is very persistent. Okay. J think I will just I~lint now. Back to business here. Will it exacerbate existing probJems or will it create new ones. And I will lick these off quickJy. Ill-We have real safety concerns. One of the local traffic engineer's concerns I talked to said this stretch of Melrose. between Hawkins Drive and South Grand Ave is not a very safe place noli'. When you add 111'0 more lanes of traffic and you add more cars and everyone I have spoken to said-If J~\ct one man said to me, the man In Washington with the HIA said if you build it they wiII come, meaning the cars. So if we increase the amount. the number of cars on this already sort of marginally . ~1'l.:1 '.',:. "j .':'::-~ ..".,~,,~,~,\'. ,',."f; '" 'j' ",t' , " > :",,\' "~' . :,~:.::,,'I . ., '1 I .~'" '~I' " 'l"" , ..' ,,' . -,' ,,{. "<{,J4,". ".'~" ...... ;:.': '.' -:~'" '~'."'" ~ ',',' ~ :.,:' ....., 1\1 I ,1,\~, " '!':'l lj,~\" ..,- ..' .. 'j . -"< .' . , . . ~ .' ? . ifS page 8 safe strip of Melrose, whal are we lalking abou!. Are we lalking aboul safety concerns. Not just invoJving vehicles but pedestrians and bikers and joggers. This is one of lhe-I believe this is one of the most heavily traversed slretch of streel by pedestrians and bikers in Iowa City. There have been pedestrian counls down so w don't know exactly how many people we have walking along Melrose Ave. If you stand out al Ihe corner of MeJrose Court and Melrose Ave at 8:00 o'clock in Ihe morning, you would reach the conclusion Ihat there is a lot of foollraJTic. I think there is a reaJ safety question about crossing this four lane stree!. And ./eff Da\~dson addressed that poinllast night. He said we Ihink. and these were his terms, we think that we will enhance the ability of pedeslrians 10 cross Ihe street by Ihis bunching affect llml would come with the light. As J have already said. we don't know is this bunching aJTect is IruJy an affec\. And so I think Ihe safety question remains unanswered. There are five day care centers along Melrose Ave. One of them will be along Ihis strip that will be four lanes. The one that is IVlelrose Day Care Center. They have, all of them have children-young children up to the sixlh grade who go fromlhese centers 10 Roosevelt School. They leave 10 go 10 a belore schooJ program at the Cenlers and then they walk to Roosevelt. In the afternoons they walk from Roosevell back 10 Ihese centers Jor after school programs. They waJk unattended, [s there a concern thai we have small children walking along what will be either a four lane or a Ihree lane highway. Anclthen there is a question aboul having more cars on the stretch of road and really J have already addressed tha!. A sl'Cond concern. VehicuJar access from these side roads. I can tell you it is velY diITicult at times of the day, al certain times of Ihe day to get out of t...lelrose Circle where my house happens to be located. I try to imagine what it will be like when I have to cross more Janes of traffic and weave inlo more cars and I think we have. again. a potentially serious probJem. What wlll be the affect on the through streets. especially Melrose COUl'l and Grand Ave. Cour\. I know Ihere arc peopJe here tonight who arc going to talk about that so J will Jet them take care of lh,lt job. And what will be the affect on the neighborhoods, ./eJT J11vidson talked about the specific point last nigh!. He said city planners and city engineers have try to do tOll' things. They try to move traffic and they try to I '---;'II!"'"'- 'Ir"' - - .. ...--- -,. ....,..-~-- -IT ~--- ...-.,-.......,.~ _ ........,.. - "..---- .....,..~~ -..... .""- ':;>. , :;;,: :,',:...., :::~i..'~' '.;r,":, : ,~'Zt \: ,; :":, '::,..'~:,::':,'",:/,,'::" -"'I,I"I~""",'jt"'.'I''''" "',,,, " :J'''J :"\,\..,~,:~:.'~~(.,',\~tl":,, ::!~-:\' . ,t--..... "',;' ." ,::;".' itS page 9 preserve neighborhoods. And he went on to discuss presel\~ng neighborhoods in the conlext of reducing cut through trame. Because what happens when roads get too congested is peopJe decide they don't want to wait in traffic and they cut down side streets and that disrupts small quiet neighborhoods. This is not our problem. MeJrose Ave. doesn't have a lot of cut through- a lot of through streets. We have really two other than South Grand. We have Grand Ave Court and we have Melrose Court. And so when we talk about the alTect on the neighborhood. When our neighborhood does. We come from a very different vantage point. The first point 1 want to make about our neighborhood is it is a real neighborhood. [think people who just drive lvIelrose Ave don't really think of us as CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 93-14 SIDE 1 M. Widness/H's shadow, if you will. But ours is a reai neighborhood. If you don't believe that, all you have to do is drive or walk down any of these cul-de-sacs or Melrose Court and you will see that it looks just like any other neighborhood around town. The hlCt that we do live in the shadow of the Hospital is a problem for us. My neighbors are concerned. There are concerned about this proposal because they are afraid that this widening of the street and this mammoth construction project that is about to go forward represents the first step in the encroachment or the overtakJng of the Hospital into our neighborhood. Now this may not be the case but the perception is there. Somehow this Js a very ominous thing that is about to take place and we are worried about the affect on our neighborhood. There are historic aspects to taJk about in terms of our neighborhood but we will leave that to somebody else. We come to point 113. What are we asking. We are asking for a couple of specific things. First of all we are asking le)r more time and we are asking jc)r more time in the form of a special hearing. Formally requesting. 1 don't know exactly what the protocol is but J hereby declare that I would like to ICll"Jl1ally request a special hearing. Ivlayor Courtney talked about this lasl night meeting two weeks notice. If" this can be done, we would like to have this and we would like this Ic)r, again, a conple of reasons. Firs! of all we have had a lot or trouble .- D~_--Ll..d:..... .d..&~ .ll!1. M ~:1~.__. -. ~ ..,.~.\'I - , \ 'jIl!"'"~ ......... -- - ~...--~. ~- ......... .,....,~..........,---...... ,- .. ~ '""r'-- ... ---.-- :'~"""'<I 1," .>~~..., :...';:;,.~': .o.:~'H;" , ~:::,':". :" i:. ....' ": C. ",,'" ''',:,',\' '..,,:~. ;',,' ......,:. .; -', '(,!,';,:"..,' ", Ir;' ~ \ ., 11~.. ' '\" .'.. .. . .,' ..' ~. ... . J.,' '.\. ' -\)~ " ,~I -'" '~l'" ',' .,....'. , , . liS page 10 getting and making sense of information. To illustrate this point I am going to refer you to Steve Atkin's leiter, the cover letter, which is actually towards the back. It is just the first page and it has a circled #S on it. At the bot tom of his lelter what is highlighted is traffic counts continue to increase. I read this and J was curious as to how much tramc counts had increased. And so I started to do some digging about traffic counts that had been done along Melrose Ave. I initially \Vent to Jeff Davidson and he told me yes, a trarnc count had been done in 1990, and in h1Cl, this was the number they were using to compute this volume capacity ratio that seems to I1gure vel)' prominenlly in this arterial plan. The figure at that time was 10,006 cars in a 24 hour period. But I wanted something to compare it with so I asked about other studies, other traffic counts that had been done. Well, he didn't have any infol1nation. So I wenlto Denny Gannon and asked if he had any traffic count infol1l1ation and he did. He had a traffic count study that was done, in filCt this was the one that Jeff Davidson talked about last night, from August, I believe it's dated August 31 of just last year. Counters were set up in three locations. There was a counter between the bridge and Hawkins Drive. There was a counter between Hawkins Drive and South Grand. There was a counter between South Grand and Byington. And the numbers, I won't rely on my memory, the numbers between the bridge and Hawkins Drive were 11,300 cars, approximately. Between Hawkins ,md South Grand Avenue. 15,500 Cars. And between Grand Avenue and the law school, 7,GOO cars. So I asked him if there would be other counts from these locations, so that I could see how much the traffic had increased by. Well, there hadn't ever been counters put in these locations so I couldn't really look at that. So I went to Jim Brachtel, who is the traffic engineer because somebody said he does tramc counts, so I said. do you have traffic count inJ(lrIl1alion'? Well, he did. He had a traffic count that \Vas done in 1985, and coincidentally, it was done at the same place, approXimately the same place as the one that was done in 1990. And I'll refresh your memory, in J 990, the traffic count was 1O,OOG. Jn 1985. the tramc count was about 11,000. Ancl Mr. Brachtel said on the telephone, these arc not exactly comparable because the one thai was done in 199() was clone by the IX)'!'. The one thai was done in I ()8S was clone by the . 'f1_18t .- 11l~ .LL lluna_J Lild,ll!. ...-...---- ~ -- ".....- -. ..-.........-...-T....,1- .......--r-'.-y - - ._~ -_-,....... .... -...,..- .... .....,.......... '!;./ ,.".......;.:. ','~....~.:',:.~\'~., ~;"I 1./.....,. :. .,' ", " . ,"-,'\::'-, ,,'1,', ';1', , 'I"I";~ 'c. ""' .. ...'{,] .." , " I:, '" , ",' ~l:" {'~ ':'-'~:';m~:""'~'l"~" ":0ji',":, ", ,: ;~: :;" ~ ..,>.,,'_' ",' . .)1 \,," , " " '''' .,," '., '.." " . """"'" !is page II \ City of Ie. So you never knoll' exactly how they're doing them. If they use the same technique. But he said, it appears that the traffic has remained pretty flat over the last five years. I raise this poinl not because I believe, J want to point a finger at Mr. Atkins because I do not. I believe the traffic counts have increased over the Jast five years. But I could find nothing to bear out this comment or my own my own personal belieI'. And that has been often the case in my quest for information. It has been very difficult. And let me just say here, everyone that J have approached for information. Denny Gannon, Rick Fosse, Jell Davidson. Everyone-I practically have camped out at the Civic Center for the last ten days. They have all been velY he]pful. Extremely forth coming and very patient in trying 10 educate me in this extremely complicated matter. So I have nothing but praise for all of the help that they have given me. But I digress. Let me go back here to why we need more time. lI"y second point about needing more time is the nature of the questions that J believe, after the last ten days, need to be asked about this proposal. And they are very technlraJ questions. And here they are. I won't expJain them all. ] don't actually understand the import of some of them. But I believe that these are the questions that need to be asked. First of all, ] mentioned thJs voJume capacity ratio which explains what the mrrent constraint is on a section of road. ]f you do the math and look at the number for Melrose Ave" it is a very bad number. I don't knoll' exactly what it is. His 1.7 or 1.5 or 1.9. H is a very bad number. What it should mean according to all of the tramc engineers that I have spoken with, it shouJdmean that MeJrose J\ ve. has no moving cars. It is so bad that it should be gridJock the entire day. We know that this is not the case. Most of the time on Melrose Ave. traffic is going along pretty well. Except of course Illr the FieldHouse and Melrose Court. But most of the time tralTic flows pretty freely. This makes me question this volume capacity ratio. And I have been calling people and tlying to understand what this means and why we are getting this false read. J\nd If we are getting this Ji\]se read what does this mean when we are doing a proposal geared to future volume capacity ratios. ] have not (lJUnd the answer to this question. J\nother question about this point has to do with one of the numbers going inlo this ratio. And that is Ihe capacity figure. It comes i \ ",:' 'I' ..'::....,' ,,;~,-:-,":'''''';;.': : ',"':' .' "C....,,:.: ' "":-: ,', \"1" 'I-~".IJ" "k: ',." ,',',' ,'" -., ',:'. ./0.::' ,',' ~, ,~j"': .' .:' . ";"'~'~" "" " .'!, ',I ,,:' " "; ,.':;' . ',',\ "~" "leIIII':'}"" ',1,'"\ ""~'I' "'. ",;.' '" ,\ ~.' . , ," '- It5 page] 2 oIT of a sheet that is supplied by the federal government. The number happens 10 be 6.000. My question is-we have a stretch of road that is Jess than a hall' mile long. This number. by the way, is suppose to represent congestion from side streets. 11 is called the side street friction number or some very technical name like that. ] wanted to I1ml out is it possible. We have such a bad strip of Melrose with so many ins and outs that this number is nol a good number J(lr us. That we are not adequately represented there. No one could answer this question that I have spoken to yet. Another question I have is, can we differentiate between the kinds of congestion. It appears to me and I know nothing about engineeling or any of this trank control. Nothing. But I have common sense and I live on Melrose Ave. and It looks to me like there must be-there should be two kinds of congestion Wit]l dilTerent kinds of soJutions for problems. The first kind of congestion J believe comes from having too many cars on too few lanes. This is what happens every time you drive into Chicago. Your four Jane road becomes two lanes, nothing moves. But what abouHs it possible to have congestion that comers from not haVing too many cars and too fell' Janes. But ha\~ng 100 Illany cars going sideways. Too many cars turning. i\nd if that is tile problem, is that is driving the congestion- what does adding two lanes make your situation necessarily better. Is this the same remedy lbr this kind of congestion. J have found no one who can answer that question. Another question I had. Can a road reach its ma,imum capacity by virtue of its access points. Even though we build these two additional lanes and JelT Davidson says we will triple capacity- is it possible that that is not the case because of these ins and outs. I want to I1nd out from an expert what is the impact of this 1,000 car ramp going to have on Melrose i\ve. That was not addressed Jast nigh!. i\nd finally I want to talk to somebody about this trafl1c signal. I think somebody needs to take a second look at putting another signal along this strip of Melrose Ave. These are legitimate questions thai me being asked. We are not tlying to be obstructionists here. I mentioned this HoberlllowJand that J spoke to at the FA!\. I also spoke 10 a HClll Gagarick who is in the Office of Planning tilr the IX)']' ,again in Washington. They both agreed with me as did 111'0 10callralTic engineers. These are good questions. ",:, ..,.." "'~I, "':':~/":' 1Ij' '>:'.', .,.,.... "',::, ; ,'.::...,:' .:':. I' .,;" ,', '~~\": r',:/, -'0,':,,.' ,~,' .' .,'. :.,,',', . "',1"" .. "I " ,.." '.... .~', ':":\\ .., '~. ,\~~1~",:,. .)\:~/. . ,:' , 'I',. ;.. .." {1", ..', ,11 itS page 13 These are valid concerns and this is the appropriate time to raise them. We need an expert and that is why we need more time. We want to get an expert second opinion to look at stufT that is too difficult Jell' us to understand. What we are asking. in addition to more time, we are asking for allernatives. We asked Denny Gannon when we met with him what other traffic st udies, allernate trafTic routes were considered in addition to widening of MeJrose i\ve. And his answer was none, No one has looked at any alternatives to this proposal 10 widen MeJrose Ave and to replace the bridge with a I{JUr lane bridge. I spoke with this RonaJd Gagarick in Washington and I tried to describe in a very fair minded way our situation and asked him what he thought we should do and he said, this is what I would do if J were trying to Ih the congestion problem along the strip you just described. I would put in three lanes, One of them would be a central turning lane. It wouJd be a left turn in both directions. I would leave the bridge at two Janes because of the constraints that you have on each end. ParticuJarJy at the west end. And J would not put in a traffic signal. This would do five things, his plan. It would get turning traffic out of the through tralTic Jane. Which I know is something that city planners and city engineers always want to do. The central Jane wouJd selve as a refuge for cars waiting to enter a lane of traffic. I believe that it would also serve as a refuge, perhaps, for pedestrians who we are trying to get across a four lane, in this case, a three lane road. It would mean that turning traffic would onJy have to cross one Jane so you wouldn't have this problem waiting for two lanes of traffic to clear. It wouJd not seriously increase the bOtlleneck, as I said. Again, he would not think a signal wouJd help and so that would not be part of his proposal. But this-these suggestions- this suggestion really doesn't address the long term problem. Jn order to Jook at the big picture probJem we need to look farther than this plan. I spoke with a Don Mathis who was at the IDOT in Des ~'loines. I explained our situation, asked him what he thought we should do. lIe said, well it depends. What is your master plan say. Whal are Ihe designs j(lr your city, the future. To answer this question J need to refer you in your handout to the very top sheet, item fi6. In item !I(Hl'e come here to-no longer does the identilJcation of a street capacity deficiency carry with it the assumption that the street will be \ ~ - v---- . .. -.---..- --, ~- lil"""" r- >.')" ,,<>, '~I'''';''''~/''':'''' "....1' \,'::,': ":,:,'; >, ';.'.::j <>,'...i', :,;,:~:lj~.:',:',:.~~:I':.:' ~ .~/', '.;I:"",~ ':~,"~'~::':,.' ',' ',~<<~., '- .~, ',,' t\~l, , ,'~.\ I' ,," _ , "" ., .' ,II -.. '. ".~. . " , j I I " .., " .' "" liS page 1-+ widened. I also, I don't need to look there yet. It looks to me like the remedy that the city has for all of the probJems in Iowa City, this statement not withstanding, is to widen the existing streets to lour lanes. If you look what has happened to Dodge Street. If you look at what has been proposed for Kirkwood and what is in the works Jill' MeJrose Ave. and Summit Street. The answer is the same. We will take an existIng street and we will widen it to lour lanes. But is that going to help in the long IeI'm. And to answer that question I will refer you to pages 19 & 21 I this booklet. These did not photocopy well but I have included them anyway. These, again, come Ji'om the arterial plan. The short range lorecast which is the ten plan. The long range forecast which is the 2()' 30 year plan. These are color coded in the actual green book. These are color coded. As the constraints get worse, the color goes Ji'om red to purple. And let me tell you, when you look at these in the arterial plan there artelies are bJeeding all over the page. No pun intended. Anyone who believes widenJng these streets to alle\~ate constraints is the Jong term answer needs to look no further than the back of this book. This is not going to solve our problems. Widening MeJrose Ave. is a bandaid. Admittedly, a very big bandaid and a velY expensive bandaide. But there should be no mistake that this is not going to solve the problems of this projected future growth. We will all be meeting here again in ten years or 15 years to decide what to do about Melrose J\ve. Now, J have to refer you back in here to page &. 119. This point was raised last night and that is why I am going to raise it again. If a policy is established that a corridor is a capacity restricted link-that is street widening will not occur under any circllmstances, then the street plan can J(mllulate projects to alleviate identIfied deJJciency within this policy constrainl. According to .IelT Davidson this is what was done lilr Kirkwood. I believe this is what needs to be done 1'01' I\'[elrose Ave. We can get past Jooking at this hall' mile st rip or land and think about the larger picture which I believe Js where the ansIVer to our probiems lies. Let us very quickly look at the nature of the Melrose Ave. problem. ~'lost or the traffic is local. We have already discllssed that. Most or its slays in t he University which leads us to the conclusion ir you can get most or this-ir you could get all or this hospital, universily, law school complex related ....m h...4.B!!l.ll'IIl!IMt.'JI..M!!I!IIIIm~'11 DlIIL JMJWIl"'1h.-t...~ L 4. ,..,_"_ - - , .....-~~- ",.....--------. ..~....- -, ,.-- ': ,'.:':-',: "::"',j. ..".,:._."".'@,,",,,,:,, :.: ,',,:."....,',,; "-;,:\ , , , -Ill ",' .;;~.I", '1'., :" ,,: ..._, .,': 'I'''' ,,': t~ ';I',," .-t. . ',', ,........ ' :,...... ,', . . ' , . . :J . '., . " ' l' ...' ,~,., . " ,: "\,": :. ':'~, " , ',\' -' ; _ "i:";" " .....,... :'. :~,.:.:. J '. ....>, , liS page 1S \ traffic off of Melrose Ave. west of the bridge, west of University HIs. If you could some how come in by the back door and get this traffic into the complex Ilia another way, the remaining traffic, the through traffic to d.t. should have more than sufficient room on a three Jane street. Arc there plans to do this"! Yes. As a matter of h1Ct, someone is going to speak to this very issue this evening and so I will not go into this but I will say, in order for any really long term successfuJ plan to work, we need to have more than a document like this that really just sets forth what the problems will be. This document, Jelme refer you to the very first page where we taJk about, at the bottom, inter-jurisdictional issues. And at another page, it talks about the need for communities to work together, but we don't see any evidence of this. When you look at what happens in the ten year and thirty year projection, nobody's working together. University Heights is a major problem. What's going to happen in Coralville and the Coralviile Snip, we're going to have major constraints there. These are not the problems of Melrose Avenue or Iowa City or University Heights or Coralville. These probJems are the problems of evel}'one who lives belween 218 and downtown. And unless we can get more cooperation among inlerested panies, I mean real cooperation, a real e!Torlto abandon this notionlhat we'li just take the streets that we've got and jusl widen them, and have a 11sion. Somebody needs to lhink of new roads. We'll put roads where no roads have gone before. That's what we need. And that's what we're asking for here tonight. I'm done. Let me close very brielly. I knoll' I've taken a lot of time and I'm sorry. This is an issue of great concern to me, of great concern to my neighborhood, and of great concern to Iowa City. There should be no mistake lhalthis is a neighborhood concern. The amount of lrallic that's going to come into our neighlxlrhood and the west side of IOIVa City, and the fact that these four lane roads seem 10 be cropping up at every turn, this may change Iowa City as we know it. The worst case scenario for ali of us I'm sure is thaI we will go ahead with a four lane bridge. We'li go ahead with a {elUr lane Melrose Avenue. We will live through this absolutely hellish period, which of course we will live with anyway. 1\IIhe end of Ihis time, we wiil discover, it doesn't work. The congestion has not been albiated, My neighborhood will haw been destroyed inlhe !lnxess. And ......,.-..... ~ .. ,,-.----- - ... ~..-~-.....". .,....,~...--:r-.-.......".... --. ~.-...,. ---...--.-..............---.,..... .'" "." ..,:'",: ..:....::.. ''''~:'':'''~' .I ,',",<:;',..',: ':':--:,', " " I " 4U' ".." , , , ..' ''', ' " . " ' '~, ' ,'" ,,10 . ~ , -,' " '" , J' (. _ " . ., j . " " '.' I I "I' I.., ",,' J ._ :',:,.'~!\"..~:I':~:,1~~.1:::..::~tl.>_" ~""'_:~.:.' ".."",- ',:" .'" ,"'? .:, liS page 16 \ Iowa City will not have the answer to it's problem. I urge you at this poinH invite you personally to come to my neighborhood. I will meet you anytime you suggest. Come at 5:00 o'clock if you can gel through the bottleneck at Wverside. We will walk Melrose Ave. We will look at these access points. We will stand OG the Melrose Ave. bridge. We wi1l try to imagine four lanes of traffic coming into two lanes at 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon. We will go to Melrose Court. We wj]J try to imagine getting across two lanes of traffic 10 go west into the bottleneck at the end of the bridge. We will look at whal happens at the Field House parking 101. I firmJy believe you need to come and see this sit uation up close and personal before you make up your minds. And finally if I could close on a very personaJ note. We are nol here because we are scare that properly values are going to plummet and we are not here because we are a bunch of grousing neighbors who don't want to live next door to a four lane highway. I am here because I love Iowa City. In the four and a half years that I have lived here I have become captivated by this little town. And I believe many of the things that make life here so special. It's ch,U'1lling neighborhoods, its openness, its mid.western spirit and character. I believe all of these things coming under Ihe quality of life rubric. I believe many of these things are in great jeopardy as a result of the plans that were presented last night, both by the city and the hospital. So I urge you to listen to whalmy neighbors and members of the community at large have to say with a very open mind and I also urge you to make this decision as thoughtfully as you make any decision you have ever made. Thank you. Kubby/ Mike, you had requesled that we have a public hearing on this. M. Widnessi I do. Many of us feel that we would like to have a formal. We have meeting. Our neighborhood association has been meeting and we fee] you are going to make this.give the go ahead in three weeks and lilr all of Ihose reasons Ihat I am not going to go over again we would like to be able 10 have more of a public lllJ'lllll than this. Ours is a funny neighborhood. It is a very helerogencuus neighborhood. YOll knoll', there may not be lols of people here but it is nol because we don't have neighbors who carc'. It is because, .lIld r argued this point when I came 10 talk aboul the pJ"l'sel"\',lIion plan, we " - ~--- 'flI!"'"~ ,.....-' -- - ~...-.... --'..,...,.- .- r .,...,----- ...--r-........ .,.- ... ... -.... -- -.......- :>:':'<;:1", :'<.zj:: ",(Ci'.: ' 't"'D:\'; , ,",\"\:: '-:'::,,'~,.':~ ,: ," "t. l' ' I ~', ,,' I, ".,' '131'" . f t "'" ;"'.' f ,.' ." :.~ , L'.\ ),1", .:'.~,;I. 0'.....:.. ,:,:,'.... ; ,t,. " .', ," ,.,'l ".,' " " #5 page Ii \ live in a neighborhood that has day care ceJJ1ers ane! apar1ment buildings and lots of student rentaJ places and A/\ buildings thai are only used during part of the day. So il is very hard for us to mobilize ourselves. But I think a p.h. would provide an opportunily Jell' us to do that. Just that. We arc meeting wilh John StaJy at the hospilaJ next Wednesday. We will be able to get a fuller picture of what this means for our neighborhood. So when we wouJd meet in two weeks I think we wouJd be able to discuss these issues more intelligently. Kubby/ So, that woulclmean if we did a p.h., the next time we meet is the 23rd and we have ten p.h.s and we would have to give notHlcalion. Courtney/ There will be no more p.h.s scheduled for the 23rd of FebrualY. l.arson/ We coule!n't set it for tonight anyway. We would-and have il two weeks from then. Kubby/ And wilh the time frame of lhis project, is it possibJe to stay on our current time frame for the bridge repair Jor tllis construction season if we woule! set a p.h. on 2/23. Courtney / We forgot to mention one that is continued Jor the 23rd in addition to the ones we set tonight is the Mennard's issue and the airport. l.arson/ We can't set il for Ihalnight anyway. We can't set- Gentry/ You don't have any constraints of setting a p.h. because it is not going to be a p.ll. It will be a public discussion. If you want to set it tonight you can do il. Kubby / So, because of the heavy agenda on the 23re!, if we wanted to have a publlc discussion on the J]rstmeeting Jn II/arch-is that a possible. Atkins/ You can have really prelly much any kind of public information disCllssion meeting that you wanl. The schedule that causes us some dilTicully-you will recall, il has been almost a year ago when we <1pplied to the state for the federal/state bridge money. We then buy into their process , andlhatlhe bridge component of the project is tied directly in to stale regulation. We don', even open the bids for the bl':ldge projecl. That is a process that they undertake. We are anticipatJng a June 15th bid Jetting which meant that you would have 10 have bid, plans, spec, form of contracl hearings S(llne time in April. Probably no later than early j\lay. As you push thaI furl her into the summer you lose the summer I I i " \ ;:' ,:,,'t 'I'"',''':';~I'' ,':.'tfI-" ,': :,:,"..., :" " . "......,;, :,::..,'.:') ',~,>;'::<i:I" >"..^t..:....I~ ",:, ."..' :": : ~.~':\ :.', '.. I'.',: I: .J:":,:.., , '. " .1', I J<" 1., '. ' \'" . ''; :, ',~,\..,.\",~~~', ,i~', .1''":'1:''', '. ':."\' ,"," liS page 18 construction season and lI'e cannot accommexlate University Hts., the bridge closure, the football season and all the other kinds of things and you are likely to lose a construction season. That is not all bad. Other than the cost of tlie project is likely to go up through the inllationary l~1Ctor. You really can take what ever time you want to make the decision as long as you understand the risk. Kubby/ The since the hearing and specs is in April-if lI'e announce a public discussion on the 23rd for the first meeting in March, had it then and then at the next informal made a decision. What date docs that bring us 10. Atkins/That wouJd put us past the June letting and remember it depends on what decision you make. [f you dramatically alter- make some unique design question, we go back and have to start over again. Larson/ It isn't a question of whether it will be done in time. It is a question of how much staff research on alternative designs we are going to commit to it. i\lkins/ That is really very much up to you aJI. We can-we will do whatever you want done. We are trying 10 salisl)' that state bid Jelling requirement for Jim. Kubby / What I am sayJng is that Jf we had a public discussion on Tuesday, March 2, and we made a decision on March 15, that still gives us- Larson/ Two months to do the design work. Atkins! But J don't know what you are going to do. If I know right now-if I had some idea what you are going to do, we could begin repairing to accommodate that. But we don't have that idea. Kubby/ Or an alternative is to have council disCllss what are all the possibilities. Maybe we would come up with seven. Maybe lI'e wouJdlc)cus In on two, one of which is one that is aJreacly designed and maybe lI'e have a couple to choose from that I kind of prelly near ready that the six \\'eeks that \\'e have Ihings could get finalized. So il is kind of a- i\lkJns! The only thing that I am concerned about is that J prefer to, a selfish preference, I prefer you making as many decisIons as YOll can during the winter because the same engineers that are busy design in the winter are supervising construction dl1l'ing the summer. And we have a number of other projects underll'ay. f .,,:' "; " ..... \ 1 /1. b..~" "",""'.,;', :.: I" . " .\ . " '41"" HI" "~ ' ..", . .." . . . , , 1 . . , """'. \, . " ,. ',,' '.'1"" ::,~ .~'." :':',tt::"".:'" ",' :',,': ,...,'" :.: ~': . " :V:..<,'.',: ,::,~:~;",- '. L~-;.'.' L L~t';,' " " ".' ,': "I.~ , ,> " !~. !is page 19 \ Gentry! Plus the state wants all of Ihe agreemenls including the railroad, University His. property owners, University GO days prior to the letting. They want a two month lead time. Kubby! Those are Ihings Ihey want whatever choice we choose. We would need Ihose things completed no mat tel' what design option, Atkins/ Yes. Just a whole variety of conslituencies we have to satisl)'. ]n particular if we arc going to pursue state money. Larson/ All she is saying is that if we decided on the lime table we are on now they would have more lime to do those things if we pushed it back a little bit, But I think lI'e can decide II'hat kind of process lI'e are going to have al'1er we have heard from everybody and decide II'hat else we need to do. Atkins/ The point remains that there is no question if you choose to buy more time that could be accommodated. Juslunderstand what the implications arc further out. Larson/ ] have tll'O quick comments for you, Ms. Widness. And I would appreciate very much your presentation. It belied your comment that you have no expertise because you have ob\10usly gained a lot in Ihe last ten days if you didn't have any before then. I parlicularly appreciated your comments about hall' forthcoming and cooperatively the city staff have been. And I just lI'anted to pul into the unspoken context my statement last night about it being ludicrous, laughable, which ever word I used. that our city planners lI'ould not consider neighborhood concerns. Because that is ludicrous. That is II'hat their training is lor. They do consider neighborhood concems. No\\' whether a particular engineer might have as part of his job description on this projeCl the evalualion of neighborhood concerns is not my statement at all. And Denny Gannon might vel}' lI'ellnot have ever considered a neighborhood concern as parI of his function onlhis project. I am just saying that I think you could tell Ii'om .lefT Davidson said and J have tremendous regard lilr Jeff Davidson-you will see him as some very imporlant official in some city very soon I am sure. Even more so then perhaps he is al this level. r am sure Ihal you could telllhal he has a great concem J(1I' neighborhoods. It isn'l his policy decision. Bul f jusl feeJ sensitive sometimes about neighborhood planners because it is easy 10 be negative aboulneighborhood planners. And I am hard ont hem sometimes 100. I\nd your leller tl1<111 read very carefully did ......- ~- ,-- - ."...------- -.--..--~. .......,.- ..., :~::' .",~..'.\ ~,<..,~: ','~' ..." :.:~... ,:': ." ,.-...<'.:..'.,.":.::. ::~.'" , '. "1 . }';,.I"", ". , " .' , " ,', .,',.,.;.,I""I~"" tt/. "; ',. ,,;.. ,',," ,,' " .1~.:.(,~\. '....l,;!J~,:f,..'.,.~,' ....~..\_j ::,',..~.", :':,~"~,, ,.,j !is page 20 \ no, I think, make fun of planners or cast them in a negalive light at all. M. Widness/ No. Never. I wouldn't dream of doing that. I have great respect. Larson/ But I have some that did and my concern was that people not negalively characterize neighborhood pJanners or city planners as not caring about neighborhoods. Because I think they do. Now whether a speciflc stall person might consider neighborhood concerns as part of his function-clearly, sometimes they don't. And secondly, i hope that everyone realizes that we did not ask the University of Jowa Hospitals. Tremendous an entity that they may be and one of my very best friends in the 1V0rld is one of their top ofTiciaJs. Tremendous as they may be, we did not ask them to put a 850- 1,000 car parking ramp exiting onto Melrose. I'l'l. Widness/ You are off the hook Larson/ But aJso and you can be assured that although I said that it is a tremendous thing lor them 10 keep being a tremendous facility it is one third of this county payroll. It is a tremendous thing Jar all the residents of Iowa. We cannot tell them to put it t here and do not exit cars onto Ivlelrose. M. Widness/ We understand that. Larson/ Jf we could do that we wouJd love to do that. But we cannot do that. That would resolve a lot of problems if we could do that. I thought it was curious that they weren't here last night. I hope we can, through your meelings and our meetings, develop a better understanding on their part of what all the impacts might be of the things that they do although J think a lot of times people consider all of these things. They knolV about them and they just aren't as high on their priority categories as on ours. Thank you. Courtney/ I wanted to say-talked about this process thing for a moment too. I think it is imporlant that you understand that IVe give to the staff a charge to bring a recommendation to us of what they think. The planning dep~lrt ment is invoJved in these sorts of decisions and specil'Jcally Jeff 11lvidson to take those concerns to engineering. Engineering, as Randy said, is not necessarily going to I~ll"tor in esthetics although they did on the bridge try to design sClIne extra little features to make it Jook better and so on. Once that decision is broughlto us then it is our job to take input liumlhe parlicular neighborhood and ...... fF - .",-.-- -- - --....~. ......,.,. - ~ ':::",:,. '", ","i:fl"""'~''':'''; .~' :""r.' ,,: .,;- '" '...,.\ J ,.,'./. "'" ~~, '\'- .' ',,:1 ""',:r,. '."t, ,"t :,' I \ ~;..' I') .., 'I' , l '.' "', '. r', . -" -" .~ ' . '~', "'" ' . '.I,:' :,. \ , '," , , ' " .-; I ", , , ' :; " ~ II, \ ,. 'l~'" ~, .1'.'~\ ,Ii:" ':., ' . 1,,,\ ~ . ,." '" :, /15 page 21 \ to decide whether we like their recommendation or not based on what the neighborhoods have to say about it. Large CIP are particu]arly tough because we can go I hrough ] 0, 15 or 20 of these things without having one peep out of a neighborhood. They don't parlicularJy care. It is not something thaI affects them and all of a sudden one comes up like this. The process of the p.h., as I said last night, is very ul1lvieIdy. There is not an oflkial one that comes up until it is really too late. Most of them we can identify ahead of time that there is going to be some issues on them and this is one of them. J tried to fit this thing in. I looked fonvard on our p.h. schedule and J Jooked forward on stall's needs to get the projeclunderway and tried to fit this in and that is why the not so subtle hint was made abut the opportunity that presented itself" tonight for this hearing. I think we should go on and take some other comments and when we get done, if we feel like we haven't received enough information to understand the issues here and that is really at stake is that we understand the issues that the neighborhoods have, If there is some specific questions that you have aJready asked and I am sure Steve has made note of them that we can get answered in the mean time. I, for one, am really reJuctant to take a chance on forcing this thing into another construction schedule. We wiII have three weeks that we can all come over and visit with you bef(lre we make before we make, and I stress, an informal decision on the 22m! because it onJy gives stal1' direction and we certainly can change our mind clear up to the vote after the official p.h. in April. M. Widness/ But Mayor Courtney, if you are reluctant to hold a hearing- Courtney/ ] think we are holding a hearing tonight. ] see the majority of the neighborho(x! here. Lets I1nish taking the input that we have got here tonight and then the council GIn decide that. I,lrson/ And understand that that is a council decision. If four peopJe up here wanl to have a p.h.. we will have a p.h. I think most of you understand this hut all of the Ihings written ahout this at this point have not been written hy city council. There llIay very well be six \fOtl'S up here right now 10 say two ]ane " bridge. three lane highway. I don't have any idea so- ~-..- - ~ -- ".-.----- - . ...-----...........,-....r ~~..~.......~.,_. -. -~-- .. -~..__ ':, . ':-1'/:, ",:,,:i-tl ': ::':'BI-:'" '<'~.....~:.:: :,', ':-,': ..": ,,::..~,' ;.;,', : :,,:'" ~:;', "/, .~, , ~;,", ';: . ",' ' ".'" ~"',", " \~:..' :' ,'1,,',',:, . "':'~\~;":~.~~~,,,,,,'~.I. "'''~'\'. :': ~t ,\,','" ',"",,1 '. 1i5 page 22 \ C01ll1ney/ So f~lr we have a stall recommendation and I don't like hearing that these things are done deals because there are not done lll1ti1 after we get our public input and we consider both sides and make our decision. 1 think Kirkwood proved that out. Jack Widness! I am glad 10 hear thai it is not a done deal. My name is Jack Widness. 1 am the husband o[ this woman so J appreciate the opportunity to speak bef()re you tonight and I hope that you wm listen carefully to what I say. Mayor Courtney can take care or the legal wranklings on the map business las1night. r think we may be able to find him a reII' thousand dollars in whatl am going to propose that he might be able 10 use fbr that. ~'ly comments tonight will be aimed al defining the nature of the !\lelrose Me. traffic problem as 1 see them. In the process or doing so I will comment on the issues that I perceive are important andlry to presenltheml~lirly and evenly handily. rinally I will leave the council with a specific set o[ what I believe are [ar reaching considerations that if aCledupon 1~lvorable could bring our community closer together and will, at the same time, provide a better Jong term solution [or the Melrose/Hospital traffic problems 1han the one that was offered Jastnight. If this plan is adopted I truly believe that we could all end up winning. The city will win, the University wm win, the hospital will win, the Melrose Ave. neighborhood will win and Ihe city of University HIs will win. I perceive very few losers I this. J caution you, however, that acceptance or the plan will take the cooperation o[ all sides. So, please bear with me through the next few minutes as I arrive at what I envision could be a rair and just solution. Tonight I come to Jowa City speaking as a citizcn of Iowa City, aJso a homc owner on Melrose A ve., a parent of three children. a mcmber o[ the University j~ICU]ty, a physician employed at the University or Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. I will slarl out by tclling you that I believe Ihat making Melrose Ave and Melrose Ave bridge into a four lane road will unquestionably have scrious undesirable consequences on our neighborhood, in parlicular, and on Iowa City in general. I assure you thatlhis sentJment Is shared with me not only by my wife but by many or Ihe neighbors in Melrose I\ve. area. From a neighborhood standpoint how can anyone expect us 10 !'eel otherwise. Americans have a love amllr wilh I heir <llIlomobile. Everyone would like to gel speedily rrom ere to there. Few, hOll'ever, _...... ._UIII --..'" . '~'._ _ -~...._~ _AII6..1lLllllllliRMI - .... ..~ , <, ; ,:"~,/l,, '<~I",::-:SI';""''''~:~'';'''' ";":;,<':,-:,:,,::',!':':-,' .,' -:/ .' '~,,";' .', 'j r . . '~." "" ',' , ..' '"\ 1 . . " I ~.l ,..'" ,,', 'I . " , J. . ' .' 1, " ' > ~ \ , . i 1\ ','.) 1.'" ',' ~. " ,". \ ' .. . ," .' ".\,,'1':,> ,.~t, .~. \ ,....... \", . ~ ". .1 !is page 23 wan! a lillII' or six lane road in Iheir front yard. When such a road is placed there neighborhoods usually deteriorate or disintegrate. But enough of this for now. Last night the public was provided with its first solid look at what Ihe Iowa City planners and, unfortunately to a lesser extenl, the University of Iowa planners have in mind for the Melrose Ave. bridge and Ihe Melrose Ave. reconstruction. More importantly though, the city planners provided the city council and Ihe public with some of the reasons lor making Ihe specific recommendations. These reasons, I believe, were rightly locused on the laudable goals of managing future vehicular traffic. By reducing traffic along Il'lelrose Ave and near Ihe hospital I believe all of the citizens of Johnson Counly \ViII benefit and nol just those in the Melrose Ave. neighborhood near the hospital. As Mr. Jeff Davidson, the Ass't City Planner indicated to the city council last night, that assessment of the best way to go about this is somewhal subjective and interpretive. Later tonight others will offer their assessments of the best means to achieve traffic peace of mind yet still maintain an overall high quality of life that /I'like spoke of. After all, many of us moved to Jowa City and continue 10 live in Iowa City because of the high quality of We this vibrant community has olTered us. This line of thought however is nol along Ihe lines of my main points tonight. And I will leave that for others to discuss. In his assessment of the Melrose Ave. reconstruction, Mr. Davidson indicated that there were several reasons for wanting to get on with the construction process as expeditiously as rXJssibly. One is Ihe deteriorating condition of Ihe present Melrose .'\ve. bridge and the other is Ihe need to keep up with potential growth by increasing the capacity of arterial streels of which Melrose .'\ve. happens to be one. The first of I hesl' is more pressing of the two. It appears the bridge has only a fell' years left before it will be condemned. II is uncerlain exactly whatlh,ll time frame is. Evenlhe neighbors In the proximily of the bridge are nol so foolish to which 10 let this problem Jinger any longer. With respecllo Ihe second problem, Ihal of continued growlh, Mr. Davidson predicted thallralTic problems will increase considerably in Ihe years alll'<lC1. This will primarily be to growth in the residenliaJ areas wesl of Iowa City. Specifically he cited Highway 11218. This road will become 1Ill' long a wailed Avenue of Ihe Saints amI will bring morl' tr;llTic inlo \ .. ~ .---..... ~- -IT .,...,.------...~.............- - ~ ~ - ......-' .......--.'- - .- I'.,:>.,' ,", :_' i:-':' '~l"~ 'l';::'~'~l'~'~':"""~" "-~',,,,,-;,'{':',::,.,";.:'<.:(I " '''I:I'''''I~~'''IL!1I, ,.1,. . , ,'" " ~: ',:,',\ ;::'\' ,:1 :',,,;'!~'; ..I'>:~Q':'f:' . <:'~t: .:"'" '~,I< '",.';.:,'.",;" '. .,.:....:? /is page N our city via its exits one of which, as you know, is Melrose Ave. To put our community's growth into perspective, last night we were lokl that Johnson County is the fastest growing county in the slate of Iowa. Jn his presentalion, ~Ir. Davidson went on to sny thai a large part of the increase in tralTic will be due to conlinued growth of the University Hospitals and Clinics. He estimated Ihat over half of the tralTic in this area on Melrose is brought in by the hospital or the medical school. I can only tell you thai as a resident of the neighborhood who walks to the hospital daily on my way to work and observes cars and buses turning into Hmvkins Drive, il appears that Mr. Davidson's estimate is right on the money. This means oj' the 14,000 vehicles thatlvlr. Davidson tells us travels by the hospital each day on Melrose Ave., more than 7,000 have the hospital as their destinntion. Mr. Davidson, along with members oj' the University planners including Mr. Wchard Gibson. it's Director, pr0\1ded us last night with new information about the growth at the hospitaJ which is taking place at tllis very minute. Could I hnve the first slide. It is a lil1le difficult to see but shown in this slide is the hospitaJs model for expansion which is now taking place along jvfelrose i\ve. Let me help you with this. MeJrose Ave. Js located right along here. This is Hawkins Drive. Here is the main part of what now exists as the current hospital. These two buildings, the one on tJlC lell is the new proposed hospital for the Eye Clinic, Family Practice, ENT and J'or as yet unspecJfied purposes. As you can see several oJ'the J1ve pods which are shown here are mulli-liered. It is undecided exactly as to how tall these buildings wilJ be. On the right side is the 1,000 car parking garage that was mentioned earlier. A ] ,000 cars, as wIth my underslanding, is Jarger than any parking Jot presently in Iowa City and certainly larger than the other two or three which exists at the University. I also call 10 your attenlionthe lentative and it is a tentative driveway leading into the new hospital and leading into other roads inside Ihe hospital complex here. This is the present state of the new hospitaJ as of lasl weekend. Shown on the back here is the fence that goes along Melrose Ave. As you can see presently there is a rather large hole in the ground and it extends quite close to what is ~lelrose Ave. Ihere now. Based on the plans and the hospital's continuing appetile for growth, I as a non experl, would anticipate that bolh Ihe tolal and Ihe ,."-- -"'"'!'"----,r"- y-'-" ... ~... -- ---, ~- - v .,....-----. ~ -...... - ... - -.........~--....--- .......-- ':', 't ,:', ;, :',;"'f ." :.,;,,;, "':":" ,:;t3' :'.'":,, '.;, ;;', "., .' ,,::.',' -.: '''::,' :' ". :1 I: ,..:~.t, .lITI"I " ", '., ,'(. . ' ." " I ' , \., I..~\r. J!1" 'j ",' " ,~,. , J :', "'~\'i.',.-~~:',\:'.~" .",' ,." " _,I ".'"., ,',',,';::t i;5 page 25 \ relative numbers oj' people coming to the hospital as employees and as patients will continue to increase in coming yem's. These arc harsh realities surrounding the issues that the city planners told us that we must learn to deaJ with. These are thorny issues. I'hese issues arc diJ'ficult to resolve and these issues will not go away. Mr. Davidson apply told us last night JOII'a City needs to develop long term plans to solve these and other tTafJ'ic probJems. We need solutions that will last J'or the next thirty years and beyond. As I alluded to earlier last night, the city planners recommendations are based somewhat on subjective interpretations on what they believe will be best for all oJ'lowa City. And they are not final answers nor do they solve all oj' the problems. Our city planner solution of upgrading the Melrose bridge to a four lane bridge and making Melrose Ave. into J'our Janes will not solve all of the problems. The bottleneck oj' having Il'leJrose Ave. only two lanes wide as it passes through University Ilts. stilJ remains. But as Mr., Davidson pointed out last night, honing Melrose Ave. I;e J'our Janes on both sides now oj' University Ilts. will place additional stress on their city. No one knows when or how University IIts. neighborhood will J'inally yell uncle and the four lane Melrose Ave. wil! be constructed. JJ' J'or a moment, however, consider the possibility that II'IeJrose Ave. will become J'our lanes as proposed, you don't need a degree in rocket science to realize that the volume oj' traJ'fic would certainly increase dramatically. Once west side residents realize that there is a quicker way to the hospital. to the University and the city, tTamc volume will mushroom. We will have another Burlington Ave. This time in a neighborhood that just a fell' weeks ago city council Jncluded in the historic preservation plan as a neighborhood worthy oj' conseJ'\ution. Although it was difTicult for me to Jmagine this fact not having at least been mentioned last night the city council or by any of the city planners or engineers, I only hope that this was an oversight and this was in fact given serious consideration in their recommendations. This brings me to the University and University ! CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 93-1-1- SIDE 2 ~....- ~ ._- -,,-.-- .... ... .. ,,---"-~--""-r ., -r -........-....-r- --,.~ - .....".. - ... .........-- .~'.'J ':".:,, ,: ::,'\'i.i;.' -:, ;,.:.: ';"lfl'" ,', " ':' .:: . .,': . !. ',"-1" '\.;~ I 'J I, ~/l .. /' ."jo::i:.. " " '. .' , I' ,.., -;. :,":~: ", :J~'~ :.,fJ':;'l : ':" : :', :'::"",:" '"..'.. . . . II,"" . .'~.. }>,~ ,-. I", - ~" ,', '" ','.: #5 page 2(1 \ Hoped J say. that the University and the HospitaJ at this quorum tonight perhaps or at another time in the near future wIll provide our city and community with a clear view of its vision of its long term plans for the future. ~Iy sense Js that the citizenry is worried about encroachment of the University into allneighborhoocls. The man on the street finds himsell' wondering where and when the University will stop. As evidenced by the discussion tonight. what the University decides to do will cJearly have a major impact on our entire community. In my view. to be a good neighbor. one lllust be wIlling to talk opening with other neighbors. What is hoped for is that a common good will result. The University is not exempt from this responsibility nor is the city nor are the neighborhoods. I now would like to make a few additional comments about the University and University Hospitals. Shown in this picture is the cite where the new hospital wIll be which is behind the boards here in the front where the crane is in the back. And the old hospital is oIT in the background. Both and the University of Iowa and the University Hospitals are world renown institutions. To be sure peopJe who work or live near the university orten like to claim that their local institution really is something special and in fact it often may not be the case. With respect to the University of Iowa and the University Hospitals. however. it is my belief that this is absoJutely true. That doctors at the hospital: and the medical school have altracted an incredJble number and amount of outside research grants and prestige. They have earned a great worJd reputation lor excellence. The clinical care that they provide the citizens of the state of Iowa is the very best that the United States has to offer in terms of medical expertise and in a caring altitude. Technology available at University HospitaJs is on the cutling edge inmost l1elds. And finally the hospitaJ administration has been admired and lookeclup to for their physical excellence and inventiveness. In some ways they have become a model that others seek to emulate. The University of Iowa and the University Hospitals are, J believe. first rate. Indeed they are world class. As such, I am hoping that the proposal I will now sketch out. onJy the bare edges of. will be attractive to the University. J say this because what I am suggesting tonight will prepare the hospital for continuing their world class tradition of excellence. So now I will provide \ "~:I> " ~,;: >/"!t:':", ", -- ~ / ):8"" ':', '.'..'" ,:,:, ~:. ,', :,:':<',:< ,', '-1'/' ,,~2lI""~""lt'" " ", ",", ~:. . ',\:' ',I' ~"'" ,) . "," ".,'.',. "" '," "'.' . '. " '\ \~" '1\.~," -) . ...". _'" ,..' ',".\ ., ~ ,I " ./ , . . I.. , "'. '. , . ' , #S page 2i you with I think what should be done in terllls of the plan. To starlwith it is illY view that a new two lane bridge should be built and that Melrose Ave. shouJd become three lanes with one lane designated as a turn lane. Based on what Mr. Davidson told city council last night and based on what members of our neighborhood organization have learned from talking to the DOT offlciaJs in Ces Moines and in Washington, DC., it appears that the city's reconstruction plans for the bridge and the other road construction proposed would be eligible to receive federal support for a two lane bridge and a three lane Illelrose Ave. As Mr. Davidson informed city council last night, however, the primal)' concern of the DOT in determining if federal funding will be forth coming is whether Iowa City can proVide the III with a long term plan which addresses the major issues of tTalTic congestion, safety and other things in a clear, reasonable, Jogical and convincing manner. Hall' do we go about this. ThJs is clearly a big task for all of us. As J indicated at the outset, 1 believe that 111e remainder of my plan has the potential for addressing most if not all of the major issues regarding Melrose Ave. as they exist between the \Vest side of University lIts. and down to Riverside Drive. Although my plan is one that \VouJd start immediately with the construction of a new two Jane bridge and a three lane Melrose Ave., this would be done only after federal funding were secured. It Is a plan that I envision in its entirety evoJving over the next 20 years. Jt Is a pJan which will require us to work together as a team In the spirit of cooperation. The team J envision includes the City of Jowa City, the University of Iowa incJuding the University Hospitals, the Melrose Ave. neighborhood organization, andlhe City of University lJts. J suggest to you that my plan is l~lir in its distribution of responsibility, is cost affective when cost are distributed over many years. and is far sighted for our arterial tralTic plan. lIere is my proposal. Ivly plan is really a two part plan which I refer to as The Melrose ;\\re. North Connector and this is the major portion of the plan that I would have you consider and the second portion J refer to as the South Grand Ave. SoJution. Although neither relies entirely onlhe other, both are complimentary of one another. J like to see this map and J am going to walk you through it to discuss the first part of this plan which is the Melrose AVe. North Connector. This is the major part of what I am about to recommend. l.et me \ ~: :,' ;1 'I',: ..,:~r ',':,ci :.> :,,;'."/<: /' ..~ ',',.. ""': ,,', ,'::'..:.':,:, ::':..:' "" _I ~ ""'I~',j1 ~m ." ,'" .1'1'.." L., .";', ',.:,~:\ ;:'" :,~,'~~''''':''1t.....: :, I""'~'l'" : ',' :' .,~,"';." ',1 "'_,/,, liS page 28 orient you here. Here is Melrose Ave. coming in from the west, the railroad, MeJrose bridge is iocated right here, extending down to South Grand Ave., Grand Ave., and here is Riverside Drive. Coming in from the nortl1 here is Hawkins Drive ofT of Houle 116. University Hts., although it is labeled here in the map, is in fact actually more over in this direction. If you will recall, this is where the rinkbine GoJf Course is. This is where the University owns a great deaJ of property. The solution that I am proposing is to take this large artel}' which is coming in from the west, coming in from #218, coming in from the Avenue of the Saints, coming in from the area where there will be residential building over the next 20 years on the west side of town and right in this two lane divided highway have a north connector up into this direcUon. Let me describe that a little bit further. Again, the golf course is here. There is a gravel driveway that takes you up into here. And ii' any of you have been up here, you know that tl1ere is already a parking lot there. There is a largerinkbine lot which the University has bus service to and which they use extensiveiy. This connects, afler crossing over that RH, with Hawkins Drive. What I am suggesting is that you could take a either four lane highway divided or, if you wanted, potentially a six lane highway coming in and taking trafTic in this direction to where the University owns a great deaJ of property. Where there aJready exists parking hKilities. Where buses are in place. And that these individuals wouJd remove over half of the traffic which is coming down !\lelrose Ave. There is precedent for this. I think in very Jarge organizations. Again, world class operations. Things that come to mind would be some of the entertainment areas. for insti1nce, the Epeat Center. You park in one area and you are buses somewhere else. It worked quite well there. We are not talking nearly about the distances that exist under those circumstances. But it would offer a great opportunity, it seems to me, in a very large parcel of land thaI the University owns. It would not have to be purchased. If you have been up there are no hOllses really on the golf course. Possibly one of two of the holes might be displaced. PossibJy. And the University has even taJked about selling the golf course as a non-prol1table item, I.arson/ Could you take fiB because [am having a heck or time with it an)'way. ..... NIl'I~W'~ "M~ . lllMlll:.d.LUII .~...,..a.\"U -- -~- lUll \ ~- ---- ".....- -. -...-.............-..- ......,., - ......- ',: '", :':.", ,<'71,' ',: tri.' ,~':,j" ': :, ',,< "',,,";:,J~~ '::> :' ,::;' -" '/'1", 'I~" ~71 '-'I~.. " ". " '. ,::,:,,:,,:,\', ,,<:,,;,~',~,.','~~~\~ '. :I~,-.:~.\' \,"'~'. .,;::'," ':' ::',e' ItS page 29 J. Widness/ Where is #18. l.arson/ Get hole 18 out or there if you do this, I have had trouble finishing that course. J. Widness/ You have got beneI' eyes than I do, ~1r. larson. Is it on this end. Well, let me go on to describe what I see as several of the other advantages 0 this. Again, we are moving a very large amount of traffic which by all rights is generated by the University. Seems to me that they would be assuming some or the responsibility for this. As I'ar as building the road in there, who would pay 1'01' that. I think if this became part of the arterial plan it is conceivable to me that we would be eligible for federal funding through the DOT for this. But something would certainly have to be discussed with them and would have to be worked out obviousJy with the University as well. As you can see, what you have done, you have entireiy protected, at least to half of the tramc going through, the University Ills. peopie. It would seem to me that this would be something that they IVould be in favor 01'. You also decrease the traffic right here on Melrose Ave. which Js what the hubbub is about tonight in part. And reduce it to leveJs at least in the foreseeable I'uture are doable with a two lane bridge and a three lane road with one turning lane. Other potentiaJ points and maybe some or the people here may speak to this later tonight. Perhaps Sue Feeney il' she is here. But she has been interested in suggesting the University shouJd take greater advantages of the buses because many of the people park in her neighborhood and get over to the University, So this wouJd provide them with perhaps some evidence-some mass transportation access. Potential problems with this including the payment of this I mentioned. There is also a potentiaJ probJem with the Jm thaI would need to be worked out and that would have to be discussed, J suppose, with the DOT. I am certainJy not an expert. We have had so Jinle time. I haven't looked into that. But Burlington has a HH going across it, too, il' you will recall. Another potential advantage of this is if the University and the Hospitals do build out here they could build as many parking garages as they want out here and, in hut they may want to have an even smaller parking garage relative to Ihe one they arc building there now if Ihey arc thinking for the long term in terms or the I'uture. So, [ think this is a -- WJIll LlJ!>..._ r- ~\.III_~1MUo1 .11[11I_ ......... ..~.,,"".I~ ~ -.." fIl"""~ ........ -- - '........~. "__1_ _~ .,...___ ...__ _ ,_ .... ~_ --, ,. .., - ' -- - - ... "" ...--- .........~- - ....- . ~".- ',:':" 't." ': ,'tri" "c/,", 0'" .'" ',' ,y.".' ,,' ~:;., ,)~, '::i'~':.~~':'~~::~~731':;" ,..::;~"..<, ;", .~., ..>"<:'''~::', ,':~t~ . ' '.'''L''I, ,,;~~.I:' .. ",'" .; ','~..\.j. '" . ~ " ,",J,,' .~. '~'.': , , , liS page 30 sit ualionwhere, as I see it, lhere is moslly winners. \\1110 arc the Josers as I see it. Well, for one thing there is a decr population in this area and I think they will have to move and seek forage eJscwhere if this were to happen. And thcn as Mr. Larson indicatcd maybe some golfers will be unhappy but some others may be very happy about that. Larson/ One of the problems that I have before you get past tillS is that what-you can devJse a Jot of systems that if peopJe will do things the way you like them it will work. What I have a problem with is why will most peopJe going to the University of Iowa HospitaJs turn north and then come back down south. Hawkins Drive. Instead of just zipping in on MeJrose whethcr it is two lane or- J. Widness/ If they work in the city it is not going to help. But, as we heard Jast night, over half of the people go into the University. Larson/ But what I am saying is if it is shorter for them to just go straight clown Melrose instead of taking this cut off that we are going to build here that goes north and tilen back dOl\~l south down Hawkins Drive to the Hospital. I am just saying that if their destination is down Melrose and they want to end up at the Hospital. I am just worded that instead of going north on the new road and then back south on Hawkins Drive that they will just say why should I drive twice as fill". I am going to zip down MeJrose. J. Widness/ The idea would be to get the people to park here. To have transportation that would take you over. Larson/ Not hook up to Hawkins Drive. J. Wid ness/ yes. Larson/ But I mean it would get to that place there where it hooks up to Hawkins Drive and then they wouJdn't drive on Hawkins Drive. Thcy would just park there- J. Widness! E'\actly. Absolutcly. I am not talking about routing automobile traffic. I am talking about primarily having a parking facility. Parking garages, above ground parking. That is what I am appcaling to. And if we have this sort of volume it wouJd scem to mc that Cambuses can run so frequently that it would not be a problcm. Larson/ you would need University Hospitals to, for instance, to tell their paticnts parking is 112re and free buses bring you to the hospital. IXll1't comc to the ramps next to the hospitaJ or whatever. _____ --- __AI -~w- ---_.- ~l~ 'a_J .u II UN a J:lIUll'1%1J1JWlaI4h~___ "~-- ..,.,...~ y-'-- .. ~ ---~.~- -- ,...------~...---- ,- --.-- --. ~- - --, r ...,... ' --- --.. ... --... - --~ - - ~:.":"":,': .,..,' '_'~I(:':::'~;"" ..' "~' :'~'''... ,::" ,~', ' ',: '....'",',. ':.' '.. :": .. ,.,,1,", 111~ j" "" ,',,'" ". , " ,', ,. .:' ,;.';'., ~\ {~l,l.,;,:'~::: ':'~I .7'\~ l'~,;\~:-,. :", :'" /': I,: 'f,'..'. "'. ',',:. #5 page 31 .I. Widness/ The Disney World concept. Yes. E'\actly. Nov/ It is dillicull. What makes this work in Disney World and in lots of other places is there are not three ramps next to the destination. And because there are tree ramps next to the University Hospitals and because this is the way people have learned to behave there will be a ]ot of unJearning required to park a half a mile away and take the bus. Courtney / J think it is going to be fruitless to debate the pros and cons of this issue tonight. Whether it would work and do what you are wanting to do or not. We have got apparently several other people who want to talk and we don't want one family to take up the whoJe night here. So if we could kind of move along here. .I. Widness/ I have one other part to this. So that is the major part and that is going to take most of the traffic away. The other part I call the South Grand Ave. Solution. And what I am proposing here is that Jnstead of bringing traffic down in here to the law school that this corner be rounded here and this be rounded here so that tramc goes in this direction. This accomplishes several things. It creates a safe cul-de-sac area over here for the day cares and for the neighborhood that exists in this direction. Grand Ave, if you have looked at it, is one Jane up here but there is a big divider down the middle. I wouJd think that there wouJd be no problem in making that two lanes here and with the two Janes that exist here so that traffic is shunted jn this direction. In fact, last night, the University suggested that they wanted to have an exit right here. If you are going to have an exit right here, it makes no sense to me to bring the traffic in this direction. It would seem to me that you would want to flow down here as a straight shot. Again, this would take- Kubby/ E'\cuse me, are you saying to not let Byington go through. .I. Widness/ well, I wouJd snub it. I would now the traffic in this direction. Having a three lane road down here makes absolutely no sense with the sort of neighborhood that exists down in here. It seems to me that the University might be in favor of this if they wanted to further f{Jster day care concept with so many day cares down here. This would be an extremely safe area if this were allowed to go through and especially if Byington were blocked 01T. ..d>..<1t!..!IIILJWJl_.~h1....&.L'-_ ~Jt_ L.1!!lIL b<!..dilLtt!l!.l.J...I.LlIflI~lJ-'~-lrJNI~ . 1Jj1A,\IW1~ ..... ~. ,~ - ........--- -. ...~.- .....,.~-'.....-r ~:-- ... :/' .':,:~I ': ,'~-' :,' it'D'::: :",' " ,,' :.'>,' :';' >) '..',,;\ .,'1.:. ,'.'~~:'''I~'l ,1',:.;';27'].., '.:,."',, r,':" "r ,~ '. ",\, :' ""J~~:.. l 'il '.. ."' 3'....; l ,,- I ' .' '..',' ,'\ ',." it5 pagc 32 Nov/ Onc morc commcnt. I assumc you rcalizc that even if seven members of the city council agreed with you you would have to still convince the Univcrsity Hospitals to direct their roads this way. J. Widness/ I think I said that earlier tonight myself. NoVi And to some extent you are talking to the wrong people because many of us here would be happy if the University Hospitals did things differently. J. IVidness/ You should talk to them just as we will talk to them. Neighbors talk to one another. Nov/ We do. We do. We definitely do. J. Wid ness/ Well, I just wanted to present you with some fresh ideas. I think this has a lot to oller for the log term down the road. lf you do this fix on Melrosc Ave., evcn if four lanes go through, it seems to me we are still going to have problems. In this scenario the responsibility is taken by the indMdual-the body that is the hospital and the University who, I believe, is rcsponsibJe for the problem in the first pJace and J think that they should be willing and interested in solving this. Larson/ They aren't, trust me. J. Wid ness/ J am sorry about that. Larson/ r sat down on this council seat five years ago with that very same vain hope of yours. You are cxactly right, they should. We shall see. Courtncy/ Before we go on to another speaker on this particular subject, this is an item on the agenda for topics tJ]at aren't on tonight's agenda and if there is anyone else that has another topic that they wantcd to addrcss thai would be a short one and they don't want to sit here for a long time, I urge you to come forward now on t he other topic before \\'c bring anyonc else up. Sometimes we have people liJrlll the Senior Center that are here that \\'ant to make short presentations. Any olher people want another item on here. JohnlvlorJssey/ I live at 505 West mans Drive. J am here to talk about the no parking restrictions now in place at the Capital Street parking ramp. I am not goJng to read this letter. I am just going 10 touch the high points. I have lilliI' reasons to ask you 10 change this policy. Brst of all it Js unf~lir. You have supplanted the doctrine of first come lJrsl serve with one of special pleading. The eLl. merchants say we need to have convenient parking and you have said fine we will do it. The \ - _ r......~'~ ';'.'::")I""""~I' ::":~-""""tm:""~' ,';"':".':' .:' ":, _'." ',:(,.~i, ".' :..~ ':, . -' ',.' I :',.' :,: J '.... ,': ,.' ";', ~:',::' l ,1,. -:I'!",' '. It '." I " ' . l' \ ", " ~ -,."...~l ," ,"," -~,~'~, ' .'1'.'" ';"",\1' '. ,:,' ,'. ~;' \, ,,~..,,:, '..: #5 page 33 public perceil'es Ihis as unfair. In lalking 10 jUsl ordinal}' [olks, telling them what is going on eLt., they can't beJievc it. They say you must be wrong John. You got that wrong. I thought so too. You have aJso failed to properly notilY people that use the ramp about your rule. And that is evidenced by the thousands of violations that have been wrinen since August. I can't believe that you have got thousands of violations but the parking superintendent assures me that that is the case. What about the signs you ask. Why don't people heed the signs. I think it is because peopJe don't expect to find large areas o[ reserved parking in a public parking ramp. It is contrar)' to people's experience in parking ramps. Especially if you don't reselve those spaces with a physical barder or a sign in evel)' spot. So proper notilJcation should be made by putting a sign in every spot that is reserved subject to the reservation until 10 AM. That seems to be not an unreasonable request to make that is going to cost you $5300. Not very much money. Further the ramp should have a physical barrier between short term and long term parking areas and a pricing policy that differentiates between those areas. It is silly to me that it costs the same to park a car there all day as it does to park there [or two hours. The same hourly rate. It doesn't make any sense to me. If you are trying to make parking more convenient then people who need convenient parking should pay more. It seems to me that is self evident. The way to do that, it seems to me, is inslall an automatic gate on the upper level that would separate the two areas and then you put in place a parking policy that does that. The gate costs about $5.000. Again. not vel)' much money. The d.t. merchants should pay for the improved signage and the gate because they are getting the benefit of convenient parking. I c1on't think it is unreasonable to ask for that. To my knowledge they have never been asked. Let alone ojTerecl. Second reason is your policy is economically unsound. It relies on police enforcement to make it work. Not pricing incentives. What you have said is that you can't park on the first three levels until 10 AM and if you do we are going to give you a ticket. Jf you do park there, John, it is going to cost you a dollar per hour. ~Iy preference is [or a pricing incentive. If it cosls me eight dollars to park my car there all day long I probably wouldn't do it very often. Further this policy attempts to manage demand not by \ ~','","::',":':~I',',,;;~...':, :"-";';"1" .....' ,,,,,' :,,:,":" ,':-',j. , './,1 ,..~. .l,.I.,. 1" '., .... . oj, I, lZ)"P'tl I~'" ,~, .,,1""" ,'" '. " ,l\' . . " }, \ ''''1 ' " r .' '. I I' . , ' . ~. '\ I 1\ r " 'i. ~ " . ~ I, 'i, ' 'I' ,,', . . ,. . , . I. . ~, . iiS page 34 increasing price or increasing the supply of parking but by reducing the supply of parking during the early morning hours. And for the life of me I just can't get my hands around that idea. On the economic argument your policy has ripped a reai big hoJe in your parking revenue pocket for the Capital Street ramp. According to the parking superintendent projected shortfall for the current 11' as a result of thJs policy is going to be $44,000. But the d.t. merchants who put you up to this thing, who said this is a great idea, we ought to have it, they are not shouldering this risk. The city has unwiseJy taken this risk upon itseJL Again, J don't see it but J guess I am stupid or something. lf this policy continues, you should insist that the d.t. merchants shoulder this financial responsibility. I just can't imagine that you would allow someone to railroad you into an idea that costs you money ,md then not require them to kick into the pot to make yourself whole again. Not only that but they have got a pot of money available. It is called the Park and Shop Program. They have got $100,000 or more that they spend in a years lime on Park and Shop. Now is they had to kick in $44,000 that means that Park and Shop is going to be changed a little bit but the fact of the matter is is that they have got money to spend. You shouJd get your hands on some of it. A third reason is the parking restriction doesn't solve the underlying parking problem. Downtown redeve]c,j)ment has succeeded but pm'king demand has increased as well. It is going to be difficult to expand parking capacity d,t. You knoll' that. I knoll' that. The d.t. merchants knoll' that. So the d.1. interests really ought to be working diligently to get employees, shoppers and customers, and University personnel for thatmatler. Use other ways to get d.t. Don't drive your car (U. and leave it there for 8 hours because you are hogging parking spaces that we need for other purposes. That message ought to go out Joudly ancl cIearJy and often to evelybody who has an interest d.t. To my knowledge, again. that has not been clone. It is not unreasonabJe to ask that be done. Finally the urgency of the parking problem is past. In asking for a temporary solulionlast April a .I.C. Penney executive noted that parking was especially a probJem during the last quarter of the year. October, November, December. We are past that prime shopping period. In my view your policy was an experiment , I "..-'-- _ ~ ....-.....-..~_........ ~.~.T.r..,...--....- ,-_ - -...,.- ..-- ~.'.<,.".' ,<~";"..! .:~- :::'>;'tI''''';'':':''::';>': ~'<."~:>~,..:: .'." -', ,,1,1 "I~" ".\ '., 'I ",,,,... ." ,.' , )' ,,'. :: <:\, :-':.", J~ ~ :.'/' , . I~\ r 'l-. > :~' ~~ ',':. ',; ,":, "\" I . ~ .':. ':, ' . : .: ,', If::' page 35 that yielded Hawed results. Jt shouJd be withdrawn. JF the problem presents itselF again the entire idea of balancing public parking needs vs. those of the shopping public should be revisited and a new approach should be undertaken. Thank you. Courtney! John. I will respond to a couple of the things. This has been an experimental program that was put in and it was stated From the very beginning that it was experimentaJ and that it is being monitored on a monthly basis. Some of the revenues that you speak of, there has, in fact, been a decline in that ramp and we all ac knowledge that and are getting updates on that monthly. But some of those revenues have in hlCt shifted to the other ramp. The total parking revenues are up since the policy was in. It happen to coincide with a raise in the parking rates at the same time. As I say, this way done as an experimentaJ basis. It is not yet to become permanent. We are monitozing it. That ramp was constmcted as pal1 of urban renewaJ to go along with the shopping and it had become a parking place For University students and/or staff to park all day long and was taking away from the originaJ intent of the ramp and that was for the d.t merchants and the shoppers. It was not built by the University to take care of their students and staff. It was built by the city and that is why the council has, the majority on the council has decided to go along with this experiment and we haven't-we've discussed it twice since it went into alTect and reafnrmed it so hlr and it will be discussed on a frequent basis from here on out When we gel the one done across the street that may an impact on it. That- Larson! One of the things we are waiting on is the last time we discussed it the D.T. Association said that, and the Old Capital Merchants, said that they weren't quite yet ready to react in terms of what they thought of it, I1nally. They had some earJy conceptions about it but Ihey wanted a little bit more lime beFore they evaluate its afFect. 1 was one of the backers of it earJy because we were having a problem with it being 11 lIed up early beFore any, not only shoppers, but any d.t. people could get into it. Being I1lled up by i:30 or 8:00. NOI filled up but essentially I1lled by people that were having maybe a smaller impact on d.t. than what later people might. In terms of people thalmaybe they will walk through the llIall and buy a Few things bul we thought that in order not 10 endanger d.t.'s I ~_. - - ,,-.- ----.. ...-.....--... ........1- ......-r--, ..... - ~ . - r- -- "1- -.- ~T- ..-- ~;' .,1:..... ":;.~~w-I':-.~'-~.,-..'..~9. ":, '~'" : ::.:." "",",:,'<,,"I"~"::'':'\ " ~I " ,..'~... \ " ~ , ,,:, ' .: . j 'd , . " ' .- ,.'",....,./." I~,"~ ',' ',;' "', : '.',: ' "'...'.~:\:...". ..".~:....,~\ ~,' " ;"..~ i_,' , '~"', ,,' '~",' ",'J 1/5 page 36 viability, more availabJe parking needed 10 be provided and this was thought to be an expelimentto tl}' to do that. You make a lot of good points. I would disagree with your conclusion that it is not working at all. I think it is havJng some good impacts. Whether the bad impacts are outweighing the good ones J am still very much up in the air about. If I had to vote today I would probably vote to take it hack ofT. But J do think it is fair to look at it for awhile and get reactions from other people just like yourself. Courtney! One other point that you made. The Pmk ,md Shop money comes directly out of the pockets of the merchants., It is not a pot of money sitting there. The merchants take and are bjJIed evel}' month for those tickets that they stamp. It comes directly from their profits. Larson/ But we couJd modify that. Kubby / It is an interesting observation that why most people that are here tonight are car related issues. We are in such a private vehicle culture. I wanlto encourage people to do anything but drive a private vehicle. Add another person to your GU'. Use our public tnmsportation system which is quite good in 10ll'a City even though it runs hourly except on peak times. And to walk and ride your bikes and to encourage the City to institute policies to help it be a friendly town to walk and bike and to use mass transit. We would be dealing with these issues in a totally different way Jf it weren't such a car culture. Courtney/ I c1on't think we can give you any satisfaction tonight but to tell you that we are continuing to monitor it and as with this it is not a done deal. It can be changed at any given time. The signs can be yanked down and done over. But- J. jvIorissey/ If J might make one more observatJon. I would add to your praise of city staIT. I have made a pest of myself the past week and they all have been very forthcoming and vel}' candid and vel}' helpfui and J appreciate that. But there is a lot of confusion between what the staff thinks the probJem is and what the d.t. interests thinks the problem is. jvlr. FowJer, your Parking Superintendenl, says lI'e change the configuration over there to get the long term parkers to move upstairs. Ill' didn't knoll' anything about trying to scare the students out of there. l.arson/ it is not necessarily to move them out of there. it is to move them lip. "......-..........~ ...-. -- - r .-_-~.~_ r-r ~_____.~...........,._ -... ...-.,.._-- .......-.-........ _.-- ....- ~ ;:~, ,,~., ',".: ..~.., :,:' -,:_' _' I, ~ " . - I,: " ..,-':.' ',; " '. \ . ~~ " ,/,.. ''''w'' t" .. '.'1.' ,',,' " 'I' ,- ." I' "" ,"." '~:"~i ':~~.' .;.I'l.:;~.,. ':::\~" ,.,', :;;.':\"::\ :-.:.'.'.', <"'-"I"""~'" <,> itS page 37 \ Courtney/ So that they get away from the stores. Morissey/ But his impression is the long term pal'kers are not students. Larson/ There is a little bit of both. There is an awful lot of permit- ~'Iorissey / What I am telling you is that they isn't mlY consensus here about who the problem is. Let along how to fix it. Larson/ I think council and Joe Fowler agree on what the probJems are from what our conversations wit h him have been. But we may have to check with him again. Kubb)' / What the stats show is that when the dO\\11stairs is full the upper levels have spaces but peopJe don't think that there are spaces. Courtne)' / I should be a little more I~\ir to the students, too, because there \Vas one other group of people that was creating the problem. That \Vas the employees in the stores that would come in and park right outside the doors and go to work and take up the spaces and \Ve forced them upstairs. umon/ There was never a probJem with the ramp being full. It is only full on very rare occasions. There was a probJem of the casual shopper deciding do I drive up lour Jevels to get a spot or do I go to some other shopping center. Morissey / The purpose of m)' observation here is that since there isn't any consensus about who is causing the problem or how to fix it, there aJso doesn't seem to be any great move to do anything about this policy. I came do\Vn here tonight because I think this policy is wrong and it needs to be withdrmvn immediately. Now whether you see it that way or not I guess is really my problem. E'\cept that I wouJd like some assurance that we are going to look at it at some period soon because I am hearing from people that yeah, we will get around to it. Kubby/ When is our next monthly lime to look at that. We have been trying on a monthly basis. Atkins/ I suspect the latter part of March. The second meeting- Kubby / So, I know that this will be heipfulto us when we redo that choice again. It wilJ be helpful to me. Thank you for bringing this. Karr/ Could we have a motion to accept Mr. Morissey's letter. Courtney/Moved and seconded (Iarson/Kubby) to accept the correspondence. I\n)' discussion. All in hlvor (ayes). Okay. , , \ /~::":<',":",;,:;:!J'~;';';'~/":' ";'1" :,',,:'. "''\:::;'';','<:\:.>:,:' ~;','/~'{,.:',:,:::}Q<".:"J,:"" ',: ':,~.... " ..:~ : ,;>' "" ,,";', itS page 38 Nov.' Marian, do you need a motion to accepl correspondence Ihat lI'e have received. l\alT/ I was going to wait until lI'e got il all and then do it at once. Yes. Courtney/ If there is no one else \~ith any other ilems not related to MeJrose, let's proceed. Okay, Do we have any other discussion on public discussion. I\ubby/ While the next speaker is coming up, will people raise their h,Uld. This is my personal survey, not scientific of course. How many people drove here with more than one person in their car. How many peopJe walked or biked. Thank you.... Chuck Barrows/l \\ill be brieI'. I live at 12S Grand AVe. Court. The street which lies between Byington ,md South Grand. Often used as an alternative route 10 access MeJrose Ave., Grand Ave. Court is a narrow 17 feet wide roadway without curbs, gutters, or sidewalks. Used by famlty, staff and students between the West campus, University Hospitals and Clinics and the Law School, for both vehicles and pedestlians at the same time. Often made eVen more hazardous with the unJoading of vehicles to service University olTices. In the opinion of myself, of my neighbors, Leola Bergman and Don & JoAnne McClosky, the present proposal for improvements and or replacemel1ls of the existing conditions on Melrose AVe. will only make malleI'S worse regarding the existing conditions on Grand AVe. Court. As with many other of our neighbors here tonight We question the integrity of those who profess to giving consideration to neighborhood input. We feel the Melrose neighborhood has not been given adequate time to access inpul concerning this proposal. And our past experience with Ihe University in particular demonstrates this. Although the University owns 10 of the 13 properties on Grand Ave. Court, those three of us in the minorily are, indeed, a neighborhood. And We have tried to fulfill our responsibilities as properly owners while the University has not altended to it's own. And the City seems to have turned it's head Ihe other way. Courlney/ Can you elaborate on that a lillJe bit. Barrows/ Yes. (Can't hear) These pholographs lXJrlray existing safely hazards as well as extensive overall delerioration. Moreover il is not right to let propertil's deteriorate iulieu of lillure and uncertain plans. Let along to widen Melrose from South Grand to Byington. I ......- ~ - ........- -- .---......-- ~~- ....r "'\-'" - - '''-r-- ._-,.~ -. ......... - ..- .,.......___- , ~','; '::1"/' " , ";ffl.,;;.',.::,',t~/:' :>~;:'," '''', '>'b": ,'. ~,':,:::...,:~~,,:. , . " ., "', ~ . , , i, )'l.', :"',1 ,'.',- '.[*'00"'" "" '. ,': ., ":',,:.,\.~:;\' ~;,::"",,~,~.j', ',"~:: '~?~\ ,,' ). ", '",1,..' ,_' ".,' #S page 39 \ give as an example the] 991 Campus Planning FrameIVork Summary. Right here. I don't know holV many of you have seen this. The Campus Planning FrameIVork Summary states and I quote concerning this summary. This is a five year projection and plan by the University FrameIVork Committee. Quote, "A pedestrian oriented campus Gill be promoted by minimizing the intrusion of vehicles into the campus and keeping general vehicular circuJation and parking to the campus periphel}'. Hecognizing that emergency and sel'\~ce vehicles and access for the disabled must be provided." One thing this Campus Planning FrameIVork Summary sholVs and this IVas put out in March of 1991 is yet another parking ramp on jl'IeJrose Ave. IVhich no one has mentioned. That parking nunp IVouJd replace four deteriorating houses on Grand Ave. Court being located right across from the west, the IVest side of Gnmd Ave. Court from Don and JoAnne jl'IcCJosky's house where the existing parking lot for Slater Hall is now. J just wanted to bring that little dctallup. It is obvious to us <UJd maybe I should have eliminated this, not at all that ludicrous, but the main interest in this proposal gives credence to federal money over neighborhood integrity. And if not, the least IVe ask of the city councll is to delay the process to give the Melrose neighborhood and the entire community a chance for adequate input. We filJ that whatever happens concerning this proposal it is far more important to invest time and foresight rather than hindsight. Thank you. Atkins/ May ask a question. Arc you suggesting that you IVant the city, Mr. BalTolVs, to undertake some inspection of some of these properties. Barrows/ It is unclear to me, being one of the three property oIVners here, whether I livc on campus or olT campus. Atkins/] just wanted to.it becomes unclear to me IVith some frequency too so don't feel bad about it. I think it is important for you and other folks to know that I don't think that there is any douht that if we have the authority we would move to correct and we would correct tJJese sorts of situations. I keep a letter on my desk. f don't mean this to be melodramatic to councll. But f wouJd like to just read a paragraph Ji'om it to kind of give you-this is a letter that I directed concerning BBT enabling ordinance and f am just going to paraphrase. Let me make it clear, hOIVever, like other city ordinances, they do not \ y-' -- ,.. r ..---~.~- ....~ ~"'----"'-r- -- ,- ...... .....T- ..,.....- 11.;,'\" ;'" ""1'-":".' ~.,,':, "B"""~ ,," "". \ ,<',;'. :'.~ ~ , ,"'1 ". , ,Jill". " ' l"/, , : , " "', " ~~'~:" ,~'~~~ ~l~', )4>.r; ~..t~:' ,'.\".,.'~-:;.~> .:~ ' :,>.-/;< ,:.,J" .'~'<: ',~:) #5 page..W apply to the activities undertaken by the University. Neither the City of Jowa City or any municipaJ corporation in Iowa is empowered to exercise lx)wer over an agency of the state. The State Board of Regents, the state agency exercise plenary authority over the University of Iowa. Any attempt of exercise of authority by the City of Iowa City would be inconsistent with state law and not pel1llitted by the statutes governing the conduct of municipal corporations. 1 keep that handy because every lime we have to do something with the University I get reminded of that letter. I share with you the frustrations because we get these kinds of compJaints, too, on University property. B<lITOWS/ Thank you. larson! I didn't understand your sentence about integrity, again. Could you repeat that and tell me who you are speaking about. Barrows/ Well, I don't really need to look at this text to answer that question. I think Mike pointed out that when we asked what kind of neighborhood input was put into this proposal the answer was nil. larson/ When you asked one individual. I just want to find out if it is your belief t hat our city planners do not consider neighborhood concerns in tlleJr deliberations. Barrows/ That is not my belief. J.arson/ Okay. Thank you. 1 just understand the sentence. I don't mean to take offense of it but J don't have any trouble defending my position that city planners do take neighborhood consideratlons into their factoring. As I said last night. maybe not on the same priority scaJe as I or anyone else might. Barrows/ And J understand that I wouldn't be standing here. Larson/ Thank you. I didn't understand the sentence. J am sure it was phrased well. I just didn't know exactly what you were referring to and J wanted to. Thank you very much. BmTOws/ Thank you. Joyce Barrett.! J am speaking as a private individual on short notice. Not as a member of the Preservation Commission tonight. And as you consider the things that you have heard tonight I wanted everyone to remember when you go out and visit the site thai not only is it a neighborhood, it is a historic neighborhood. Not only is it a historic neighborhood, there is some architectural gems, some beautiful buildings and you just need to give a little bit more special considel,ltion when you I I I . .....- fIl'- -- ..,.....-- -.. "~T ....,1----...-~, -y - - ."r- ~--,- ,.. ...."..- .........,.. f.", ,:.:"" ""i;;."",'."":"',':',.9J",. ",' ',,:,::- '0 ",:\ " . I ".' lzj 'I.", , .' . ' ,'"',,, ... j ':' ::> ,,';",:',~4f"'~ ',I~/:"';"..,:,<' :' '::':<"-:"';'-:''':.,:,;,-, liS page 41 \ look at those becausc you can't get thcm back if we lose them and we want them forcvcr. Thank you JoAnne McCloskcy'! J livc at 320 ~Iclrose Ave. And to put what I hopc will be brief commcnts in contcxt J need to tcll you, first, a lilllc bilmore aboutmyselL I am a nurse. J am on thc f~1CUJty at the University. I have an adjunct administrative appointment at University Hospital ane! wc have lived at our present location for 12 ycars and we havc raised our chlldren here and think, as has been indicated previously, that this city is a wonderful place to livc. And J make those comments because I want you to know that although J appear here tonight as one of the ncighborhood pcopJe who oppose the four Janes on !vleJrose J also feel very much a part of each f these other constituencies here and I would like to see us work towards a IVinwin solution and I, too, think that there is a possibllity to do that. Now I teach a management course to nurses at the University. And what I would like to do, vel}' brieJly, is to take three concepts from that course and to relate them to that situation. And I know that may seem like an odd tact but I think it is a slightly different approach and does have some reJevance. The first concept or idea is one that J am assure that mallY people in this room havc heard of, may have some passing knowJedge of and that is continuous quality improvement or CCLI and as many of us know, the genius behind that is W. Edwards Dcmming. Now what this idea is, very brielly, is that indi\~duals are not at J~llIlt for poor results. It is the process. That is the problem. A second piece of the concept of C(21 is that we I 1 ! CHANGE TAPE TO REEL 93-15 SIDE I specific problcms. The application as I see it of this concept to this situation is that current good management theory tells us that a one time fix to an cXisting problem does not work. That what is needed is a good process put in place to monitor and continuously improve the situation over thc long term. The city council talks about long term solutions but the quick fix of four lancs will not fix the long term problem of tmffic lIow around University Hospitals. j\ sl~:ond concept. And that is that market and indust I}' structures are brink. Now the person who writes a lot about this is also a rathcr well known ~--. ~- - ..,,-'~. ....., - ~...-.....~, ~- ........ "T""-----...".....,.... -......... ,.- - ....~--....-.-.........--....---- f \', \ . t. ,0. ('" " '. ",.' '.. , ' /. " "f'" \ , .... I", ~. "_'" ',' _ \ '. " 'I' ." "';~" ."t ,:' ',' '~',' , .. '.,' .:', .,.' " ,'" '. " '~/" . . ,~ '.', , . '. I "" \' . " ..... . \, .'" '. "), <C : ;".i~", ~,' ,:'~_:..'.':", ' :,' ,..': ",,', "';:' ::, liS page-+2 management name, Peter Trucker. This idea, however, may not be as well known to peopJe. The idea is that major societal structures onen Jast for many many years and may seem very stable to us. But in !;lCl they are very brittle and can fall apart 'lt any time. And the examples of this happening recently, that we can all think or, perhaps Scars or least Scars Catalogue, IBM and the VoJksll'agen Beetle. What ever happen to that. /lere today or here yesterday and gone today. Noll' the application of this management idea is that the structures that I am talking aboul. That we are talking about tonight. Are the hospital and it's parent organization, the University. Which seems, especially has seemed to us over the past couple of weeks, as all powerful and extremely stable. In 1;1(1, good management theory reminds us that these arc very brittle structures. And they are brittle by the vel)' size and by their dependency upon the good will of the communily in which they are in. Noll', as a member of the University and the communily of Jowa City, and it has been indicated here by those of you who have spoken, we cannot afford struct ures to fall apart. It is very important that we have a world class university and a world class hospital. But I do not believe that proposals that create a bad public image and do little to solve currenl congestion problems arc in the best interests of these structures. J worry. and I really do, that too many of these mistakes make topple CoIlolon's Tower. Noll' the third concept is primal)' health care and you may say what is that doing here. All over the U.S. and, in facl, the 1I'0rJd and this is not an exaggeration, we are moving away from an illness focused hospital based model of health care toward a primary he,llth care quality of life model. We are moving slower than some of us would like but we are del1niteJy moving. Noll' in this model, this prinl<lI)' health care quality of life model, the community is emlxllI'ered. That is what happens in order to do thaI. You empower the communily. The application in this situation is that the focus on how to move tramc ou jvleJrose AVe. so that more patients can use University lIospilal is, it seems to me, an outdated illness model of health care. We need a prJmaJ}' health care m(xlel of neighborho(xl planning anclthis involves community empolVerment. doll' can the llospital, the University, the neighborho(xl, anclthe City work logether in an ongoing long term relationship to improvl' the (jualily of life for all of us. - -~~-_...... ,.......- 'JII"'- ~-_~........ 4i"lIIlflf;\lUJ,tjMJ~;L""'~ \ "ll'e,'b '''~':''.;';'':~ ':.>~'3~_ ,'\\.' .;, .:",:. :.~',.:I.".,,'::,~:,,\ ,. "'11", ,,121 ,J,..""" Il:.;\ .' " '" , : ~},.'::.l~r\':J:'-'~"~~~,:.,<.t4",".':..I:l< -:""""": :'~ ",:. \;. ':."..:" ItS page-l3 Noll' what the neighborhood is asking for, [think, is very consistent with your goals of long range planning. You may think that what I am talking aboul here is too abstract and you may say well, your job is very dillicult and J agree, it is very difficult. And what you are about is doing things like dcsignating strcets as arterial and building safe bridges and roads and so on and of course, YOII are about that. last night wc heard about how thc city is using advanced technology for map making. And we all agree that when new technoJogy comes in wc should bc up to date and use it. Wc need to be on the same cutting edge in neighborhood pJanning. The cutting edge is represcnted here, not by a new computer, but by, if you will, a paradigm shift in the improvements-in how improvements get made. And what J mean by a paradigm shift is a new way to do community pJanning. The experience with Kirkwood and with us indicatcs that a process of continuous improvement which empowers neighborhoods to be involved in their own solutions is esscntial in this rapidJy changing world and in this rapidly changing city. Thank you. Mary Hallreno/l have a very brief statcment. As a resident at 410 Melrose Court. My name is Mary Hallreno and as a member of the ParentaJ Board on the PCC University MnIiated Day Care, I am concerned as a parent as well as a member of this board about what four lanes of tramc will do to my childrcn and thc olher childrcn attending thc day care. I am concerned about marc cars in circulation, morc noisc, marc cxhaust, highcr spccds and just pJain trame. And so my conccrns are for health and safcty of childrcn. I walk my children to the day carc in the morning or at noon in the afternoons and Jam concern cd about thcir safety with cxtra tramc on Ihc road and I am concerned about the safety of more than I SO childrcn that arrivc and depart every day by car, by bus, and by Joot. Thank you. Ambr/llike your definit ion of brevily. Thank you. Nicolas Johnson/ J don't define brcvity thc same \Vay butlhc way I do define It I will try to live within it as a concession to both thc Jatcncss of thc hour and the shortness of Jife. I recall watching a television discussion between some members of Congress and the media and t he media were explaining how il was the members of the Congress that had fallen to such depths. And the Congressmen were explaining how it \Vas the ". \ ~ - ...-.-- - ..-_~'~_....n-, -~"-r- r --,,. ... ----r - ,- ---. ...-~-...........-.......--~ ~',:: ':'~"'I:' ':"miw",:, :'~7/"'" ", -,", : . ','. :,: ,.:'. > ::, ';, . ,:' >./, . "r I, " ,.1. -' . ',' ',' " r ,.- .~_>",<\,:"",;'_I:,~~~;::,:",..,." "';,:..\.':~. ,":,'t:,' .'I~: ".-".' ":'.',"~,: liS page 44 medhl1hal had really causedrhe problem. Alwhich poinl one of the Congressman confided. I Ie said, let me tell. Ill' said, the constituents are so terrific either. I understand some of the problems that you confront having spent six years in this room holding meet ings. It is like what if we had a war and nobody came. What if we held a BBT Commission and nobody came. ] knoll' what Steve Atkins is talking about with the University and the cable system because J was here when thaI was going on. So, I knoll' it is not easy. But I think that JoAnna has made a velY important poinl. That there are different ways of going about this planning process. Are you a Jawyer, Mike. I have never before recommended the granting of a jurist doctorate on the basis of one presentation but J must say I think that-J learned a lot. I was very impressed. I would have liked my students to have been here to see something like that. I think the idea that Jack came up with '\'<IS good. The point is that this is an extraordinalY community and you all knoll' that. You are out there. You are better informed than I am. We have got a lot of resources in this community and my sense lI'as-that is why I apologize about the constituents. It may velY well be that you all sent me lellers, came knocked on my door, left me messages and I never responded. I know we had voters for city council, for bond issues, for school board, 7, 10, 15% of the people even bother to come out and vote. So you may have told me a long time ago that Steve sent off and ask for this money a year ago. But when I started focusing on it was 48 hours ago or something. And somebody said do you realize that they are going 10 spoil that neighborhood that you grew up in from the lime )'ou were a IittJe boy. I remember when Melrose Ave. wenl directly inlo that five or six lI'a)' inlersection al Riverside and BurJington and the bridge and Grand Ave. God knOll'S what aJI. And it was so tOlally unworkable that we closed olT Melrose Ave. It was a 1I'0nderfuJ place j()r us 10 pla)' and I am nol being nostalgic and suggesting that we all go pia)' there. But the point is is Ihat we have been down this roadlitemll)' and figuraliveJ)' beJ()re and concludedlhat it didn't work. And now here it comes around again as .'\1'10 Guthrie used to sa)'. So, my only suggestion is, as my friends in lIollywood say, leI's lake it from t he lop. I think we have heard some good allenmtives. There me undoubtedl)' more oullhere. I think it is unreasonable, as wonderful and \ --;r-~ 'IJ""""' ~- - '...-,.. .".----1.- ___ ,....~....___ ,_ ...-....._ --- ~ -~ r ~ ,. ' --- Y r - ~ - ~ ~ , . .',' ;,. ,..i Wd..;,...' , ""'t-,' .~" : ,'" ", -:", ,,\.,~', '. :"'1' ,. ~. " :~",' \",' ~ . ',: , ':':J -.. :. "" ,:. ' . , .' . , '. ..' .1. "'," . I -I ) '1 ' , ."!.'" .~<:: '~~,..'" :)~;:'><r.~:..': ','1, ,::"," ;.,' ,': ."..::':./~. ~I,<:>:".,:' itS page -+ S talented ,?S these folks are II'ho have spoken tonight, 10 expect them to come up lI'ith all of the answers to this. We have got a lot of expertise out there that we can call on. So we drop out of the list for awhile. So we don't build our four Jane bridge or whatever. We will come back to it. We will come up with something better. And something that will better serve the Hospital. It is an important institution inlhis commllllity, obviously. Something that will better serve the hospitals needs. Something that will better serve the people of Iowa City. And in the process it is going to make evel)'body happier and work together a little bit belter and ;leave that neighborhood the historic landmark that you all have said it is. But I thank you for silting here because I know hat it is like 10 sit here. It is one thing to sit and read the paper and stuff like I use to do but, my golly, you have all actually been paying attention and asking questions and I am very impressed and grateful to you and very hopefuJ that you \\1ll see the wisdom of our position on this one. Thank you vel)' much. Tom Baldridge/ I live at 306 ~'Je]rose Court. I apologize in advance that I cannot be as positive as the other people have been. The Widness's and ]oAnn and Nick have been very positive in their suggestions to you of what can be done. I would like to remind you that the work done thus far in the neighborhood has never reached anything even approaching a solution. TralTic on Melrose Court is nearJy as bad as it has ever been. There is an extraordinary amount of pedestrian traffic which has been mentioned before. Neither the City nor the University ever seems to have come to grips with this. There are two buses that stop along the junction of Melrose Court and Melrose Ave. They discharge passengers on the south side, directly on the sidewalk. City and Campus. On the Northside they get ofT on what is now mud. When the University built the south gym, re-did the parking lot, relocated the exit, it improved that part of the traffic now marginally. They put in trees. They put a berm around the new parking lot to shield it somewhat. There is no place where people are invited to go. There is an extraordimu)' number of students and workers who come JClI'Il! the apartment compJexes to the south, funnel up Melrose Court, some turn right, go to the Jaw school, some-there is nowhere for them to go so they cross in any manner to get across what is now a 111'0 lane traffic. Some are going to pharmacy, some ...... '.. -. lM<<~~.' Ao.. _oMll l~~IIM1""'t_~,* 'Mlrlftli'>1 111.1 Ji!llJIOJl ~-- .. r ...-.....---..... ~_ ......r ~______r-...,....-...... .,.~ -.. ....-.....-_.-..........-~- -- ...... ~~ '>:' ,',:,",' ,:iiiI" "::',:,:,"', :~"",.:' ,:,': ",,\:,,:,<':.:'j' '. './ ,I " -?rl' ' t I' , " " "'" 4 . '.. . . t " ,', . " .' I " . L . .. ' , . I " .? . _ .' '~~ "./ "li.."...'~~." ',:""~' .1"...\.,,_.,. ',< .', _,',', IJS page -1(1 arc going directly 10 the hospital, some are going 10 the rield !louse, some are going anywhere. But there is no place for humans on foot Ihat are recognized to go north across Melrose Ave. There is a tiny little fading pedestrian crossway by Braverman's house but it is not in the line of traffic. 'think' am the onJy one who goes down there and crosses and dares the vehicular traffic to hit me. 'am s1l1l here. But when it is snowing there is no sign and we had this discussion, YOll, last night, seemed to give the impression that it was solved. 'am here 10 remind you that it was not even begun. Larson/ We brought it up and got absolutely no where is what' meant to say. Baldridge/ , can't undersland someone in the city staff is concerned about liability. Heliability is a lot greater Jor ignoring the problem when you know i! exists limn it is to paint a zebra across the city. That is it. You have got a problem and il has not been addressed. And part of the problem is the University's. When they went through all of this ruckus about tearing dOl\71 the Armol)' and building, building the south gym, re-doing the parking lot. What did they take into consideration about their own people. Not one. Yesterday or last night there was talk about great-oh, we are always consulting. With whom. J don't see any result of consultation between city staff and University planners. They don't even take sort of the minimum gesture of accommodating their own people. The people who get off of Campus from d.t. at that location are dumped onto what has nOlI' become a muddy incline and there is nothing. There is no place lill- them 10 get across the street, legally. Courtney/ If we could issue tickets for evel}' jay walker all over this city and make them stick, we wouJdn't have to worry about property taxes. II is not only that streel that that happens. Baldridge/ No, J understand that, Mr. Mayor. J Ihink that University ought to be reminded of hall' remiss they have been all of Ihis time. Kalhy Roller/ C105 Brookland Park Drive and [try 10 CJ'()ss that slreel sometime. And I would jusllike to support what my neighbors have said. We have serious traffic problems and llhink that the soJutions that have been proposed are nol going 10 solve them and Ihey arc serious problems. When people say they have trouble croSSing the street. 1 mean YOll really do have-I ,.....- Mr~'-- ... ./..tlJ. UlIJ1ltll..L= fMnUf... ..... ~ - V'""'---. .. ...~..- --. ~ - ......-r---, -.... --- '-r- .-- ,.~ ... "'T-"'- ':..-:~,'~ ":"'~"'. ''''.''.''':'t~'",,::, ,': ,'<:'. .'o.,;'i" "", ':1"1 " ..ii]., .I ,. I '.', " . ~:r,;",,.:',~,\:' ',,~', ;'~7J:'I,.., -':\~ll"~".""'~'l:'."" .' ,'. ,','\:'. -,.,: '.: : ;'," #5 page47 I\'alk 10 I\'ork all of the time. I have a 12 year old god sonlhat J wanted to send to spans camp. Noll' a 12 year old should be able to go across the streel by himself. But al 3:30 in Ihe afternoon it is terrilYing. You can't get through and those are just some of Ihe small problems in comp,uison to all of the ones that the neighbors presented to you. So I really would like to urge you to take some time and consider some more comprehensive and long term solutions to these problems. larson/ You knol\', it is interesting to me Tom's slatements of not being so optimistic because in a way the solutioJlS that do some thing's make itl\'Ol'se for the very neighborhoods concerns. For instance, if one of the things thaI YOlllI'<lI1t 10 do and whal we have done is traffic pJanning slrategy in some places say we don't IVant to encourage traJT]c so IVe are going to leave it narrow or we are not going to pllt in stop signs or we arc going to do IVhatever I\'e can to say YOll can't get on to this street and when you do get on to it the traffic is not going to flow as a way 10 discourage people from gelling onto it. I mean that is really is what IVe have done on Sllmmit and I>.:irk\~ood. Is to say that we are not going 10 make it a free flowing street. Don't use it. Go somewhere else. We're going to stir k stop signs in YOllr way. Or we are not going to put stop signs in certain pJaces because the stop sign lets YOll get on to it. We don't want YOll to get on to it. Well, if we took that strategy with lvlelrose Ave. and maybe that is the strategy that the council IVollld decide on, then we have given YOll this street that is narrow and croIVded and congested and you can't get on and oIT of it and maybe you can't cross is any belieI' than if YOll collld if it IVere fOllr lane. I am jllSt saying that there are some problems that you can try for wJn win. Goodness knows that I would like 10 find a win win sollltion. And I wenl to a seminar in New Orleans last November on Mr. Demming's process and strategies. Sometimes I jllsl gel pessimistic about whether YOll can solve cerlain kinds of IralTic problems too. AI this poinll would like to say Ms. Widness and Mr. Johnson, you got my vote. I give you my proxy on this, find a way. I conCllr with evcryonc that feels Jikc Planning hasn't looked at enough options and I conCllr with everyone Ihal says Ihal there is always going 10 be some kind of problemlhere. I assure YOll that we are all looking for a way 10 find something that works '. ,~<'<(I":; ::;m"::: <;:;";"';" ""/1',',.;,,:":,,,:,,>. ',,;' ',~',:; ..:,:' " t' :'r\ ,", .\",ZI. 1 "II w '. '11\.,'4\ -'. . '. .!l. ,J. ',1" . > '. " .,. . " '. ,'~ . .,.;. ',' . .'. " li5 page ~8 \ better than IVhat has been planned or I\'hat is there now. I am not real optimistic. Marci Thomas,' 3 Iv]elrose Circle. I knol\' some of you from moderating your city council hmllus. I come here as a concerned citizen. Also, lots and lots of things have been said audl guess the one thing I do IVant to say is I\'hat I've heard a lot from you tonight is resignation. That the University doesn't IVant to take responsibility. And that IVe need to do this project within time constraints. And whall am asking is is it possible for us to have a break through in the resignation that people feel on all sides and the constraints we feel and sit down together to create a community vision and look at ways at speaking and listening that I\'ill allow not only us to I\'in on this issue but to alter the way that IVe I\'ork as a community for future projects. So I am really looking at- actually coming together. 1 am having a group of neighborhood people together on Friday to speak together as neighborhoods and begin to look-because I I\'ould say that we maybe haven't let planning knoll' so much I\'hat IVe needed. You knoll'. That is a missing. What I see is we are going to speak with the "ospi~al and I\'e do have the Hospital and the University there and I think this is a possibility of creating a whole new partnership and I have talked about this and you have heard me. maybe on television. I have been inteJviewed and what not. But I really see that you're committed. You're all committed. You're great. You know you do thJs-you do this, you knol\', night after night, week after week. J would actually say thaI the University is tlying to do something great. You knol\' we all are. And somehol\' what] I\'ould like to see is us have, like JoAnne said, a new way of approaching this that we could actually somehow create a whole new relationship, A whoJe new I\'ay to work together to solve this. So I thank you for your time and llhank you for your commitment. And Thank you for hearing us on this issue. ] would say that one thing Ihat has been really great oul of I his whole process is, I mean IVe could say Tom and I\'hal doesn't work, but I would actually say Ihe democratic process I\'orks. I would say Ihall am getting calls and support and being in comlllunication with neighborhoods I haven'l been in contact with before and I\'ith 1I1.1ny people and I think Ihat we are, iLmything, Ihis issue is bringing together a lot of greal input and nelworking and it really is a chance to \ .,...-.-- .. ~ .---~' ~- .....r .,....-----~........,...-......-,.~ ... ~--..,..-----"""""" ':';' >';:1 :'," ';::,::~.;,;. " ,,r, "'-;: ,', ", il',' ....",>" ,'..:: ,,', '.": '.>,:', :.. ::,:' .;".....y. :"\.i, ..~l.'::, ;'1,.', 'c"/ ,'.'" ~,", " ':~I . \" . I ' '. ". " , . . ,'. ", , . , .. ' , ' , .,. . ,... . , " ,I " 'l~" '~'""""I' - I~~ ", " . , '. "" .,' "\'" , . ,', liS page..J.9 create a whole new partnership and I say thank you for that opportunity. hubby! One of the goals of our Neighborhood Services Plan is to hopefully one day have most Iowa Citians Jive within some kind of informal designated neighborhood. And maybe not so informal so that every neighborhood would help create its own neighborhood plan would would then help us make decisions and we are in the infancy of that whole process and this helps us knoll' where we are not doing so well in communicating on the very front end of things with neighborhoods. I knoll' that I feel like we shouJd learn the message-the Jesson from IUrkwood a little quicker. I am always inpatient for us to do things faster and John aJways tells me that things take time. And so I am tlying to be patient but I also want 0 make sure that we don't so the same things that aren't so positive over and over again. So I think we have done better on this project than on Kirkwood in terms of communicating with the neighborhood although some neighborhood people may disagree with that. But I feel like we have a ways to go and networking with each other is a really important thing for neighborhoods to do. I am velY glad that people are taJking to each other. Courtney! Anyone else have discussion for tonight Larson/ ShouJd we set our process then. Courtney / Okay. We will close off //5. What's is council's pleasure on this after hearing the Jnput. Interested to hear some comments here. Larson/ I thought that Ms. Widness asked several questions and then said that she couJdn't get an answer to those questions that deserved to get answers. I thought in hearing them that it was my impression that Jeff Davidson could answer most them, perhaps wrongly. But I thought there were things that he couJd answer. I think those questions nced tn be answered. I thought that thcy werc good questions. Whether that needs a separate p.h. or just needs communication and various meet ings, I don't knoll'. But [would like to take whatever time wc necd to get those questions answercd. Courtney/Oh. [think that we nced to he right up front that by the tJme constraints that we are under and the time constraints that stall is under, the schedule that council has ahead of it over the nexltwo or three meetings that another hearing of ....,..-... ' \ ~ - "......- - ... .-__-..'f~- ....-r , -r - - ...,. -- ,- .. ... T- ... ',: :,', ,,:)/', . '.:,::ti....",' :.:<,:":" :".;:j' ",/ ',:" <':,':, ':'<': '/" :":,\ /.':' ~'. " ~::'<'''l~' .:. ,~~)~:.'-;' ;>~,-'~: ..: :0',:' : IJ": ,',: ":;' 1,.-,,,:-" : eo' ;': i,~ ,:~ "',', ifS page SO course could be scheduled. If that hearing then brought about some more questions that had to be pushed further into this. I think we stand a real risk of running this projeCl into another whole construction season and that is something that council needs to weight. Whether you want to take that risk or not of pushing the project virtually into another year. Kubbyi Well maybe the fundamentaJ question for us is are people interested in looking at alternatives to what was presented to us last night. And if the answer is no then il doesn't seem fruitful to further. But if the answer- Courtney/ Well, you need to define alternatives. Altematives as in we are going to run three lanes all the way dOl\'n through. Are we laJking about aHematives on this particular point four or five mile stretch of road. Or are we talking about Mr. Widness's. Whole other routes. You-he didn't bring up hall' much illl'ould cost to build that. Kubby i I guess my fundamental question \Vas if the answer noli' is there four peopJe who want four lanes it and don't want to hear any more. That is the answer. So I am trying to ask the fundamental first tier question in this taxonomy of decision maki ng. Courtney/ I don', think we hnve to answer the fact of the four lanes tonight. I think we don't have to nnsll'er whether we want four lanes or three lanes tonight. We have got time to have some more input from the neighbors. J certainJy, even though I am through there several times a week, I never slop. I need to stop on some side streets at difTerent times of day and watch and listen. I could do thaI in the next three weeks. Kubbyi Your answer is yes, you are open to alternatives. larson/ l.et me slart on a head count Ihen. Okay. I would like us to look at the option of a two lane bridge and a three lanes on Melrose Ave. the way it has been spoken of and J would like us to proVide ansll'ers to the questions that have been asked and since we have to have a night II'henl\'e decide this issue. Sometime II'henll'e sit sOll'n and you coun/noses. Why not say that jn order to fully explore things that lI'eren'l <llready addressed and I hope thai people would ('()operate and not reiterate the things thaI they have said tonight or in correspondence or II'halevl'r. Bul thai we set aside an hour or so and say thai we're arc going to decide it thai night. If you have nell' things, nel\' answers, present themlhen. If it causes \ "V"" - -..---..-~ " ",' ,.' '..... ' '.." tel" .," " .',. '.:';:, ::;',:'".;;,/:',: )IlI:,". <,~;"r ::,::::("':',', ,:".,:'";'.,:,,,' ',',''':'.' " I.. 'I . ,il,[J..., .~tl'.. ," .~: ~ 1\" .,'. " " .' ' '. ,'.\ "',, " '. ," ,. " - I' #5 page 51 us 10 delay Ihal is a decision we make at thaI poim. We say, well, we did get some information that leads us nol 10 go fomard. We may risk the construClion season but we can decide that atlhat point and just set it as a public discussion and a decision time. If the public discussion causes lhe decision lime to have 10 be put on, at leas I we would have that alternative andl want to look at that al1ernative- Kubby / WilJ you say that in this amount of space. Larson/ I can't I can never say anYlhing in this amount of space. Kubby/ Can J lry to paraphrase you. Are you talking about al a formal meeting, for example, on 23rd of February, thaI there'd be some additional time for public comment and then we'd talk about what decision, where we'd want to go from there. One of the decisions may making a decision. Larson/ That would be fine. Kubby/ Well, it's beneI' than this, you knoll'. Naomi, you cantI)' 10. Larson/ That's one of the ways that could be done that would be agreeable with me. 11 might not be the only way. Kubby I So the 23rd, additional public input and the first tier of decision making. Courtney/ I'll be the first one 10 object The 23rd is out as far as I'm concerned. 1 vote no for it. We've golten p.h.'s that night already. l.arson/ I don'l have any problem it being 111'0 weeks after lhat Nov/Youmissed one, remember. Iarson/ Eleven p.h.'s. Courlney/ Eleven? Okay. Whatever. Kubby / So iI'Iarch 2 is the next one. Ambrl It's prelly obvious that everyone in this room is opposed to a four lane Melrose. However, strange as it may seem, there arc some of your fellow constituenls oulthere tl1<1l want a four lane. I for one have. l11l'Son/ Finy Ihousand of them probably. Ambr/ Yeah. Aboul finy thousand. I have some questions lhal r need to talk to, number J, the gentleman that designed the bridge. I have some queslions of him. I knoll' the staff's position at this point and their obligated 10 presenllo us what in Iheir mind's eye is the safest, the best engineering prospecl that they can come up with. I think Ihat is w11at we heard last night Noll' I have a dUly to everybody in tbis room as well as eveJ)'IJody outside of it. I would like to see some discussion I I , ! , ~-- , I -,.:r _ ,,-.-- .. .. ~..-...,...,-- r-r " ... - r_-r- __~ ... ...--...,.----............- <':"1' ";r,', :, /,:, ":;'d;" ....."'",":,,':',,.\':". ':"" ~-, {,.<'~::'I',',>.')14rr.'.' :,~::,_:: :/~~(:::: "'i.: .....: : J,~.',,~'i .",' ~:,:,::, liS page 52 amongst us on the other option of three lane ~Ielrose and two lane bridge. jl'!. Widness/ Could I just clarify one thing. Because of the traffic counts, it has been suggested that \\'hatever \\'as needed in terms of lanes between the bridge and South Grand, lI'e would need one lane less from South GI~1I1d on to the la\\' SchooL So when I taJked about a three Jane Melrose it \\'as really three lanes from the t\\'o Jane bridge to South GnllJd and then keeping the existing two lanes that \\'e presently have. Kubby 1 The compromise may be or the new vision may be that trafJ'ic counts from a purely engineering standpoint is that we need the four lanes and the three lane and the ne\\' vision would cut the four to three \\'ould be one possibility or the four to three and the three to two. Iv!. Widnessl I just wanted you to kno\\' that Denny Gannon had said that section the traffic count between South Grand and lhe Law School is about half what it is between South Grand and lIawki ns Drive. Kubby I Right. But it is notlhat the formula is for safety. That it is one lane Jess then what it is near the bridge. It is that it is four lanes near the bridge and three lanes later and if we are going to take neighborhood concerns into our decision making process it may not be that it is different on one end or the ot her. Larsonl Not only lhat but the side conJ1icts are nearly as great in the area. J mean there are almost as many access point probably so that maybe a turning lane \\'ould be something that is necessmy even- Ambrl To get back to the basic point, I am Willing to talk aboul it again but] don't \\'ant to do it on the 23rd of February. I think that is not fair to the other issues of the other ten p.h.s Kubbyl What about March 2. Courtney 1 I have got to go back to Steve if we go in to ~Iarch. What- Atkinsl You have a meeting schedule. You have a work session on the J'irst and lhenthe ftll"lnal on the 2nd. McDI We don't have 10 talk about Ihis at a Itll"lllal meeting. It can be scheduled at an informal. Because as Steve said earlier, when we started outtonighl, jf we are going 10 make some changes we need to stal'l sending S(J/lle direction on thai. I think that is why it is Jmporlant that we have 10 sit down as a group 10 talk about what kinds of changes \\'e might be interested in. J\nd I - :t'!ll!.~1 !!D'I1IIMI'IM\IIIIM'''_."j.4nJ.I~__._~ M..Wl1l1 __ \ ,,.-',. ':,:,': :' '-"(:1''':'' .',;, ":" :j~' '..... ' ,~ : .".":' ';. ,:', :..~""~:,'\ , , "I I . . ,ill) . -/' I 'J b '..,. , . ' , - , .. i',: , ,;" "''.:',i~f,;:' {,.'_ ',<:Cf;.",:':.,:' :.'....,/." <-',:'> ":,:, #5 page .'13 think to continue to receive the inpul you knolV fromlhe people that we want to taJk to. Kubby! I guess the focus of me on the formal meetings Illr that-if people wanted to give additional input if we wanted to hear. That second opinion thaI the neighborhood may extract from another trallic engineer. That is that our tradition has been that the public doesn't present things like that al an infollllal. I would be happy to have an exception at an informal meeting. McD! That can alIVays be arranged on a specific issue. The Mayor usually uses his or her discretion dependJng upon the agenda, you knolV, or holV heavy the schedule is that nighl. But obViously there have been situations at an informal meeting IVhere IVe are talking about a specific subject and where we allocate or set aside so mllch time for the audience. Kubby/ Actually, the 22ml would be better for us in term of the issues because on ]-.Jarch 1 we are going to be talking about issues of annexation and groIVth policies. Not just preparing 10 Ileal' the public's input but to talk amongst ourseJves as to holV we IVant to deal IViI i I. Courtney / I IVant to point out that on the 22nd IVe are going to have extensive stall' input tOIVards all of those p.ll.s that are going to belleld on the 23rd. Atkins! That is important for you to remember that onlhe 22nd at tile IVork session, it is normally where you ask a Jot of the questions about the upcoming hearing. The hearing is a presentation of information and you don't vote until the following meeting. So Ithink your meeting on the 22ml is going to he pretty jammed pack. Larson! 22ml and 23rd are both vel)' long meetJngs. Atkins! I think that you are really packed in. Nov! I IVould like to suggest that IVe keep this on the agenda for Ihe 22nd lelr our own discussion and thaI we all do our best to study this neighborllOod and to think through the projected solution and IVhat eJse might have occurred. What else I\'e might want 10 occur. So that 0 n the 22nd IVe could at least say Jets look at more allematives or lets just take this and do it so the stall' wiII not get into too much heJore IVe get to the point IVhere IVe really seriously consider i I. Counney/ I personally think tlK1t J understand the issues here. I am nol sure that r understand all of the various alternatives that people could come up with. And I know that we could IKlve 20 \ -":. - ,...-. --- - - ....-~.--.- ...- ,....~..._-- ..- ,- -~ ,. "',... .... - -,..-- .. - ---- -- ".'. ",,'" ,,~o,io" '",' "..:....,',.'1" ",', ."",, " ': . .' _' > ',. ." ..,',,', . I., ro. .~ :,\ , . "'~I .... I . ./\ .' ,/,<' " " . , ..1 , :,~ :,:{;:, "', .:, ';:~ j',: ~;~.. - :' ::;':::1_:, :' :',' "':' ,'-::':',>:: ,"', ' ,> liS page S.J. more allernatives that could be thrown oul eventually and we could study them until the cows come home, as they say in Iowa. But it-and we could push this thing back three or four or five years. I think the issue right now is whether we want to proceed wit the plan that staff has put forth to us and I would like to push for an answer on that on the 22nc!. Jf there are four people who are uncomfortable with giving an answer on that on the 22nd, then we can go on wilh March] st or March 6 or whatever it is. And run the lisk of pushing the project on back. I don't think putting il in to the next year necessarily cJoses the bridge down. Atkins/ Oh no. Please understand that if there is going to be an apparent deJa)' in constmclion there is no doubt on my mind that we just simply have to get to the DOT and tell them, look, our schedule has been sel back for a variety of reasons. The bridge is not going to collapse tomorrow. I will go through a process- Kubby! Brittle thing you talked about. Atkins! They told us. The inspector said ilwould not. However, weight restrictions may be occurring. l.arson/ But if this did get bumped a year, we would be Jooking al pedestrian overpass out on Highway 116, Hohret /load Improvements- Atkins/ You have got bunches. Kubby! $86 million. Courlney! However, J have got to tell you that I am awfully uncomfortable silling on that thing after a football game in a motor home. 5000 people standing on il and I don't knoll' how many cars stacked up on it. Ambr/lwil! be ready to make a decision on the 22nd of February. larson/ When do we have a full council. When does Susan come back. Atkins! 22nd. l.arson/ Then are you gone for the 0'larch 2nd. Two meetings in a roll' with a full council. 23rd and 2nd. Courtney/ Hopefully. Kubby!1 would feel fine aboul discussing this again on the 22ml if, at that infc)J'JJJaJ meeting, the public can participate in presenting additional ideas they have explored. Courtney/ I tl1ink we have time to schedule that now. We have go three weeks. One of the things that hasn't been done and the \ ~ - y-' --- _ r .....-~, ~~_ _". ~_____~......,....-....... , _ __ ... ..".---..----............, ::.>.: " ,7,"::..'~ ,',,',',': o::ffi' "L"':~"'. " ~\.',<" ::':~, .':'::~ ," '\"I"I";Z1J 1-"1" 'I ," ' " " ". .' ,"..' , ...,:........',:~', 1::.,~~::::1<.\":"li~;.,' ,",'1 : '.~ .'..', .:. ' :,~}". '{;'." ,",:;': , '.' 1\ \, ''-'' , \.., ." i' '" " . ,~. , " } -." . .', i - '. ~ \, ", ." " '+-- -,... I,) page)) residenls lhere haFe all been prelly llIuch in/armed on Ihis. I think t11ere arc some property owners that haven't been. That really didn't have time. There arc some absentee owners that may want to get involved in this thing. larson/ I think there are a couple of things to speak towards having it on March 2 or 1 st or whatever the heck the meeting is after the 22nd. It is just one week later, right. Februmy is our short month as I remember. And I don't knoll' why we are meeting again, just one week later. Courtney / Because lI'e canceled the meeting before. Larson/ 1 would like to see stall's vlew of-we have gotten their rationale for what they have proposed to us. 1 haven't really heard their specific complaints or cons to two lane bridge and three lane ~-Ielrose. So that would give them an extra week to put together that stuff Jar us. Secondly the 22ml iUld 23rd is a huge night with 11 p.h.s or discussions. Thirdly. one week isn't going to lose the construction season. J mean, it just isn't. lf it does, no big deal. We can build Hohret Road. I just don't think il ls that big of deaJ to wail a week. 11 gives them one more week. Nov/l slill think we ought to set some definite dale. Larson/ j\'larch 2nd. Nov/ The first. To say that we will have studied, we will have discussed, we will have looked at and then we will tell the staff one way of another. Courtney/ March 1st, we are done. Larson/ And they are invited for a short presentation to follow-up. Kubby/ But one of the things that J want to stress is that we have a commlllJity participation process that is really on the front end of things, these kinds of time constraints won't constrain us to make a decision. Having to huny up and having to hear all of this stuff, synthesize it and digest it and figure out what to do. Not only is it, li'ommy point of view, the right thing to do but it costs us less stress and the neighborhoods and the community less slress and we will make, r believe, a belieI' decision. Courtney;' There are times when we won'l be able to avoid that though. When we are looking at funding that we just flat can't let get <l\l'ay. If we are going to do this project at all, we need that funding. Kubby/ We have known about this projectl()r a long lime and Ihere were opporlunities. Onlhis parlkular issue you hilve people -..ry--.... - fF - , \ ".-'-- -. r ..-....~'~_ -r .,....,...---r..".............. .,._ .. ~....,.. - ...---- - -- - ... , ,....-- ~,~.,..::'~."...:,. :..:,......: ':. ....'r:.:.......:R.:,';.:,.:'. ,:.h~."..:~:~.,"~.. .::.',.,\ , , "1"" ....ill. ""1' I "" ',' .. '. ' , ~: ~.':, >~~.~, ~ ",\;', :'~:.:~P.~: ~ """1{'l' ~ ,". <";'.; "~' .: ,~, '/" .,' ':"". ','.: ',',<' > '.. ',:: ~:~'''!. #5 page 56 all on Ihe from end. Like we involved the University J1ts. city council on the front end whic]] was-when I talked about that we have done beller. Courtney/ Well, what you are trying 10 say is that you wantlhe neighborhwd to come in and sit down with lhe engineers and help design the project. Kubby/ ram noltalking about the specific. 1 am saying that we have traffic congestion on your street and it comes from here and it goes there. what wouJd be your-these are some of the options that we typically have for dealing with this kind of problem. What would be your concerns about that happenJng in your neighborhood. So, in the design of this. they know-our people and we know specifically what those concerns are. It may not be Ihatwe answer lhem the way the neighbors wanl them to but we had the benefit on the front end. Courtney/ Karen, etme stop you because you could go on for ever. I submillhal is what the Neighborhood Services Coordinator is all nbout. Thntthey are pulling together these neighborhood groups and the eve11lua] goal there is to brJng the issues before there is a project 10 us so that we can address them. We are not there quite yet. Most of the conl1icts have come have been project OIienled. And this one is too. So we are not quite there but we will get there some day and we will be able to address them before t here is a project. Kubby/ And we do have a goal that on a yearly basis, J can't remember when it began. that we have two or three neighborhood plans crented per year. So that we are seeing problems now and people-and the neighborhood can help us to be foresightfulto see what the problems will be in the future and that year by year we will have more and more neighborhood plans which kind of all need to I1ttogether in a jigsaw puzzle to create that community vision which is our Comp Plan which we already kind of have but have more speciI1c concerns from neighborhood oriented people. And because you live there you can be more creative because you are focusing on that one lillle spot and you see what happens on a day to day basis. That is why It is so valuable to me 10 have it on the front end. Courtney/ It is like these zonJng issues that come up only when there is an application to build a building. We are going to deal with one of those on the 23rel. If people waited until there is a _~~__~\I!t..JlItf.__I!II_IJ.:mff~lI!I'IlI1D.dlW.~ lJIII"lM_~_ ~,,:';, "'~,,":;""':"~;":':"I ....tel> ,.:(:.' """:,,--:,'.:';.,,..> ',,' ,;1,1 "-'t./ '. ,<:.."' ,I ".,...,..,", ~ .' .1.. i', ~ ',I' . ,~ . . " I ' \ . ; , ' , '., \ ,'.' ,. , "/ .;'0 \ \" , :.L....:...c,,' . " " \", """'\"'. ,~',: ,,,,,,,:,,"1 . ~'l ','., '. , ,",I:: '., itS page 57 \ project proposed bel()re they came in for a downzoning. These people need to- Kubby / Lets help facilitale them in the future from not behaving that way. Courtneyl They need to apply for those downzonings before Ihere is a project. I.arson/ Here is what we can do belter and Ihis is your fault and my fault and everybody's fault is when this project was presented to us. Four months ago whenever they laid 10 the thing and showed us the lillle blue lines on the map and everything. Al that point, you or lor somebody should have said okay staff. send a letter to every resident along there thai says we are thinking about doing this. Don't wait until March when it comes up at a budget hearing. Tell us now how you feel about it. We need to direct the Neighborhood Services Coordinator go to the neighborhood with this map. Sholl' them what we looked at. Tell them it is coming up in /lJarch. Nick Johnson' statement is observed. That no matter how active you are and civic minded, you don't pay altenlionunlil it hits the headJine of the paper two days before the meeting. That we can facilitate peopJe knowing about it. We just have to direct stall to do that. You and I could have said at that point, hey Rick, will you make sure that tJlis gets done. Kubby / Sometimes we I.arson/ But we didn't this time. Kubby/ Well, I don't knoll' if I would agree with Ihal, actually. Ambr/ May I suggest that we move along to 1t6. Karr/ Can we have a motion to accept correspondence pertinent 10 Ihis item. Courtney/ March 1st we will Iry to make the decision and we will set aside SOllle time for hopefully new input and nol repeat input. Larson/ We do read evel)'thing we get. r think everyone on this council reads evelything they get. Karr/ All those in hwor of the mo1inn. Courtney / /I'lotion to accepl all correspondence submitted tonight. Moved and seconded (Nov/Ambr). Discussion. /\11 in favor (ayes). I , ! .~ ......._.1>.. ~ - . ~__IlIJlr I ..~.MIl,. JIM ...... fIP~ - .... ~ .- 'l,\'::,:~ ~,,~.:~, ,,;: ,'!~; I "v .~~'11 ;':, " .. -', .\ :",~ (.-",." :~ ".'.:\;. ',..~~. \ ,,' -I " ,. "ffl~' ',",,' 'l' ',,,,I, ."".' , ' I'.~' ,.'.,(/ '.',,:,"~ ":'.I'l'.'~;' ,;:.~ :~~'...' ,I, 't;_' , ";'." I.. J...:\'" '( ~.......-: I.j '....' > .', " I " " " ,. . "."""'~!""',~" ',~,\ ".1'7\'", , . ',' , ';"J' Agenda Iowa City City Council February 2, 1993 Page 7 ITEM NO.6, Public hearing on plans, specifications. form of contract and estimate of cost for construction of the College Street Bridge Deck and Sidewaik Rehabilitation ProJect. Comment: This proJect will Include the repair of deteriorated areas of the bridge deck, the replacement of portions of the bridge sidewalks, and the construction of a connection between the bridge and the parking ramp currently under construction This proJect, which will take approximately three and a half months to complete, will require the closure of the College Street bridge to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The Engineer's construction cost estimate Is $289,000.00. Action: 112 (;rnOJ ~o_o ITEM NO.7. .._53. 3D Consider a resolution approving the plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for construction of the College Street Bridge Deck and Sidewalk Rehabilitation ProJect, establishing amount of bid security to accompany each bid, directing City Clerk to publish advertisement for bids and fixing time and place for receipt of bids at 10:30 A.M. on February 23, 1993. Comment: See comment above. Action: A-rJJ / ~.M-u) ( bo rJ ITEM NO.8, ANNOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES. r(PAMuJ ~ ~~ \ a. Current Vacancies. (1) Housing Commission, Two vacancies for three-year terms ending May 1, 1996. (Terms of James Harris and Robin Paetzold-Durumerlc end.) (2) Mayor's Youth Employment Board, Two vacancies for three-year terms ending May 5, 1996. (Terms of Robert Swift and Jacque McClure end.) (31 Planning and Zoning Commission, Two vacancies for five-year terms ending May 1, 1998. (Terms of Tom Scott and George Starr end.) These eppolntments will be made at the March 16, 1993, meeting of the City Council. b. Vacancies Previously Announced. (1) Historic Preservation Commission, Two vacancies for three-year terms ending March 29, 1996. (Terms of Sue Licht and Kay Ireland end.) (2) Mayor's Youth Employment Board. Two vacancies for three.year terms ending March 27, 1996. (Terms of Carrie Norton and Rosalyn Green end.) \ iF - ........ ------ - ... .............--'~-....... ~......- '-.ror- -. ~- -,r .....".. - ... , '-:,' " " .: .< ,fi,;ii. ~-~~t-'" ....1....' . .."'.~'.., '.: .,...." ',: .'.' 'I """11'" "~.. -~I. .,zj ,( , ' , ',","',', ,: " ~ , ", ;;. ",.;, i .' , \'. .' I . , . , , :. ' ' . ," \, , '. '. ,e," I,.:." ..,e.. ,'. ""'''' .. ". . ' : \\'1 . ;,.J".'.~'" '. ' ~,,' I" .:" " ,.,', J.' !l7 page 1 Courtney! Moved by Ambr, seconded by Larson. Discussion. Kubbyi Will people-how Jill' on each side of the bridge wiJ] it be closed for that three month period. Will peopJe be able to-like will the taxi cab stand sti!]- Atkins/ That goes. Kubby/ Does that mean that people can't get to John Wilson's. J\tkins/ I suspect there is going to have to be some arrangements made with them. But J understood t he bridge will be closed because they want to move quickJy to get the thing over with. Kubby/ I am concerned about Wilson's because we are hitting them on the back end. Now we are hit ling them on the Ji'onl end. To make sure that we have- Atkins/ Karen, they just walked in. Rick, answer that question for us. Kubby! Did you hear my question. I am afraid-well, J am interested in how far on each side of the actual bridge that the area will be closed for that month. Like the t,1'\i stand and John Wilson's. Denny Gannon/llow about if I show you. Kubby / If it is going to be hard for Wilson's I would like for us to have really good signage to make sure people know where they can go to to park and directions from where we are going to ask people to park and how to getup to his pJace. I just feel bad because we are hitting him on both ends. Denny Gannon/ On the west end it will be jnst east of John Wilson's. Nov! So you can still get to John Wilson's. Gannon/ There will be three parking spots here that we will keep on the south side. And then there is I believe there is one parking spot in Ii'ont of John Wilson's. The 1,1'\i stand is not going to be renewed. We felt that is going to restrict turning movements. Kubby! So the spot will be there but it will be Itlr peopJe 10 park and then afterwards we may putlhe taxi stand Gannon/ That Js right. And then on the east side of the project we will be closing it through the intersection. Kubby! Oh, wow. So peopJe really won't be abJe to use- Gannon/ That can use the sidewalk, Karen. Juslthe street will be closed, The sidewaJk on the east side will be open. Kubby/ That will make it safer to cross on the corner of Van Buren and Washington. Thank you. This was helpful. I didn't realize this was going to be closed on Van Buren felr a while. We need to have real good signage there. Gannoni They will need this area for storage of materials. _~I"_' ,.., UIIJlIllllllll ~ Mil ~ 1I.l....N. 0 itl 1T"'.tlltl..... -- 11II - ~...... f'F - \ y-'-- - .. ....-----,...-,,- wr-r '-r - - T_,r- -- "1- ~ ..". i.,:,,:,. >/' "" . . :[+1'" :'::,',:;7,: "~;r( .';:';>"":,':,:' ,'::,,' '. : ," ~ ' .". .. I I......' I:"'" . I 'r. '." L: , '.~,\' "',';'\,",~,:',,"_~l"! "',,'lo~.:'t':,' "",'._, '_.,'.', '.' ".1." In page 2 Kubby / So we will have signage up in advance so people will knoll' in a week or two weeks in advance that it is going to be closed down for three months starting this date. Gm1l10n/ Not signage out there, no. The contractor will come in a fell' days before and put his signs up and cover them. We could put out a news release or something. Kubby/ I think it would be good for us. Not onJy in a news release but to have some signage up a couple weeks in advance to warn people that these public streets will be closed. Atkins/ We can make up something. We can have a sign made up. Kubby/ On both ends and on the-makes sense. Atkins/ We have our project signs that we can put up and I suspect we could put something on the bottom. Effective this date the road will be closed. We can take care of that. Courtney! Any other discussion on this item. HolI call- HesoJution is adopted. CHANGE TAPE TO HEEL 93-15, SIDE 2 I ".-- - ... .......----...-~-...~ ,.....-,.--...~--.......,- ... -~----........... t',I; ,', "-;',,'.:,'" ';.~I,;:-\", -;'R; ,',' "">':"""~'I"'\~~I,:,::,<":'<\ '", 'I I", ;ill, 1~I". t. ,:,' (, . '.' ". ~, . ~~\',r~:-:,<:~~.:,~: .';.4"""':' ;'li,~...', ,;'..' ,'I, \ ':.. \:.',' Agenda Iowa City City Council February 2, 1993 Page 8 (3) Board of Examiners of Plumbers. One vacancy for a representative of the public for a two-year term ending December 31, 1994. These appointments will be made at the February 23, 1993, meeting of the City Council. (4) Design Review Committee, One vacancy for an expired term ending July 1, 1995. (Term formerly held by Kay Ireland. ) This appointment will be made at the March 16 meeting of the City Council. ITEM NO.9, CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. .1M lLiA.J ITEM NO. 10, REPORT ON ITEMS FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY. a. City Manager. -&~ b. City Attorney. .-8- ITEM NO. 11 . CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO CONVEY PORTIONS OF VACATED OLD DUBUQUE ROAD IN IOWA CITY, IOWA TO AMERICAN COLLEGE TESTING, AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY 23, 1993. Comment: In December 1992, the City of Iowa City and American College Testing entered Into an Agreement, whereby the City agreed to convey whatever Interest it had remaining In Old Dubuque Roed, once that portion of the road was vecated by the City, and to convey said property Interest to ACT In consideration for ACT's agreement to convey property to the City, In the event the City chose to construct Scott Boulevard extended to the west, or to construct an east. west unnamed arterial. Since the abstract shows that the City's Interest Is not set forth as a recorded deed, but rather exists by operation of common law, the preferred method of conveyance Is to follow state regulations on conveyance of public property, set forth In Section 364.7, Code of Iowa (1991) for disposal of public property. Staff recommends approval. Action: -b; \ - -,s:-- .... - .. .......~. ~J-.....~ "."'"'Y - ~ ._,~ -- ,- - ......,..-... . "" --'. ' .'; : ~ :... ..:.....i ':, -~.. > :, ,,' ,., , :,' ' : ~ :. >- ", ' I . 'ft/ . ~" "~., I'" . " '" '~.;.. " ".. " :1, " i " I" ',' . " I,,' ~~'_:"/'~,i;..:~::.~~:::: ',,~":"'~"""~ "'; .....',' ", " ..1 119 page 1 i , I I ! I I I i i i I I I I Courtney/City Council Information Ambr/ Yeah, Ivlr. ?\'layor. The lYra and Ihe School Board are taking applications for a contest 10 name the new elementary school on Hohret Hoad. With councilor's permission I IVouldlike 10 submit the name to be the Handy Larson Elementary School.... Larson/ I have taken a lot of grieL If 1 have to get painted into the corner of being in favor of school safety and lower la'\es, by gum, Il1'ilJ just have to take the heat.... - ~ II a,,) J 1 J IlItllMMllllOltM ' , ":,:',..:'. f'.....':.~...<,>~;.; ;tD':";:',>.";':'.. ,',:",',. :'.:.', " .1, ... 'I(;.,!' 'I .". "" " '.. ~. -:..\1,..\',:" ~~.">"""\~" ,",: I> .....'.:,' ./:~','.<." :~'~.:' #11 page 1 Courtney/ Atkins! That onc got away from mc. Did wc go to March 2. Gentry! That is really clean up and non-controversial. Kubby/ It is about to be- Larson/ It is going to bc in thc papcr. Gentl}'! I don't think it really mailers. Atkins/ J didn't think it mattered either. As we talked about it at agcnda mcctings it appeared to be- Gentry / Johnwantcd it A.S.A.P.. but I - John llyak. Larson/ J don't know how we can conllllunicate to people that it is not going to matter. If peoplc come they arc going to sit here until the cows come-... Gentry! You can certainly change it. Atkins/ If you want to amend the resoJution. Kubby/ I would like to amend the resolution to read Ivlarch 2 for the p.h. \ Larson/ Second. Courtney/Mewed and secondcd to- Gentl}'/ We have to count. You can't set it more than 20 days ahcad or you have a title objection. Larson/ Let us set it again on February 22 then. Courtney/ Jf we set it we have got to hoJd it. Defer this item. We can't set it on the 22 for the 2nd. That is only onc week. Gcntry / Yes you can. It can be no less than l(mr days and no greater than 20. That's the problem. Kubby! I withdraw my motion. Larson/ I withdraw my sccond. Courtney / Moved to defer the item 10 February 23rd mceting. (Larson/ Kubby) Discussion. In 1;1\101' (ayes). jIF -- "..-.---- - - ... -.--.-~ ......,}- - -.--~ ....., ~', ',' "'.:'",:,:'..:: '1!) :; ~',-,' '" --,':" " ':-..,,. "::. .: ":",": }'~"" \i.:r' ': i71 :"~::',::'I~.:,: ' ;/"" ':. .. :,," "",\'. ',:".' ;':;: .::" :;:, .' l '1\" _I J .i.\...-r.,', ,..... \ ' . '/,r ~ I ,\ .' , I. ,"'" ",. . " . r ,',J' '.1 i,' . . ,.' ., ,', ,,' Agenda Iowa City City Council February 2, 1993 Page 9 ' Q3-3/ ITEM NO. 12, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND THE CITY CLERK TO ATTEST, AS A CORRECTIVE LEGAL ACTION, THE RELEASE OF P SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT LOCATED IN WINDSOR HEIGHTS SIXTH ADDITION, IOWA CITY, IOWA, Comment: As part of the original subdivision proceedings for Windsor Heights Sixth Addition, the City executed a document purporting to vacate and convey an existing sanitary sewer easement to Windsor Land Corp. in exchange for dedication of a new sanitary sewer easement. Windsor Land Corp. dedicated the new sanitary sewer easement to the City. The City's vacation and conveyance of the existing easement was not, however, accompanied by a formal resolution and, therefore, was procedurally incorrect. This Release will remove the clouds on the titles to property located in Windsor Heights Sixth Addition by properly releasing that sanitary sewer easement. Action: Aw-6/nw ( . &:../J 0/0 I~~. ITEM NO. 13. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE CONVEYANCE OF APPROXIMATE- '13- 2..'1 LY 13.98 ACRES OF LAND BY JOHN AND ALLEGRA DANE TO THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA, FOR USE AS PARKLAND AND A STORM WATER DETEN, TION FACILITY, AND NAMING SAID TRACT OF LAND 'KIWANIS PARK'. \ Comment: John and Allegra Dane have executed a Warranty'Deed conveying approximately 13.9B acres of land to the City of Iowa City to be used as parkland and a storm water detention facility for Park West Subdivision Parts I.IV and the surrounding area. The Danes requested that the area be named 'Kiwanis Park'. The Parks and Recreation Commission has recommended that the City accept this conveyance and that the park be named 'Kiwanis Park'. Action: Aw.6/ ~~ '..Lv , ~ ~~ 6/0 ~~ ITEM NO. 14, Consider an ordinance to amend Chapter 17 of the Iowa City Code of Ordinances (the Housing Code). (Second Consideration' ('6_ 35b2. Comment: The Iowa City Housing Commission, at Its regular meeting of December 8, 1992, recommended unanimously to approve a proposed amend- ment to the lowe City Housing Code. The proposed amendment would elevate the level of fire safety for rental housing In Iowa City. The public hearing was , held filr this amendment January 5, 1993, and no public comments were received. Staff recommends expedited action on this item. M"'", ~o~t; u:~:~affH ITEM NO, 15, AdJournment, ~ / I?w /&,'.jrJ pm. a-ei! ~ ?:~ /h, 11 ~ ~tI' - ~ .."....--. _._~ 1Inm!l.<!l1:!l!&...][-~~IIH(l'f.~ "...-'-- ~ '....- -..., ~- ....". ......-..---..~-- " .............. - - -.. ---" , . ' --- ... - 11" - . ..-- .... .. ~ "', ""I" ':..'ffl.... . ,..:;:;.".' :8' ".;,' ":,'"",,,:,""',:.., """,', 'I" "';, ,"0 ,,'..,1. . :. '., ..,1,!-, :,:" " .,: - , ,/ ' 'i " ,<:"'''' 'I ' . ", . ','" L.\'.,~. "~l\' ,':, '.>"~ <',', '..~,' " 1 . ;' \' ',> ,'. ;'~.-: ;"~.:" :..~:'.,~ Ifl3 page] Courtney, Moved by Ambr, seconded by Larson. Discussion. John. say a few words for us. John Dane/ Thank you, !IIr. Mayor. My name is John Dane. I live at -1-082 Dane Road, Southeast. I usually get up here with a nice prepared statement and I know that when I taJk to you it is pretly serious business. J know that you have a lot of people that want to talk to you tonight on very serious business. This is a pJeasurable thing. I hope you will join with me in a fell' moments of a Iitlle bit of reflection about how this all came about. Before I start in I wouJdlike to introduce the people that have come here with me tonight. FIrst of all my wife, Allegra Dane-raise your hand. And Jeff Duffy, past president of the Old Capital Kiwanis CJub and PauJ Bea1l1 the president of the Old Capital Club. [was hoping that Gene Kroeger and John lvloreland .II'. would be here. They me the co-developers of Park West Subdhision. You just go through apprming the finaJ pJat of the subdivision and of course, the Kiwanis Park, is an outgrowth of that subdivision. And I want you to know that it is indeed with pleasure that I am presenting tlus land to the City of Iowa City to be used as park Jand and hopefully to be named Kiwanis Park. Now this is the first/and that the Dane family owned in this area which has been developed for residential or even commercial purposes. My father bought this land, this -10 acres, in 1936 and we have continuously fanned this land through the years, including 1992. We raised soy beans on at least part of it, including the Jand that will be the park. But probably there may be a reII' acres of crops over there next year. But within the next few years there IVon't be anymore fanning done on this ground. Noll' the reason that we wouJd like to call it Kiwanis Park is that my father was a member of the noon Kiwanis Club for many years and very proudJy wore a pin, a Kiwanis pJn, signil)'ing ..J.S years or perfect at tendance in Kiwanis when he died in 19iO. And my brother continued as a member or the Noon Kiwanis Club. / waited until IVe chartered OJd Capital Club in 196 i and I am a charter member of that club and have perfect atlendance in the Old Capital Kiwanis CJub since its charter. And we do have two members of my own club here tonight and they will read a Jetter and submit it to you with the roster of our current members. Now if you chCXJse to name it Kiwanis Park you would then be honoring the Dane family and that is as much as \ ~ ~ -- ,,-.--- - .. -... ~1"- ....., ~-- -.--....-, ---. - . - r- -. ..- --... ......,.. - ....-- ........-- ::',~, ,:r,~,.:: ,'<;1";;;":, <~':~':<'<":~" . ,~"I,:" "'" " "'."~' , '. '1'I""~ "I.:..J ,t ,. ,," " " " ~: " ,.' /; ~ \ ,f ,',' I ," I ,,' , '; r,' '," . < . ~ < '.: < , , J, ~ < "lo ,,' _ . ., \. ~ . .! I" , . .' \ f ~'.\ ,! . \,' 1 < ," < ~,-; \ " l' ., \" ,-< ,< '~,: " ~ ..o 1113 page 2 we ask for in turn for this park land. And we are delighted that Kiwanis Clubs have joined with us In requesting this because they will be benefactors to the park Jaml. Both I am sure Jn the way of manual labor and monetmy support. We have also had a letter from./udy ruIJ, from the neighborhood assocJation on Abel' Street, supporting the acceptance of this as park land and Ihe naming of it as Kiwanis CJub. j\nd [ think the other clubs In the area also support it. So at this time I wouJd like to call on Paul Heath and he will make the presentation to you In behalf of the Kiwanis Club and that is all I have to say tonight. Thank you. PauJ Heathl Mayor and council members, [ have a brief letter here I'd like to read to you. [Reads Jetter.] Thank you. KalTI Do we have a motion to accept the letter Mr. Ivlayor? Kubbyl So moved. Courtney I Moved and seconded (Kubby/ Ambr) 10 accept the correspondence on 1111s item. Discussion. (passes) Any further discussion by the council on this item? Ambr/ I'd like to lead the round of applause. Courlney I ./ohn and Allegra, on behalf of the council and the citizens of Iowa City, we deeply appreciate your generosity and [oak forward to seeing the Kiwanis participate in the project. We'I1 have a super park out there. Any other discussion? RoIl call. (passes) ff9 -- -y-.-- .. ~.......-.~- .....-r---,..... - '.,.- -.,-- ... ..... T"""----"'-', " :''', '~' '. ' . - '. ~,., " :'., '. "',"': " " .; ,\ ,>,'{' \;'. ," ,,:: ~~ ,:~ ...' 'I :~. ,": ",,:":~, ',' .":,' ',.,"'i.: ","" ','/' "" I ,...., . 'I . .' '. 'll ,I, " . >":~.\,L..,j~J ",.t{,::.,t...'" '.'.,',' ,,"., ," ,,' . 1 ' ""~'" , . _, \ ," . . I , . City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: January 29, 1993 TO: Ci ty Council FROM: City Manager RE: Work Session Agendas and Meeting Schedule February I, 1993 Monday 5:30 - 8:00 P.M. City Council Work Session - Council Chambers 5:30 P.M. - Planning and Zoning Matters 6:30 P.M. - Conference 80ard Meeting (Separate agenda attached) 6:40 P.M. - Melrose Avenue Bridge and Street Improvements 7:00 P.M. - Neighborhood Open Space Committee . 7:15 P.M. - Human Services Agencies Funding 7:45 P.M. - Council agenda, Council time, Council committee reports February 2, 1993 Tuesday 7:30 P.M. - Regular Council Meeting - Council Chambers February 9 , 1993 7:00 P;M. - Tuesday City Council Work Session with Airport Commission _ Council Chambers Presentation by Coffman Associates, Inc., regarding Airport Relocation Feasibility Study \ February 15, 1993 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION CANCELLED Monday February 16, 1993 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING CANCELLED Tuesday Monday City Council Work Session - Council Chambers Agenda pending February 23 , 1993 Tuesday 7:30 P.M. - Special Council Meeting - Council Chambers February 22, 1993 5:30 - B:OO P.M. PENOING LIST Appointments to the Historic Preservation Commission and Mayor's Youth Employment Board - February 23, 1993. Appointments to the Design Review Committee, Board of Examiners of Plumbers, Planning and Zoning Commission, Mayor's Youth Employment Board and Housing Commission - March 16, 1993.