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Home My WebLink About2007-03-20 Correspondence ,! 1 -...= -4 ~~<ii~'t ~~_IIII.~ ..... - I Nt EYMOc5 RANAO 11 M [;[] Date: March 13, 2007 To: City Clerk From: Kent Ralston, Acting Traffic Engineering Planner ~i2- Re: Item for March 20, 2007 City Council meeting; Installation of NO PARKING SAM -5PM Monday-Friday on the east side of Meadow Ridge Lane. As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action. Action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A (10); Install (3) NO PARKING 8AM-5PM Monday-Friday signs on the east side of Meadow Ridge Lane. Comment: This action is being taken at the request of Meadow Ridge Lane residents in order to facilitate mail delivery. A parking survey was administered to the neighborhood showing 64% of affected residents who responded (11 total respondents) were in favor of the stated action. jccogtp/mem/noparkmeadowridge.doc . . '-! :~.- c; --. -'"{"-j w ...,., ~'~::;:-, :::c:'~ /', ":::;;0 r:'? t',O U1 i:; I ~ I -....= -~... !~ai~~ -..;;::... ....~ ......- CITY OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM ~ ~ From: March 14,2007 City Clerk Jeff Davidson, Acting Traffic Engineering Planner ~ Item for March 20, 2007 City Council meeting; installation of taxicab stands on Iowa Avenue and Washington Street in the Central Business District Date: To: Re: As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action, Action Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(19); install signage indicating NO PARKING TAXI STAND ONLY 5PM - 2AM on Iowa Avenue and Washington Street in the Central Business District. Comment This action is being taken to establish taxicab stands in the Central Business District. The designated areas in the 100 and 200 blocks of Iowa Avenue and the 100 block of Washington Street are currently commercial vehicle loading zones on Iowa Avenue and a non-specified loading zone on the west end of the 100 block of Washington Street. Signage will be installed indicating that these areas are for taxicab use only between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. jccogadmJmemJactcomm.laxistands.doc --"-1 ,_.~. <.....-j j> ('"J1 Ul ;;1:31 (f) Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Dale Helling Tuesday, March 20, 20074:47 PM 'Anne Wallace' .City Council; Steve Atkins RE: use of website for political purposes Dear Ms. Wallace, Thank you for your email to the City Council regarding use of the City website for political purposes. Your correspondence was forwarded to Council as part of the consent agenda for today's regular Council meeting. You may have noticed that this posting was removed from the website on the same morning your email was received. You are correct that there were inaccuracies in the posting. Further, your observation that materials aimed at lobbying for or against state legislation are not appropriate for posting on the City website is consistent with our policies. Thus I very much appreciate your bring this to our attention. We will try to be more diligent in the future to ensure that this kind of material does not appear on the website. Sincerely, Dale Helling Assistant City Manager cc. Steve Atkins, City Manager -----Original Message----- From: Anne Wallace [mailto:schnauzersrule@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 8:08 AM To: *City Council Subject: use of website for political purposes I was surprised to see the official City of Iowa City website lobbying against state legislation, particuliarly the proposed cable tv bill which would bring competition to the local market. (see link for media release from senior center below). I doubt this is a legitimate use of public resources, but in any event, it appears the release contains scare tactics and untruths. Here is the link to the official media release: http://www.icgov.org/news.asp?ID=5075 I have read the bill and I believe that present access channels must be maintained, not destroyed like the release suggests. Local news media outlets have already made stories prompted by this release, so the inaccuracies have been spread further throughout the community. If political issues are broached on the website, at the very least it needs to be a completely accurate presentation with all pros and cons explained, not just the self interest of a particular group. Any inaccuracies, exaggerations or mistruths should be corrected by means of a similar media release in an attempt to correct the damage done to some degree. I have also contacted Rep. Joe Balkcom who can fill you in on the truth of the situation. As a senior citizen who recently returned to my home town for retirement, I resent being pandered to and used as a political tool to further specific agendas. I expect to be treated as a logical thinker who will make up my own mind based on the facts, not propaganda. My recent home town had both competition and local access channels, plus lower prices and more offerings, which I think would serve senior citizens, and all citizens, the best. 1 Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advlslon.webevents.yahoo.com/mallbeta/features spam.html 2 I ~ 1 !~~~'r ""..... -ga.' .....,.. .. CITY OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM ~ ~ Date: March 14,2007 To: City Clerk From: Anissa Gerard, Traffic Engineering Planner af1 Re: Item for March 20, 2007 City Council meeting: Removal of HANDICAP PARKING in the 800 block of 3'" Avenue. As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, 38 of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action. Action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(10) of the City Code, signs indicating HANDICAP PARKING will be removed in front of the residence at 812 3'" Avenue. Comment: This action is being taken because the elderly resident who lives at812 3rd Avenue that this was installed for no longer uses this access to her home. Mgr/agditemsJag-34daveha ndicapparking. doc ,.----" L---.) :~~ -r'l . , r. .",..-.,-, N :::-- p... ;:') ---.J Page 1 of 1 Marian Karr ~ ~ From: RussUPS@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 4:59 PM To: 'City Council Subject: (no subject) I think it is time to give Mid America Energy a franchise. I have been a life long resident of Iowa City for 51 years and my dad worked for Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric and Mid America Energy for 30 years before retiring. I know first hand what these men and women go through and their family members when they are called out during a storm to get power going again. This company is totally committed to serving our area with the low cost energy and fantastic service as we have witnessed during a tornado and an ice storm and as I have when my dad worked there and I still see it to this day. What more can this company do to prove themselves to you. Don't even compare them to the Mediacom problems we've had with increases and lack of service. That is just pure greed on their part. Russell Haught AOL now offers free emailto everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL&Q!l1. 3/6/2007 Page I of I Marian Karr ~ WiW From: Smith, Oliva J [oliva-smith@uiowa.edul Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 3:32 PM To: wlchambr@Lcom.net; 'City Council; nbeuter@ci.coralville.ia.us Subject: USDA-Farmers Market Promotion Program HI-- I thought you might find this of interest; only a month until the closing date, however. I found this at grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/search/search.dQ?oppld=12903&mode"VIEW url to full announcement hltP;llwww.ams.usda.gQvlfmppl Proposals may involve any ofthe following: I) Improving Access to Relevant Marketing and Financial Information - projects that provide opportunities and promote training, education, networking, technical assistance, and information sharing for farmers, vendors, market management, and market sponsors, 2) Consumer-Based Education and Market Access - projects that address ways to improve consumers' access to and utilization of direct farm markets/marketing outlets; and 3) Innovative Approaches to Market Operations and Management - projects that address operational or market management issues, with the aim of enhancing product value and sales, increasing revenue and efficiency, or reducing expenses. Closing Date for Applications: April 13, 2007 Oliva Smith Program Associate Division of Sponsored Programs 100 Gilmore Hall The University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242 QIjY,":smith@uiowa.edu 3/9/2007 Page 1 of 1 Marian Karr ~ ~ From: Marian Karr Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 2:50 PM To: 'David Thompson' Cc: 'City Council Subject: RE: petition Dear David, Your request has been forwarded to me for a response. Depending on the subject matter of the resolution you are suggesting there are various ways to gain its consideration. A citizen may simply contact Council Members directly about a resolution and ask if the matter could be scheduled for an upcoming work session for discussion. If three Council Members agree to schedule the matter for discussion, and at that meeting a majority agreed to proceed, Council could direct staff to prepare the resolution for Council consideration at an upcoming meeting. You may also write a letter, email is acceptable, or appear at a Council meeting and ask Council consideration. Items can not be acted upon at that meeting without 24 hours notice and posting of an agenda but with Council direction could be added to an upcoming agenda Iowa City Charter does allow for initiative and referendum questions as well. The Citizens Guide was written to explain the Charter and outline procedures for submission of questions. I've attached the link below for your review. The procedures for submission are detailed on page 5 "Initiatives and Referendums". If you are interested in proceeding with this procedure please give me a call and I'll discuss the specific timelines. http://www.icgov.org/documents/CitizensCharterGuide.pdf I hope this information is of help to you and please let me know if I can be of further assistance Marian K. K8rr, City Clerk City of Iowa City Population 62,380 (phone) 319-356-5041 (fax) 319-356-5497 From: David Thompson [mailto:dthomps13@hotmail.com] Sent: Saturday, March 10,20078:14 PM To: *City Council Subject: petition Dear Council Members, My name is David Thompson and I'm inquiring about how to officially organize a petition to hopefully pass a resolution. Any help would be great. Thanks for your time. Sincerely, David Thompson 1314 2nd Ave. Iowa City, IA S2240 3/13/2007 Page 1 of 1 Marian Karr ~ ~ From: Carol Thompson [carolt@inav.net] Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 6:00 PM To: 'City Council Subject: Senior Center This correspondence will become a public record. I sent this in January, but I'm not sure if you got it. I applaud your initiative to have a searching look at the Senior Center and the possibility of merging it with the Recreation Department. As you know, 1 have a long history with the Senior Center and, now that I am a senior myself, I see why the model that worked so well in the 1970's and '80's is less effective now. Older seniors tell me they feel the Center has "passed them by" in favor of younger folks, and there is a certain amount of resentment about this since they contributed significant amounts of money and volunteer time to the Center in the past. Younger seniors see the Center as a "club" for older folks and don't find enough there that is (1) relevant to their interests or (2) offered at a convenient time, for them to pay a membership fee to join. The negative comments I hear do not support the Press-Citizen's thought that the Center is well-beloved among seniors. Neither do the numbers on members or participants (and participant numbers are not precisely-calculated). I hear many comments from non-member participants in Center activities, principally senior dining, that they feel unwelcome in the Center. If you divide the total Center budget by the number of members, or even the number of participants, it's a pretty high price per person. Certainly not the value for tax dollars that we expect from the library or the recreation department. One of my biggest joys in retirement is playing with my foster grandchild. I would never join a facility where she is unwelcome. I think tomorrow's seniors will want to learn and grow with people of all ages. Perhaps the model of the segregated senior center should be replaced with a model of integration with other recreation participants. Knowing Iowa City Recreation's record on inclusion, I feel confident they could devise safe ways for even frail seniors to participate, and that they would know when exclusively-senior activities would be beneficial. They could offer a wider range of activities to suit more-active seniors, leaving space in the senior center building for more community-oriented events. I know it takes a lot of courage for a governmental body to address an issue like this, and I commend you for doing it. Carol Thompson 3/14/2007 ::I-3<J (d Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Dale Helling Tuesday, March 20, 2007 4:47 PM 'Anne Wallace' 'City Council; Steve Atkins RE: use of website for political purposes Dear Ms. Wallace, Thank you for your email to the City Council regarding use of the City website for political purposes. Your correspondence was forwarded to Council as part of the consent agenda for today's regular Council meeting. You may have noticed that this posting was removed from thewebsite on the same morning your ernail was received. You are correct that there were inaccuracies in the posting. Further, your observation that materials aimed at lobbying for or against state legislation are not appropriate for posting on the City website is consistent with our policies. Thus I very much appreciate your bring this to our attention. We will try to be more diligent in the future to ensure that this kind of material does not appear on the website. Sincerely, Dale Helling Assistant City Manager CG. Steve Atkins, City Manager -----Original Message----- From: Anne Wallace [mailto:schnauzersrule@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 8:08 AM To: 'City Council Subject: use of website for political purposes I was surprised to see the official City of Iowa City website lobbying against state legislation, particuliarly the proposed cable tv bill which would bring competition to the local market. (see link for media release from senior center below). I doubt this is a legitimate use of public resources, but in any event, it appears the release contains scare tactics and untruths. Here is the link to the official media release: http://www.icgov.org/news.asp?ID=5075 I have read the bill and I believe that present access channels must be maintained, not destroyed like the release suggests. Local news media outlets have already made stories prompted by this release, so the inaccuracies have been spread further throughout the community. If political issues are broached on the website, at the very least it neeqs to be a completely accur~te presentation with all pros and cons explained, not just the self interest of a particular group. Any inaccuracies, exaggerations or mistruths should be corrected by means of a similar media release in an attempt to correct the damage done to some degree. I have also contacted Rep. Joe Bolkcom who can fill you in on the truth of the situation. As a senior citizen who recently returned to my home town for retirement, I resent being pandered to and used as a political tool to further specific agendas. I expect to be treated as a logical thinker who will make up my own mind based on the facts, not propaganda. My recent home town had both competition and local access channels, plus lower prices and more offerings, which I think would serve senior citizens, and all citizens, the best. 1 Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advlslon.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/features spam.html 2 Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Subject: Anne Wallace [schnauzersrule@yahoocom] Thursday, March 15, 2007 8:08 AM 'City Council use of website for political purposes 0&1- I was surprised to see the official City of Iowa City website lobbying against state legislation, par 'culiarly the proposed cable tv bill which would bring rnpetitioD to the local market. (S8 link for media release from senior center below). doubt this is a legitimate use of p bIie resources, but in any event, it appears e release contains scare tactics and un uths. Here is the link to the fficial http://www.icgov.org/news. release: I have read the bill and I present ac 55 channels must be maintained, not destroyed like the release sug ests. Local news edia outlets have already made stories prompted by this release, so th inaccuracies ave been spread further throughout the community. If political issues a e broache on the website, at the very least it needs to be a completely accurate presentat'on wit all pros and cons explained, not just the self interest of a particular group. Any ina uracies, exaggerations or mistruths should be corrected by means of a similar medi elease in an attempt to correct the damage done to some degree. I have also contacted . Joe Bolkcom who can fill you in on the truth of the situation. As a senior citizen who recen to my home town for retirement, I resent being pandered to and used as a po ltical tool 0 further specific agendas. I expect to be treated as logical thinke who will make up my own mind based on the facts, not propaganda. recent home town had both competition and local access channels, plus lower pr'ces and more offerin s, which I think would serve senior citizens, and all citizens, the est. Sucker punch spam with award winning protection. Try the fr Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://ad lSlon.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/features spam.html 1