HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-21-2014 Human Rights CommissionAGENDA
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
HELLING CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL
October 21, 2014
6:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order/ Roll Call
2. Approval of Minutes September 16, 2014 Meeting & October 2, 2014 Goal Setting Session
3. Public Comment of Items Not on the Agenda
4. New Business:
a. Change time of November 18th meeting from 6pm to 6:30pm
b. Sponsorship Request University of Iowa Center for Human Rights
5. Old Business:
a. Goal Setting Session
6. Upcoming Events/Programs:
a. Human Rights Breakfast (Wednesday, October 29)
b. Job Fair (Thursday, October 30)
c. Public Accommodation Training (Wednesday, November 12)
7. Reports:
a. Human Rights Opportunity Fair
b. Defending Migrants' Rights
c. Education Subcommittee (Retish, Olmstead, Coulter)
i. Iowa City Community School District holding high school football game on
Yom Kippur
ii. Possible Future Program
1. The Past, Present, Future: The History of Minorities Views on Law
Enforcement
d. Building Communities Subcommittee (Townsend)
e. University of Iowa Center for Human Rights (Ghoneim, Olmstead)
f. Commission
g. Staff
8. Set Next Regular Meeting Date: November 18 (Time TBA)
9. Adjourn
The Haman Rights Commission meetings follow the Iowa City Community School District closings for inclement weather except for early
dismissals for heat.
Minutes
Human Rights Commission
September 16, 2014 — 6 PM
Helling Conference Room
Preliminary
Members Present: Harry Olmstead, Shams Ghoneim, Orville Townsend, Kim Hanrahan,
Joe Coulter.
Members Excused: Paul Retish, Stella Hart, Andrea Cohen, Ali Ahmed.
Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers.
Others Present: Dennis Bockenstedt, Jeremy Endsley, Sally Scott, Donovan Bosold.
Recommendations to Council: No.
Call to Order:
Olmstead called the meeting to order at 18:00.
Consideration of the Minutes from the August 19 2014 Meeting:
Motion: Moved by Townsend, seconded by Ghoneim. Motion passed 5-0.
Meeting Business:
Presentation on Local Option Sales Tax & the City Budget
Finance Director Dennis Bockenstedt presented on the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) and the City
budget. Bockenstedt discussed the essential factors that have been identified, components directly
impacting City revenue and impact from property tax reforms.
Presentation & Possible Collaboration Request from Johnson County Affordable Home Coalition
Sally Scott and Jeremy Endsley spoke on recent initiatives of the Johnson County Affordable Homes
Coalition. Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY) is an outreach program to the community that
stresses the value of affordable housing and how important it is to a community. Scott
encouraged Commissioners to register and attend the upcoming Affordable Housing in a Tight
Market Seminar being held on October 2nd.
Proposed Date Change for December 2014 Meeting Date from the 16th to the 15th
Date will be changed from December 16, 2014 to December 15, 2014 to respect the starting of Hanukah
at sundown on the 16th.
Motion: Moved by Coulter, seconded by Ghoneim. Motion passed 5-0.
Sponsorship Request from Social Justice through Secular Government
Donovan Bosold reported to the Commission that the event would be taking place on Wednesday,
September 17th. The program will feature a presentation by Sean Faircloth and will discuss the pursuit of
social justice through secular government. The Commission agreed to contribute $50 toward the
operational costs of this program.
Motion: Moved by Townsend, seconded by Coulter. Motion passed 5-0.
Possible Proclamations for the Rest of Year
The Commission agreed to submit proclamations to the Mayor for Hispanic Heritage Month, National
Disability Employment Awareness Month and National American Indian Month.
Breakfast 2014
Olmstead, Retish, and Harahan will serve on the subcommittee to select 2014 honorees. Ghoneim will do
the opening at the Breakfast, Olmstead will introduce the keynote, Cohen will present the awards, and
Hart will wrap it up with the closing.
Upcomine Proerams
Human Rights Opportunity Fair
The event location has been moved to the T. Anne Cleary Walkway on the University of Iowa Campus
Olmstead, Cohen, and Townsend will represent the Commission at this event.
Goal Setting Session for FT 15
The session will be held on Thursday, October 2nd at the Eastside Recycling Environmental Education
Center. It should run from 5-8pm.
Defending Migrants' Rights
Ghoneim and Olmstead will meet with a group of Russian visitors through the CIVIC program on
October 6th.
Reports
Building Blocks to Employment Job Fair
The job fair is scheduled for Thursday, October 30th from 4-6 pm at the Eastdale Plaza
Building Communities Subcommittee
Townsend would like to see a policy that requires City staff when requesting policy changes to the
Council to be required to include a statement as to how that particular policy change could potentially
affect individuals in the community, particularly minority persons.
University of Iowa Center for Human Rights Board
Ghoneim reported that she recently served on a panel that discussed changing the term ISIS to QSIS
(Qaeda Separatists Of h-aq And Syria) in an attempt to educate the world about the difference between
real Islam and terrorism.
Commission
Coulter noted the recently released Equity Report. Coulter urges all Commissioners to read the report and
take a look at the issues and how the Commission can support or address the issues.
Adjournment: 20:05.
Next Regular Meeting — October 21, 2014 at 6:00 pm.
Human Rights Commission
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2013/2014
eetin Date
NAME
TERM
EXP.
9/17/
13
10/15/
13
11/19/
13
12/17/
13
1/21/
14
2/18/
14
3/18/
14
4/29/
14
5/20/
14
6/17/
14
7/15/
14
8/19/
14
9/16/
14
Ali Ahmed
l/l/17
-
_
-
_
X
X
O/E
O/E
O/E
X
X
X
WE
Orville
Townsend, Sr.
1/1/17
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
PaulRetish
l/l/17
-
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
O/E
X
O/E
Kim
Hanrahan
111115
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
O/E
X
X
X
Shams
Ghoneim
111115
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Stella Hart
111115
-
-
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
X
X
X
O/E
Jewell Amos
111115
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
O/E
R
R
R
R
R
R
Joe D.Coulter
1/1/16
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
Harry
Olmstead
1/l/16
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Andrea Cohen
1/1/16
X
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
KEY: X = Present
O = Absent
O/E = Absent/Excused
NM = No meeting
= No longer a member
R = Resignation
Work Session (Goal Setting) Minutes Preliminary
Human Rights Commission
October 2, 2014 — 5 PM
Eastside Recycling Environmental Education Center
Members Present: Harry Olmstead, Shams Ghoneim, Orville Townsend, Kim Hanrahan,
Paul Retish, Stella Hart, Andrea Cohen, Ali Ahmed.
Excused Members: Joe Coulter.
Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers.
Others Present: Jeff Schott.
Call to Order:
Olmstead called the meeting to order at 17:03
Session:
A goal setting session was held at the Eastside Recycling Environmental Education Center. The
following Commission members were in attendance and participated at this meeting: Harry
Olmstead (Chair), Andrea Cohen (Vice -Chair), Shams Ghoneim, Paul Retish, Stella Hart, Ali
Ahmed, Orville Townsend, Sr., and Kim Hanrahan. Also in attendance and participating in the
session was Human Rights Coordinator Stefanie Bowers.
The following were identified as recent accomplishments of the Human Rights Commission:
• Participation and co-sponsorship of diverse local community events, workshops,
and initiatives either through monetary contributions, actual participation or
spreading the word about upcoming events and programs.
• Activities of the Commission's Immigration and Education subcommittees.
• Concerns/discussions of Iowa City Community School District's actions and
implementation of the diversity policy.
• Participating in programs and activities with other organizations, including the
University of Iowa Center for Human Rights, the Center for Worker Justice, and the
Council for International Visitors to Iowa City.
• Outreach and assistance to the University of Iowa Chinese Students Association.
• Job fair.
• Youth Awards.
• Human Rights Awards Breakfast.
• Disproportionate Minority Contact Conference.
• Americans with Disabilities educational programs.
• Submission of monthly proclamations to the Mayor.
• Recommendation to Council to support the adoption & implementation of the
Municipal Identification Card.
• Recommendation to Council regarding future budgeting for the SEATS program.
• Annual report.
The following were identified as key purposes of the Human Rights Commission as identified by
the Commission:
• Educate and raise awareness on human rights and recourse if and when rights are
violated.
• Provide services to persons who feel they have been treated unfairly in a protected
area and based on a protected characteristic.
• Cooperate as appropriate with other agencies /organizations both public and
private with similar /related objectives. For example through programming and
other activities.
• Advocate for social justice.
• Make recommendations to the City Council as needed.
The following were identified as new priority projects, programs, and initiatives identified by the
Commission for the upcoming 24 - 36 month period (listed in priority order):
1. Develop listening posts for outreach to target communities.
2. Enhance presence with quarterly presentations to City Council on Commission events,
programs and initiatives.
3. (Tie) Affordable/universal/accessible housing — educational programs.
(Tie) Hold meetings with various community groups.
Ghoneim left meeting at 20:05
It is recommended that staff prepare an action plan for the Commission to accomplish the
planning goals. The action plan should define the steps the Commission will need to take to
accomplish each goal, identify which Commissioner is responsible for implementation, and
establish a timeline for accomplishment. The action plan should then be presented to the entire
Commission for review and approval. It is also recommended that staff review with the
Commission the status of implementing the goals on a quarterly basis.
Adjournment: 20:42
Next Regular Meeting — October 21, 2014 at 6:00 pm.
2
Human Rights Commission
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2013/2014
eetin Date
NAME
TERM
EXP.
11/191
13
12/17/
13
1/21/
14
2/18/
14
3/18/
14
4/29/
14
5/20/
14
6/17/
14
7/15/
14
8/19/
14
9/16/
14
10/2/
14
Ali Ahmed
1/1/17
-
-
X
X
O/E
O/E
O/E
X
X
X
O/E
X
Orville
Townsend, Sr.
1/l/17
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
X
Paa1 Retiah
1/1/17
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
O/E
X
O/E
X
Kim
Hanrahan
1/1/15
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
O/E
X
X
X
X
Shams
Chonelm
111115
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Stella Hart
111115
-
-
_
_
_
_
_
X
X
X
O/E
X
Jewell Amos
111115
O/E
X
X
X
O/E
R
R
R
R
R
R
X
Joe D.Coulter
1/1/16
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
O/E
Harry
Olmstead
1/1/16
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Andrea Cohen
1/l/16
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
KEY: X = Present
O = Absent
O/E = Absent/Excused
NM = No meeting
— = No longer a member
R = Resignation
Agenda Item 5a
IOWA CITY
HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION
GOAL SETTING SESSION REPORT
2014
Facilitated by:
Jeff Schott
Institute of Public Affairs
University oflowa
IOWA CITY
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
GOAL SETTING SESSION
2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction.................................................................................... Page 3
Goal Setting Session..................................................................... Page 3
Key Purposes of the Commission...................................................... Page 4
Accomplishments......................................................................... Page 5
Issues, Concerns, Trends, and Opportunities .......................................... Page 6
On -Going Commitments.................................................................. Page 8
New Priority Projects, Programs or Initiatives ....................................... Page 8
Organizational Effectiveness Initiatives ............................................. Page 9
FinalComments................................................................................................. Page 9
2
IOWA CITY
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
GOAL SETTING SESSION
2014
Introduction
The Iowa City Human Rights Commission (ICHRC) requested the Institute of Public
Affairs (IPA) to assist the Commission with goal setting. IPA agreed to organize and
facilitate a process that involved the following steps:
1. Prepare a questionnaire to ICHRC Commissioners and ICHRC Coordinator
Stefanie Bowers regarding: the key purposes of the Commission, recent
accomplishments, issues/trends/concems/opportunities, potential new
initiatives, programs, or policies and suggestions to improve organizational
effectiveness;
2. Conduct a goal setting planning session with Commission and Coordinator;
3. Preparation of this report.
Goal Setting Session
A goal setting session with ICHRC was held on October 2, 2014, at the Eastside
Recycling Environmental Education Center, 2401 Scott Boulevard SE in Iowa City.
The following Commission members were in attendance and participated at this meeting:
Harry Olmstead (Chair), Andrea Cohen (Vice -Chair), Shams Ghoneim, Paul Retish,
Stella Hart Ali Ahmed, Orville Townsend, Sr., and Kim Hanrahan. Also in attendance
and participating in the session was ICHRC Coordinator Stefanie Bowers.
3
Key Purposes of the Commission as Reported by Commissioners
The following were identified as key purposes of the ICHRC:
• Educate and raise awareness on human rights and recourse if and when
rights are violated.
• Provide services to persons who feel they have been treated unfairly in a
protected area and based on a protected characteristic.
• Cooperate as appropriate with other agencies /organizations both public and
private with similar /related objectives. For example through programming
and other activities.
• Advocate for social justice.
• Make recommendations to the City Council as needed.
The participants also reviewed the powers of the Commission as set forth in Chapter 2 of
the Municipal Code, per below:
There is hereby established the Iowa City human rights commission whose duties
shall be to disseminate information, educate the public on illegal discrimination and
human rights, provide the enforcement necessary to further the goals of this title, and
protect citizens from unfounded charges of discriminatory practices.
A. Receive complaints alleging unfair or discriminatory practices.
B. Investigate and study the existence, character, causes and extent of discrimination
in the areas covered by this title, and to eliminate discrimination by education,
conciliation and enforcement where necessary.
C. Issue publications and reports of the research and investigations of the commission
subject to the limitations of confidentiality.
D. Prepare and transmit to the city council from time to time, but not less often than
once each year, reports describing the proceedings, investigations, hearings,
decisions and other work performed by the commission.
E. Make recommendations to the city council for such further legislation concerning
discrimination as it may deem necessary and desirable.
F. Cooperate, within the limits of any appropriations made for its operation, with
other agencies or organizations, both public and private, whose purposes are not
inconsistent with those of this title, and in the planning and conducting of
programs designed to eliminate racial, religious, cultural and other intergroup
tensions.
G. Educate the public on human rights and illegal discrimination, such as organizing
and facilitating educational public forums that address one or more of the broad
range of topics included within the rubric of human rights.
H. Seek injunctive relief as may be appropriate to preserve the rights of the
complainant and the public interest when it appears that a complainant may be
irreparably injured before a public hearing can be called to determine the merits
of the complaint.
I. Issue subpoenas and order discovery as provided by this section to aid in
investigations of allegations of discrimination. The subpoenas and discovery may
be ordered to the same extent and are subject to the same limitations as subpoenas
and discovery in a civil action in district court.
Accomplishments
The following were identified as recent accomplishments of ICHRC:
• Participation and co-sponsorship of diverse local community events,
workshops, and initiatives either through monetary contributions,
participation or spreading the word about upcoming events and programs.
• Activities of the Commission's Immigration and Education subcommittees.
• Concerns/discussions of Iowa City Community School Districts actions and
implementation of the diversity policy.
• Participating in programs and activities with other organizations, including
the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights, the Center for Worker
Justice, and the Council for International Visitors to Iowa City.
• Outreach and assistance to the University of Iowa Chinese Students
Association.
• Identification of areas of need and spearheading effort to address those
issues.
• Job fair.
• Youth Awards.
• Human Rights Awards Breakfast.
• Financial support for Iowa City Pride Festival
• Disproportionate Minority Contact Conference.
• Americans with Disabilities educational programs.
• Adolescent bullying programs.
• Submission of monthly proclamations to the Mayor.
• Recommendation to Council to support the adoption & implementation of the
Municipal Identification Card
• Recommendation to Council regarding future budgeting for the SEATS
program.
• Annual reports
For a more complete list of accomplishments, refer to the Commission's annual
reports.
5
Issues, Concerns, Trends and Opportunities
The following were identified as issues, concerns, trends, and opportunities that may
affect future ICHRC services, policies, programs or operations:
Accessibility
• Making Iowa City more accessible.
• Housing accessibility.
Community Outreach/Support
• Education and support to community; outreach to new residents.
• Opportunity to be more actively present in the community ---to educate and
support.
Education
• Equal educational opportunities within the Iowa City Community School
District.
• Input to Iowa City Community School District in developing school plan on
diversity.
Em llooyment
• Quality work environments - concern over lack of pay and addressing issues
of wage theft.
• Entry level employment opportunities for youth and adult.
Housing
• Affordable, universal and accessible housing.
• Attracting more Section 8 housing.
• Quality of housing stock.
• Homelessness.
• Scattered sites.
• Availability of range of housing types.
&Lety
• Street harassment.
• Sexual assault.
Racial/ethnic/religious relationships/tensions between minorities and law
enforcement.
• Increasing violence/aggressiveness in communities.
Transportation
• New options for SEATS.
• Iowa City transit system.
Organizational
• Opportunity to identify a few issues and to focus only on those issues.
• Commission should be proactive rather than reactive.
• It is unclear whether a project/initiative has been completed.
• Pet projects.
• Not working as a team.
• Not being clear on objectives.
• Commission initiates action but does not follow thru.
• Not being clear during meetings of the history of certain actions or ideas.
Other
• Needs of senior residents in Iowa City.
• Issues related to people with mental and physical disabilities.
• Needs of adolescents.
• Immigrant rights.
• Food insecurity.
• Too much lip service in community of human rights by organization re:
human rights.
• Diversity issues ....but little done.
On-GoinE Commitments
The following were identified as on -going commitments of the Commission for the
upcoming 24 — 36 month period:
• Youth Awards.
• Awards breakfast.
• Job Fair.
• Mayoral proclamations.
• Continuing educational programs.
• Continuing outreach efforts.
• Compliance with Chapter 2 of the Municipal Code.
New Priority Proiects, Programs, and Initiatives
The following were identified as new priority projects, programs, and initiatives of the
Commission for the upcoming 24 - 36 month period (listed in priority order):
1. Develop listening posts for outreach to target communities.
2. Enhance presence with quarterly presentations to City Council on
Commission events, programs and initiatives.
3. (Tie) Affordable/universal/accessible housing — educational programs & (Tie)
Hold meetings with various community groups.
Note: The item below received 4 votes from the 8 persons attending the session.
If Commissioner Joe Coulter who was unable to attend the session identities this
item as a priority, it should then be listed as New Priority Project #5.
Develop program for Commission members to present educational programs to
schools, community groups, service clubs, faith communities, etc.
Organizational Effectiveness Initiatives
The participants reviewed a variety of ideas to improve organizational effectiveness and
recommended the following initiatives:
• Continue Commission sub -committees.
• The Commission should initiate more educational programs and outreach
programs from trends reported in the Annual Report or the Equity Report, as
examples.
• More Commissioner participation in Commission -sponsored events, programs
and outreach.
Final Comments
It was a pleasure to assist the Iowa City Human Rights Commission with this project.
It is important to note that the prioritization of projects and initiatives is not "cast in
stone." They can be modified as new circumstances may occur.
It is recommended that staff prepare an "action plan" for accomplishing the planning
goals. The action plan would define the steps that would be needed to accomplish each
goal, identify who is responsible for implementation, and establish a timeline for
accomplishment. The action plan should then be presented to the Commission for review
and approval. It is also recommended that staff review with the Commission the status of
implementing the goals on a quarterly basis.
Jeff Schott
Institute of Public Affairs
The University of Iowa
October 9, 2014
Agenda Item 4b
Stefanie Bowers
From:
Harry03 <Harry03@aol.com>
Sent:
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 4:10 PM
To:
Stefanie Bowers
Cc:
Gregory E Hamot; Adrien K Wing
Subject:
Sponsorship
Iowa City Human Rights Commission: 1 wish to get your cooperation in sponsoring (non -monetary) program on
the future of Human Rights. We will have representation from the various college disciplines in the morning
and a panel of distinguished represenatives of varied concerns from the community in the afternoon. I hope that
you can join in this cooperative effort.
Truly,
Harry Olmstead, Vice -chair.
University of Iowa Center for Human Rights Advisory Board
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone
Stefanie Bowers
From:
Harry Olmstead <HarryO3@aol.com>
Sent:
Monday, October 13, 2014 12:41 PM
To:
Stefanie Bowers
Subject:
Human Rights Symposium
Attachments:
November 15 New Document Word2007.docx
Stefanie: Here is a free symposium at UI on November 15. Everybody is invited and hope we have a
good turn out of HR Commissioners_ Feel free to forward this to anyone that you think may be
interested.
HarryO
UICHR@15
A Fifteenth Anniversary Conference
on
Human Rights: Future Potentials and Dangers
November 15, 2014
In recognition of the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights' 15th anniversary, the UICHR
staff and Board will host an event to explore the current state and future direction of human
rights related scholarship, applied research, and creative production in representative fields
from across campus. Speakers appointed by each collegiate dean on the UI campus will share
their thoughts on how (and whether) human rights as a moral/ethical/philosophical concept,
legal framework, and/or guide for consciousness and conduct provides opportunities for
innovative thinking in their fields of activity and study in and/or beyond the Academy. Each
speaker will also share their predictions for the future path of scholarship, research and
creative production related to the exploration of human rights in their field. The members of
the Advisory Board involved in the Programming Committee will assist with the afternoon panel
that features an extended discussion of human rights work in our local and statewide
community. Location: 2520D UCC
Lunch will be hosted by the Fundraising Committee of the UICHR Advisory Board, with
presentations by the 2014 Cmiel interns. Location: Room 2780 UCC.
Presentation Schedule
8:30-8:45: Opening by Dean Gail Agrawal and Professor Adrien Wing
8:45-9:15: Human Rights: Power, Potential, and Dangers —Address by Senior Scholar Burns
Weston
9:15-9:25: Break
9:25-10:30: The Future of Human Rights in the Arts and Humanities, moderated by Dr. Teresa
Mangum, Obermann Center
Dr. Jovana Davidovic—Department of Philosophy, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dr. Lisa Heineman —Department of History, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Professor Alan MacVev—Director of the Division of Performing Arts, College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences
Dr. Kristy Nabhan-Warren—Department of Religious Studies, College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences
10:30-10:40: Break
10:40-11:45: The Future of Human Rights in the Behavioral, Social, and Entrepreneurial
Sciences moderated by Professor Joseph Sulentic, Tippie College of Business
Dr. Carolyn Colvin —Former Faculty Senate President and Associate Professor of
Teaching and Learning, College of Education
Professor Alvssa Prorok, Assistant Professor of Political Science, College of Liberal Arts
and Sciences
Dr. Erica Prussine—Department of Anthropology (Medical Anthropology), College of
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Professor Len Sandler —Law and Policy in Action, College of Law
11:45-1:00: Lunch with Cmiel Interns (Intern program begins at noon)
1:00-2:05: The Future of Human Rights in the Engineering, Natural and Health Sciences
moderated by Dr. Peter Damiano, Professor of Dentistry and Director, Public Policy Center
Dr. Greg Carmichael —Karl Kammermeyer Professor of Chemical & Biochemical
Engineering, College of Engineering
Professor Michelle McQuistan—Associate Professor of Preventative and Community
Dentistry, College of Dentistry
Professor Ann Rhodes. JD, RN —Clinical Associate Professor, College of Nursing
Dr. Bernard Sorofm a n— Executive Associate Dean, College of Pharmacy
Dr. Eric Tate —Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences
Dr. Sherree Wilson —Associate Dean for Cultural Affairs and Diversity Initiatives, Carver
College of Medicine
2:05-2:15: Break
2:15-4:15: The Future of Human Rights in Iowa City, the Corridor Community and the State of
Iowa (with 15 min break), moderated by Mr. Harry Olmstead
State Senator Joe Bolkcom
Jeffrey Ford
Sally Scott—Chairjohnson County Affordable Homes Coalition; Community
Development Consultant
The Honorable Maggie Tinsman —Former Iowa State Senator; Founder and Chair,
Braking Traffik; Co -Chair, 50/50 in 2020
Stephen Trefz—Executive Director, Community Mental Health Center for Mid -Eastern
Iowa
Robert.Welsh—Retired Minister; Citizen Advocate
4:15-4:30: Closing remarks by Senior Scholar Burns Weston
Presenters
The Arts and Humanities:
Moderator: Dr. Teresa Mangum —Director, Obermann Center
Dr. Jovana Davidovic—Department of Philosophy, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dr. Lisa Heineman —Department of History, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Professor Alan MacVey—Director of the Division of Performing Arts, College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences
Dr. Kristy Nabhan-Warren—Department of Religious Studies, College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences
Social, Behavioral, and Entrepreneurial Sciences:
Moderator: Professor Joseph N. Sulentic, M.B.A., Lecturer, Tipple College of Business
Dr. Carolyn Colvin —Former Faculty Senate President and Associate Professor of Teaching and
Learning, College of Education
Dr. Alyssa Prorok, Assistant Professor of Political Science, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dr. Erica Prussing—Department of Anthropology (Medical Anthropology), College of Liberal Arts
and Sciences
Professor Len Sandler —Law and Policy in Action, College of Law
Medical, Natural, and Engineering Sciences:
Moderator: Dr. Peter Dam iano— Director, Public Policy Center and Professor, Preventative
Community Dentistry —College of Dentistry
Dr. Greg Carmichael —Karl Kammermeyer Professor of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering,
College of Engineering
Dr. Michelle McQuistan—Associate Professor of Preventative and Community Dentistry,
College of Dentistry
Professor Ann Rhodes, JD, RN —Clinical Associate Professor, College of Nursing
Dr. Bernard Sorofm a n— Executive Associate Dean, College of Pharmacy
4
Dr. Eric Tate —Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dr. Sherree Wilson —Associate Dean for Cultural Affairs and Diversity Initiatives, Carver College
of Medicine
Iowa City, the Corridor Community and the State of Iowa:
Moderator: Mr. Harry Olmstead —Iowa City Human Rights Commission
State Senator Joe Bolkcom
Jeffrey Ford
Sally Scott —Chair, Johnson County Affordable Homes Coalition; Community Development
Consultant
The Honorable Maggie Tinsman —Former Iowa State Senator; Founder and Chair, Braking
Traffik; Co -Chair, 50/50 in 2020
Stephen Trefz—Executive Director, Community Mental Health Center for Mid -Eastern Iowa
Robert Welsh —Retired Minister; Citizen Advocate
The Arts and Humanities
Teresa Mangum, moderator
teresa-mangum@uiowa.edu
Jovana Davidovic
jovana-davidovic@uiowa.edu
Lisa Heineman
elizabeth-heineman@uiowa.edu
Alan MacVey
alan-macvey@uowa.edu
Kristy Nabhan-Warren
kristy-nabhan-warren@uiowa.edu
Social, Behavioral, and Entrepreneurial Sciences
Joseph Sulentic, moderator
joseph-sulentic@uiowa.edu
Carolyn Colvin
carolyn-colvin@uiowa.edu
Alyssa Prorok
alyssa-prorok@uiowa.edu
Erica Prussing
erica-prussing@uiowa.edu
Leonard Sandler
leonard-sandler@uiowa.edu
Medical. Natural, and Engineering
Sciences
Peter Damiano, Moderator
Greg Carmichael
gregory-carmichael@uiowa.edu
Michelle McQuistan
michelle-mcquistan@uiowa.edu
Sherree Wilson
sherree-wilson@uiowa.edu
Anna Rhodes
anna-rhodes@uiowa.edu
Bernard Sorofman
bernard-sorofman@uiowa.edu
Eric Tate
eric-tate@uiowa.edu
Iowa City, the Corridor Community
and the State of Iowa
Mr. Harry Olmstead, moderator
Harry03@aol.com
Joe Bolkcom
joe@joebolkcom.org
Jeffrey Ford
jlford36@me.com
3
Sally Scott
The Honorable Maggie Tinsman
Stephen Trefz
salwah.scot@gmaii.com
maggie.tinsman@mchsi.com
strefz@meimhc.org
Robert Welsh Welsh.Bob@aol.com
7
COLLEGES AND ACADEMIC UNITS
Carver College of Medicine
College of Dentistry
College of Education
College of Engineering
College of Law
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
College of Nursing
College of Pharmacy
College of Public Health
Tippie College of Business
Agenda Item 7ci
Stefanie Bowers
From: Stefanie Bowers
Sent: Monday, October 13, 2014 3:37 PM
To: Stefanie Bowers
Subject: FW: Recruiting Employers for Job Fair
From: Retish, Paul M(mailto:naul-retishna,uiowa.edul
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2014 4:33 PM
To: Stefanie Bowers
Cc: Jeff Portman (irportmanaagudasachimic.org)
Subject: RE: Recruiting Employers for Job Fair
Stefanie As part of the education report for the next meeting, please make the commissioners aware that West
High School of Iowa City had a football game scheduled for October 3rd a Friday night which was the start of
the holiest day for Jews ( Yom Kippur) the district has received calendars informing them of this date but
somehow it did not register. The Rabbi at my urging, called the Superintendent and he indicated it was a game
scheduled by the state HS association. We objected and indicated the City High had changed their game. This
seems to be a on going issue that Iowa City does not understand that they should be aware of and
consider. Thanks paul
Agenda Item 7cii
Stefanie Bowers
From: Harry03 <Harry03@aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 11:06 AM
To: Stefanie Bowers
Subject: RE: Concerned citizens hold panel discussing courthouse annex - The Daily Iowan
Stefanie: That's a great idea, but someone else will need to head it up. Please put this item as a topic for
discussion on our agenda for one next meeting.
HarryO.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone
-------- Original message
From: Stefanie Bowers
Date:10/15/2014 10:08 AM (GMT-06:00)
To: 'Harry03'
Subject: RE: Concerned citizens hold panel discussing courthouse annex - The Daily Iowan
Hang,
The Commission could sponsor/hold another seminar or program that explores the issues. The seminar/program
would need to focus on the issue and have concrete steps for how to address it. Similar to the Disproportionate
Minority Confinement Seminar held in the fall of 2013.
Stefanie
From: Harry03 [mailto:Hary03@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 9:59 AM
To: Stefanie Bowers
Subject: Concerned citizens hold panel discussing courthouse annex The Daily Iowan
httn://www.dailviowan.com/2014/10/15/Metro/39516.htm1.
"Some blacks in Iowa City are living in fear of police."
Something I feel needs addressing. Any ideas of how we might explore this concern?
Harry Olmstead
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone
Concerned citizens hold panel discussing courthouse annex - The Daily Iowan
Page 1 of 3
THE INDEPENDENT DAILY NEWSPAPER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COMMUNITY SINCE 1868
The Daily Iowan 1HE DAILY IoO
ETHICS
POLITICS
NEWSPAPER ONLINE TE LEV1610N I1ITINi1VE
YiiERMRe6YMR
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2014 I
HOME METRO SPORTS OPHIIONR so HOURS PHOTO VIDEO
Concerned citizens hold panel discussing courthouse
annex
BY RACHEL OREM I OCTOBER 15, 2014 E100 AM
Eli......... TMI. ARTIOL.
As Election Day draws near, locals are Continuing the debate surrounding the proposed Johnson
County Courthouse annex, which will be on the ballot Nov. 4.
Some community members have spoken out against the addition, Calling for reform in the Johnson
Countyjustice system to take precedence over a new building.
This issue was brought up Tuesday night at a panel discussion titled "Inside Johnson County's
Justice System," sponsored by Free Johnson County.
"When you bring up racial disparity, people don't want to talk about it," Free Johnson County
member Martha Hempel said. "I'm heartbroken that we live in in an area with that attitude."
The proposed annex would be built onto the current Courthouse to provide better security measures
and create additional space for courtrooms, offices, and holding cells, among other necessities.
The group includes citizens from across the county who are concerned about the courthouse -bond
referendum. They also advocated for a"no vote the last time the bond referendum —which
included a newja➢ — was on the ballot.
Locals who attended the meeting expressed concern about minorities and the justice system, the
delay in trials in Johnson County, and the militarization of local police in local areas and across the
nation, with a large focus on ethnic disparity.
Panel member Robert Smith said it was a'shame" that some African -Americans in Johnson county
live in fear ofthe police.
"Police will patrol black neighborhoods looking for excuses to arrest people; he said.
Militarization of local policeforces was also discussed at the meeting, with the example of police
officers having tear gas and the Sheriffs Office owning a Mine -Resistant Ambush -Protected vehicle.
Hempel called for a change in police action, saying she did not believe children could see police with
an intimidating vehicle and SWAT uniforms as saving them.
"I'm worried about the future of our police, and I'm worried about future generations," she said.
Free Johnson County Director Sean Curtin said more focus needs to be brought to these issues in
relation to the courthouse annex.
"People might ask how racial disparity or how the [armored vehicle the county owns] pertains to the
courthouse annex, but it's all interrelated," he said. "The proposed courthouse has a jail connection
that could be utilized for the future, which the bond referendum isn't paying for.'
Members of Free Johnson County expressed opposition to the proposed additions to the original
courthouse at the meeting, as they first want to we reform and improvements made in the justice
systems in Johnson County ae the biggest priority in the district.
"All l want to see happen is justice for the citizens; Smith said."I believe voting yes for the
Courthouse will lead to defeat in a battle the citizens definitely need to win."
In today's issue:
http://www.dailyiowan.com/2014/10/15/Metro/39516.html 10/15/2014
October Correspondence
Submitted by staff 9/25/14.
UP
a Pi M. nr MARY F. MORTEN
Thursday, October 23
6:30 - 8:30 P.M- of lawa
100 Phillips Hall, university
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Submitted by staff 10/13/14.
October 8, 2014
Mr. Nicholas A. Kiinefeidt
United States Attorney, Southern District of Iowa
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Courthouse Annex, Suite 286
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2053
Dear Mr. Klinefeldt:
IP2
1 � 3 atoms
CITY OF 10W!4 CITY
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City. Iowa S2240-1926
(319) M-S000
(319) 3S6-S009 FAX
www.lcgov.org
This correspondence is in response to a letter the City received electronically from Assistant
U.S. Attorney Richard Richards on September 11, 2014. The letter indicates your office is
investigating a complaint regarding whether the City's provision of curb ramps is in compliance
with Title II of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the implementing regulation,
28 C.F.R Part 35. The signed letter received by the City on September 11, 2014 was dated
May 22, 2014. However, the City has no record of receipt of this letter at that time. The City
was first made aware of the letter on September 10, 2014 when a reporter from the Iowa City
Press -Citizen sent us images of an unsigned draft which prompted the City Manager's call to
your office that some day.
Because your letter did not include a copy of the complaint being investigated, in order to
respond to the questions posed I requested a copy of the complaint. Based on Mr. Richard's
letter to me of September 24, 2014 It is my understanding that the complaint was made to the
DOJ by letter dated March 13, 2014 from Mr. Lawrence Kudej that included copies of his letter
of February 22, 2014 to the Mayor, the City's response dated February 26, 2014 from Simon
Andrew and Mr. Kudej's subsequent email to Mr. Andrew dated March 13, 2014. Said
complaint is attached hereto as Exhibit W.
Regardless of the reason for the communication failure in May, the City's focus is to supply your
office with the information that was requested in your letter. To that and, below are responses in
corresponding numerical sequence to your letter.
Eleanor Dilkes, City Attorney
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
eleanor-diikesOiowa-city orrg
(319)356-5030
Eleanor Dilkes has authority to negotiate a settlement concerning this manner. Any final
settlement must be approved by the City Council.
2. With respect to the complaint being investigated, the City notes that it has been
responsive to Mr. Kudej's complaint to the City of February 22, 2014 and has had
ongoing communication, both written and in person, With Mr. Kudej. Attached as Exhibit
B" are the following written communications between Mr. Kudej and the City:
• Letter of February 27, 2014 from Simon Andrew of the City Manager's office in
response to Mr. Kudej's letter of February 22, 2014;
• Mr. Kudefs emails to Mr. Andrew of March 13 and March 31, 2014, Mr. Andrew's
email response of March 31, 2014 to Mr. Kudej and Mr. Kudej's email of March
31, 2014;
October 8, 2014
Page 2
Mr. Kudej's email to Mr. Andrew dated April 8, 2014 and Mr. Andrew's response
of that same date to Mr. Kudej;
Mr. Kudej's email of July 28, 2014 to Mr. Andrew, and Mr. Andrew's email
response of July 29, 2014;
Mr. Kudej's email of July 31, 2014 to Mr. Andrew, and Mr. Andrew's email
response of July 31, 2014.
Over the past three years the City has received requests for sidewalk accessibility
improvements at the following addresses and intersections (for purposes of this letter, the
requests are categorized by the City's actions in response to such inquiries):
• Village Road / Brighton Green / Taylor Court
• Dungan Court / Village Road
• \Allege Green / Compton Place
• Village Road / Village Farm Court
• Brookside / Willow
• Arbor / Court Hill Trail (mid -block)
• Maplewood / Juniper Drive
• Court Hill Park at Court Street and Friendship Street
Installed ADA compliant ramps (soot repair)
Newton / Woolf
• Court Street / Court Hill Trail (mid -block)
• Park / Ferson
• Emerald St / Horn Elementary
• Melrose mid -block / Hawkins
Installed ADA compliant ramps with the comoleted Highway 1 Trail Protect
Hudson / Benton
• Miler / Benton
• Orchard / Highway 1 West
• Miller / Highway 1 West
• Ruppert / Highway 1 West
• Walmart / Highway 1 West
Repaired by City Street Dept in 2013
• Oakes /Quincent
• Jefferson / Clinton
To be repaired with a Dlanned Water Main R_ lanment Proi ct (Sprina 15)
• Wade / Wayne
Locations pending scredulina by the City
• Lower West Branch Road / Oberlin Street
• Potomac / Washington Street
• 503 Grant Street
October 8, 2014
Page 3
Denied Requests
• Byington / Grand — request denied as a result of a determination that a mid -block
crossing would be hazardous due to the slope and the curvature of the road
3. The City has been proactively engaged in assessment and improvement of curb ramps
with the input of the public prior to and since the implementation of the ADA. A cursory
review of old City records reveals, for instance:
1) Budget activity logs from 1986 to 1989 for the Community Development Block Great
(CDBG) funds showing a line item for curb ramp installation;
2) Plans and specifications on which public hearings were held for the Neighborhood
Strategy Area Curb Ramp and Sidewalk Repair Program (1983) and the Creekside
Neighborhood Sidewalk Project (1985), both of which included curb ramp specifications;
3) Minutes of the citizen Committee on Community Needs that show deliberation
regarding "The curb ramp survey done in 1989', 'the curb ramp survey committee from
1991', an update of the 'engineer's map of curb ramps' in January 1992, and the
establishment of a new subcommittee to assess curb ramps in 1993;
4) a non -housing community development plan for fiscal years 1993-1998 adopted by
Council Resolution No. 93-81 of the City Council that includes a section on Architectural
Barrier Removal that states as a long tens objective to "continue the citywide installation
of curb ramps to make all sidewalks accessible;' and,
5) curb ramp inventories done in 1998 and 2001 by the JCCOG (now the Metropolitan
Planning Organization of Johnson County (MPOJC)) Transportation Division.
In addition, the City has had a formal sidewalk inspection program since 1996, which
includes evaluation, documentation and repair of curb ramps. While generally sidewalk
repair is the responsibility of the abutting property owner, curb ramps are the responsibility
Of the City. The City Is divided into 10 districts. Each year the sidewalks in one district are
inspected so that all sidewalks are inspected every 10 years. Attached as Exhibit "C' is a
memo dated September 9, 1997 evaluating the first year of the program, stating that the
Engineering Division had repaired curb ramps to ADA standards within the targeted area,
and noting the awareness of the program generated through neighborhood services
newsletters.
Currently, information on the sidewalk inspection program can be found on the City's
webslte at www.icaov. orc%iid=1911, which expllcitiy states that the City is responsible for
the repair of curb ramps. If a curb ramp in need of attention is identified during the
inspection, that ramp is noted on the inspection forth and that form is provided to the City
Engineering staff who evaluate the site and determine what is needed. Once the City has
documented a need for a curb ramp improvement it is considered for funding In connection
with the various funding opportunities that are addressed in the response to question no. 5
below. Specifically, the City has done a curb ramp public improvement project in each of
the following years: 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001 (bid but no bidders so quantity moved
to 2002), 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012, and 2014, it is important to note that in
2001 truncated domes were mandated for all curb ramps such that earlier curb ramps done
October 8, 2014
Page 4
Without the truncated domes became nonconforming. The City's files regarding
sidewalk/curb inspections/curb ramp projects are available for review at your request.
The lack of curb ramp specific projects between 2007 and 2012 is due to a number of
factors. In 2008 the City experienced a catastrophic flood event that impacted immediate
City of Iowa City and University of Iowa facilities requiring emergency design and repair
from City staff. Between 2008 and 2010 the necessary priority was to design, facilitate and
complete flood repair projects. During 2010, in response to a possible federal funding
mandate, the City looked at generating "shovel ready' projects including resurfacing and
curb ramp repairs. Although federal funding was not provided, this resulted in the design
and construction of an extensive resurfacing project from 2010 to 2011 that included
resurfacing and curb ramp repairs for 8 streets. The repair work included installation of
150 new curb ramps along streets within the street resurfacing limits. In 2011 the annual
project was held back in favor of a larger scale project in 2012. As noted, below, however,
the curb ramp specific projects are only one method by which curb ramps are addressed.
Even though there were no specific curb ramp projects between 2007 and 2012, during this
time curb ramps were being provided and updated by City maintenance staff and in
connection with other capital improvement projects, including the Sycamore Street
reconstruction in south Iowa City that provided 40 new curb ramps along the project limits.
MPOJC began a formal review of the metropolitan area's plans for documenting, assessing
and prioritizing curb ramp improvements in 2012 with the addition of the ADA transition
plan item to its FY 2013 work program. Attached as Exhibit "D" are copies of the MPOJC's
FY 2013 Transportation Planning Work Program and memos to the MPO Transportation
Technical Advisory Committee from MPO staff dated June 5, 2012, August 22, 2013 and
August 15, 2014. In addition to documenting the data collection, these memos reflect the
plan to develop a public input strategy to inform the prioritization and scheduling of
improvements once the data collection is complete. These memos were discussed at public
meetings of the MPOJC. Also attached as Exhibit "E' is the MPOJC's Public Input Plan,
which contains a list of organizations to which the MPOJC typically readies out for public
input. The long -tern vision for the GIS inventory maps is to present them in an interactive
manner, allowing for public viewing of the data as well as solicitation of Input for more
timely updates of the data.
The City's Comprehensive, District, and Sub -district planning public meetings and open
houses are an indispensible venue for soliciting public input At these meetings the public
is asked to provide input on a number of infrastructure and design issues, including those
spec to sidewalk, street, and trail networks. The goal of these workshops is to
communicate neighborhood and community priorities to Council, staff, and boards and
commissions for use in policy and public investment decision -making processes. The
downtown streetscape and most recent comprehensive plan processes also engaged the
public through online participation tools. The public was and is engaged extensively during
the following planning processes; this list is not exhaustive:
Southeast District Plan, 2014
Form -based code, 2014
Comprehensive Plan (IC2030), 2013
Riverfront Crossings district, 2013
Downtown Streetscape, 2013
Southeast District, 2011
Miller -Orchard Neighborhood, 2009
October 8, 2014
Page 5
Central District, 2008
Zoning Code update, 2005
Southwest District, 2002
North District, 2001
South-central District, 1999
Northeast District, 1998
South District, 1997
Comprehensive Plan, 1997
Near Southside, 1995
Large infrastructure projects typically have a series of public open houses or meetings at
which the public is invited to review project plans and share any comments or concerns on
the infrastructure improvements proposed. For instance, the recently completed Lower
Muscatine Avenue improvements included 78 new ADA compliant curb ramps and
approximately 600 feet of new sidewalk. This project had two public pre -design meetings
and another pre -construction meeting.
The City has a Neighborhood Outreach office with a dedicated full-time staff member. This
staff position works as a liaison between the City government and neighborhood
associations. Input from neighborhood organizations has resulted in sidewalkhrail
accessibility projects including the Court Hill Trail and Highway 1 Trail projects.
In addition to the Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator, other City staff also attend
neighborhood association and Neighborhood Council (a collaboration of neighborhood
association representatives) meetings to solicit input on upcoming plans. These events are
communicated to residents through neighborhood association newsletters or meeting
notices produced through the Outreach office. For instance, in 2013 planning staff
discussed Riverfront Crossings plans at neighborhood association meetings.
The City also solicits public input though the ICgovXpress mobile application. This
application can be accessed online or using a tablet or smartphone which allows for
suggestions to be submitted with photos and location coordinates attached. This
application is currently being updated to provide explicitly for complaints regarding curb
ramps.
Finally, with respect to the specific complaint being investigated by the Department of
Justice, as part of the City's ongoing dialogue with Mr. Kudej (see Exhibit W) the City has
requested that if Mr. Kudej has information regarding intersections most used by persons
with disability concerns that he contact the City. The City also, at Mr. Kudej's invitation and
following the release of the draft curb ramp inventory to the City Council, sent
representatives to a forum on April 14, 2014 sponsored by the Johnson County Task Force
on Aging on the topic of Aging and Disability Issues in Johnson County. At the forum the
City representatives discussed the Inventory and the process moving forward with Mr.
Kudej and Mr. Harry Olmstead.
4. As evidenced by the work plan and update memos attached as Exhibit air MPOJC has
been working diligently on a sidewalk inventory since 2012. This inventory covers not only
Iowa City, but neighboring jurisdictions that are partners in the MPOJC. This inventory
evaluates thousands of locations and includes over 14,000 data points. The inventory has
been fully uploaded into an interactive map that is available at
hftos://www.arcgis.comthomeAvebmao/viewer htmllwebmao-f477072bf041431 947bc544
October 8, 2014
Page 6
a2409b1liiextent=91.5441 41.6502 -91 5089 41 t3658. The Inventory Includes compliance
Information on existing curb ramps, including Ph as well as locations where no curb
ramps exist Sidewalk location information is also Included. Each data point on the map is
clickable and contains supporting detail as necessary.
Information from summer 2014 data collection efforts has recently been added to this
inventory. MPOJC staff is fine-tuning this map and their intention Is to make it available for
web browsing by the public in the coming months. Using this data as a starting point,
public input sessions will follow.
5. The City's Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) provide funds to
improve accessibility of public sidewalks. In FY 2015, the CIP contains $100,000
specifically for ADA curb ramp improvements. This allocation occurs every other year in the
City's CIP (i.e., FY 2015, FY 2017, etc.). Similarly, the CIP contains $100,000 for infill
sidewalk projects, which focus on creating accessible routes where none currently exist.
The sidewalk Inftil dollars are also budgeted every other year with funds available in FY
2015 and FY 2017. Funding for these programs comes from Road Use Tax dollars and
General Obligation bonds. These projects are packaged at $100,000 every other year
rather than $50,000 every year to capitalize on the economies of scale and maximize our
improvements.
The two aforementioned programs are designed to respond to citizen requests for projects.
Thus, the requests we receive for accessibility Improvements will receive the first
consideration for Inclusion in these programs. Typically, requests from citizens do not
result in full use of the budgeted allocation. When this happens, City staff prioritizes
additional locations based on Information received and maintained from various sources as
documented in response to question no. 3 above, the priorities identified in 28 CFR 35.150
(dx2) and staffs knowledge of high pedestrian traffic locations where demand for
accessible routes is likely to be greatest For instance, recent projects in this program were
targeted to walkways serving both Mark Twain and Robert Lucas Elementary Schools.
In addition to these two Important programs, the City spends considerable additional dollars
on ADA curb ramps and accessible sidewalk routes each year. Consistent with ADA
regulations, anytime the City completes road and utility work, any impacted sidewalks and
curb ramps are brought up to current ADA standards. For example, a water main
replacement will include funds to upgrade impaled sidewalks and curb ramps, despite the
focus of the construction project being the utility replacement rather than the alteration of
the street Currently, the City is completing its annual road resurfacing improvements in the
community. To provide perspective, this year the City spent approximately 28% of asphalt
resurfacing funds on adjacent curb ramps and sidewalk accessibility improvements, totaling
over$194,000.
The City's operating budget contains road and sidewalk maintenance funds that allow staff
to perform spot repairs on curb ramps and sidewalks throughout the year. Those funds are
used to satisfy resident work requests as well as repairs made proactively by City staff.
The City Intends to continue to fund curb ramps, sidewalk infill and other related projects
each year. Further, we intend to continue our annual sidewalk inspection program. It is
important to note that freeze thaw cycles in the winter create a situation where the City will
always be working to ensure that ramps remain compliant. As you know, a recently
resurfaced roadway will inevitably experience cracking and develop potholes due to the
October 8, 2014
Page 7
midwestem climate. Sidewalks and curb ramps are no different and the slightest cracking
or heaving frequently will lead to relatively new curb ramps failing out of compliance with
the technical specifications of the federal government. Our focus has been and will
continue to be to aggressively pursue improvements that provide the most benefit to our
mobility and vision impaired population.
8. The City does receive federal funding on an annual basis. Each year the City is required
to complete a Schedule of Expenditure of Federal Awards (SEFA) as part of our annual
audit. Reports showing receipt and use of federal dollars from the last two years are
attached as Exhibit 'F'. The City can provide supplemental information N your office
desires.
T. The City understands the essence of the complaint to be that the City is "taking far too
long to correct deficiencies.' See letter from Mr. Kudej to DOJ dated March 13, 2014
attached as Exhibit W. Mr. Kudej's complaint does not address any specific deficiencies
nor have any specific deficiencies been identified in the course of the City's ongoing
dialogue and interaction with Mr. Kudej. Mr. Kudefs February 22, 2014 letter came as a
surprise to the City as neither he nor the Johnson County Task Force on Aging had
Previously communicated any concerns on specific problematic locations or the City's
approach to ADA accessible curb ramps and sidewalks in general.
The City demonstrates a long-standing commitment to providing curb ramps that are
compliant with the ADA and its architectural standards. Any project involving the alteration
of a street, including reconstruction and resurfacing, includes the provision of curb ramps
that meet the current technical specifications. In addition, the City has invested
considerable resources in providing curb ramps on its existing streets and sidewalks such
that its network of pedestrian walkways is, when viewed in its entirety, accessible to and
usable by individuals with disabilities. Given the harsh Iowa winters and periodic changes in
the technical specifications, attention to curb ramps and sidewalk accessibility
improvements will be an ongoing process. However, the City has consistently dedicated
funding sources to this issue, maintains an annual sidewalk inspection and repair program,
has demonstrated a strong track record of documenting and responding to citizen requests
for service, and will continue to do so. The recent activity of the MPOJC in completing a
comprehensive Inventory and making it electronically available to the public is simply the
latest demonstration of the City's commitment to accessibility.
It is my hope that this correspondence is fully responsive to your request for information. Should
you require supplemental information, please direct those requests to me. The City looks
forward to your office's review and resolution of this issue. We welcome any feedback on our
accessibility programs that you may provide. We would also be grateful for examples of other
Iowa communities that we can look to for guidance on ways to strengthen our ADA compliance
program. Finally, we remain eager to work with all individuals and stakeholders, including Mr.
Kudej and the Johnson County Task Force on Aging.
October 8, 2014
Page 8
Sincere&t44?'*D)W-
Eleanor Dilkes
City Attorney
Cc: Richard L. Richards, Assistant United States; Attorney
Tom Markus, City Manager
City Council
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