HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-04-19 Info PacketeBay of Iowa cele MEMORANDUM
DATE Apri 1 15, 1977
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager
RE: Legislation on Collective Bargaining
Enclosed are materials for your review which we would recommend
presenting to the area legislators on the topic of collective
,bargaining. (HF 488). Supportive material is al so available.
Are there other issues in which you would have an interest in receiving
periodic reports?
0.
Cl
April 13, 1977
Nle are opposed to H.F. 488 amending the collective bargaining law as it
emerged from conmittee.
The proposed amendments increase the number of people eligible to bargain
by narrowing the exclusions for supervisory and confidential mployees.
This is significant at the local and state levels because it impinges on
management's ability to continue to offer essential services in the
event of a strike. It is a move by the Unions to use legislative means
to obtain what they are unable to get through the negotiation process.
The proposed amendment adding "procedures for discipline" as a mandatory
item is a significant infringement on cities ability to manage. Contract
language on discipline is traditionally a very important item for Unions
and is of value as a permissive item which can be used as an incentive
for the Union to settle the contract short of arbitration. As a mandatory
iter cities may have to make significant concessions in order to reach
agreement on this item.
We are opposed to the retroactivity of the arbitrators award language
item for similar reasons. Retroactivity can now be used as an economic
tool to encourage settlement short of arbitration. An additional problem
with retroactivity is locating the dollars to pay for the award. In
most cities, service adjustments would have to be made to pay for a
retroactive award because the budget will have been certified long
before the award is received,
The proposed amendments emasculate the significance of the budget certi-
fication date in concluding negotiations. We are of the opinion that
the current law providing for negotiations to be part of the budget
process (rather than on an independent cycle) is very appropriate. he
viewed the PERE Mid Prairie arca Belroond decisions as undercutting the
legislative intent: PE s practi a-pproblens in implementing the act
should not be allowed to control such an ugxmrtant an aspect of City
finance as personnel costs. Personal services make up such a major part
of city budgets. Having undetenminad amounts for salaries and benefits
undermines the integrity of the budget submitted.
In our view, two proposed amendments upset the delicate balance of
"control" between Unions and Manageaent. One is the requirment to
notify the Union if a grievance is adjusted without Union assistance.
The other is the requirenent to provide information "needed for the
CITY OF IQWA CITY
CIVIC CENTER, 410 E. WASHINGTON ST
IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240
319 35a 1800
Pfornan (the Union's) duties." Vagu�"_u'e, Vague::::
As a matter o � g iI , we responder -Union demes in both of these
areas. However, we are afraid both sections will be used to harass
employers especially by AFSCME. The language is overly broad and may
require much work for the employer in doing union hanework.
PERB's authority is increased tremendously under the proposed amendments
in the area of rend. -es for prohibited practice complaints. Currently,
they may order a party to stop the prohibited practice but under the
proposed language they may enforce an "appropriate "randy. Does this
mean they can require parties to go imrediately to impasse procedures?
May they inject themselves into the dispute to attempt resolution?
Adjustnents to the prohibited practice sections must be viewed in the
list of the techniques of AFSCME to file prohibited practice complaints
in virtually every negotiating arena as a harassment technique. During
the course of our negotiations with AFSQME last year four complaints
were filed which were never pursued to hearing. The purpose of filing
the complaints was a public relations move because the complaints were
made available to the Press -Citizen before they were served on us or on
PERB.
Other points to which we are opposed:
1. The definition of employee organization open the door to private
sector unions and allows for private control over public employees
including essential service employees. With joint goals and by-
laws, oo-mingled funds and shared staff, is there not a practical
impossibility of one segment of the Union having "total independence
of action?"
2. Privilege for neutrals. This is a further badge of proms without
accountability for collective bargaining neutrals. It is dangerous
to consider this outside of the privilege for other neutrals_ The
internal controls of the profession vary widely from individuals
with the highest standards to those who are amateur and worse.
3. Section 23 tends to deter agreements longer than two (2) years. If
the parties want to enter into an agreamint of three or more years,
why prevent it?
We are not opposed to the technical changes proposed which will bring
Chapter 20 in conformance with the Administrative Procedures Act or with
the technical revisions of Sections 10-15 relating to prohibited practices.
We approve of the exepption for temporary, seasonal, and casual employees.
We agree with the exesption of the initial appointment of PERE employees
from the State merit system.
M4J0RIW or THOSE VO= ISSUE: This nay hurt the smeller cities who
remain open to union organization, but we feel that the other proposed
changes have much stranger negative implications than this issue.
We are enclosing a line -by-line analysis of the bill if it would be of
any interest to you for further information. Thank you for your time in
reviewing these ideas.
SinnerFly,
Mary C.'NeuhausLr
Mayor
aw,fi
HOUSE FILE 488
COMMENTS
APRIL 6, 1977
SECTION 1: Board of Supervisor as Employer: This is the only way
to have effective collective bargaining in counties.
It only makes sense to bargain with the people who
sign the checks, and unless there is a central
bargaining agent there will be whipsawing.
SECTION 2: Definition of Employee Organization:Question: It it
possible as a practical matter for one segment of a
union (public employees) to have total independence
of action from the whole group when there are common
by-laws and goals, co -mingled funds, shared space
and shared professional staff? If it's not impossible
by definition, it's at least impossible to prove.
SECTION 3: Confidential Employees: The revised definition makes
some people now in the personnel offices eligible to
bargain.
Paragraph "b" is unclear. Do the words "or the
deputy of first assistant of any of the foregoing"
mean that the deputies and first assistants are
excluded or that their secretaries are excluded?
SECTION 4: Supervisory Employees: This looks like it is intended
to limit the supervisory exclusion to people who
regularly perform duties as opposed to those who
occasionally perform supervisory duties.
This issue is important in the context of strikes.
If there is an industrial strike the Union must
close down the work place if they are to succeed.
(This is in contrast to craft unions who merely have
to withhold services.) Cities would ust supervisory
and confidential people to continue to offer essential
services in a strike and are therefore interested in
keeping these exceptions as broad as possible. The
Union on the other hand, wants to keep as few people
out of units as possible so that they have a better
chance to shut down a City in the event of strike.
All of the unit determination questions have to be
considered in the light of a possible strike and
control of the work place. It seems to me this
would be of interest to the lea_islature as a State
issue.
SECTION 5: Temporary, Casual, Seasonal: This is great for cities
because we cdn define these employees as we do for
nthNr purposes rather than fal ling under a 120 day
rule.
0 0
SECTION 6: PERB Employees Bargaining: No objection.
SECTION 7: Initial Appointment Exempt From Merit: Good idea because
they won't have to argue out the internal preference
to merit people when someone wants to promote from
the DOT to Executive Director of PERB.
SECTION 8: PERB's Representation in Court: No objection.
SECTION 9: New Mandatory Item -Discipline: We are strongly opposed.
Not only is this an infringement on what has previously
been a strictly management right, it is an attempt
by the Unions to get something from the legislature
which the cities have not given up without getting
something in return.
According to a generally accepted Labor Relations
text, obtaining consessions in the area of discipline
or procedures for discipline is considered quite a
plum by Unions. It is a major consession in the
private sector. Cities ought to be able to get
something in return for yeilding in this area. By
making it a mandatory item, an employer may be
placed in the position of trading powers and responsibility
of management for money in arbitration. This argument
holds true for other non -economic items, but discipline
is considered more improtant than many.
The importance of vital non -economic items as permissive
topics can't be over -emphasized. In negotiations it
is essential to apply leverage to the Union in order
to encourage settlement. Incentives to settle are
particularly important when there is no threat of
contract expi ration for the Union. Discipline has
previously been a permissive item which can be
offered to induce settlement short of arbitration.
If the union can get everything in arbitration,
there is no incentive to settle. It is vitally
important to keep some "good" permissive items to
use for leverage for settlement.
This is one relatively minor change, but if you keep
making this type of modification year after year
without a plan, the unions will have made great
strides forward by negotiating with the legislature.
This chapter -will then start to look like Civil
Service and Police and Fire Pension laws.
SECTION 10
thru
SECTION 16: Prohibited Practices: Technical changes - No objection.
SECTION 16: Appropriate Remedy: This is a big increase in power for
PERB. Previously they could only order parties to
c;iicontinue sne practice. This would allow them to
intervene in negotiations, to direct the parties to
arbitration, to certify a new unit, or other horribies -
The "appropri ete remedy" language is very broad.
0 0
SECTION 17: Delete PPC Procedures: Technical amendment to bring
conformance to APA.
SECTION 18: Informal Settlement of Certification Hearings: Technical
change.
SECTION 19: Delete Procedure: Technical to bring in conformance with
APA.
SECTION 20: Procedures: To conform with APA.
SECTION 21: Supporting Materials for Petitions: This is OK with us.
It would probably hurt more later to have known who
was interested in having a union, than it would help
to see whether there was a sufficient showing. The
place to prove this point is by secret ballot in the
election.
SECTION 22: Majority of Those Voting: Essentially a State issue.
SECTION 23: Certification of New Union: The language on Page 7,
lines 4-6, which limit the length of agreements,
will still rule out the possiblity of three or more
year agreements. We would favor encouraging 3 year
or longer agreements so that more stable relationships
will be encouraged.
SECTION 24: Notify Union of Adjustments: What's the reynedy for this?
Will the adjustment be worthless unless the Union is
notified? This is fairly significant as a duty for
employers because you can't always tel 1 when you are
resolving a problem whether someone might construe
as being an adjustment of a grievance. Many problems
are resolved by first line supervisors which never
come to the attention of central administration or
the Union.
What does this accomplish except set up a new duty
for the employer? We have not had a major problem
here. The Unions may request to be notified when
they bargain.
SECTION 25: Retroactivity of Arbitrator's Award: This proposal undermines
the significance of the budget certification of the
City by giving an arbitrator the power to make an
award retroactive to prior fiscal years, or to the
beginning of the fiscal year. Not only may it be a
problem to locate the dollars with which to pay the
award, but it lessens the economic pressure as a
Union to settle or otherwise conclude negotlatimu.
This is particularly important because there are few
economic tools with which to encourage settlement or
ober conclusions to bargaining, As the law now
reads, the Employer may offer retronct-ivity to
induce settleneut.
The amendments allow for mediation to begin any time
which means there is no guarantee of ending negotiations
before budget certification. In addition to the
practical problems of locating money to pay the
awards, there is a problem of having no finality in
putting together the budget. The Council is juggling
hundreds of items anyway in budgeting and if they
are at odds with all bargaining units, then might
end up with 50% of the line items unsettled at
certification. Finality is important as an incentive
on both sides to encourage settlement.
Another problem here is that you have to tip your
hand when you certify your budget. Its like negotiating
for a used car by walking up to the salesman with
your billfold open saying "Here's how much money I
have. How much is the car?"
SECTION 31:
0
0
Privilege of Neutrals: Opposed. This needs to be considered
SECTION 26:
Grievance Procedure:
This looks good. Should
the "shall"
in line 24, page
8 be changed to "may", or
is it
obvious that they
aren't forced to pursue
it?
This points up the
need for correcting (or
abolishing)
Civil Service in
general.
worse.
SECTION 27
Union Rights to Information: Overly broad as drafted.
Could be read to include minutes of staff strategy,
thru
extensive work by Management to prepare Union's case
for negotiations, fact-finding, arbitration, or
SECTION 30:
Impasse Procedures: As
set out these procedures
emasculate
the importance of
the budget certification
date.
The amendments allow for mediation to begin any time
which means there is no guarantee of ending negotiations
before budget certification. In addition to the
practical problems of locating money to pay the
awards, there is a problem of having no finality in
putting together the budget. The Council is juggling
hundreds of items anyway in budgeting and if they
are at odds with all bargaining units, then might
end up with 50% of the line items unsettled at
certification. Finality is important as an incentive
on both sides to encourage settlement.
Another problem here is that you have to tip your
hand when you certify your budget. Its like negotiating
for a used car by walking up to the salesman with
your billfold open saying "Here's how much money I
have. How much is the car?"
SECTION 31:
Conflicts of Interest: No objection.
SECTION 32:
Privilege of Neutrals: Opposed. This needs to be considered
in light of other privileges set out by statute.
This is a further badge of the new class of citizen
for collective bargaining (Neutrals). What accountability
will there be if the neutral isn't responsible to
the Courts or the parties? If it were a highly
internally controlled profession at all levels it
would be different_ However, standards within the
profession vary from exceptionally high as for
example, FMCS mediators, to good, medicore, or
worse.
SECTION 33:
Union Rights to Information: Overly broad as drafted.
Could be read to include minutes of staff strategy,
extensive work by Management to prepare Union's case
for negotiations, fact-finding, arbitration, or
grievances. Infringes on employer's work product.
What would be the reanedl for thio? p'i1l It help to
facilitate bargaining, or will it be used as a
technique for harassment to gain control by Unions?
SECTION 34:
Special Counsel: No objection.
•City of Iowa CUP
DATE: April 15, 1977
TO: Neal Berlin and City Council
FROM: Dick Plastino, Director of Public Works yl,
RE: Revisions to the Proposed Traffic Orditrann,
Attached please find a list of those sections of the
proposed revisions of Title Six which required altera-
tions as per the comments of Council's informal meeting
of April 4, 1977, and the Public Nearing April 5, 1977.
Unless otherwise modified these revisions will be
incorporated into the Proposed Revision To Title Six
of the Municipal Code of the City of Iowa City, Iowa,
dated March 14, 1977.
REVISIONS TO THE }LARCH 14, 1977,
DRAFT OF THE
PROPOSED REVISION TO TITLE SIK
OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE
CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA
APRIL 18, 1977
(COMENT: These revisions reflect the comments
and recommendation_ raised during the
City Council informal meeting of April 4, 7977,
and the Public Hearing held April S, 1977.)
0
EXISTING
6.01.01 ALLEY.
Means a thoroughfare laid out, established and platted as such, by constitued
authority.
REVISION
6.01.01 ALLEY
Means a street or highway intended to provide access to the
rear or side of lots or buildings in urban districts and not
intended for the purpose of through vehiculaT traffic.
CO>AtENT:
This revision reflects the direction given by Council during its infonnal proceedings
of April 4.
SECTION 6.01.09
EXISTING
6.01.09 No definition presently exists.
REVISION
6.01.09 COgMERCIAL VF.HM,FS
Means every vehicle designed, maintained, ur used primarily
for the transportation of proprrtY.
(Subsequent sections to be rcnumbt•red)
COAMENT
This section was added TO support thr add..:.+i.an i•f •,•�.� �,,,6.]A.1' dio-�cuse.rd brluw.
• SECTION 6.01.45 •
EXISTING
6.01.45 1'E11CLE.
Means every device in, *or by which any person or property is or may be trans-
ported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices moved by hwnan power, wheel chairs,
or used exclisively upon stationary rails or tracks.
REVISION
6.01.45 VEHICLE
Means every device in, upon or by which any person or property
is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting.
devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
CO,%LMENT:
This revision reflects -the discussions of Council and the comments made at the
Public Hearing of April 5. The primary intent of this revision is to include
bicycles in the definit Son of vehicle.
SECTION 6.04.07
EXISTING
6.04.07 VEHICLES NOT TO BE URNIN ON SIOLIVALK
'17ap operator of a vehicle shall not drive within any sidewalk area except at a
permanent or temporary driveway.
REVISION
6.04.07 VEHICLES NOT TO BE DRIVEN ON SI017h'ALK
A. The operator of a motor vehicle shall not drive within any
sidewalk area except at a pcnnnuent or temporary driveway.
B. This section shall not apply to any vehicle performing nmintenance
or construct ion in a sidewalk. area.
COMMIT:
The revision addresses the problem of riding lawn mowers which are used for cutting
press and the removal of s now in the sidewalk area. Additionally, a substitution
of tactor vehicle for vehicle does peren't the use of k-icycles on sidewalks in the
residential ares.
11
EXISTING
SECTION 6.04.17
6.04.17. STOPS —�-FOMI: BrIT.RING HIGIMAYS
0
All motor vesicles must stop before entering any marked highway within the
corporate limits of the City of lowa City, Iowa, as established by the Iowa State.•
Highway Commission, which have signs posted as provided by law.
REVISION
6.04. 17 STOPS BEFORE ENTERING HIGHWAYS
All vehicles must stop before entering any marked highway within the
corporate limits of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, as established by
the Iowa State Highway Commission, which have signs posted as
provided by law.
CiaMME1\T:
This revision is being made due to the change in vehicle definition to include
bicycles. It is felt that motor vehicles is too restrictive and the word motor
should be deletes.
SECTION 6.04.34
EXISTING
6.04.34 �:Y':r'.SSIVE NOISE
It is hereby declared that the operation of a motor vehicle within the corporate
limits of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, which created excessive noise or creates fumes
by reason of not having an exhaust System or muffler as speecified in this Ordinance
or having det7rng specifically prohibited by this Ordintuece to he a nuisance. It is
further ueclared that the operation of a motor vehicle in a uvinner that causes the
tires of—said motor vehicle to emit excessive noise is a nuisance.
REVISION
6.04.34 EXCESSIVE NOISE
This section shall be omitted and subsequent eections ere to
be renumbered.
COMM
'flee Assi-4tunt City Atturneys feel thut the vxieting v arbinge does not properly
quantify "exce-,t!ve nt,isc" or the rose•ion of llfumesll. The Assistant Attorneys
advise taut the ,tote of the law lit this point is nut satisfactorily developed
to support such an ordinuaet..
• SECTIO_ 1 6.07.02 •
EXISTING
6.07.02 EXCEPTIONS T'0 SPPED LIMITS.
Dodge 45 MPH from a point just cast
of the intersection with
Dubuque Rd. to the City
Limits.
REVISION
6.07.02 This entry under 6.07.02 will be deleted. This verbiage duplicates
verbiage found under Highway 1.
COMMENT:
This revision reflects the commentary made during the Public Hearing of
April S.
SECTION 6.12.01
EXISTING
6.12.01 LICENSE REQUIRED
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, or use a bicycle upon any
streets or public highways in the City of Iowa City, Iowa, without having a valid
license issued pursuant to this Chapter and having the license sticker placed thereon
as herir.after -pi ovided.
REVISION
6.12.01 LICENSE REQUIRED
It -;hill] be unlawful fnr any res idents of the City of Iowa City to
rvierate, or use a bicycle upon any streets or public highways in
the City of Iowa City, Iowa, without having a valid license issued
Pursuant to this Chapter and havi ny the licen". sticker pared
thereon as herinafter provided.
COWEAT :
This rnVlsinn addresses till. issue of itinc runt bicycle npernturs on the streets
pf Itswa Cityanduttelty"c tv reevlvc thr _etut nates•: durin,, thv Put-Jic Bearing
of apri 1 s.
• SECTIO_ N�•09 •
EXISTING
6.12.09 PARKING
No person shall park a bicycle upon a street or alley in such a manner as to
obstruct pedestrian or motor vehicle travel. Any bicycle within one block or 300 ft.
of a bicycle rack must be parked in such a rack. Any bicycle parked on public
property in a connercial district shall not be attached to poles. parking meters,
signs, trees, trash receptables, street hardware or any other permanent structure.
REVISION
6.12.09 PARKING
Regardless of any other provision of this Title, no person shall
park a bicycle upon a streetor alley in such a manner as to
obstruct pedestrian or motor vehicle travel. Any bicycle within
one block or 300 ft. of a bicycle rack must be parked an such a
rack. Any bicycle parked on public property in a commercial
district shall riot be attached to poles, parking meters, signs,
trees, trash receptacles, street hardware or any other permanent
structure.
CONI`IENT:
The revision is necessitated by the change in vehicle definition.
SECTION 6.12_17
EXISTING
6.12.17 MICLES IN BICYCLE LANES AND BICYCLE PARKING ARIAS
No perse::s shall drive a actor vebicl•e (us defined by Section 6.02.21 of the
Municipal Code) in a designated bicycle path, lane, or parking area or park tiny motor
vehicle in etch a path, lane, or parking, area. No person shall cross a bicycle latae
except after giving the right-of-way to
all bicycles within the lane. My jx-parkin who
shall drive or park a motor vehicle in a desigtutted bicycle pat]t, lane, or perking
area 5•ht71 be guilty of a misdemeanor upon conviction.
•REVISION
6,12. 17 VEHICLES IN BOLE LANES AKD BICYCLE P.ARIQNG WS
A. Except as herein provided, no persons shall drive a motor
vehicle (as defined by Section 6.01.20 of the Municipal
Code) in a designated bicycle path, lane, or parking area
or park any motor vehicles in such a path, lan^,or parking
area. No person shall cross a bicycle lane except. after
giving the right-of-way to all bicycles within the lane.
B. The City Traffic Engineer is hereby authorized to erect signs
permitting motor vehicles to be parked in a designated bicycle
path, lane, or parking area during specific times and days.
When such signs are present, motor vehicular parking shall be
permitted only during those times which are specifically stated
on the signs.
COMMENT:
The proposed revision resolves the problems that presently exist in bicycle
lanes where Sunday parking is allowed in the vicinity of churches.
SECTIO_ N�0i
EXISTING
6.14.01 PARKING NOT TO OBSTRUCT TRAFFIC.
No person shall park any vehicle upon a street in such a manner or under such
conditions as to leave available less than 10 feet of the width of the roadway for
free movement of vehicular traffic. However, no person shall park any vehicle upon a
street in a commercial zone in such a manner or tinder such conditions as to lenve
available less than 20 feet of available space to the right of the centerline of a
roadway or street.
0 0
REVISION
6.14.01 PARKING NOT TO OBSTRUCT TRAFFIC
A. All non-commercial districts.
No vehicle shall stand, stop, or park upon any travel lane of
a roadway in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave
available less than ten (10) feet of the i,,idth of the roadway
for free movement of vehicular traffic.
B_ Commercial districts.
In commercial districts, standing, stopping, or parking in any
travel lane of a roadway by non-commercial vehicles is prohibited.
On two-way streets in commercial districts commercial vehicles
may stop, stand, or park in a travel lane while engaging in the
loading or unloading of property provided that ten (10) feet of
width of roadway exists to the right of the centerline for the free
movement of vehicular traffic. On one way streets in commercial
districts, commercial vehicles may stop, st and, or park in a travel
lane while engaging in the loading or unloading of property provided
that ten (10) feet of width of the roadway is open for the free move-
ment of vehicular traffic.
C_ Vehicles stopped, standing, or parked in the travel lane of a
roadway shall do so in accordance with the above provisions and
shall in no instance be parked longer than fifteen (15) minutes.
COMMENT:
The proposed revision attaches a time limit for double Parking which was not
in the existing section. Additionally, the revision states that only commercial
vehicles may double park in commercial districts.
SECTION 6. 14.13
EXISTING
6.14.13 There is no existing section which addresses this issue.
REVISION
6.14.13 PARKING RESTRICTIONS IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
A. Nonmotorized veli ales of any type and size shall not be
parked on any street in a residential district except for
a period of 48 hours for the purpose of loading and
unloading, local deliveries, or necessary installation
Find repair servicrs.
B. Motor vehicles of any type that exceed 7 feet in height or
8 feet in width or 20 feet in length shall not be paTked
on any street in a residential district except fora period
of 48 licurs for the purpose of loading and unloading, ]ocaM
deliveries, or necessary installation and repair services. `
C. Commurcial motor and ncmmetorized vvbicle-s hauling detonnbi e
materiels or flanm,"ble solids, liquids and gases shall not be
parked on any street in a' residcutiel distjict except for the
purpose of making ] ocal deliveries.
COMMENT:
When the Assistant Attorneys revi owed those ordinances which would be
repealed by this revision to Tit r 6 this ordinance was discovered as
being in effect. It was determined by the Assisttmt Atturueys that 11
would by doslrablo If, inulntuin th ir, o nlinonce in cPfoct in lova City,
•SECTSON 6.18.02 •
EXISTING
6.18.02 IgWN EN7.
The Police Diapartinent or any officer, agent or employee of the City of Tara
City, Rua, designated to enforce the parking ordinances of the City of Iowa City,
Iowa, on finding a vehicle unattended at a place where the vehicle constitutes an -
obstruction to vehicular or pedestrianj traffic or is in violation of an existing
parking ordinance may remove or have caused the removal of said vehicle to a place
designated by the Chief of Police for the storage of impounded vehicles.
Upon impoundment of said vehicle the City shall notify the registered owner of
said impoundment by certified mail. At the time of impoundment, the City shall cause
to file an Information and Citation pursuant to State lata upon the registered owner
or operator of said vehicle at The time of impoundment. The registered owner or the
operator may reclaim said vehicle by accepting service of said Infonnat: on and
signing.a promise to appear and payment of any charges incurred for lowing and
storage.
REVISION
6.18.02 IMPOUNDMENT.
A. Impoundment for obstruction of traffic.
The Police Department or any officer, agent or employee of the City of
Iowa City, Iowa, designated to enforce the parking ordinances of the
City of Iowa City, Iowa, on finding a vehicle unattended at a place
where the vehicle constitutes an obstruction to vehicular or pedestrian
traffic may remove or have caused the removal of said vehicle to a place
designated by a peace officer for the storage of impounded vehicles.
Upon impoundment of said vehicle the City shall notify the last known
registered owner of said impoundment by certified nisilif,the name and
address of the owner can be ascertained with reasonable diligence.
Impoundment for accumulated parking violations.
1. Whenever it is determined that any vehicle has accumulated five (5)
or more parking tickets or fifteen (15) or more dollars worth of
accumulated parking violations as defined in the provisicnis of this
Code, said vehicle may he impounded subiect to the following conditions:
a. Impoundment shall occur only after notice and opportunity for an
administrative hearing is offered to the last known registered
owner of said motor vehicle.
Notice shall constitute the following: uriiten notification by
certified mail eaating'tile license number of the vehicle at
�f<e; t11r ^51ne"If r.e.ln, - a I,.ief elecrvi..lit inv of I. he .pwrk^ntr
tickets issued to said vehicle, the date, time and place of the
administrative hearing; that the hearing shall he as to the
merits of whether to impound said motor vehicle for ustpaid
perkinh viol titin•; that failure to appear tit said herasring
constitutes v iwir'i rrlIf, tui DI`irnl'1. unit)* 1'or hunri np, ane (hill
the owner shall be 7-hponslt-1c for all chorges and co--sNs incurred
in h4puondit7l; said vehicle.
c. The hearing shall be conducted before*e Director of the
Department of Finance of the City of Iowa City or his/her
designate and shall be limited as to whether said vehicle
shall be impounded for unpaid parking tickets. The owner
may at that time pay for any outstanding tickets.
d. Should the Finance Director or his/her designate determine
that the vehicle at issue should be impounded, he/she shall
inform the owner either orally at the conclusion of the hearing
or notify the owner by letter, however, no such notice need be
given should owner or designated representative fail to appear
at said hearing.
e. The City shall notify the last known registered owner of such
vehicle by certified mail if the name and address of such owner
can be ascertained with reasonable diligence unless the owner
or operator has appeared and has made claim to the seized vehicle.
f. The City shall adopt by Resolution an itemization of all charges
and fees to be incurred by the owner by impoundment of said
vehicle
2. Impoundment shall constitute either impoundment by use of the
"Denver Boot" or by towing. The "Denvor Boot" is a mechanical
device consisting of metal clamps or jaws and screws and a pad-
locking device, which, when attached to the wheel of a motor
vehicle, prevents the vehicle from being driven. The "Denver
Boot" shall also include any other devices other than the
patented "Denver Boot" which can be used by attachment to the
whoel of a motor vehicle to prevent it from being moved.
a.' Impoundment by use of the Denver Root is limited by the following:
1. Impoundment shall not exceed twenty-four (24) hours,
except a pence officer may extend or reduce said time
period for safety or traffic reasons.
2. No vehicle shall be impounded unless said vehicle is
found on a public street or in a public lot and appears
to be in violation of an existing parking ordinance.
3. No vehicle shall be impounded within the traveled portion
of any street or on any portion of a street or sidewAa
when the impoundment at such place would create a hazard
to the public or traffic.
4. Upon lapse of the time period enumerated herein, the City
shall tow or cause said vehicle to be towed.
1^, No veh<.rle shall he impounded hr towing url ass snid vehicle is
on a public street or in a public lot and appears to be in
violation of nn existing pnrkinh ordinance.
C. hntrance into impounded vehicles.
If it Is neceFsery to enter a locked or unlocked vehicle in order to
impound said vehicle, surh entrance must he made in the presence of
R pessre officer. The pence officer shall conduct a search of snid
vOiC-1v a• hh,'. .. .ippW nr•.'...v�r�' t" I,.,o.�'t The c.•rirn•s theair,
however, said search need not he o complete inventor),.
0
The revision to the impoundmen
impounding vehicles which have
violations. It is felt by the
resolves many of the problems
in its impoundment effort.
t section will su
accumulated exce
City's Attorneys
that the City has
E
port a procedure for
sive amounts of parking
that this section
encountered in the past
G City of Iowa Cigi
DATE: April 15, 1977
TO: Neal'Berlin and City Council
FROM: Dick Plastino, Director of Public Works
RE: Traffic counts on Court Street after inst nation of stop sign
at Oakland
On December 15, 1976, a traffic count was done prior to installation of the
stop sign on Court Street at Oakland. On April 13, 1977, a count was done
after installation of the sign.
Additional counts were done on Burlington and Sheridan to see whether a
pattern of traffic diversion could be determined.
Court Street
Burlington Street
Sheridan Street
December 15, 1976
CBefore installation)
2,801
7,442
1,918
April 13, 1977
(After installation)
4,643
11,347
1,798
No information can be gleaned from the numbers themselves since it is obvious
that increases occurred on both Burlington and Court.
The percent increase on Burlington was 52% and Court Street increased 65%.
Sheridan showed a decrease.
In summary, it appears nothing can be discerned from the traffic counts as
shown except that there have been some very large increases in traffic
volume from the December 1 S count to April 13.
cc: Jim Brachtel
EV
*City of Iowa Ci#
DATE: April 14, 1977
TO: Neal'Berlin and City Council } ,
FROM: Dick Plastino, Director of Public Work s
RE: Bus repair/air conditioning
lie have received the first data from our computerized equipment maintenance
reports. The first reports cover a one year period from April, 1975, to
May, 1976.
A disturbing trend is noted in these reports. Specifically, this trend is
as follows:
For the one year period total chargeable maintenance costs on
the bus system were $94,043. These repairs have been broken
down into 26 categories. The top five categories are listed
below:
Automatic transmission $18,865
Air conditioning $13,556
Tires $ 9,775
Brakes $ 8,704
Electrical $ 7,479
Of the top five listed above, the City has control over only one, namely
air conditioning. Some pros and cons of air conditioning are listed below:
Pros - Air conditioning is closely tied to "level of service". It
is very desirable to be able to provide a cool, comfortable
ride.
!)river comfort is greatly enhanced. A comfortable driver is,
tenerally speaking a safer, more conscientious driver.
If the Transit system is to attract persons to Transit system
who have a choice about their transport ati on, air conditioning
is almost essential.
Cons - Use of air conditioning reduces fuel mileage,
The maximum ride on the Iowa City system (excluding transfers)
is 15 minutes.
All other hus Fvstems in the lows Citv are& do tint have air
conditioning.
Fourteen of the buses are incurring major expenses on engine
overllnuls find trnn�mi«inn relsir.
Pan�,.•nperc olwuyc open the windows 1111 16I -VI •• rvrn 1,111011 tilt'
air cortd)tiolong is runrinp.
U1,
Neal Berlin and Cit Rouncil •
Page 2
An immediate cash outlay of approximately $20,000 is needed
to begin work to upgrade the air conditioning for the coming
summer season. This amount does not include everyday repair
of freon pressure, loose belts, fan, alternators, bearings,
bushes, etc.
From a service concept it is definitely more desirable to maintain air
conditioning in the transit coaches. Continued use of transit by some
transit riders depends on providing a comfortable, fast ride on the transit
system. On the other hand, an expend 3ture of over 14% of the total
maintenance costs calls for a conscience decision on the part of the City
about the level of service.
At this point in time a large expenditure needs to be made immediately for
the parts necessary to upgrade severa 1 of the air conditioning systems on
the bus. We will go ahead and order the parts unless a decision to the
contrary is reached.
cc: Chuck Lloyd
Arlo Fry
TO:
FROM:
RE:
• City of Iowa Ci"
DATE: April 13, 1977
Neal Berlin and City Council
Dick Plastino, Director of Public Works •.
Cost estimates for Scott Boulevard and Sand Road
Scott Boulevard
The following cost estimates are for a 36 foot wide road. Other options
are 31 feet wide (minimum width allowed by Iowa Department of Transportation
for a two lane road) and two lanes 25 feet wide divided by a median strip.
The last option has almost been eliminated due to the extremely high cost
and the small traffic volumes expected on Scott Boulevard in future years.
Scott Boulevard 36 feet wide -
Highway 6 to Muscatine Avenue $715,000
Muscatine Avenue to Court Street $240,000
Court Street to Rochester Avenue $475,000
Rochester Avenue to H dghway 1 $1,200,000
The above estimates d o not include right-of-way acquisition if needed.
Sand Road
The Sand Road project includes complete reconstruction of Sand Road and
Gilbert and construction of an entirely new rondwsy running west of
Country Kitchen and tieing into the old Sand Road south of the railroad
tracks. A drawing will be presented to Council with this concept. This
roadwnv would be 49 feet wide (four lane) with an eight foot bikeway on
one sir end a four foot sidewalk on the other side. Tote] cost is
$1,2UO,OUD"including land.
Available Funds
luiliaiiy, -owa City had the following funds available under the FA US
program: $1,473,655
Curr_etly planned projects -
Muscatine Avenue $700,000
Monson Trek Boulevard $260,000
yeokuk/Highway 6 inter -see -tion improvement $257,000
TOTAL 11,344,600
g/
Neal Berlin and Citouncil •
Page 2
Amount of money for uncommitted projects - $129,055.
This means the City has $129,055 left to spend at a 70$ Federal/30% local
match. Any costs for Sand Road or Scott Boulevard above this amount will
have to be picked up by 100% City financing unless the FAUS program is
extended past FY79. It is likely the program will be extended but no
financing should be based on a decision that has not yet been made in
the Federal government.
•City of Iowa Cit•
MEMORANDUM
DATE: April 14, 1977
TO: City Council
FROM: Linda Schreiber
RE: Questionnaire
Three members of an ecology class from City High School are asking each
Council member to complete the attached questionnaire. Someone from the
class will contact each of you to collect your responses before April 22.
The students are Tracy Gilbright, Debbie Fountain, and Lori Pfister.
-WA
city of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
DATE: April 15, 1977
70: Neal Berlin, City Manager
FROM: Tony Rushnir, Asst. City Attorney
RE: Proposed Taxicab Ordinance
Attached please find a proposal concerning the licensing
and regulation of vehicles offered to the public for hires.
This proposal is pursuant to a City Council request that the
Legal Department review the present ordinance and suggest
alternatives. Perhaps the best way to describe the new ordi-
nance is to compare it with the present regulation.
5.16.1 of the present regulation regulates vehicles for
hire which operate from one part of Iowa City to another. The
proposal broadens the scope in that it would require the licensing
and regulation of any vehicle for hire which solicits public
patnamge within the City of Iowa City.
Section 5 _ 16.2 and section 5.16.3 of the present ordinance
have been repealed in whole and the procedure for obtaining a
certificate has been sonewhat sinnplified. The Traffic Control
Board has been eliminated and in lieu thereof the City Council,
after a public hearing held before it, shall issue a certificate
of public convenience and necessity if it finds that the public
convenience and necessity require the Proposed taxicab service
for which application is made. The certificate would require
liability insuranoe and failure to maintain such insurance would
constitute the immediate revocation of the certificate. The
certificate w=l.d be valid on the first day of May of each year
and would expire on the last day of April the next following.
Renewal of the certificate would be the sane as for the iesuanoe
of an initial certificate.
A major change in the present ordinance would be that a cer-
tificate may be suspauled or revoked by the City Manager upon the
occurrence of several circumstances. This would be where the
holder has failed to coldly with any provision of the orctinance,
or a fact exists which would have been a ground for refusal to
issue a certificate or the holder's service to the public is so
inadequate or insufficient as to adversely affect the public.
The action by tame City Manager is reviewable by the City Council
upon request of the holder. A procedure is set out deta3 ling
reguireannts to effectuate such a review. The City Council would
then hold a public hearing and may affirm, andi•y or revie-rae the
original decision.
8/ AY
Another major revision of the proposed ordinance is the
requirment of taximeters and the regulation of fares. Taxi-
meters, under the proposal, world be required in order to charge
a fare. The regulation of fares is silly that. The City
Council would not set the fares or charges, but would have the
final decision in the determination of a fare after conducting
a public hearing thereon. Basically, wk2enever a cab oonpany
desires to establish or change the fare schedule, such cab
oonpany world first cause to be published at least twice in
a newspaper of general circulation a notioe which would state
that the effective date of the proposed schedule rates would be
instituted upon a certain date unless a notice of protest is
filed by any single individual with the City Clerk prior to the
effective date. Should a notice of protest be filed the effec-
tive date would be postponed for thirty days. The City Council
at that time would conduct a public hearing and make a determisia-
tion as to the reasonableness of the proposed rate structure.
I hope that the above would shed same light on the proposal
and if I can be of any further assistance, please don't hesitate
to contact me.
® ORDINANCE NO, 0
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING 'PlC, MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY
OF IOWA CITY, IOWA, BY PRNIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE
REGULATION OF TAXICABS WITHIN THE CITY OF IOVA CITY,
IOWA, AND REPEALING MUNICIPAL CODE 67.1 THROUGH 67.14
(CHAPTER 5.16 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF
IOWA CITY, Im) .
SECTION I. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Ordinance is to provide for the
health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the City of Iowa City,
Iowa, by enacting oamgrehensive regulations pertaining to the operation and use
of taxicabs in the City of Iola City, Iowa.
SECTION II. AMENDMENT. Chapter 5.16 of the Municipal Code of the City
of Iowa City, Iowa, shall hereby state as follows:
Chapter 5.16
TAXICABS
5.16.1 Definitions_ The following words and phrases when used
in this ordinance have the meanings as set out herein:
a. Certificate means a certificate of public convenience
and necessity issued by the City Council, authorizing the holder
thereof to conduct a taxicab business in the City of Iowa City,
Iowa.
b. City Manager neans the City Manager or his/her desig-
nate.
c. Holder means a person to whom a certificate of public
convenience and necessity has been issued.
d. Manifest means a daily record prepared by a taxicab
driver ofaltsips made by said driver shading tine and place
of origin, destinaticm, number of passengers, and the armunt
of fare of each trip_
e. Person includes an individual, a corporation or other
legal entity a partnership, and any unincorporated associa-
tion.
f. Rate card means a card issued by the City Manager for
display in each taxicab which contains the rates of fare then
in force.
g. Street shall rean any street, alley, court, lane,
bridge or pub icl place within the City.
h. Taxicab shall include all vehicles furnished with a
driver and carrying passengers for hire for which public
partronage is solicited within the City of Iowa City, Iaws.
Autoirlhi les used exclusively for hotel husiness sh823 ixrt be
0 -2
considered as taxicabs within the meaning of this paragraph,
nor shall vehicles coTmnly known as "rent -a -car" , for which
a driver is not furnished, be considered as taxicabs, nor
shall buses operating over a fixed route in the city be
considered as taxicabs within the meaning of this Para-
graph -
i. Taximeter shall mean any instnment or fare -registering
device attached to a taxicab and designed to register mechani-
cally the distance traveled by such vehicle, to record the time
the vehicle is in waiting, and to indicate upon such record by
figures the fare to be charged in dollars and cents.
5. 16.2 Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity Required.
No person shall operate or permit a taxicab owned or controlled by
him to Yoe operated as a vehicle for hire upon the streets of the City
of Iowa. City, Iowa, without having first obtained a certificate of
public convenience and necessity from the City Council_
5.16.3 Applicaon for ti
Certificate. An applicaon for a oerti-
ficate shall be filedtiwith the City Clerk upon forms pm-ovided by the
City of Iowa City, Iowa, and said application shall be verified under
oath and shall furnish the following information:
a. The name and address of the applicant.
b. The financial status of the applicant.
c. The experience of the applicant in the transportation
of passengers.
d. Any facts which the applicant believes tend to prove
that public convenience and necessity require the granting of
a certificate.
e. The number of vehicles to be operated or controlled
by the applicant and the location of proposed dispatch points
and street stands.
f. The color scheme or insignia to be used to designate
the vehicle or vehicles of the applicant.
9. Such further pertinent information as the City Council
of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, may require.
5.16.4 Public Hearing.
a. No certificate required by this division shall be granted
or issued to operate a taxicab or taxicabs unless and until the
Cita- Council, after a put is hearing held hefcre it, shOl by
resolution declare that the public convenience and necessity
re3uire the proposed taxicab service for which application for
a 1 1ceme to operate such taxicab or taxicabs is made.
• -3 •
b. The hearing required by subsection a, shall be had
only after thirty (30) days written notice of the hearing
is served upon all persons holding taxicab licenses, arra
after a notice addressed to the public and signed by the
City Clerk shall have been published pursuant to state law,
informing the public that the application is pending. The
service and publication of the notice shall be at the
expense of the applicant,
5.16.5 Liability Insurance.
a. As a condition to granting the certificate the person
seeking such certificate shall file, in the office of the City
Clerk, a motor vehicle operator's liability insurance policy,
executed by a crnpany authorized to do insurance business in
the State of Iowa, in a form approved by the City Manager.
The minirmnn limits of such policy shall be as follows:
To cover the assured's liability for personal
injury or death of one person, as the result
of one accident or other cause,
To cover the assured's liability for personal
injury or death of more than one person, as
the result of one accident or other cause,
Zb cover the assured's liability for damage
to or destruction of property other than
that of the, assured, as the result of one
accident or cause,
Each policy shall contain the following endorsement:
"It is understood and agreed that before the insurance policy
to which this endorsement is attached may be suspended or cancelled
thmz City of Iowa City, Iowa, will be given ten (10) days prior
written notice of such proposed suspension or cancellation. It is
further understood and agreed that the obligation of this policy
slwll v3ot be affected by any act or omission of the named assured,
or any etployee or agent of the nand insured, with respect to any
condition or require ant attached thereto, nor by any default of
the assured in payment of the premium, nor in the giving of any
notice required by said policy, or otherwise, nor by the death,
insolvency, bx&ruptey, legal incapacity, or inability of the
assured."
b. The failure of any certificate holder to nnintain such
policy in full force and effect thrmrgbout the life of the
eer+ifi : to shall constitute reva.:.ation of tlu u•tiricate.
0 -a 0
5.16.7 Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.
a. Certificates shall be valid beginning on the first day
of May of each year, and shall expire on the last day of the
April next following. Renewal of a certificate shall follow
the same procedure as set for issuance of an initial certificate.
b. No certificate shall be issued or continued in
operation unless the holder thereof has paid an annual base
fee of dollars ($ );
for the first taxicab a fee of dollars
($ ) per year and for each additional taxi—
cab, the fee shall be dollars
($ ) per year.
c. In cases where certificates are issued on or after the
first day of November in each year, one-half (1/2) only of the
fees established in subsection a. shall be paid.
5.16.8 Suspension or Revocation of Certificate.
a. The City Manager is empowered and authorized to revolve
or suspend or refuse to renew any certificate issued when-
ever:
(1) the holder has failed to oomply with any provi-
sions of this ordinance, or
(2) a fact exists which would have been a ground
for refusal. to- issue a certificate, or
(3) the holder's service to the public is so
inadequate or insufficient as to adversely affect
the public.
b. Whenever a certificate is suspended or revolved or
renewal denied under a, above, the City Manager shall by
written notice inform the holder and the City Council of such
action and a specification of reasons therefore within seven
(7) says. No certificate may be revoked or suspended or
renewal denied unless the holder has received written notice.
c. Within seven (7) days of receipt of notice under b.
above, the holder of a certificate may file with the City
Clerk on a form to be provided by the City Clerk a written
appeal of the City Manager's decision. The City Clerk shall
provide copies of the notice of appeal to the City Council,
the City Manager, and the City Attorney.
d. Upon receipt of the appeal, the City Council shall
set the matter for public hearing no later than thirty (30)
days from the filing of the appeal. Notice of said public
hearing shall be pursuant to state law, with written notifi-
cation to the appellant.
• -5 •
e. The hearing of an appeal shall be open and informal.
The hearing may be continued by the City Council.
f. The City Council shall render its opinion within
thirty (30) days of the close of the hearing. Such decision
nay consist of:
(1) reaffirmation of the original decision to revoke,
suspend, or deny renewal of the certificate, or
(2) deletion or alteration of any part of the original
decision, or
(3) reversal of the original decision by reinstating
or ordering the renewal or issuance of the certificate.
5.16.9 License Plate: Issuance; Attachment to Vetlxcie; rorm.
Upon the grantuoof a certificate reghuired by this division, the
holder, upon payment of a fee of
shall affix to a conspicuous and indispensable part of each taxi-
cab, a small plate not exceeding six (6) inches in diameter, which
shall bear the taxicab license number of the vehicle and the year in
which the license was issued.
5.16 10 Name of Cr�v to be Painted on Vehicle; Size and Location
of Lettering. Each taxicab licensed pursuant to this division shall
have the name of the owner or the operating company thereof painted
plainly in letters at least two (2) inches in height in the center of the
main panel of one (1) door on each side of the taxicab.
5.16. 11 Distinctive Color Scherre Required. Each taxicab that shall
be licensed pursuant to this division and used upon the streets of the
City shall be finished in a distinctive color, either in whole or in
part, so that it may be readily and easily distinguished from other
vehicles as a taxicab, which color scheme shall and must at all tyres
meet with the approval and requirements of the City Council.
5 16 12 ub be Equipped with Interior Lights. Each taxicab shall
beequipped with an interror light of sufficient candlepocwer capable
to. amply illuminate the interior of the taxicab at all times. The
light shall be so arranged as to be easily accessible to and operable by
passengers; however, interior lights may be disconnected at any tirre
after sunrise and before sunset.
5.16 13 Mechanical Inspection• Acceptable Standards of Fitness
Generally_ Any mer of the police department my order any taxicab
to be inspected by a garage as to its mechanical fitness, if there is a
reasonable doubt of the fitness of the vehicle. The taxicab shall
be considered mechanically fit if the equipnent and operation thereof
confmim to the motor vehicle inspection requirenents of the Iowa Code.
5.16.14 Taxicab Driver's License. No person shall operate a taxicab
for hire upon the streets of the City of Iaoa City, Iowa, and no person
who owns or controls a taxicab shall permit it to he so driven, and W
taxicab licursed by t1w City of Sawa City, Sia, shall bf se driven at
any tirm for hire, unless the driver of said taxicab shall have first
obtained and shall have then in force a chauffeur's license issued
under the praVisions of the State Code.
0
-6- 0
5.16.15 To Wear Cap of Distinctive Color, Which Shall Designate
Eirployer. Each taxicab driver shall, when on duty, wear a cap of
distinctive color, with the name of his/her enployer thereon.
5.16.16
Card With Name and
to be Displayed. Each taxicao driver snarl, wniie o
cab in the City, display in a prominent place in the
fran all seats used by passengers, an identification
full name of the driver and his/her photograph.
16.17 Taximeters:
)graph of Driver
ierating a taxi -
taxicab, visible
card showing the
a. Each taxicab operated on the streets of the City shall
have affixed thereto a taximeter of a size and design approved by
the City Manager.
b. No license required by this article shall be issued to
a taxicab until the taximeter attached thereto shall have been
inspected and found to be accurate by the City Police Department,
such inspections to occur at least annually.
c. No person shall use or permit to be used upon any taxicab
owned or operated by him/her a taximeter which shall be in such
a condition as to be over five per cent (5%) incorrect to the
prejudice of any passenger.
d. No taximeter shall be used between sunset and sunrise
unless the face shall be illuminated by a suitable light, so
arranged as to throw a continuous, steady light thereon.
e. No person shall use or permit to be used or drive for
hire, a taxicab equipped with a taximeter, the case of which is
unsealed and which does not have its cover rnd gear intact.
f. It shall be unlawful for any person owning, operating or
driving a taxicab to operate or drive such taxicab unless the
fare to be charged is determined by an approved taximeter and no
other or different fare shall be charged to passengers than is record-
ed on the reading face of said taximeter for the trip.
3.16. 18 Fares. Before any establishment or change in the fares
char to passengers for taxicab services may be made, the holder of
the certificate shall first cause to be published at least twice in a
newspaper of general circulation in the City of Iowa City a notice in
the following form, such notice to be first published at least thirty
(30), and no more than forty (40), days prior to the effective date of
the proposed increase:
The Cab Camany hereby
proposes to element the following rate schedule for taxi-
cab services in Iowa City:
-7 0
(rate schedule)
The effective date of the above schedule of rates
shall be unless notice of
protest is filed with the City Clerk prior to the
effective date.
Information concerning notice of protest is avail-
able from the City Clerk of Iowa City, Civic Center,
410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, Iowa.
If no protest is filed before the stated effective date the proposed
rates shall become automatically effective on the stated effective date.
If one or gore protests are filed before the stated effective date,
the City Council shall conduct a public hearing with notice as prescribed
by State law and shall make a determination as to the reasonableness of the
proposed rate structure, such hearing to take place on or within thirty
(30) days after the stated effective date of the proposed increase.
The City Council may require the certificate holder to submit all relevant
records, documents, and other memoranda to substantiate the need for any
rate change. The hearing nay be informal, and testimony may be received
from all interested parties.
The City Council shall render a decision of affirmance, modification,
or rejection of the proposed rate change, and shall make its determinations
based upon the information brought forth at the public hearing. The
Council's decision shall be effective immediately.
5.16.19 Receipts for Fare; Contents. Upon request, the driver in charge
of a taxicab shall deliver to the person paying for the hiring of the taxi-
cab, at the time of the payment, a receipt therefor in legible type or writing,
containing the name of the owner of the taxicab, the City license number,
and any items for which a charge is made, the total anount paid, the date of
payment, and the signature of the driver.
5.16.20 Rate Card to Be Displayed. Each taxicab shall prominently
display a fare rate card visible to all passenger seats.
5.16.21 Right to Darend Prepayment of Fare, Obligation to Carry Passen-
9ers. The driver of a taxi ab shall have the right to demand payment of the
legal fare in advance and nay refuse enploynent unless so prepaid, but no
driver shall otherwise refuse or neglect to convey any orderly person or
Persons Uzmn request anywhere in the City unless previously engaged or unable
to do so.
• -8- 0
SECTION III. REPEALER. M.C. Sections 67.1 through and including
67.14 and all other ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with
the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION IV. SEVERABILITY. If any section, provision or part of the
ordinances 11 be adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudica-
tion shall not affect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or any section,
provision or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional.
SELHON V. EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance shall be in effect after
its final passage, approval and publication as required by law.
It was moved by and seconded by
that the Ordinance be finally adopted, and upon roll call these were:
AYES: NAYS: ABSENT:
_ Ba I mr
deProsse
Foster
_ Neuhauser
_ Perret
Selzer
Vevera
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
First Consideration
Vote for passage:
Second Consideration
Vote for passage:
Date of Publication
Passed and approved this day of 1977.
RECEIVED & APPROVED
BY TILE LEGAL DEPARTMENT
kity o4 Iowa CRA
MEMORANDUM
DATE: Apr i 1 8, 1977
TO: Neal Berlin, City ffanager /l
FROM: Don Akin, Parking Systems Supt. fv.�'
RE: Alternative Parking Pine Proposals
'lliis memo will serve to explain my opinion on the effects of a
change in the parking fine rate schedule.
'Ilse question that first arises in my mind is the number of complaints
that have been received against the $2.00 fine. In speaking for
the Parking Division, which would be the logical recipient of
public opinion against the $2.00 fine, I can say that we actually
have received few complaints about the present fine schedule.
In regard to the proposal of having the fine at $1.00 and assessing
a $5.00 fine for overtime parkers (meter feeders), this is possible
to some extent although it would be very unwieldy and costly to
initiate and enforce. It would be necessary to go to complete
chalking in the downtown area. It would be very costly in that
to chalk completely and uniformly on a one-hour schedule, it would
require at least two more full-time attendants to carry out this
type of enforcement. We would still be faced with the age-old
problems of chalking: i.e. no chalking in wet weather or cold
weather; rubbing out of chalk marks (to make a ticket stand up in
court that has been chalked and rubbed out it would be necessary
to have another attendant present to witness that it was chalked
at that time, or have two witnesses that saw the mark rubbed off);
move the vehicle enough to eliminate the mark, then move back into
the space. All these things happen - and more. After all of this
we would be faced with the resulting ire and unhappiness of the
one group of people that we are trying to attract to the downtown
area - shoppers. If we think that they are unhappy with a $2.00
ticket, wait until they receive a $5.00 one. This is the one group
of people that are usually unaware and uninformed of the rules and
regulations, especially the out of town shoppers, and they would
be the ones that would be penalized the most with this type of
enforcement.
When I attended the informal Council meeting, I understood that a
Int+,,.CT was going out to all of the merchants advising them of the
overtime parking problem and asking them and their employees to
help with this matter. After all, they
should be the most concerned
with the effects of overtime parking in the husiness district. 1 was
also under the impression that the Council was in ugreclnent with
the thinking on thin.
11 should he brought out that our budget was aligned with the projected
revenue structures lased on the existing 52.1111 fine.
0 0
Parking Fines •2- April 8, 1977
LONG TERM CONSIDERATIONS
Looking down the road, financing for a proposed ramp or ramps will be
based on future parking revenues. There is no doubt in my mind that
we would be turning right around and putting the $2.00 fine back in
order to keep parking revenue at a level capable of supporting such
facilities.
(MER ALTERNATIVES
There are two alternatives that come easily to mind:
A. Split Fine
1. $1.00 within 24 hours; $2.00 after 24 hours
(Some cities extend the fine further after 1 week's time)
R. Free Time Meters - Meters with an initial period of free
parking; i.e. would turn handle to get 15 minutes free
parking and would deposit coins for time beyond the 15
minutes.
SPLIT I-INES
The split fine method is a method which was operational in Iowa City
until June 30, 1973. We experienced two areas of difficulty in this
system.
1. A complete drive -up window with attendants and equipment
was supplied to handle the receipt of traffic fines. however,
there was poor public response to this method of payment
and this idea was abandoned.
2. We then went to depositing the tickets in collection boxes
spread throughout the Cit)r. The major problem with this
method was that of theft from these boxes, as well as the
problem of substantiating claims that parking tickets had
been placed into the depositories.
The mail -in method was then instituted to resolve these problems.
However, due to the time lag connected with mail delivery, problems
were created in trying to determine actual time of payment. Under
the split -fine method, approximate) v 408 of the tickets were being
paid within the 24 hour period. Sui)sequent billings at the $2.00
rate increased collection to 758 of the tickets issued. However,
there were many who would send only $1.00 on the billing, leaving us
with an additional receivuble of $1 .00 per ticket..
Parking Pines -3- April 8, 1977
It was this outstanding receivable on many tickets, in addition to
revenue and labor considerations, that led us to believe that we would
be better off to change to a flat rate schedule, and I still believe
that this is true.
From attending conventions of the International Municipal Parking
Congress, I have learned that cities which operate the split -fine
method were operating them successfully only when their programs
were set up on computers which can handle the increased administrative
workload inherent in this system.
FREE TIME MLTERS
This type of meter appeared on the market about 3 years ago. To
my knowledge, they have not been too successful. Comments at the
I.M.P.C. Meetings showed that very few cities are using them and
those cities are using them on a trial basis.
In conclusion, I feel that before any decision is made, all alter-
natives should be investigated thoroughly.
RI.'VrNff-,; (Refer to Nancy Heaton's memo attached)
It should be mentioned at this time that since the implementation
of the $2.00 fine, two things have happened.
1) For the same time period of the $1.00 as against the
$2.00 fine, there has been an increase of 0 in street
meter revenue.
2) At this tine time, there has been an increase of 23% in
the Municipal Lot.
All of this has occurred with 17,614 fewer tickets being issued in a
like period of time under the $1.00 and $2.00 fine. This indicates
two things - people are paying the meters better and are parking
in off-street parking more. I can't help but feel that a complete
understanding of the downtown merchants and good coverage by the news
media concerning the limit parking would be the way to go initis] ly.
•City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
DATE: March 29, 1977
10: Ion Akin
FROM: Nancy Heaton
RE: 1Y 76 and FY 77 Statistical Comparison During Period July 1 -
February 28
The attached sheet provides figures for the above periods on parking
revenue and violations paid.
In the parking revenue area, two facts are significant. The first
is that in Quads lI and III, the decreased income is due to the
removal of 30 meters in January, 1976. These were high income
meters on Dubuque St. and College St. However, that income is
now reflected in the Municipal Lot. The second is that the Municipal
Lot income increase also indicates that more people are choosing
this option than on -street parking. A strong factor supporting
this usage is the decrease from 99,623 tickets issued in FY 76
to 82,009 issued in FY 77 - a total decrease of 17,614 tickets.
The parking violations income increased $21,294.52 in the FY 77
period over FY 76. Most of the increased amount was shown from
August through November ($20,588.33) due to increased enforcement
efforts resulting in cars being towed and tickets paid before the
vehicle was released.
The impact of the $2.00 ticket is now being felt and has gradually
increased the average ticket paid from $1.56 to $2.28. The tickets
written March 26, 27, and 28 were sorted and there were 137 $5.00
tickets and 700 $2.00 tickets. For that weekend, one-third of
the dollar amount for these fines was directly attributable to
the $1.00 increase adopted by Council on July 1, 1976.
1 feel that we see greater income due to the better enforcement
and more recent]), to the $2.00 ticket. The decline in tickets
issued means people are parking according to established rules
in greater numbers. If we continue to write fewer tickets in
PY 77 than in FY 76, and the parking revenue continues strong,
our traffic program is operating effectively. Fewer tickets
mean fewer citizens are penalized and that must be seen as a
positive direction and more important than whether we have a
$2.00 or $1.00 penalty.
• • 3/29/77
C(NPARISON 01: PISCAI, PIN 101) .1110' I - ITBRIIARI' 28
PARKING VIOUVl'1ONS
PAMNUS
1976
REVEMIE
INCREASE
OR
11,173.65
1976
1977
DECREASE
Sept
QUAD I
22,459.17
26,3 94.60
3,935.43
20,944.81
QUAD 11
18,450.33
17,4 68.30
(982.03)
19,162.94
QUAD I 1
14,343.36
14,035.53
(307.83)
Feb
QUAD IV
30,980.33
31,9 19.71
939.38
TOTAL
86,233.19
89,818.14
3,584.95
+ 40b
Iowa
6,457.98
8,4 24.11
1,966.1.3
Washington
16,254.51
24,082.03
7,827.52
Burlington
1,888.67
2,388.87
500.20
Clinton
5,079.32
- — -
(5,079.32)
Schuman
1,798.41
1,999.69
201.28
Eagle
675.96
---
(675.96)
Library
4,421.34
4,151.59
(269.75)
Market
6,174.16
5,74 3.68
(430.48)
Rec Lot
2,731.92
2,691.10
(40.82)
LCP
2,237.85
3,563.84
1,325.99
Moose
3,534.66
4,50 4.95
970.29
Subtotal
51,254.78
57,54 9.86
6,295.08
+ 12.2%
Municipal
41,789.37
51,29 2.23
9,502.86
+ 22.7%
TOTAL
179,277.34
198,660.23
19,382.89
+ 10.8%
PARKING VIOUVl'1ONS
TI=T'S ISSUED
1976 1977
17,010
PAMNUS
1976
RL'CEIVED
1977
Jul
1.2,053.14
11,173.65
Aug
10,586.11
15,553.76
Sept
13,376.11
17,904.97
Oct
17,125.05
20,944.81
Nov
13,062.86
20,334.92
Dec
19,162.94
19,380.16
Jan
14,994.91
16,622.25
Feb
15 963 34
�1Z, B�S6�b
16 276.66
138,T�51�
TI=T'S ISSUED
1976 1977
17,010
9,372
9,477
10,703
14,010
11,620
16,109
10,419
11,651
11,007
13,063
8,902
11,114
8,293
13 189
11 693
009
-9 -2--5
In 17 77, payments received increased 18% and tickets issued decreused
21.46.
PAID TICIT"I'S
1976 1977
7T8Te 6NTR
0 9
FY 78 C.I.P. RANKINGS
IOWA CITY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
April 4, 1977
Update of Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan
for the Johnson County Regional Planning Commission
4 Four (4) Racquet ball/Handball
Courts $100,000 G.O. Bonds
5 Court Hill Park Tennis
Courts (2) $ 28,000 50% Property Tax +
50% B.O.R.
0
7
n
Completion of City Park
Bike Trail $ 25,000 50% H.C.D.A. + 50% B.O.R.
Elm Grove Park Tennis
Courts (2) $ 28,000
Wetherby Park Tennis
Courts (2) $ 28,000
9 Softball Complex $ 85,000
10 Willow Creek Indoor
Recreation Building $ 50,000
11 West Side Swimming Pool (}
City construction & maintenance $550,000
12 Rlverfront @ $20 0,000/year
for S years $600,000
13 Fund to Purchase Additional
Park Land $100,000
14 Asphalt Mercer Pa rking Lot $ 30,000
15 Artificial Ice Rink $500,000
H.C.D.A.
50% Property Tax +
50% B.O.R.
Property Tax
H.C.D.A.
G.O. Bond
H.C.D.A .
50% H.C.D.A. + 50% B.O.R.
Property Tax
G.O. Bond
8/6
Approx.
# Item
Cost
Source of Funding
1 Mercer Concession, Restroom
and Maintenance Building
$ 40,000
Property Tax
2 Developmental Money for Parks
(annually)
$ 50,000
H.C.D.A.
3 Willow Creek Parts Tennis
Courts (2)
$ 55,000
Property Tax + Donated
Funds
4 Four (4) Racquet ball/Handball
Courts $100,000 G.O. Bonds
5 Court Hill Park Tennis
Courts (2) $ 28,000 50% Property Tax +
50% B.O.R.
0
7
n
Completion of City Park
Bike Trail $ 25,000 50% H.C.D.A. + 50% B.O.R.
Elm Grove Park Tennis
Courts (2) $ 28,000
Wetherby Park Tennis
Courts (2) $ 28,000
9 Softball Complex $ 85,000
10 Willow Creek Indoor
Recreation Building $ 50,000
11 West Side Swimming Pool (}
City construction & maintenance $550,000
12 Rlverfront @ $20 0,000/year
for S years $600,000
13 Fund to Purchase Additional
Park Land $100,000
14 Asphalt Mercer Pa rking Lot $ 30,000
15 Artificial Ice Rink $500,000
H.C.D.A.
50% Property Tax +
50% B.O.R.
Property Tax
H.C.D.A.
G.O. Bond
H.C.D.A .
50% H.C.D.A. + 50% B.O.R.
Property Tax
G.O. Bond
8/6
April 13, 1977
Mr. Gilbert P. Mullen, Manager
Field Real Estate and Buildings
5700 Broadmoor
Room 920
Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66202
Dear Mr. Mullen:
The City Council has again reviewed the question of the purchase of the old
Post Office. As we have discussed previously, the City is interested in
acquiring the property for the possible construction of senior citizens'
housing and conversion of the building to a senior citizens' center.
The City proposes that the City purchase the property for a nominal sum
provided that the building is preserved. If it is not possible economically
to preserve the Post Office building for a senior citizens' center, then the
contract would provide that the City may remove the building without any State,
local or Federal restrictions of any kind. Further, in the event the City is
unable to preserve the building, then the City proposes that the contract pro-
vide that the City will, to compensate the Postal Service for the property,
deed to the Postal Service a parcel of 27,000 square feet located at Dubuque
and Court Streets. This property is within the Urban Renewal Program area of
the City and is suitable for commercial development.
Again I must emphasize that while the City is interested in acquiring the build-
ing at a nominal sum or for an exchange of property, the City does not wish to
be encumbered in any way by any current or proposed restrictions relating to the
improvement, maintenance or demolition of the existing building.
We currently have an organization in Iowa City which is interested in submitting
a proposal to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for a 202 Housing
Project for that site. These proposals are due at the end of May. Therefore,
an early decision on this site will be appreciated.
Sincerel yours,
/Veal
�. Iter1 i n
City Manager
cc: City Council
Is CITY OF IOWA C17Y
CIVIC CENTER, 410 E WASHINGTON S7.
IOWA CITY, 10WA 52240
319.354 16D0
917
11
April 14, 1977
Mr. Nate Ruben, Director
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Federal Building
210 Walnut
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
RE: Section 8 Preliminary Proposal
IA05-0026-003, Roberts Road
Iowa City, Iowa
Dear Mr. Ruben:
In response to your letter dated March 23, 1977, subject same as above., the
following comments are provided:
a. There are no objections from local government on the grounds of incon-
sistency with approved Housing Assistance Plans. There is a need for the
assistance proposed and there are sufficient public facilities and services
available to the area. Approval of the proposal will enhance this community's
efforts to provide housing to the full spectrum of low income families -
b. The site is presently zoned R3, multiple family. The developers must
submit at the appropriate time their Large Scale Residential Development Plan
and other required documentation to ensure compliance with all local codes and
ordinances.
c. Approval of the proposal will have a tendency to concentrate low income
families in that area as it is adjacent to Mark IV, a 248 -unit project built
and operated under the 236 Program. This has not been a deterrent to other
development in the area. Immediately to the east of Mark IV, there are new
$80 - $90.000 homes being built and sold. To the north, two developments for
moderate income families are in processing. This then should not be the sole
reason for disapproval of the proposal. The inclusion of 46 unsubsidized units
in the proposal has a further positive effect. Should only the 50 units of
subsidized units be approved, then further consideration should be given,
d. Cohn Maher, attorney for Winding Creek Apartments, has advised the City
staff that Winding Creek Apartment Associates included in their submission
specifications and additional mortgage funds to construct an outdoor sw imning
CITE' OF IOVVA CITY
CIVIC CENTER, 410 E WASHINGTON 5T.
IOVNA CITY, IOWA 52240
319.3541800
E✓8
Mr, Nate Ruben • •
April 14, 1977
Page 2
pool. The City Council feels there is a need for recreation facilities in
this area and is pleased that the proposal includes plans to accomplish this
goal. This pool is to be under supervision on a full-time basis and will be
available to residents of Mark IV and this complex on a no -charge basis.
Other residents of the area will have access with such charges as are consis-
tent with.,non-profit operation of the pool. The City Council desires to see
this type, recreational facility included in the project and recommends that
funds be approved.
Sincerely,
(I ,I p
Mary C. euhauser
Mayor
Is
0
lows CIIY
April 14, 1977
Mr, Emil Brandt
Johnson County Regional Planning Commission
22 1/2 South Dubuque
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Dear Mr. Brandt:
The City Council has discussed Johnson County Regional Planning Com-
mission's offer to act as a mediator between the City of Iowa City and
University Heights. The Council appreciates the Commission's offer
but wishes to decline.
Sinerel yours,
16'aal6. Berl n
City Manager
Is
cc: City Clerk
CITE' OF IOWA CITY
CIVIC CENTER, 410 E. WASHINGTON ST.
IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240
319.354-1800
April 11, 1977
Mr. Robert Raynsford
Chairman
Federal Committee on SMSA
Room 10215
New Executive Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Raynsford:
Thank you for the time spent discussing possible SMSA designation of the
Iowa City metropolitan area.
I am enclosing a map which will demonstrate more clearly what we were
talking about. As you wiI I be able to see, the removal of one of Coral -
ville's enumeration districts would permit the area to achieve the necessary
1,000 persons per square nile density requirement.
Thank you for any help you can give me in this matter.
Very truly yours,
Carol 11. deProsse
Councilwoman
1s
Enclosure
April 11, 1977
Mr. Donald G. Dodge
Director, Office of Evaluation
Community Planning and Development
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Washington, D.C. 20410
Dear Mr. Dodge:
I enjoyed talking with you at Mr. Hyde's reception during the National
League of Cities Congressional Workshop last month_ I was in Washington
last week and tried to call you but you were not in.
Thank you for the materials you sent on urban renewal. I did particularly
enjoy reading,,"Guidelines for Urban Renewal Land Disposition."
Very truly yours,
Carol 41. deProsse
Counci 7 woman
Is
April 11, 1977
The Honorable Dick Clark
U. S. Senator
404 Old Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Clark:
II want you to know how helpful Vicky Smith was to me during a recent
visit to Washington. For severa 7 years I have been active in attempting
well informed on matter andto gain S14SA designation for the Iowa City metropolitan area. Vicky is
various Washingtonhbureaucrats. hIsalwabeeyssfindrher every �pleasant stosdeto
al
with and feel she is an excellent member of your staff.
Very truly yours,
Carol W. deProsse
Councilwoman
Is
April 11, 1977
The Honorable John Culver
U. S. Senator
1327 New Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Culver:
I want you to know how helpful Pat O'Connor was to me duri ng a recent trip
to Washington. for several years I have been active in attempting to gain
SMSA designation for the Iowa City metropolitan area. Pat has become well
informed on the matter within a very short period of time and was very support-
ive during a visit to the Federal SMSA Office.
Pat is a fine, intelligent member of your staff, and I hope you wil l pass my
comments along to him.
Very truly yours,
Carol W. deProsse
Councilwoman
1s
0 0
April ll, 1977
The Honorable James Leach
U. S. Representative
1724 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20315
Dear Jim:
I had an excellent three days in Washington. Besides attending the Foreign
PBlicy Conference and conducting several items of City business. I managed to
get to the Smithsonian and the Botanic Gardens.
Please tell Deba that the Iowa City Northside Study has a historical preservation
work element, but upon inquiry I find we have no one qualified to do it. If she
has interest or can recommend someone, please have her write me.
Gary was a terrific help during my visit. He is going to speak to you about
ingnInformation olitan for Yourusein
l rea this matter. naHeothoughtoian administrative en ruling
by Mr. Lance might be the only option left at this time, and I tend to agreeos-
Please keep me informed as to any progress made on this subject.
Again, my thanks to you and your office staff and continued good luck to our
First District Congressman.
Very truly yours,
Carol W. deProsse
Councilwoman
Is
• •
IOWA CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
MONTHLY REPORT
MARCH 1n77
ROBERT P. Y,EATING, FIRE CHIEF
MARCH ACTIVITIES
The department answered a total of 53 em?rgencies during the month of
March. During the month the department did not experience any narticularly
large fire loss. The largest and most serious fire occurred March 19 in
an apartment. Total loss to the building and contents amounted to
approximately $6,500.00 The building was not equipped with early detection
devices such as smoke detectors but fortunately the occupants awoke in time
and made their escape.
The department investigated and estahlished the causes for all fires
occuring during the month.
Captain 140mbacher and Lieutenant Flelstad attended the National Fire Instructors
Conference held in Memphis , Tenn., March 22 through 25.
Chief attended a two day Chief's Conference at Ames, Iowa March 30 and '41.
Captain Stimmel submitted a request to he retired after completing thirty
years on the department. Feb. 2, 1n77. Two fire fighters Leroy Butler and
Malvin Heinsius submitted resignations during the month effective April 15.
In—service inspections are continuing and total 11g for thn. month.
nITHREACTIVITIES
Some hose testing will be done weather permitting.
Snrinq station work, will he scheduled and done by all three shifts.
Insnections of the outlying businesses will continue and whPrP nnssible will
be done in service with an engine company.
04.
FIRE DEPARTIE!1T ACTIVITIES THIS MO,VT!f
!IIHTHLV REPORT
FIRE DEPAPT!IEIIT
THIS YEAR, TO DATF.
• I10'1T!f OF
Lti'7 VEAP, TO PATE
MARCH ln7
FIRE AL•1.n.!1S
!,-.. I " ( . • .., C'T--
iHT.I I I S ..
31
74 - —
14 —
q --
I 82
— —
R 12
�LC°—
oTOTAL
:!$�i
n
5n45n
3.5.
E'IFPr;F!!CIES
4PISPECTIOMS
Pr)
BEifF?c,..23
09
n
627
25
R?� V
394nPr
994
2
KILES
4
9
9
041PLAPITS
356—. a ,
3�
AID
n
n
P,LS
129
a
AU
All)
n
n
4
PUBLIC J.
4TAIIt"
RE SCHOM
5
0
0
82n
n
n
I `—
0 —
(IRS
7
17
In
Sr EPS ILLI
2
22
INJIUR.IES TO FIP,EFIQ:fTERS
0
P.
7
_ I . I
n
1. :.
ATr7S T
I
17
o
CLASSIFICATION HO. THIS
I'WIE OF EnUIPMUTT THIS JJOM•H
4T FTRFC
LOSS THIS MONTH VALUATION LOGS THIS YEAR LOSS LAST YEAR
THIS YEAR THIS 110`1TH THIS YEAR
AT FTP%C Ir nnT I I c I Jr nnr, , n
HOSE
0
n
enn
n�—
�`s-,WTF
Ff-ur-f? I
n
5n45n
0
__
5nq
R,n
qrn
p6nn --
Pr)
5nn
00
Irnn
'IT S
2795
394nPr
994
_
rr. TF"ilCmm
52
nn
--
178
356—. a ,
3�
2
4
n
n
J
ITITPUC r3
E
T --
2I
9
IMU . 561TRUCK
�n
6.
.,g
MARCH 1977
DATE
Est. Loss
$17,351.26
5,324.00
,no
,on
on
on
7,7.45.nn
6,561.13
no
1,62n.nn
474. 10
9�
on
311.13
,—no
00
Lawrencl. Kinney
Fire Marshal
April F, 1x77
To: Robert P. Keatina , Fire Chief
Subject:Monthly Report
The following is a report of the activities of the Fire Marshal's office
for the month of !larch 1n77.
The Fire Marshal attended 13i -State meetin held at Moline, Illinois. A
very interesting topic of rson n t e re Service was presented by
two Illinois State Fire Marshal Investigators.
A complete inspection was made of Mercy Hospital for certification
purposes. Reports were to the State Fire Marshal's office.
Set Fire Investigations - 3
wo Of these set res were involved by the same, three hoes. With the
help of Leo Eastwood, th P three .juvenile boys were turned over to the
County Probation Officer- The other set fire involved a ,juvenile high
school girl.
Follow un Insnectlons - 1n
Thewere special inspections that Fire Department officers requested the
Fire Marshal to enforce and sent correction letters.
Building Plan Review - 7
Sprinkler Plans Review - 2
Tnsnections
Apartments - 2
Multi -Dwellings - 2
Mercantile- 2
Evacuation Programs - 3
New Ruildings - 2
SS ecie1 ins ectlon and Corrections
MUIN- a nq - 7
fire Escape Inspections - "
P.estuarant - 3
Drinking Establishments - 1
Nursinn Homy (nmPnoli) - 1
nay fare - 3
Complaints - 3
0 0
Monthly Report
Fire Marshal
March 1977
Public Relations
Taped for KXIC and KCJJ on leaf burning procedures
Taped a Sunday program for KXIC on smoke detectors
Batt. Chief Irving, Capt. Belsing, Lieut. Stagg and Fire Marshal gave
eight fire prevention talks and fire extinguisher demonstrations at
Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. There were approximately 150 employees
who participated in this program.
The following films were shown to the Firefinhters this mnnth. They
were "The Bondi Story", "Fire Safety What's That", and "Smush the Fire
Out".
Chief and Fire Marshal gave four Fire Prevention talks at Jessup Hall.
Approximately 50 emplovees attended this program.
Fire Prevention talk and evacuation plans were given at Jefferson Building
by Lieut. Stagg and Fire Marshal. 40 persons attended this meeting.
Meeting with various architects - 3
Meeting with State Fire Marshal - 1
Meeting with U. of I. Officials - 2
Meeting with Mercy Hospital Administration - 1
Acted for the Fire Chief in his absence. Fire Marshal used four days vacation.
Respectfully submitted,
ence H. Kinney i
Fire Marshal
TRAINENG REPORT •
0 Marcb 77
Shift #1 No, of Hours 196 No. of Drills 38
Shift #2 No. of Hours 217 No. of Drills 41
Shift #3 No, of Hours 23n No. of Drills 46
TOTAL N0. OF HOURS 643 TOTAL N0. OF DRILLS 329
EQUIpMM AT DRILLS
4" Hose 600 'Druck #354 9
3" Hose 500 Car #360
2;�" Hose 1850 Truck #361 6
1-I" 110se 500 Truck #362 9
Ft. of Booster 825 Truck #363 5
Ft. of ladders 100 Truck #364 6
Times pump Used 22 Truck #365 4
Nozzle Lines 22 Truck #366 12
Other Minor Equipment Truck #367 11
Van #369 7
The Training was conducted by fire department officers during the past
month. The officers conducted a total of 129 drills with the fire fighters
receiving a total of 643 man hours of instructor.
All shifts were working with the inn' aerial ladder on different evolutions
and water tower operations.
!T —
lawronos H. {limey
Fire 'Merahai
Placement Activities
Persons hired:
•
HUMAN RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
MONTHLY REPORT
March 1977
April 8, 1977
1 Clerk -typist:
1 Firefighter
1 Account Clerk
1 Maintenance Worker III
1 Maintenance Worker I
1 Sr. MW -Horticulturist
Persons terminated:
1 Engineering Technician
1 Maintenance Worker III
1 Maintenance Worker III
1 Maintenance Worker I
• New feature: page 5
- Community Development:
- Fire Department
- Finance/Purchasing
- Public Works/Govt. Bldg
- Parks & Rec/Cemetery
- Parks & Rec/Parks
- Public Works/Engineerini
- Public Works/Govt. Bldg
- Public Works/Equipment
- Public Works/Govt. Bldg
Persons reclassified or promoted:
1 Bus driver (Temp. P -T) to
Bus driver (Perm. P -T) - Public Works/Transit
1 Captain to Deputy Chief - Police Department
1 Sr. Treatment Plant Operator
to Maintenance Worker III - Public Works/Pollution
Control
1 Lieutenant to Captain - Fire Department
1 Maintenance Worker II to
Maintenance Worker III - Public Works/Equipment
1 Maintenance Worker I= Public
Works/Equipment to
Maintenance Worker II - Parks & Rec/Parks
0 ..Z
0 0
IIUI4AN RELATIOAS DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT - MARCH 1977
PAGE 2
Temporary employees hired:
1 Summer help
2 Crossing guards
2 Laborer
1 Instructor grade4A
1 Life guard
1 Call in clerical help
1 United Action for Youth
11 Mayor's Youth
Temporary employees terminated:
2 Maintenance Workers
Civil Rights Complaint Activities
Formal Complaints :
Informal Complaints:
2 Sex/Employment
1 Race/Employment
- Parks & Rec/Cemetery
- Police Department
- Parks & Rec/Parks
- Parks & Rec/Recreation
- Parks & Rec/Recreation
- Admin./Human Relations
- Parks E. Rec/Parks
6 Employment
2 Housing
3 Public Accommodations
Complaints in Conciliation:
1 Race/Employment
2 Sex/Employment
1 Race/Housing
Complaints in Litigation: 2- Westinghouse, Yellow Cab
i
Requests for Information: Numerous requests concerning ordinance.
Progress on Objectives
Personnel
Objectives: 1. To evaluate sco a and administration of
com erl tion and Fenefit package to provide
atter- a ministration.
A meeting has been scheduled for April 18 with 2
representatives of APSCME to discuss the classification
plan. This is in accordance with the APSCMF contract.
0
0
HUMAN RELATIONS DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT - MARCH 1977
PAGE 3
An individual time record is nearly complete
as the initial step in payroll changes.
The administration and supervisors salary survey
has not progressed as rapidly as expected due to
practically no response from out of state
communities. Follow-up requests have been made.
Annualized benefit information was distributed to
each permanent employee at a cost of $125 for the
computer service.
2. To develop a system for performance evaluation
lan.
No additional performance evaluation information
is ready at this time.
3. To provide staff assistance in the Civil Service
Commission.
Intelligence, psychological, and physical tests
were administered for sixty-four (64) police
applicants.
0 0
HUMAN RELATIONS DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT - MARCH 1977
PAGE 4
Civil Rights:
Objectives: 1. To develop a workable and effective contract
complian a e program for monitoring Federal
grants by July 1, 1976.
The Civil Rights section of the performance evaluation
for the Block Grant funds was completed. The EEO
insertions for Block Grant construction contracts
were comp leted. Two construction contracts were
reviewed before advertisement for bids.
2. To improve the employee assistance program in
Work towards developing support group for women
has taken place. The Employee Assistance Program
is being drafted.
To implement the Human Relations Commission program.
Preparations for the "Equal Housing Opportunity:
Federal And Local Laws" meeting were made. There
was a pub tic hearing on revised Human Relations
Ordinance as changed by the City Council at the
March 21, 1977 meeting was prepared for formal
reading. First reading of new Ordinance was held
on March 29, 1977. Extensive work on complaint
processing.
Collective Bargaining
Objectives: 1. To negotiate labor agreements with
Informal attempts to resolve the dispute with
respect to wages failed and final offers were
submitted for arbitration.
We filed a complaint regarding the insistence
of the fi_"'efi tater£ or e tri—pe.rtite te.nel. T1he
firefighters filed a complaint over our selection
for the peenel. All complaints were subsequently
withdrawn and there appears to be no obstacles
to an arbitration hearing as soon as we are
contacted for a hearing date. 1The arbitrator
wea selected through a striking procedure on
Apri 3 7. )
HUMAN REl,PTSONS DEP4WMNT MONTHLY REPORT
PAGE 5 19 7
2. To administer the current contracts in a
consistent manner.
AFSCME: Grievance committee meeting held
Thursday, March 17, 1977
FIRE: No Grievances filed
POLICE: No activity
* New Feature: We are now able to report averace wages of
men and women and minorities by division. SEE 4TTACHED
Dept/Div.
FEMALES
City Clerk 3
City Manager 4
Human Relatimis 4
Finance 29
Govt.
P.W. - MCC.
C.D.- Plannin2
Eng. Code En 1
Block
C.D.-Grant 5
Police 9
Fire 1
Animal Shelter 4
i
Traf. Eng.
i
Transit 3
Streets { 1
Refuse 2
!Parks
Parking System
Poll. Control
Water i
Equipment
Iredera9. 'I3rug.
.W.-Ad.:_in.
TOTAL
7
3
10
1
1
1
1
96
I
F
AVE HR
RATE
5.20
5.17
6.67
4.70
4.72
5.89
5.04
4.51
4.56
4.44
4.26
4.03
3.95
4.75
5.08
5.66
5.40
4.37
4.03
4.79
4.56
4.90
SAT
Pen
ULL TIME
MALES
3
2
1
6
13
5
43
49
8
18
12
16
3
4
11
6
3
14
20
11
1
251
Y COMPARISON MALE/FEMALE
Employees - 0/30/76
ianent
PART TIME
AVE HRi
AVE. HR
RATE
'EMALES
RATE
DIALES
,
9.87
i(
li
7.32
2
3.95
4.75
f
2
3.72
7.48
1
5.40
6.60
6.29
f'
6.80
j 1
'.f
3.72
1
4.56
5.72
4.73
9
4.10
10
5.34
4.80
4.90
i
It
5.99
1
3.87
6.02
4.28
7
5.81
1
5.87
5.50
Z
5.35
5.15
7.52
1
4.96
12.45
5.64
24
4.62
2
3. 56 1
4.02
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
DATE: April 14, 1977
To: Neal Berlin and City Council
FROM: Dick Plastino, Director of Public Works
RE: Monthly Report for March
ENGINEERING DIVISION
The Washington Street Amenities Project - Termination date on this project
or O'Brien Electric is May 15. We are encouraging O'Brien to get started
on this and wrap it up since the community is getting impatient. We have
found a sign base that will look good in the Washington Street area and
have ordered these from Neenah Foundry. Delivery is expected in four weeks.
Muscatine Avenue Improvements - Final plans specifications and costs estimates
ave been submitted to the Iowa Department of Transportation. The bid opening
is May 24.
West Park Lift Station - Conversion from the existing lift station to the new
lift station should occur during the second week of April.
Storm Water Manual - Comments have been received from local engineers and a
anal document is being prepared for City Council. It is anticipated it will
be submitted to Council for adoption April 26.
Erosion Control Manual - A rough draft of this document has been completed
and submitted to the Soil Conservation Service for review. This document
should be submitted to Council approximately six weeks later than the Storm
Water Manuel.
Ten Unit T -Hanger - ido change.
AirConditionin Studies - We are continuing to prod Moore and Associates.
n the uture we will definitely not utilize this firm for air conditioning
or ventilation work.
Southwest Interce toy Repair - No work done on it to date; however, we have
startstart—�1ng y rogen peroxide to the Hawkeye Lift Station, therefore,
odor has been eliminated.
Mormon Trek Boulevard - Existing cross sections have been drawn and all the
topograpdc worl 'ras been done. Wt art current:)' 'waiting word from the rta•,e
concerning our concept statement. The State is not reading concept statements
since they are spending all their time on immenent construction plans.
M
Monthly Report • •
Page 2
Urban Renewal - A contract has been written for the Consultant which has
Feen by Legal, Redevelopment, and yourself,
Tennis Court Lightening are
- This project was awarded to Shay Electric
and bidding documts are currently being prepared.
FY78 Landfill Excavation Contract - Notice to bidders has been sent out.
Asphalt Overlay Project - A list is being prepared on which streets should
be overlaid. This will be submitted to Council.
City Park Pool Lights - Shay Electric was awarded this informal contract
to erect six poles and associated flood lights for City Park swimming pool.
They will be starting this project in April.
We have hired a new technician as a replacement for AI Sanchez. We are
currently advertising for the vacant engineering technician for inspection
purposes,
SOLID WASTE DIVISION
The Solid Waste Division picked up 852 tons of solid waste during the month.
Manhours per ton averaged 2.04.
Volumes of solid waste are increasing dramatically as brush and yard clippings
come out. Some overtime is being incurred and manhours per ton is dropping
into the 1.2-1.3 range.
We are having difficulty keeping the Sanitary Landfill clean due to the
high winds. The sludge that was hauled from the Sewage Plant to the Landfill
is Trow being spread and mixed in with the soil at the Landfill and seeding
wil 1 be done in the next two to four weeks.
POLLUTION CONTROL DIVISION
The -crews cleaned approximately 6500 feet of sanitary sewer. Approximately
143 manhours were spent working on lift stations. There were no complaints
on sewer stoppages. A Maintenance Worker 11 position has been filled. A
pump at the Pepperidge Lift Station failed. It was removed and parts were
ordered. Repairs were completed at the west grit removal machine. The lob
technician attended a one day equipment seminar at Kirkwood Community College.
The nest pump at the liawkeye Lift Station was rebuilt. The Department of
Environmental Quality's approved our infiltration inflow study and it has been
submitted to EPA for their approval.
STREET DIVISION
Craig Minter bus assumed his responsibilities as Street Superintendent. As you
rememober Craig was the area superintendent for Kansas City, Missouri, and was
in charge of approximately 500 miles of streets north of the river in Kansas
City. Missouri.
Monthly Report • •
Page 3
Ile is thoroughly revamping the entire street maintenance procedures.
After a week on the job he has completed an internal complaint form
for use by Street Division personnel in recording citizens' complaints
or writing down complaints themselves and then insuring that follow-up
is made by the Street Division. A master work board has been posted
at the Service Building so each crew will know its work assignment upon
arrival at work. Craig expects to place major emphasis on crack sealing
programs on concrete streets. Ile believes that the $11,000 we budgeted
for a double -jacket tar kettle will not be necessary and he would prefer
to transfer these funds into buying a piggy -back oil distributor which
cannot only be used for crack sealing but also for dust sealing streets.
It is my intent to give him a very free reign to make changes over the
next several months.
As you know, I believe wewere extremely fortunate to acquire Craig.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
65 building permits were issued. Building permit for 902 and 904 North
Dodge was reissued. Charges were filed against 132 North Dodge and
charges have been refiled on the junk yard at 800 First Avenue. An
injunction has been filed against the barbed wire fence at 222 East Benton.
WATER DIVISION
There were seven water main breaks during the month. 55 new meters were
installed and 104 outside readers placed.
Four employees attended the regional meeting of the American Waterworks
Association at Muscatine. The valve at the intersection of College and
Dubuque was replaced. The 500—horse power electric motor at the main
plant failed causing considerable damage to low lift motor and electric
breakers.
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION
The Traffic Engineer had the following meetings;
a. Southgate Developers snd IDOT concerning Sturgis Corner.
b. Mort Ochenfel concerning Kirkwood Truck Question.
c. University of Iowa concerning Lindquist Center.
d. Iowa -Illinois Gas and Electric concerning Street Light Easements.
,e. .non 11in, .Dewy. Chapmar cottrerring Kanc'.iranned prrkiny.
f. Craig Sonksen concerning the University of Iowa O/D Survey on
Melrose and Woolf,
The Traffic Engineer worked with the pert -time intern to develop an analysis
approach to the north side parking situation. An 0,11l study was completed on
Kirkwood Avenue for truck. traffic. The 1976 Summary Collision Diagrams at
21 accident locations have been completed. The variable message signs for
Gilbert at Bowery and Prentiss have been ordered. A postcard survey was
Monthly Report • •
Page 4
initiated for Dewey and Yewell Street. Work continues on the East-West
one-way couplet signalization. No work has been done on Highway 6/1/218
resignal ization. No progress has been made on Sycamore and Highway 6.
Work continues on the Model Traffic Ordinance.
I anticipate that we will be shipping some signali zation programs planned
for FY77 and 78 to Consultants. The Traffic Engineer continues to have
his time completely absorbed by requests to have parking removed, requests
for stop signs, speed signs, cross walks, street lights, and other
miscellaneous requests. These requests are important; however, they are
completely bringing to a halt all in-house work on major traffic signaliza-
tion projects.
The Traffic Engineering Division was called out on 34 defective traffic
signals. 100 traffic signs were replaced and 31 street name signs were
replaced. The signal at Rocky Shore and Highway 6 West was knocked down
and replaced.
EQUIPMEtTI' DIVISION
A bid was accepted on the street sweeper and it was awarded for a Wayne
Four Model L12 Street Sweeper. A new high pressure washer has been
received at the bus barn and will be installed shortly. One Maintenance
Worker III resigned from the City and his position has been filled from
in-house. One Maintenance Worker I transferred to Park Department and
this position has been filled.
The roof at the service building is leaking and the entire roof has bubbled.
A roofing contractor has examined the roof and will give us an estimate
shortly.
The Consultant has completed drilling at the service building for soil
testing and the results should be in within about two weeks. Finance
Department is working with Public Works on revamping the parts inventory
system and s complete inventory will be done of all parts on April 20.
All stock transactions will be consolidated at the bus barn to eliminate
the duplicate record keeping system at Finance and the Equipment Division.
TRANSIT DIVISION
Three new Flexible buses have been received and they meet specifications.
The new Transit Manager has been hired. Mr. Mose comes from Pennsylvania
and has work experience in the University of Maryland Cambus system.
A list of approximately 25 items will be given to the new manager when he
gees here for fiwesnigvlion and i17lementation. Thea include zinnr route
changes, more standardized work rules, etc.
The system carried 138,000 passengers during the month. Revenue was $22,354.
Bus NI has been down 22 days with rear end repairs.
QUity of Iowa CHO
MEMORANDUM
DATE: April 11, 1977
TO: Dennis Showalter, Director of Parks G Recreation
FROM: Robert Howell, Park Superintendent D
�
RE: Addendum to March Monthly Report !1
Status of FY 77 Goals and'Objectives April 1, 1977:
A. Construct additional parking areas in City Park -
comp el ie�in eptem er, 1-9'
B. Softball diamond in Wetherby Park - to be completed
by May 31,
C. Riverfront property - no action.
D. roo oseorord"inance for mandatory dedication of park
alb — no action.
E. rovide additional floral displays in parks - to be
complete y ay 37; i97 .
F. Identifyplant materials with signs in Hickory Hill
ina W'i3 ow g4e Parks - signs or t e is1cory a33
Nature rai w i e installed by April 30, 1977.
There was no action on the signs for the Willow Cr -eek
Park Nature Trail.
G. U rade ark areas with additional lamenround equipment
-
see ont y Report)Balance o equipt to be installed
by May 31, 19.77.
H. Establish amunicipal tree nursery no change; approx-
imately trees an s ru s were planted last fall in
Wetherby Park.
/ef
0 0
AGENDA
IOWA CITY RIVERFRONT COMMISSION
CITY MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM
APRIL 20, 1977 - 3:30 P.M.
Item
No.
1
- Meeting to Order.
Roll.
Item
No.
2
- Approval of the Minutes of the March 16 Meeting.
Item
No.
3
- Report on New Sewage Treatment Plant - Veenstra
and Kimm Consultants and Rick Geshwiler.
Item
No.
4
- Report on Meeting with the Parks and Recreation
Commission to Discuss the Sturgis Corner Addition.
Item
No.
5
- Set Date for Canoe Trip.
Item
No.
6
- Report by Donna Epley on Subcommittee Meeting.
Item
No.
7 -
Report by Len Brandrup on Subcommittee Meeting.
Item
No.
8 -
New Business.
Item
No.
9 -
Adjournment.
environmental comment
E C
Green in the Cities
S24
Ci
Editorial Staff
Frank H. Spink, Jr., Director of Publications
Jane A. Silverman, Managing Editor
Mark Schlotterbeck; Editorial Associate
Production Staff
Robert L. Helms, Production Manager
Sarah V. Lantz, Production Assistant
Amy Henkel -Silva, Artist
77` Fi
t
Ironmental Comment is a monthly publication of
'the Urban Land Institute. A one-year subscrip- _
is; included in annual dues of all ULI members.
imembers may subscribe at a rate of $20 per year
in Canada and Mexico, $30 in all other foreign
ntries).
k fih !
'1
ULI=the Urban Land Institute
ULI
120018th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036:,
7�vv
4v
t.:
111
Environmental Comment
March 1977
3 The Land and Water Conservation Fund:
New Dollars for Urban Open Space
Mary Lou Grier
4 Community Development Block Grants: A
Tool for Improving City Environments
Donald G. Dodge and Marcia A. 0. Brown
6 Preserving Portland's Natural Environment:
A Coastal City's Experience
Donald E. Megathlin, Jr.
8 Wildlife Habitats in the Inner City
Thomas M. Franklin
10 Boston Urban Wilds: A Natural
Conservation Program for City
Neighborhoods
Elliot Rhodeside
13 Governors Square; A Developer Creates an
Urban Garden
Robert C. Powe!I
14 Roosevelt Island; A Natural Environment
at the Water's Edge
Christine Flynn
16 Iowa City's Project GREEN: The Citizen's
Role in Preserving the Urban Natural
Environment
Gretchen Harshbarger
18 TIM Farm Nature Preserve: From Dump to
Treasure
Harold A. Dodge
r�
�.J
The Land and Water Conservation
for Urban Open Space
Mary Lou Grier
hIe challenges we face In our precious urban out-
doors are thevery problems of city life itself -loo
often too many people packed Into too few square
feet, facing too little revenue, demanding too many
services:"
' Consider these long-range offerings, some of which, I
confess, may be wishful thinking:
{•The realization that raw money itself Is no cure-all'
' '''e A facing -up to the strangulating costs of vandalism.
•Amore creative search for space in the cities.
y • Rising land prices, shrinking tax bases,
*Dramatic upswings in donations of land and facilities
yr o by families and other members of the private sector.
'+�f ` - • Recognition that big does not always mean better.
tYe' •f •An awareness by. many urban residents that what Is
�r
most near is most dear.
+ • . More bang for the buck via neighborhood Input.
t3tl •.••Anemerging "volunteer sector" for park upkeep,
a
y rrestoration; and modification, such as mini-commun-
Ity Braille Tralls.'
•Greater Investment return to our short-changed
>l Americans -the elderly.
So much for what I fancy. On to facts . , .
The most significant Indicators for the preservation and
u r ucp of enhan parks and open space deal with some new,
mr hard-nosed studies, plus. new money -muscle packed Into
yayt the amendments to the Land and Water Conservation
Fund Act.;7'
New Funds for Open Space
? The Land and Water Conservation Fund (L&WCF) has
been'popular with and meaningful to urban communities
` since the first grant was made In 1965, The Fund Is admin-
` Istered by; the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (BOR) of
t1t J the Department of the Interior.
Now-thanksto PL 94.422 -the Fund's financial clout
will be tripled by, fiscal 1980, Furthermore, the Intent of
„� ;;•,,;, the: L&WCF- amendments Is to offer more matching
baa money where the need Is greatest. Translate "need' to
read "people" and It spells "urban."
,3r L&WCF grant assistance flows through the states; then,
jr• hinged on state priorities, to counties, cities, and corn
+ munities,' Assistance Is provided on a 50.50 matching
grant basls.
From Its current $300 million per year, the annual au -
s thorizatlon level of L&WCF will climb to $600 million in
6.
Fund: New Dollars
fiscal 1978, $750 million in fiscal 1979, and $900 million in
fiscal years 1980 through 1989. States will be offered about
60 percent of the annual authorization (40 percent goes
to federal land -managing agencies for acquisition of rec-
reation lands). Based on full appropriations, the states, the
District of Columbia, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
and the American Trust Territories could be provided
$345 million in fiscal 1978, $442.5 million in fiscal 1979,
and $531 million per fiscal year from 1980 through 1989.
Through the life of the new amendments (fiscal years
1978 through 1989), authorizations to the slates could to-
tal an estimated $6,106,500,000.
Since states or their political subdivisions must ante
more than $6 billion in matching funds, this combined
federal -state outdoor recreation investment could reach
$12,213,000,000.
In the first 11 years of the L&WCF program, states and'.
communities were able to set aside 1.5 million acres
through Fund -assisted projects. As the flow of federal in-
vestment triples, it is not unreasonable to Imagine a trip-
ling of park and open space acquired for public use.
Encouraging Public Use
Grant projects through L&WCF are never routine mat-
ters. Typical grants have helped stalesdevelop some -
1,300 swimming pools, 1,700 tennis courts, 470 bike
routes, and 350 public golf courses. Some projects may
seem like carrying coals to Newcastle -public beaches
In Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and even Samoa; land acquisition _
in, of all places, Alaska; tennis courts near Forest Hills;
golf courses near Pinehurst and Augusta. The operational
word here is public. All too often, patterns of private
land ownership exclude public use of an area's most at-
tractive, natural, and renowned setting.
Other L&WCF grams have assisted in the rehabilitation
of flood -ravaged lands, Some grants, for land acquisition',
along floodplains, address a problem before It becomes
one
All too often, patterns of private land ownership
exclude, public use of an area's most attractive,
natural, and renowned setting.
Grants have been used for amphitheaters, bocci courts,
and acquisition of coastal Islands. Fishing fanclers use
marinas, public piers, artificial reefs, and even public
oyster beds paid for out of L&WCF grants, Campers, hik-
ers, and hunters get where they are going via public
access lands acquired through the Fund,'
In the American Virgin Islands,' an L&WCF project
helped provide an underwater trail, Marshland acquisl-'
3
Donald G, Dodge
Marcia A. B. Brown
he passage of the Housing and Community Develop • Rehabilitation Loans, and. Public Facilities Loans. ..The
ment Act of, 1974, Pl. 93.383, marked a new era in oldest of these programs had been In force for 25 years.
relations between the federal government and units
of "general local government. Title'I of the act, the Com. Generally, activities eligible under the categorical pro. I
munity Development Block Grant Program (CDBGI, con• grams can be carried out with CDBG funds, and some
solidated seven existing categorical grant-in-aid programs new activities can be undertaken, To further Increase the
u administered by the Department of Housing and Urban locality's flexibility in carrying out community develop -
Development, Urban Renewal,' Model Cities, Water and ment activities, these funds may be used anywhere within
Sewer, Facilities; Open, Space, Neighborhood Facilliles, the local government's jurisdiction to serve principally
i;.
tion with just a touch of "development" provides pro-
range of options and alternatives as to possible solutions
-
tection along with public use of the resource—people in-
and courses of action designed to preserve remaining
volved in nature study, bird watching, outdoor photog•
open space, ameliorate recreation deficiencies and en-
raphy, and the like.
hance recreation opportunity for urban populations, to-
gether with an analysis of the capability of the Federal
Government to provide urban -oriented environmental
.,
parks atop a reclaimed strip mine
education programs.... " (emphasis added).
In almost all cases, grants from L&WCF set aside valu-
This represents a tall order, one which is due on Capitol
able land and water for public use. Legal mechanisms
Hill in less than a year.
ensure the protection and perpetuity of these public
parks and open spaces.
Fortunately, in lune 1976, teams from Interior launched
what has become known as the 28 City Study. Personnel
States cannot' support every would-be L&WCF gram
from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and the
initiated at the local level. Through ambitious, long-range
P. Reed,
Park Service, the leadership of Nathaniel P. Reed,
use of a -statewide comprehensive outdoor. recreation
Assder
immediate past Assistant for. fish and Wildlife
immediate past
. plan, the various State Liaison Officers (SLOB) assign pri•
d their in
and Parks, have concluded their intensive field studies of
orities.' - �
those cities, and a final report was delivered by Reed to
The key person here Is the SLO to the fund, appointed
the Senate Interior Committee.
to represent each state's governor. This official is usually
The results of this study and of the broad -gauged urban
someone in the parks, recreation, resources, or tourism
study required by the new amendments to the L&WCI'
'
department of the state
Act will be carefully evaluated and should go far toward
Working with one of the seven BOR regional offices,
providing at least partial answers to some very tough
- the state's SLO sets the grant request in motion. In almost
questions:
t
all cases;•the grant is considered at the regional office
Is there, in fact, a shortage of outdoor space in our
level of BOR; with the. Washington staff rarely involved,
urban communities? Or are communities and neighbor•
'!
except to pfc71de policy and administrative guidance.
hoods overlooking, perhaps underusing, the spare they
Some Tough Questions
already have?
A
=r
+
"
"Earlier. -1 mentioned that stud and planning efforts
y p g
Are urban spending patterns and priorities in need of
reshuffling, as they relate to parks and recreational and
now..underway.. will providethe tactual foundation for
open space? -
I , t
developing open space and, recreational and park sites in
How do state and local; governments deal with the
g
x '
1t s
: urban areas, Section 12 of the amendments to the L&WCF
long•rangecosts of operating and maintaining park and
,.
Acrootlines one of these By September 28; 1977,
open space land?
tt ,+ it
the Secretary of the Interior is."authorized' and directed"
to provide to the. appropriate committees of the Senate.
Does the federal government have any business In local +
i�•.
and House 4, comprehensive review and report on the
recreation? If so, where does it start and where should it
needs; problems; and opportunities associated with urban
endt0
recreation In highly populated regions, .
'
This call specifies "Information on needs, local capabil•
Mary Lou Grier Is deputy director of the Department of the In.
Itles for action, major site opportunities, trends, and a full
terior's Bureau of Outdoor Recreation.
Donald G, Dodge
Marcia A. B. Brown
he passage of the Housing and Community Develop • Rehabilitation Loans, and. Public Facilities Loans. ..The
ment Act of, 1974, Pl. 93.383, marked a new era in oldest of these programs had been In force for 25 years.
relations between the federal government and units
of "general local government. Title'I of the act, the Com. Generally, activities eligible under the categorical pro. I
munity Development Block Grant Program (CDBGI, con• grams can be carried out with CDBG funds, and some
solidated seven existing categorical grant-in-aid programs new activities can be undertaken, To further Increase the
u administered by the Department of Housing and Urban locality's flexibility in carrying out community develop -
Development, Urban Renewal,' Model Cities, Water and ment activities, these funds may be used anywhere within
Sewer, Facilities; Open, Space, Neighborhood Facilliles, the local government's jurisdiction to serve principally
i;.
the needs of low and moderate income people, to aid in
the prevention or elimination of slums and blight, or to
meet urgent community development needs.
A number of cities and urban counties have undertak-
en projects to improve their natural environments; the
three cities discussed here were chosen because they il-
lustrate the diversity of possible projects for accomplish-
ing this and other purposes of the act. It is important to
recognize that there are other eligible activities in the
block grant program for enhancing the quality of urban
environments, such as the elimination of slums and blight
by acquisition of deteriorated buildings and rehabilitation
of residential properties.
A Riverfront Park for Bridgeport
This spring, the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, will
start building a downtown park along the Pequonnork
River. The project will be the first of several downtown
efforts designed to increase public awareness and use of
the city's waterfront by providing a more pleasing and
Inviting appearance as well as actual riverfront recrea-
tional opportunities. Federal funds for this project are
made available through CDBG and the Bureau of Out-
door Recreation's Land and Water Conservation Fund.
IThe lead article in this issue discusses the Land and Water
Conservation fund.—Ed I
The Pequonnock River has, over the past century,
served as the Jhub of the region's industrial and commm-
clal development, both water-relauvd and non -water -
related. By the 1970s,' however, many of these facilities
• had become obsolete or little used. Today, Bridgeport's
Pequonnock River Is lined with utility companies, rail-
road trestles, tank farms, junkyards, factories, and other
- non -water -related facilities. There is little public aware•
ness, lot alone access to or use, of Bridgeport's river sys•
tem. This situation and the, environmental degradation as-
sociated with it are now under attack.
0)
Bridgeport's Pequonnock Riverfront Park was selected as
the pivotal development project to achieve a number of
objectives:
• Promote public concern for riverfront reuse and
downtown revitalization by concentrating initial de-
velopment next to the downtown core.
• Provide better access links between Bridgeport's
downtown and its waterfront.
•Combine new downtown recreation facilities with
underused and neglected natural assets.
•Reverse the unsightly and unsafe physical deteriora-
tion of the proposed development area in order to
create a pleasant and safe area and a highly service-
able recreational facility.
• Induce new private investments which will promote
the water -related recreational and commercial reuse
of the riverfront and adjacent downtown area.
The project design includes a fixed pile -and -timber
pier, 20 feet wide and 260 feet long, to serve as a profit
made for walking, fishing, and bicycling; two large pier
projections. lot sitting and looking out over the entire
scenic harbor; and improved access to the waterfront
from the central business district.
To reach the development stage, complicated negoti-
ations and project approval have been required from the
local regulatory bodies and also from the Consolidated
Rail Corporation, which owns the land and water areas
proposed (or development; the State Department of
Transportation, which leases the site from Conrail; the
federal Rail Administration; the Army Corps of Engi-
neers; the State Department of Environmental Protection;
and, most recently, the State Historic Commission, which
has determined that several sunken canal -ma barges lie
near the project area.
Private commercial and recreational development
along the riverfront has already been stimulated. The
., J.
aC
r Nf
hi
IC
f�• �1�- � -,� »iJW GrrT1,4f•M�,f�tt',, �{1a't xlr, '��
1✓
UrldgCperl'1 iivvrlrmn today, Wltlh rmnmmnhy development block gram funds, the city is uanslorming the riverlront Into an urban park.
I
nton on the
constructions of the Bridgeport 1al Alai frob
Althou •h the number of replacement trees is low in
east bank of the Pequonnock is an important example.
comparison with the total number of trees removed, the
;
The facility, on the site of a former truck assembly plant,
reforestation project is nevertheless making a significant
In
has helped stabilize the city's tax base and has had a pos-
environmental and visual improvement in the city.
itive economic spillover effect throughout the center
addition, all of this activity is occuring in areas of the city
city.. Built at a cost of approximately $15 million, the Jai
where other forms of block -grant -funded physical de-
Casco gay tines, which carries over 500,000 passengers a
alai arena is expected to add a two-story parking garage
velopment are also taking place, thereby strengthening
-
at the close of its current season.
the overall effect of the community development pro -
north of Boston, is built an saddle -contoured peninsula
Negotiations are also nearing completion to transfer
the ownership of the railroad station, immediately north
grain.
The beauty and environmental benefits of the refor-
and contains' 29 Islands within Its naturally protected
of the park, to a private developer who intends to place a
estation project also reinforce economically sound busi-
deep -water, harbor. °..These islands; approximately four
- specialty food mart and other commercial establishments
ness settings and help stabilize neighborhoods. In many
ways, provide an anchor for the neighborhoods
square` miles;, of the city's, total land area, afford the
in this historic structure and to bring a former Staten Is-
parks
70,000 Portland residents and the growing numbers of
- land ferryboat to the site, anchor it in the Pequonnock
around them.
year-round'tourists with an almost unmatched environ-
River next to the rehabilitated railroad station, and con-
Oakland's Historic Park
vert it into a seafood restaurant.
Oakland, California, is undertaking an extensive open
space program with CDBG funds. In fiscal 1976, Oakland
Reforestation in Saint Louis
budgeted $1.35 million, or 10 percent of its CDBG funds;
for open space and recreation area projects. One of the
,Saint Louis has long been known for Its beautiful trees.
many creek areas that are being preserved is in Rancho -
Besides their beauty, the city's trees are also valuable
Peralta Park. The park site, a three -acre hill and creek -
because; like all trees, they manufacture oxygen, insulate
side arca, is !it the hewn of the Fruitvale community
:
against replenish' soil nutrients, protect against
development district, an area of great historical signifi-
erosion; ravine food and shelter for animals, and protect
P
tante to the residents of Oakland and the East Bay. The
,against'solar radiation. Unfortunately, many of the city's
city planning commission, on the recommendation of the
trees have suffered from a series of blights in recent years,
landmark preservation advisory board, has designated the
robbing Saint Louis of a significant aesthetic and environ-
site as a historical landmark because it is "the very birth -
ental contribution. in the past 25 years, 100,000 such
place of Oakland;' the site of the first permanent dwell -
aye been removed in the city, and few of them
budg-
ing in Oakland and the entire East Bay.
vl have been replaced, because of the city's persistent
Another important aspect of this park's development is
fr�7>, y I� et constraints..
that a natural resivurce, Peralta Creek, will be preserved
!a1
'Against this background, a city: reforestation project,
for the benefit and enjoyment of the community. Easily
fundedby the block grant program, was begun in 1975
accessible, the park, with Its topography and creekside
'
Pisa ith.the,objective`of. planting replacementtrees along
setting, offers a tranquil place In the center of an urban
i� hir ^tithe streets; wlthin,So feet of where diseased trees have,
beerf removed:.Since the beginning of the block grant
area. [3
s
,n,
program; approximately.3,000 trees have been planted In
x nd r,l.
u r the it In the1977 planting season alone; 3,500 moreDonald
G. bodge tc director of the Office of Evaluation, Core.
,
y°+pi"R,'r -,r trees will planted under this program; which is con-
munity Planning and Uevelopmeme U.S. Department of Housing
is
•'
't
tenlraled in 13 of the city's t8 neighborhood districts, and
and urban Development. Marcia A. B. Brown a program ana-
�,y„•,,y; a tomparable number will be planted In 1978.
lyst In the Office of Evaluation.
l
I
N
Preserving' Po an Natural
Environment:
;
A'r Coastal City's Experience
-; DonaldEMegathlin,lr ,..
r' ' ortiand,,Maine, possesses one of the most appeal-
mental diversity. The Islands are served by a ferry service,
Ing and speclal city shes'In'the United States. This
Casco gay tines, which carries over 500,000 passengers a
New England coastal community, a hundred miles'
year.
north of Boston, is built an saddle -contoured peninsula
and contains' 29 Islands within Its naturally protected
Recognizing the richness of its natural setting, the city
deep -water, harbor. °..These islands; approximately four
of Portland has played an active role In preserving the
square` miles;, of the city's, total land area, afford the
natural environment on both Its urban peninsula and Its
70,000 Portland residents and the growing numbers of
less developed Islands. The city has sought and responded
year-round'tourists with an almost unmatched environ-
to state and federal Initiatives in environmental preserve -
I
r
F
tion: On the local level, Portland has successfully coor.
. dinated. the various resources of city government to carry
'."but Its programs. Such resources include the city council,
planning board, city manager, the planning department,
l and the parks and recreation department. In addition,
citizen involvement has been a key aspect of many envi-
ronmental preservation programs. The land development
't plan, .which reflects the overall planning in the city and
Includes open space and natural environment, was adopt-
ed in 1974 after two years of strong citizen input.
Vigorous Public Investment in Open Space
Portland has made use of public funding programs and
established regulatory controls for open space and other
critical areas of the natural environment. In recent years,
over $2 million has been allocated for protecting the nab
HUD. Over the years, Portland has been blessed with a
legacy`of fine parks and open space. From 1970 to 1973,
Portland's recreation and open space needs received a
`dramaticboost.. from HUD's Urban Beautification Pro-
gram. Over $1.2 million was spent to improve parks, play-
grounds, publicareas, and major rights-of-way. Three
major': parks, each covering over 50 acres, were further'
developed for active and passive recreational use. In the
three" years of HUD's Community Development Block
Grant! Program, the city has allocated an additional
'$324,000,for'.parks, playgrounds, and tree planting. (The
article, by. Donald G. Dodge and Marcia A. B. Brown in
this issue shows how other cities are using HUD funds to
preserve the natural environment=Ed.l
State acquisition of parkland. Over, the last' few years,
the'state has committed substantial stale funds ($530,000)
to the purchase'of, open space on Jewell Island, Little
Chebeague Island, and Andrews' Beach on Long Island,
Maine. Each of these areas In Casco Bay is an outstanding
resource, adding to the public enjoyment of the city's
natural environment. Andrews' Beach has been called
one of the finest beaches In Maine.
" City open space zone. In 1974, after strong citizen in•
volvement, an open space zone was Includad In the city's
land' development plan to more closely'reflect the nature
and.`purpose oU various recreational and conservation
land in the city. The open space areas are Important In an
-urban setting such as Portland's. Under a new OS (Open
Space)Zone, the city's recreational land will be zoned ac-
cording to five major types: natural open space, major
parks and recreation, areas, neighborhood parks and play,
areas; major pedestrian spaces, and cemeteries. There are
27 major parks and recreational and open space areas in
Portland; containing a total of more than 1,000 acres of
land
Commitment to Open Space
Wilhout Adequate Funds
$, The openspace funds were curtailed abruptly in 1975•
Portland,' like many other urban communities In the
country,, has been faced with expanding needs and
dwindling resources. In order to maintain essential serv-
tcWwithout increasing taxes, all departments of the city
government, including the parks and recreation depan-
ment; have been operating on a bare -bones budget In
the lost three years. Although the parks and recreation
t
p 6.
ELI
department's 1977 budget of $2 million is greater, dollar
for dollar, than the 1975 budget, the department esti-
mates that it is 27 percent less effective because of infla-
tion, increased expenses, and additional responsibilities.
It is painfully clear that the belt lightening of recent
years has resulted in the allocation of fewer city and state
funds for preserving the natural environment. Since
1975, given limited resources, the Portland city council
has understandably not perceived conservation or rec-
reation as burning Issues. However, despite these con-
straints, Portland's open space program has fared quite
well because of the strong commitment to open space by
private citizens and nonprofit organizations. In addition,
the city council has endorsed open space programs
where city funds or Increased maintenance costs are not
involved.
The bell lightening of recent years has resulted in
the allocation of fewer city and state funds for pre-
serving the natural environment.
State open space law. A few private citizens and two
nonprofit organizations have sought open space designa-
tion for their land to take advantage of the state's open
space law, which provides certain open space and farm-
lands with a tax reduction on the basis of "enjoyment of
scenic or natural beauty." The basic Intent of the law is -
to conserve farmlands and woodlands that face economic
pressure for development. This designation requires plan-
ning board approval and hence city cooperation and sup-
port. The Maine Audubon Society has purchased about
62 acres of land adjacent to the Fore River estuary, and
the open space designation has been granted to preserve .
this valuable land.
The Nature Conservancy, a national organization, has '
been especially active in the preservation of open space.
Sixty acres of the Resource Protection Zone on Cushing
Island, a nearby Portland Island served by a private ferry
service, are held by the Conservancy. An additional six
acres of land have been designated as a bird sanctuary
and bird nesting area on Peaks Island. These private ac-
tions, requiring concurrence of the planning board, have
increased an already ample supply of open space by 126
acres.
Dedication of parkland. Two years ago the state legisla-
ture dedicated, In perpetuity, existing parkland on the
Eastern and Western Promenades In order to provide for
public enjoyrr-it at the edge of fine residential neigh-
borhoods. The Eastern Promenade, with active and pas-
sive uses, commands a view of Casco Bay, while the west-
ern
estern bluff overlooks New Hampshire's White Mountains.
This dedication was brought about to permanently Iden -
iffy these areas as "off limits" to developers.
Shoreland zoning. The state's shoreland zoning law,
which became effective in July 1974, requires all munici-
palltfes to adopt special local zoning regulations In ac-
cordance with state guidelines to help assure the wise use
7
of lands adjacent to the state's rivers, lakes, and saltwater
and management needs for recreation and open space.
bodies. Portland has adopted shoreland zoning regula-
The first involves the preparation of an action plan for
I;
tions within the framework of existing zoning districts.
Back Cove, a beautiful 500-acre tidal estuary surrounded
Portland's shoreland zoning ordinance contains three
by 1-_95, Baxter Boulevard, and a. H-J, sanctuary. It is
,
'
basic features; delineation of all shoreland areas In Port-
hoped that this outstanding recreational resource will be
�'
land, establishment of certain additional zoning tegula-
Improved and made available for active and passive pub-
tions for uses allowed in that portion of each zoning dis-
lic use as well as for small boats which could use an exist-
j�
lrict„lying within 250 feet of Portland's shorelines, and
ins channel and perhaps an adjoining marina. Second, it
creation and mapping of anew Resource Protection
is recommended that the city's one mainland beach-
Zone; More than 130 acres of privately owned conserva-
East End Beach -and numerous island beaches be im-
tion land are included In this Resource Protection Zone.
proved and further developed to accommodate leisure
Zoned only after the consent of private property owners,
needs of Portland residents and tourists. Third, the city
this represents-the preservation of private open space.
proposes to develop. a general plan for public open
space, boating, hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing, and
A
Incentives for Resource Conservation
other activities along the Presumpscot River corridor. The
r
I: in Critkal Areas
city already owns 250 acres along the Presumpscot River.
funds
I(I
Perhaps one of the most innovative efforts to preserve
The last suggestion for Coastal Zone Management
the natural environment is Maine's Critical Areas Pro-
is the formulation of a landfill policy. This will be difficult
gram; In 1974, the state legislature passed a bill estab-
because of Portland's multifaceted coastal use, but it is
lishing a state register of critical areas. Under this legisla•
hoped that the city will play a much greater role in land-
tion; the planning office, assisted by an 11-member
fill policy. Such a policy might state where landfills should
�I ,
advisory. board, has the responsibility to develop aCrit-
be encouraged and discouraged, when landfilling is to be
Ical Areas Program to Identify, assess, and encourage the
permitted, and how controls should be placed over the
conservation of critical areas.
methods of completing a fill. ❑
1,4
"Under this program, the board officially recognizes
areas on both public and private land with natural fea•
Donald E. Megathlin, Jr., is planning director of the city of
tures bf state sicn!ficance. The boards review powers are
Portland,
4
applied to areas bl scenic beauty, open space, plant and
wildlife habitat, geological Interest, and historical or other
natural resources in the state:
a
'The Critical Areas Program has two phases, registration
I
and conservation. The advisory board reviews potential
I
natural; resource'areas and decides whether or not to
a 7 r
register the land. The state planning office also recognizes
Wildlife Habitats in the
sin
'
the need to work closely'with the owners of critical areas
Inner City
to �conserve'the state's resources while protecting the
,
,.landowners; Investment. If, for Instance, a critical area is
r
*fit threatened by'construction'or development, the owner
Thomas M, Franklin
is required by the Critical Areas Act to notify the state
planning office 60 days before such activities are to begin,
tarlings, house sparrows, and pigeons-the so-called
This would allow time for negotiation among the owner,
S "pest” species of birds-are considered by many as
the state planning office, and any private or other govern•
typical birds of the Inner city. These birds have a
,
mental organizations Involved.
remarkable ability to take advantage of building design
1 l
'
At thepresent time; five Portland areas are
and building quality features created by man. They breed
proposed
for review by the state advisory, board: Whitehead Pas.
roost !n the numerous holes, nooks, crannies, and
t
-
sage on Cushing Island, Stroudwater River, Presumpscot
-
ledges which have inadvertently been built Into inner-city
ledges
structures. In effect, we have been extremely successful
River'' Diamond Roads, on Great, Diamond Island, and
Stroudwater Park. These areas a total of 4011 acres:
at managing our urban centers for pest species of birds.
cover
Two of these areas are especially significant: Whitehead
Can we be as successful in creating habitats which at-
' 1 Passage, on one of Portland's Inner Islands, is a rock cliff
tract more desirable wildlife to our cities and discourage
n,
which rises abruptly 93 feet above the ocean and affords
undesirable species? The answer is yes., At the Urban
-.'a'magnifcent'view'of the Portland mainland and outer
Wildlife Research Center we have been engaged In re-
Vii` I
i;.lslandsr:The other; Stroudwater Park, is a 250-acre $ala
search and programs to provide planners, developers,
k ,water tidal marsh and basin on the mainland which pro•
urban managers, and the general public with Information
;vides; an excellent opportunity for, passive recreation,
about creating and maintaining optimal conditions for
walking, hiking, and wildlife habitat. The area also con-
wildlife In city environments,
17
tainse 35-foot waterfall, and serves as classroom for it
Founded In November 1973 as a nonprofit research In-
dents Interested in environmental sciences,
stitution, the Urban Wildlife Research Center specializes
'
Portland Is also participating in the Coastal Zone Man-
in research Involving fish and wildlife do urban, suburban,
a
l
agement Program, under the direction of the state plan•
and urbanizing areas, as well as environmental and wild-
a ,
ning office. Since Portland has a diversity of uses along Its
life planning for new residential communities and com-
t`
(
coastal zone, the clty,has Identified four major resource
mercial and Industrial developments, We are dependent
�r �` •g '
upon support from both government and the private sec-
tor
eafor In order to carry out our research effort and dissemi-
nate our findings. (Other activities of the Urban Wildlife
Research Center were detailed in the August 1975 EC.—
=' Ed.l
Through proper architectural design and strictly en-
forced building codes, we may eliminate or at least sig-
nificantly reduce problems of pest species of birds by
denying these animals access to manmade structures. For
the animals we wish to attract, we can provide the life
requirements: food, water, and shelter. These needs are
often species-specific, and considerable research is re-
quired to define habitat needs. We know, for example,
that t under natural conditions some animals require
meadows in which to feed and reproduce; some live in
old fields where there are grasses, "weeds," and shrubs;
many.forms of wildlife need the shrub growth of wood-
land edges; others require mature woodland to survive;
"'.and numerous other animals require a combination of
these habitats or the various intermediate stages of natu-
ral succession.
;The challenge to the urban biologist and planner is to
'somehow work with public officials and citizens to pro-
vide proper habitats for sustaining healthy wildlife popu-
lations inour cities.
neighborhood swimming and tennis facility in Baltimore.
Club members wished to make their recreational facility
attractive to wildlife. The facility was built on 2% acres
in the inner city, the former site of a school and ware-
house. After the original buildings had been removed,
the lot was vacant, save one large sycamore tree. The soil I'!
could be described as "urban," with much broken brick,
asphalt, and gravel mixed with subsoil. By properly pre-
paring the soil and planting shrubs attractive to wildlife
and tolerant of these soil conditions, we created a small In
urban wildlife sanctuary,
Rock Creek Park, a heavily used park In Washington,
D.C., was the focus of a project undertaken by the Na-
tional Park Service to improve urban wildlife habitat. In I'
terms of management, Rock Creek Park is a typical urban I�
park with a predominance of two basic habitats—mature
woods and mowed grass. In fact, the 'grass has been
mowed to the wood's edge, leaving virtually no transi-
tional shrub stage. For wildlife, this condition is rather
i_
bleak; relatively few species prefer either of these habi-
tats.
The Park Service now realizes that there are many ad-
vantages to creating the various successional stages of
vegetation, and Park Service personnel plan to create
meadow and shrub stages throughout the park in order
to improve wildlife habitat and to afford greater oppor-
tunities for nature'study. Lawns will be mowed less fre-
quently in order to encourage the growth of natural
rom parallel to diagonal' parking, meadow. Wildflower and annual bird -food plots will be
tnm parhird 'of'the open space: in t planted to Increase plant diversity and concentrate birds
and convened into pen space
ark. where they may be viewed by park visitors. Changes in
,- p vegetation and wildlife populations will be documented
through research and will therefore be transferable to
other urban areas.'
Although' may seem that there is little urban space It Is through such efforts as those in Baltimore and Rock
a' illabli for. wildlife habitats, there are numerous ways Creek Park that we will Improve urban life. Through in.
conserving space in the Inner city. We can make great• novative methods of creating open space and by using
er useof little -used streets, parking areas; alleyways, roof- open space as wildlife habitat, we can provide'a part of
tops; backyards, sidewalks, stoops, shopping streets, mar- the natural environment in the inner city. ❑
kets,`parks;'and school grounds'aswildlife habitats and
for recreational 'purposes. one example of using parking
space more efficiently Was demonstrated by a study for Thomas M, Franklin h executive director of the Urban Wildlife
the. New, York City, Department of ,Traffic. The research Research Center, Inc., 12789 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City,.
carriedaut'lriniooklyn'showed"that'byconverting from ' Maryland21os3.
parallel ;to.diagonal parking; approximatelyone-third of
the open space in a block was saved and convened Into a
atreel park, approximately 75 feet wide and 200 feet long.
Thepark' contalns`a lountal6 in which water cascades
from apedestal to asrough at the base of a wall, terminal-
Ing in a still pond. Three large trees shade a sitting area.
With—oroper planning,' this area could provide valuable
wildlife habltai and a place for citizens to watch wildlife
in their neighborhood.'
,r
Rooftops may, be developed into usable areas for bird
gardens; feeding stations, and shrub plantings; even small
ponds may, be constructed with plantings to attract bird
life. one, federaldepartment has considered creating a
pond atop a Washington, D.C„ building to attract water -
.Loma of the first jobs performed by the Urban Wildlife
Research Center was to "birdscape" the site of,a private
a
i
9
9
Boston Urban Wil s:
+
A Natural Conservation Program for City Neighborhoods r
Elliot Rhodeside'
hen people outside of Boston think of that city, These areas have significant amounts of flora, fauna, and
they conjure up images of an old and historic features of geoiogicdi impo,iance and have, in addition,,,
center; where one can still trace the origins of scenic, recreational, educational, or aesthetic value. The P
the American Revolution amid newer developments. For study identified and inventoried 143' urban wilds sites,
Bostonians, however, the city has an even more precious totaling 2,000 acres. These included 68 sites of geological)
side: the unprotected natural areas of remarkable beauty significance, 12 inland and 8 coastal wetland sites, 28
-Boston's urban wilds—remaining hidden among the sites having important vegetation, and 27 sites along the
development, areas which represent a historical picture shoreline. ry
of Boston much older than the Revolution.
The urban wilds sites were found in all the neighbor-
As a. result of its geological history and topography, hoods of Boston except six which are, predictably, the
Boston has a wide variety of urban wilds, ranging from most densely populated. Areas of extraordinary beauty
and diversity, urban wilds sites have distinctive features
distinctive hilltops to salt marshes, from rock outcrop-
pings to inland wetlands,from glacial ponds to. wood- that often provide focal points or recreational opportuni.
lands; These urban wilds frequently perform Important ties for their communities and, in many instances, reflect
functions in the environment; for instance, the wetlands the history and development of the neighborhood. For
'store stormwatetto help prevent flooding In low areas example:
and also provide feeding and breeding grounds for fish oIn East Boston, the largest saltwater marshes in the
and wildlife. And many sites are valuable quite simply city can be found within alive-minute walk of two
because they are scenic and can help create pleasant
i - rapid-transit stations. These 515 acres of salt marshes,
surroundings for residents' and visitors. Many have po- tidal flats, and adjacent upland areas are the most ex-
tential for recreational uses, such as hiking, picnicking, or
bird watching pensive open spaces remaining in Boston.
�' • ,t .- • Over 100 acres of open space remain in Brighton that
In many Instances, these areas have remained In their are characteristic of that area's 19th-century land.r
r -natural state not because of appreciation of their special scape. Narrow, tree-shaded streets traverse many of
characteristics, but because their attributes, such as wet the hills, and spectacular panoramas of the city can
lands' and rock: outcroppings, have made the sites less be seen from open hillside sites. On the grounds of a
desirable'
rear bl mooe'of the sites ere los' as development become
seminary, broad meadows and apple orchards rise up
B p to a hillside wooded by majestic oak trees. i
u , year;. Clearly,• if, any of these beautiful bits of Boston's • in Roxbury, an abandoned rock quarry, a 75-foot- q
f,. i , natural landscape'are,to remain, the laissez-faire policies high rock cliff, rocky ledges, and sections of several
rt ' 'i ;vAf tFe past must be changed; loorder to guarantee a nat wooded hillsides remain amid historic homes and
ural heritage for future generations, a more concened ef- public buildings,
tort at natural area protection must be made.
uw ° Ranking the Sites t
Each site has been rated according to Its general signiG
To guarantee a natural lo-
heritage for future genera
Icance, the needs of the neighborhood in which It Is lo-
and the extent to Ibaiy,we need a more concerted efiately threat-
fort to protect coed by development. The enwhichrotamen aleis sgnificance of
Our natural atlas ?" each urban wilds site has been determined by analyzing
the physical and visual characteristics as well as the edu-
cational, recreational, or historical potential. The sites
have been ranked on a scale from most to least stgnili-
ni, cant; most significant sites have a diversity of natural
A Study of City OptionsId 1— features and vegetation and range in size from 25 to 100
y„wi !The Boston Urban WIlds.5tudy, conducted by the Bos- acres; significant sites generally have one predominant
ton Redevelopment Authority under a $100,000 matching natural or scenic feature and range in size from five to
grant from the National Endowment for the Arts' City Op- 25 acres; less significant sites range In size from one-half
itr , tions program, was a response to the need to find ways to acre to five acres, and are usually found next to water and
protan these areas, have generally disturbed conditions because of previous
The'study Involved an extensive search, examination, Industrial activity.
and complete listing and description of the unprotected In some Boston areas, the need for open space Is ire- ”
natural areas'in Boston. For inventory purposes, natural mendous, and neighborhoods In critical need of adds
areas were regarded as areas of land a water that have clonal open space have been Identified. The following'
y' J retained, or reestablished considerable natural character table lists the proposed sequence of action based on the
even though they may not be completely undisturbed, ranking of each urban wilds site:
rpt 10 a
r4pp
ru i '� c • .d .�,
Action
sequence Site to be addressed
G' 1' Sites currently threatened by development
Z Most significant sites in high -need neigh-
borhoods
3 All remaining most significant sites
"I Significant sites in high -need neighborhoods
l5 All remaining significant sites
6 All remaining sites
Conservation Strategies
IfiMostof the urban wilds sites require more protection
.than is available through present land use regulations and
zoning. Under the Boston Zoning Code, conservation of
natural' features is left to chance or, if public funds are
involved in the development of the land, to the city's lim-
ited control through the design review process.
(Analysis of the ownership and tax status of the 143 ur-
ban wilds sites.. showed that half of them are already
owned by the city of Boston and other units of govern.
—1— .and can, therefore, be permanently preserved with-
out 'cost,to the city and without reducing the tax base. In
addition; 'those urban wilds sites that are privately owned
can, through various strategies, also be protected without
great financial strain on the city.
The studyid entified the following conservation meth-
ods as appropriate for. protecting: Boston's urban wilds
•Land held by local and state governments can be
` transferred by each of them Into the care and control
appropriate conservation or open space manage-
+, menVY agencies for conservation and recreation.
f Thtny is, urban -:,wilds sites are'. currently owned by
the state'and city governments and can be protected
by this method
a nThe city can purchase by fee simple acquisition pri-
tj ivateW ned urban wilds sites if and when an owner
? decides to sell. The presently reserved monies of the
Ai a" ,, parklainri replacemem fund are available for
p aI lspurpose without current cost to the city. Through
'the Massachusetts Self -Help Act and the federal Land
%s'an d.WaterConservation Fund, reimbursement aids
�rKfor such:'purchases are also available in amounts up
Na=to 75 percent of the approved project land's acquisk
"' tion cost,;'IThe Land and Water Conservation fund is
''cP the subject of Mary Lou Grier's article in this issue.—
,,�!The;city'of Boston; through Its Park Commission or
Its Conservation Commission, can accept gifts of pri-
k1p,vately, owned land in fee, These gifts of land could
,e),
,s;; be donated from personal, corporate, or Institutional
M1M feurcesf In addition, gifts of land from state or fed-.
(P+eial units of government could also be accepted. This
tr, does not require expenditure of public funds, and it
�2 may result in tax savings for the donor.'
•The city of Boston may also seek and accept gifts of a
ti;� less -than -fee interest in privately owned urban wilds
sites and other lands and may propose to purchase
any such interest. A' conservation restriction may be
� 'so drawn as to accomplish major urban open space
protecllon In perpetuity while leaving the property
%, on the tax rolls with an Infinitely varied degree of
4t
r; development rights,
tip .
I
In addition, Boston urban wilds sites can be partially
protected by available land use regulations. Such partial
protection should always be supplemented by other
methods to ensure long term protection of an usben
wilds site. The following are examples of such regula-
tions:
*The Wetlands Protection Act of Massachusetts regu-
lates the filling, dredging, or altering of inland and
coastal wetlands, riverbanks, ocean shorelines,
beaches, tidal flats, and salt meadows. Under the
statute, any developer or governmental agency wish-
ing to alter any such area in Boston must first receive
approval from the Boston Conservation Commission.
• Floodplain zoning, currently being considered by the
city of Boston, will be applicable to areas subject to
tidal action or flooding. Farming, conservation, and
outdoor recreation will be the only land uses permit-
ted as of right in a Flood Hazard District.
• Planned Development Area (PDA) zoning (which can
be applied to a site of an acre or more) may offer
protection to some of the outstanding natural fea-
tures of a site about to be built upon or otherwise
developed. In Boston, the PDA may permit cluster
building at high densities in return for a variety of
tradeoffs.
If no other means ate available, an urban wilds site or
any other natural area can be taken by the city of Boston
from any landowner by vote of the city council under its
power of eminent domain, for any of the, stated public
purposes.. In the past; the city has occasionally taken
land by eminent domain for conservation purposes,
where the tide to the acquired land was in doubt.
The study also recommends investigating the applica-
bility of now Special Natural Area zoning similar to that
adopted in. New York City in 1975, which applies to any
area with significant geologic, topographic, aquatic, or
other natural features worth preserving, In Boston, the
urban wilds sites and other natural features could be pro-
tected by specific regulations within a Special Natural
Area District. Every proposal.for building development on
any parcel within such a district would require review by
the City Planning Agency or the Conservation Commis-
sion or both, before issuance of any permit to build, The
permit would be issued only if the city determined that
the proposed development would not adversely affect
the natural features Involved, This kind of additional zon-
ing regulation could be an especially suitable means of
protecting natural features until more permanent meas-
ures are arranged.
First Steps In Site Acquisition
Some of the conservation strategies listed above are
about to be Implemented, while others must be ad- i
dressed In the near. future. However, because' of the !;
urgency of protecting the urban wilds sites, and because
some sites have, by their ownership status, lent them-
selves to more immediate action, the city has already be-
gun several significant protection programs. The two case. •'
histories below address the reality of fiscal austerity—the !I
scarceness of funds for acquiring open space—and illus-
trate the benefit of coordination and cooperation in
achieving natural area protection.
11 !;1
0 0
An urban wilds site in last Boston. .
East Boston. Before the development of Logan Airport,
Wood Island Park was the pride of East Boston. Designed
by Frederick: Law. Olmsted on a peninsula of land, the
park incorporated many natural features; it was a 63 -acre
mix of sandy beach, tidal flats, saltwater marshes, pastoral
meadows,and-a hill covered with windswept vegetation.
Fromthe. open. waterof the Inner Harbor, and from its
islands; is well, hundreds of acresof saltwater marsh
grasses and tidal flats could be seen. In the course of the
expansion of Logan Airport, however, these and other
open .space and .recreation areas in East Bostonwere
taken for airport -related uses: The neighborhood is
` densely developed and has so far been unable to replace
these lost open Spaces.
In 1966, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport)
acquired, by eminent domain, 123 acres of salt marsh and
.'tidal flats'adjacent to Belie Isle in East Boston. The prop-
erty was not to be actively used, but was thought to be
necessary to protect aerial approaches to runways and to
adhere.to federal runway "clear zone" requirements. At
the same time, Massport also acquired natural areas along
thewaterfront.
Seeing in these now unused areas the potential for new
;open space for the community, the East Boston Recrea-
tion,. Master, Planning, Land, Use Advisory Council; the
.'.Boston Conservation Commission; the Boston Redevel-
opment Authority; and the mayor's office have worked
with. Mminort to transfer title of all non -airport -related
"natural areas to' the Metropolitan District Commission
for conservation and recreation purposes. These natural
areas, the largest remaining unprotected salt marshes
'and open spaces In Boston, will form a300 -acre natural
area reservation and recreation area and will allow the
residents of East Boston to boast once again of having a
major park by the harbor. Mdreover, the city will not
have to pay any capital funds for this parkland.
Transfer of tax -foreclosed properties. An ownership
analysis of the 143 urban wilds natural areas showed that
12
25 of these properties were owned by the city's Real
Property Department, which had received the titles
through tax delinquency and foreclosure. An evaluation
of the properties indicated that they were not suitable
for development and that they would, therefore, prob-
ably not be sold through the department's usual auction
procedure.
Each of the natural areas owned by the department has
its own special characteristics. One site, for example,
borders Sprague Pond and would provide the only means
of awns to this scenic body of water; another, also in
Hyde Park, is a rocky hill which rises 50 feet above its
surroundings and from which there are spectacular views
of Bellevue Hili and Stony Brook Reservation; on a third
site in Roxbury, oak, birch, and hemlock trees and moss
and lichens grow. on a geologically significant cliff and
plateau.
Since all of these properties are irreplaceable natural
areas, it was proposed that instead of auctioning these
properties, the Real Property Department should transfer
them into the custody and management of the Boston
Conservation Commission in perpetuity for comervation
and recreation purposes. Such a transfer would establish
natural conservation areas In various neighborhoods
without cost to the city..
The Real Property Department has recently transferred
14 of these properties; the Boston Conservation Commis.
sion will manage them and the Public Facilities Depart.
ment will process and facilitate the remaining transfers.
These examples illustrate natural area conservation by the
city. Protection, regulation, and future use of natural
areas will require joint action by public agencies, private
owners, Institutions, and neighborhood groups, 0
Elliot Rhodeside is chief landscape architect at the Boston Re.
development Authority and a lecturer In the Department of Ur.
ban Studies and Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
0
y�yj�w...4tii
.
25 of these properties were owned by the city's Real
Property Department, which had received the titles
through tax delinquency and foreclosure. An evaluation
of the properties indicated that they were not suitable
for development and that they would, therefore, prob-
ably not be sold through the department's usual auction
procedure.
Each of the natural areas owned by the department has
its own special characteristics. One site, for example,
borders Sprague Pond and would provide the only means
of awns to this scenic body of water; another, also in
Hyde Park, is a rocky hill which rises 50 feet above its
surroundings and from which there are spectacular views
of Bellevue Hili and Stony Brook Reservation; on a third
site in Roxbury, oak, birch, and hemlock trees and moss
and lichens grow. on a geologically significant cliff and
plateau.
Since all of these properties are irreplaceable natural
areas, it was proposed that instead of auctioning these
properties, the Real Property Department should transfer
them into the custody and management of the Boston
Conservation Commission in perpetuity for comervation
and recreation purposes. Such a transfer would establish
natural conservation areas In various neighborhoods
without cost to the city..
The Real Property Department has recently transferred
14 of these properties; the Boston Conservation Commis.
sion will manage them and the Public Facilities Depart.
ment will process and facilitate the remaining transfers.
These examples illustrate natural area conservation by the
city. Protection, regulation, and future use of natural
areas will require joint action by public agencies, private
owners, Institutions, and neighborhood groups, 0
Elliot Rhodeside is chief landscape architect at the Boston Re.
development Authority and a lecturer In the Department of Ur.
ban Studies and Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
0
Governors Square:
Underground parking is the second factor which per-
ADe�+eloper Creates
mitted substantial allocation of space for landscaping.
At Governors Square, all resident parking facilities are
1
built below grade, with the apartment structures covering
an Urban Garden
them. This design simultaneously eliminates the poor
appearance of a parking lot and provides land area which
can be used to create a garden setting.
Robert C. Powell
In the design competition to select a developer for the
site, most of the plans submitted were for fairly typical
!'
reating a natural, garden atmosphere in the center
garden apartments: two-story buildings with at-grade
parking. To gain density, almost all the ground was cov-
of aeity is tremendous challenge for any devel-
,Coper,
eyed, resulting in a crowded appearance and very little
but the awards which Governors Square has
•received
garden space. Below-grade parking with three-story
for design and land planning suggest that it can
L„iidings above was clearly preferable, and was chosen
be done—or at least that it could be done in Sacramento,
as the winning design.
California, five years ago. -
-`°Governors Square is actually two separate apartment
-,complexes, identical in design except that the first project
contains 200 units, and the second has 100. One block
On such valuable urban land, every tree and shrub
'separates the two sites, both df which are in Sacramento's
has to compete with paying tenant
'-.'Capitol ; Mall- Redevelopment Area, The entire develop-
ent If es three blocks of the ma!!, which leads to
-
-Ca11(ornia's?capitol and along which high-rise office
Ibulldings'and banks have replaced the dilapidated
ACarefully Planned 'Natural Environment'
',-;'
-honky-tonks of 15 years ago. I
Having managed to keep 65 percent of the site open,
a,
o:a^� Most of, .the Capitol Mall redevelopment had been
we wanted to be certain that the space was used to its
� compleied. before the first phase, of. Governors Square
best advantage. In fact, what is now referred to as Gover-
,
,i was begun,, but there was still a large part of the down-
nors Square's "natural environment" was artfully and
I' ily created ding-td the plan of the lan d•
consciously according
" '
Z=townarea which had not been rebuilt, This situation
;,created an' initial problem in marketing downtown resi-
scape architecture firm, Anthony Guzzardo and Associ-
1
N•- -
v� dent!al development, since people are simply not accus•.
ateso(SanFrancisco.'-l•
1
,,Vlomed to thinking of the area as a desirable place to live.
Guzzardo's design is complex. It maximizes visual ap•
i.
ha -The developer's task, then, was to create a truly appeal-
Peal by heavy, clustered plantings and by creating various
Ing atmosphere; and a quality !mage to overcome prel-
Planes and contours. The subterranean parking again
facilitated the overall effect. As earth was hollowed out
,?
}�{udlces in favor of the suburbs. Landscaping was one of
""the -keys', in`accomplishing this. After all, much of the
for the garages, it could be placed elsewhere to produce
:.°L•
suburbs': attraction is the
feeling of openness, the room
berms and terraces, with elevations varying as much as
.4 for outdoor recreation; backyard barbecues, and other
IO feet,
iymboIs, of the good lifer The problem, of course, is that
On the street side, rolling lawns and walkways were
r. space Is,more -precious downtown. Urban development
vested. The soil was molded into gentle, rounded con-
"`sitestypically offer less land for more money. When a pri-
tours and planted with grass. Elsewhere, the ground was
vale developer begins planning the use of such valuable
retraced or planed at an. angle of 20 to 40 degrees and
deciduous
Viand, every tree and shrub has to compete with a paying
covered with Ivy.Both evergreen and trees,
li
a tenant
with varied foliage patterns, were planted. These were
Gardens or
grouped, rather than evenly spaced, to heighten their
areas
impact and accent the of open ground.
l;
At Governors Square, two primary factors helped the
Da the Added Costs Pay Oftl
j
Kdeveloper choose garden areas over asphalt.
w,ur-:-..- •
Unfortunately, such manipulation of a building site is
j
o,.One,was that the Sacramento Redevelopment Agency
also expensive. Purely from a standpoint of cost, it is bet-
"
,r was able to offer the land at a price which,made medium
ter to leave the ground flat and cover it with asphalt. But
densily,'developmeni possible: This is not to say that the
that is not the formula for aesthetic effect, nor Is it likely
Klandx&t for Governors Square was the same as the pre•
;�,
to bring people trooping In from the suburbs.
r'
giralling rate In outlying areas. Certainly, on a square foot-
ige basls,,it, was greater. But it was not so costly as to
What a private developer must consider is whether the
ry
;;(;necessitate; high-rise density. Enough units were pro-
additional costs can be compensated by Increased mar•
yduced by; adding a third story to what would otherwise
ketability. With Governors Square, the Initial answer was
ti; have been two-story structures, With this design, approx-
no, The totnl building cost was approximately 30 percent
i
dmately' 35 percent of the ground was covered by build-
higher than It would have been for a suburban project of
4.'ings,but density was increased to 40 apartments per acre,
like quality, (OI this 30 percent, about half was a0r(but-
yan l our per-unit ground cost was about the same as It
able to the parking construction and earth movement,
r4'would have been for a two-story development in fire
and the other half to extra costs of constructing sophist;-
h
w� uburbs..
cated three-story buildings.) We realized that Sacramen-
73
I�
tans were not then favorably inclined toward living down-
town, and we decided not to add to their disinclination
by making rental rates 30 percent higher. Therefore, the
initial rent structure (less than 30 cents per square toot)
was the same as that for suburban apartments which
would have cost less to build.
Knowing that the capitol, the legislature, and numerous
state offices bring many professional people downtown to
work; we'counled on some of these people's choosing
the convenience of living near their offices if it did not
cost them substantially more and if the accommodations
- wereactually better than what was available in the sub-
urbs. Il wasalso Important to have the buildings fill quick-
ly so thata positive image would be established. After the
`desirability had been created, we hoped that rents could
be adjusted upward. In the interim, a sense of community
responsibility and pride in something well done had to
fillthe gap.
The first phase of Governors Square is now five years
old. After' about three years; it achieved financial equil-
r • ibrium. it has maintained a near -zero vacancy rate since
the yt:aa following completion., Md it has definitely es-
tablished a favorable reputation.
tr
L-A
There is no doubt that the garden atmosphere of Gov-
ernors Square has been largely responsible for its appeal.
However, landscape alone cannot assure the financial or
even the aesthetic success of a residential project. Other
factors which must be considered are the environment of
the larger area where the project is situated, overall de-
sign of the complex and individual apartments, and quali.
ty management and maintenance.
These comments have analyzed the current results of a
project built in 1972. It could not feasibly be duplicated in !�
1977. Construction costs now would probably come to at
least $40 per square foot, simply too high for Sacramento's
rental structure. This is regrettable in many respects. But
it also suggests that Governors Square is not likely to have
any real competitors in the foreseeable future; in the
long run, our high quality of planning, construction, and
maintenance should be rewarded. ❑
Robert C. Powell is the developer of Governors Square.
Roosevelt Island: 'A "Natural Environment
4
'tatthe„ Water's • Edge
-u Christine Flynn wz
A oosevelt Island, a 2%.mile-long sliver of land par.
The Roosevelt Island of today had its genesis a decade
a11e7 to tvianhattan, is the'site of a most unusual new
ago, when the city administration charged the New York
community. With slightly less than half its apart.
State Urban Development Corporation (UDC) with the
" "mentti'oecupied,'r it currently; houses over 3,000 people..
task of recycling the land area to help meet New York
Seventy-five percent of its 2,143 apartments have been
•a0'Manhattan's
City's needs and to create the kind of community which
,01':F. rented: Promoted Other Island;' it has
would attract New York families leaving for the suburbs.
drawn individuals and families of every social and eco.
nomic level.
UDC's task was twofold: to build a high density urban.
.
development without sacrificing the Island's unique am-
'S, A Naee Apat1
bience, and to conceive a development that would have
all the advantages of its big -city location, yet function as
Ai the"very outset of drawing up plans to develop
an intimate neighborhood.
Roosevelt Island,' it was determined to preserve the is.
land's very special environment; with its marvelous sense
Architects Philip Johnson and John 8urgee devised a
o(,light; space; and qulet..Separated from the Manhattan
master plan calling for one-third of the island's 147 acres
to be open space devoted to parks and recreation. The
mainland only by the 400 -yard -wide West Channel of the
Plan presently envisages six separate parks, to be linked
East River,' It seems very,far away indeed. The narrow is-
F. land isless than 800 feet across, and the river Is a constant
by a waterfront promenade encircling the island.
r presence,` Leaning on i ralling at water's edge watching
Long range plans for the island call for two mini -towns,
I1gM"play;on the water, one feels "very far from the ten.
Nonhtown and Southtown. Northtown contains about 60
slon of Manhattan.
percent of the community's dwelling units, public school
buildings, shops, a large parking complex, and two re.
Until just four years ago, Welfare Island, as It was then
stored landmark buildings. Open areas Intersperse the
ailed, was truly an Island, a place span, for over a cert-
buildings; courtyards open to the river promenade.
tury, it had housed New York's outcasts In a complex of
Southtown Is conceived as a more densely developed
t
asylums,: workhouses, and penitentiaries. In the 1950s,
area that will contain a multilevel, multimix building com-
these faclllUes were closed. When the development was
plex, including office, commercial, retail, hotel, and haus-
conceived, the Island housed two city hospitals and little
Ing facilities. It Is also planned to be the site of a subway',
else.Many 19th -century structures remained, most In a
station, pan of a new New York City system that will link"
state of decay.
the Island to both Manhattan and Queens.
14
2,j.
A waterfront promenade on Roosevelt Island.
Creating a New Environment
In discussing the preservation of the island's natural en-
vironment, it must bekept in mind that Roosevelt Island
had little to preserve. After years of disuse, rocks and
weeds prevailed. In surveying the island, it was clear that
for the most part, we had to create our own new envi-
ronment...
There were three Intrinsic areas to which we turned
our attention: a number of handsome old trees, several
excellent 18th -century and 19th -century buildings, and,
perhaps. most challenging, the island's waterfront.
Wherever possible, large trees were saved. Their pres-
ence has helped deliver the island from the raw look of
newness from which so many planned communities suf-
fer. Benches scattered under the trees provide pleasant
outdoor meeting places for all ages of island residents.
Five landmark buildings are scheduled for restoration.
To date, two have been fully restored. The Chapel of the
Good Shepherd,'a 19th -century. Victorian Gothic struc-
lure, now serves as a community center. Surrounded by a
tree -lined plaza, the chapel stands gracefully among the
".' modern buildings on Main Street and provides a natural
gathering place for strollers and shoppers. Blackwell
House is a colonial farmhouse that was once the home of
the owners of the island. The building, surrounded with
boxed gardens, houses community events and receptions,
and functions as the focus of a 21h -acre park that extends
the full width of the island, meeting the river on both
;'sides.'
The Waterfront
r- To speak of Roosevelt Island's "waterfront" is perhaps
misleading. In a real sense, all of the Island is waterfront,
with the river visible from almost every point, Our task
was to ensure that the construction of the new town did
not violate the Island's most appealing aspect.
The earliest plans called for the construction of low-rise
buildings. To provide the number of required housing.
units, however, it was necessary to compromise by raising
building heights to a maximum of 20 stories. We have>
been able to compensate by several means.
It is necessary here to offer a brief description of North -
town's overall design. Roosevelt Island has only one
thoroughfare, Main Street, which functions as the spine
of the island. There are no cross streets. Main Street is de-
signed as much for visual drama as for access. Brick -
paved, it curves and winds to eliminate the monotony of
a long, straight road. The island's four apartment groups
rise from both sides of Main Street's sidewalks. So that the
buildings will not act as a visual barrier between the street
and the river, each building is multilevel, descending to a
minimum of four stories. Between the structures, at fre-
quent intervals, are broad pedestrian walks leading to the
river in both directions to focus attention alternately on
the east and west waterfront views. Each building group
is U-shaped and stepped down toward the river. Linking
the four groups are a series of interlocking courtyards`
leading directly to the waterfront promenade.
From the promenade, strollers may enjoy spectacular
views from almost every point. It is a place to jog, to bi-
cycle, to sit and watch the life of the harbor and view the
skylines of the neighboring boroughs.
To provide more active outdoor areas, we have devel-
oped Blackwell Park and Northtown Park, situated at the
ends of the present development. Although Blackwell
Park contains a playground and basketball courts, It is
largely a passive park of lawns, trees, and spectacular
views of the river. Nonhiown Park, now nearing comple-
tion, will provide a ball field, paddle tennis courts, and
basketball courts, but all in a highly landscaped, densely
planned, and very "green" setting.
i
i
�
r
Since the area beneath the beginning of the Queens-
volved weekly workshops on the island's architecture and
- borough Bridge was considered unsuitable for housing,
geography, walking tours of the island, and a children's
it is planned as an active outdoor sports area. While the
dance presentation at the water's edge. Ideas generated
;
adjacent indoor facility was completed in 1975, the play-
by the residents ranged from plans for a marina to the
„
•
ing fields still await funds for construction.
construction of a riverside people's park.
�::
When Ithe island development plan is complete, the
The Wateredges project is not an isolated instance. The
river promenades will meet at parks planned for both
residents' association's arts and cultural committee spear -
ends.'
heads an ongoing educational program to acquaint the
Managing an Urban Environment
... -
population with the island's environment. Previous study
programs dealt with the island's wind currents, flora, andi
The planners' of Roosevelt Island have also viewed the
bird life. An archaeological project will be conducted this
preservation' of the community's unusual ambience as a
spring. Called "The Peoples Dig;' it will be available to
means of mitigating some of the pollution problems of
all residents.
an urban setting. For example, UAC has installed an un-
We have attempted—successfully, we believe—to cre-
I
derground refuse system to eliminate the noise, odor,
ate a new and unique urban environment on Roosevelt
and danger of traditional sanitation collection. In add?-
Island. To a large degree, we measure our success by the
tion,` the island's development plan calls for the virtual
attitudes of the residents, who are involved in establishing
efindnailun of traffic. UDC has instituted a system of non-
a sense of place and an appreciation of the island's very
s tin electric minibuses to provide transportation on
R'' ` g
special environment. We were pleased to be able to set
j
the island, although conventional service and delivery
aside small plots of land for private vegetable and flower
vehicles'are permitted limited access. Residents and visi-
gardens, and many of the residents are proud tenant
tors park: it, Mot rgate, a six -story parking complex at the
"farmers." The residents are also involved in maintaining
1
bridge entrance.,.Perhaps most'draratic, the island is
linked to Manhattan by an aerial tramway,'which allows
the gardens around Blackwell House and in planting the
r'
residents to reach Manhattan in less than five minutes,
several rock gardens within the courtyard areas of the
buildings.
including the time required for boarding and leaving the
s;
{,
tram
We believe the cohesive spirit of the community will
;•
`
last. Certainly the residents themselves are determined
r
The Role of the Residents
to make the island work. Let me quote one resident who
N
The residents are strongly influenced by.the isl,nd's
said it rather well "Whoever would have thought that
,tn
y unique, environment and have addressed themselves to
Roosevelt Island would be the new frontier?" ❑
s
the challenge of waterfront usage. As pal( of a. Water-.
oil
r 03T J edges' piojeq`initiated, by the Nationale Endowment. for
fkx 3
the Ahs Roosevelt Island residents of all ages participated
Christine Flynn is vice president of the Roosevelt Island Devel-
.y
f�� ��
t _y in a community study, and mapmaking project that in.
opmem Corporation.
r
[ovva.,City'S,!'roje!t, SCREEN: The Citizen's hole in
Preserving the ; Urban Natural Environment
t.
Gretchen Harshbarger
roject GREEN is'a citizen action group in Iowa City, *To serve as a forum for beautification and improve- {
established to preserve and Improve the natural and menr Ideas,' as a catalyst for Individual, neighbor- k
manmade' environment' and to encourage high hood, and community groups, and as a coordinator
standards of design and community appearance. It initi- and liaison between groups and individuals pursuing
ales projects'of'communitywide Impact' by providing common goals,
'-
Iandscape materials through the GREEN Fund and volun- *To encourage the preservation of, open spaces, natu-
r.. ' .. �.,... .......
The group has operated successfully for 10 years, and
the'goals;we;,set at our inception have proved valuable
guidelines for selecting our own projects, or for encour-
aging those considered by the city. These goals are:
*To promote. high standards of design in architecture,
landscape' architecture, and community planning, as
well as high standards of maintenance and cleanli-
ness in the community.
16
q st
✓ YM , r
ral features, and historic landmarks and areas.
*To support, supplement, and recommend beautifica-
tion projects of governmental agencies and volunteer
committees;: :..
•To stimulate citizens to Improve their individual
properties and to work toward improved overall
community appearance.
Project GREEN began when pride in our city was at
lowest ebb, even though we had much to be proud of.
Iowa City's population is about 48,000, which includes the
22,000 swdents of the University of Iowa, the city's largest
"business." The. city has a scenic location, with rolling
wooded hills tapering into fertile farmland, and the Iowa
River running through the heart of the community. Our
our central business district was deteriorating. Urban re-
newal was tangled in interminable delays. Some entrance
highways were becoming ugly strips. Commercial devel-
opments were gradually infringing upon the river, our
greatest natural resource, and there was no comprehen-
sive plan to preserve the river's beauty or to protect it
Irom pollution. A small group of people, deciding to re-
vive pride in the city, formed Citizens for Iowa City, and
this organization's subcommittee on beautification
b, r evolved Into Project GREEN.
To gain public attention and support, the group called
t= a public forum on "The Problems and Potential of the
Iowa River," which drew a large turnout of citizens will -
Ing to help.
�a Our determination to Improve the river has gradually
brought results. Within the last two years, a River Front
Commission has been appointed by the city council, and
.. a consulting firm has beon hired to develop long-range
plans. This spring, Project GREEN will have the privilege
of .making the first plantings in the Implementation of
that plan.
Varied Projects
Our first priority in choosing projects has been the en-
hancement of the appearance of major approaches to the
city, the streets from which most visitors and residents
form their impressions of the community. Hundreds of
new trees and shrubs have been planted along these
streets by Project GREEN, with citizen volunteers doing
practically all the work. These volunteers Include busi-
nessmen, housewives, scout groups, families, high school
classes, and service clubs. The annual spring morning
when we do the plantings is a joyous, satisfying occasion.
By far our most popular and dramatic contribution has
been the Mini -Parks in the heart of the downtown. On
two prominent street intersections, buildings had been
torn down for urban renewal and the space had been
left bare, adding to the already forlorn look of the area.
Although long-range plans mentioned new buildings and
apossible "greenway" in the vicinity, it did not seem that
the change was Imminent. Thus, the Idea of temporary
Mini -Parks was born. We believed that If people could
see what a change attractive amenities could make, they
would Insist on Including these amenities somewhere In
the final redevelopment. And that came true. People love
these parks. They have brought vibrance and a feeling of
festivity to downtown. They are the focus of everything
from lunch hour picnics to Informal concerts and drama
events—even a wedding.
17
The Mini -Parks were built mostly by volunteer labor. A steering committee, composed of a chairperson and
We used quickly available materials, such as railroad ties, those heading projects, meets about once a month. The
old street paving bricks, and concrete sewer tiles for committee reviews and makes decisions on policy, pro! -
planters. But the crucial element of the Mini -Parks' at- ects, and progress. Other activities are carried out in •��
tractiveness is their professionally designed landscape small groups concerned with specific projects.
plans. The effect is dramatic and informally sophisticated. Project GREEN's expenses are paid by a special tax -
The insistence on high-quality professional design is one deductible fund, the GREEN Fund. Everything the group
of Project GREEN's basic policies. earns or otherwise receives goes into it. The main source
of income for the fund is the Green Garden Fair. Plants of
Other projects have included sponsoring a community
II kinds donated b citizens, are sold at the one -day
trees lamed) landscaping in a Y
Arbor Day Centennial (10,000 p P B
Chauncey Swan Plaza next to the Civic Center, planting spring extravaganza. Last year it cleared $10,000. In addi-
trees on the county courthouse grounds, replanting the tion, Project GREEN raises money through contributions,
medians on historic Iowa Avenue, and renovating the modest fees for the garden tours, and the sale of specially
banks of disreputable Ralston Creek downtown. We have designed placemats illustrating the architectural heritage
also provided leadership and financial. aid for bikeways of Iowa City.
from the city into the country, and a commuter trail link- Project GREEN is grass roots in the truest sense. Not
r : Ing Iowa City, Cotalville, and the University of Iowa. On only have we planted more green in Iowa City, but we
the latter project we helped obtain a grant from the Fed- have also increased the citizens' interest In improving
eralHighway Administration's bikeway demonstration their surroundings and heightening individual responsi-
program:, '.. bility for maintaining our urban environment. 13
I!� Agreements for Maintenance
Planning for maintenance for plantings made by citi- Gretchen Harshbarger is a landscape architect and author of nu-
t zens, canbe a headache. Without maintenance, every- meraus publications, Including the McCall's Garden Book and
thing may dies Project GREEN guarantees to "mother" The Flower Family Album. She is one of the founders of Project
out plantings for. the first two years, doing all cultivating, GREEN.
.. weeding, pruning, protective trunk -wrapping, and other
ca tasks. Volunteers do this, usually one morning a week. It
l a..41"' is our; a1 to provide landscape pirntings that are main- - - - -
,rP tenance-free after two years of care.
y MFw Partnership wNh Government . ,
' Project GREEN has forged a successful partnership with
1rr 5 ? bath the Iowa City municipal government and the John-
son County supervisors. The State Highway Commission
t4wv` gave support when we were planting approaches to the
city, We are now starting to work with the State Conser-
vation Commission on plantings for a historical landmark Tlfft Farm Nature Preserve.:
„ in aur community.
�r y,
From Dumpy to Treasure
� With �all ihese levels of government, our role
has been
.that of instigator. We, initiate projects which the govern-
s - mental agency might like to accomplish but cannot be- Harold A. Dodge
cause, of limped budget. We make, offers which, with B
modest'help from public agenty, can make the dream a are snowshoeing through a large marsh. It is
low a
�become a reality. January, and the sun is a cold white disc o n
When 'dealing with the city government, our. Ideas, gray sky. Snow has beaten down the cattails;
while still In nebulous form, are usually first discussed drifts have burled the muskrat houses. A koestrel, a
't an with appropriate city staff members in order to get a sparrow hawk, sits preening on a clump of cattails a hurt-
ras of the project's feasibility and problems and to ob- dred yards or so ahead of us. The shouting of crows at-
tracts
grasp p j Y p our attention. The are harrassm a red-tailed •.i
4p fain constructive criticism. Next, we complete the detailsy g
y r I"proceed through proper government channels to- hawk. The hawk finally flies from his perch, circles brief -
.:and ward approval by the city council Our preferred arrange.ly, then alights on a large tree IIm6 beside another red-
r . ment is to offerthecity plant materials and volunteer tail., The crows fly off to other business. As we move along
"labor Jf'they, for their share of the bargain, will supply through the lightly blowing snow we scare up pheasants
F`"'Ai,
` the professional landscape plan. that have sought shelter in the brush along the edge of
the marsh. The koestrel flies up as we approach, winging
rf�' drgani flormil Structure silently out of sight. Then, up ahead, a coyote appears
r A. The organizational structure of Project GREEN is flex- out of a clump of willows, lopes along the opposite edge • `
{S able and loose. We are composed of hundreds of citizens of the marsh for a while, Ignoring us, and finally disap-
` with' assorted' Interests and skills working In varied ways pears Into athicket.
4j toward the mutual aim expressed In our name: GREEN— We are not in some remote wilderness. We are Inside
Grow to Reach Environmental Excellence Now, the city limits of Buffalo, within sight of the lowers of the
g 18
0
business district, participating in a regular winter nature
hike at Tiff( Farm Nature Preserve. Beyond the trees we
see the hulks of abandoned grain elevators and the stacks
(: of steel mills.
The story of Tifft Farm Nature Preserve is fascinating in
many ways. This 260 acres of wilderness in the city is a
product of natural recycling as well as creative recycling
by man. It is a tribute to cooperation between volunteer
conservationists, educators, scientists, and sportsmen on
the one hand, and city, state, and federal government on
the other. [Tifft Farm was (he subject of an article in the
_ August 1975 EC. —Ed.I
Tifft Farm (which was never a real farm) is located in the
industrial harbor area of Buffalo, only about five minutes
from downtown and close to the population center of the
metropolitan area. Its modern history began when it was
part of a river delta at the eastern tip of Lake Erie. Two
hundred years ago, the site was a large marsh. As the
need for dock space increased in the Buffalo harbor in
the mid -1800s, part of the marsh was drained, and boat
slips were dug. By the turn of the century, it was a bus-
hing part of the harbor, with long docks and warehouses.
But the fortunes of harbors ebb and flow, and it was not
very long before the area began to be abandoned. During
this period, interrupted only by World War II, nature be-
gan its reclamation.
Natural Recycling...
�-- - -Since the site is completely isolated by factories, high-
ways, and railroad yards, little was done to stop the natu-
ral recycling process. The docks disintegrated. Dumping
of slag and refuse helped the boat slips lose their straight
lines and take on the natural character of streams and
ponds. Trees and shrubs sprouted everywhere. A 75 -acre
.. cattail marsh along the back of the property had never
been drained, and it remained in its natural state. As
•
natural habitat increased, Tifft Farm attracted wildlife that
found this green island among the steel mills a welcome
shelter. Bird -watchers counted over 180 species of birds.
Trappers paid an annual visit for muskrat pelts. Deer and
fox came in through the railroad right-of-way, along with
rabbits, minks, and other mammals. All through this era,
legal and illegal dumping littered much of the site, and
fires set by vandals were common.
... and Creative Recycling by Man
About five years ago, Vill farm was at a crossroads. A
proposed sewer treatment plant for Buffalo required re-
moval of two million cubic yards of accumulated solid
waste from a nearby island in the Niagara River, and Tifft
Farm was chosen as the dumping site for the material.
A hastily formed ad hoc committee of citizens, includ-
ing representatives of conservation, sportsmen, and civic
groups, protested the potential destruction of the natural
habitat at Tifft Farm. After several meetings between this
group and representatives of the Buffalo Sewer Authority
and the city, it was decided that only a portion of the
site would be needed for dumping. To accomplish this,
the waste material would be mounded into natural -look-
ing hills and then covered with soil, which would come
from digging a new lake. The city had become convinced
of the value of Tifft Farm as a preserve to be used for
nature and environmental education. Local staff of the
New York State Department of Environmental Conserva-
tion and the U.S. Soil Conservation Service joinedwith
the committee and a local landscape architect to develop
the original design for the project. The ad hoc committee
was designated by the city as the technical advisory com-
mittee for the planning of Tiffit Farm Nature Preserve. A
local private funding source and the state Department of
Environmental Conservation agreed to share the cost of
the master plan study, and the firm of Ecoplans, Inc., of
19
Saratoga Springs, New York, was hired to do the work.
in August 1976, volunteer guides began regular public
the Through the fall, school and club
Transfer of the solid waste to Tifft Farm, building of the
Dur-
tours of preserve.
came on a scheduled basis. Now the staff is being
hills, and excavating of the new lake took two yea".
Ing this period, the master plan study was completed.
groups
expanded, and plans are underway for a more ambitious
The key to Tifft Farm was the attitude of the
and meaningful spring program.
preserving
mayor of Buffalo, the councilman of the district, and the
Funding
Department of Community Development, all of whom
Donations of time and money are playing a large tole
supported the project in spirit and were willing to give
hand in and de-
as Tifft Farm grows toward completion. Besides member -
from board of direc-
the Tifft Farm Committee a free planning
ship money and volunteer time the
veloping the preserve. The next step was to decide who
tors and other members of Tifft Farm, Inc., organizations
would manage Tifft farm.
such as the New York State Federation of Garden Clubs,
Managing the Preserve
the Adirondack Mountain Club, the Boy Scouts, and
school ecology clubs have helped in many ways, includ-
Tifft Farm Committee was incorporated as a not-
ing cleanup and the planting of shrubs and trees on the
ing
for-profit membership corporation to operate the facility,
new hills.
which would continue to be owned by the city of Buffalo.
The scope of citizen participation I was expanded to in-
Funding for this developing project comes from various
c Iu d expertise in such areas as business and fl-
emore
sources: Community Development Block Grant money,
nance, as well as education. A start-up budget was funded
direct city aid, the state Environmental Bond Act (for wet-
throughthe e city's community development block grant
land improvement), the Conservation Corps (for trail
building and other summer jobs), the CETA program (for
allocation from HUD, and the group hired a small staf(.
[Thearticleby Donald C. Dodge and Marcia A. B. Brown
guards), as well as some local foundation money. An
in this issue discusses othier ways that Community Devel.
HEW grant is being sought to develop the environmental
ripm6n( Block Grants can be used to preserve urban nat-
Foun
education program, which is expected to eventually be
mostly self-supporting through fees from schools and
ural areas. —Ed.] The Greater Buffalo Development
dation' agreed to furnish temporary office space. Last
others.
October I
a in I odest membership drive was begun, and by
Tifft farm Nature Preserve is a valuable resource in the
`the the vear-nearly 600 area residents were mem-
midst of an urban area of over a million persons. A wide
lendo(
Tifft farm-, Inc. -At thesame time, a public relations
variety of natural, near -wild habitat is easily accessible be -
campaign has taken the Tifft Farm story to service clubs,
cause of closeness to the population center and to the
conservation and education groups, other civic organiza-
main expressway network. In the midst of heavy industry
f d the community atlarge.?
eons, an h
and railroad yards, an urban environmental education
facility now adds a new dimension that can have a pro
found influence on the entire Niagara Frontier commun
Ity. it has happened because enough, people saw the
possibilities and had the patience and determination to
stick with It. it is a tribute to cooperation between the
public and private sectors. It Is an eyesore that has be-
Xon
come a treasure. ❑
Harold A. Dodge Is president of Tifft Farm, Inc.
tat
Architecture
New GTA shelters:
A plus. for passengers
By Paul Gepp
Architecture udoo
MOST OF US take ocr public
"street furniture" for granted. We
are largely oblivious to good and had
design manifested by light poles, fue-
ploge direcUoml cigos, mail collec-
flan =: refuse bine, and other
embalde obyects.
Collectively, however, these often -
clustered collections of utilitarian de -
viers may make or break the appear-
ance of the dreefscapa Unfortunate.
y, mWW are ugly.
M thus coma as a partleWary
happy surprise that the Chicago
Translt Authority's new bus "atop
sbelterr as almost visually impecca-
ble.
Their chief wtbetle vbbne is that
transparent pladio aides and a sim-
ple, dart Moms alumlmtm framing
system make them neutral, selfrSfac,
Ing. AW b wdh any new
borhood setting.
Ftmctionaay, they come off wail,
altbougb it Is too dict
early to pre
their dmabUlty. The Shelters' allg wy
domed, tranalue t roofs an" peeµ
or water nmff and protection from
Sim glare. `
I have bard only one criticism
from fallow LTA riders, Wbo com-
plain that cold Wodn rometimas who
in bamm tba sheiten, ddu atop it
ti6owerc�dpr gap V dde-
prevets ]rater -
lair pibup of wodbknm Imc. Ooe
eJeo MW 91Umb>s that foe die t>rI~
athhWekNed, OW at a dbtaan of more
than a few bat, the Somag cannot b
neon -and tbr seemly advantages of
7W CrA Was mdlcu4.w in weifbq
slow words of spedifindow began
pntthu f fbe sbtter oat br bis. PP
fabricated India were rzeloued frau
the Cif®his 8patpnnnt Co' sec.. M
Jamaica, N.Y., Whore archko t-pn.ed-
Bus stop shelter. Visually Inpec-
cable.
dent, Arthur loom, did the deelpf
Ing.
16b mieem Is as smell thing when
we considers that 100 Shelters have
been built dna lad October and that
hundreds mere will be erected [thee
aro Lt,eoo bas dap In Chicago].
It L indeed, a trlumpb who aro
reallsas that a poor design wood
have spread a viarl ph" eedos,
the entire enity. no CfA has built a
let of ugly shop in the put, and
some at Wh experimental ebelten pat
rep in teeeot lean Ware patently bid-
ew.
!be feuow ser dew: No structure
it too lmau to deserve the bast poul.
bit decip, and when a prototype to
to to Ogtlndrd bauce" w of tier,
till Stakes sn big. Mawprodueed
uglinen is Sum one of the greatest
Lars of our rep.
CHICAaT T ..IUUNf batt. t Fun—April IC. 13",
,g.2.s-s
0
page 2
* *
NEW ENTRIES '*
* *
*
x The next pages of the Link directory*
include a listing of new entries that ;
have come in during the last few
weeks. Of course, there are hundreds
more entries in the Link file than k
just the ones printed here.
Call Link Mordays through Fridays
from 9:30 to 5:00 to ask about any of
k the entries here, to f°nd out about }*
k entries that were printed in previous ;
k directories, or to make an entry of
k your own. We'll give you the cn:,iplete
k names and phone numbers of people who
k are interested in the same thing you
,*are. Our phone number is easy to re- }*
member; it's 353 -LINK.
ANIMALS
Need someone to take care of my Ger-
man shepherd dog from June 1977 to Au-
gust 1978. I will pay for dog food,
vet's fees, etc. Anita.
I am interested in learning all as-
pects of professional doq training and
the basic points behind running a kennel.
Kate.
0
I need to find fabric scraps to make a
quilt. Linda.
I want to start doing stone rubbing
(using something like Conte crayon and
paper to get designs from gravestones).
Carol.
.r have nylons for stuffing toys. Jo .
I have wood scraps to give away; they
are good for toy -making. Theresa.
BOOKS; MAGAZINES; AND AUTHORS
Interested in talking with people about
the brrrk li-n Harrad Exr^.rim^nt. Jim.
Loc;:inq for June issue of Mother Jones
with the articles on feminism. Dennis.
I have a number ofhrp ases and titles
to use in search of a story, poem, or
other use, like "laughing lemur," "negli—
gent gazebo," and "Never is too often."
Steve.
Interested in the writing of Robert
Rimmer. Jim.
I have copies of Analog, a science fic—
tion journal, except that I'm missing the
issues of February 1967 and June 1972.
I'd like to find copies of those two and
the ones that were published before Sep-
tember 1965, especially those with stories
about Telzey, the woman with ESP. Kice.
Interested in Colin Wilson. Jim.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
))J)1J)111JJJJJIJJI)1(((((((((((((((((((((
J
We'd like to locate a csrtogr her (map-
) FAMILY
maker). Ron.
)
7 can teach knit. Florence.
I want to exchange bab _ care_ with
) —�
r would like to teach knitting. I also
others. Elizabeth.
J
Jcnow a little about crocheting. or per-
Offering d care for children aged
J
haps we could get together and exchange
q_0. Fee on a sliding scale. Chris.
patterns. Grace.
) t
I' can do hand Lettering for signs,
speciality cards, etc. Doug.
r'm lonking for persons interested If,
designing and supervising creation of e
FOOL) (ItR LiiPIMC Gl,kh1'P11tIG)
community macrame that would be done
during a spring arts festival smmsored
The Iowa City Parks and Rer•tention De—
ty the Iowa City Parks and Ner•reatinn lx,-
pufufrtsfnt h"b one huodruu 5L' by :(" r-
2-a—
partment. Kathy,
den Plots at the south and of Taylor
I need a tter'a wheel. Sandy.
Drive, neer K -Hart. These are free if
I wwuld like to take classes from a
'r^" takp nnnd carp of ,UnityI-Int. Thpi,,
.reason with her own kiln and who wruild
iF. nn writer at the site. Cone botwapu
ii.err
te ny �utiary_ lu et.vb. )%utL.
1Y neor, ,ten car�nr.'.n ,. n••P;! 2s •-
I inherited a complete guiit trip dnd
cwt a plot. 0I call 3349-1;493 April Pi
.
would likes Co find suu,nnu« rn h«]p a}•
r„ )ar pr to !tlY«f'V[' tl Plot.
I
quilt it. Wanda
0
I'd like to rent a garden space; pre-
fer space in someone's yard. Richard.
I haveag rden space to rent, about 15'
by 15', in a backyard. Bill.
I'm looking for a space to do garden-
ing in. Steve.
Have free gardening space, plowed land
in exchange for help in planting and
guidance in gardening, will buy the seeds
and split the vegetables. Plot is 15'
by 5'. Christine.
Want to talk with people who are in-
terested in or know about organic c qarden-
ing or farming. Marge.
Want to find people interested in
planting gardens with children. Ruth.
I would like to share information a-
bout nutrition, natural foods, alterna-
tive health care systems, epilepsy, etc.
Marge.
HEALTH
+ Herb study group is forming. Meets
+ Saturdays. Will take field trips.
+� Looking for anything edible. Ken.
+ I would like to teach a "natural
+ cure" for chronic nosebleeds; not how
+ to stop the bleeding, but how to pre-
+ vent it. Doug.
+ I'm interested in a co-ed massage
+ group. Mike.
+ I can teach massage. (I have
+ taught it in Thailand.) Doug.
+ i am interested in exploring all
+ aspects of well -body functioning, in-
cluding massagewith meditation- Jim.
+ I will be teaching classes in Yoga
+ for pregnant and recently-delivereo
+ woman. Classes will be held at "enter
East; there is a charge of $2 per
class. Elizabeth.
++++�ii++�11{i,11�Y 1+i11♦1/+Iii +�1-111�11
iI JiI{.y L u
Want to learn beginning magic. Caro-
lyn.
Can teach uayic. Earl,
Want to leoru modfl rcflrodd4i,,'
Lori.
0
page 3
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%,%%%%%%%
% HUMAN DEVELOPMENT %
% Ile would like to meet with other %
% gay women. Cheryl or Kris. %
Interested in Gurd_jieff. Jim. %
% Involved in organization of handi- %
% capped people. Elbert. %
% Interested in George Leonard. Jim. %
% Interested in John Lilly. J im. %
% Want to join a rap session for sin- %
% gle divorcedap rents? Dave. %
% Is anyone interested in extending
% hope or friendship to inmates at the %
% Ft. Madison penitentiary? There are sox
% many men there who get no mail or vi- %
% sitors. Just an occasional letter may t
% spark a change in a whole life. David.-.,
% Wanted: people to help people at %;
% the Iowa City Care Center. Need peo-
% ple to assist in bingo -playing, tak-
% ing walks, going for rides, shopping. T.
% Cheryl.
% Interested in Fritz Perls. J im.
% I am interested in transpersonal
% psychology, including meditation. %
% Jim.
% There will be a re-entry workshop %
% for students who have made the d eci- %
% sion to return to college and for those%
% unsure about returning on April 30, %
% from 8:30 to 4:00. Childcare wi 11 be %
% provided. There is a small registra- %
% tion fee. Pre -register by April 22. %
Y WRAC. %
% I'd like to be in a group of men %
% and women to discuss Mazur's New Inti- t
% mai_ and similar books on ways ofi re- %
% lating to people. Kort.
Y. d like to find someone with know- o
I
Y ledge of sexuality for the handicapped.%
Y Grace.
Y Interested in Charles Tart. Jim. ..
lr'.terested in Alan Watts Jin,.
Ykw%%YYYYYYYYSYYY9%YY%Y%Y%%3%%%%%CIC°Yi%;iY
LnI1VUHULS
1 wnuld like to improve my tnerli sh.
Sa7rw0 .
Will tutor German. Annrtte.
nunma:•r. L'r'wr.
I cm, upe W. and Fnyllsh; dui
wi.!llny to h,•l!, wople bath trarr.cla ri ms.
1 S,41'o1 .
page 4 •
MUSIC, DANCE, AND E14TERTAINING
I'm a crazy bass player who can't find
the right crowd.—I survive on blues and
am still a loyal Deadhead. Andre.
Drama, music, magic, arts and crafts --
need people interested in those things
who can get along with elementary-school
age children. Jean.
Musician (guitar, harp) looking for
other players, possibly to form a band.
Dick.
Wanted: beginning blues or classical
guitar lessons. Mike.
I teach jazzug itar. fee is $4 for
each 45 -minute lesson. Brian.
Action Artists is an agency that books
bands all over the country. It keeps a
list of musicians and names of people in
bands that have broken up. Jim.
Anyone who's truly interested and ex-
perienced in traditional music, give me
a jingle. John.
I want to learn to play the recorder
and conga drums. Deb.
Giving violin or fiddle lessons; wil-
ling to entertain at square dances.
Holly.
Interested in learning to read music
and learning voice. Chris.
14ATURE AND ECOLOGY
I'm interested in land reform. Den-
nis.
Want to talk with people about methane
use. Elbert.
Have jars, plastic bags for reusable
purposes. Connie.
Interested in solar energy. Elbert.
Have large library on solar engineer-
ing. Have literature from companies
producing collectors. Have been to semi-
nars about solar energy. would like to
get together with others to discuss solar
energy. Sue.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Q
& THE OCCULT AND PSYCHIC PHENOMENA&
&&
Interested in astrology and pyre- &
& midology. Elbert. &
Interested in learning hypnosis. &
& Tim. (1
& Interested in hypnotism. Jim• 8
& Interested in studying the I Chin f
(ee CHING). Deb.
& I'd like to form a study group for &
& psychic phenomena and to make up a &
& directory of area people who are into &
»RM RR RfIRR HRMRRR►#RRRRRRRf R»RRRf HRRRR & occult subjects. I'm interested in &
" all areas of parapsychology and the &
R
» BECOME A LINK MFMBF.F: & occult, especially alternatvie forms off,
4 f healing, out -of -body travel, ESP, sur- &
" At its first-ever meeting, the 1 & vival of death, cosmic influences, and I
Board of Directors of Link, Incorpora- & ways to utilize psychic energy. Jin'. &
ted decided on new categories of mem-
bership, They are:
r 1). Voting membership, which enti- >l
titles the member to vote at the annu- C OCCUPATIONS , PRACTICAL SKILLS,
al membership meetings and to vote for : AN!, hQUIPMENT
• the people on the board of Directors.
"* Become a Voting member by giving 24.1 or : I want someone to teach me to drive 'in
► one hour of time to Link. his or her car. Wiii pay. May is the
1). Contributing membership, which » best time. Sahair.
`+ entitles the member to a subscription I will be dog ng a series of self-help
ito the monthly newsletter as well as workshops on the north side of Iowa City
+ voting privelges. Become a Contribu- this sunn'er. ] I d like to hear from any -
ting member by giving 55 or tihret vitt 4616 can help. tea.'}; hMo,
+ hours of time.weatherizing, general repairs, basic Elec-
+ 3). Supporting membership, which : trical and plumbing work, l,undscepfnu.
entitles you to voting privilenes and f;nnvI
+ a newsletter subs cd Psion: b( -inn a 1 can teach motorcycle maintenane.e.
4uppurtiny member VcA's vr:u'rn renlly w l��'�]'d like 5rn'4eone to share their I:now-
• supporting Link! A supporting iwinber
is someone who has sent in 5141 or ledge of plant carr from the seed on.
'
wr '^e hour:. Gram.
• Orl:ed i Y 0r ^A
r
u♦w»ww»errrrwwww�w•�rwwwrrruwwrrrrrrrrwrr
FJ
Want toddler activities for reading,
reading books, and reading flashcards.
Will share expenses with others for order-
ing or purchasing the above on good deals.
Anita.
Are there others who'd like to share
in renting a sandblaster? Doug.
I have Alaskan sealskin and fox fur
boots to trade for sewing. Theresa.
Interested in people who want to learn
to make soap. Rae.
I'd like someone to teach us how to
make terrariums. Grace.
Have Waltham wrist watch that needs
repair. It just stopped. Larry.
SCIENCE a
# Need a tutor for high-school cnemis-#
tom. Nancy. #
Have used COBAL and some FORTRAN, #
but I'd like to learn more about com-
putens. Nazir. b
Interested in geodesic domes. E1- #
bert, #
#f#########################################
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL TOPICS
Trying to change laws on marijuana
through NORML (National Organization for
the Reform of Marijuana Laws). Steve.
Interested in the writings of Abraham
Maslow. Jim.
Interested in discussing the works of
Rollo May. Jim.
r. «
WORK DAYS AT CENTER £ASP �
Since Link gets free (except fcr pay -k
,Jng for utilities) office apace at ron- #
*"ter East, we urrfe users/suplx>r tors of
ZLink to contribute one to several hours
Zof your time to the Center East 19urk y
. Days. They're on Priday, April 15 and
=Sueurdey, April 16. A'e•'ll be cleaning w
Ndnd painting from 9-71 and 1-5 tenth «
Y
: ddys. if you Van LI'2 Ly 1G(IeSCl iul Yu- «
wntimlan, ladders, rrillur6, drop cloths,
`or push brooms, please do. Center Fest i
:is ut the corner of C11ritor. G Je.^ferson.�
swrrwu«rwrwrrwrwrrwrwrr urwwrrrwrrw rarrwrw
0
page 5
SPORTS AND GAMES
Will trade stained glass teaching
or stained glass window for airplane =_
lessons. Rex.
I can teach you archery, if you can =
furnish you own equipment. Doug.
Looking for people to help other
bingo players who have poor vision.
Cheryl.
I have camping equipment to share.
Mike.
Would like to meet person interested=-
= in cooperativeag mes, also called "New =
World" games; they are non-competitive.=
Jan.
Interested in playing cribbage. El-
bert.
I'd like to get information about =
fly fishin . David.
Looking for someone to be a pal to
my 13 -year-old son. He's into fishing,::
readin , wrestling, and football. B.
Interested and experienced in hang
lig •ding. Mary Linn.
Want to learnadp dleball (racquet-
ball) and find partners to play it
with. Elizaheth.
I can teech racquetball. Doug.
Sailing freak wants to get together
With othul•s to learn celestial naviga-
tion. Wayne.
Want someone to give swimniny les-
sons to pre-school kids. Barb.
I want someone who's WSI (Water
Safety Instruction) certified to teach
z me life-saving teachniques for swim••
miLig before summer. Joni.
TKAY£L ANL; CEOGRAI'HY
Searching for a person who knows a
'lot 'about or who nas spent Sulmt, t.111it 'if,
the Alaskan enviornment. Ron.
Interested in carpoo I from Iowa City
--o Cedar Rapids; need to arrive in Cedar
Rapids at n:00 a.ni. 19ednesdeys in spring
'alio ,uimiiek Ci.hdrn
I'm interested in ruro,wan travel thi•
summer and would like a traveling com-
!7.a1'ign, preferatly #$,Mt1P_ #util.
page 6 •
I would like to re -locate friends who,
at our last contact six years ago, lived
in Frankfurt and Cologne, Germany. If
anyone is going to these cities, would it
be pcssible for them to send me news
back so we can make contact again? Call
or come meet me, and we can talk about
this. Carol.
n
U
588888S55S58S8555SS55SSSbb55558SS5SSS88bS8
WANTED: S
$ BENEFACTORS S
$ No experience necessary. S
$ Call 353 -LINK S
SS5555SSS5555SSb8S555$88588555SSS SS8555855
AND NOW, A WORD FROM OUR DIRECTOR...
Rejoice: After working without pay
for three months, I've just got funding
as a CETA Public Service Employee. This
will expire September 30, 1977, but Link
will go on, one way or another.
$200 a month would do it. That's
the minimum Link needs for its expenses:
two part-time work-study students, phone,
utilities, publication costs, postage,
and supplies. If each of the Link
users or "Link" readers sent or brought
in $1 or $5 or more, our membership
(now 24) would swell.
(I have a fantasy of 100 members by
May. Will you make that tax-deductible
fantasy come true by sending $ to Link,
Inc., 301 Jefferson Building, Iowa City,
IA 52242 or bringing it to the Link of-
fice at Center East, 104 E. Jefferson?
Here's to fantasies -come -true:)
Help keep rink files updated and ac-
curate. Call us if any referrals we
give you are no longer interested or if
your interest or address changes. 41e'1l
be calling some of you for updating pur-
poses too.
Link (in the persons of board mem-
bers Joe Burns, Jeff Weih, and I) got
together March 12 in Dekalb, Illinois
with representatives from other learn-
ing exchanges and free universities from
Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michi-
gan. There are about 15 learning ex-
changes in the U.S. (that we know of)
and about 200 free universities, similar
to U. of I. 's Action Studies.
With the other people there at the
conference, we discussed funding,
grants, keeping information current,
advertising, computerizing files, in-
creasing the number of members and vo-
lunteers, and general philosphy. It's
always a boon to share ideas that have
worked with similar groups.
Don't forget Friday and Saturday,
April 15 and 16, are work days at Cen-
ter East. See page 5 of this newslet-
ter for more information, then call
353 -LINK to tell us when you can help.
Rosie Campbell ,
LIMY, Director
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LINK'S NV :.ING ADDRESS:
301 JDFrLRSON BLDG.
IOWA CITY, IA 62242