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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-06-21 Bc Comm. Minutes�' • formal Meeting June 6, 1977 Page 3 neighborhood, and introduced the student who would be working on the project, and in turn they explained what portion of the project they would be working with. Their reports should be ready by the end of summer, and can be discussed then with the neighborhood, P & Z and Council. Each segment is set up so their report will be produced before Council deliberates on that portion of the Comprehensive Plan. PUBLIC HOUSING The mem from Housing Coordinator Lyle Seydel explaining the program was pointed out. The City Manager noted that an allocation is available for public housing, federally funded, and the City has certain commitments under .the Housing Plan. These are areas where the City has not been able to meet the need, and this is an alternative way of meeting it. The City would own the buildings, constructed under the 'turnkey' arrange- ments, 100% funded by federal government. Seydel explained the 40 year Annual Contributions Contract. HUD sells bonds to pay the ACC to pay off the mortgage. Part of the ACC will pay the operating expenses that exceed the rental income gotten from the property. Average rental income for 40 units would be $49.15 per month per unit and $41.94 for operating expenses. Possibly there could be an $8 per month profit per unit the first year. If Council proceeds, a public hearing would have to be set for June 21st. The City would not need to have an option or control of a site. Director Kraft noted that HUD had provided inform- tion for determination of number of units. If the project did not reach the ACC stage, the PHA would have to pay approximately $8,000 of the preliminary loan. These units are not property taxable, but a ' payment is made in lieu of taxes, 10% of the cash contract rent. This is similar to the Ione Tree project, except the sites are scattered and not only for elderly. Commissioners Bob Hibbs and Fredine Branson and Robert Welsh offered information. Councilmenbers Selzer, Balmer and Vevera expressed opposition to the program. This made a consensus of 3/3 for the program. Councilman 'Perret requested permission to call Mayor Neuhauser for her position. There were no objections. Seydel announced that the Annual Cont. Contract ,.,,,,... had been 'approved for next year, conversion of 72 units approved for an amount of $520,580. CITY MANAM City Manager Neal Berlin made two announcements: (1) Approval by HUD of the Block Grant Application, in the amount of $2,061,000 for next year, and (2) the arbitrator had decided in favor of the Fire Department. REM IRAN PROGRAM Mike:Kucharzak, Project Consultant, and Rehab. Consultant Jim Leighton made the final presentation and brought Council up-to-date on the past six months activities. They have spent 18% of the money allocated for grants and forgivable loans, and need to get the loan program underway. In response to concern expressed about city involvement after the grant runs out, Kucharzak noted that they had tried to avoid administrative carryover to putting the program together. The bank will be providing many services to the City. A small monthly fee will be charged the borrower. 1 • lonformal Meeting June 6, 1977 Page 4 ro�olved as follows: Attorney Hayek's concerns were it can to preserve confidentiality of will do any everything le housed in City Hall is a public record, 1. the City applicants, but and insurance to protect the staff, they were 2. concerning "ab iliof the collective dollars to make thea self - concerning phrases are included in the conto ner of suggesting less p and the own insuring. Hold -hallo between the City and the contractor and the City the house. Fssentially there will be three program" Grants for elderly and disabled persons, requirements, and 1' vable Iran with lien eq 3, Loan program ani• Old Capitol Administration concerning interest in the City Manager Berlin called attention st the letter from Services the letter received :ran Iowa Research to General. the option Associates $e also response to his phone call regarding e Old Post Office' agreeable to any Joint Purchase Center on Aging, Ina 1D They°are not Council exercise the ost O:fice. er reocmvended that the on the site is valid. arrangement. the Old ',he City Mwait to see if housing objections. The s waiting There were no ob. tinfor 60 day , WO be $250, Council Council meeting• rost.of the building ibuted at the regular_ option will be Permit to Manager also called attention taken theletter issue buildingey were The City Hayek �ucerning the action taken Attorney If Council wishes to deal with it is another way, AmeTeX t the Attorney• erected to contact Dubuque Streets was er's memo on closing the College and u shortly, there' not objection the to The City Manbe work will begin He will also check discussed. d barricaded•tings by the United Action by leaving the streets closed an at mee nts will be ,s Policy concerning attendan that urban e ywAttorne�y. The staff City. er Berlin reported Youth personnel. ter review by ready to go out for bids of council � completed their work• king on Yewell and Dewey Streets, to the surveys on parking parking to apply to the entire Aet�ds In regardlacy u with some discussed the need for a Po stalled for diagonal er advised that were will be join ections. The City Mandation. Short requested' There were no obj and recom a House, as parking at the Court Meeting adjourned, 4:35 P.M. Tape recorded on Reel #17 and 19. MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY 27, 1977 LIBRARY AUDITORIUM MEMBERS PRESENT: Buchan, Bezanson, Hyman, Kirkman, Moore, Newsome, Ostedgaard, Richerson MEMBERS ABSENT: Farber STAFF PRESENT: Eggers, Spaziani Summary of Discussion and Action Taken Vice-president David Kirkman chaired the meeting in the absence of President Ronald Farber due to the death of Farber's father, The first Board action was to request the secretary to send a letter of condolence to Farber. Richerson moved and Moore seconded the approval of the minutes for the regular meeting of April 28 and the special meetings of May 3, 5 and 18, 1977. The disbursements for May were approved and the financial reports were accepted. Newsome/Moore. Director's report attached. Building chairman Kirkman asked all the Board members to review the last two resumes from architectural firms. Ostedgaard recom- mended the interviewing of at least one former client of these two firms before the interview process begins. Recommendation accepted. The Director was requested to prepare letters to send 'to the nine firms selected to be interviewed. No official notification will be made to other firms who applied at this time, but the Director may tell those that inquire that they were not on the preliminary list of firms to be interviewed. A schedule for the interviews was adopted. They will be held in the afternoon and evenings of June 13, 14 and 15, 1977. Vivian Buchan presented the report of the Nominating committee (Buchan, Newsome, Richerson) for Library Board officers for 1977- 1978: President, David Kirkman; Vice-president, Louane Newsome; Secretary, Lynda Ostedgaard. The report was accepted and the election will be held at the June meeting. /26z Suzanne Richerson reported on the Council/Boards and Commission's Annual meeting of May 26. She represented the Board in the absence of President Farber. Because of an unanswered question at that meeting, the Director was requested to send a memo to the Council regarding funds for paying architects fees prior to a bond referendum for a new library building. A letter from Ann Bagford, former president of FRIENDS of Iowa City Public Library, thanking the Board for their cooperation during the organizing period of the group was received and placed on file. Bezanson moved and Ostedgaard seconded a motion to amend the FY1977 Budget in the following manner: transfer $3,000 from 6200 fund to 8620 fund; transfer $2,000 from 9340 fund to 7285 fund. Approved unanimously. A motion to approve a contract with the State Library Commission for a rotating packet of thirteen 16mm films to be housed at the library during FY 1978 was approved. Hyman/Newsome. Unanimous. New Library Board members will be selected by the City Council in executive session and announced at the regular session on Tuesday, May 31. Moore and Ostedgaard were asked to meet with the Director and present ideas for the orientation of new members at the June meeting. The June meeting will be on the 5th instead of the 4th Thursday (June 30) because the Director will be attending the annual meet- ing of the American Library Association June 17-23. Meeting adjourned at 6:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Vivian Buchan ~ Secretary 0 Director's Report May, 1977 FINANCIAL 11 A bill for the major repairs to the air conditioner has not been received but I am budgeting the estimated amount ($1200) for June. This will give us an approximate shortfall for the year of $1800. I have kept the city administration informed of our continuing heating/cooling repair costs and of the expected shortfall. STAFF Dewey McGuire will take the new half-time A-V technical job beginning July 1. The removal of these duties from the Circula- tion Department will give them some much-needed relief. We have been granted two full-time CETA positions for the period June 1 - Sept. 30 with high expectation that they can be renewed for up to two years. They will be assigned to the Circulation Department but in effect will be aiding most all departments. New volunteers, a vocational rehabilitation employee and a new work/study employee will be added to the Children's Room roster this summer. GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY Radio station KRNA through cooperation with Macmillan Company has given the library a set of the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (3rd edition). This is a standard RR s an encyclopedia and the first one to be translated into English. It should be a valuable resource for this community. It is valued at $1800. In September the FRIENDS of ICPL will be hearing proposals from the staff for spending $2800 of the money the group has raised so far through membershi}s and the book sale. ACTIVITIES OF THE DIRECTOR The Director and staff member Carol Spaziani are serving on the State Public Library Standards Committee. The ultimate purpose is to develop standards for Iowa public libraries as a basis for state aid to libraries. states give direct aid to public libraries. The Director now serves as chairperson of the Board of Directors of Library Processors, Inc. This is the state -subsidized agency through which 60-70% of our new books are ordered, cataloged and processed. This processing center is facing financial difficulties because of the failure of enough Iowa libraries to use their ser- vices. It is an essential service for ICPL. The $3500-4000 spent annually in processing fees saves us at least two full-time people ($16-20,000). • -2- s The Director attended a 2 -day workshop on computer assisted circulation control systems and with the Circulation Super- visor attended several demonstrations by the principle vendors of the turn -key systems. I will be a member of a new state committee to investigate and develop plans for a statewide network of uniform or compatible systems in the major public libraries. This could make statewide resource sharing a reality! SERVICES The children's winter film series held in 13 consecutive Sundays drew an average of 65 people per week. The children's literature theme was very popular both with children and adults. A summer adult film series, a chess tournament, a young adult quiz sweepstakes and an almost daily schedule of special events in the Children's room is planned for June - August. SURVEYS Several surveys relating to the public library are in various stages of planning or completion. Summary reports of their findings will continue to be given to Board members. We are - now preparing a list of correlations which we wish Community Development to make from the data of the 2000 city surveys now in the process of being tabulated. We are planning a fall survey of our telephone information service. Our 1973 users survey should be updated and additional data should be gathered either through mailed surveys or public hearings before the building program is given to the architect. Nearly 70% who answered the section at all said very positive things about the library on the City's Special Survey. Nearly 1/3 of the positive comments mentioned the need to expand facilities. Six percent made negative comments; one fourth said it was not an issue. ENERGY CONSERVATION Building thermostats have been set at between 78 - 800 for the summer. This makes the building (especially certain areas) too warm for some staff and public. With lower temperatures we always had complaints of it being too cool for some. It is cheaper to live with the complaints about the heat. FJ MIAiIIPS CIVIL SERVICE MtgISSIaN JLNE 7, 1977 9:00 A.M. EVGI. RL G ODN7EIRM ROaf MEMBERS PRESENT: Hubbard Anderson Nasser STAFF PRESENT: Higdon RECD-I,IE IM1TIO.S TO THE CITY COLMIL NDNE RECOMENDITIONS TO THE CITY NMAGER AM STAFF NONE RECGf,0 1TIONlS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY NONE 11 SU,%MRY OF RELEVANT DISCUSSION The Commission convened at 9:00 A.M. and immediately went into Executive Session to interview 20 applicants for the position of Firefighter. A list of those certified as eligible will be prepared for signatures of the Commission members after June 13th when Hubbard and Nasser return to the City. The Commission briefly discussed a personnel matter. Executive Session concluded. June Higdon was instructed to arrange interviews for the two applicants who took the examination for the position eS Training Officer. These interviews will be held June 28th starting at 1:00 P.M.. Meeting adjourned. Prepared by June Higdon /26,3 1 .. MINUTES IOWA CITY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MAY 26, 1977 -- 3:30 P.M. CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Dickens, Conlin, McBride MEMBERS ABSENT: Fowles, Goedken STAFF PRESENT: Schmeiser, Kushnir, McKean, Siders, Child FORMAL ACTIONS TAKEN: 1. That the Board of Adjustment grant approval of a variance in Sections 8.10.40.11(8)(1) and (2) of the Zoning Ordinance to the extent that: (a) a landscaped island(s) be provided between every tenth parking space not in front of the building; (b) trees which would be required for landscaped islands both in front of the building and between parking spaces be located to provide coverage of the parking area to the maximum extent practicable; (c) the "ditch" within the street right-of-way be landscaped, seeded and maintained in an attractive appearance; and (d) the Board delegate to the Staff autority to monitor and approve the location of proposed required trees in keeping with the intent of the Tree Regulations. 2. To reconsider action taken on V-7701, application submitted by Mr. William J. Steinbrech, Jr., and defer such reconsideration until the next Board of Adjustment meeting, June 8, 1977. REQUESTS TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR INFORMATION OR STAFF ASSISTANCE: None SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION AND FORMAL ACTION TAKEN: Vice Chairman McBride called the meeting to order and asked if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes of the May 12, 1977 Board of Adjustment meeting. A motion was made by Dickens, seconded by Conlin, to approve the minutes as written. The motion carried unanimously. Donald Brogla, 232 1st Avenue, Coralville, presented to Board members photo- graphs of property surrounding the subject property. He stated that the land is "not choice uptown commercial property" and there is no sewer in the area. Approximately $2000 was spent in putting in a septic tank, he said, and the existing building was constructed two years ago in conformance 26 with the Zoning Ordinance. Ruquircinents ul' the 'free Ordinance now make it impossible to construct a new addition to the existing building without sucking a variance in the location of landscaped aisles and islands for the new addition and parking arca. Mr. Brogla stated that he was willing to plant trees and to terrace and landscape the property, but he hoped to eliminate the tree islands. It would be impossible to maneuver trucks around the tree islands, he said. Vice Chairman McBride noted that some flexibility had been built into the Tree Ordinance, i.e., pooling of trees, etc. Don Schmeiser, Senior Planner, stated that the applicant was proposing a substantial addition to the floor area and would be putting in a new parking area, therefore, development should be brought into conformance with the Tree Ordinance. Conlin suggested the possibility of requiring deciduous trees so that tree foliage would be high enough so that people could see beneath the foliage. Glenn Siders, Acting Building Official, stated that trees for aisles or islands would have to be selected from the trees specified in the Tree Planting Plan. Mr. Schmeiser suggested the possibility of "flaring back" the driveway so that semis could more easily maneuver. lie indicated that every attempt should be made to comply with the Tree Regulations to the extent possible without causing severe handicap in the development of the applicant's property. McBride indicated that there seemed to be no question about whether or not there was a hardship, but he questioned the degree of hardship. Board member Conlin stated that the applicant intended to improve the appearance of the property and it would seem unfair to compel industrial areas to strictly adhere to the requirements of the Tree Ordinance. Tony Kushnir, Assistant City Attorney, stated that the Board must find the applicant's situation to be unique to the particular property rather than citing the unfairness of the Tree Ordinance to industrially zoned property. McBride stated that the intent of the Zoning Ordinance is equal treatment for all and he felt the Staff recommendations oulined in the May 26th Staff Report were reasonable. Expressing fear of starting a precedent, McBride pointed out the impossibility of implementing the ordinance if those who have small parking lots wish to be exempt from the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. McBride suggested that the Staff study and report to the Board information as to whether or not trucks would have adequate maneuverability in the space available. Mr. Schmeiser responded that a study could be made and the Staff could report its findings to the Board at their next meeting, June 8th. Dickens questioned the appropriateness of requiring the applicant to maintain the ditch wihin the street right-of-way in an attractive appearance. Schmeiser explained that maintenance of the ditch can be made a condition of the variance and, as such, can be policed and enforced. He also pointed out that the applicant had offered to do this. Mr. Kushnir pointed out that the applicant is required by law to maintain the ditch. A motion was made by Conlin, seconded by Dickens, to approve variances in Sections 8.10.40.11(8)(1) and (2) of the Zoning Ordinance (Tree Regulations) 11 • 6 -3- to eliminate required landscaped islands at 2121 and 2119 Riverside Drive between the parking area and building, between the parking area and the street, and between every nine parking spaces in a continuous row. McBride stated that he was not in favor of granting the entire proposal as submitted by the applicant and indicated that he supported the Staff's recommendations with the exception of locating an island near the street right-of-way. He questioned whether an island near the street would interfere with truck access and maneuverability. He also expressed the desire to maintain to the extent possible the spirit of the Tree Ordinance. A motion was made by McBride to amend the motion to read as follows: that the Board grant approval of a variance in Sections 8.10.40.11(B)(1) and (2) of the Zoning Ordinance to the extent that: (1) a landscaped island(s) be provided between every tenth parking space not in front of the building; (2) trees which would be required for landscaped islands both in front of the building and between parking spaces be located to provide coverage of the parking area to the maximum extent practicable; (3) the "ditch" within the street right-of-way be landscaped, seeded and maintained in an attractive appearance; and (4) the Board delegate to the Staff authority to monitor and approve the location of proposed required trees in keeping with the intent of the Tree Regulations. The motion failed for lack of a second. A vote on the original motion was taken: Conlin -yes; Dickens -yes; McBride -no; Fowles -absent, Goedken-absent. The motion failed. A motion was made by McBride, seconded by Dickens, to grant approval of the motion as it was amended above. A vote was taken: Conlin -yes; Dickens -yes; McBride -yes; Fowles -absent; Goedken-absent. The motion carried. The variance was granted. Mr. Dan Boyle, attorney representing Mr. William J. Steinbrech, Jr., 404 Magowan Avenue, requested that the Board of Adjustment reconsider their action taken at the May 12th meeting concerning Mr. Steinbrech's application for a variance in the front yard setback. Mr. Boyle explained that Mr. Steinbrech was not present at the May 12th meeting and no case was made for him. A motion was made by Conlin, seconded by McBride, to reconsider action taken on V-7701, application submitted by Mr. William J. Steinbrech, Jr., and defer such reconsideration until the next Board of Adjustment meeting, June 8, 1977. A vote was taken: Conlin -yes; Dickens -yes; McBride -yes; Fowles -absent; Goedken-absent. The motion carried. The meeting adjourned. ae Prepared b Approved b