HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-05-30 Info PacketPIICROFILMED BY JORM MICROI.AB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES, IOWA
WHITE LAW OFFICES
ATTORNEYS
330 SOUTH CLINTON STREET
IOWA CITY. IOWA 52240
J. PATRICK WHITE C AREA CODE 319
JACK W. DOOLEY May 26, 1978 PHONE 336.7968
DANIEL L. DRAY
City Council
Civic Center
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Mr. Mayor and Members of the Council:
I represent Robert and Linda Woolson who reside at
211 North Mount Vernon Drive. We wish to request your
initiative in resolving an increasingly severe problem
affecting their property.
The property adjacent to my clients on the north had
installed a couple of years ago a discharge pipe from the
sump pump serving that house. This pipe is routed to a
point in the street curb near the property line and, with
the apparent previous approval of the city, empties water
into the westerly gutter of Mount Vernon Drive.
This situation creates a situation which is both
unpleasant and unsafe. The gutter throughout the front
of Woolsons' property is constantly wet. Considerable j
algae growth of some sort is fostered. Nor is this a
condition which obtains only following rain. Even absent
rainfall for the several days prior to this letter, the
situation is as bad as ever --possibly worse.
If you will take a moment to inspect this situation,
you will agree that you would not want this condition in
front of your own home. Several persons have recently
slipped and fallenon the slick surface --a child crossing
the street, a child on a bicycle and a city employee pick-
ing up garbage.
As is recently apparent from Greninger Y.
City of Des
Moines involving an alley, the city s duty of reasonable
and ordinary care quite probably extends to this portion of
the street --especially with respect to reasonably anticipated
bicycle traffic.
We have taken this problem up with Mr. Dietz and, while
I believe he is sympathetic, he indicates he doesn't have
1637'
1 MICRONLIdED BY ,.J1
JORM MICR+LA9
LCU(tf! b1f ;li;. A'; 10MIS
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES, IOWA
City Council
May 26, 1978
Page two
any ordinance authority to act.
I hope you will consider several options. The best
solution in this instance would be to correct the discharge
pipe directly to the storm sewer. In view of your poten-
tial liability and prior city approval, it would be appro-
priate for the city to undertake this small project. You
should also review your ordinances with a view toward
eliminating this problem in other instances as well.
We would be pleased, at your convenience, to visit
with you or further with appropriate staff if that would
be productive.
Thank you for your attention to the Woolsons' problem.
Si erely,
J. atrick White
JPW/th
1 IUCRDFILMED BY
JORRA MICRR LAEI
CEDAR RAf Mi . - US PIDIIIES
i I
I
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES, IOWA
City Council
May 26, 1978
Page two
any ordinance authority to act.
I hope you will consider several options. The best
solution in this instance would be to correct the discharge
pipe directly to the storm sewer. In view of your poten-
tial liability and prior city approval, it would be appro-
priate for the city to undertake this small project. You
should also review your ordinances with a view toward
eliminating this problem in other instances as well.
We would be pleased, at your convenience, to visit
with you or further with appropriate staff if that would
be productive.
Thank you for your attention to the Woolsons' problem.
Si erely,
J. atrick White
JPW/th
1 IUCRDFILMED BY
JORRA MICRR LAEI
CEDAR RAf Mi . - US PIDIIIES
r,1100lILMED BY DORM MICROLAB
TO:
FROM:
RE:
11SS s.. rf
CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MUIPILS, IU'vJA
City o4 Iowa Cit*'
DATE: May 26, 1978
City Council
Dennis Kraft, Director of Community Development
Proposed Rezoning of Property in Johnson County East of Scott Boulevard
Johnson County has recently received an application from Mr. Troy liames for the
rezoning of 80 acres of land immediately east of Scott Boulevard from Al Agricul-
tural to CH Highway Commercial. It is assumed that this will be used for a mobile
home park or for other commercial uses (the County CH zone is relatively comparable
to the C2 zone in the Iowa City Zoning Ordinance and therefore does allow a broad
range of commercial uses).
Last August, the City Council authorized then Mayor Neuhauser to submit a letter to
the County Board of Supervisors opposing the rezoning of 20 acres of land in this
immediate area from RS to CH zone. The request by the City Council was to no
avail and the land was rezoned by the County.
It is recommended that the City Council very vigorously oppose the rezoning of an
additional 80 acres of land for a commercial use in this particular area. Initially,
this proposed rezoning is clearly inconsistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan.
The Plan proposes this area for agricultural use. Secondly, all of the comments
included in the letter of August 12 (attached) also apply to this particular rezoning.
Thirdly, the letter received by the City Council from a concerned citizen and dated
May 10, 1978, (attached) provides yet another reason for the Council to be in
opposition to this rezoning.
It is also recommended that the members of the City Council who serve on the Johnson
County Regional Planning Commission attempt to persuade the Commission to oppose
this rezoning. In that this is an area of inter -governmental interest, it would
appear to be completely appropriate for the Regional Planning Commission to act
on this issue. Also, the Regional Planning Commission has earlier discussed the
need for a joint policy to be developed between the City and the County for those
areas which are within the County but of specific interest to the City.
Attached please find a draft letter which could be sent by the Mayor to the County
Board of Supervisors stating the Council's opposition to this rezoning.
DK/ssw
Attachments
MICROFILI•ICO BY
JORM MICR+LA13
/038
r�
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
Johnson County Board of Supervisors
Harold Donnelly, Chairperson
Johnson County Courthouse
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Dear Board Members:
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES, IU'wA
INUT
The City Council of Iowa City has recently been made aware of a proposed
rezoning of 80 acres of land immediately east of Scott Boulevard from Al Agricultural
zoning to CH Commerical Highway zoning. This request was submitted by Mr. Troy
Hames. Last August there was a request for a 20 acre rezoning of property in this
same vicinity from RS zoning to CH zoning. At that time the City Council opposed
this rezoning. However, your Board did rezone the property. It is the intent of
this letter to inform you that the City Council vigorously opposes the rezoning
of this parcel of land. The proposed rezoning is clearly contrary to the provisions
of the City's new adopted plan. The development of either a mobile home park or
other commercial use in that area would further exacerbate the bad conditions which
1 presently exist in this area, i.e., road conditions, lack of adequate sanitary
sewage disposal, as well as other municipal services.
i
If your Board is seriously contemplating the rezoning of this property, we
would like an opportunity to present additional information prior to the initiation
of this action.
Very truly yours,
Robert A. Vevera
Mayor
Y�..., •I �•—OFILIJLa BY ,
1
�JORM MICROLAB
MICROFILMED BY JORM 141CROLAB
• CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES, IOWA
RECEIVED 1 AY 1 0 1978
a, .
C 7IT, (� 1 a
cv cur.,` CU q
li
J
MICROFILMED BY
l
JORM MICR+LAS
CEDAR Ba; IY, • 'JCS I10MFS
I
MICROFILMED BY JORM 141CROLAB
• CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES, IOWA
RECEIVED 1 AY 1 0 1978
a, .
C 7IT, (� 1 a
cv cur.,` CU q
li
J
MICROFILMED BY
l
JORM MICR+LAS
CEDAR Ba; IY, • 'JCS I10MFS
h11CR0F1LMED BY JORM MICROLAB
CITY OF
CIVIC ` ?/ =
f;ICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES, IOWA
-2
site, it would be undesirable from the City's perspective, to have another
twenty (20) acre commercial area located on the subject property.
From an environmental perspective, the location of a mobile home park in an
isolated site such as this will also place relatively heavy reliance upon
the automobile for access to parks, schools, playgrounds, and shopping
facilities.
At the present time the city sewers serving the area west of the subject
therefore, if this mobile hone park is developed
property are at capacity,
it will not be served by the city sewer system.
The area of the proposed rezoning is also characterized by a relatively high
groundwater table. it is questionable whether it is in the best interest of
future mobile home park residents to be living in an area such as this.
In closing, I would like to reemphasize the Council's opposition to this
rezoning. If you would like to have further information on this please con-
tact me and representatives of the City Council and staff will he happy to
discuss this matter with you in greater detail.
Very truly yours,
Mary C. kouhauser
Mayor
I�
MCN:des
f
MICROFILMED BY
JORM MICRbLAB
MAR IW'::K, P(c :101VF.S
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DLS MUINLS, IU'viA
-�Ity of Iowa City.
i kd k.,✓0 t
DATE: May 26, 1978
TO: City Council [�
FROM: Dennis Kraft, Director of Community Development
RE: Changes in Comprehensive Plan Text
As a result of the informal City Council meeting on May 22, 1978, the following
changes should be made in the Comprehensive Plan Text:
p. 46 Add at bottom page: "Iowa City could also have a minimum open space
requirement for all new subdivisions. Such open space could either be
dedicated to the City or maintained and owned by a Home Owners
Association."
p. 53 Its -- Delete this sentence and substitute: "Establish a financial
management system to carry out acquisition of parkland and
open space through bond issues or through the minimum open
space requirement for neighborhood parks, or by other means."
P. 55 H3 -- Delete this sentence and substitute: "Require a minimum open
space allocation as part of the subdivision process."
p. 119 f, Beginning with the last paragraph on page 119, the text should read
120 as follows: "Therefore, because the City Council deems it requisite
for the protection of the public interest that an amount of land for
parks based on the standards specified in this Comprehensive Plan
be provided for the residents within a subdivision, the City Council
has expressed interest in the adoption of a Minimum Open Space
requirement. Such a requirement, as a condition to plat approval, would
require a developer to provide a minimum amount of common open space
per dwelling unit, in order to reserve land for parks to serve
residents of the developed subdivision.
The Minimum Open Space requirement, as outlined by City Council,
would allow the developer two alternative methods of providing open
space: (1). the developer may set aside within the subdivision, open
space to be maintained privately (e.g., through a homeowners'
association); (2) if the City wishes to incorporate the developer's
open space into a neighborhood park, the developer,may dedicate the
open space to the City. In addition, it may be possible for the
developer to pay to the City fees in lieu of open space or parkland.
Certain restrictions on the quality and location of the land which
could be provided as open space would be specified in the ordinance
to insure adequate usable space for active and passive recreation.
However, portions of steep slope areas and portions of storm water
detention sites would possibly he accepted as part of the required
open space.
/039
141CROHL14ED BY
• JORM MICR6LAE3
LL UAk lidl';_..i. `IiO i'll 1.
h11LROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
City Council
May 26, 1978
Page 2
CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MOINLS, IUwA
A minimum open space requirement would provide a mechanism which would
allow the developer to achieve the same number of lots or dwelling
units within the subdivision as would have been attainable without
the provision of open space. Consequently, the open space requirement
would not increase and may in fact decrease costs for the developer
or home buyer.
Approval of any subdivision plat by the Planning and Zoning Commission
and the City Council would be contingent upon conformity of the sub-
division with the Comprehensive Plan and the Minimum Open Space
Requirement.
The Minimum Open Space Requirement has a legal status similar to
mandatory park dedication. The City Attorney's memorandum of March 5,
1974, to the Mayor and City Council regarding mandatory dedication
concluded: .,The status...
There are no changes on the rest of page 120 and 121.
In order to clarify the intent of the Public/Semi-Public land use indicated on the
]lowing paragraph will be inserted on P. 87
Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map, the fo
below the Public/Semi-Public heading:
Existing and proposed parks, stream valleys, governmentally owned
privately owned land on which various community facilities
are located were given one of three Public/Semi-Public designations
on the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map. These designations do not
indicate how such land will be zoned, nor imply that all land within
the Public/Semi-Public category will be acquired for a public use.
Generally it is the intent of the Plan that governmentally owned land
will eventually be shown as within a Public Zone, while privately
owned land will be given a zoning designation appropriate to the use
on the land and the area surrounding it.
p. 117 (e) and (f) have been combined into a single Public Zone. (e) and (f)
will be deleted and Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map Designation (e)
will be "Public: Zone for Governmentally Owned Land."
p, 87 "Englert" Tract -- On the recommendation of the Legal Staff the sentence,
"The City is unable to purchase this tract for open space at this time."
has
been
odeleted.
as pthe
ossi4th
so
entence fbthisdparagraph ""while maintaining
as m
DK/ssw
MICROFILMU BY
I
DORM MICR+LAB
CI:JhI; Poi !:�'_. i i:'.• I<O PIES
I.
141CROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MUINES, 10WA
IOWA CITY - DOWNTOWN PARKING SYSTEM
PARKING SYMBOL
The "P" symbol illustrated at the top of this page, is the standard symbol used to mark
parking lots. Look for it when you are looking for a place to park. The signs will
also tell you whether the lot is for Long -Term parking or Shopper parking.
PARKING DOWNTOWN
Parking spaces in downtown Iowa City are intended to serve the needs of both downtown
customers and downtown employees. The spaces are divided into two categories: long-
term, to meet the needs of the person parking longer than three hours; and short-term,
to meet the needs of the shopper and office patron. The spaces closest to the center
of the downtown are short-term spaces, to allow customers as convenient parking as
possible. The long-term lots and spaces are located at the edge, rather than in the
center of the Central Business District. The MAP ON THE REVERSE OF THIS FLYER shows
the location of the City's parking lots.
NEW PRICES AT THE MUNICIPAL LOT
The Municipal Lot, located on the block bounded by Burlington, Dubuque, College and
Linn Streets, is being changed to a short-term lot. The lot will then serve the needs
of the downtown's customers. To meet these needs, the prices at the Municipal Lot
are being changed. The new price schedule will be:
0-1 hour ---
ls¢
1-2 hours ---
30¢
2-3 hours ---
45¢
Over 3 hours ---
$2.50
Other lots in the system, shown on the map on the other side of this flyer, have ten
hour meters to meet the needs of all -day parkers.
STREET METER ENFORCEMENT
Everybody knows that when the time on a meter runs out, the car is subject to receiving
a ticket for overtime parking. BUT DID YOU KNOIV THAT PARKING AT A METER FOR LONGER
THAN THE hIAXIPRIM TIME ON TIIAT METER IS OVERTIME PARKING. Each meter has a stated
on the meter. This limit is not to be exceeded. "Meter feeding" is not
limit placed
allowed. illegal violation occurs if the vehicle is parked in excess of the stated
limit regardless of the fact that move has been laced in the meter. In other words,
in a one-hour zone, a vehicle must be moved within one hour or be subject to a violation.
llow the greatest possible turnover of parking
The purpose of this ordinance is to a
space.
The City will enforce this ordinance by chalking tires as necessary. The penalty
for overtime parking is a $2 ticket.
PERMIT PARKING
The City has a limited number of Permit Parking spaces located cast of the Civic
Center, cast of the Recreation Center and at other locations. Permits cost $10 per
month. Inquire about Permit Parking at the Finance Department in the Civic Center.
FUTURES parking.
The City has for a number of years, temporarily used Urban repRenlace
land for p. g•
This land is being sold as sites for new buildings.
To replace this parking, and
meet increased demand due to redevelopment, two parking ramps are to be built. The
length of time, and hourly rate of the meters will also be changed to provide a better
parking system nnd to meet the costs of providing downtown parking.
1-11 MVI MrItU n1
JORM MICR6LAB
M
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB • CEDAR RAPIDS AND ULS MUINL�), IUWA
V%:Mt r FI.— ntf.R,c.
MARKET�
IBJ L-
�T� FTIUE ff M,
�un�oa Hch'
II`LL—Sllll-- JJIII lUl I 5cnoo�
JEFFERSON
i
n•
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
WehnglM Sl.
w
:2 Mel
I
Z J y Z
O
I Ln
QQ J
:E 71
U
la�
ICOUR�T J
0601
mill NMI
`c me
Gent«
lPormlU '
BURLINGTON
_ r
ST. - „-
F--tr' 141CROFILI4FD BY
1
JORM MICR6LA6
m
J
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
1-1
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINLS, 10WA
City of Iowa City
,,.ill,e r'1
DATE:I t�fay 22, 1978
TO: Neal Berlin and City Council
FROM: Dick Plastino, Director of Public Work
RE: Downtown Street Sweeping Program
With the advent of heavy construction in the downtown area
we will be going onto an accelerated sweeping and flushing
program in the downtown central business district, it will
start the last week in May. It will be as follows:
Monday - Sweep
Wednesday - Flush
Friday - Sweep
One word of caution: The City owns two street sweepers;
however, street sweepers are mechancially sensitive and
they do suffer from frequent breakdowns. Ile will attempt
to meet the above schedule at all times but there will be
days when we miss. This doesn't mean we have stopped the
program; it simply means one or both sweepers are down.
Street sweeping in the downtown area will be done between
the hours of 10:30 p.m, and 7 a.m.
cc: Craig Minter
:41CROFILIIED BY
I i
JORM MICR+LA6
I.LJAP, IU�f iL�I• .�L`. 710 Cq:5
/09/
IAICROFILi4ED BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AMD DES NOINLS, IOWA
City of Iowa City
DATE: May 22, 1978
TO: Neal Berlin and City Council
FROM: Dick Plastino, Director of Public Works
RE: Summit Street Bridge
Attached is a report on methods of repairing the Summit Street
bridge.
Structurally the bridge is sound and the only significant problem
is riding quality.
The attached report suggests two alternates. One would be timber
decking at a first cost of $7800 while the second would be asphalt
filled bridge planking at a first cost of $21,000. Both alternates
assume the work would be done by the City Street Division.
No funds or time are prescntly•allocated for this job.
Public (Yorks will await direction from Council. If Council prefers
not to make a recommendation, the City Street crew will place
asphalt in strategic locations to try to smooth out the ride and
then chip seal the entire deck once again until FY80 when funds
will be budgeted for asphalt planking.
cc: Cone Dietz
IEILROFIL1410 BY
JORM MICR6LAB
l Dy4
I.1lCROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
Purpose of Report
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINLS, 10WA
The purpose of this report is to present estimates for the upgrad-
ing of the deck on the Summit Street Bridge in Iowa City over the
tracks of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.
The existing deck has worn and the riding quality has deteriorated
substantially, with noise from disturbing the neighborhood.
This report will examine several alternatives for such upgrading
and present accompanying cost estimates.
Description of Bridge
i
The structural systems found in this bridge are typical of Rock
Island Railroad construction. Most of the 7 spans are short, and
are framed with heavy timber stringers ( 8 X 16 ) at 2' on centers.
The actual travelled way is 221 face to face of curb with a 5'
sidewalk on each side. The bridge is about a total of 33, wide
and about 139, long. Span lengths are 15.71, 18.41, 20.41,
32.51, 20.41, 16.31, and 15.71 from north to south respectively.
The center span, which is over the operating tracks, is 32.51 and
is framed with steel beams which are 16" deep and weigh 50#/linear
foot. These beams are placed 2 feet apart.
In summary, 6 of the spans, 201± and less are framed in timber and
the longer span, 32.51, over the tracks is framed in steel.
-1-
141�ROFIL14ED BY
i
JORM MICROLAB
Q.oiJl F;id' I U; AE - WWI[ `.l
n
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND ULS MOINES, IWA
The foundations are creosoted timber pile bents. Except for some
areas of the cross bracing, and the entire deck surface, the
structural integrity of the bridge is quite good. The writer has
seen many such structures that have endured 40 to 50 years, with
only minor replacements. The structural timber is of particularly
good quality.
Description of the Problem
The original bridge deck consisted of 3 X 12 bridge plank laid
across the tops of the stringers transverse to the flow of traffic.
then, preformed asphalt tiles, about 12" X 18" X 2" thick were
placed atop the 3 X 12•s as a wearing surface. Although this type
deck has been used for at least 30 years, it does not usually
perform satisfactorily over flexible timber subfloors. A good
example of its disadvantages can be seen by driving over the bridge
on American Legion Road over the Rock Island Railroad. The wearing
surface of the deck is rough from displaced tiles.
A remedy was attempted on Summit Street by applying a layer of
marine plywood to the deck, adding petromat with a sealer, and
then applying 21' of asphalt. Because of incompatibility of the
bituminous components, the asphalt did not bond, and had to be
removed. After removal, the deck was then chipped, sealed, and
reopened to traffic.
One of the problems with any kind of creosote or petroleum-based
sealer or preservative applied to a wood deck is that it softens
-2-
RMICROFILMED By
JORM MICR¢LAB
CFLAI, b:h; 1!7L • IL's SID 191:5
I•LICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
T
• CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MOINES, IOWA
the
the wood and greatly hastens the wearing and abrasion process due
to traffic. This is especially true if there is any amount of
gravel carried'on the wearing surfaces from the street systems.
The effects of this problem are clearly evident on Summit Street,
and show up in excessive deck wear and rough surfaces.
Alternate solutions
Given the nature of.the bridge, that of timber construction except
in the main span, and short spacing between the stringers i2'±;
and that any solution ought not reduce the carrying capacity of
the structure below the legal limit, there are four solutions to
the problem which come readily to mind. These are:
1. A filled or open grid metal deck replacement -
2. A poured -in-place reinforced concrete slab
3. Timber overlayment parallel to traffic
4. Armco -type bridge plank filled with bituminous
paving material
Table 1 has been prepared to demonstrate the various attributes
of the four alternates. Items considered are:
1. Expected life
2. Salvageability
3. Installation by City Forces
4. Noise level
5. Riding quality
-3-
T- MICROFILMED BY
JORM MICR6LA6
LCDNI i'A�': J=. JL's 1401.'1[5
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MUIMLS, 1U'WA
6. Bridge capacity lowered or maintained as is
7. First Cost
8. Annualized cost (considering that Iowa City's
capital is about 6 percent)
Inspection of this table shows that the first two alternates, that
of,steel grid and a poured -in-place concrete slab may be rejected
out of hand. Neither of these alternates have any particular
advantage not present in either the timber or the bridge plank
alternates, and they do cost substantially more. This is partly
because they are.more suited to stringer spacings much wider than
the two feet spacing present in this structure.
Recommendations
Differentiation between the remaining alternates, the longitudinal
1
timber overlay and asphalt -filled preformed bridge plank is not
as straight -forward because it depends upon the value one places
upon the advantages and disadvantages.
The first major difference is that of first cost. If this is a
totally overriding concern, one must select the timber overlayment
alternate since it costs $7800 as opposed to $20,000 for the
bridge plank. However, the timber will last an estimated 5 years
as opposed to at least a 20 year life for the plank.
On the other hand, if one can look beyond the first cost to an
annualized cost basis, the annual costs of the two alternates
are about equal with the plank providing superior levels of
riding quality and quietness under traffic.
I M,
MICROFILMED BY .I
JORM MICR+LAE
CI Uhf r:11 lu, 101U!
gICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLrB CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MOINES, IOWA
Given the availability of funds to perform the project, the better
alternate in the long run appears to be the Armco preformed bridge
plank filled with asphalt and leveled into a smooth riding surface.
Exhibits A and B show typical longitudinal and transverse sections
for the timber and the bridge plank alternate.
-5-
1 I4ICRUILMED BY ..�
JORM MICR6LA6
CLDAR RAPIDS - ;PLS MOVIES
i
gICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLrB CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MOINES, IOWA
Given the availability of funds to perform the project, the better
alternate in the long run appears to be the Armco preformed bridge
plank filled with asphalt and leveled into a smooth riding surface.
Exhibits A and B show typical longitudinal and transverse sections
for the timber and the bridge plank alternate.
-5-
1 I4ICRUILMED BY ..�
JORM MICR6LA6
CLDAR RAPIDS - ;PLS MOVIES
I.1ICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES, IOWA
MICROFILMED BY
JORM NIICR¢LAB
CLJAR HUIP'. • AS MINE`'
i
I
f
'
i
I
FACTOR
Installation
Alternate
Expected
By City Noise
Riding
Capacity
First
Annualized
Solution
Life
Salvageable
Forces Level
Quality
Lowered
Cost
Cost
Filled or
Open Grid
20 years
Yes
Yes High
Fair
No
$53,500
_
$4655
Concrete
Slab
*.
15 Years
No
No Low
Good
Yes
$44,500
$4585
I
Timber
Overlayment
5 Years
Partially
Yes High
Fair
No
$ 7,800
$1852
Filled
I
Pre -formed
Bridge;
Plank
20 years
Yes
Yes Low
Good
No
$21,000
$1830
I
C
i
TABLE 1
PERFORMANCE
CHARACTERISTICS AND COST
ESTIMATES
4 BRIDGE'DECK REPLACEMENT ALTERNATES
(1) Average life - salted bridge deck
- 9 years
MICROFILMED BY
JORM NIICR¢LAB
CLJAR HUIP'. • AS MINE`'
f4ICROFILMED BY JORM 141CROLAB
• CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES, 10WA
DY„WI.GL/5... DATES 14 i SUCVECT..../_y. JE/VJ�h/6�><. �.. .........`./..c 514EET NO........... OF
rJWD. IiY_....... DATE......../.. ..... ....fL/'./'//T. Sj/1EET..[IRII/L7L JOO NO.............................
.................................................. ................../0:,%9.c/7y IOWA..... ....... .................................
0rer1a/v
Sa 6 f1001-
Qx /(o .ifri•29ee
TIca / sCGT"o/J
00ea/1e/ -fO 71,10jCf C
.3>< /2 UnfieO%�/ P�la�k Over'/q%
3a /2 P/u�.E .ru6f�oor• '
i
Timhe.
2/+ r
T�-Pic41_ Trq.�,rrerse'
W TRx5A TE 0 0,v6A 1 4 Y
MICROFILMED BY
JORM MICR+LA9
CLW, ILV ta:, • ;0.Y MOINES
f-11CROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES, IUWA
..... DATC. SUBJECT ... jE �(h 1.6 /.f. 3 ... .... SPIECT YO........... OF..........
cl4pn J)Y .... ..... OATE..
fZIMI�ljl 7- �rTR456 JOH NO ...............................
......... 1OW4 C i-r)e, . 10W,4 .. ..... .. .. ........... ...............................
I"//
oye I-rl -
loonefirmed'
g. Irp 77-v led
ca Je c -//,1,7
i 5?o_qe meal plank -
-e, Ti I bee
T�r / c'? / 7,--alsre,-,re
jec'-74"O'l
pRE-,ro,2M159 MZ-rAL PLANK
I hereby vc.t:!y that this plan, %lveifiewinn nr re1w,rt mem
prepared by ^v or under my direct 1wrsonul suivrOilon
and that I orn a duly registered I'mftwslonal Fnginevr under
the laws of the tittle of lowa.
Signed aite
........... " ........... ...... . . 2�.i--;'92 ......
W. F
V.. lown Reg.
MICROFILMED BY
JORM MICR+LAB
L[DARPAA i:)% - A101NES
141CROFIL14EO BY JORM MICROLAB
TO:
FROM:
RE:
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES, IOvIA
City of Iowa CI
MEMORANDUM
DATE: May 24, 1978
Neal Berlin and City Council
Dick Plastino, Director of Public Work
Repairs on Madison Street
On May 9, 1978, the Street Division placed 13 tons
of hot mix on Madison Street between Washington and
Market. As you are aware, the street is in a severely
deteriorated condition and requires a complete asphalt
overlay for riding comfort. Since we are completely
removing the street in the spring of 1979 for the river
corridor sewer project, this would not be feasible.
We will continue to place asphalt on rough sections
but the road will continue to be rough and will
continue to deteriorate in the months ahead.
We have not done any work in the area of Madison
between Washington and Burlington since there is a
large open trench three-quarters of the way across
the street. As soon as this trench becomes backfilled
and finished we will do a very limited amount of
remedial work in this area. We are using our dis-
cretion on the amount of money to put into pUdison
Street since an over investment in the street will
be wasted.
141CRorILMED BY
JORM MICR#LAB
C iJId! R:',P li':i Jk MOINES
/a`/3
r,jb.R0FIL:4ED BY JORM 141CROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MUINEJ, IUNA
FINANCE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY REPORT
MARCH AND APRIL, 1978
DEPARR'F�! SS
I, TO EVALUATE THE USE OF CITY -OWNED OR LEASED COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND PROVIDE WRITTEN
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CIN MANAGER:
Neal Berlin, Rosemary Vitosh and Cathy Eisenhofer saw a demonstration of an IBM
System 34 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
II, TO COMPLETE A CITY RISK MANAGEMENT EVALUATION:
Workmen's Compensation - discussion with Workmen's Comp Carrier on high premium
notes that the City is paying. Also, presently setting up a time for inspec-
tion of City property by Iowa National (tentatively set for late May).
Review of employee bonds - the City now has employee blanket position bond that
covers all employees under one bond (including Treasurer and City Manager).
Disability Insurance - developed guidelines for coverage for administrative
employees. Request for insurance company proposals in late May or early
June.
III, IMPLEMENT AN EFFICIENT AND ECONOMICAL CITY MICROFILMING PROGRAM WHICH WOULD REDUCE
ARCHIVAL STORAGE SPACE, FACILITATE RETRIEVAL, AND ALLOW SECOND COPIES OF VALUABLE
RECORDS TO BE ECONOMICALLY REPRODUCED AND STORED FOR SAFETY:
No significant accomplishments since microfilm report in January, 1978.
IV, IMPLEMFM AN ACCRUAL ACCOUNTING SYSTEM FOR ALL CITY FUNDS:
In March STA -FED provided the City with an implementation schedule:
Phase 1-Expenditure/Purchase Order Reporting. In addition to current monthly
Functional and Comparison reports, produce a second set of reports which will
include outstanding purchase commitments (information was included with the
February 1978 Expenditure Reporting).
During April we advanced toward Phase II -Automatic check writing procedure.
Established a Vendor File Master List; keypunch and verify all current City
vendors with addresses and assign an identification number to each.
Refined encumbrance system.
Completed work on vendor file and product codes for computerized accounts payable.
- SUBGOAL ACTIVITY
- First ever FICA and IPERS audit.
Preliminary meeting with Auditor's to set up schedule for FY78 audit.
Completed vault clean-up process.
/d44�
K. •,,• .
111CR01 ILI-0CR BY
JORM MICR¢LAB
f4ICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
TREASURY - SUBGOAL ACTIVITY
CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MOINES, IUWA
- Regina Schreiber and Treasurer attended the AWWA meeting in Des Moines on
April 20. The Treasurer served on a panel and discussed Iowa City's office
procedures for utilities.
- The delinquent water/sewer/refuse accounts were listed by the filing clerk
and then listed by the legal descriptions from the Johnson County Assessors
Office and presented to Council for their approval in filing on the property
tax roles.
- The Treasurer met with Tom Wegman and set up the City's bookkeeping system
on the Governor Lucas Square Fund. All activity to -date was input on the
computer.
SING.- SUBGOAL ACTIVITY
EDP:
- Implementation of accrual system.
- Implementation of pay check accruals.
- Implementation of Rental License Billing System for Housinq & Inspection.
- Analysis of Equipment Maintenance reports with Equipment Superintendent.
OTHER:
- Motorola equipment ordered for University of Iowa using UMTA Grant Funds.
- Implement rewriting of Purchasing Manual with assistance of Legal Department.
- Installed IBM 3742 Data Entry Station (diskette) to replace IBM 3742 Data
Recorder (card).
- Purchased a new postage machine with check signing attachment.
- Bids received for:
-carpet, vinyl wallcovering and accustical ceiling for Service Bldg. modular
(Streets)
-Double wall asphalt kettle (Streets)
-Tow type asphalt distributor (Streets)
-Police Patrol automobiles -11 (Police)
-Four Door Sedan (Fire)
-Backhoe mounted hydraulic breaker (Streets)
-Concession contracts (Parks & Recreation)
WORD PROCESSING - SUBGOAL ACTIVITY
- Supervisor and Director attended Word Processing Seminar sponsored by IBM Corp.
- Initial procedures for processing of documents set.
- Training of initial department for the central dictation system conducted.
- Time spent on preparation of dictators' procedural manual.
- Arrival of additional mag card typewriter.
ADMINISTRATION - SUBGOAL ACTIVITY
- Director, Administrative Asst. -Finance and Controller attended the Iowa
Municipal Finance Officers Assoc. Conference in Des Moines. Topics of discus-
sion included General Revenue Sharing and items to be included in the Trust
& Agency Fund.
- Formulated and distributed an Airport Questionnaire to Airports of similar
size and a questionnaire to people who rented T -hangars at the Iowa City Airport.
Preliminary report due late in May.
2
�1 MICROFILMED BY
JORM MICR61—AB
Lf.171,f. k%J !IiS d.' 1101'1!:5
IJICROFIL14ED BY JORM 141CROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS AND ULS MOINES, IOWA
BUDGET:
- The Administrative Ass't.-Finance attended a Zero Base Budgeting Seminar in
Washington,
rocess,Topics
effectiondiscussion
ranking onindecisionutpackagesthe
Zero
Budgeting p
and
pestablishing
decision units.
- Discussion with the State Comptroller and local elected officials on require-
ments under Chapter 24 of the Code for Cities that exceed the 7% lid and
publication requirements under NF2182.
- Budget submitted to Council for second and last approval as per Code of Iowa.
Budget then sent toprinter.
- Administrative Asst. -Finance attended MBO Conference in Des Moines on develop-
ing performance indicators for goal and objective setting.
MIuROFILMED BY JORM 141CROLAB
�I
CEDAR RAPIDS ANU AS MOINL;, 104A
IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Iowa City, Iowa 52210 (317)351-1264 Lolly Eggers. Director
May 25, 1978
The Board of Directors
Iowa City Chamber of Commerce
Iowa City, IA 52240
An Open Letter to the Chamber Board and Members: .•.
The Library Board of Trustees would like to express its
appreciation for the general statements of support for a
new library made by the members of the Chamber Board.
Several questions have been raised by Chamber representa-
tives, however, about the site selected for the new
building.
While site selection is, at best, a difficult process
involving the balancing of many factgrs and constituent
interests, and while the Library Board recognizes that
any given site will never satisfy everyone, we are con-
cerned that we have failed to communicate to you the
basis on which we made our site selection. This letter
is written in the hope of more clearly explaining the
reasons for the Board's decision to select the site
adjacent to the Penney's building for the proposed new
i public library.
The site selection process, begun almost two years ago,
resulted in the site designation by the Library Board and
the City Council about one year ago. The process of selec-
tion was an extended one and involved a study undertaken by
a nationally prominent library consultant, who worked closely
with the city's urban renewal consultant and the City Council.
It is important to note that in June of 1977, the City Coun-
cil issued its Downtown Urban Renewal Prospectus and in it
cited the location of the new library as one of the 12 "key
planning considerations" in developing the goals and objec-
tives of the project. The library, because it "is heavily
used by the community" was described as a "magnet" and
"major destination point for pedestrian and vehicular traffic."
In addition, public meetings were held on the proposed library
issue at which the site was specified and discussed.
IdI CROfILIdCO BY
JORM MICR40LAB
U ilAt, i� , I • -1.:. '10: l:'
.. W! 1C'%, hY JORM 1-11CROLAL • LLUA� RAVIJ'� AND )L� , "„
Open Lett,
Page 2
5-25-78
In selecting the site east of Penney's, the Library Board
had to choose between a wide range of alternative sites
which were potentially available. All but the proposed
site were rejected for a variety of reasons. For example,
the Board found that a new building of the size needed could
not be placed on the existing library parking lot, because
the site is too small (27,000 sq. ft.). Adequate space
could be obtained on that site by tearing down the present
library prior to starting construction, but this would
leave the city without library facilities for the approxi-
mate 18 -month construction period, or would require a costly
temporary relocation of library services. In contrast, the
Board and urban renewal consultant determined that .the quarter "
block next to Penney's would be large enough because the
College Street pedestrian mall (City Plaza) would permit the
library building to extend into part of the present street
right-of-way and sidewalk area. The design prepared for the
proposed building anticipates that between seven and ten
thousand square feet of the building will be located on what
is now sidewalk and street right-of-way, making a total site
of 34,000 square feet.
Another site that has frequently been mentioned is the block
east of Gilbert Street between the Recreation Center and Civic
Center. The site was rejected because it is too far from the
core of the downtown to best serve either library or general
community and business needs. Gilbert is a major arterial
street which is a physical barrier and safety hazard to pedes-
trian traffic,. -especially children and the elderly. In addition,
the site has serious topographical problems.(multi-leveled with
parts of the site in the flood plain and a large utility trans-
former in the center) which would escalate site preparation and
construction costs to a prohibitive figure.
The site beside the Penney's building was selected for a variety
of reasons. These include its accessibility to the public by all
modes of transportation, the architectural contribution which a
public building can make to the new downtown mall, and the size
and topography of the site which is level, cleared and ready for
construction. The site selection factors indicate that the site
is suited to the library program which the Library Board has
approved for the new building. The Board was also aware of numerous
studies which indicate the value of a:public library to surrounding
commercial development. The library attracts more than 1,000
people a day, and its location on the mall near the downtown shop-
ping area will enhance the commercial activities of the central
business district in the years to come, thereby helping to insure
the continued vitality of the downtown urban renewal area as well as
any commercial development which will occur outward from the central
area itself.
• ... �._�,a�c Rini l.. Mln p,.
DORM MICROLAB
'=. •, .(U. !L:,,�0 by JOR1.1 1.11CROLAb • (.EUNit RAPIDS MWA', 'd U;'u
Ooen Letter
Page 3
5-25-78
As citizens, the Library Board has always been mindful of the
impact the proposed site will have on the tax base in Iowa
City. Long term commercial growth will come about if the
community makes the downtown attractive, unique, convenient
and full of interesting opportunities which will attract
people to the area. We believe that the library on the east
end of City Plaza is one of the essential ingredients of this
concept. It is our best judgment that in the long run, the
proposed site will have the most advantageous consequences
for the property tax base of the city. While the library will
be placed on a quarter block which might otherwise be sold as
part of urban renewal development, this will have the result of
freeing up the half block on which the library is now located
for sale and commercial develooment. With the proposed new hotel'
being located directly across the street from the present library
as well as the planned city parking facility, and with the antici-
pated success and subsequent growth of commercial and cultural
development in downtown Iowa City,. the Library Board and City
Council feel confident that the present site can be sold and put
back on the tax roles in the near future. -•
We feel strongly that having to change the site would probably
preclude the wish of many of us to have a new library. The
Board and architedts worked diligently to keep the costs reason-
able. It was with much effort on everyone's part that we were
able to propose a referendum of 3.5 million dollars. To add
demolition costs, relocation costs, site preparation costs, and
additional architect and planning fees would raise the cost of a
new library to a figure that we believe the general voting public
would find unreasonable.
Your questions have made us aware of the need to adequately
communicate the reasons supporting our site selection and we hope
that this letter and supplemental information to be distributed
soon will provide the information which the Iowa City community
needs in order to support our efforts to build a new library for
everyone.
r
i
Z7 - /", lwu
David J. r an
Presiden
Library Board of Trustees
ll(. Hill M11 H1'
JORM MICROLAB
ci:l,i(Ur:LAL0 BY JORM MICROLAB
SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL STARTS THIS MONTH!
Wednesdays, 1:30 A 7:30 p.m., Auditoriwn.
June 14 - THE LADY VANISHES (1938, Alfred Hitchcock)
Awaking from a nap, a young woman discovers that a
governess sitting in her train compartment has disappeared
The other passengers quietly deny the lady was ever there.
Hitchcock builds the tension by his masterly use of
detail (99 minutes).
June 21 - BEATLES BONANZA
3raverman's Condensed Crean of Beatles
71973, 15 minutes)
The history of the Beatles, made up of tightly
edited film clips, collages and animation.
Beatles at Shea Stadium (1965, 52 minutes)
The 1965 Beatles concert, originally shown on
ABC-TV in 1967. Features "Help," "I Feel Fine,"
"Can't Buy Me Love" Etc.
June 28 - GIT ALONG LITTLE DOGGIES
It's the ranchers vs. the crooked oiZ-driZlers,
as Gene Autry helps the beautiful daughter of the
town banker who will lose it all if the well runs dry
"60 min.).
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR CHILDREN
10:30, -June 6 - Monica Leo and Teri Breitbach will talk
- with the children about puppets, and
the puppets will talk with the children,
too.
10:30, June 20 -- Very Special storyteller, Jerry Newsome,
will share some of her favorite stories.
CEDAR kAPLUS AND )L`
� Jim
� 3s
•P"
otrug amol `A;ij eMoI l d`
halls a2a1103 Asea LOC
gae.�giZ aijgnd gj!j emoI 7 j
•��I.11 Uffl ILMI1) 13Y
JORM MICRbLAB
I•:;L,WI :LAi J B7 JORM MICROLAB LEUAR RAVius AND A
F - " 00 m rP.
]
rk
?
rim
'0 0
W
91,
N rD
M O �m
comic
'
M
:r o
a•
m
r
'jW
O
E H 7
am
Y•aw
O
r m
M C f0
Hryp
F0,t
M
G
G
ItPi
ro r
x m
['� �' q• g
• �
N
�
N
w
rt ro r"rrr•
<
7 G P
A '*.1
„•"
9(SODV
H
N
(DD 'C
N E
O ` H.
Is
'Y
l -i
n r
o
i
M N
O O t
Y• O
�+ h7
H E tC
En
m INI....
N m
7 x
U)
mU N
K
rim
W
`o'rO
m
K
comic
'
'jW
M
A
S 00•
101,
M C f0
q
A• m
v A
N
N O
W
A• �
['� �' q• g
• �
N
ql �. I-,
N
�y �'
W m
-� 0 m m N.
A '*.1
Is
'Y
l -i
•y
N. N• m N• '3
I'J
�+ h7
H E tC
En
y
m O W
V m
t-
q
NtC
3 N
4
h
� N 0l + O
>; Iy m N.
h
'• N
W 47
p ;v
m q
a
N
A
O c1
tn
?'
N.
'U O
•'h
N.
n
l'1
ZI
N• 0� `.S q
IO
b
O �]
o
O ENS'
N
O
n
C N
C. N
N
f,
N
y
T O
�
61
0
Cb
.% N.
m •Y
5 NH•q
0,
cq
cF
q0 R,
m
�'.�
W
2
3r•
m m �ro
a
vh
N�• C
omm
h
ly
N•ss
MA�y. m
F O
N
NW
0,
A
M �'•
m m
�v
H
W to
ON
0 01
y
m m
R,
mm
ro
�f mO`
p] ct
h
N
mm
"3
tqA
m H
ti
N. VF �cyyf IC
pmp
Z aN'f C N
O
Z
-.
m m
0A
Cl
tC A
W
9 W
Ito
f, �s
(;�
ro
m
Zlg
ail,
t>; m
to
ly
aCA
z
tq
a 0 a
y
W tl
�N`•
O O
0
N { qNR
A.
E
N O,
O
z Ci
Ny,
N
t0
03
t`�
m
� m m 0 m
Q +
c�f�
m (0 P. H'
m mtz'm3C
.Y
N
o
A
X
q
xm
m m�
a This Month at the Library
DORM MICROLAB
MICROFILMED BY JORM 141CROLAB
JUNE 1978
• CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MOINES, WWA
S
m
T
W
TH
f
S
1
2
3
8AM-Magistrates
Court (Chambers)
7:30PM-P&Z Formal
(Chambers)
5
6
7 9AM-Council of
S
9
LO
4
BAM-Magistrates
Elders (Rec Ctr)
SAM -Magistrates
Court (Chambers)
Court (Chambers)
LOAM -Staff Meeting
1:30PM-Informal7;30PM-Covncil
(Conf Room)
4:30PM-Board of
Adjustment (Chamb)
Council (Conf Rm)
(Chambers)
12noon-Co mlittee
on Community Need
(Rec Center)
3130PM-Housing Co
(Conf Room)
12
L3
14 LOAM -Staff Mtg
158AM-Ma istrates
16
17 !
11
BAM-Magistrates
:30PM-Resources
(Conf Room)
4PM-Design Review
Court (Chambers)
Com
Court (Chambers)
consflr atipn Comm
(Rec Center)
7:30PM-Airport
(Airport Office)
:30PM-Informal
Council (Conf Rm)
(Consooml
•30PM-Council
7PM-UAY Board
7:30PM-P&Z Formal
(Chambers)
(Friends Mtg Room
(Chambers)
:3DPM-Informal
7:30PM-Parks & Rec
P&Z (Conf Room)
Comm (Rec Center)
,
18
L9
20
21 LOAM -Staff Mtg
22
23
24
8AM-Magistrates
(Conf Room)
AM -Ma istrates
4
'
Court (Chambers)
Court (Chambers)
7:30PM-Riverfront
•15PM-Library Bd.
Commission (Conf
(Lib Auditorium)
Room)
25
26 8AM-Ma istrate
Y7
8
29
30
Court (Chambers
LOAM -Staff Meeting
AM -Magistrates
:30PM-Informal
:30PM-Resources
(Conf Room)
Court (Chambers)
Council (Conf Rm)
Conservation Comm
PM -Human Rights
(Conf Room)
Comm (Conf Room)
7:30PM-Council
(chambers)
T. `cif 141CROf ILI.11D BY
JORM MICR16LAB
f4l�R0I1LALL) BY JORM I.IICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND ULS 14011rL,, 10viA
_4 California TOW71
Is Able to Kill a Watt
In Its War on Waste
Davis Learns to Save Energy
With CyAits, Sour Power
Arid Severe Buildir1 r Code
Housing developments in Davis have nar
years. Alter he built his rust sduth•laring
u thermometerfounto"prove
a heity hung
row streets with shade trees because wide
streets reflect too much heat. To cut down
the g 1ipla th
ny�l wH.L $TPCY.TJUL'PPM. ItCr
on gasoline consumption. the city has bought
about 20 bicycles for its employes to use
I
Prevailing breezes lowered the inside tun-
i perature to 75 degrees from the searing 1W.
year-oldXMIJ
Gla
DAVIS, Calif.—When e6-yearald Gladys
Murphy Decker wants to et around town,
� y g
around town. Even the mayor and the miry
�
degree summer heat outside.
John Whitcombe, another Davis builder,
she climbs on her big, yellow tricycle and
manager ride their bikes to work. Small
businesses are encouraged to operate out of
says that the city's energy rules are frankly
starts pedaling. Sometimes she travels as
private homes, thus cutting down on the
good for business. They sell more houses, he
far as five miles from home.
Although advanced in years, Mrs. Decker
need for office space as well as the need to
says, "because people are concerned about
their energy bills." Mr. Whitcombe Is so
is just an average member of this bike -con•
take cars to work. No energy-saving device,
it seems, is too small to consider. Apart•
committed to energy saving that he is now
srious community. By one estimate there
mens houses, for instance, must provide
offering solar heating in new homes for an
;ire 38,000 bikes in a city of fewer than 24,000
clotheslines for tenants.
additional $tPeo
le. Bicycle paths are required In all new
Among he Davis families who have
subdivisions, and a city study has found that
A Solar Swlnuning Pool
bought solar homes are David and Sunny
bicycles are used for 2511. of all travel In
The city B prepared to put its purse
Booher, who decided to move here from
Davis.
where its demands are. I is installing a
their native Tennessee because of the city's
A health -conscious city? Yes, but leo
SIB0,000 solar -heating system In a municipal
energy consciousness. Their simple, rectan•
nanlc health more than physical, because
swimming pool. Miss McGregor and her
gular house probably wouldn't win any de
this is possibly the most energy -conscious
staff of nine have a SM.060-a•year budget.
sign awards, but neither is it an eyesore.
city in the U.S. "Davis really has done more
And the city spends $10,000 a year on ener.
A major drawback is that the Bookers
Mr energy conservation than any other city
gy-saving propaganda.
are unable to take advantage of the com
in the nation," says Richard Mounts, an an-
Most of the residents of Davis, a farming
madding view of hills and farmland to the
alyst with the National Ieague of Cities.
and university community 10 miles from
west because their house faces south. They
Beginning In 1968, when It first began
Sacramento, seem overjoyed at the energy
don't have a sweeping picture window to
promoting the use of bicycles, Davis has
saving success. "People here are very con-
look out of because the building code limits
pissed a series of energy-saving ordinances.
cerred about growth and energy," says a
the total window area to 17.57. of the 1,200
The results are apparent. Since 1973, aver•
city official. "At cocktail parties it's a status
square -foot house. The house also is kept
age residential electrical consumption has
symbol to say you have figured out how to
comfortable by window overhangs that am
dropped by 18%. compared with an 8% In-
cave more energy from your hot-water
precisely angled to keep out the sun when it
crease nationally during the same period.
heater than your neighbor."
is high In the sky during the summer
The savings are likely to be even greater be-
Inevitably, the city's energy evangelism
months, but to let the sun shine in during
cause the city Is drafting an ordinance that
has annoyed some people, mainly builders
the winter when It is lower In the sky.
would fequlre older homes, as well as new
and businessmen. When McDonald's wanted
Despite the limited living space and the
hues, to mcel rigid energy -conservation
to build a restaurant facing east, the city in-
loss of the view, the Bothers are delighted
standards at the time of sale.
slsted that It face south. Nor could McDon-
with their house. A major reason is that
Following the Indians
ald's have a drive-in window. City officials
their total electricity bill is just $15 a month
Not that Davis officials think there's any-
decided that customers would waste gas by
for much of the year and $25 a month In the
thing unusual about their stringent de.
keeping their engines running at the win-
winter, when electric heating Is used to sup•
mands, "We aren't doing anything comply
dow•
plement the solar system. That compares
cated to achieve these results," says Gloria
"Builders in Davis have to conform to
with bills of SM to S70 a month on conven•
McGregor, a civil engineer who is the city's
the Davis code or they don't get permits.
tionally heated, two-bedroom apartments
community development director. The Hopi
It's blackmail;' says Jim Merrey, executive
put up recently by builder Mr. Whitcombe.
Indians, she says, sought out suitable moun•
vice president of the Sacramento Building
This life style has attracted couples like
tam locations "to heat and cool their caves
Industries Association. Nor does Mr. Merrcy
the Boohers from all over the country. Ka
years ago."
think much of the house designs approved
thy Myers and her husband went every.
Davis's building code has Indeed copied
by Davis officials. "They're just bloody ugly
where by car when they lived In Michigan,
the Hopis by requiring that all new houses
to look at," he says. In fact, Mr. Merrey and
now that they live in Davis they have
face south to lake advantage of the cool
his association have fought back attempts to
switched to bicycles. "The bicycle has a real
summer breezes from Ne Pacific, thus re-
enact similar energy legislation In nearby
tranquilizing effect on my daughter," says
ducing the need for air conditioning. The
Sacramento County.
Mrs. Myers as she straps three year-old
code also requires extensive use of Insula-
On the other haneil, many builders who
Jayme in a bicycle seal before cycling
tion and, to reduce Interior heat In the sum-
originally opposed Davis's energy planning,
downtown to go shopping. All the stores, of
mer, limits window area. Just to get a per-
now provide glowing testimonials. "I was
course, have bicycle racks outside.
mit to build a home In Davis ts tough'
convinced the city was wrong, but they
In Michigan, the Myers spent $.5 m $6 n
Clouse plans are judged by a 10•pomt for
made a believer out of me," says Ron Brr
week on gasollne. "Now we can go fare or
mala that considers design attractiveness as
ward, who has been a builder in Davis for 10
live weeks without filling the tank," Mrs.
well as energy-saving.
Myers says.
10117
-
I11001IL14f.D BY
• JORM MICR+LAR
;a,,nr: I,;,, . i . •aura:
fAIwtOFiLrI D BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS AND DLS b1011+L. , iUelll
THE TALK OF THE TOWN
Noter and Comment
rQUALITY of Rights under
the law shall -not be denied or
"E
L abridged by the United States
or by any State nn account of sex.'
People are debating this plain state-
ment of principle, and the idea of
putting it into the Constitution as the
Twenty-seventh Amendment, as if it
might be so loaded with legal and
moral booby traps that the average
person cannot hope to judge it by ordi-
nary standards of right and wrong.
The debate is therefore paralyzing. It
is also laud and buttonholing, as if to
say that although people are incompe-
tent to judge they, had better hurry up
and judge anyhow. Thus stunned and
shouted at, many fair-minded people
have retreated into a kind of numb
prudence. Isn't it wiser, they say, not
to tinker with the Constitution? But
this fear has been trumped up by those
against the amendment—not just the
few unreasoning bigots but the thinking
people who have reasoned only so far.
They are failing, or refusing, to see
and distinguish between two different
kinds of mess.
The first mess—call it Mess A—is
the legal situation of women now.
While one might suppose that the
Fourteenth Amendment already gives
women, like all other citizens, the
"equal protection of the laws," it isn't
working quite like that. The Supreme
Court has ruled that race, creed, and
national origin are "suspect" ways of
classifying people, but it hasn't said
that about sex. Different, looser cri-
teria suffice to defend classifications by
sex, so the defense is easier to make.
As a result, a mess of inconsistent
laws and court rulings still discrimi-
nate against women, (So as not to
add too much to the ruckus, let's take
just two of hundreds of examples: a
Louisiana law known as the "head -
and -master" law says that a husbanc
controls his wife's half of their com-
munity property and can sell it with-
out her consent, even when she sup-
ports the family; in 1977, the Supreme
Court let stand a ruling that upheld
Phladelphia% separate and unequal
public high schools for gifted boys and
gifted girls.) In this kind of situation,
the next step is a constitutional amend-
ment. Under the Equal Rights Amend-
ment, many sex -biassed laws will be
voluntarily changed, because they will
be so clearly unconstitutional. Women
will have to fight the rest, but the
courts will have to be as suspicious of
sex classifications as they are of other
kinds.
There are people, however, who
fear that the broom will be worse than
the debris. These people may admit
that Mess A is wrong, but they fear
that the E.R.A. will cause a worse
mess -call it Mess B: unisex public
bathrooms; women forced to join the
infantry, lift heavy industrial equip-
ment, and support husbands who lie
around in housecoats eating chocolates;
lawsuits costly to corporations; the
wiping out of "affirmative action"
programs and other attempts to make
up for past discrimination against wom-
en; and general social and sexual pan-
demonium.
Though the details are still hypo-
thetical, some sort of Mess B is sure to
accumulate. The E.R.A. will raise
questions of interpretation and enforce-
ment, and those questions cannot be
answered now, nor can they ever be
answered easily or to everybody's Ek -
ing. But this is no reason to argue that
the E.R.A. is an unprecedented and
frightening risk. That argument pre-
sumes that a principle is the same thing
as a reckless generalization. To worry
about what might happen if "equality"
were read in a perversely literal way
is to see equality not as a guiding ideal
but as a mere legalistic trap, which,
once on paper, will snap shut and force
everyone to live with whatever bizarre
conclusions can be drawn from it.
The argument against the E.R.A.
also presumes that when judges, legis -
Ilton, and administrators apply the
principle of equality, they will be more
than normally incompetent and crimi-
nal, and will bungle the job. There is
even, in some quarters, a suspicion that
the government plays arbitrary games
with constitutional principles, pouncing
on them at will, like a malicious book
reviewer:"Ms. Webley writes on page
123 that 'words are sacred; She must,
then, agree that Hitler's ravings are
to be worshipped by, etc." There is no
reason to believe that a statement of
principle is an invitation to this kind
of thing, or that the government would
accept such an invitation. The Supreme
Court, for instance, has taken pains to
draw subtle distinctions about equality
and the promotion of equality, as it
must now do in the case of the Re-
gents of the University of California
v. Allan Bakke.
The Bakke case is a mess of the
sort that the E.R.A. will probably
cause. The case raises confusing and
unpleasant questions, and it has brought
out the worst in a lot of people. The
Court's decision may be wrong. Even
so, it would not have been fair to
say in the eighteen -sixties, "We'd better
not have the Fourteenth Amendment,
because what if 'equal protection of
the laws' is eventually applied to edu-
cation, and what if colleges then have
to make a special effort to admit
blacks, and what if a white man then
claims he is being discriminated
MICRO[ ILMLD BY
. JORM MICR6L AB
ioyg
i
MICROFILi,IED BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES h1OINL5, INA
against? Some mess that would he!"
A mess like the Bakke case is a price
we have to pay for not having treated
blacks right in the first place.
Still, many people seem to rest easirr
with Mess A, the junk of inaction and
wrongdoing: old newspapers, empty
whiskey battles and beer cans filled with
cigarette butts, and, in a corner, a few
cartons half full of stolen property,
which has started to seem vaguely
shaming. Certainly there will always he
people and institutions that thrive on
Mess A, finding it a hand), setting for
the pursuit of their own privileges and
rackets. An(] perhaps people
who are already frightened
and insvenre take comfort in
familiar mess, the way shop-
ping -bag people no the streets
seem to take comfort in the
layers of rags and the hags of
trash that insulate them from
the pain of life. But Mess 11—the mops
and buckets, the paint -spattered drop
cloths, the carpenters' tools and papers
covered with ealculatinns, the ocea-
sinnal tumble from the stepladder—is
different and much better. It is the kind
of mess that accompanies the work of
progress.
The E.R.A. is a right and necessary
statement of national principle. Shrink-
ing from it fnr fear it will he stupidly
applied, or will he ton much trmtble, is
not an act based on some oppxing
principle but a non -act based on irra-
tionality, laziness, and mistrust.
Yr -te :4ICROFILI-IED BY
JORM MICR+LAI]
CLJAI! RN ::5 I:L:;
W