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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