HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-06-06 Info PacketMILRUFILMEU BY JORM MICROLAB
Midstates Development, Inc.
412 Pavonia Street
Sioux City, IA 51102
Gentlemen:
CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MUINLS, IU,4A
Hey 30, 1978
nr-rrr1vr-n MAY 3 11918
7.45
Subject: 10TIFICATI7,i IIF APPROVAL OF FINAL PROPOSAL
Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program - New Construction
IA05-0030-008
Iowa City, Iowa
01 Elderly Units
Your final proposal, dated January 3, 1978, to provide 81 Elderly units of
housing at Iowa City, Iowa, has been approved. Annual contributions authority
of $315,900 and budget authority of $6.318,000 have been reserved for this
project. Thera is no change in the amount previously reservad.in your Notifi-
cation of Selection of Preliminary Proposal, dated September 9. 1977. The
number, size and approved contract rents of units to be contracted for are
as follows.
UNIT SIZE
NUMUER OF UNITS
CONTRACT
UTILITY
GROSS
(TO 7'e �'W�y�
o�'{sT
_ RENTS
ALLOWANCE
RENT
1 -OR
81 Elderly
$325
None
$325.
Method of financing subject to FHA firm commitment with IMFA bond financing.
If you accept this Notification,, you should submit to this office, not later
than Jute 19, 1976, tb final working drawings and spacificatiens- Receipt
and retention by Wo of these working drawings and specifications shall not
denote or constitute HUD review or approval of such drawings and specifications.
After approval of the working drawings and specifications, an Agreement to Enter
Into Housing Assistance Payments Contract will be prepared by HUD and ,y--,.3rded
to you for execution.
Your acceptance of this Notification constitutes a certification and agreelllent
that (a) there will not be made any sale, assignment, conveyance, or any other
form of transfer of this Notification, the property, or any interest therein,
without the prior consent of HUD (an assignment to a limited partnership of
which you are the general partner shall not be considered an assignment for
MICROFILM BY
DORM MICRmL.AB
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MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MOINES, IUWA
2
t to Enter Into Housing Assistance Payment'
this purpose), and (b) there will not be any pledge, or offer as security or
any loan or obligation. an Agreeawu+ nts Contract for this project without prior
Contract or Housing Assistance Payne
t.
written approval by HUD of the instruwnt of pledge, offer, or other asslpga4een
of the letter to HUD within ten (10) days
Please indicate your acceptance of this Notification by signing in the s c
provided and returning a signed copy
after the date of this Hotification.
If you do not accept this Notification by the specified date, if you accept
but fail to submit the architect's certification on the specified
d date. HUD may
rescind this Hotification and cancel the annual contributions authority rrs��
Sincerely,
Norman C. Jurgen
Director (Acting)
cc:
Mayor Robert A. Vevere
Eastern Iowa Association of Regional
Planning CO"Issions
322 East Washington
Iowa City, IA 52940
office of Planning and Prograasntng
i
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
.1
CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MUINLS, IUWA
'.ECEIVED 1-0221978
✓lineAic� (2a&1W4 UUdircvnt d .1&6Lc4a&n7-
IM IJIWA C1,MI'AN1' if.
9100 WARD PARKWAY KANSht ITY, MISSOURI 6411.1
May 18, 1978
Mr. Neal Berlin, Manager
City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
It is a pleasure for me, Mr. Berlin . . .
. . . to write you that Mrs. Rosemary Vitosh has been selected the 1978 WOMAN OF
THE YEAR by her chapter of the American Business Women's Association. Being
chosen a chapter Woman of the Year is a very high honor; such a member must be
outstanding as a woman in business.
Annually, each ABWA chapter elects a member as its Woman of the Year, based on
her advancement in business, continuing education, ABWA participation, and extra-
curricular activities. From this outstanding group of business women, a panel of
three non-member judges will select ABWA's "Top Ten Business Women." At the same
time, the panel selects one of the "Top Ten" as the Association's "American
Business Woman of the Year."
Special recognition will be given to more than 1500 chapter Women of the Year
expected to be in attendance at the Association's Annual National Convention
in Atlanta, Georgia, November 2-5, 1978.
Also, formal introduction of ABWA's 1978-1979 "Top Ten Business Women" and the
"American Business Woman of the Year" will be made at the convention.
A chapter's Woman of the Year holds the respect and admiration of all ABWA members.
You, probably better than anyone else, can attest to your associate's ability as a
business woman. I thought you would appreciate knowing that others agree with you.
Cordially,
'F�
H. A. Bufton r.
Founder
kj
enc.
cc: Mrs. Rosemary Vltosh, Woman of the Year
K", •4 fT I•i1CROFIL14ED BY
1 JORM MICR6LAB
MfCROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DLS MOINES, 10vU1
CITY OF IOWA CITY
CIVIC CEN(ER 410 E. WASHINGTON ST IOWA CITY IOWA 52240 (319) 354.1800
June 1, 1978
Mr. Pat Harding
920 Orchard
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mr. Harding:
In the last week a number of residents on Windsor Drive have called to
express their great concern about the trucks utilizing Windsor Drive for
access to your new subdivision. They have been under the impression
that you would encourage the contractors and subcontractors to utilize
the entrance from Seventh Avenue. I have indicated to them that as a
result of the street construction, it probably would be extremely
difficult to use Seventh Avenue at this time. However, I also indicated
to them that I am sure you intended to abide by your discussions with
the City Council and would take action to reduce the amount of truck
i traffic on Windsor Drive. After the completion of the concrete paving,
the City and the residents of Windsor Drive will greatly appreciate your
assistance in requesting the contractors and subcontractors to utilize
Seventh Avenue. Thank you for your cooperation.
SincereI yours
Neal G. Berlin
City Manager
cc: City Council
bcl/16
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f-0ICRO`ILi4ED BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MOINES, IOWA
City y... Iowa 'V
12L AM
DATE: June 1, 1978
TO: Neal Berlin, City Council, and the Plann r and Zoning Commission
FROM: Dick Plastino, Director of Public Works
RE: Change in sewer discharge
Oscar Maycr will be building on the BDI tract in the near future.
They have asked the City for some relief on our present standards
for sewer discharge. We have researched this matter with our
consultant and with our Pollution Control Division and find that
the changes they recommend will create no problems for our sewer
system or sewage treatment process.
our present ordinance says that pit for sewage must nm from 5.5
to 7.5. lie wish to change this to 6.0 to 10.5. 1'he ordinance
also says that grease and oily substances shall not be present
in excess of 100 p.p.m. We would like to change this to 300 p.p.m.
This provision is listed under performance standards in the zoning
code. Planning and Zoning will need to rule on this and pass the
matter on to City Council.
/083
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10..., tt 141CRORILI4CD BY
JORM MICR�LA6
CLDAR RAITI', • A" 10MLS
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
ORDINANCE N0.
CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES 14UINLS, IUWA
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE
NO. 77-2859 WHICH ADOPTED THE
UNIFORM BUILDING CODE STANDARDS,
1976 EDITION AND THE UNIFORM
BUILDING CODE, 1976 EDITION
SUBJECT TO CERTAIN AMENDMENTS.
BE IT ENACTED by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa.
SECTION 1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this ordinance is to amend the Uniform
Building Coe y eleting S 304(d)(3) which requires inspections of lath
and/or wallboard, by adding S 421 which defines a truss, by amending S 1305(a)
& 1405(a) to allow less light area in residential kitchens and kitchenettes,
by adding S 1718 to eliminate field changes in trusses without engineering
approval, by adding a second exception to S 3305(j) which will exempt stair-
ways having less than four risers from the requirement of handrails, and by
adding a Chapter 11 to the appendix which specifies construction for covered
mall buildings.
SECTION II. AMENDMENTS. The 1976 Edition of'the Uniform Building Code is
amen a as
follows:
1. Section 304(d) is hereby amended to read as follows:
' (d) Required Inspections.
Reinforcing steel or structural framework of any part of
any building or structure shall not be covered or concealed
without first obtaining the approval of the Building Official.
The Building Official, upon notitification from the permit
holder or his agent, shall make the following inspections
and shall either approve that portion of the construction
as completed or shall notify the permit holder or his agent
wherein the same fails to comply with this Code.
1. FOUNDATION INSPECTION: To be made after trenches are
excavated and forms erected and when all materials for
the foundation are delivered on the job. Where concrete
from a central mixing plant (commonly termed "transit
mixed") is to be used, materials need not be on the job.
2. FRAME INSPECTION: To be made after the roof, all framing,
fire -blocking, and bracing are in place and all pipes,
chimneys, and vents are complete.
3. FINAL INSPECTION: To be made after building is com-
pleted and ready for occupancy.
5.... •"�..Y� ROEILMED BY
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JORM MICR46LAB
Li:Al: ;'%: i',' • .:I 1101';(.5
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DIES MUINL., 10W
2. Section 421 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 421. TRUSS is a pre -built and engineered component em-
ploying one or more triangles in its' construction that functions
as a structural support member.
3. Section 1305(a) is hereby amended to read as follows:
LIGHT AND VENTILATION. All guest rooms, dormitories and habit-
able rooms within a dwelling unit shall be provided with natural
light by means of exterior glazed openings with an area not less
than one-tenth of the floor area of such rooms with a minimum of
10 square feet. All bedrooms, water closet compartments, laundry
rooms and similar rooms shall be provided with natural ventila-
tion by means of openable exterior openings with an area not less
than one -twentieth of the floor area of such rooms with a minimum
of 1� square feet.
All guest rooms, dormitories and habitable rooms within a dwelling
unit shall be provided with natural ventilation by means of open -
able exterior openings with an area of not less than one -twentieth
of the floor area of such rooms with a minimum of 5 square feet.
In lieu of required exterior openings for natural ventilation, a
mechanical ventilating system may be provided. Such system shall
be capable of providing two air changes per hour in all guest
rooms, dormitories, habitable rooms, and in public corridors.
One-fifth of the air supply shall be taken from the outside. In
bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundry rooms, and similar
rooms a mechanical ventilation system connected directly to the
outside, capable of providing five air changes per hour, shall be
provided.
For the purpose of determining light and ventilation requirements,
any room may be considered as a portion of an adjoining room when
one-half of the area of the common wall is open and unobstructed
and provides an opening of not less than one-tenth of the floor
area of the interior room or 25 square feet, whichever is greater.
Required exterior openings for natural light and ventilation
shall open directly onto a street or public alley or a yard or
court located on the same lot as the building.
EXCEPTION N1: Required windows may open into a roofed porch where
the porch:
A. Abuts a street, yard, or court; and
B. Has a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet; and
C. Has the longer side at least 65 percent open and unobstructed.
EXCEPTION q2: Dwelling unit may be provided with natural light by
means of exterior glazed openings with an area not less than 3%
of the floor area of such rooms provided that a mechanical ventil-
ation system capable of providing two air changes per hour and
artificial lighting is provided.
E
1 MICROI` IL141D BY
JoRM MICR( LAB
UJAI i:i6
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MOINLS, IOWA
Section 1405(a) is hereby amended to read as follows:
(a) Light and Ventilation. All guest rooms, dormitories, and
habitable rooms within a dwelling unit shall be provided
with natural light by means of exterior glazed openings with
an area not less than one-tenth of the floor area of such
rooms with a minimum of 10 square feet. All bathrooms,
water closet compartments, laundry rooms and similar rooms
shall be provided with natural ventilation by means of open -
able exterior openings with an area not less than one -twentieth
of the floor area of such rooms with a minimum of 11, square
feet.
All guest rooms, dormitories and habitable rooms within a
dwelling unit shall be provided with natural ventilation by
means of openable exterior openings with an area of not less
than one -twentieth of the floor area of such rooms with a
minimum of 5 square feet.
In lieu of required exterior openings for natural ventilation,
a mechanical ventilating system may be provided. Such sys-
tem shall be capable of providing two air changes per hour
in all guest rooms, dormitories, habitable rooms, and in
public corridors. One-fifth of the air supply shall be taken
from the outside. In bathrooms, water closet compartments,
laundry rooms, and similar rooms a mechanical ventilation
system connected directly to the outside, capable of pro-
viding five air changes per hour, shall be provided.
For the purpose of determining light and ventilation require-
ments, any room may be considered as a portion of an adjoin-
ing room when one-half of the area of the common wall is
open and unobstructed and provides an opening of not less
than one-tenth of the floor area of the interior room or
25 square feet, whichever is greater.
Required exterior openings for natural light and ventilation
shall open directly onto a street or public alley or a yard
or court located on the same lot as the building.
EXCEPTION N1: Required windows may open into a roofed porch
where the porch:
A. Abuts a street, yard, or court; and
B. Has a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet; and
C. Has the longer side at least 65 percent open and unob-
structed.
EXCEPTION H2: Dwelling unit may be provided with natural light
by means of exterior glazed openings with an area not less than
3% of the floor area of such rooms provided that a mechanical
ventilation system capable of providing two air changes per
hour and artificial lighting is provided.
141CROFILIMED BY
DORM MICRI LAB
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND ULS MOINLS, 104k
5. Section 1718 is hereby amended to read as follows:
TRUSSES.
Sec. 1718. Preparation, fabrication, and installation of trusses
shall conform to accepted engineering practices and to the require
ments of this code. No alterations, including but not limited to
cutting, splicing, or removal of webs, gussetts, or chords, shall
be made without approval of a certified engineer and the building
official. Any alterations not acceptable to the building official
shall be ordered removed.
6. Section 3305(j) is hereby amended to read as follows:
(j) HANDRAILS. Stairways shall have handrails on each side,
and every stairway required to be more than 88 inches in
width shall be provided with not less than one intermediate
handrail for each 88 inches of required width. Intermediate
handrails shall be spaced approximately equal within the
entire width of the stairway.
Handrails shall be placed not less than 30 inches nor more
than 34 inches above the nosing of treads. They shall be
continuous the full length of the stairs and except for
private stairways at least one handrail shall extend not
less than 6 inches beyond the top and bottom risers. Ends
shall be returned or shall terminate in newel posts or
safety terminals.
EXCEPTION N1: Stairways 44 inches or less in width and
stairways serving one individual dwelling unit in Group R,
Division 1 or 3 Occupancies may have one handrail, except
that such stairways open on one or both sides shall have
handrails provided on the open side or sides.
EXCEPTION N2: Stairways having less than four risers need
not have handrails.
Handrails projecting from a wall shall have a space of not
less than 1k inches between the wall and the handrail.
7. Chapter 11 in the appendix is hereby amended to read as follows:
Chapter 11
COVERED MALL BUILDINGS
GENERAL
Sec. 1110. (a) Purpose. The purpose of this Chapter is to establish
minimum standards of safety for the construction and use of covered
mall buildings.
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14]CROFILMED By
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(-h)AF. WO!,! .'I! tOCtCS
MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MUINL�,, 10WA
(b) Scope. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to
buildings or structures defined herein as covered mall buildings.
EXCEPTION: When approved by the Building Official, the
following uses need not comply with the provisions of this
Chapter:
1. Terminals for transportation facilities.
2. Foyers and lobbies of hotel, apartment and office buildings.
3. Buildings need not comply with the provisions of this
Chapter when they comply totally with all other applica-
ble provisions of this code.
(c) Definition. For the purpose of this Chapter, certain
terms are defined as follows:
COVERED MALL BUILDING is a single building enclosing a number
of tenants and occupancies such as retail stores, drinking
and dining establishments, entertainment and amusement facil-
ities, offices and other similar uses wherein two or more
tenants have a main entrance into one or more malls.
ANCHOR STORE is an exterior perimeter department store or
major merchandising center having direct access to a mall
but having all required exits independent of a mall.
GROSS LEASABLE AREA is the total floor area designed for
tenant occupancy and exclusive use. The area of tenant
occupancy is measured from the center lines of joint par-
titions to the outside of the tenant walls. All tenant
areas, including areas used for storage, shall be included
in calculating gross leasable area.
MALL is a roofed or covered common pedestrian area within a
covered mall building which serves as access for two or more
tenants.
OCCUPANT LOAD is the total number of persons that may occupy
a building or portion thereof at any one time.
(d) Applicability of Other Provisions. Except as specifically
otherwise required by this Chapter, covered mall buildings shall meet
all applicable provisions of this Code.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 1111. (a) Automatic Fire -extinguishing Systems. The covered
mall building shall be provided with an automatic fire -extinguishing
system conforming to the provisions of U.B.C. Standard No. 38-1.
In addition to these Standards, the automatic fire -extinguishing system
shall comply with the following:
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4 ,,r MICROFILMED BY
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JORM MICR46LA9
m1LROFiLMED BY JORM 141CROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES 1401I+L�, IUWA
1. All automatic fire -extinguishing system control valves shall be
electrically supervised by an approved central, proprietary or
remote station or a local alarm service which will give an audible
signal at a constantly attended location.
2. The automatic fire -extinguishing system shall be complete and opera-
tive throughout all occupied space in the covered mall building
prior to occupancy of any of the tenant spaces. The level of pro-
tection provided for unoccupied tenant space shall be subject to
the approval of the Building Official and Fire Department.
The respective increases for area and height for covered mall buildings,
including anchor stores, specified in Section 506 and 507 of this Code
shall be permitted.
(b) Standpipes. There shall be a standpipe outlet connected to a supply
capable of delivering 250 gallons per minute at each of the following
locations for Fire Department use:
1. Within the mall at the entrance to an exit passage or exit corridor.
2. At each floor level landing within enclosed stairways opening
directly onto the mall; and adjacent to principle exterior en-
trances to the mall.
3. Standpipes shall be installed in accordance with the requirements
of Chapter 38 of this Code.
EXCEPTION H1: Risers and laterals of dry standpipe systems not
located within an enclosed stairway need not be protected by a
degree of fire resistance equal to that required for vertical
enclosures in the covered mall building.
EXCEPTION N2: In buildings where more than one standpipe is pro-
vided, they need not be interconnected.
EXCEPTION N3. Piping may be hydraulically sized.
(c) Smoke Control Requirements.
1. Purpose. The purpose of smoke control is to restrict movement
of smoke to the general area of fire origin and to maintain
means of egress in a usable condition.
2. General. The smoke control system shall be activated by
operation of either the sprinkler system, smoke detectors,
or manually subject to approval of the Building Official.
Smoke detectors shall be provided within the return air
portion of an air-conditioning system and on the tenant side
at openings between tenant spaces and the mall. Actuation of
either a smoke detector or the sprinkler system shall cause
the air supply to the air-conditioning zone in which the
fire occurs to shut down. During those hours when the air-
conditioning system is not operating, smoke detector or
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HICROfILIdLD BY
DORM MICR6LAB
i.I:uAl iU, ::.. .I
CiILROFILMH BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MUIIILS, IUWN
sprinkler actuation will transmit an alar only as required
in subsection (a), Item 1 of this Section.
3. Mall venting. The mall shall have smoke removal capability
installed in or near the roof, Such facility may be either
natural or mechanical.
4. Acceptance and testing. Before the smoke control system is
accepted by the Building Official, it shall be tested in his
presence to confirm that the system is operating in compli-
ance with the requirements of this subsection.
(d) Fire Department Access to Equipment. Rooms or areas containing
controls for air-conditioning systems, automatic fire -extinguishing
systems, or other detection, suppression or control elements shall be
identified for the use by the Fire Department.
(e) Tenant Separation. Each tenant space shall be separated from other
tenant spaces by a wall having a fire -resistive rating of not less than
one hour. The separation wall shall extend from the floor to the
underside of the ceiling. Except as required by other provisions of
this Code, the ceiling need not be a fire -resistive assembly. A separa-
tion is not required in attic spaces above tenant separation walls nor
is a tenant separation wall required between any tenant space and a
mall, except for occupancy separations required by Section 1113.
(f) Public the system shallSbeSmademaccessibleptolic theaFiresDepaprovided,
rtment.stem is
(g) Internal Plastic Panels and Plastic Signs. Within every story or
level and from side wall to side wall of each tenant space or mall,
approved plastic panels and signs shall be limited as follows:
1. They shall not exceed 20 percent of the wall area facing the mall;
2. They shall not exceed a height of 36 inches except that if the
sign is vertical then the height shall not exceed 96 inches and
the width shall not exceed 36 inches;
3. They shall be located a minimum distance of 18 inches from adjacent
tenants;
4. All edges and the back shall be fully encased in metal.
(h) Lease Plan. Each covered mall building owner shall provide both
the Building and Fire Departments with a lease plan showing the loca-
tions of each occupancy and its exits after the Certificate of Occu-
pancy has been issued. Such plans shall be kept current. No modifica-
tions or changes in occupancy or use shall be made from that shown on
the lease plan without prior approval of the Building Official.
ncho
ore
Typesixed I, 11 F.R. ore of II onetion hour construction, and ths between ane mallrortf
other
leased tenant space need not be protected.
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JORM MICROLAB
MIuROiILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
EXITS
CEDAR RAPIDS AND ULS HUINES, IUvii;
Sec. 1112. (a) General. Each tenant space and the covered mall building
shall be provided with exits as required by this Section and Chapter 33
of this Code. Where there is a conflict between the requirements of
Chapter 33 and the requirements of this Section, the requirements of
this Section shall apply.
(b) Determination of Occupancy Load. The occupant load permitted in
any individual tenant space in a covered mall building shall be de-
termined as required by Section 3301(d) of this Code. Exit require-
ments for individual tenant spaces shall be based on the occupant load
thus determined.
The occupant load permitted for the covered mall building, assuming
all portions, including individual tenant spaces and the mall to be
occupied at the same time, shall be determined by dividing the gross
leasable area by 30 for covered mall buildings containing up to 150,000
square feet of gross leasable area; by 40 for covered mall buildings
containing between 150,001 and 350,000 square feet of gross leasable
area, and by 50 for covered mall buildings containing more than 350,000
square feet of gross leasable area. Exit requirements for the covered
mall building shall be based on the occupant load thus determined.
The occupant load of anchor stores opening into the mall need not be
included in computing the total number of occupants for the mall.
(c) Number of Exits. Each individual tenant space in covered mall
buildings shall be provided with the number of exits required by Sec-
tion 3302(a) of this Code. In addition to the requirements of Sec -
3302(a), whenever the distance of travel to the mall within any tenant
space used by persons other than employees exceeds 75 feet, not less
than two exits shall be provided.
otherrthanement of drinkingEandsdiningup A. Divisions establishments,lshallnbe so located in
the covered mall building that their entrance will be immediately
adjacent to a principal entrance to the mall and shall have not less
than one-half of their required exits opening directly to the exterior
of the covered mall building.
Required exits for anchor stores shall be provided independently from
the mall exit system.
The occupant load of anchor stores opening into the mall shall not be
Included in determining exit requirements for the mall.
Malls shall not exit through anchor stores. Malls terminating at an
anchor store where no other means of exit has been provided shall be
considered as a dead end mall.
(e) Distance to Exits. Within each individual tenant space in a covered
mall building the maximum distance of travel from any point to an ex-
terior exit door, horizontal exit, exit passageway, enclosed stairway
or entrance to the mall shall not exceed 200 feet.
MICROFILMID BY
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MILROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
CEDAR RAPIDS AND ULS MOInLS, lO'dA
The maximum distance of travel from any point within a mall to an exterior
exit door, horizontal exit, exit passageway, or an enclosed stairway
shall not exceed 200 feet.
(f) Access to Exits. When more than one exit is required, they shall
be so arranged that it is possible to go in either direction from any
point in a mall to a separate exit, except for dead ends not exceeding
a length qual to twice the width of the mallhe measured at the narrowest
location e
The minimum width of exit from a mall shall be 66 inches.
When exit passageways are present to provide a secondary exit from a
tenant space, doors to the exit passageway shall be one-hour fire doors.
Such doors shall be self-closing and be so maintained or shall be auto
-
matica closing by smoke detection.
Stragys
ch are
tootheetenants. such exit xpassageways it ashall �be posted swith eservice
is prohibited in conspicuous
signs so stating.
(g) Malls. For the purpose of providing required egress, malls may be
considered as corridors, but need not comply with the requirements of
Sections 3304(8) and 3304(h) of this Code when the width of mall is as
specified in this Section.
The minimum width of a mall shall be 20 feet. There shall be a minimum
of 10 feet clear width to a height of 8 feet between any projection from
a tenant space bordering the mall and the nearest kiosk, vending machine,
bench, display, or other obstruction to egress. The mall shall be suf-
ficient to accommodate the occupant load immediately tributary thereto.
Malls which do not conform to the requirements of this
Section shall
comply with the requirements of Sections 3304(g) and
this
Code.
or
rtl
cal
(h)griSscoridoorsiwhichlls nareoarparts. Hofiaorequiredntal dmeans ofeegress shall
conform to the following:
open position during the period
1 They
oremain ccupancyy by ured in the full
ofgeneral public.
2. Doors or grills shall not be brought to the closed position when
there aele
exit orr50mpersonsnoccupyingnspacespservedspaces
ore by more thanved bone exit.
ithin
hout the
3. ofe
eany special rknowledge ills loreeffort bwhen le rthe om wspace is occupied.
use
doors or occupied,
4. When two or more exits are required, not more than one-half of
the exits may be equipped with horizontal sliding or vertical
rolling grills or doors.
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(AXIL! i6d .'.i.'.
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MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
OCCUPANCY
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DES MUINLS, IOWA
Sec. 1113. (a) General. Covered mall buildings shall be classified as
Group B, Division 2 Occupancies and may contain accessory uses consist-
ing of Groups A, E or R, Division 1 Occupancies. The area of individual
accessory uses within a covered mall building shall not exceed three
times the basic area permitted by Table No. 5-C of this Code for the
type of construction and the occupancy involved. The aggregate area
of all accessory uses within a covered mall building shall not exceed
25 percent of the gross leasable area.
An attached garage for the storage of passenger vehicles having a capacity
of not more than 9 persons and open parking garages may be considered as
a separate building when they are separated from the covered mall build-
ing by an occupancy separation having a fire endurance time period of
at least 2 hours.
(b) Mixed Occupancy. Individual tenant spaces within a covered mall
building which comprise a distinct "Occupancy", as described in Chapters
5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13 of this Code, shall be separated from any
other occupancy as specified in Section 503(d) of this Code.
EXCEPTION: A main entrance which opens onto a mall need have no separation.
SECTION III. REPEALER. All other ordinances and parts of ordinances in con-
flict with the provisions of the ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION IV. SAVINGS CLAUSE. If any section, provision or part -of the ordin-
ance shall be adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall
not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole or any section, pro-
vision or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION V. EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance shall be in effect after its
final passage, approval and publication as required by law.
Passed and approved this
ATTEST:
ABBIE STOLFUS, CITY CLERK
10
ROBERT A. VEVERA, MAYOR
MICROFILMED BY
DORM MIC R(�L AB
i:EDAP. k�ul!l;ti • :;i`. }fO;'iC5
IQICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES 1401NES, IUWA
It was moved by and seconded by ,
that the Ordinance as read be adopted and upon roll cal t ere were:
AYES: NAYS: ABSENT:
BALMER
dePROSSE
ERDAHL
NEUHAUSER
PERRET
ROBERTS
VEVERA
First consideration
Vote for passage:
Second consideration
Vote for passage:
t191vd Y j? AOVED
IM MM Ina DrPARTIEd4
11
:-0ICRONWED BY �
JORM MICR+LAB
CEDAR RAI`i.'.�5 • "JCS MO VIFS
milCROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
MINUTES
COUNCIL OF ELDERS
MAY 19, 1978 -- 9:00 A.M.
RECREATION CENTER -- MEETING ROOM A
CEDAR RAPIDS AND DLS MUINLS, IUwA
MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim Bredow, VNA; Leo Cain, NARFE; Larry Carlton, CoA;
Wilma Kincade, Heritage AAA; Cora Pollack, AARP; Don Schaefer,
SEATS.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Jeannette Moore, Congregate Meals; Judy West, JCSS.
OTHERS PRESENT: Julie Vann, City Staff; Barb Ettleson, Institute of Public Affairs,
U of I; Huck Roberts, SEATS; Ethel Garrison and Doris Bridgeman,
CoA; Lisa Walz, Congregate Meals; Chick Forwald, Heritage AAA;
Sally St. John, JCSS.
SUMMARY OF MEETING DISCUSSION:
The meeting was called to order by Julie Vann. The agenda for the meeting was as
follows:
I. Summary of activities accomplished to date.
II. Summary of upcoming activities
III. Clarification of roles
IV. Re-evaluation of membership
V. Discussion of future meeting format
I. Cora Pollack summarized the Council of Elders activities. They held an
organizational meeting in March at which eight agencies were represented.
In April, Cora Pollack was elected president and Tim Bredow, secretary.
They established a general goal to coordinate services for the elderly.
They decided to meet the second Wednesday of each month. They planned a
Country Fair to celebrate Older Americans Month. It will be held May 26
at the Iowa City Library from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M.
II. To summarize upcoming activities, Julie Vann handed out a senior center
program planning pamphlet to individuals who had not yet received a copy
of the drafted work schedule. It lists tasks to be worked on and also
includes dates to serve as deadlines. Discussion ensued centering around
the types of programs that people would like to see in the center. Again,
it was emphasized that very few programs would ever have a permanent space,
but would share space with several other providers. Areas will be provided
for Otheruspaceon, health, is availablerandpwilltben, kitchen allocated accordingsto recreation.
need.
It was mentioned that some of the programs should be aimed at a population
target area other than the low income elderly, so that there could be something
for everybody. It was the general consensus that all the programs should be
as broad -ranged as possible, so that everybody, regardless of income, would feel
welcome.
Mar
MICRUILME0 8Y
JORM MICR+LAB
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I-JILROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
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CEDAR RAPIDS AND OLS MOINLz,, IUWA
There was general discussion as to whether the groups should plan the
programs or try to determine the needs first. It was generally agreed
that there are a lot of needed programs, however, it was emphasized that
merely identifying the need would not necessarily guarantee that the program
would be used by the individuals for whom it was planned. The discussion
then centered around the need to develop programs that would be both needed
and used by people.
Again, it was emphasized that the Council of Elders is needed to do tasks,
instead of just talking and planning. It was generally decided that small
committees should be formed for each of the proposed program areas, and
work on the details of setting it up, arranging order to it, and setting
goals and objectives.
III. A discussion of the following roles followed:
A. The discussion was mainly concerned with what does the Council of Elders
do. The following responses were given.
Be an advisory board to the City Council, Board of Supervisors, and
the Joint Project Task Force.
2. Be a voice for the elderly.
3. Back up the people doing the work.
4. Be a conglomerate of elderly groups, identifying workable program needs.
5. Take back information to own organizations, to find out what they
think.
6. "Keep the ball rolling"
7. Bring ideas from groups to the Council of Elders for discussion and
appropriate action.
8. Aggressively attempt to get elderly input.
B. The discussion moved on to define Julie's role in the project.
1. She is the staff appointed by the City to direct and coordinate
the development of the Senior Center.
2. She will provide information to the Council of Elders.
3. She will get parking permits for Council of Elder members, for use
during meetings.
4. She will receive the responses of the Council of Elders and pass on
information to the City Council and report back results.
5. She will answer questions about the progress of the project.
6. She will coordinate with the Council of Elders Chairman in developing
agendas for the meetings.
C. The next discussion was to clarify the Joint Project Task Force role.
1. Its mission is about accomplished.
2. Its purpose was to negotiate issues of common interest between the
owners of two adjacent facilities: the Ecumenical Housing Corp.'s
elderly housing project and the City of Iowa City's senior center.
141 CIt0f IU4ED BY
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MICROFILMED BY JORM MICROLAB
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CEDAR RAPIDS AND UES MUINLJ, WwA
IV. The next topic was to reevaluate the membership of the Council of Elders. The
group discussed whether to admit new members. The group set up guidelines to
go by to accept new members. It was decided to accept members representing
organizations that were primarily representing elderly (over 50%) and those
interested in elderly projects. The new members accepted also need to represent
at least a group of 50 elderly people. It was decided that 15 voting members
would be the limit. Letters will be sent out to all service agencies inviting
them to apply for membership, with the criteria for membership clearly stated.
Larry Carlton, Wilma Kincade , and Cora Pollack were appointed to review the
applications and pick enough applicants to bring the voting membership to
15. Each member should also have an alternate available. This person should
be kept up to date by receiving copies of the minutes of each meeting.
V. The format of future meetings was quickly reviewed and it was decided to have
the next meeting June 7 at 9:00 a.m. in the Recreation Center.
i
Respectfully submitted,
��nn
.1
Tim Bredow, Secretary
I
I
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Hi�,O IL; LU BY JORM IdICROLAB • CEDAR RAPIDS AIID ULA I•IUihu, i'J'itll
ince the later 1940s,
community antenna
television systems
(CATV or "cable" TV) have
dealt primarily in entertain-
ment. providing conventional
programming or movies
otherwise unavailable locally.
But another dimension has
burn added. It's called interne-
tive cable television, which
simply means that viewers are
participants loo. It may mean a
lot more to cities in the long run
than just a better television pic.
tum or it better financial pic-
ture. It may mean a whole new
way for citizens to participate in local gm•er unctu.
CATV:
1ivo-Way
Access to
City Hall
By Clint Page
TIIE READING EXPERIMENT
The bn al Social Security administrator is fielding questions
from a group of retired people. Nes in an office in downtown
Rending, Penn., and the people he's talking with are at three
senior citizen's centers in different parts of town. Not only can
they talk to each other, but thanks to a two. way video hook-up
that links the senior citizen's centers with a remote television
crew, they also can all see each other as well. The exchanges
are friendly and informal; some are on o first mime basis.
" /'m 61," one woman says, "and my husband died last year
at the age of 66. Should I collect my widows benefits now; or
should I wait until I'm 65 and collect my orn benefrrs?"
The administrator answers her question, and then there's
another one from someone else, and another and another.
Known around cable television circles as "the Reading
experiment," this two-way television system linking local
government and citizens started as one of three experiments
funded by the National Science Foundation. It was begun to
study the cots and benefits of using two-way cable television
to dcl iver publ is services to elderly residents. Berks TV Cable,
a local cable television company, provided three to five hours
of time each day for community access, three hours in the
morning and one or two at
night. The Alternate Media
Center at New York University
provided programming and
monitoring assistance, and
local senior citizens provided
the audience and the produc-
tion staff.
The Audience is The Staff
The senior citizens, with
some technical assistance,
produced their own program-
ming. They sent remote crews
to city hall to cover city council
meetings; they created
question -and -answer shows
with the mayor, city council members, and other local offi-
cials; they produced shows on social security, health, end ahcr
issues important to them. There is a documentary in the
works—a history or the local labor movement, and there arc
..commercials" for such social services as food stamps.
The original experiment ended in February, 1977 and the
two-way system has grown to something more than the exper-
iment called for. It has become a way for the city government
and its citizens, or at least the 36,500 subscribers to Berks TV
Cable, to communicate on a variety of issues. "The feedback
shows that elected officials and even non- elected people have
been using the system increasingly in the last six months,"
says Jerry Richter, executive director of Becks Community
TV, the non-profit company that has run the two-way system
since the end of the experiment. "The local officials' appear
antes once every five weeks have made them more conscious
and more aware that periodically they have to go out and face
the people."
For fNnelal Use
There has been "heavy use" of the system by city officials
as a forum for public hearings, Richter says. During the
winter, the city held hearings on the use of community devel-
opment funds—the son of hearings that when held at night at
s -
:41CRnIILNCII By
DORM MrCR6LAB
NATION'S CMESIMAY 1978 J
i
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city hall would draw as few as four or five citizens. They
moved equipment into city hall and set up centers at the
geographic extremes of the city. 'Men. with the mayor at city
hall and other officials at the other center, the city held its
hearings on the cable, says Richter. People at the neighbor-
hood centers could be seen by the city officials as they took
pan in the hearings; viewers at home could telephone their
questions and comments in. The televised hearings, Richter
says, generated forty-eight specific calls from viewers at home
or from people at the centers with questions or comments.
"You can't draw people out to meetings like you did be-
fore," says Reading Mayor Joseph R Kuzminski, who views
the televised hearings as a "tremendous success." The city
now holds televised hearings as a matter of course. "We've
become a kind of resource that agencies think of when they
have problems," says Richter.
Paying Is Important
While the system was still an experiment it was supported
by a National Science Foundadon grant. Having passed the
test, the system has moved from being a federally -subsidized
project to a community resource that has its own place in the
city budget.
"In order to fund the system," Richter says, "the board of
directors of Berks Community TV decided to place a value on
the use of the system according to the amount of time used.
That value was set at $300 fora half hourof live programming.
We asked the city council to pay for its participation at that rate,
which would have worked out to 515,000 a year. NE didn't get
that, but the city council does pay $5,000 a year for its use of
the system. And the council told other city agencies with their
own budgets that it would be good if they would pay for their
use of the system on the same basis. And they do."
Richter says that Berks Community TV views its payments
from the city as payment for services, not as grants. "That
way," he says, "there are no strings attached to the money"
Judging from the tapes of programming on the system,
those who use the system enjoy being able to talk to city hall.
"The mayor and council members originally thought of it as a
way to talk to people," says Red Bums, executive director of
the Alternate Media Cerner, "but they found out that it was a
way to hear what people have to say." There aren't any
.speeches, she says, simply exchanges; no rancor, no confron.
tations, just "people concerned with parks, garbage, potholes,
and other local issues."
The senior citizens for whom the system was originally
created have taken to it, Bums says; they use it as they do the
telephone to keep in touch with the city and its agencies and
with each other. There is a certain amount of waving at friends
in another part of town, a certain amount of personal chatting
on the two-way cable. "Participation," Red Burns says, "has
been embedded in the total system, including singalongs and
socializing."
That's important to the elderly people who use the system.
What's important in the long run to all of Reading's cable
subscribers is that the two-way cable has made the Reading
city government accessible in a way that wasn't possible
before. "Interactive television is a greater equalizer;' Red
Burns says. "It creams a neutral territory—neither the
a NATION'S CITIEVNIAY 1918
CEDAR RAPIDS ALIO ULA : )111'
mayor's office nor the viewer's home—in which neither party
has an edge. And when people learn that they can openly.
honorably ask questions, that opens up a series of questions
and allows a response.
DIAL 1, FOR LOCAL
It is Wednesday night, and the disrussian on Channel l.'s live
"Mon uatan at l arge" show has been about wife heating. Two
women guests have rernunted their experiences with abusive
lm.sIxmdt, and the telephone calls that have come in from
viewers have been sometimes informative, sometimes poig.
nant, sanretimrs heart-rending. Then the telephone rings, and
the vuh a of a little girl, perhaps ten -years -old, .says: "I don't
know what to do—Afommy and Daddy are fighting right
now.
"That was an electrifying moment;' says Chuck Sherwood,
one of two consultants who have helped develop the program-
ming on Channel L, the local government channel of Man-
hattan Cable Company and TblePrompter in New York City. It
was audience participation at perhaps its most dmmadc, said
the people on the program were able to give the little girl
appropriate hotline numbers to call.
Channel L, two -years -old this month, operates seven days a
week from 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 P.M. In addition to the live
Ykilmsday night show, it provides live and taped information
programs on local issues, and a community bulletin board
listing meetings and special events—a "visual Reuters," says
John Sandiford, the other programming consultant.
Likes Manhattan
While 0he Reading system started out with an audience
defined by age, Channel L has been aimed at an audience
defined by geography. When the New York City charter was
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revised a couple of years ago, cur .1ity boards were created
to review basic government actions; fifty-nine of these local
government boards were created throughout the whole city,
with twelve of them in Manhattan. "Thut revised city charter
formed the basis of our understanding of what we would have
to develop;' says John Sandiford, Channel L's other program-
ming consultant. The franchise provides fur two.wuy com-
munications and for sub -districting according to Manhattan's
twelve community huwd arcus, but Chinnel I, has not gotten
that far yet.
It has progressed, however, from its start two years ago with
two city council members as "producers." 7bday all city
council members and two state assembly members are on the
cable regularly. City agencies and departments produce their
own information programs; the planning commission, for
example, has its own show and has also used the channel for
discussion of water quality planning, community development
block grants, highways and mass transit. The twelve commu-
nity boards themselves produce programs aimed at specific
local issues and interests, and so do civic organizations, in.
cluding the League of'Abmen alters, the Natural Resources
Defense Council and others, who request time on the channel
through the city's Once of 7blecommunications Policy. It is
these "producers" who determine the content of program, not
the city's telecommunications office. Sherwood and Sandiford
provide technical assistance to help producers say what they
want to say; they don't tell them what to say.
Manhattan Cable, the cable television company, provides
Channel L with eight hours of production time in its studio
each week, plus office space. In those eight hours, Channel L
produces a three -and -a -half-hour live program ('Manhattan at
( Large") and does the taping for its other programs. "The
format is critical;' Sandiford says. "It's not just a very local
UHF sunion.Is's, thing quite exceptional."
The live %Wnesday night program is deliberately informal.
There are no more than five guests, all seated in a circle, an
arrnngcment that Sandiford says allows a great deal of inti-
macy. There's no hype. no fancy packaging; it's not unusual to
see a camera in the background. The focus is on local issues,
and the level of discussion is kept such that anyone can call in
with continents or questions. "Depending on the subject, we
get ten to twenty calls per night," Sandiford says, "some from
regular cullers, some from new ones."
The taped community bulletin boards—the "visual
Reuters--= a bit more eLsborate than the name implies. The
electrunically generated messages about meetings and other
events are augmented by music, maps showing the community
board area the messages are about and color pictures of com-
munity scenes and landmarks—contemporary and historical.
Community board meetings themselves are taped and carried
over the cable in one four-hour stretch once a month.
The relationship to the city is informal. Sherwood and
Sandiford are consultants to the cable company, although in
other cities they might work directly for the city. (New York
City has its own television station, WNYC.) Manhattan Cable
and TblePrompter operate under typical franchise agreements
overseen by the city's Board of Franchise which is overseen by
the Board of Estimate.
DW J for Porn
Channel L is one of four access channels available in New
York City. Channel C is the "beginner's" channel, providing
access for individuals or groups who have never before used
cable television; Channel D is for "intermediates" who wish to
use the cable regularly. Channel 1 is a leased public access
channel; time may be leased and the user of the time provides
the programming and may even sell advertising. Channel 1's
programming has been known to include "The Bulgarian
Hour" and other ethnic programming as well as pornography
sponsored by local massage parlors.
The local government programming on Channel L is re-
garded as experimental although Manhattan Cable is comm t -
ted to the project through the end of this year. "RB'll spend
$78,000 this year," Sherwood says, of which $66,500 will go
for production, and the rest for administration."
TIIE BIGGER PICTURE IS OUT OF FOCUS
Local government channels like Channel L arc a very small
part of the cable television scene. In the U.S., some 3,700
cable television companies serve 11.9 million homes in 8,000
communities. Out of all those, it's possible to count on the
fingers of two hands the number of local government channels
in operation.
Local government channels and the other public access
channels (like Channels C, D, and 1 in New York City) are the
offspring of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
In a 1976 ruling. FCC said that by June 1986, cable operators
with 3,500 or more subscribers (there are 2,976 such systems)
would have to be able to transmit over twenty channels and
would have to provide four of those channels for the use of the
public, institutions, local governments and people who wish to
Continued on page X
IICR111 IIIALiI !41'
JORM MICROLAB
NATION'S CITILSWAY 1978 S
;; wr.�1t 1L?hU BY JORr4 141CROLAB • CLOAit k0lju AtJO uL'�
buy time. In February of thi_ ,:ar, however, the Eighth U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals decided that FCC had overstepped its
authority with that ruling. The 1974 Communications Act gave
FCCjurisdiction over areas ancillary to broadcasting. But that
jurisdiction doesn't include such things as channel capacity or
public access, the court said. One judge wrote that the act
contains "no objectives so broad as to encompass whatever is
necessary to get everybody on television. If that major foray be
a legitimate goal, it most be established not by the commission
or the courts, but by Congress."
Congress will have its shot at cable television this year. The
1934 Communications Act is up for revision and two congres-
sional subcommittees have been giving it a good hard look.
The House Subcommittee on Communications should submit
its new bill to the House of Representatives June 1; it will
surely reexamine cable television. On the Senate side, the act
is being updated, but not completely rewritten; a new section
covering cable television is expected to be added.
Congress's action on the new legislation may well resolve
some uncertainties about cable television; so might FCC's
appeal of the court decision. Merry Sue Smoller, cable televi-
sion officer for Madison, Wis. where City 12, the local gov.
ernment channel, has been linking the city hall with the people
for four years, feels that the current "regulatory vacuum" is
bad news for cities that "don't give a damn" about access to
cable television, good news for those that do. What she means
is that without a federal requirement in force, the responsibility
for insisting on public access channels would be in the hands of
each city as it negotiates a cable franchise. Cities would have
to make such access a specific requirement of each franchise
and cities that aren't aware of that now might find it hard to
accomplish retroactively.
CITIES CAN STILL ACT
But public access isn't necessarily in limbo, says Harold
Horn, executive director of the Cable 71:1evision Information
Center at the Urban Institute. "If the decision is upheld," he
says, local governments "may find it offers a new opportunity
to develop and encourage public access channels." Cities
pursuing public access aggressively possibly could go beyond
the old FCC rules.
With the new legislation due in Congress this summer, and
with the general furorstirmd up by the court decision and FCC
regulations in general, cable television might be u matter of
importance to cities this year. "As a policy arena for cities, it is
vital," says Mitchell Moss of the New York University Gradu-
ate School of Public Administration. "The city grants the
franchise, and it should have the decision over what's on the
cable."
That cable television has not made tremendous use of the
potential for public access is understandabl"ere's no real
profit in it for cubic companies. The use that has been made
has been the result of efforts by people from outside the
conventional television -entertainment -marketing world. The
two consultants behind much of the programming on Man-
hattan's Channel L, for example, are not electronic wizards,
video freaks, or professional broadcasters. Chuck Sherwood
is an urban planner by training, and John Sandiford a commu-
nity organizer. Tb them, and to many others like them, cable
a NATION'S CITIESIMAY 1978
television is , A to be used in community building.
THE BIG-TIME IN COLUMBUS, OHIO
It has been snowing in Columbus, Ohio and through the studio
window snow can still be seen lining the roadside. Inside at a
table on the set, "Columbus Alive" host Ron Giles is talking to
Mayor Tom Moodv about snow removal problems. Giles then
asks home viewers ff they think the streets ate being cleared
well enough. "If you think they we, push button number ora
on yaw console. If you think they aren't being cleared well,
push button number two." At home, subscribers of Warner
Cable Television's QURE pick up their consoles—black boxes
the size of telephones—to register their opinions. A computer
at the studio tallies the responses, and thev are flashed on the
screen within u minute or so of Giles' question: 58 percent of
the viewers said yes, 42 percent said no.
After more conversation and more questions about viewers'
impressions of snow removal problems, Mayor Moody ex-
plains that snow removal costs money and that to improve the
city's snow removal process would call for higher fazes. Then
he asks the big question: "How many viewers would pay more
rases for better snow removal?" Giles runs through the
instructions—push button number one if you would pay more
taus for better snow removal, push button number two if you
wouldn't. In a minute or so, the results flash on the screen: 74
percent of the watchers that evening pushed button number
two—they aren't willing to pay higher taxes in order to get the
streets cleared faster.
QUBE is the opposite end of almost any polarity one might
construct about interactive cable television, local access chan.
nels, or maybe even cable television in general. It depends on
sophisticated electronics, particularly for its response system.
It is slickly produced and flashily packaged. It is the child of
AU R01 104111 8V
JORM MICR40LA13
;t.i•;U by JORM 11ICRULAB LEJAif iiAVIJ'� AIJU uL� '11,.'IL ..I
marketing and cmertainme .ople. It is a commercial emer.
prise intended to make a prof i. It also provides what must be
the most elaborate original programming on a cable system; in
that regard it is much more like a conventional television
station than a cable system. "What QUBE is trying to do,"
says Ron Castell, the Warner marketing vice president in
Columbus, "is not offer more 'Hogan's Heroes' but offer
altematives—things that aren't on conventional television."
ForS10.95 a month a subscriber to QUBE gets: access to all
local television channels, including the university channels;
premium (pay) movies and other programs; a live channel that
offers a series of locally -produced live programs for children,
teen-agers, and adults; consumer information, news updates; a
continuous channel of children's progrartuning and other spe.
cial programs. The live channel is set up to use the two. way
capability of the system and says Michael Marcovsky, QUBE's
general manager, it's "one big access channel."
Old TFeks for a New Dog
"YAk offer an abundance of access," he says, "and we can
respond to what's important to people. When the snow started
falling, we decided to do some special programming on the
live channel. Wb wanted to cover the snow problem, we
wanted to infotm people about what was happening, and we
wanted to be a companion to people who couldn't get out."
That approach to programming --being the individual viewer's
companion and contact with the local steno—is "a matter of
teaching a new dog old tricks," Marcovsky says. "WE have
gone back to some basics in programming, trying to make
entertainment informative and information entertaining. It's
fun, but we can deal with serious issues."
A local highway hearing, for example, got thorough cover-
age via QUBE. A crew went to city hall and the hearings were
carried live over one channel for subscribers who wanted to
watch the real thing; on the "Columbus Alive" program, the
remote crew periodically presented highlights and news up-
dates. "Wb kept the five coverage going past the scheduled end
of the program," Ron Castell says, "past 11:00 p.m. 7lterc
were maybe sixty people watching then, but we kept with it."
Another Polling Dflemma
Werner and QUBE are certainly doing some things that most
conventional television stations don't do and the two-way
response system built into QUBE is unique in television --
broadcast or cable. There arc questions that can be raised about
the validity of the responses: the audience is limited, the
responses are only as good as the questions, and there is no way
for the audience to qualify responses or ask Its own questions.
For example, Mayor Moody's question reached a maximum of
14,773 households—a very small slice of Columbus's 541,000
people. There is also the possibility that because of audience
fickleness, QUBE's response system may tum out to be only a
gimmick. With very little citizen -government interaction tak.
ing place on QUBE, much of the push button response so far
involves second-guessing quarterbacks, playing games, or
giving a boring performer an electronic hook.
It's obvious that QUBE is not doing the things that Channel
L, for example, does. "Many public access channels are
noble, but ineffective," Ron Castell says. "It's difficult to get
12 NATION'S CITIES/MAY 1978
masses of p : interested in things that are 'gond for them.'
Bringing government to the people and to neighborhoods is s
noble idea, but what we've tried to do is to put these kinds of
discussions in a more polished format."
The big question, of course, is: Have we seen the future, and
is it QUBE? Columbus is one of the traditional test markets for
new products in this country, and Wamer feels confident
enough of the experience there to be applying for franchises in
Fort Wayne, Ind. and Pittsburgh. The company is also study.
ing the feasibility of adding QUBE to a %mer -owned system
in Akron.
The Columbus system has been a demonstration project ors
marketing test, and as aresult the 14,773 subscribers have been
getting a bonus. Warner has been paying for the live program.
ming and facilities that the viewers might otherwise have been
expected to pay for through subscription fees or premium
television payments. But while Warner sees Columbus as a
lab, it also sees the operation as a business; the money—mote
than $IO million --that has gone into programming is seen as
an investment in the system's future. "As we move into other
cities, we won't have the same costs as we've had here," says
Mike Macovsky. "W@ won't have the cost of ourprogramming
consultant, we won't have to spend so much developing new
talent and new people,"
In the meantime, QUBE's Columbus subscribers seem to be
enjoying the variety the system offers and the chance to push a
button and become part of the system. Professional reactions
seem mixed, although most people who have been through the
studios and watched QUBE in action seem to find it interest.
ing. One, writing in Columbus Monthly, noted, however, that
the audience was limited and that the system may be more
significant nationally than locally. If that's the case, then its
acceptance, or tack of it, in more cites will tell Ilse We.
,..._�—III kid ILNta t!r
DORM MICROLA6
.1.�:)I ;_>'.. .. L'Y JUkh1 !•IICROLAb
The Bottom Line
QUBE is certainly unique and it is a sharp contrast to the
other two systems currently operating in Columbus. The city
passed enabling legislation in 1969 after several years of dis.
cussing cable television, but the first system wasn't underway
until two years later. Since then, Columbus has developed the
third largest cable television system (counting all three operat.
ing companies) in the nation's top IBO markets.
The companies operate under franchise agreements that arc
typical of the cable industry. The business arrangements and
legal authorities are those of the standard utility franchise: the
city owns the public rights of way, and any private business
wishing to string its power lines or television cables above
ground or bury them below ground pays for the privilege of
using the public right of way.
The original franchises negotiated in Columbus set the
franchise fee for each company at 6 percent of the base gross
receipts, excluding pay television receipts. Now, however, the
FCC has ruled that pay television receipts may also be used as
pan of the rate base, so the city's 1978 cable income is
expected to be greater than last year's $240,000. The FCC has
also imposed a limit on franchise fees of S percent. Ralph
Squires, the city's cable television administrator, says, "If you
want 3 percent, they ask no questions. But if you want the
maximum, you have to justify it:'
The cable companies in Columbus, like cable companies
everywhere are largely purveyors of entertainment. But, says
Squires, "as time moves on and the operators become more
successful, they can add community services." That is the end
to which Squires is working, certainly, and he has ambitions
that would eventually call for a cable drop in every home. By
the end of this year, he expects that 85 percent of the houses in
I,LJAt< RAH,)'J Ah10 JL-, . °-
the county or 240 houses would be wired for cable.
7b Each City A Network
Lurking in the back of Squires mind—and in any number of
proposals in his files—is a government telecommunications
center that would provide the government services program-
ming "commercial cable operators don't want to do because
they can't make a profit at it." The center would link all the
cable systems in the city to provide a local network for city
government programming. 7bchnology isn't the problem, he
says, but money and "determining what services you start with
and which ones you add next" are problems.
"Columbus has only recently been in a position to use a
government channel on cable television," Columbus Mayor
Tom Moody points out. There hasn't been the money before,
and the uncertainties about FCC regulations and franchise fees
that currently abound make him cautions about moving too for
tow fast. There are, however, a number of services that Moody
feels could be valuable: weather, consumer information,
emergency and disaster services, information about govem-
ment activities, education. "Given careful thoughtful planning
and execution that could all be put together," he says.
It would take a considerable commitment of time and
money on the part of the city. "Anyway you look at it, you'd
have to have a good product," Moody says. "If you don't, you
won't attract and maintain interest in a government channel.
That's lough on the city's resources and on its pay scale. The
kind of person we would need would be the equal of at least a
news director ata local station, and we'd need otherpeople not
far below that level. And then there are facilities"
Squires estimates of the cost of a city telecommunications
center run as high as Sl million for the initial investment,
excluding real estate, and a minimum of $300,000 a yearto run
it. He has a long shopping list of services the center might
offer, running from a wide range of informational program.
ming to digital communications, air pollution monitoring,
records storage, crime and accident surveillance, and perhaps
even individual burglar and fire alarms for every house.
There is a lot of blue-sky thinking in Squires' list and a la
that gas beyond simple two-way interactive cable television.
The future that his list anticipates may have to wait a while,
though, because people don't keep pace with technology.
Cable television is about thirty -years -old, but it is far from
universal (only 17.9 percent of homes with television are on a
cable system) and its use in creating a sense of community is
still largely experimental. "It will be a long time before cities
really see cable as a tool," says Mitchell Moss at New York
University's Graduate School of Public Administration. "You
need an organizations] structure at the local level to do it." In
Reading, for instance, the programming capacity is outside the
city government; she same is true of Channel L, although New
York does have its own station; in Madison, fora contrast, City
12 is run by people on the city payroll.
"Cable television has to grow city by city," Reading's Red
Burns says," but what matters is not the technology, but the
use. It's far more exciting to harness technology to work in
favor of an exchange of opinion" Mitchell Moss puts it
another way: "7Lchnology won't change the way the govern.
ment is done but complement if." ❑
JORM MICROLAB
NA710N'S CMESIMAY 1978 13
;;,.,tars !C'11 J BY JORM 111CROLAB CLOAk RAP(JS AMU JLC Iu:iiL<,
States begin to `pay tax'
for taxonexempt bodies'; `
By MICHAEL J. McMANUS
THE CITY of New Haven,
Com., has won a two{mtu-
ryold battle to collect cases
for providing municipal
services to Yale University. It did so
with Yale's enthusiastic Macau&
The result New Haven Is lowering
Its high tax me while Increasing
outlays for libraries and schools. An
important national precedent has
been set that every cormoualty In the
country ought to study, since an
estimated one-third of W property is
exempt from taxation today.
The key to New Haven's victory
was not a new wUWlpen by Yak to
be taxed. Rather, the city will receive
$2.9 million In lieu of property taxes
from the date government for in -
exempt Institutions that serve a wide
public: hospitals and colleges and
universities. This solution was
approved by a vsb od 1g7.1 ts the
Connecticut 8ensts teal month,
Another braktheot — though
not mprat.'edented —''da be uses in
Newark, N.J., nit Neatiss ball of ■
new $3.8 MIW04 payer In UK of
tans from the state goverment for
state-owned properly in Newark.
That check Is New Juseys Nit tan
notice that its $127 million worth of
colleges, universities and other fadh-
ties In Newark cod the city money to
service with police and tiro protan
tion, streets, sewage and street
lighting.
Tax-exempt property is "ally
distributed. It tends to be coocentret.
ed In cities, particularly capitals, Of
Washington's $18.0 billion worth of
ausessed property, $9.9 billion is tax•
exempf, $7 billion of It federally
owned. In Des Motors tuexesspt
property equals about cue -forth of
total valuations.
Some progress has been wale in
recst yam In gang {avaromsots
to make payments in lieu of taxon.
Thirty-six states now make payments
of property taxes directly to local
governments, or payments In Hen of
Bet Connecticut Is a pioneer to
helping communities collect from
private taxesarrpt institution such
r universities end hospitals. Yak's
tax exemption predates the founding
of the country and ba been a solve
of controversy at since. An 1117
New Havas Register editorial in op-
po"on to Wowing Yalles the right
to "is ukk
"GTtinss of New Haven — you who
pay
for
y�nnment and shoulder your min
the mules. — AN you prepared w
bow your taxa lugond and your
town officers forced upon you by the
banmsse !utas of Yale COW with
a trats of students at their heels who
have no Yore In the public burtbme
ihardeni7"
On person who bas bass ciao to
the Bghi Isn Yak and the city Is
Joseph Lieberman, president of
Yaws stsdmt body in IM, later
assistant dean of YaWs School of
Architecture and Plasdng, and mese
recaatly, a stab senator from New
Haven, now the Senate's majority
leader.
"This gen a classic Issue In which
both sides are right." aye Lieberman.
'Yals is a maintenance burden on
New Sam taxpayers. The property
lax Y a mala source of revenue —
two-WNs of the city's budget Yak I$
given tiro and police protection,
swage, and street lights, yet It pays
no taro. On the other band, tax•
exempt organizations are right that
they are performing a public
function. Two-thirds of the people
who ace patients at Yale's hospital
come from outside New Haven Its
MOOT I OPO 6Y
JORM MICRCoLA6
3 M -et 7
studies have beaefited7he nation and
the world. And 13,0DO New Haven's
Jobs aro at Yale."
This year Yale sat down with the
city's representatives and worked out
a Joint effort to prey the slate to
expand the state's PILOT (Payment
in Lieu of Taxa) program that
already was reimbursing cornmeal.
tin $7.3 million for stateowned land.
New Haven forged solid support by
the Connecticut Conference of Mud•
clpalltks; and Yak swung many of
the state's tax-exempt institutions
Into active lobbying — hospitals,
museums, private secondary schools,
the Connecticut Council on the Arts.
ONLY THE churches failed
to Join the lobbying eft
not of fear that 1! they
fought for toe principle of
reimbursing local government for
cburchowoed land this year, In some
future year local governments might
tum the churches' own arguments
against them to seek taxation of
church property.
Par more serious exploiters of tax-
exempt status than churches aro
public authorities, end on the Port
Authority of New York and Now
Jersey. That agency toot lege million
worth of taus co from bridges,
tunnels and airports and built the
colossal Wald Trade, Cmter. Steve
the agency pan only h token In Ike
of taxes, its rents are lower than
those In taxpaying properties. So
tenants moved from 1* equivalent of
four Empire State &Adlnp Into the
center built with taxpayer dollen,
into facilities that pay no taxes.
But Connecticut's victory shows
that there Is hope.
/087
: iL'^.:- by JORM PIICROLAb LLUAK RAP!US ANU ul:, Ail': , . u•„
:..::iii::::
:.:,,tYw::t:v�i•[::Y7,iY,i�.:Sie:::H�',a
idv��aw>r�
By DANIEL SCHORR
n.snnr .ea T m smaaw
APPLE VALLEY,
CALIF. — The
sheriffs, . fire
Gki wardens, health
y�► officers and adminia-
•'�5',rl".4 trators of Loa
1:
'Angela County met
' at this desert resort,
staring at doomsday.
Doomsday Is an
"Alternative Budget" spoiling out the
cutbacks that will be forced If Propo.
sltios 12 passes. This initiative on the
June 6 ballot would, freeze' property
taxes at'1 percent of,a rolled -back
asinsaml..
!To'reduee a i1.3 -billion -dollar
cenoty budget by almost two-thirds, It
wasplanned to lay off 20,000
emPI oyees; from" librarians to iHe-
guards,'
el ose four hospitals and 67
keallh ceatlra, curtail law onforce-
"They say they don't believe us, or
they don't care, or it serves as right,"
mourned an administrator. "Our
citizens have turned off on us."
The rage against soaring taxes bas
expanded into a rage against the bu-
reaucrais who levy and spend them.
It has gathered up all the pet hates
about schools that don't teach,
potholes not filled, government that
doesn't respond. The fury has gone
beyond a tax revolt and verges now
on class warfare — the middle class
against the bureaucrat class, the
public against the public servanL
The generalized battle cries of
"parasite" and "freeloader" recall a
phenomenon I witnessed in the Soviet
Union. There, all officialdom Is
lumped together as "they," the word
spat out with loatbing by citizens who
feel cut oft from the regime. "They
r..r 'Y iatit' E't r i : t� oceangronl, sold Fire Warden
Clyde Bra don,
il, ,; t {Ik3 Nili'*'
:;'In some places, two-thirds of the
4 ,1 ;'�, 114i
rflb aksa'J.+%aWstreet lights would be'tumed off,"
said Purchasing Agent H.E. Davis Jr:,
"but'al least people ten wouldn't ase
the garbage piling up."
Vying with their vision of chaos
ahead was another nightmare for to
administrators — their Inability to
.... ,.,.. communicate with to voters across a
boiling chasm of skepticism.
The man of the hour, as tater of
"Prop, 12," is 75 -year-old tax -haling
Howard Jarvis. Dismissed for years
as an eccentric, he is an eccentric
whose time has come — to catalyst
of a revolution. Now he holds daylong
court for to media, chortling at his
fame, Milling at the bureaucrats, and
obliging to politicians to toe Z tax -
rebellion line.
In to current climate, former Los
Angeles Police Chief Edward M.
MH Rut II MP; lid
JORM MICROLArj
E
Davis, a Republican candidate for
governor, can make points by pro-
claiming that football Is essential to '
high school education, but hot lunches
are not '
Some candidates In the primaries,
swallowing hard, have endorsed
Proposition 13. A few, swallowing
harder, have opposed It. Gov. Jerry
Brown, who a couple of weeks ago •i
was denouncing It as a "rip-off' and a I
"consumer fraud;" has tamed silent
on the subject
Prospects for his landslide re-
elec-tion In November as a launching
platform into the presidential sweep-
stakes have dimmed, but Brown may
still mastermind a'comeback. County
officials say be has been asking them ,.
privately whether the National Guard
could help II ease- Ual services start
breaking down.
They speculate on a scenario of a
"white kalght" governor dealing with
threatened chaos by proclaiming an
emergency, calling out the guard,'
wresting state surpluses from the
legislature to replace local revenues. j
That may happen later,, but now
Brown, having helped to sow the and -
bureaucrat wind, Is reaping the
whirlwind. California, for once, is not
a cue of Isolated ranlness, but a
symptom of national alienation with j
bureaucracy —stimulated by po11U-
clans who run against to govern.
ments they want to lead,
President Carter may not have
realized It, but when he was seen on
television saying In Springfield, N.,
that he was frustrated by government I
agencies "wasting loo much money 1
and doing too little to solve real
problem," he was validating Howard
Jarvis' cause.
There may be short-term pot.....
gains In proclaiming contempt for to
workings of government, but there
are long -run consequences. The '
outburst Is today In California;
tomorrow, who knows?
/ a p,
There, may be short-term political gains
in:proclaimiitg'contempt for the workings
of government, but there are long -run
consequences. The, outburst is today in
„i%j IgKI jt jai^
Cali pornia•,tomorrow who knows?
ment and dismantle half the county's always He to us," a Russian says, and
120 fire stations, along with the pa- there is no need to ask who.
ramedlcs of television "ELmorgency" But to Russians, under dictator -
fame. . i ship, are mostly resigned. The Call -
"We might not be able to control a fornlans, with to democratic bit in
canyon fire before It swept to their teeth, are on a rampage.
r..r 'Y iatit' E't r i : t� oceangronl, sold Fire Warden
Clyde Bra don,
il, ,; t {Ik3 Nili'*'
:;'In some places, two-thirds of the
4 ,1 ;'�, 114i
rflb aksa'J.+%aWstreet lights would be'tumed off,"
said Purchasing Agent H.E. Davis Jr:,
"but'al least people ten wouldn't ase
the garbage piling up."
Vying with their vision of chaos
ahead was another nightmare for to
administrators — their Inability to
.... ,.,.. communicate with to voters across a
boiling chasm of skepticism.
The man of the hour, as tater of
"Prop, 12," is 75 -year-old tax -haling
Howard Jarvis. Dismissed for years
as an eccentric, he is an eccentric
whose time has come — to catalyst
of a revolution. Now he holds daylong
court for to media, chortling at his
fame, Milling at the bureaucrats, and
obliging to politicians to toe Z tax -
rebellion line.
In to current climate, former Los
Angeles Police Chief Edward M.
MH Rut II MP; lid
JORM MICROLArj
E
Davis, a Republican candidate for
governor, can make points by pro-
claiming that football Is essential to '
high school education, but hot lunches
are not '
Some candidates In the primaries,
swallowing hard, have endorsed
Proposition 13. A few, swallowing
harder, have opposed It. Gov. Jerry
Brown, who a couple of weeks ago •i
was denouncing It as a "rip-off' and a I
"consumer fraud;" has tamed silent
on the subject
Prospects for his landslide re-
elec-tion In November as a launching
platform into the presidential sweep-
stakes have dimmed, but Brown may
still mastermind a'comeback. County
officials say be has been asking them ,.
privately whether the National Guard
could help II ease- Ual services start
breaking down.
They speculate on a scenario of a
"white kalght" governor dealing with
threatened chaos by proclaiming an
emergency, calling out the guard,'
wresting state surpluses from the
legislature to replace local revenues. j
That may happen later,, but now
Brown, having helped to sow the and -
bureaucrat wind, Is reaping the
whirlwind. California, for once, is not
a cue of Isolated ranlness, but a
symptom of national alienation with j
bureaucracy —stimulated by po11U-
clans who run against to govern.
ments they want to lead,
President Carter may not have
realized It, but when he was seen on
television saying In Springfield, N.,
that he was frustrated by government I
agencies "wasting loo much money 1
and doing too little to solve real
problem," he was validating Howard
Jarvis' cause.
There may be short-term pot.....
gains In proclaiming contempt for to
workings of government, but there
are long -run consequences. The '
outburst Is today In California;
tomorrow, who knows?
/ a p,