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Home My WebLink About2007-10-16 Public hearing ~ NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the City Council of Iowa City will hold a public hearing on the 2nd day of October, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall, 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa, or if said meeting is cancelled, at the next meeting of the City Council thereafter as posted by the City Clerk; at which hearing the Council will consider an ordinance granting to MidAmerican Energy Company, its successors and assigns, the right and franchise to acquire, construct, erect, maintain and operate in the City of Iowa City, a natural gas system for a period of ten years, with a ten year and five year renewal thereafter, to furnish and sell natural gas to said city and its inhabitants. Copies of the proposed ordinance are on file for public examination in the office of the City Clerk, City Hall, Iowa City, Iowa. Persons wishing to make their views known for Council consideration are encouraged to appear at the above- mentioned time and place. MARIAN K. KARR, CITY CLERK ~ fr; (t? /ir Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Subject: Tom Carsner [carsner@mchsi.com] Thursday, October 04, 2007 10: 14 PM Council Franchise Agreement comment To The Council: Thank you for listening to my comment at the October 2, 2007 public hearing. I would like to extend my remarks on one point. I suggested that the City require Mid- America to meet graduated levels of producing alternative/renewable energy at various intervals during the franchise period. Mid-America now produces alternative/renewable energy as 4.5% of its production. For example, in 3 years that level becomes 10%, in 7 years it becomes 20%, and in 10 years it becomes 40% and so on. It may be that such levels of renewable/alternative energy production cannot be included in a franchise agreement. If that is the case, then please consider the following option. Separate from the franchise agreement, the City Council passes a resolution stating that continued progress in expanding the percent of alternative/renewable energy produced by Mid-America will be one significant criterion considered by the City when its option to renew the franchise arises. Thank you for considering my comment. Tom Carsner 1 Page 1 of 1 Marian Karr From: Mary Vasey [mvasey@inav.net] Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 2:29 PM To: Council Subject: MidAmerican To the City Council, I am writing to urge you NOT to sign the long term franchise ageement with MidAmerican Energy Company. They must continue to provide their service to Iowa City. It is your job to protect the interests of the citizens of Iowa City, not a utility company. It seems reasonable to keep all of our options open. We may continue in the long run with MidAmerican but there is no reason to tie our hands in the process. Thank you. Mary Vasey 10/412007 Marian Karr From: Sent: Subject: James Andrews Dames-andrews@uiowa.edu] Tuesday, October 09, 2007 4:44 PM Proposed franchise agreement with MidAmerican Energy TO: Iowa City City Council FROM: James G. Andrews; 2 Melrose Circle; Iowa City, IA 52246 SUBJECT: Proposed franchise agreement with MidAmerican Energy DATE: 9 Oct. 2007 I am writing to urge you to simply reject approving any franchise agreement with MidAmerican Energy, or to committing the City to any other similarly ill-advised agreement with any business enterprise. Our City's recent past experience with MidAmerican Energy indicates that such agreements are not only completely unnecessary but seriously ill- advised in that they restrict the options the City has if something unanticipated or unfortunate arises. I'm referring to "The Law of Unintended Consequences," and no matter how carefully crafted any franchise agreement is, our City staff and Council members are only human, and they cannot be expected to anticipate and properly account for all possible future events. I am convinced that you will be acting in the long-term best interests of all citizens of Iowa City if you simply decide that franchise agreements with any business enterprise are not only an unnecessary holdover from the past, but seriously ill-advised and not worth continuing. Sincerely, Jim Andrews 319-338-9585 1 Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Subject: Evan Fales [evan-fales@uiowa.edu] Tuesday, October 09, 2007 7:29 PM Council franchise agreement with Mid-America Energy Dear Counci1persons, I wish briefly to register my view that the Council should not enter into a franchise agreement with MEC. I do not see that such an agreement has any benefits for the city commensurate with the loss of options that such an agreement entails for the city over the next ten or even twenty five years. Sincerely, Evan Fales 1215 Oakcrest St. Iowa City, IA 52246 1 Page 1 of 1 ~\" Marian Karr From: Tim Weitzel [tweitzel.email@gmail.com] Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 10:13 AM To: Council Subject: Franchise Agreement for Power Utility To the City Council of Iowa City: I hope the heated debate that surrounded the issue of a public utility has not yet passed from the public memory. Though a long-term franchise agreement comes with many promises, it also is a considerable obligation to the citizens of Iowa City. I respectfully suggest that though many statistics and figures have been presented by MidAmercan Energy, that other facts and figures have also been presented. It will take time to digest all this information and I am not convinced anyone has found the entire correct answer. As fuel prices soar, and as renewable energy begins to offer the promise of energy independence, and as the debate over the health, safety, and climate change issues concerned with non- renewable fuel sources grows, I have to offer my strongest encouragement possible that you not sign a franchise agreement at this time, but instead, examine other possible alternatives. Sincerely, Tim Weitzel, Resident of Iowa City 10/15/2007 Page 1 of 1 <6, ~ Marian Karr From: RussUPS@aol.com Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 12:34 PM To: Council Subject: (no subject) The City Council couldn't seem to make this decision a while back either. So it went up for a vote on whether to continue to have Mid - America supply our services to the community or go to a municipality. My father worked for Iowa - Illinois Gas & Electric now Mid- America Energy as a lineman for 30 years. I truly know how hard these people work and the sacrifices they make to keep our community up and running 24-7. The vote was 2 to 1 not to have a municipality. Mid - America has proven themselves in the past when a major disaster strikes our community, like the ice storm we had. Now the people have told you what they want, are you going answer those wishes or follow your own self interests. Russell Haught 351-5315 See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage. 10/1512007 Page 1 of 1 C?, '\ Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Peter Small [psdfliowa@yahoo.com] Tuesday, October 16, 2007 3:59 PM Council Subject: Power Utility Franchise Agreement - Please do not rush into one - October 16 meeting item Dear City Council members, I realize that this message is last minute, but I want to add my voice to those asking that Iowa City not rush into a franchile agreement with Mid-American Energy, especially not one that would commit the city to an agreement of ten or more years. The city needs to continue exercising its bargaining power with MidAmerican in regards to both price, conservation and alternative energy standards. In order to do this, the city should be able to consider other options that could be more advantageous in these regards. If you do enter into an agreement with MidAmerican, it should last for no more than five years at the outset and be renewed for any further length of time only upon the affirmative agreement of both parties. For what it is worth, I voted in the city council primary elections and will give careful consideration to how you each act regarding this issue in deciding on my votes in future municipal elections. Thank you for your attention to my opinions on this matter. Sincerely, Peter Small P.O. Box 1271 Iowa City, IA 52244-1271 Don't let your dream ride pass you by. M~k~jt a [~~ality with Yahoo! Autos. 10/16/2007 II 8'~ ( te vry SI't\I~) .p g Iowa City Electric Franchise Duration language Section 2. The City may continue this franchise by resolution adopted more than one, but less than two years prior to the tenth anniversary of the effective date of this Ordinance. In the event the City Council does not adopt such a resolution, this franchise will terminate on the tenth anniversary of the effective date. The City may continue this franchise by resolution adopted more than one but less than two years prior to the twentieth anniversary of the effective date of this Ordinance. In the event the City Council does not adopt such a resolution, this franchise will terminate on the twentieth anniversary of the effective date. If both such resolutions are adopted, this franchise will terminate on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the effective date. ~ Iowa City Natural Gas Franchise :if -, Duration language Section 2. The City may continue this franchise by resolution adopted more than one, but less than two years prior to the tenth anniversary of the effective date of this Ordinance. In the event the City Council does not adopt such a resolution, this franchise will terminate on the tenth anniversary of the effective date. The City may continue this franchise by resolution adopted more than one but less than two years prior to the twentieth anniversary of the effective date of this Ordinance. In the event the City Council does not adopt such a resolution, this franchise will terminate on the twentieth anniversary of the effective date. Ifboth such resolutions are adopted, this franchise will terminate on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the effective date. #1'-+7 CITY OF S U III IOWA CITY'S mer of the ~ ~ PO!,,'312; ,.J..: ioWo cih. . 'T, IOWO 52244 319.337.7944 h Pone 31935 . 8.9094 fax www.sul11rnerofth eo rls. org Iowa City Council Civic Center Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Councilors: I write today to acknowledge the generous contributions of our friends at Mid American Energy Company, and their support of art and culture in Iowa City. When we formed the Summer of the Arts organization in 2005, one of the first businesses to encourage and finance our collaboration was Mid American Energy. They were already major contributors to the individual events that formed our union, and from the earliest meetings between Mid American and SotA, their staff made it clear that they would continue their support and even encouraged us to explore additional ways that we could utilize their resources in support of our efforts. Cash contributions by Mid American Energy have included more than $20,000 since the formation of SotA, and many more thousands of dollars to the Iowa Arts Festival, Iowa City Jazz Festival, and the Friday Night Concert Series before these events joined forces. Their continued moral and financial support inspires volunteers like me to believe that artistic and cultural endeavors can flourish in our community with the help of our good corporate citizens. I am confident that the people of Mid American realize the important role they play in ensuring our success. I believe that Summer of the Arts contributes greatly to the cultural vitality ofIowa City, and the contributions of Mid American Energy have been vital to the health and success of SotA. I am enormously grateful for their support and look forward to continuing this par1nership in the future. Sincerely. Bob Goodfellow Operations Chair Summer of the Arts . ....- ~O"f01"'-SC~ . --f ",I-- CI,i "''14.'' \O~;;'.:t.'..;i.i.,,-j ~~r&- 1'1,'/ ,. \;\OS,NI--\. j l \'I\G\\\ tR\\JI--~ ,~>: St.,tS.... NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the City Council of Iowa City will hold a public hearing on the 2nd day of October, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall, 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa, or if said meeting is cancelled, at the next meeting of the City Council thereafter as posted by the City Clerk; at which hearing the Council will consider an ordinance granting to MidAmerican Energy Company, its successors and assigns, the right and franchise to acquire, construct, erect, maintain and operate in the City of Iowa City, an electric and power system for a period of ten years, with a ten year and five year renewal thereafter, to furnish and sell electric energy to said city and its inhabitants. Copies of the proposed ordinance are on file for public examination in the office of the City Clerk, City Hall, Iowa City, Iowa. Persons wishing to make their views known for Council consideration are encouraged to appear at the above- mentioned time and place. MARIAN K. KARR, CITY CLERK q ~ ~ 1;7; {~/(f(1