HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-09-01 CorrespondenceMarian Karr
From: Dennis Bockenstedt
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 3:03 PM
To: 'charleslsimpson@gmail.com'
Cc: *City Council
Subject: FW: Residents Need Property Tax Relief!
Dear Mr. Simpson,
City Manager, Tom Markus, asked that I provide a response to your e-mail regarding the City's budget and property tax
rate.
Property taxes are a culmination of numerous factors that originate from many organizations and come together to
create your property tax statement.
The major components of your property tax bill are 1) your property's assessed value, 2) the combined property tax
rate, and 3) the state rollback factor.
You have identified the change in your assessed property value. These values are assigned by the City Assessor and are
based upon the estimated market value. If you feel that this assessment is inaccurate, below is the advice provided by
the Iowa City Assessor's office:
Reducing Property Tax Liability
There are ways to lower property taxes by challenging property tax assessments when they are found to be inequitable
or erroneous. Although the assessor has no hand in budget spending within a taxing district, they do determine the
assessed value of all real property, and in some states personal property.
Property tax bills are generated to support city/county services to taxpayers. Basically, the bill is generated by multiplying
the assessed value of a property times the tax rate for the district where the property is located.
Taxpayers who can demonstrate that the assessed value on a given property is too high can possibly lower the tax bill for
that property.
Detailed below are six simple, but effective actions taxpayers can take in order to make a successful argument to lower
the assessed value on their property:
1. Review the current assessment from the county assessor's office and look for obvious errors with regard to size,
description or condition of the property in question.
2. Compare the assessed value of the property in question with similar properties in the same neighborhood and
look for discrepancies. Assessments are public information and are available at the city/county assessor's office
or via internet access through the assessor's web site.
3. Check recent sales prices of homes in the same neighborhood that are similar to the property in question. These
prices are also public information or can be obtained from a local Realtor or via internet access to the assessor's
web site.
4. Have a new appraisal performed by a reputable certified appraiser.
5. List factors that could decrease the value of a property as of the assessment date. Factors that could lower a
property's value are deteriorating condition, undesirable neighborhood influences like smells, air quality or heavy
street traffic and declining market prices.
6. Be sure to take advantage of special exemptions. Some states provide tax reductions for veterans and senior
citizens. Some states also provide reductions for historic buildings and special energy efficient systems. Areas
called urban revitalization or tax incremental financing districts also may provide some incentives for tax
reduction.
Documentation of your case before an appeal board should include photographs of the property in question and a
complete explanation of any detrimental factors affecting the property value.
You should contact your local assessment office for rules and procedures governing the assessed valuation appeal.
You can find additional information including the assessor's duties and valuation methodology at the Iowa City
Assessor's web site http:/Ziowacity.iowaassessors.com/index.php.
The second major component is the combined property tax rate. The current combined property tax rate is $38.81115
per $1,000 of taxable value for an Iowa City taxpayer in the Iowa City Community School District. The combined tax rate
represents the property tax rate from the following jurisdictions: Iowa City Community School District, Iowa City
Assessor, Johnson County, Ag Extension Council, Kirkwood Community College, State of Iowa, and the City of Iowa
City. These rates are combined together and applied against your property's taxable value to form your property tax
bill. Below is the property tax rate history for Iowa City for the last ten years:
Collection
Year
Iowa City
Community
School
District
Iowa City
Assessor
Johnson
County*
Kirkwood
Community
College
State
of
Iowa
City of
Iowa
City
Total
Iowa City
Percentage
of Total
Residential
Rollback
2006-07
13.632
.232
6.183
0.872
0.004
17.302
38.226
45.3
45.9960
2007-08
13.852
.261
6.562
0.855
0.004
17.297
38.830
44.5
45.5596
2008-09
14.192
.250
7.553
0.852
0.004
17.717
40.567
43.7
44.0803
2009-10
14.191
.238
7.470
0.840
0.003
17.853
40.596
44.0
45.5893
2010-11
14.690
.235
7.305
0.926
0.003
17,757
40.915
43.4
46.9094
2011-12
14.591
.246
7.074
0.999
0.003
17.842
40.754
43.8
48.5299
2012-13
14.073
.245
6.830
1.079
0.003
17.269
39.499
43.7
50.7518
2013-14
13.688
.259
6.818
1.065
0.003
16.805
38.639
43.5
52.8166
2014-15
13.699
.239
6.823
1.058
0.003
16.705
38.528
43.4
54.4002
2015-16
13.868
.243
6.985
1.061
0.003
1 16.651
1 38.811
1 42.9
1 55.7335
*Includes Johnson County and Agricultural
Extension levies.
Source: Johnson County Auditor
The overall combined property tax rate has changed very little over the past 10 years and the City of Iowa City's property
tax rate has decreased by 3.76% since 2007 and by 6.68% from its peak in 2012. One of the City Council's strategic
financial goals currently is to "maintain a competitive tax and fee environment for economic development
purposes". The Iowa City City Council has lowered its property tax rate each year for the past four years while
maintaining the same level of city services.
The third major component is the property tax rollback percentage. The residential rollback percentage is in the above
chart on the far right. It represents the portion of your property's assessed value that is taxable. This has increased by
21.2% from 2007 to 2016. This rollback percentage is calculated using a formula developed by the state and is partly
determined by the combined growth of all residential property values across the state, and it also couples residential
property values to agricultural property values. Using the rollback percentages above, a $100,000 house would have
been taxed at $45,996 of value in 2007 but would be taxed at $55,734 of value in 2016. The City does not have any
control or ability to impact the rollback percentages.
Up until last year, commercial (including multi -residential property) and industrial property were taxed at 100% of their
assessed value. Due to property tax law changes in 2013, these properties will now be taxed at 90% of their assessed
value except for multi -residential property which will be taxed at a lower percentage each year until it matches the
residential rollback percentage in 2024. This same law also reduced the allowable, combined growth of residential
property values statewide from 4% to 3%. The impact that these property tax law changes will have on the City's budget
are unknown except that they will reduce property tax revenue to the City and all of the jurisdictions listed above.
We value your input to the City's budget process which will begin in October of this year for fiscal year 2017. City
Council budget work sessions are open to the public and will begin in January of next year. A public hearing on the
budget will also be held prior to adoption. Thank you for your feedback regarding the City's budget.
For more information, you can view the City's current budget and prior year budgets on our web site
http://www.icp,ov.org/budget.
Dennis Bockenstedt
Finance Director
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
319-356-5053 phone
From: Charles Simpson[mailto:charleslsimpson@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 10:59 AM
To: Council
Subject: Residents Need Property Tax Relief!
City Council
Something has got to give! Either the tax rate or the unfair valuation of properties by the cities assessor's
office. Apparently I must wait until April of next year to protest the valuation of my property (parcel
10 13416002) and why it increased from $245,890 to $297,260 ... that's over 50K while nothing has changed on
my property as it has never been remodeled or had any additions added. This valuation is outrageous and
unwarranted.
Perhaps you could work to reduce the tax rate, perhaps not offer so many city services that very few of us use
but we all must pay for. Think about this when discussing your budget next go around.
Charles Simpson
1235 Chamberlain Dr
Iowa City, IA 52240
3f(2)
Marian Karr
From: Marian Karr
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2015 1:57 PM
To: Marian Karr
Subject: FW: Enquiry about hosting public outdoor events
Attachments: paradeassemblypermit.pdf
From: Simon Andrew
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2015 12:57 PM
To: 'louise-slater@uiowa.edu'
Cc: Shannon McMahon
Subject: FW: Enquiry about hosting public outdoor events
Hi Ms. Slater,
Thank you for your email. Events in a park or on the ped mall with more than 25 participants (100 participants if in City
Park) require a public assembly permit. There is no fee. Please find attached the application. There may be insurance
required based on the type of equipment used.
Please let me know if you have any questions when filling out the application. Have a good afternoon!
Best regards,
Simon Andrew
Administrative Analyst
City of Iowa City
410 East Washington St.
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
(319) 356-5010
simon-andrew@iowa-city.oriz
From: Louise Slater [mailto:louise-slater@uiowa.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2015 2:28 PM
To: Council
Subject: Enquiry about hosting public outdoor events
Dear Sir/Madam,
I was wondering whether you could tell me what the rules/regulations are in Iowa City regarding the "hosting"
of public events.
A group of us meet regularly in different outdoor locations for social ballroom dancing (salsa). Are we allowed
to host these public events, or do we need to register them with the council first?
With best wishes,
Louise J. Slater
3f(3)
Marian Karr
From: Brian Flanagan <wordsmythl@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2015 12:10 PM
To: Council
Subject: Fwd: The 16 Best Places to Live in America: 2015 1 Outside Online
In case you missed it...
Iowa City #3
httys://www.outsideonline.com/2006426/americas-best-towns-2015
The 16 Best Places to Live in America: 2015
Clockwise from top left: Hunter Museum of American Art;
Farmer's Daughter; deepwater solo near downtown.
Lehman; Hollis Bennett
Photo: Dianne Blankenbaker; Ben
We began our 2015 Best Towns competition with a bracket of 64 favorites, then let you vote
until one dream burg emerged. Here, we present the 16 finalists—the places you say are the top
spots in the country to work, run, eat, sail, paddle, drink, ride, and climb. The winner? A
southern gem that surprised us once again.
Planning a trip to one of these towns? Better make sure you know the outfitters locals like best.
We found one for all 16 destinations.
16. Lake Placid, New York
Site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Games, Lake Placid still feels like an Olympic village. It's
tiny—population 2,500—but it's an amazing place for all kinds of athletes to call home. Just ask
29 -year-old U.S. Ski Team member and two-time Olympian Andrew Weibrecht, a Lake Placid
native. He walked us through his favorite spots. —Megan Michelson
Morning: My day starts with coffee and breakfast at the Olympic Training Center, then a
workout. I train in the basement of the former Olympic ice rink, which has everything I need,
from free weights to physio balls. If I've got a day off, I get eggs Benedict at the Breakfast Club
on Main Street.
Midday: On Saturdays, I'll go out on my mountain bike. I can put together a two-hour ride on
Logger's Loop right in town, or I'll head to Whiteface Mountain for something longer. For lunch
I'll grab a Buffalo chicken sandwich from Saranac Sourdough.
Afternoon: I like to spend the day on my boat, fishing for bass or pike on Saranac Lake. You're
never that far from town, but you feel like you're deep in the wilderness.
Evening: In the summer, I'll hit up the free concerts on the bandstand on Main Street. I'll end
the day at the Cottage' a lakeside restaurant that's part of the Mirror Lake Inn, which my parents
have owned since the 1970s. I'll sit on the deck with tacos and a beer while the sun sets over the
Adirondacks' Great Range.
15. Bar Harbor, Maine
Wylde Photography; Tim Kemple; Michael Hanson/Aurora
From June to August, Bar Harbor's population swells, with docked cruise ships on the water,
some two million visitors pouring into Acadia National Park, and second -home owners
summering in beachside cottages. But come January, the only folks eating fried pickles and clam
chowder at the Thirsty Whale Tavern are the 2,600 hardy year-round locals, who wouldn't want
to be anyplace else. Perched on Mount Desert Island, the town is right next door to Acadia's 127
miles of hiking trails and 1,530 -foot Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the Atlantic
seaboard. The summit offers an ocean panorama of lighthouses and humpback whales. Get onto
the water in a sailboat or kayak and you'll be joined by seals, porpoises, and osprey.
Bar Harbor's vacation status does have its downsides. Home prices are about 70 percent higher
than elsewhere in Maine—$292,000, with plenty of listings cracking seven figures—and many
of the jobs are seasonal, like working on lobster boats or for the National Park Service. Local Eli
Simon, who owns Bar Harbor's Atlantic Climbing School, says sticking it out full-time is worth
it. He starts his day at Morning Glory Bakery, and in a matter of minutes he's in Acadia,
climbing cliffs hanging over the ocean. For Simon's 31 st birthday, he planned a multi -sport
expedition that involved loading bikes onto a canoe, paddling down a creek, then biking to a
three -pitch climb. After lunch on a clifftop, he continued with a trail run and an ocean paddle,
ending eight hours later at a potluck dinner with friends. "Few places on the planet offer as many
activities in such a small area," he says. "The people who live here year-round know it's a gift."
—M.M.
14. Rochester, Minnesota
In 1978, six inches of rain in six hours produced a flood that decimated this southern Minnesota
town of 111,000. But the resulting flood -control project, which took nearly 20 years to complete
and created a series of channels through downtown, yielded ten miles of bike and pedestrian
trails. Those trails are now the epicenter of an 85 -mile paved system that radiates out from the
world-renowned Mayo Clinic downtown to lakes, green spaces, concert venues, restaurants, and
bars. Here are the spots to hit in the spiderweb-like network. —Stephanie Pearson
1. Silver Lake: Home to the Rochester Rowing Club—and thousands of Canada geese.
2.Ouarry Hill Nature Center: A 320 -acre preserve with five miles of hiking trails through
woods and meadows.
3. Mayo Civic Center: Bands play all summer long in the green space along the Zumbro River
out back.
4. Mayowood Mansion: The former home of a Mayo Clinic cofounder is open for tours four
days a week.
5. Zzest Cafe and Bar: A neighborhood bistro with a patio on the Zumbro River.
13. Annapolis, Maryland
7
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Bay rush hour. Photo: Lacey Ann Johnson
To see Annapolis shine, come on a Wednesday evening in the summer, when the weekly sailboat
race draws more than 100 boats to the harbor. After the race, the locals party like, well, sailors.
You'll find crews talking smack over the night's race footage at the Boatyard Bar and Grill. But
you don't have to sail to get on the water: in the spring, kayakers and paddleboarders float Spa
Creek. On land, runners tackle the three-mile trail to the old Navy radio transmission towers on
Greenbury Point. With some 39,000 residents, Annapolis is a manageable city. Downtown,
you'll run into midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy and students from St. John's College
discussing Kant at City Dock Coffee.
While it's not cheap, you can buy a home with bay views for under $400,000, and jobs—many in
tourism and the military—are plentiful. It can get touristy on peak weekends, but locals know to
head for Wild Country Seafood, in an alley behind a maritime museum. They'll share picnic
tables and tuck into platters of Maryland blue crab, freshly caught that morning by the father -son
duo who run the joint. —M.M.
12. Spearfish, South Dakota
The Black Hills around this town of 11,000 are the exception in pancake -flat South Dakota—
there are cliff walls for cragging and streams teeming with fat browns just down the road. In
town there's an Old West vibe, but bikes are the preferred steeds. Locals can roll to the Cycle
Farm for vegetables, partake in the bar -hopping Poker Ride, or saddle up for one of these three
awesome annual events. —S.P.
September 6,2015: Dakota Five -O
A 48 -mile, mostly singletrack jaunt that starts downtown on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.
Look for the bacon and PBR station around mile 35.
March 19, 2016: 28 Below Fat Bike Race
Each March, come rain, snow, or mud, this 28 -mile lollypop loop climbs 2,700 feet toward the
Cement Ridge Fire Lookout on a groomed snowmobile trail.
June 11, 2016: Gold Rush Gravel Grinder
What's better than a long ride through the Black Hills? An even longer one. Organizers say the
210 -mile option takes you "deeper into the darkness."
11. Middlebury, Vermont
New England autumn. Photo: Corey Hendrickson/Gallery stock (top left and bottom); Bear
Cieri/Tandem
In Middlebury, you're either a townie or a Middkid—one of the 2,500 students who attend
Middlebury College, the liberal -arts school that makes this town of 8,500 a crunchy utopia. The
nerds are the ones speaking Chinese and Arabic or turning cow manure into natural gas, but the
locals live an equally charmed existence. They're busy with the 37 -mile Tour de Farms bike ride,
which includes pit stops at 18 agricultural spreads for donuts and apple cider, or sending the 15 -
foot waterfall downtown in a kayak.
You can get a three-bedroom house, complete with a chicken coop out back, for under $300,000,
and jobs are relatively abundant. Woodchuck Hard Cider, for example, recently opened a new
$30 million headquarters. Yet it remains very much a rural town—the closest city, Burlington, is
an hour to the north—which means you're never farther than a couple of blocks from your next
adventure. So pluck trout from the New Haven River, or take a road ride over Middlebury Gap, a
legs -shredding mountain pass that gains 1,800 feet right out of downtown. In the summer, row
Lake Dunmore or run the Trail Around Middlebury, 16 miles of singletrack that loop the town.
In the winter, catch the bus to the college -owned Middlebury Snow Bowl to race in Friday
afternoon's Ski Bum League.
The college kids graduate and move away, but a surprising number of them boomerang. "When I
graduated, I never expected to comeback," says Garrott Kuzzv, a 32 -year-old grad and 2010
Olympian in nordic skiing. "But where else can you go log rolling, play pond hockey in the back
of a maple farm, and then hear the Dalai Lama speak?" —M.M.
10. Boone, North Carolina
Appalachian Trail. Photo: Jimmy Williams (top left and right); C2 Photography; Tommy
Penick/Aurora; Dave Allen
"There's a saying around here, `Our life is your vacation,"' says Mike Thomas, a local trail
builder. That sounds awful smug, but visit and it's easy to see his point. Tucked into the southern
Appalachians, this college town has an embarrassment of outdoor riches. Down the road, you
can find Class V boating on Wilson's Creek, and 45 minutes outside town is Linville Gorge, one
of the most dramatic canyons east of the Rocky Mountains, with more than 11,000 acres of
wilderness backpacking and endless walls for trad climbing. Nearby Beech Mountain offers
some of the only lift -served mountain biking in the South. A choice section of the Appalachian
Trail runs across a series of above -tree -line peaks just 40 minutes from downtown. And you
can't beat the cycling on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Roadies salivate over the closest section,
which travels the Linn Cove Viaduct, a quarter -mile bridge that winds around the rocky slopes of
Grandfather Mountain.
The challenge is piecing together a sustainable life here: high -paying jobs are scarce. (The
largest employer is Appalachian State University.) Meanwhile, the popularity of vacation homes
drives the median house price up to $281,000. This is probably one reason Boone trends so
young, with a median age of just 22. The population is dominated by students and other young
people making the most of the lifestyle. "People here are getting into something rad every single
day," Thomas says. Afterward, many of them opt for a Long Leaf IPA at Appalachian Mountain
Brewery, one of the fastest-growing breweries in the South. —Graham Averill
9. Pagosa Springs, Colorado
From left: Pagosa relaxation; wilderness outside Pagosa Springs; downtown Pal
brewery. Photo: Franz -Marc Frei/Corbis; Quang-Tuan Luong; Michael Pierce
In the shadow of the San Juan Mountains, tiny Pagosa Springs is a microcosm of authentic
Colorado. In the downtown district, historic storefronts house a bre, restaurants, and an old
movie theater supported by a crowdfunding campaign.
The namesake springs—the deepest in the world—attract 500,000 annual visitors to this remote
corner of the state. The springs aren't just for soaking: hot water runs beneath sidewalks, melting
snow in the winter. Most residents live outside town, which has a population of just 1,700. (The
county is home to 12,000.) "You have to be OK with that low-key rural aspect," says
Sandy Kobrock, owner of the Pass Creek Yurt and Wolf Creek Avalanche School. "Don't come
here if you want nightlife."
Jobs are concentrated in tourism, but home prices are reasonable, with a median of $227,000,
and the recreation opportunities are unparalleled. You can backpack, hike, and fish in the
500,000 -acre Weminuche Wilderness, kayak on the San Juan River, or ski at nearby powder
destination Wolf Cre& all with the confidence that you'll never have to battle crowds. —K.S.
8. Beaufort, South Carolina
Half the county surrounding Beaufort is water. Which means anglers and paddlers have the
better part of a million acres to explore, from brackish inland rivers to Jurassic Park–looking salt
marshes that separate the mainland from the barrier islands. That's not counting the Atlantic
Ocean, where sea kayakers can play with dolphins before beaching on the white sands of
Hunting Island State Park.
As for the city itself, think of a coastal Gone with the Wind. Giant live oaks, thick with Spanish
moss, surround antebellum homes. Consider it a smaller, less expensive Charleston, with the
same historic charm but a tenth of the population and slightly more affordable digs. (The median
home value in Beaufort is $253,000.) Locals and visitors alike eat plenty of seafood, either fresh
catch from markets like the Gay Fish Companv or in the form of a shrimp burger from the
Shrimp Shack. The oyster industry is picking up, too; get some of the super -briny gems from
Lady's Island Oyster Companv. —G.A.
7. Flagstaff, Arizona
Benanau/Getty; Cameron Kelley, John Burcham/National Geographic Creative
Don't go to Flagstaff expecting scorching heat and snowbirds. This railroad town of 69,000 is
flanked by 12,000 -foot mountains and the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in the world,
defying all the state's stereotypes. "People think of Arizona as a hot desert, but we're at 7,000
feet," says Caleb Schiff, owner of Pizzicletta a beloved local pizzeria. "Flagstaff is an oasis."
The high desert is prized by athletes, including marathoners Ryan and Sara Hall and ultrammner
Rob Krar, who come for the combination of sunny but cool weather, elevation, and a strong
community of professional coaches. "At any given time in Buffalo Park"—a scenic mesa with a
two-mile running loop—"super tall skinny people are blowing by you at a million miles a
minute," says Allie Stender, a program manager for the county public-health district. The climate
also benefits the fat -tire set, which has built an impressive array of trails. "We have the best
mountain biking imaginable," says Robert Hamilton, inventory manager for Absolute Bikes,
"and you can access dirt in ten minutes from anywhere in town." Trails range from the mellow,
flowing singletrack of the Schultz Creek Trail to the technical rock gardens on Secret and Upper
Moto. There's skiing outside town, and the Grand Canyon is just 90 miles away.
The median home price is reasonable— $266,000—and there are plenty of jobs in tourism,
higher education, and manufacturing. Nestle Purina PetCare has a plant here, and W. L. Gore has
major offices. And it's not like you have to be an elite athlete to enjoy cool, sunny days, as
everyone from weathered Grand Canyon guides to fresh -faced Northern Arizona University
students will tell you. —K.S.
6. Athens, Georgia
National. Photo: Jen Causey (2); Rinne Allen
Athens is known for its SEC football, robust parry scene, and cycling on endless farm roads. But
the city of 121,000 has also become an outpost of world-class eateries that combine the best of
the South with an adventurous, farm -fresh ethos. White Tiger Gourmet, a barbecue joint where
vegetarian dishes get equal billing with pulled pork, is a good example of that. We asked chef -
owner Ken Manring to walk us through his perfect day chowing down. —G.A.
Breakfast: Down a fluffy, buttery biscuit from the Bread Basket, hidden in a gas station off
Boulevard. This may be the world's best hangover cure.
Lunch: Cali-N-Tito's is a Peruvian joint with an infusion of Caribbean flair. Bring your own
beer and order the arroz chaufa, stir -fried rice with plantains and hot sauce.
Happy hour: Local brewery Creature Comforts offers a huge range of beers in an airy space
downtown. Try an Athena, a Berliner Weisse that's slightly sour and incredibly refreshing.
Dinner: You can find a grown-up meal at the the National. It's Mediterranean -inspired cuisine
with lots of tapas and a great steak.
Cocktails: The Old Pal has a bunch of signature drinks, but I love a simple Bulleit bourbon with
Blenheim's ginger ale. Bourbon and ginger is kind of a thing in Athens.
Late night: The Hi -Lo Lounge has great late-night food. Get the salchipapas—French fries with
sliced fried hot dogs, topped with salsa.
5. Glenwood Springs, Colorado
10
Stock; VisitGlenwood.com
Subarus topped with kayaks. Trailers stacked with rafts. Teenagers toting inner tubes. The streets
of Glenwood Springs are a dead giveaway: this is a river town. The Colorado and the Roaring
Fork meet here, and on any given evening in the spring and summer, locals gather with coolers
of beer at put -ins like Grizzly Creek and Shoshone to raft Class III rapids and mellow flatwater
through a 1,700 -foot canyon. Paddleboarders and kayakers hit the whitewater park, and anglers
cast for trout on the Roaring Fork in town and on smaller creeks up in the mountains.
A laid-back outpost of 10,000 some 160 miles west of Denver along I-70, downvalley from
pricier burgs Aspen and Carbondale, Glenwood's claim to fame has always been water: its hot
springs have attracted visitors for over a century. But it has the chops of any Colorado adventure
capital. Trails for running and biking lead to Glenwood Canyon and up Lookout Mountain, and
in winter, skiers choose from five resorts, including Aspen and Snowmass. A downside to the
tourist economy is that rents are on the high side—as much as $1,000 for a one -bedroom
apartment. But the median home price of $396,000 is much gentler than Aspen's half a million.
The upside to the strong tourism: new restaurants keep popping up in the historic downtown,
which boasts a thriving patio scene. And there's a notable lack of jadedness and hostility toward
newcomers that can plague other outdoor meccas. "People become a part of the community right
away." says Annie Rector, a property manager. "There is truly no attitude here." —K.S.
*A previous version of this article showed someone walking across the log at Hanging Lake.
That's against the rules—don't do it!
4. Eau Claire, Wisconsin
11
Media Group via Getty; Jereme Rauckman
Tony Nelson/Min/Voice
Stop at this riverside city of 68,000 on a summer Saturday and you'll see families lazily tubing
and cyclists tackling the 30 -mile rail -trail system. But what sets Eau Claire apart is its music
scene, which was going strong long before native son Justin Vernon's group Bon Iver won a
Best New Artist Grammy in 2012. Things got louder this July, when Vernon debuted his Eaux
Claires Festival, with acts like SuIJan Stevens and the National joining his band. We checked in
with Vernon to find out what makes Eau Claire so special. —S.P.
OUTSIDE: What's your favorite local activity?
VERNON: Canoeing the Flambeau River and jumping in the lakes up by New Auburn. No
question.
Did the town play a role in your musical education, or are you just a talented guy who
happened to grow up there?
The public -education system in our great state was really and truly unmatched when I was in
high school. I honestly feel as if I was receiving master's -level music education.
Is the festival your way of giving back?
It isn't just me. It's the whole squad, from the sheriff's department to town hall to the security
guards keeping us safe. It's a gift, but everyone's giving it to each other.
I read that you moved to North Carolina for a while but returned to Eau Claire. How
come?
The way the water tastes. The way the spring thaws and smells. The fact that it gets so cold in the
winter. I was homesick.
3. Iowa City, Iowa
12
t
C ,
From top left: Post -ride happy hour; a bike -building class at the University of Iowa; Iowa City
brunch. Photo: Ryan Donnell
"It's like Boulder with an Iowa -nice twist," is how one 20 -year resident of Iowa City describes
this bucolic river town of 72,000. No, there aren't any mountains. No legal pot, either. But the
city does have a pedestrian mall to rival Pearl Street, a university with more than 30,000
students, and a bike -crazy culture. Unlike Boulder, it's affordable. The median home price of
$178,000 will get you a midcentury bungalow. Yet the local economy is extremely healthy, with
an unemployment rate of just 2.3 percent, thanks to the University of Iowa and corporate
employers like Oral-B Labs and Procter and Gamble.
With no mountain climbs, cyclists here have turned to the state's tens of thousands of miles of
unpaved roads. "Iowa is ground zero for gravel riding," says Steve McGuire, the director of the
university's School of Art and Art History, who's been riding here for 34 years. Since there's
almost no traffic once you leave the tarmac, the only real obstacle is the occasional farm dog.
But don't be fooled into thinking it's flat. The original grinder, the Trans Iowa, climbs 10,000
feet over 320 miles. "It makes the Dirty Kanza"—a notorious Kansas gravel ride—"look like a
pussycat," says McGuire. To support the obsession, the city has six bike shops, including a
bicycle "library" that fixes old clunkers, and a bar called Ride, which has a dish named after
Gary Fisher on the breakfast menu (scrambled eggs with ham and sausage, topped with gravy).
For competitive types, there's even a gravel time -trial state championship. Being that this is
Iowa, there's also a friendly ride every Thursday night. —Stephanie Pearson
2. Port Angeles, Washington
13
traffic jam; fog over Lake Crescent. Photo: Courtesy of Next Door Gastropub; Ethan
Welty/Aurora (bottom left and center); Jordan Siemens/Aurora
In the final throes of this year's contest, Port Angeles (population 19,000) staged an impressive
fight. Homeowners put placards in their yards reminding passersby to vote, businesses made
pleas on sandwich boards, and locals stood on street comers with signs. The town ended up
coming in second to Chattanooga—which has almost ten times the population—by just 2 percent
of the vote.
The message was clear. "We love this town, and this community can really pull together," says
Jacob Oppelt, owner of Next Door Gastronub.
Situated on the northern shore of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, Port Angeles is a gateway to
Olympic National Park. Because of the dramatic relief—the peaks rise to over 5,000 feet within
a few miles of the coast—the area hosts diverse ecosystems, including alpine environments
studded with lakes, ultragreen old-growth forests threaded with whitewater rivers, and bays that
harbor orcas and steelhead. "I call it the holy land," says John Gussman, a local photographer.
"We don't have smog or traffic, and we have this beautiful million -acre wilderness in the
backyard."
Not surprisingly, the local culture is built on an appreciation of the outdoors, and the economy is
boosted by adventure travelers. It's not uncommon to see surfers toting boards through town or
cars stuffed with gear for forays into the park. More recently, mountain bikers have arrived to
ride the burly downhill trails in the 600,000 -acre national forest.
But Port Angeles isn't your typical bro experience. There's a healthy population of retirees—the
town's average age is 42—and a strong blue-collar flavor. The town lumberyard sits near the
sea -kayak put -in, there's an active boat -building industry, and commercial fishing for halibut and
Dungeness crab is a mainstay. These industries infuse the town with a grittier feel than artsy
neighbor Port Townsend and sleepy nearby retirement community Sequim. But they also help
14
keep home prices reasonable—the median is $201,000 --and engender a live -and -let -live ethos.
Longtime residents and progressive newcomers manage not only to get along, but also to come
together. Take the recent Elwha River restoration: the largest dam removal in the country's
his took place just upstream from town and gained strong local support. Now, for the first
time in 100 years, trout and salmon are migrating past old dam sites, and greenery is sprouting in
empty reservoirs.
Port Angeles isn't big, but as this year's Best Towns showing demonstrates, it can compete with
just about anyplace. "In high school, I couldn't get away from here fast enough," says fifth -
generation resident Sara Gagnon, owner of Harbinger Winery. "But once I got out and saw the
world, I couldn't wait to get back." —Kate Siber
1. Chattanooga, Tennessee
Clockwise from top left: Hunter Museum of Amem
Farmer's Daughter; deepwater solo near downtown.
Lehman; Hollis Bennett
n Art; in flight over Chattanooga; The
Photo: Dianne Blankenbaker; Ben
When I was growing up an hour south of Chattanooga in the eighties and nineties, the city was
best known for MoonPies, those sinfully delicious chocolate, graham cracker, and marshmallow
hockey pucks. Fast -forward a couple of decades and I'm standing in a juice bar on the edge of
downtown, wondering what happened to the comy place I once knew. Now it's all nitro cold
brew and tech startups, like the love child of Nashville and Silicon Valley, but with more
singletrack.
The city of 173,000, built in the belly of the rocky Tennessee River Gorge, always had the
potential to be a great adventure town. Climbers have been sending routes on the nearby
sandstone cliffs for more than 30 years. A decade ago, the local mountain -bike club set out to
build 100 miles of singletrack within ten miles of the city. They're up to 120 miles, and there's a
midweek enduro series where you can rip dirt after work and be home in time for dinner.
Competition is fierce, and the winner takes a growler of home brew.
is
So Chattanooga's outdoor cred isn't really news. The quantity and quality of adventure
playgrounds—including the Tennessee River, which wraps aroundthe city, and a bevy of Class
IV–V rapids on the nearby Ocoee—helped it win our Best Towns contest four years ago. But
now the city itself has caught up with the surrounding action. Neighborhoods are filling up with
record stores, coffeehouses, and restaurants, and breweries are opening that offer the perfect
nightcaps to days spent on the trails, creeks, and crags.
Here's your 48-hour plan to get the perfect taste of Chattanooga.
Locals tell me that the transformation started in 2010, when Chattanooga got the Gli—one-
gigabit-per-second fiber-optic Internet service that's tax -payer owned and available to every
home and business at affordable rates. That's around 50 times faster than most of the rest of the
Western Hemisphere. (A feature-length movie downloads in about 30 seconds.) But it's not just
for surfing. "The Gig showed that Chattanooga was committed to developing business," says
Joda Thongnopnua, communications director of Lamp Post, a venture fund that invests in local
startups. He estimates that some $50 million has been pumped into new businesses over the past
five years, funding companies like Roots Rated which developed an app that recommends
adventures.
It might be too early to start calling it Silicon Gorge, but people are relocating to Chattanooga
because it has something that many other recreation meccas don't: opportunity. Take brothers
Kelsey and Conner Scott, who moved down from Nashville two years ago to climb and to grow
Granola their small backpack company. "There's a huge startup scene and a great outdoor
community," Kelsey says. Add to the mix reasonably priced homes—the median price is
$138,000—and you get a uniquely diverse adventure hub where you can have a rising career and
a comfortable, balanced life. "We were already driving down here every weekend to climb," says
Kelsey. "Moving to Chattanooga just made sense." —G.A.
Word Association
Writing I Editing I Research
16
Marian Karr 3f(4)
From: Andy Johnson <ajohnson@co.johnson.ia.us>
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2015 2:18 PM
To: Tom Markus; Geoff Fruin; Marian Karr; 'Kelly Hayworth(khayworth@ci.coralville.ia.us)'; 'Ellen
Habel (ehabel@ci.coralville.ia.us)'; 'Thor Johnson; 'Ryan Heiar (rheiar@northlibertyiowa.org)';
'Tracey Mulcahey';'Louise From'; 'University Heights;'cam Lrasmussen@solon-iowa.com;
'dboldt@tiffin-iowa.org'; 'Tawnia Kakacek'; 'Christopher J Taylor'; 'Oxford'; 'Bonnie Hansen
(cityh ills@sharontc. net) (cityhills@sharontc.net);'Cathy Fitzmaurice-Hill
(cityadmin@sharontc.net); 'Lone Tree'; 'shueyville@southslope.net'
Subject: RE: minimum wage ordinance
Attachments: Minimum Wage - Ordinance Establishing Local Minimum Wage - Draft 8-19-15.pdf
Attached is the final draft of the minimum wage ordinance.
The Board will have the first consideration of the ordinance next Thursday at 9:00 AM.
Andy Johnson
Executive Assistant
319-356-6000, Ext. 8009
From: Andy Johnson
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 10:06 AM
To: Tom Markus (Tom-Markus@iowa-city.org); geoff-fruin@iowa-city.org; Marian Karr (marian-karr@iowa-city.org)
(marian-karr@iowa-city.org); Kelly Hayworth (khayworth@ci.coralville.ia.us); Ellen Habel (ehabel@ci.coralville.ia.us);
Thor Johnson'; Ryan Heiar (rheiar@northlibertyiowa.org); Tracey Mulcahey'; 'Louise From'; 'University Heights';
cami.rasmussen@solon-iowa.com; dboldt@tiffin-iowa.org; Tawnia Kakacek'; 'Christopher J Taylor'; 'Oxford'; Bonnie
Hansen (cityhills@sharontc.net) (cityhil ls@sharontc. net); Cathy Fitzmaurice-Hill (cityadmin@sharontc.net); 'Lone Tree';
shueyville@southslope.net
Subject: minimum wage ordinance
Good morning,
I am writing to provide additional information on the Board of Supervisor's plan to enact a minimum wage
ordinance. Yesterday, the County Attorney provided the Board with a draft ordinance which they discussed during their
meeting last night. The draft ordinance is attached to this email.
In the course of last night's discussion, the County Attorney's Office was asked to provide language for three changes to
the draft:
1. The Board wants the ordinance to be applicable to anyone working in Johnson County. Supervisors felt that
limiting the ordinance to employers that maintain a facility in the County would create a large loophole which
would limit the effectiveness of the ordinance.
2. There was consensus on the Board to mandate increases after 2017 that are tied to the Consumer Price Index
(CPI). There was not consensus to put a cap (other than the CPI) on the amount of annual increase.
3. The County Attorney was asked to provide some options/recommendations that would provide for a means of
local enforcement. The draft ordinance provides enforcement through Chapter 91A which gives the State Labor
Commissioner authority to investigate wage disputes and enforce applicable laws.
The discussion will continue next week during the Board's work session on Wednesday and/or regular business meeting
on Thursday depending on when an amended draft of the ordinance is ready for review. The goal is to have the
ordinance ready for first consideration on Thursday, August 27`h at 9:00 AM.
While not included in the ordinance, the Board does intend to appoint a citizen's advisory committee in the near future
to study the issue and advise the Board regarding implementation of the ordinance so that the minimum wage keeps
pace with economic circumstances.
If you have any questions or input, please feel free to contact the Supervisors. Email to the whole Board can be sent to
sups@co.iohnson.ia.us while individual email addresses are on the Board page of the County website (www.iohnson-
county.com). The Board Office phone number is 356-6000.
The recording of last night's discussion is available at:
http://oohnsoncountyia.igm2.com/`Citizens/SplitView.aspx?Mode=Video&MeetinpID=1482&Format=Minutes
while the recording of the public input session on Wednesday evening is available at:
http://*ohnsoncountyia.igm2.com/Citizens/SplitView.aspx?Mode=Video&MeetinglD=1569&MinuteslD=1441&Format=
Minutes&MediaFileFormat=ismv
Andylohnson
Executive Assistant
Johnson County Board of Supervisors
913 South Dubuque St., Ste. 201
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Phone: 319-356-6000, Ext. 8009
Fax: 319-356-6036
www.iohnson-county.com
Ordinance No.
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A JOHNSON COUNTY MINIMUM WAGE
WHEREAS, the Iowa Constitution grants counties home rule power and authority to
determine their local affairs and government; and
WHEREAS, Iowa law allows counties to enact private or civil laws governing civil
relationships when done incident to an exercise of an independent county power; and
WHEREAS, Iowa law grants counties independent powers to protect and preserve the
rights, privileges, and property of the county or of its residents; to preserve and improve the
peace, safety, health, welfare, comfort and convenience of its residents; and to set standards and
requirements which are higher and more stringent than those imposed by state law; and
WHEREAS, Johnson County, Iowa has one of the highest costs of living in the state; and
WHEREAS, many working families and individuals in Johnson County are unable to
adequately sustain themselves due to wages below the cost of living in the county; and
WHEREAS, payment of a higher minimum wage advances Johnson County's interests
by creating jobs that better help workers and their families avoid poverty and economic hardship,
reducing residents' reliance upon public and private aid, and better enabling residents to meet
basic needs; and
WHEREAS, increasing the minimum wage increases consumer purchasing power,
increases workers' standards of living, reduces poverty, and stimulates the economy; and
WHEREAS, a higher minimum wage will improve the peace, safety, health, welfare,
comfort and convenience of Johnson County residents by raising their standard of living and
other associated benefits.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS, as follows:
SECTION I. Purpose.
The purpose of this ordinance shall be to establish a minimum hourly wage applicable to
certain employees and employers within the geographical boundaries of Johnson County, Iowa.
SECTION II. Authority.
This ordinance is adopted pursuant to Johnson County's home rule authority as set out in
Article III, Section 39A of the Iowa Constitution, and consistent with the County's independent
police powers and its ability to adopt standards that exceed the standards set forth by the State,
both as set out in Iowa Code §331.301.
SECTION III. Applicability Within Johnson County Municipalities.
This ordinance shall be applicable within the unincorporated areas of Johnson County,
Iowa, and within any Johnson County municipality that has not adopted a conflicting ordinance.
SECTION IV. The Johnson County Minimum Wage Ordinance.
Chapter 4 of the Johnson County Code of Ordinances is hereby amended to add a new
subchapter 4:7, to be numbered and read as follows:
Chapter 4:7 MINIMUM WAGE
4:7.1 Minimum Wage Requirements
(a) The Johnson County hourly wage shall be at least $8.20 as of November 1, 2015,
$9.15 as of May 1, 2016, and $10.10 as of January 1, 2017. Beginning on July 1, 2018,
and each July 1 st thereafter, the Johnson County hourly wage shall be increased by an
amount corresponding to the previous calendar year's increase (i.e., January 1, 2017
through December 31, 2017), if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the Midwest region
as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor or its successor
index. The adjusted Johnson County hourly wage shall be announced by the Board of
Supervisors by April i of each year.
(b) Every employer, as defined in the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as
amended to January 1, 2007, shall pay to each of the employer's employees, as defined in
the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended to January 1, 2007, the
Johnson County hourly wage stated in paragraph "a", the current state hourly wage,
pursuant to Iowa Code §91D.1, as amended, or the current federal minimum wage,
pursuant to 29 U.S.C. §206, as amended, whichever is greater.
(c) For purposes of determining whether an employee of a restaurant, hotel, motel,
inn or cabin, who customarily and regularly receives more than thirty dollars a month in
tips is receiving the minimum hourly wage rate prescribed in this section, the amount
paid the employee by the employer shall be deemed to be increased on account of the tips
by an amount determined by the employer, not to exceed forty percent of the applicable
minimum wage.
(d) An employer is not required to pay an employee the applicable Johnson County
hourly wage provided in paragraph "a" until the employee has completed ninety calendar
days of employment with the employer. An employee who has completed ninety
calendar days of employment with the employer prior to November 1, 2015, May 1,
2016, or January 1, 2017, shall earn the applicable Johnson County hourly minimum
wage as of that date. An employer shall pay an employee who has not completed ninety
calendar days of employment with the employer an hourly wage of at least $6.35.
(e) Employees are covered by this ordinance for each hour worked within the
geographic boundaries of Johnson County or one of the municipalities located therein,
provided that an employee who performs work in the geographic boundaries of Johnson
County or one of the municipalities located therein on an occasional basis is covered by
this ordinance in a two-week period only if the employee performs more than two hours
of work within Johnson County or an applicable municipality during that two-week
period.
4:7.2 Exceptions. The exemptions from the minimum wage requirements stated in
Iowa Code §91D.1(2) shall apply to this ordinance.
4:7.3 Enforcement of Violations. Any violation of this ordinance shall be considered a
county infraction, punishable as provided by Iowa Code Section 331.307. Additionally,
this ordinance may be enforced pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 91A.
4:7.4 Applicability. Notwithstanding the above, this ordinance shall not be applicable
within the geographic boundaries of any Johnson County municipality that has adopted a
conflicting ordinance, or to work performed by employees within said Johnson County
municipality.
SECTION V. Repealer. All other ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the
provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION VI. Savings Clause. If any section, provision, or part of this ordinance shall be
adjudged invalid, illegal or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the
ordinance as a whole or any section, provision or part thereof not be adjudged invalid, illegal or
unconstitutional.
SECTION V. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in effect on the later of November
1, 2015, or after its final passage and publication as part of the proceedings of the Board of
Supervisors.
SUBMITTED IN ERROR — NO COUNCIL ACTION
**Part I**
ESTABLISHMENT INFORMATION
Sidewalk Cafe' Definition:
A sidewalk cagis an outdoor area located temporarily on a public right of way, ursu to
an agreement, cont uous with any side of a building wherein a restaurant is oca and
where food and bev ages are taken for consumption by persons sitting o ding at
tables in that area. [1 -1 City Code]
In order to be eligible to operate sidewalk cafe, an establishment must meet of the criteria
noted below in order to meet the nition of Restaurant as defined by City Co Please indicate
if your establishment complies with t following:
• Prepares meals on the premises an ovides meal service to each flo f
the premises which is open to the pub ' hile the kitchen is open ES NO
• Has a food service menu from which cus ers may order. YES _ NO
• Has an employee whose primary duty is the paration of food n
an employee whose primary duty is to serve f to customer YES NO
• Has a kitchen separate from the bar equipped wi all of t f
a stove, a griddle, a grill or broiler, and a food refri ratio
unit with a capacity in excess of twenty(20) cubic fe
• Operates the restaurant service during at least sixty t
(60%) of the hours that -the business is open to the
• Holds itself out to be a restaurant and advertises self a
restaurant if it advertises.
• Or is a cafe, cafeteria, coffee shop, delicate en, i crea
shop, lunchroom or tearoom.
Applicant Name: �� L L C
Doing Business As: U^�
Establishment Street Address: .
Contact Person: M 147 Hew
Mailing Address:
Property Owner:
C.0
YES X NO
YES )( NO
YES � NO
YES NO
w nS' H I W 670 S�
C A L. n C�' O L Phone
1(2,. �c�c,a Ar ef�� VZ HL
Q0 CS'7"Z' L. -u---,
Page 2 of 10
s(2wC4!;-I
Marian Karr
From:
Think Bicycles Johnson County <thinkbicycles@gmail.com>
Sent:
Thursday, August 20, 2015 4:44 PM
To:
Council
Cc:
Tom Markus; Kent Ralston
Subject:
Road diets and public safety
Dear Mayor Hayek and members of the City Council:
09-01-15
3f(5)
Recent discussions about road diets in Iowa City continue to be based on emotion rather than facts. If one looks
at the research, road diets (also known by the awkward term "road rechannelization") are a way to organize our
roadways to move cars, bicycles, pedestrians, and public transportation safely.
Study after study in cities across the US have shown that road diets:
• Improve safety
• Move vehicles on and off the street in an efficient and safe way
• Enhance the quality of life
For anyone concerned about motor vehicle traffic, road diets improve the roads by ensuring that turning traffic
does not block a lane of through -traffic and reduces collisions while allowing through traffic to travel at a more
consistent speed. A road diet can move the same amount of traffic with little additional time.
The research in "Road Diet Case Studies," by the UI Department of Transportation
(hLtp:Hsafety.fhwa.dot.gov/road diets/case studies/roaddiet cs.t)dfl, looked at examples of road diets in cities
across the country, including Ingersoll Drive in Des Moines.
Five years ago, the city of Des Moines set up a pilot road diet on Ingersoll Drive between Martin Luther King
Jr. Parkway and Polk Blvd. Ingersoll carries 11,000 vehicles a day and at the end of six months, the city of Des
Moines found that there was a 50 percent decrease in crashes, compared with the previous three year period,
and improved access to businesses along the parkway. A survey at the end of the trial found that most of the
respondents favored keeping the road diet.
The Iowa DOT presentation "4 -Lane to 3 -Lane Conversions," by Tom Welch, State Traffic Safety Engineer,
(http://www.iowadot.gov/iowabikes/pdf/Road%20Diet.pdf) found that these changes improved safety and
enhanced quality of life. I think it's significant that business leaders and city officials recognized the
improvements these conversions brought to their communities. A survey in Sioux Center on a road diet on US
75 found a 57 percent decrease in crashes, including a 100 percent decrease in personal injury crashes.
Significantly, public opinion support went from 18 before to 45 percent after conversion, with a decrease in
neutral opinions from 37 to 15 percent.
A number of Iowa towns and cities have carried out road conversions, including Storm Lake, Clear Lake,
Mason City, Osceola, Manchester, Iowa Falls, Rock Rapids, Glenwood, Sioux City, Fairfield, and Des Moines.
We have examples of road diets in Iowa City, as well, on First Avenue at Muscatine. State research found
crashes were reduced between 27 and 67 percent.
In Michigan, cities such as Grand Rapids have also seen a decrease in collisions, an increase in safety, while
preserving car traffic's ability to move through the community.
Road diets are a priority for the members of the Think Bicycles coalition. Road diets are an established, proven
traffic management system that makes our community safer. It is time to leave gut feelings behind and use facts
and research to improve our roadways. As a Blue Zones community we should expect nothing less.
Anne Duggan
Think Bicycles of Johnson County
3f(6)
Marian Karr
From: David Robertson <david1101@msn.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2015 10:46 PM
To: Council; parksandrecreation
Subject: FW: Wetherby Park Violence
From: david1101@msn.com
To: marcia-bollinger@iowa-city.org
Subject: FW: Wetherby Park Violence
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:38:49 -0500
From: david 1101 @msn.com
To: council@iowa-city.org
Subject: Wetherby Park Violence
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:37:50 -0500
The last couple of weeks, there has been increased activity in Wetherby Park and surrounding area. The police
presence has dwindled, not increased as promised. There are mobs of kids fighting in the park and surrounding
areas. The kids are on public property and refuse to leave. They are blocking several streets including the
intersection of Burns and Taylor. Don't we as property owners have rights so our tenants and us do not have to
put up with vandalism, theft, and disrespect from the mobs of kids that sometimes number up to fifty? All the
effort that was put in this spring to bring order to the neighborhood has been wasted. At some point this will all
come crashing down. Someone will get run over or shot. Isn't it better to be proactive and get everything back
under control before the worse case scenario happens? Please come over to this area alone some evening around
8:30 so you can witness what is going on. It is a bad situation for the property owners, renters, and the kids
themselves. Why do we even have a police force when they are so restricted they can not protect the taxpayers
that pay their salaries? Please feel free to call me at 319 930 0562. David W Robertson
Marian Karr
From:
Sam Hargadine
Sent:
Thursday, August 27, 2015 9:25 AM
To:
'david1101 @msn.com'
Cc:
Council; Marian Karr
Subject:
Wetherby Park Violence
Mr. Robertson,
Thank you for taking the time to write to the City Council. The issues in Wetherby Park and the surrounding
neighborhood are being addressed. The Command Staff has met with neighborhood association leaders and have heard
their concerns regarding large groups of youths that are disruptive either in the park or in the middle of the street. Our
presence in the park and entire South East side has not dwindled, our statistics show that our presence has
increased. Please keep in mind that the rest of Iowa City has gotten busier with the increase in our student population.
As issues arise and crimes are being witnessed please report these by calling 911. If there are systemic issues that need
further discussion, planning and resources please call our Neighborhood Services Officer Rob Cash at (319) 356-5274.
Regards,
Samuel E. RaVadi te
Chief of Police
Iowa City Police Department
410 E. Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240-1826
Marian Karr
From:
Chris O'Brien
Sent:
Thursday, August 27, 2015 12:00 PM
To:
'kweish@mchsi.com'
Cc:
Council
Subject:
Bus Routes
Kathy,
Thank you for your email regarding questions about Iowa City's bus service. It was forwarded to me and I was
hoping to get some additional information from you so that I could assist with your Eastside Loop trips. If you
could email me your address I will be able to better respond to your Eastside Loop inquiry. Relating to your
questions about the bus travelling First Avenue, we are currently in the process of reviewing different route
scenarios and modifications. I have forwarded your email to our team that has been working on this to include
in their ongoing discussions. Feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any additional questions or if you
have additional information to provide.
Sincerely,
Chris O'Brien
Director of Transportation and Resource Management
City of Iowa City
(319)356-5156
Chris-obrien(aiowa-city. org
From: Kathy Welsh <kwelsh(&mchsi.com>
Date: August 22, 2015 at 5:53:47 PM CDT
To: "councilaiowa-city.org" <council ,iowa-city.org>
Subject: Bus Routes
Dear City Council,
My name is Kathy Welsh and my husband and I live in the neighborhood known as Washington Hills (area
south of Rochester and east of First Ave). My daughter is going to be starting SEJH this year and first, I am
writing to ask if the East Side Loop can go both directions in the AM and the PM. Since this bus runs only
during the school year it seems obvious that it serves to transport students to and from SEJH, CITY, and
REGINA. However, the fact that is runs only "south to north" in the AM and "north to south" in the PM means
that Washington Hills cannot reasonably utilize it. Therefore, I am asking that its services be expanded to help
out a neighborhood that can also benefit.
Furthermore, since it serves City High, can it not go west on Court Street instead of Friendship? This would
allow students in Washington Hills plus both sides of Court St. to better utilize this route (not to mention First
Ave and Court seem to warrant more service than Friendship St.)
Secondly, why is there not a bus that runs up and down First Ave? That is a major artery with NCS on one end
and Sycamore Mall (and Eastdale Plaza) on the other with ACT, City High, Hy Vee, Towncrest, and SEJH in
between.
Thank you,
Kathy Welsh
Sent from my iPad
3f(8)
Marian Karr
From: Geoff Fruin
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2015 10:50 AM
To: Talph cap'
Cc: Mike Moran; Council; Sarah Walz
Subject: RE: Verizon response
Mr. Cap,
Thank you for your email and concern about a possible telecommunication use in Oak Grove Park. A final decision has
not been reached on this matter and public input such as yours will be factored into the decision-making process.
Please feel free to contact us with further questions. Thank you again for your interest in the park.
Geoff Fruin
Assistant City Manager I City of Iowa City
P: 319.356.5013
Web ( Facebook JTwitter
From: ralph cap [mailto:rjcheez@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2015 11:15 AM
To: Mike Moran; Council
Cc: Sarah Walz
Subject: Fwd: Verizon response
To: Parks and Recreation Commission, Mike Moran
Iowa City Council
Sarah Walz
On August 5, 2015 I attended an introductory meeting in Oak Grove Park
regarding the proposed Verizon cell phone tower to be located in Oak
Grove Park. Initially the Verizon consultant said the tower would be
located on Iowa Interstate property, across the park fence in the NE
corner. I found this puzzling since I saw no need for the park meeting if
the tower was not on park property. I told the consultant that his letter
states that the tower location would be in the NW corner of the park. The
consultant subsequently made a phone call, talked to someone for a while
and then stated that his initial understanding regarding location of the
tower was incorrect and the survey maps he provided were outdated, that
the tower would be located in the NW corner, just as his letter stated.
The consultant said in an email to me that Verizon had received written
approval from Parks and Recreation for the location of the proposed cell
phone tower on August 6th.
I told the consultant that I thought the cell phone tower would be an
eyesore. The presence of the tower would not enhance or improve a
person's park experience. Although the NW corner might seem an unused
area, I have observed several people curled up with a book beneath the
tree that will be removed. They found this corner to be a quiet spot to
relax and read with greenery in the foreground. The presence of a cell
phone tower would upset the quietude of this area.
I asked the consultant why Verizon decided to change the location of the
tower, from Iowa Interstate RR property to the Oak Grove Park location.
He replied that the RR wanted too much money for their initial site
location. Apparently, then, Parks and Recreation is in the business of
accommodating the bottom line of commercial enterprises by offering up
taxpayer property, in this instance Oak Grove Park, for lease or rent
and, in the process, generating revenue for itself. This approach has the
effect of denying revenue for the private sector. The City and P & R are
competing with the private sector for revenue by leasing park property
for a cell phone tower. Does the City and P & R have the authority to
engage in this type of transaction? Will this be a standard practice to
offer up inexpensive taxpayer property to every commercial enterprise
that does not want to pay higher rent to a private entity? Essentially
this is a form of bailout by P & R and the City for Verizon. They want to
improve their bottom line and proceeds to P & R and the City for a better
deal, a deal that lowers their costs and ruins the park in the process.
If Verizon needs a cell phone tower, it should abide by the current
zoning for Oak Grove Park and find a more suitable location for their
tower, a location that is zoned for their purposes. Zoning exceptions
should not be based on the amount of revenue that a commercial enterprise
promises to add to City coffers.
Ralph Cap
821 Webster St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
09-01-1
3f(9)
Marian Karr
From: tweitzel.email@gmail.com on behalf of Tim Weitzel, M.A. <historicconsulting@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 6:31 PM
To: Council
Subject: Fwd: Comprehensive Plan Amendment, City Campus Area
John Yapp is out until Thursday, so I've gone ahead and forwarded the information requested by City e-mail
notice as of 8:30 this morning and posted on the City website here:
https:Hdocs.google.com/document/d/IhD PpHsHSOTS1N1G1XYfyOgW2dR4ZxQgyTaDfomJZDw/edit?usp=s
harin
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tim Weitzel, M.A. <historicconsulting_Agmail.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 18, 2015 at 6:18 PM
Subject: Comprehensive Plan Amendment, City Campus Area
To: John Yapp <John-YappAiowa-cit y�org>
John,
My comments are attached. I am commenting solely as an interested citizen with concern for my community.
Anyone with the link can read the document.
httns://docs.aooale.com/document/d/IhD PpHsHSOTS1N1G1XYfyOgW2dR4ZxQgyTaDfomJZDw/edit?usp=s
baring
Tim Weitzel, Consultant
August 18, 2015
John Yapp, Development Services Coordinator
City of Iowa City
410 E Washington St
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear John:
I am writing with the understanding that you are collecting information and comments about the
proposed addition of three blocks to the Downtown- Rive rfront Crossings District. The subject area is
bounded by Iowa Avenue, Van Buren St, Burlington St, and Gilbert St. This area is largely owned by
the City, though a small parcel with the Unitarian Universalist Church stands at the northwest corner
of the area. The adjacent blocks are either downtown district, on the west, or for the most part zoned
C132 or CBS providing a transition to zones to the north and east. The density is substantially greater to
the south. The Centennial Building is zoned public, is connected to the University of Iowa.
I would like to point out that, the area is gently sloping from west to east and rises steeply on the east
side of the south block, rising from the 650s to 670 at College and Johnson St to more than 730 feet at
the Summit building on Summit Street. To the west the elevation climbs rather less rapidly, peaking
between 680 and 690 feet in a tabular area the encompases much of downtown. However, a number
of tall buildings stand on Gilbert St and west, including Tower Place mixed use building (6 stories), The
Eccumenical Building (11 Stories), Plaza Towers and Park@201(14 stories). On a height comparison,
Seashore Hall and The University of Iowa Community Credit Union, at six and five stories respectively,
both appear massive and quite tall from the street level, due to their construction and design
techniques.
The south block sits adjacent to Ralston Creek. As such the east half of all three blocks are subject to
periodic flooding, but especially the south two blocks. Recent construction and retrofitting have taken
this into account. New buildings could easily accommodate parking on the surface, allowing a natural
elevation change to allow other uses above the ground floor. I agree that surface parking with no
additional development on a parcel is a less than full use of property and I will go further and cite
Donald Shoup in The High Cost of Free Parking and note that surface parking here, the area
approaching about 2 acres, is just about the worst land use in mixed-use, high -use area, such as our
downtown, a vacant lot possibly being the only thing worse. Releasing the burden for onsite parking is
another good incentive. By carefully crafting agreements, the City can bring greater vitality to our
downtown while increasing opportunities for commercial retail, commercial office, and residential
space. One would hope that affordable housing would also be a priority, as I have written elsewhere.
I also am aware that there is consideration being made to preserve the Unitarian Universalist building,
which is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in the opinion of at least one architectural
historian, and I concur with that recommendation, being an architectural historian recognized by the
Iowa SHPO myself. Such an agreement would be ideal as development could continue and a historic
property would be saved. We need to allow building tall, however, as a primary incentive is to provide
height density bonuses for developers, as was done with the Tate Arms. This essentially is a
conversion of air rights from the historic property to another parcel, something we have seen done in
other communities with great success. I would argue the receiving parcel should be able to be located
anywhere in the Downtown- Rive rfront Crossings District provided all other requirements, including
preservation of historic properties, are met. I would also like to mention the UAY building at 410 Iowa
Avenue has also been found individually eligible by concurrence between an Agency and SHPO as well
as with consultant opinion and is there for Eligible for the NRHP.
Sincerly,
Tim Weitzel
Images of the area that I find useful, the first four are links to Google StreetView taken at a better
time of year.
https://goo.al/maps/OSa83
View southwest from Iowa Ave at Van Buren St
https://aoo.gi/maps/7pGvr
View northeast from Van Buren St at College St
httt s://goo.gl/maps/an457
View north from Burlington St
https://goo.gl/maps/GHLJ W
View southeast from Iowa Ave
View south from College Street bridge, which was designed by Ned Ashton
View of north facade of Unitarian Universalist Church
View west of surface parking and buildings in background
r
fi09-01-15
r CITY OF IOWA CITY 31(10)
MEMORANDUM
Date: Jul 28th
Y 2015
To: City Clerk
From: Emily Ambrosy, Acting Traffic Engineering Planner
Re: Item for the August 18th, 2015 City Council meeting; Installation of 5 on -street metered
parking spaces and establishment of parking meter terms on the east side of the 300
block of North Linn Street, and installation of 2 on -street metered parking spaces on
north side of the 200 block of East Bloomington Street. Establish a 2 AM — 6 AM TOW
AWAY ZONE for both banks of metered parking spaces.
As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council
of the following action
Action:
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A (10,17), Installation of 5 on -street metered parking spaces on the
east side of the 300 block of North Linn Street numbered L300N, L302N, L304N, L306N, and
L308N. Establish 2 on -street metered parking spaces on the north side of the 200 block of East
Bloomington Street numbered BL234E and BL232E. Install 2 AM — 6 AM TOW AWAY ZONE
signs for both banks of metered parking spaces. These meters will each have a 2 -hour term at
the rate of $1.00 per hour.
Comment:
This action is being taken at the request of the Transportation Services department to provide
additional metered short-term on -street parking on the 300 block of North Linn Street and on the
200 block of East Bloomington Street.
cc: Chris O'Brien
Mark Fay
„ CITY OF IOWA CITY
mat
MEMORANDUM
Date: August 21, 2015
To: Tom Markus, City Manager
From: Jason Havel, City Engineer
Re: Competitive Quotation Results
Sidewalk Repair Summer 2015
Competitive quotations for the Sidewalk Repair Summer 2015 Project were opened on
July 2, 2015 and the following quotes were received:
JDM Concrete Kalona, IA $ 78,117.44
Feldman Concrete Dyersville, IA $ 92,272.00
North Construction Muscatine, IA $ 103,104.00
Engineer's Estimate $ 100,500.00
Public Works and Engineering recommended and the City Manager awarded the
contract to JDM Concrete of Kalona, Iowa. The project will be funded with Road Use tax
proceeds.
2015 Ned Ashton Park Storm Sewer Repair
Competitive quotations for the 2015 Ned Ashton Park Storm Sewer Repair Project were
opened on August 11, 2015 and the following quotes were received:
Lynch's Excavating
West Branch, IA
$ 24,362.00
Connerly Construction
Cedar Rapids, IA
$ 29,554.48
Triple B Construction
Wilton, IA
$ 29,902.00
Carter & Associates
Coralville, IA
$ 44,274.00
Calacci Construction
Iowa City, IA
$ 59,960.00
Engineer's Estimate $ 30,000.00
Public Works and Engineering recommended and the City Manager awarded the
contract to Lynch's Excavating of West Branch, Iowa. The project will be funded with
Stormwater revenues.
39-01-15
3f(11)
LATE HANDOUTS
I r 1
�_:.®�r
- %As._
CITY OF IOWA CITY
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826
(3 19) 356-5000
(319) 356-5009 FAX
www.icgov.org
Information submitted between distribution of packet on Thursday and close of business on
Monday.
ITEM 2 PROCLAMATIONS
2b National Preparedness Month — September
CONSENT CALENDAR
Correspondence:
ITEM 3f(12) Bob Welsh: Inclusionary Housing — Riverfront Crossing District
Marian Karr
From: WELSHBOB@aol.com
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2015 11:24 AM
To: Council
Cc: Tom Markus; Doug Boothroy
Subject: Inclusionary Housing - in the Riverfront Crossing District.
Members of the City Council:
I had hoped to be present Tuesday evening when you discuss inclusionary housing in the Riverfront Crossing District.
However,) have just learned that we are having out of town company Tuesday. If I am able to excuse myself I will still
come to the Council meeting, but since it is likely that will not happen, I wish to communicate to you my basic support of
the proposal and I trust that you will direct staff to proceed.
Having said this, let me express my concern about the part of Principal #7 that states: "Elderly/Disabled: Developments
designed and utilized for elderly/disabled are not required to provide an affordable housing set aside."
I can think of no logical reason for this exemption. I trust when you direct staff to proceed, you will ask staff to
consider deleting this exemption or come up with a strong rationale for including it in the drafted ordinance.
I strongly believe that the Riverfront Crossing District is ideal for housing for the elderly and disabled. I strongly believe
that the elderly and disabled need affordable housing.
Again, let me affirm my basic support of the proposal and to repeat my request that you ask staff to consider deleting the
elderly/disabled exemption.
Bob Welsh
84 Penfro Drive
Iowa City, Iowa 52246
c-idstheword
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sunday september 20 1 2pm I englert theatre
iowacitypubliclibrary
$10 general admission I children 5 and under free
This musical revue is a variety show that marks the kickoff of nine months of special programming by the
Iowa City Public Library to welcome the University of Iowa School of Music to downtown Iowa City. The
show will feature performances by The Beggarmen with the Champagne Academy of Irish Dance; Kol Shira;
Combined Efforts Theatre Men's Choir; The Extra Credit Project; Girls Rock; The Recliners; That's Entertainment
with June Braverman and Co.; The City, Too: Addie Bassman and Eddy Galstad; Chase Garrett; Andy Parrott
Trio; The Cedar County Cobras; and members of the UI Pep Band. All groups have donated their talent to this
great event for all ages. Tickets available at the Iowa City Public Library and the Englert Theatre.
englert.org/events
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