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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-10-07 Info PacketCity of Iowa CIY1 MEMORANDUM Date: October 3, 1980 To: City Council From: Mayor John Balmer Re: State Constitutional Convention Issue Attached is a copy of the resolution passed unanimously by the general meberinmDes sMoines on September hip of the League f26,w1980. This �resol tion opposesties at its convention thecalling of a state constitutional convention for the purpose of adding an amendment which would place limits on state and local revenues: I have long been concerned about the growth of government and I continue to support rational attempts to limit government growth. However, I believe the approach being considered to be an inappropriate measure for accomplishing this end. I would encourage you to read the material attached regarding this issue so that we might discuss it at our in meeting on Monday. I am proposing that this Council give favorable consideration to a resolution putting us on record as being in opposition to the constitutional convention. bj5/1 MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LA9 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES i i y; 1 City of Iowa CIY1 MEMORANDUM Date: October 3, 1980 To: City Council From: Mayor John Balmer Re: State Constitutional Convention Issue Attached is a copy of the resolution passed unanimously by the general meberinmDes sMoines on September hip of the League f26,w1980. This �resol tion opposesties at its convention thecalling of a state constitutional convention for the purpose of adding an amendment which would place limits on state and local revenues: I have long been concerned about the growth of government and I continue to support rational attempts to limit government growth. However, I believe the approach being considered to be an inappropriate measure for accomplishing this end. I would encourage you to read the material attached regarding this issue so that we might discuss it at our in meeting on Monday. I am proposing that this Council give favorable consideration to a resolution putting us on record as being in opposition to the constitutional convention. bj5/1 MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LA9 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES i y; Statu constitutional Convontion WHEREAS the constitution should be an instrument that sets out the general relationships between the various branches and levels of government as guidelines for legislative action in setting the struc- ture, function, procedures, and limits for governments to use in the performance of their duties; and WHEREAS the constitution is not the appropriate place for satis- fying temporary interests; and WHEREAS a convention could open the whole constitution to revisions that risk undesirable changes; and WHEREAS Iowa's constitution has served this state for more than 120 years by clearly setting forth those principles and procedures that insure adequate representation of public interests on transitory pro- cedural and financial matters; and WHEREAS the limiting of state and local revenue or spending by a constitutional amendment denies state and local government the ability to respond to citizen demands on specific problems, and WHINWAS present efforts to call a constitutional convention are motivated by a singular issue of limiting state and local revenues; and WHEREAS sound constitutional provisions could be seriously jeop- ardized by a constitutional convention initiated and effectuated by a single interest; Therefore be it RESOLVED that the Executive Board of the League of Iowa Municipalities opposes the calling of a constitutional convention for the purpose of adding an amendment that places limits on state and local revenues, and reaffirms its opposition to such an amendment; and be it further RESOLVED that this resolution be submitted to the membership of the League at its annual convention in September 1980. MiCROF1LMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES R 19of� i f Statu constitutional Convontion WHEREAS the constitution should be an instrument that sets out the general relationships between the various branches and levels of government as guidelines for legislative action in setting the struc- ture, function, procedures, and limits for governments to use in the performance of their duties; and WHEREAS the constitution is not the appropriate place for satis- fying temporary interests; and WHEREAS a convention could open the whole constitution to revisions that risk undesirable changes; and WHEREAS Iowa's constitution has served this state for more than 120 years by clearly setting forth those principles and procedures that insure adequate representation of public interests on transitory pro- cedural and financial matters; and WHEREAS the limiting of state and local revenue or spending by a constitutional amendment denies state and local government the ability to respond to citizen demands on specific problems, and WHINWAS present efforts to call a constitutional convention are motivated by a singular issue of limiting state and local revenues; and WHEREAS sound constitutional provisions could be seriously jeop- ardized by a constitutional convention initiated and effectuated by a single interest; Therefore be it RESOLVED that the Executive Board of the League of Iowa Municipalities opposes the calling of a constitutional convention for the purpose of adding an amendment that places limits on state and local revenues, and reaffirms its opposition to such an amendment; and be it further RESOLVED that this resolution be submitted to the membership of the League at its annual convention in September 1980. MiCROF1LMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES R 19of� i M .-N r') WHY A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IS UNNECESSARY & UNDESIRABLE ?V11y iu 1111! c,uuI,Intirn, innls' on tho hallos, and what if .mprocedures would be followed r wor'c hold? The Iowa Constitution provides that every ten years citizens have the oppor- tunity to vote to hold a constitutional convention. Although a convention has never actually been held, in 1970 the issue fell only a few thousand votes short of passage, despite the fact that no organized group was working for it. Thus, it is clear that many voters are inclined to favor such a convention unless they are persuaded otherwise. The organization of the convention (including when it would be held, the number of delegates, and how they would be elected) would be decided by a future legislature. Any constitutional revisions enacted by the convention would not take effect unless approved by a subsequent popular vote. Revisions would be voted on individ- ually rather than as an entire package. Whn is advocating a 'lyes" vote on the convention issue? A Yes for Less Taxes Committee was announced in late July. As its name implies, it advocates a convention in order to pass a constitutional amendment limiting government revenue. According to press reports, it plans to spend several hundred thousand dollars to secure a vote in favor of holding the convention. This new committee is an offshoot of another group, Iowans for Tax Relief, which lobbied unsuccessfully in the 1980 Legislature for passage of a constitutional amendment limiting taxes. The leader of that group is David Stanley. Its limita- tion proposal is called the Taxpayers Rights Amendment. The Iowa Farm Bureau and Iowa Manufacturers Association are the largest indepen- dent groups advocating both a constitutional convention and the so-called Taxpayers Rights Amendment. /it it necessary to have a convention to amend the constitution? No, the Iowa Constitution has been amended 37 times since 1857 by an alternative means -- passage by two sessions of the legislature followed by a vote of the people. Can a convention be restricted to dealing with a single subject? want it Although presently-announced sl t solelyto enactataxladvocates sconvention vs imitation, thereisno waytopreventthetconvention from taking up any issue. Should people who favor tax limitations necessarily vote in favor of a convention? Absolutely not, for two reasons. First, limitations are such complicated measures that they should be enacted by means of laws rather than by inclusion in the constitution. Most of the states which have recently passed limitations have followed the legal, not the constitutional path. Second, the best way to amend the constitution is the traditional route of passage by two consecutive sessions of the legislature. A convention has many more risks because it cannot be limited to a single subject. MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS DES MOINES b over... QD Y` I M .-N r') WHY A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IS UNNECESSARY & UNDESIRABLE ?V11y iu 1111! c,uuI,Intirn, innls' on tho hallos, and what if .mprocedures would be followed r wor'c hold? The Iowa Constitution provides that every ten years citizens have the oppor- tunity to vote to hold a constitutional convention. Although a convention has never actually been held, in 1970 the issue fell only a few thousand votes short of passage, despite the fact that no organized group was working for it. Thus, it is clear that many voters are inclined to favor such a convention unless they are persuaded otherwise. The organization of the convention (including when it would be held, the number of delegates, and how they would be elected) would be decided by a future legislature. Any constitutional revisions enacted by the convention would not take effect unless approved by a subsequent popular vote. Revisions would be voted on individ- ually rather than as an entire package. Whn is advocating a 'lyes" vote on the convention issue? A Yes for Less Taxes Committee was announced in late July. As its name implies, it advocates a convention in order to pass a constitutional amendment limiting government revenue. According to press reports, it plans to spend several hundred thousand dollars to secure a vote in favor of holding the convention. This new committee is an offshoot of another group, Iowans for Tax Relief, which lobbied unsuccessfully in the 1980 Legislature for passage of a constitutional amendment limiting taxes. The leader of that group is David Stanley. Its limita- tion proposal is called the Taxpayers Rights Amendment. The Iowa Farm Bureau and Iowa Manufacturers Association are the largest indepen- dent groups advocating both a constitutional convention and the so-called Taxpayers Rights Amendment. /it it necessary to have a convention to amend the constitution? No, the Iowa Constitution has been amended 37 times since 1857 by an alternative means -- passage by two sessions of the legislature followed by a vote of the people. Can a convention be restricted to dealing with a single subject? want it Although presently-announced sl t solelyto enactataxladvocates sconvention vs imitation, thereisno waytopreventthetconvention from taking up any issue. Should people who favor tax limitations necessarily vote in favor of a convention? Absolutely not, for two reasons. First, limitations are such complicated measures that they should be enacted by means of laws rather than by inclusion in the constitution. Most of the states which have recently passed limitations have followed the legal, not the constitutional path. Second, the best way to amend the constitution is the traditional route of passage by two consecutive sessions of the legislature. A convention has many more risks because it cannot be limited to a single subject. MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS DES MOINES b over... QD Y` David Stanley sags Lhat the legislative approach has been tried and found wanting, so that there is no alternative to holding a convention. Is that true? No. The so-called Taypayers Rights Amendment was not unveiled until this past January. The 1980 Legislature met for less than four months, not allowing sufficient timhase17olongnsectionsoandfsuch nearlya2,000ortant words.anFailureetoproposal. Thisachieve passageainnamedment single Year does not demonstrate that the legislature will not act on this issue. P/hy shouldn't a convention be held? What risks does it involve? Iowa has prospered under its existing constitution. It is a workable, simple document. i Under the present constitution, Iowa's governments respond to public needs and desires and to the changing problems of society through a system of checks and balances. Public support for significant changes in laws or government programs tends to develop gradually over a period of years, with the wishes of citizens being reflected in the actions of their elected officials. Often, particular groups may be dissatisfied with the pace of change, but if they can generate sufficient support their goals are eventually realized. This system of checks and balances and representative government certainly is not perfect, but it works well enough that it should not be tampered with lightly. A constitutional convention would open the door for all sorts of groups to seek "short cut" adoption of their pet projects which have been rejected by past legislatures. There are several reasons why a convention might be more radical than a legislature --1) Since they would not be concerned about re-election, convention delegates might be more receptive than legislators to "far out" pro- posals. 2) With the stakes so large, single issue groups would probably pour many more resources into the election campaign for convention delegates than is typical in legislative races. 3) The convention would be only one body rather than two bodies (the House and Senate), making it easier to pass extreme measures. 4) The convention would have no traditions or precedents, so that no one can be certain how it would behave. Another risk is that the convention would imbed measures in the constitution which have already been enacted as laws. However legitimate they may be in their own right, many provisions do not belong in a constitution, which should establish a basic framework of law and should not become enmeshed in relatively small details. What are some of the constitutional revisions which emerge mi ht 9 g from a convention? - A prohibition of. public funding of abortions OR a guarantee of public funding. - Abolition of the "right to work" law OR insertion of it into the constitution. - A new maximum on allowable interest rates OR the outlawing of all usury rates. - A requirement that all property be assessed uniformly OR insertion in the constitution of certain preferences for homeowners, businesses or farmers. - Elimination of the Road Use Tax Fund. - Mandatory land use planning. - Reform of governmental structures, with shifting of functions to or away from counties. - Reform of school finance leading to forced consolidation of small school districts. - Alteration of provisions for adoption of future constitutional amendments, perhaps including allowance of direct popular initiatives as in many other, states. I MICROFILMED BY JORM MIC R+LA13 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES 1 . -3 - These are just a few examples of some of the significant and controversial measures which might be adopted by the convention. If subsequently approved in a popular referendum, they would become part of the Iowa Constitution. There- after, it would require several years to remove or amend them because of the time- COnsuming amendment process which must be followed in years not ending in zero. % r what riU rrn Y"elenn iv u o onvent ion wuleni?uble? It would be expensive to operate, costing millions of dollars. Expenses would include salaries for delegates, staff costs, and conduting two elections -- one to elect delegates and another to ratify convention proposals. What in the Tamluu✓crs Highta Amen(bnent which Stanley and his allies endorse? It would limit the increase of revenue for all state and local governments in Iowa to a rate of 90 percent of the increase of Iowa personal income. To override it temporarily would require either a 2/3 majority of the legislature or a majority of voters. h.; a limit needed to slow the growth of "ninaway government"? No, not in Iowa. In the past ten years the increase of taxes levied by Iowa governments has not been particularly fast. In fact, total tax revenue has risen more slowly than personal income in Iowa. ONLY TWO STATES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY HAVE HAD A SLOWER INCREASE OF TAXES SINCE 1970 THAN IOWA. Government spending in Iowa is not 'but of control" as Stanley and his backers claim. Stanley distorts what has happened in Iowa in several ways. For example, he downplays the past decade by using statistics from as far back as 50 years, cover- ing a period during which the role of government expanded tremendously. In addition, he emphasizes the increase of the income tax, which has risen more than any other tax, while ignoring the much slower increase of taxes like the sales and property tax. He often talks about federal taxes, which really are a problem, although his amendment deals only with state and local taxes. whet cffoets would the so-called T=T)ayera Highte Amendment have? Most importantly, the quantity and quality of government services would decline. This would not occur dramatically and immediately, but gradually and insidiously. Looking backward, the Des Moines Tribune has calculated that if the amendment had been in effect since 1971, state spending would be about one-third lower now, requiring drastic cutbacks in property tax relief, aid to schools, and virtually all state activities. Surveys show that most citizens do not want cutbacks in services like police and fi rr. protection, street maintenance, and schools; but it is very unlikely that these services would be spared from the fiscal pinch which the amendment would produce. In fact, in many Iowa communities these services are already being reduced. The amendment would have many other far-reaching effects. For example, university tuition and recreational fees would increase sharply, since they are among the few types of revenue exempted from the limitation. SUMMARY There are lbe defeated. Given ntheemoderationtexhibited obytmost he oIowa ugovernments, theretional conventionsisulid ttle need for a formal limitation on their spending. Even if a limitation is favored, it need not be in the constitution where it would be difficult to modify if unforeseen problems developed. Finally, even if one believes that a constitutional limitation is needed, a convention should be avoided because of the risks it entails of upsetting the system of government which has served Iowa well. MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES i i 1. ,. . -3 - These are just a few examples of some of the significant and controversial measures which might be adopted by the convention. If subsequently approved in a popular referendum, they would become part of the Iowa Constitution. There- after, it would require several years to remove or amend them because of the time- COnsuming amendment process which must be followed in years not ending in zero. % r what riU rrn Y"elenn iv u o onvent ion wuleni?uble? It would be expensive to operate, costing millions of dollars. Expenses would include salaries for delegates, staff costs, and conduting two elections -- one to elect delegates and another to ratify convention proposals. What in the Tamluu✓crs Highta Amen(bnent which Stanley and his allies endorse? It would limit the increase of revenue for all state and local governments in Iowa to a rate of 90 percent of the increase of Iowa personal income. To override it temporarily would require either a 2/3 majority of the legislature or a majority of voters. h.; a limit needed to slow the growth of "ninaway government"? No, not in Iowa. In the past ten years the increase of taxes levied by Iowa governments has not been particularly fast. In fact, total tax revenue has risen more slowly than personal income in Iowa. ONLY TWO STATES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY HAVE HAD A SLOWER INCREASE OF TAXES SINCE 1970 THAN IOWA. Government spending in Iowa is not 'but of control" as Stanley and his backers claim. Stanley distorts what has happened in Iowa in several ways. For example, he downplays the past decade by using statistics from as far back as 50 years, cover- ing a period during which the role of government expanded tremendously. In addition, he emphasizes the increase of the income tax, which has risen more than any other tax, while ignoring the much slower increase of taxes like the sales and property tax. He often talks about federal taxes, which really are a problem, although his amendment deals only with state and local taxes. whet cffoets would the so-called T=T)ayera Highte Amendment have? Most importantly, the quantity and quality of government services would decline. This would not occur dramatically and immediately, but gradually and insidiously. Looking backward, the Des Moines Tribune has calculated that if the amendment had been in effect since 1971, state spending would be about one-third lower now, requiring drastic cutbacks in property tax relief, aid to schools, and virtually all state activities. Surveys show that most citizens do not want cutbacks in services like police and fi rr. protection, street maintenance, and schools; but it is very unlikely that these services would be spared from the fiscal pinch which the amendment would produce. In fact, in many Iowa communities these services are already being reduced. The amendment would have many other far-reaching effects. For example, university tuition and recreational fees would increase sharply, since they are among the few types of revenue exempted from the limitation. SUMMARY There are lbe defeated. Given ntheemoderationtexhibited obytmost he oIowa ugovernments, theretional conventionsisulid ttle need for a formal limitation on their spending. Even if a limitation is favored, it need not be in the constitution where it would be difficult to modify if unforeseen problems developed. Finally, even if one believes that a constitutional limitation is needed, a convention should be avoided because of the risks it entails of upsetting the system of government which has served Iowa well. MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES City of Iowa Cid MEMORANDUM Date: October 3, 1980 To: Mayor and City Council From: Assistant City Manager l Re: Rider Street Warning Siren Several months ago I sent material (attached) to you regarding Warning Siren located in the 900 block of Rider Street near Lincoln School. At that time I recommended that the siren be the Civil Defense concurred. On July 1, 1980, I received a memo fromaRoger tS holten ur Attorney, in which he indicated that exposure to le legal staff clearly present though somewhat minimal. q co gal liabilit 'bsthe C t City copy of that memo is attached. a City is Mr. Scholten refers to information we have received from the Noise Technical Assistance Center at the University of Iowa, which is funded b E.P.A. office in Kansas City. This information is based on a comparative study done by the NTAC and it'documents the degree of y the Region VII which could result in the event offor hearing stud a malfunction.poNote �that the readings forrthis Study were taken at ground level at a distance of 90 meters or feet from the base of the siren. approximately 100 siren based on the content of my mmoMr. Scholten's recommendation was not sufficiently positive to reactivate the the Context un last addre sed the issue- The efore, then nit hasdremained inactive which Council Several events have prompted me to address the matter at this time. I• We have failed in our attempts to contact our ori initially indicated rather encouraging results from our modification of the Rider Street unit. This effort has been abandoned. genal consultant who 2. Dr. Adrian Hogben, 910 Rider Street, whose residence is approximately 40 feet from the siren, has advised me that his house is now concerned about the proximity of the unit to his residence as having a deterrent effect on consideration b for sale and he is y prospective buyers. 3. Dr. Hogben has provided me with information which documents that the initial deactivation of that unit was due in part to a 1977 recommendation b Angelo Mattassa, Warning Officer, Defense Civil Preparedness A enc 6, ion Denver, Colorado. Mr. Mattassa was to y Mr. Washington, DC headquarters for forward informationytoegthe E•P•A. and other federal a analysis and possible recommendations by feedback having been receivedencies. I have no knowledge of any resulting In addition, several factors remain. I. The unit remains only 40 feet from Dr. Hogben's residence while all available information indicates that an acceptable minimum distance is 75 to 100 feet. 2. NTAC tests indicate that our modification to the Rider only a very slight improvement in sound levels at adiistanceeOf 9unit produced 0 meters. In the absence of any response from our consultant indications were � more optimistic, we must assume that ithe uresults h his of the �NTAC tests are accurate. Indeed, there is no reason to suppose otherwise. 1905 MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR6LA6 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES A 1 Based upon the information above, I do not recommend reactivation of the Rider _ Street siren at this time. Rather, I would suggest that the staff pursue the following: 1. Work with local Civil Defense authorities in soliciting the most current information available from appropriate federal agencies regarding the relative safety and operation of these siren units. 2. Attempt to obtain from the manufacturer or other sources a minimum acceptable distance from occupied buildings for placement of these units. - 3. Explore again alternative locations for the Rider Street unit and identify i. possible sources of funding for moving that unit if necessary. 4. Obtain a legal opinion regarding our potential liability as it pertains to Dr. Hogben's sale of his home. The unit could be removed from the site and stored if recommended by our legal staff. I believe that the above could be accomplished by early 1981 and we would target next spring for a time to reactivate the siren in whatever location is acceptable. The Rider Street unit is currently operable and could be reactivated at any time. I agree with Mr. Scholten that the risk is unclear and the issue remains a policy question which must be weighed against the desirability of providing early warning to the residents of that area in the event of some emergency. It appears that the 1 risk of liability could be reduced significantly if we are able to ensure that the " unit is placed according to current specifications and recommendations and that it i is maintained in a safe operating condition. I have reserved time at your October 6, 1980 informal meeting so that Council may discuss this matter further if you wish. bdw5/1-3 3 cc: Pat McCarney, Civil Defense Director ' Cathy.Eisenhofer, Purchasing Agent r U, i .i, MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES 1 i 1; 1 4 1 �y City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: July 1, 1980 To: Dale Melling, Assistant City Manager From: Roger Scholten, Assistant City Attorne�' S Re: Lincoln School Civil Defense Siren Dale, although I know you were not pleased by Bob BOwlin's opinion of this matter, I tend to agree with Bob that the reactivation of the siren is really a policy question. From the information you supplied to me, the City is definitely on notice that the siren Could cause damage to nearby long period Of time, the residents. Should the siren malfunction and continue to operate for a City Potentially be liable for hearin losses c used by the siren.T a questionw uld be whether the precautions taken by the City before reactivation were reasonable. Based on the information now available, I could see a Jury going either war on that question. Thus, we should recognize that a risk of some sort is involved In reactivating the siren. From a legal standpoint, the safest approach is to keep the siren inactive. From a practical standpoint, however, the risk is apparently small enough to make the prospect of liability quite small. bdw2/2 MICROFILMED BY JORM MIC R�LAB CEDAR RAPIDS OES MOINES 9 9 1 �y City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: July 1, 1980 To: Dale Melling, Assistant City Manager From: Roger Scholten, Assistant City Attorne�' S Re: Lincoln School Civil Defense Siren Dale, although I know you were not pleased by Bob BOwlin's opinion of this matter, I tend to agree with Bob that the reactivation of the siren is really a policy question. From the information you supplied to me, the City is definitely on notice that the siren Could cause damage to nearby long period Of time, the residents. Should the siren malfunction and continue to operate for a City Potentially be liable for hearin losses c used by the siren.T a questionw uld be whether the precautions taken by the City before reactivation were reasonable. Based on the information now available, I could see a Jury going either war on that question. Thus, we should recognize that a risk of some sort is involved In reactivating the siren. From a legal standpoint, the safest approach is to keep the siren inactive. From a practical standpoint, however, the risk is apparently small enough to make the prospect of liability quite small. bdw2/2 MICROFILMED BY JORM MIC R�LAB CEDAR RAPIDS OES MOINES 9 9 V i City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: June 13, 1980 To: City Council From: Dale Helling, Assistant City Attorney Re: Lincoln School Civil Defense Siren In the Fall of 1979 we consulted with an audiologist from the University of Iowa regarding the existing problem with this unit, its close proximity to a residence, and how we might reduce the noise level satisfactorily. As a result, we elected to modify the horn in such a manner that the sound would be directed in a more upwardly direction and, in essence, over that particular residence. The unit was activated for the December 1979 monthly test and several sound readings were tkane by our consultants at ground level nearby, inside Lincoln School, and from an upstairs window in a residence across the street which is approximately twice the distance from the unit as the closest residence. The resulting data was to be evaluated by our consultant and he agreed to make a recommendation on the basis of his findings early in 1980. He has been out of Iowa City since early January and during part of that time has been out of the country. We have made numerous attempts to contact him since the first of the year but without success. Representatives of the Noise Technical Assistance Center at the University of Iowa, an agency funded by the Federal EPA, conducted some similar but less extensive tests on April 7, 1980. These involved the Lincoln School siren and another similar one which had not been modified. Their purpose in testing was to make a comparative evaluation. This was done on their own initiative and copies of correspondence regarding those tests are attached. Our consultant's initial reaction to the test conducted in December was that the results of modifying the unit were very favorable. We will continue in our attempts to obtain a recommendation from him. ' Several alternatives exist at this point. One would be to repeat the testing process with a new consultant. This would obviously take some time and we would probably be through the tornado season before a decision was made. The second would be to leave the unit inoperable which would be contrary to the wishes of many people in that neighborhood. A third alternative would be to place the unit back into operation. MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES I 2 Based on the results of the NTAC tests, I recommend that we reactivate the Lincoln School siren if our legal staff concurs. Prior to rty reactivation we will notify the residents of that area, and the registered concern about the noise levals and his attorney, Johnson to Johnson County Civil Defense easeiadvise me at your lhas June 16, 1980 1980 informal this course of action, p meeting. cc: City Manager bj5/4-5 -. 1, i i i i. ` I �1 I 1 2 Based on the results of the NTAC tests, I recommend that we reactivate the Lincoln School siren if our legal staff concurs. Prior to rty reactivation we will notify the residents of that area, and the registered concern about the noise levals and his attorney, Johnson to Johnson County Civil Defense easeiadvise me at your lhas June 16, 1980 1980 informal this course of action, p meeting. cc: City Manager bj5/4-5 MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAS CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES -. i i i. ` I �1 i i MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAS CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES -. i i i. t 1 1 - NOISE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER NTAC-VII Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center The university of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 52242 318/353.3128 i May 19, 1980 1 Dale Helling Assistant City Manager City or Town City Civic Center 410 E. Washington Street v , Iowa City, IA 52240 - Dear Mr. Helling: I am enclosing a copy of our final report an the output level of the Civil Defence Sirens. I have also been in contact with Cathy E1Renhoffer on this and will provide some additional information on the confounding effects of ototoxic drugs as she has requested. r t Sincerely, i .4e0y V 1 !, le I cge 1ltlK eI 1, M.A. Campus Coordinator C8H/ns try J I I 1 iyl � a VED MAY 2 2 198D For Federal Region VII (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) ��..r........ ,..-.... �•...._..__._ _ _ 1905 - MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAE3 1 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES ., 5 i NOISE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center The University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 52242 319/353-3129 .lune 2, 1980 Cathy Eisenhoffer Purchasing Agent City of Iowa City Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Cathy: NTAC-VI I I am writing in response to our conversation on the interation between ototoxic drugs and noise exposure. For that class of ototoxic drugs producing permanent threshold shift (e.g. the family of aminoglycoside antibiotics) it is the case that a synergistic effects has been demonstrated with high level noise exposure. Understandably, the studies involved have been restricted to laboratory animals and the application of these data to humans is inferential, though probably valid. Unfortunately, there is not, to my knowledge, nufflclent information nval.Inl)le nn thio topic to allow for modifying eatablinhed noise -risk criteria tables to allow for such an interacLion. Interestingly, no such synergistic effect has been found for Lhnt group of oLutoxins producing temporary threshold shift (e.g. Quinine, Sallcylntes, etc.). Relating this information to our earlier report on the potential health hazard posed by the local civil defence sirens is difficult due to the lack of quantifiable data, as I have stated above. It might be informative to contact representatives from the medical community to determine the frequency of prescription of these ototoxic drugs for outpatients who might be in a position to be exposed to such noise hazards. my suspicion is that these numbers would be quite low. I hope this has been of some help to you. I include a list of refervoces for further information. Sincere reorge Haskell Campus Coordinntor For federal Region V1l (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES I (I. f; ^I REFERENCES Falk, S.A. (1972): Combined Effects of Noise and Drugs, Environ. Pere ect., 1, 1-22. Hawkins, J.E. (1971): The Roleo sa. Ann. f Vasoconstruction in Noise -Induced Nearing LoOtol. Rhinol. Laryng.j. 80, 903-914. Marques, D.M., Clark, C.S., and Hawkins, J.E. (1975): Potentiation of Cochlear Injury by Noise and Ototoxic Antibiotics in Guinea Pigs. J. Ac 2u"' Soc. Amer. 57, Sl (A). Hameroik, R.P„ and Henderson, D. (1976): "The Potentiation of Noise by Other Ototraumatic Agents." In Effects of Noise on Hearin . Henderson, D., Hamerik, R.P., Dosath, D.S., and Mills, J.H. (Eds). New York, Raven Press. 291-308. MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES `i fA tl i i I I Y I I a� ^I REFERENCES Falk, S.A. (1972): Combined Effects of Noise and Drugs, Environ. Pere ect., 1, 1-22. Hawkins, J.E. (1971): The Roleo sa. Ann. f Vasoconstruction in Noise -Induced Nearing LoOtol. Rhinol. Laryng.j. 80, 903-914. Marques, D.M., Clark, C.S., and Hawkins, J.E. (1975): Potentiation of Cochlear Injury by Noise and Ototoxic Antibiotics in Guinea Pigs. J. Ac 2u"' Soc. Amer. 57, Sl (A). Hameroik, R.P„ and Henderson, D. (1976): "The Potentiation of Noise by Other Ototraumatic Agents." In Effects of Noise on Hearin . Henderson, D., Hamerik, R.P., Dosath, D.S., and Mills, J.H. (Eds). New York, Raven Press. 291-308. MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES i i i I I Y r , h .iw I , NOISE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center The University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 52242 319/353-3129 History Nl AC -VI I On April 7, 1980, 9:00 AM the staff of the Noise Technical Assistance Center for Region VII conducted a spot check of the sound level output from two Civil Defence Sirens (manufacturer, Allerator) located in the Iowa City arca. One of the sirens was located on the grounds of West High School and the other aL Lincoln Elementary School. The siren located at Lincoln School had been mndif led by the installation of a steel baffle which occluded approximately 1 of the output horn. Our primary interest lay in determining the reduction in output level the modification provided adjacent to the siren. Procedures The sirens are typically tested only once per month for approximately 60 seconds of continuous operation so our sample was relatively brief. Simultaneous measures were made at both sites at 5 second intervals at approximately 30 meters from the supporting pole. Two different sound level meters were used (OF.NRAD 1945 at West High and 311-3220 at Lincoln Elementary). BoLh meters were set to display in dBA, slow response, and were cnpnble of storing the peak level reached during the mennuroment interval. Both meters were calibrated just prior to the measurement. Findings The sirens rotate at an approximate rate of 33.3 RPM, so there was considerable fluctuation of level at our fixed site. At West High the unmodified siren produced a peak of 114 dBA at 30 meters with a measured range of from 96 to 114 dBA over the 60 second period, L50 for that period was 101 dBA. At Lincoln Elementary the recorded peak was 112 dBA with measured range of 88 to 108 dBA (stored peak did not occur at a measuring Interval). The L50 for measured levels was 98 dBA. Discussion While our results may be influenced by the short measurement interval they do indicate a minor reduction in Output SPL for the modified versus unmodified siren. The reductions observed were 2 dB for the peak and 3 (Ill for the estimated L50 based on our sample. This does, particularly large reduction in outnot constitute n put level at our observation pmol. for federal Aeglon VII (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB a it. CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES 1965 Thvre h;::; been soma concern expro:;:md regarding the potential health harard axsociated with these sirens. Applying the damage -risk criteria established by the Walsh -Healey public Contracts Act (sec. 50-204.10, 1969) Is made difficult by the fluctuating nature of the sirens output. Since Peaks do not occur at 1 second or less Intervals, due to the speed of the siren's rotation, the estimated 1.50 may be a more meaningful average to apply. Por this case the maximum permissible noise exposure times would be 1.5 hours per day for the unmodified siren (101 dBA) and 2.0 hours per day for the modified siren (98 dBA), again, this is for a distance of 30 meters. applying the observed peak levels would result in a miximum noise exposure time of "0.25 hours or less" per day for both sirens (114 and 112 dBA), As the above discussion suggests even the most stringent application of present damage -risk criteria would not result in an exceedance of permissible noise exposure for the 60 second test interval. In the event of an actual emergency or system malfunction it is concievable that the 15 minute time limit (0.25 hours) could be exceeded, but this supposes that the person, or parsons stay in the area at 30 meters from the siren pole, which seems Improbable. Conclusions While it seems unlikely that either of the described sirens constitute a health hazard in terms of noise exposurejthe levels produced certainly exceed a comfortable level for community environmental noise over sustained periods. The question of suitability of the sirens for inclusion in the total community noise environment must be answered by the community itself. The annoyance of the monthly test program should be weighed against the benifit associated with early warning of an impending emergency. M.A. Campus Coordinator GBH/ns MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES i 1905 I i i L ■ City of Iowa Chve MEMORANDUM Date: October 3, 1980 To: City Council „ / From: Assistant City Manager 0 !�/�///�'/L Re: EPA Construction Grants Program Public Hearing Attached to this memorandum is a copy of a notice regarding a public hearing on EPA construction grants program to be held by the Iowa Water Quality Commission on Tuesday, October 7, 1980. It involves a proposal to amend Chapter 400-19 of the Iowa Administrative Code and outlines three options which that Commission will consider. Depending upon what decision is finally made, the financial impact on Iowa City, particularly as it relates to the proposed Southeast Interceptor System, could be significant. The City Engineer and I will accompany Mayor Balmer to Des Moines on Tuesday to attend this public hearing. Mayor Balmer will make a brief statement regarding Iowa City's position in this matter. In addition, Jim Kimm, our engineering and planning consultant, will also be present at the hearing. Mayor Balmer has indicated that he will address this matter briefly at your informal session on Monday. cc: City Engineer bj5/2 MICROFILMED BY p JORM MIC R+L AB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES M I ' i M iowa depdrtment of environmental quality (90 reply lo: phone: 515 28 Preston 515/281-8887 NOTICE EPA CONSTRUCTION GRANTS PROGRAM PUBLIC HEARING The Iowa Water Quality Commission will hold a hearing on October 7, 1980 at 10:00 a.m. in the Henry A. Wallace Building, 900 E. Grand Avenue, 5th floor con- ference room, Des Moines, Iowa, concerning the construction grants priority system. Specifically the Commission is seeking additional public comments on amending Chapter 400--19, Iowa Administrative Code, because the question of what type of sewers should be funded under the construction grants program, in addi- tion to the funding of wastewater facilities, has evolved from comments made at an earlier hearing on July 23, 1980. The Department of Environmental Quality's staff review of those comments has led to the conclusion that dif- fering interpretations of the existing criteria may be possible. The staff's interpretation of the existing criteria would remove approximately 18 million dollars of relief sewer projects from the project priority list as originally proposed at the July 23, 1980 hearing. This interpretation has been challenged by the affected tparties. hatthe criteriConsequently, ashould tcommissionhe be revisedto claridetermined fyeligibi- lities of such projects since the final determination has broad ranging impacts on the construction of water Pollution control projects throughout the state. Therefore, the commission is seeking additional com- ments on the funding of sewers with federal and state construction grant funds. The three options that the commission will consider are as follows: A. Infiltration/inflow correction (Category IIIA), sewer system replacement or major rehabilitation (Category III8), and new Interceptors and appurtenances including relief sewers (Category IVB) which qualify for funds under federal criteria will be given priority equal to treatment works (Category I & II) and endorsed for funding in priority order. 064 MICROFILMED BY c JORM MICR+LA13 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES Mein Office: Henry A Wallace Building, Des Moines, lows W310 Regional offlin SI. a1 209 N. Franklin Regional Office N2 509 S. President Regional 011ico p3 Regional Office M4 401 Grand Ave. Rogionel Office M5 Regional Office 06 Manchester 52057 P.O. Box 1443 316 Walnut P.O. Box 270 Atlantic 50022 317 E. 51h SI. P.O. Box 6160 117 N. 2nd Ave. j Mason City 50401 Spencer 51301 Des Moines 50309 P.O. Box 27 Washington 52353 064 MICROFILMED BY c JORM MICR+LA13 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES r B. Infiltration/inflow correction (Category IIIA), and sewer system replacement or major rehabilitation (Category IIIB) will be given priority equal to treatment works (Category I & II). Category IVB "New Interceptors and Appurtenances" would be defined to identify which portions will be endorsed for funding. Relief sewers would not be endorsed for state and federal funding. C. Infiltration/inflow correction (Category IIIA), and sewer system replacement or major rehabilitation (Category IIIB) will be given priority equal to treatment works (Category I & II). Category IVB "New Interceptors and Appurtenances" would be defined to identify which portions will be endorsed for funding. Relief sewers would be funded during FY 81 if they met spe- cified conditions. Those conditions may include such factors as areawide planning, and public health hazards. Elimination of all relief sewers from future years funding will also be considered. Comments are solicited on the•mer•its of funding sewers according to each of the options described above and the impact that each option will have on delaying the construction of treatment plants necessary to meet federal and state discharge standards. The complete records of the initial hearing, as well as the record on this proposed hearing will both be considered by - the commission in their final determination. 1 Any interested person may make an oral presentation on the proposed rule at the hearing. They may also submit r•' written comments on or before October 17, 1980 to the Executive Director, Iowa Department of Environmental Quality, 900 E. Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319. La4rryECrane, Execut ve D rector Iowa Department of Environmental quality WF/nsv/LDsk/HEAR1 MICROFILMED BY JO RM MIC R+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS . DES MOINES 111 l9ob •I01t,N;5c,w c:r,uN'ry c:c,Nslat�',�'ru,.N Itr,;�itu KKN'r PAltl . IIr1t'. a lilt s OXI.01c1). rru,.Nr, no.'•1, ill} October 1, 1980 Mayor John Balmer Civic Center Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Dear Mayor Balmer: RE--:-ED C''T 2 1980 The Johnson County Conservation Board is inviting members of the Iowa City Council to attend a meeting being held Wednesday, October 15th at 7:30 p.m. at the Coralville City Hall. The purpose of the meeting is to present an engineer's study of the Coralville Power Dam structural condition, to review the engineer's repair plan and to discuss funding alternatives. The following agencies have been invited to attend this meeting: Coralville City Council, Johnson County Board of Supervisors and Iowa City River Front Commission. Please let us know if representatives of the Iowa City Council can attend. �Sincerely, R. G. Dunlap Director Johnson County conservation Board /bb cc: Patricia Meade, President MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LA9 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES 1947 City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: October 1, 1980 TO: Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: John Hayek RE: Sewer Tap -on Fees Mayor and Councilmembers: The Council has requested an opinion from the legal department concerning the legality of the use of sewer tap -on fees to aid in the funding of sewer construction projects. e Citof Iowa City sed It was hcontained in Chapteru9.66tofhthe 0IdaCity Code.fee Th ince. ordinance was repealed in the 1978 recodification of the City Code. The validity of Chapter 9.66 of the 1966 Municipal Code was strongly called into question in Clarke v. City of Betten- dorf, 158 N.W. 2d 125 (Iowa 1968). In a 393.T4the Clarke case the Iowa legislature in 1969eenactent dcSection fitted u the Iowa Code (1971). That section explicitly per- mitted municipal sewer tap -on fees as a method of assessing the coat of construction of municipal sewers. When the new Municipal Code of Iowa was adopted by the Iowa legislature effective July 1, 1975, no provision comparable to Section 393.14 of the 1971 Code was included. Section 393.14 was repealed at that time. The City has been involved in one lawsuit in Johnson County District Court which subsequently involved a sewer tap -on fee. In that case, City of Iowa City v. Braverman Development, Inc., the district court ruled that the City did have authority to assess a sewer tap -on fee. It should, however, be noted that the decision of the district court judge found that the City had in fact assessed the tap -on fee prior to July 1, 1975. The district court judge's opinion went on to say that even had the fee not been enacted prior to that date the City would have had authority under general home rule powers to assess a tap -on fee. The facts of that case, it should be noted, argued strongly in favor of the assessment of the tap -on fee. Further, it should be noted that Assistant City Attorney Roger Scholten did an excellent job of presenting the City's case. Finally, the defendant chose not to appeal the decision despite the recommendations Of its counsel. Under these circumstances I do not believe that the district court's ruling can safely be relied upon as any type of precedent that a tap -on fee would be held to be legal. d E DOCIT2 1980 ABBIE STOLFI r1 roV MICROFILMED BY JORM MIC R�LAO CEOAR R.RIDS 0 OES M0"", Mayor and Councilmembers - 2 - October 1, 1980 Several arguments can be made both of a statutory and constitutional nature to the effect that the assessment of a sewer tap -on fee without notice or opportunity for hearing is not permissible. Obviously arguments can be made the other way as was done by Mr. Scholten in the Braverman case. The bottom line of this matter is this, however: We can make no guarantees or even accurate predictions to you as to how the Supreme Court of Iowa would rule on this question if confronted with a case squarely presenting it with the issue of the legality of a sewer tap -on fee. The 1 question must be regarded as an open one at this time. Under these circumstances I do not believe that the City can afford to take a chance on the use of sewer tap -on fees to assess the cost of sewer line extensions. I Consequently, in the event the City Council wishes to attempt to use a sewer tap -on fee as an assessment method I would strongly recommend that two things be done: First of all, a City ordinance ought to be passed similar to old Chapter 9.66 of the 1966 Municipal Code; secondly, and most importantly the City should insist on specific waiver language in any contract with any developer to the effect that the City will not bear the risk..of invalidity of the sewer tap -on fee. That technique was used with respect to the construction of the sewer in the Braverman Development case. In that case the Frantz Company advanced the money for the construction of the sewer across the Braverman property. I insisted that the agreement with Frantz contain language to the effect that the City would attempt to collect a tap -on fee in the event of subsequent tap -ons to the sewer paid for by Frantz but that the City would have no liability in the event such a tap -on fee could not be collected. I strongly believe that similar language should be insisted upon in any future case of this sort. o n yek i JWH:vb j I i l \. I MICROFILMED BY 7 JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES r City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: October 1, 1980 TO: Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: John Hayek RE: Non -conforming Lots Mayor and Councilmembers: At the Council meeting of September 30th Councilmember Vevera requested information as to whether or not a lot which does not meet the frontage or area requirements of the present or the proposed zoning ordinance can be built upon. 'Both the present and..the proposed zoning ordinance permit construction or reconstruction of single family dwellings on any lot of record as.of the effective date of the existing zoning ordinance (1962). Consequently there should be no problem if a single family home burned down on a non -conforming lot. That home could be reconstructed. This approach is carried over into the new ordinance. JWH:vb o n Hayek MICROFILMED BY ' JO RM MIC FI+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES FOCIT2L E0 1980 ABBIE STOLFUS CITY CLERK RI i r City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: October 1, 1980 TO: Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: John Hayek RE: Non -conforming Lots Mayor and Councilmembers: At the Council meeting of September 30th Councilmember Vevera requested information as to whether or not a lot which does not meet the frontage or area requirements of the present or the proposed zoning ordinance can be built upon. 'Both the present and..the proposed zoning ordinance permit construction or reconstruction of single family dwellings on any lot of record as.of the effective date of the existing zoning ordinance (1962). Consequently there should be no problem if a single family home burned down on a non -conforming lot. That home could be reconstructed. This approach is carried over into the new ordinance. JWH:vb o n Hayek MICROFILMED BY ' JO RM MIC FI+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES FOCIT2L E0 1980 ABBIE STOLFUS CITY CLERK RI i 1 A '"� City of Iowa 01° v MEMORANDUM Date: October 1, 1980 To: City Manager and City Council From: Rosemary Vitosh, Director of Finance Re: Purchase of Outstanding Water Revenue Bonds I have authorized the purchase of $5,000 of Water Revenue Bonds which were being offered for sale by the bondholder. When the Water Revenue Bond and Interest Reserve Fund has an excess balance, the bond resolution states that the excess may be used to call (purchase) any outstanding bonds. The bonds are being purchased at a price of $84.337 and accrued interest. This totals $4,217 plus the interest. By calling these bonds before their maturity date, the City will save $783 in principal payments and $108 in interest payments (the bonds' maturity date was December 1, 1984). Total savings to the City is $891. If the City did not purchase the outstanding bonds with the excess fund .balance, a bondholder would have the right to come in and force the City to purchase outstanding bonds at par plus accrued interest. Itis to the City's advantage to purchase outstanding bonds when they are offered for sale by a bond holder as this enables the City to purchase another price less than par value. bj/sp MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LA9 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES VEENSTRA & KIMM, INC. September 29, 1980 Neal G. Berlin City Manager City of Iowa City Civic Center 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 RIVER CORRIDOR SEWERS PROJECT WEEKLY PROGRESS SUMMARY NO. 11 This is to report progress on the River Corridor Sewers project for the week ending September 27, 1980, and to provide information regarding the contractors plans for the weeks ahead. Eby continued the installation of 42 -inch pipe in Madison Street in the vicinity of the Memorial Union. Crew No. 1, as of Friday night, had progressed to a point just south of the Bloomington Street intersection. Crew No. 2, digging south from the Union, is well beyond the Jefferson Street intersection. Both crews are still installing pipe in rock. The crews are each installing from 22.5 feet to 37.5 feet of pipe per day. Affholder, Inc. arrived on the project Wednesday to begin work on the tunnel in Dubuque Street at Park Road. The 33 -inch pipe was .installed across the north lanes of Iowa Avenue. The crossing was paved. The north lanes will be opened at a later date, not September 26, as reported last week. U&I Construction Company poured driveways and sidewalks on Prentiss Street. Pouring of sidewalks was started at the University Library. Work was started on the installation of the reach of 8 -inch ductile iron pipe in Madison Street between Iqwa and a manhole south of Bloomington. A total of 300 linear feet was installed between Jefferson and Market Streets. Thispipe must be installed after the 42 -inch main line pipe is in place. MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES h Neal G. Berlin September 27, 1980 Page 2 I This week's work schedule includes paving Madison Street from Prentiss Streeast north to the south radius of Court Street. Metro also intends to pour side of Madison 42rjnchbetween inCourt Madisonand pastltheton Streets. crew Bloomington StreetNo. 1 will continue laying pipe intersection. That crew will then move to Dubuque Street. VE�,STRI� �MM, / W. Kinin JWK:jk 11648 cc: Charles J. Schmadeke W, L. Levay MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LA6 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES W I . j i t i r. j MINUTES RALSTON CREEK COORDINATING COMMITTEE AUGUST 27, 1980 - 7:30 P.M. CIVIC CENTER - ENGINEERING CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: J. Hall, B. Hillman, J. Jakobsen, H. Kavanaugh, A. Scott I STAFF PRESENT: L. Chiat, J. Hencin, C. Schmadeke RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL: 1. That the grant application for the Lower Ralston Creek Project be approved and the project included in the City's Capital Improvement Program. 2. That the Ralston Creek North Branch Dam Project be completed. DISCUSSION: City staff members reviewed the progress and status of Ralston Creek i improvements. It was pointed out that during the last year, the Governor Street bridge was rebuilt, construction was begun on the South Branch Dam and the Washington Street bridge, and land acquisition begun for the North Branch Dam and the Lower Ralston Creek improvements. Regarding the North Branch Dam, Hillman asked that Parks and Recreation review the plans to see if trees and plantings conform with Hickory Hill Park. Questions were also raised concerning the type of plantings that would I be placed on this and the South Branch Dam. (Note: Schmadeke later reported that, according to Stanley Consultants, the Iowa Natural Resources Council would not allow shrubs or trees to be planted on the dams.) It was noted that the Dryer property at 11 S. Johnson Street may be for sale as Mr. Dryer had died recently. This property was needed to perform some of the "preliminary improvements" recommended in the Ralston Creek Watershed Management Plan. Hencin advised that the grant application for the third year of the Lower Ralston Creek project was currently under review. The Committee approved a motion recommending the approval of the application and that this project be included in the City's Capital Improvement Program. The Committee expressed concern over an article which appeared in the August 11, 1980, Press -Citizen concerning the completion of the North Branch Dam. Staff assured the Committee that the project was proceeding as planned. The Committee then approved a recommendation to the City Council that the project be completed. l913 - MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LA6 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES Ralston Creek Coordinating Committee Page 2 The Committee and staff discussed other aspects of the North Branch Dam project concerning the land acquisition. Chiat stated that the City expected to have possession of the land by April or May of 1981. Schmadeke stated that the plans were currently being reviewed by the Iowa Natural Resources Council. Hencin asked about the Committee's priorities for inclusion in the City's Capital Improvement Program. The Committee has previously (in 1979) made a list of priorities, as recommended in the Watershed Management Plan. The question of local flooding problems, e.g. on Rundell and Dearborn Streets was also discussed. The Committee understood that some of these could be addressed as annual Public Works maintenance projects. The Committee agreed to meet again in late September or early October at which time staff could update the Committee on other progress. The meeting adjourned. Prepared y;mHe ncln, COBG Program Coordinator MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB J " CEDAR RAPIDS - DES MOINES MINUTES AFFIRMATIVE ACTION TASK FORCE SEPTEMBER 30, 1980 CITY MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Eggers, Marcus, McCartt (left 11:05 A.M.), Miller, Orelup, Yates. MEMBERS ABSENT: Keating, Kucharzak, Meisel. STAFF: Carroll, Helling, Morris, Woito. GUEST: None. RECOGNdENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL: None. RECOMMENOA7IONS 70 CITY MANAGER AND STAFF: final Melling will inform all Task Force members the importance in attending the tive Action formulate rec mm to ndations for Council review the apresentation. Morrissckage will pand to rovide a draft of the complete policy package to be distributed to the Task Force members for their review. SUMMARY OF RELEVANT DISCUSSION: I. The meeting was called to order at 10:06 A.M. by Acting Chairperson, Harvey Miller. 2. Review of the Minutes, Correction to the minutes of September 23, 1980. M 1 er was drafted to write a statement outlining problems in the grievance procedure for the non-union employees instead of volunteering to do so. 3. Discussinn s T ------- 4. usbcu sion meeting giving theTask Force smembers athe tlopportunity tto reviewnext draft for further discussion. Eggers suggested that the members decide if the draft's concept was good and if so have the Legal Department and the Human Relations Director work out the language problems. L2,.�Ouncil: The drafts on RecruitmentFunds, In-HousevCounselingsand Staffing Needs were discussed. Carroll informed the Task Force that there was no need for additional support staff at this time. Carroll also stated that In -House Counseling regarding employee career development is a normal function of the Human Relations Department which will be MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES i ,I MINUTES AFFIRMATIVE ACTION TASK FORCE SEPTEMBER 30, 1980 CITY MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Eggers, Marcus, McCartt (left 11:05 A.M.), Miller, Orelup, Yates. MEMBERS ABSENT: Keating, Kucharzak, Meisel. STAFF: Carroll, Helling, Morris, Woito. GUEST: None. RECOGNdENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL: None. RECOMMENOA7IONS 70 CITY MANAGER AND STAFF: final Melling will inform all Task Force members the importance in attending the tive Action formulate rec mm to ndations for Council review the apresentation. Morrissckage will pand to rovide a draft of the complete policy package to be distributed to the Task Force members for their review. SUMMARY OF RELEVANT DISCUSSION: I. The meeting was called to order at 10:06 A.M. by Acting Chairperson, Harvey Miller. 2. Review of the Minutes, Correction to the minutes of September 23, 1980. M 1 er was drafted to write a statement outlining problems in the grievance procedure for the non-union employees instead of volunteering to do so. 3. Discussinn s T ------- 4. usbcu sion meeting giving theTask Force smembers athe tlopportunity tto reviewnext draft for further discussion. Eggers suggested that the members decide if the draft's concept was good and if so have the Legal Department and the Human Relations Director work out the language problems. L2,.�Ouncil: The drafts on RecruitmentFunds, In-HousevCounselingsand Staffing Needs were discussed. Carroll informed the Task Force that there was no need for additional support staff at this time. Carroll also stated that In -House Counseling regarding employee career development is a normal function of the Human Relations Department which will be MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES � I t 1 i j I i I I " I i I. I � I t 1 i j I i I I " I V i i y Affirmative Action Task Force September 30, 1980 Page 2 implemented in the near future. Carroll will rewrite the draft on Recruitment Funds to be distributed at the next meeting. Kucharzak's recommendation on the City's committment for non-support of discriminating organizations was rejected at this time. 5. Set A ends for the next meetin Miller asked the Task Force members to rev ew the complete Affirmative Action Policy package and to bring written corrections and changes to the next meeting for discussion. The drafts on the Grievance Procedure for non-union employees, Recruitment Funds and Carroll's draft recommending statistical data be concluded in the Affirmative Action Status Report will also be discussed. 6. The meeting was adjourned at 11:34 A.M. The next scheduled meeting is October 7, 1980, City Manager's Conference Room, 10:00 A.M. MICROFILMED BY JORM P.11Cr+L-R CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES I I I I I I j I i I I I I �L is I 1913 f MINUTES OF STAFF MEETING September 24, 1980 Referraregulars from the informal Counciil meetingof Council meeting and the Sep ember23were distributed to the egularstaff for review and discussion. Items for the agenda of September 30, 1980 include: Rezoning of Jack I. Young property. The City Manager distributed a memo encouraging the use of Ozark Airlines in view of their recent expansion to provide improved air service to this area. Rosemary Vitosh advised that a schedule of meetings with appropriate City staff to discuss FY82 budget receipt projections would be distributed this date. The City Manager advised that Friday, December 26 1980 would be designated as the "floating holiday" for this year. The Fire Chief voiced his concern that the fire lane on the City Plaza be maintained to the greatest.extent possible as an open lane for emergency equipment. Staff was advised that the Word Processing Center will be funded in the budget for the Finance Department in the future. It will no longer be an enterprise fund and chargebacks for use to various departments will not be made. MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB 1 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES Y \\ MINUTES OF STAFF MEETING September 24, 1980 Referraregulars from the informal Counciil meetingof Council meeting and the Sep ember23were distributed to the egularstaff for review and discussion. Items for the agenda of September 30, 1980 include: Rezoning of Jack I. Young property. The City Manager distributed a memo encouraging the use of Ozark Airlines in view of their recent expansion to provide improved air service to this area. Rosemary Vitosh advised that a schedule of meetings with appropriate City staff to discuss FY82 budget receipt projections would be distributed this date. The City Manager advised that Friday, December 26 1980 would be designated as the "floating holiday" for this year. The Fire Chief voiced his concern that the fire lane on the City Plaza be maintained to the greatest.extent possible as an open lane for emergency equipment. Staff was advised that the Word Processing Center will be funded in the budget for the Finance Department in the future. It will no longer be an enterprise fund and chargebacks for use to various departments will not be made. MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB 1 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES Informal Council Meeting September 22, 1980 Page One SUBJECT Iowa & Madison Industrial Revenue Bonds DEPARTMENT REFERRALS 9/22 PPD/Parks & When will Plaza Towers need to take possession? What is opening `1 Recreation LU date for Ramp B? Could lot be r.� REFERRED DATE Informal Council Meeting September 22, 1980 Page One SUBJECT Iowa & Madison Industrial Revenue Bonds DEPARTMENT REFERRALS ng Lot 9/22 PPD/Parks & When will Plaza Towers need to take possession? What is opening Recreation LU date for Ramp B? Could lot be REFERRED DATE Q W used for other purposes? (Ice TO DUE 2 P COMMENTS/STATUS 4FRI Legal O 9WUj r FGilbert CC I 9/22 Public Works Needs temporary stop signs to facilitate pedestrian movement. 9/22 Public Works Policy to address 1) commercie-r- 9/22 PPD/Finance (CBD), 2) industrial, and 9/22 Finance Identify source of funding for 3) housing. What alternatives crossing repair. if funded industry is sold or if products manufactured are changed? ng Lot 9/22 PPD/Parks & When will Plaza Towers need to take possession? What is opening Recreation date for Ramp B? Could lot be used for other purposes? (Ice rink?) 9/22 Legal Re: Traffic Engineering StuZf FGilbert and Reduction of Speed Limits - draft amendment. 9/22 Public Works Prepare criteria to support 15 MPH speed limit. (Brachtel) RR Crossing 9/22 Finance Identify source of funding for crossing repair. 9/22 MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES Explore negotiation of land I , trade with Bruce Glasgow - identify;' nntantial land fnw +wail. 1.. �tl Informal Council Meeting September 22, 1980 Page Two rl SUBJECT DATE REVD REFERRED M DATE DUE O LLJ Q w F W COMMENTS/STATUS Kirkwood Hy -Vee Alley 9/22 PPD Meet with Hy -Vee re: tying alley conveyance to option on N. 20 ft. of property. Street Striping in.Coralville 9/22 Public works Provide City Manager with cost figures for work done. City Space Requirements 9/22 PPD Don discuss with City Manager re: memo to Council. i MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES Regular Council Meeting September 23, 1980 Page One I DEPARTMENT REFERRALS r SUBJECT DATE RECD REFERRED TO DATE DUE I Q w w � COMMENTS/STATUS Industrial Revenue Bonds f PPD Regular Council Meeting September 23, 1980 Page One I DEPARTMENT REFERRALS r MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES J SUBJECT DATE RECD REFERRED TO DATE DUE I Q w w � COMMENTS/STATUS Industrial Revenue Bonds 9/23 PPD Can we require commercial users to submit plans for Design Review Committee approval. Washington & Madison.- Perret 9/23 Public Works When will sidewalks be instal rd? Melrose Court9/23 Public Works Project date for reopening. Old Capitol Centre9/23 PPD Update for Council on completion date and number of stores; dates for each. First Avenue RR Crossing 9/23 Public Works Is signal at First Avenue repaired? Will others be operative? When? Sewer Use Ordinance 9/23 Info. I. Passed and adopted. Davis Building - Office Space 9/23 IS Any problems re: fire or safety codes? i i MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES J THE ene1*9YSavei* Number 4 NEWS CITY OF IOWA CITY SEPTEMBER 19I3e BI KEWAYSPLAN STALLED National For Energy many months of the year bicycles are one of the more Popular forms of alternate transportation in Iowa News City. Thousands of people cycle to work, school, or just for fun each day. However, cyclists have many problems and dangers to deal with as they go around the City, ""In August the House of such as automobiles and construction projects, Representatives approved $1of To accommodate the large cycling group the City of Iowa City has incorporated billion for state law income energy assistance a system of bicycle paths into the Comprehensive Plan. The City Council programs. The bill assures funding for adopted this plan on April 1, 1980. It covers four years with a total the states at levels not less estimated cost of $464,000. The aim of the Bikeways Plan is to than FY80 appropriations. The encourage the use of the bicycle as a viable alternative form of transportation. bill must now be approved by the Senate Marianne Milkman, Department of Planning and Program Development (PPD), Project Planner Finance If it this Committee. i for the Bikeways said that the Bikeways Plan is almost dueptoaaapprove chances are d he Senate at a standstill lack of available funding. Another problem is that will the no one has officially been put in charge of the Bikeways program. However,N"lA this could change if new type of window insula- 4 such a position is provided for in the Johnson County Regional Planning Commission Transportation do tion has been developed. The insulation Plan due to take effect on October 1, 1980. consists of a _ more _ polyester based film inserted _CITY FLEET ECONOMIZED between the panes of a sealed double -paned window. The main attraction of this insulation? In an effort to cope with spiraling energy costs the City of Iowa City is moving toward more fuel It is almost totally transparent efficient vehicles for the motor pool fleet. The plan is to replace the existing vehicles and still blocks I incoming heat and outgoing gradually as the opportunity arises to achieve better fuel loss. This product should soon economy. Six be available to glass makers. new Chevrolet Chevettes were purchased on July 1, 1979. These subcompacts have contributed to reducing fuel costs for _ the City. Four of the Chevettes replaced vehicles in theeichv■r.the■vrngeAmeric■n administrative pool. The savings from these cars, compared to the models they replaced FY80 over FY79, has been u", 11e encrpr rrom In pmn,l, or ioil'rnuullnr,,,,I"D'i40i„nlr approximately $1195. Another Chevette went to the Cemetery Division saving that houect of or h drul pn,, Jr Allnwnl hour'■nn department $373. The Parking Division received the other subcompact but due JJ rlluwuu huw, of nuele■r loolhle if nu to its use as a heated office by the parking ramp security firm this vehicle Power, was not included in our costsavings $1563Total achieved five of the F vehicles was ora 52anew 8%savingson uelcosts. GAS Dave aley, WorksDepartment, saidSuperintendent Public20 fcarsu have i new averaged about Mpg compared to the 10 to 13 mpg for the i cars they have replaced. Maintenance problems have yet to develop and the subcompacts are holds ng up fairly well. I►,,,f —mors Page 2 — Energy Conservation Program, 416E Washington, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 (319) 354-1800 14/5 MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR+LA6 CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES ENERGY SAVER news Page 2 Bikeways.......... Solar So far the only part of the Bikeways Plan to be completed is Project a stretch of bike path in City Park parallel to the Iowa River. This was the result of cooperation between the Riverfront Update Commission and Karin Franklin of PPD. The Riverfront Commission put part of their funds into the development of this path. Even if funding were available for the construction of the Bikeway system, this is only half the battle. Just as important The Solar Demonstration is the need for funding to provide for the upkeep and maintenance Project featured in the August of the paths. Also, money is needed to provide striping and issue of ESN is rolling right signs along City streets to ensure adequate protection of along. The contracts for both bicyclists. The City has no extra money for these requirements projects have been finalized at the present time. Federal funding for such projects was and construction should be authorized with the passage of the Surface Transportation done by late October. Assistance Act of 1978. However, the United States Congress has McCormick Construction of yet to appropriate any large amounts of money and given the Iowa City will be building a budgetary problems of the government the outlook is bleak for any solar greenhouse, twelve feet large increase in federal funding in the near future. by twenty-four feet, as an Even though the Bikeways Plan is stalled without money City addition to the residence at employees can still take advantage of bicycling. Bicycles that 633 Reno Street. The the Police Department have in their custody are available for use greenhouse will provide heat by employees. Presently several people are using bicycles to the house by blowing the provided by this program. If anyone wishes to conserve energy by warm air from the greenhouse using one of these bicycles they can be checked out at the into the home. The cost of Automobile. check-out counter in the Civic Center or the this project will be Recreation Center. approximately $5,045. A liquid solar collector is being mounted on the roof of ' � IL the house at 742 Dearborn wi��f �fOrY Street by Easton Solar Works of Independence, Iowa. This collector should provide about 65% of the domestic hot water L•FE�� L needs of the residents. The People using the new cars have felt the difference. A few cost of this project is approx- imately $3,873. complaints have been heard that the new cars lack "pep" in The City is channeling acceleration and that they cannot go where they used to in a $3,500 to each project to pickup. These have been minor complaints and the adjustment assist in financing construc- seems to be going smoothly. In the future the City will continue to replace cars in the tion. The money was made HUD's fleet with subcompacts. Daley stated that the administrative available through Community Development Block pool, which still includes four h ton pickups, will be "purified" Grant program. j by next July. What he means is that the four pickups will go out in the field and more subcompacts will replace them. In addition to acquiring subcompact cars five diesel dump trucks were purchased this year. The trucks are having their N OTE a bodies fitted now and should be introduced into the fleet in late October. Also, the possibility of obtaining diesel street The Energy Conservation sweepers is being considered. Office of Iowa City welcomes These vehicles, along with the subcompact Chevettes, should any and all information, have quite an influence on keeping the City's fuel costs down. correspondence, or suggestions As time goes on and even more fuel efficient vehicles are concerning the ENERGY SAVER purchased, savings should be much higher than the present. This NEWS. Please send them to the i i will be especially true if fuel costs rise as quickly in the address listed on the. first future as they have in the past few years. page. Thank -you. MICROFILMED BY JORM MICR4LAB CEDAR RAPIDS • DES MOINES 0 S M T w TH F S LOAM -Staff MeetingBAM-Magistrates (Conf Room) Court (Chambers) 2noon-CCN (Rec Ctr 3PM-Senior Center :30PM-Housing Comm Comm (Conf Room) (Conf Room) 7PM-Housing Code Task Force (Conf Room) 7:30PM-Formal P&Z (Chambers) s GAM 8AM-Magistrates Court (Chambers) lOAM-Affirmative Action Task Force -Staff Meeting g (Conf Room) 8AM-Magistrates 1:30PM-Informal (Conf Room) 11AM-Budget Info Court (Chambers) SAM -Housing 4 A ppeal Council (Conf Rm) Mtg (Conf Room) Board (Conf Room) _ 2:30PM-Budget In Mtg (Conf Room) 7:30PM-Airport Comn 7: 30PM--eCouncil (Chamb(Conf 3:30PM-Housing Com (Conf Room) Room) 7:30PM-Parks & Rea Rec Center I.L 73 i./ rs BAM-Magistrates 10AM-Staff Meeting AM -Magistrates Court (Chambers) LOAM -Affirmative (Conf Room) Court (Chambers) 1:30PM-Informal Action Task Force 3:30PM-Housing Co 7:30PM-Formal P&Z Council (Conf Rm) (Conf Room) (Conf Room) (Chambers) 7:30PM••Informal 7PM-Riverfront Conu P&Z (Conf Room) (chambers) /4 BALM -Magistrates lE J'3 A3 Court (Chambers) 1:30PM-Informal LOAM -Affirmative Action Task Force 10AM-Staff Meeting AM -Ma g(chambers) (Conf Room) (Conf Room) Court Council (Conf Rm) 4:30PM-Broadband PM -Library Board (Storyhour Room) Telecommunications Comm (Conf Room) 7:30PM-Council (Chambers) A7 8AM-Magistrates Court (Chambers) 10AM-Staff Meeting AM -Magistrates (Conf Room) Court (Chambers) C•30PM-Informal ouncil (Conf Rm) 4:30PM-Resources Conservation Comm :30PM-Human Rghts (Conf Room) Comm (Conf Room) MICROFILMED BY DORM MICR+LA13 CEDAR RAPIDS - DES I40INES