HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-07-30 Bd Comm minutesA. C, CAHILL - -
JERRY L.LOVELACE
DAVID R, RouLA
RoeE.T r.., 0r 0
June 27, 1974
CAHILL,;LOVELACE&-.POULA''
TWENTY-TWO EAST COURT ETREET� -
IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240
Iowa City Planning and. Zoning Commission
Civic Center
Iowa Citys Iowa 52240
Re: Applicationfor Re -zoning of Lot 3 on attached copy
of preliminary Plat.of',proposed sub -division in
Northwest Quarter, Section 3s Township 79 North,
Range 6, Johnson County, Iowa
Commission:
On behalf of, the owner,: Aage Jensen, we herewith are maldng
application to your.. Commission for re -zoning of a tract of
property from R 1A_ to R 3A - -Multi Family. This is for the
purpose of constructing a Multi Family dwelling unit on the
property.
The local address of the property is 2110 North Dubuque Street
in Iowa City, Iowan and - more specifically you are referred to
its legal description on the attached copy of a plat prepared by
Harlan H. Schwob ,on March 10, 1962s shown as Lot Three (3)
thereon.
At the present time there is a rather dilapidated single family
residence on the property which would be moved off if the same
is re -zoned for Multi Family, To the north of the property is
located the right-of-way of the State of Iowa and Interstate #80.
To the West of the property is old Highway #218; to the South
of the property is the residential home of your applicant, Aage
Jensen. To the east of the property- there is the church property
which is the Gospel Church property.
1
Ir
Iowa City Pn
Jine. 2;7,-',', 1974'.`
Paae Two.
The property in question is approximately one-half acre in
area. It was annexed .to and brought into the City on an
involuntary basis and at that time under the City's Ordinance
was automatically. classified as RIA.
This property at the present time, under the present zoning
classification, is not conducive to 'Single Family dwelling be-
cause of economics but -it is .conducive to Multi Family dwell-
ing. The re -zoning of this property would not adversely effect
surrounding- property values but on the contrary would increase
surrounding property values. ; The closest home to the property
in question is the ` home owned by Aage Jensen and he, of course,
is consenting to and requesting the re -zoning.
We respectfully request that your staff investigate this property
and that the hearing on this re -zoning request be set at your
earliest time and " convenience.
Respectfully submitted,
CAHILL, LOVELACE & ,POULA
JLL:bkk
Enclosure
AGE JENSEN, OWNER
o-� n
JUL 31974
ABBIE STOLFUS,
CITY CLERK`
C-/eief rlef �-T-
/Z o
ti
-a
{
r
r-.
�y
ti
i 4
1 \�
tJ �
S
G
S
rri
r—
Un
t
� -
xOCD
�u
�l
1
C
�
J
I
G
S
rri
r—
Un
� -
G
rri
r—
Un
� -
xOCD
�u
�l
1
C
�
G
G'
� -
1
1
�
J
G
G'
� -
� -
1
1
�
I
f
04'
J
,
r
..s
�
r l
4
!
W
-
t
t'•
Y
•�
"'
I + i
^'
t C
G
N:
, W- 1. 1 � I,.,.-"' .11-���..-."-".�f�f z .2,m �- �.
12
bld
op4
4,17
rt
Sr r
, W- 1. 1 � I,.,.-"' .11-���..-."-".�f�f z .2,m �- �.
12
DEPARTMENT`CO1IA�UNITY4`DEVEf`
;
s: tlii
AP 'LI3CATiOI
NOTE TO APPLICANT=. SINCE: THIS = IS A.COMPRE IF
u.ur r%r wrfoi ld%Aw)T- _
TYPE OF APPLICATION — -- _
4/ PLEASE CHECK %..Six copies of preliminary plat
:{yjti,:
meJ74el L^ F
�O 1 D. .
4 N u b tig
Fsi"
w-07C
--i36s/
NAM OF DEVELOPMENT:
AR A SIZE:
t°"J`"
r>%
PRErtENTQ
OJ�C
G�
y 11�
ZONING
FINAL PLAN
TREETMREIS,OR PROPERTY.LOCATION:
N,
C4b,
PROP
ZONING
E-
G 5S_
679ezq-=`NvgrA—,;24dSO
SCALE
PLEASE CHECK E
A R FURTHER INFORMATION
R AEFERI
-NCE.
€><
OWNER:
;ham LGE. SCALE NOW RESIDENTIAL[f/.:"">
ADDRESS:
AREA DEVELOPMENT
PHONE:
,...PLANNED
PRELIMINARY
X.."
TORN Y:
ADD
!. '-'
.FINAL -
r f 'i.f•:•:•..:
PHONE:
4
PLANNED COMMERCIAL'
vR�T
LA14+00
rf
ENG EER:
ADDRESS:
y%
PHONE:
OTHER:
RES
PHONE:
syn
t
•
W
l.. i
TYPE OF APPLICATION — -- _
4/ PLEASE CHECK %..Six copies of preliminary plat
:{yjti,:
-•:i>Cbr9
REZONING FROTO
: y:•yE;}:t}.:}`4{i:
<•::;{: ;.
SUBDIVISION
t°"J`"
r>%
PRELIMINARY PLAN
SUBDIVISION%.f
y 11�
FINAL PLAN
LARGE ESI ENTIAL
'"
SCALE
LARGE SCALEFINAL RESIDENTIAL `l' fix` fry
LGE. SCALE NON-RESIDENTIAL '
y N
PRELIMINARY t
;ham LGE. SCALE NOW RESIDENTIAL[f/.:"">
FINAL-•.,.�Y. .
AREA DEVELOPMENT
'; '�!"hrY' `✓
,...PLANNED
PRELIMINARY
X.."
PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT
`•`
.FINAL -
r f 'i.f•:•:•..:
*x
PLANNED COMMERCIAL'
,..{.
>
-77s 1.
ZONE
rf
VACATINGS R^/}{w .,`:
y%
ANNEXATION
FOR OFFICE
FILE NUMBER: 77— -'
FEE PAID:
USE- .ONLY
UA1
APPLICATION ACCEPTED BY-:
NAME DATE
2. Six copies of final plan
3.Reproducible & 5 copies of final plan
4. Location Map
5. Legal. Description
'6.Dedication of land for public use
1. Resolution for approval by Council
8.Legal papers consisting of:
'a. Attorney's opinion
b. Encumbrance bond certificate
C. Statement of County Treasurer
d. Statement of Clerk of Court
e. Statement of County Recorder
f. Statement of Owner & spouse
g. Waiver of paving
h. Certificate concerning improve-
ments
9.Existing site plan
10.Development site plan
11.Statement of intent by developer
:12.Petition to pave abutting streets
13.Report on economic feasibility
:14.Report on effect of PC on surrounding
property
_15. Report on impact of traffic by PC on
surrounding streets
16.Seven additional copies of plat are
desired but not -required
FA
D
3 4L
ED
JUL 197
ABPIE:STOLEUS
CITY CLERK
THIS IS AN APPLICATION
FORM ONLY. A LISTING
OF OTHER SUBMISSION
MATERIALS MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM THE
PLANNING DIVISION.
BLUE:APPLICANT
■h
w
rim,
i
to
r
�r
41
L
V
'F
t•
t F
h1 -
.f•
.f - . . n.
... : K'.
t�.a1 i.��'�Li�`ti �`�is �'.'A.j '� � �.•Jy .. +M..2..v'
(_?... _ v .- _ -
-
.. ... �
'10
- �., t -1
R
-�-�\--<d�\�
--j NZ;
� �
�
��d
\\�
(A
0 \ ..
Aj4
IV,
'10
- �., t -1
R
-�-�\--<d�\�
'10
- �., t -1
R
� � 4
w
TO:
FROM:
RE:
I S4
DATE:August 8, 1974
Planning and Zoning Commission
Attention: Don Madsen, Chairman`
Iowa City City Council
Referral.
The Iowa City City,Council met on July.30th,,at which meeting
the City Manager noted that it had been called to his attention
that although the central Business Service Zone had been added
to the Zoning Code,- the high-rise provisions had been omitted.
He recommended referring this item to the Planning and Zoning
Commission.
The motion was adopted to refer. -to Planning and Zoning the
question of high-rise provision' applicability to the CBS Zone.
17
Abbie Stolfus
City Clerk
Y > C 1 1 4 t• 1 Y y 1
� l 1
EDITORIAL
ty Council Rile - A Defin tion
DURING A RECENT NLC sponsored regional meet- the commission members perform both governing and cx-
ing with city councilmen, one council member observed he ecutive.functions.
was often at n loss to know what he should do to be most The often helpful adversary relationships which de- `
^+y�+• +, effective because
our, city council has velop .between the governing body and the chief executive
} never decided what its function is." are not inherent. They are the product of political loyal- f.
_ A very interesting .observation,' given, ties, personalities, operating styles and honest policy dif-
the fact that virtuallyevery statute or fercnces which in their institutional framework dictate the
charter establishing a municipal corpo- extent to which a council exercises its function since that
ration provides fora city governing body:.exercise generally depends upon the relationship to the
and assigns it responsibilities. With fur- executive. If a council has confidence, technical or politi- f:
• kher thought, the observation reveals a. cal, in the executive, it may scale down, the extent to which (�
Pritchard perception on the part of the councilman it _ pursues some activities. `A lack of com•:::ibility may
of the more comprehensive and .complex extendthe council will beyond its normal range of in-
functions of a city governing body than those explicitly de- voNement. But "even the most harmonious relationship, in
scribed in law. resulting in maximum relaxation of governing body prerog-
Attempts to define a "total council role are too often atives,' does not eliminate the function or absolve the !!F
frustrated by a number of concepts which represent a governing body of its responsibilities. tw
lack of understanding of the most basic functions of the ;
city governing body. �• ',
THE COUNCIL, AS A GOVERNING BODY, must
• The functions of the governing body are dependent upon
the form of government. Thus what a governing body is perform these basic functions:
depends upon whether the city has a strong mayor, weak Itis clearly the legislative body. It must establish its
mayor, council-manager, or commission form. agenda of community needs by performing its own evalu-
This perception views the degree of separation of the ations of the quality of life in the community. It must
executive from the governing body "as critical to the deft- conduct iu own evaluation' of the impact of policies and
nition of the function of that body.programs on: that quality of life.
Further, the form of government dictates the role of the The legislative function is traditional. So traditional '
�verning body by its definition of the executive function. it is .'exercised. by many councils pro forma. It often
This perception assumes that the assignment of,respon- takes on a`drabness of routine business unless the council t'
sibilitics to the office of the mayor which, forexample, is charged with and has the capacity to play a broader role r
results in a strong mayor system, mandates an adversary of evaluator and overseer. i
relationship while at the other extreme,:a council-manager The, governing body should clearly define for itself as 1
plan which establishes the manager_ asthechiefexecutive' an institution and for its members the clear fact that it
and the mayor as the presiding ofiicer,',reduces the adver- and Ithey, are`` not the executive agency. Its role is I
sary relationship. not to tinker in the day to day operation of administra-
• The size of the city dictates different-roles for govern- tive agencies:-,
ing bodies. This perception arises from a notion that the On the other hand, the council must have sufficient r ;
basic function is a factor of scale and complexity. capacity in terms of time, of members, and availability of
• The city council is a body of'_persons whoseaobliga information' to, develop its own documented judgment of
tions as individually elected representatives require,4httt what' constitutes a desirable level of community quality, to
each performs as an individual. - discuss intelligently goals, policies and priorities and to con-
This perception assumes there is no institutional role duct-sufficient "policy and program oversight to determine [�
for the governing body other than to establish .the pros- for.itself whether policies and programs it has approved
esscs which govern the formalization of individual, opin- are in fact making a favorable impact on community needs.
ions into a collective judgment. These functions translate into relatively discrete gov-
Alt of these are popularly held views. There are others erning body operations which need to be formalized by
which could be cited. These are; sufficient to make the each', governing, body to assure they are fully exercised;
point that their acceptance . as fact has for. much -too long problem definition, policy development, policy formaliza- }
precluded city councils _from performing their appropri- tion';and oversight and evaluation.
ate rule in city government simply because the governing Included in each of these discrete institutional activities
body as an institution has proceeded "along an ,uncharted is a":potential for a maximum degree of citizen participa-
eourse to an uncertain destination. tion; < councilman representation and leadership and ad-
The city council as the governing body of a corporation vocacy of options.
has an institutional role it must carry out. The fulfillment Consistent opposition by council members to the chief
of that institutional role :is basic to the cftective.perform. executive is as much a disservice to the council as an I•
ance of the individual council member. Its proper oxer- institution and to the public as it is to constantly rubber t
Ouse is compatible with the essential effective :perform- stamp administrative proposals. The size and complexity of
nce of the executive management and policy leadership urban issues do not make one governing body different i
whether these two functions are assigned to one, individual from:another; they only impose a greater responsibility ,
in the form of a strong mayor, ,to two individuals in the on ;council, members and .the institution itself to perform
form of a city manager and a weak mayor, or to a num- better their inherent functions.
ber of individuals as in the commission government where Allen Pritchard
E
- -NATIONS-CITIES_• JULY ;974 7
Y Y
♦ 7
•
♦ J � 1
N E Yi W S L` E ,T T E R 1 .y
' ® o':
f
t
"•?FLROSE AV F. NUE WEIGHBORHOODS
ASSOCI AT ION
Torn Cita, Iowa July 1974 Number 2
The general meeting of MAMA of May 13, was well
attended, and resulted in a number of important
decisions that have since been implemented to
formalize and strengthen our organization.
COORDTUATING COMMITTEE: it was agreed
MANA COORDINATOR: recognizing the large
that the executive functions of the
amount of leg work and research to be
Association would be handled by a
done on behalf of our interests, it was
formal Coordinating Committee, comprised
agreed that "a person be e:.,ployed for a few
of persons willing to serve and
months at $100 per month, to be responsible
representing both Iowa City and
to, and work 'under the direction of the
University Heights, and whose .members
coordinating committee.
would elect the Chairman for the
Association.
The job was advertised in the local
---Iowa City---
newspaper. Five persons responded, four
The Committee now consists of:
of whom disqualified themselves after
*Kent Autor 421 Melrose Ave. M-3922
learning what was invllved. Rick Larew,
Anne Autor 1:21 Melrose Ave. 337-3922
a young,,life-long resident of Iowa City,
David 9aldus 127 Grand Ave. Ct-. 351-8927
was employed the 1st of June and will
Paul Huston 223 Lucon Dr.-338-8453
work into August. Rick can be reached
Carl 01-ren S Melrose P1. 338-035$
either.at his home (248 Woolf Ave. 338-1790)
versity Heights---
.
or at the MANA "office" at 421 Melrose Ave.
Vu
ey rood 1247 Melrose Ave. 351-4333
(337-3922).
John Nesbitt 362 Koser,337-7578 "
Charles Read 310 Golfview Dr. ,338-0866
TASKMRCE: creation of a special taskforce,
P'Betty Savage 1007 Melrose Ave. 337-2710_
or:.working'committee, on streets and
---day care centers---
traffic was approved. It was intended
V-..argarette Pelson, Alice's Daycare
that the group would study the various
indicates chairperson
aspects of the Melrose Avenue street and
N indicates secretary-treasure _
traffic issue in the broader context of
Iowa City's needs and plans, and
an initial operating budget '
- would draft a position statement
_BUDGL'T:
of $500 was approved at the general:,and
justification that could be adopted.
meeting, wnd approximately half of that
by. the Association. It was also
arzount was collected immediately in"cash
intended that the MANA Coordinator would
or pled.es. In anticipation of the
provide staff support to the taskforce,
needs, of a year's budget,; it was agreed
gathering needed information from various
that residents of our area, :should contrib-.
sources, providing summaries, etc.
ute $25 per family, if they.'live
The taskforce is still in the process
directly on Melrose Avenue, and $15 per
of organization, and has not yet had
family if they live off Melrose Avenue,
a`first meeting.
or whatever they can afford.
Contributions are being solicited now.
Please vend a contribution'-to"Ms. Betty,
e, 1007 Melrose Avenue, University
Iits, and make cheques payable to
t elrose Avenue Neighborhoods
An.--ociati on.
�t
, 5
-•
'.
f
l F
MELROSE IMPROVEMENTS .' At the June 25
V. A :PARKING RAMP V `A Hosvital.
YoWa City -Council meeting, the council•,'
requested"that the city. vacate the southeast ��
adopted resolutions undertaking asphalt
1 =leg of'.Woolf Avenue at the Newton Road '
'irfacing projects throughout Iowa "'
inteisection;"they.want'to build a parking
y. Melrose Avenue will be resurfaced
ramp. At the public hearing on July 2,
(hut. not widened) from the Rock`_Island
MAMA formally asked that council defer
br.itive, east to Ryington Road. `' Bids
'this action until some future date. MANA
will be received July 18, 1974.
listed these reasons to delay:..
1. -.The city is under no legal obligatibn
The Melrose project involves two parts:
to abandon the right of way.
from Woolf Avenue, west to,the-bridge;
2. To build the ramp, V.A. must first
and Woolf Ave. east to Byington_Road.
prepare an environmental impact statement.
The section adjacent to the tennis
`It would be premature for the city to
courts involves laying doWn`a V asphalt
vacate the road before V.A. even has approval
mitt atop the concrete base; cost is
to begin construction.
estimated at $7,400.
3. 'Building the ramp atop Woolf Ave. could
affect Melrose Ave. travel patterns and
The longer section, passing in,frontof
volumes. It might be difficult to convince
the Melrose Day Care Center,and.the
the.U.I, to reopen the Woolf Ave. cutoff
parking lots south of the fieldhouse,
if 'it intersects at Newton Road with a
is estimated at $22,500. City specifics-
parking 'ramp.
tions call for a rebuilding of,the
4. The city should await completion of
road material (scarifying the entire..
the:Area Transportation Study before
surface, then pulverizing it) and then
"closing any more streets.
laying -down a new 2" mat on the recondi-
tioned surface.
'BURLINGTON STREET: On June 12, 1974 a
consultant to the Johnson County Regional
A completion date has not been established.
'Planning Commission submitted his report
T
ona study of streets and traffic in the
1101N T11?iE:•tAL: In early April; the
downtown area.. DeLeuw, Cather of Chicago
Association cosigned a letter to HUD.
had been instructed to analyze the effects
'llic letter followed the action of city,
of various street closures in the downtown
counril to proceed with the Old Capitol
core. The "Micro -Analysis of Central
contract even though they did not
Area Traffic" is part of a larger
receive the 60% majority required. The
"Area Transportation Study" for the
letter expressed a concern that`local°
entire community.
officials were not responsive to the
community. We also indicated our
The consultant mentioned the function
willingness to cooperate in trying to
of Burlington St. on several occasions,
come to some agreements upon new
stating:
directions for downtown redevelopment..
"Burlington Street should not be expected
to accommodate any appreciable growth in
1n late .Tune, Mayor Czarnecki received a
through traffic volumes. As part of the
response to our letter in which HUD
long-range areawide street plan, the
officials egreed to participate in a..
function of Burlington Street should not
meeting to attempt to resolve some of
be that of a crosstown arterial."
our differences. People from -HUD will come
to Iowa City on July 24 to work out'. the
Public response to the consultant's
details of this meeting. Uncertainty'
Burlingtons Street comments came
surrounds these upcoming gatherings.;
immediately. Opponents of the concept of an
A majority of the city council expressed
East/West arterial through town found
doubts about the value of such -,.a meeting;
"expert"support for their position that
i.e. they feel the issues.have_been resolved
Burlington as'a crosstown link isn't
ahe city is proceeding with downtown
satisfactory. On the other side of the
re velopment under contract with
fence, several public officials were
Old Capitol Developers. The respone of
perturbed that such a statement was
thA co-signing groups has been -guarded;
released and directed that the report be
just what mEght be gained at this
"clarified". (see editorial)
late date and with an unenthused council
p3
>Jya'
•
`CIP `TRANSPORTATION PLA-NNING
.r - '. .. .'. r : v': - .E r:'.. YY •._.Uy .T .:_r ':'r 4 .. _ r:':1 .' ._ v, .r: i( vY �'}r•y tic"p'
�4 .?
The Capital Improvements Program (CIP) The first effort to asses<,area trans -
loplong range planning tool employed::" ;. portation.needs in the -urban area,of.Johnson z-
he Iona City city council. and staff County, was launched in the summer of
to both determine community priorities, - 1970. It produced the Short -Range Mass
and then plan projects to meet these needs Transit Technical Study in 1971, upon which
In years to come. the design of a public transit system for
the area has been based, resulting in our
'City Manager Ray Wells describes'the present Iowa City and Coralville systems.
assumptions of the CIP:
.1., that long-range community goals and Study of transportation needs has been
objectives can be translated into initiated and coordinated by the Johnson
specific programs and projects; County Regional Planning, Commission,
2. that community resources -are limited... utilizing three committees: Policy, Technical,'
"3. that national, state and'local and Citizens Advisory Committees. Three
priorities resulting in funding consultants are also involved:
requirements will place an ever increasing --Highway Commission --is preparing background
premium on long-range concepts of total information for projection of future travel
community planning."
patterns
--Institute of Urban and Regional Pesearch,
The city council annualy reviews and of the U.I.--is generating mass transit
revises this planning document. alternatives
During the last three months the--DeLeuw, Cather (engineering firm of
council held open forums with,intere,sted Chicago) --is developing alternative street
citizens, and informal discussion and networks.
priority setting sessions among
themsalves. On July 9, the Council The Area Transportation Study (ATS) is
_Rlly adopted a new CIP-for the in a critical stage now. The Highway
n five years. Commission has supplied the data, and the -
other two consultants are beginning to
The Association actively participated in, devise different kinds of street and mass
and monitored council activity. Long transit systems.
range Plans for streets and mass
transit are a part of the CIP. On The three advisory committees are charged
May 29, Dr. Paul Huston read a statement with specifying what types of alternatives
on behalf of the Association calling the consultants should be generating.
for the elimination of Melrose `Ave.''
widening as a capital expenditure for the This is an important time for citizen
city. He reminded council that participation. The Citizens Advisory
trrtrfic problems on the west side of the Committee is an oven membership group which
river are related to hospital expansions offers community people the opportunity to
and street closures; the city..'alone can provide input in the decision making
not solve congestion problems. process regarding streets, traffic and
He pointed to new information mass transit for the greater Iowa City area.
documenting the destruction of
residential neighborhoods resulting from On July 18 at 7:30 p.m. (in the First
"construction of high volume through Christian Church 217 Iowa. Avenue) the
ways in a nearby vicinity. Citizens' Advisory Committee will meet
with representitives of the conzu]tants
The council did remove the Melrose who are working on mass transit. This
Ave, widening project from'the CIP, but is a'chance to discuss your concerns and
in,&iuded several other major street make public your views about mass transit.
pets in other parts of the city.
Y.tr, Autor, on behalf of the Association,
requested that the council''also delete
m:)aey earmarked for the widening of
both Scott 131-7d. and Muscatine Ave.
into four lr.ne streets; council.determined,
however, to leave these projects in the
__afinwit uA t.'.n - .i 7c. ,�•r fir;:. "�',t�� ,+yam 4 `� x t
.J 7 '§
`EDITORIAL COMMENT ' •`' tx ` t r 'STAFF COM. MASS TRANSIT
BE:. CONSULTANTS FINDINGS ON <BURLINGTON a z elrose-Avenue, is not .scheduled to- be ` - 11
widened In -the immediate' future. But 'the
smell of a rose can not-be'changed problems of,traffic through our neighborhoods';
r,
b anging its name, st.d the validity-of will not disappear. Traffic volumes are'
a fact can not be changed by subsequently increasing, not diminishing: moreapartmen ts_:
rewording its statement. Yet, Councilman are being, constructed and the hospital
Pat White, City Manager Ray Wells, and complex continues to grow.
University Traffic Planner, John
'Dooley seem to think so. People of the Melrose neighborhoods success
fully disposed of.the city staffs
A consultant employed by the Johnson recommendation to alleviate traffic problems:
County Regional Planning Commission make the roads wider. But unless we come up '
recently presented, both a written and with come other solutions, several years
verbal report on results of a study from now the problems will be worse and
of urban renewal area traffic.' The wider streets will again loom as an answer.
report was made to the Commissions
three committes on transportation We need to generate some remedies ourselves
(Policy, Technical, and Citizen's and •prod the council and staff to similarly
Advisory) at a special joint meeting think of alternatives to street widening.
of the committees.
The most obvious answer is to push mass
The consultant had a simple and valid transit in a big way. Iowa City may have
point to make regarding Burlington a fine transit system, but why be satisfied
Street, namely, that the street cannot with only 2-4% of total trips utilizing
be expected to serve two purposes at'the buses. Does it seem so unreasonable
same time. With closure of certain to try to plan for a city in which it
streets in the urban renewal area, Burlington riot necessary to own an automobile? Is
ct be expected to handle the traffic there any reason we can not have a bus system
nc* of that area, and simultaneouslythat is as convenient for in-town travel--
nerve as a segment of a cross-town arterial. as the car is today? These questions
Messer White, Wells, and Dooley and others need careful examination.
requested that the consultant reword his
statements regarding Burlington, in Consider, that although transit ridership
order that it might be purged of any-` presently accounts for only2-4% of total
possibility of misinterpretation by trips, that same 2-4% comprises 10-20%
citizens--like, perhaps, that the of trips at rush hours. This is signifigant--
consultant's judgement coincides because Iowa City's traffic problems occur
with that of the Melrose Avenue Neighborhoods only during Deak hours. If we can solve
Association. rush hour congestion, we take a big first
Kent Autor step in eliminating the need for wider streets
CALENDAR :TOTE------ Thinking about mass transit is particulary,
timely in this community because long range
JULY 18, 1974 7:30 p.m. planning for streets, traffic, and mass
transit is at a critical point. Consultants
first christian church 217.iova ave..i.e. are beginning to devise alternative transit
systems. But consultants do as they are
an opportunity to tell transit-planners - instructed, and unless we direct them to
:chat kind of mass transit you want for develop .innovative concepts, we won't
iowa city and environs, get them.
this is the time for effective citizen Your chance to preserve your neighborhood,
Inpo -before the decisions are made. in the long:run, may well depend upon what
kind of commitmants Iowa City makes to mass
everyone urged to attend transit.
Plan to attend the Citizens Advisory Committee
meeting on July 18, at 7:30 p.m.
Rick Larew
ry '3T t tY'. 9
This statement is dir'ected to the members of'the� Iowa City Public
Library staff who rapltiterPd than "disappointment regarding the recent
appointment of an unqualified person as Director of the Iowa City Public
Library," in their letter to the Board dated July 12', 1974.
I shall refer to this group hereafter in this statement as the
"Dissenters." The Dissenters who consider themselves professionals
are currently rai.sinp a storm over the Board's acticns in appointing-
Mr.-CharlPs"KauderPr as. Director. The criticism seems to be taking
shape in what appears to be a destructive action to destroy Board -Staff
relationships and Library -Community relations if it continues unchec'rad.
At first the Board was accused of sex discrimination in its selection
of a Director. This accusation was made even before facts were known by
the accusers as to the procedures the Board used in its selection and
i
whether the Board was actually covered by the so-called contract between
the City and the rECC to hire femalesas administrators. The accusation
of sex discrimination will die, if it hasn't already, because of its
i
falsity.
{
Now we arP_accused of incompetence, -.P., the Board in essence has
3
t
acted stupidly, used poor.judPment, and ;was misled when it chose Mr.
KaudPrer over Ms. 1::pgers (the choice of the Dissenters) to be Director.
�I
e.
That Ms. EeaPrs.is one of the Dissenters can be understood although good
'judgment and politic behavior would"suggest that she not attach her name
`
to petitions of protest and accusations against the Board. Therefore,
she no longer can claim objectivity and fairness in her evaluations of
the Board's decision.
Well. the charge of stupidity is one that I can live with, for it
does not impugn'my honor north(- motives of the Board.,, It is human zo
.. .. c•,5%� i ;'•'�.. i ! y� 1.�1F� '�' t.'�•i ` t' •. ` :? 4SF 1>3/::S S ✓tj-_yy
be .stupid, and Peen a smart person may show st„n;ri;+.. ; , , ,
Let us look at somefacts and processes that will allow unbiased
observers to first understand the bases for the Board's judgments and
then evaluate the situati-on. Then let them ask if the Board was stupid
or misguided. But thPy must also consider.that the Dissenters had already
made their choi.cP for the Director, even.before the Board had completed
its deliberations, and that now they'll be`damned if they will -accept
a decision contrary to their choice. .I mention this possibility because
of the amount of heat that's been generated, and the kinds of emotional
statements and accusations made by various members of t}Ie--Dissenters about
Board members to other persons in this community. As it comes now to
be revealed, the'experiPnce of the former Director of: the library with
this group was'similar to what the Board'is now enduring.
Now let •us.considPr somP.of::the-other petty charges being made.
How ignorant were Board
me. mbers of Mr. Kauderer's lack of thelILS degree?
In its deliberations and evaluations of this candidate it was pointed out
to the Board that Mr, KauderPr did not possess the MLS degree. It was
pointed out, however, that he did havethe 1A degree in Educe;ion with a
major in Libra ►Science from Iowa Although the degree was obtained
at a time when there was no School o£:Library Science in the state of
Iowa nor any .S degree granted, the --School of Library Science at the
University of Iowa was formalized subsequently on the very core program
that made up the major field for -Tire Kauderer's M.A. degree.
Given this degree and`his major os his subsequent library experience
and his attendance in specialized library workshops, it was the judgment
y
w
- � P
- � ... w t -.. �lasy +7L �}tiyi t `hip?'. i �-+'.- ..,�k+.9e. �.i i s. �.iSL: � (ri} y t�••`�5�`� ;_ ' t ,•. -
.,�,
-' � 4' YY F h r 'G.sp f � ty i% `ir? y, w 7- s. • 1 F. � 2 NST � i�
5 �f/ -i,.-1 * y ft Y2y,• �x-� t iii 3 �'�f �1 �i 11 _ �i afh f'7'4h�,.
of theDoard :that l�lr. KauderPr, had that �(7ui valent xn education: of :the
rq z k"F.Rkl'y4
US dePree. .Th1s judgment supports ed not only by
one of the Board
menbers who is a former faculty member of the Iowa; School of Library
Science but by the, current Deano£ the College of education. To insist
on the specific depreP as opposed to its equivalence in both education
and experience particularly in view of the transition period re,^erred
to smacks of the worst kind of Euildism. It is not professionalism.
Some of us who have been in aeadnmia, as well as in the applied areas,
long enoueh would suaRest that there is more to competency and effective- .
ness, especially in''evaluting eyecutive ability, than in the mere ac-
cummulation of academic credits. In the, long run, the specialized program
or school will help to ensure that minimum standards are beim; met.
But there are transition periods, and there are persons on the margins
of them because of change overs`in programs. Individuals. have to be
evaluated in their own right., Course work may provide a foundation for ,
competency, but it will never guarantee A. It is naive and narrow-
minded to think otherwise. There are, numbers of fine librarians in
this state and elsewhere who never had the opportunity to get the IfiLS
degree. Nor would it be to their advantage nor:;add to their skill or
knowledge to go back and _get it once {they'd achieved status in their
Profession. Does a proven record need to be reinforced by a degree?
I think not..
Now, what about the charge that Mr. Kauderer is not a public librarian?
True, he comes to us from.a junior college, library in..a community where
there is also a public.libra
ryI.- This"fact was also known to the Board.
But it is also known that the library in question is part,of a consortium
of libraries in the -regi
onal system that,
Ae-_r_V_Pq the public. 1;r. Kauderer
on is no a;library £unction restricted to the Mattoon
Public library, for through Mr.. Kauderer's. efforts it was extended through
his library to a wide area serving'.a combined public of over 300,000
persons, all of whom are potential patrons of his library. Is there
something about the size of collection and -the type of library consumer
that automatically:bestows a person with the competency and excellency
to direct a library? Should one'give greater weight to a public librarian
in the. strictest sense, i.P., one who works in a city public library,,
especially one•;_that.-,has a. collections -•of lOQ 000 -:or. more volumes?
As an aside, let it be pointed out that there is no requirement that
the Board select a Director who is a.public librarian.' Technically
speaking, the Director need not even be a librarian. If, in the judg-
ment of the Board of Trustees a layman would be the best choice to give
direction and: leadership to the Iowa City,Public Library, the trustees
have not only the legal.authority.but the.duty to make such a choice.
They may be fools to do.it, but if they can defend their actions, their
decision might not turn' out to.be as foolish as some people might believe.
A more foolish decision would be to turn the direction of the Iowa City
Public Library over.to a public librarian who can't provide leadership
.at a time when it is necessary:
Now we have arrived at the crux of the matter as -far as the Board
is concerned:,Leadership.:'.
The circumstances of the; past two years in particular created a
crisis for the library and a most special atmosphere and pressure upon
1
4
1
Y �� 3 -
-y
..anized an'. 1a^ i.t { •. .f i. L � .S� A`_ [/ Y
or�*d;
_
/
admini.ste m, outreach programs for .the rural_
poor and
the isolated thatwere supported by sta}e fllndS P.aZ'markPd
for this
purpose.
Public educati t'
on is no a;library £unction restricted to the Mattoon
Public library, for through Mr.. Kauderer's. efforts it was extended through
his library to a wide area serving'.a combined public of over 300,000
persons, all of whom are potential patrons of his library. Is there
something about the size of collection and -the type of library consumer
that automatically:bestows a person with the competency and excellency
to direct a library? Should one'give greater weight to a public librarian
in the. strictest sense, i.P., one who works in a city public library,,
especially one•;_that.-,has a. collections -•of lOQ 000 -:or. more volumes?
As an aside, let it be pointed out that there is no requirement that
the Board select a Director who is a.public librarian.' Technically
speaking, the Director need not even be a librarian. If, in the judg-
ment of the Board of Trustees a layman would be the best choice to give
direction and: leadership to the Iowa City,Public Library, the trustees
have not only the legal.authority.but the.duty to make such a choice.
They may be fools to do.it, but if they can defend their actions, their
decision might not turn' out to.be as foolish as some people might believe.
A more foolish decision would be to turn the direction of the Iowa City
Public Library over.to a public librarian who can't provide leadership
.at a time when it is necessary:
Now we have arrived at the crux of the matter as -far as the Board
is concerned:,Leadership.:'.
The circumstances of the; past two years in particular created a
crisis for the library and a most special atmosphere and pressure upon
1
en o be not only -competent but an n`fecti.v, leader.
Why Mr.* Kauderer and not`N�s. Eggers or someone else? I -,;ill backtrack a
bit and summarize how we arrived at our Choice. It may appear repetitious
to the Dissenters who were given an explanation of this procedure once
before. But, apparently, they have overlooked the implications of our
procedures and the thinking that went into; them. Or they dial not listen well.
The need for the Board was to be not--only-objective and fair but -to
make the difficult judament of leadership qualities. At the -conclusion
of the screening procedures, details of which are not pertinent to the
point of this statement, the Board had before it five names from trhich to
make its choice as having been those selected by the Search Conanittee as
the top candidates. The Search Committee at no time asserted its own
choice upon the Board. for it had none Its functions were to screen
material, organize data, and provide tentative. ratings. One of the five
applicants, a male, removed himself from consideration. :Jho knows what
held heard about the library? •O£ the remaining four, the most interest
was expressed for a woman who by ''far had the most impressive credentials.
She was the first choice to be called for an interview, but in the course
of phone calls and -letters it was finally learned that she could not ac-
cept an appointment were it to be offered because of family and personal
reasons. One wonders in the light of what has come to light since,
what the fate of this person would have been had she been appointed as
the Director.
We thus had three candidates to consider: sir. Kauderer, Ns. Bggers
and Mr. Dertien-Director of the Bismarck; N.D. Public Library). All three
were judged by the'Board to have appropriate credentials for the specific
z+ '
Position as Director. Their references;were good and their experience
t
t
5
a
�
,,.
the
��:. f
S,K r rl,..; k -.,c, *Yy-. @ Y^r,?+t ,. ` - .• }.f ,m-^'w�:.
Board that
made it mandatory that -thy Board selrct a director
for
the
library who had rovp t
en o be not only -competent but an n`fecti.v, leader.
Why Mr.* Kauderer and not`N�s. Eggers or someone else? I -,;ill backtrack a
bit and summarize how we arrived at our Choice. It may appear repetitious
to the Dissenters who were given an explanation of this procedure once
before. But, apparently, they have overlooked the implications of our
procedures and the thinking that went into; them. Or they dial not listen well.
The need for the Board was to be not--only-objective and fair but -to
make the difficult judament of leadership qualities. At the -conclusion
of the screening procedures, details of which are not pertinent to the
point of this statement, the Board had before it five names from trhich to
make its choice as having been those selected by the Search Conanittee as
the top candidates. The Search Committee at no time asserted its own
choice upon the Board. for it had none Its functions were to screen
material, organize data, and provide tentative. ratings. One of the five
applicants, a male, removed himself from consideration. :Jho knows what
held heard about the library? •O£ the remaining four, the most interest
was expressed for a woman who by ''far had the most impressive credentials.
She was the first choice to be called for an interview, but in the course
of phone calls and -letters it was finally learned that she could not ac-
cept an appointment were it to be offered because of family and personal
reasons. One wonders in the light of what has come to light since,
what the fate of this person would have been had she been appointed as
the Director.
We thus had three candidates to consider: sir. Kauderer, Ns. Bggers
and Mr. Dertien-Director of the Bismarck; N.D. Public Library). All three
were judged by the'Board to have appropriate credentials for the specific
z+ '
Position as Director. Their references;were good and their experience
i � _ < x .{ t < , f va- i 1.' .}fj, - 9 ,�s j s Y , y : ♦ ']I 5 5 C 3i 1.4 �J
f ;< 1
ti
y a.. a: -^..'y' ^. ? Vf i *i"ai •y..}.i t �'+ if a.. if . T 1...'4
indicated leaders ;h_F�
p n0, ntial Interv7ews were. held with all three
applicants during":•rnich the Board asked"qt,
uestions to form judgments that
would augment .the ,paper "credentials as to whether the candi.c:atr would `
be an Affective director and"Px_ecutive. Keep in mind the special concern
of the Board, ;its recent recent histor 'and the t
Y. problems associated
with the former leadershi.p, ,
With all,the`data available, voting took place and was carried
out as follows. First, it was agreed that anyone of the three candidates
would be acceptable as the Director,:, -`Second, the identical salary would
be offered to any of the -.three (an indication that we weren't looking for
the cheapest candidate nor discriminating, -against a:woman). Third,
we decided to ;select the least preferred candidate by ranking that
person l
in third place. It was unanimously agreed that Mr. Dertien would be so
placed at the moment. Four, by secret written ballot the Board members
voted their first. choice. When Mr. Kauderer received the majority of
votes, the Board rejected the possibility of a.unanimous first choice f
and decided to accept this vote as the•wish of therou
g p•
Next, we decided to offer the position in succession to the first,
second and third choice until "one of the applicants accepted. If none f
accepted, we agreed to go through the entire search, screening, selecting,
interviewing, and voting procedures again. At this stage. refs. '�:ggers had
li
just as good a chance as anyone. N,r. Kauderer's total income at Mattoon
{
came close to what we could offer, so we wouldn't -be able to bargain with
him. Mr. Dertien could have decided that the salary we could offer would
" make him like Bismarck better because. it didn't have a City Manager or
some like reason. Then,'why was Y,r..Kadderer. the first choice for the F
•
majority of the Board?,•:,I-shall try to analyze it. :
4
nal
i b
� a Y.,. ... ........ ..4 Kiln
i NS i
vr
-t � r Stir c'c k 4 'i L 1 t U }� �,.� y - ♦ ( ,i':.at
i r 1 t F d n a >• i i t p,'_ c
.1
!- '+ r :.
x
Y F } S$y t'k '.1
�l i>`tSijf4 ! ;4 )Wy 'FY? .t t, 4X t 1 • t �} K {. t_.
♦t
's
t.
$
1Y.�'x'��
Ji*,
y Cl y: l ♦ ✓ 2 f }
u
j,T� yy
� 1'.'TS' -Y`�� T S }, ... T Y f i - -i •slri'h...t?+r_.
I 0 .one, had `surmested -that BMs . v peers be 'denied tt:n because '
position
of her past involvement in an action 'a the City. Rempmbfir that
we had already de..cidnd to -offer her the position if ..r. Y.auderer did not
accept the offer. In fact, some admiration was expressed for her apparent
courage and forthri.phtness in her action against the City before ail this
Present furor:developed.- :The.determining `factor that made Mr. r•.auderer
the preference was his: -leadership -ability. In the Board's
judga�:ni,
he had.suffici.ently more leadership qualities than either ,4;s. Eggers
or Mr. Dertien'•to make him .the first choice.
This judgment was influenced by Mr. Kauderer's
experience in business
management and with labor relations , his'nine
years experience as a library
executive with -primary responsibilIities ,'his expe'rience•with a building
program for his library (one which tae are about to embark on ourselves),
his answers to our questions on paper and in personal interviews, his
philosophy of, participatory management (if he is ever going to be allowed
by the Dissidents to display 'this), his perceptions of library problems,
his attitudestoward personnel relationships and problems, and his
general manner and demeanor in dealing with; people. His personality
cannot be ignored nor can his'apparent,effectiveness in communication
skills be overlooked.
-
W
e were not looking for an ordinary public library staff person
with technical skills and ideas We;were..looking; for a leader, and
we have learned the hard way -to pay attention to leadership qualities.
If we had selected the Director on the basis of points for length of
service, points for the iviLS degree over an -equivalent MA, points for
Public library work in the literal sense, points for size of collection,
than I assure you that 'the greatest number of points would have been
I
earned by Mr. Dertien: And he should have been our first choice.
-e _� '-s r,.:.'r .::�+: _. '�+2 _�.��.. 7rt`..! Y..f� tr�>•...'i4 �+'.4�'..�'z,... �.. 0�. s>; °.'tf �. 1. Y.je ...� ( .. r_
1
ti'
Would that have satisfied `the DiasentFrs? Probably not:
Only I's. 8agers.
r` would have satisffed them `
It may wellbe that anyone coming here`as Director, other than
Ms. Eggers, will be faoedwith a clique that would be difficult -to work with
and have been doomed to failure. Thera is some reason to believe that
our former Director had problems in deal) -lig effectively with such a
power bloc. Further investigation may reveal more ,about this, but I
hope it doesn't have to come to that. The point is that the Board has
selected someone it believes can lead and deal effectively with the
library personnel, be there a clique or not.
We are going to see this thing through: No amount of attack,
innuendo as to mo,vitati,ons, incompetencies, etc. directed toward the
Board members will deter this action or turn us around: The fact that
some of the Dissenters,,or:their hirelings, have already seen fit to
visit Mattoon Illinois, the hometown of Mr'. Kauderer and the place
of his en;ployment,:to ask all manner of persons questions concerning
i
Mr. Kauderer's behavior, attitudes and character is most repelling and
disgusting. What have we here? Iowa City's version of the "plumbers"?
Is this ethical and professional conduct? Is there no awareness in
t
j
the group of Dissenters that such inquiries ead to damaging gossip and
.t
possible character assassination: Or was that the intent? I do not
like to believe so, but apparently there is .a course missing in the
;•MS program: One concerned with.ethical conduct. We seem to be heading
into a track of behavior and actions that are not only irrational, petty
and vindictive but display poor judgment on the part of persons who
claim to be professionals most concerned�-with-the Public Library.I'
Their actions do not show concern for.the library; they suggest concern
with power and control.
41 1 � 'tyK n' ..• r � 5';R '�+- - �• a F-� Tx �! ^i - s' e a r .1... 2''...
- � sl r� � '•' r a �t.A �� � t xt { n 1 . S .} � i z t r .. s, � �rn`�, .
i t th i1 �l s t r ti~ �,-°,. r {v�•t"'4
`'
)�
f - z • -: i +A > -.;: "
i.
The `Boa' d may have been stizpid in=the past tiecausp of the lark of
-information as well as the mxsinfbrmatson it received. ' The source:, for
this state of affairs are not entirely clear, but the Board is not stupid �
in reconstructing what has beem going on in this library as we g n t more
data and can draw our own inferences. -O£ course, we, are not infallible.
But I can assure the citizens of Iowa City that the Board was not stupid
in its decision to appoint Mr. Charles Kauderer. as Director of the ,
library. The ,Iowa City Public Libra belongs to the
?`Jr ,g" people of. Iowa City.
It is not the personal �!
p possession of three, seven or ten of its staff
members be they professional librarians or not. Neither is it the }
possession of the Board of Trustees.' But as trustees we, by law, are [
responsible for the library and, in particular, for the appointment of
its Director even though we be laymen. If, -because of the actions of E
the Dissenters or others on the library staff., Mr. Kauderer chooses
to turn down the position 'and remain•in his "Podunkville" we will go
through the entire process -of search and selection for a Director all
over again.
Do not mistake our intentions nor our views on this matter. There
is no longer a number two ora number three choice to fall back on.
Where does this leave us?
,
In the estimation of the Board, the Dissident group has acted in
an excessive manner that reflects a poor image of this community.
Already the people of Mattoon wonder ;if ore Iowa Citians have gone mad.
The Dissidents have not even waited to see if the new Director is capable
as a leader or not. They have pre -judged him. They appear to be blinded f�
by the shock of their.emotions.in the disappointment that their local f
`i
. l t ""- �tk.y c".9`a a ? f� a h�� t�SK4 "�+ R`.}�' fy'••+k 7M1 us \c. Y t c,' ; y 4* .r - 7' V'Ji
'.� - e ; �.s ti `yi spa � k��.CF ji' { 1 �u rv��-c'w� hytt�•} � i� to y y.r �� xt���s�''+y,`
c � �• '' f �." i f -t �; s'T7y..✓K �t�n� ,.,t tM1 � i U. � '��1 A `ta.
AL
4 1`t cL . -1 1 5IN,
candidate did'not.get the fob. Thew wanted her in `the position so badly
they could taste it. --and they were making plans for it before the Board
k;: `
had even finished,its:worfor selecting a Director. Noor it has turned
sour in their mouths.
I am personally shocked and deeply, disappointed in this group of -
Dissenters, a feeling shared by other members of the Board. I an. appalled
at the underhanded actions.taken and by the implied smears made on the
Board's integrity, intelligence and attitudes toward library professionals.
What has been happening does not speak well for the professionals in
our library.
What are the choices for the Dissenters? The Board! -has made its
decision, and it will not reverse it. It has no reason to do so. The
Dissenters can "cool it" and join forces with the new Director and assist
him in developing even a better library for Iona City than it nowis.
F,mployees who cannot -accept or tolerate a: new boss can leave. If the
Dissenters find this to be such an intolerable situation, they may resign.
The Board will accept those resignations. If the Dissenters choose to
remain but hinder or obstruct the work of the new Director, they will
be asked to resign on the basis .of insubordination and inattention to
duties in their respective positions: i
If they thought that the Board would quail under the furor and {
publicity they've created, they_made'a serious.error in judgment. If
'i
the thought was that one could pressure the -near appointee enough ahead of
time to dissuade him from<accepting the position and thus bring in the
local candidate, they must think again; That kind of tactic reflects
poor judgment and offends everybody.
OV
-Lt,i`
e
Ott'-- '.S, .sF . ir'sJrt`A 3tF, _1_ Mi Z Ili`. ..._ s....W3 .}.-.r. ._.iF r..:... ..+