The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2024-03-19 Correspondence4,� . r] Troutleaf Na--ire Plant Sale May 18" - 9 a.m. - noon Handout from Project Green: Bookmark Project GREE Gardens 820 Park Road Iowa City Project GREEN Garden Party June 22 - 2 - 4 p.m. Open Gardens Weekend 2024 July 13 - 4 - 8 o.m.. July 14 - 10 a.m. - 2 R.m. ProjectGREEN.org PRESENTATION TO FOLLOW: By: Cyndy Parsons, Co -President Project Green Diane Allen, Co -President Project Green Item: 2. i r 10%ahi.6_ CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 Fast Washington Strcct Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826 (319) 356-5000 (319) 356-5009 FAX www.icgov.org Project GREEN Fifty -Six Years of making the Iowa City area even more beautiful: 1968-2024 What does Project GREEN do? Raises money to... • Donations from individuals who value beauty in our public areas • Local business sponsorships of our annual Open Gardens Weekend event • Grants from local, state and federal community improvement funds Project GREEN Beautify public areas Project GREEN has landscaped more than 20 public areas and schools in the Iowa City area over its 55+ year history, to make our community a lovely place to live Our volunteers design and maintain the beautiful Project GREEN Gardens at Ashton House. 4 and Educate the public about gardening The Winter Garden Forums at the Iowa City Public Library are highly educational and free to the public The Open Gardens Weekend inspires with numerous real gardens and chatting with knowledgeable garden hosts, a free event fiMoler Project GREEN History r. =R.PR PROJECT �. GREEN 4k.. Concerned Citizens New highways, Nancy Seiberling, Jim Maynard and Gretchen Harshbarger downtown urban renewal they realized that the redevelopment was an opportunity to make Iowa City more beautiful, and in March 1968 they started Not beautiful our organization to do this Project GREEN est. 1968 Grow to Reach Environmental Excellence Now Volunteers LN t I 'Imr Project GREEN has donated more than $2.3 million for landscaping and beautification of public areas and schools �L- . w Project GREEN Landscaping Projects: Highway 6 Bypass, Highway 6 Bypass, Riverside Dr. to Gilbert St. to First Ave. — Scott Foster Road — North airport Sycamore Highway 218 South Boulevard Dubuque Street Iowa Avenue medians Intersection - _... Melrose Avenue Chauncey Swan Muscatine Avenue Willow Creek medians Plaza tree plantings College Green Park Hospice Garden 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1979 1979 1989 1999 2000 South East Junior Historic 1876 Coralville Terry Trueblood High School Schoolhouse grounds Recreation Area Johnson County North Dubuque Highway 6 Gilbert St 1105 Project Courthouse Street Intersection community services grounds P41111III 11ii111:�l4C! Project GREEN Gardens at Ashton House $200,000 REAP Grant 9 1It REAP Grant ° x V' yr• ';r ,. �._, 2014 2016 2023 Garden Project GREEN Events Plant Sales: 1970-2018 Kindergarten Tree Project Open Gardens Weekend (in July) P"a C e. v 0PVS '10 'ro Any garden owner can participate; 25+ gardens • Raises money through Local Business Sponsorships Free for visitors m Ir oo IV,, .., 1 �q� _q ~A yt> X Alliz _ x ' '¢y Project GREEN Volunteer Gardeners at Ashton House • Every Monday morning during gardening season • Diane Allen leads volunteer efforts • More than 1,000 volunteer hours in 2023! \ a K nY +Ilka f h X. y vj Y �' r "i lwp! _ Iowa City's own arboretum profession n. I I I r"L' i a , a Ib dardscape projects .Er Heal pe •"a9A/L+i a Project GREEN Gardens at Ashton House Project GREEN Gardens at Ashton House Labor Creativity a Project GREEN Gardens at Ashton House • Beautiful arboretum, place of nature & botanical garden • Communityevents • Engaged community volunteers 2023: N., REAP Award $200,000; Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) For historic Ashton House: • planting native trees and prairies • installation of paved and soft-surfac • benches, fire ring/grill, water founta • bird blind, light bollards, stone entry • bicycle rack and repair station Resource Enhancement Protection Project GREEN'S Future Challenges Adaptation Community Benefits • Attracting volunteers • Events requiring • Attractive community in fewervolunteers which to live and work • Funding • Grants & local • Bringing people business event together through sponsorships gardens and nature Upcoming Project GREEN Events: Native Plant Sale in partnership with Troutleaf Native Plants • Saturday, May 18 9am-12pm • ProjectGREEN Gardens at Ashton House Garden Party Open House Saturday, June 22 2pm-4pm • ProjectGREEN Gardens at Ashton House Open Gardens Weekend 2024 July 13-14 Sat. 4 - 8pm Sun. 10am - 2pm 25+ private gardens FREE to visit Project GREEN Thank You for . supporting our mission to make our community `ell - even more beautiful! R , �- �� Cindy Parsons & Diane Allen .. _ 4T 1 Co -Presidents, Project GREEN' ' -- t �7 www.projectgreen.org iowacityprojectgreen@gmail.com\\\\ PRESENTATION CONCLUDED CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826 (319) 356-5000 (319) 356-5009 FAX www.icgov.org Item Number: 9.a. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT March 19, 2024 Establishment of (1) additional on -street disabled parking space at 722 E. College Street. Prepared By: Sarah Walz, Associate Transportation Planner Reviewed By: Kent Ralston, Transportation Planner Tracy Hightshoe, Director of Neighborhood and Development Services Jason Havel, City Engineer Fiscal Impact: None. Staff Recommendation: Approval Commission Recommendations: N/A Executive Summary: As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action: Pursuant to section 9-1-3A (14) establish and designate (1) parking space for disabled persons at 722 E. College Street. Background / Analysis: This action is being taken to create (1) additional disabled parking space at 722 E. College Street. The additional disabled space will be accommodated by the removal of an existing on - street loading space. This change was requested by St. Raphael Church. Item Number: 9.b. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT March 19, 2024 Establishment of (1) on -street disabled parking space adjacent to 715 East Iowa Avenue. Prepared By: Emily Bothell; Senior Associate Transportation Planner Reviewed By: Kent Ralston; Transportation Planner Jason Havel; City Engineer Tracy Hightshoe; Neighborhood and Development Services Director Fiscal Impact: No Impact Staff Recommendation: Approval Commission Recommendations: N/A Executive Summary: As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A (14); Establish (1) on -street disabled parking space on the south side of East Iowa Avenue, adjacent to 715 East Iowa Avenue. Background / Analysis: This action is being taken to provide an on -street disabled parking space for a resident living at 715 East Iowa Avenue. Item Number: 9.c. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT March 19, 2024 Remove the loading zone on the north side of the 500 block of Bowery Street and establish (2) on -street metered parking spaces. Prepared By: Emily Bothell; Senior Associate Transportation Planner Reviewed By: Kent Ralston; Transportation Planner Mark Rummel; Associate Director Transportation Services Rachel Kilburg Varley; Economic Development Coordinator Tracy Hightshoe; Neighborhood and Development Services Director Fiscal Impact: No Impact Staff Recommendation: Approval Executive Summary: As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A (17); Remove the 15-minute loading zone on the north side of the 500 block of Bowery Street and establish (2) on -street metered parking spaces numbered B500E and B502E at $0.75 per hour with a two-hour term limit Monday through Saturday between 8 AM and 6 PM. Background / Analysis: This action is being taken at the request of the Economic Development Coordinator to accommodate a commercial use on Bowery Street. Item Number: 9.d. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT March 19, 2024 Establish a "No Parking Here to Corner" parking prohibition on Dodge Street Court. Prepared By: Emily Bothell; Senior Associate Transportation Planner Reviewed By: Kent Ralston; Transportation Planner Jason Havel; City Engineer Tracy Hightshoe; Neighborhood and Development Services Director Fiscal Impact: No Impact Staff Recommendation: Approval Commission Recommendations: N/A Executive Summary: As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A (10); Install (1) "No Parking Here to Corner" sign on the north side of Dodge Street Court approximately 120 feet east of the intersection with Conklin Lane. Background / Analysis: This action is being taken to improve turning movements and access for City service vehicles at the intersection of Dodge Street Court and Conklin Lane. Item Number: 9.e. CITY OF IOWA CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT March 19, 2024 Establishment of "No Parking Any Time" parking prohibition on the east side of Keswick Drive. Prepared By: Emily Bothell; Senior Associate Transportation Planner Reviewed By: Kent Ralston; Transportation Planner Jason Havel; City Engineer Tracy Hightshoe; Neighborhood and Development Services Director Fiscal Impact: No Impact Staff Recommendation: Approval Commission Recommendations: N/A Executive Summary: As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A (10, 12); Establish a "No Parking Any Time" parking prohibition on the east side of Keswick Drive between Benton Street and Wheaton Road. Background / Analysis: This action is being taken to improve access for large City service vehicles. Additionally, City policy is to restrict parking on one side of the street when it is less than 26 feet wide. This portion of Keswick Drive is 25 feet wide and the prohibition is consistent with the existing prohibition on Keswick Drive to the north of Wheaton Road. On -street parking will continue to be available on the west side of Keswick Drive. Affected households adjacent to this portion of Keswick Drive have been notified of the proposed action. I r 1 =z. r A �''ATIII`�fttt City Council Supplemental Meeting Packet CITY OF [OWA CITY March 19, 2024 Information submitted between distribution of packet on Thursday and 4:00pm on Monday. Late Handout(s): 9.e. Parking prohibition on the east side of Keswick Drive - See co from the following: Joshua Christain and Margaret Henderson. 11.b. Rezoning - 1810, 1816, and 1928 Lower Muscatine Rd - See correspondence from the following: Denice Connell, Laura Routh, Deb Schoelerman, Dena Miller, Tracy Daby, Susan Chambers, Jennifer New, Anne Marie Kraus, Pat Bowen. 13.b. See revised language -Charter Review Commission -One vacancy to fill a one-year term from April 1, 2024 to no later than April 1, 2025. (Andre Wright resigned declined the appointment) Correspondence included in Council Packet. 13.c. Public Art Advisory Committee - One vacancy to fill an unexpired term, upon appointment - December 31, 2024. (Edward Boyken resigned) [Deferred from February 20, 2024] See revised cover sheet and application from David "James" Davies. March 19, 2024 City of Iowa City Item Number: 9.e. I i CITY OF IOWA CITY �fil COUNCIL ACTION REPORT March 19, 2024 Parking prohibition on the east side of Keswick Drive - See correspondence from the following Joshua Christain and Margaret Henderson. Attachments: Correspondence i Kellie Grace From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Good morning, Kellie— Emily Bothell Monday, March 18, 2024 8:42 AM Kellie Grace Late Handouts Distributed FW: On Street Parking on Keswick Drive - 3/19124 meeting PXL_20240304_232231010.jpg; PXL_20240223_132239125.jpg (Date) Can you please send this email to City Council members for tomorrow's meeting? Regarding Agenda Item 9.e. Thank you, Emily Bothell, AICP (She, Her, Hers) Senior Associate Transportation Planner I Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240 319.356,5250 From: Joshua Christain <bloodborne @gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2024 2:53 PM To: Emily Bothell <EBothell@iowa-city.org> Cc: Margaret Henderson <margarethenderson77@gmail.com> Subject: On Street Parking on Keswick Drive - 3J19/24 meeting A ** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care opening any links or attachments. ** Hello Emily, We live at 824 Keswick Drive and received your letter in the mail related to the proposed change to parking on the Southernmost block of Keswick Drive. We wanted to write to you since we will be unable to attend the 3119 meeting. While this proposed change is not ideal for my household, having a 1 car garage and 2 vehicles, it will make juggling cars a little less convenient, it does make sense. It would make things less congested on Iowa football game days, when the street essentially becomes a one lane road. And, as you pointed out in your letter, this is consistent with how the Northern part of the street is laid out. The issue we'd like to bring up is that this is a relatively new complaint and is likely tied to a business being run out of a residential home at 823 Keswick Drive. There is a construction company, DJ Paz All Siding Construction, that seems to be running out of this house and routinely parks 2 large trucks on the street in front of their home regardless of what is parked opposite of them. In the 15 years we've lived on this street, we have been parking on the East side regularly without receiving any warnings, citations, or requests not to park there (with the exception of snow removal bulletins). However with the arrival of this business, road blockages are now a regular occurrence and we've largely had to park off the street in order to not cause issues for drivers. Last summer when they arrived, there was speculation if the house was being completely remodeled since there were wide trailers left parked on the street for weeks at a time. This went on for months, and finally they removed the trailers, we assume due to the request of the city since they were causing traffic congestion. However, shortly after, they began to park the trailers in their driveway and the trucks were parked on the street along with a sedan, since the trailers took up the driveway and made the garage inaccessible. This creates traffic problems due to the width of the vehicles and has unfortunately become the norm since they will park the trucks in front of their property regardless if anything is parked on the East side of the street. This has caused Amazon, UPS, the Postal Service and other delivery trucks to have backup to Wheaton in order to turn around. This puts the responsibility to not inconvenience traffic on everyone but them. This was most evident during the heavy snow this winter, as their vehicles never moved off the street except when they needed to clear snow. In this situation there were no vehicles parked on the East side of the street, but the size of the trucks and large amounts of snow on the road caused a snowplow to have to reverse all the way to Benton Street and back out since it couldn't get past. On a personal note it is particularly irksome since their refusal to move meant we, and other neighbors on the East side of the block, get more snow pushed into our driveways. When the plow could squeeze through, swerving around the trucks causes the plow to deposit the snow in our driveways essentially twice and we expect this to happen again in future winters. Additionally since the trailers are used for their business and are stored backed into the driveway, each time they hitch or unhitch them there is a truck perpendicular to the street blocking the road while they get their work gear around.This a made worse when they have to juggle vehicles (if a truck is parked in the driveway and has to be moved), in those situations it becomes a multi -vehicle blockage of the street. I doubt this will change the proposal to restrict parking on the East side of the street, but we wanted to voice our irritation. We feel the change is related to this Business running out of Residence and will be contacting the City Attorney about this possibly being a matter for the Zoning or Nuisance Ordinances. Since this change wasn't proposed in the 15 years we've lived here, it seems that it is related to the difficulties this company's presence has caused to the traffic on our street in the last 9 months. Restricting parking to the West side of the street will reduce the congestion, but does not address the cause of the issue. Thank you for your time, Joshua Christain and Margaret Henderson ,.,may 9 as„$' '�g � �.w., ,` � ►� � ��f ,r /� ,�,��;#ii , NA um � !° Pr•� ��t e�: %�"' Sri' � �`�1!, :t<7 S i rb�c n ��I� �,��QT' "r, x ' 9 r°«S �Wcu�.a1ll� '0 ��4 , a1: a Air 9 �+ a �r r 1 , tr dlf•5;t [.-i,rl1 a` `,� $�a .� 4 r 1 ems. � •.��,- � ;ct. �-�_. .C�'�E i .7 v .4� ��t � Y �F�av� i5• v Am L r ri �WINzIly k.1 i l � ,V n P r ter' A, a Yl��'•. i r� �r �' s r lT ;ifs fit, on