HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-04-08 Correspondence CITY OF IOWA CITY
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM
TO: Steve Atkins ~
FROM: Terry Robinson ~ "-'-
DATE: April 4, 1997
RE: Tree City USA Award
On April 2nd Iowa City received its 17th consecutive Tree City
USA Award. Of the 105 communities receiving the award only
Cedar Rapids, at 19 years, has received the award longer.
Iowa City has also received a 1996 Growth Award. This
additional award is presented to communities that have
accomplished significant work in specially designated areas that
support and promote tree care in the community. Iowa City
received its Growth Award in areas of Education and Public
Relations, Planning and Management, and Utility Partnerships.
To qualify as a Tree City USA, a community must have a Tree
Board or specific Forestry Department. It must have a Community
Tree Ordinance and must have an annual community forestry
expenditure of $2.00 per capita. The community must also have
an Arbor Day Observance and officially acknowledge Arbor Day by
City Proclamation. Please remember the Arbor Day in Iowa is
officially designated as the last Friday of April, and take a
moment to think of what Iowa City would be like without trees.
cc: Terry Trueblood
April 3, 1997
To:
Iowa City Council
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
APR 0 3 1997
From:
Dale & Lynette Arens
3222 Shamrock Drive
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
Re:
Shamrock Drive/Friendship Avenue storm sewer project
Dear Members of the Iowa City Council:
My family and I live at 3222 Shamrock Drive, Iowa City.
We, and many of the other neighbors affected by the Shamrock
Drive/Friendship Avenue storm sewer project attended an
outstanding presentation at the First National Bank approximately
one year ago. The Iowa City engineer and his staff devoted
several hours explaining the seriousness ef the problem, the
magnitude of the proper fix, and the appropriateness of the
selution recommended. The majority of the affected property
owners favored the underground tiling storm sewer approach
recommended by the city engineer and his staff to solve the
problem.
Your most recent solution to the problem is, we are very afraid,
only a partial approach and partial solution to the problem. The
original solution would have offered protection against the 100
year flood. As you know, Iowa City has suffered many "100 year"
floods in the last several years. The new proposal offers five
year flood protection which, in our judgment, is not sufficient
protection to warrant the project.
It is our fear that opposition to the engineer's initial
professional recommendation resulted from the potential loss of
trees. Please understand that most of the trees on this storm
sewer route are scrub, volunteer trees. In fact, our family will
suffer more degrading and disturbance of our yard than anyone, we
will lose all of our trees in the backyard. We are willing to
make this sacrifice, gladly, however, for a permanent,
professional, and safe solution to an extraordinary and continuous
problem.
We respectfully but very enthusiastically urge each of you to
reconsider the solution now under consideration. We request that
you adopt your staff's initial proposed solution (underground
tiling). You have a superb engineering staff. They know very
well the engineering options available and the short and long-term
effects of each option. We urge you to listen to them and to
Iowa City Council
Re: Shamrock Drive/Friendship Avenue storm sewer project
April 3, 1997
Page -2-
follow their advice.
and inappropriate.
The newest proposal is woefully inadequate
If the city implements a plan different from the original plan
which was favored by your engineering staff and recommended to the
neighborhood one year ago, we respectfully request a written
indemnification on behalf of the city indemnifying us from all
future property damage caused by the flooding from this storm
sewer. We would also respectfully request that the document
indemnify us from any responsibility for potential drowning of
children. We would also respectfully request that the city agree,
in writing, to keep the grate clear at all times and to check the
grate after every rain in order to do so. We would also
respectfully request that the city agree to remove all refuse and
debris from our properties caused by the flooding which will
obviously not be remedied by the current suggested solution.
Finally, we request that said statement from the city acknowledge
the city's responsibility to police and to prevent individuals
from piling yard waste near the channel which is always swept
downstream and onto our properties with each minor rain. We are
absolutely convinced that the present proposed solution will
result in a continuance of all of these shortcomings and dangers.
We will eagerly appreciate your openness to a full and complete
reconsideration of the solution. Please, let us not adopt a
compromise which disregards sound engineering principles and the
safety of our citizens.
We will appreciate hearing from you. Thank you for considering
our thoughts.
Sincerely, ~/~ ! ~
Dale Arens an~_Lynette A. rens 3
APR 0 4 1997
7 Alexander Drive, PO. Box ~2256, Research 7~iangle Park, North Carolina 27709
April 1, 1997
To the City Council:
Mr. Mitchell has notified us that the revised text of the Animal Control Ordinance will be on the
agenda of the upcoming City Council informal meeting and that the revised text retains the ban
on pigeon coops and does not provide for grandfathering.
This is a sensible policy which will bring Iowa City's regulations into line with the ordinances
of comparable communities. Big 10 communities have banned or restricted pigeon coops because
of the nuisance and health risks created by pigeon confinements in densely populated residential
areas. Recent epidemiclogical research has amply demonstrated the health risks involved. Last
fall I mailed each of you copies of studies obtained from the Hardin Health Sciences library
documenting these risks. It is no coincidence that it is has been university communities whose
citizens have access to such resources that have banned the keeping of pigeons and fowl.
For the past two years the Animal Control Advisory Board has debated the issue of pigeon coops
and is again recommending that keeping more than 5 pigeons be banned. The Board considered
but did not change language in the ordinance precluding grandfathering of existing pigeon coops.
Nor did any of the Big 10 ordinances provide exemptions. Any exemption must come from City
Council.
If Council is to act to protect homeowners against the likely hazards of new pigeon confinements,
by what logic can it authorize continued operation of an existing coop that has been documented
to cause serious medical problems to the family on whose property this coop borders? If allowed
at all, it must be with restrictions on the location of the coop, the number of birds, the type of
ventilation system etc. to afford our family equivalent projection to that other citizens will
enjoy by virtue of this sensible policy. To do otherwise would be as illogical and unjust as to ban
smoking in public places but to exempt current smokers.
Finally, I enclose the report of Dr. Joel Kline of the U. Iowa Pulmonary Clinic which confirms
the 1994 diagnosis made by Dr. Pope Mosely thus documenting the continued health hazard
ppsed by the pigeon coop maintained by Mr. Donald Seydel.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
1346 East Bloomington St.
(Until June 1997, 308 Summerfield Crossing, Chapel Hill, NO)
Telephone 9z9 549 o66z / Cable: Humanities
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
9/356-2883
no answer, 356-1616
Department of Internal Medicine
200 Hawkins Dr.
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1081
'October 17, 1996
Susan M. Goodher, M.D.
414 10th Ave
Coralville, IA 52241-2372'
Maryann Rasmussen
Hosp. No. 81-16097-1
Dear Doctor Goodner:
Your patient, Maryann Rasmussen, was evaluated in the Pulmonary Clinic on October 15, 1996
with the diagnoses of: 1) Extrinsic asthma; 2) positive antibody to Aspergillus niger; 3) sinusitis.
Dr. Rasmussen is a 43-year~old female professor of English at the University of Iowa who was
previously evaluated in our clinic in 1994. At that time she was noted to have asthma and airway
obstruction related to exposure to a neighbor's pigeon cages. This exposure was due to the
proximity of the pigeon coup to her property and the existence of exhaust fans blowing exhaust
from the coup towards her house. She has been treated by inhaled bronchodilators in the past
and over the past year she has dealt with this problem by avoiding entry into her backyard.
When she has bad to enter the region of her yard adjacent to her neigbbor's property, she has
reproducibly developed chest tightness, occasional sharp chest pain and dyspnea. Most recently
she was watery the yard in late August and noticed these symptoms. Subsequent to that time she
has had the development of periodic chest tightness and recent siuus inflammation necessitating
three courses of antibiotics. She also required oral corticosteroids at 50 mg per day of
prednisone for a period of time.
The patient is currently on Augmentiu in the middle of a three-week course and is on no othe,'
medications.
She has no known allergies.
She does not smoke nor does she drink excessively. Her occupation does not involve any
exposures and she is an academic.
On physical examination the patient is afebrile with a temperature of 36.6, pulse 101, respits 16,
blood pressure 128/72. The HEENT exam was uuremarkable. She was normocephalic
atraumatic with pupils were equal, round and reactive tq light and accommodation. The neck
was supple and nontender without palpable adenopathS,. The lungs were clear to auscultatiou
and percussion. The heart was regular rate and rhythm without murmurs, rubs or gallops. The
extremities were without cyanosis, clubbing or edema. Neurological exam was nonlocal.
Studies performed this visit included a chest x-ray which revealed flattened diaphragms and
evidence of hyperinflation.
Pulmonary function tests revealed spi,'ometry which was normal with an FEV 1 of 3.01 at 111%
predicted; FVC of 3.74 or 106% predicted; aud FEV1/FVC of 81%. In lung volumes, total lung
capacity was increased at 6.48 or 124% predicted indicating hyperinflation and a residual
Page 2
RE: Maryann Rasmussen
Hosp. No. 81-16097-1
October 17, 1996
was increased at 2.68 or 149% predicted indicating air~trapplhg. Diffi~s~mg capacity was normal at
21.3 or 102% predicted.
Impression/Plan: It is my impression that Maryaun Rasmussen suffers from asthma witIN
periodic exacerbation due'to exposure and proximity of her neighbor's pigeou coup. She has
had positive precipitin test to Aspergillus niger which is a common thermophilic fuugus
present in pigeon droppings, confirming the likelihood of her contiuued exposure. She
describes symptomatology and in the past has demonstrated decreased peak flows associated
with exposure to her neighbor's pigeon coup. As Dr. Moseley previously recommended in
1994, I must concur that the only appropriate therapy for tiNis situation is complete avoidance
of the inhaled allergen. Repeat exposure may result in permanent air flow obstruction and
the patient is also at risk for the development of hypersensitivity pneumonitis which is a
chronic inflammatory disorder of the lungs which has been associated with a variety of
antigens including those associated witIN pigeons.
I understand that currently the City Council is consideriug regulations which would forth
removal of the pigeons and the pigeon coup. I would be very pleased to serve as a resource in
their discussions to describe the potential medical consequences of continued exposure to air-
borne pigeon droppings and dust.
Thaak you for allowing us to pa~licipate in the care of your patient, Maryann Rasmussen. Please
feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns.
Sincerely, ~~.,%
Joel N. Kline, M.D.
Staff
Puhnonary, Critical Care
and Occupational Medicine Clinic
(319) 353-8551
JNICdats 18
pc~
Maryram Rasmussen
1346 E Bloomington St
Iowa City, IA 52245-3108
MARCH 18~ 1997
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CIVIC CENTER
IOWA CITY~ IOWA 52240
RE: DESIGNATION OF THE ONE PIECE OF OLD SCOTT BLVD
THAT REMAINS ON THE NORTH ADJACENT TO THE ZAJICEK BUSINESS~
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE "NEW IMPROVED SCOTT BLVD"
ALONG A ROUTE FOLLOWING THE ELHCTRIC POLE ALIGNMENT, THE CITY
DECIDED TO MOVE THE NORTH END OF SCOTT BLVD UNDER THE POLES IN
ORDER TO AVOID AN EXISTING COMMERCIAL FACILITY OWNED
'BY JOE ZAJICEK. THE REASONING FOR THE ROAD RELOCATION
IS VERY OBVIOUS..,AND IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH GOOD
ENGINEERING.
THIS LEFT A PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THIS "OLD SCOTT
BLVD" RIGHT OF WAY? THE CITY ENJOYED AN EASEMENT OVER THE
RIGHT OF WAY BUT DID NOT OWN THE RIGHT OF WAY. IF THE
CITY HAS NO USE FOR THIS REMAINING RIGHT OF WAY IT SHOULD
DECLARE THAT FACT AND THE LAND WOULD REVERT TO THE
ORIGINAL OWNERS AND/OR THEIR HEIRS AND ASSIGNEES.
IF THE CITY REMAINS IN CONTROL OF THE STREET THEN THAT SHOULD
BE DOCUMENTED AND THE RULES OF USE SHOULD BE SET FORTH.
WILL THE CONTIGUOUS LAND BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A 40 FOOT BUILDING
SET BACK~.OR A 20 FOOT SET BACK? WILL THE CITY MAINTAIN
THE ROADWAY AND PLOW THE SNOW? WILL THE CITY MAINTAIN
THE TREES ON EACH SIDE OF THE ROAD? REMEMBER THIS IS ONLY A
FORTY FOOT RIGHT OF WAY. DOES THE CITY HAVE THIS ROADWAY
INSURED UNDER THEIR INSURANCE POLICIES?
CITY COUNCIL:
MARCH 18, 1997
PAGE TWO
WHILE THE CITY IS MAKING THIS DECISON AS TO THE OWNERSHIP
OF THE ROADWAY, THEY SHOULD TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE EXISTING
ROAD AND ITS FUTURE EXTENSION TO THE NORTH. A PRUDENT PERSON
WOULD VISION THE EXISTING ROADWAY BEING TORN UP AND THE
EXISTING SCOTT BLVD BEING EXTENDED TO THE NORTH IN ALIGNMENT
WITH THIS PARCEL UNDER CONSIDERATION AND THAT DIRT ROADWAY
TO THE NORTH CALLED SCOTT BLVDo
YOUR DECISION IN WRITING IS REQUESTED.
"IS THIS PART OF THE EXISTING SCOTT BLVD A CITY STREET"?
IF NOTo."WILL THE CITY OFFICIALLY ABANDON THE RIGHT OF WAY"?
. GLASGOW, RES.
IOWA CITY, IOWA 5F245
ENCLOSURE: PLAT OF AREA
97MAR 18..,Pt-~ 2: IZ
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To the City Council
Iowa City, IA.
1997
After reading David Lee's titillating description of the
Phoenix Thunderstone band which would be performing at Gabe's
on Thursday night, March 27, I knew I had to voice SOMETHING
but-WHAT? I had only the day before taken part in a discussion
group-at the Ia. City Sr. Center, for goodness sake, in which
we agreed that many times people have strong opinions...even
gut-level feelings about matters that might affect all of us,
one way or another, but we do nothing about it. Actually, we
were referring to political situations when we OUGHT to write
our congress/persons but don't.
Sean Heckett, spokesperson and lead singer for this
'straightforward music with a tinge of mystical sexuality' says
'people who don't even know one another have started kissing
because of the show';and 'other things they have done can't
be printed, however'! He warns that people who go (to the
performance) should be "willing to see something, a full-blown
sexual and violent frenzy"!
And why would I want to omit, as long as I'm at it, that
their CD, Ride of the Lawless, sounds like a "cross between
a revival meeting and sex with a whore"?
And now that I've sort of given you an idea of the way
I feel about "such goins-on', I'll get up on my soapbox and
declare that (1): we could get along without Gabe's and about
half-a-dozen other bars in this city, and (2): the Press
Citizen's Arts and Entertainment page is guilty of advertising
pornographic events!
Sincerely,
Mildred M. Flynn
.,~~C~..~,~io~va City HistQric_
Preser. va~ion ~ "~' 410 E. Washington St.
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March 19, 1997
Iowa City Council
c/o City Clerk
Iowa City Civic Center
410 E Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
RE: East College Street and College Green Historic Districts
Ladies and Gentleman:
On behalf of the members of the Iowa City Historic Preservation
Commission and the residents of the two neighborhoods, I want to
thank you for your unanimous support for the designation of the
East College Street Historic District and the College Green
Historic District.
We are aware that the Council gave serious consideration to the
issues of historic preservation districting and weighed the
interests of the property owners and neighbors very carefully. We
very much appreciate the opportunity to make presentations to you,
to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and to the neighborhood
meetings about these districts as the designation process moved to
the f~]. vote.
Thank you for the support you have shown historic preservation by
the designation of these two fine neighborhood areas as Iowa City
Historic Districts.
DSR~mh
cc: Scott Kugler
Michael Pugh
letters/iowa. 313
Respectfully,
Douglas S. Russell
Chair
FRIENDS oF THE
IOWA
giVER
SCENIC
TR^IL
April 1, 1997
Iowa City Council
Iowa City Hall
410 E Washington
Io~va City, Io~va 52240
1997
Dear Councilors,
The purpose of this letter is to request your attention regarding trail planning and development in the
Peninsula area. You are aware of the recent success in getting funds to acquire the Iowa Power Dam and
construct a trail across it. This is a tremendous pedestrian m~d bicycle link between Coralville and Iowa
City. However, I am not optimistic that this new bridge will connect to anything on the Iowa City side.
With all the planning for the new water treatment plant, the development of access drives and sensitive
negotiations with land owners, my concern is that trail development will get lost in the shuffle. I am not
aware of any concerted planning effort toward trail development in that area.
It is my opinion that we lost a similar opportunity when the north and south sewer plants were connected.
The incremental cost of acquiring surface easements along with subsurface pipeline easements is a
relatively small additional cost with big benefits for public use. There are tremendous 'savings from
piggy backing public works projects. These savings come froIn easement acquisition as well as
historical and environmental studies, and even grading and construction. Linking Coralville, City Park,
the Peninsula and the new water plant is an opportunity that needs to be addressed now.
This matter was raised at last months F.I.R.S.T. meeting and we agreed to coordinate efforts with the
Riverfi'ont and Natural Areas Commission. Courthey Daniels, the Chair of RNAC, attended our meeting.
Peninsula trail planning and construction is a top priority for both groups. We encourage the Council to
make this your priority as well.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need some clarification. You can contact me at my
office at 351-2044 or my home at 338-2310.
Sincerely,
C , President
Friends of the Iowa River Scenic Trail (F.IiR.S.T.)
cc: John Yapp (JCCOG)i Courtl{ey Daniels (Chai'r - RNAC), City Cle?k of Iowa City'
~,~a~ P.O. BOX 3433; IOWA CITY, IOWA 52244
Printed on recycled paper
March 19, 1997
CITY OF I0 WA CITY
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and the City Council
RE:
Civil Service Entrance Examination - CUSTODIAN
We, the undersigned members of the Civil Service Commission of Iowa
City, Iowa, do hereby certify the following named person(s) as
eligible for the position of Custodian.
Laroi Dean
Hired: 3/31/97
IOWA CITY CIVIL SERVICE
COMI~ISSION
M i c ~a e~~W. ~Kie nn e~~y, Chair
ATTEST:
Marl~~a~ K~arr ~' ~-/~L//
, City Clerk
4t0 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 356-~000 · FAX (319) 356-5009
March 21, 1997
CITY OF I0 WA CITY
TO:
RE:
The Honorable Mayor and the City Council
Civil Service Entrance Examination - MAINTENANCE WORKER II
- SENIOR CENTER
We, the undersigned members of the Civil Service Commission of Iowa
City, Iowa, do hereby certify the following named person(s) as
eligible for the position of MWII - Senior Center.
Craig Buhman
Hired: 3/27/97
IOWA CITY CIVIL
Mfchael W. ~/,
SERVICE
Chair
ATTEST:
MaYian Karr, City Clerk
410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET '~ IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 356-5000 ~' FAX (319) 356-5009
City of iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date:
To:
From:
Re:
March 20, 1997
City Clerk
Doug Ripley, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner~
Prohibition of On-Street Parking on South Capitol Street
As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code this is to advise the City Council of
the following action. Unless directed otherwise by the City Council, this action will occur on or
shortly after April 9, 1997.
Action
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3(A)13 of the City Code, signage will be installed indicating "no parking
corner to here" on the west side of Capitol Street from its point of intersection with Prentiss Street
south for 60 feet.
Comment
This action is being taken upon request from the iowa City Police Department, citing a complaint
about intersection sight distance on this corner due to parked cars. The University of Iowa recently
demolished the structure on the southwest corner of this intersection and removed the driveway
and curb cut. The resulting concentration of parked cars, combined with a slight grade at this
intersection, has reduced sight distance to almost nothing. Removing parking 60 feet from the
intersection will restore sight distance to its previous level before the driveway was removed.
jw/s-capito.dr/doc
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date: March 27, 1997
To: City Clerk
From: Jeff Davidson, Transportation Planner
Re: Erection of stop sign and speed limit signs in conjunction with the opening of Iowa City
Kickers Soccer Park
As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3(B) of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council
of the following action. Unless directed otherwise by the City Council, this action will occur on
or shortly after April 9, 1997.
Action:
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3(A)(1)(5) of the City Code, signage will be installed indicating "STOP"
for westbound traffic on the soccer park access road where it intersects Sycamore Street, and
signage will be installed indicating "SPEED LIMIT 15 MPH" on the soccer park access road
between Sycamore Street and Iowa City Kickers Soccer Park.
Comment:
This action is being taken upon request from the Iowa City Parks & Recreation Department. The
"STOP" sign will be used to clearly, assign right-of-way for persons exiting the soccer park onto
Sycamore Street. The City Code ~establishes that the maximum allowable speed for a vehicle
within a public park shall be 15 miles per hour. Although the soccer park access road is not
actually within a public park, the access road is being constructed to park road standards and will
function as a park road until the adjacent property is redeveloped. When the adjacent property
is redeveloped and the road upgraded to a City street, the speed limit will be reconsidered.
bc4-1JD.wp5
April 4, 1997
Dear Council Members:
I have some alternative ideas for the creek project between Shamrock Drive and
Friendship Street.
I met with Amy Bouska at the Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation office and
toured with her four creek sites in Iowa City and Coralville.
1) Longfellow, old ~xX)S site. Here a combination of natural grading and
shaping, rip rap where necessary and prairie grasses areused for erosion control.
2) Iowa Ave. where 1933 flood Moines were used for erosion control. Here
gabion baskets were used for erosion control.
3) Rapid Creek in Coralville. Here rip rap isused for erosion control.
4) Friendship Street, first bridge east of First Ave. Here natural grading and
shaping isused fbr erosion control.
Two of these projects use natural grading and shaping, while one use prairie grasses as a
means of erosio~ control. I believe the Shamrock Drive/Friendship Street project would
best be accomplished via a combination of methods:
a) use the method discussed in the March 24, 1997 correspondence at the end
where the creek flows into the underground culvert beneath Shamrock Drive. i.e.,
the reno mattresses and geotextile fabric.
b) Where the old rip rap was placed, dredge out old rip rap, use natural grading
and shaping along with prairie grasses as a means of erosion control.
c) beyond where the old rip rap was placed use natural grading and shaping,
but to a lesser depth and width in b) above. Again use prairie grasses for erosion
control.
d) Work with city staff and the Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation
Office to prevent erosion in upstream developments; this step is critical in
maintaining stream flow.
Sincerely,
Christina Randall
3328 Shamrock Dr.
351-1974
co: Jeff McClure
co: Rick Fosse