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Home My WebLink About1997-07-02 Correspondence We oppose the use of Hickory Hill Park as a leash free zone for dogs, and the construction of a fence for this purpose. Hickory Hill Park should remain undeveloped and enjoyed by .people for its natural beauty. Mayor Naomi Novick Iowa City Civic Center 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240 353 Lexington Ave. Iowa City, IA 52246 May 16, 1997 Dear Mayor Novick: I am writing again because of the persistent danger created by speeding, reckless drivers who run the Lexington Avenue dips at speeds that I estimate to be 50-70 miles per hour. Once again this evening I notified the Police Department when cars repeatedly ran by our house while children were playing in the yards and others earlier had been walking along the street. My letter now is precipitated by my discouragement that despite my repeated calls to the Police and my letter of July 19, 1996, to you and Chief Winkelhake, we continue to have flagrant violation of the law. Clearly the best efforts of the Police have not stopped the problem. Youths drive by our house at all hours screaming at the top of their lungs and, when in convertibles, with their hands raised in the air as if they were riding a roller coaster. I have tried to take license plate numbers despite a duty officer's having told me that my reporting those numbers would do little good because police officers would not be able to identify the driver. Frequently the speeders come by at night making it difficult to even see the license plates. Last week while trying to take the number of one car that I heard I was confronted by one of the occupants of.the car who yelled obscenities and made obscene gestures as I stood on my front lawn. Please advise me if you can see any possible solutions for this problem. I am confident that one day one of the people is going to kill someone who is walking along this street. Mine have not been the only complaints registered about this perpetual problem. It is inconceivable that the City of Iowa City will not be found liable for the damages. Already this year one car has been unable to stop at the end of Lexington and plowed into the bushes of the house across Park Ave. How fortunate no one was in the front yard or driving on Park at just that moment. I want you to know how much I appreciate the reassuring manner in which the ICPD has handled my many calls. I know that it is not the Police themselves who are responsible. In fact, it is likely as frustrating to them as it is to those of us who live on this street. Even as I write this letter, I can see a patrol car sitting in wait of a speeder. Yet tonight, as other nights, the speeding occurs randomly (though concentrated around bar closing time) and the officer will likeIy once again have nothing to show for the effort. I write to you for advice and support in our search for a solution to a very real public safety issue. Sincerely, June 5, 1997 Dr. William Talman 353 Lexington Avenue Iowa City, Iowa .B2246 CITY OF I0 WA CITY Dear Dr. Talman: I have been asked by Mayor Naomi Novak to respond to your letter of May 16, 1997 regarding the speeding and safety problem on Lexington Avenue, In my review of City files, there have been a variety of attempts by the City to address the problem since the 1970's, including increased police enforcement, additional traffic signs (speed limit, stop signs and hidden driveway) and filling in low portions of the street. I would be happy to locate these Files regarding the history if you are interested in reviewing them. More recently, a number of City staff persons and I have worked with the Lexington Street neighborhood to attempt to resolve this issue. The following is a brief summary of the major activities that have occurred in the past several years: August 1992 - The use of speed humps was evaluated by Public Works and the neighborhood. Public Works felt that speed humps on Lexington could add to the entertainment value of the street rather than slow traffic. Residents of Lexington did not express majority support for the speed hump alternative. September 1992 - Members of Iowa City Public Works Department and myself met with interested neighbors to discuss various options. Public Works expressed safety concerns for some of the options that were discussed. Those neighbors in attendance did not come to a consensus about any of the available options. Staff was asked to evaluate options further. June, 1993 - a summary of options was presented to the neighborhood for'further evaluation. The options included an island that could be constructed at an intersection along Lexington, a cul-de-sac at the north end of the street, and the installation of sidewalks to improve pedestrian safety. June, 1994 - a survey was conducted of the residents asking to rank the options (cul- de~sac, island, sidewalks or "do nothing"). Results of th~ survey were diverse. No single option received majority support and results were forwarded to the residents. have included a copy of the survey and the results. October 1994 - a proposal by the residents suggesting the installation of a three season gate that would block through-traffic on the.street during the warmer months was received by the City. The Public Works Department expressed strong opposition ta such a proposal due to safety and maintenance concerns. From what l understood the residents were going to personally approach the City Council with this suggestion and request a response. To date this has not occurred. 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, lOW^ 52240-1826 · (319) :~,~6-:~000 · FAX (319) 3S6-~009 As you can see, there has been no resolution to a variety of options that have been explored in the past few years. A new program has been initiated since the last contact with the Lexington residents. The City Council has agreed to fund a program utilizing "traffic calming" techniques which has been used successfully in some communities. Staff developed and City Council ar~proved the attached the "Iowa City Residential Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program Evaluation Criteria" in response to committing such funding. Steps #1 and #2 of the evaluation criteria have already been met for Lexington. I have requested the Traffic Planning Division to perform speed and volume counts along Lexington. They should be completed by mid July and I will forward that information to you. If it is found that Lexington Avenue does not meet the speed or volume criteria in paragraph's #3 and #4 of the evaluation criteria, it may be possible that the City Council would agree that Lexington presents a unique level of concern with it's unusual vertical geometry and participation in the Traffic Calming Program could be supported if requested by the neighborhood. Although the new Traffic Calming Program is more structured than any process utilized by the Lexington residents in the past, it is premised on a traffic calming measure receiving majority support from the neighborhood. This appears to be where other alternatives have fallen short in the Lexington neighborhood because no traffic control measure has ever received majority support from your neighborhood. It is likely that many of the traffic controlling options recommended in the past may again be evaluated for use on Lexington. To achieve this level of support, resident persuasion or solicitation is often necessary from a group of people who live in the neighborhood. I would be happy to work with the residents if there is the interest in pursuing a traffic calming process. If there is interest, I would suggest that we meet to review the components of the Traffic Calming Program and discuss the various steps. I can also provide details on how I could assist the neighborhood in these steps. I will ask that Jeff Davidson, Transportation Planner also join us in this meeting. Please feel free to contact me at 356-5237 to set up a meeting or if you have any questions. I look forward to speaking with you. Sincerely, Marcia Klingaman Neighborhood Services Coordinator cc: Iowa City City Council Jeff Davidson LEXINGTON AVENUE SPEED CONTROL SURVEY In order to evaluate measures that Lexington Avenue residents can endorse, please complete the following survey and return it to the City in the enclosed, self- addressed, stamped envelope. Please rank in order of preference (1-4). If you cannot endorse a particular concept, do NOT rank it. ISLAND - located south of intersection of McLean Street (see Exhibit A) CLOSE OFF LEXINGTON AT PARK ROAD - locate cul- de-sac near Park Road (see Exhibit B) INSTALL SIDEWALKS - installed on one or both sides of the street DO NOTHING - leave the street as it is COMMENTS: PLEASE RETURN SURVEY BY JUNE 17, 1994 IN THE ENCLOSED, SELF-ADDRESSED, STAMPED ENVELOPE. Exhibi~ A Exhibit B I,EXINGTON AVENUE SURVEY RESULTS 34 sent 27 received (79% response rate) 1 ~ 3 _4 unacceptable Island 7 5 15 Cul-De-Sac 4 5 2 16 Sidewalks 5 2 4 1 15 Do Nothing 10 3 2 12 COMMENTS FROM RESPONDENTS: -Lexingtoa/Park intersection is dangerous, therefor it should be blocked off -bushes have had to be removed on two occasions due to cars running into them -what about the staggered gates, as proposed at the Neighborhood Meeting? (note* City staff did not want to pursue the staggered gate option because of potential liaiblity concerns) -"do nothing" option should be replaced with increased and improved surveillance -closing Lexington at Park would not control speeding, but rather just reduce the amount of traffic, probably not worth the effort... -island would be completely ineffective in controlling speeding, probably worsen the situation -most joy-riders go through neighborhood and then turn around to go back again, closing the street would probably not reduce their presence -street closure may produce a problem for the neighborhood during football and basketball seasons -people move to Lexington because they like the area, if they can't accept it as it is, they can move... -speed hump option should be reconsidered -sidewalks won't stop speeders -I've lived here for 50 years- I say do nothing -200 block doesn't experience the same problems that the 300 and 400 blocks have -if safety is a problem, clearing overgrowth on the west side would help-- sidewalks would assure that the area is clear and visible... if speeding is a problem then an island would help-- but "I/we" don't see speeding as a problem... dosing street would affect other streets as well -block off street with a gate at the base, e.g. a dead end with special access to snow and garbage trucks -none of the options will solve the problem, city should not rely on a unanimous agreement because some are affected to a much greater extent than others -Lexington has been paved in its present configuration for over 50 years. Before purchase, all home owners knew, or should have known, of the 'recreational driving' activity in that block. I have not had the impression that the traffic has increased signifieanfiy over the last 15 years; if so it should be documented. Why the sudden agitation? Sidewalks always should have been in place on at least one side of the street. Changes, if made, should be paid by the 'benefited' property owners, not the general revenue funds Iowa City Residential Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program Evaluation Criteria Approved by the City Council 11118196 To initiate a traffic study of the street proposed for traffic calming, a formal request will be required from the neighborhood association that includes the street proposed for traffic calming. If the street proposed for traffic calming is not included within a formal neighborhood association, then a petition will be required from interested residents along the street proposed for traffic calming. The street considered for traffic calming measures should be functionally classified as a local residential street or a collector street. Traffic volumes on a residential street should exceed 500 vehicles per day and on a collector street should exceed 1000 vehicles per day. Traffic volume on any street proposed for traffic calming should not exceed 3000 vehicles per day, or The measured 85th percentlie speed should exceed 5 mph over the posted speed limit. For example, on a street with a posted speed limit of 25 mph, the 85th percentlie speed should exceed 30 mph to be considered for traffic calming. Staff will meet with the neighborhood association, and determine which traffic calming measures are reasonable for evaluation. If the street proposed for traffic calming is not included in a formal neighborhood association, then staff will meet with interested residents to determine which traffic calming measures are appropriate for evaluation. Staff will conduct a traffic study which will include evaluating the perceived traffic problems, roadway geometry, and the impact on adjacent streets (traffic diversion) from the proposed traffic calming measures. The Police Department, Fire Department, and ambulance service will be asked to comment on the proposed street modification's impact on emergency vehicle response. The Transit Division will be asked to comment on the proposed street modification's impact on public transit service. If the traffic study shows that traffic calming measures can be implemented safely, a mail-back survey of all affected residential dwelling units will then be conducted by the City. The questionnaire will allow each residential dwelling unit to express: (1) support for all proposed traffic calming measures; (2) support for some traffic calming measures but not others: or (3) no support for any traffic calming measure. A proposal for traffic calming must be supported by a simple majority of the residential dwelling units responding to the questionnaire in order to be considered for implementation. On a street functionally classified as a local residential street, the mail-back survey will include all residential dwelling units with direct access to the street. On a street functionally classified as a collector street, the mail-back survey will include all residential dwelling units with direct access to the street, as well as all residential dwelling units on adjacent local residential streets which feed into the collector street. No minimum number of responses to the mail-back survey is required. but a 10w response rate will be taken into consideration by the City Council. j¢C~Ip~oenn¥' n)r~cl JUl-I-- 19--97 THU 6 : 55 June !9, 1997 Fax to: Iowa City Council From: Vickie Abrahamson co-owner of !231 South Riverside Drive (Airlane Motel and a triplex apartment building) I CON O,~~ P = 01 jut41 9 1997 Dear Council; On behalf of the Dyer Family, owners of the, property. at 1231 South Riverside Drive, I feel compelled to write th~s letter of concern about how the Airport Impro, vement plan is being handled by the Airport Commission, Our family would sincerely appreciate your consideration of the following: Wha{'= the allenda ?: As I write this letter, we have received no formal letters of intent from the Airport Commission regarding the.status of our property; only escala. ting hearsay and newspaper stories projecting . actions to come, ~'h~s has caused my mother, Irene Dyer, 74, my brother and myself great personal anguish and stress. We have lived and operated.a bust,nose at this address for 37 years. We do not want to sell, We feel the entire process has been and continues to be a grandiose plan with ,an inflated declaration of "needs" by. the Airport Commission, ,and despair at the rude way good citizens are being, t,reated. We are ~ncredu!ous over the doubl,e. whammy fu,n. ding of th~s ~mprovement for "the public good" plan, W,th the 10% city and 90% FAAupgrade funding partnership, our tax dollars .are being used against us; putting us out of our home and business. Ironic, at best, Jumping The Gun: Two weeks ago, Grog Apel, partner in the Wardway d .~velopment, knocked at my mother's door unannoun.ce.d, asked whether her property had been co. nde,m, ned and stated that he wanted to buy the Airlane Motel, We consider has actions harassment and we want to know what is being wheeled and dealed behind the civic scene. How can the Airport Cornrot,es!on be pursuing serious negotiations, pressuring to close a deal w~th the developers of the Wardw,ay Plaza to rent a large proportion (39 acres?).of City property bar, ore panning down the real c, osts--ve~ likely to exceed the $10, $15 ....$$, m~llion guestimate-- involved ~n procuring a. II the properties slated for condemnation? To our knowledge, the commission has not published a request for proposals to secure the widest awareness and opportunity for airport property_ development plans from other developers. Is this ethical or even legal? Why does this whole "process" smack of crony~sm? (In a phone conversation I had with commission president Pat Foster, on June 16, he referred to Mr. Apel as, a_ long-time personal ?!end.) How can such a deal be even entertained w~thout the full public airing, of the developer's detailed architectural plans before the City Council and the citizens of Iowa City? P- 02 in the Airp.ort Commission's rush to c.atch the developer's "flight" they are.forgetbng to weigh .t. he who. le price of the ticket, Is this plan's_ projected costs really in hne with the end benefit for the'citizens of Iowa City/ Ce~til~ti .aaality: In an editor, ial by attorney $a.m, Sheronick in t,he Cedar Rapids Gazette the cons!~tutionality of an A~rport Comm..iss[on to condemn private land ,for public use, then .sell or lease for ,profit the same landto privat,e c~t. izens and corporab,o, ns to build office parks and de,velopments is sermusly questioned, "While it may be argued t,hat citizens of Cedar Rapids would benefit from increased taxes derived from commercial, residential and industrial devel.o, pment fostered by the proposed "urban renewal zone" and airport "office park," one needs to ask whether it is constitutional for a city or airport commission to forcibly purch, asea priv.ate citlzen's farmland,(or motel and triplex in the Dyer family s~tuation), t.h, en increase its value by rezoning the same land for commercial, residenbal or industrial use(while adding tax breaks) so the same land could be sold or leased to another private citizen or corporation for profit." The bottomline: if it is deemed constitutional, what stops any city from decWing to grab someone's prope,rty for it's own ~ain, This may be just the project to test the constitubonality of the A~rport Commission's present plan, In closing, the Dyer family looks_to the wisdom ,on the Council to weigh all the variables and future ramifications--financml, ethical, legal-- enveloping the commission's plans. Th/~. k y.ou, .~ ~. /~ Vickie Dyei' Ab?ahamson 4516 Fremont Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55409 phone: 612-822-9299 fax: 612.-822-9392. cc Brian Sharp, Press Citizen IOWA CITY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 1801 South Riverside Drive Iowa City, Iowa 52246 Office Phone (319) 356-5045 MEMO DATE: June 23, 1997 TO: Iowa City City Council FROM: Ron O'Neil, Airport Manager ~O. RE: Abrahamson memo I recently received a copy of a memo addressed to the Council from Vickie Abrahamson. She raised some questions concerning the land acquisition and avigation easement project at the Airport. The first phase of the project was to identify the parcels in the program. Greg Bridger, from ACSG, Inc. was the project manager and he will be the project manager for the second phase. Along with identifying the parcels, the official owners of the properties were identified. A Program Procedures Manual and a Land Acquisition and Resident Relocation Plan have been developed. The first phase, except for review by the FAA, has been completed. The preliminary phase needed to be completed before officially contacting the property owners. Specific criteria must be met to remain eligible for FAA reimbursement and those guidelines are being carefully followed. Mr. Bridger has been available to meet with, and discuss the project with anyone who has contacted him. The project has been discussed at every Airport Commission meeting since August of 1996. After consultation with the Council, the Commission approved the second phase of the project on Wednesday, June 18. It is during this phase that the owners will be notifie~ of the scope of the project and meetings will be scheduled with the property owners to fully explain the program. ACSG was given a "Notice to Proceed" on June 20, 1997. Because of the complexity of the program, we have been very careful to proceed so as to be certain everyone is getting accurate information. To help accomplish this, all inquiries are being directed to Greg Bridger, City Attorney Dilkes or me. We have tried to take as much time as was needed to explain the program to everyone who has contacted us. There seems to be some confusion between the north commercial development project and the land acquisition project. Part of the Dyer property was identified in the Master Plan as being located in the Runway Protection Zone (RPZ) for Runway 24. When the Master Plan project was being conducted, Jerry Searle, from McClure Engineering, spoke with Irene Dyer concerning her property. She indicated that if some of her property was needed for a safety area, she would prefer the Airport purchased the entire parcel. The RPZs are designed for the protection of the people on the ground. Residential use in an area designated as a safety overrun area for a runway is obviously prohibited. The triplex owned by the Dyer family is in the RPZ and would be considered a hazard. The Airlane Motel is on the border. If it is feasible and practical, we will do what we can to allow them to preserve the motel business. It will depend on the exact location of the motel in relation to the RPZ and how it affects the safety of the entire project° The north commercial area is an entirely different project, unrelated to the Dyer property. If someone from the Wardway development group contacted Ms. Dyer, it had nothing to do with the Master Plan land acquisition project and they were not representing the Airport Commission. The Commission has not selected a method for developing the commercial property or a developer. An RFP is being developed and the Commission has been discussing the best way to advertise and develop the 54 acre site. Options include a Science Center and a new Public Works site. I talked to Commission Chairperson Pat Foster and he was surprised that Ms. Abrahamson interpreted their conversation the way she did. He was trying to give her information on the land acquisition project and she seemed to be confusing it with the commercial development project. The development of the commercial area has been on the Commission's public meetings agenda for the last several months. The Commission is fully aware of their obligations to the public in managing the Airport and they volunteer a tremendous amount of time to the Airport. The project is not on point with the situation identified in the memo concerning the Cedar Rapids Airport. The property to be acquired in the land acquisition project is for safety reasons. No structures will be allowed to be built in the RPZs. The land and easements are being purchased to protect the people on the ground and the approaches to the Airport, not for redevelopment purposes. I will discuss the Dyer property with Greg Bridger to make certain that all the owners receive notification when dealing with the property. We will make every effort to answer all Ms. Abrahamson's questions and to provide her with the correct information about the project. cc: Iowa City Airport Commission Eleanor Dilkes, Assistant City Attorney Robert P. Willis 3921 Columbia Des Moines IA 50313 ph. (515) 244-4380 June 10, 1997 Mayor and City Council members City of Iowa City 410 East Washington Iowa City IA 52240 Localized enterprise zones are another gimmick to justify spending tax dollars to offset high land prices for building sites and high taxes on buildings when, in fact, families actually pay the taxes which fund economic development fads while speculators reap the benefits of high land prices. Free-enterprise for all is the better way to encourage economic development. Make Iowa into a statewide enterprise zone in which landowners are forever accountable for economic development. To do that shift all property taxes onto land according to assessed location or site valuations. A perpetual statewide 100% tax abatement on buildings and other property improvements will leave families and businesses with more to spend while developers capitalize the added tax on land into lower land prices at land speculators expense. Billions more for families to spend in Iowa and billions saved with lower land prices will be a powerful incentive for economic development. The enclosed tables and chart show how. According to 1995 assessment and tax data (taxes payable 96/97) consolidated tax rates inlowa City would rise by a factor of 2.7, the aggregate tax on residential property rise by 28%, land taxes rise 6-fold on residential class lots and 4-fold on all other classes of lots. Still, with $12,760,974 more tax on commercial, industrial and utility (CIU) class land plus an estimated $3,869,000 more on vacant and rental residential class lots landowners have no choice but to invest in enterprises which earn enough to pay the added tax plus a fair return on investment. Such earnings are possible given $19,578,932, in aggregate, more cash re-circulating in theIowa City community with no improvement taxes for business to shif~ to workers and consumers. Other family savings are possible. First-off, tax rates will be less than shown. Most cities have infrastructure to permit development of vacant lots without spending more than otherwise to . upgrade streets, sewers, etc. Growth in taxable land values which follow tax cuts on buildings further lowers tax rates. And, with powerful incentives to encourage economic development, cities can end tax abatements, grants and loans and other such state and local economic development spending. When homes and businesses are built on idle lots inlowa City and railroads and utilities are encouraged to improve services while holding down costs families and businesses will pay less for transportation, utilities and goods. More entrepreneurial and job opportunities in more compact, family neighborhood oriented cities and towns should help to improve family stability, help steer our youth into productive lawful endeavors and give them reason to stay in their home community. In total the savings are beyond measure. It's your city's future! See over for a list of writings by economists and thinkers. Dr. William Vickery, who died October 1996 shortly after being awarded a Nobel Prize in economics, suggested to me. in 1988 to consider replacing minimum charges for sewer, water, solid waste collection and other utilities with a tax on land values in each city. PROGRESS AND POVERTY, 'An inquiry into the cause of industrial depression and of increase of want with increase ofwealth...The Remedy' by Henry George 1879; 1992 printing by Robert Schalkenbach Foundation 41 East 72na St. New York, NY (Most of the following books also available from the Schalkenbach foundation, many also available at the State Library) "Land Value Taxation" ed. Richard W. Lindholm and Arthur D. Lynn jr. 1982 The University of Wisconsin Press (see also the eleven other books published for the Committee on Taxation, Resources and Economic Development (TRED) by The University of Wisconsin Press) "Commons Without Tragedy" R.V. Andelson, editor, 1991 Shepheard-Walwin Ltd, 26 Charing Cross Road (Suite 34), London WC2H ODH; Also Barnes&Noble Books (Discusses practical applications of resource taxation to better allocafe and manage resources) "From Wasteland to Promised Land" by Robert V. Andelson and James M. Dawsey 1992 Shepheard-Walwin Ltd, also Orbis Books, Maryknoll NY 10545 (Reviews the ethical and theological basis for shifting taxes from wage and interest income to land rents) "The Corruption of Economics" Mason Gaffney & Fred Harrison, 1994 Shepheard-Walwin Ltd. (Exposes the fallacies used by economists to discredit land and resource taxation) "A Philosophy for a Fair Society" Michael Hudson, G. J. Miller & Kris Feder, 1994 Shepheard- Walwin Ltd (Covers historical applications and the philosophical basis of land value taxation.) "Land and Taxation" Nicolaus Tideman Ph.D. editor 1994 Shepheard-Walwin Ltd. (Outlines the broad view of resource tax applications) :' See also the 1993 Study of the Iowa Tax System by The Policy Economic~ Group, KPMG, Peat- Marwick for the Tax Fairness and Equity Study Committee, Iowa General Assembly available Legislative Services Bureau, Iowa Statehouse, Des Moines, IA 50319 This idea is too important to your city to deep-six now. Your leadership is vital to the future of your community! See your assessor for assessed land and improvement valuations by property class and numbers of vacant or under-developed lots and their valuations by property class in your city. See the county auditor for taxable valuations and consolidated tax rates. Have your city finance officer do the calculations for your city, including replacing minimum sewer, water, solid waste collection and other city utility charges. Turn the results over to your local press and to your state legislators. Let the people decide what is best for their community! It's Your Future The Earth is the Birthright of All Mankind Henry George (Progress and Poverty 1880) did not make the earth .... It is the value of the improvement only, and not the earth itself that i,~ individua/ property... [:¥ery proprietor owes to the community a ground rentJbr the land which he holds. "Tom Paine (173%1809) LOW TAXES ON LAND CAUSE POVERTY Iowa's 1.2 nilIlion families pay over $2.5 billion in land rent and billions more in higher land prices to the 250,000 individual and corporate landlords who control most of Iowa's land yet who pay less than $0.3 billion in land tax. According to KPMG Peat Marwick's 1993 Iowa Tax Study families also pay $4.56 billion in Iowa taxes; 82% of $2 bil. property tax, 97% of $1.3 bil. sales and use tax, 90% of $0.2 bil. corporate tax, 100% of $1.4 bil. personal income tax and 97.3% of road-use taxes. Given $7.0 billion less for families to spend and low taxes on land, landlords have no financial obligation to produce housing and places for business. Instead, they can profit more renting out ran-down properties or waiting for land prices to risc than from investing in l~ousing and businesses. Policies which favor rent-seeking and land speculation at the expense of families result in low wage jobs or no jobs,. high housing costs relative to income, few affordable places for start-up businesses, spending of tax dollars to induce big bnsincss to locate in Iowa, decline of urban centers, few opportunities for our youth, growth of tax-eating urban. sprawl, insnfficient funds for education hnd human needs and, finally, voter apathy which allows tax policies which encourage rent-seeking and speculfition not productive work. Globally, rent-seeking landowners deny to starving refitgees, the homeless, the unemployed, and working poor the universal birthright of access to place and sustenance yet richly reward the econonfists, bankers, lawyers and politicians who advise low taxes on land, high taxes on wages. DEFINITIONS: SOLUTION: COLLECT LAND RENTS, CUT TAXES Iowa can collect ground rents and cnt family taxes by raising taxes on taxable land valuations, taxing improvements (buildings) less, phasing out state sales tax and local user charges, raising Iowa income tax credits and abating tax increases for current but not future owners of farm land. This policy change can proxdde more. funds for public schools, public protection, public buildings, environment, health, welfare and transportation without raising taxes on families. With less ~ter-tax land-rent income and more for families to spend, landlords can satis .fy their own self-interests only by first satisfying worker and consumer self interests. According to KPMG's figures replacing state sales tax and local property.. taxes entirely with land taxes would save Iowa families $901, $2,150, and $3,855 on $15,000, $40,000, and $150,000 incomes for total family savings of $1.56 billion. Capitalized at 10% the $475 million aggregate added tax on commercial land would lower aggregate land prices by $4.75 billion. Developers can then invest billions in tax-free projects such as factories, neighborhood and downtown commercial dnd housing deyelopments in eve~ one of Iowa's cities. The improvements will increase supplies of housing and places for business and create more jobs and families will have income to ~n~e use of an increased supply of goods and services. Call it family driven economic growth. Fatal? A person or persons who occupy a single housing unit; families vary widely by income and occupation. Housing Unit: A house, an apartment or a single room used as separate living quarters. £andlords: Own land others use including all commercial, industrial and utility land and rented agricultural and residential. I,l,~c~lt]?: Product of land, labor and capital; Dislribution of wealth: rent to land, wages to labor, interest to capital. Land: (exclusive of buildings and improvements) Farm fields and grazing lands; residential, commercial, industrial and utili .ty lots; and utili .ty, street. highway and railroad rights-of-way; rivers, flood plains, lakes, wetlands, forests,etc.; Taxes: All taxes, except that on land and its resources, take property (income) from families. Land value taxes: taxes Ievied against the location value of land exclusive of improvement valuations take only the land rents, exclusive of rents charged for use of buildings, that landlords take from families! cannot be shifted to consumers since idle land has no cash flow and most developed properties will pay less total tax! t'.'conontic ()rowth: that which includes and sustains the property rights of more and more freely participating individuals. Proper(v rights: the natural right to ownership of one's own self, one's place on earth and what each has produced. Cities: incorporated self-managing urban settlements. 7bwnships: unincorporated rural settlements administered by county governments at the expense of city taxpayers. TAX REFORM FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN IOWA REQUIRED LEGISLATION: cut Taxes Families and Businesses Pay; Increase Taxes Land Speculators Pay: · Rcpcal current rollbacks of taxable land valuations. · Reduce taxable residential improvement valuations 10% each year, other classes of improvements 20% each year. · Allow local governments to raise property tax rates. · Assess utility and railroad property according to land, casement and franchise values, not capital values! · Cut sales tax back to 4% in 1998, 3% in '00,2% in '02! · Raise income tax credits, repeal property tax credits. · Fund pub}ic school aid with state land-value tax levies. · Exempt up to $50,000 taxable agricultural land valuation per current (not future) owner from state land tax. · Permit cities and schools to replace minimum user charges by levy. ing higher taxes on land valuations. · Increase cities share state road use htnds, cut township (county) roads and state highways share. RESULTS: Families pay less in taxes, user charges, other costs! 2. High tax no cash flow on idle lots! 3. High city tax on land capitalizes into lower lot prices! 4. Properties are improved tax free to increase earnings. 5. Incentive to i~nprove lots greatest in high tax cities, least in townships where land values and tax rates are lower. 6. Increased business, job and housing growth in cities.' 7. Less government spending o~ economic development. 8. Less low-labor, capital intensive, mono-crop farming. 9. In-fill development in cities, less on rural lands, and more sustainable farming will protect the environment. 10. More compact cities and tax incentives to upgrade rail service will cut transportation costs, save fossil fuels. Tax Incidence: Revenue neutral land value taxes entirely replace sales and property taxes i~ Iowa! RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY __k__and Incomes Sales Tax Value Tax 10 - ,20K 7.10% 2.63% 20 - 30K 6.01% 2.1-3% -- 50 4.89% 1.75% 75 - 100K 4.26% 1.54% 100 - 200K 3.85% 1.28% Over 200K 2.05% 0.55% Data sources: KPMG, Peat-Marwick 1993 _. Average Tax Cut Tax Cut 4.47% $ 670 3.88% $ 970 3.46% $ 1,3~4 3.14% $ 2,120 2.72% $ 2,380 2.57% $ 3,855 1.50% $ 3,750 FAMILY FARMERS Property & Land A_v~-r _ag_e Sales Tax Value Tax Tax Cut Tax Cut 5.40% 3.77% 1.63% $ 245 4.44% 2.28% 2.14% $ 535 3.~-~,% 1.79% 1.94% $ 776 3.27% 1.3,~% 1.92% $ 1,296 2.~7% 1.28% 1.49% $ 1,300 2.63% 1.13% 1.50% $ 2,250 1.54% 0.68% 0.86% $ 2,150 Depts. of Revenue & Management. Iowa Tax Study; also Iowa .'7 Robert P. Willis 3921 Columbia Des Moines, IA 50313 TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES; IMPROVE CITIES AND TOWNS: MAKE LANDLORDS ACCOUNTABLE FOR URBAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT! Tax urban lots at 100% assessed valuation (repeal current rollback legislation) · Assess urban land at fair market value plus capitalized amount of current tax on land. · Phase-out taxable improvement valuations within six years for 100% tax abatement on improvements! · Allow property tax rates to rise only to maintain current revenues. RESULTS: 1. Create incentives to build more housing and more places for business in each city and townl Low land prices from capitalization of 4 to 6-fold tax increases on idle lots, less land speculation. Permanent 100% tax abatement on all improvements increases earnings and re-sale values. High value idle building sites have high earnings potential from investment in improvements. 2. Tax cuts for most households and businesses! Less tax on business, less tax for business to shift to consumers and workers. Most tax increases will be on idle, underdeveloped or poorly maintained properties. Rising land value assessments with better market in commercial and industrial lots will lower tax rates! 3. No loss in tax revenues, more opportunities to cut government spendingl Higher tax rates offset loss of taxable improvement valuations. Developing idle urban lots avoids public and private spending for new and expanded infrastructure. No need for financial aids to business with permanent tax abatements, lower land prices, better markets. Families will need less aid when they can let better jobs and have affordable housing. TOTAL CONSOLIDATED PROPERTY TA~ Cedar Rapids, Davenpod, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Sioux City, Waterloo, Council Bluffs I Rollbacl( Percentages" I RESIDENTIAL CLASS PROPERLY OTHER PROPERTY WITHIN CITIES Lots Dwellings Other Resi. lots Resi. imprvmts Otherlots I Other imprvmts Total Levies ~urrent (see below)*** FY1997 $ 56,614,730 $ 251,031,053 $ 65,572,604 $ 277,063,195 $ 650,281,581 100% 45% 90% FY1998 $ 118,823,111 $ 186,995,291 $ 95,466,906 $ 248,996,274 $ 650,281,581 100% 35% 70% FY1999 $ 139,456,252 $ 170,994,358 $ 112,139,664 $ 227,691,307 $ 650,281,581 100% 25% 50% FY2000 $ 168,811,239-$ 148,210,979 $ 135,905,372 $ 197,353,991 $ 650,281,581 100% 15% 30% FY2001 $ 213,961,368 $ 113,126,957 $ 172,558,024 $ 150,635,232 $ 650,281,581 ~00% 5% 10% FY2002 $ 292,617,734 $ 51,892,455 $ 236,678,108 $ 69,093,284 $ 650,281,581 ~100% 0% 0% FY2003 $ 359,136,863 $ $ 291,144,719 $ - $ 650,281,681 Jan. l, 1995100%assessedvaluations**--> $ 2,623,242,755 $ 11,602,033,~94 $ 1,$23,594,044 $ 7,686,008,109 $ 23,734,878,503 *Percentage of assessed valuations sub~ct to tax, taxes calculated by including 8% capitalized amount of 1997 tax on land in land valuations. ~*20% of utility valuations here assumed to be lot or land valuation; 80% improvement valuation. I I ~*'1995 rollbacks (F¥1997 tax) are 59.318% residential lots and dwellings, 97.2824% commercial lots and buildings, ~00% all other property classes. Tax shift from buildings to lots: cities 54,000 to 194,000 $700,000,000 i. $600,000,000 $500,000,000 - $400,000,000 .. $300,000,000 i: $200,000,000 : $100,000,000 4. $- FY1997 FY1998 FY1999 FY2000 FY2001 FY2002 FY2003 [] Other imprvmts [] Other lots [] Resi. imprvmts [] Resi. lot{ CITY CONSOLIDATED TAXESi CURRENT vs LOTS @ 100%, DECLINING ROLLBACKS ON I~OVE~ENT VALUATIONS CI~ & rollback ~ercent*l i Consol. ~RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ALL OTHER PROPERTY Year I imp~ov~'~{s'l L&tsl ~ TAX RAte ~ Land i lm~ovem~{s Land }'improvements- Total levies CEDAR ~PIDS - ' ~**1'00% VALU~ $' 476,903,604 ~ $ 2,395~769,594 ' $ 382,002,531 ~ $- ~,80~5,~ ~ .... ~0~'2~:~'4- 1997 (seebeJ~w)*** ~ 3.171%~ $ 8970~9~ $ 45,066~370 '$ 11'881 ~3 $' '56,311,209 $' i998 Re~50th~0 10~-[' 3.201%~ $ 18,852,400'~ $ ' 34~504,769! $ 1-6~979,657 ~$ 51,89-3,6~2-~$---~-2-~5~,46~- 1999 ~es~---~t'h~o i0~ ~ ' ~9~% ~'$ ' 2~,~65,5'18 ' $ ' 3~838,~8~ ~ ~ '2b-~'3,Y9-J-F~' '- 2000 R~S2~' o{~'rsb-' ~bo - 4.667%: $' 27 487;837 ~ $- "-~:99~,9{8 / $' -24,75~,2~g-~ $ '-~ ~5;~-~?-"~-~ 200i Aes~ ~ ~{~'F~u i'o'0 ....... 6.o~3%~ $ ' 35;~5~'~6-¥~ $- "~i,7~1;~-6 ?"~-'-~i-~'~y~-~ $ ~,~'~5'7'~' ~---~2~7 2002 Res-~---O~h~b-- ~bb ..... 8:61~%~ $- 50~720;7i9 ? $-'-J0,~i~67~"~- ~5~682;2~['~ ~5,512;~b'8" 2003 Res~ b~-~0b- i'b~-' ~0~-i~~ ~ ~;3~;'3~-']"~ .......... : - '$--'~2i-~d7~ '~ ..... ~ ....~ ~,~30~ 1997;(seebelow)** 3.453% $ 9,343,691 $ 28,077,265 $ 9,320,927 $ 30,786,803 $ 77,528,686 i998 R~5~h-r~d-~'00 3.~34% $ i'8;53i-~7~ $-1~9'5~T1~- ~ ~'2~6~3,79~,"~---~-3~¥~5~ ~99~-"A~835 Othr70 100 .... ~:'~'93~~ ~-,369,08~ ~ ~-~3,~'~"~,614,~ ~6~f:9~-'$ 2000 R~5 -Oth~5~--~ 4:40~% $ 2B:~',~0¥' $ ..... i-~,b~{:~ $ ~ 17,256~ ~$- ~9,948,48~ $ 77,528,686 200~ A&~50t~3~'-~ 5:375% $ ~0:80b;~9~ ~--~ ~"~TO~;~ ~ ~1;~64,403 ~$"-~'$~574~¥-S-~7,~2a, 686 -1~97~¥b-58~)~ ........... '~ .......4;213¥;'i $ ....15876;982:=$ -" 7~2,793 ~---2b~0~7;186-~ $ ~998 Aes~5'"--~"o ~00'-'~ ..... ~1%~$ - 34;192~87~-~ ~4,04~ --~--'30',~i~'~---79,8~82%~$ 1999 A~ '0~¥~--~-' 4.825~-~ ~0~22~;407 $ 49;~5~;8~ -~'--'"~E~-~,8~6~--73~'b6~5~3 ~$ 198,315,695 ~000- R~-O~0"- ~-~0 ..... 5.859%' $ 48,85~,37~ $ 42,900,240 -~' -~3,~i~8A~--~$-- ~'3,~?~,~ $ 198,315,695 2~0-~ Res~_..Othr~b~Y~0--_ "_ 7.~?~ $ ~2~;56~ ~ 32,?~.~86~- ~ .~4~7~;~ ~ ~-~3~6-'?~ --~8,315,695 2002 Res 50thrl0 100 10.255% $ 85,509,174 $ 15,018,469 $ 75,602,765 $ 22,185,286 ~ 198,315,695 200~ ~es00 Oth~0 ~-~.~4~'-~-105,254,839 $ Y-- $ 93,060,856 $ 198,315,695 DUBUQU~ ...... IO0~ VA~'O .... $ ' ~76,~' $ ~,~59,05~¥~--$ 108,193,477 $ 499,565,115 $ 1,843,168,7~ 19~7~ (see b~i~~ ....... 3.086% ~ ' 3,2~?~8-~-~ - ~ ~,~3,~5 ~ ~' ~,27b,~13-?~--~-~-2'~;6-~ ¢ ~9~ 1908- R~'"S4~ bthr90 ~0 ....... ~?'A~} ..... 6;~;~? ~ $ ' 1'5,{27,4'i'~"~ ~ -~,?~76~ ':$ '14,27~ ~-~ ~999 Aes~ O~h~0 '~ - '3;~?~'/'~' ~,fsZ~'5'~ ~ ....l~;~,~b ~ 5~A8 4~0: ~- -~Eo~;~E 2000 ~2~--~h~ ~0- ~ -~j'~ ~,09~70 '-~--"¥2-~,~-~-~ .... ~44~~ ~----i~';~35~- $ 41,009,193 2bb'~' Res 50thrl0 100 8.750Ai $ '~,~-f~5""'~' '4;6~,~{~-~"~-- 1~;043,~-?'~--$ --~,~7'i'~'~'4~-~--~ 2003 Res00 Oth~0 100 11.212~j $ 24,295964: $ - : $ 16,713,229~$ - / $ 41,009,193 1997', (~¥~'e~)~ .......... ~.d~ ~-- ~,653';~3~" $'-'-~8~??:5-~-~ $- .... ~;~79~2~-; '~- ~,'~7~;~-~--- 1998 Res45 Oth~0 100 ..... 2.~% ~ -~ ~ ,30{;5~' ~-~-- ~ 3~0;~6¥ ~--~-- '-6~4~; ~-{?,~6-~,~ 1999~-~¢d--{b¥-'~ ~75~ $ 13,177,553 ' $ -l~,~'?~b'~'-[ $ --?~265;'82~ '-~ 15,~4~,~Y'-~ ~000-Res~-~t~0 100- ..... 4.i67~ ~--'15;~b0,~ ~--~;78'g;'?~-F~ -8~,97~-'~--~3,488,~-' ~- 48~89~ 2001 Rest50thr30 100 5.202% $ 19,726,621 $ 8,081,841;$ 10,876,846 $ 10,103,820 $ 48,789,129 2~02 R~S 50thrl0 100 ~.~¥; ~ 26,~9,~3~- ~-- ~;~8~,~T~ -~473,38~-;~--- ~;~- ~ ~8,7~ 2063 Res00"~th~0~ 100 -8.294% $ 31~44~6-~$ ...... ; ~$'~7,340,25~-~$ .... : ....~-- 48,7~,-~ SIOUX CiW ........ ~a~- E~O--'~--- 2~5;' 4-~;~87~$'-- ~,2~: ~9~--~ ..... ~ ~ 794, oo6' :'~ .....~89; ~4,82~-' '~-~ 2,~3~: 8~0,380 1997;{~e-sp]ow?~_ -~T~: 3.'?~9'¥; $ 5,209,071 $ 27,520,824 $ 6,056,161 $ 21,594,010~$ 60,380,066 1998 Res45 Oth~0 100 ~:~-~$ 11 ii~'~-~ ..... ~:709,3/i-~$- ~:9~2,555 ~-$ 1999 'Re~-O~h~?~'-~'00 I 4.344% $- 13;057:~-'.-~---~8:~1~,6~ $ -i0;~89,442 ~$' 17;9~8:~2 ~-~ 2000 Re~'--b~)~0~'- '~ - -5:260~/;: S" i5:8i32~6"'$ ..... ~:3~2,3~'~' $ -~703,59A '-~ ' ~,~,'~'~ 2002 Res 5' b~h~-0-'~'--[- - ~.~b4~[-~'- 27,366~581-'. ~--- 5,663,351' ~$ ~',~84,946 :~$ ~,365,188 ~ .... 60,38~:~ 2d03 Res~ ~d-ib~' ! ¥~:'i'~8% [~ - 3~'~5~$ ......... 7 - , $ 26;897:901 ~ ' WATERLOO '100% VALU i $ 202,679,820 $ 828,023,750 $ 142,979,366 ' $ 596,842,230 ~ $ 1,770,525,166 1997 (se~ beJSw~~ ............ ~-~3~5°~;~ $ 5~2~'~7~- ~- ~ ~9~ 088 F $ 6,080,744'"$ 2~,52~;¥~-~-$ -58,104:55~ i998- ~S45 bth~d-~-i ' -g7i60o/;-$' ' ~1 142;~ ~E~2,41d: $'~¢:~10;9¢0 ~ -22,34~;~76 ~999 Res35 -'Of~70 ~00 ~ "~:865O/o'. $ 13,~2~:84~ ~ i~709&3~0 ~ ~-"iE653,i53'7~-" 2073~4,~- 2o00 ~S2~-~{~5~ ' '~78E6% 7 $' 15,683:50~ ':-¢'" 1Z122,0dg'? ~8~3,YSE~- ~,47~:~8 200i' REs~5-'b~-o ~0~ [ ' --7.~% ~ $ i9,6~:¢84 "$ - '9 ~34,3~3 T$ i6, i05,22¢'-~13,~e~',~7 2062 R~s 50thrl0 100 9.883% ~$ '2~,~?~,225 ~ $ ....~,0~':~i ~'$ -'2~;~4376~-' $~ ~T~;~8~ 2003 Res0~-~th~O~---{0~'--~ -~i:~8°~$- 31 96d697'~'$ ...... - ......~-~6:~7,854':$ ..... : ....,~ ....~,'104,551 19~7';'(~e~ bel~'~ ......... ,: ......~.~4~; F~ -3' ~-~¥:3~-¢-'; ~ .....1Y:82i;~?~ :'-$ ~,346,25¥T ~' '18,9~:685 1998 Re~'4~'-"O~A'~0-~b~ ........ 57~8~%; ~ .... 6,Sb4;b62-: ~'"-'~5;2~0',2'96'~'-$" -~:~757139 ;'$ i~;2-8~,~9~ "~ ---~23:795 1999 Res35 Othr70 100 i 4.713Yo $ 8,047,700 $ 12198663; $ 7,776934. $ 15,900,499 $ 43,923,795 2O00 'Res2~-~iR¢5~ ~ ......... 5:7~7o/;;-~' - 9,84Y;~3~: ~' '~b 662:i42 'f $- ' ~,5'16;3~ ~ $'-- i~:8~77~3- 200i R~ O~r~¢¥db ..... ~.~'8~/;:~ -~2,~8~',~7¥7 $- ~:2A~:~O~ :-'$ ~-2,2~7,898 $ 10,740,922; $ 43,923,795 2002 R~%~--Si~2~-1~d .... ~d.~'4g-~ ~:817;888"-$ ~:858':524:'$ .~772i8740~-'$-- 8Td2~'~'~---~'~7923,795 2003-"Aesbb~{~0o 1~ .... %3.~°~ ..... ~2,33~,674' ~ -'7- ':'~' 21,586;i21 -~ - *P~ment~e bf~se~ ~l~ati~bj~t t~ tax, ~ Cal~uyated ~ i~¢~ 8% ~a~ii~/iz~ a~&un[~ ~997 ta~ ~¢/~[a~d'v?~?io~&: **~0% Of~til[~ ~a~ations here assumed tSb~'15i~Fa~ ValuatiO~'9~5~eht ~al~fi~n:' - *"i995 70115~¥(~9'7-ta2)'ar~5~8% ~S~tTal-iSts'and dwellings: ¢7:~8~% c~mmerciai lois and b~ildin~s, i00% all ot~i~r~pe~l~sse~. Page 2 June 23, 1997 To: The Editor, JUN ,5 1997 Iowa City Press Citizen CIT~ MA;U ER'$ OFFICE Iowa City City Council and Johnson County Board of Supervisors From: M. Kathryn Wallace 23 Eastview Place NE; Iowa City, IA 52240 Phone: 351 -I 109 Re: Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center There is a difference between passive aging and successful aging. For successful aging there must be a conscious choice with commitment to continuing self-education and the development of a whole set of life strategies. In her book, New Passages, Gail Sheehy aptly names successful aging as "Saging". The Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center is a place that promotes saging to a large number of individuals in our greater community. Recent articles in the Press Citizen talked about the number of people who are not using the Center. I want the public to be aware of the many individuals who use the Center on a regular basis and would find a big hole in their lives if our vital Center was not available. In Fiscal 96 the average number of visits was 4,127 per month with a monthly average of '1,051 class or program enrollments. Total visits in FY 96 was 50,000 with a yearly total of class or program enrollments of 12,607. Last week I attended a program on Mastering Adversity: Making Friends with Change. Also attending was an individual who needed signing which was provided by the Center. Concurrently, upstairs were classes in sign language, painting, bridge and oral interperation of literature. Others were exercising, reading or just smoozing. Each day offers an interesting variety of opportunities. We still have ageism in our society and the Senior Center has a challenge to educate the public, particularly those in their forties and fifties, about the realities of Saging. As chair of the Senior Center Commission, I know the thoughtful planning taking place to meet the needs of the current population of seniors and to attract and meet the needs of those upcoming. Diversity is what is needed and offered. The staff is dedicated'and the spirit of involvement from participants makes our Center an asset to our community and a positive place to be. In life we need Activity, Diversity and Connection with Others. The Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center provides all. I invite citizens to come to the Saging Place. M. Kathryn Wallace~ Gerontologist; Chair, Senior Center Commission L JUN 2 ,~ 1997 CITY MANAGER'S OFFIC[ Nayor & City Council City of Iowa City Civic Center Iowa C~ty, IA. JUN2 5 1997 CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE Dear Mayor and Council, Please find attached extract for the 22 June issue of the Cedar Rapids Gazette covering the ever growing .oroblem of noise which the City of Iowa C~ty is ~lessed with it's share and more. The extreme volume of the "boom boom" radios in passing and nearby vehicles along Taylor Drive is getting to be a very disturbing factor to the residence that live along Taylor as well as around Iowa City. It is a real shame when citizens are unable to enjoy some sense of peace and. quiet in their own homes. The very very lou~ vibrating excuse for music that overrides even the television can and probably will enduce physical confrontations in the neighorhoods if this is nbt controled. The city should address this problem before it reaches this state. I have on file letters sddressed to past councils dated as far as 19~? asking for some control of vehilces with missing mufflers and/or ~ollywood type mufflers but to no avail, this too should be addressed. Thank youl William E/ Fi .sober Lt. Col. USA (ret) 1203 Tracy Ln. Iowa City, IA 522~0 Juno 15, 1997 City Council member Dear Sir or Madam, 611 River St. Iowa City, IA 52246 JUN 1 7 1997 CITY MANAGER'S I am a thirteen-year-old boy who loves to skate. And that's a real big problem for me, because there is no-where, I repeat no- where to aggressive skate. This new ordnance that has come up has banned all skaters from skating on any park street or anything else downtown, all skating downtown has been banner[ This as you may understand doesn't make the thousands of Iowa City aggressive skaters happy, we have nowhere to skate. I myself have been told not to rerum to the downtown area a couple times, and so has everybody else Itmt enjoys skating. You can't just band skating and expect us to all give up, I say this because once you like it you cant stop, and I see people skating downtown everyday. Yea we can skate in are neighborhoods and such but that is not fun for anyone. Or you could lay out a parking lot or two and say we could skate there at given hours but that too is boring. So now rm coming to my point. Why not build a skate park for all skaters to come to in the downtown are~ I can only think of benefits that this new skate park would bring; here's afew: 1. All the skaters would be out of the restricted areas. 2. All the skaters would be happy with the new skate park. 3. All the pedestrians would be happy to get the skaters out of their way. 4. Very low cost seeing as how all you neexl is ramps, rails, curbs and other lrick neexis. 5. It's so easy and it makes every person no matter who you are happy. So at least consider my idea, and consider the fact that you have a lot of other skaters pushing for this park and we are not going to be very happy if it's not done. It's like telling a fisherman he can't use the river any more, because there is nowhere else to skate except downtown. If this simple park is not built you will have a hard time keeping skaters out of the downtown are~ I don't ~ many will skate only on the sidewalks, which is what the new ordnance is implying. I hope this letter doesn't sound rude to you. But with this skate park only having benefits and no downfalls I don't see how you can say no. This is your only hope to get us out of the mfiversity property and it may even get kids started on a new hobby, which is always good. Please take this in and don't brush it aside We had 100 signatures on a petidon just from my school alone to get this done. I would hope you make the fight decision all you have to do is think and it makes sense. Sincerely, Austin Winniford ARW date JUN 3 3 1997 CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE Iowa City City Council 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Members: We wish to express our displeasure to the City Council regarding the temporary sidewalk along Sycamore Street from Bums Avenue to Lakeside Drive for the following reasons: 1. As property owners alongside the sidewalk, we were never informed what was going on until Saturday, June 14, by mail, after the work had been completed. Thus, we were denied input in the outcome. 2. As taxpayers, we would like to know the cost of this temporary sidewalk and how auticipated use was determined and some of the decision-making processes that gave this project the go ahead. We question the cost effectiveness of such a temporary project. 3. We have been told we will be responsible to maintain this sidewalk. However, it was placed so near to the street that once it has beeu cleared, we believe the road graders will fill it up again. We have no means of even getting to the walk to clear it to begin with since it will be behind our property lines, fences, trees, etc. We ask, therefore, that the city assume responsibility for maintenance. In the fi~ture, we hope such projects are not approved before all ramifications are realized and that all persons affected are informed. name address Iowa City Council Members, The installation of the sidewalk down Sycamore Street is a great improvement and should be extended all the way down. Because of more housing developments, the traffic has increased greatly. It is no longer safe to walk on the side of the road, not even single file. Because the road is so dangerous it prevents many residents from walking or riding bike to the mall or school or from pleasure walking like they do down Scott boulevard.. Please consider extending the sidewalk. Thank you. Lorna Dykstra 1803 Grantwood Drive JUN 1 7 ]997 ,~ CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: June 24, 1997 To: From: City Clerk Doug Ripley, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner Re: Designation of One Additional Metered Space on the South Side of 300 College 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 July 16, 1997. Action Pursuant to Section 9-1-3(A)17 of the City Code, one metered parking space will be installed on the south side of 300 College Street to the west of metered space #C115. Comment This action is being taken to utilize additional parking area created by the redevelopment of the old library lot. The ingress/egress into the former parking lot has been narrowed to a single service lane entrance. There is enough additional curb space to provide one additional metered space. This space will operate with a two-hour meter in accordance with other meters along this block. jw/mem/300coll.doc June 17, 1997 CITY OF I0 WA CITY TO: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council RE: Civil Service Entrance Examination - KENNEL ASSISTANT 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 Kennel Assistant. Amanda Cardenas Hired: 6/25/97 IOWA CITY CIVIL SERVICE COMMI S S M~ael W. Kennedy, Chair ATTEST: City Clerk 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY. IOWA $2240-1826 · {319) 356-5000 · FAX (319) 356-5009 June 4, 1997 CITY OF I0 WA CITY TO: RE: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council Civil Service Entrance Examination - COM/~YNITY SERVICE OFFICER 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 Community Service Officer. Linda Barnhart Hired: 6/2/97 zowa czr~ c~w~, CO~SS~ON// Michael W. Ken~y, SERVICE Chair ATTEST: an Karr, City Clerk 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA $2240-1826 · (319) 356-$000 · FAX (319) 356-$009