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Home My WebLink About1997-12-09 Correspondence C_qC Co . d o[ Representing 21 Iowa City Neighborhood Associations Steve & Jan Locher G~ ~ood Chuck and Margaret Falling Jack and Michaelan~e ~dness Barbara Buss Steve and Barbara van der Woude Lucy Choisser Jori 8ergmon Steve Rohrboch Pau~ & Sharon McDonald November 14, 1997 Iowa City City Council Civic Center 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Dear Council Members: The Neighborhood Council of Iowa City supports the concept of open space to help maintain the integrity of neighborhoods. We appreciate the current acceptance of fees in lieu of open space as practical for small construction additions. However, when many small subdivisions make up a developing area, the result is loss of small neighborhoods parks. An example of two neighborhoods in need of the open space is the Miller Orchard and Harlock Weebet neighborhoods. There is a large amount of undeveloped land between these two neighborhood where parkland can ideally be situated. Preplanning of designated park space needs to be done now. Otherwise, developers can submit smaller areas and donations to avoid using land for a park. William and Barbara Buss have previously suggested solutions for park and trails. I have included a copy of their letter. The Neighborhood Council requests that you keep this information in mind when reviewing proposals for new development. Sincerely, Ty'n Cae Neighborhood Association Neighborhood Council of Iowa City cc: Planning and Zoning Commission 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240-1826 ATTN: Mercia Klingamon Park and Recreation Commission Karin Franklin, Director of Planning and Community Development Neighborhood Services Coordinator (319) 356-5237 BIG BLOCK PARK; A CONCEPT: May 29, 1996 This is a brief summary of our suggestion for a public park to be developed in the area bordered by Benton St., Miller Ave., Route 1, and Weebet St., which we will call the "Big Block." 1. The Iowa City Neighborhood Open Space Plan (1993) provides that the residential area which includes the Big Block and which extends from Orchard Street to Weebet Street, has an open space deficit of 7.35 acres. The Big Block is the only area of undeveloped land available for redressing this deficit. 2. Within the Big Block we envision a public park ("Big Block Park") consisting of recreational and wooded areas joined by trails. This park would be established primarily for the use of residents who live in the Miller-Orchard and Weeber- Harlocke neighborhoods, and in the residential buildings that will be built in the now undeveloped areas of the Big Block. 3. A rough plan for such a park was proposed by the Subcommittee for the Implementation of the Neighborhood Open Space Plan of the Parks and Recreation Commission in 1995 (n~p ?ttach~d). We support this concept. 4. The land for the park and trails would be provided by contributions of developers meeting (and perhaps voluntarily exceeding) their legal obligation under the governing Iowa City open space ordinance, by funds provided by the City, and by contributions of landowners in the area. (We have already indicated our intention of contributing some of our land to such a project.) WE BELIEVE THAT, WITH PLANNING, RESIDENTIAL HOUSING CAN BE DEVELOPED AROUND BIG BLOCK PARK IN A MANNER THAT PRESERVES SOME OF THE AREA'S SENSITIVE AND ATTRACTIVE WOODED SLOPES AND 1S APPROPRIATE TO ITS LOCATION. THE ABOVE PLAN, THEREFORE, IS PREDICATED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE BIG BLOCK WILL BE DEVELOPED CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESENT RS-8 ZONING AT ITS EAST END, AND THE PROPOSED RS-5 ZONING AT ITS WEST END. WE SUPPORT THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT AS A MEANS OF ADDRESSING IOWA CITY'S NEED FOR HOUSING AFFORDABLE TO YOUNG FAMILIES. WITH AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THIS PROPERTY AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION READILY AVAILABLE, DEVELOPING THE BIG BLOCK CONSISTENT WITH THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH BRACKET IT WOULD SEEM A WISE USE OF THIS LAND. WE BELIEVE THAT A PARK SUCH AS THE ONEWE HAVE PROPOSED HERE WILL ENHANCE THE VALUE OF WHAT IS BUILT TO RESIDENTS AND DEVELOPERS ALIKE. William and Barbara Buss 747 West Benton Street iowa City, IA 52246 eegate strikes the Pedesman Mall ~he li_p-smack!ng,of'po, li~tical , ...;~,....~ ...... ,. .......~....,.. what, reli,~on, sexua), ori~e, nt.a?on, - [ pundits can oe neara from Are rne ~ownrown ~ssoc~- or cmor. it one sees rne tmnstmas -~- quite a distance as the Iowa t,t~4n., t,,,,4 t1~o ~1~ t~,~4~n! season in a holy light, that is great. City Councfl goes where others fear 7Z,~,'L,_~'7..~2L~2~7~.~2~ tt' you do not, that's great, too. to tread -- and for good reason. ~t~ l~c.~y ~ ~rcc '~'~ ~c What is it with this overdevel- City Councilor Karen Kabby and Pedestrian Mall 'with real- oped sense of political correctness? our esteemed Mayor Novick oppose ice or are they merely Everything we do as individuals, tic .ot it- 4a(2} readers the placement of a holiday tree in o the Pedestrian Mall for the holiday season. The tree is suppesed to go e up on Thursday, Nov. 20th. if Can you say 11th hour? d It was not too long ago that Iowa ~' City gained a certain amount of infamy with its Halloween procla- ~e mations. It was suggested to ele- ~e mentary students that they not :P wear costumes of witches, old peo- ~t, ple, and hobos, among others. "The ~g McLaughlin Group" even had a ~d segment that was less than kind concerning political correctness in ~t Iowa City. ~t. Apparently no lesson has been q. learned. Why oppose a "holiday tree"? A · e tree is still just a tree, no matter ut what personal significanc,~ one may ~n put on it. A Christian walks by and says "nice Christmas tre, f a prag- matic agnostic walks by and says "nice tree." However, a liberal communities or even cities is not trying to boost the spirit going to be palatable to everyone. of the holidays (and pos- sibly sales) by beautify- ing the area? always, on the look out for some- thing to complain about sees Chris- tian hegemony. KulJby also con- tends, incorrectly, that no other community groups have a~:cess to the fountain. According to Dale Helling, assistant city manager, any citizen may file an application for use of public space. Here's th~ real question: Are the Downtown Association and the Old Capitol Mall placing a tree in the Pedestrian Mall with malice or are they merely trying to boost the spirit of the holidays (and possibly sales) by beautifying the area? The holidays are a time of kinship and love for your fellow man, no matter If someone burns a cross in the yard of a black family, that is a call fi~r outrage. There is certainly mal- ice in that particular symbolic ges- t~are -- but a tree in the Pedestrian Mall? If a banal tree with lights on it in Iowa City offends someone, let's hope that person never ventures to F, ockefeller Plaza in December. That person might drop dead as they gaze upon a monstrous tree in a city that is, conservatively stated, diverse. We 'are one of the most educated cities in the country, yet we bring scorn and ridicule to our fair city with ridiculous episodes such as the current "Treegate." ' The next election cannot come soon enough. griston Beardsley i~ an editorial writer and a UI graduate student. tO x ence patti of ~ "Elh WOIT the 1 W DeC bun( the seen ques cont epis, MT~ judg tray the ~ time sire~ J~ TI roul Cau: the ~ pera way corn only now NB( situ equi goin ~ W logi~ the sound alternative university of iowa November 16, 1997 Io~va City City Council Civic Center 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 KRUI-89.7fm 129 Grand Ave. Ct. Iowa City, IA 52242 3191335-9525 krui@uiowa.edu girl, M'{N,{EElt,$ OFFICE Dear City Council Members, Greetings! This letter is to inform you about opportunities at one of Iowa City's largest student medium, KRUI! This past semester the news department at KRUI has produced a show called "Face Off" where students, community members, politicians, and guests debate tough local, state, and national issues. The show runs from 10-11 on Thursday mornings and has a large and growing audience. Topics on this show have ranged from campaign finance reform and capital punishment to loitering in the pedestrian mall and the legalization of marijuana. Most current news topics are up for debate. We want you to be apart of Face-Off's panel of guests! We would like to hear your opinions and views, and also give you a chance to promote your organization on the radio! Please take a moment to fill out the attached survey and send it through campus mail or to KRUI at the address above. We strongly feel this is one of the best ways to reach out to students that might be interested in supporting your organization, and keep students informed on important issuses. As co-hosts of Face-Off we look forward to hearing from you and hope to see you on the show soon! Please feel free to give us a call at 335-9525 if you have any questions! Thank you! '/¥' '~Forrest '/~//~"KRUI Administrative Director Shelly Anstey KRUI News Director 1o'l KRUI's Name of Organization Contact Person Organization Address and Phone FACE-OFF (335-9525) Names and Phone numbers of interested members (need to be able to appear on the show from 9:45 to 11 AM on Thursday mornings, except during University breaks). Also list topics you specialize in Name Phone Topics/Area of interest Please explain in a few sentences about your organization and ~me activities, events you are involved in. Please list areas of interest or show topics that you might be interested in doing. Are you interested in becoming apart of the Face-Off staff? (This would include a weekly meeting to help plan shows and organize guests) Yes No If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 335-9525! Allison McNeese 618 E. Fairchild Iowa City, Iowa 52245 November 10, 1997 City Council of Iowa City 410 E. Washington Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Dear Members of the Iowa City Council, I am opposed to the plan currently under consideration that would involve the paving of a "spine" trail through the middle of Hickory Hill Park. For the past several years I have spent at least an hour every day walking through this park in virtually all kinds of weather, and I have come to appreciate the park's uniqueness as a respite from the stress of everyday life. Frankly, I've never seen a city park quite like Hickory Hill. Although there are any number of parks where a more "manicured" approach to enjoying nature seems perfectly appropriate, this park allows its users to experience fields and forest in a way that makes it hard to believe that it is still within the city limits. It seems to me that there are ample places for bicyclists and skaters to race through elsewhere, but there is absolutely nowhere else in the city that this kind of pure nature environment is even possible. It makes me wonder if those who have planned asphalting such an area have ever walked the trails and fields of Hickory Hill. Please do not allow this unique space to be mined. Sinqerely, / . Allison McNeese Copies to City Manager Steve Atkins and Parks and Recreation Commissioner Terry Treeblood 'q. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: To: From: Re: December 2, 1997 City Clerk Doug Ripley, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner ~,~ Lane designation at intersection of Iowa Avenue and Madison 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 December 17, 1997. Action Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(8) of the City Code, signage will be installed designating the southbound, right lane of Madison Street as "Right Lane Must Turn Right" at the intersection of Iowa Avenue. Comment This action is being taken as part of an intersection upgrade, including new signals and equipment, to make the intersection safer and more efficient. Signage will be installed simultaneously with the completion of the signal upgrade this winter. bc'~nemos\1-1 DR.doc November 26, 1997 CITY OF I0 WA CITY TO: RE: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council Civil Service Entrance Examination - MAINTENANCE WORKER I - TOWING 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 Maintenance Worker I - Towing. Ron Wilcox IOWA CITY CIVIL SERVICE COMmiSSION Mi~~a~( W.~Ke nedy, Chair ATTEST: City Clerk 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-182.6 · (319) 356-5000 · FAX (319) 356-5009 November 26, 1997 CITY OF I0 WA CITY TO: RE: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council Civil Service Entrance Examination - MAINTENANCE WORKER I - TRANSIT 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 Maintenance Worker I - Transit. Paul Stetzel IOWA CITY CIVIL SERVICE CO~,ISSION M ~'~/Cl_ a e 1~ W.~Ke~ e dy, Chair ATTEST: City Clerk 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET '* IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 * (319} 356-5000 - FAX (319) 356-5009 Will December 1, 1997 CITY OF I0 WA CITY TO: RE: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council Civil Service Entrance Examination - PARKING CASHIER 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 Parking Cashier. Cary Spicher IOWA CITY CIVIL CO~ISSION Mi~'~ei-W. /~ennedy, SERVICE Chair ATTEST: City Clerk 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET * IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 * (319) 356-5000 · FAX (319) 356-5009