Loading...
The URL can be used to link to this page
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Home
My WebLink
About
2004-03-16 Correspondence
Date: February 26, 2004 To: City Clerk From: Anissa Williams, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner ~U Re: Item for March 16, 2004 City Council meeting: Change parking meter term in the 200 block of S. Linn Street from 1 hour to 2 hours; change parking meter term in the 100 block of S. Linn Street from 1 hour to 2 hours. As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action. Action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(17), Change parking meter term for L204 S, L206 S, L208 S, L210 S, L212 S, L214 S, L216 S, L220 S, L224 S on 200 S. Linn Street from 1 hour time limit to 2 hour time limit. Change parking meter term for L102 S, L104 S, L106 S, L108 S, Ll10 S, Ll16 S, Ll18 S, L120 S, L122 S, L124 S, L 107 S, L109 S, L111 S, L113 S on 100 S. Linn Street from 1 hour time limit to 2 hour time limit. Comment: This action is being taken at the request of the Library Board. jccogtp/mem/aw3-2council4 doc Date: March 5, 2004 To: City Clerk From: Anissa Williams, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner Re: Item for March 16, 2004 City Council meeting: Add IOWA CITY TRANSIT, CORALVILLE TRANSIT and/or CAMBUS LOADING ZONE ONLY to existing BUS STOP signs on the 10 block of Clinton Street and the 10 block of Washington 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. Action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(19), seven BUS STOP signs will be modified to add IOWA CITY TRANSIT, CORALVILLE TRANSIT and/or CAMBUS LOADING ZONE ONLY on the 10 block of Clinton Street and the 10 block of Washington Street. Comment: This action is being taken at the request of iowa City Transit to specify that these bus stops are onry for Iowa City Transit, Coralville Transit, and CAMBUS. jccogtp/mem/aw-3-16council doc Date: March 9, 2004 To: City Clerk From: Anissa Williams, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner ~ Re: Item for March 16, 2004 City Council meeting: Relocation of Iowa City Transit bus stop from the east side of the intersection of ACT Circle and Dodge Street to the east side of the intersection of Scott Boulevard and Dodge 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. Action: Pursuant to City Code 9-1-3A(19), relocation of Iowa City Transit bus stop from the east side of the intersection of ACT Circle and Dodge Street to the east side of the intersection of Scott Boulevard and Dodge Street. Comment: This action is being taken at the request of the Iowa City Transit and is a result of ACT closing their Dodge Street driveway, jccogt p/mem/aw-actcomm3-16 doc Marian Karr ~ From: Santhi Hejeebu [santhi-hejeebu@uiowa.edu] Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2004 6:33 AM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: Fwd: Rezoning of Galway Hills part 4 ............... Text of forwarded message ............... Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 06:27:55 -0600 To: bob-miklo~iowa-city.org From: Santhi Hejeebu <santhi-hejeebu~uiowa.edu> Subject: Rezoning of Galway Hills part 4 Cc: Sriram Pemmaraju <sriram~cs.uiowa.edu> Bob Miklo Senior Planner City of Iowa City 410 East Washington Street iowa City, Iowa 52240 March 7, 2004 Dear Mr. Miklo, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed rezoning of Galway Hills Part 4 (Extension of Gai~vay Drive). The petitioner, Dav-Ed Limited, seeks to change the zoning designation from single-family and low-density single-family residential to one that would allow multi-unit dwellings. In other words, the petitioner seeks to change the character of the neighborhood from one of all home owners to one in which apartment dwellers are nearly as numerous as home owners. DawEd Limited seeks to raise the value of its own property by lowering the value of neighboring properties, including mine. No one denies the right of Dav-Ed to develop its property. But, like the rest of us, they should be required to abide by the rules of the game. Rezoning effectively changes those rules. Rezoning means that my property value, that is the value of my children's inheritance, will fall while the value of Day-Ed's will rise. The primary economic implication of the proposed rezoning is the transfer of wealth from small families like mine to Day-Ed. If Dav-Ed, the City Council, or any other party imagines that rezoning of this type would not have an adverse effect on single-family property values, I challenge them to show evidence from anywhere in the nation where a single-family neighborhood was rezoned to allow multi-unit housing and the property values did not fall. The burden of proof is on Dav-Ed and that evidence must be presented before this community. If the City wants to transfer wealth from one group of citizens to another, explicit taxation and spending are the policies to do that. Rezoning should not be used to that end. Dav-Ed's rezoning petition should be roundly repudiated for promoting this back-handed taxation upon the families in this neighborhood. Sincerely, 3/8/04 Page 2 of 2 Santhi Hejeebu Resident, 3761 Donegal Court, Iowa City, IA 52246 Assistant Professor of Economics Department of Economics, University of Iowa, W210 PBB, 52242 3/8/04 Marian Karr E From: Jrzangger@aol.com Sent: Friday, March 05, 2004 11:25 PM To: council@iowa-city,org Subject: Aviation budget cut In an already threatened industry it seems very inappropriate to politicize the funding of the Iowa City airport as a means of"making a point." An underfunded airport could easily create safety issues that could impact the city's budget more than the money saved in the cut. It's a shame the city and local paper apparently don't understand the value of an airport to the community. This airport has some historical significance that is unique and the town should be proud. Many people unfamiliar with general aviation can only process air travel as being done on the airlines in Cedar Rapids. Why have an airport in Iowa City without airline connections? There are many people that use the airport for transportation to and from the University Hospital for life saving care while others use the airport for access to the University campus. Many local businesses rely on the airport for customer access and business travel to support their own companies travel requirements. Iowa City is a large enough city to genuinely need an airport of this caliber and everyone should be pleased that one exists. It needs everyone's support - not roadblocks and negativity. Jim Zangger Cedar Rapids, Iowa 3/8/04 Message Marian Karr From: Doug Easton [doug.easton@comcast.net] Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2004 10:46 AM To: cou ncil@iowa-city.org Subject: Refusal of Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Dear Iowa City Council, My name is Doug Easton and I live in Corvallis, Oregon. I read a news article on the internet today at Excite.com that "More than 30 gay couples in Iowa City, Iowa, were denied marriage licenses Friday by an openly lesbian county official who said she must uphold the law." I applaud this person! It is refreshing to hear of someone who will take a stand to uphold the law, even when the law might conflict with their personal beliefs. Thank you for your bravery; you've done the right thing. Doug Easton 2307 NW 12th Street Corvallis, Oregon 97330 541-754-6305 3/1/04 Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship opening the doors of Iowa City 1700 South First Avenue Suite 25B ~ ~- vo V-" Iowa City, IA 52240-6036 (319) 358-9212 ~<~ ~ ~,~ February 24, 2004 Mayor Ernie Lehman City Council City of Iowa City 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Mayor Lehman and Members of the City Council: I have enclosed a check in the amount of $3,389 as a voluntary payment in lieu of taxes. This reflects 25% of our property tax liability for 2003. The Housing Fellowship is proud of the successes that we have had in increasing affordable housing in our community and for the many partnerships we have established. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts. Sincerely, Maryann Dennis Executive Director Karin Franklin wants me to submit in writing everything I want: Marian Kart From: ,Jim Knapp [jsknapp@mchsi.com] Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 2:08 PM To: council@iowa-city.or§ Cc: rbignellic@press-citizen.com Subject: You wanted it in writing Karin.doc You asked for it. To Ms. Karin Franklin and the City Council. Ms. Karin Franklin wants me to submit in writing everything want, I do not have enough time to make the list any longer right now. For starters I want everybody in Johnson County to know what has happened. Then I want the people to know that I feel that everyone in this country is entitled to free medical care, a safe and decent home in a good neighborhood and education and time to enjoy life. An honest and open government would be nice, a job would be very nice, getting the Tae Kwon Do Tigers and the Marching Tigers started would make me very happy and parking under the Plaza Towers for library patrons would make a lot of people happy. Good health for some friends and that people would agree with me that no building in Iowa City should stand taller than the steeple on St. Mary's Church and the Congregational Church would be great. Then I would like to see the emergency housing shelter built. And finally the City of Iowa City take a long look in the mirror and see how fat and devious it has become. You don't cut back on firemen or policemen, you run the city more efficiently. Sell the houses you own even at a reasonable price to the occupants and help them with no interest loans and turn them back into taxpaying property. Open the Peninsula for all the contractors, help them by guaranteeing their construction loans and put a bridge with a power plant dam under it over to Coralville on Foster or Taft Speedway so the Peninsula and the other land is legally developable. I guess there is no way to move the water treatment plant to the same site as the sewage treatment plant but think of the advantages. Development ground, water for Hills and happy developers are a few. Ask all administrators to take a 2% pay cut and pay the staffthat does the work. The answer to all of that is put someone in charge that uses their head not the dole from the Feds. Now you can see the rest of the list. 1. Moen's financial "audited financial statements" as per the RFP. 2. Meeting minutes of all "committee to select" meetings. Almost sounds like Watergate doesn't it? Small world. 3. Copies of all the advertisements of all committee meetings, which are required by law. 4. Answer to why the public was not informed when Mr. Moen failed to notify city regarding his 3/8/04 Karin Franklin wants me to submit in writing everything I want: Page 2 of 4 inability to obtain financing 5. Why council did not know? 6. When July 1 came and went by why was his financing kept secret from the City Council? 7. Did you know? 8. If so don't you think is your responsibility to inform the Council? 9. Did Steve Atkins know? 10. Would in not be his responsibility also? 11. Did the Mayor know? 12. Why does the DBA have more influence over the Council than the taxpayers? 13. Why have some of the documents regarding the contract been voided? 14. Did anyone know Mr. Moen was over $112,000 in arrears on his property taxes? If not why not? 15. What was Monica Moens date of hire, capacity of position and date of termination? 16. What was your date of hire and capacity during that same time period? 17. I would like to have access to the supposed bond the Mayor refers to in the meetings. 18. It is sort of coincidental line 18 and 18 meters, most of us cannot remember when there were only 18 meters on that lot. 19. And how was that lot ever considered a menace or danger to public safety or morals? 20. If it was then the City is culpable for keeping it that way for so long. 21. Which reminds me about justification. When did Mr. Moen become the city attorney? Why does he tell the City how to make his request for a freebee more palatable when it comes to his burned down building? 22. Why when Mr. Moen said he did not expect to but the land for $250,000 and the council said "we will negotiate" did the price stay at $250,000. 23. Why was the Urban Renewal District expanded to include the Vogel house if this was the last partial of Urban Renewal property? 24. Why was his building put on the tax rolls at $250,000 and it is half again as Frieda Hieronymus lot and that lot is appraised for $648,000.00? Upon which she pays $26,000 in taxes. 25. Do you suppose that the public would like to know that? 26. Do you suppose that the public would like to know that the City has an 18-month moratorium on her building on that site and she is not in the best of health? 27. How can Mr. Moen sell anything before it is built and accepted by the City, according to the agreement? 28. If his building is to be worth $25,000,000 why did the City not TIF that instead of the Vogel House. 29. Did you know that Mr. Moen immediately after getting a deed to Parcel 64 - la take it to the Hills Bank and mortgage it for $486,000? 30. The City now stretches the truth about the $250,000 in their website promo regarding PIN and CDBG and STEPS. Why don't they tell the whole story? 31. Has anyone really put a pencil to the real value of the other offer and the tax effect? 32. Is homeless now a problem, what about last year and the year before who do you people think you are kidding? 33. Why was library parking so important when they were talking about the library referendum and building and now "let them walk a few blocks." 34. Why were promises made to "negotiate" "will be parking on site" and so many others I can't remember them all. 3/8/04 Karin Franklin wants me to submit in writing everything I ~vant: Page 3 of 4 35. Did you purposely steer the council toward Moen? 36. Were the Mayor and Atkins in on it? 37. The library board first choice was parcel 64 - 'la and Monson had plans and sketches and spoke of multi-use facility? What happened? 38. If we are paying the taxes to retire the library debt why does the City plan on moving the commercial income to the general fund? 39. I would like to see the CenterSpace plans and know why at one time we could not go above 6 or 8 stories. 40. When you explained the various responses you indicated that the Executive Suites proposal was to condominiumize and Moen would be apartments. 41. Who is the grocery store Moen thinks is coming? 42. When wills the misleading of the public stop? 43. Who does the Council work for and whom does the City Manager work for and whom do you work for? 44. Why when Ross Wilbur recused himself on every issue regarding the CDBG funding vote on the largest parcel of land to be sold when the price was 1/10 of the value. 45. Would the city subpoena the most recent appraisal Mr. Moen got to obtain financing and make it public? 46. There were 3 appraisals plus the original 1.2 million. Hertz, Hayes and the Johnny come lately of a negative $8,000,000. Both Hertz and Hayes agreed and think that today the value is even greater than $'l ,771,000. 47. If the value is there then the City should have provide what the people wanted, a library with easy access, a CenterSpace and something that resembled the historic nature of Iowa City not a glass fronted "Edifice to Avarice" that will reflect the apathy of the people which turns out to be the biggest ally of the Council. 48. Council reminds me how terribly rude they were to the only two members that showed real care and real hearts. Funny thing now we have "7 peas in a pod." On my dads truck farm years ago my job was to shuck peas, remove weeds from the corn and muck out the barn. It looks like things have not changed that much, just methods. 49. Clark was willing to build what the City wanted and the people did not want a "fiat faced behemoth" as will be built. 50. Executive Hotel offered an extra $1,000,000 and had a much nicer facility. 51. They certainly did not want their taxes to go up and pay for this boondoggle? 52. We all know that the other 3 major projects have failed in downtown. Holiday Inn, Old Capitol Mall and Plaza Centre One. Would a sane person invest over $1,000,000 in a project destined to fail and particularly if he thought he only had a one in four chance to succeed? 53. How much property did Marc buy while Monica was working for the City and did any Federal Money go to rehab? 54. Who were his partners and did any of them have a conflict of interest because of the spousal relationship in working for the City as a planner or an inspector? 55. Why did the Press Citizen oppose the project and then do a 180 degree turn at the Eleventh Hour? 56. What happened to the letter given to Ernie regarding airplane rides and vacations? 57. Who were the "two local developers interested in building multi story buildings worth "several million dollars." The City was approached? Now wasn't in more honest to say I was approached? Certain parties. Who? 3/8/04 Karin Franklin wants me to submit in writing everything I want: Page 4 of 4 Are you tired of these questions? I have more and just have to do some other research first. Hint Iowa Code Sections 2'1, 22, 403, 404 and there must be more. Respectfully submitted, Jim Knapp 528 Rundell St. Iowa City, IA. 52240 askjimknapp@mchsi.com 3/8/04 Karin Franklin wants me to submit in writing everything I want: Page 1 of 4 Marian Kart From: Bignell, Rob [rbignellic@iowacity.gannett.com] [rbig nellic@iowacity.gan nett.com] Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 2:23 PM To: Jim Knapp Cc: cou ncil@iowa-city.org Subject: RE: You wanted it in writing Karin.doc Jim. Thank you for sending the list of questions. I don't believe the council can answer No. 55, however, for ~ as they will tell you - they're not involved in the editorial board's discussions. To answer your question, the Press-Citizen has never formally been opposed to the Plaza Towers, though we have been critical of various aspects of it. When various other proposals were made for the lot years ago, the editorial board took the stand that of those projects a parking lot was preferable. As the Iowa City economy and the Park Plaza towers have evolved, we have come to believe - as our Dec. 11 editorial states - that the towers mean "more people will be shopping, living and staying downtown." We view that as a beneficial to the community. Rob Bignell Editorial Page Editor Iowa City Press-Citizen ..... Original Message ..... From: Jim Knapp [mailto:jsknapp@mchsi.com] Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 2:08 PH To: council@iowa-city.org Cc: rbig nellic@press-citizen.com Subject: You wanted it in writing Karin.doc October 8,2001 Transcription of Iowa City Council Meeting Page 1 of 11 Marian Kart From: Ask Jim Knapp [askjimknapp@mchsi.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 2:54 AM To: HotlJne@oig.gov Cc: council@iowa-city.erg Subject: Case HL-04-460 Case Number HL-04-460 JAMES C KNAPP 528 RUNDELL ST. IOWA CITY, IA. 52240 Dear Mr. Ashworth: I am submitting one of many documents that have been downloaded from the City of Iowa City's website. I am sure that they are aware of my concerns since the manner their Director of Planning and Community Development responded to my request for some information. I have prepared that request and will forward the response to your office when I receive it. I am concerned because every day the work progresses and the people responsible for this travesty will stall and then claim that it is to late to do anything. That should not be a point. They stalled until the Redeveloper was able to obtain financing over 2 years. Reaping the benefits of falling interest rates, assembling data that has no bearing on the fact that at the time the Redeveloper had no way of showing the financial capacity to perform. Then the city staff that decided to conceal this information from the public and it finally came to light. Se the objections were made to appear late but actually it was the Redeveloper that was over 2 years late. Had the City gone with the best offer the project would be completed, on the tax rolls and generating income and providing employment. This is only the first of many transcriptions I will be sending along with memorandums and other evidence. I think the best result would be for a US Marshall to come to Iowa City and we can show him around. I would hope that he has subpoena powers because getting some of the materials establishing the real value of the property will take that sort of action. My next installment will be coming shodly but, I think that this needs to be handled by someone from DC not Des Moines. Thank you for opening the case and there are several of us that will assist in anyway possible. This is a travesty of a huge local magnitude and I can only say that I feel in danger doing this but it has to stop. Too many people have been cheated and too many are involved. I think once the problem is removed from control that the information will be very easy to obtain. Yet to come are violations of open meetings, inside information, civil rights issues, conflicts of interest and once you look deep enough there may be some other very interesting information. Thank you, Jim Knapp October 8, 2001 Transcription of Iowa City Council Meetin~ This is the item # 12 from the agenda of the Iowa City Council meeting of October 8, 2001. This is the only portion of that meeting that has relevance to the following discussion and Resolution. The entire transcription can be viewed by entering the following address, l have added comments in italics and footnotes. !~ttp://www.ic~gov.o~tran~criptjons/41 .~dd f #12 Page #54 This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City council meeting of October 8, 2001. ITEM NO. 12. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION SELECTING A PREFERRED DEVELOPER FOR THE 3/10/04 October 8,2001 Transcription of Iowa City Council Meeting Page 2 of 11 REDEVELOPMENT OF URBAN RENEWAL PARCEL 64-1A. 12] Champion: Move the resolution. I mean... Lehman: You're going to have to name somebody. Champion: Right. I'm going to have to... Lehman: We need a motion on floor... Vanderhoef: I will make a motion if you'd like me to Connie. Champion: Yes, 1 didn't realize I was going to have to name somebody. Vanderhoef: Okay, l move that we select the Executive Suites for our preferred developer for 64-1A. Lehman: We have a motion. Pfab: I'll second that... Lehman: We have a second that we designate the Executive Suites as a preferred developer for parcel 64-1A. Discussion? Pfab: ...for discussion. Dilkes: Wait, the resolution that's in your packet is not the resolution we've just moved. The resolution in your packet talks about Moen. Are you wanting to do a different?[3] Lehman: I'm sorry. Champion: Oh. VanderhoefiIt doesn't say that. Dilkes: The resolution in the packet specifically...is in accordance with the staffrecommendation. So that's why it's [41 preferred. Lehman: All right, what's your pleasure Council? Do you want to move the resolution in the packet or the one that was just moved? Wilburn: Well if there's a motion on the floor still, we have to deal with that. Isn't that correct.? Or is that. Lehman: Unless (can't understand) Wilburn: ...is the one that's listed in the packet have our...she already moved on a second one so are you saying her motion was out of order or what? Lehman: No. Dilkes: Well, I think you can put...you can put whatever motion you want on the floor but we need to identify...Do you want to do a resolution as the one in the packet but w th a different developer? Lehman: You made the motion, Ms. Vanderhoef. Vanderhoef: The way I read the motion and the packet statement it does not identify a group. 3/10/04 October 8,2001 Transcription of Iowa City Council Meeting Page 3 of 11 Karr: Item number l2...item number l2 was deferred from your last meeting.lz] And yourlastmeetinghada ~..~ (~ recommendation in it for Marc...for the Moen project. Lehman: (can't hear) Karr: So that resolution was deferred to this meeting specifically. Vanderhoefi But our comment or resolution does not identify them by name. Dilkes: The resolution...it does. Lehman: It does. Yes, in fact, two weeks... Dilkes: The resolution specifically says... Vanderhoefi By...from the previous one but not in this one. Kart: But that's what was deferred. Dilkes: This was...this was the one deferred. Karr: So we can...you can move it and amend it if you like. Vanderhoefi Move the original and amend it. Karr: Amend it. Vm~derhoef: Okay. I will withdraw if my second will. Pfab: I'll withdraw happily. Lehman: We now do not have a motion of any kind. Wilbum: I move adoption of resolution as presented identifying the Moen Group. Lehman: It has been moved by Wilbum. Vanderhoefi I'll second it. Lehman: Seconded by Vanderhoefi Discussion? This is the motion that is naming the Moen Project as the preferred developer. We're...anyone who would like to speak to this. Vanderhoef: I would like to offer the amendment then that the preferred developer be the Executive Suites rather than the Moen Group. Lehman: Could I suggest that the motion whether...if it's defeated automatically we'll do that? If we're only dealing with that... [61 Dilkes: No, it won't. You'd have to... Vanderhoefi No, it won't. Lehman: All right. We have a motion to amend the resolution replacing the Executive...the Moen Group with the word Executive Suites. Is there a second to that motion? Pfab: Before I...I'll second it for discussion except that... 3/10/04 October 8,2001 Transcription of Iowa City Council Meeting Page 4 of 11 Lehman: Okay, we have a second. Pfab: Just a second. No, I didn't say that yet. Lehman: Did you second it? Do you second it? Pfab: No. At this point, no. Lehman: Well this is the point that we're going to get a second. We need it. Do we have a second to that motion? O'Donnell: Well, Irvin just said yes. Didn't you? Pfab: No. 1 said no. Lehman: We do not have a second. Okay, lets discuss the motion as proposed. Champion: Well 1'11 state my decision first. This is been the most difficult decision I have made in the past couple weeks. I think both proposals are terrifically wonderful and I've gone from one day to the next on which one is better for the future of Iowa City. And because I've been kind of swayed one way or another by many people who have talked to me, I think my own conscience tells me I have to go with my first instinct and that was to support the Moen project. That was my original instinct. I think it's the one l'm still the happiest with. I think they are both wonderful projects. I wish we could do both of them. Lehman: Other discussion? Pfab: I would like to see both of these in a public discussion where the public can sit down, talk to them and have them both there. And just...there's a lot of good things in both of them. And 1 think that...l can't see the reason why we cannot have a public discussion. Where the public can come in and ask the developers things that are on their mind. A lot of people are in the...out in the City here that have questions. There are still things that are not out in the open. I am unhappy with both of them because in the part that we, the City, is giving up the assessed value of the property. There's a lot of negotiation... Why can't some of this be done out in the public? It looks like, again, it's the TIF problem where the money goes to the people who are...who have...are well offand it's taken away from the CDBG people where this money was supposed I81 to go. That gives me a problem. Lehman: lrvin, this has been a very public process. We've... Pfab: Have we ever had a public discussion where the public can sit down with both of these? Champion: We have. Lehman: Well, I think we had it two weeks ago... Champion: Right. Lehman: ...and again tonight. And. Pfab: No, it...but we never talked. Okay. I mean. Lehman: We also...at the point where we put out the RFP, we talked about the various things we wanted to see. We had a proposal made by staffas to the kind of development we'd like to see in that project. We discussed this publicly. Told them to go out and look for proposals. We received four proposals. We discussed them. Two weeks ago...it's...the public has the opportunity to speak tonight. I mean I don't see that this is a process that certainly doesn't give an opportunity for anyone who wants to speak to this to speak to it. 3 / 10/04 October 8,2001 Transcription of Iowa City Council Meeting Page 5 of 11 Champion: And there were so many of the public at the Library where all the proposals were presented. The public was totally free to ask questions. Pfab: They could not ask questions. They could submit written questions. Champion: Well that is a question. Lehman: That's asking questions. [9] Pfab: That was it? Kanner: So...and actually, I think, there was some...the only interaction of a sort of round table type of any inkling was at the Library but the questions were limited. The public was told that you could only ask certain type of clarifying questions. You were not allowed to bring in innovative approaches and, I think, that's the strength of our community. If we have that kind of discussion with the finalist, with the community, a round table type thing, I think we'd get even a better project and better bang for our buck. And on that point, I would have to agree with Irvin. I think that would help us getting what's best for that plot of land and what's best for the community of Iowa City. Lehman: Karin? Karin Franklin: At the Library meetings, the public was asked not to give their preferences that that was more appropriately given to the City Council. Otherwise, they were given no other instructions. Lehman: So, any questions could be asked? Kanner: I remember hearing clarifying... Franklin: Any question could be asked. Kanner: ...clarifying questions only. Il0] Franklin: No, any questions could be asked and any questions were. Lehman: Other discussion from the Council? Kanner: l've talked with all four developers that gave a proposal as some time in the last year or t~vo and again I think they're good folks. And I think there's some interest in that's good for Iowa City but I think their bottom line, of course, is to make money. Our bottom line is to get the best bang for our buck for the majority of people in Iowa City. And I think when we tell them that we're going to negotiate down to who knows what for that piece of land, we do a disservice to the folks of Iowa City. I think we need to sent out bids again or bring the discussion here and make sure we get a minimum of close to one...close to the 1.7 million. I'm willing to negotiate a couple hundred thousand but to start at $250,000 as a negotiating point and possible loss of that extra 1.5 million to low and moderate-income folks for our CDBG program is not good. And I think we can be innovative and we can say lets charge them close to the full price, if they'll pay it, and put some of that money back into low and moderate income housing in the proposal. That's a good way to use that money. We talk constantly about trying to integrate low income, moderate income housing with higher income. This would be a way to do that. Take 10 or 20...required 10 or 20% [!!l of the housing to be for low and moderate incomes. Lehman: But the RFP that we put out as a Council did not have that as a requirement. Now it's pretty hard to come in after proposals come in and decide we're going to change the rules. Right? Kanner: We'll if we think it's in the best interest of Iowa City we can change our minds as a Council and say this is what 3/10/04 October 8,2001 Transcription of Iowa City Council Meeting Page 6 of ! 1 we want to go to. And if they don't agree with that, and if they see the bottom line as one that's not going to work for them, that's fine. We have a situation now, it's not the best from an urban planning point of view, were we're making money from that lot. We're in no rush. We've certainly got a year, year and a half before that lots going to be free anyhow. So, we can reject all of the proposals... Lehman: That's true. Kanner: ...and we can start over again. And I think we can get some good proposals where we don't have to give away close to $1.5 million for CDBG funding. Lehman: I think that's true. I will say this from my own perspective, I certainly can't speak for the rest of the Council, but if someone had told me when we put that RFP out them that we'd have anybody make a bid on that project of over $10 million, I would have been flabbergasted. $25 million just blows me away. I am so...I think Iowa City is so fortunate to have these two proposals. And I think I've said this before, it's kind of like your father telling you he's going to give you a new Ferrari and you can't decide whether you want the red one or the black one. The city can't lose on this one and l...my only regret is that we can't do both of them. Chalnpion: ! know (can't hear) Lehman: Other comments? Pfab: Also, the point that I have hem is I have a difficult time when we came to make a decision in what to do with the Library; this land was so valuable we couldn't put the library there. I think we could have ended up, 1 think, with a lot better library than we got. We didn't get...we had to go down about 4 or 5 of the choices that the board made and, the Library Board and the architect and the people that run it, we went down to 4 or 5 down below the top choices. I think something isn't right here and I don't know where it's going to go. The Library, we're going to be stuck with it. It's a library that's gong to be difficult to run for the rest off_as long as it's there. But...and then now, all ora sudden, it's not worth anything. The space that was too valuable to put the Library on and now, all of a sudden, it isn't worth very much. I can't in my mind can't put those two together and. Lehman: lrvin, look at is this way. It's worth putting a $25 million building on it. Now is that worth something? Champion: That's going to help support that library. Pfab: I know. It takes a...I'm just telling you why I have difficulty with. Lehman: Other discussion? Pfab: They're...they look like gmat...there's several very good projects there but there's a lot of negotiation, a lot of changes can be made from what I can see and we're voting, again, for a kind of a cat in a sack. We don't know where the final thing is going to be. How long are...how long before...how long will the negotiations go if we pick one or the other? Champion: You're going to have a (can't hear) again. Lehman: No, Karin? ! think that's a good question, Irvin. And now this was a request for proposal, which obviously means ifwe...and correct me, Karin, ifl'm wrong. If we name a preferred developer there is always the opportunity for negotiation between the City and the developer for whatever changes that we can mutually agree on. Is that correct? Franklin: Absolutely. Pfab: But...How long, how long is this negotiation going to go? Is there a time limit? 3/10/04 October 8, 2001 Transcription of Iowa City Council Meeting Page 7 of 11 [!3] Lehman: It depends on what we're looking. Franklin: There's not a time limit. We had originally thought that we might be able to get it completed this calendar year but I don't think that's going to happen. Assuming that you make a choice tonight, we would start negotiations immediately. We then need to do an appraisal based on whatever is negotiated to balance out the benefits of the project verses any write down in the price of land. We need to do that for HUD as well as under Urban Renewal. That will probably take a couple of months to get that completed. So, you know, it's hard to tell exactly how long the negotiations would go but I would expect...l would hope that we would be able to get through those negotiations and the steps that we have to go through for Urban Renewal and be back to the Council with a proposed developers agreement probably in February or March. Pfab: Okay. Now, is... Franklin: And, it'll depend a lot on your schedule with budget and everything. Pfab: Is there any mason we can't use that process with two different developers? Frauklin: Yes. Pfab: Yeah. Okay. Lehman: 1 think it's called good faith. Franklin: I think that's, that's very difficult and would put us all, all three of us in an untenable position. Pfab: Okay. So there is at...okay...Let's suppose that you get to the end and the City Council in its infinite wisdom decides that it doesn't want to go far, forward. Franklin: Well, we may also come back to you and say we cannot reach an agreement. Pfab: Okay. Then what happens? Franklin: Then, ! suppose, what you can do is you can go to the second person on your dance list and ask them if they still want to dance and we try negotiations with the other developer. Lehman: Or go back out. [14] Franklin: Or we go back out. Pfab: Okay. Franklin: Or you leave things as they are and you don't put the piece on the market and approve it as a parking lot and have movies off the wall. I don't know. Pfab: Okay. Aud, how long does this negotiation go with one bidder...or the one developer, I guess (can't hear). Is there a time limit? Franklin: There's no time limit. I would hope that we could do it in 2 to 3 months in terms of our negotiations with them before we go through the appraisal process. But, I think, that we need to do is go a reasonable period of time in which we are making reasonable process on the negotiations to get the best arrangement for the people of Iowa City as well as the developer. Pfab: So, at this point, there is not way I'm going to pin you down for a date. Franklin: No you're not. 3/10/04 October 8, 2001 Transcription of Iowa City Council Meeting Page 8 of 11 Lehman: Well, I don't think that you could. Franklin: ! can't. Pfab: Well, I'm just... Lehman: You can't. Franklin: I don't want to promise you something that can't be pulled off. Pfab: I'm not...l'm just...It'sjust a question. Franklin: Okay. Kanner: I just want to point out this is another development asking for TIF's. lf...so there's a division in that philosophy between myself and other members of the Council. I don't think we have to give out those TIF's for, for the development. I think we're...it's a lost opportunity cost. So that's another reason I feel that it was a bad RFP and we need to negotiate those away. Lehman: Other discussion? Are we ready to vote? Vanderhoef: No, I'm going to take a few moments here if you don't mind. Lehman: Okay. Go. Vanderhoefi You're timing me. Lehman: Yes. Vanderhoefi You've got a bell? Lehman: Yeah. Vanderhoef: From the time I came on Council I wanted to sell this property and have it developed. My goal at that time was a hotel to increase the activity downtown, to build the tax base, and to support tourism in our community. That goal, that personal goal, has not changed and it increased even during the years that I sat on the Convention and Visitor's Bureau and learned more and more about turnover in dollars and the things that come to our community because ora good solid hotel. I congratulate the Moen Group in that they have hit all the hot buttons of things that we have all talked about and would like to have experienced some place in the downtown or near the downtown. Personally, 1 don't feel the grocery store in the CB-5 is the right location for it. It's going to take special exception; it's going to take additional parking offofthat location. We are zoned better to have a grocery store south of Burlington in the CB-10 area, in my estimation. And, I think, we have had some opportunities maybe that got missed on having a grocery store down there but I certainly would welcome a developer who chose to put apartments in the a...near south side area and put a grocery store under it. I think that would meet the needs of the downtown. It would make separation away from the existing grocery store that is downtown...to move it a little bit further south and give some options and competition. That parking that would go with this grocery store I truly believe that the library folks will end up using it because it will be easier to get in and get out of and it's gong to be free. And, that may even be a detriment to that grocery store in that grocery shoppers who do depend on a car for a larger shopping stop will not come. They will continue to move in the other direction because they won't be able to find a parking space in the limited parking there. I also am concerned with a grocery store that doesn't have a flag or a major name on it. It is one of those things that...if a market study is done for a grocery store by a major chain who says this is a viable place and I'm willing to invest my dollars in that area then 1 believe that they have done their job and will probably hold out even through maybe the thin times as the store is starting up. My fear is really that the grocery store deli will become more deli and more deli and ultimately become a restaurant. That's just my opinion and I can't support the grocery store piece in this place. I also have a concern on 3/10/04 October 8,2001 Transcription of Iowa City Council Meeting Page 9 of 11 the number and the types of rooms going into the hotel. Both options...both plans have some hotel rooms but in looking at conference spaces and folks who come in number one issue for most conference people, or people who are coming for continuing education kinds of programming...number one, they aren't in the room for very long and number two and they frequently are on budgets and they want to come in at a convention rate of under $100 a night. And, luxury suites don't meet that guideline so I, I feel the one proposal with 57 luxury suites is not going to meet the need of a conference space for larger conferences. When I look at the list that was provided to us by the CDB and then in talking with folks from the University over the last couple of weeks and know about the expansion of the medical school with two auditoriums in it. One with 150 rooms another one with 300 rooms in it, or seats, excuse me. I said rooms. 150 seats or 300 seats it certainly lends itself that this will be used for medical school but it will also be used for conference space and continuing education particularly on weekends which is a time that you really...the business traveler isn't in the hotels and in many cases the empty rooms in hotels occur on weekends. Not football weekends but mostly on weekends. So, l...l'm really committed to making sure that we have two hotels side by side considerably under one roof that can flex their conference space, their break out space, their eating space, and work cooperatively and make a very viable conference center that will put us in competition with the larger market of Davenport and Cedar Rapids. Right now we don't have that possibility. I also looked at that same hotel rooms that will be taxed at commercial rates...at commercial rate, which is 100% tax...on the tax... 100% tax value. 144 rooms, even though they rent for less than luxury suites, are going to, over the long run, in my mind, bring in more hotel motel tax. Now those are dollars that are 25% of it is dedicated to the Convention and Visitors Bureau just in that idea to market and bring in more conferences and, and I feel very good that we give 25% to that. But those other monies, the other 75%, have a lot more flexibility. Right now we use them to support parks and recreation and our police department. But when I look at my overall budget year after year and see my general fund declining on a regular basis and not any new monies coming in to the general fund. And this community has chosen not to have the one-cent sales tax. So I have to be very concerned about my tax base and the tax base off of hotel rooms are going to bring in a whole lot more off of condos and apartments. I think when I put all of these things together in my mind that though I like many parts of the Moen project and I would hope that we would have the opportunity for a grocery store and 1 certainly would not be opposed to having some luxury suites in the Executive Hotel, I think when I'm serving the people of Iowa City and saying that I'm going to bring in more people, bring more excitement, put them out on the streets to enjoy our City, to shop in our shops and eat in our restaurants, I think the most risk free and most positive thing for the City is going to be at the Executive Hotel. Lehman: That means you're going to support the Executive Hotel. Right? Vanderhoefi That is where I'm going. Lehman: Other discussion from Council. Wilburn: Well, I'll briefly just say that as one who did want to see it stay a parking lot and see movies off of the wall... but I lost that battle. So I was looking at all the hot spots that you mentioned the Moen Group presents, and that's exactly why I prefer that...1 will be supporting the Moen Group proposal. I like the flexibility of it. I now that in terms of the grocery store, they're...I don't know. I'm going on some experiences in other communities, Chicago, New York, DC, where I've seen that type of store available to not only people in condos but in more ora highly trafficked area. So I think the potential there, is there that it could do well. 1 like the...l actually like the condos, the higher rent condo and looking at perhaps a market that's not un...not tapped into. I like the fact that possibly... I think, that's presented by the group is a complimentary relationship with the, with the existing hotel downtown. And given the competition in the other area, l'm looking for as complimentary a relationship in terms of getting back a little bit from the competitiveness. So, 1'11 stop there because I said I'd talk briefly. But 1 do support the Moen Group. [151 Lehman: Other discussion? Roll call. 3/10/04 October 8,2001 Transcription of Iowa City Council Meeting Page 10 of 11 Kanner: 1 wanted to thank the Executive Hotel Group for their environmental concerns. They gave us some figures about how using their high technology system there would be potential over 50% reduction in energy costs from what's required by the Iowa energy code. And that's the kind of innovative thinking we need. I think the Moen Group is also looking in that direction although I didn't see specifics there. These...this is a good thing to have and it's not enough to sway me though to override the other concerns I have but I do appreciate that thought and we need more of that concern, that environmental concern. Lehman: This is one vote that I didn't have to vote. Champion: 1 know it. Lehman: But...Roll call. Vote is 4 to 3, Kanner, Pfab and Vanderhoef in the negative. SO THAT iS HOW THE IOWA CITY, CITY COUNCIL SOLD OUT THE HOMELESS, THE OPPOSITION THAT DID NOT WANT THE MOEN BUILDING AND ONLY 3 OF THE 7 EVEN SHOWED ANY coNCERN FOR T~E LITTLE PEOPLE AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE HOTEL WILL suRvIvE, WHAT IS GURANTEED IS THAT THEY WANTED TO MAKE MOEN RICH AND THEY HAVE WHEN HE STARTED OUT HE [IAD A HOUSE OF CARDS AND NEEDED HiS ACE TRUMPED. MY OP1NION. I could be wron~ut only time will tell. askj imknapp@mchsi,com Please let me know if you want more email, I am starting small. The City Council and the Department of Housing and Urban Development there is much more to report and I just am tired of typing and the time to go to press is now. Respectfully Submitted, James C. Knapp 319 354 2443 If a resolution is to be voted upon the public should be informed of the entire impact of the resolution. It is not enough that a simple I or 2 sentences published turns out to be 10 or more pages long when it is taken to the County Recorder for recording. Then and only then will the public really be informed as to what has happened to them. This is particularly true when the Council is virtually untouchable. The Council should have no more power than the people and should have its' feet held to the fire when it acts in its' own interest and not that of the electorate. [21 There are far to many (...) that leads me to believe that either certain information is censored from a public document or the transcriber does not know how important accurate and complete transcriptions are, in either case given the devastating impact this Council has on the futures of so many of the voters the public is entitled to every word spoken unless it is in a ministerial manner. [21 If I interpret the organizational chart Ms. Dilkes being the City Attorney is hired to represent the people. If not then the governing body needs to be set up in a democratic fashion where there are checks and balances on the action of the Council when the interests of the electorate are not being served. This can be a citizens board that has a representative present at all meetings and is authorized to record exactly who, what, when, and why. This should be a paid position because the public is represented. The City should be responsible only for funding this position and have no voice in the selection of the individuals or any control over them. I want the public to have convenient access to the packet and to any information given to the Council. Often the Mayor and/or the staff will change the wording of a Resolution or a contract or proposal. That makes it a different resolution and the public hearing process should be commenced again. We want full disclosure and it would be a very good idea to have each Council person bonded to the extent that any malfeasance or exercise in poor judgment cost the City the cost would not be passed on to the taxpayers. Marc is what was said and what was meant, he has made a fortune at the expense of the taxpayers and treated like the favored son. He has rarely been turned down for any request and they all end up costing the taxpayers and the CDBG recipients money. Iowa City is not here to serve Marc Moen and should not be acting that way. 3/10/04 October 8, 2001 Transcription of Iowa City Council Meeting Page 11 of 11 [81 Two important comments made and the public can only guess what was said. In this case as usual it is probably something that will give Mr. Moen an advantage. [7] Why? The public deserves an answer and unlike Mr. Kanner and Mr. Pfab who did represent the public you are going on instinct? That is what the complaint to HUD is all about, even if the Secretary Bollinger gave the cities the right to decide the uses I am sure that he was thinking that the people would be served by a responsible government and that the local officials would be closer and more in touch with reality. His intentions were honorable to eliminate a bureaucracy but he overlooked the one thing that has guided everybody at some time or another. The inherent sinful nature of man, which was something I had a hard time agreeing with until I saw the light and under the fullness of light it has become obvious that it is true. [~1 Does anyone believe that process was fair and open? The Section 21 of the Iowa Code addresses "open meeting laws" and under intent expressly states that the courts favor "openness." Frankly the Mayor and others have run this City like a dictatorship. Ethics are not practiced in any way, shape, or form. If the City wants to challenge that statement then I suggest we go in front of a jury of peers or a judge or better yet just have the Justice Department review the transcripts. I am willing to debate the matter on public access are any of you that have a problem with my statements willing to do that? [!o] We will examine the transcripts if they are available they will bring light to the matter once and for all. If you are right then it will show up on the tapes. No tapes or transcripts and no proof. Was a sign in sheet kept? Was the room large enough for comfortable seating? How many attended? The correspondence that was not contrived I read was in favor of the Old Towne proposal. [1!] That is my point also Mr. Kanner. Another point is that, does the most money always have to talk the loudest. Human decency and compassion for the Iow and moderate-income is important also and even if Mr. Moen's project succeeds it is only relevant if the other justifying conditions of Urban Renewal are met. The trite words that Ernie always uses like "Whereas a condition of blight or slum or endangerment to the public exists" ... blah, blah, blah." When the Mayor understands as even I have had it pointed out to me that I don't. Then he will know that the original intent of Urban Renewal has spawned 3 large failed buildings, 60 or 70 bars and we still have a problem. Visit the Broadway Neighborhood Center or the Pheasant Ridge Center as I did today and then talk with the local businessmen as I did today and then tell me that the problem has been solved. The downtown is overrun with bars and that is all that is surviving and as long as the University of Iowa is here the students are going to be here too. So will the bars and a14-story edifice to avarice will ever change that? The vibrancy and the vitality of Iowa City is the people, the students, the wonderfully creative people that live here, the hardworking parents and the children. The sadness is that you like Peter have turned your back on the ones that need you (us) the most. So changing an entire urban renewal plan just to enable a TIF on the Vogel House to create another even more corpulent building will not solve the problem. What it will do is create an even greater disparity between the rich and the poor. You had a chance to make a difference in the lives of the kids that need some help by maximizing the CDBG funding and you failed. You with your gavel coming down drove a wedge even deeper into the rift of credibility in the belief of in the humanity of the people of this city. Guess what Ernie, they are very human and humane too if you give them a chance. Run the government so that the people are not taxed unfairly and strapped by the collective ignorance demonstrated during your tenure and they will reach out and solve some of the problems that you think have been solved. Someday we all answer in one way or another, whether it is choking on hors d' oeuvres at Mondos, falling off a roof at a garden party, dieing in the line of duty as a peace officer or fireman because of a budget cut or just dieing because you have no place to put your head down and call home. Sadly though, your folly has deprived us of our right to serve our fellow man through the work we could do with the $7,550,000 you gave away. I know you weren't alone but at 4 to 3 of 5 to 2 the good people of Iowa City were cheated out of their chance to help. And I haven't even started telling you and the people about all the other ways that cost them the chance to serve. [1~1 Absolutely? Really Karin? He said, you said, they said and in the end no negotiation, no parking no money, no shelter, no CDBG, did I miss anything? Promises, promises, promises that's all we get. At least the Hills Bank got their money back and of course we got a nice quote about happiness, try to eat it. [131 Three guesses lrvin, until the interest rates drop 2%, until Marc finds a lender, until the laws regarding the length of Tax Incremental Financing are changed from the 10 year limit if they really have. [14] What happened to the other bidders, especially the one that offered to negotiate also and did not ask for TIF and offered $1,775,000, would have started immediately, been done by now and had the property on the tax rolls and the City could have afforded to funded $10,000.000 of Iow and moderate housing that would have meant homes, jobs, people spending money downtown, dancing in the streets this coming spring and a good community feeling about it all. [121 You should have recused your self Mr. Wilbum as you did on all the other times CDBG funds were involved. I think you may have broken the law. No majority and no building or maybe you just bought the story. 3/10/04 Dear Ms Page 1 of 5 Marian Karr From: Ask Jim Knapp [askjimknapp@mchsi.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 3:42 AM To: cou ncil@iowa-city.org Cc: karin-franklin@iowa-city.org Subject: You asked for what I wanted to be put in writing. Dear Ms. Franklin and Members of the City Council. Karin wanted me to make my requests in writing so here they are. Please have a response ready for the next meeting. 1. I would like to see the Moen's "audited financial statements" as per the RFP, which indicated that they would be made public. 2. Meeting minutes of all "committee to select and or recommend a preferred developer" meetings 3. Along with the above please provide copies of all the advertisements of all committee meetings cannot have all been purely ministerial. Section 21 of the Iowa Code check out the "definitions, application, sanctions, and "in favor of openness". Please provide the answers to why the public was not informed when Mr. Moen timely failed to notify city regarding his inability to obtain financing 4. Why Council did not know or did some? After all this was going on for a long time, scurrying to and fro to find the money. Trips to Minneapolis, Madison and Timbuktu When July 1 (not the 15th Steve) and actually almost two years latter came and went by why was his financing kept secret from the City Council? Check out the cities organizational chart. According to the RFP 60,000 people have a right to know it is their taxes, schools, homes, health and lives. 5. Did you know? Come on tell me, I'll keep it a secret. Only when Dee Vanderhoef commented about the time "90 days from the 2001 contract then all the sudden it was 2002 and no money then it became 2003 and still no money some of us wondered how many dollars did Mr. Moen save in over 2 years with falling interest rates? 6. If so don't you think is your responsibility to inform the Council? Made a what? "A judgment at the staff level you may disagree with it." Come on Karin she is your boss, you are there to inform like the policeman is to protect and serve. 7. Did Steve Atkins know? Would it not be his responsibility also? Did the Mayor know? 8. Does any one out there think that someone has not done their job either staff or elected? Just a rhetorical question, it depends on whom they are working for and that is a perception open to interpretation. I think it should be for the taxpayers and the residents, not to make rich people out of lawyers. 9. Why does the DBA have more influence over the Council than the taxpayers? Do they have more votes? Do they pay more taxes? Do they stick together? That is admirable unless it involves a conflict of interest. Like in Wilson vs. Iowa City and the Old Capitol Mall. 10. Why have some of the documents regarding the contract been voided and changed? At whose direction? 11. Did anyone know Mr. Moen was over $112,000 in arrears on his property taxes? If not why not? Does that not go to financial responsibility and ability to do a project? 12. What was Monica Moens date of hire, capacity of position and date of termination? 13. What was your date of hire and capacity during that same time period? 3/10/04 Dear Ms Page 2 of 5 14. I would like to have access to the supposed bond the Mayor refers to in the meetings. I have wondered if Ernie really knows what a bond is and how that will even effect the Moen Group because of all the side stepping pirouetting tap dancing clauses in the contract that allow them to avoid any thing where they may not make money. 15. That's right, folks, if the City approves something and accepts it and then they want to change it they are "held harmless". 16. It is sort of coincidental line 18 and 18 parking meters, most of us cannot remember when there were only 18 meters on that lot. Unless when they were installing them and/or removing them. How about that, please ask Joe to clarify that. 17. And how was that lot ever considered a menace or danger to public safety, a breeding ground for juvenile delinquency, the public health or morals. Unless it was the hangout for binge drinking. What morality issues will arise when it is occupied, selling wine, beer, cigarettes, girly magazines and that's just in the grocery store? 18. The immorality and contribution to delinquency is taking CDBG entitlements away from the people by giving away the land. 19. So if it was then the City is culpable for keeping it that way for so long. And if it was not then the City will be for giving it away and thereby depriving the people of the things that are entitlements. 20. Which reminds me about justification. VVhen did Mr. Moen become the city attorney? Why does he tell the City how to make his request for a freebee more palatable when it comes to his burned down building? 21. Why when Mr. Moen said he did not "expect to buy the land for $250,000" and the council said, "we will negotiate" did the price stay at $250,000? 22. Why was the Urban Renewal District expanded to include the Vogel house if this was the last partial of Urban Renewal property and it is worth $27,000,000 as put by Emie Lehman and Mike O'Donnell? Would it not have been more prudent to make it a stand on its own project than saddle the people with a potentially failure like the other big three? Particularly in light of Coral Ridge, The Iowa Child, The Rain Forest and the Convention Center that all make the chances for success even less likely. 23. Why was his lot put on the tax rolls at $250,000 and at almost 48000 square feet is half again larger than Frieda Hieronymus' lot of 30,000 square feet and appraised for $648,000? Upon which she pays $26,000 in taxes, now I ask is that even fair? 24. Do you suppose that the public would like to know that? They will. 25. Do you suppose that the public would like to know that the City has an 18-month moratorium on her building on that site? That seems like a civil liberties issue and a constitutional violation but I am not a lawyer. 26. How can Mr. Moen sell anything before it is built and accepted by the City, according to the agreement? So, how are all the condos selling like hotcakes? How much money has actually changed hands. Or is this another Peninsula Project? A pack of lies and deceit that has cost us more money. 27. If his building is to be worth $27,000,000 why did the City not TIF that instead of the Vogel House? 28. Did you know that Mr. Moen immediately after getting a deed to Parcel 64 - la took it to the Hills Bank and mortgaged it for $486,000? 29. The City now stretches the truth about the $250,000 in their website promo regarding PIN and CDBG and STEPS. Why don't they tell the whole story? I will and anyone else can contribute if they choose. 3/10/04 Dear Ms Page 3 of 5 30. Has anyone really put a pencil to the real value of the other offer and the tax effect? How much was Kevin Monson paid for the CenterSpace and the schematics for the library? Did that become part of the Plaza Towers cost that the city paid. So I guess what I want is evidence of how much has been paid to Mr. Monson by the City for the preliminary work on the Library and CenterSpace that actually was used for Plaza Towers. Same site, same shape, multi-use facility only then it could only support 8 stories. 31. Is homelessness only now a problem, what about last year and the year before who do you people think you are kidding? Or is it just in vogue now? Ernie, is that why you said and 3 agreed "take out the part about Iow to moderate-income". 32. Why was library parking so important when they were talking about the library referendum and building and now "let them walk a few blocks?" 33. Why were promises made to "negotiate" "will be parking on site" and so many others that I can't remember them all and then when the cards were put on the table never kept? 34. Did you purposely steer the council toward the Moen Group? 35. Were the Mayor and Atkins in on it? 36. The library board first choice was parcel 64 - la and Monson had plans and sketches and spoke of multi-use facility? What happened? 37. If we are paying the taxes to intended to retire the library debt why does the City plan on moving the commercial income to the general fund? 38. I would like to see the CenterSpace plans and know why at one time we could not go above 6 or 8 stories. Did the soil stabilize itself? 39. When you explained the various redeveloper responses you indicated that the Executive Suites proposal was to condominiumize and the Moen Group would be apartments. Did that affect one vote of the Council when the score was 4 - 3. 40. Who is the grocery store Moen thinks is coming? 41. When will the City stop this misleading of the public? Admit the mistakes and give the lower level to the Library with a nice tunnel and air rights to the highest bidder. 42. Who does the Council work for and whom does the City Manager work for and whom do you work for? 43. Why when Ross Wilbur recused himself on every issue regarding the CDBG funding vote on the largest parcel of land to be sold when the price was 1/10 of the value. 44. Would the city subpoena the most recent appraisal Mr. Moen got to obtain financing and make it public? Openness is expected. 45. There were 3 appraisals of the lot plus the original 1.2 million. Hertz made the first appraisal at $1,771,000 and the city sent out Addendum No. 1 saying that the proposers should use that value, then Hayes Appraisal Service confirmed it as a proper appraisal and then even later I was told that today it is probably worth $2,500,000. Then I think it was you that contacted another Johnny come lately of a negative $8,000,000 at the behest of the Moen Group. 46. If the value is there then the City should have provide what the people wanted, a library with easy access, a CenterSpace and something that resembled the historic nature of Iowa City not a glass fronted "Edifice to Avarice" that will reflect the apathy of the people, which turns out to be the biggest ally of the Council. 47. In reading the transcripts the word Council reminds me how terribly rude they were to the only two members that showed real care and real hearts. Funny thing now we have a harmonious group according to the Mayor. I call it "7 peas in a pod." On my dad's truck farm years ago my job was to shuck peas, remove weeds from the corn and muck out the barn. It looks like things have not changed that much, just methods. 3/10/04 Dear Ms Page 4 of 5 48. Jim and Loretta Clark were willing to build what the City wanted, A place for people to enjoy the downtown. They believed so much that they made the only offer that was not asking for Spiffs, Tiffs or Gifts. They were rejected (denied) even though the people did not want a "fiat faced behemoth" as will be built. 49. Executive Hotel offered an extra $1,000,000 and had a much nicer facility than the Moen Group but who wants "them out of towners?" Strange, Knutson would have built it and hired local people to do the work and the staff of the operation would have been hired locally. The only difference was the owner and that was no difference because the Sheraton is not locally owned either. 50. We all know that the other 3 major projects have failed in downtown. Holiday Inn, Old Capitol Mall and Plaza Centre One. Would a reasonable person or group invest over $1,200,000 in a project destined to fail? If he thought he only had a one in four chance to succeed? No, Nay, Nyet, Never, Not today. Two answers come to mind, Kevin Monson made one when he said he had $25,000 in architectural fees and the other is a question. Where did the other money come from, you won't let us see the statements that were to be made public and the court house annex has lists of property values and mortgages. 51. How much property did Marc buy while Monica was working for the City and did any Federal Money go to rehab? 52. Who were his partners and did any of them have a conflict of interest because of the spousal relationship in working for the City as a planner or an inspector? 53. How many people on the Council have a conflict of interest by having businesses in the Urban Renewal District and obviously they think that this will benefit the downtown? How many taxpayers will see no benefit in their life times? How much more good could something do now when it is so desperately needed than tomorrow when the damage will be done, some will have died or moved and Coralville surpasses Iowa City in every aspect? 54. What happened to the letter given to Ernie regarding airplane rides and vacations? 55. Was there anybody on the "Committee To Select A Preferred Developer" smart enough to put a four way analysis of the offers reflecting the financial aspects of the time value of money, the future value of the prices offered for the land, the future value of a tax flow at a given rate over the next 20 years of the property taxes, the 2001 partial, the 2002 completed value of Mr. Clark's proposal and the fact that his would be paying taxes while Marc was being given a TIF. If Moen was not in the picture his Vogel house would be paying taxes as well now it won't. Another factor in the puzzle. When I get it worked out I'll bet your pension against mine that the City blew it. 56. Do you remember discussing the idea of a grocery store with me in 1999 ? I bet Marc does. I should send him a bill, too bad I did not copyright it. Oh well maybe the book will sell. The City wrote it but I assembled it and I am just waiting for a happy ending. Like the library gets the basement and the condo owners' park in the ramp. After all one can never tell who will be coming thru the building to get a book. Will the city have to pay for the maintenance? 57. Who were the "two local developers interested in building multi story buildings worth "several million dollars." The City was approached? Now wasn't in more honest to say I was approached? Certain parties. Who? 58. One last question for the public, there is more but I am curious do you really believe that this option was the best for Iowa City? Why do I ask? Because there is an election coming up and because HUD would like to know the truth. Remember "seek the truth and it will set you free." Are you tired of these questions? I have more as well as answers. 3/10/04 Dear Ms Page 5 of 5 The public may have a question or two. When is he going to give up? When the Library patrons can walk from the parking lot under the Plaza Towers directly into the Library and when the homeless shelter is built. Then I will second the nomination for Citizen of the Year. Thank you for your timely anticipated answers. In writing please and in time for my next letter to HUD. Respectfully submitted, Jim Knapp 528 Rundell St. Iowa City, IA. 52240 askjimknapp@mchsi,com 3 / 10/04 Marian Karr From: Jeff Davidson Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 3:45 PM To: 'mary.coburn@att. net' Cc: *City Council; *City Manager's Office; Matt Johnson Subject: FW: 4th Avenue & A street Hello Mary. Your message below to the City Council was forwarded to me for reply. We receive messages similar to yours with some regularity in the area around City High School, as well as in other areas of the co~m~unity. We have found that our most effective method for dealing with recklessly operated vehicles is police enforcement. Unfortunately we have found strategies such as traffic signs to be quite ineffective. However, police enforcement can be effective. According, I have forwarded your message to Captain Johnson in the Police Department, and he has arranged for spot speed enforcement to be conducted in the vicinity of 4th Avenue and A Street. We do not have the capability to have an officer out there all of the time, but they will be there occasionally. If you note a time of day or day of the week when the problem is especially bad, let me know and we can focus our efforts during that time. Thanks for your message. Jeff Davidson, Traffic Engineering Planning. .... Original Message ..... From: mary.coburn@att.net [mailto:mary.coburn@att.net] Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 11:13 AM To: council@iowa-city.org Cc: opinion@press-citizen.org Subject: 4th Avenue & A street I am writing to you and the editor of the Press Citizen due to my concerns for the safety of all people living in this area. Drivers are coming down 4th Avenue with such speed that numerous times they wind up in my yard. There is a barricade at that intersection but this does not deter their speed. On December 27th a car wound up beyond the barricade and tore out a section of the fence around my garden space. Last week someone drove about 10 feet on the front lawn, which I did not report and luckily the rain took care of the damage there. On Saturday (this past) someone tore out some of the sod on the lawn. This will have to be repaired but not knowing who the perpetrator was, I have no alternauive hut to hire someone to repair it. Had the roomers across the street been parked in their usual parking spaces their car would have been damaged to a great extent. I am certain that there are records of some of the calls I have reported to the Police Department, including one where the driver drove into my driveway, pushing my son's truck out into the yard and landed against the rear of my car causing some damage to my car .... and my son was without his truck for a month or more. The driver's vehicle was totalled. Officer Rich investigated the one on Dec. 27th and he said that he would see to it that the driver would repair the damage done .... not that the fence is such a good fence but having had drivers across the garden, have a sort of make-shift fence. My sons would put up a nice one but after living here 36 years and experiencing incidents due to the speed on 4th Avenue, I am requeting you give due consideration to either putting up a speed limit sign on 4th; a stop sign at the intersection of 4th and A Street; or making the 400 block of 4th a one-way street. There have many incidents that it is impossible to list all of them. About twenty years ago two cars were drag racing down 4th and the damage done to one of the cars caused it to be undriveable. I am voicing my concerns before someone gets hurt badly or perhaps, God forbid, a fatality occurs. I hereby absolve myself of any responsibility should any of the above occurs and hope you will give due consideration to my request to prevent such a tragedy. Thank you, Mary Coburn 2015 A STreet Iowa City, IA 52245 Marian Karr From: Jones, Bradley [bradley-jones@uiowa.edu] Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 1:36 PM To: 'cou ncil@iowa-city.org' Subject: smoking ban does not hurt business Hello council members, I came across this article today on the MSNBC.com website and thought that it might be of interest when the issue comes up before the council to impose a smoking ban in Iowa City restaurants. I hope you will take the time to read this article about a recent study that was conducted. Food, drink sales not hurt by smoking ban CDC report says Texas law didn't impact restaurants, bars <http://www.reuters.com/> <http://www.reuters.com/> <<...OLE Obj...>> <http://www.reuters.com/> - Updated: 11:54 a.m. ET Feb. 27, 2004 ATLANTA - A tough anti-smoking law passed in E1 Paso, Texas has had no significant impact on restaurant and bar revenues there, according to a study published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers from the Atlanta-based CDC and the Texas Department of Health reached that conclusion after analyzing sales tax reports and mixed beverage receipts collected in E1 Paso between 1990 and 2002. A ban on smoking in public areas and workplaces went into effect in the city on Jan. 2, 2002. Authorities in E1 Paso, which has more than 560,000 residents, levy fines of up to $500 for violations. Five states and more than 70 other municipalities, including New York City, have instituted similar anti-smoking bans despite complaints that such measures hurt sales in restaurants and bars. But the E1 Paso study found that restaurants and bars did not lose business because of the smoking ban. 'These findings are consistent with the results of studies in other municipalities that determined smoke-free indoor air ordinances had no effect on restaurant revenues.' - Centers for Disease Control "These findings are consistent with the results of studies in other municipalities that determined smoke-free indoor air ordinances had no effect on restaurant revenues," the researchers said in their study. Some 440,000 Americans die each year from lung cancer and other diseases related to smoking and other tobacco use, making it the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, according to the federal government. Anti-smoking advocates Thursday applauded the study's findings and urged government officials to enact smoking bans in every state and community in the nation. "The new study underscores why the public, policy makers and the media should treat with skepticism the claims of economic doom and gloom made by opponents of smoke-free laws," William Corr, executive director of the Washington-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a statement. U.S. health officials want to cut the cigarette smoking rate in half to ! 12 peycent or less by the end of the decade, although none of the 50 states are on track to meet that goal, according to the CDC. REUTERS Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited. Ail rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Thank you, Michelle Jones 88 Heron Circle Iowa City, 52245 319-351-983 thejonesfamilyT@mchsi.com DATE: 02~23~04 TO: City Council ~'/'? v,~ FROM: Sarah Walz, Intern Office of Neighborhood Services RE: New Guide for Student Renters Now Available Just in time for the spring rental rush, a new guide designed to help student renters is now available. Stepping Off Campus: A Guide for Student Renters provides essential information for students who choose to rent off campus. This free guide includes information on the rental process that was previously available only in electronic form through the City's web site. The goal of the guide is to empower students to make wise rental decisions and to help them integrate more smoothly into neighborhood and community life. The guide includes information on everything from looking and budgeting for an apartment to signing a lease and negotiating with landlords and roommates. There is also helpful information on setting up utilities, understanding City regulations and ordinances, and getting along with neighbors. While the main distribution point for the printed guides will be through the Iowa Memorial Union's Campus Information Center and at City Hall, guides will also be available at the Iowa City Public Library and a number of other convenient locations on and off campus. Guides will also be distributed by the University of Iowa's Tenant/Landlord Association through their rental education programs and by the Neighborhood Associations and the Stepping Up Project. Students and other renters interested in the guide can also download it as a PDF file from the City's web site at www.icgov.org The guide is the result of a cooperative effort of the Iowa City Office of Neighborhood Services and Neighborhood Council, University of iowa Student Government, the Tenant/Landlord Association, the Campus Information Center, the Office of University Relations, the University of Iowa Parents Association and the Stepping Up Project. Funding for the guide was provided by the Office of Neighborhood Services, the University of Iowa Student Government, and the Stepping Up Project. For more information please contact Marcia Klingaman at 256-5237 or e-mail Marcia- Klingaman@icgov.org. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM TO: City Council FROM: Don Anciaux, Chair, Planning and Zoning Commission DATE: March 9, 2004 RE: Visual Preference Survey After having attended the March 1 informal council meeting, Jerry Hansen reported to the Planning and Zoning Commission that the Council is concerned about the Visual Preference Surveys (VPS) scheduled for March 27 and March 30. The Commission feels very strongly the survey is an important method of providing for citizen participation in the process of writing the zoning code. Although we plan to have public hearings when the code is complete, we feel that the VPS is a far more effective method of informing the citizens of various options and gauging the public support or lack of support for various zoning tectmiques. Presenting a complete draft containing a huge amount of pages of zoning text is likely to result in only a few people speaking out for or against elements of the code. We believe that illustrating options being considered in the code will bring far more citizens into this important process for shaping our community. We understand that there is some concern that the survey will not be a random sample of the opinions of Iowa Citians. It is true that only those who care enough to attend a survey will participate, but that is tree of any community planning process. However, far more citizens are likely to attend a visual preference survey than are likely to attend a zoning public hearing. We understand from staff that many invitations have been mailed out to Iowa Citians through water bills and the survey is being publicized in the press. Citizens can attend any one of four different survey sessions being presented at City High and West High. In addition there is a noon time session being scheduled through the Iowa City Board of Realtors. It is clear to us that ample opportunity is being provided to any Iowa Citian who wishes to participate. The Commission will not rely solely on the results of the survey to draft zoning ordinance. Rather we are using the research of staff, the successful zoning methods used in other con~munities, the input of interest groups such as the Home Builders Association and neighborhood associations, and the policies already adopted in the Comprehensive Plan. We are also using our own knowledge that we have gained over our multiple years as volunteers to our community as Planning Commissioners. But we do believe that the VPS will be the most effective way of illustrating the code for the public and will produce better understanding and citizen participation in the process. Marian Karr From: Garry & Betsy Klein [the3rdiowa@mchsi.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 6:01 AM To: council@iowa-city.org; Steve Atkins Subject: Visual Preference Survey It has come to my attention that there are concerns whether the Visual Preference Survey that the City Planning Department is planning to hold later this month should occur. As leader of the Creekdside Neighborhood and a person concerned with public input into city policy, I support this activity for three important reasons: 1)It provides valuable public input into the city zoning planning process from the public (all the public is invited, not just "special interest" groups). 2)It allows citizens to be invested in what matters to them about how development will take place in the future. 3)It is a proven scientific way to gather information that is useful to city planners and city council members alike. As a educational researcher, I recognize that there could be concern about "deck-stacking". As a check to make sure the data collected is representative of the community, the collection of some information about the participant could be helpful--specifically what kind of work they do, what are their general feelings about development would be two key pieces of info. That way the data can be sorted taking into account the varability of respondent type. I ask the council to work with city staff to make sure the process is balanced and let this go forward. Thanks for your consideration, Garry Klein 628 2nd Ave. Iowa City, IA 52245 Page 1 of 1 Marian Karr From: betonica@avalon.net Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 2:27 PM To: elliottb53@aol .corn Cc: co u ncil@iowa-city.org Subject: Visual preference survey Hi, Bob - Lee and I enjoyed meeting you at last week's interesting discussion of the proposed (and still very much a fledgling, I'd say!) Iowa City Peace Center. Another gathering at UUSIC, in February, focused on a discussion of zoning and planning in Iowa City. The use of the visual preference survey was discussed at that meeting,and sounded like a great catalyst for discussion of the future of Iowa City's neighborhoods, old and new -- so we were disappointed to learn that these surveys may not be carried out after all. We heard that the reason behind the council's hesitancy is a worry about ho~v representative the visual survey audience might be. But surely the surveys aren't the only way the council will gather information about a topic as complex as planning and zoning? In our minds, the surveys offer a way to begin the discussion, and to pique public interest in the process. Thinking about Io~va City, and basing our (amateur) opinions on having been part of this community for some 20 years now, it seems to us that three factors have had and will continue to have a real impact on quality of life here: Being a university town with a transient (student) population, experiencing rapid growth, and - as the result of this rapid growth -balancing policy in light of the powerful role contractors and developers play in our community. One way to encourage public input into the planning and zoning that ~vill shape the future of this town we care so much about would be through the visual preference surveys. If the audiences at those events are not fully representative, then perhaps the zoning and planning folks will also need to take their show on the road, so that in the end the audiences that provide input are more diverse. Thanks for listening - we would very much appreciate hearing how you decide to proceed on this! Lee and Susan Eberly 1840 Friendship Street, IC betonica(~avalon.net 3/9/04 Page 1 of 1 Marian Karr From: Brulin [brulinS@mchsi.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 10:04 To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: visual preference survey Dear Council members, I recently received an e-mail from a family member connected with the Madison, Wisconsin firm that will be conducting the visual preference survey here in Iowa City. Since I do not subscribe to the Press Citizen I had not seen the article about the survey. I have spoken to several Iowa City residents who are normally well informed citizens and none of them were aware of the survey either. Could you publicize this more broadly so that there might be more reasonable citizen input? I'm looking forward to attending the March 30 presentation and survey. Thank you. Linda Tomblin, 1909 Glendale Rd., Iowa City 3/10/04 11 South Gilbert P.O. Box 3396 Iowa City, Iowa 52244 HBA Phone: (319) 351-5333 Fax: (319) 358-2443 E-moih hbaofic@cs.com HOME BUILD~RS ASSOOAT~ON www,iowacityhomes.com Advocates for homeownership I by promoting standards for quality and affordablility March 8, 2004 ~D -" ~ -- Mayor Lehman and Council Members City of Iowa City 410 E Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Dear Mayor Lehman and Council Members: Thank you for your offer to participate in a visual preference survey conducted by the Planning Department. We always appreciate the opportunity for productive dialogue between the planning staff and our organization. However, given the HBA of Iowa City's underlying and fundamental opposition to the policy behind the survey, we must respectfully decline this particular invitation. As we understand the process, it consists of showing participants a series of pictures of a variety of homes and asking them to grade which one they prefer based upon their initial impression. The HBA has serious concems about both the purpose and methodology of this survey. It seems the purpose is an attempt to create statistics justifying the imposition of residential design standards. Further, it appears there is no inquiry as to costs comparisons, interior alterations, and no questions involving the approval or disapproval of the underlying policy of such "preferences" being mandatory. As you are aware, our opposition to residential design standards on single family housing is well documented and absolute. The HBA cannot participate in a survey that ultimately seeks to justify imposing a policy we fundamentally oppose. Additionally, the HBA believes the time for hiring an independent third party was at the beginning of the code review process, a recommendation we made last October 2003, and not when it is nearing itg end; particularly when the funds are being spent only on one limited issue of the entire code review. As a community organization, we are further troubled by the hiring of a consultant when there are other important community issues to attend to such as the funding of public safety, road construction and maintenance, community services such as the library and senior center and a host of other important initiatives. We believe a more productive use of City time, efforts and resources at this juncture of the code review would be to re-focus on streamlining the development process, making it more efficient Affiliated with National Association of Home Builders & Home Builders Association of lowa and flexible for the construction and building industry to accommodate the needs of consumers. We pride ourselves as an organization on working constructively and openly with local governments to find effective solutions to issues affecting the construction and building industry. Our declining to participate in this survey is simply a reflection of our already stated opposition to the City mandating arbitrary aesthetic design standards to the citizens and homeowners of Iowa City. As always, we remain committed to working with the Planning Department during the code review and on other pertinent matters in the near future. Sincerely, Rob Phipps I ~ President Greater Iowa City Area Home Builders Association cc: Iowa City Council Members Steve Atkins of 9, 2004 ~ C~dl~ March Rob Phipps, President Greater Iowa City Homebuilders Assn. 11 S. Gilbert Street P.O. Box 3396 Iowa City, IA' 52244 Dear Rob: In response to your March 8 letter, I must admit to my disappointment that the Home Builders Association (HBA) would choose not to participate in a community survey such as we suggest by way of the Visual Preference Survey (VPS). You have cited in your letter "the opportunity for productive dialogue between the Planning staff and your organization (HBA)" and I thank you for that. The development code, in my judgment, requires far more than simply a discussion between these respective bodies. We need to involve as many community interests as possible--notably our citizens--in the discussion of something as important as our development code. The HBA cites their opposition to the "policy behind the survey" as the reason to refuse to participate. You may choose not to participate, but I must take issue with the comment concerning "the policy." The intent in conducting this survey is to foster interest and participation within the Iowa City community concerning the development code rewrite. There is no "policy" other than the Visual Preference Survey being an instrument to provide information to the Planning and Zoning Commission, the City Council, and other interest groups. It is a tool to demonstrate to the community their collective interests and identify issues which relate to development. The data compiled will be presented as an expression of how the community feels about development-related issues. The VPS has been offered to the HBA, and of course you could also choose to participate in the planned community-wide survey, either of which serve as opportunities to express opinions. The development code is a document that encompasses building, housing, zoning, and subdivision codes. These regulations shape how Iowa City will grow. I believe it is important to inform and involve the public in this process. The development regulations, that is, the text volume alone, can be daunting and is filled with many technical issues difficult to understand. One of the goals is to make it more understandable. I would not expect an average citizen to take the time to read 400+ pages and then comment and critique such a lengthy document. Therefore I asked the staff to seek an alternative, and that alternative was the use of visual preferencing as a means for community involvement. Our research shows VPS has been successful in other cities throughout the United States as a proven method of fostering community interest as well as involvement in development- related issues. The VPS is but one instrument, and is not intended to replace the detailed technical review which will occur with the Planning and Zoning Commission, the City Council, and other opportunities afforded through public hearings. The VPS simply offers our citizens an opportunity to express their interests and does not require them to review detailed text. The input received from the survey will be used by the Commission and the Council in the same manner all public input is used - balanced with all the other information and experience Commissioners and Councilors use to make informed decisions. 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · {319) 356-5000 · FAX (319) 356 5009 March 9, 2004 Page 2 It is unfodunate that the HBA seems to be taking a stance against broad-based citizen participation. The HBA has expressed a fear that the survey process is merely an attempt to justify selected regulations within the code. You expressed "opposition to residential design standards" and the survey "seeks to justify imposing a policy we fundamentally oppose." The staff is already revisiting provisions of the proposed code based on the Council's Sand Hill decision, so we are not sure what standards you mean. We believe the VPS will allow public interest to be served in the use of a visual, as opposed to textual, review. It is impodant that you are aware that the VPS will identify commercial areas, multi- family projects, duplexes, single-family neighborhoods, as well as streetscape, pedestrian amenities, parking, etc. The VPS is not a review of single-family housing design; it involves much more. ~t is not the intention to "create statistics," but to compile and report the results. These results, as well as information gathered from comments and other interests within the development community and from the general public, will help the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council in their decision making. You also feel that this is not the time for public participation and that an independent third party should have been hired at the beginning of the code review process. As the HBA is well aware, an independent consultant was hired at the beginning of the process. Duncan and Associates, an independent consulting firm, was hired to assess the City's development code with regard to the policies of the Comprehensive Plan and was charged with identifying ways to achieve Plan goals, encourage the production of affordable housing, and streamline the development process. This information was presented to the Council, and I understand builders and developers were interviewed as part of Duncan's initial work. I believe the information that is discovered from the review process can be helpful not only to the City in its review of the development code, but also helpful to your industry in determining your consumers' wishes. A visual presentation is a means to allow residents to express their opinion. I hope you will change your mind and have the HBA participate. Hopefully, I have been able to identify this matter as far more than single-family design. We will welcome your comments, and they will be incorporated as a part of the public record to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council as the future discussions occur concerning the development code. Sincerely, Stephen J. Atkins City Manager cc: City Council Director of Planning & Community Development mgr/Itrs/HBA-visprefsurvey doc Boston.corn / News / Local / Inmate's exoneration renews calls for an 'innocence' panel Marian Kart From: Irvin Pfab [ipfab@avalon.net] Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 7:02 AM To: Iowa City City Council Subject: 3904fw...Inmate's exoneration renews calls for an 'innocence' panel: The Boston Globe, by Jonathan Saltzman - Globe staff *** eSafe detected a hostile content in this email and removed it. /HTHL-Body Objects Removed: 1-JavaScript Forbidden function(s) found: document.write(un ~l~ .~j~, O~t~ t~o~r~ THIS STORY HAS BEEN FORMA~'ED FOR EASY PRINTING Inmate's exoneration renews calls for an 'innocence' h .e obt panel By Jonathan Saltzman, Globe Staff, 3~9~2004 Anthony Powell, who served nearly 13 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, fits an all too common pattern among inmates exonerated in Suffolk County in recent years, according to defense lawyers and legal experts. He was wrongfully convicted based largely on an erroneous eyewitness identification. He repeatedly protested his innocence. And he languished in prison until DNA testing proved incontrovertibly that he was telling the truth. While it's impossible to eliminate such wrongful convictions, legal specialists said, Massachusetts could prevent many, for example, by changing the way eyewitnesses identify potential suspects, videotaping interrogations, and making it easier for people convicted of crimes to gain access to DNA evidence for testing. Legislators are considering such changes. Defense lawyers and legal specialists repeated calls for the establishment of an "innocence commission" to systematically analyze wrongful convictions and figure out why they happen. The issue was raised in January when a man was freed after serving 6 1/2 years following his convinction for shooting a Boston Police officer. "How many more people have to be proven innocent and exonerated before the Commonwealth examines what went wrong in all these cases and figures out how to put an end to wrongful convictions in the state?" said Aliza B. Kaplan, deputy director of the New York-based Innocence Project, whose New England office helped win the Jan. 23 release of Stephan Cowans. Cowens was freed after DNA tests and additional fingerprint examinations cleared him. Powell's conviction is the eighth one successfully challenged in Suffolk County since 1997. The other prisoners were freed after the state acknowledged mistakes ranging from a misidentified fingerprint to the failure of prosecutors to disclose some exculpatory evidence. Powell's case also demonstrates how unreliable eyewitness identification can be in criminal cases. The woman he was accused of raping at knifepoint in a wooded area in Roxbury told police that her assailant was a clean-shaven young black man, about 5-foot-10, weighing 200 pounds, and appeared to have letters shaved on his scalp. The assailant told the victim to return to a nearby skating rink the next day with $100. The victim contacted police, who staked out the area around the rink the next day and spotted Powell. He fit some aspects of the description, said his lawyer Stephen Hrenes, but he had a lot of facial hair and a full head of hair. Nonetheless, when detectives showed the victim an array of a dozen photographs of possible suspects, including Powell, she picked him out. She also identified him as her assailant at trial. Defense lawyers and legal specialists say such misidentifications are common. Of the 143 prisoners exonerated nationwide as a result of DNA evidence since 1992, including some on death row, more than 80 percent had been 3/9/04 Boston.com / News / Local / Inmate's exoneration renews calls for an 'innocence' panel Page 2 of 2 convicted based chiefly on mistaken eyewitness testimony, according to the Innocence Project. In a 2002 study, Stanley Z. Fisher, a professor at the Boston University School of Law, found that most of the 15 people officially exonerated by the state since 1886 had been misidentified "despite the witness's good opportunity to observe the perpetrator." As a result of such misidentifications, the Committee for Public Gounsel Services, which represents poor defendants, is supporting state legislation that would require Massachusetts to follow US Department of Justice guidelines adopted in 1999 for showing witnesses lineups and photograph arrays of suspects. Among other things, the guidelines would eliminate traditional lineups and photo arrays. Studies have shown that eyewitnesses examining a group of possible suspects together are apt to pick out one, thinking, "Well, the person must be in here," said Anthony J. Benedetti, general counsel for the public defender's agency. The Justice Department has instead recommended showing witnesses suspects or photographs one at a time. And the Innocence Project has urged that such presentations be "double-blind," that is, done by a neutral party who is unaware of the identity of the suspect, to prevent coaching of eyewitnesses. A 2001 Justice Department study found that less than 10 percent of eyewitnesses picked the wrong person when sequential double-blind lineups were used. Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Gonley said a group that he and the new Boston Police Commissioner, Kathleen M. O'Toole, have appointed will study whether the Boston Police Department should change how it does lineups and shows photographs to crime victims. He said they would consider implementing the federal guidelines. The Gommittee for Public Counsel Services is also pushing legislation that would make it easier for people who say they have been wreng[y convicted of crimes to have DNA evidence tested to prove their innocence. Powell's lawyer said it took his client years to persuade the authorities to compare the DNA evidence in the semen retrieved from the rape victim with his own. Tests ruled him out. But he wasn't exonerated because the victim had told police that the rapist may not have ejaculated. Because semen found after the rape could have come only from the rapist orthe victim's boyfriend at the time, based on her statements to police, authorities then spent about a year tracking down the boyfriend and persuading him to give a DNA sample, prosecutors said. When the boyfriend's DNA did not match the evidence, prosecutors concluded the semen must have belonged to a third man, finally clearing Powell. DNA evidence was not presented at Powell's original trial, because the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Gourt did not permit DNA evidence in state courts until 1994, two years after Powell was tried and convicted. The SJC was one of the last state supreme courts to allow DNA evidence. David Precopio, a spokesman for Gonley, said prosecutors have no problem sharing DNA evidence with defendants, as long as testing doesn't destroy all the evidence. A third bill supported by the public defender's office would require police to record all interrogations on video or audio tape. The SJC is expected to consider whether that should be mandated. Fisher said he doubts that the flurry of exonerations in Suffolk County reflects a surge in errant prosecutions, although he finds it treub[ing. "1 think we probably always had these cases," he said. "It's just that we developed the scientific tools to prove that a person was wreng[y convicted." © Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company, © Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company 3/9/04 2257 Sugar Bottom Rd., Solon, IA, 52333 Mar. 9, 2004 Iowa City Council, C/o Marian Kart, City Clerk, City Hall, Iowa City IA., 52240. Dear Members of the Council, The Regional Government Committee of the League of Women Voters of Johnson County (LWVJC) is requesting 20-30 minutes of time on one of your informal work session agendas to discuss with you the results and implications of our two-year study of regional government in Johnson County. We have met with the Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Coralville, North Liberty and Solon in an effort to stimulate serious community dialogue on structural solutions to facilitate intergovernmental cooperation and coordination in Johnson County. Our presentation will include a summary of opinions of some 25 community leaders given in recent interviews on the question of how to improve intergovernmental cooperation. We will also discuss some specific public services that might be provided on a county-wide basis. We hope to obtain feedback and ideas from you on this topic. We will provide some materials in advance for your review. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, rat Canc a, Coq:hair, 644-2807, 2horse~_,inav.net. Committee members, Carol Spaziani, Co-chair, Barbara Beaumont, Ruth Bonfiglio, Helen Burford, Lolly Eggers, Lenore Hale, Pat Jensen, and Rebecca Reiter. LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF JOHNSON COUNTY REGIONAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Rationale for Choosing Dispatching as the Top Candidate for Servilb~VVA Merger in Johnson County (Prepared by Rebecca Reiter and Helen Burford, 1-12-04) 1. Existing structure is complex and not uniform throughout the county. There are two Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) in Johnson County. One is dispatched through the ShefiWs office and the other in the Police Department in Iowa City. There is a secondary PSAP at the University of Iowa. There two 911 areas in Johnson County; the geographical area inside the city limits of Iowa City and the geographical area outside of the city limits and within county limits, i.e. everything outside oflowa City. This includes incorporated (Coralville, Hills, Lone Tree, Solon, Oxford, etc.) and unincorporated areas in Johnson County. There is now one recent exception to this general nde: University Heights, since midnight July 1, 2003, is dispatched to Iowa City. Note that the University of Iowa, which is both inside and outside of the city limits, is serviced by two 911 areas. A 911 call outside Iowa City limits (exception University Heights) goes to the Johnson Country ShefiWs department. 2. Several indicators point to the need to regionalize. a, Iowa City and Johnson County dispatchers use different frequencies to dispatch their units. In a county wide emergency, Iowa City could dispatch Johnson County units but Johnson County cannot dispatch IC. b. Iowa City police and Sheriff's cars cannot communicate directly with one another. c. Iowa City has Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) but Johnson County does not. But only Johnson County can dispatch an ambulance. d. At the moment there is not uniform computer capability. For example, Iowa City has access to the world's criminal records with the exception of Johnson County's records. e. In addition there is a basic problem with 911 cell phone calls. Cell phones are not on a database that automatically gives the location and name of the person calling (as with trunk phone lines).. The dispatcher has to determine the location of the call from the description given and/or the relay tower the call is coming from. 3. Dispatching Services have already developed a degree of cooperation. a. There is a designated phone line between the Iowa City and Johnson County dispatchers, and good cooperation between the dispatchers. b. Since 1991 Iowa City fire, police and the Johnson County ambulance have a 800 mega Hertz frequency to talk directly to one another. c. There is a county wide 911 Supervisory Board that consists of representatives from all the political and service units in Johnson County. 4. There is some support for moving toward regionalization. a. Dispatching was one of the top services suggested for regionalization by the community. b. The Iowa City Police Chief has indicated he is in favor of a joint dispatching system. c. City Manager Steve Atkins has said "considering a joint dispatch center (multiple jurisdictions) could have a profound effect over the long term on the provision of public safety services in both cost savings and better service". d. Press articles have called for a"single county-wide emergency services communications center" Gazette 9-14-03. e. Fire would like centralized dispatching. 5. Benefits to be realized by regionalization. a. A standard communication network and protocol for state, county and local municipalities. This communication grid would cover an entire region. b. Elimination of duplicated governmental services. c. Economies for the community through sharing of costs. d. Efficiencies gained through information sharing: fire, police, ambulance, justice/attorney's records, evidence storage/catalog/ng, and other record keeping. e. Establish standardized training and compensation for dispatch personnel. 6. Steps in the process of regionalization of dispatching services have already been defined and described. (If we can get the Vegemast report we might be able to quote it) LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF JOHNSON Y BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON REGIONAL GOVERN~qT ~ ~_.~. (The following information is provided to League members to prepare for the membership discussl~ meeti{~g on the issue of regional government to be heldAprd l8 at 7p.m. at the lowa City Recreation Center, Root~B. Tha:research and writing was done by the members of the Regional Government Study Committee: Carol Spaziani and Pat Cancilla, co-chairs, and Ruth Bonfiglio, Lolly Eggers, Lennie Hale, Pat densen and Gertrude MacQueen.) INTRODUCTION The League of Women Voters of Johnson County decided in the spring of 2001 to study regional government, including "the forms, structures, advantages and disadvantages of regional government and how they might apply to Johnson County and its local jurisdictions'. Interest in the issue had come as a result of fha League's five-year study of Johnson County government and a review &the League's position on community development, which included intergovernmental services and comprehensive planning. Following several years of examining our county's government and developing positions aimed at improving it, the LWV reached out to the community to share with organizations and individuals what the League had found and what recommendations had been made to the county. This produced an interestng development: questions about why the League wasn't looking at metropolitan or regional government for the ares Some citizens had already concluded that services might be better - and more cheaply - provided by fewer local governmental bodies. The League county government study committee also had run into the idea of regional government in the course of its study. The current look at regional government was a natural extension of what had gone before. At the same time, others in Iowa began discussing the idea of regional government. The Governor's 2010 Strategic Planning Council set forth the idea of reorganizing urban and rural counties. In the Des Moines/Polk County area there is a move to merge the two governments; a commission has been established and is at work to design a change in the system. In Cedar Rapids/Liun County community leaders are looking at the idea of a regional governing body. Newspapers have begun to cany opinion pieces questioning the number of governments in Iowa and how well they are working, and raising the idea of"regionalizing" in various ways. The same newspapers are editorially supporting the Concept. Another factor punching the idea of regionalism is Iowa's lagging economy. It is forcing governments to rethink the way they do business and to look at creative ways to move into the future. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY "REGIONS"? There are many types of regions. This study has dealt mostly with the political region of Johnson County. But a political region may bo drawn based on social, economic, ecological, metxopolitan, market urea, or specific service delivery needs. The following definitions of"regions" were culled fxom Peter Calthorpe's The Regional City, the U.S. Census, the Code oflowa, and committee discussions. Political: Defined by formal governmental boundaries and structure. For the most part the structure remains as it was decades ago, a central city surrounded by smaller suburbs. Social: An area composed of residents bound together in a social compact - "a sense of community, loyalty, and trust" is often involved. Economic: An area encompassing business and industrial "clusters" - geographically based groups of companies, entrepreneurial networks, and labor skills that permit a region to fmd and keep its place in the global economy. (Examples: Silicon Valley, the Rust Belt) Ecological: An area defined by watersheds, agricultural uses, or ecosystems that cover many communities. (Examples: The Iowa River Valley, the Corn Belt) Metropolitan: Sprawling agglomerations o f central city and suburbs covering countless political jurisdictions - a series of interconnected places. (Examples: Des Moines, Chicago, Los Angeles) Neighborhood: A walkable place with clear boundaries and an identifiable center of local services and civic institutions. (Example: Iowa City's North Side) Market Area: An area with magnet shopping and employment oppommities; defined by the distance shoppers and employees will commute from their homes. (Example: Iowa City/CoralvilledCedar Rapids surrounded by Johnson, Linn, Washington, Iowa, Benton and Cedar Counties) Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA): Defined by the U.S. Census as "a central city of at least 50,000 population and the county in which the central city is located. May include other suburban counties and contiguous cities in the market arena" (Example: Johnson County is defined by the Census as an SMSA.) Urbanized Area: Defined by the U.S. Census as "an area with a population density of at least 1,000 population per square mile and in a cluster of at least 2,500 population". Multi-County Community Development Regions: Delineated in the Code of Iowa, Chapter 281I, as Councils of Governments regions with counties specifically listed. Purpose: delivery of community development programs and services and coordination of local, state, and federal government programs. WltY LOOK AT REGIONAL GOVERNMENT? Forces fostering a regional approach for local governmenta Recently there has been a push to reduce in some way the number of local governments in Iowa and to increase intergovernmental cooperation. Leading advocates are The Des Moines Register, the Cedar Rapids and lewd City Gazettes, and the Iowa Chamber Alliance (an organization of Chambers of Commerce in the 16 largest Iowa cities; inspired by Run Corbett oftbe Cedar Rapids Chamber and Mike Blouin of the Greater Des Moines Partnership). This push is fueled by the following motivational factors (in no purtieular priority order): 1) The state and local budget crunch. 2) Desire to keep property taxes down (to strengthen economic development effo~ts of cities and also to allow family farms to continue in operation). 3) Iowa's steady loss ofpopulatien that lessens the need for and viability of 99 counties. Only two areas in the state are actually growing. These two areas (Des Moines-Ames and Cedar Rapids-Iowa City) are already experiencing the need to cooperate within their respective metropolitan regions. 4) Ownership of automobiles making it possible for rural and small town residents to shop and work in nearby larger cities, creating a "market area" concept. 5) Iowa's population shift from rural to urb~, convincing some that a greater percentage of state aid should be shifted to areas ofgrenter population concentration, and creating the need to control urban sprawl and solve area-wide transportation, sewage and water problems. 6) Difficulty in recruiting candidates for local government offices in some areas of lesser population. 7) Desire to create larger units of government that would create economies of scale, reduce the number of government employees, reduce competition among local governments, allow stronger economic development efforts, and improve efficiency of delivery of services area wide. This leads to suggestions of the following strategies (some only ideas; some in widespread use): A. Some form of property tax sharing in metropolitan areas. Locally the TIF (tax increment financing) controversy is beginning to point to this need. B. Adopting intergovernmental land use plans and controls to deal with urban sprawl. C. Reforming the Iowa annexation law and adopting statewide land usc legislation. D. Conh~zting among adjoining cities and counties to provide a service (28E agre~nents) or providing a merged service such as health depta tments (Dubuque), fire protection, jails, law enforcement (Marquette/McGregor), economic development, mass transit, animal shelt~, emergency services, etc. This is in wide use throughout Iowa and in Johnson ~un,_.,ty. E. Merging county government with the largest city in the county (Des Moine~oun~and Cedar Rapids/Linn County currently looking at this). F. Co..se idatiun, of neighboring clties or counties (Melcher-Dallas is the only ong~ G. Dlsmcorporation of small towns that have lost population, local businesses anrY'-a~acie~, School dis. et consoli on (legisl e recently inceotives for di to I. Consolidation of 99 clerk of court offices into 28 service areas (proposed by the Iowa Judicial Council then withdrawn because of strong opposition by local officials and lawyers). Forces ooposin~ a regional approach for local governments 1) Elected county government officials perceive a loss of their jobs and a possible shit~ of state fimding for roads to urban areas. 2) Rural interests such as the Farm Bureau perceive a power shiR from rural to urban areas. 3) Labor unions perceive a loss ofgovermnentjobs. 4) Local residents desire to ~reserve a sense of community or school identity even if it costs them more. 5) Citizens in county seat towns are reluctant to see their economy impacted by loss of govermnent jobs. 6) Tax policy has masked the true cost of maintaining so many local governments. 7) Fragmentation is politically popular. 8) Some citizens perceive a weakening of grassroots commtmication and uifluence on local officials if larger local governing bodies are created - i.e. less democracy. 9) There is mixed evidence that consolidation actually saves money. '~ 10) Iowa state law requtrements for cooperat~un m land use and annexation need s~engt~me. I l) The procedures m Iowa Code (Ch. 33 l) to achieve consolidation of local govemmen~an~s form of county governments are lengthy and cumbersome. In Johnson County there is a long history, continuing to the present day, of: l) mtergoverm~ental " miscommunication, competition, and lack of coordinated planning for development and land u~; 2) con'ts and disputes over joint provision of specific services, annexations, zoning, and use of tax inc~ement financing; and 3) inequities among governmental units in tax bases and human services funding. These problems continue despite the existence of the Johnson County Council of Governments (JCCOG) and informal qua~erly discussion meetings of officials from Johnson County, Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, and the Iowa City Community School Disu'ict. Neither of these mechanisms offers enforcement or taxing authority, and not all local governments participate. HAS REGIONAL GOVERNMENT WORKED ELSEWHERE? The history of local government consolidations and attempts to consolidate over the last centory provides some interesting information: There were 137 proposals in the United States between 1921 and 2000 for consolidation of city and county governments. · Only 25 of these (18%) were approved. Of the 25, only six occurred in counties with 25,000-125,000 population. The ~est were in very small counties or in those over 125,000 population. None were in counties over 700,000 population. · Twenty-two of the 137 consolidation attempts that failed did so more than once. Chattanooga, Tennessee, attempted consolidation five times; Tampa, Florida, and Macon, Georgia, four; the remainder tried two or three times but failed. · Of the 137 proposals, 106 were in the South; 24 in the West; six in the Midwest; and one in the East. · The highest number of proposals (96) occurred between 1960-1990 (16 were adopted). Only 20 occurred from 1990-2000 with six passing, two of which happened in 2000. The benefits cited in descriptions of six of the areas are largely in improved efficiencies in provision of services; coordination of planning, zoning, and transportation; and ability to present a united front in seeking economic development. There is mixed evidence tha~ consolidations actually save money. Academic evidence that regional economic development is actually enhanced is inconclusive. Efficiency is increased only if the design of the new government allows it. Most consolidations seem to have occurred in counties where only a small percentage of the population lives outside the central city's limits and where there are few incorporated smaller towns in the county. In several, the consolidation achieved is not complete in that some cities remain intact, and some services have not been assumed by the consohdated government. Most successes seem to occur when only the central city merges with the county, allowing smaller dties to join or not as they wish. All consolidated governments studied have strong elected executives as well as chief management officers, often appointed by the elected executive. Most provide for urban and rural service districts (generally the former incorporated and unincorporated areas) with different levels of services provided. Existing tax rates are often lel~ as they were before the consolidation. In short, the road to regional government really is rocky. Success depends on good state enabling legislation that fosters mergers. People love their local governments and want to clutch them closely. Small towns within urban regions often oppose consolidation attempts. Success depends on people expanding their noti _or, of what their "community" is and valuing sustainability or quality of life issues over parochialism. F~tors po~q~ing in this direction are increased mobility, the broader nature of the problems (such as urban spra _w~ ~f~.' g ~ ~ communities, and the perception that fewer governments may mean lower taxes. 3~., ~ ~v . .~, one begin to think that working toward regional government is an unattainable goal,--~rth~of the Lest time and effort, here are a few examples of where progress toward regionalism has been impressive. Res~nce to change is always strong. Preference for the status quo is a given. Yet, the need for collaborative thinking has been voiced by many who have knowledge ofgovernmem. Seattle/Puget Sound, Washington Seattle is the biggest metropolitan area in the west outside of California. It has faced intense growth pressure since the 1960s. Population grew 22% in the 80s. People became concerned about protecting the environment. The Puget Sound Regional Council in the late 80s developed "Vision 2020", a blueprint for a dramatically different region that included containing urban sprawl, organizing urban development into centers, protecting rural areas, providing more housing choices, and creating a regional transportation strategy. The state followed in 1991 by passing legislation that strengthened the regulations set up by the council. For instance, it stated that no new development would be allowed unless transportation and other facilities were first provided. The state succeeded in implementing policies and linking local policies to the regional strategy. Public awareness and pride developed. The Washington Growth Management Act has encouraged annexation and incorporation of cities. Existing cities are the focal point for future growth. In 1995 a Metropolitan Transportation Plan, designed to link together the 21 urban centers, was adopted. Border areas were preserved for green space, lakes and shorelines were cleaned up, and new bike and walking paths were built. Today the region is becoming more compact, livable and manageable, a place where sprawl is receding because both government agencies and citizens have been willing to move in the direction of the regional city. Athens/Clark County, Georgia Civic leaders in Athens, Georgia, became conccxned that Aflantu was encroaching on their idyllic community. Other problems included economic pressure, water, public education, transportation, regional planning and governance. The LWV led the first attempts to merge the governments of the city and county. There were four unsuccessful tries between 1969 and 1990. Analysts believe that poor marketing was a major reason for the failures. On the fifth try, in August of 1990, the voters approved a charter commission. After an intense four-month effort that included town meetings, the 15-member Unification Commission finished writing the charter, which focused primarily on government reorganization. It was voted on In November 1990 and began to fimcfiun in January 1991. Good leadership and citizen involvement finally brought victory. Athens/Clarke County is in many ways comparable to Iowa City/Johnson County. It is the hume of the University of Georgia. The city has a population of 89,000, the whole county, 91,000. However, in contrast, the county is geographically one fifth the size of Johnson County and Athens accounts for 98% of the population. There are no other municipalities in the county, which perhaps provides an easier setup for change. A ten-year evaluation said that the change was sold to the voters as a way to save money. The major benefit, however, has been the coordination and lack of competition between the two governments. The collaboration has aided economic development, planniqg, and resource management. The Athens experience shows that changing a governmental structure can take many years and several tzies. Portland, Oregon Lots of acronyms are used to describe the Portland Plan: LUTRAQ - Land use, transportation, air quality; UGB - Urban growth boundary; VMT - Vehicle miles traveled. All of these were addressed by the 1,000 Friends of Oregon, a non-profit group. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) decided that projected growth for the area demanded a new highway to relieve the congestion. The proposed highway would have exceeded the UGB by a number of miles. The 1,000 Friends of oregon decided an alte~mative p_l~_ was needed; it took seven years but was adopted. The result? No highway was approved; a newC~ght,~rail ~stem was approved and is in place; urban sprawl was diverted; and TODs (transit oriented develol~ pr~oted~ clustering of jobs, services and homing, and all within walking distance! ~ t Cape Cod, Massachusetts --< ~ ~ C"~ Cape Cod on the Atlantic seacoast is under siege by people wanting to enjoy and live th~c~l~e C~ Cott-~ Regional Policy Plan is the result ora 1990 act by the Massachusetts General Court and a refer~an o~y- Bamstable County voters. It found that the unique natural, coastal, historical, and cultural valu"~ were I~g threatened by uncoordinated and inappropriate uses of land and established the Cape Cod Commission to prepare and implement a land use policy plan for all of Cape Cod to review and regulate developments of regional impact. The plan was developed by a public process and adopted by thc county legislature as a county ordinance. This process took about ten years; the League of Women Voters was heavily involved. It is both a planning and regulato:y docutnent and establishes a framework for towns to develop local plans and policies consistent with regional policies. The state approved enabling legislation and provided some funding. Goals of the plan included ensuring affordable housing, open space and recreation, elimination of strip development, protection of thc character o£existing villages, end year-round employment for residents. The system is reported to be functiening well but some feel it has not curtailed development as much as had been hoped. A major problem remaining is provision of adequate mnounts of water when summer residents arrive. Other Possible Creative Solutions In addition to these examples of actual regional governance, there are "experts" in this field who offer ideas and possible solutions. *In his book, Cities Without Suburbs, David Rusk presents an analysis of cities and his solution to urban problems. Rusk believes that Amc-rim must end the isolation of the central city from its suburbs. The book is based on a detailed study of census data of 522 central cities in the country from 1950 to 1990. Rusk finds that cities trapped within old boundaries have suffered severe racial segregation and the emergence of an urban underciass. However, cities with annexation powers termed "elastic" by Rusk have shared in area-wide development. Elasticity measures reflect a city's density and its ability to expand its boundaries. The more elastic a city is the more easily it can grow, insure an improved bond rating, and enjoy reduced economic and racial segregation. *Peter Calthorpe and William Fulton in TheRegional City recount the triumph of planning to combat sprawl and gridlock in metropolitan areas grouped according to population. In each case study, groups of citizens met to work together to transform their areas into "regional cities" through a combination of physical design end social and economic policies, and achieve a livable city. Their solutions stress walking, biking, and the correlation of workplaces, commerce, and public transport. *A unique idea in the quest for regional govenunent has been presented by Gerald F. Frog, Professor of Law at Harvard University, in a recent paper. Frug proposes a new relationship for melropolitan cities and the politics of regionalism - a regional legi~latur~ with "qualified majority voting". Votes would be allocated to representatives based on population, with an agreed-upon requirement of 2/3 or ~ for adoption of any measure. ~his differs from present regional planning agencies where any single municipality may defeat a proposal by refusing to vote or by walking away from a resolution. Frug suggests that elections could be partisan to unite similar political views across jurisdictional lines. There also could be regional citizenship where residents could cast their votes in any local jurisdiction of their choosing. *In an opinion piece in the Iowa C~ty Gazette (February 24, 2002), "The Case for Consolidation Grows Stronger", Leonard Hadley suggests that we must get our limited public resources in Iowa more closely aligned with growth oppommifies. One way would be a consolidation of exisim~ contiguous cities or counties with common regional interests. For instance, outlying townships in metropolitan counties could be ceded to the more rural border counties, which should reorganize into larger, more efficient units. Hadley, former CEO of the Maytag Corporation and a member of the Iowa Governor's 2010 Strategic Planning Council, poses a series of provocative questions, challenging Iowans to "ehenge the rules," reeonfi~ure our counties, our enmmunifies. He stresses improved decision making, coordination end service delivery as more important than cost savings and says, "Any official whose responsibilities could change significantly should be used as a resource, but only listened to with healthy skepticism~. CAN IT BE DONE IN IOWA.'? Iowa law currently provides for a number of avenues for intergovernmental cooperation I~l__~0~al jurisdictions. Take a look at some of the sections of the Iowa Code that deal with the issue. Code of Iowa~ Chapter 28: Joint Exercise of Governmental Powers Section 28E allows state and local governmental units in Iowa to adopt joim agreements to do ~W~zfliing f~i~ether that they are allowed to do separately. This section ~s perhaps the most used of any of the enabl~ig laws~ governinE intergovernmental relations. Many such agreements are in effect in Johnson County. Section 28E.36-39, Community Clusters allows two or more governmental units to agree to establish a cooperative community unit which may provide for joint functions, services, facilities, infi'astmeture or for sharing of revenues. Chapter 28FL Councils of Governments establishes areas throughout the state for delivexy of community development programs and services and coordination ofloeal, state and federal government programs. Johnson County is in the east central region with Benton, Iowa, Jones, Linn and Washington counties which is administered by the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG). Johnson County has also established by 28E agreement the Johnson County Council of Goverrm~ents ($CCOO), an Jntergovernmantal organization of local governments in Johnson County which has chosen to plan for human services, solid waste, and transportation issues. Chapter 281~ Metropolitan or Regional Planning Commissions allows establishment or_joint planning commissions by two or more adjoining cities with the county, two adjoining cities, county and city, school disuicts or special districts. These commissions can make comprehensive plans for the area served; the plans may be adopted by member governments. Code o£1o~,a~ Chapter 35?.358: Special Districts Upon receipt of a petition, the Board of Supervisors may hold an election to create a special taxing dis~et for water, water/sewer, fire, street lighting, law enforcement, recreation, lake, water quality, emergeney medical services, rural improvement zones, sanitmy, water/sanitary, or real estate improvements. Such a dis~et cannot be wholly within a city. A district can tax up to 13.5 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation. The only special district in Johnson County is the Big Grove/MacBride Sanitary DishSct which was created in the 1930s to facilitate the housing development at Lake MacBride. Code of lows, Chapter 368: Annexation Provides for the addition of new territory to a city. The City Development Board (a state board) may approve a city's application to annex if the city can show the following: it can provide services to the territory in a reasonable amoum of time; annexation is in the best interest of the citizens in the urban area; the proposal is not solely to increase revenue for the city; and the annexation will not create an island of unincorporated land. Current disputes in Johnson County include an annexation proposed by Tiff'm that was challenged by both Johnson County and Coralville. The issues here involve incompatibility with the county's land use plan and an infi.ingement on the two-mile territory of Coralville. The City Development Board granted the annexation in spite of these objections. Coralville has filed a lawsuit asking that the decision be reversed. Charter Commissions In addition to providing the legal basis for intergovernmental cooperation, the Code of Iowa provides the methods for changing the slmetares of local governments. Chapter 331 of the code requires the establishment of charter commissions for alternative forms of county government, including city-county consolidations, multi-county consolidations, and community commonwealths. The process is not a simple one. Voters present petitions to the County Bom:d of Supervisors (about 10,000 signatures would be needed in Johnson County at this time). The supervisors, according to the code specifications, then establish a charter commission, which would design the new charter. The process is also not a quick one. The total time fi.om receipt of petitions to the effective date would be about 32 months, not including time to gather petition signatures. If a change is recommended, the charter would then be presented to the voters for ~gproval or not at a general election. Should the new chatter be approved, it would go into effect July 1 foil .o.~.n. g the ~[~ction. The commission process also has some further drawbacks. Appointments to the commis~q~are ~ bYT.1 elected officials, often representing the status quo. The size of the commissiOn is large and unT, di~Jy. supervisors must fund the process, which may be viewed as too expensive and time-eonsumingT)TIje co~rnis .~C6~ may recommend no change. And all charters must call for partisan elections. PROPOSED CONCURRENCE STATEMENTS ~::5 .~. The Regional Government Committee has formulated the following statements for cone~ce: As the population of Johnson County grows, so do problems- planning, transportation, land use, schools, taxes, law enforcement - that need to be addressed through the cooperation of all of its governments. The current mechanisms in place to aid the cooperation and coordination of intergovernmental and regional issues are neither adequate nor adequately utilized. Elected officials and citizens need to 1) make better use oftbe mechanisms available and 2) find other avenues to pursue greater intergovernmental coordination. Recognizing that the charter commission process is imperfect, and in order to stimulate serious community dialog on structural solutions to intergovernmental problems, the League of Women Voters of Johnson County should encourage and participate in the establishment of a Charter Commission for Johnson County which would include representatives of the larger, contiguous cities. (Ihe L WVJC thanks our former members Marianne Milkman, now of Cape Cod, Mass., and Patt Cain, now of Athens, Ga., for thei~ assistance in researching their areas). SOME FACTS ABOUT IOWA AND ITS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS · Iowa has 1.04% of the nation's population. · Iowa has 6.89% of the nation's governing bodies. · Over half of the state's population lives in 15 counties. · Iowa has 1,600 townships, or 9.2% of the nation's 17, 450 townships. · Iowa has 99 counties, or 3.3% of the nation's 3,038 counties. · Iowa has 952 cities, or 5. 3% of the nation's 18,000 cities. · lowa has 165,600 local government employees, or 577 employees of local government per 10,000 population, ranking sixth in the nation. · Iowa's population grows at a rate of oue-fourth that of the nation as a whole. More than half of the counties in Iowa had their population peak in 1900 when Iowa was the 10~ largest state in the union. It now ranks 30~ with 2,926,324 residents. · lowa ranks in the bottom third of states in per capita income. (Sources: Census, National Association of Counties, Governing Magazine Sourcebook2001.) Marian Karr From: Tim Weitzel and Wendy Robertson [TimWendy@Avalon.net] Sent: Monday, Mamh 08, 2004 4:56 PM To: cou ncil@iowa-city.org Subject: Historic Preservation Commission Tim Weitzel 523 Grant St. Iowa City, lA 52240-6225 City Council of Iowa City 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, lA 52240 March 8, 2004 Dear Council Members: Two years ago I submitted a letter of application for the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission. In that letter I emphasized the need for cost-effective techniques to preserve older housing in our come, unity. I also emphasized the need to maintain our cultural heritage by preserving our culture. While I still strongly perceive the need for affordable housing, and affordable ways to maintain housing, I think our community has lost sight of its priorities when it comes to judging between what is affordable and what is costly. Is is right to consider only what we personally need out of a building, a community, our nation? Can we justify cost savings for the our lifetime and pass off the costs to others? The answer is no. It is evident now more than ever that we need a strong sense of community sprit and commitment to preserving not just buildings but our sense of what qualities make a neighborhood a good place in which to live. We all agree to live by the codes of our society. Our comz~unity government is that code. Rather than fight to reduce the so-called burden of government, my fellow citizens should strive to understand the concepts on which our country was built, that tax dollars provide services, that equality means funding for affordable housing, and that to preserve the sense of place in our neighborhoods we need to instill a sense of coRe, unity spirit and a desire to participate in our community in the most outward and public of displays- maintaining our homes and preserving the features that make each of them a unique contribution to our wonderful city. I thank you for your time in consideration of these thoughts Sincerely, Tim Weitzel Marian Karr From: Dale Helling Sent: Thursday, March 11,2004 8:48 AM To: 'Kenny Dye' Cc: *City Council Subject: RE: U.A.Y. Mr. Dye, The director or UAY in Iowa City is Jim Swaim. UAY telephone numbers are listed as (319) 338-7518 or (3'19) 337-7999. Dale Helling Assistant City Manager ..... Original Message ..... From: Kenny Dye [mailto:kennydye~hotmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 6:49 PM To: council~iowa-city.org Subject: U.A.Y. I'm trying to find out who is the head of U.A.Y. and where their funding comes from. They are funding my step daughter to go into trasitional living and no one will tell me how she qualifies for this ,as she has a home that is safe. I understand this program is for children who are homeless or at risk, and neither of those apply. I would very much like to know how she qualifies. Her name is Emily Simmering and I do hold power of atty. on her. Peace, Kermy Get business advice and resources to improve your work life, from bCentral. 3/11/04