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Date: October 23, 2009
To: City Clerk and City Council
From: John Yapp, Acting JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner
Re: Item for November 2, 2009 City Council meeting; Installation of NO PARKING
ANYTIME signs on the west side of Huntington Drive north of Court 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(10), install NO PARKING ANYTIME signs on the west side of
Huntington Drive north of Court Street.
Comment:
This action is being taken to prohibit parking on the west side of Huntington Drive north of Court
Street to ease congestion. A petition was received, and a parking survey was administered to all
households that must use Huntington Drive as their sole means of access to their property. The
survey responses indicated that 97.5% of respondents (40 out of 41) are in favor of restricting
parking on the west side of Huntington Drive.
mgr/agd/actcomm-hu ntington 10-23-09. doc
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Date: October 26, 2009
To: City Clerk
From: Darian Nagle-Gamm, Traffic Engineering Planner
Re: Item for November 2, 2009 City Council meeting; Installation of (1) NO PARKING
CORNER TO HERE sign on the northwest corner of the intersection of Page Street
and Dodge Street
As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3 of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council
of the following action.
Action:
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A (10), Install (1) NO PARKING CORNER TO HERE sign on the
northwest corner of the intersection of Page Street and Dodge Street.
Comment:
This action is being taken at the request of the Iowa City Streets Division to provide adequate
space for turning movements at intersection.
Mgr/agd/bn-nopkgpagest.doc
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Date: October 23, 2009
To: City Clerk
From: Darian Nagle-Gamm, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner
Re: Item for November 2"d, 2009 City Council meeting; Change the terms of the existing
commercial vehicle loading zone on the south side of the 10 block of Jefferson Street
from 8 AM - 5 PM to 24 hours and reduce the size of the zone from 100 feet to 80 feet.
As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 36 of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council
of the following action.
Action:
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A (18), Change the terms of the existing commercial vehicle loading
zone on the south side of the 10 block of Jefferson Street from 8 AM - 5 PM to 24 hours and
reduce the size of the zone from 100 feet to 80 feet.
Comment:
This action is being taken at the request of the Transportation Services Department and the
University as both transit systems reported difficulties making right hand turns due to on-street
parking after 5:00 pm at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Clinton Street.
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Date: October 23, 2009
To: City Clerk
From: Darian Nagle-Gamm, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner
Re: Item for November 2"d, 2009 City Council meeting; Change in parking meter terms from
30 minutes to 1 hour for meter M330E located in front of 330 E Market 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 (17), Change the parking meter terms from 30 minutes to 1 hour for
the meter numbered M330E in front of 330 E Market Street.
Comment:
This action is being taken at the request of the Transportation Services department to make this
meter's terms consistent with the adjacent metered space.
4f 5
Marian Karr
From: Nancy Heinz [319heinz@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 6:02 AM
To: Council
Subject: Oakland Cemetery used for ghoulish entertainment
As a resident with a very old family plot very near the Black Angel in Oakland Cemetery, I was really
surprised at this upcoming event that is going to be held at Oakland Cemetery for Halloween:
October 24: 5:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Ghost Bicycle Ride/Ghost Stories at Oakland Cemetery
Meeting Room B, Meeting Room C /Oakland Cemetery
Contact Email: mavlclarl chi icpl._org
Open to the public
Details: Check in at ICPL at 5:45 for cookies, glow sticks and bike lights, (if needed). Group will leave
the library at 6:00 to ride to Oakland Cemetery. Storytellers Lori Erickson and Chris Vinsonhaler will
meet us at the Black Angel for ghost stories from 6:30-7:15. (Stories are not appropriate for those
younger than 8.) All riders must have a helmet, front light, and back light or reflector. A limited number
of lights will be available at the ride. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Ride is limited to 25 children
and 25 adults. Register online at i,c~l.org or by calling 356-5200 option 5. Non-bikers may join group at
Oakland Cemetery/Black Angel at 6:30 for stories. Bring a ground cover as grass maybe damp.
Sponsored by the Iowa City Public Library, ECO Iowa City, Planet Bike, The Bike Library, and
JCCOG.
Using Oakland Cemetery as a backdrop for Halloween entertainment seems a bit tone-deaf as far as
sensitivity to the sacred use of a cemetery and to the people who have relatives buried there. It is a
beautiful and sacred place, and it is a great place to look at nature and enjoy walks in a respectful
manner. But to use it at night, and have people walking on and sitting on graves and hearing "ghost
stories is unseemly to me. Did the staff ask Memory Gardens, or St. Joseph's Cemetery, or the Jewish
cemetery, if they would allow such an event on their grounds? I think I know what their cemetery
managers' answer would be - NO! But because this is a City-owned cemetery, with a somewhat famous
sculpture on its grounds, I gather that makes it fair game for other City departments to use it for an
entertainment backdrop and/or promote a bicycling agenda.
And also, is it a good idea to teach young children that a cemetery is a place to be afraid of? Rather, it
should be taught as a comforting place of beauty. And how many people buried there would find the
idea of being a part of a "movie set" offensive if they were alive to complain? I guess I am complaining
on behalf of them. Many Christians find the entire idea of Halloween unseemly and it could be viewed
as disrespectful in that respect as well. But of course that is not a serious matter to consider at all.
There are so many reasons this is wrong.
I seem to have heard that there is new management at the Cemetery. That makes sense to me, because I
don't think Jim Wonack would have allowed such an event to be held there.
Nancy Heinz
Iowa City
10/23/2009
4f 6
Marian Karr
From: Grgurich, Donna [IDED] [Donna.Grgurich@iowalifechanging.com]
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 9:42 AM
To: 'regina-bailey@iowa-city.org'; Council; Steve Long
Cc: Marian Karr; 'Maryann Dennis'; 'Tracey Achenbach'; Tracy Hightshoe
Subject: Monitoring Visit for Iowa City Flood Contracts 08-DRH-010 & 08-DRH-210
Good Morning Mayor Bailey and Council:
As the administrator of the CDBG-DR (flood) funds, the IDED has a number of oversight responsibilities on the
supplemental funds. Compliance monitoring is one of them. HUD expects us to monitor and to provide technical
assistance to our CDBG-DR recipients.
Over the past few weeks the IDED has been developing our monitoring policies and strategies for HUD. In part,
our strategy primarily focuses on emphasizing areas hardest hit by the disasters of 2008, or areas where the
greatest need exists and where the most CDBG-DR funding is being channeled.
On November 3, 2009 the IDED Housing staff (five of us) would like to conduct aCDBG-DR monitoring visit to
Iowa City. Effectively we are looking at a three-day visit, arriving at City Hall at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November
3, 2009, and departing by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday(spending time with appropriate city staff and some time with
Maryann Dennis and Tracey Achenbach).
Over the course of this visit we will review all of the general CDBG compliance areas and cross-cutting legislation
(as may be modified with waivers under the CDBG-DR funds). Additionally, we would like to focus on the
housing activities that Iowa City is and will be conducting under the first and second CDBG-DR allocation
contracts with the IDED (i.e., JumpStart Housing activities, Single-Family New Production, rental rehab-Aniston
Village).
We do not wish to be a burden or an inconvenience to staff, nor do we want to tie up numerous staff's time
from start to finish. To help you gauge things on your end, here is our general agenda:
• Open with an informal entrance interview and introductions and go over the purpose of our visit. On
your end, I leave this initial meeting up to you in terms of who is appropriate to attend this initial
meeting.
• We will be looking at all files relating to the flood dollars appropriated to Iowa City.
• This monitoring will be similar to a monitoring under the regular CDBG program.
• Conclude our visit with an exit interview to summarize our monitoring review (again with appropriate
staff).
I do need to impose with a request that you (the City) locate a place for us to work (a small conference room).
Please let us know the location where we should initially meet.
Overall, our goal is to provide technical assistance and to help in any way that we can in complying with federal
(and certain State) requirements.
Thank You,
Donna Grgurich, Project Manager
515-725-3066
10/26/2009
11-02-09
4f 7
Marian Karr
From: Darla Boudjenah [dtaiowacity@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 9:11 AM
To: Council
Subject: DTA Letter On Panhandling Issues
Attachments: DTA Letter to City Council on Panhandling 10-09.doc
DTA requests that the attached letter be included in the council package for the council meeting
Monday, November 2, 2009.
Thank you, Darla Boudjenah
Darla Boudjenah -Executive Director
Downtown Association of Iowa City
325 E. Washington St., Ste. 100
Iowa City, IA 52240
319-354-0863
dtaiowacity~~mail.com
10/23/2009
Parfnering for a better tomorrow
October 23, 2009 ~ ~
Downtown Association of Iowa City
Dear Mayor and City Council members,
The Downtown Association (DTA) Board of Directors unanimously voted to send
you this letter.
The DTA is a nonprofit association of business and community people who pool
their resources to promote downtown. The organization provides leadership and
undertakes programs to create, promote, and sustain downtown Iowa City as a
unique and economically viable business, entertainment, social and cultural
center. The members of the DTA work hard to promote downtown and the DTA
is very grateful for the help provided by the City Council and City government in
making the downtown one of Iowa City's greatest attractors.
The DTA needs your help with the ongoing issue of solicitors that greatly affects
the perception of our downtown. With your help, it is an issue that we believe
can be dealt with fairly and effectively. In a nutshell we are requesting specific
changes and additions to the existing ordinances and we need enforcement
of those ordinances. With those tools in hand, we believe we can go a long way
in dealing with the solicitation issue that negatively affects downtown Iowa City.
This issue has also plagued many other cities and we can take some guidance
from their efforts to curb the negative affects on their communities.
REQUESTED CHANGES TO THE AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION ORDINANCE:
Specifically, the DTA requests the following changes to the "aggressive
solicitation ordinance" of the Iowa City Code (TITLE 8 Chapter 5 Part 2):
In the downtown it is illegal to:
• solicit within twenty feet (25') of the anchored or temporary fencing to
a sidewalk cafe. (current ordinance is 10')
• solicit within twenty feet (25') of an entrance to or exit from any
building (current ordinance is 10')
• solicit within twenty feet (25') of the concrete border to the
playground equipment located south of the public library in City Plaza.
(current ordinance is 10')
• solicit within twenty feet (25') of an automated teller machine.
(current ordinance is 20')
• solicit within twenty feet (25') of the area where a crosswalk meets the
City sidewalk (current ordinance has no such provision and these are
particularly intimidating areas to pedestrians)
REQUESTED ADDITIONS TO THE AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION ORDINANCE:
Specifically, the DTA requests additions to the "aggressive solicitation ordinance"
of the Iowa City Code (TITLE 8 Chapter 5 Part 2) as follows:
• Add that "obscene, profane or abusive language" is prohibited on signs
(the ordinance currently prohibits "obscene, profane or abusive language
or gestures toward the person solicited" but is silent about such language
regarding signs.)
• Add a provision that two or more solicitors may not work in concert in
the same location and there be a minimum of fifty feet (50') between
solicitors.
• add a "No Solicitation" zone to include the entire City Plaza with clear
signage (such zones in other cities have been upheld by the courts)
• add a requirement that solicitors be registered (requiring "solicitor"
licenses in other cities has been upheld by the courts)
REQUESTED ADDITION TO THE SMOKE FREE ORDINANCE:
The DTA requests that the City add to the itemized list of "smoke free" places
(Iowa City Code TITLE 6 Chapter 10 Part 1) the following:
• the entire "City Plaza" from the hours of Sam to 10pm.
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS:
The DTA respectfully requests that the Council institute the following:
1. To reduce the success of solicitors, install boxes with appropriate signage to
collect money from the public for people in need (in Denver, Colorado the City
installed 86 old parking meters in the downtown area for this purpose with
signage that "$1.50 provides a meal for a homeless person". As a result soliciting
is down by a striking 90 percent in Denver).
2. A campaign to educate the public on solicitors. (The Nashville Downtown
Partnership, for instance, has launched a publicity campaign, "Please Help, Don't
Give," which explains through posters that money given to solicitors often
supports drug and alcohol addictions. The partnership asks people to donate
instead to organizations that provide local services).
3. Enforcement of penalties for smoking in "Smoke Free" areas and for littering.
The DTA is confident that enforcement of the fines for smoking and littering will
quickly and greatly reduce the number of violations. The current fines are
significant enough to act as a strong deterrent but are meaningless if not
enforced. The DTA believes there is little or no enforcement of the smoking and
littering ordinances. The Iowa City Code provides for smoking fines of $100 15c
offense; $200 tad offense; and $500 3rd and subsequent offenses. The Iowa City
Code provides for a fine of $300 for littering on the City Plaza.
4. Installation of adequate signage, especially in the City Plaza, regarding
smoking, littering and solicitation. The current signage is inadequate.
5. Improved lighting in the downtown area.
6. Greater police presence in the Pedestrian Plaza, bus stops and curb-stop
areas.
The DTA stands readv Willi ~ and able to assist in carrving out the requests
submitted in this letter.
Thank you for your continued support of downtown, one of Iowa City's greatest
assets.
Respectfully submitted,
Leah Cohen,
President, DTA
Leah Cohen
President DTA
325 E. Washington St. * Ste. 100 * Iowa City IA * 52240 * dtaiowacity~a gmail.com
4f 8
Marian Karr
From: ELIZABETH MAHER [mahere@q.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 12:56 PM
To: Council
Subject: FW: Community Gardens
Council,
I have enclosed a letter I sent to Parks and Recreation Commission voicing my objection to their
interst in establishing Community Gardens in the now empty lots.
It is enough that we were flooded and have now at great expense are returning to some state of
nighborhood-- we need to be free of outside intrusion to allow us to regain ourselves financially
and emotionally.
Please assist us-- this is a neighborhood that has been through enough turmoil.
Submitted by
Elizabeth A. Maher
817 Eastmoor Dr.
Iow City, IA 52246
From: mahere@q.com
To: icrec@iowa-city.org
Subject: Community Gardens
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:39:13 +0000
Commissioners,
I live in Park View Terrace on Eastmoor Drive.
It has come to our attention that you are considering Community Gardens for the green spaces
that are opening up.
I am voicing my objection to this. This is a well-kept neighborhood into which the residents have
invested a great deal of time and money. Especially since the flood we have been treated as
somewhat of an experimental area (re: Johnson County Bomb Squad using us as a practice field )
and we are just trying to regain the neighborhood we once had.
We have always had a battle with deer, racoons, and other varmit. It is difficult to even grown a
few flowers without protecting the plants. A Garden would require high fencing to protect it--
which would be unsightly and an unnecessary expense. At present time the areas owned by the
City have not been kept as well as the rest of the neighborhood and we have no reason to believe
that gardens would be kept up-
Could we just have increased green space and allow the neighborhood to get back to some order
before injecting outside projects?
Sincerely yours,
Elizabeth A.Maher
817 Eastmoor Dr.
Iowa City.IA 52246
10/21 /2009
4f 9
Marian Karr
From: lovisu@mchsi.com
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 9:50 PM
To: Council
Cc: Sam Hargadine
Subject: Curfew, Funding for Neighborhood Watch and Police Force
October 26, 2009
Members of the Iowa City Council,
The problems on the southeast side of town are quickly reaching the boiling point. We may have a
temporary reprieve due to cooler weather, but if the Council doesn't turn down the heat someone else
will get burned. It may not happen today, or tomorrow, or even a month or year from now, but it will
happen. So how many of you on Council are brave enough to do something about it?
An attempt by Council and others in the community to declare this a racial issue fails to explore the real
reasons the resentment in this city still lingers. It's not a racial issue, it's about why some of the leaders
in this community prefer to coddle the troublemakers all the while chastising or turning a deaf ear on the
law abiding citizens and insinuating they are racists when all they have asked for is a safe place to live.
Is it too much to ask that we have a safe place to live?
The Juvenile Court Liaison from City High came forward after a long summer filled with increased
violence on the southeast side of town to form a coalition. Part of his mission is to reach out to parents
and the youth in the troubled neighborhoods to explain why it isn't a good idea to be out on the streets
late at night causing problems. I commend his actions, but a curfew in addition to this type of outreach
is also an appropriate response. As is the much needed funding for neighborhood watches and increased
staffing for our police force. All three are important steps in the right direction of assuring safety for
all. It appears some on the Council look at the coalition as your way out of have to deal with the
problem altogether because you've found someone else to take up the slack for you. We didn't elect the
coalition, we elected you to look out for the best interests of all citizens, why have you chosen to ignore
our pleas for help for so long?
Some who oppose the curfew say it will result in a disproportionate number of black youth being
targeted . Your reasoning being that the police are already in the neighborhoods inhabited primarily by
minorities. The police aren't in those neighborhoods because of race, they're in the neighborhoods
because of the crimes and problems already occurring in those neighborhoods. Which is another reason
to enact a curfew to protect the children in those neighborhoods.
Others who oppose the curfew argue that the youth causing the problems won't care enough to abide by
the curfew so nothing will change. The curfew provides for consequences. The way to get people to
change their behavior is to make them accountable for their actions. We all have a choice of how to
conduct ourselves and when we consciously choose to make bad decisions, then we need to know that
we will be held accountable. Parents need to be put on notice to step up and get involved in your child's
life as opposed to leaving it up to the child to determine, where they're going and when they'll be
home. Curfew enforcement city wide is what's needed. A curfew isn't going to adversely affect kids
for the rest of their lives, but being at the wrong place at the wrong time, getting caught up in something
that results in them spending the rest of their lives behind bars will. Are you willing to risk that?
10/27/2009
Page 2 of 2
Perhaps the City of Iowa City could model their curfew after the North Liberty curfew that was recently
updated to include accountability for the responsible adults as well.
No one has come up with any valid reasons why it is absolutely necessary for a child of 12, 13, 14 or
even 15 for that matter to be out after 11 o'clock at night for any reason other than what the ordinance
had already provided for. The parents who believe it is safe for their kids to be out and about at that
time unsupervised, need to come to grips that this isn't the city it used to be and the things taking place
aren't always just kids being kids. A curfew isn't something that is going to scar them for the rest of
their lives. Being at the wrong place, at the wrong time, with someone who has no respect for human
life just might.
Those who support the coalition indicate Mr. Harper's efforts at City High are showing great promise
and that he has made a difference with the youth. Those of us on the southeast side might beg to differ.
We haven't seen a decrease in crime or the disrespectful behavior towards us over the last year. What
we've seen is an escalation of violence against our neighborhoods. We need your help to solve this.
The Chief of Police has asked for a tool to help him in his quest to make this city safe again. He needs
something that allows his force to follow through and do their job to make this city safe. He needs to be
able to rely on you, the council, to provide him with the tools he needs to do his job. You need to step up
and provide him with the help he needs bypassing the ordinance in addition to funding the additional
staff he`s asked for to deal with all the problems in this city.
I ask you all to vote yes for the curfew ordinance, step up and fund the neighborhood watch programs
and the additional police force needed to keep this city safe. Please do your part to make this city safe
Cor everyone.
Sincerely,
Sue Loving
10/27/2009
4f 10
Marian Karr
From: Ed Philips [edphilips1967@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 6:53 PM
To: Council
Subject: Leaf Blowers
Dear City Council,
For a supposedly progressive community, I am shocked to discover that leaf blowers are legal in Iowa
City.
Not only are they legal, but it seems like nearly everybody has one.
The highly educated residents of Iowa City certainly like to use them immediately after wet weather.
Isn't that smart?
Are we too lazy a people to use a rake or a broom?
Two-stroke engined leaf blower motors are inordinately large emitters of CO, NOx, HC, and PM.
According to the Lung Association, a leaf blower causes as much smog as 17 cars.
Even electric leaf blowers aren't safe. According to one manufacturer's lobbyist, at a distance of fifty
feet, the average blower measures 70-75 decibels. But the World Health Organization states that in order
to have a healthy environment daytime noise levels should not exceed 55 decibels. A decibel level of 65
at 50 feet might still be 100 decibels or more when operating the blower. I rarely see anybody using
hearing protection.
Over 40 cities in California have banned the use of leaf blowers within 500 feet of a residence because
of the noise and the enormous amount of air pollution they produce.
Let's get these irritating devices banned in Iowa City, too.
Edward Philips
Iowa City, IA
10/27/2009