HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-07-16 Correspondence RECEIVEO JUL 0 § 1996
Bu lmell
CATERING
'127 EASl COLLEGE STREET
IOWA CIW. IOWA 5~240
3~ 9/351-5536
July 9, 1996
Mayor Naomi Novick
Mayor of Iowa City
Civic Center
410 East Washington
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Dear Mayor Novick:
I am writing with the hope that the City Council will assist me in resolving my dispute
concerning the renewal of our liquor license at Bushnell's Turtle. Bushnell's Turtle is a
restaurant which was established in Iowa City in 1971. Since 1978 Bushnell's Turtle has
been located in the historic College Block Building which is located at 127 East College
Street in downtown Iowa City. The College Block Building was spared from the
wrecking ball in the urban renewal projects in the late 1970's and was extensively
renovated in 1978. At the time of that renovation, land behind the building was fenced
off, picnic tables were put into place, and customers have since been able to enjoy their
food and beverage in an outdoor setting. In 1984 it appears as though a requirement was
created by the city that concerns the design and structural requirements offences
surrounding outdoor eating establishments. Since 1984, Bushnell's Turtle has undergone
mmual reviews and approvals of its liquor license application.
My pm'tners and I bought Bushnell's Turtle in August of 1994. Prior to buying this
restaurant we sought and obtained approval for the liquor license in that facility.
Our current liquor license expires on July 31, 1996. The City Building Inspector has
refused to approve our request for a liquor license which permits outdoor serving. The
City Building Inspector's stated basis for the refusal is that our fence (which has been in
place for eighteen years) does not comply with a twelve year old requirement which has
never previously been enforced. We have been told by the City Building Inspector that at
least part of the basis for this denial is the fact that our fence is approximately four and
one half feet high and that a five foot solid fence is required. The City has chosen to not
enforce the fencing requirement in the past as a condition precedent to issuing a liquor
license.
Anyone fanliliar with downtown Iowa City is aware that a number of establishinents
provide facilities for outdoor food and drink consumption. Restaurants such as Scason's
/13
CATERING
127 EAST COLLEGE STREE1
IOWA CI1Y. K~WA 522'40
319/351-5536
Mayor Naomi Novick
July 8, 1996
Page 2
Best and Swans at the Holiday Inn provide for outdoor dining where liquor is served.
Neither establishment has a five foot fence surrounding their eating areas.
I am not writing to the Council asking for preferential treatment. I am merely asking for
the same treatment that is afforded the Holiday Im~ and Seas0n's Best. It is very
fi~astrating that requirements are being placed on our restaurant which are not placed on
oar next door neighbor, Swans at the Holiday Inn.
Just as our community has not suffered by the exceptions made for the Season's Best and
the Holiday Inn, Iowa City will not be a worse place to live ifBushnell's Turtle receives
equal treatment. Consequently, I ask that the Council grant our request ibr a liquor
license that allows for outdoor use at Bushnell's Turtle.
Because our current license expires on July 31, 1996, it is imperative that the Council
take immediate action on my request so that we do not have an interruption of service at
our restaurant. Thank you for the attention that you have paid to this request.
Sincerely,
Aziz Longou
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date:
To:
From:
Re:
July 12, 1996
Mayor and City Council
Marian K. Karr, City Clerk
Linda Newman Woito, City Attorney
Renewal of Liquor License for Bushnell's Turtle
On July 9, 1996 the City Council received a letter from Aziz Longou regarding the renewal of his
liquor license and more specifically a problem with the existing fence for the outdoor service area.
In the letter Mr. Longou notes other establishments, Seasoh's Best and the Holiday Inn, with
different fencing requirements and requests his establishment be treated in the same way. The
City Code allows certain fencing restrictions to be waived if the outdoor area meets other criteria.
In the case of the two establishments named, the fencing restrictions were waived in exchange
for other criteria:
Season's Best is set back from the street right-of-way a minimum of twenty feet (Section
4-3-1 C.b.(1) City Code).
Holiday Inn's outdoor area abuts the pedestrian mall with a minimum of five hundred
square feet of private property. (Section 4-3-1 C.b.(2) City Code).
Bushnell's Turtle does not qualify for these exemptions. Within our present Code Bushnell's
Turtle is treated the same as other establishments who have outdoor service areas in the
downtown area, Gabe's, Fitzpatrick's, or R.T.'s.
Our fencing requirements for outdoor service areas have not changed since July 1984. We
cannot address why the fence has not been cited previously. We can tell you, however, that we
have recently received a complaint regarding the fence height and someone jumping the fence;
and after review, City Inspectore found the fence to not conform to Code requirements. Mr.
Longou has discussed the matter with Sr. Building Inspector Ron Boose and Inspector Paul
Bowers, and four options were presented:
1. Put in a higher fence to comply with the Code.
2. Discontinue the sale of liquor in the outdoor service area.
Submit a written request stating the owner's intent to comply within one year. The owner
has indicated a possible renovation/expansion within the next year. Staff may defer
enforcement and allow more time for the establishment to comply.
2
Request an exemption from the screening requirements in Section 4-3-1 C. 2, as outlined
in Section 4-3-1 D. 1. (A copy of this Section was given to Mr. Longou, and is attached.)
At the last meeting with HIS staff, Mr. Longou indicated an interest to proceed with option 4,
namely requesting an exemption as explicitly permitted by City Code. Once staff receives and
reviews Mr. Longou's written request, staff will forward the matter to the City Council for approval.
NOTE: The issue herein deals onl~ with serving alcohol in the outdoor service area. The liquor
license for the interior restaurant has been approved by staff.
cc: Aziz Longou
Ron Boose, Sr. Building Inspector
Paul Bowers, Inspector
Doug Boothroy, HIS Director
ccler'~bushnell
Iowa City City Council
Civic Center
4 ] 0 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
RECEIVED JUL 1 1 1996
9 South Mount Vernon Drive
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
July 10, 1996
Dear Members of the Council:
I am writing in regard to your vote to disapprove the proposed Library expansion project.
I fear that your vote was influenced more by the proposed design of the project and the
outward appearanea of the building (i.e. the tower) than by the crucial need for an
expanded library facility. Please don't let something as superficial as the facade of the
building overshadow the purpose of the expansion.
The residents oflowa City use their library and use it well. Our library is recognized state
and nationwide As it stands, it is a facility to be proud of and a drawing point for those
considering relocating to Iowa City. We have an educated constituency, and this
wonderful building is bursting at the seams. Please consider the implications of your
decision The need is there. Can this need be satisfied without expansion?
I urge you to look at the Iowa City Public Library as a community priority and react
accordingly.
Sincerely,
Sherfi Zastrow
June 25, 1996
CITY OF I0 WA CITY
TO:
RE:
The Honorable Mayor and the City council
Civil Service Entrance Examination - PARKING ENFORCEMENT
i~TTENDENT
We, the undersigned members of the Civil Service Commission of Iowa
City, Iowa, do hereby certify the following named person(s) as
eligible for the position of Parking Enforcement Attendent.
Sandy Parrott
Hired: 5/24/96
IOWA CITY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION
' i
MlC Char
ATTEST:
Marian Karr, City Clerk
410 EAST 'R'ASHINOTON STREET · IOqNA CITY, IOWA ~2240.1826 · {3191 ~}6-~000 · I:AX (319} 356-~009
July 1, 1996
TO:
RE:
CITY OF IOWA CITY
The Honorable Mayor and the City council
Civil Service Entrance Examination - Police Sergeant
We, the undersigned members of the Civil Service Commission of Iowa
City, Iowa, do hereby certify the following named person(s) in the
order of their standing as eligible for the position of Police
Sergeant.
Bill Campbell
Mike Lord
Erik Lippold
Robert Gass
Sid J~ckson
Troy Kelsay
Kevin Prestegard
Mike Brotherton
Becki Sammons
Kevin Heick
ATTEST:
,Clty Clerk
IOWA.CITY CIVIL
o ~lckerson
Susan Dulek
4 IO £AST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA $2240-1826 · (319! 3~,G-$000 · YAX 1319} 3S6-~009
July 12, 1996
Mayor Naomi Novick
306 Mullin Avenue
Iowa City, Iowa 52246
Dear Mayor Novick:
This is a just a short note to ask you to reconsider your vote on
the Library expansion issue. Although I was not a great fan of some
of the aesthetic choices made by the architect who designed the
project, I think the Library Board is fundamentally right on the space
issue: the City needs to expand the Library to meet the needs of the
community. I would like to see the City Council work more closely
with the Library Board on alternative solutions and I hope to see a
re-conceived project come before the voters this fall.
Yours Sincerely,
1346 E. Bloomington
Iowa City
July 12, 1996
Mayor Naomi Novick
306 Mullin Avenue
Iowa City, Iowa 52246
Dear Mayor Novick:
I am writing to express my disappointment with the City
Council's handling of the library expansion issue. I would
have written sooner but have been very busy these past two
weeks.
Let me make my position clear. I do not claim to know if
the plan put forth by the Library board was the best plan. I
would have to study the issue further. What I do wish to
express, however, is my conviction that 1) expansion now is
badly needed; 2) the vitality of the library is absolutely
central to maintaining the special character of Iowa City as
a community; and 3) expansion should take the form of
building on to the present, dovzntown facility.
As an historian I have come to realize how important
public space is to creating and sustaining healthy
communities. Iowa City is a community, and not just an
agglomeration of tax paying citizens, in large part because
of its public space and institutions. Among these the library
holds a special place as public space dedicated to furthering
education and knowledge. It is a place where the young and
old, students and working people, the well-to-do and people
with low incomes come together. This must be supported.
I ask the City Council to take up the issue of library
expansion in a positive and constructive spirit, in order to
develop the best possible plan. I do not feel that the
Council has done this.
cc: Baker, Kubby, Lehman, Norton, Thornberry, Vanderhoef