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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-04-11 Info PacketCity of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: March 31, 1995 TO: City Council (~4em for Record) FROM: City Manager RE: Material Sent to Councl190~ly Memoranda from the City Manager: a. Sturgis Ferry Park Area b. Pending Development Items 37 Agenda and material for the April 4, 1995, meeting of the Council on Jl~ Disability Rights and Education. Memorandum from the Department of Planning and Community Development regarding Near Southside Design Plan Advisory Committee Copy of letter from ECICOG regardin com ~ m teri ...... g postable a ~s plmot projectJJ Agenda for the April 4, 1995, meeting of the City Council and Johnson County Board of Supervisors. Memorandum from the Traffic Engineer regarding special event parking along U.S. Highway 6 west of the VA Hospital. Letter from the Volunteer Action Center regarding a breakfast recognizing~L~ Johnson County volunteers. Copy of news release regarding a toxi~ waste cleanup day. 'll~ . Agenda for the March 30, 1995, meeting of the Board of Su~;rvisors. ~1Z{..~ ILq Information distributed at the 4/4/95 Joint meeting regarding Local . _-, Option Sales Tax. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM D~te: March 30, 1995 To: City Council From: City Manager Re; Sturgis Ferry Park Area As you may recall we have reviewed the environmental issues associated with the Public Works yard being located over an old landfill. We engaged Terracon Environmental Inc, to perform the analysis of any potential adverse effect on our prospects for selling the property. During the review, Terracon discovered certain benzene fuel components in one of the locations, They were obligated to notify us in accordance with the standards etc. of the State of iowa as they relate to underground storage tanks. Our review indicates that there does not appear to be any sort of a release from our underground storage fuel facilities and that it is likely that the benzene is due to the landfill, We are performing further analysis and there is no need for alarm; however, I wanted to let you know that we will be notifying all the appropriate officials, As we learn more we will let you know. CO: Chuck Schmadeke David Schoon Terry Reynolds City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: March 28, 1995 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: Pending Development Items e A request submitted by Steve Kohli for special exceptions to permit a school of specialized private instruction, a dance studio, to be established in the CN-1 zone and to permit dwelling units above the ground floor of a commercial use for property located at 313 Scott Court. An application submitted by William and Joan Frees for final plat approval of Orchard View Estates, an approximate 109.77 acre, 34-1ot residential subdivision located within Fringe Area 4 bn the south side of Dingleberry Road, approximately .6 miles east of Highway 1. An application submitted by Blackhawk Partners for preliminary plat approval of Boyrum Subdivision, Part 4, a three lot, 11.67 acre commercial subdivision located south of Highway 6 between Boyrum Street and Waterfront Drive. The preliminary plat for Galway Hills Subdivision, Part 2, a 14.63 acre, 24-1ot, residential subdivision, located in the southeast quadrant of the intersection of Melrose Avenue and U.S. Highway 218. Council on Disability Rights and Education MEETING AGENDA APRIL 4, 1995 - 10:00 A.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CIVIC CENTER - 410 E. WASHINGTON ST. IOWA CITY, IA 52240 4. 5. 6, Introductions Subcommittees/Reports a. Housing b. Transportation c. Public Accommodations d. Public Relations Other Reports Other Business Next Agenda (May 2, 1995) Adjourn CC: Iowa City City Council Johnson County Board of Supervisors mo~assttcdro4-4.agd CDRE MISSION STATEMENT The Council on Disability Rights and Education (CDRE) is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to accessibility, full participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities. Our mission is to act as a comprehensive, community-wide educational resource fer promoting disability awareness, to provide technical assistance and to encourage compliance with disability civil rights legislation. Our goal is the attainment of community-wide accessibility and the full participation of persons with disabilities to all facilities and services within our community. NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING The City of Iowa City will be placing three additional lift-equipped buses into service in May of 1995. Prior to implementing this service, a public input session will be held in the City of iowa City Council Chambers. Council Chambers are located In the Civic Center, 4-10 E. Washington Street. This session will be from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, 1995. At that time representatives of Iowa City Transit will be available to the public to receive input. Following this session the City of Iowa City will identify the routes to be served by the new buses. This service will begin as soon as the new buses are ready for service. COUNCIL ON DIS~ILITY RIGHT8 ~D EDUCATION MINUTES Maroh 7, 1995 PRESENT: John Harshfield, Tim Clancy, Kevin Burt, Ethel Madison, Doris Jean Sheriff, Ed Blake, Linda Carter, Nancy Ostrognia, Loren Schmitt, Phil Mattheis, Nora Roy, Orville Townsend, and Larry Quigley Keith Ruff, Ed Brinton, Judy Cilek, Susan Mask, Staff present: Dale Helling, Heather Shank, and Mindy Greer. Chairperson Harshfield called the meeting Following introduction of those present, Committee Reports. to order at 10:00 a.m. Harshfield asked for Burt reported for the Housing Committee. He stated that committee members were site testing the Accommodation Questionnaire For Owners And Occupants; that Clancy, Harshfield and Blake would eventually compile and analyze the statistics gathered by the questionnaire; and that the Committee was drafting a letter urging property owners to feature any/all accessible qualities of the rental units when advertising properties. Following discussion, those present agreed that CDRE should review any materials dispersed on the Committee,s behalf. Sheriff provided the Committee with a written report from the Transportation Committee. Following discussion, a motion by Schmitt and second by Burt, it was agreed a copy of the report will be mailed with the minutes of the March 7th meeting. Madison reported that the Public Accommodation Committee met with the owner of the coffee shop in Prairie Lights and the manager of the Sahara to discuss public accommodations. Cilek suggested that the PA Committee review school accessibility as time permits. Blake reviewed the activity of the Public Relations Committee stating that the text of the brochure was ready for committee review and comment, and that they were working on a logo for CDRE. Blake suggested that the mission statement be included on all agendas. Shank volunteered to serve as initial public contact person. Following discussion, it was agreed to seek three contact people in the following areas: the City, the Iowa City/Coralville Chamber of Commerce (clear with Chamber first), and an individual representative. These numbers would be in the brochure. Harshfield and Burt restated that both the letter and brochure would be approved by the CDRE prior to printing. Harshfield asked for additional reports. Madison announced that the Evert Conner Rights and Resources Center for Independent Living received a grant ($30,000) to survey and to study housing accessibility in the Iowa City metropolitan area. Butt stated that he continues to work on the career development project. Helling stated that subcommittee reports or items for group review should be submitted to his office by the last Tuesday of the month for inclusion in the agenda mailing. There being no further reports, Harshfield asked for other business. Following discussion, the CDRE agreed that the By-Laws Subcommittee should consider establishing a permanent Education Committee, and review and define the membership of the core group. Following discussion concerning the lack of school representation at meetings, Helling agreed to contact Dr. Grieves about the CDRE concerns. Following discussion of New Business, motion by Sheriff, second by Blake, it was agreed to review the membership of the Core Group and the subcommittees at the April meeting. Shank updated the group on pending legislation. Following discussion, Shank agreed to mail copies of the proposed bills to CDRE members present. Butt called attention to the ADA Town Meeting Tour; Butt and Clancy to attend the meeting. Following the establishment of the next meeting for April 4th (agenda information due 3/29), Harshfield adjourned the meeting at 11:18 a.m. Council on Disability Rights and Education Transportation Subcommittee Report for March 7, 1995 January 26, 1995 - CDRE Transportation Subcommittee members: Linda Carter, Timothy Clancy, and Marjorie Hayden-Strait met at the Iowa City Public Library. February 14, 1995 - Doris Jean Sheriff, representing the CDRE Transportation Subcommittee, attended the Johnson County Council of Governments (JCCOO) Transportation Technical Advisory Committee meeting. A formal request for inclusion on this JCCOG Committee was directed to the Committee Chair, Mr. Charles Denney. February 21, 1995 - CDRE Transportation Subcommittee members: Linda Carter, Timothy Clancy, and Doris Jean Sheriff met. The two main areas discussed at this meeting were: (a) names of persons to be considered for invitation to join this CDRE Transportation Subcommittee and Co) a list of project ideas for immediate, short term action and a list of project ideas for the long range. From this meeting, it was suggested that the following individuals or entities be included or otherwise represented on the CDRE Transportation Subcommittee: Joe Fowler - IC Transportation Ron Logsden - IC Transit Larry Olson/Mike Kehoe - SEATS Brian McClatchey - Univ. of Iowa, Cambus/Bionic bus Joe Murphy - IC Downtown Merchants Association Rev. Robert Welsh - Heritage Area Agency on Aging Person that Mr. Helling (IC City Manager's Office) indicated that he would name to this subcommittee The foliowing Short Term Projects were suggested at this meeting: 1. Fixed Route Buses - Since the IC Transit is to be receiving three new lift- equipped IC buses this spring, the members felt that the CDRE Transportation Subcommittee should focus its attention on this matter first. Suggested areas for investigation include: route and schedule selection, driver training, and public participation and education. 2. SEATS - Review of current level of service, review of various proposals regarding current service and proposed future changes, cross-county service 3. Local Taxi Service 4. University of Iowa Cambus/Bionic Bus ..The subcommittee members expressed a desire to be active oartidoants in a cooramated plan for public transportation for persons with disabil]tiea wi'th respect to all of the above listed entities. 5. ADA Public Participation - Subcommittee members noted the hck of lo~al transportation officials fulffilment of their regulatory responsibility to include persons with disabilities in local and community wansportation planning efforts. Both the city of Iowa City and Johnson County are mandated to include persons with disabilities in the transportat/on planning process (49 CFR 37.137), 6. Flexible Seating on Public Transit - Subcommittee members noted the need for local public transit to consider multiple seating configurations on public transit, e.g, Cedar Rapids Lifts. 7. Parking Patrols - Subcommittee members urged that Iowa City use the Cedar Rapids model of initiating cmzen momtormg of handicapped parking spaces. The n..eed to.~ncrease the.state fine for '.'handicapped" parking violations was also notea (e.g., me state of oregon tows wolators and issues frees of $470 under ORS 811.615). The following list of Long Term Projects for this CDRE Transportation Subcommittee were suggested at this meeting: 1. Local and Interstate Transportation - The need for persons with disabilities to be able to travel beyond the city/county borders was emphasized. 2. Local AMrrRAK Inaccessibility - It was stated that the local Mt. Heasant .AM.TRAK station is completely inaccessibility to persons with a mobility trnpan'ment. 3. Airport Shuttle - The Cedar Rapids Airport Shuttle is not accessible to persons with disabilities. 4, Numbers of "Handicapped" Parl0ng Spaces - Subcommittee members felt that city parking lots, city public metered parking, and private business parking lots should be surveyed for compliance with the established ratios of "handicapped" parking spaces to the total number of spaces provided, 5. University "Handicapped" Parking Spaces - Same need for a survey as described in Item g4 above. 6. Wilderness Paths - review for inclusion of persons with disabilities 7. Bike Trails - review for inclusion of persons with disabilities Meeting adjourned. A next meeting date was set for February 28. Council on Disability Rights and Education Transportation Subcommittee Report for April 4, 1995 March 21, 1995 - CDRE Transportation Subcommittee members: Linda Carter, Timothy Clancy, and Doris lean Sheriff met at the Evert Conner Rights and Resources Center for Independent Living. The three main areas discussed at this meeting were: (a) names of persons to be considered for invitation to join this CDRE Transportation Subcommittee, (b) establishment of dates and times for fu.ture m~tings, and (c) designation of a spokesperson for rel)ortin~ this suocormmtte~'s activities at the monthly CDRE meetings, - ~ At this meeting, it was decided that Linda Carter would contact the first four individuals indicated in the following list for recruiment to the Transportation Subcommittee. Tim Clancy agreed to contact Mr. Murphy and Rev. Welsh. Doris Jean agreed to contact Mr. Helling to establish whom the City of Iowa City wished to have included on this subcommittee. It was agreed that the proposed list of individuals would be read at the next CDRE meeting, slated for April 4, to solicit other names or suggestions from the larger CDRE group. The following individuals or entities are being asked to participate on the Transportation Subcommittee: Joe Fowler - IC Transportation Ron Logsden - IC Transit Larry Olson/Mike Kehoe - SEATS Brian Mcciatchey - Univ. of Iowa, Cambus/Bionic bus Joe Murphy - IC Downtown Merchants Association Rev, Robert Welsh - Heritage Area Agency on Aging Person that Mr. Helling (IC City Manager's Office) indicated that he would name to this subcommittee It was agreed that the Transportation Subcommittee would meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays at the Evert Conner Rights and R~ources Center for Independent Living from 5-6 PM. It was agreed that Linda Carter would be the Transportation Subcommittee spokesperson for reporting activities to the CDRE. There was some discussion concerning whether or not a representative fi:om the Transportation Subcommittee should routinely attend the meetings of the Johnson County Council of Governments (JCCOG) Transportation Technical Advisory Committee, No decision was made on this item. Tlh, e next Transportation Subcommittee meeting will be held on Tuesday, April at 5 PM. Evert Conner Rights and Resources Center for Independent Living 26 East Market Street, Iowa City, IA 52240 , Voice and TIY: (319) 338-3870 IN MEMORY OF A PIONEER It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the death of Ed Roberts. Mr. Roberts was the leader of the Independent Living Movement for people with disabilities, and one of the founders of the Center for Independent Living'in Berkeley, California and the World Institute of Disability (WID). He died suddenly, on Tuesday, March 14, 1995 of natural causes. I Ed was paralized below the neck at age 14 due to polio. The only movement he experienced below the neck was one finger. Ed was dependent upon an iron lung the size of a phone booth to breathe. He did not let that stop him from creating a good quality of life for himself and others with disabilities. Technology like a motorized wheelchair and a portable respirator on the back opened the world for Ed to experience much success. In 1962, he talked his way into the University of California at Berkeley. He encouraged a dozen other people with severe disabilities to enroll They called themselves the "rolling quads" as they struggled to create a more accessible community. They were instrumental in campus housing, making curb ramps, hiring attendants to assist and setting up a 24 hour emergency wheelchair repair service. Centers grew out of this consumer network. Presently, 400 Centers across the country fit this model. The Evert Conner Rights and Resources Center for Independent Living is extremely proud to be one of those models that will continue the legacy started by Mr. Roberts. at the University. remove barriers to putting ramps on with personal care, Independent Living Ed was insturmental in making crossing streets easier for all of us. According to Joe Shapiro, "nearly every city street comer has a monument to Ed Roberts": a curb cut. You can watch Ed and his son featured in part II of a television program, "People in Motion" which will be aired Friday, April 7, 1995 on PBS nationwide. Check local listings. Public ~ccomn~o~ations Comraittee Committee members: Audit no~es Ed Brinton, Linda Carter, Loren Schmidt, Kevin Burt, Martha Yoak, Nancy Ostrognai, Tim Clancy, Keith Ruff, Dick Donahue and Ethel Madison. This Comn'd.~ee has visited five businesses as of March 28, 1995: The Coffee Cellars: was visited the day before they opened so it was a little hectic for us to make a complete assessment. The owners were very nice and promised to make changes according to o~ recommendations: ~_a~trance: the entrance needed some work, path of travel not wide enough, signs were not easy to read, the restrooms did not have enough turn around space, counters were too high, carry out space not adequate. The Sahara: Entrances: The back entrance is more accessible, but there is no sinage directing customers to the back. Bathrooms: A little difficult but usable. Management very willing to work with people with di.°~abilitias to accommodate. Prairie L~ghts Coffee Shop: Entrance: The doors are extremely heavy, the lift is not level with the floor and was difficult to access because the keys are kept some place else. There is very little space between tables. Restrooms: there was clutter outside near the doors, doors too heavy. The manager visited with us and was very attentive about removing the baz~iers, and assisting people with table service and seating. The Kitchen: Front Entrance: Doors too heavy, entrance wide enough, handles not operable with closed fist. Bathrooms: Spacious, door knobs need to be replaced with levers, doors too heavy, grab bars sufficient. Stairs near bathrooms should have a contrasting color, needs a mechanism to close sta]] doors. Should install raised lettering to indicate where restrooms are. Menu: Should be in Bra~He and taped. We visited with the manager who asked questions and made positive comments about accessibility. We will send a thank you letter to the manager and point out our findings both good and bad. Hamburger Inn: The restaurant was not accessible: Entrance: Difficult to get into the restaurant because of the space and double doors and the space between them. Restrooms: All restrooms are downstairs. The manager was not available during the meeting, but came before some of the members left the restaruant. He is not willing to change the doors. Didn't know about accessible parking. It was pointed out that he did not have reserved parking in the space provided for customer parking. CITY OF I0 FFA CITY Date: March 29, 1995 To: · Craig Willis, representing the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce Laura Hawks, representing the Iowa City Design Review Committee · Jane Jakobsen, representing Iowa City Planning & Zoning Commission Larry Wilson, representing University Department of Planning & Administrative Services Grant Crowell, representing University Student Association Pat Boutelle, representing Project GREEN Tom Cowan, representing Environmental Advocates Bruce Greiner, representing the Iowa City Community School District Dianne Kaufman, representing the Iowa City-Johnson County Arts Council Haywood Belle, representing Near Southside Property Owners Kevin Hanick, representing Near Southside Business Owners Madam Ramey, representing Near Southside Senior Citizens From: Be: Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Community Development .~/ Near Southside Design Plan Advisory Committee Thank you all for volunteering to participate on our Near Southside Design Plan Advisory Committee. I believe this will be an interesting, educational process. The City of Iowa City has hired Gould Evans Associates of Kansas City, Missouri, to produce the Near Southside Design Plan. We will begin the design plan process in April and conclude in November. In the next couple Qf weeks we will send you a notice of the first Design Plan Advisory Committee meeting. W~ anticipate four or five meetings in total as we proceed through the process. We ask that you notify us when you are unable to attend a meeting. Once again, thank you for volunteering and we look forward to working with you. If you have any questions regarding this matter, contact me at 356-5252, or David Schoon, the City's Economic Development Coordinator, at 356-5236. City Council City Manager Director of Planning & Community Development East Central Iowa Council of Governments 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. $W P.O. Box 2068 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406 Telephone (319) 398-L266 FAX (319) 398-1298 March 31, 1995 David Loveland Environmental Programs Manager Eargill PO Box 5698 Minneapolis, MN 55440-5698 Dear David: In response to the concerns raised by Cargill's EcoPLA Project Team ("Team"), the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) working group has modified its planned source separated compostable materials pilot project ("Project"). The various participating entities have agreed to postpone implementation of the Project until September 1, 1995. The pilot participants are modifying the Project as re~ated to both the timing of the pilot and the handling of the materials collected. Delaying implementation of the pilot project will provide an additional five months to ensure adequate preparation in terms of securing the appropriate compostable material containers/bags for the project and to upgrade the composting facility which will be accepting the collected compostable materials. The Bluestem Solid Waste Agency ("Agency") presently composts more than 22,000 tons of yard waste materials annually at its cornposting facility located in Cedar Rapids. The Agency plans to expand and upgrade this operation in early summer of 1995. Specifically, a concrete cornposting pad will be constructed and a windrow turner will be purchased. For the duration of the pilot program, each of the project participants are committed to transporting the collected materials to this site for composting. We are very interested in working with Cargill to implement a well-designed pilot collection program which will provide reliable results as related to both the collection and processing of compostable materials. One goal of the project is to utilize the results of this pilot program to design a solid waste composting facility which will meet the needs of the overall ECICOG region. ECICOG is the Region 10 plunning agency sen,ing local governments in the counties of B~ton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and WashingIon. Printgd On Reveled Paper David Loveland March 31, 1995 Page 2 With the modifications described above, participation in the pilot program will be beneficial to both Cargill and the various participating entities. As a result, we would request an additional opportuni.ty to discuss Cargill's participation in the project, including providing EcoPLATM bags for the compostables collected and monitoring the cornposting process. We wish to use the EcoPLAm Kraft bags for daily in-home collection of compostables by residents and the EcoPLAw clear film bags for weeldy curbside collection of compostables. Bob Craggs of R.W. Beck will contact you by phone within the next two weeks to further discuss these issues and to address any questions or concerns you may have. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Executive Director · Bluestem Solid Waste Agency Steven Grover J [0 Mayor City of Solon owitz Mayor City of Iowa City Gene Freiburger Freiburger Waste Services Cities of Lisbon and Mount Vernon Garth W. Frable Interim Solid Waste Planning Coordinator East Central Iowa Council of Governments Carol Casey Waste Management Coordinator University of Iowa cc: Robert W. Craggs CITY OF I0 WA CITY JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF IOWA CITY AND THE 3OHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Tuesday, April 4, 1995 4:30 p.m. Highlander Inn Gold Room 1. Call to order. 2. Discussion regarding the following: b. Local Option Sales Tax c. Traffic Control Issues d. Fringe Area Agreement Economic Development In County (City and County). - Office Research Parks - Industrial Park (City). (City). (City). 3. General Announcements. 4. Adjournment (6:00 p.m.)° Dinner is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. 410 EAST %YASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 1~2240-13;6 · (319} 356-3000 · FAX (313) 3~6-3009 City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: March 21, 1995 To: R.J. Winkelhake, Chief of Police From: James Brachtel, Traffic Engineer Re: Special Event Parking along U.S. Highway 6 West of the VA Hospital City Councilor Karen Kubby has referred a citizen's concern about parking along U.S. Highway 6 in the vicinity of Carver-Hawkeye during special events. The citizen expressed concern regarding safety during the time when vehicles are maneuvering onto and off of the highway and also of pedestrians walking along the highway to and from their vehicles. I spoke with Iowa DOT local resident maintenance engineer office and the DOT will install additional no parking any time signs and the City's request. This installation is based upon the City's assurance that the City's Police Department will enforce the posted prohibition. The DOT has a form of indicating that the City will actively enforce this additional posting. When I receive that form from the DOT will be forwarding it to you for signature, As the cost of parking at the arena and on private yards around the arena increases, the cost of a parking ticket may seem cheap to out-of-town Carver~Hawkeye visitors. It may be necessary to review the effectiveness of a ticket writing effort and perhaps develop alternate strategies in the future if out-of-town visitors continue to park along the highway. Your assistance in this effort will be greatly appreciated. CC: Steve Atkins, City Manager Karen Kubby, City Councilor VOLUNTEER ACTION CENTER 911 NORTH GOVERNOR 20 EAST M3%RKET STREET IOWA CITY, IOWA 52245 IOWA Cid"f, IOWA 52240 (319)356-6050 (319)338-7823 March 29, 1995 Greetings, Johnson county will be recognizing volunteers during National Volunteer Week April 24-29, 1995. The Volunteer Administrator's Network (VAN) has planned several events to show how much the community appreciates the contributions volunteers have made to the Johnson County Area. During National Volunteer Week, VAN wanted to give Johnson County volunteers something lasting--something more than the usual certificate or ribbon. Per discussion with City Forester, Terry Robinson, we discovered that City Park needs fairly good sized hardwood trees. On Monday, April 24, 1995, Johnson County agencies and volunteers will plant a hardwood tree in City Park. The City Forestry Department has graciously offered to take care of the hard labor for the ceremony. The City will dig the hole and fill in half of the dirt. We would love to have a representative present at the ceremony as well as possibly say a few words. You are also welcome to plant the tree by lifting a small shovel full of dirt to fill in around the base of the tree. The ceremony will be at 9:00 a.m. at Shelter #10 in Lower City Park. Refreshments will be available at the completion of the 1/2 hour ceremony until 10:30 a.m. Shelter ~10 is near the first large parking lot in Lower City Park. This event will occur rain or shine. We also encourage you to attend a breakfast that will be held to recognize Johnson County volunteers Tuesday, April 25, 1995 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. in Montgomery Hall at the 4-H Fairgrounds, located south of Iowa City. Please RSVP for the Tree Planting Ceremony to Sue Rogusky at (319)356-5224 by April 10, 1995. Sincerely, Johnson County Council of Governments 410 E V,'osh~rg[cn St b, vo C~y Iov~ 52240 MARCH 28, 1995 PRESS RELEASE CONTACT PERSON: Brad Neumann, JCCOG Waste Management Planner Solid On Saturday May 20, 1995, the Iowa City Landfill will sponsor a toxic waste bleanup day. The event will take place at the Iowa City Transit facility located on South Riverside Drive, across from Wardway Plaza. The hours for the event will be 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Those eligible to padicipate include all residents of Johnson County and the towns of Riverside and Kalona. There will be no business waste accepted. In order to participate, i'esidents will be required to make an appointment. Appointments will be limited to 840 households. Appointments will b~ accepted the two weeks prior to the event. A telephone number for making an appointment will be advedised in late April. Residents are encouraged to bring items such as toxic automotive and household products, paint, paint products and solvents, fertilizers and pesticides, and batteries. Item~ that will not be accepted include radioactive wastes, infectious or medical wastes, gas cylinders or pressurized vessels, and containers over 25 gallons. Volunteers are still needed to assist at the event. If you would like to volunteer, or if you have any questions about the event, please call Brad Neumann, JCCOG Solid Waste Management Planner, at 356-5235. cleanup.pal To: IO~ CITY CL£RR From: Board of $u~ervi~rs 3-~]-~5 B:42aa p. 2 of 3 ~IOWA ~ Charles D. Duffy, Chairperson Joe Bolk¢om Stephen P, La¢ina Don $¢hr Sally Stutsman BOARD OF SUPERVISORS March 30, 1995 FORMAL MEETING 1. Call to order 9:00 a.m. Agenda 2. Action re: claims Action re: informal minutes of March 21st recessed to March 23rd and the formal minutes of March 23rd. 4. Action re: payroll authorizations 5. Business from the County Auditor. a) Action re:permits b) Action re:reports c) Action re:resolution transl~rfing from General Basic and Rural Services Basic to Secondary Roads. d) Action re: resolution transferring from the General Basic Fund to the Reservoir Roads Fund. e) Action re: resolution appropriating amounts for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 1995. f) Other 6. Business from the County Attorney. a) Action re: job description for Assistant position. b) Report re: other items. Secondary Roads Administrative 913 8OLrFH DUBUQUE ST. P.O. BOX 1350 IOWA CITY, IOWA 52244-1350 TEL: (319) 356-6000 FAX: (319) 356-6~1~6l To: IOL~CITY CLERK From: Board of S~perwsors 3-29-95 8:42aa p. 3 or 3 Agenda 3-30-95 Page 2 7. Business from the Board of Supervisors. a) Other 8. Adjourn to informal meeting. a) ~quiries and reports from the public. b) Reports and inquires from the members of the Board of Supervisors. c) Report from the County Attorney. d) Other 9. Adjournment. oca Op, ion Sa es Tax "The Most Frequently Asked Questions and · Answers" Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance CONTENTS I INTRODUCTION I il VOTING: IMPOSITION, REPEAL AND RATE CHANGE 2 [QUESTIONS 1.17] II! REVENUE ESTIMATES AND STATISTICS [QUESTIONS 18 - 20] 4 IV DISTRIBUTION OF LOCAL OPTION TAX FUNDS [QUESTIONS 21 -32] 5 V PUBLIC RELATIONS [QUESTIONS 33 - 36] VI STATE SALES TAX AND LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX RELATIONSHIP 7 [QUESTIONS 37- 58] VII DEPARTMENT INFORMATION 10 I - INTRODUCTION Local opdon sales taxes have beau imposed by ~vc'ral Jm'lsdictions since they wcm au~ori~ by IJ~o Iowa G~ncral Assembly in 1985. This publication addresses die most fr~uenfly askezl questions about local option sales tax asked by local officials and retailers in taxing jurisdictions or In jurisdictions which are considei'ing Imposition of Th~c qucstions are of a general natur~ and thc answers are not declaratory rulings. They should no~ b~ used to bind tho Department in any legal proceeding. Additional questions or clarification of ~h0 enclosed information should b~ forwarded to: Taxpayer $ervice~ Iowa Department of Revenue and Finan~ PO Box 10457 Des Mobres, Iowa S0306,0457 515.281-3114 (Des Moines calling area or ~m oat.of-state) or 1-800-367.3388 (elsewhere in Iowa, from the Omaha or Rock Island. Moline calling areas) 1 I! - VOTING: IMPOSITION, REPEAL AND RATE CHANGE The Secretary of Slat~ has administrative responsibility associated with local opLion voting activities, Quedohs should b~ addressed to ~he Secretary of State for confirmation, you may ~clephone (515)281-5865. Since the Department of Revenue and Finance receives frequent inquiries regarding the imposition of local option sales t~xes, the most frequently asked questions and answers are listed below. 1. How I$ a local option sales tax imposed? Local option sales tax is imposed by an ordinance of the county board of supervisors following an election at which a majority of thos~ voting on the questions favor imposition. The tax is always a county tax; it is not a city tax even trimposed in a city. 2, When can a vote on local option tax be held? The local option tax can be voted on at either a general election or at a special election. The special election can be held at any Lim~ other than at a city regular election. The question of repeal of the tax or of a rate change can also be voted upon at a general or special election. 3. ,Are there special rules to follow Ifs general or special election is held to vote on a local option sales tax issue? The vote cannot be held sooner than 60 days after the publication of notice of the ballot proposition. 4. Since the local option sales tax is placed before the voters following action by the county board of supervisors L~ the tax county-wide? The election to impose a local option sales tax is county-wide but the tax only applies in the incorporated areas (city) and the unincorporated area of the county where a majority vote for imposition is received. $. ~l'mt happens when dries are eontlSuous ~o each other? All cities contiguous to each otl~ am treated as .one large incorporated aw, a. The ~ cm only In tinposed if the majority of those voting in the total contiguous area favor imposition of the tax. 6, How does the i~ne of local option ~ale$ tax get on the ballot? There axe two ways: A. Receipt of a petition by the eounly board of supervisors requesting Imposition signal by eligible voters of the whole county equal to 5 percent of the persons in the county who voted in the last preceding stato general election. B. By motion adopted by the governing body of a city or cities or county for unincorporated areas representing at least one half of the population of the 7. What must the ballot proposition $1~ify? 'The ballot must specify: · the type of tax. · the date it will be imposed. - the approximate amount of local option tax revenue that MII in used for property tax relief. o a statement as to the ~cific purpose or purposes for which 1oc~ option tax revenues will be spent if for purposes other tlum pmpomy tax relief. Sample ballots are available from the Iowa $cerelary of State. A copy can ~so be found in Chapter 721 of the Iowa Adminiswative Code § 21.3 8, What is the rate of local opllon $aI~$ tax that can be imposed? The rate caxnnot be more than I pel~enL 2 9. Can a local option ~les tax b~ ropealii or the rate of tax increased or decreased? Yes. The election on the question of a rate change must be called and held in the same mannex and unc~ the same conditions as the ehw. tion which favored the imposition of the tax. Howcv~, the question of rate change is vowxt on by the qualified voters of the areas of the county where the tag has be~n imposed. When submitting the questlea of the imposition of a local option sales tax to the electorate, the county board of auper,Agors may direct that the quezon contain a provision for repeal (without election) of the local option sales tax on a specific date. This date must be the end of the calendar year. Notwithstanding any other provision of the local option sales and re'vice tax law for any county for which a local option sale~ and servi~ tax is imposed the county board of supervisors can, upon its own motion, repe~ the local option tax in any unincorporated area of the county where the tax is imposed, For any municipality, the county board of sut~rvisors must, upon receipt of a motion of the governing body of the municipality r~uesting the action, rop~l the local option tax within that municipality. The tax c. an I~ repeal~ within a municipality which is contiguous to othea municipalities. Local option sales and service tax cannot be repealed before the tax has been in effect for one year. This inability to repeal applies to local option sales and service tax that are in effect on or after January 1, 1990, 10. What ifa tax has been impssod in a portion of a county and now another incorporated or unincorporated area of the courtly wants to vote on the tax.'? The criteria for getting the issue I~fom lite voters are the same as set forth in question 6. flowever, the question of imposition can be voted on only by tha qualified voters of the area of the county where the tax has not be~n imposed and not by all residents within the county. 3 I 1. Are timre notification and other administrative requirement~ that must be completed once the local option ~ale~ ta~ has been voted, repealed or the rate changed? Wlthin 10 days following the elation where local option sales mx has been imposczl, rep~l~, or the rate changed, the county must give written notice to the Director of Revenue and Finance of the election, In the ease of imposition or repeal, but not rate change, a separate notice must be sent to the Director of Revenue and Finance by certified mail at least 40 days prior to imposition on repeal, When a 1o~al option sal~s tax is impos~xl tM county board of supchAsers must pass an ordinance and file a ~'~fied copy with the Direotor of Revenue ~d Finance. 12, What happens ifa county doea not pas$ the local ordinance as required by law? The Linn County Dislxlct Court in City of Walker, et al vs. Oxley, oral, EQ 9310, June 4, 1986, ruled that passage of the ontinanee is a mandatory ministerial task. Failure to pass the ordinance will not delay the imposition of tax. 13. Will the De~rhaent of Revenue and Finance asaist with the drafting of an ordinance impoa|ng a loom option sales tax? Yes. Sample ordinances can be obtained from the Department. 14. How long does a local option sales tax remain in effect once it Is Imposed? The tax remains in effect for an unlimited period or until it is repealed, L~. Are there any spedal rules ~da~ng to the fm.t~ttlon or rel~tl eta local option s~Llm tax? Y6~, A local option sales tax can only be tmgo~l b~g~ing Janum'y 1, April I, July 1, or October 1, following notification to the Director of Revenue and Finance. R~peal of a local option ~cs lax can only occur on March 31, lune 30. &p~e~nber 30, or December 31. following notification [o ~he Director of Revenue and Fmanee. Local option sal~ and sa'vie~ tax cannot be repealed before the tan has b~en in effect for one year. 16. If there Is a question whe~er two geographic areas are contiguous, who will resolve the i~ue? The issue must be resolved by the county board of supervisors. When are two geographical areas conli~um~? They are contiguous when their boundaries are in aetuni contact or touching. Burd v, Board of Education of Audubon County, 16'/N.W. 2rid 174 (IA 1969); City of Walker, et al v. Oxley, et al, 4 REVENUE ESTIMATES AND STATISTICS 18. How can a locality estimate wlmt amount of local option sales tax It might re~ive? ~m ~o Depot of~venuo and P~. Howler, the 1~ option ~e~ ~x ~d ~e state nlus ~ ~ffer in ~stfion ~~. ox~ple. the 1~ option ~1~ t~ is ~ on s~sfic$ ~e kept on ~e &ils of ~fle$ ~ by mem~B ~thin a lo,~iF. ~M option ~es t~ Is not M~s~ on ~ option hotel ~d ~ml ~ or on ~o ~e ofnam~ g~ ~ ~c en~ in a ¢i~ wh~ ~ ~ip~ ~ abj<t to a uses f~ or mention just a few ~ffe~n~s. info~fion obt~n~ f~m Rev~ue and Fin~co ~11 haw to ~ m~fi~. 19. If a locality has nmde its own ~firtmt~ will lhe Department review them? Yes. Oftentimes local officials ar~ bmter economic predictors becaus~ they pro f~ wi~ the ~eup8tion, pmh~ng ~d ~e~ng partes in a l~fli~. ~c ~p~t ~ review ~e ]o~c ~d ~o v~ables ~nsi&~ in ~mpilin$ ~c ~fi~t~. 20. C~n a locality receive Information regarding local option sale~ tax payments ba~d on activifie~ of specific retail e*labllshment$ in ~ community? The Department may antor into a written informational exchange agreement for tax adminimation purposes with a city or county which is enfifl~ to m¢tve funds duo to a motel ~ax or a local sales and servic~ ~. wri~n informaltonal exchange ag, x~?,ment must designate no more than two paid oily or ¢otlllty employees that have access to aclual infom~alion relating to that city's or county's recoipc~ from a local hotel and motel lax or a local sales and sewIces lax. CorRac[ hie Department's Local Ocreminent Services Division for further infom~ation regarding release of confidential i~ormatlon. IV - DISTRIBUTION OF LOCAL OFfiON TAX FUNDS 21. How soon after a local option sales tax is imposed will a locality get ILs money/how Often? Thc Dcplutmcnt of Revenue and Finance credits locaJ sales tax receipts to a conroy's account in the local sales and service tax fund. An csdmate of the amount of tax money that the city or county will m.C~ive for that year and for ~ach quarter of the year is sent within 15 days of the toginning of fiscal year. Estimates may be revis~ at the end of each quarter of the year. Ninepy perc~t of estimated tax receipts is remitted to a city or county after the end of the quarto' no later than the 10 day of the second month following the quant- (that is, no later than 11/10, 2/10, 5/10, and 8/10 of any fiscal year), A final paymen! of~y rcrr~iai~g tax due to a city or county for any fiscal year is made before the duo date for the firs~ payment of the next fiscal year, If an overpayment to a city or county exists for a previous fiscal year, the fu'st payment of the aubs~uent fiscal year is adjust~ to deduct the overpayinghr. 22. Will a jurisdiction in which the tax Is imposed receive the actual amount of tax collected by merchants in the locality? No. The local opdon tax enllccted within a county is placed in a special disCbutton fund. The fund is distributed on the basis of population and property tax levies, 23. Under the distribution formula is it possible for an incorporalcd area to receive a disproporllo~ate share of local option tax actually collected from its residents? Yes. Since all local opdon sales tax associated with deliveries into a jurisdiction imposing the tax are deposit~ into a single,, fund and ~hen disu'ibuted on the basis of population and property tax levies the possibility of a disproportionate discbunion exists. 5 24, How dJ~s the distribution formula work? l~ch county's account l~ (fim'ib~d on th~ b~ls of popuhtion (75 potent) and property tax lcvlc~ (25 perce~t). The populalion fa~tor is based on the most recent ccrtifiod fe&'~d c~q~$ a~d the l~X factor is thc sum of pmp~'y tax doUars levied by boards of supervisors or city cotm0ils for the three years from Inly 1, 1982 through June 30, 1985. The property tax dam is compllM f'mm city and county tax reports available in tile State D~parm~ent of Management. Only population and property u~x levies of the judr, dicfion imposing the tax are used in figuring p~rcentages, The actual dislribudon is computed a~ follows; D = distribution for the taxing jurisdiction. P = jurisdiction pementag~ of the population. ¥ = jurisdiction l~reentagc of the property tax levied. Z = the total collections for tho county in which the jurisdiction is located, D,= (.75 x P x Z) + (.25x V x Z) Examples of an actual distribution c, aa I~ in 701 Iowa Adminis~tive Code {} 107.10 2S./s the properly tax portion of the distribution formula a fixed amount? Y~. The factor is the sum of pmp~ty tax dollars levied for the thr~ y~ars from July 1, 1982 to June 30, 1985. Once th~ amount is determined, it will not change. 26, Is i! possible for a jurisdiction in which a local option tax was not imposed to receive a distribution of local option tax money? No. Only the jurisdictions in which the tax is imposed can pardcipate in the distribution. 27. Are there any adjustments made to the quarterly remitSnee of local option tax prior to distribution? Adjustm~ts are possible. For example, local option taxes can he refunded to governmental units if imposed on materials associated with construction projects. Erroneous collections can occur which are subject to refund, Amended sales tax roturns are filed. Refunds am often identified after distributions for a given tax period have hecn made, Therefore, aecourlt adjustments are neeessay,. 28. Who will receive the tiistrlbufion cheek? The check will he made out to abe city or county that imposed the ta~. 29. Must local option sales tax money be used for property tax relief?. No. Local option sales tax reccivext by a oily or a county may be used for any lawful purp<~e. However. the ballot proposition must designate the approximate amount, if any, that will bc used for property tax relief and it must contain a statement of the purposes for which the local option sales revenues will otherwise be spcnt. 30. What happens to local option tax that is collected in error or is subject to refund claim? Adjustments will be made in the current qumer's distribution. I.~al option tax modes, penalties, or interest received or refunded 180 days after the date a local option tax is repealed are deposited into or withdrawn from lhe state general fund. 31. What happens to local option taxes which are collected but it cannot be deternfined which county is the origin of the money? The fur~ds will be allocated to the counties which might possibly be entitled to them on a ba~s of special rules flied by the Department. The talcs specify distribution to be made ba~ed on population of each county. 6 V - PUBLIC RELATIONS 32. Once local option Salea tax is imposed, how are the merchants Informed? The Department will mail a spcdal notification to all nmmhanm located in a taxlag jurisdiction. This mailing w~11 also include a new sales tax table which incorporates the s~e tax rau~ and the local option tax rate. In addition, the Doanmeat regularly malls newsletters to all retailers holding a sales tax permit and the newsletter will contain local option tax notification. 33. Are there other forms of notification? Yes. Articles routinely appear in the Depanmanl's newsletters, which are dislxibuted to subscribing accounting practitioners, eerdfied public accountants and attorneys, plus many businesses. In addition, the Doanmeat will assist the print, radio and television media with information by issuing prc~s releases and agreeing to interviews. 34, Will the Department assun~ any responsibility for reprogramming computer and cash registers for merchan~ In a jurlsdtctlon irapeering a local option tax? No, The moroham is responsible for all' programming changes. 35. Wlmt Imppens ira merchant fails to coileel or refuses to collect local option tax? ff a problem occurs or a question apses, please call Taxpayer Services. We will call the merchant or otherwise investigate any complaints. Whenever the Departraent audits for state sales tax, it ~11 also audit for local option taxes. The pearlties a~sociated with the nonpayment of local option sales tax are the same as those for state sales tax. VI ° El'ATE SALF_.,.~ TAX AND LOCAL OFTION SALES TAX RELATIONSHIP 36. Ar~ local option sales taxes lmpo,~d on !he ~ame irene as state sales tax? Generally yes, but there are exceptions. A local option sties and service tax is imposed on the same basis as the state sties t~x, However, local option sales wes cannot be imposed on: - sales of motor fuel and special fuel generally used to propel vehicles subject to registration. o room rentils subject to local option hotel/motel tax. o salea of equipment by the Department of Tnmspomdon. * sales of natural gas or el~Mc energy subject to a city or county imposed franchise fee or users fee. · the He ellencry dcke~s and receipts from other games conducted by the statc Lottery. 37. Are loe.~l option sales taxes imposed o'n cars and trueks? No. Vehicles subject to registration arc subject to u use tax under Chapter 423 of the Iowa Code rather than a state sales tax. However, the receipts from the rental of cars and trucks arc subject to local option tax. Also, sales of parts and services by auto dealers are subject m tax. 38. Can a county with a local option sales tax lmpc~se the tax on liems and services not subject to state sales tax? No. A local option sales tax cannot be imposeA on any property or service not subject to state sales tax. 39. When local option sales tax is figured, is it imposed "on top" of the state sales tax? No. The amount of the sale for purposes of determining amount of local sales tax does not include any amount of state sales tax. 40, Do retal/ers have to obtain a spatial ~a!~ tax perufit in order to coileat local option taxes? No tax pcmlit other than the slate sal~ ~x W, auit is r~quired, In ~fio~ no o~ s~ ~-u~{ o~ ~ ~u~ by l~al o~o~s, 41. Do retailera have to remit local option ~1~ taxes with their bl-monthly or monthly sales tax deposits? No. Local option taxc~ am remitted on the quarterly sales Wax report which contains Sl~cial local option tax roperting information. ff a fuji!or wishes to deposit local option taxes along with state sales tax with the hi-monthly or monthly depostt, it will be accepted. 42. How does a retailer know when to collect local option sales taxes? Local option sties tax can only be imposed on the sales of tangible personal property delivered into a jurisdiction wher~ a local ogden sties tax is imposed. Delivery i~ the taxing event, For taxable services, local option tax is impearl if the sendee is rendered, fumlsheA, or performed within the tax imposing jurisdiction. 43. If a resident in a local option tax Jurisdiction buys something In a city that does not have a local option sales tax, dO~ that mean that they avoid paying the local option tax? Maybe. If a resident of a taxing Jurlsdicdon takes physical possession of the item in a non-taxing jurisdiction no local option w can be imposed. However, if the seller doliven it to the purchaser who lives in a local option tax jurisdiction then the seller must collect local option tax. 44. What if under the above fac~ the ~eller not phyakally make an actual delivery but sends the item through the mail or by common carder to the purchaser? No local opdon ~ax is coilccteA units the seller is otherwise doing business tn th0 waxing jurisdiction, 7 45. What do you mean by "otherv~ doing burness in the taxing jurisdiction" ? The seller has a store in the ~a~ing jurisdiction, utili~s a ~lici~ or ~cs p~mn ~ ~e t~ing j~ic~ion, ~ ~ns~ ~p~ in his or h~ own vehicles into the ~ing j~sdietion ~ some reg~, If ~y ~mum ~n~fion exists ~w~n fie ~ng j~cfion ~d ~e gller, ~e se~r can ~ ~uk~ to ~R~t 1~ options sties ~es even ff the delive~ is ~e into the t~ing j~sdietinn by ~mmon c~er or by mail. 46, What happens if the seller is located in a taxing Jurisdiction and delivery of an item is made inlo a jurisdiction where no local option tax ha~ been tmposed? Since for local option tax purposes delivery is the tax event, no local option tax can be imposed on a transaction where deliveD, is made into a non- taxing jurisdiction. 47. Are there other provisions associated with the collection of local option sales tax that are of interest? The place of sale from vending machines is the location of each individual vending machine. Local option tax is imposed on vending machine sales in the taxing jurisdiction. . Ifs retailer in a taxlag jurisdiction prochases ~tems for resale or processing and later withdraws the.m fxom inventory for other purposes, the local op,on tax is imposed regardless of where the item was purchased. Owners, contractors, subcontractors, or builders purchasing building materials, supplies, and equipmen. t for use in a construction project withill a taxing jurisdiction must pay local option sales tax on these ilems if they take delivery in the taxing jurisdiction, Contractors, subcontraclo~, or builders who are also retailers in a taxing jurisdiction must pay local option tax when they withdraw building mat~als, 8 supplies and equlpm~t from inverterO, for constraction puvpose~ even if the cones'action project is outside the itcting jufi~etirm. Manufacturers of building materials located in a taxing jurisdiction who are principally engaged in manufacturing and ~11tng bull fling materials and who withdraw them from inventory fo~ use in a coratraction conu'act must pay local option tax if the eon~tn~cfion con~ct is within Iowa. The tax is eomput~ on fabricated 48. What if a contract to construct a building or to purchase tangible pomehal property is entered into prior to the imposition of local option tax, but actual erection oCCurs after the local option tax Is imposed? Since ddivery is the taxing event, it makes no difference when the centrapt is signed or where it is signed. ff tangible personal progeny subject to state sale~ tax is delivered into a jurisdiction after the date local option sties mx has been imposed, local option sales tax is due. Ifs taxable service is rendered, furnished, or performed after the date local option sales tax has been imposed, local optio~ ~es mx is due. Con~tmction contractors may apply for refund of additional local option sales tax paid as a result of the imposition of or an increase in the rate of local option sales tax if the following circumstances exist: (I) The additional tax was paid upon tangible personal propeaty incorporated into an improvement to ~eal estate in fulfillment of a w[i?en consrotation eontra~t fully executed prior to the date local option sales tax is imposed or its rate increased, and (2) The contractor has paid the full amount of both state and local option sale~ tax due to the Department or to a ~tailer, and (3) The claim is filed on forms provided by the ]~panment within six months of the date on which th~ contn~tor has paid the tax. This local option tax fight of refund is not applicable to equiptrent u'ansfetred undw a mixed consauction contract. 49~ How is local option sa!~ ta~ fmp0sal on services? Local option sales tax is imposed on any sen, ice subjut to state sales tax which is reindoted, furnished, or performed within a taxing jurisdiction. 50. Does It make any difference If the service Is contracted for outside the taxing Judsdletion? No. Local option tax is due on all taxable services performed in the taxing jurisdiction regardless of where the con~ract was entered. $I. What if there Is a single contract and services are performed both within and outside a taxing jurisdiction? The local option tax is imposed if the conu'act is subst~tlally performed in the taxing j~sdiction. However, if service charges are separately s~ated, separately billed, and reasonable in amount and can bo distinguished betwan those performed in the taxing jurisdiction, tax is only imposed on services performed in the taxing jurisdiction. $2, How is local option sales tax computed on rented or leased property? The general rule h that payments associated with periods when the property is used within a taxing jurisdiction are subject to local option tax. Motor vehicle, recreational vehicle and rexrealional boat rentals where state sales tax is imposed are subject to local option sales tax only if pursuant to the rental conwact, posscssion of the vehicle o~ boat is transferred to the customer within the taxing jurisdiction and payment is mack: within thc same taxing jurisdiction. 53. Are there special rules relating to ulillly payments? Yes. Delivery of gas and water, elecaicity, heat, communication and cable television to as address in a local option taxing jurisdiction are subject to tax. However, if the jurisdiction imposes a franchise fee or users fe~ on ~he sale of natkt.ral g~ or el~tric energy, no local option tax can be Imposed on the sale of natural gas or electric energy. 54. What about telephone credit card calla made outsin a taxing Ju~dletlon and baled to an address wtthln a taxing Jurisdiction? Assuming that it is an intrastate call (within Iowa) local option tax applies if the call is billed to aa address within a taxing jurisaietion. S$. Do cable television franchise f~s Imposed by a local Jurisdiction exempt cable tetevl~inn charges from local opllon taxes? No. Only franchis~ f~e~; and usc~r; feen for nmral gas and electric energy ~gg~' the ¢xe~aption. 56. Wlmt happetra when an item is purchased outside Iowa and brought into Iowa by the purchaser? Is local option sales tax due? No. The~: transactions are subject to a consumcr's use tax for state tax purposes, Local option sales tax can only bc imposed when slate sales tax is applicabl~. $7. How are charges for utility services subjected to local option sales tax when there are different billing dates and hitting cycles? Since the billings may occur before or aft~ rendering of the scrvic~ is actually made, local option taxes and state sales tax am imposed on a "billing da~e" instead of a d~livery dam 58. How are charges for non-utility kaxable services subject to local option sales tax when the service is performed or partially perloaned In one period and billed In a different time period? The date that the e~'viees are rendered, furnished, or performed is th~ taxing ~,,¢nt and that d~rmtnes if or when local option ~les tax should ~ imposed. See question 43, 9 VII - FURTHER INFORMATION arim~ cxphining every tax mauer is impo~,sib]c. However, addidonal and helpful infmm~ion is avaihble without ch~gc. General Informallon Telephone Numberin Contact the Depanmc. nt ~ll-frcc at 3388, accessible in Iowa and including Omaha, NE and Rock lsland/Moliac, IL a,,~s. All o~h~ callers dial (515) 281-3114 from the Des mcm~politan am~ or out-of-statc, Newsletters Tho Director iss~cs ncwslo~crs conccming all rexes. You om~ bc placcd on our mu{ling lis~ to rccei¥c ono, lot us know. Booklets, Brochures, Guides, Sta[isflcs The Dcpartmcnt pmvid¢s general tax information on a varicty of topics. These documcnts provide bmic information to hlxpaycrs. (VRU) Vd~ Response Uult Telephoue Numbers ~1 ~ ~yzt~ w~h is ~Hm~ by ~ touch tonc ~Icphone, re v~y ~e s~s of a Iowa i~ivid~l in~ ~ m~s ~ ~t ~m~l o!~i.~. ~ numar h 1.80047~3~4. Tax.Fax (recelv{ng) Telephone Numbers Since the Department xceciv~ ~tpprox/matcly 18,000 rcqucsLs re fax or u~11 forms, policies, rule intcrpretadons, ere., annually, a fax-on-demand system has boon implemented. Call 1.800.572. 3943. ERIN (electrode bullolln board) Telephooe Numbers A compu~, communications 8oftwan~ and a modem a~ nuxl~l to access our ~bcuonic Revenue Information Network. C~II~ view Announcements. urgent m~g~, Bulletins - brief narratives or statistics, and Files - Spvoiil~ for tach major tax type. CIIII 1-80{).971.2028 in Iowa. Callers from tho I)~ Moines mcu'o-oxca ~d oat-of. stat~ dial ($15) 281-3148, Fax (sending) Telephoue Numbers To sead an employen h ~o D~p~rtm~t info marion Or ~pondon~ ~ f~ ~6~0, · 10 · City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: April 7, 1995 TO: City Council FROM: City Manager RE: Material in Information Packet Copy of letter from Mayor Horowitz {o the Mayor of Solon regarding the sales tax referendum. Copy of letter from Council Member Novick to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding Iowa City's water and wastewater projects. Memoranda from the City Manager: a. Economic Development Policy b. Miscellaneous Issues - Future Agenda c, Sidewalk on Iowa Avenue - Update Copies of letters from the City Manager to: a. Iowa Department of Natural Resources regarding proposed study b. Morgan Jones regarding First Avenue Improvements Project c. Ernie Galer regarding proposed construction debris/landfill alternatives Memoranda from the City Attorney: a. Status Update: Pigeon Coop Question · b. Mediation with Nila Haug c. Report on discussions of public meetings and public records Memoranda from the Department of Planning and Community Development: a. Neuzil Tract b. County Rezoning - Streb Property c. Bob Wolf proposal for manufactured housing park d. Notice of upcoming National Register reviews Building permit information for March 1995 City Recycling Program report Memoranda from the City Clerk: a. Council Work Session of March 20, b. Council Work Session of March 27, 1995 (l< q 1995 II~.~ Minutes of the March 20, 1995, meeting of the Sensitive Areas Committee. ~ Copy of letter from the National League of Cities regarding 1995 Action Agenda. Copy of letter from Anne Rawland to the Press-Citizen regarding local option sales tax. Agendas for the April 4 and April 6, 1995, meetings of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. Agenda for the 4/11 meeting of the Board of Supervisors. Memo from City Arty. regarding ad Hoc Construction Review Comm. Copy of letter from City Arty. to Bruce & Jim Glasgow & John Cruise regarding grading permit for Cliff anartments. I, April 7, 1995 Information packet page 2 Copy of The Planning of Iowa: Building Community Through Design. Memo from City Clerk re§ardin§ revised C0unci] Sessions/May, Oune, 0u]y. (draft) Memo from City Mgr. regarding ~96 Paratransit Service Contract Renewals f~Ir the City of Coralville and the City of Iowa City. April 3, 1995 CITY OF I0 WA CITY Steven J. Grover, Mayor City of Solon P.O. Box 493 Solon, IA 52333 Dear Mayor Grover: In your recent correspondence you requested the Iowa City City Council place the sales tax referendum on the November ballot. At our most recent work session we discussed this issue. At this time the City Council believes that there are many issues which need to be discussed in order for the City of Iowa City to serve as the agent to initiate the sales tax referendum process. As you know, we are actively involved in discussions concerning our water and wastewater treatment facilities, and one option that has been proposed is the use of a sales tax to defer certain capital costs, These are lengthy and I believe will be very complex financial discussions, and before proceeding we, as a City Council, desire to take time to work through all the various alternatives. As you may be aware, the process of petition does exist for you in that you can proceed with the referendum process by way of a petition to the County Board of Supervisors. Sincerely, $L san~w~itz ' Mayor cc: City Councils' City Manager April 3, 1995 CITY OF I0 WA CITY Mr. Bob Perciaseppe Assistant Administrator, Water U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street S.W. Washington, DC 20024 Dear Mr. Perciaseppe: The audience at the National League of Cities session on water was impressed by your presentation of reasonable standards ahd expectations. Also, I was happy to see you there because Art Hilsenred had just told me about you. When he said that he knew a good person at the EPA water division, of course I listened to him. I was delighted to hear that Iowa City's water system does not have to test for pineapple pesticides. When I asked an EPA staff member about this in 1993, his answer was that he didn't have enough staff, so therefore everyone had to perform the same tests. Iowa City has no objection to testing for chemicals and bacteria that occur in Iowa, of course, and no objection to testing for those that may enter the Iowa River from other neighboring states. Here is the Iowa City story of water and wastewater projects that I promised you at NLC. Iowa City is going to construct a completely new water system. The current system was constructed 110 years ago and uses Iowa River water. Additions to the treatment plant have occurred as the city grew and as water treatment changed. There isn't room to further expand on this site, and the quality of dyer water has deteriorated a great deal in recent years. We have purchased a site with space for multiple wells, sludge ponds, a state-of-the-art treatment plant and future expansion. We plan to use river water also, but in lesser amounts than currently used. Blending dyer water with well water should greatly improve quality, taste, odor, turbidity, etc. In'recent years, many water customers have installed taste and odor filters at home, and many more are buying bottled water for drinking. Safety of drinking water is not an Iowa City problem today. We issued just one nitrate warning a few years ago, when we offered bottled water free of charge to people who were at dsk. The 1993 flood was at our door step but did not get inside the plant. A wall of sandbags held it back. The University of Iowa water plant was able to help out when our old equipment quit last winter, and we had to spend several days making repairs. However, thers seems to be no doubt that it is time for a new water system. 410 I!AST WASHIHOTO~ STR££T e IOWA CITY, IOWR $2240.1136 o ($lea) ~tt6.~000, FAX (]19))J6.$00~ Mr. Bob Perciaseppe Apdl 3, 1995 Page 2 Our construction cost estimate for the new water system is $50 million. Iowa City will sell bonds to cover these costs, and our water rates will double. By the time the bonds are repaid, we estimate $100 million will be spent. As operating costs increase and EPA adds more tests, the water rates will increase again. There appears to be a strong interest in water conservation among our citizens, and our water department has an information coordinator who is teaching our water customers how to use less water and how to check for leaks. If the users' water conservation effort is a huge success, and if our population growth slows down, water rates will be raised again in order to pay off the bonds and other fixed costs. The issues of water quantity, plant construction costs, water main locations, etc. are those for which we can plan with a reasonable degree of reliability. The water quality, however, is not likely to be reliable unless we can do something to try to prevent non-point pollution. Stormwater runoff from farms does carry fertilizers and pesticides downstream. The idea of requiring a buffer stdp where a farm abuts a body of water has been proposed and defeated in the Iowa Legislature more than once. We do have a state law requiring that farming near wells be done without chemicals. Also, the Iowa Legislature has passed a law that preempts a city from regulating lawn chemicals more stdctly within city limits. The Coralville Dam north of Iowa City is owned and operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. They also own most of the riverfront farm land between the dam and Iowa City. We have not been able, as yet, to get them to .discuss the establishment of a buffer along the river or the regulation of chemicals used by their tenant farmers. There is a researcher at The University of Iowa who seems to be achieving decent results with planting poplar trees along streams as a filter to prevent both soil and chemicals from going into the water. Because Iowa is still a heavily farmed state and still producing the first or second highest amounts of corn and soybeans in the United States, there is little enthusiasm for poplar trees or other buffedng vegetation, which may decrease tillable acreage. There are set-aside acres in the CRP, however not all of these are highly emdible land. And not all emdible land has been put into the CRP. Filtering farm chemicals from streams by using poplar trees or other vegetation really ought to be a federal program. There are certainly many cities treating surface water for drinking and therefore paying to clean up non-point pollution. This pollution is also a problem for non-urban residents who are using shallow wells. Logic tells us that the wells in deeper aquifers will have the same problems eventually. Iowa City is going to construct a few test wells this year in order to be aware of the possible effects of new city wells on the other silurian aquifer users in our immediate area. People in housing developments nodh of us are concemed about reduction in water levels of their wells. City folks, on the other hand, are concerned about the possible effects of the septic systems nodh of us on the surface water- another problem that is still unsolved. The USGS also has some test wells in our area and has contracted with Iowa City to help us gather these data on water levels in the siludan aquifer. This expense will be paid by our water customers. As for point-source pollution, the state of Iowa is doing a good job of enfomement. The new Iowa City wastewater treatment plant is about to be expanded again, This new plant opened in 1990 and the design was obsolete by the time the construction was finished. It did not meet the effluent standards for ammonia, which had just changed, and which do not apply to farm Mr. Bob Perciaseppe April 3, ~995 Page 3 operations. We will also construct a sewer line connecting. the 60-year-old plant to the new one, in order to reduce the ammonia in that effluent before we discharge it into the Iowa River, This four-mile-long interceptor will divert half the sewage from the old plant to the new plant so that we will have the capacity to remove ammonia at both sites. These projects will add another $41 million to our bond issue and will increase our rates for wastewater, which are currently high because we are still paying for the new treatment plant. I'm sure you understand that we had planned to pay off the original bonds before any expansion was needed, Also, you should know that the new plant was constructed just after federal funds for wastewater treatment were discontinued. Now that you have heard our long story, I want to assure yo~ that city governments do understand the need for clean water, even as we object to unfunded mandates. Mandates are always funded m the only question is by whom. The current assurance by Congress that future mandates may be accompanied by federal funds is appreciated, particularly by smaller cities. Iowa City, with a population of 60,000 and an operating budget of $77,000,000, is one of the larger cities in Iowa. Though Iowa City is considered an expensive place to live by Iowa standards, it is reasonable compared to Baltimore, or Chicago where I grew up. Thank you for reading all of this, I hope you can put our problems into perspective when new regulations are enacted. The water standards and tests for the Pacific Ocean, the Great Lakes, and the Chesapeake Bay are not necessarily the ones that are needed for Iowa City, and vice versa. Sincerely yours, Naomi J. Novick Mayor Pro tern bcf-2NN City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 7, 1995 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: Economic Development Policy Attached is the revised economic development policy document, which highlights the changes requested by Council during its most recent discussion of this issue. As Council requested, I have mailed out copies of the economic development policy and copies of the sustainable economic development memo to various organizations requesting their comments. The following is the list of organizations and surrounding communities to whom copies of these documents were sent. Iowa City Area Development Group Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Iowa City/Coralville Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Association Environmental Advocates Johnson County Council of Governments City of Coralville City of North Liberty City of Solon University of Iowa Kirkwood Community College Iowa City Community School District Regina Schools Homebuilders Association of Iowa City Job Service of Iowa Economic Well-Being Task Force Members These groups have been asked to forward their comments to me by May 12, 1995. After the staff has reviewed and compiled these comments, I will reconvene the economic well-being task force for their review and comments. Once this is completed, I will bring the document back to the City Council for your review and approval. DRAFT ECONOIVllC DEVELOPN1ENT POLICIES STRATEGIES, AND ACTIONS CITY OF IOWA CITY POLICY 1: DIVERSIFY AND INCREASE THE PROPERTY TAX BASE BY (1) ENCOURAGING THE RETENTION AND EXPANSION OF EXISTING INDUSTRY AND (2) ATTRACTING INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE GROWTH POTENTIAL AND ARE COMPATIBLE WITH EXISTING BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES. (Iowa City Comprehensive Plan, 1989 Update, page 31) Strategy A: Identify industry groups that are compatible with the community and toward which the community should target its economic development efforts. Action 1: Identify specific local businesses that fall within these targeted industry groups and adopt community policies that encourage capital investment and growth in these industries. Action 2: Identify businesses within these targeted industry groups that are not already in the community but that would complement local businesses and establish a marketing plan to recruit them, Action 3: Further develop a data base of economic and demographic information and perform various economic analyses to assist businesses. Strategy B: To the fullest extent practical promote awareness of the city's economic development policies through public forums, Action 1: Maintain a clear and consistent economic development policy. Action 2: Through community education efforts, increase public awareness of the role of business in the community and the importance of a strong economy. Action 3: Coordinate a community effort to promote the attractiveness and positive aspects of doing business in Iowa City. 2 POLICY 2: INCREASE ENIPLOYN]ENT OPPORTUNITIES' CONSISTENT WITH THE AVAILABLE LABOR FORCE (Comprehensive Plan, page 31) Strategy A: Identify local labor force skills and the types of jobs compatible with the local labor force. Action 1: Work with the local Work Force Center (Job Service) to identify the local education and training background of the local labor force. Action 2: Work with local employers to determine their labor needs and the means by which these can be met, Action 3: Develop a mechanism that would assist underemployed individuals find more appropriate job opportunities within the community, Action 4: Continue to gather information about employment abilities and needs of thc ccctcrc of the local labor force with special needs (persons with disabilities, welfare recipients, and other low-income individuals), provide the necessary supportive programs and services that assist .these~ individua s and tarerot employment opportun t es for these persons within thcsc ~octor~. Strategy B: Identify the work force skills required by the targeted industries and identify the education and training needs of the local work force to meet the required job skills. Action 1: Interview businesses within the target industry groups to determine their work force education and training requirements, Action 2: Work with Kirkwood Community College and the University of Iowa to provide the appropriate education and training necessary for work force skills of the targeted industries, Action 3: The local community school systems (K-1 2) should work closely with business to determine the skills and knowledge needed to 3erform in today's work'place. Action 4: Work with the local educational institutions to develop curricula at all educational levels that encourages creative and innovative thinking to prepare workers for the ever-changing work place, POLICY 3: PROVIDE AND PROTECT AREAS SUITABLE FOR FUTURE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPIViENT (Comprehensive Plan, page 32) Strategy A: Provide for the extension of infrastructure which will encourage development in areas designated for industrial and commercial growth. (Comprehensive Plan, page 32) Action 1: Direct the extension of infrastructure so as to maintain and contain industrial development on the edge of the community in industrial parks, but not in a ring around the city. Action 2: Construct and maintain a system of roads and bridges, telecommunica- tions and fiber optics, sewer, water, and solid waste disposal facilities that provides the necessary infrastructure for commercial and industrial development. Action 3: Through public, private, or public/private initiatives, ensure the availabili- ty of an adequate amount of industrial and office research park land and extend the necessary infrastructure, Strategy B: Encourage commercial activity to take place in existing core areas or neighbor- hood commercial centers and discourage the proliferation of new major commercial areas. (Comprehensive Plan, page 32) Action 1: Use zoning as a tool to prevent the proliferation of commercial develop- ment outside of designated commercial cores. Action 2: When necessary, use incentives to encourage development and redevelopment within designated commercial core areas. Action 3: Perform market analyses to determine the supply and demand of commercial land and commercial office/retail space. Action 4: As the city grows, zone additional areas for neighborhood commercial development. Strategy C: Continue and enhance downtown revitalization (Comprehensive Plan, page 32) Action 1: In a cooperative effort with the Downtown Association and the University of Iowa, actively market the downtown. Play a suppor~ivo' rolo to privato sector initiativcs to maintain and strongthcn downtown oommarcial aotivitioc. Action 2: Continue to assist community efforts to expand cultural activities and opportunities in downtown Action 3: Survey downtown businesses and customers to work toward a downtown that is accessible to persons with disabilities and persons using alternative modes of transportation. Action 4: Action 5: Action 6: Strategy D: Implement the Near Southside Neighborhood Redevelopment Plan. Continue to monitor the spatial arrangement and design of downtown development to minimize conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles and to add to the attractive appearance of downtown. Continue to provide and promote the necessary public infrastructure, including parking and public spaces, in order to maintain the economic health of the downtown. Provide opportunities for the Iowa City work force to live close to their place of employment, Action 1: Action 2: Through the use of land use regulations, provide the opportunity for a variety of housing types to locate near commercial and industrial areas. When necessary, provide financial and other incentives for the provision of low and/or moderate income housing in close proximity to employ- ment opportunities. 5 POLICY 4: CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH EXISTING LOCAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROIV10TE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN IOWA CITY (Comprehensive Plan, page 33) Strategy A: Continue to use the Iowa City Area Development Group as the lead economic development agency for the economic development activity of the area. Action 1: Individual marketing plans for targeted industry groups should be devel- oped for the area. Action 2: Focus economic development marketing efforts on promoting the attractiveness of Iowa City to facilitate expansion of existing business- es, maintaining the mix of high-tech and production line jobs, and encourage new businesses within the targeted industry groups to locate in Iowa City. Action 3: Continue to support ICAD's efforts to coordinate a regional eastern Iowa economic development effort. Strategy B: Continue to coordinate economic development efforts with the University of Iowa. Action 1: Work with the University of Iowa to enhance and establish avenues for technology transfer and to develop mutually beneficial programs for encouraging economic development (Comprehensive Plan, page 33) Action 2: Through a joint working group, coordinate the growth and development policies ef the City and the University. Strategy C: Develop new and enhance existing means of communication between and amongst entrepreneurs, businesses, government, and educational institutions, Action 1: Continue to work with the business community through the activities of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce. Action 2: Continue to encourage tourist and visitors to the area through the activities of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Action 3: Encourage the sharing of knowledge among industries through industry networks and consortia, and between industries and the University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College. Action 4: Encourage the creation of a business development clearinghouse and network that would assist individuals pursuing entrepreneurial opportuni- ties. Action Explore new technoloqies to facilitate communication between the above orqanizations. 6 POLICY 5: IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES Strategy A: Establish programs that encourage businesses and individuals to more efficiently use resources. Action 1: Encourage energy and resource efficiency programs. Action 2: Encourage waste reduction, waste exchange, and recycling programs. Action 3: Encourage the creation and/or expansion of markets for recycled materials. Action 4: Where possible, locate commercial and industrial activities in such a way that energy resources are conserved by minimizing travel distance for consumers, employees, and the transportation of raw materials and finished products. (Comprehensive Plan, page 4) Action 5~.' Encouraqe pollution prevention Dro(~rams. Strategy B: Provide an attractive environment to businesses involved in environmental technology and services. Action 1: Support businesses producing and marketing environmentally-sound products. Action 2: Support businesses developing renewable energy resources. 7 POLICY 6: CONSIDER FINANCIAL INCENTIVES AND PROGRAMS TO FACILITATE ACHIEVING THE ABOVE OBJECTIVES (Comprehensive Plan, page 33) Strategy A: Focus incentives on infrastructure development, worker training and retraining, and an efficient and equitable development review process. Action 1: Invest in infrastructure that will encourage business investments that create high paying jobs for a diverse workforce at a livable wage. Action 2: Assist local businesses to draw upon state programs, community college programs, and other technical and financial assistance programs that facilitate industry modernization and worker training and retraining, Action 3: Regularly review, with assistance from the ~.,,-~-~r ' ......... community, the local development review process and make changes to the process that encourage business activity and reinvestment within the community. Strategy B: Develop criteria and an analysis mechanism to use whenever considering the use of f~nancial incentives for economic development projects. Action 1: Using the Community Economic Betterment Account (CEBA) program criteria as a base, develop, through a public process, criteria to be used when the City considers granting or participating in the granting of any financial incentives for economic development, Action 2: Before action is taken on any e~:onomic development matters being considered by the City Council, its Commissions, Boards, or Commit- tees, the potential impact upon the social service needs of the people in this community will be considered, Action 3: Identify the needs of low and moderate income households and target the use of Community Development Block Grant funds toward economic development projects that would assist them. Strategy C: Local financial markets should meet the needs of local commercial and industrial ventures. Action 1: With the assistance of the local financial institutions, identify shortfalls in the local financial market that inhibit investment in commercial and industrial enterprises. Action 2: Identify the financial needs of minority and women-owned businesses and establish a program to assist with those needs. Action 3: Continually monitor local financial institutions' compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act. CALENDAR YEAR 1995 PROPOSED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES Identify industry groups that are compatible with the community and toward which the community should target its economic development efforts. WorJ( with the Local Work Force Center to identify the local education and training background of the local labor force. Work with selected local employers to determine their labor needs and means by which these can be met. Through public, private, or public/private initiatives, ensure the availability of an adequate amount of industrial and office research park land and extend the necessary infrastructure. Perform market analyses to determine the supply and demand of commercial land and commemial office/retail space. Implement the components of the Near Southside Plan. Establish a joint working group to coordinate the growth and development policies of the City and the University. Establish criteria to be used when the City considers granting or participating in granting any financial incentives for economic development. Inform local and regional economic development agencies of the City's economic development policies, strategies, and related development interests. ecodev~activity. 95 City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: To: From: Re: March 14, 1995 City Manager David Schoon, Economic Development CoordinatorT../~. Sustainable Economic Development During recent City Council discussions regarding the city's economic development policy, Councilor Throgmorton has raised the concept of sustainable development. The definition of sustainable development, in particular as it relates to economic development, appears to have become clearer in recent discussions. However, how to apply it locally appears to be less clear. At the February 13, 1995, work session, the Council directed the staff to develop a concept paper addressing this issue. The purpose of this memo is to provide a better understanding of the concept of sustainable development, and in particular as it relates to sustainable economic development, Having defined sustainable economic development, the memo addresses how the concept can be applied at the local level, and specifically how the Iowa City community can pursue a sustainable economy. Sustainable {Economic) Development Sustainable development is based on the fundamental principals of ecology which focus on the relationship and interdependence of organisms in an environment, The relationship and interdependence of those organisms is determined by the carrying capacity of an ecological system. Carrying capacity is the maximum quantity of a species that can be steadily and consistently supported by the resources of the ecological system in which that species lives. As the human species our ecological system is the earth, and based on the concept of "carrying capacity" the earth can sustain only a certain number of people. The concept of carrying capacity can be applied at the community, state or national level. The concept is the same within each subarea; each ecological system can only sustain a certain number of people. Given this basic understanding of ecology, one definition of sustainable development is that it is the "rate of development that can be sustained over time given the carrying capacity of land," (City of Olympia Sustainable City Philosophy, "OSCP" - Brundtland Report/Our Common Future). "Sustainability implies that the use of energy and materials in an urban area are in balance with what the region can supply continuously through natural processes such as photosynthesis, biological composition, and the biochemical processes that support life," (OSCP - Sim Van der Ryn and Peter Calthorpe, Sustainable Communities: A New Design Synthesis for Cities, Towns and Suburbs) Proponents of sustainable development argue that the human race is exceeding the earth's carrying capacity. That is we are far exceeding the uppermost limit on the number of humans our ecosystem, the earth, can sustain over time. Fundamentally, our overuse of nonrenew- able resources and the proliferation of industrial processes that produce hazardous materials, which have no useful role in our ecological system, have led to the earth's decreased carrying capacity. In essence humans are decreasing the carrying capacity of the earth at the same time we are increasing in population. All of this begs the question: What is the rate at which and manner in which the world can sustain the present and future human population? Proponents of sustainable development are unsure of the answer. However, they are sure that the world's carrying capacity is decreasing and that we should behave in a manner that is more respectful of the ecological system in which we live. Proponents of sustainable economic development would argue that the present manner in which we conduct commerce does not capture the true production costs of the products we produce. In general, both in principle and practice, business is rewarded for producing the best product demanded by the market for the lowest price. Proponents would argue that in today's market, the "lowest price often means highest unrecognized costs". The costs that are unrecognized are those that society as a whole must bear such as higher health care costs as a result of pollution or long term storage costs for the disposal of hazardous materials - both of which are a result of many present-day industrial.processes. Paul Hawken, author of Ecology of Commerce, argues that the "external costs of industrial production must be integrated into prices if the public is to change its habits and consumption patterns". Only then will industry and commerce recalibrate their inputs and outputs to adapt to the carrying capacity of the environment. It is important to note that proponents of sustainable development often make a distinction between development and growth. "Growth refers to economic expansion in physical dimension, while development refers to qualitative change in a physically non-growing economic system in a state of dynamic equilibrium maintained by its environment" (OSCP - Herman E. Day, World Bank economist). In essence economic growth and development must take place, and be maintained over time, within the limits of the environment. The environment and the economy are not antagonistic in a sustainable economy, but are complementary. A sustainable economic development system requires certain actions to ensure that the environment and economy are complementary processes. David McCIosky at Seattle University has outlined guidelines to use to determine if actions are sustainable. Four of McCIosky's basic guidelines state that an action is considered sustainable if it balances resources used and resources regenerated; if it leaves resources as clean (or cleaner) at the end of use as at the beginning; if it leaves the viability, integrity, and diversity of natural systems restored and maintained; and if it leads to enhanced local and regional self-reliance. (OSCP- "Criteria of Sustainability" David McCIosky, Seattle University) Advocates of sustainable development suggest a different way of thinking regarding all facets of life: the environment, economics, social issues, and political issues. Sustainable development is a cyclical and holistic view which advocates can apply to all levels of human existence - global, national, and local. 2 Local Sustainable Economic Development Given a general understanding of the basic concept of sustainable economic development, the remainder of the memo focuses on sustainable economic development at the local level. The following section is based on three works that provide insight on local sustainable economic development. The works include the City of Olympia, Washington's Sustainable City Philosophy and draft Program; Michael Kinsley's concepts outlined in his Economic Renewal Program; and Paul Hawken's principles of sustainability and sustainable businesses. The fundamental principles of local sustainable economic development are energy efficiency, reusable waste, and systems of feedback and accountability. Enerq¥ Efficiency. At the local level there should be a move toward reliance on renewable energy sources (solar and hydrogen power sources) and less reliance on nonrenewable energy sources. The continued use of nonrenewable energy sources is depleting the earths capital resources, while the use of renewable energy would not deplete our capital resources. As the move towards greater reliance on renewable energy sources is made, nonrenewable energy resources should be used more efficiently. Energy efficiency programs not only reduce a community's dependency on nonrenewable resources, but can create local jobs and save a community millions of dollars that otherwise would be exported out of the community. As Kinsley's states energy efficiency programs are all about "plugging the leaks". Reusable waste. At the local level a community should work to reduce waste and increase the useful life of goods by conserving, reusing, and recycling materials. Hawken calls this his "waste equals food" principle. In essence waste from an industrial process should be waste that can be used as an input in another industrial process. An industrial ecology should be established that tailors all manufacturing by-products so that they become the raw materials of subsequent processes and that uses only materials that are reusable. This industrial ecology should be established, because the production of hazardous waste has no place in a sustainable society. By adhering to a "waste equals food" principle, our goal should be to create objects of durability and long-term utility whose ultimate use or disposal will not be harmful to present and future generations. Systems of feedback and accountability. Sustainable development requires systems of feedback and accountability. Feedback and accountability are greatest when consumers are close to the producers of the goods and services they consume. By purchasing goods locally, the consumer is more aware of the process by which the goods or services were created. In this setting, the transition to full cost pricing (prices reflect environmental and human costs of production) is more likely to occur. Supporting existing business, encouraging new local enterprises, and recruiting compatible businesses are keys to local sustainable economic development. Establishment of buy local programs creates more wealth by having dollars respent more often locally. Identifying goods that are not being produced locally, but that could be produced locally, provides another opportunity to keep dollars locally. Another strength includes a good or service that could be produced locally and sold elsewhere. Creating local systems of feedback and accountability requires replacing nationally and internationally produced items with products created locally and regionally. Establishing these systems also brings economic benefit to the area. 3 The underlying focus of sustainable economic development is to focus from within rather than focusing exclusively on outside sources for economic development - such as recruiting large businesses to the community. The economic well-being of a community is dependent on a community's ability to efficiently use energy, to reduce its level of pollution and waste by creating only reusable waste, and to create systems of feedback and accountability. Sustainable Economic Development in the Iowa City Community How can we apply these sustainable economic development concepts and practices in the Iowa City Community? Councilor Throgmorton has provided three tenets of what he believes to be fundamental components of a sustainable economy: Support businesses that would help local businesses and residents use nonrenewable natural resources more efficiently. Support businesses that would produce goods and services that are needed by local businesses or used as imports by local businesses. Support businesses that would treat waste as an input to some other business. These three principles are very similar to those expressed throughout the preceding parts of this memo. The following are only a few examples of possible activities, which would begin to implement some of the ideas expressed throughout this memo. Buv Local proqrams. Within the last year or so Hills Bank has begun a promotional effort to encourage retail consumers to shop locally. Those endeavors could be continued. A similar program could be established in the industrial and commercial sectors of the economy by establishing linkages between local suppliers and local buyers. Enerqv-Efficiencv Pro~rams. Iowa-lllinois Gas and Electric performs energy audits and installs energy saving devices for its customers. Programs such as these should be encouraged and could be expanded to include broad scale weatherization projects. Programs could be established through the City's Energy Coordinator to determine the best forms of renewable energy sources, such as solar, small-scale hydroelectric power, wind generation, and biomass, for the Iowa City community. The City could work with the Homebuilder's Association to explore means of constructing homes that are more energy efficient. Encouracle New Local Enterprises. The Community could examine all of the goods and services it purchases from outside of the community and evaluate whether any of them could be produced locally. The Chamber of Commerce is in the process of establishing a business visitation program. This program should be endorsed and the City should play a supportive role in this process. This visitation program could explore means of providing a network to connect suppliers with producers and to explore sources of'wastes from one business that could be used as an input by another business. 4 Education,. A fundamental component of establishing a sustainable economic development program is to educate the members of the community so that they understand the concepts behind sustainable development. Summary The concepts of local sustainable economic development focus on the interaction of the local environment and local commerce. They require that you think of the environment as you are engaging iq economic activities, since the health of the economy is dependent upon the ecological system it serves. Sustainable development truly requires a ne~ way of thinking. Today, society and commerce act in a linear fashion separated from the environment. Proponents of sustainable development claim that our interaction with the environment has been to use its resources and to dump our waste in it, some of which does not work itself back into the ecology of the area. Sustainable development requires that "ecology and commerce should be unified in one sustainable act of production and distribution that mimics and enhances natural process." (Hawken, Ecology of Commerce p. 3) Hawken states that the . .. economy as we know it is not an inevitable form, growth does not necessarily mean more waste, prosperity does not have to be described by kilowatts used, autos produced, hamburgers flipped and consumed. Value is what we ascribe. Prosperity is what we make it to be. So what will that be?"... "We have to be able to imagine a life where having less is truly more satisfying, more interesting, and of course, more secure," because the health of our ecosystem is dependent upon us living within its carrying capacity (Hawken, pp. 59 and 209). Having reviewed the concept of sustainable economic development, the Council may wish to consider adopting an economic development policy that integrates the philosophy of sustainable development. If the Council adopts elements of the philosophy, strategies to implement the philosophy would need to be developed. As you read through the proposed economic development policy, you will notice that parts of the policy include elements of. sustainable economic development. 5 City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: Mamh 31, 1995 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: Miscellaneous Issues -- Future Agenda Attached is a summary list of major issues pending before the Council. I suspect I may have missed a few, but I wanted to compile a list to give you an idea of what's ahead for us. ~5-5CM April 3, 1995 Pending Issues General review of capital projects Airport master plan and renovation Wastewater (ammonia standards) project Water treatment plant Near Southside Plan: consultant study Hleronymus project parking facilities Economic development policy industrial park planning Department of Public Works site: sale of; new facilities Cable franchise renewal Addition to the library Melrose Avenue environmental assessment Newsrack regulations Fringe area agreements Sidewalk cafes Number of properly acquisitions related to capital projects Number of changes in refuse collection SEATS contract Floodplain management Implementation of neighborhood (community) policing Toxic Cleanup Day (May 20) Open House - Civic Center, Chauncey Swan Park and Ramp currently being planned mgr\pending.ls~ City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 5, 1995 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: Sidewalk on Iowa Avenue -- Update The Public Works staff has talked with property owners along Iowa Avenue between Clinton and Dubuque concerning the possibility of elevating the sidewalk. This is in response to the request of a new property owner, who is in the process of redeveloping a restaurant and wishes to provide for accessibility to our physically challenged citizens. At this time one of the property owners is still undecided about the benefits of raising the sidewalk elevation. We have indicated our willingness to participate, both financially as weli as in design/construction. We will continue to follow up. CC: Larry Quigley Chuck Schmadeke Karin Franklin IlSl March 31, 1995 CITY OF I0 WA CITY Mr. Jack D. Riessen, P.E. Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wallace State Office Building Des Moines, IA 50319 Re: Coralville Reservoir Section 216 Study Dear Mr. Riessen: Thank you for your February 2, 1995, letter explaining in greater detail the Corps proposed Section 216 study of the Coralville Reservoir and associated cost sharing issues. The City of iowa City acknowledges the benefit of such a study to the State of Iowa, State Agencies and all downstream communities. Based on local interests, the City of Iowa City is willing to be a financial participant if the study reaches the third phase of the process - Feasibility Study. The extent of contribution by the City would be determined by the City Council at that time. I understand from your letter that this may be two to three years from now. Again, thank you for your detailed explanation and we look forward the commencement of the study. Please use Rick Fosse, City Engineer, as a local contact during the study process. Sincerely Steph~e j~. Atkin"~ City Manager City Council Chuck Schmadeke, Director of Public Works Rick Fosse, City Engineer 115 , April 4, 1995 CITY OF I0 WA CITY Mr. Morgan Jones 401 Linder Road NE Iowa City, IA 52240 Re: First Avenue Improvements Project Dear Mr. Jones: Thank you for your letter regarding the First Avenue Improvements Project and its impacts on your property. It is difficult to address each of your questions at this time since the project design has not progressed beyond a concept drawing. However, based on the information available, it appears that although the sidewalk will be closer to your building, it will still be within existing right-of-way. It appears that your pine trees are a sufficient distance outside the right-of-way to be saved, but it may require additional expense to do so. Rick Fosse, our City Engineer, has indicated that the expense to accomplish this should be reasonable and I have directed him to pursue this goal in the design. Please feel free to cell Rick to discuss the details. Sincerely, City Manager CC: Rick Fosse, City Engineer City Council I · March 1, 1995 To: Steve Arkins and members of the City Council From: Morgan Jones 401 Linder Road NE Iowa City IA 52240 (354-1157) I am writing regarding the expansion of the intersection of First Avenue and Muscatine in Iowa City, As owner of the two apartment buildings on the northwest corner, I am, of course, concerned about its effect on my property, I have reviewed the preliminary concept drawing and have visited with Rick Foss regarding the matter, He suggested that I write you, I certainly realize that one cannot stand in the way of progress, However, I would like to express my concerns and ask some relevant questions. My buildings are currently very close to the roadway, and are about to be closer, The increase in traffic and noise will be detrimental to my property. Additionally, I have a large Colorado spruce and a beautiful pine, each of which is about twenty years old, gracing the property, These have been grown at some expense for transplanting and for maintenance, I feel they add substantially to the appearance of this well-maintained property, Would you be able to address these concerns? Can the roadway be adjusted in any way to obviate the necessity for. moving the roadway so far to the west? Can the trees be saved? Can the engineer be directed to save the trees, even Jf it involves some expense? Thank you and the members of the council for your consideration of my questions, Separately, would you please place a copy of this memo in the 'Council packet?" Respectfully submitted by Morgan Jones. CITY OF I0 WA CITY April 3, 1995 Ernie Galer, President Homebuilders Association of Iowa City PO Box 3396 Iowa City, IA 52244 Dear Ernie: Thank you for the recent correspondence to the City Council concerning the proposed construction debris/landfill alternatives. I have asked the staff to review the proposal and determine how best to proceed. On the surface it appears to be an excellent idea. As soon as I receive additional information I will contact you, If you have any questions please give me a call, Sincerely, Stephen J. Atkins City Manager City Council '~ Brad Neumann Floyde Pelkey HOME E UILDERS ASSOCIATION March 14, 1995 OF IOWA CI-r-1 P.O. Box Iowa City, Iowa Phone:[~l 9) Fax: Iowa City City Council Civic Center 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Honorable Mayor and Members of'the City Council: The Home Builders Association of Iowa City would like to promote an alternative for our builders to reduce solid waste in the landfill. We believe that builders will take the initiative to sort clean wood from other construction debris at their construction sites and transport it separately to the landfill where it could be handled in the same fashion that tree trimmings are now processed. For the City of Iowa City and the entire JCCOG region, our community and county would benefit by such a program by reducing the cost of handling this debris and diverting it into a positive recycling alternative. We seek your help, however, because the key to the builders enthusiastic acceptance of this alternative, we believe, is action by the Council to - · halve the for this clean debris. No cost would be involved to begin this · tipping fees wood ~{ogr&~n~--~d th~co~t-savifig ~F divertiiig th~se ~roducts from the landfill waste stream would be significant. This proposal can truly be a "win-win" situation for everyone involved. We hope that this proactive interaction by the Home Builders Association can replace confrontation and become the norm for addressing future challenges faced by our membership. To that end, we anxiously await your consideration of this initiative and look forward to working with you. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, Ernie Galer President Home Builders Association of Iowa City affiliated with NATIONALASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS & HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF IOWA City of iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 6, 1995 To: From: Re: The Honorable Mayor Susan M. Horowitz and Members of the City Council Linda Newman Woito, City Attorney ~ Status Update: Pigeon Coop Question As you can see from the report prepared by First Assistant City Attorney Anne Burnside, the City Attorney's office, together with Housing and Inspection Services Department and Animal Control, have been working with the Mary Ann Rasmussen complaint regarding the pigeon coop located at 1345 Davenport Street for almost a year - and nothing has basically changed. Since our attempted mediation "fell through," - even though the City Attorney's office has worked hard on obtaining a mediated resolution, I suggest the following: I have requested Anne Burnside, together with Housing Inspection Services Director Doug Boothroy and Zoning Inspector Terry Goerdt, to take a much closer look at the pigeon coop in the following respects: A possible violation of the Zoning Ordinance for purpose of size and placement of accessory buildings. Whether the pigeon coop is an unlawful kennel under the Zoning Ordinance, namely the keeping, breeding and selling of animals. I believe, based on the testimony of not only Mary Ann Rasmussen and her husband, but also a neighbor, that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a public nuisance violation under the City's municipal infraction and City Code. Thus, after the questions posed in paragraph one have been answered, the City Attorney's Office, working with H&ls, will consider which of the charges should be filed, and attempt to remedy what appears to be a nuisance which crosses over Mr. Seydel's property onto other properties, and thereby constituting a "community public nuisance." Clearly, an inordinate amount of pigeon fecal matter, concentrated in one area of a neighborhood within Iowa City, cannot be an expected problem that one would ordinarily encounter within the city limits. I trust this will be of some assistance to you, but please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. CC: First Assistant City Attorney Anne Burnside Housing Inspection Services Director Doug Boothroy Inspector Terry Goerdt Julia Meats, Attorney for Mary Ann Rasmussen Jean Bartley, Attorney for Don Seydel City Clerk City Manager Assistant City Manager Attachment City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 6, 1995 To: Linda Woito, City Attorney From: Anne Burnside, First Assistant City Attorney ,~ Re: Mary Ann Rasmussen and Steven Vlastos Complaint Re: Pigeon Coop You asked me to prepare a summary or timeline of the events in this matter. June, 1994 June 7, 1994 June 10, 1994 Mary Ann Rassmussen ("MAR") called the City Attorney Office to report her concern about a pigeon coop being kept by Don Seydel ("DS") of 1345 Davenport Street, abutting her home at 1346 Bloomington Street. By the date of this call, MAR had already talked with H.I.S, about the coop and learned that Seydel applied for and received a building permit in 1978 to constFuct a 10'x 14' addition to a shed or garage on his property. We have a copy of the plot plan in our file. An H,I.S. inspector, probably Terry Goerdt, inspected the pigeon coop in March, 1994. The County Health Inspector, Mary Klahn, inspected the coop on March 29, 1994, and concluded the coop was "state of the art", "immaculate", and "no problem". During this initial call, MAR related that the coop is only three feet from her north property line; open cages face her property and are very smelly; when Seydel releases the pigeons, they fly over her property and roost in her trees, defecating on her property. The purpose of MAR's call is to learn the City's position regarding the coop before she contacts a private attorney. AGB telephone conference with MAR, who reiterated basic information. Additional facts: A neighbor to the east of MAR, also objects to the smell and mess. MAR and family moved into the house in late summer, 1991. They were out of town during the summer of 1993; she first noticed the smell in the spring of 1994. This is the first summer her family has attempted to use the back yard for play, gardening and outdoor eating. MAR delivered four photos showing the pigeons flying over her home and showing the pigeon coop, Later this week, I visited MAR at her home and observed the pigeon coop from her yard. I could detect a faint odor when I stood very close to the coop. MAR indicated this was not a particularly smelly day. Telephone call from Julia Mears, attorney for MAR and Steven Vlastos, her husband. June, 1994 Received copy of correspondence from Mears to Jean Bartley, attorney for DS, and from Bartley to MAR re: the dispute and the action DS is willing to take. July-August, '94 During remaining summer, I spoke by phone on various occasions with Lisa Goodman, Animal Control Supervisor; Julia Mears; MAR. Goodman had visited the coop and found it to be clean and odor-free. She had spoken with Marv Klahn and agreed with him there was no basis to file a code violation citation. During my conversations with Julia Mears, I explained my opinion that MAR's complaint may constitute a private nuisance. September 7, 1994 Received I.etter from Carolyn Carson, 1340 Bloomington Street, confirming MAR's report that the pigeon coop smells and stating her willingness to testify on the subject. September, 1994 Received Goodman's investigation report concluding there was no code violation. October, 1994 Received copy of correspondence from Pope L. Moseley, M.D. regarding MAR's diagnosis of probable reactive airways disease, secondary to pigeon exposure. October 24, 1994 AGB letter to MAR and Julia Mears regarding my opinion based on informatiog then available that the action should be pursued as a private matter rather than City prosecution. November 14, 1994 LNW letter to parties suggesting mediation by third party. Both parties expressed their willingness to participate. December; 1994 Explained the process followed by Iowa Mediation Service ("IMS") to the parties, As explained to this office, the names and addresses of the parties should be supplied to IMS, who will contact the parties and schedule the initial meeting, The service is billed to each party at the rate of $50 per hour, Both parties agreed to participate, January, 1995 Formally requested Iowa Mediation Service to mediate the dispute. February, 1995 Letter from MAR stating DS does not intend to participate in mediation, after all. She is still awaiting word from IMS. April 5, 1995 I called IMS per your request to learn the status of the proposed mediation. Ginna Booth returned my call on April 6, saying an initial meeting with the par~ies was scheduled. MAR insisted the meeting be rescheduled to allow time to receive co, oies of books or other written material concerning her condition. IM$ reschedulad the meeting for one month later, but DS refused to participate because Rasmussen and Vlastos had not attended the initial meeting. Booth stated she had warned Rasmussen and Vlastos that their delay might sour the proposed mediation. IMS has closed the case. If you need to talk with her, she can be reached at (319) 398-4002. Please let me know what further action you want taken on this matter, City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: To: From: Re: April 4, 1995 Honorable Mayor Susan M. Horowitz & Members of the City Council Linda N. Woito, City Attorney ~,~' Beverly Ogren, Assistant City Attorney/'~_~u-'- Mediation with Nila Haug Concerning the proposed mediation with Nila Haug, I have listed below several mediators you may want to consider. Former Supreme Court Justice Louis Schultz is available for mediation and is a resident of Iowa City. He charges 9150.00 per hour with an additional t~55.00 per hour for parelegal time. His office informed me the average mediation is 2-4 hours with an average cost of approximately 9600.00. The rule-of-thumb for estimating the cost for reviewing written materials is one hour for one 1 inch of paper. Mr. Schultz is available April 10 - 13, April 21, and April 24 - 28. Another Iowa City resident interested in mediation is Serena Stier, J.D. Ms. Stier charges 975 - 9100 per hour depending upon the public interest involved and the ability of the parties to pay. She does not charge for travel within the City of Iowa City. Iowa Mediation Services, Inc. {Cedar Rapids) has five mediators based in Iowa City including, Maurine Braddock, Sondra Kaska, Hanna Weston, Charlie Nadler, and Michael Howard. The Iowa Mediation Services, Inc. charges 950 per hour per party. This charge includes travel time and expense. Donald Thompson is with the Cedar Rapids law firm of Bradley & Riley. He has completed the ISBA Mediation Training and is advertising in the ISBA journal. Mr. Thompson charges 9150.00 per hour, travel time at ~75/hour and 29¢ a mile. He is available during the week of April 17-21. Other attorneys in District Vl who have completed the ISBA mediation training include: Linda Levey, Jim Matinek, Richard Moore, D. G. Ribhie, Charles Traw. The Iowa Peace Institute in Grinnell, charges an hourly fee of $100.00, a filing fee of $75.00, with additional costs for travel and materials. The Johnson County Small Claims Court has a volunteer organization providing mediation services for small claims. Betty King, from the College of Social Work, is organizing this effort. There is no charge for mediation for small claims cases. cc: City Manager Assistant City Manager City Clerk Doug Boothroy, Director of Housing & Inspection Ron Boose, Senior Building Inspector City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 7, 1995 To: From: Re: The Honorable Mayor Susan M. Horowitz and Members of the City Council Linda Newman Woito, City Attorney ~, _ Report on Discussions of Public Meetings and Public Records at Government Practice Section Seminar in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday, March 31, 1995 In light of some of the questions which Bruno Pigott raised when he forwarded the Wall Street Journal article to me on Florida's very restrictive open meetings law, namely banning a two- council member conversation as an "illegal public meeting," I discussed a number of potential concerns which I now bring to your attention, as good "preventive lawyering:" While there is no caselaw on this question and no Attorney General's opinions, due largely to the fact that the law and the legislature have not "caught up" with technology and the information superhighway's/Internet mode of communication, I nonetheless am concerned about simultaneous Internet communications between a majority of the City Council members. That is, if one City Council member were simFItaneously to send the same communication to three other Council members, I am concerned that that communication might be deemed a "public meeting" under Iowa law. I am not aware that such practices are occurring, and I do not wish to overdramatize this issue. I simply bring this to your attention, for your information and thoughts. There is a question of whether Internet communications, being received by the City Clerk, are public documents within the meaning of Chapter 22, Code of Iowa (1993). It appears to me that if the communications are intended to be forwarded to the City Council, that those Internet communications are, indeed, public records under Chapter 22, Code. How the City Council wishes, as a practical matter and a logistical matter, to deal with these Internet communications is something you should probably discuss. That is, do you wish these Internet communications placed into the consent calendar/agenda, as you would put other communications? If not, how are persons receiving the Council packet to know that such a "communication has been made to the City Council?" You may wish to discuss this for 15 minutes at one of your upcoming work sessions, although I do not see any great urgency to these questions. I trust this information will be helpful to you, and I wanted to report this information to you for obvious reasons. CC: Marian Karr, City Clerk Steve Atkins, City Manager Dale Helling, Assistant City Manager City Attorney Office Staff City Attorney Opinion File City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 7, 1995 To: From: Re: / Karin Franklin, Director, Planning & Community Developm,~Z-~/~/~l- 't'-"- . Neuzil Tract Included in the Council's packet is a letter from Don Swanson, the Mayor of University Heights, expressing an interest in working with iowa City on establishing the Neuzil property as open space. This is a proposal which University Heights has made periodically over time. To date, University I:leights has not made an offer to purchase the Neuzil tract. At the request of Mayor Horowitz., I have compiled for you a brief history of zoning actions taken by the City of Iowa City on the Neuzil property. This history is outlined below: 1962- The property was zoned R3A. This zoning is comparable to our current zoning classification of RM-44. January, 5972 - In response to a development proposal on pro. perry to the east of the Neuzil tract, the Community Development Department proposed the rezoning of the Neuzil tract from R3A to R3. This proposal was supported by residents of Madetta Avenue and Tower Court, but was protested by the owners of the property, Ella Neuzil and her son and daughter-in-law. The reasons given for the rezoning proposal were: 1) lack of adequate access; 2) the property was surrounded by single family or low-density zoning; and 3) development of the property for multi-family use would be incompatible with the existing. single-family dwellings. March 28, 1972 - The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended that the Neuzil tract be rezoned from R3A to R3. Apdl 11, 1972 - The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended that the Neuzil tract plus the property owned by Smith, Edckson and Ewers .(approximately .45 acres in the northeast comer of the "Neuzil tract") be rezoned from R3A to R3. (R3 is comparable to our current zoning classification of RM-12. Evidently the City Council agreed with the Commission and rezoned the property around this time). January, 1973- University Heights considered closing Leamer Court and Madefta Avenue and expressed the desire for the Neuzil tract to be a park. The Iowa City planning staff put together development proposals 2 for the Neuzil tract on behalf of the University Heights City Council. The University Heights City Council through their Mayor expressed a preference for an option which looped Learner to Olive Court and created cul-de-sacs to serve the south edge of the Neuzil property. Nothing was ever done with this development proposal. 1983 - VVith the change in zoning classifications during the comprehensive rezoning of Iowa City in 1983, the zoning designation of the Neuzil tract changed from R3 to RM-12. 1985- Again in response to a development proposal to the east of the Neuzil tract and as part of consideration of the zoning of the remaining undeveloped area around Melrose Lake, the Neuzil tract was rezoned to RS-8, as was the property immediately east between the Neuzil tract and the railroad tracks. 1988 - The Neuzil family sued the City of Iowa City claiming that the rezoning was unreasonable and therefore void. The City prevailed in District Court; the Neuzils prev.ailed in the Court of Appeals; the City finally prevailed before the Iowa Supreme Court. Attachedis the resolution stating the City's reasons for rezoning the property to RS-8. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. cc: City Manager Jack Neuzil Bill Meardon Mayor Don Swanson 138 Koser Ave. Univnrsity Heights, Iowa 52246 March 10, 1995 Mayor Susan Horowitz City of Iowa City Civic Center 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa 52242 Dear Mayor Horowitz: Sorry I have not responded sooner. The City Council of University Heights is interested in pursuing joint discussions with the City of Iowa City regarding establishing an open space on the Neuzil property. My hope is that there will be an opportunity soon to explore this idea. Sincerely, Don Swanson RESOLUTION NO. 85-358 RESOLUTION ADOPTING FINDIXGS REGARDING THE REASONS FOR ADOPTION ORDINANCE NO. B5-3240, REZONING THE SO-CALLED MEUZIL TRACT. WHEREAS, on June 4, 1985, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 85-3240 rezoning the so-called 'Neuzil tract' from ~-12 to RS-8; and WHEREAS, the reasons for such rezoning were discussed by Council members at both informal and formal Council sessions, all of which were open to the public, but such reasons were never formally reduced to Council findings; and WHEREAS, in order to have a complete record relating to such rezoning, it is important that the Council set forth its reasons for such rezoning. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF IOWA CITY, IOWA, that the following findings are hereby adopted regarding enactment of Ordinance No. 85-3240: 1. The Neuzil tract contains approximately 8.5 acres of land, with direct access only onto streets through residential neighborhoods. The Neuzil tract is surrounded on three sides by single-family residen- tial neighborhoods, those on the north and w~st being located in the Town of University Heights. ~ June 4, 1985, the property to the east of the Neuzil tract was also rezoned to RS-8. The streets in the single-family neighborhoods abutting the Neuzil Tract were not designed to handle heavy amounts of traffic, and the other streets in the area are already heavily traveled. Development of the Neuzil tract at the maximum density permitted in the RM-12 zone would allow construction of approximately 126 additional dwelling units having the potential for generating approximately 1550 motor vehicle trips daily. 5. The allowable density on the Neuzil tract will reduce the potential increase to traffic congestion on the streets in the immediate area. The area is shown on the City's Comprehensive Plan as being developed at 8-16 dwelling units per acre, and the RS-8 zoning is consistent with that Plan. Multi°family development of the tract, at the density permitted in the RM-12 zone, would have a negative impact on the value of property sur- rounding the tract. Development of the density permitted in the RS-8 zone should help maintain the value of neighboring properties. The Neuzil tract and the property Melrose Lake, an area. contains a pond and two large, partially wooded ravines, irrmnediately to the east of the Neuzil tract contains environmentally sensitive and important feature of the DEFENDAN~ EXHIBIT Resolution ~. 8S-L Page 2 '-~' g. Storm water runoff occasionally causes Melrose Lake to overflow, floods areas downstream, and contributes to pollution of the lake. 10. Development at a lower density will reduce the magnitude of the increase in Melrose Lake drainage, flooding and pollution problems, but will still permit development which is sensitive to the fragile environment. It was moved by Ambrisco and seconded by Baker ~ the Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there w~re: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: X Ambrisco _ Baker X ~ Dickson ~ ~ Erdahl X McDonald Strait ~X Zuber Passed and approved this l?t~h day of ATFEST: CITY~CLERK Decerr~er , 1985. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: Apdl 7, 1995 To: Steve Atkins, City Manager From: Karin Franklin, Director, Re: County Rezoning - Streb Property Tom Scott has requested of Bob Saunders that the County Zoning Commission defer consideration of the Streb rezoning, residential to commercial on Scott Boulevard, and the Wolf rezoning, RMH for a mobile home park south of the Airport, from their meeting of Apdl 10 to their first meeting in May. This will allow time for the Iowa City Planning & Zoning Commission to consider these two requests. Incidentally, I received a call yesterday from an owner of propedy on the west side of Scoff Boulevard in BDI. He wished to rezone one of the lots in BDI from I-1 to a commercial zoning. He had heard about the Streb request and had a commercial office interest in development on his property, and thought he might pursue the commercial zoning also. I expressed to him my concern regarding strip commemial development along Scott Boulevard. I'll let you know of any further developments in these rezoning cases as they transpire. Date: To: From: Re: City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM March 29, 1995 Steve Arkins Jeff Davidson Bob Wolf proposal for manufactured housing park in unincorporated Johnson County PCD staff i3 currently evaluating a proposal from Bob Wolf to establish a manufactured housing park ir] the unincorporated portion of Johnson County adjacent to Iowa City. The property under cons'deration is a 127 acre parcel directly south of the Iowa City Municipal Airport and west of old Highway 218. It can be identified on a map by the sand pit pond adjacent to Colonial Lanes bowling alley. The action which is being requested is a rezoning from County A1 to RMH (residential manufactured housing). Because of the location of the parcel within two miles of the Iowa City corporate limits, the City is being asked to provide a recommendation to the County Board of Supervisors on the rezoning. Iowa City has review authority over subdivisions proposed within two miles of Iowa City, but if this is devploped as a conventional manufactured housing park there will be no subdivision. Establishment of this use would not be consistent with the fringe area agreement; however, we will attempt to evaluate the positive and negative impacts of the proposal. There are several issues to contend with. Suitability with the airport is an obvious one, with the site located partially within the airport flyway. Because of the airport, a portion of the site could not be developed for residential uses. Uses such as mini-warehouses would be acceptable. The overall suitability of residential uses contiguous to an airpod runway, and the compatibility of residential uses with the ongoing airport master plan need to be evaluated. Additional issues include environmentally sensitive areas, and how access would be provided to the site. A site of this size developed at a typical residential manufactured housing density could result in 1,000-1,200 dwelling units. A development this large would certainly need more than one means of access. Let us know if you have any questions. bj~oroposal I1 ,0 March 1995-~ ~_~j,~,... ~ · BUILDING PERMIT INFORMATION ' ~ c~rr o~ ~o r~A c~rr KEY FOR ABBREVIATJ(~N$ Type of Improvement: ADD Addition ALT Alteration DEM Demolition GRD Grading/excavationlfilling REP Repair MOV Moving FND Foundation only OTH Other type of improvement Type of Use: NON Nonresidential RAC Residential - accessory building RDF Residential - duplex RMF Residential - three or more family RSF Residential- single family Commercial & Residential OTH Other type of use Page: 1 Date: 04/0&/95 From: 03/01/95 To..: 03/31/95 CITY OF tOgA CITY EXTRACTION OF 8UILOING PERMIT DATA FOR CENSUS BUREAU REPORT Permit Applicant name Address Type Type Stories Units VaLuation No. Impr Use 8LOV5-0095 FURMAN 8UILDERS 1545 glLLO~ CREEK DR ADD CON 1 0 $ 15000 488SF OFFICE ADDITION ADD NON permits: 1 $ 15000 8L095-0075 RICHARD ~AYNE 530 N CLINTON ST EXTERIOR STAIRgAT FROR THE THIRD FLOOR LEVEL. ADD RRF 0 0 $ 5000 BlO95-0081 RICHARD gAYRE 332 ELLIS AVE ADD RNF 0 0 $ 3500 EXTERIOR EXIT STAIRgAY SERVING A THREE STORY BUILDING. ADD RMF permits: 2 $ 8500 BL095-0112 CON STRUSS 254 SLACK SPRINGS CIR PORCH ADDITIOR ARD REMODEL. ADD RSF 0 0 $ 71660 8L095-0073 NIXDORF, GORDON AND 1112 SUNSET ST MARY 12'X 16' THREE SEASON PORCH. ADD RSF 0 0 $ 12000 BL095-0106 KELVIN LERRNAD 612 ~HEATOR RD 12'X 10~ EHCLOSED PORCH. ADD RGF 0 0 $ 9000 ELD95-0119 ICRTNy NELSOR 1234 DOVER ST 10'X 14' PATIO ROOM ADD RSF 0 0 $ 9000 0L095-0036 VINCENT ROOGERS 2343 ABBEY LN 12'x 14' HEATED PORCH ADD RSF 0 0 $ 6700 81095-0037 RAMA~URTBY 1132 gYLDE GREEN RD BALAKRISRRAR 12'X 14' PORCH(UNHEATED) ADD RSF 0 0 $ 5000 8LO95-G083 DAVE AMELOR 919 DUCK CREEK OR ADDITION TO GARAGE ~tTH STORAGE UNDERNEATH. ADD RSF 0 O $ 5000 8L095-0111BEHROSE, JAHES AND 40 REGAL LN HILORED 12'X 12' ~XX) OEC~ ADD RSF 0 0 $ 4000 8L095-0105 KENTON ALLEN 815 ~(X:X)SIDE DR 14'x 16~ ~:XX) DECK. ADD RSF 0 0 $ 2482 0L095-0096 SORENSEH, ALVIH ARD THELMA RAMP FOR A S.F.D. 1017 DOVER ST ADD RSF 0 0 $ 2400 8L095-0069 CHUCK NOUSEL 2~70 BALSAN CT 12'x 12~ SCREENEO PORCH ADD RSF 0 0 $ 2000 BL095'0117 ROGER MULLINHIX 8'X 16' ~OOOOECK 1605 BROOKl~q)00 OR ADD RSF 0 0 $ 400 Page: 2 Oate: 04/04/95 Frc~: 03/01/95 To..: 03/31/95 CITY OF [(Y~A CITY EXTRACTION OF BUILDING PERMIT DATA FOR CENSUS BUREAU REPONT Permit Applicant name Address Type Type Stories Units Valuation No. Impr Use ADD RSF permits: 12 $ 129642 BLO95-Q097 GERRY AMBROSE 121 iO~A AVE REMOOEL EXISTING RESTAURANT AND BAR. ALT HOB 0 0 $ 200000 BLD95-0076 GOOOWILL tNOUSTRIES~ 1410 S iST AVE INC. REMOOEL EXISTING GOOOg[LL COLLECTING FACILITY. ALT HOB 0 0 $ 96800 BL095-0098 TO~NCREST INVESTMENT 2405 TO~PaCREST ~R ASSOC EXCAVATE BASEMENT OF BUILDING A ALT NON 0 0 S 60000 8L095-0085 HARTWIG BOTORS, INC. 629 S RIVERSIDE OR SER[VE DEPT. AND OFFICE RENOOEL, ALT NON 0 D S 23000 BLD95-0101 TO',/NCREST INVESTMENTS ASSOC. REMOOEL OFFICES 2412 TOWNCREST DR ALT NON 0 O $ 20000 8L095-0102 OSCO DRUG 201 S CLINTON ST REMOOEL EXISTING STORE FRONT. ALT NON 0 D S 1500~ 8LD95-OO86 OARWIN DUSANEK 112 S LINN ST REMOOEL CO(4~ERCIAL SPACE TO COFFEE ROUSE. ALT NON 0 0 $ 10000 BLD95-0113 TOM ALBERNASXY 850 CAPITOL ST REMOOEL EXiSTiNG OFFICE/MARENOUSE SPACE. ALT NON 0 0 $ 10000 8L095-0060 PATTY KRUEGER 901 S 1ST AVE CONVERT DAYCARE TO PRINTING SHOP ALT HOB 0 0 S 3000 81095-0099 TO~I ALBERNASKY 850 CAPITOL ST ALT NON CUT IN 12~X 12' OVERHEAD GARAGE DOOR 1N THE REAR OF THE BUILDING. 0 0 S 2600 BL095-0122 JOHN C NYERLY 824 MALDEN LN CONSTRUCT A I-HR. FIREBALL IN EXISTING 8UILO[NG. ALT NON 0 0 $ 1300 8L095-0080 JAVA HOUSE 211 1/2 WASHINGTON ST ALT NON 0 0 $ 1000 REMOOEL EXISTING SPACE IN THE BASEMENT, TWO OFFICES. ALT NOB permits: 12 $ 642700 8L095-0054 NIKE NC~4E~OO0 524 g GOVERNOR ST ALT RDF 0 1 $ 1000 CONVERT S.F.D, TO A DUPLEX. ALT ROF permits: 1 I $ 1000 BL095-0115 NORMAN BAILEY 1800 CALVIN CT ALT ~F RE*ROOF AND INSTALL VINYL SlOigO ON EXISTING APARTMENT BUILOING. 0 0 $ 65000 Page: 3 Oate: 04/0&/95 From: 03/01/95 To..: 03/31/9S CITY OF IO~A CITY EXTRACTION OF HUlLO(NO PERMIT OATA FOg CENSUS BUREAU REPORT Permit Applicant name Address Type Type Stories Units Valuation No. l~pr Use BLD95-0078 TON LAUGHNAN 811 COLLEGE ST ALT RHF 0 0 $ 1000 RENOOEL EXISTIRG APARTMENT BUILD(NO, ALT RMF permits: 2 $ 66000 NLO95-008~ ERIC HENDRICKSON BASEMENT REMOOEL. 906 RIDER ST ALT BS~ 0 ' 0 S 15000 HL095-0093 KIN MERKER 604 IO~A AVE 8~THRGONRONOOEL AND 8RACKETS AT THE FROfiT BALCONY. ALT RSF 0 0 S 10000 8L095-0088 LORETTA L 8ENZ 2012 DUNLAP CT RENOOEL [ITCHEN~ DINING RCX~4 AND NE~ FROfiT ENTRANCE. ALT RSF 0 0 $ 1000 8L095-0110 J[H HARRIS 8 8ELLA VISTA OR ALT RSF 0 0 $ 1000 REgOOEL T[40 BATHROONS. ' ALT RSF permits: 4 $ 27000 BL095-0055 KEVIN & CAROL 219 HARRISO~ ST GRD RHF 2 0 $ 0 KID~ELL GRADING PERMIT FOR 6 UNIT APARTMENT riOUSE GRD R~F permits: 1 $ 0 8L095-0068 JOlINSON COU~ITY 719 CAPITOL ST RE~d NON JOrRSON COUNTY PHYSICAL PLANT NAINTERANCE ANO STORAGE BUILOING. 0 0 S 14909B 8L095-0114 ROBERT URLER 1841S GILBERT ST NEU NON 0 0 $ 25000 24~X 80~ MINI'STORAGE BUILDING. NE~ NON permits: Z S 174098 8L095-0072 VANNI, JERRY AgO 401 KIMBALL RD CAMERON 241X 38'.DETACrED GARAGE. NE~ RAC 0 0 $ 25000 8L095-0121 COURTNET, SCOTT AND 438 ZND AVE NEg RAC 0 0 $ 6000 JOOY 24~x ]0~ OETACHEO GARAGE. BEY RAC permits: 2 $ 31000 BLD95-009g Hi~OGE CONSTRUCTION 58 JEHA CT NEN ROE 1 2 $ 144816 OUPLEX CONDO ~/ T~O CAR GARAGE, 58 - 60 dEHA CT. NE~ ROE permits: I 2 $ 144814 Page: 4 Oate: 04/04/95 From: 03/01/95 To..: 03/31/95 CITY OF IOWA CITY EXTRACTION OF BU{LDIHG PERNIl OATA FOR CENSUS BUREAU REPORT Permit Applicant name Address Type Type Stories Units Valuation No. impr Use 8LB93-0649 ~EVIN KID~ELL 219 HARRISON ST NE~ RMF 3 6 $ 200000 6'UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING. BE~ RMF permits: 1 6 $ 200000 8L095-0109 RISSLET, GENE ABO 839 COVENTRY CT NE~ RSF PAT S.F.D WITH THREE CAR GARAGE AND AN ACCESSART APARTMENT. - 786 S,F. 1 1 $ 214743 8L095-0118 FIAR~ QUINN 506 GALWAY DR S.F.D. WITH TWO CAR GARAGE. NE~ RSF 2 1S 195225 RL095-0087 RON SCHINTLER, INC. 1030 PIIEASANT VALLEY ST C. HO~ES S.F.D. WITH T~O CAR GARAGE. BEU RSF 2 1S 192942 8L094-0815 MERLIN NAHH 734 ARLINGTON OR S.F.D. WITH TWO CAR GARAGE. NEW RSF 2 1 $ 185513 BL095-0074 CRAIG~ GARY AND 61 GALWAY CIR CONNIE S.F.O. WITH THREE CAR GARAGE. NEW RSF 1 1S 153181 BL095-0103 ROB SCNINTLER, INC. 1006 PHEASANT VALLEY ST B.F.O. ~ITH T'~O CAR GARAGE BEg RSF 1 $ 134308 8L095-0077 DUFFY BUILDERS 1027 BARRINGTON RD B.F.D. WITH T~O CAR GARAGE. NEg RSF 1 S 128~57 6L095-0107 LLOYD MURPHY 2038 HANNAH JO CT S.F.O. WITH T~40 CAR GARAGE. ZERO-LOT-LINE. NEg RSF 2 104594 RLDgS-0108 LLOYO MURPHY 2046 HANNAH JO CT S.F,D. ~ITN T~O CAR GARAGE. ZERO'LOT-LINE NEW RSF 2 106594 BtO95-0089 NORM HELBUTH 2027 HANNAH JO CT S.F.D. YlTH TWO CAR GARAGE. ZERO-LOT-LINE NEW RSF 2 $ 99858 BLD9S-0091 NORM NELMUTN 2035 HANNAH JO ~T REg RSF 2 S 99858 S.F.D. WITH T~O CAR GARAGE. ZERO-LOT-LINE NEW RSF permits: 11 11 $ 161327~ BLO95-0079 IOWA CITY fiGUSING 1926 BROADWAY ST REP RMF 0 0 $ 5000 AUTHORITY REPAIR FIRE DAMAGE. REP RMF peruits: 1 $ 5000 BL095-0071 AUR 319 CHURCB ST RE-SIIIRGLE EXISTING ROOF. REP RSF 0 0 $ 3000 PaNe: 5 Oate: 04/04/95 From: 03/01/95 To..: O3/31/95 CiTY OF IO~A CiTY EXTRACTION OF 8UiLDili6 PENHIT 0ATA FOR CENSUS BUREAU REPORT Permit Appticantname Address TypeType Storiesunits Vatustion No. [mpr Use 8L095-010~ T~CON~AY 225 N GILBERT ST TEAR OFF AND REPLACE ROOFlAG ANO SNEATNiNG REP NSF 0 0 $ 2500 8L095-0127 RUTfi~ EDYARD ARO 304 ~ HT VERNON DR REP RSF 0 0 $ 1100 DERISE REPLACING EXISTING ~000 OEC~ ~ITN A NE~ ~000 OECK, REP RSF permits: ] $ 6600 TOTALS 20 $ 286~627 TO: FROM: · RE: IVlEMOEANDU Chuck Scl~madeke, Publlc Works Director Floyde Pelkey, $upt. of Solid WaSte City Recycling Program Items METAL & WHITE GOODS - (APPLIANCES. ETC.) The Iowa City Landfill started separation of metal and white goods on 8/1/89. The Refuse Division started separate curbside collection of white goods on 8/I/89. The curbside collected white goods are taken to the Landfill recycle site. White goods are then picked up and recycled by Alter Corp. of Davenport, iowa. We have not used the services of Statewide Auto Crushing since October 1993 so those totals have been eliminated from this report. On February 21, 1995 J. R. Appliance began collecting appliances from us at the landfill. We will be charged $12.00 per appliance. There may be a few exeptlons to this price. MONTH/YEAR COLLECTED CURBSIDE COLLECTED @ LANDFILL Mar, 1994 3.36 ton 35.18 ton Apr, 1994 4.88 ton 21.12 ton May, 1994 3.50 ton 31.93 ton Jun, 1994 6.58 ton 33.86 ton Jul, 1994 7.23 ton 35.31 ton Aug, 1994 6.29 ton 31.83 ton Sep, 1994 5.28 ton 34.53 ton Oct, 1994 5.00 ton 26.09 ton Nov, 1994 2.71 ton 23.19 ton Dec, 1994 4.79 ton 16.88 ton Jan, 1995 3.47 ton 11.81 ton Feb, 1995 2.14 ton 13.46 ton TOTALS 55.23 ton 315.19 ton The tonnages collected by Alter corp. do not necessarily reflect the month that the white goods are collected bythe Landfill. MONTH/YEAR COLLECTED/ALTER CORP INCOME FROM ALTER CORP, Mar, 1994 18.80 ton 1,125.07 Apr, 1994 14.42 ton 899.48 May, 1994 15.10 ton 891.92 Jun, 1994 22.63 ton 1,058.14 Jul, 1994 7.75 ton 333.88 Aug, 1994 22.67 ton 1,243.12 Sep, 1994 13.46 ton 742.86 Oct, 1994 13.79 ton 770.13 Nov, 1994 13.23 ton 747.46 Dec, 1994 . 15.36 ton 982.23 Jan, 1995 9.01 ton 663.65 Feb, 1995 TOTALS 166.22 ton 9,457.94 METAL & WHITE GOODS (CONT.) MONTH/YEAR Feb, 1995 Mar, 1995 Apr, 1995 May, 1995 Jun, 1995 Jul, 1995 Aug, 1995 Sep, 1995 OCt, 1995 NOV, 1995 DeC, 1995 Jan, 1996 TOTALS TONS COLLECTED/J.R. # COLLECTED BY J.R. PD. TO J.R. 28.52 ton 361 4,332.00 28.52 ton 361 $4,332.00 TIRES The Clty's tire recycling program started on 9/1/89. Tires are colleCted at the Iowa City Landfill and at the curb by the Refuse DiVision, then taken to the Landfill recycle site. Rosebar Tire Shredding Co. HaS not collected tires from us since February 1994 so I have deleted those totals from this report. MONTH/YEAR COLLECTED CURBSIDE COLLECTED@ Mar, 1994 .04 ton 1.30 Apr, 1994 .45 ton 2.93 May, 1994 .50 ton 3.38 Jun, 1994 .13 ton 6.86 Jul, 1994 .36 ton 2.05 Aug, 1994 .13 ton 4.20 Sep, 1994 .27 ton 3.21 ton Oct, 1994 .16 ton 2.58 ton Nov, 1994 .17 ton 2.52 ton Dec, 1994 .32 ton .35 ton Jan, 1995 .00 ton .75 ton Feb, 1995 .06 ton 1.49 ton TOTALS 2.58 ton 31.62 ton LANDFILL ton ton ton ton ton ton 3 NEWSPRINT The City began drop site collection of newsprint on 3/28/90, wlth seven locations now available (Econofoods, No. Dodge Hy Vee, City Carton, Eastdale Mall, Recreation Center Lot, Pepperwood Place, Rochester Hy vee). The City collects the newsprint from the drop sites and dellvers them to City Carton Co. for processing. In addition, the City began curbside collection of newsprint on 7/13/92. The curbside newsprint is also delivered to City Carton Co. for processing. The City pays City Carton Co. by weight according to the Chicago Market price. Since July, 1994 City Carton has been paying the City for newsprint from the curb and bins based on the market value. MONTH/YEAR COLLECTED CURBSIDE COLLECTED @ DROP SITES Mar, 1994 38.02 ton 125.43 ton Apr, 1994 35.35 ton 117.78 ton May, 1994 ' 41.27 ton 133.31 ton Jun, 1994 34.99 ton 121.77 ton Jul, 1994 29.88 ton 121.77 ton Aug, 1994 39.50 ton 110.99 ton $ep, 1994 38.67 ton 110.61 ton Oct, 1994 37.45 ton 126.12 ton NOV, 1994 42.06 ton 114.02 ton Dec, 1994 37.77 ton 136.71 ton Jan, 1995 30.77 ton 88.17 ton Feb, 1995 32.00 ton 103.43 ton TOTALS 437.73 ton 1410.11 ton MONTH/YEAR PD TO CC:CURBSIDE PD TO CC:DROP SITES Mar, 1994 .00 1,254.33 Apr, 1994 .00 1,177.80 rvlay, 1994 .00 1,328.51 Jun, 1994 .00 .00 Jul, 1994 .00 .00 Aug, 1994 .00 .00 $ep, 1994 .00 .00 Oct, 1994 .00 .00 NOV, 1994 .00 .00 DeC, 1994 .00 .00 Jan, 1995 .00 .00 Feb, 1995 .00 .00 TOTALS 0.00 3,760.64 NEWSPRINT (CONT.) 4 MONTH/YEAR PYMT. FROM CC:CURBSIDE PYMT. FROM CC:DROPSiTES Jul, 1994 747.00 1,832.69 Aug, 1994 1,777.50 3,891.91 Sep, 1994 1,935.50 4,468.29 OCt, 1994 2,434.25 6,955.64 NOV, 1994 2,523.60 5,?22.26 Dec, 1994 2,915.50 8,008.46 Jan, 1995 1,841.40 4,488.91 Feb, 1995 1,706.93 4,679.38 Mar, 1995 Apr, 1995 May, 1995 JUn, 1995 TOTALS $15,879.$8 $40,047.54 YARD WASTE The Iowa CI~y Landfill star~ed separation of yard waste and the Refuse Division star~ed separate curbside colleCtion for yard waste on 5/21/90. The curbslde collected yard waste is ~aken to the Landfill recycle site. MONTH/YEAR COLLECTED CURBSIDE COLLECTED @ LANDFILL Mar, 1994 71.42 ton 103.95 ton Apr, 1994 196.70 ton 235.55 ton May, 1994 207.13 ton 330.34 ton Jun, 1994 183.52 ton 270.91 ton Jul, 1994 166.80 ton 228.85 ton Aug, 1994 144.42 ton 213.15 ton Sep, 1994 123.76 ton 175.15 ton OCt, 1994 120.03 ton 152.24 ton Nov, 1994 71.19 ton 132.72 ton Dec, 1994 35.29 ton 94.72 ton Jan, 1995 49.00 ton 61.65 ton Feb, 1995 7.06 ton 15.25 ton TOTALS 1376.32 ton 2014.46 ton PLASTIC BOTTLES The City Of Iowa City began drop site collection of plastic milk jugs on 6/12/89, with eight locations now available (ECOnOfOOdS, No. Dodge Hy Vee, City Service Yard, City carton, Eastdale Mall, Recreation Center Lot, Pepperwood Place, Rochester Hy vee). The Clty collects the bottles from the drop sites and delivers them to City Carton Co., where they bale the plastic and ship it for processing. In addition, the City began curbside ¢ofiection of plastic bottles on 7/13/92. The curbside bol~les are also delivered to City carton Co. for processing. MONTH/YEAR COLLECTED CURBSiDE COLLECTED DROP-SITES Mar, 1994 2.78 ton 11.54 ton Apr, 1994 2.29 ton 8.49 ton May, 1994 2.51 ton 8.82 ton Jun, 1994 2.32 ton 8.95 ton Jul, 1994 2.01 ton 8.70 ton Aug, 1994 2.55 ton 8.20 ton Sep, 1994 2.61 ton 7.83 ton Oct, 1994 2.52 ton 8.94 ton NOV, 1994 2.77 ton 7.51 ton Dec, 1994 2.50 ton 8.07 ton Jan, 1995 2.48 ton 7.79 ton Feb, 1995 2.47 ton 8.66 ton TOTALS 29.81 ton 103.50 ton TIN CANS The City Of Iowa City began drop site collection of tln cans on 3/91, with two locations now available (Econofoods, City Carton). The City collects the tin cans from EconofoodS and delivers them to City carton Co. for processing. In addition, the City began curbside collection of tin cans on 7/1:5/92. The tin cans are delivered to City CaFton Co. for processing. MONTH/YEAR COLLECTED CURBSIDE COLLECTED @ DROP SITES rvlar, 1994 4.95 ton 2.77 ton Apr, 1994 3.43 ton .00 ton ivlay, 1994 4.06 ton .00 ton Jun, 1994 3.36 ton .00 ton Jul, 1994 2.79 ton .00 ton Aug, 1994 3.19 ton .OO ton $ep, 1994 3.74 ton .00 ton OCt, 1994 3.41 ton .00 ton Nov, 1994 4.02 ton .00 ton Dec, 1994 4.17 ton .00 ton Jan, 1995 4.13 ton .00 ton Feb, 1995 3.86 ton .00 ton TOTALS 45.11 ton 2°77 ton GLASS The City s~arted drop site collection of glass on 8/90, with four locations available (Econofoods, No. Dodge Hy Vee, Clty Service Yard, City carton). The City collects the glass, which iS separated by color and dellvets ltto City Car[on Co. for processing. In addltion, the Clty began curbside collection of clear qlass on 7/13/92. The curbside clear glass is also dellvered to City Carton Co. for processing. !ViONTH/YEAE COLLECTED CURBSIDE COLLECTED @ DROP SITES Mar, 1994 9.38 ton .00 ton Apr, 1994 7.18 ton .00 ton May, 1994 8.90 ton .00 ton Jun, 1994 7.91 ton .00 ton Jul, 1994 7.20 ton .(20 ton Aug, 1994 8.08 ton .00 ton Sep, 1994 7.18 ton .00 ton Oct, 1994 6.86 ton .00 ton NOV, 1994 7.12 ton .00 ton Dec, 1994 7.32 ton .00 ton Jan, 1995 7.38 ton .00 ton Feb, 1995 6.56 ton .00.ton TOTALS 91.07 ton 0.00 ton OIL The Clty has been providing an automotive waste oil disposal site at the City Service Yard since 9/22/89. Industrial Service corp. collec~ the Clty's uncontaminated waste oil MONTH/YEAR DISPOSAL SITE TONNAGES Mar, 1994 5.10 ton Apr, 1994 6.02 ton May, 1994 3.50 ton Jun, 1994 7.18 ton Jul, 1994 6.52 ton Aug, 1994 4.76 ton Sep, 1994 3.97 ton Oct, 1994 4.55 ton NOV, 1994 4.08 ton Dec, 1994 3.48 ton Jan, 1995 1.82 ton Feb, 1995 1.40 ton TOTALS 52.38 ton CC: Brad Neuman carol casey c:\word \recycle.mem City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 4, 1995 To: Mayor and City Council From: CityClerk Re; Council Work Session, March 20, 1995 - 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers Mayor Horowitz presiding. Council present: Horowitz, Kubby, Lehman, Novick, Pigott, Throgmorton. Absent: Baker. Staff present: Atkins, Woito, Karr, Franklin, Schoon. Tapes: 95- 38, Side 2; 95-41, All; 95-42, Side 1. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY DISCUSSION: Reel 95-38, Side 2 City Manager Atkins, City Attorney Woito, PCD Director Franklin, and Economic Development Coordinator Schoon presented information. 1. SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Council discussed sustainable economic development concept, incentives, public financial assistance criteria, and thb Oity's role in supporting Iowa City Chamber of Commerce and ICAD. Kubby requested that public input be incorporated into sustainable economic development policy. Throgmodon suggested establishing a commission on sustainable economic development to integrate the philosophy of sustainability into policies one and four, and to propose specific strategies to carry out policy five. Council agreed to incorporate public input into the policy and took no action on establishment of a commission. 2. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICIES AND STRATEGIES Council added to the economic development policies and strategies as follows: POLICY ONE Council requested policies and strategies be reviewed by ICAD, 'University business people, regional governmental jurisdictions, and the Chamber of Cornmcrae. Atkins recommended that the request for review by other regional governmental jurisdictions include a cover memo summarizing key words/concepts. POLICY TWO Add action: targeted employment. POLICY THREE POLICY FOUR 2 Heading - add "...promote sustainable economic development." 4,B.2 - add "and other jurisdictions in the area." 4,C. - add "and citizen groups." 4.C. - add ACTION FIVE, Explore new methods of facilitating communication between these groups within new technologies. POLICY FIVE Use City Architect/Energy Coordinator Schoenfelder in more entrepreneurial way, Add pollution prevention program, POLICY SIX 6.A,1 - add "Invest in infrastructure and encourage business investments that create employment opportunities for targeted employment." or "Encourage business investments that create jobs which provide incomes that enable people to buy housing in Iowa City housing market," or "Create jobs for a highly trained labor force." or "Create jobs for a diverse workforce at a livable wage." or "Provide livable wages for a diverse workforce." 6.A.3 - delete business from "business community." Add "make changes to the process that encourages business activity or reinvestment in the community." 6.C - add strategy regularly review community reinvestment act reports. 6.B. - add action one public input process. Council directed staff to reactivate economic well being task force to review economic development policies and strategies and public financial assistance criteria. 3 Council directed staff to request comments/responses from ICAD, Chamber, etc. 3. 1995 PROPOSED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES Council asked staff to look at the employment needs of local labor force and to add public input process. 4. INDUSTRIAL PARK DEVELOPMENT Atkins presented an update of the city's industrial park development: Preliminary work on extension of utilities. Estimate $40,000 per acre. Contacted propedy owners of the Houghton-Tucker property. Council directed .staff 'to attend the County Zoning Commission meeting to present City concerns on the Streb commercial zoning proposal. Mayor Horowitz will contact the Board of Supervisors Chair Duffy. 5, INDUSTRIAL PARK/FINANCIAL ASSIS,TANCE CRITERIA Kubby addressed performance monitoring and clawback guarantee agreement. In response to Franklin, Pigott stated he will contact the University of Iowa Student Senate to get a student representative for the Near Southside Design Plan. Atkins stated he will prepare a memo summarizing Council's discussion a. nd decisions relating to economic development policies, Staff action: A revised memo to be prepared. (Atkins) 6. GENERAL DISCUSSION Mayor Horowitz noted a joint City Council/Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled April 4, 4:30 p.m. at the Highlander. City Manager Atkins stated a water/forum meeting is scheduled Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Meeting adjourned at 9:05 p,m. clerl~c3-20.Inf City of Iowa Cit'y MEMORANDUM Date: April 7, 1995 To: Mayor and City Council From: City Clerk Re: Council Work Session, March 27, 1995 - 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers Mayor Horowitz presiding. Council Members present: Horowitz, Kubby, Lehman, Novick, Pigott, Throgmorton. Absent: Baker. Staff present: Atkins, Woito, Ogren, Karr, Miklo, Schoon, Milkman, Fosse, McClure. Tapes: 95-42, Side 2; 95-43, All; 95-44, Side 1. REVIEW ZONING MATTERS: Reel 95-42, Side 2 Senior Planner Miklo presented the following Planning and Zoning items for discussion: Settinq a public hearing for April 11,1995, on an ordinance conditionally amendinq the use regulations of approximately 34.21 acres located west of Taft Avenue along Court Street extended from RS-5, Low Density Sinqle-Familv Residential, to CN-1, Neighborhood Commercial (6.93 acres), RM-12, Low Density Multi-Family Residential (12 acres), and RS-8, Medium Density Single-Family Residential (8.14 and 7.14 acres) (Windsor Ridge). Setting a public hearing for April 11, 1 995, on an ordinance amending City Code Title 14, Chapter 5, entitled "Building and Housinq," Article H, entitled "Site Plan Review," bv adopting design standards for exterior stairwells and exterior corridors on multi- family residential buildings. Settinq a public hearing for April 11, 1 995, on an ordinance amending City Code Title 1 4, Chapter 6, entitled "Zoning," Article N, entitled, "Off Street Parkinq and Loading," to reduce the amount of required off-street parkin(] spaces and amend the parkin~l area design standards in the CN-1, Neighborhood Commercial zone. Public hearin.q on an ordinance establishing the Moffitt Cottage Historic District for property located between Muscatine Avenue and Ralston Creek, north of Court Street. Public hearinq on an ordinance amending Title 14, Chapter 6, entitled "Zoning," of the City Code by revisinq Article L, entitled "Provisional Uses and Special Exceptions," Section 1M, entitled "Neighborhood Centers," to repeal the access requirement for neighborhood centers. Ordinance amending the Conditional Zon nq Agreement for 1069 Highway 1 {Westport Plaza) to allow an additional freestanding pylon sign. (REZ95-0002) (First consider- ation) 2 Ordinance conditionally amendinq the use requlations of approximately 13.09 acres located at 655 Meadow Street from RM-12, Low Density Multi-Family Residential, and RS-5, Low Densitv Sinqle-Family Residential, to RS-8, Medium Density Sinqle-Familv Residential. (REZ94-0020/East Hill) (Second consideration) REQUEST - MAYOR OF SOLON TO PLACE LOCAL SALES TAX ON BALLOT: Reel 95-42, Side 2 . City Manager Atkins presented information and stated he will draft a letter to the Mayor of Solon stating Council wants to hold a local sales tax discussion. Staff Action: City Manager working with Mayor on draft, (Atkins) PROPERTY ACQUISITION - FUTURE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION (Agenda Item //23): Reel 95-42, Side 2 Community Development Coordinator Milkman and CityAttorneyWoito presented information about future housing construction property acquisition. APPOINTMENTS: Animal Control Advisory - Julie Seal Reel 95-42, Side 2 DESIGN PLANS FOR THE HIERONYMOUS PROJECT (A(~enda Item #32): Reel 95-42, Side 2 Economic Development Coordinator Schoon, Hieronymous project architect Cal Lewis, and developer Frieda Hieronymous presented information about the design plans for the Hieronymous project. Reel 95-43, Side 1 PARKING METER - 500 BLOCK IOWA AVENUE: Joe Michand, owner of The Bookery, requested parking meters in front of his business. Parking and Transit Director Fowler presented information. Council directed staff to do a postcard survey of owners and tenants located on the south side of the 500 block of Iowa Avenue regarding parking needs. Staff Action: Survey mailed March 31. Responses requested April 14. (Brachtel) Reel 95-43, Side 1 PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS: Public Works Director Sohmadeke, City Engineer Fosse, Engineer McClure and Economic Development Planner Schoon presented the following public works projects for discussion: ROHRET ROAD (Agenda Items #25 & #26). Fosse stated he will follow-up the temporary street lighting and Highway 1 signage. ABBEY LANE SANITARY TRUNK SEWER (Agenda Item//27). 3 LONGFELLOW AREA STORM AND SANITARY SEWER PROJECT (Agenda Item #28), In response to Horowitz, Fosse stated he would work with her regarding the September 10 U,S.- Japan midwest alliance tour through the Longfellow neighborhood, HIGHLANDER AREA SANITARY SEWER, LIFT STATION AND FORCE MAIN PROJECT (Agenda Item #29). Throgmorton requested information about how this project relates to the Fringe Ares Agreement. BURLINGTON/GILBERT INTERSECTION. Gary Nagle, Design Review Committee, asked Council to delay the project until the southside design plan is developed, Throgmorton requested information regarding the number of accidents at that intersection. DESIGN STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS. HIGHLANDER AREA SANITARY SEWER, LIFT STATION AND FORCE MAIN PROJECT DISCUSSION CONTINUED. BURLINGTON/GILBERT INTERSECTION DISCUSSION CONTINUED. WELL CONSTRUCTION AND PUMP TEST AT THE WATER FACILITY SITE. Staff Action: Memo on Burlington/Gilbert Intersection has been prepared, (Fosse) COUNCIL AGENDA/TIME: Reel 95-43, Side 2 Kubby requested that the fringe area'agreement be placed on the April 4 joint City/County meeting agenda for discussion. Pigott inquired about Wednesday's (March 29) water forum. City Manager Atkins explained the meeting is scheduled 6:30-8:30 p.m. and written questions will be received via telephone calls and people attending the meeting, Throgmorton asked City Manager Atkins to prepare a memo summarizing City staff dialogue with Ed Barker regarding the water project financing. Kubby asked about Council's role at the water forum, City Manager Atkins stated Water Division Supt, Moreno and Pollution Control Supt. Elias will present information for 15 minutes and he will present very general information about financing options, Throgmorton noted the City Atty. memo regarding water impact fees, and requested that the City Atty. continue to consider water impact fees. In response to Novick, City Attorney Woito stated she will get a copy of the Portland, Oregon, water rates information from the City Clerk. e Throgmorton announced John Lohman, University of Iowa Student Senate President, has invited City Council members to the new Student Senate President Inauguration on Saturday at 6:30 p,m. in the Old Capitol Senate Chambers. 4 (Agenda Item //31 - Agreement with Gould Evans Associates concerning a Near Southside design plan.) Throgmorton requested a three dimensional representation of the design plans be included in the contract. Novick asked if the wastewater option three used bonds or was funded entirely out of cash. City Manager Atkins said option three accumulates cash over time. one-third, one-third, one-third. (Agenda item #4.g(8) - Letter from Nila Haug requesting mediation.of a dispute.) Lehman noted correspondence received from Nila Haug. Council asked City Attorney Woito to obtain prices for a mediator and give them to Nila Haug. 10. (Agenda item//4.g(4) - Letter from Morgan Jones regarding the expansion of the First Avenue/Muscatine intersection.) City Engineer Fosse stated he will prepare a response and forward a copy of the response to Council. 11. Kubby asked if staff has heard back from Eagle's regarding extension of deadline (Towncrest Mobile Home Court). 12. Mayor Horowitz asked Council to forward comments to Parks and Rec Department Assistant Director Moran regarding the downtown pedestrian mall play equipment. 13. Horowitz announced the JCCOG meeting is scheduled 4-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. 14. Atkins stated the water forum begins at 6:30 p.m. 15. Horowitz stated international visitors will attend Council's formal meeting on Tuesday. Meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. clork\cc3.2 7.inf MINUTES IOWA CITY SENSITIVE AREAS COMMITTEE MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1995 - 11:45 A.M. CITY MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Beth D. Hudspeth, Bill Frantz, Dick Hoppin, John Moreland, Jr., Jessica Neary, Sandy Rhodes, Tom Scott MEMBERS ABSENT: George Starr STAFF PRESENT: Bob Miklo, Melody Rockwell, Scott Kugler, Dennis Gannon, Sarah E. Holecek, Charlie Denney, John Yapp CALL TO ORDER Miklo called the meeting to order at 11:55 a.m., noting that George Starr would be absent. CONSIDERATION OF THE MARCH 7, 1995, MINUTES Scott moved that the March 7, 1995, Sensitive Areas Committee minutes be approved. Hudspeth seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. WETL~,NDS REGULATIONS Kugler noted the changes made to the wetlands regulations language following the Committee's March 7, 1995, meeting. In Section A1, the word "detention" was used when referring to stormwater detention areas, and wetlands were recognized for their value to "recharge groundwater resources." Kugler mentioned the possibility of inserting the word "natural" for the phrase "natural stormwater detention areas." In Section A4, Kugler had changed the word "higher" to the word "greater." Under the section defining wetlands, Kugler noted the inclusion of the phrase, "For the purposes of this Chapter, wetland shall mean a jurisdictional wetland as defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or a wetland specialist, based on the current federal delineation manual." Kugler noted that the major changes to the wetlands regulations begin with Item E. The classifications of wetlands as types A, B, C, or D had been removed. Staff proposed that there be an automatic 100 foot, undisturbed, natural buffer required around any jurisdictional wetland, unless the developer or property owner can demonstrate that other conditions are met that would warrant reduction of the buffer. As shown in the proposed wetland regula- tions, the buffer may be reduced up to 50 feet if it can be demonstrated that the wetland is less than five acres, does not contain endangered or threatened species, or critical or out- standing natural habitat for those species, does not contain the presence of diverse plant associations of infrequent occurrence or of regional fmportance, and is not within a stream corridor. The buffer may be reduced up to 75 feet, leaving a 25 foot buffer, if it can be demonstrated that the wetland satisfies all the above criteria, does not contain standing water throughout the calendar year, is not a forested wetland, and does not provide a known habitat for migratory birds. Kugler noted that item 4 in section E was added to ensure that any buffer reductions took environmental concerns into account. This was intended to address the issue raised at the March 7 meeting that economic concerns would overshadow environmental concerns. Item 4 states when the City is determining whether to reduce the .buffer, it should consider the Sensitive Areas Committee March 20, 1995 Page 2 potential impact of the development on the wetland, the design and layout in relation to the wetland, the physical characteristics of the site and the wetland, and any other factor related to the short or long term environmental stability and health of the wetland. Kugler asked the Committee for their views on this approach to the wetlands regulations as opposed to the previous approach of defining and c~assifying wetlands and their buffers as A, @, C or D. Hudspeth and Scott both stated they liked the revised approach. Scott questioned whether or not the required buffer area will count 100% toward open spacb. He wanted to be sure a trail could be integrated within the required buffer. Rockwell said the buffer area may count toward open space if it is considered usable open space. Scott confirmed that as long as it is above the high water mark, it can count toward open space. Rhodes said the buffer might not automatically count toward open space, but it willbe able to be counted as open space. Rhodes stated he also likes thLs approach of determining the buffer area, but would exclude the buffer area from counting toward density credits. Frantz stated he was very much satisfied with the changes from a development standpoint, because it allows for greater flexibility on the part of the developer. He liked the option of being able to demonstrate the need for less buffer. Moreland also liked the flexibility of this approach, noting that different types of developments are being built every year, for which a flexible approach is beneficial. Neary asked whether 25 feet would be an adequate buffer around a wetland. Kugler said that he obtained these buffer sizes from wetlands ordinances from around the country. For the lower value wetland, 25 feet was the largest buffer width he had seen. Also, he saw no buffer larger than 100 feet. Scott said a lot would depend on how the stormwater was handled in relation to the wetland on the site. Rhodes reaffirmed that it is important to include the word "natural" in section A1 when speaking of wetlands as stormwater detention areas. Moreland said he liked this approach; every situation is different. Hudspeth said she was pleased that the advice of a wetland specialist was required when buffer reductions were being considered. Kugler noted changes in Section F. In item 1, the word "dredging" was added. In item 2, the phrase "the location of" was added in referring to the buffer requirements for septic tanks, soil absorption systems, holding tanks, or any other element of an on-site sewage disposal system. In item 4 a phrase was inserted to reference the City's Grading Ordinance. Item 5 was changed to include a phrase prohibiting "intrusive native varieties" of plants in wetlands or buffer areas. Item 6 was likewise changed to permit the removal of "intrusive native varieties" from wetlands areas. Kugler then discussed Section G, the Wetlands Mitigation section. Item 1 deals with the requirements of a wetlands mitigation plan, which will be required as part of a Sensitive Planned Development Plan or a Sensitive Areas Site Plan. The mitigation plan must include the type and location of'erosion control measures, the boundaries of the wetland and the natural buffer area, the certification of the wetland by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or a wetland specialist, information regarding the physical characteristics of the wetland to determine possible buffer reduction, and a stormwater management plan. Kugler noted that item 2 deals with compensatory mitigation. He stressed that avoiding and minimizing the effects of development on a wetland is the priority. The purpose of this section is to address the situations where this is not possible. He noted that before the City can approve any development in a wetland, approval by the Corps of Engineers would also Sensitive Areas Committee March 20, 1995 Page 3 be needed, Kugler reviewed the standards proposed for wetlands compensatory mitigation if development is found to be unavoidable. Kugler said endangered or threatened species present within wetlands, or wetlands with diverse plant associations of infrequent occurrence or of regional importance, or wetlands within stream corridors are proposed to be replaced at a 3:1 ratio if destroyed or disturbed. For example, if one acre is destroyed, it would be replaced with the creation of three acres of wetlands. This 3:1 ratio, Kugler said, is intended to discourage development in the high quality wetlands. It also replaces the quality of an evolved wetland with the extra quantity of a man-made wetland. A replacement ratio of 2:1 is proposed for wetlands containing standing water throughout the year, forested wetlands, or wetlands providing a habitat for migratory birds. All other wetlands were proposed to be replaced at a ratio of at least 1:1, If the wetland is enhanced to meet one or more of the criteria of a higher quality wetland, the replacement ratio may be reduced to 0.5:1. Scott asked if the City is required to abide by the 3:1 replacement ratio. Kugler said that is something staff needs to discuss. Rhodes argued that the City should be morally obligated to abide by its own regulations, if not legally obligated. Denney suggested including a phrase in the ordinance to the effect that "the City shall make every attempt to abide by the regula- tions of the Sensitive Areas Ordinance" or, perhaps, having a separate policy statement. Rhodes felt the 0.5:1 ratio should not be included, because so many wetlands areas have already been destroyed. Regardless of the degree of improvements made to wetlands, the minimum ratio should be 1:1. Kugler explained that the idea was to encourage wetlands enhancement. Rhodes stated if the ordinance is working correctly, the quality wetlands would have to be replaced at higher ratios anyway. He said the lower quality wetlands should be replaced at a minimum of 1:1. Moreland asked why not just replace al_~l wetlands at a 1:1 ratio. Frantz agreed. He said the City will have the opportunity to review and deny. Kugler said the higher ratios are necessary for the higher quality wetlands to deter development in them. Miklo noted in some cases, it will be necessary to develop within high quality wetlands; for example, to build a street needed to serve another area. Denney said if development occurs in high quality wetlands, a 3:1 ratio is needed, because it is difficult for a man-made wetland to replace a fully evolved, existing wetland. Kugler noted he obtained these ratios from looking at other ordinances from around the country. Miklo asked for a consensus from the Committee regarding the proposed compensatory ratios. Scott said he did not have any problems with the way the ratios are presented. He further stated t~at no matter what, the wetlands are jurisdictional wetlands by the definition of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, He thought in many cases the federal government required more than a one-to-one replacement. If developers want to replace the wetlands at a 0.5:1 ratio, the burden is on the developers to prove to the Council and/or Commission that they are enhancing the remainder of the wetlands. Scott thought 0.5:1 ratios would rarely be ap- proved. He agreed with Rhodes that it would be difficult for a wetlands specialist or the Corps to buy into that degree of compensating enhancement. Sensitive Are'as Committee March 20, 1995 Page 4 Because a consensus on the 0.5:1 ratio was uncertain, Miklo called for a vote, Hudspeth, Rhodes, Neary and Hoppin voted to remove the 0.5:1 ratio sentences. Scott, Moreland and Frantz voted to keep the 0.5:1 ratio sentences. Miklo noted that George Starr should be given an opportunity to cast his vote. Rockwell noted there may be some confusion pertaining to the descriptions of the wetlands in Section F. She felt a hierarchy was needed to make clear the type of wetland required to have a 3:1 replacement ratio, or a 2:1 or 1:1 replacement ratio. She suggested that the descriptions make clear the descending order of quality and make the three classifications mutually exclusive. Miklo acknowledged that the Committee will need to revisit the question of the 0.5:1 ratios, as well as the language describing what wetlands are matched with what replacement ratios. He said there appears to be general agreement by the Committee on the use of the 3:1, 2:1 and 1:1 ratios. Kugler explained the section on transfer of density. He proposed ascaled down transfer of density approach. He also gave an example of how the density credit could be used. The proposed density credit scale was: % of Site Occupied by Wetland Densit,/Credit 1 to 20% 100% 21 to 40% 75% 41 to 60% 50% 61 to 80% 25% 81 to 99% 10% Kugler also noted another option, instead of the s~iding scale approach, would be to continue the current procedure of Planned Development Housing Overlay (OPDH) review, which specifies no limit on the density that can be transferred, and leaves the decision up to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. Miklo said the 0PDH review is what the City currently uses when negotiating with developers. Frantz thought a problem with the density transfer is that developments rarely reach the density they are zoned for. For example, an RS-5 zone will usually have an actual density of 3 to 3.5 units per acre. Scott said he likes the OPDH review option, because it allows for more flexibility on the part of the developer. Scott did not like the proposed option, because it makes you believe that you can achieve a much greater density on the developable land. In fact, it is very difficult to achieve the density the land is zoned for in the first place, let alone the density that might be transferred to it. Miklo noted the density transfer scale might lead someone to believe tl~ere is an obligation to transfer the density, when in some cases it would not be desirable. Miklo asked if everyone agreed that the City should continue with the current procedure of an OPDH review when looking at the density transfer possibilities for properties containing wetlands. Rhodes said he likes the flexible approach of the OPDH review, but wants to include some guidelines in the wetlands section of the ordinance, such as the density transfer scale. Miklo said a later section of the ordinance will deal with OPDH guidelines. Perhaps that is where the guidelines for density transfer might be included. Scott asked if the City Attorney's Office was looking into off-site density transfer. Miklo answered yes, the City Attorney's Office was researching the potential for incorporating off-site density transfer into the Sensitive Areas Ordinance. Sensitive Areas Committee March 20, 1995 Page 5 Miklo clarified that the transfer of development rights would apply to other environmentally sensitive features, not just to wetlands. Scott said guidelines should be included if it is up to the Commission to make a density transfer determination. Miklo reviewed the meaning of terms such as "RS-5" and "RS-8" f~r those not familiar with zoning terminology. RS-5 stands for single family residences at five units per acre. RS-8 stands for single family residences at eight units per acre. RM-12, for example, stands for 12 multi-family residential units per acre, Miklo said although an area might be zoned RS-5, development rarely achieves five units an acre. After putting in roads and stormwater detention basins, and accounting for open space, the area generally ends being developed at about 3 to 3.5 units per acre. As a rule of thumb, the planning staff figures that land can be developed to about 65 percent of the density that it is zoned for. Kugler said he included the density transfer scale in the compensatory mitigation section to show that 100% of density should not be transferred from the wetland area, because wetlands are areas where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers does not allow development in the first place. Rhodes asked what will happen to these density transfer guidelines if they are dropped out of the wetlands section. Miklo answered that the guidelines will be included in a later section that deals with density transfers for all OPDH zones, not only those involving wetlands. Scott said at that time, the Committee may decide to keep the guidelines in the wetlands section after all. Miklo noted that the Committee seems to have consensus on the wetlands section, but may need to revisit the mitigation section. STEEP SLOPES Denhey stated the grading ordinances of other jurisdictions are very similar to Iowa City's Grading Ordinance. There will need to be a decision made on whether or not to incorporate the Grading Ordinance into the Sensitive Areas Ordinance, or to keep it separate. Denney said staff recommends the Grading Ordinance be kept separate; that way it could continue to apply to non-sensitive areas, as well as to existing development. Staff recommended some modifi- cations to the Grading Ordinance, including the level of grading activity, the slope percentage that triggers regulation, and the timing of the submittal for Grading and Erosion Control Plans. Denney said staff proposes that engineered grading be required for any grading over 500 cubic yards, as opposed to the current 5000 cubic yard limit currently being used. Most other jurisdictions had a range of 100 to 500 cubic yards. Denney also proposed that the steep slope designation be changed to a 25% gradient, as opposed to the current 28.5%level. He noted the biggest reason to change to 25% is because 25% is the number used on the Sensitive Areas Inventory Map, and it is good to be consistent between the documents. Scott brought up a possible third change to the Grading Ordinance; to include guidelines for a change of work order. Denney noted staff had talked about the change of work order process. He pointed out that a builder could not simply change the grade in the field, and then come in to tell City staff what they had done. Denney said it is necessary to have any change in the plans be approved before going forward with them. Gannon said the current procedure is that if the developer changes the building or grading plan, they need to have it approved. Gannon also stated it depends on how big the changes are as to whether or not you have to get the plan re-approved. Sensitive Areas Committee March 20, 1995 Page 6 Scott felt under the present Grading Ordinance, any changes must be approved by the City staff, and work would possibly be stopped. Scott said some kind of flexible work change order for minor modifications would be helpful. Rockwell noted that according to Housing and ~nspection Services staff, there has only been one case where the City actually stopped work, and that was because the builder was grading and excavating much differently from what was approved in the plan. Denney agreed that the developer was grading outside of the area that was supposed to be graded, which brought the stop work order from the City. Rockwell said minor changes can be and are handled administratively. For routine cases, these changes are handled fairly quickly and do not involve stop work orders. Staff recommended that the Grading and Erosion Control Plan be submitted prior to City Council approval of the preliminary plat. This would allow changes that occur to the prelimi- nary plat during the review process to be accounted for in the Grading and Erosion Control Plan. Also, this would ensure that grading issues are addressed during the preliminary plat review. Miklo said the difference is the developers can avoid going through the expense of having a Grading and Erosion Control Plan done, if their preliminary plat changed during the review by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Grading and Erosion Control Plan would be done during the review of the preliminary plat, prior to City Council approval. Also under this plan, the Council would not approve a preliminary plat, unless the Grading and Erosion Control Plan were also approved. Scott asked if there were any comments on the 500 cubic yard limit for triggering an engi- neered grading plan requirement. Frantz answered that 500 cubic yards is too low a number. Frantz said many single family residences involve more than 500 cubic yards of grading. Miklo answered that the Grading Ordinance only applies to properties containing a sensitive area, not to every single subdivision. Denhey said a developer would only have to submit a Grading and Erosion Control Plan if the property has steep slopes, wetlands, or some other feature that makes it a sensitive area. Moreland thought Grading and Erosion Control Plans were always required. Gannon clarified that right now, grading plans are only required if your land has steep slopes, wetlands, is in a floodplain, or has a blue line, which indicates a stream on the USGS map. Rhodes felt the inconsistent use of the terms "buffers" and "setbacks" can be confusing. Denney agreed the terminology will need to be decided upon. He said in other ordinances, some used buffers, some used setbacks, and some used both. The Committee will need to decide which approach it wants to take. Denney went over the proposed steep slopes regulations. Staff recommended that any slopes of 18-25 % require the submission of a Sensitive Areas Site Plan. Slopes of 25-40% would trigger the requirement to submit a Sensitive Planned Development Overlay Plan and a Grading and Erosion Control Plan. Above 40%, all development would be prohibited. Denhey pointed out on the Sensitive Areas Inventory Map, there are very few developments on slopes of 40% or greater. There are a few residential lots on Samuel Drive, but that is about it. Scott stated you can build on steep slopes if you have enough money. Denney agreed that any slopes greater than 40% would be expensive to develop, and were not likely sites for affordable housing. Rhodes said he likes the steep slopes regulations as proposed, because the steep slopes percentages correspond to the Sensitive Areas Inventory Map, as we~l as to the Soil Survey of Johnson County. Thus, it is easy to identify a steep slope. Denney mentioned that this Sensitive Areas Committee March 20, 1995 Page 7 ordinance could apply to the City's Fringe Areas as well. Scott said the 4:1 (25%) slope is used slmost universally as the limit in defining a steep slope. Denney asked if everyone was comfortable with the steep slopes definitions approach. There appeared to be a consensus to support the approach outlined by staff. Denney went over the design guidelines for development in areas containing steep slopes: 1 ) every lot or parcel shall have one buildable area equal to least 40% of the minimum lot size, 2) except for driveways and utilities installation, no grading or excavation shall take place (this is to ensure the integrity of the steep slope), 3) cut slopes shall be constructed to eliminate sharp angles with the terrain, and shall be rounded and contoured to blend with the existing topography, 4) to minimize cutting and filling, street right-of-way and public utility corridors will follow ridge lines where possible, and 5) natural vegetation should be retained to the maximum extent possible to maintain the stability of ungraded areas. Scott asked what the City does in applying these standards to its own public works projects, Scott felt that public works projects do far more damage to the environment than the development of the lot. Rhodes suggested writing item 4 to say "street rights-of-way and public utility corridors shall be located to minimize cutting and filling..." Gannon said the Public Works Department usually minimizes cuts and fills anyway to minimize costs. Denney agreed to incorporate some language to that effect. Hoppin mentioned that some steep slopes hold up very well when they are developed, and that some shallow slopes are highly erodible. He said it depends on the soil makeup of the slope. Denhey noted there is a provision in the buffer requirements that if a licensed geologist or geotechnical engineer can demonstrate a development can be built closer to the slope without environmental hazard, the buffer and/or setback may be reduced. Hoppin was con- cerned that slopes less than 25% still might be highly erodible. Miklo noted that the Commit- tee has had to draw a line somewhere as to what is considered a steep slope; what should be regulated by ordinance. Rhodes brought up the possibility of tieing regulation in with individual soil map units. Scott asked if the Committee was satisfied with design guideline 1 in Section E, which states that the buildable area be at least 40% of the minimum lot size required by the zone in which it is located. Rockwell said the intent is to assure that each platted lot is buildable; that there is a minimum of buildable space on each lot. Denney said the definition of buildable area is the "contiguous area within a lot containing no protected slopes or required buffers." Rockwell asked if the Committee was comfortable with moving the steep slopes section and the wetlands section into a cumulative draft of the Sensitive Areas Ordinance, realizing there are a few unresolved issues. Everyone agreed. Denhey asked Committee members to call him with any questions or suggestions about the stream corridor memorandum. Rhodes asked if the title, "Sensitive Planned Development Overlay" could be changed to "Sensitive Areas Planned Development Overlay." Miklo said specific terminology will need to be determined by the Committee at a later date. Rhodes asked if all references to 5000 cubic yards and references to a 3.5:1 ratio would be amended in the Grading Ordinance. Rhodes asked about the possibility of requiring two-foot contours for the maps. Right now, some are five-foot and some are two-foot. Rhodes thought it would be good to be consistent throughout the ordinance to require two-foot contours. Sensitive Areas Committee March 20, 1995 Page 8 NEXT MEETING Miklo stated that at the next meeting the Committee will move on to address stream corridors and floodplains. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 11, 1995, at 11:45 a.m. in the City Manager's conference room. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:22 p.m. Minutes submitted by John Yapp. mim~ac3-20 March 23, 1995 Dear Mayor: NaUonal ~301 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. League Washington. D.C. of 20004 Cities (202) 626-3000 . J(202) 626-30~13 Officers I am writing to report back to you on behalf of your Board of Oirectors representing the 135,000 municipal elected officials of our nation's cities and towns on our NLC 1995 Action Agenda and to request your help in achieving fair and balanced federal deficit reduction, enhancing public safety, reducing the costs of current mandates, fixing our broken welfare system, and ensuring that cities are central hubs of any legislation to create an information superhighway. This is a daunting agenda. Only if we work together can we achieve meaningful change to better our respective communities. I hope I can count on your assistance. Our leadership met last week at our Congressional City Conference to set our Action Agenda for 1995. As leaders, we all recognize it is time for a significant change in governance and the role of the federal government. I have enclosed for you a copy of the governance principles we adopted to guide us in seeking to support changes to make government, at all levels, work better for those we represent. It will take a major effort on our part to make sure our national system of governance and federal policies and programs reflect these changes. Future economic growth, international competitiveness, and economic security require investment in the human and physical assets that bind our cities, and our nation, together. To achieve that growth, we adopted, in order, the following 1995 Action Agenda. Our Action Agenda identifies major areas essential to building a stronger future for our cities and towns: reducing the federal deficit and national debt; enhancing public safety; halting unfunded mandates; reforming our welfare system; and getting on the information superhighway. Our first priority is reducin9 the federal deficit. The current national debt is insupportable. We need the President and Congress to support fundamental changes to reduce federal deficits and to make government more effective and accountable. That will not be possible unless every part of the budget is on the table to ensure meaningful and equitable deficit reduction .- defense, entitlements, tax expenditures, and domestic discretionary spending. There can be neither sacred cows, nor disproportionate cuts. Moreover, your Board · · Republicans, Independents, and Democrats .. voted unanimously to oppose any tax cuts unless and until significant deficit reduction has been achieved. Reducing the deficit must come first if we are serious about the future of the nation. Achieving real, fair, and balanced deficit reduction will require hard choices. It will not happen unless we are committed to push in a constructive way. Please call and write. March 23, 1995 Page Two Our second priority is public safety. We think the House made a good start on a more effective partnership with local governments when it passed legislation to provide direct flexible block grants to cities and towns for public safety. That consolidation and modification of the current law demonstrates recognition of the leadership and responsibility of local leaders. Please contact your Senators right away to urge their support. Our third priority is reducing mandates. We are elated with our victory on the Kempthorne mandates relief bill the President will sign into law with us this week. The implementation of the new NLC-supported law will be a critical step to ensure we are able to more effectively target local resources to public safety and other local priorities. It is an important first step. Now we must move forward to address existing mandates that affect current budgets and priorities of our citizens and taxpayers. We need to halt the stormwater mandates. We need to fix the Safe Drinking Water Act. We need to end Davis. Bacon requirements that hurt local projects. We must fix the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). We also need to make sure the Senate opposes those provisions from the House rescissions bill, HR 1158, passed last week, which would defund assistance for compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water, asbestos removal, and lead paint removal mandates. That action was inconsistent with S. 1. We have a solid chance to make a difference on these mandates, but only if we redouble the kinds of efforts that produced the Kempthorne mandate relief legislation. Our fourth priority is reforming our welfare system. We believe the pending House bill, HR 4, would affect local 9overnments m~re than any other level of government. The bill could be one of the, greatest mandates ever imposed upon our communities. We might be left with the failure created and abdication of responsibility by other levels of government. We oppose efforts to abdicate welfare responsibilities to the states without a specific role for local governments. Rather local governments need to participate as equal partners with the states and the federal government in a fundamental transformation to provide families who receive welfare the support and services they and their families need to move from welfare to work. Too many of our children are being left behind as we strive to compete in a global economy. Please contact your entire delegation right away to insist upon a strong local consultation role in any welfare reform le9islation adopted by the Congress. Our final priority for this year is getting on the information superhighway. Legislation to implement this highway will involve millions of jobs and trillions of dollars in local economies, but few in the administration and few in the Congress have thought about what this legislation might mean for cities and towns. It could preempt essential city roles and re. sponsibilities. It could have serious tax and revenue implications. In particular, we urge your strong support for Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's pubtic rights.of.way amendment in the Senate. She has fought hard for us and needs our suppod. it is a critical component of any legislation to serve taxpayers in cities across the nation to ensure full, public access and no local economic harm. Merch 25, 1995 Page Three This is an important time for the country as we head towards the next century. We are prepared, as an organization, to be on the cutting edge of change. We can make constructive differences if we work together to send a unified message to Washington, O.C. [ am 9fateful for your support and look forward to joining you in making hard decisions critical to our next generations. Sincerely, Carolyn Long Banks President Councilwomen-at-Large Atlanta, 6eorgia Enclosure NLC Statement of Principles Regarding National Governance The leaders of our nation's cities and towns recognize it is time for a significant change in governance and in the role of the federal government. We support fundamental changes to reduce federal deficits and to realign govermnent so that it is more effective and accountable. NLC believes that a streamlined and more flexible intergovermnental system would offer significant opportunities for cities and towns to develop more innovative and cost effective methods of delivering programs, services, and financing infrastructure. This intergovernmental system would also enhance public involvement and restore public confidence in government. Any such effort must go hand-in-hand with a partnership to balance decision-making responsibilities among local, state, and federal leaders. Both Congress and the administration have pledged to streamline government, balance the federal budget, and shift policy responsibilities to states, municipalities and the private sector. To be credible, this will require program cuts, policy changes, and new block grants to fund remaining programs. There should be sufficient transition p~riods that are consistent with the magnitude of change to be achieved for local governments to adjust to new structures and avoid dismpti.ng services to the public. Municipal input will be irrelevant if all we offer is a plea for more federal money and less restrictions. To achieve these purposes, NLC supports the following principles to guide change: equity, effective federalism, investment for the future, and efficiency. EQUITY Any federal program reassessment should: view all national programs comprehensively, exposing all spending areas, tax expenditures, regulatory programs, credit programs and tax policies to equal scrutiny. consider program design as it affects the different levels of need and fiscal capacity and constraints which exist in our very large and diverse country. not discriminate against any income group and should protect those who cannot protect themselves. ensure that the federal government does not desert national responsibilities (for example in the area of welfare reform) and therefore create inequities to individuals and, as a result, disparities between local governments. Statement of Principles - Page two EFFECTIVE FEDERALISM Any effective federal, state and local government partnership should: · not impose unfunded federal mandates. · not have the effect of converting local assistance to state control. not impose disproportionate responsibilities on cities and towns by reducing or withdrawing federal involvement and leaving national problems and duties on the doorstep of local government. provide federal incentives for achieving national performance outcomes: for example, the fair share housing program. prohibit state program responsibilities from being satisfied by the imposition of state mandates on local governments if the federal government relinquishes functional areas with federal funding (for example, block grants) to states. relate the program structure to the level of government actually executing the program when choosing funding and enforcement mechanisms for different programmatic areas. structure a program to meet the characteristics of the problem. (For example, is the problem a regional or local one and is the program structured accordingly?) be cognizant of direct federal-local relationships which have been forged in different programmatic areas and carefully consider the reasons that such partnerships were initially created. not expose local governments to increased liability or unfunded mandates if federal involvement is modified or withdrawn from a current program that involves individual rights protected by federal statute, court ruling or the Constitution. invent new legally enforceable mechanisms to provide assurances that agreements will be honored when new program structures are created in which there is an agreement trading (1) reduced or capped funding levels for (2) greater state or local spending discretion. Statement of Principles - Page three EFFECTIVE FEDEP~4LISM (continued) ensure that when the federal government delegates program areas to state governments, states should be authorized to further delegate responsibility with funding to other levels of government through the process of state-local negotiation. provide that if state governments are given the opportunity to decline participation in programs, then the local govermnents within that state ought to be permitted to apply directly to the federal government for funding. recognize that there are now, have been, and will be national problems that require federal responses. In sueh instances, state and local governments should be lull partners with the federal government in the design and implementation of policies and approaches to accomplish designated program objectives. Ii~:VESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE Any t~deral program reassessment should: · address long term national benefits and specific goals and objectives. · benefit the next generation rather than saddle it with new debts. · reasonably balance the magnitude of the problem against other national needs and problems. EFFICIENCY Any federal program reassessment should: · be designed to result in performance improvements. ° recognize regional approach. es to problems may be more efficient in achieving results. but ensure control remains in local hands. · balance the benefits of' government action versus the cost of inaction. · not modify existing programs which work efficiently and effectively in serving national needs. Statement of Principles - Page four EFFICIENCY (continued) · ensure that federal evaluations and measures incorporate common sense oversight and monitoring approaches. · encourage, where feasible, market-based approaches rather than command-and-control approaches. Adopted by the NLC Board of Directors March 11, 1995 AWLA D' MMUNICATIONS 839 RoOsevelt ,, Iowa Ci~y. IA 52240 Td 3193370547 Fa~319.337,0560 March 30, 1995 Local Tax Press-Citizen PO Box 2480 Iowa CiLy, [A 52244 In 19871 served on an Citizen Committee on City Revenues formed by the City Council to study the possibility of implementing a 1% local option sales tax. At the time I was considered a "citizen" member because I didn't run a business. I now oxvn a service business and am not required to charge sales tax. Hence, I am not concerned, as your editorial mentions, that I "would not be able to compete with Coralville stores that likely would not charge such a tax." Nonetheless, I have been, and remain, opposed to any additional sales taxes. When I was in college studying for my BA in Economics I learned sales taxes are a regressive form of taxation. The social implications of shifting the tax burden to the poor aside, regressive taxation is simply an inefficient way to allocate resources. On the whole, regressive taxation is a burden to the economy. With regards to paying for the new water and sewer plant, this community has known that our water plant was deficient for at least the 13 years I've lived here. The fact that we've delayed the inevitable because we didn't like the cost hasn't changed anything, except to make the project more expensive. Rather than ~mpose another regressive tax, et's.lust stop our co ective wh n ng and get the job done! President cc: City Council1~ City Manager To: IONACITYCLERK From: Board o? Supervisors 4-3-95 7:3Baa p. Z o? 3 IOWA ~ Charles D. Duffy, Cha~erson Joe Bolkcom Stephen P. La¢ina Don Schr Sally StuBman BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 1. Call to order 9:00 a.m. April 4, 1995 INFORMAL MEETING Agenda 2. Review of the informal minutes of March 28th recessed to March 30th and the formal minutes of March 30th. 3. Business from Roger Gwinnup, Chairperson for Johnson County Historical Commission re: commission update/discussion. 4. Business from the Physical Plant Manager. a) Discussion re: storage building. b) Other change order for additional engineering cost for the Business from Ed Bornberger, Business Development Manager for Eastern Iowa Light and Power Cooperative re: Economic Development Set-Aside application/discussion. 6. Business from the Board of Supervisors. a) Correspondence from Cheryl Whitney re: child care for homeless children/discussion. b) Reports c) Other funding to 4C's to provide 913 SOLq'H DUBUQUE ST. P.O. BOX 1350 IOWA CITY, IOWA 52244-1350 TEL: (319) 356-6~0 To: ~0~ C~TY CL[RI( From Board of' Supervisors 4-3-95 ?:39a~ p, 3 of' 3 Agenda 4-4-95 Page 2 7. Discussion gom the public. 8. Business fi'om the County Engineer. a) Discussion re: Five-Year Construction Plan for Secondary Roads (to be held at Secondary Roads). Other 9. Recess. To: IO~ CH¥ CLER[( Fram: Board or Supervisors 4-5-95 8:36am p. Z of 3 Johnsfin Caunh.' Charles D. Duffy, Chairperson Joe, Bolkcom Stephen P. Lacina Don Sehr Sally Slutsman BOARD OF SUPERVISORS April 6, 1995 FORMAL MEETING Agenda 1. Call to order 9:00 a.m. 2..Action re: claims 3. Action re: informal minutes of March 28th recessed to March 30th and the formal minutes of March 30th. 4. Action re: payroll authorizations 5. Business from the Assistant Zoning Administrator. a) Discussion/action re: the foilroving Platting application: Application S9514 of John C. Schneider, signed by Dean Beranek of MMS Consultants Inc., requesting final plat approval of Forest Ridge Subdivision Part Two, a subdivision located in the S 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 34; Township 80 North; Range 7 West of the 5th P.M. in Johnson County, Iowa (This is a 30 lot, 59.09 acre, residential subdivision with one non-buildable lot, located on the west side of Jasper Avenue NW, lying north of the Jasper Avenue overpass of Interstate 80 in Clear Creek Twp.). b) Discussion/action re: for home business. c) Other setting public hearing tbr Conditional Use Permit 913 SOUTH DUBUQUE ST. P.O. BOX 1350 IOWA CITY, IOWA 52244-1350 TEL: (319) 356-6000 FAX: (319) 356.6086 1o: IO~ CITY CLERK From: Board of Supervisors 4-5-95 8:3§aa p. 3 of 3 Agenda 4-6-95 Page 2 6. Business from the County Auditor. a) Action re: permits b) Action re: reports c) Other 7. Business from the County Attorney. a) Report re: other items. 8. Business from the Board of Supervisors. a) Motion re: Action re: building. Action re: Board minutes. change order for additional enghleering cost for the storage Economic Development Set-Aside application for Learning Curves, Inc. Action re: approval of t~anding for pilot program regarding child care for homeless children to be funded out of Department 45. Other 9. Adjourn to informal meeting. a) Discussion re: Board minutes. b) Discussion re: Economic Development Set-Aside application for Learning Curves, Inc. c) Inquiries and reports from the public. d) Reports and inquires from the members of the Board of Supervisors. e) Report from the County Attorney. Other 10. Adjournment To: IO~ACITYCLERK From: Board of Supervlsors 4-18-95 9:lOaD p. 2 of 3 John~m Count)' Charles D. DufB/, Chairperson Joe Bolkcom Stephen P. Lacina Don Sehr Sally Stulsman BOARD OF SUPERVISORS April 11, 1995 INFORMAL MEETING 1. Call to order 9:00 a.m. Agenda Review of the informal minutes of April 4th, recessed to April 6th; informal minutes of April 4th joint meeting with the Iowa City/City Council and Johnson County, and the formal minutes of April 6th. 3. Business from M. Kathryn Wallace re: Senior Center update/discussion. 4. Business from the County Engineer. a) Discussion re: b) Discussion re: c) Discussion re: d) Discussion re: e) Discussion re: Other 1995 Supplemental Construction Program. 1996-2000 Construction Program. 1996 IDOl' budget. quotes received for calcium chloride. Dust Alleviation Program for 1995. 5. Business from Pat Jordan, Director for Emergency Housing Project re: change emergency housing project mission/discussion. 6. Business from the Board of Supervisors. a) Discussion re: Economic Development Set-Aside application for Learning Curves, Inc. b) Reports c) Other 913 SOUTH DUBUQUE ST. P.O. BOX 1350 IOWA CITY, IOWA 52244-1350 TEL: (319) 356-6000 To: I0~ CI'[¥ CLERK From: Board of Supervisors 4-10-95 9:lOam p, 3 of 3 Agenda 4-11-95 Page 2 7. Discussion from the public. 8. Recess. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 3, 1995 To: From: Re: The Honorable Susan M. Horowitz and Members of the City Council Linda Newman Woito, City Attorney ~.,_~ __ Ad Hoc Construction Contract Review Committee; First Meeting April 7, 1995, at 9:00 a.m. Because of the recent controversy, including some confusion over contract language regarding the bidding process for the Iowa City housing development contracts for Whispering Meadows, I have called together the following persons to review our basic construction contract documents: - Jeff Davidson, Assistant Planning Director (since Karin Franklin is on vacation) - Cathy Eisenho'er, Pumhasing Agent - Rick Fosse, City Engineer - Linda N. Woito, City Attorney - Jim Schoenfelder, City Architect - Doug Boothroy, H&IS Director It has been a while since I have carefully scrutinized the construction contract documents. As best I can recall, I did this with Rick Fosse and Ed Brinton approximately four years ago. These standard contracts get changed by various City employees from time to time, without further review by me. Thus, the documents which we are now dealing with are probably in their tenth generation of iteration. I wanted to let you know the status of this ad hoc committee, and hope - by way of some preventive lawyering - to eliminate some of the confusion resulting from the City's construction and bid documents. We will keep you informed. CO; City Clerk City Manager Assistant City Manager Doug Boothroy, H&IS Director Chuck Schmadeke, Public Works Director Susan Craig, Library Director April 7, 1995 CITY OF I0 I, VA CITY Bruce Glasgow 834 N. Johnson St. Iowa City, IA 522,15 James P. Glasgow 3291 Dubuque St. NE Iowa City, IA 52240 John Cruise 905 Bluffwood Dr. Iowa City, IA 52245 Re: Grading Permit Issued June 8, 1993 for Retaining Wall Construction Behind Cliffs Condominium Regime Located at 1122 and 1136 N. Dubuque St., Iowa City, Iowa Dear Bruce, Jim and John: After my letter to you dated February 2, 1995, City Engineer Rick Fosse, Senior Building Inspector Ron Boose and I did a site inspection on your progress in completing the buttressed retaining wall, for which you obtained a grading permit June 8, 1993, permit #BLD93-0253. This inspection was conducted March 27, 1995; and while the area was rather muddy, City Engineer Rick Fosse was able to climb up to the higher portions of the area to view most of the southern portion of the buttressed retaining wall. However, it was too muddy to view the northernmost portion of the retaining wall. In any event, I report the following to you: You have indeed made substantial progress on the buttressed retaining wall construction, and therefore it is clear that your grading permit issued June 8, 1993, is still in full force and effect. We certainly appreciate your progress in completing this buttressed wall, but remind you that the June 8, 1993 permit will expire June 8, 1995, if the wall and associated graded including sidewalk are not completed. It appears, at least from a southernmost viewpoint, that at least three-fourths of the buttressed retaining wall, as designed by Van Winkle-Jacob Engineering Co., Inc. is completed, but we could not ascertain the status of the northernmost portion of the wall. Thus, we are unsure as to whether Van Winkle-Jacob Engineering will deem the wall "long enough" for their engineering design purposes. Please check with your engineer, and Messrs. Glasgow and Cruise April 7, 1995 Page 2 have them report to us when they deem the buttressed engineering wall completed according to their design specifications. We would appreciate a certificate of completion from them, with their engineering certification or whatever certification is appropriate. The design for the buttressed retaining wall, prepared by Van Winkle-Jacob Engineering, also provided that the ground behind the buttressed retaining wall would be shaped in an appropriate angle and at an appropriate slope, from the wall moving in an easterly direction to the tree line. We realize that the ground is still very wet, and that you may have difficulty with some heavy earth-moving equipment in this process and at this time. However, we encourage you to complete the associated grading, shaping and landscaping aspect of the design prepared by Van Winkle-Jacob Engineering, and to do so in time for any seeding or sodding to "take hold" this Spring and get a good start for Summer growth. We noted that the retaining wall which runs in a northerly-southerly direction between the two Cliffs Condominiums buildings is bowing and showing signs of stress, and that you are in the process of enforcing the wall -- as suggested by Van Winkle-Jacob Engineer- ing. We also realize that the weather was not conducive at the time of our visit, but hope you will proceed with this project. I want to caution you on the potential for an inordinant amount of erosion flowing in a westerly direction from your large earthmoving equipment and down onto North Dubuque Street. As you know, erosion onto a City street can create safety hazards, and we certainly wish to avoid creating any such hazards on our City streets -- since all of us as taxpayers bear the brunt for accidents resulting therefrom. Thus, City Engineer Fosse requests that appropriate erosion control measures be used to prevent sediment from reaching the public right-of-way. The southern portion of the old Loffelstein retaining wall, built with alternating blocks and soil interfill and which collapsed two years ago, still needs to be cleaned up. There is rerod and other debds in the area. I believe Ron Boose has talked to you about this matter earlier. Finally, and most importantly, we do continue to hope that the retaining wall designed by Van Winkle-Jacob Engineering will hold back the hillside which is sloughing off onto the Cliffs Condominium Regime Apartments. However, we remind you that even though we continue to urge you to, at a minimum, complete the originally designed retaining wall, we have no soils or geotechnical engineer to tell us that your designed retaining will, indeed, work under the circumstances. This is true for a very simple, yet important reason: only an engineered grading plan, prepared by a geotechnical engineer, can assess if the "factor of safety for the slope is reasonable for the use of this property." Such answer from a geotechnical engineer may ultimately be required in order to assure the continued safety of the residents of your property. Messrs. Glasgow and Cruise April 7, 1995 Page 3 Again, I want to express my appreciation for your substantial and material progress on the buttressed retaining wall, and continue to urge you to complete the project as designed by your engineers. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact me at 356. 5030, or contact City Engineer Rick Fosse or Senior Building inspector Ron Boose concerning the more practical aspects of the grading permit. Respectfully submitted, Linda City Attorney cc: City Council City Clerk City Manager Asst. City Manager City Engineer Rick Fosse Sr. Building inspector Ron Boose The Planning of Iowa: Building Community Through Design Report of the 1993 Winter Meeting of the American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter~ and the Main Street Iowa Design Conference Page 2--Planning of Iowa Conference Report he joint conference was the second of four annual meehngs address- ing the planning of Iowa's communities. It was presented by the American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter, and Main Street Iowa, in February, 1993, in Ames. Conference co-chairmen were Je~ey W. Anderzhon, AIA, and Professor Gary Origgs, Depa~h~ent of Architecture, Iowa State University. The text was prepared by John Pulaski Thomas, M.Arch student at ISU, based upon transcripts of the presentations. Robert A. Findlay, Iowa Community Design, ISU, and Suzanne Schwengels, AIA Iowa, coordinated the production of the report. It was designed by Brian C. Bock and printed by the Iowa Department of Economic Development. Illustrations have been provided by Thomas Clause, FAIA. CONFERENCE SPONSORS Iowa Architectural Foundation People's Natural Gas Weitz Construction Taylor-Ball Cons~ucfion Amana Refrigeration, Inc. Iowa State University Department of Architecture Iowa Arts Council Bandag, Incorporated Casey's General Stores, Inc. Oakview Construction Planning of Iowa Conference Report -.--Page The Declining Value of Real Estate How instant gratification and disposable buildings have affected how and what we build ~ ~'~ ~ 7e have gotten into a...mind sot W ~g that buildings (whether in ~ {' public or private hands) are short term investments: five, seven, ten years. This has reduced our concern with building design, quality, durability and adaptability. In one genera- tion we have 8one from real estate being an invest- ment grade asset equivalent to AAA corporate bends or government ucasury bills to real es/ate as su'uctuml hog belly future and architectural junk bond; we have often thrown away valuable but uudemtilized assets to pay for diem." "Who is responsible for this instant gratification view of real c~tate? To some extent all of us. Think about the federal u~x code. We have something called 'depreciable life,' the period for tax purposes over which a build- ing is pr~umed to have ecor, om- ic value: 31.5 years. What a patently absurd assumptionl And yet that begins to mold our thinking; it makes the aset dis- portable. And capital 8alas. If we build a quality building, with a long economic life, maintain it well, and therefore are able to ~ sell it at a profiL,., we am penalized with taxes. On the other hand. if we build a cheap building, let it decline titrough lack of maintenance, all at the expense of our neighbors, we are rewarded with the tax deduction of our losses. Furthermore, if we chose to tear down a building, even {hough it may have considerable remaining value as an income producing asset and remaining value to the com- munity, we take a tax deduction of the building's book value. The whole thing is backwards," "All of us are somewhat to blame for the deval- uation of buildings, but much the responsibility "In one generation we have gone ... to real estate as structure hog belly future and architectural junk bond." ---Rypkema falls on ou~ institutions: national, stale, local gov- eauneat, chtm:hes, fraternal organizations, banks, newspapers and leaders of commerce and indusby. It is to those institutions that we, individually and collectively, look for the establishment of our val- ue, and to help us determine what is valuable. Those institutions once understood the ~portance of expressing our common valu~ in their build- ings, and in doing so they created valuable build. ings, Government buildings colebra~ democracy, ~edom. the empowerment of the people and jus- tice. Most public buildings being built today look like we are striving for govenunent by Wal Man." "The church or synagogue used to be a temple of God; it inspired reverence, facilitated meditation, and engendered hope for a better tomorrow. Few religious structures built today do that, nor even unde~d the importance of doing so." "..,[At one time], the mes- sage of the bank building was 'trust,' 'dependability,' 'securi- ty,' 'reliability.' 'longevity,' [and] even 'prosperity.' In what- ever architectural style, bank building were buildings with class. Now it's dirtiest to tell a bank building fxom one housing - tele-marketing firms, adverdsing agencies, or worse yet, photomm stands." "We have lost the intellectufl and emotional connection between the building and the activities within. And we am all the lesers..." "This affects both historic presen, afion and new construction. The buildings that were built in a day when the building was the m~age ought to be kept becaase the message--our common set of values--is, or ought to be, as valid as ever. And we ought to demand that the buildings built today re-inconpomte those values in theis design, mateti- ffs, scale and detail." Donovan Rypkerna is the principal of Real Estate SeMces Group in Washington, D.C.; has worked in real estate since 1971; and consults for real estate redeveloproent and cororounify revitalization. g glt is fn le tobeth the building and its use when the market no longer ,.demands that use. Rypkema says. "it is the respeasibility of the design and coastruclion professions to find ways of re-insovting utility into an historic structure if it is to have economic value. When an ardtitect says, 'it can't be done,' find a new architect" .--Rypkema Page 4---Planning of Iowa Conference Report Town Revitalization Balance., Economy and Aesthetics The mayor of Binghamton, Juanira Crabb has strived to revitalize her communiO/s downtown both economical~/ and aesthetical~. Binghmnton was once a part of the Erie Canal System, and had cantis that served as streets in ~ downtown: the Venice of New York. The community was built at the con- fluence of two rivers: the Chenango and the Susquehaan~ Today, Binghamten has a pep.lafion of 50,000 people. The canals have all been filled in, and in the middle part of this century Binghamten lost several of its architeetund treasures to parking lots, open space and fairly modern constmctious. 'I'ne history that distinguished Binghiunten from other communities was physically manifested within its built environment; this tangible histop/vanished each time a canal was filled in or a building razed, Crabb says that very little new architecture said the same thing about Binghamon that the previous architecture had expressed. Much o[ what did escape demolifiou was suffering from neglect, and the communi- ty decided to do something about it. The fimt thing the communi- ty did was to put the whole dowotown into an historic dis- trier. "This mused a lot of dis- may with the existing businesses in the downtown because they ] thought ... [the new zoning] ,.. would make it more difficult to attract new busi- ueases." Next, the community organized a several- pronged approach of what needed to be done. Crabb says that the downtown was once full of vibrant, tax-paying businesses; now it was home to many flat lot parking lots. The revenue loss and subsequent negative attitude that characterized the downtown assured that people would stay away. And they did. The community assembled an unconventional master plan. Rather than prescribe what the build- ings were going to look like, this plan organized the services that the community wanted for thek downtown. "We wanted our downtown to be the entertain- ment. recreational, cultural center of the "We wanted our downtown to be the entertainment, recreational, cultural center of the community." ---Crabb community.... Using this as a master plan, we ther went about filling in the space~ with those pardcu. let' uses." V~die entrepreneurs enusu'ucted new building.~ on the empty lots, the community beautified public spaces to complement the new additions. Crabl: says that the commtmity strived to create outdoo~ places that people would want to inhabit. "We looked for every space that we could to beautify, no matmr how small...." They often cleaned ug "tiny" alleyways: the ~ that pass between build- ings and connect the main streets. The next phase of the master plan dealt with the downtewn's existing buildings. Crabb says that Bingham-ton made avail- able community development funds at low interest rates, or no interest rates. and the conununi- ty established a grant program for facade restoration. "Those people who had no inter~ in the community before were almost shamed into doing their part to beautify the com- munity .... More people noticed [the downtown] for perhaps the first time because there was some activity going on." An architectural group reno- vated the old train station to become their office as well as provide some retail space. An nntreprenem transformed an old bank building into Tiffany's Bank Care; another saved the old city hall building from demolition. turning it into a 60 room hotel Another "tremendous" challenge the communi- ty faced was convincing a department store to open business in the downtown. Binghamton's downtown had once been home to eight depart- ment stores: all had moved out. It took several years and endless persistence (from Crabb and her stero before they convinced a department store to come back in. Phase three of the master plan marked the properties that could not be rehabilitated. The community built a multipurpose stadium in the deteriorating and unused warehouse district. "We made sure that this stadium was pat of oar down- town community. It fits very nicely on a small 1OL Contxary to common belief, you don't need 50 acres of blacktop parking: especially in a down- town. People love to walk to the stadium, and the businesses around it are flourishing." Binghamton has perceived community improvement as an ongoing process. Many of their ordinary maintenance procedures were re- thought to get the most mileage out of every dol- lar. When Crabb became mayor in 1982, she encouraged the Padcs Department to change some of its procedures, "When we took over, we found that there seemed to be one train of thought in the Parks Deparanent for treating parks and the problems with parks, If a building was in bad shape, [the department]...painted it brown." One park that dated finam the early 1900's had a pool, bath house and carousel. Crabb says that the buildings were painted brown, and the horses on the carousel were painted in psychedelic colo~. The community had six other carousels, and arranged for all to be refia'bished: painted in their original colors. She says, "we restored all of the carousels, complete with the musical organ that is in them.: Binghamton received much publicity over the restoration: when the community learned that they had mote carousels than any other in the nation, they began calling themselves The Carousel Capital of the Country. "This added to our marketing ability, to bring people into the community." Crabb says that another parks building was having trouble. The side of a pool house had been a graffiti board, and the community was not sure how to solve the problem. "I asked the Parks Department to come up with something..., and of course their solution was to paint it brown. [! said], 'if you paint it brown, the people might still graffiti on it.' Someone said. 'put a fence around iL' Someone else said, 'the Planning of Iowa Conference Report --Pa~e 5 kids can still climb over the fence, and they will still graffiti on the brown building.' Another said, 'we'll put barbed wile on top of the fence around the brown building.'" Crabb says that the public works departraent was willing to spend $9,000 on brown paint to clean up the building. However, there was a h'ompe l'oeil artist in town who offered to paint a mural on the building for $15,000 dollars. Some members of the council perceived th~at the extra cost was a waste of money and that ~__. the graffiti would continue. Cmbb says, "the debate that went on in city council was equaled only to debates about increases in taxes," By a slim margin, the artist was cbe~n by the city council to paint a mural, "As [the artist] ... painted the building, ... she allowed [neighbor- hood children] to help paint. .,,Soon their parents came to take pictures of their kids painting the building, and it became a neigh- bothcod project. It is a wonderful way of improving for very little [ cost and very little effort." Cmbb says that the project is four years old without one bit of graffiti on the building. Binghamton did tluee things thai ensmed suc- cessful community revitaiization. They initially deFtned a clear goal that would enhance the com- munity. Because they have a clear goal, every change and every day is an opportunity for progress, They re-thought routine procedures -- why paint parks buildings brown -- to get the most benefit for each dollar spent, The third aspect of the plan was to include everyone: money was made available for restoration. Binghamton is a better place because it solved its problems with individual and creative solutions, "I asked the Parks Department to come up with something, and of course their solution was to paint it brown." --Crabb Page 6--Planning of Iowa Conference Report Robed Campbell, FAIA, is the architecture critic for The Boston Globe and an architectural consultant. Chester Liebs, author of Main Street to Miracle Mile. director of historic preservation in Vermont. Who Do We Design Our Cities For? W W ~re possibly going to disap. 'g · pear as we have known them." [Campbell] The automobile has shifted our perceptions of what a down tom is, of what a main sWecl is, and we have ignored the pedestrian in city planning. Lewis Manford described Main Street as a place full of vitality, variety and interest He said that it was a place where you could have the most possible choices in the least possible area. It was a place of corridors and rooms -- streets and town squares -- built to be inhabited by humans. This organization provided a place for people to be with one anoth- s er and to meet one another in public. In the America we are build- ing today, we are doing every. thing possible "to remove the accidental from our lives." [Cmnpbell] The post-war city that we have been buildin8 has no human scale: communities have razed whole city blocks to accommodate parking and single-use development, allow. ing the strip to invade Main Sav. et. City blocks that were previ- ously home to hundreds of busi- nesses are now often home to ~ one: an office building or an office park, a parking lot or just open green space. Not only do these single use blocks wipe away a whole history that can never be reclaimed, but they kill vitality, vari- ety and interest. Open space and large frontage with single programs kill a town's downtown. Philadelphia has tried to discourage this in parts of its downtown. "Although not yet law, [its plan] attempts to prevent assemblages of more than a certain hambet of frontage feet on a street. This kind of zoning is a way to maintain human scale and difference." [Campbell] At one time, Main Street, which was framed by architecture, pmvidexi a public place for the com- munity too inhabit. However, the automobile began to transform the downtown from a place of "corridors and rooms into a city of signs and "The automobile began to transform the downtown from a place of corridors and rooms into a city of signs and media images." --Campbell media images: billbeards often replace a world of realities with media images. We live in media communities that announce the presence of culture and social lde {downtown] that perttaps does not exist" [Campbell] "q~e places we have built [in the last half cen- troy] are not good places to meet your neighborn, or even pleasant places to push a baby carriage scmss the sueeL" [Campbell] The architecture that once framed om public spaces has often been razed, and we have the potential to strip away all remnants of past culture. Why would we allow this? IAebs says that we have not adequately diagrammed what the auto- __ mobile has done to our percep- tion of our communities. He says that we no longer see our communities in detail, and them. fern, we do not see the changes happening around us. "The [automobile] screen needs to have buildings and objects that play and scream and shoot to the screen that we are watching to get our attention to move us on to the intemhange: great big signs, architecture, huge parking lots. All these things are a reduction of the land.ma~ into a visual byte." Signs and parking lots will - continue to invade Main Street unless individual communities decide that Main Street is worth preserving as a place for the pedestrian: a place for us to be with one another in public. A healthy Mnin Street is many things: it is a container of history; it is the essence of a commu- nity: it defines the center of the community Loer- cepmally): and it is dense (many choices), which allures people. An active Main Street ~an be a marketing tool I~.xause people (and companies) like to locate in interesting communities. People want to live in unique places. You do not have to create unique- ns and interest; all a community has to do is protect its inheritance. One of the most obvious ways to do that is to preserve Main Stxeet as a place for the pedestrian. 1 }'ou chose to go through White Rive~ f 2 you'd [exit Innetlon a few yem ago, ~.the freewayl, snake down into the town and come to an interesting main street. You would be unable to enter because it was a one way street, and ~ shunted around back of some build- ings popping out where you stsned. After making this circuitous route you would have been unable to see a store or do a thing. By changing the one way street back to a two way street, business increased as did a mvitalization of downtown." "By reclaiming natural cultural flows...[and elimi- natingl arbitrary highway shandards. communities have the potential to pump new life into their main streets." --Liebs Planning of Iowa Conference Rs..._~. rt --Page 7 ~ [removed th¢l progression from ,~ city to country and all that hap- ~ned in between. This has balkanizod our percep- tion as a nation. A piece of wilderness there, a main street here. a poor area there that we don't have to see bemuse we can cycle around. In Los Angeles there is an expression called 'going surface.' That is the Angelenos term for actually going the surface of the streets of Los Angeles rather than going on the freeway. When you 'go surface' you see African Americans, Koreans and old neighborhoods. Perhaps you can run into a bad experience. But if you go on the freeway you just go from destination to destina- tion. The city becomes a pinball machine and you become a pinball. [You no longer see your commanityl. 1~'7'r'..7~ ~."~'~ ~7 ~_" .--J ....... Them is a fragmentation of what we call the inner city. The old part of the city, the central city. I don't know if them is much talk of rico-regional- ism in Iowa, but architects in the [Northeast] are building new communities...which use old imagery. You don't have to £~x up a Victorian building downtown anymore because you can buy a new one--with a nice parking lot [in the backl. It looks nice in front. ... You can feel good and live in your own little community. It is nice and safe and away from trouble..,. There are some good aspects of this, However, rather than becoming a nation that look$ to the center, where everyone meets and we see each other as citizens, we have 138_lkanized~ we have separated out." ---Liebs Page 8--Planning of Iowa Conference Report Evolution of Main Street Robert Campbell, FAIA, is the amhitecture critic for The Boston Globe and an amhitectural consultant. Chester Liebs, author of Main Street to Miraclo Milo. serves as the director of historic presentation in Vermont. All communities have history; however, some histories are articulated more clearly than are others. Although you may know the history of your community, how well does the built environment -- the downtown -- express that history? Main Street was an important factor in the development of most communities; today it is a container of memory. Main Slicer was a pl~e of trade: a place of economic activity. The products produced during the industrial revolution were bought and sold on this Main Sa'eet. And whether it was Broadway in New Yonk City or Main Street Iowa "it became the exchange place for the whole industrial revolution, [and the]... beginning of the rotall [and service] mvolufion[s]." [Liebs] "Main Street was a s'neet of doors and win- dows, ...[which]... enabled us to interact imagina- tively with the world." Main streets were interezt- ing places because they were dense: many pedes- trians, many shops and many ownerships. "[Main Steel] was _ a kind of metaphor for the American small town emxepro- neurial spirit" [Campbell] As communities grew, Main Street became a hub for social and civic gatherings in the com- munity, and the surrounding sueets were organized on a grid. Because the community grid corresponded to the Jeffersonian (continental) grid, it formed a comprehensible connection to the rest of the country. "By touching the grid, we all touched one another." The same grid that located the streets in Iowa communities was the same grid that marked path- ways in Chicago and Richmond. This grid was moro than a pathway; in several ways it was a "melaphor for democracy." Since it is impossible to site a building monumentally on a grid, nothing can be placed axially. "Nobody could impose his or her monumental institutional presence upon society as a whole." [Campbell] By offering tony pathways and many choices. the grid fostered accidental encounters among community members. The same grid that connect- ed one community to another, connected the residential st~vzts to Main Street. The same grid that organized the continent also organized the "[Main Street] was a kind of metaphor for the American small town entrepreneurial spirit." --Campbell commumity -- both physically and socially, "You knew where to have the parade. [Campbell] Social organization off of Main Street w~ manifested in a series of physical layers: a pnblJ street; a fi'ont yard; a mmsitioaal, semi.public fro[ porch; a private interior with its own series of la~ ers; and a backyard. "It's a sophisticated, anbth and carefully layered series of transitions frm public to private .... This kind of commanity org~ nization allowed a public world where we coul mix with all the different elements of society [Campbelll banefica was a stable place, providing a ba ance between rural and urban. At the turn of tt century "no one imagined that there would t something called an automobile that ... [wouk within twenty years profoundly change American setdement pattern, [change] the w, were perceive ourselves, [change] the way a build and [change] the way ~ view the world." [Liebs] The initial changes were subfl Private associations, whom lol bled for better roads. establish{ conceptual roads -- a transconl nental road like the Lincol Highway -- then built seedlit miles. (They partially paved stretch of road between t~ communities: just enough entice the public.). "Witho: federal aid and on an ad ht basis, these highways started ~l in." In the 1920's the fedex government began makb money available to build ar maintain highways. [Liel~] Highways began to bypass Main Street, spaw ing a new main-street-s~ip. This early strip w an "ad hoc commemial area in ~ form of pionee ing roadside businesses, gas stations, touri homes, tent camps, restaurants and eventunily ca ins and motels." [Liebs] This built envimnme was scattered outside of the traditional city, and was solely developed for the "car person [Campbell] Although a novelty at the time, tI type of development was [is] characterized 1 large signs and spacious parking lots that circm .scribed businesses. Post World War I/developers conslmcted su tuban homing and other comanercial mips in t area between the bypass strip and the traditional tuban grid. [Liebs] As the community grew, a sizable population began inhabiting the new soburbs: (migration of populace from the center to the edge) Consequently. the historic patterns of movement within communities changed. Rather ~ shop- ping and doing business on Main Street, many members of the community could for the first time (and they have continued to do so) bypass down- town and do their business elsewhere. Although highways and interstate freeways increased mobil- ity, they also fractured our notion of the cornmuni- ty both physically and pema:ptoally. We drive across vast landscapes and see very little detail; we no longer see our communities. What we do see is "a piece of wilderness there, a Main Street here and a poor area thcre." [Liebs] In essence, Main Street is often another exit on the Lineway, and we no longer move along the tradi- tional roads. Cf'ne traditional road becomes a desni- nation rather than a path.) This kind of (physical) movement through the community is chaotic. The interstate highway is the new organizer; it is a highway tree with branches, and it terminates with twigs called cdi de sacs. "The twigs are single use lXXlS, and the way to get from one pod to another is along the high- way branch and trunk." [Campbell] There are a number of implications that we don't always think about. We don't meet each other anymore, we live and work in these pods with people just like oursdyes and we don't mov~ out into the public worlds where the grid makes people find out about one anothur, ,,, Eveq, thing you do in a car because everything is far from eveq, tl~g else. Of course, all the pods are single use so you can only do one thing in one lxxL The goal that I infer from the patterns of settlement...are to maximize consumption of the earth's resources, isolate one group of Americans from another group of Americans and create unbe- lievable traffic janas." [Campbell] The post World War II suburb and commercial strip moved the heart of the tominanity from the center to the edge; this settlement pattom has con- tinued. University of Minnesota's William Morri.sh says, "our communities have evolved into a bunch of neighborhoods with commercial centers spread out in a huge area." This tincturing of the community has diluted Main Street's unique characteristics. in a frantic effort to antact businexea and consumers into the downtown district, many of the communities a'e leveling theh' architectural treasures for parking: (automobile displaces pedestrian). When the downtown an:hitecture that frames public (wales- trian) space is leveled, all human scale is removed. Plann~n§ ot Iowa Conference Repor[ --Pa~'e 9 (The doors and windows that char~:terize a main snee~ are what give it human scale.) Without them, Main Sueet is not a pleasant place to walk; "it is not a pleasant place to mix in the public realm because it has no haman scale," [Campbell] It is not u~commeo in Iowa to find an empty, decaying main street circumscribed by modem split level and ranch style houses. As Main Street decays, so does the memory of the community. Although the catalyst that sparked development in a community may be gone, memories of it are ~hed into the older architecture. Modem (buffer) buildings (erected for commercial use and to serve as communi .ty centers or municipal offices) do not even attempt to act as containers of memory; how- ever, Main Street does. Instead of cons~cting new buildings, why not re-use the buildings along Main Street? Why should we be interested in preserving Main Street7 Healthy main streets are full of pedesu'iaus and have lots of doers and windows; they are containers of history; they are public places for the community to inhabit, and they are diverse. Diverse places are visually interesting; devel- opers cannot create diversity and visual interest that result from a layering of his:ory. Any town willing to raze even parts of its main street is trash. Ing its inheritance: throwing away the thing that diffenmtiates it from any other place. Ask yourself, why would an individual (or family) want to move to your community; why would a business want to move In (or out) of your community. The economic health of yot~ commu- ni~ could very well be linked to its physical a~b- utes. So, what will your community look like in the next century? Evett though we see our environment from the automobile, we still think ~e we are pedestrians. We actually spend enor- mous amount of time in automobiles. We don't talk about it much. No one nan'ates these shared experiences... In a very narrow ~sm the automobile screen is the third moving screen of this century. Its script has been viewed by everybody; its movie has been seen a great deal. [However,] we haven't diagrammed what it has done to our per- coption. [The automobile screen needs] to have buildings and objects thai play and sc~a~m and shoot to it,.,te get our anention to move us on to the interchange: great big green signs, architectme, signs, huge parking lots. All these things are a reduction of the landscape into visual byte... The windshield movie has really truncated the perception of the landscape. People do not see ehange~ [in their environment because they] do not ,see places in the detail thai they once did. .--Liebs Page 10-Planning of Iowa Conference Report Community Initiated Development Donovan Rypkema is the principal of Real Estate Services Group in Washington, D.C.; has wockecl in real estate since 1971; and consults for real estate redevelopment and community revi~ization. {~l t seems to me that the most powerful argument for good design, for down- town revimllw~tion, for historic p~er- vation and for community planning is to ,,. [pre. serve]... our built environment that expresses,,, our diversity, our identity, our individuality and our differentiation, Rypkema says, "in economics il is the different~ed product that commands a mont. tar7 premium. If we want to attract eapi~ .. and investment to our communities, we most differen- tiate them ~m anywhen else." We own our communities; they do not "belong exelusivuly to those who happen to be deed hold- ers." Rypkema says that real estate derives ils value ~rom the investmonts orb- ess have made around it; those investments create jobs that amact people that give property value. "A building has value because the community has pro-- vided sueels, water and sewer, police protection and schools." Essentially "the entire com- munity has made an inves~ent that gives that individual prop- etty owner his or her economic value;" therefore, he says that the community should be able to have some control over what gets built -- and over what gels demolished. "There is a series of ques- tions we can [ask] ... about a building, be it an existing sa-ucmre or a proposed one. They will/.ell us if we are receiving our fak share of the dividend on our invcslment." "The goal of community initiated development is to make a project profitable so that the private sector will act." --Rypkema 1. Does the building add value to the buildings around it? 2. Does it give to the community more than it takes from the community? 3. Is it a container of cowanoval consciousness or a suitable vessel to hold tomorrow's memories? 4. Will it have or has it had a life Ionget firan that of its builder?. 5. Is it respectful of ils peers? 6. Does the building reflect the evolution of the community? 7. Does it generate [good] feelings? 8. Does it help establish community identity and differentiation? 9. Does it increase citizen attachment to the community? Should a proporty owner be able to raze a building if the response to these questions is a resounding 'yes?' "The community is still collecting their dividends on this investment," Should a property owner be allowed to construct something that answers an emphatic 'no' to the above questions? Whal ff a building will never provide an economic return for the owner? PreservationisLs often demand that the property should be saved anyway -- and at the owner's expense. 'erhe goal of community initiated develop- ment is to make a project profitable so that the private sector will act." Community initiated devel- opment has four ing~dieats: 1. It must be initiated by the public or ann-profit sector-- not by a private developer 2. It is initiated by a core group of people that Rypkema calls the co-development te~n 3. It must have a substantial commitment of public money or re$ources 4. The project must have sub stantial public benefit in addition to financial retoms. The last point is crucial. Aside from having public benefit. the bugcling must gen- erate revenue: there ate a thousand places an investor can invest Rypkema says, "it is only to the extent that real estate in general, and historic real estate in poaicular, represents a competitive alternative to every other [investment] choice that private capital will flow into the project you or your group thinks is important." Rypkema says that the cost of rehabilitation is often greater than the value of a particular build- ing. He calls this an economic gap, and says that there is no economic justification for spending more than an asset is worth. "As a consequence, we have invented a multitude of inveslment incen- fives to attract that capital. These include rehab tax credits, local prolXa~ tax abatemenl, low inter- est loan pools, public grants and revolving funds." Howev~, these are not always enough incen- tives to bridge the economic gap. Since the community benefits from the preservation of historic buildings, Rypkema says that the commu- nity should pay part of the bill to encourage ceha- bilitatiou. "Many buildings are not rehabilitated because the private sector either cannot act or will not acL" I. no financing available 2. no acceptable £mancing available 3. high risk or peaceired high risk 4. the property cannot be acquixed 5. the cost of the pmjoct exceeds its comple~:l economic value 6. the risk/reward relationship is out of halartec 7. the scale of the project is too big or mo small 8. the project has significant public benefit components 9. the project is not revenue producing 10. general economic conditions may keep the privme sector from acting 11. high transaction costs will deter the private sector 12. other investment alternatives are more atlrscfive Community initiated development happens when a few community members, or a local civic group, have an idea: to fill a need in the community such as low or mederate income housing, or to save a historic building from being demolished. It can be just about anythin8. "Money is always an important element in ini- flaring a project. But there are a whole series of other contributions that the local group might make. These include the land or the building; occupancy once the project is completed; tin]e, perhaps the most important ingredient in any development project; expertise or infomaation; public support; political support; non-monetary assistance; seed money; land.raising capacity; or some other asset completely thei~ own." The public sector should be a significant player in community initiated development. Here are six ways the puhilc sector can assist: 1.Reduce the cost of cash required. 2. lncmase the income. 3. Reduce the expenses. 4. Reduce the financing costs. 5. hnprove the economic investment envixonment. 6. Improve the informational environment. "Real es~e development may appear to be diffi- cult because it involves many steps. However, each step is relatively easy. When these steps axe put in a sequential order with minimal explanation, most local groups are capable of participating in the community initiated development process," This process consism of five stages: concept, analysis, preparation, implementation and operation. Planning of Iowa Conference R~oo~ --Page 11 CONCEPT This begins with the identification of the epparm- nity and ends with the decision to proceed to the next su)ge, to revise concept or to quit. This stage will take 5 to 20 percent of the total time of project and zeno to 5 percent of the money. ANALYSIS This stage includes a series of steps t~ analyze the feasibility of the development idea. The purpose of the analysis stage is to identify the magnitude of the risk, and based on that evaluation, make the decision to move forward or not. Them are more individual tasks in the analysis stage than in any other. Many of these steps should be conducted, at least on the preliminary level, by the co-development team (leaders of coounualty initiated development team). Much of the analytical process consists of tedious legwork and not intellectual evatun- lion. This stage will con- sume 10 to 20 percent of the time and 5 to 15 per- cent of the money, PREPARATION This stage marks a transi- tion from much of the work being done by the co- development team to most of the work being done by outside professionals. Most of the steps in this stage will have to be conducted by pmfessionais: legal, financial, architectural. The co-development team must undei~tand what it is that these profes- sionals will be providing, to supply them with the information already assembled, and to coorclinale the work of those providing this technical exper- flse. By the end of this stage the financial partici- pants in the project must give theJ~ support. If by the end of this stage there are not the requisite commitments of debt and equity capital, under no circumstances should the project 8o forward. The final step in the preparation stage is a go/no 8o decision; this is the last chance the co-develop- ment team can decide not to proceed. The prepavarion stage will consume about 5 to 25 percent of the time and 15 to 30 percent of the money. IMPLEMENTATION This is when nails are hammered and walls are painted. This stage will take 30 to 60 percent of the ~ne and 40 to 75 percent of the money. This ~ge is ov~ when the certificate of occupancy is ~ned. OPERATION This stage is the longest, and does not cod until the property is ul~nately disposed of yea~ after the Page 12--Planning of Iowa Conference Report development has been completed. Most of the community initiated development process was about creating value. This stage is al~out maintain- ing value. "Moving from one stage to another is not just more expensive. but it is geometrically more expensive," Rypkema says, "some groups consid- er it a failme to reach a point and decide they can- not go forward. That is not mae. The failme is to continue to move forwaxd, nearly always with someone elsCs money, when rational evaluation tells you to step." Them are many masons not to undertake com- munity initiated development. "It will be more expensive and time consuming than you anticipat- ed, and it will be fi'uswating ....There will be l~ lic resistance by 8mups who correctly point ¢ that the city also has potholes, low teachem p~ homeless, and a forty year old sewage treatme plant; 'why are we spending scarce public a~ charitable resources on your project?'" "However, there are many successful exampl of community initiated development projoe throughout the count. "These projects have li~ in common except that the idea, the impetus, t work and the development all originated from ~ non-profit sector on a project important n particularly to you or me, but to their particul community." "You all know the story of Bonaparte. Iowa." Bonaparte, Iowa: A Lesson in the Value of Main Street The information used to write this case study came from Main Street News (Number 62) November, 1990). At the turn of the century, Bonaparte was a prosperous town of 12/)0 ~ .pie, and was home to several large factories that were powered by the Des Moines River. The factory owners constructed splendid homes and the merchants constructed an impres- sire Main Street along the river. Michael T. 6uan, a leader in Bonaparte's revitalizafion. says, "A cena~y of change has taken its toll on BonaparXe. About half of the homes are gone, and some of the public buildings as well. The majority of the retail businesses have closed and many people have left." The community's population dwindled to under 500; Main Street had deteriorated, and in 1986 the last remile~ (which occu- - The plan was a success; by selling shares, they raised $100,000 within a month. pied several downtown buildings) placed "Going Out Of Business" signs in its windows. Gunn says, "...It seemed inevitable Oat [Main Slxeet] would be abandoned and tom down. Yet despite their shabbiness. these buildings still helped define the public face of Bonaparte. A Bonaparte in need of repair was somehow okay, but the thought of losing these buildings altogether was unthinkable." Gunn and three other community members devised a plan, knowing that there was public sup- port to save the buildings. At a town meeting the pmpesed that the community buy the buildings. By establishing a for-profit corporation. tl~ community could promote the expansion of dowT town Bonaparte. The plan was a success; by sel ing shares, they raised $100,000 within a monti "No individual could inve: more than $2.000." Township Stores, Inc. rent rated the downtown building and now operates the grocer and hardware store. The co~ peration sold some space a condominiums to provide nex essary capital to complete th renovations. Gunn says, "The [once vacant buildings are now eccu pied by a grocery store, hard ware store, medical clinic school administrative offico~ two condominiums, two insurance agencies, a salon and a community meeting hall ... All of money invested in the buildings has come fron local sources and all of the businesses serve 1oca needs." Bonaparte's story is a successful example o town revimli?~tlon. However, what is the lesson~ It was Bonaparte's recugnlfion of the social an{ cultural value of Main Street that called then to action. Planning of lows Conference Report --Page 13 Corning, Iowa: A Main Street Town Them are about 27 towns in Iowa that receive grants through the Main Street program. Most participating communities initiated the Main Street program at the grassroots level-- usually by a local non-profit organization. Main Street communities are encouraged to follow a four pronged approach, which includes design, promotion, organizatk~n and aid in economic re-structuring in the form of public/private partnerships. We got involved in the Main Street program because we felt the need to invest in our downtown. We needed to begin to develop some preservation techniques; we also needed to begin to take a serious look at the future of the community and of the retail dis- filet. About twenty years ago, Coming orchestrated a well designed economic and industrial develop- ment strategy. We systematically went through the community and decided what needed to be designed and built so that we could move for- ward and bring industrial jobs the town. We thought that by bringing new industrial jobs to the community, everything else would fall into place. We purchased developed land for an industrial park and constructed three buildings, built a huge watershed that not only supplied all the water resources that wc needed, but also provid- ed us with a recreational park. We built a new waste water Ixeatnrent plant and a new corn- inanity center. We completed all of our major accomplish- menIs regarding the infrastructure. We thought 'Gee, great job; all done.' But in those twenty years, no one took seriously what was happening downtown. Where was our retail dis~cO They we~ coo- stantly there as a source of funding when we were raising money for those industrial park projects. We had been so concerned with the recruitment of new jobs and indusWJ into our community that we had forgoren one of the largest employers, which was our downtown. Over 125 people worked downtown in twenty individual businesses. During this time we had entered the age of Wal Man and the super sto~, and wondered how can a small town bring in a retailer and hope to compete with Sam Walton -- especially when you are a town that is too small for Sam. There are discounters in larger towns about twenty five miles away on either side of Coming. There was even more to contend with -- the issue of leakage. (Dollars that go to Sam Walton also buy groceries, gasoline and items in other shops in tho~e other towns). So you have to learn to become a better business person, which is some- times examely difficult for a small entrepreneur. We are faced with two income households, lenger store horus and weekend shopping horus to take ¢axe of the towns needs. "Corning has been fortunate enough to be one of the first five rural communities accepted in the state of Iowa's Mainstreet America program." --Seaton We were not really sure who our target market~ were. We could not survive oaly on those 2,000 people that live within our oom- munity -- we only have 4,800 people in our county. Our ques- tion was, 'how can we realisti- cally hope to maintain a retail district with those kinds of num- bers?' We realized it was time to re-(Urect. The Nadonal Trust recom- mended a woAshop on econom- ic opportunities for Main Steer. We sent three young retailers to the workshop, and they came back convinced that the Main Street approach was the avenue that we needed to take. Coming has been fortunate enough to be one of the first five rural comanunhias accepted in the state of Iowa's Main Street America program. Not long after Coming began participation in the Main Street program, two companies announced that they would relocate their head- quarters. One of the businesses occupied six build- ings on Coming's Main Stree~ and employed 125 people. After loosing a significant portion of the downtown core that summer, the Main Street motion committee sought to fill the empty Main Street windows: it was important to them that Main Street look healthy over the winter holiday season. The promotion committee temporarily set up a Christmas beadquarter~ in one of the vacant buildings. They filled the display window of another vacant building with a local antique deal- er's wares. They sponsored a variety of activities According to Coming community leader Jane Seaton, Coming, Iowa has actively par~cipated in the Mainstreet program for the past three years. Page 14--Planning of Iowa Conference Report that holiday and the coremunity had over 2,000 visitors that season. That same holiday, the promotion committee convinced a local ~etailer to come into the down- town for the season to give Main Street a uy; the building owner offered the space rent free for a limited time. The retailer was successful on Main Street, and she permanently moved her business there. Coming has continued to sponsor its holiday program, and all but one of the vacated buildings has been sold. Coming's Main Sheet promotion committee has educated both building owne~ and contractore in appropriate ways to renovate their buildings. Three Coming banks offer a facade buildin imptovemunt program. It is a five-year loan at percent interest, with a $5,000 dollar maximum c the facade only. The tuam has undertaken eight complete billrations of downtown commercial properde: and there has Men a $220,000 re-investment in downtown. In addition, the town has pockere :$130,000 from the sale of property in the dowr town area. in the three ye,,ws that Coming has participate in the Main S~'e~t program, the community ha increased by a net of 14 basinesse~ in their dnw~ Building in Your Environment Catherine Brown is Director of Special Projects and William Motrich, AIA, is the director at the Center for the Study of the North American Landscape, University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. They have hosted the NEA sponsored Mayors' Institutes in the Midwest, and are consultants for the upcoming Governor's Summit on Community Building and Design. ~ 6 T be Primary m~ion of the city is to lmaintain itself, be safe, generate · ~ffi,. jobs and provide social services. the common attitude says, 'if we have money left over, we do that other stuff--like beautify.'" Brown and Mon'ish stress the value of optimizing the relationships among community features, which is another dimension of design. Many of our communities have evolved into "a bunch of neigh- botheerie with commercial centera spread out in a big area.... The issue we face now is how telire in this suburban landscape," a somewhat placeless environment characterized by both separation and random juxtapositions of features. (In Phoenix, Motfish and Brown developed a community arts program around the city's capital improvements program; thus affecting many areas of this sprawl- ing city.) The aesthetics of the physical envkonment must be 'at the table equally with the economic and social issues. "These fiur.~ issues are related to one another...; you cannot have vitality in the eco- nomic and social realms without a supportive physical environment." '"rhe community should pay attention toevery layer that constitutes the environment: the way we draw property lines, the way we manage ou resources, and the way we treat ecological an( environmenial corridom." "You do not have to have a big plan tha requires a lot of money and a special plansin8 dis trier, "but rather ha continuously visilant fo design problems and opportunities. "Farmington is a rural community adjacent to: metropolitan area, which is being rapidly dnvel. oped. A developer wanted to build a gridder neishborhood in that area, but it had drainag~ problems. The question was where to place a pond ditches and pipes, which are standard engineering for flood control. We said, "Instead of building ar elaborate drainage system, why don't you build ar ann to the nen~by river, which will collect the ran. off. The city manager 8or excited because he could save money. He wonld be able to do several thing~ for the cost of building a standard drainage system, including flood control, natural habitat, recreation and neighlxahccd boundary." "We had to show them what it would look like, using a computer to paint in the system. The engi- neers said, 'Oh, I get iL We didn't know you want- ed to do a rive~. We thought you wanted to do a flood control project." Planning of Iowa Conference RepoM ---Page 15 r; '..,~,~ ..2 ....~-,, .; " "~-.,"= ' ' APPENDIX We have assembled a list of names, addresses and numbers to help you gather more detailed information. One list provides information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the other on historic preservation. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT 1. What You Need to Know About The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) A Brocbore. The American Institute of Architects Public Mfairs Deparanent 1735 New York Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20006 202/626-7300 2. The U.$. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ATBEB) produces or d~tributes a variety of publications, available at no cost. You may write or call for a publications checklist (order form) that briefly tiescribes each publication, ATBCB 1331 F Street, NW Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20004-1111 202/272-5434 (Voice) 202/272-5449 CrDD) 3. Technical and legal assistance: Civil Rights Division Office on the Atnericans with Disabilities Act U.S. Department of J~tice P,O. Box 66118 Washington D.C. 20035-6118 202/514-0301 (Voice) 202/314-0381 CrDD) 4. Iowa Department of Human Rights~Persotts with Disabilities Division. Call: John Ten Pas 515/281-5969 5. National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. They a inistor provide information amut me AOA ~egtonm ,~..w~,m,:, Technical Assistance Centers U.S. Department of Education 400 Ma~land Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-2572 202/205-8134 (Voice) 202]205 -9136 CFDD) 6. Architectural .a.nd. Transportation Barriers Compliance Board. Disabilities specialists help with technical questions; develop the design guidelines. 111 18th Street, N.W.; Suite 501 Washington, D.C. 20036-3894 800/USA-ABLE 202/272-5434 (Voice) 202/272-5449 (TDD) 7. Region 7 Technical Assistance Center , University of ~uri Vocational Rehabilitauon Center 401 E. Locust Columbia, Me 65201 314/882-3807 8. ADA Compliance Guideix)ok and Compliance System Software Building Owners and Managers A~sociation International 1201 New York Avenue, N.W,; Suite 300 Washington, D,C. 20005 202/408-2662 9. Provides ADA compliance materials, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal. Disability and Business Technical Assistance 800/949-4232 10. Americans with Disabilities Act Fact Sheet U.S. ATBCB, Suite 501 111 18th Stxent, NW Washington, DC 20036-3894.~.,., 800/USA-ABLE (Voice or ~ v~j HISTORIC PRESERVATION 1. State Historical Society of Iowa Capitol Complex Des Moines, Iowa 50319 515/281-5111 , State incentives for ~toric pml~mies . · How to find an architect with historic preservauon experience · Main Street linked investment loans · Historic Preservation Certification Application · The Secretary of the interior's Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings (60 Pages) 2. Historic Building Evaluation Guide and R~comumndations for Restoration Repairs of Old Buildings. Preservation Resomze Group,_ ~.C1~68 Box 1768, Rockville, MD 20~49- 301/309-2222 (Voice) 301/309-7885 (FAX) 3. Write for a listing of Preservation Technical Notes. The listing of books includes infonnation on window ueatments, exterior woodwork, masonry, m~hanical systems, doors, finishes and exterior metals. U.S, Department of fi~e Interior National Park Service P.O, Box 37127 Washington, D.C. 20013-7127 Page. 16---Planning of Iowa Conference Report For ...... Information about acqmrmg architectural services, contact: AIA American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter (AIA Iowa) 512 W~ut Street Des MoLes, Iowa 50309 515~-7502 For information about Main Street Programs, contact: [','lAIN STREET IOWA M~n Street Iowa Dep~ent of Econo~c Dcvdopment 200 East Grand Avenue Des Mo~es, Iowa 50309 515~42-4700 City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 11, 1995 To: Mayor and City Council From: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk Re: Revised Council Sessions/May, June, July May 7 May 8 May 9 May 11 May 18 May 22 May 23 May 30 June 5 June 6 June 19} June 20} June 26 June 27 July 3} July 4} City Open House Regular Work Session Regular Formal Meeting Joint Meeting with County (5:30 - Local Option Sales Tax) Special Work Session (6:30 - CIP) Regular Work Session Regular Formal Meeting Special Work Session (6:30 - CIP) Regular Work Session Regular Formal Meeting Canceled Special Work Session Special Formal Meeting Cancelled Resume regular schedule cc: Department Directors Media clerk\ccsess,mmo DRAFT City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 11, 1995 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: FY96 Paratransit Service Contract Renewals for the City of Coralville and the City of Iowa City We have received information from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) which will impact the ongoing negotiation between the City of Coralville, the City of Iowa City, and Johnson County for FY96 paratransit service. Representatives from the FTA Midwest Area office in Kansas City were in town speaking with Ron Logsden, our Transit Manager. Ron was informing them of the ongoing negotiation between Iowa City and Johnson County for FY96 paratransit service. The FTA representatives asked if Johnson County SEATS was the lowest responsive bidder for the service. Ron informed thom that bids had not been received for the service, Iowa City was negotiating with SEATS to extend the existing provision of service. FTA stated it has been an oversight on their part that in past years Coralville's and Iowa City's paratransit service contracts have not been bid according to adopted procurement procedures. FTA stated that beginning with the FY96 service contracts, we must go through a Request for Proposals process and award the service to the lowest responsive bidder. This is required of any public transit service receiving Federal Transit Administration funds, and applies to Coralville Transit, Iowa City Transit, and Johnson County SEATS. I have asked Jeff Davidson and JCCOG staff to assist in a draft Request for Proposals. We will publicize the RFP and give ample time for both public and private service providers to respond. This is not, strictly speaking, a "bidding" process; within the elements of the RFP we are able to award the service to the most responsive bidder according to a competitive process. The price to provide this service should be an element of the RFP, but we do not have to award the service to the low bidder. 2 If Johnson County SEATS is the only responsive bidder to the RFP, we may find ourselves back exactly where we are now with respect to negotiating a contract for FY96. However, if other responsive proposals for operating paratransit service are received, we will have to evaluate them according to authorized procurement processes. Since we have slightly less than three months to work with, we will proceed with drafting the RFP immediately. The existing FY95 contract between Coralville, Iowa City and Johnson County permits an extension past July 1, 1995, if all parties agree. cc: AI Axeen Kelly Hayworth Roger Fisher Joe Fowler Ron Logsden Charlie Duffy Larry Olson