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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-05-09 Info PacketCity of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: TO: FROM: · RE: April 28, 1995 Memo for Record City Manager Material in Information Packet Memoranda from the City Manager: a. CDBG Formula b. Dress Down Day Memorandum from the Finance Director regarding comparison of tax levy /~,~ rates for FY95 and FY96 proposed. Agenda, minutes, etc., for the Council on Disability Rights and Education./~/ Copy of news releases: a. Affordable homes for sale b. Open House (No. 1) ///~_~_~ c. Open House (No. 2) d. Silurian Aquifer Meeting /~,~ e. Silurian Aquifer Water-Level Measurement Training /~ Letter from the Downtown Association regarding Famil~ Fun Day. /~7 Agenda for the April 27, 1995, meeting of the Board of Supervisors. /~ City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: April 24, 1995 TO: City Council FROM: City Manager RE: CDBG Formula HUD is now considering a new CDBG allocation formula. Early estimates are that our allocation could be reduced by 10% +/- in addition to program/appropriation cuts by Congress. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 28, 1995 To: Department Directors From: City Manager Re: Dress Down Day I have received expressions of interest from department directors in the Civic Center concerning a casual dress or dress down ~lay. The concept appears to have won some favor, not only among our employees on those selected occasions when we have utilized it, but other area employers have indicated to me the general enthusiastic response. We will initiate such a dress down/casual attire day effective the first Friday of every month starting May 5. Department directors are encouraged to communicate this information to their employees. This would include jeans or other general attire that would be acceptable in the work environment and yet more comfortable. to the employee. I would encourage you to plan certain work activities on this day in order to not only support the concept, but also provide employees an opportunity to perform work that is more appropriate for the casual attire. City of iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 25, 1995 To: Steve Atkins, City Manager From: Donald Yucuis, Finance Director Re: Comparison of Tax'Levy Rates for F~scal Year 95 and Fiscal Year 96 Proposed This is a revision to a previous memo dated February 24, 1995. I have obtained the Iowa City School District certified rate for FY96. Attached you will find a schedule showing the comparison of Fiscal Year (FY) 95 total tax levy rates compared to FY96. The FY96 tax levy rates are as certified by each jurisdiction to the County. The City of Iowa City tax rate of 12.998 has been incorporatethroughout the FY96 budget process. The FY96 rate of 12.998 is 4.4¢ or .34% more than the FY95 rate of 12.954. I have also shown the State of Iowa residential rollback factor for FY95 (68.0404%) and FY96 (67.5074%) which is applied to residential property only. The schedule shows the impact of taxes on residential properties with market values of $100,000 and $150,000. Total applicable taxes are shown for each value of residential property after applying the residential rollback factor for each fiscal year. Even though the total tax levy rate goes up, the total tax dollars for residential property should remain approximately the same in FY96. Also attached is a comparison for commercial properties with market values equivalent to the residential comparison. The rollback factor does not apply to commercial or industrial property. In FY95 a commercial property with a market value of $100,000 is taxed approximately $1,030 more than a residential property with the same market value, due to the residential rollback. Please call me at 356-5052 if you have any questions. Attachments bC2.5OY IOWA CITY COMPARISON OF FY9§ ADOPTED TO FY96 PROPOSED LEVY RATES City School County Other Total Levy FY98 FY96 12.95399 12.99800 12.33820 12.57352 6.10712 6.17258 0.85925 0.90181 32.25856 32.64591 Residential Rollback factor Residential MarketValue 100,000 150,000 Comme~iaFIndu~Ha[ 100,000 150,000 68.0404% 67.5074% city School County Other TotalTaxes $ 2,194.89 $ 2,203.84 $ 3,292.33 $ 3,305.76 $ 3,225,86 $ 3,264.59 $ 4,838.78 $ 4,896.89 $100,000 Residence FYg$ FY98 881,39 877.46 839.50 848.81 415.53 416.69 58.46 60.88 $ 2,194.88 $ 2,203.84 $160,000 Residence FY96 FY96 1,322.09 1,316.19 1,259.24 1,273.21 623.30 625.04 87.70 91.32 $3,292.33 $ 3,305.76 City School County Other Total Taxes $100,000 Commercial FY95 FY96 1,295.40 1,299.80 1,233.82 1,257.35 610.71 617.26 85.93 90.18 $ 3,225.86 $ 3,264.59 $160,000 Commercial FY98 FY96 1,943.10 1,949.70 1,850.73 1,886.03 916.07 925.89 128.89 135.27 $4,838.79 $4,896.89 4124196 9ETOTLVY. XI.S Tax Compare Council on _Disability Rights and Education' MEETING AGENDA MAY 2, 1995 - 10:00 A.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CIVIC CENTER - 410 E. WASHINGTON ST. IOWA CITY, IA 52240 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Introductions Subcommittees/Reports a. Housing b. Transportation c. Public Accommodations d. Public Relations Brochure/Logo Bylaws Other Reports Other Business Peter Hallock, Office of Public Transit, IDOT - Scheduled for 1 1:15 a.m. Next Agenda (June 6, 1995) Adjourn CC: Iowa City City Council Johnson County Board of Supervisors mgrtassttcdm5-2.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 for 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. -II COUNCIL ON DISABILITY RIGHTS AND EDUCATION MINUTES April 4, 1995 PRESENT: John Harshfield, Kevin Burr, Linda Carter, Tim Clancy, Mindy Greer, James Harris, Dale Helling, Ginny Kirschley, Ethel Madison, Susan Mask, Nancy Ostrognia, Larry Quigley, Keith Ruff, Loren Schmitt, Allison Schulte, Heather Shank, Ann Shires, Marjorie Hayden Strait, and Orville Townsend. Chairperson Harshfield called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. Following introduction of those present, Harshfield asked for approval of the March 7, 1995, minutes. Motion by Shank, second by Carter, to approve the minutes 6arried. Strait asked that the March minutes reflect her absence; Harshfield explained that only those present were noted in the minutes. Harshfield asked for Committee Reports. He reported for the Housing Committee. He stated that the draft cover letter and survey would be presented next month for CDRE review. Burr informed the group of a meeting scheduled for April 11 at 3:30 p.m. with the Apartment Owners' Association (AOA). Following discussion, it was decided that the Housing Sub-committee would meet to discuss possibly rescheduling the meeting because of a lobbying effort in Des Moines April 11th. Carter called the group's attention to the March 7 and April 4 Transportation Subcommittee reports. The Subcommittee meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. at Evert Conner Rights and Resources Center for Independent Living. Additional members to the subgroup are welcome. Strait volunteered to chair the subcommittee. Following discussion of the issue of subcommittee chairpersons, it was agreed that until the by-laws are adopted, subcommittees would select a chairperson from within the individual committee. Ostrognia, Harshfield, and Helling also contributed to the discussion. Burr reported that the Public Accommodation Subcommittee visited five sites: The Coffee Cellars, The Sahara, Prairie Lights Coffee Shop, The Kitchen, and The Hamburger Inn (see Audit Notes). The Subcommittee has developed a grading system and plans to continue on-site visits. He read a letter from The Sahara management thanking CDRE for visiting the restaurant. Burr emphasized that CDRE mission is positive, i.e., many benefits to making facilities accessible. Helling, Strait, and Townsend also contributed to the discussion. Quigley suggested the CDRE-PA Committee visit METRO. Quigley indicated he reviewed the building plans for the METRO. He noted that the bathrooms are accessible, but the entry is not. Quigley thought the owner should be contacted to discuss accessibility issues. Ostro§nia stated that she was treated in a manner that made her feel extremely angry at a public accommodation. She was considering writing a letter to express her feelings. Following a discussion about letter writing, group agreed if she wants to write the letter as a CDRE member, the letter should be reviewed by CDRE. Strait called the group's attention to a brochure entitled "For Those Who Serve The Public Face to Face" distributed by Commission of Persons with Disabilities, Des Moines. Harshfield shared the proposed CDRE brochure and asked the group to select and approve a logo. Following discussion, it was agreed to table action on the brochure and logo to the May meeting. Harshfield asked for other reports. Shank stated that the "Fair Housing" poster was ready for distribution. Burr asked the group to monitor the bil.ls in the Legislature and urged the members to support the Independent Living Bill and the Personal Assistance Bill (model project) by -writing or calling their area Representatives. Madison also urged support of the bills. Harshfield asked for othe~ business. Following discussion, motion by Carter, second by Ostrognia, to nominate Loren Schmitt to the CDRE Committee carried. AYES: Kll. Following discussion, the By- Laws Committee agreed to present a draft at the May meeting. Helling requested committee reports and items for CDRE discussion at the May meeting be submitted by April 15. Madison offered to transcribe the minutes in Braille for Schmitt; staff to provide information disc. Following discussion establishing the next meeting as May 2, motion by Schmitt, second by Carter, to adjourn carried. Harshfield adjourned the meeting at 11:35 a.m. a: \minutes. cdr DRAFT BY-LAWS COUNCIL ON DISABILITY RIGHTS AND EDUCATION Adopted insert date here) ARTICLE I. Section 1. Section 2. Section 3. Section 4.. Section 5. Section 6. Section 7. ARTICLE II. Section 1. Section 2. Section 3. MEETINGS. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of this Council shall be held on the first Tuesday of each month at a regularly scheduled time. SpeciaiMeetings. Special meetings of the members may be called by the Chair or by the Vice-Chair upon concurrence of seven (7) members of the Core Group. Place of Meeting. Regular meetings shall normally be held in the City Council Chambers, 410 East Washington Street, Iowa City, but may be 'held at an alternate accessible location. Notice of Meetings. Notice to members of regular and special meetings shall be required. Included in this notice shall be: time, date, place of meeting, and tentative agenda. Notice shall be sent to all Council members at least twenty-four (24) hours before a meeting is held, including special meetings. Quorum. A quorum shall be present when either a majority of the Core Group members are present or when the number of members in attendance is equal to that of a quorum of the Core Group. Proxies. There shall be no vote by proxy. Public Discussion. A limited amount of time shall be made available during all regular formal meetings for open public discussion. CORE GROUP MEMBERSHIP Membership. The Council on Disability Rights and Education Core Group shall consist of no fewer than fifteen (1 5) members nor more than twenty-one (21). It shall include persons with physical or mental disabilities whenever possible; however, membership shall not be limited to those with disabilities, but, rather shall consist of a broad spectrum of persons, or representatives of agencies, dedicated to accessibility, full participation, and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the community. Nomination. The Council shall nominate and elect members to the Core Group as vacancies occur. Terms. Terms of membership shall be four years, expiring December 31. Members may serve for more than one term. Section 4. Section 5. ARTICLE I11. Section 1. ARTICLE IV. Section 1. Section 2. Section 3. Section 4. Section 5. Section 6. DRAF Absences. Sustained or habitual absences of a Core Group member may result in the Council's decision to remove the member from the Core Group and appoint a new member. Resignations & Vacancies. If any member is no longer willing or able to serve on the Core Group, the member shall send a letter of resignation to the Chairperson. Vacancies occurring on the Core Group, other thad by expiration of term of office, shall be filled for the unexpired term unless the remainder of the term is six (6) months or less in which case a replacement would be appointed for the remainder of the unexpired term plus one full term. GENERAL MEMBERSHIP Membership. All persons participating in a committee, (Article V, Section 3) are considered members of the Council on Disability Rights and Education. Any person who wishes to become a member of the Council on Disability Rights and Education can do so by declaring their interest. OFFICERS Number. The officers of this Council shall be a Chairperson, Vice- Chairperson, and a Secretary. Election and Term of Office. The officers of this Council shall be from the core group and shall be elected annually at the first regular meeting of each calendar year. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office shall be filled by a core group member elected for the unexpired portion of the term. Chairperson. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the members, appoint committees, call special meetings, and, in general, perform all duties of the Chairperson, together with such other duties as may be prescribed by members from time to time. Vice-Chairperson. In the absence of the Chairperson, or in the event of the Chairperson's death, inability, or refusal to act, the Vice-Chairperson shall have all the powers and be subject to all the restrictions as those resting with the Chairperson. Secretary. The Secretary shall have the responsibility of ensuring that the Council's minutes are accurate and circulated as prescribed. 2 ARTICLE V. Section 1. Section 2. Section 3. ARTICLE VI, Section 1. DRAFT CONDUCT OF COUNCIL AFFAIRS Agenda. The Chairperson or a designated representative and the Secretary shall prepare an agenda for all regular Council meetings. Agendas will be sent to Council members at least three days pdor to the regular meetings. Minutes. Minutes of all regular and special meetings will be prepared, distributed to Council members, and approved in the manner prescribed by the Council. Committees. The committees of this Council, including composition, duties and terms shall be determined by the Council. AMENDMENTS, These by-laws may be altered, amended, or repealed, and new by-laws adopted at any regular meeting, or at a special meeting called for that purpose, providing a quorum is present. Upon approval by the Council, such by-laws shall take force and effect. 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 i.s to act as a comprehensive, community-wide educational resource for 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 fu// participation of persons with disabilities to all facilities and services within our community. PRESS RELEASE April 28, 1995 Contact:Steve Long, 356-5250, Department of Planning and Community Development CI'TY OF I0 WA CITY AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR SALE In a continuing effort to find ways of providing affordable, home-ownership opportunities, the City of Iowa City will be offering two homes. for sale. One is a soon to be constructed modular, ranch-style home at 1109 5th Avenue and the other is a 112-year old two-story home at 451 Rundell Street. The new home at 1109 5th Avenue will have 1000 square feet of living area, three bedrooms, one-bathroom and a full basement. The basement will be constructed in June and the modular home will be moved from All American Homes in Dyersville to Iowa City on about July loth. Soon after the home is completed, grass, trees, and shrubs will be planted. The home at 451 Rundell Street was built in 1883 at 703 Bowery Street and was moved to the site on Rundell Street in March 1992. The home has been completely rehabilitated, has approximately 1430 square feet of finished living area, which includes three bedrooms upstairs, and a living room, dining room, eat-in kitchen, and washer and dryer hookups downstairs, It is anticipated that both of these homes will be ready f~)r occupancy by August 15, 1995. - Applications (available beginning May 8) will be accepted through June 22, 1995. Special financing terms are being offered that will make this home affordable, Eligible households must have gross annual incomes at or below the values listed beloW: Household Gross Annual Size Income 2 930,100 3 933,850 4 937,600 5 $40,600 6 943,600 410 EAST WASHINGTO~ $TEE£T · IOWA CITY, IOWA $~240-1S26 · (Sl9) 336-5000 · FAX (319) 356-3009 The buyers must live in the house, and must be able to cover downpayment and closing costs of between 92,000 and ~3,000. Preference will be given to families that can optimally use the space of these homes. Application packages are available at the Department of Planning and Community Development, 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, IA 52240, or by calling Steve Long at 356-5250 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. f:t~haredtcommdevIJ'orsale.do¢ CITY OF I0 WA CITY Open House #1 Celebrate the Spring Open House as five city buildings open their doors and offices on Sunday, May 7. Ed Moreno, Director of the Iowa City Water Division, invites everyone to "belly up and taste test the water of our future." Taste some of the 2,351,600,000 qallons of water the City provides to its users each year! The water taste demonstration will be held from 1:00 - 4:00 PM at the Civic Center. Water Division employees will conduct taste tests of water from four sources including a representation of the water to be produced at Iowa City's proposed new water plant. A chemical analysis and process description will be included with each water. Numerous other events are planned at the following city facilities and offices: Civic Center, 410 East Washington; Senior Center, 28 S. Linn; Library, 123 S. Linn; and the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert. City equipment will be displayed in the lower level of the Chauncey Swan Parking Facility. The event will be held rain or shine. Come celebrate spring, enjoy free refreshments and register for prizes. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAY 7 SPRING OPEN HOUSE: SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, LISTS OF SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES, MAPS, PHOTOS AND CITY DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASES. CONTACT MARIAN KARR, CITY CLERK'S OFFICE- 356-5041. CITY OF I0 WA CITY Open House #2 Celebrate the Spring Open House as five city buildings open their doors and offices on Sunday, May 7. At the Iowa City Public Library at 123 S. Linn Street, a variety of activities will be held from 1:00-4:00 PM. See how the library was able to circulate 1,097,977 items last year! Special library tours will be conducted every half hour beginning at 1:30. Susan Craig, Director of the ICPL, said, "Special tours will provide the opportunity to see behind the scenes areas." The Hazel Westgate Story Hour .Room will feature Children's Story Time at 1:30 and 3:00 with children's videos between live programs. At the Reference Desk, Librarians will provide training in COMPASS, the online catalog. Instructions on using REFNET to access electronic information sources will also be available. The library's outreach van will be displayed at the Chauncey Swan Parking Facility along with other information about outreach collections and programming. Be sure to stop by the ICPL to register for the special drawing for two door prizes. Numerous other events are planned at the following city facilities and offices: Civic Center, 410 East Washington; Senior Center, 28 S. Linn; and the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert. City Equipment will be displayed in the lower level of the Chauncey Swan parking facility. The event will be held rain or shine. Come celebrate spring, enjoy free refreshments, and register for prizes. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAY 7 SPRING OPEN HOUSE: SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, LISTS OF SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES, MAPS, PHOTOS AND CITY DEPARTMENT PRF~S RELEASES. CONTACT MARIAN KARR, CITY CLERK'S OFFICE- 356-5041. Silurian Aquifer Meeting Penn Elementary, North Liberty, IA April4,1995 Silurian Aquifer Team City Staff, Ho.wnrd R. Green Co., USGS, IDNR-GSB, JC Health Dept. Ed Moreno moderated a meeting to inlxoduce the Silurian Aquifer Team and provide information about the upcoming scheduled Silurian Aquifer Pump Testing and the Silurian Aquifer Development Plan. There were approximately 43 persons present representing the following interests; Private Homeowners, J.C. Board of Supervisors North Liberty Water Department Coralville Water Department Cherry Hill Estates River Heights Wildberry Homeowners Assoc. Northwood Estates Wendrum Bluff Home Owners Association Many questions were asked during the two hour meeting. Requests were made for more information related to owners rights and well interference, identifying who might be impacted, measuring water level and maintaining a well pump during testing. May 11, North Liberty, Hills Bank, Community Room is the location for a Silurian Aquifer Water-Level Mea~uramant Training meeting which will be conducted by the Silurian Aquifer Team. Information packets have been sent to all known interested parties. '1 Iowa City Watei' Division 410 E Washington Iowa City, IA 52240 Silurian Aquifer Water-Level Measurement Training information/Education Meeting · For Immediate Release Tuesday, April 25, 1995 WELL-LEVEL MEASUREMENT TRAINING MEETING MAY 1'1,1995 7:00 P,M. HILLS BANK COMMUNITY ROOM Contact: Ed Moreno IC Water Superintendent (319) 355-$160 or Carol $weeting IC Water Public Information/Education Coordinator (3~9)356-$154 Representatives from City o.f Iowa City, Howard R. Green, Johnson County Health Department, Iowa Geological Survey, and U.S. Geological Survey will be presenting water level measurement techniques for wells. Additional information will include well maintenance questions and development of the Silurian aquifer at the future Iowa City water t~ea~nent plant site. The meeting will be held at the Hills Bank, Community Rooms North Liberty, IA on May 11 at 7:00 PM. For further information please call 356- 5164. IOWA CITY P.O. Box64 IOWA CITY. IOWA 52244 {319) 354-0863 April 20, 1995 Dear Members of the Iowa City City Council: On Saturday, May 27, 1995, the Downtown Association of Iowa City continues its commitment to providing quality activities for families in domtom by sponsoring a Family Fun Day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.. There will be two bands on the Pedestrian Mall, food tents, balloons, face painting, a small train, moonwalk, animated characters, pony rides and a magician to name a few of the activities planned. We would like to request your cooperation in this activity by volunteering to participate in the dunk tank. Each City Councilor is asked to volunteer for twenty minutes. Your support of this activity will help increase visibility of the Downtown Association and the relationship we have with the City of Iowa City. Included with this request is a siN-up sheet for the dunk tank. Please support downtown Iowa City by signing up for twenty minutes of fun! Thank you for your consideration. Board of Directors Downtown Association of Iowa City. IOWA CITY P.O.[~ox64 IOWA CITY. IOWA 52244 (319) 354-0863 TIbIE 12:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. FAMILY FUN DAY, MAY 27, 1995 DUNK TANK SIGN-UP SHEET NAME Please retum completed form to Lisa Barnes, DTA, PO Box 64, Iowa City, IA 52244-0064, or FAX to 337-8836. Thank you for your cooperationl To: I0~ CITY CLERK From: Board of Supervisors 4-Z§-95 8=53om p, 2 or 3 dehmon Court ~,.' Charles D. Du~, Cha~erson .Toe BoC~¢om Stephen P. Lacina Don Sehr Sally Stutsman BOARD OF SUPERVISORS April 27, 1995 FORMAL MEETING 1. Call to order 9:00 a.m. Agenda 2. Action re: claims Action re: informal minutes of April 18th recessed to April 20th and the formal minutes of April 20th. Action re: payroll authorizations Business from the County Auditor. a) Action re:permits b) Action re:reports c) Action re:resolution 'transferring from General Basic and Rural Services Basic to Secondary Roads. d) Other 6. Business from the Assistant Zoning Administrator. a) Second consideration of application Z9460 of Hazel Baker. b) Second consideration of application Z9505 of Joe Duffy. c) Final consideration of application Z9507 of Michael and Nancy Scheetz. d) Final consideration o£ application Z9508 of John Skay. e) Discussion/action re: the following Platting applications: 913 SoLrrH DUBUQUE ST. P.O. BOX 1350 IOWA CITY, IOWA 52244-1350 TEL: (319) 35.6-6000 To: IOPA CITY CLERK From: Board oF Supervisors 4-2§-95 8:53aD p. 3 of 3 Agenda 4-27-95 Page 2 Application S9522 of Brian Skay requesting preliminary and final plat approval of LM8 Acres 8uMivision, a subdivision located in the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 27; Township 80 North; Range 5 West of the 5th P.M. in Johnson County, Iowa (This is a 1-lot, 3.0 acre, residential suMivision, located on the west side of Vincent Avenue NE approximately 7/8 of a mile south of its intersection with Elmira Road NE in Graham Twp.). 2. Application 89526 of Nancy S. Scheetz requesting preliminary and f'mal plat approval of Scheetz Subdivision, a subdivision located in the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 29; Township 80 North; Range 8 West of the 5th P.M. in Johnson County, Iowa-~(Ihis is a 2-lot, 40.83 acre, residential subdivision, located on the north side of Gegenheimer Road NW and Black Hawk Avenue NW in Oxford .Twp.). Other 7. Business from the County Attorney. a) Report re: other items. 8. Business from the Board of Supervisors. a) Action m: Medicaid Home and Community Based Payment Agreement (HCBS waivers) for client #1800544D. b) Action re: appointments to the computer study committee. Action re: county computer mission statement and initial charge of responsibilities for computer needs committee. d) Discussion/action re: appointment of Zoning Administrator. e) Motion re: approval of job description of Assistant Zoning Administrator. f) Other 9. Adjourn to informal meeting. a) Inquiries 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 10. Adjournment. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: May 5, 1995 TO: City Council FROM: City Manager RE: Material in Information Packet Memorandum from Mayor Horowitz regarding the summer schedule. Memoranda from the City Manager: a. Near Southside Parking Facility . /~'~2 b. Concept Plan for Near Southside Multi-Use Parking Facility c. City Plaza . /~7.~ d. Wehde editorial comments e. Aviation Authorities /~7~ Memoranda from the City Clerk: a. Miscellaneous b. Council Work session of April 24, 1995 / Memoranda from the Finance Department: a. Ernst & Young-Management letter for Fiscal Year ending June 30,/~ b. Landfill Tipping Fees - July 1, 1995 c. Tax Cost - Per Day ./~/7~ Memorandum from the Director of Parking and Transit and the Traffic Engine,~/j~Lg regarding metered parking in the 500 block of Iowa Avenue. Memorandum from the Director of Parking and Transit and the JCCOG Transpor-/5/~? tation Planner regarding Request for Proposal for FY96 paratransit service. Memorandum from the Director of Public Works regarding value engineering. /~/~ Memoranda from the Department of Planning and Community Development: a. Towncrest Relocation b. Near Southside Design Plan Consultant Letter from the Districtwide Parents' Organization regarding the Myrna /~/~-~ Arner Safety Award. Copy of letter from Department of Public Safety regarding Special Award for Excellence in Traffic Safety. Agenda for the May 4, 1995, meet~ug of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. ATenda f~ 9, 1995 meeting of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. /.5~ Copy of FY95 Comparison of Budget to Actual Revenues, expenditures and cash/V~? position for the nine months ending March 31, 1995. Memo from Finance Dir. regarding Monthly Utility Billings. Memo from City Clerk regarding ~@vised Council Sessions/May,June, July. /ffZ Information packet page 2 May 5, 1995 Copy of Design Plan for the Near Southside Area from Gould Evans Associates. Copy of Newsweek article "Bye-Bye Suburban Dream". City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: May 5, 1995 To: City Council From: Mayor Re: Summer Schedule After reviewing pending issues with the staff I think we are going to have to discuss scheduling of additional meetings over the summer months. I suggest we schedule special meetings now to permit us to schedule around them in the upcoming months. There is no day in June that all 7 Council Members will be in town. The schedule for June will remain as indicated below. Therefore we need to look at May and July for special meetings in addition to the ones listed, Some suggested dates are indicated with an asterisk (*}, Another suggestion may be starting at 6:00 (with a special work session) prior to a 7:30 formal meeting. Please review your calendars and come prepared to set meeting dates at Mortday's work session. May 11 - County Meeting (5:30-Local Option Sales Tax) May 22 - Regular Work Session o Sales Tax · Water Policies · Solid Waste Ordinances · Routine Agenda May 23 - Regular Formal May 30 - *May 31 - CIP Possible Special Work Session (ClP If necessary) June 5- June 6- Regular Work Session Regular Formal June 26- June 27- Special Work Session Special Formal *July 11- Possible Special Work Session July 17 - July 18 - Regular Work Session Regular Formal Pending Issues: · Melrose Avenue o Economic Development · Fringe Area Agreement · Public Records · Assisted Housing finances · Design Review of Carnegie Plaza (New Pioneer Co-op) City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: May 3, 1995 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: Near Southside Parking Facility We recently met with representatives of the St. Patrick's Church parish council to discuss a possible parking ramp on their current parking lot site. At this point the parish council is gathering information so that the parish can make a decision about their long-term plans. I believe we made it clear that whether the parish stays or goes, we need to consider a parking facility. The parish council would like the City to make them an offer so they have something concrete to take to the rest of the parish council and the parishioners. We need to arrive at a reasonable price for the land, with and without the parish hall. The church has an appraisal but it was not releaseci to us. As part of any offer to purchase, we will need to itemize for them the issues we would be willing to address. From our discussion the issues seem to be parking during construction, parking for church functions for as long as St. Pat's remains downtown, and facilities for the functions of the parish hall, if necessary. At your work session on Monday, May 8, we will brief you as well as present some new ideas about the potential for the proposed ramp being a multi-purpose facility. Iq'/o City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: May4, 1995 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: Concept Plan for a Near Southside Multi-Use Parking Facility Discussion scheduled for May 8 City Council Work Session We have prepared for your consideration a concept plan for a Near Southside multi-use parking facility. This proposal was originally developed in an attempt to procure Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Livable Communities Initiative program funding. Unfortunately, we were informed by FTA in March that they have suspended applications for Livable Communities Initiative funding due to overwhelming response to the program. Nevertheless, if Council is interested in the proposal, we believe a local funding package can be developed combining parking revenue bonds, parking impact fees, and leased commercial space. Post-FY97 ISTEA funds may also be a possibility. Several sites in the Near Southside neighborhood have been evaluated for the proposed multi- use parking facility. The St. Patrick's Church parking lot is the preferred site. The Federal Building parking lot is another possibility, but we do not feel it is as favorable a location. Initial discussions with the St. Patrick's parish council have occurred concerning acquiring their parking lot site. Our position is that it does not matter if the parish relocates or not; we feel the proposed facility would be beneficial to St. Pat's either way. We also believe we could build our project with or without the parish hall building. If the parish hall is consumed for the proposed project, new parish hall space could be constructed within the facility. What we would like from you at our May 8 discussion are decisions on two points: Do you concur with the overall concept of a multi-use parking facility in the Near Southside? 2. Authorization to continue working with St. Pat's on acquisition of their site. CC: bc3*lJD Staff Committee: Dale Helling Karin Franklin Jeff Davidson Joe Fowler Terry Trueblood Linda Severson David Schoon Concept Plan for a Near Southside Multi-Use Parking Facility The following concept plan for a Near Southside Multi-Use Parking Facility was prepared for consideration under the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Livable Communities Initiative program. Unfortunately, Iowa City was informed in March by FTA that they have suspended applications for Livable Communities Initiative funding due to overwhelming respodse to the program. Nevertheless, it is still possible to implement the project with a combination of local funding options. These include parking revenue bonds, parking impact fees, leased commercial space, and ISTEA funds. The Livable Communities Concept The Livable Communities Initiative can be summarized by the following quotation from the Federal Transit Administration: Livable communities represent a holistic approach to how cities are planned, designed and built. By paying proper attention to the involvement of people in the planning of neighborhoods, adopting approp#ate planning principles, and designing buildings, streets, and other transportation facilities with people in mind, the Livable Communities Initiahve can be part of the solution to many problems facing cities today. The Livable Communities Initiative is designed to encourage local governments to adopt the principles of livable communities in their planning and land use decisions. A livable community is one designed with a mix of employment, housing and commercial establishments in a single area, integrated with public transit, and emphasizing pedestrian and bicycle travel. These strategies can decrease the number of tdps made by single occupant automobiles, resulting in decreased congestion, reduced noise and air pollution, and improvement in the general mobility ofthepopulation. Livable Communities Initiatives promote development of property on infill parcels, and increased density of development. This results in reduced demand for development on undeveloped lands at the edge of the community. Properly designed communities can help citizens feel safer in their neighborhood. Important design concepts include well-lighted sidewalks along streets which are designed for slower 2 vehicle speeds, which create an attractive environment for daytime and evening pedestrian activity. The Near Southside Redevelopment Area It is apparent from the preceding information that the Livable Communities Initiative put forward by the Federal Transit Administration is very consistent with the local initiative being put forth by the City of Iowa City to redevelop the Near Southside Neighborhood. The initiatives and strategies suggested by the Federal Transit Administration are nearly identical to the initiatives put forth in the Near Southside Neighborhood Redevelopment Plan adopted by the City Council in January, 1992. The Near Southside design plan currently being undertaken by the City will provide a visual depiction of many of the Livable Communities Initiatives concepts. These concepts as applied to the Near Southside will involve: · Mixed. use neighborhoods. Residential areas complemented by the presence of office and commercial areas, recreation areas, and areas devoted to education and social services. Mixed-use communities planned and built on a human scale to emphasize ease of access and neighborhood cohesivehess. Businesses will feel they are part of the neighborhood. Commercial facilities oriented to the needs of neighborhood residents: daycare centers, restaurants, dry cleaners, and small grocery stores. Transit, pedestrian, and bicycle access, Land use planning, zoning, and urban design elements should encourage alternatives to automobile use. Public transit, walking, and bicycling should be built into the neighborhood to ensure local mobility. In a livable community, use of an automobile is optional. Safety and security. Streets should be well-lighted and designed to accommodate transit vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists. These facilities should be designed to take into account safety and security of neighborhood residents, including persons with disabilities. Traffic calming techniques should be used on local streets to lower traffic speeds. Open space. A livable community emphasizes environmental quality. Parking is carefully managed to save space and ensure that buildings are accessible to 3 pedestrians and not isolated by large parking lots. Because of the need for high density development, large parcels of green space will not be available on each lot. However, small amounts of green space should be integrated into all developments. Large civic buildings within the neighborhood (such as the Courthouse) have expansive lawns which give a feeling of openness. Community participation in decision making. P'ersons with a vested interest in the neighborhood should have a voice in its development. Livable communities are committed to a planning and management process that includes participation by neighborhood organizations, business owners, property owners, and individuals such as senior citizens and persons with disabilities who may not otherwise be heard. Redevelopment of housing. A livable community should include a mix of housing types, in a medium to high density setting. Initiatives to create a mix of housing types may include tax abatement strategies for low and moderate income housing. Concept Plan for a Near Southside Multi-Use Parking Facility The City Council has recently passed several initiatives to encourage the redevelopment of property in the Near Southside. The City is about to undertake the Near Southside design plan, which will result in specific design elements appropriate to the neighborhood. In conjunction with these efforts, development is proposed of a multi-use parking facility to be integrated into the neighborhood on the former St. Patrick's School site at the intersection of Court and Linn Streets. The facility is envisioned with the following functional elements: A multi. use parking structure constructed to be compatible with the size and scale of buildings envisioned for the Near Southside neighborhood. This is estimated to be a 250 to 500 space facility, depending on the other elements which are incorporated into the structure. It is intended that this facility will provide parking spaces for residents and commercial establishments within the Near Southside neighborhood. The density of development envisioned in the Near Southside area is such that structured parking will be required. Off-street surface parking requires adherence to stringent design requirements and 'is not encouraged. Part of the expense of constructing this facility will be home by parking impact fees currently being collected by the City as properties LOCATION MAP PROPOSED NEAR SOUTHSIDE MULTI-USE PARKING FACILITY COURT HOUSE COURT S~. BU_I~.[NO : z .... 41- ......... ~ HARRISON ST. ............ ~._~.__~ .............. I .... ]_-] PRE~ISS ST. ST. 4 develop in the Near Southside neighborhood. Depending upon demand, this facility may also augment monthly permit parking for the central business district. St, Patrick's Church, For the time being, St. Patrick's padsh has decided to maintain their current facilities. The proposed multi-use parking facility will enhance St. Patrick's existing location by providing a convenient parking facility across the street from the church. The times of p~ak church parking demand -- Sundays and weekday eve- nings -- coincide with the times of low public parking demand. It is possible to construct new parish hall facilities within the proposed structure so that full use can be made of the old school site. Should St. Patrick's ever decide to move to another location, the padsh hall may be converted to another use. The proposed multi-use parking facility will enhance the redevelopment potential of the St. Patrick's chumh/rectory site should that scenario ever occur. Recreational facilities. The multi-use parking structure will include recreational facilities for the residents of the Near Southside neighborhood. The design of recreational facilities into a parking structure has been accomplished successfully by the University at their North Campus Parking Facility, Recreational facilities are currently very scame within the Near Southside Neighborhood. Protected bicycle parking facilities. The multi-use parking facility will include covered bicycle parking or bicycle lockers to facilitate commuting by bicycle to the central business district. The multi-use parking facility may include showers and locker facilities in conjunction with the recreational element of the structure which could also be used by bicycle commuters. Transit free-fare zone. Two Iowa City Transit routes currently operate on Court Street in the Near Southside neighborhood. Two others use Burlington Street one block north. It is intended to create a transit free-fare zone between the Near Southside and the Downtown Transit Intemhange to allow bicycle or auto commuters using the multi-use parking facility to complete their tdp downtown by public transit free of charge. Thero would be no changes needed in the current route structure, 5 Child care center. The multi-use parking facility will have a child care center incorporated into the structure at street level. This will allow persons working downtown commuting by automobile or public transit to have convenient daycare facilities provided near their worksite. This aspect of the facility would be enhanced by the transit free-fare zone. A portion of the proposed recreational facilities could be dedicated to the child care center. Space for the Adult Daycare Program. The construction of the multi-use parking facility allows consideration of spac~ to be provided for the Adult Daycare Program, currently housed at the Iowa City-Johnson County Senior Center. There has been an ongoing issue regarding the Adult Daycare Program's space at the Senior Center and the need to expand the program into new space. Attached are three examples of existing multi-use parking facilities. All incorporate street-level commercial space into a parking structure. All of the examples are larger than what is proposed for the Near Southside neighborhood, but they provide an illustration of what is possible. Attachments Jcc~p~p~gfac. NSS FOLLOWING I$ "~ BEST DOCUMENT AVAILABLE ..,.~ '.:~ ...~ ~ . .~ ,.~,.,~ IOWA ~ETHODIST ~EDICAL CENTER - 1,800 car garage w/90,000 s.f. 2 levels of medical office / library/auditorium/storage space ~NATER STREET GARAGE - 624 car garage w/19,000 s.f. ground floor retail f-t F~rlntf¢~t¢ill¢ Virc~ini~ CHURCH STREET STATION - 1.100 car parking structure w/17.000 s.f. ground 'floor retail space Orlando. Florida r~,ch ;tr~(:l Assr~(:i.a[{,:;. Inc City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: May 3, 1995 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: City Plaza At least annually, I tour/review City facilities. This allows me a first-hand opportunity to look at the maintenance needs and other physical improvements that might be necessary in order to keep our public properties well maintained, open and available for public use, and in a good condition of repair. During our walk-through of City Plaza, we identified a number of specific repair projects. The other evening, during the discussion concerning sidewalk cafes, it was mentioned that City Plaza may be in need of some extraordinary maintenance and attention. It has been a number of years since the construction of the City Plaza and, therefore, as with any older capital facility, a more detailed review is simply a good idea before a major re- investment. This is not to suggest we need a wholesale change in City Plaza, but a review of the Plaza as a community capital asset and how it serves our downtown. The estimated costs of some of the needed maintenance improvements include: 1. Replace CBD playground equipment $107,000 (enlarge safety zone around equipment) 2. Repair and/or replace outdoor trellis (near Vito's) 15,000 3. Replace checkerboard 8,000 4. Repair brick damage from water break (this work 37,000 has been authorized to proceed) Repair kiosk Review options to minimize newsrack clutter Paint metal poles, lights, etc. (this work has been authorized to proceed) Plaza furniture replacement Numerous small repair items Review fountain/public access to the fountain 9. 10. 100,000 We are also concerned about vandalism and what steps can be taken to minimize our exposure to such acts. I would like to suggest that the Council consider convening some type of committee involving a variety of users and other downtown participants into a task force. The purpose of the task force, not unlike that used in the visioning process, would be to review the City Plaza and how best we might make changes and adjustments to accommodate the social and economic environment in our downtown. This review would set priorities and offer commentary to the City Council about the Plaza and its future. Certain maintenance work must continue as noted, but it should involve expenditures that are maintenance or safety related and yet allow flexibility for any changes or adjustments. At your work session of Monday, May 8, I would request your direction concerning this proposal. I would expect that it would function like the efforts of our visioning task force work: that is, a specific charge, a short timeline and report its findings to the City Council. Decisions you would need to make include: 2. 3. 4. 5. Approval of idea. Select membership in Task Force. Outline your charge to the Task Force. Set timetable. How to facilitate - hire professional facilitator; assign to staff. Some of the groups that you might wish to see represented on the Task Force could be: Downtown Association, Board of Realtors, Chambers of Commerce, other merchants, building owners, University representatives, Library Board, City maintenance staff, Historic preservation, etc. City of Iow;~ City MEMORANDUM Date: May 2, 1995 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: Wehde editorial comments The recent editorial comment by Mr. Harvey Wehde indicated you cannot build a home for under $100,000 in Iowa City. Our recent contracts with McComas-Lacina and Frantz construction, including all the federal regulations, resulted in a per-unit cost of $87,941. $2,390,533/33 units = average lot $72,441 per unit $15,500 $87,941 City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 28, 1995 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: Aviation Authorities During the budget review we briefly discussed the possibility of an aviation authority to replace our current Airport Commission. Under Iowa law, aviation authorities have broader powers as well as the ability to tax. At that time I sensed no interest in the aviation authority concept and therefore have proceeded with no additional work. As I believe to be the City Council's policy on this matter, you are satisfied with the use of an Airport Commission and do not wish to proceed with the aviation authority. bC2.6SA City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: TO: FROM: RE: May 5, 1995 Mayor and City Council Marian K. Karr, City Clerk Miscellaneous Just a reminder of the City Open House on Sunday, May 7, from 1:00-4:00 PM. Please stop by my office prior to the event and pick up your name tags. May I suggest you utilize the Council Chambers as "home base". In this way staff can direct individuals requesting to see you to one location, and the visitors will have a place to sit and wait. Feel free to tour, mingle, and whatever. but I thought a central location to retum to would be a good idea. Events are ongoing. A program is attached, but remember the rededication of Chauncey Swan Park is scheduled for 2:00. At the lows Municipal Finance Officers (IMFOA) meeting last week I was elected State President. It's quite an honor, and I look forward to the coming year and its activities. I will be out of town attending the International Institute of Municipal Clerks meeting in Louisville, KY, May 19-25. Deputy Susan Walsh will be attending your meetings of May 22 and 23. Prior to departing for Louisville I will be hosting a visit from Tom O'Connor, Clerk of Council, Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia. Tom will be arriving Wednesday, May 17 and leaving Friday morning, the 19th. Please stop by and meet Tom. He has expressed an interested in meeting you all and sharing Oity stories from "down under". bcS.1MK ] ] 0 C N VMOI CI~ O? IOV/,~ CIIY CELEBRATE SPRING WITH CITY OPEN HOUSE MAY 7, 1995 1:00-4:00PM Celebrate the Spring Open House as the Iowa City Civic Center, Recreation Center, Library, Senior Center and Chauncey Swan Parking Facility open their doors and offices on Sunday, May 7. Special activities and building tours are planned from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Special 2:00 PM Re-dedication of Chauncey Swan Park Register For Prizes At All City Locations Follow the map for a tour of the city facilities and activities! CIVIC CENTER: TREASURY DIVISION: · A water ~as~e demonstrenton w~11 be held from 1-4 PM, · There wdl be a chddren's fishing pond at the C~wc Center where chddren will be able to "lish" [or prizes. CITY CLERK: · V~ew C~W Council legislation from 1853 to the present in the City Clerk's office. PUBLIC WORKS/ENGINEERING: · Public Works/Engineering automatic drafting system, FIRE DEPARTMENT: · Fire Department's 102 foot aerial ladder will be on display. e Fire Oepartment Training Room will have a variety of handouts including information on The Fire Department Annual Report; residential fire sprinklers; knox box rapid entry system; home fire safety; and proper disposal of hazardous chemicals. · Meet their mascot Sparky, POI. ICE DEPARTMENT: e The Iowa City Police Department's Traffic Unit and a fully equipped police vehicle will be on display. ® The Police Department will have the Speed Display Unit set up along Gilbert Street. INFORIV1ATION SERVICES: · Information Services, which oversees the computer operations within the City's Departments and Buildings will be conducting tours of the computer facilities. CENTRAL PROCUREMENT AND SERVICES: e Civic Canter Information Desk will provide direction for City tours. The Print Shop will be open for touring of central supply, postal and a demonstration of printing, including Color copying. DOCUMENT SERVICES: e Document Services, which provides centralized word processing and graphic production services to City fdoerpartments, will have computer demonstrations and displays of sample documents. Personalized souvenirs children will be offered. COUNCIL CHAMBERS: · Meet and talk to City Council Members. · Sit in the Mayor's seat and see yourself on City televisionl RECREATION CENTER: · The.Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center will feature a special presentation of their remodeling project with before and after pictures and showcasing their new exercise/weight room facility. · The building will be open for tours upon request. Visit the potter's studio, dark room and exercise facility. · Recreation Center gym, pool, and classes regular schedule. PUBLIC LIBRARY: · Special "Behind The Scenes" Library tours will be conducted every half hour beginning at 1:30. · The Hazel Westgate Story Hour Room Children's Story Time at 1:30 and 3:00 with children's videos between live programs. · Reference Desk, Librarians training in COMPASS and REFNET. SENIOR CENTER: e Take a building tour and see SCTV. Rededlcafion of Chauncey Swan Park at 2:00 P.M. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: May 4, 1995 To: Mayor and City Council From: City Clerk Re: Council Work Session, April 24, 1995 - 7:45 p.m. in the Council Chambers Mayor Horowitz presiding. Council present: Horowitz, Baker, Kubby, Novick, Pigott, Throgmorton. Absent: Lehman. Staff present: Atkins, Helling, Woito, Ogren, Karr, Franklin, Boose, Davidson, Fosse, McClure, Burnside, Milkman, Boothroy, Pelkey. Tapes: 95-53, Side 2; 95-57, All; 95-58, Side 1. ADDITION TO CONSENT CALENDAR: Reel 95-53, Side 2 Council agreed to add to the consent calendar a request for a temporary outdoor service area for Soho's. REVIEW ZONING MATTERS: Reel 95-53, Side 2 PCD Director Franklin presented the following Planning and Zoning items for discussion: Settin¢l a public hearinq for Mav 9, 1995, on an ordinance conditionally amendinq the use regulations of an approximate 1.63 acre lot located on the west side of Waterfront Drive, approximately 140 feet north of Stevens Drive from CC-2, Community Commercial, to C1-1, Intensive Commercial (Bovd & Rummelhart). Franklin stated Council will receive additional information prior to their May 9 meeting. Public hearinq on an ordinance amendinq City Code Title 14, Chapter 5, entitled "Buildinq and Housinq," Article H, entitled "Site Plan Review," by adoptincl desitin standards for exterior stairwells and exterior corridors on multi-family residential buildincls. See item c. Ordinance amendinq City Code Title 14, Chapter 5, entitled "Buildinq and Housina," Article H, entitled "Site Plan Review," by adoptin¢l desiqn standards for exterior stairwells and exterior corridors on multi-family residential buildinqs. (First consider- ation) Senior Housing Inspector Ron Boose and Glenn Siders, Iowa City Homebuilders Association, presented information. 2 Kubby requested staff send Council information relating to the compatibility provision that was removed from the original site plan review ordinance draft. Council directed staff to proceed with ordinance as presented and retain the "should" language on page 4, #5. Ordinance amendinq City Code Title 14, Chapter 6, entitled "Zoninq," Article N, entitled, "Off Street Parkino and Loadino," to reduce the amount of required off-street parkinq spaces and amend the parkinq area design standards in the CN-1, Neiqhbor- hood Commercial zone. (First consideration) Ordinance conditionally amendinq the use requlations of a~proximately 34.21 acres located west of Taft Avenue alone Court Street extended from RS-5, Low Density Sinqle-Family Residential, to CN-1, Neighborhood Commercial (6.93 acres), RM-12, Low Density Multi-Family Residential (12 acres), and RS-8, Medium Density Sinqle- Family Residential (8.14 and 7.14 acres/Windsor Ridere). (First consideration) Ordinance establishinq the Moffitt Cottage Historic District for ~)ropertv located between Muscatine Avenue and Ralston Creek, north of Court Street. (Second consideration) Ordinance amendin.q Title 14, Chapter 6, entitled "Zonin¢~," 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 neiqhborhood centers. (Second consideration) PCD Assistant Director Davidson noted that the neighborhood centers have requested expedited action. Resolution a~)provinc~ the final plat of Orchard View Estates, an approximate 109.77 acre, 34-1ot residential subdivision located within FrinGe Area 4 on the south side of Dinaleberr¥ Road, approximately .6 miles east of Hiqhway 1. Resolution approvinq the preliminary plat of Boyrum Subdivision, Part 4, a three lot, 11.67 acre commercial subdivision located south of Hiqhway 6 between Boyrum Street and Waterfront Drive (H¥-Vee). Resolution approvinq the preliminary ~lat of Galway Hills Subdivision, Part 2, a 14.63 acre, 24-1ot, residential subdivision. located in the southeast c~uadrant of the intersection of Melrose Avenue and U.S. Highway 218. PCD Assistant Director Davidson and MMS consultant Larry Schnittjer presented information. In response to Kubby, Woito stated the resolution should include conditions outlined. Horowitz requested that Franklin present comments during Council's formal meeting, Agenda Item 6.j., regarding the movement of the road and cul-de-sac and tree plan requirement. 3 Resolution a~Drovinq the oreliminarv plat of Pelsang Place, a 3-lot, acre residential subdivision located at 114 South First Avenue, In response to Kubby, Franklin stated she will check on site distance problems with respect to the location of the driveways on First Avenue. DISCUSS RNC-12 ZONE: Reel 95-53, Side 2 PCD Director Franklin, HIS Senior Inspector Boose, and neighborhood resident Nancy Carlson responded to Council comments. Franklin said staff can look at the configuration, square footage, and width of the Jefferson Street lots and also the conservation district language currently before the Historic Preservation Commission in terms of compatibility within the neighborhood and compatibility of additions to existing structures. Staff Action: Update Council on status of conservation district ordinance and research development potential under RNC-12 of lots in the 900 and 1000 blocks of Jefferson Street. (Franklin) SIDEWALK CAFES: Reel 95-57, Side 1 City Clerk Karr, City Attorney Woito, and HIS Senior Inspector 8oose provided information. Council agreed to the following staff changes recommended in the April 20, 1995, memorandum regarding sidewalk cafes: 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Hours. Change "must" to "may." Litter, cleanup. Sunset clause - decide date at formal Council meeting. Design review. Restaurant definition. Placement of tables and chairs on corners. Notification procedure. Trash receptacles. Council agreed to include in the right-of-way agreement the following: -Restrictions on drink specials. -Remove storage requirement from diagram. In response to Kubby, a majority of Council did not support a no smoking requirement in the ordinance. Council agreed to retain the contiguous language of the proposed ordinance. COUNCIL TIME/AGENDA: Reel 95-57, Side 2 1. Kubby referred to the April 19, 1995, correspondence from Harvey Wehde regarding installation of a sidewalk. HIS Inspector Boose stated he will inspect the site. MERGER OF HOUSING COMMISSION AND CCN: Reel 95-57, Side 2 Community Development Coordinator Milkman, HIS Director Boothroy, and CCN Chair Linda Murray presented information. Council agreed to reappoint the three Housing Commission members and directed staff to contact the two other Housing Commission applicants to explain the merger, Linda Murray, CCN Chair, requested that a joint meeting be held with the City Council to discuss Life Skills and information concerns. APPOINTMENTS: Reel 95-57, Side 2 Council agreed to reappoint the following applicants to the Hosing Commission until the Housing Commission/CCN merger is complete: Jack McMahon Ben Moore Roger Reilly DISCUSS BURLINGTON AND GILBERT STREET INTERSECTION RECONSTRUCTION: Reel 95-57, Side 2 City Engineer Rick Fosse and Civil Engineer Jeff McClure presented information. Council requested that construction be scheduled for 1 996. Staff Action: Staff will proceed to finish design of this project in conjunction with input from the IDOT and Design Review Committee, The project will be scheduled for the summer of 1996. (Fosse) CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS/LANDFILL ALTERNATIVES: Reel 95-57, Side 2 City Manager Atkins and Solid Waste Superintendent Pelkey responded to Council comments. Council directed staff to proceed. Staff Action: Pelkey to notify appropriate landfill users, (Atkins) LANDFILL SURCHARGE FEES: Reel 95-57, Side 2 The City Manager stated the City had exceeded the required goal of 25% reductions. As a result, the state reduced the tonnage fee tax and $20,000 a year is available. Council directed staff to direct the landfill surcharge fees to the Toxic Cleanup Day program. Kubby stated she will announce Toxic Cleanup Day information at Council's formal Council meeting on Tuesday. Staff Action: Amendments to landfill fees will be prepared. (Atkins) B-BOPS.: Reel 95-57, Side 2 Council agreed to distribute cookies to support B-Bops activities. COUNCIL AGENDA/TIME CONTINUE: Reel 95-57, Side 2 Horowitz requested ideas from Council Members regarding Coralville's 4th of July Winter Wonderland Parade festivities. Baker reported that he sent correspondence to Linda Murray telling her that he is requesting another Council Member be appointed to represent Council at CCN meetings. (Agenda Item//21 .a - Recommendation from Design Review Committee regarding the proposed development project on the old public library parking lot site.) In response to Baker, Council agreed with the recommendation for a courtesy review. Baker noted that Council received the White Ribbon Week proclamation. After discussion, Council agreed to remove the proclamation from the formal agenda. Baker commented on the volume of City Council packets. Council directed staff to not distribute disbursements to Council. Kubby noted she received comments from a woman whose car had been damaged from a dumpster that blew in the wind and requested information on the City requiring brakes on dumpsters. City Attorney Woito noted that property owners are responsible for their property not damaging someone else's property. Atkins stated he will follow- up. Kubby requested that Council establish a timeline for discussion on the fringe area agreement with the County. Council agreed to set a September 1 deadline to discuss the fringe agreement amongst themselves. In response to Kubby, Atkins stated he will prepare information regarding the Downtown Association's request to reduce the Bus & Shop cost from 50¢ to 35¢. 10. Kubby requested that the City send Eagle's a letter requesting a September 1 deadline for the Towncrest relocation. 11. Pigott noted that Council Members received a memo from Council Member Baker regarding sales tax, Pigott requested that Council schedule an informal discussion. 6 12. 13. 14. 15. Novick noted that Council received a memo regarding Nila Haug mediation and asked if a City Attorney should be present. City Attorney Woito stated no plans were made for an attorney to be present. Novick stated that there was a statement in the Planning and Zoning meeting minutes regarding deferring annexation of the water site. City Attorney said she had requested deferral, stating that it was too hard to explain to Planning and Zoning about the declaratory judgement action, the condemnation appeals, etc. Novick asked if there was progress on the cable TV and franchise. Kubby urged staff to become more aggressive. Assistant City Manager Helling stated Council will receive a memo by the end of the week. Novick inquired about requirements if a sidewalk was not installed during construction, and questioned an escrow account. City ,~ttorney Woito stated such accounts were done on a case-by-case basis as needed. Novick urged City Attorney to read the correspondence received from Harvey Webale and consider establishing a regular system for such matters. Meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: TO: FROM: RE: May 5, 1995 City Council and City Manager Donald Yucuis, Finance Director '~{,~ Ernst & Young - Management LetterYor Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1994 Attached you will find the management letter as prepared by the City of Iowa City's auditors Ernst & Young which includes matters that, in their opinion, may merit the City Council's consideration. I believe the management letter review process is a very important document to convey any weaknesses to the City Council. I am proud of the City Staff for the small amount of comments that were generated this year. One of the areas that the auditore reviewed is the internal control structure to determine if there are any material weaknesses within the operations of the City of Iowa City. In paragraph 1 they note that "no matters involving the internal control structure and its operation were considered to be material weaknesses." The City should be very proud of a statement like that. The additional comments on other matters, I believe, have been responded to adequately by the City Staff and in most cases are being worked on currently. The auditore are required to review and comment on matters pertaining to State of Iowa compliance matters. Thero is only one area regarding state compliance that the City did not comply with. That pertains to a Certificate of Deposit that was purchased before the State of Iowa laws were changed relative to where cities can invest in Certificates of Deposits. Upon maturity that Certificate of Deposit will not be reinvested at that institution and the City will be in full compliance with state law at that time. Please call me at 356-5052 if you have any questions regarding the management letter. ba~nemos\emst. mmo ERNST& YOUNG LLP · Armslrong Centre, Suile 500 222 Third Avenue, SE 152401) P.O. Box 74888 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52407 · Phone: 319363 1090 Fax: 319 398 3250 The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council City of Iowa City, Iowa In planning and performing our audit of the general purpose financial statements of the City of Iowa City, Iowa (the "City") for the year ended June 30, 1994, we considered its internal control structure to determine our auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion on the general purpose financial statements and not to provide assurance on the internal control structure. Our consideration of the internal consol structure would not necessarily disclose all matters in the internal control structure that might be material weaknesses under standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A material weakness is a condition in which the design or operation of one or more of the specific internal control structure elements does not reduce to a relatively low level the risk that errors or irregularities in amounts that would be material in relation to the general purpose financial statements being audited may occur and not be detected within a timely period by employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions. However, we noted no matters involving the internal control smcture and its operation that we consider to be material weaknesses as defined above. We have the following comments on other matters: REVIEW OF PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS AND COMMENTS Our review of prior year findings and comments disclosed that the CiD, had appropriately considered most of our suggestions noted in prior years during the current fiscal year ended June 30, 1994, and certain changes had been implemented. However, we continue to believe that the following prior year comments require further management consideration. Programmer Access to Production Program and Data Files During our consideration of the computerized internal accounting controls, we noted that the City's programmers have access to production codes and are responsible for moving codes from test to production. This type of access increases the risk that unauthorized changes to production programs and data files could go undetected. While we recognize that the I mlted size of the current data processing staff prevents a complete segregation of duties in this area, the current procedure does represent an exposure of which the City should be aware. City Response The City is aware of this situation and will attempt to provide for a proper segregation of duties on an ongoing basis as the City deems necessary. ERNST&YOUNG LLP Controls Over Personal Computers and Local Area Networks The increased use of personal computers and local area network ("LAW') access throughout the City has transferred certain processing capabilities and responsibilities from the Data Processing Department to the various user departments. Since the need for proper controls in all computer environments is important, we recommend that city-wide LAN policies be developed to ensure that: · Passwords are changed on a periodic basis, such as monthly or quarterly. Terminals are deactivated after a specified period of inactivity; for example, 30 minutes or one hour. City Response Additional policies will be developed. CURRENT YEAR FINDINGS AND COMMENTS Construction -in-Progress The City accumulates all costs relating to a specific project in the construction-in- progress accounts. Any expenditures incurred that are of an expense nature are only determined at the end of the project. However, many construction projects that are unfinished at year-end have expense items included in the construction-in-progress accounts. This results in an overstatement of assets and an understatement of expenses. We suggest that the City only accumulate costs relating to a project if the costs are intended to be part of a oapitalizable asset, and expense items in nature should be expensed when incurred. City Response The construction-in-progress accounts will be analyzed at the end of each year beginning with fiscal year 1995, and any expense items being accounted for as construction-in- progress will be expensed. STATE COMPLIANCE MATTERS The following comments about the City's operations for the year ended June 30, 1994 are based exclusively on knowledge obtained from procedures performed during our audit of the general purpose financial statements of the City of Iowa City, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 1994. Since our audit was based on tests and samples, not all transactions that might have had an impact on the comments were necessarily examined. The comments involving statutory and other legal matters are not intended to constitute legal interpretations of those statutes. Prior year statutory comments have been resolved except for item one. 2 ERNST& YOUNG LLP 1. Official Depositories - A resolution naming the following official depositories has been approved by the City. Financial Institution Maximum Authorized Deposit Amount First National Bank, Iowa City Hawkeye State Bank, Iowa City Iowa State Bank and Trust Company, Iowa City Firstar Bank Cedar Rapids, N.A., Cedar Rapids MidAmerica Savings Bank, Iowa City Hills Bank and Trust Company, Iowa City Perpetual Savings Bank, F.S.B., Iowa City Norwest Bank Iowa, N.A., Cedar Rapids University of Iowa Community Credit Union, Iowa City $10,000,000 750,000 10,000,000 25,000,000 10,000,000 8,000,000 10,000,0130 5,000,000 2,000,000 The maximum deposit amounts stated in the resolution were not exceeded during the year ended June 30, 1994. During the year ended June 30, 1994, the City had one certificate of deposit that was held in a depository outside of the state of Iowa and not listed on the official depository listing. Recommendation - Chapters 12C.4 and 12C.5 of the Code of Iowa provide that City deposits must be held in the county, or an adjoining county' in which the City is located, unless the deposits are refused; then, the deposits must be held in depositories within the State of Iowa. Accordingly, the City should deposit this certificate of deposit with an institution located within Johnson County or an adjoining co,mty. Response - We will transfer the certificate of deposit to a depository located within Johnson County or an adjoining county upon maturity. Conclusion - Response accepted. Certified Budget - Disbursements during the year ended June 30, 1994 did not exceed the amounts budgeted. The City published the notice of public hearing on the budget, including a summary of the proposed budget, as required by Chapter 384.16 of the Code of Iowa. Questionable Disbursements - We noted no expenditures that may not meet the requirements of public purpose as defined in an Attorney General's opinion dated April 25, 1979. 4. Travel Expense- No expenditures of City money for travel expenses of spouses of City officials or employees were noted. 5. Business Transactions - No business transactions between the City and City officials or employees were noted. 3 ERNST& YOUNG LLP Bond Coverage - Surety bond coverage of City officials and employees is in accordance with statutory provisions. The amount of coverage should be reviewed annually to ensure that the coverage is adequate for current operations. Council Minutes - No transactions were found that we believe should have been approved in the council minutes but were not. Minutes of Council proceedings were published within 15 days, as required by Chapter 372.13(6) of the Code of Iowa, mad annual gross salaries were published in accordance with an Attorney General's opinion dated April 12, 1978. 8. Investments - During the year ended June 30, 1994, the investments of the City earned income of $2,021,000. e Grant Activity - The results of our testing indicate that federal grant funds have been expended in accordance with the agreements under which they were received, except as noted in the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs accompanying our report on the City's Schedule of Federal Financial Assistance. I0. Joint Purchase of Equipment - The City is required to document, in its Council minutes, the proceedings of political subdivisions contacted regarding joint purchases of equipment, as required by Chapter 28E.20 of the Code of Iowa. Recommendation - Currently, the City is parsuing joint purchases of equipment with other govemmental subdivisions under provisions of Chapter 28E.20. However, the City should include which subdivisions were contacted in the City Council minutes, as also required by Chapter 28E.20. Response - We will include this information in the Council minutes. Conclusion- Response accepted. This report is intended solely for the information and use of the management of the City of Iowa City, Iowa, its cognizant oversight agencies and other federal and state grantor agencies. However, this report is a matter of public record and its distribution is not limited. We wo.uld be pleased to discuss the above matters or to respond to any questions, at your convenience. November 18, 1994 4 City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: To: From: Re: May 2, 1995 Stephen Atkins, City Manager The total tipping fee for Fiscal Year 1996 will be the same as it currently is. Per City Council direction, the reduction in the state surcharge fee from $4.25 to $4.00 will be reallocated to the toxic cleanup tipping fee line, making that $1.50. The reduction in the state surcharge fee was allowed per state law for those planning areas that met or exceeded the 25% goal of waste reduction by July 1, 1994. The Iowa City landfill is in the East Central Iowa Council of Governments comprehensive planning area and that planning area reduced the waste stream by 27% from the base year of 1988. Effective July 1, 1995, the City of Iowa City landfill tipping fee will be as follows: Tipping fee Description Tipping Fee Current Effective Fee July 1, 1995 $38.00 $38.00 State surcharge fee $4.25' $4.00 Toxic cleanup tipping fee Closure/post-closure tipping fee* TOTAL $1.25 $1.50 $5.00 $5.00 $48,50 $48.50 *Non-resident tipping fee is an additional $5.00 (for closure/post-closure) or $53.50/ton. cc: Chuck Schmadeke FIoyde Pelkey Brad Neumann Craig Standish bi~pfees TAX COST - PER DAY 830,000 Salary (4 People Married Joint Return) Federal Income Tax State Income Tax FICA TOTAL 2,074.00 /365 days 1,365.42 /365 days 2,295.00 /365 days 5,734.42 /365 days 6.68 per day 3.74 per day 6.29 per day 15.71 per day Estimated for Fiscal Year 1996 Average 1 994 (payable in Sept '95 and March '96) taxable assessed valuation for residential property in Iowa City is 961,873 (91,654 x .675074) per the Iowa City City Assessor's Office. 6/21/94 Governments Levy School Dist. 12.573 Iowa City 12.998 City Assessor 0.226 Johnson Co. 6.173 Area School 0.610 State of IA 0,066 TOTAL 32.646 Of the City Levy General Fund 8.100 Transit 0.950 Library 0,270 G.O. Debt 1.715 Employee Benefits 1.963 TOTAL 12.998 Cost Per Day 778.12 /365 days = 9 2.13 804.23 /365 days = 9 2.20 13.98 ~365 days = 9 0.04 381.94 /365 days = 9 1.05 37.74 /365 days = ~ 0.10 4.08 ~365 days = 9 0.01 2,020.09 /365 days = 9 5.53 501.17 /365 days = 9 1.37 58.78 /365 days = ~ 0.16 16.71 /365 days = 9 0.05 106.11 /365days = 9 0.29 121.46 /365 days = 9 0.33 804.23 ~365 days = 9 2.20 8.19/day. School District imposes an additional 5% income tax surcharge and added in 5% of State Income Tax figure above; 91,365,42 x 5% = 968.27 or 8.19/day. ~/2/95 g:~ata~fl ndatatdydata~Javyln fo.xlS City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April27, 1995 To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Joe Fowler, Director of Parking & Transit ~'"",,,---- James Brachtel, Traffic Engineer Re: Questionnaire Sent to the 500 Block of Iowa Avenue Regarding Additional Metered Parking At the direction of the City Council, a questionnaire was sent to all addresses on the south side of the 500 block of Iowa Avenue. In total. 29 questionnaires were sent and 13 questionnaires were returned. Of the 13 questionnaires returned, 7 preferred that no additional on-street metered parking be provided, while 6 preferred the addition of metered parking. Additionally, 8 of the respondents indicated that they have off-street parking. Attached to this memorandum is a drawing which identifies the location and response of the returned questionnaires. 1~4.2JB Iq1 O wr ~ City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: May4, 1995 To: City Council From: Joe Fowler, Director of Parking & Transit Jeff Davidson, JCCOG Transportation Planner Re: Joint Iowa City-Coralville Request for Proposal (RFP) for FY96 paratransit service The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is requiring Iowa City and Coralville to solicit proposals for a subcontractor to provide paratransit service for Iowa City Transit and Coralville Transit. This is required to maintain our eligibility for federal transit funds. A joint RFP, attached for your reference, has been developed by Iowa City, Coralville, and JCCOG staff which fulfills FTA's requirements. You will note a few changes are proposed in the contractual arrangement between the City's of Iowa City and Coralville and the paratransit provider. There has been some dissatisfaction with the accountability of the paratransit provider under the existing arrangement, and the changes proposed are intended to remedy that situation. No changes are proposed in how the service is operated from the perspective of persons using it. The proposed changes are: Fare revenue received will be remitted to the City of Iowa City and the City of Coralville. (currently retained by paratransit operator.) Vehicles operated will be used solely for Iowa City and Coralville paratransit service. (Currently no dedicated vehicles.) Dispatching and determination of what trips are charged to Iowa City and Coralville will be provided by a City of Iowa City employee (Currently provided by paratransit operator.) As required by ADA, the existing paratransit service level will be maintained. However, for persons not requiring a lift-equipped vehicle it is intended to make more extensive use of the supplemental taxi service. (Current lift-equipped paratransit service cost per ride is in the $7 to $9 range. Taxi service per trip cost is in the $3 to $5 range.) University Heights will continue to have the option of contracting with Iowa City for paratransit service, or contracting for paratransit service on their own. They currently choose to contract on their own. It is intended that Iowa City and Coralville will use the same paratransit service operator; however, if necessary, JCCOG can write separate contracts if the two city councils desire different operators. We will be available at your May 8 work session to discuss any questions you have regarding this matter. JCCOG intends to mail the RFP on May 9 and allow three weeks for responses. Proposals will be evaluated by a committee made up of Iowa City, Coralville and JCCOG staff persons. The attached copy of the RFP does not include the Federal Transit Administration boilerplate that is required. Contact either of us if you would like to see it. cc: . Ron Logsden Kevin Doyle City of Coralville Attachment tp4-1 Johnson County Council of Governments 410 E Vvb4hPg[o~,~ bv;,~ Oh,. ,b~o 52240 Date: May 9, 1995 Reauest for Pro13osah FY96 Paratransit Service for Coralville Transit & Iowa City Transit Please Take Note: This document constitutes a Request for Proposal, and is thus a solicitation for responses. Conversely, this Request for Proposal is not a bid and is not governed by state or federal bidding requirements. Moreover, any acceptance of a proposal shall not result in a binding contract between the City of Coralville and the City of Iowa City ("the Cities") and the proposer, but instead will simply enable negotiations to take place which may eventually result in a more detailed and refined consultant agreement or contract between the proposer and the Cities. Notice to Prol~osers: Sealed proposals will be received at the JCCOG Transportation Planning Office until the time and date specified below for: FY96 Paratransit Service for Coralville Transit and Iowa City Transit Proposals must be made detailing how the proposer intends to provide FY96 paratransit service for Coralville Transit and ~owa City Transit, according to the specifications described herein. The Cities retain the right to reject proposals as non-responsive, to ask for clarification, to enter into negotiations to discuss cost, scope of work and final work product, all before executing a formal consultant agreement. Address Proposals to: Attention of the Executive Director of the Johnson County Council of Governments ("JCCOG"), 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, IA 52240, on or before the time and date specified below. Proposals shall be sealed and clearly marked on the front with reference to the specified proposal. Faxed proposals will not be accepted. Proposals Due: 5:00 p.m. on May 31, 1995, JCCOG Transportation Planning Office, Iowa City Civic Center, 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, IA 52240. Questions: Jeff Davidson JCCOG Transportation Planner (319) 356-5252 Kevin Doyle JCCOG Asst. Transportation Planner (319) 356-5253 Mailing Address: JCCOG, 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, IA 52240 Index: Section I Section II Section III Section IV Section V Background Information Objectives Specifications Qualifications, Credentials and References Selection Process Request for Proposal FY96 Paratransit Service for Coralville Transit & Iowa City Transit SECTION h BACKGROUND INFORMATION Coralville Transit and Iowa City Transit are fixed-route public transit systems consisting of twenty (20) fixed routes operating within the corporate limits of the City of Coralvilla, Iowa and the City of Iowa City, Iowa. Headways range from thirty (30) minutes to one (1) hour. Coralville Transit and Iowa City Transit service is operated six (6) days a week, Monday through Saturday. The cities of Coralville and Iowa City desire to contract for the operation of public paratransit service for persons who, because of disability, are unable to use the fixed-route transit systems. The paratransit service, which is described in detail in Section Ill, Specifications, should be comparable to the level of service offered by the fixed-route transit systems. Coralville Transit and Iowa City Transit have been declared by the Federal Transit Administra- tion to be in compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act through the Complementary Paratransit Plan produced by the Johnson County Council of Govern- ments. It is therefore the intent and purpose of this request that the paratransit service shall be operated in a manner that is entirely consistent with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"). SECTION Ih OBJECTIVES Provide FY96 paratransit service for Coralville Transit and Iowa City Transit consistent with the ADA. SECTION IIh SPECIFICATIONS The paratransit service shall commence July 1, 1995, and continue for one (1) year through and including June 30, 1996. However, upon mutual agreement of all parties, the paratransit service may be extended for a one-year renewal period commencing 2 July 1, 1996 and continuing for a one-year period through and including June 30, 1997. The paratransit service shall be operated within the Coralville Transit and Iowa City Transit corporate limits from 6:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday; and 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. In addition, paratransit service in the Coralville Transit service area shall be operated from 10:30 p.m. until midnight Monday through Friday, and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, but in addition shall specifically include Martin Luther King's Birthday, Presidents' Day, Veterans Day, and the day after Thanksgiving. The paratransit service shall operate a holiday schedule consistent with Coralville Transit and Iowa City Transit. The paratransit service shall be operated as door-to-door service. The paratransit service operators shall assist passengers from the door of the origin; to the door of the destination of each trip including assistance in carrying groceries and packages. The paratransit service operators shall have received sensitivity training in the proper conduct of their duties in assisting elderly passengers and passengers with disabilities. The paratransit service shall be operated with a $1.00 fare. Fares collected by the paratransit operator in the Coralville Transit service area shall be remitted by check to the City of Coralville on a monthly basis. Fares collected by the paratransit operator in the Iowa City Transit service area shall be remitted by check to the City of Iowa City on a monthly basis. The only exceptions to the $1.00 fare shall be specific individuals designated by the City of Coralville or the City of Iowa City as being entitled to a waiver of the ~ 1.00 fare. Fare revenue shall be reconciled with the daily trip sheets by the paratransit service operator and fully accounted for in the operator's records, which records shall be available for inspection by either City upon request by said City. The paratransit service shall consist of the following number of vehicles and vehicle hours per day. Time Period # of Vehicles Vehicle Hours/Day 3 M-F 6-7 a,m, M-F 7 a.m,-5 p,m. M-F 5-midnight Sat, 6-8 a,m, Sat. 8 a.m,-2 p.m. Sat, 2 p,m.-midnight Sun, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 1 1 4 4O 1 7 1 2 2 12 1 10 2 12 Vehicles operated by the paratransit service operator shall be fully accessible according to regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Vehicles must have a minimum capacity of two wheelchair placements and simultaneous seating for four ambulatory passengers, Vehicles operated by the paratransit service operator shall be subject to safety inspections at any time, both announced and unannounced, by the City of Coralville or the City of Iowa City. Vehicles operated in the paratransit service shall include a sign not less than two (2) feet high by three (3) feet across which is clearly visible from the exterior of the vehicle and which indicates the vehicle is a City of Coralville/City of Iowa City paratransit vehicle. All paratransit vehicles in service shall be solely dedicated to Coralville Transit/Iowa City Transit paratransit service. Paratransit vehicles and paratransit vehicle operators shall be neat and clean in appearance and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with providing a public service. Paratransit service proposals shall not include the dispatching function, since said function will be carried out by an employee of the City of Iowa City who will dispatch both the Coralville Transit and Iowa City Transit paratransit service, On each and every day the dispatcher shall provide a list of trips for the following day's service to the paratransit service operator. The paratransit service operator shall direct all requests for paratransit service through the dispatcher, 4 The paratransit service operator shall notify the dispatcher if a scheduled pickup will be more than ten (10) minutes late, or if the pickup is a no-show. The paratransit service operator shall adopt the following no show policy. A no show is defined as the failure to cancel a scheduled ride at least 30 minutes before the scheduled pickup time. If a rider is a "now show" three (3) or more times in any given 30-day period, the operator will attempt to contact the rider to determine the problem before a written warning is sent by the Cities. If the no shows continue, a written warning will be sent to the rider stating that failure to cancel two (2) times in the next 30-day period will result in suspension from paratransit service for a period to be determined by the respective City. The dispatcher will also coordinate trip requests for non-lift equipped paratransit service through a private taxi operator. The private taxi operator and paratransit service provider will be coordinated by the dispatcher, but will have no formal relationship one with another. The paratransit service operator shall maintain reporting statistics required by the FTA National Transit Database (formerly Federal Section 15 system). In addition, the paratransit service operator shall provide daily the total number of rides per day, and the ridership split between elderly and non-elderly on forms designed by Iowa City and Coralville. This information shall be provided individually to the City of Coralville and the City of Iowa City on a monthly basis for the preceding month no later than the 15th day of each month. The determination of rider eligibility for the paratransit service will be based on a certification process conducted by the City of Coralville and the City of Iowa City. The paratransit service operator shall not certify persons to use the paratransit service. After January 1, 1996, the paratransit service operator shall comply with the Federal Transit Administration drug and alcohol testing requirements, and shall be responsible for any and all costs associated with said required drug and alcohol testing require- ments. The paratransit service operator shall certify that no operators have been debarred from Federally-funded contracting. The paratransit service operator shall also comply with the Federal Transit Administration's clauses as listed in the attachment. All paratransit service operators shall have any Commercial Drivers License (CDL) required by Iowa law. The paratransit service operator agrees that the owners of the company or the corporation officers of the company shall be responsible for the acts of their employees while on duty, except as otherwise prohibited by law. The operator(s) may enter into separate agreements with Iowa City/Coralville to be included in the City's drug and alcohol testing programs. Before commencing work, the paratransit service operator shall submit proof of insurance meeting the City of Iowa City Class II requirements, attached for reference. SECTION IV: QUALIFICATIONS, CREDENTIALS AND REFERENCES The proposer shall provide a description of qualifications, credentials, experience, and resources as they relate to the provision of FY96 paratransit service for Coralville Transit and Iowa City Transit. The proposer shall provide a list of similar clients for whom work has been performed within the last two years, including the firm, contact person, address, and phone numbers of each client. SECTION V: SELECTION PROCESS Proposal Requirements: Each proposer shall examine the Request for Proposal (RFP) document and determine the adequacy of all statements. Any inquiries, suggestions or requests concerning interpretation, clarification or need for additional informa- tion pertaining to the RFP shall be made tl~rough Jeff Davidson, Transportation Planner for JCCOG. The City of Coralville and the City of Iowa City shall not be responsible for interpretations given by any representatives other than Jeff Davidson, and the issuance of a written addendum is the only official method whereby interpretation, clarification or additional information can be given. If 6 any addenda are issued to the Request for Proposal, JCCOG will attempt to notify all prospective proposers. However, it shall be the responsibility of each proposer, prior to submitting a proposal, to contact JCCOG to determine if addenda were issued. 2. The original and five (5) copies of the completed proposal shall be submitted. The proposal shall clearly state the legal name, address, telephone number, and fax number of the proposer. The proposal shall be signed above the typed or printed name and title of the signer. The signer shall have the legal authority to bind the proposer to the proposal. 4. All expenses for making proposals are to be borne by the proposer. Any proposal may be withdrawn up until the date and time set for receiving proposals. Any proposals not so withdrawn shall, upon opening, constitute an irrevocable offer by the proposer for a period of ninety (90) calendar days t(~ provide to Coralville Transit and Iowa City Transit the services set forth in the attached specifications until such time as a proposal has been accepted. However, the City reserves the right to waive said proposal and permit said proposer to withdraw if withdrawal is deemed by City to be in the public interest. The City of Coralville and the City of Iowa City reserve the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, to waive irregularities and technicalities, and to request resubmission, The proposer shall provide a detailed estimate of expense to operate the paratransit service as stipulated in Section III, Specifications, as follows: A detailed estimate of expense for all service stipulated in Section III, Specifications, except for service operated 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. 7 A detailed estimate of expense for service operated 7 a.m, to 6 p,m. Monday through Friday. 3. Ability to add additional service at same hourly rate. Proposers may provide proposals on either or both of the paratransit service components. Any proposer who receives Federal funds for the operating or capital expense of paratransit service must reflect the fully allocated cost of the service elements subsidized by the Federal funds. This is required by the Federal Transit Administration, and will allow equal comparison of public sector and private sector proposals. Contract for Services: The proposer chosen to provide FY96 paratransit service for Coralville Transit and Iowa City Transit shall be required to enter into a formal contract with the City of Coralville and the City of Iowa City. The contract will specify a payment schedule, and shall specify the option of a one-year renewal with specific payment schedules for the renewal year. Any agreement or contract resulting from the acceptance of a proposal shall be on forms supplied by JCCOG, which contract shall use Iowa City's standardized consultant service contract language and shall be subject to approval by the Iowa City City Attorney's Office, shall contain applicable provisions of the Request for Proposal, and shall be in a form appropriate for recording in the Johnson County Recorder's Office, as required by Chapter 28E, Code of Iowa (1993). The City of Coralville and the City of Iowa City reserve the right to reject or modify any agreement which does not conform to the Request for Proposal and any City of Coralville or City of Iowa City requirements for agreements and contracts. C. Selection Criteria: 8 The cities of Coralville and Iowa City desire to award a contract to the proposer who demonstrates the best combination of attributes to conduct the FY96 paratransit service for Coralville Transit and Iowa City Transit. Criteria for selection will include, but not be limited to: Ability to provide the type and quality of services that will best meet the needs of the City of Coralville, the City of Iowa City and the population of persons with disabilities. Organization, size management and structure of the firm to provide the paratransit service. Experience and qualifications of the persons with supervisory and management assignments, as well as those persons to be assigned to the paratransit service. Adequacy of the quality and quantity of vehicles to be assigned to the paratransit service. 5. Satisfactory reference checks. Expense. The City of Coralville and the City of Iowa City are not required to accept the proposal with the lowest expense. D. Selection: Based on evaluation of proposals submitted, the City of Coralville and the City of Iowa City may select finalists for participation in interviews by a committee to assure that the Cities are able to select the proposer who has the ability to furnish the required paratransit services at the best overall cost. Written and/or oral presentations during such interviews will be scored and evaluated by a committee. The evaluation committee will make a recommendation to City of Coralville and City of Iowa City officials for final approval, Ultimate approval must be 9 given jointly by the City Council of the City of Coralville and the City Council of the City of Iowa City. However, nothing in this Request can obligate the City of Coralville and the City of Iowa City to enter into a contract. City of iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: May 3, 1995 TO: Steve Atkins FROM: Chuck Schmadeke RE: Value Engineering Stanley Consultants recently completed the first phase of a value engineering study on the design outline for the Water Supply and Treatment Facilities Project. The study was limited to the completed preliminary design work prepared by the City's water facilities consultant, Howard R. Green Company. The purpose of the study was to propose ideas which result in cost savings or improved facility function. Fifty-five cost saving proposals were recommended, of which twenty-six have been incorporated into the design outline. Following are the recommendations accepted and the associated cost savings: A. $85,000 Redesign access roads to water treatment plant. Revised design will contain two entrances instead of the odginal three. A separate entrance primarily for truck traffic (bulk chemical delivery and sludge trucks) will be provided. B. $13,000 An access road to the north Siludan and collector wells will be redesigned utilizing the bike trail as much as possible. C. $120,000 The width of the lagoon betres will be redesigned. Only the end berm (south) and the center berm will remain at a 20 foot width. A ten foot berm (top width) will be designed for the remainder of the berms. The exterior embankment slopes of the lagoon cells will remain 4:1. D. $125,000 Reduce riprap quantities on internal lagoon embankments. E. & F. $102,000 E. Lagoons will be moved in order to accommodate lowering of the water treatment plant elevation and maximizing cut and fill balancing. The lagoon cells will each have the same water elevations. F. Lower plant site grades around the water treatment plant building to about 714 MSL. Page 2 May 3, 1995 Re: Value Engineering G. $14,000 Locate fire main and hydrants in accordance with the new access road layout. H. $20,000 Reverse traffic pattern in the parking garage and redesign parking spaces. I. $74,OOO Reduce site fencing to only that along Dubuque Street. fencing. Delete lagoon and sand pit J. $161,000 Re-evaluate the treatment plant brick veneer with pre-cast sandwich panels. K., L,, & M. $225,000 K. Full hydraulic analysis to reduce overall water plant headloss will be completed. This will lower water surfaces in the treatment processes and may allow the roof elevation to be lowered. L. Reduce filter depth in accordance with overall plant hydraulics. M. Evaluate locating aerator through roof. N. Design Suggestion Evaluate structural items such as second floor overhang and structural mullions to south windows. O. $66,000 Redesign cladtier walls in accordance with VE recommendations. P. $215,000 Redesign base slab and reduce footing projections. Q. $33,OOO Size rectangular CT basin with increased baffling to maximize plug flow and reduce tank size. Design rectangular CT and finish water storage basins will be integral to the treatment plant and have common wall construction. R. $255,000 Delete the ammonia system and chlorine dioxide system. S. $11,000 Evaluate hydropneumatic surge tanks in place of surge relief valves on finished water pumps. T. $47,000 Replace ductile iron pipe tank drain lines with reinforced concrete pipe. Page 3 May 3, 1995 Re: Value Engineering U. Design Suggestion Delete snow melt system. V. $180,000 Redesign plant lighting system. W. $30,000 Reduce SCADA views and delete unnecessary annunciators. X. $194,000 Evaluate the substitution of ultrasonic meters for proposed vertical turbines. Design Suggestion Reroute 30-inch well field main and evaluate the use of a single casing for the water main crossings under Interstate 80. In addition to the cost reduction items listed above, dual electrical service was added back into the project after discussion with Stanley Consultants' Value Engineering Team and Howard R. Green Company. City staff had previously deleted dual service to reduce costs. City Staff and Howard R. Green Company evaluated each of the proposed recommendations submitted by Stanley Consultants. Of those rejected, four are mentioned here to assuage concerns over why all recommendations were not accepted. Overhead power on the site - $266,000. This recommendation was not accepted because the City requires other developers to provide underground distribution lines. Construct new Williams Pipeline adjacent to existing pipeline with high quality pipe materials - $257,000. This recommendation was rejected because a potential dsk of rupture would still exist and in fact increase over time. Eliminate cladtier pipe gallery - $155,000. The pipe gallery provides operational flexibility which is essential given the vadous water sources available. The pipe gallery is also used for chemical transfer within the plant. Eliminating the gallery would require transferring chemicals by hand. Reduce chlodne contact size - $414,000. The tank size cannot be reduced. Stanley Consultants assumed 80% efficiency which is appropriate for wastewater facilities, however, water facilities must be designed assuming 50% efficiency. As mentioned above, 26 recommendations were accepted from a total of 55 recommendations submitted by Stanley Consultants. However, this does not mean that 28 recommendations were rejected since some are mutually exclusive. For example, the decision to move the Williams Pipeline off of the water facility property eliminated five recommendations related to the Williams Pipeline. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: To: From: Re: May 2, 1995 Steve Arkins, City Manage.,~_.,~/~, ~. On April 19, First Muscatine Properties, Inc., representing EAGLE'S Food Centers, sent a letter to the residents of the Towncrest Mobile Home Park indicating that the park would close at midnight on Friday, June 30, 1995. Evidently, the owners are extending the deadline for relocation by one month. As of Friday, April 28, we have seven households who are in the process of completing arrangements for relocation to other residences. Four households have no definite plans which are known to us. We expect that two of those four will wait until the deadline, take the equity in their units and move; the two remaining may have some difficulties. One of the two is a family which is having trouble finding a unit that is large enough in a park that will take their dog and the other is an individual who has had some trouble finding a lot due to a past criminal record. I am optimistic that we will be able to conclude our relocation work by the June 30 deadline set by Eagle's; we are encouraging people to complete their relocation by the original deadline of June 1. Please let me know if you wish me to pursue any thing further with First Muscatine Properties, Inc. From what has transpired I don't believe we will need an extension beyond June 30. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: May 4, 1995 To: City Council, City Manager From: Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, P CD '~"'// Re: May 8 Work Session Presentation by Near S~uthside Design Plan Consultant - Gould Evans Associates On May 8 and 9, representatives from Gould Evans Associates will be in town for several Near Southside design plan activities. The principal activity will be the initial meeting of the Near Southside Design Plan Advisory Committee from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on May 8. The consultant would also like to take the opportunity to meet with you during your May 8 work session, to present an overview of the design plan process and gather information from you. They would like to use the following format at the work session: 2. 3. 4. Consultant Introduction and Project Scope (10 min.) Issues Identification/Opportunities and Goals Discussion (20 min.) Summary of Advisory Committee Mtg. (5 min.) Questions/Wrap-up (10+ min.) The consultant anticipates item #1 will be a formal presentation and the other items will be interactive. Of course, they can adjust the session format to whatever Council desires. Let me know if you have any questions prior to May 8. CC: Karin Franklin David Schoon Gould Evans Associates bc4-2JO APRIL 25, 1995 CITY COUNCIL OF IOWA CITY CIVIC CENTER 410 E. WASHINGTON ST. IOWA CITY, IA 52240 TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, 1994-1995 Cin .dy Parsons. Premdent b'an .cv Perians. Prevalent-Elect M~, Gan~ paxt. Pres~dent Marsha Paul~en Peters. Secretary Jodie Theobald. Treasurer Sandra Jqvnt. Safe.ty Co.Chatr Michelle Piene. $afe.ty Co-Chart THE DPO ANNUALLY PRESENTS THE MYRNA ARNER SAFETY AWARD TO SOMEONE IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO HELPS PROMOTE THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS. ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICTWIDE PARENTS' ORGANIZATION EXECUTIVE BOARD WE WISH TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR RECENT NOMINATION. YOUR EFFORTS IN ERECTING NEON CROSSING SIGNS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS NEAR SCHOOLS AND MEETING WITH THE AD HOC TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WERE MUCH APPRECIATED, SINCE WE HAD SEVERAL EXCELLENT NOMINEES, OUR DECISION WAS VERY DIFFICULT . WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING THIS YEARS RECIPIENT AT OUR SPECIAL RECOGNiTION EVENT TO BE HELD ON APRIL 26. ALTHOUGH YOU WERE NOT OUR AWARD RECIPIENT THIS YEAR, WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS TO HELP MAKE OUR SCHOOLS A SAFER PLACE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. SINCERELY, MICHELLE PIETTE & SANDRA JOYNT DPO SAFETY CO-CHAIRS media unit, cable division, city of iowa city 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Ph. (319) 356-5047 Fx: (319) 356-5009 date: April 19~ to: Drew Sha~.~r fro: Bob Har~-,,,,, re: Unit Awed ~ Attached is your copy of the letter of congratulations that announced that the Cable Division's Media Unit was selected to receive the Commissioner's Special Award for Excellence in Traffic Safety. This award recognized the twenty minute video program, Child Safety Seats, produced for the City of Iowa City Police Department. As the title suggests, the video demonstrates safety issues related to child safety seats used in automobiles. The video has been cablecast on Channel 4, used by the Police Department in presentations, shared with other communities and is currently being considered for a national award. Among those recognized were Jerry Nixon, Kathy Venske, Ethan Fox, Rob Rains, and myself. Of special note was Rob Rains' contribution--a computer animated section that graphically demonstrated the result of an incorrectly attached child safety seat. Rob, a participant in the Mayor's Youth program, and Ethan Fox, our Senior Editor, were asked to attend the award ceremony in Des Moines to accept the award for the Cable Division. I am very proud of these staff persons. Child Safety Seats, the result of a committed group effort, represents the objectives of community service and quality video production that is the cornerstone of the Media Unit's goals. The Cable Division received a plaque which I have placed with other awards and recognitions that the Media Unit and the Division have received on the wall in our office. In addition, each staff member who participated received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety TERRY F. SRAN~TAD. GOVERNOR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY PAUL H. WlECK II. COMMISSIONER February 15, 1995 Cable TV Division c/o Drew Shaffer 410 E Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240 REs Traffic Safety Award Dear Mr. Shaffer: Congratulations! It is my pleasure to announce that the Cable TV Division has bee~ selected to receive the Commissioner's Special Award for Excellence in Traffic Safety. The award will be presented on Thursday, March 16, 1995, during the Governor's Highway Traffic Safety Conference being held at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 101 East Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa. The awards ceremony will begin at approximately 1:00 p.m. following the luncheon. We invite you to Join us for lunch, which is scheduled for 12:00 noon. Lunch will be provided for you and one guest. You are also welcome to attend the entire conference. A registration brochure is enclosed. The fee is $25 to attend the conference. Please call Ihla Hochstetler at (515) 281-3907 by March 9, 1995 to confirm whether you plan to attend. For more information on the conference, you may contact Carson Whitlow at 515-281-8348. Congratulations again and we hope to see you at the conference. Very truly yours, ..... 3~ "--" ~,.J'"~, ~. '\ ~.-~_ · ~ J. MICHAEL LASKI f Directpr I "~Governor's Traffic Saf~y Bureau "~. MJC/sb · cc: M. Campbell · ,~ C. Whir low file GOVERNOR'S TRAFFIC SAFETY BUREAU 307 EAST 7TH STREET / DES MOINF.5. IOWA 503194:)248 / 51 ~281-3907 To: TOM CITY CLERK From: Ooard oF Supervisors 5-3-95 8:39aa p, Z e¢ 4 John.~un Count- Charles D. Duffy, Chairperson Joe Bolkcom Stephen P. Lama Don Sehr Sally Slutsman BOARD OF SUPERVISORS May 4, 1995 1. Call to order 9:00 a.m. 2. Action re: 3. Action re: FORMAL MEETING · . Agenda claims informal minutes of April 25th recessed to April 27th and the formal minutes of April 27th. Motion re: clarification of Dr. Cli~on's reference to Joe Duffys' waste water treatment facility as an "open pit system" as stated in the April 20, 1995 formal minutes. The correct term is "constructed wetlands waste water system". 5. Action re: payroll authorizations 6. Business fforn the County Auditor. a) Action re: permits b) Action re: reports 1. Clerk's March monthly report. c) Motion re: setting public heating on proposed FY 95 amendment requests for Thursday, May 25, 1995 at 9:30 a.m. d) Other budget 913 SOUTH DUBUQUE ST. P.O. BOX 1350 [OWACITY, IOWA 52244-1350 TEL:(319) 3564000 FAX: (319) 356-6086 Iq~ To: IOg~ CTTY CLERk( From: Board of' Supervisors 5-3-95 8:39am p. 3 ff 4 Agenda 5-4-95 Page 2 7. Business from the Assistant Zoning Administrator. a) Second consideration of application Z9460 of Hazel Baker. b) Final consideration of application Z9505 of Joe Duffy. c) First and Second consideration of the following Zoning application: 1. Application Z9501 of Kurt Gillette, Springville, Iowa, requesting rezoning of 24.4 acres kom A1 Rural to A3 Floodplain of certain property described as being in the W 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 11; Township 81 North; Range 5 West of the 5th P.M. in Johnson County, Iowa (This property is located north and west of the old SutliffBridge and East of the relocated 8utliff Road NE (F14) in Cedar Twp.). Other 8. 9:30 a.m. - Public Hearing on Conditional Use Permit: a) Discussion/action re: the following Conditional Use Permit: Application CU9501 of Alan Weinstein, Iowa City, requesting approval of a Conditional Use Permit for a home business to operate an Art Gallery as allowed under Chapter 34, Conditional Use Permits of the Johnson County Zoning Ordinance. The location of said art gallery is described as being in the NE 1/4 of Section 18; Townsltip 79 North; Range 5 West of the 5th P.M. in Johnson County, Iowa (Scott Twp.). 9. Business from the County Attorney. a) Report re: other items. To: IOl~ CITY CLERK From: Board of' Superv/.sars §-3-g§ 8:39am p. 4 of' 4 Agenda 5-4-95 Page 3 10. Business from the Board of Supervisors, a) Discussion/action re:setting public heating for Economic Development Set-Aside application for Learning Curves, Inc. for May 18, 1995 at 9:00 a.m. b) Discussion/action re: letter from Paul Morsch regarding resignation from the Johnson County Breadband Telecommunications Commission. c) Discussion/action re: Proclamation for National Foster Parents Month for May. d) Discussion/action re: fu:eworks permit. e) Other 11. Adjourn to informal meeting. a) Inquiries and reports from the pdblic. b) Reports and inquires from the members of the Board of Supervisors. c) Report from the County Attorney. d) Other 12. Adjournment To: I0~ CIPt CLER~ From: Board of Supervisors 5-0-95 8:53am p. Z of 3 Johnsun Cuunly Charles D. Duffy, Chah-p¢~son Jo~ Bo{k¢om Sicphcn P. L~¢{n~ Don Sch~ S~{{y Slutsm~ BOARD OF SUPERVISORS May 9, 1995 INFORMAL MEETING Agenda 1. Call to order 9:00 a.m. Review of the informal minutes of May 2nd recessed to May 4th and the formal minutes of May 4th. Business from Frieda Shannon re: Business from Veterans guidelines/discussion. Senior Center update/discussion. Affairs Commission re: Veterans Affairs 5. Business from the County Auditor. a) Discussion re: resolution transferring from the General Basic Fund to the Capital Projects Fund. b) Other Business from Lawrence Bryant, Field Services Coordinator for Iowa Department of Trm~sportation re:services provided by his department/discussion. 7. Business from Mike Sullivan, Director of Ambulance Department a) Discussion re: FY 95 budget amendment request. b) Other 913 SOUTH DUBUQUE ST. P.O. BOX 1350 IOWA CH'Y, IOWA 52244-1350 TEL: (319) 356-6000 To: ~O~CZTY CLER; From Be4rd o; Supervisors 5-Q-95 8:53e~ p. 3 o~ 3 Agenda 5-9-95 Page 2 8. Business from the Coun~ Afiorney. a) Discussion re: resolution compromising $7,924.25 delinquent taxes, penalties, interest and costs on scavenger tax certificate #8-586 for $3,069.00 (parcel #57101000, building on leased land in 8howers Addition, Government Lot 4, Section 22 Township 79 Range 6). b) Executive Session re: Oakes rs. Johnson County/report/discussion. c) Other 9. Business from the Board of Supervisors. a) Discussion re: legal representation during Board meetings. b) Discussion re: meeting schedule ofBeard of Supervisors. Discussion re: vehicles for Zoning and Board office. d) Discussion re: spring cleanup. e) Discussion re: agendas (other). f) Discussion re: letter from Kathy Green, Supervisor, Off-Site Programs regarding Grant Wood Area Education Agency. g) Discussion re: Broadband Telecommunications Commission. h) Reports i) Other 10. Discussion from the public, ll. Recess. CITY OF IOWA CITY CITY OF IOWA CITY FY95 COMPARISON OF BUDGET TO ACTUAL REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND CASH POSITION FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDING MARCH 31, 1995 GENERAL FUND Overview of FY95 Budget @ 3-31~95 The General Fund revenues, expenses and cash position for the nine months ending March 31, 1995, is summarized as follows: Beginning Cash 7/1/94 Revenues Expenditures Revenues less Expenditures Ending Cash 3-31-95 FY95 Amended FY95 Actual Percent FY94 Actual Budget ~ 3-31-95 Rec'd. Exp. ~ 3-31-94 $7,268,823 $7,268,823 (;5,924,364 26,665,293 17,209,214 65% 16,259,095 27,191,405 18,398,837 68% 1 7,376,974 (526,112) (1,189,623) (1,1t7,87_9) $6,742,711 $6,079,200 $4,806,485 3-31-94 Actual % to Total FY94 Actual 66% 74% Overall, the 3-31-95 cash balance of $6,079,200 is good compared to where I expect the General Fund to be at year en. ($6,742,711). April and May receipts will reflect the balance due on property tax revenue of approximately $5.6 million Actual oxpenditures are at 68% of the budget amount three-quarters of the way through the fiscal year. FY9$ General Fund Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 530O $25O S~O 5150 $100 $50 S00 Revenues Expenses Cash Balance -2- FY95 General Fund Revenues Budget to Actual for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Millions $14.0 J $120 S10.0 $80 $6.0 -? $4.0 ~ $~0 ~ S0.0 -/ " I Trans[ Empl. Ben. Prop. Tax State Funding [] Budget [] Actual Fines, Fees Road Use Tax Serv Chargeback All Other -3- FY95 General Fund Expenditures Budget to Actual by Major Category for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Millions $1500 $5 O0 - so co '/"' " Personal Services 0.96 Commodities I Capital~ Outlay I Charges for Services Transfers Out Other -4- THIRD QUARTER REPORT ENDING MARCH 3'1, '~995 ANALYSIS OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES COMPARED TO BUDGET I have summarized the General Fund revenues into nine (9) major revenue categories. The analysis of each category follows. General Fund Year to Date Budqet Analysis: Property Taxes - Includes the General Fund (8.10), Transit (.95) and Library (.27) levies. The majodty of property tax revenue is received twice a year, approximately 50% in October and 50% in Apdl. This coincides with the due date of property tax bills from prepedy owners. $7,567,175 or 57% of the FY95 budget of $13,282,867 was received as of 3-31-95 compared to $7,109,547 or 57% of the FY94 total actual at 3-31-94. I expect to receive at least the budgeted amount by year end. Prepedy Tax Transfer - Employee Benefits - This properly tax revenue soume is recefpted in the Employee Benefits Fund and then transferred to pay for benefits of employees (employer share of FICA, IPERS & Police and Fire Pension contributions, health and dental premiums, etc.) in the general fund. Transfers totaling $2,482,352 or 76% of the FY95 budget of $3,260,877 was transferred in as of 3-31-95 compared to $2,387,581 or 75% of the FY94 total actual at 3-31-94. I expect to receive at least the budgeted amount by fiscal year end. Road Use Taxes - This is a gas tax that is received by the State of iowa, paid to the City on a per capita basis, receipted into the City Road Use Tax Fund and then transferred to the General Fund to pay the actual cost of the Traffic Engineer and Streets Division less other revenues received by these depadments. Transfers totaling $1,726,150 were 69% of the FY95 budget of $2,508,886 compared to $1,584,139 or 7% of the FY94 total actual at 3-31-94. At this point I don't expect to receive the budgeted amounts by fiscal year end, but there will be a corresponding decrease in expenses in Traffic Engineering and Public Works Divisions to offset this. State Funding * This revenue source, which comes from the State of Iowa, consists of state aid, personal property replacement tax (flat $ amount), and bank franchise tax. Except for the bank franchise tax, the State remits these revenues to the City in two equal installments, one in December and the other in March. State Aid revenue totaling $635,071 is 100% of the FY95 budget of $635,000 and approximately the same as last year ($635,203). Personal Property Replacement (PPR) tax revenue totaling $320,777 is 100% of the FY95 budget of $320,000 and the same as last year ($320,267). Bank Franchise tax revenue totaling $957 is 1% of the FY95 budget of $100,000 and approximately $23,000 less than last year at this time. I still expect to receive up to the budgeted amount by fiscal year end. Charqeback of Services - This revenue soume consists of administrative charges to the Enterprise Funds (Ex.: Water, Parking, Sewer, etc.) for services provided in the Finance and Public Works Administration Departments, a new City Attorney chargeback, use of the Document Services Division, use of Central Services and Cable TV transfer to Library. The Administrative expense charges to the Enterprise Funds and the Cable TV chargeback are calculated dudrig the budget process and then transferred to the Genera[ Fund proportionally each month, 75% of the budget has been received at 3-31-95. The City Attorney, Document Services and Central Services chargeback is based on actual use. The City Attorney chargeback is budgeted at $50,000 and $24,229 has been received through 3-31-95. Fines, Permits, and Fees. This category includes quite a vadety of different revenue sources. The largest are Recreation fees, building and housing permits and inspections, parking fines, and magistrate court fines. Overall, fines, permits and fees totaling $1,554,794 are 78% of the FY95 budget of $1,997,115. expect to receive up to the budgeted amount by fiscal year end. Recreation Fees totaling $385,378 are 62% of the FY95 budget of $620,904 and $9,000 more than the same time last year. Building Permits and Inspections totaling $324,125 are 71% of the FY95 budget of $454,450 and are $33,000 more than the same time period last year. Parking Fines totaling $272,905 are 101% of the FY95 budget of $270,000 and $75,000 more than the same time period last year. Housing Permits and Inspections totaling $85,415 are 69% of the FY95 budget of $123,250. Magistrate's Court revenues totaling $119,250 are 114% of the FY95 budget of $105,000 and $34,000 more than the same time pedod last year. All other fines, permits and fees totaling $367,721 are 87% of the FY95 budget of $423,511. Contractual Services * Overall, contractual services totaling $969,491 are 93% of the FY95 budget of $1,036,781. The University Fire Contract payment is received in the first quarter of each year based on actual expenses ofthe Fire Department for the previous fiscal year. Actual receipts totalled $721,576 compared to $654,9.00 or $43,000 more than last year. Johnson County contract revenues are to pay for the use of the Library and Senior Center by residents who live outside the City limits of Iowa City but within Johnson County. I expect to receive at least the budgeted amount of $315,444 by fiscal year end. Hotel/Motel Tax - Revenues totaling $358,723 are 81% of the FY95 budget of $440,000 and $40,000 more than last year at this time. The new 7% rate went into effect on January 1, 1993. Actual receipts are allocated as follows: Police Patrol (50%), Convention Bureau (25%), Mercer Park Aquatics (15%) and Parkland Fund (10%), starting 1-1-93 Acquisition (7%), and Development (3%). All Other Income - Other income totaling $742,055 is 39% of the FY95 budget of $1,921,367. The budget was amended to include a CEBA grant of $935,000 which is for Moore Business Forms and NCS. Overall, general fund revenues totaling $17,209,218 are 64% of the FY95 budget of $26,665,293 compared to $16,259,105 at the same time last year. I expect to receive at least the budgeted amount of revenues by fiscal year end. -6- Exl~endlturas: Overall, expenditures totaling $18,398,837 are 68% of the FY95 budget of $27,191,405. This compares to $17,376,974 or 51% of the FY94 actual as of 3-31-94. Below is a summary of the actual compared to budget expenditures by category: FY95 FY95 FY94 3-31-94 Description FY95 Actual Act. % Actual Act. % to (in $1,000s) Bud.qet ~ 3.31-95 of Budqet ~, 3-31-94 FY94 Actual Personal Services $16,367 $12,092 74% $11,076 74% Commodities 949 579 61%' 545 69% Charges for Services 5,002 2,871 57% 3,105 74% Capital Outlay 1,378 671 49% 686 63% Transfers Out 3,448 2,145 62% 1,633 86% Other 47 41 97% 331 86% Contingency 0 0 0% 0 0% TOTAL ~27,191 ~!8,399, 6._8% ~i'17,376 74% Personal services actual expenses of $12,092,343 are 74% of FY95 budget of $16,366,996 and slightly under where they should be with twenty of the twenty-six (76%) pay periods completed as of 3-31-95. Charges for Services totaling $2,870,637 are 57% of the FY95 budget of $5,074,534. $935,000 is budgeted for CEBA payments to Moore Business Forms and NCS but have not been spent yet. Only $670,747 or 49% of the $1,378,544 capital outlay budget has been spent to date. Contingency was originally budgeted at $248,890 but was amended by $75,000 to $323,890. The balance at 3.31-95 is $0. The following items were amended for by using contingency: Library roof repairs ($24,480), Library Building Design ($50,000), Airport - Local Match for Grant ($22,324), Repairs to Building ($69,120), City Clerk. Codific.~tion ($9,242), Indexing Program ($6,800), New City Codes & Supplements ($12,329), Finance Administrative Secretary Computer ($3,000), Treasury - office supplies ($2,308) and a chair ($317), Urban Planning Grant - local match ($354), Engineering Software ($3,710), Police - Temporary Disability Health Care ($5,674); Government Buildings - unbudgeted building repairs ($13,151); CBD -Bike Racks ($18,395), hire seasonal employees earlier ($3,645), portable toilets for Jazz Fest ($510), storage shed for Farmers' Market ($1,095); Parks - support of Alliance Youth Programs ($2,800), Purchase bail field maintenance machine ($6,180); Accounting - audit fees related to flood grants ($5,000); Fire. overtime ($30,000); PCD - Near southside consultant ($21,220); Forestry - additional funds needed for tree ramoval and transplanting ($3,660); Capital Projects Funding ($8,776). -7- CiTY OF IOWA CITY FISCAL YEAR 1988 GENERAL FUND REVENUES BY MAJOR CATEGORY FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDING MARCH 31, t985 10000 GENERAL FUND RECEIPT TYPE 'BEGINNING CASl{ BALANCE 1) PROPERTY TAX 2) TRANSFER: EMPL BENEFITS LEVY 3) ROAD USE TAX 4) STATE FUNDING: STATE AID (gotreedy Munnpal ;Y84% MONTH FYg8 REC~DI FY95 ENDING Y.T-D %REC'D/ Y-T-D TO AMENDED MAR 31, UAR 31, BUDGET SPENT TO MAR 31, FY84 BUDGET 1998 1985 BALANCE BUDGET 1994 ACTUAL 7,263.622 6.554.288 7.268,822 5.924,364 13.282.867 403.090 7.567.175 5.715,692 57.0'/~ 7.109,547 57.3% 3.260.577 256.427 2.462.352 778.525 76.1% 2,387,581 74 6',~ 2,~8.886 219.510 1.726.150 782,736 6~ 8'/, 1,584,139 70.8% 1.047,400 87,158 784.525 252.875 74.8% 770,597 ?49% 50.~O O 24,229 25.771 485% 35.000 2.9~7 26.250 8,750 78.0% 26.385 75.0% 30,000 4.759 16.669 13.331 55.6% 14,742 58,7% 1,152,4~0 94.835 851.673 310,727 73.3% 811.724 60.0% 620.904 71.01I 385,378 235.526 62.1% 376,469 58.3% 4~4,450 28.635 324,125 130.325 7L3% 291.149 65.4% 270.000 37.358 272.~5 -2.905 101.1% 197.544 695% 123.250 9.023 85.415 37,835 69.3% 76,303 803% 105.000 10,833 119.250 -14.250 113.5% 85.432 67.4% 86.5~O 11.406 82.410 4,090 95.3% 78.423 71.4% 75,600 1.328 62.385 13.215 825% 68.353 840% 72.935 7,052 59.106 13,829 810% 60.131 77.1% 71.346 13.160 51.382 19.964 720% 42.798 71.3% 35.5~0 2.81l 33.304 2.196 938t~ 23.937 68.6% 55.0(]0 5,049 40.407 14,593 738% 19.298 408% 26.630 1.995 38.727 .12,097 145.4% 6.048 264% 1,997.11B 199.676 1.5.54.794 442.321 77.5% 1.322.885 680% 721,337 0 721.576 -299 100.0% 678.933 ICO.0% 315,444 20.812 247.915 67,529 786% 265.476 86.1% 1.036.78t 20.812 969,491 67,2~O 935% 944.409 93.0% 440000 0 358.723 81.277 815% 318.314 745% 210.000 SO.000 11,500 25.0~0 97,882 276.371 -66.371 131 6',~ 114,799 59.4% 0 50.(~0 0 1000% 0 00% CiTY OF IOWA CITY GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY DIVISION FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDING MARCH 3t, '1995 MONTH FY~6 FY g$ ENDING Y-T-D %REC'DI Y-T.~ t0000 GENERAL FUND AMENDED MAR 31, MAR 3t, BUDGET SPENT TO MAR 3t, EXPENDITURE BY DIVISION BUDGET 1995 1995 BALANCE BUDGET 19~4 GENERAL FUND CITY COUNCIL -84,135 -10,902 -55,909 -28.226 66.5% -55,824 CiTY CLERK .233,700 -24,213 -176,321 -57.379 75.4% -232,890 CITY ATroRNEY -358,340 -81,887 -248,826 -109.515 69.4% .218,418 CiTY ht~NAGER .342.120 -41.126 .243,380 .99.760 71.1% .1~3.023 HUMAN RELATIONS .236.892 -21.855 .168,334 .68.558 71.1% .168,000 AOA TASK FORCE -15 -496 496 FINANCE OEPT. ADMINISTRAT .221,915 .22.394 .159,551 .62.3~4 71.9% .147,426 ACCOUNTING&REPORTING .381.313 -37,426 .259.884 -121.429 68.2% -238,591 CENTRAL PROCUREMENT .202,740 .19.625 .142,966 -59,772 70.5% -131.260 PURCHASING-FLOOD OPERATIO -853 853 -830 TREASURY -518,861 .55.727 -358,510 .160,351 69.1% -327.544 DOCUMEN i' SERVICES -190.714 .20,635 .134.518 -56.198 70.5% .134.015 INFORMATION SERVICES -420.878 .29.350 .290.545 .130,133 69.1% -204,989 RISK MANAGEMENT .232.810 .210,684 -22,146 905% -486.157 GOVERNMENT BUILOINGS .299,358 .21,791 .167,882 .91,474 64.7% .176.809 HUMAN R[GHTS ACTIVITIES -89.499 -6.843 .32,311 -27.188 54.3% -37,957 NON.OPERATIONALADMIN. .2,764,552 .189,098 -2,041.582 -722.970 73.8% .1.870,304 ppo DEPT. ADMINISTRATION .190,230 .18.305 .121,743 .68.487 64.6% .133,137 URBAN PLANNING .239,600 .18.918 .134.071 -105.529 5-80% .152,714 NEIGBORHOOD SERVICES -66.474 .7.480 -47,215 .19.259 71.0% -40,132 COMM. OEV.-N ON GRANT ACTI .118,450 -5.300 .39,926 -78.524 33.7% -83,295 CDBG-FLOOD OPS..NON GRANT -1.638 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT .1.157,149 .5.759 -80,713 .1,078,436. 7.0% -79.728 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE -6,805 -104 -1,160 .5.645 17.0% HIST. PRESERV. GRANT-PHAS -1,693 .3.554 3,554 ARCH/HIST SURVEY GRANT -2.974 2.974 LONGFELLOW NEIGHBORHOOD S -7.500 .7.500 6.0% ENGINEERING -528,246 -37.998 -292,986 .23.,.260 65.5% -333.391 PUBLIC WORKS AOMINISTRATI .140,324 -11.597 -100,277 `40.047 71.5% .91,100 CBD MAINTENANCE -198,931 -9.829 .119,366 .79,565 60.0% -83.588 ENERGY CONSERVATION -30,258 -3.051 -21,687 .6.571 71.1% .20.277 POLICE DEPARTMENT ADMIN. -293.198 -31.707 -219,017 -74,179 74.7% -197,081 POLICE pATROL .2.977,419 .290.182 -2.144,941 .632,478 72.0% .1,974.503 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION .424,049 `43.364 -308.877 -115,172 72.8% -288,243 RECORDS AN D IOENTIF{CATIO .277,024 .24,735 -183,275 -93.749 66.2% -164.507 COMMUNI~f SERVICES BUREAU .189.233 -23.747 .129.085 .60,148 68.2% -119,298 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS `476.526 -45,963 -348,143 -128,383 73.1% -305,858 BIKE/PEDESTRIAN SAFETY GR -2.559 2,559 -3,552 FLOOD OPERATIONS 0 0 -32,874 POLICE/DRUG ELIMINATION G -4.590 4,800 FIRE PROTECTION -3,086,970 -277.887 -2.363,925 .722,845 78.6% -2,145,531 ANIMAL CONTROL -?.29.285 -17,555 -159,624 -89,661 69.6% -258,436 HIS DEPARTMENT ADMINtSTRA -185,588 -18.352 -129,153 -56,435 696% -91,241 BUILDING INSPECTION -315.445 -32,319 -235,~02 .50,443 74.6% .180,947 HOUSING INSPECtOHS -203.495 -19.465 -147,370 -58,125 72.4% -130,954 FIRE EQUIP REPLACE RESERV -139.855 -138.855 0 100.0% TRAFFIC ENGINEERING -851.609 -66,527 -544,602 -307.607 63.9% -544,770 STREET SYS MAINT .1.713.234 -176.984 -1.229.050 -484,184 71.7% -1.143,249 FORESTRY OPERATIONS -197.706 -13,010 -129,307 -88.399 65.4% -106,522 CEMETERY .187,636 -16.928 -131.275 `88,381 70.0% .122.680 RECREATION .I,724.754 -144,693 -1.267.808 -457.146 73.5% -1,218.422 PARKS -1,119,819 -57.164 -527.607 -591.912 47.1% -827.638 LIBRARY -2.568.244 -253,374 -1.937,605 -630.639 75.4% -1,800,254 EARKS & REC ADMIN -152,824 -15.592 -112.122 -40,702 73.4% -102.188 SENIOR CENTER -461,675 -38,819 .317,547 .144,128 68.8% -282,552 LIBRARY EQUIP. REPL. RESE -13,500 .I.367 .12,133 10.1% -2.057 PARK LAND ACQUISITION RES -161,200 -1,467 .18,590 .142,700 11.5% -t.158 LIBRARY PUBLIC ACCESS RES -391 -391 100.0% -952 COMPUTER REPLACEMENT -26,436 -7,430 -9,436 -17,000 35.7% .7,149 PARK LAND DEVELOPMENT RES -24,000 -24.0(30 TOTAL EXPENDITURE .27,191,405 -2.270.037 .18,398,825 -8.792,580 67.7% -17.376,974 NET RECEIPTS OR EXPENDITURES -526,112 -475,089 .1,189,623 663,511 -1,117,819 ENDING BALANCE 6,742.710 6,079,t99 6.079.199 663.511 4.806,485 Enterprise Funds: Parking Fund ' Pollution Control Fund Water Operating Fund Refuse Collection Fund Landfill Operations Fund Airport Operations Fund Mass Transit Fund ENTERPRISE FUNDS NOTES MARCH 31, 1994 Below is a summan/by ~und of the FY95 budget and actual beginning cash balance, revenues, expenses (as amended) and ending cash balance with a brief explanation of major line items over or under budget. Parkln__~. 3-31-94 Actual % FY95 FY95 FY94 to Total Description FY95 Actual % of Actual FY94 in 1L_..[[,.~.~ _Bud,qe_t ~ 3-31-95. Bu__dclet ~. 3-31-94_ Actual Beginning Cash Balance $1,254 $1,254 Revenue $1,375 2,953 2,401 81% Expenses 2,212 73% -_33,059 _-1,957 _64% _ -2.1_09 .6.7% ENDING DASH BALANCE .~ ,,, ~!~698_ ~.~__~.~ Overall, the March 31, 1995, cash balance of $1,698,389 is good.Revenues totaling $2,401,013 are 81% of the FY95 budget of $2,953,000 and $187,000 more than the same time pedod last year. Below is a schedule comparing revenue by type for the nine months ending March 31, 1995, and 1994. .D_ ESCRIPTI_ON $3 FINES INTEREST ON/OFF STREET METERS PARKING LOT PERMITS RAMP PERMITS CAPITOL ST RAMP DUBUQUE ST RAMP CHAUNCEY SWAN RAMP . METERED OTHER REVENUE FY95 Actual as a 9 mos. actual 12 mos. 9 mos. actual % of @ 3-3%94- actual @ 3-31-95- FY95 Budget @ __FY94 .. FY94 _FY95 B_UDGET. 3_-31-95 195,955 301,965 360,259 300,000 120% 122,546 151,448 182,054 240,000 76% 456,901 603,956 459,031 607,000 76% 95,040 115,905 82,361 125,000 66% 121,854 168,753 174,720 165,000 106% 813,031 1,041,551 733,426 1,025,000 72% 310,354 401,017 264,304 375,000 71% 20,507 31,896 48,095 24,000 200% 76,387_ ~222,518_ __96,760 _ 92,000~ .105% Total Parkthg Revenues2,212,575 3,039,009 2,401,013 2,953,000 81% Parking Fines totaling $360,259 at 3-31-95 are 20% or $60,000 more than the FY95 budget of $300,000 and $165,000 more than last year at this time. The main reason for the higher amount is due to the policy of escalating fines. Interest income totaling $182,054 is 76% of the FY95 budget of $240,000 and $60,000 more than last year at this time. This is due to higher interest rates and longer term Certificates of Deposit matudng in FY95. On/Off Street Meter revenue totaling $459,031 is 76% of the FY95 budget of $607,000 and $2,100 more than the same time last year ($456,901). Parking Lot Permit revenue totaling $82,361 is 66% of the FY95 budget of $125,000 and $12,700 less than the same time last year ($95,040). Ramp permit revenue totaling $174,720 is 106% of the FY95 budget of $165,000 and $53,000 more than the same time last year ($121,854). This is mostly attribulable to the opening of the Chauncey Swan Parking Facility in October, 1993. -11- Capitol St. ramp revenue totaling $733,426 is 72% of the FY95 budget of $1,025,000 and $80,000 less than the same time period last year ($813,031). Dubuque St. ramp revenue totaling $264,304 is 71% of the FY95 budget of $375,000 and $46,000 less than the same time last year ($310,354). Expenses totaling $1,956,976 are 64% of the FY95 budget of $3,058,918. Capital Outlay totaling $5,745 is 7.2% of the FY95 budget of $80,257. Transfers totaling $939,829 are 62% of the FY95 budget of $1,515,105. Wastewater Treatment Fund - FY95 FY95 FY94 Description FY95 Actual % of Actual (in $1,000s) Bud.qet ~ 3-31-95 Budget @ 3-31-94 Beginning Cash Balance $1,918 $1,918 $1,842 Revenue 7,448 5,471 74% 4,842 Expenses -6,974 -4,504 65% 4,736 ENDING CASH BALANCE $2,392~ $2,885. $1,948. 3-31-94 Actual % to Total FY94 Actual 74% 73% Overall, the Mamh 31, 1995, cash balance of $2,885,115 is good and remains relatively unchanged from the last quarter. Revenues totaling $5,471,34~ are 74% of the FY95 budget of $7,447,982. Wastewater Fees totaling $4,660,636 are 69% of the FY95 budget of $6,739,775 and $270,000 more than last year at this time. The newest rate increase went into effect for bills sent out on or after Mamh 1, 1995. Interest income totaling $420,046 is 129% of the FY95 budget of $325,000 and $304,000 more than last year at this time. A total of $140,847 was received from FEMA for flood related expenses that occurred in FY94 and $237,590 from restructuring the escrow on the 1993 refunding bond issue. Expenses totaling $4,504,175 are 65% of the FY95 budget of $6,974,213. Water Operating Fund - FY95 FY95 FY94 Description FY95 Actual % of Actual (in $1,0005) Budget ~, 3-31-95 Budget ~ 3-31-94 Beginning Cash Balance $1,924 $1,924 $1,908 Revenue 4,156 2,985 72% 2,626 Expenses -4,296 -2,392 56% -2,687 ENDING CASH BALANCE $1,784. $2,517. $'1,847. 3-31-94 Actual % to Total FY94 Actual 71% 73% Overall, the March 31, 1995, cash balance of $2,517,465 is good. Revenues totaling $2,985,089 are 72% ofthe FY95 budget of $4,156,505. Water fees totaling $2,783,558 am 70% of the FY95 budget of $3,984,505 and $258,000 more than last year at this time. Interest income is $44,000 more than the FY95 budget of $70,000. Expenses totaling $2,391,505 are 56% of the FY95 budget of $4,296,632. Actual transfers totaling $233,115 are 22% of the FY95 budget of $1,048,971. The transfer budge~ is mainly comprised of water-related General Obligation (GO) debt. Most GO principal payments occur in June of each year and the money will be transferred out at that time. Refuse Collection Fund. 3-31-94 Actual % FY95 FY95 FY94 to Total Description FY95 Actual % of Actual FY94 (in $1,000s) .Bud.qet ~3-31-95 Budqet ~ 3-31-94 Ac~al Beginning Cash Balance $298 $298 $272 Revenue 1,668 1,285 77% 1,270 74% Expenses -1._~882 -1,276 68% :1,233 73_.~% ENDING CASH BALANCE FY95 revenues totaling $1,284,815 are 77% of the FY95 budget of $1,667,800. Refuse and curbside recycling fees totaling $1,218,283 are 77% of the FY95 budget of $1,575,000 and $12,000 more than last year at this time. Yardwaste bag sales totaling $54,190 or 68% of the FY95 budget of $80,000. Expenses totaling $1,276,050 are 68% of the FY95 budget of $1,882,273. Landfill OI3eratlons Fund- FY95 FY95 FY94 Description FY95 Actual % of Actual lin $1,000s~ Bud~ C~ 3-31-95 Bud.__~q~. @ 3-31-94 Beginning Cash Balance $1,610 $1,610 $875 Revenue 3,569 2,963 83% 2,649 Expenses _-5?, 134 -2,731 .66% -2~264 ENDING CASH BALANCE ~,045 ~ ~1,250~ 3-31-94 Actual % to Total FY94 Actual 72% 77~% Overall, the March 31, 1995, cash balance of $1,811,483 is good and relatively unchanged from the last quarter. FY95 revenues totaling $2,962,864 are 83% of the FY95 budget of $3,569,500 and $314,000 more than the same time last year, Landfill tipping fees totaling $2,847,934 are 80% of the FY95 budget of $3,550,000. Interest revenue is $48,000 over budget. Expenses totaling $2,731,124 are 66% of the FY95 budget of $4,134,146. Airport OI3eration - FY95 FY95 FY94 ~' Description FY95 Actual % of Actual '~ (in $1,000s) Bud.qet ~. 3-31-95 .Bud,qet ~ 3-31-94 '.~iil Beginning Cash Balance $37 $37 $9 Revenue 344 185 55% 143 ..- Expenses r.373 -192 51_.~.% -10_._~2 " ENDING CASH BALANCE $8 ~30 ~ Revenues totaling $185,325 are 54% of the FY95 budget of $344,456. -13- 3-31-94 Actual % to Total FY94 Actual 66% 54% Hangar rental totaling $69,877 is 67% of the FY95 budget of $105,000. General Fund subsidy totaling $104,911 is 45% of the FY95 budget of $234,456. This subsidy includes transfers from General Fund for several Capital Improvement projects. A transfer out to the Capital Improvement Fund is included in the expense budget. Expenses totaling $192,033 are 51% of the FY95 budget of $373,600. Mass Transit Fund - FY95 FY95 FY94 Description FY95 Actual % of Actual (in $1,000s) Budget ~,, 3-31-95 Budget .~ 3-31-94 Beginning Cash Balance $123 $123 $154 Revenue 3,056 2,442 80% 2,256 Expenses -3,041 -2,174 71% -1,995 ENDING CASH BALANCE $138 $391 $4t6. 3-31-94 Actual % to Total FY94 Actual 84% 73% Revenues totaling $2,441,938 are 80% of the FY95 budget of $3,055,811. Transit fees totaling $501,483 are 79% of the FY95 budget of $638,000 and $20,000 less than the same time last y~ar. Federal UMTA moniee totaling $296,978 have been received. State grant revenue totaling $198,570 is 100% of the FY95 budget. The General and Parking Fund subsidies totaling $1,4'16,465 are 75% of the FY95 budget of $1,888,611 as they are transferred at a uniform rate throughout the year. Expenses totaling $2,174,183 are 71% of the FY95 budget of $3,040,708. The FY95 budget reflects the cost of adding a new mute starting January 1 ($30,000). -14- FY95 Parking Fund Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands Revenues Expenses Cash Ba!ance FY95 Wastewater Treatment Fund Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands Expenses ~15- Cash Balance FY95 Water Operations Fund Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands Re,,,e¢~ues Expenses Cash Balance FY95 Refuse Fund Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands / Revenues Expenses Cash Balance -16- FY95 Landfill Fund Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands FY95 Airport Operations Fund Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands .S$85f Cast' 8aJanc8 FY95 Mass Transit Op. Fund Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands $3.500 - $2,500 52.000 $500 ' Expenses Cash Balance -18- Other Funds: Debt Service Fund Broadband Telecommunications Fund Johnson County Council of Governments General Fleet Maintenance Fund Equipment Fieplacement Fund Central Supply & Print Shop Fund I:~oad Use Tax Fund Employee Benefits Fund Debt Service Fund OTHER FUND NOTES MARCH 31, 1995 FY95 FY95 FY94 Description FY95 Actual % of Actual lin ~1,000s) Budc~et ~ 3-3%95 Bud(~et ~ 3-31-94 Beginning Cash Balance $266 $266 $463 Revenue 3,895 1,553 40% 1,238 Expenses ;3,904 . -490 13__~% -360 ENDING CASH BALANCE 3-31-94 Actual % to Total FY94 _Actual 45% 12% Revenues totaling $1,553,483 are 40% of the FY95 budget of $3,895,152. Property taxes (budget of $2,378,857) account for over 61% of the budgeted revenues. $1,351,894 or 57% of the property tax budget has been received as of 3-3,1-95. This corresponds to when property taxes are due, October and March of each year. Transfers.in from other funds ($1,493,295) ~ccount for the balance of budgeted revenues. The transfers are mostly from Enterprise Funds to pay for their share of debt service. Actual transfers occur only when principal and/or interest is actually paid, usually in November/December (interest) and May/June (principal and interest). Only $182,672 of the transfer in budget from Enterprise Funds has been received as of 3-31-95. The majority of the expenditure budget of $3,904,457 will be spent on Principal/interest in May and June, 1995. Broadband Telecommunications Fund - FY95 FY95 FY94 Description. FY95 Actual % of Actual idd~ $1.000s) _Sudqet ~ 3-31-95 Bud,qet ~, 3-31-94 Beginning Cash Balance $190 $190 $218 Revenue 282 227 80% 224 Expenses :391 -24.__.~9 ~4% -236 ENDING CASH BALANCE $8t ~;16~8 ~206 3-31-94 Actual % to Total FY94 Actua___..~l 75% ~2% Revenues totaling $226,929 are 80% of the FY95 budget of $282,000. The largest revenue source is from the cable franchise fee (budget of $275,000). This fee is remitted quarterly. $217,399 or 79% of the franchise fee budget has been received through 3-31-95 and is the same as last year at this time. Expenses totaling $248,982 are 64% of the FY95 budget of $390,942. Johnson Count,/Council of Governments . FY95 FY95 FY94 Description FY95 Actual % of Actual (in $1,000s) 6ud.qet ~,, 3-31-95 Bud,qet @ 3-31-94 Beginning Cash Balance $27 $27 $41 Revenue 315 263 84% 244 Expenses -329 ;232 71% :,2.01 ENDING CASH BALANCE ~1_~3 :~58, ~84~ 3-31-94 Actual % to Total FY94 Actual 91% 71% Revenues totaling $263,110 are 84% of the FY95 budget of $315,122. Funding from other local governments totals $63,968 or 94% of the budget of $68,061. 98% or $58,858 of state/federal funding has been received to date. The subsidy from General Fund (budget of $152,927) is prorated over the twelve months as well as the subsidy for.the ~20- Solid Waste Planner (budget of $33,860) from the Landfill - Solid Waste Surcharge Fund. Actual transfers in are 75% of budget at this time. Expenses totaling $232,294 are 71% of the FY95 budget of $328,849. General Fleet Maintenance - FY95 FY95 FY94 Description FY95 Actual % of Actual (in ~1,000s) Budget ~ 3-31-95 Bud.clef ~ 3-31-95 Beginning Cash Balance $219 $219 $186 Revenue 1,230 860 70% 838 Expenses -1,140 . -863 76% -854 ENDING CASH BALANCE ~309~ ~216 $170 3-31-94 Actual % to Total FY94 Actual 68% 71% This fund accounts for the maintenance on all City vehicles except the Transit Division. Revenues are generated from chargebacks to all City departments and divisions based on vehicle usage and in some cases actual repair costs. Revenues and expenditures should be in line with the budget by fiscal year end. Equipment Replacement Fund - FYg5 FY95 FY94 Description FY95 Actual % of Actual (in $1,000s) Budget (~ 3-31-95 Bud.qet ~,, 3-31-94 Beginning Cash Balance $1,524 $1,524 $1,268 Revenue 1,311 622 48% 520 Expenses -1,377 -645 47%. -466 ENDING CASH BALANCE ~1,45____.~8 ~1~80'1 $'1,322 3-31-94 Actual % to Total FY94 Actual 66% 87% This fund accounts for the majodty of all City purchases for vehicles. Revenues are generated from chargebacks to all City departments and divisions based on estimated cost to replace the vehicles. Revenues totaling $622,233 am 48% of the FY95 budget of $1,310,700. The revenue and expenditure budget was increased by $550,000 each to account for a loan from this fund to pay for a portion of the pumhase of land for the new water treatment facility. Proceeds from the 1995 General Obligation bond issue will repay the loan in April, 1995. Chargebacks to all departments totaling $538,840 are 79% of the FY95 budget of $680,000. Expenses totaling $645,073 are 47% of the FY95 budget of $1,376,769. Only 10% of the FY95 capital outlay budget of $790,700 has been spent to date. Central Services. FY95 FY95 FY94 Description FY95 Actual % of Actual (in $1,000s) Budget @ 3-31-95 .B. ud.qet' ~, 3-31-94 Beginning Cash Balance $214 $214 $196 Revenue 540 401 74% 270 Expenses -630 -403 64% -243 ENDING CASH BALANCE ~ $21_..~2 ~22~3 3-31-94 Actual % to Total FY94 Actual 75% 71% -21 - This fund accounts for the · aP~;~ah/ase/lease of City-wide coC~ntrahzed purchase pr,nt,obs .....,,_. P, .nd fax roach,has.'n-house pdn,,n. r ' .. · , '-"~,:,,ax Use and radio repairs ,,,,~ are generated fro~A~.adl° mamlenance a EXpenses are in line with the budget except for capital outlay. Only $32,055 of the capital outlay budget of $138,~ has been Spent to date. '" ~'"argebacks of SUppliershalu ROad Us~. Description FY95 3-31-94 FY95 FY94 Actual % inlL__~..~ FY95 Actual % of to Total Beginning Cash Balance Bud._._.d~q~ ~ Bud~ Actual FY94 Revenue $3,646 $3,646 Expenses 3,476 2,924 $3,816 ENDING CASH BALANCE -5 1.._,_~_55 -2~461 84% 2,718 ~ - 9 76% OUageted at $ .~/ .... ,-~o are 84% of fh~ capita. The balance of revenue COmes from - ---"~. ~C/ual race/n/s interest income. Expenditures include trans[ =~PruXlmarely $62.36 per and funding for CaN~., ,- ers to the General FUnd received by ~he ~ '~' ~mprovement Projects (Clp~~ pay for the cost of the Traffic Engineering and Streets Divisions Traffic Engineering Transfers to the General Fund are net of any Other revenue Engineering totaling and Streets Divisions within the General Fund. ACtual $535,024 are 64% of the FY95 budget of $837,979. transfern to Tra~c ACtual transfers to Streets [otaling $1,191,126 are 71% of the FY95 budget of $1,670,907 CIP transfers Iotaling $732,716 are 28% of the FY95 ' ~ ~ ee~. budget °f $2,645,156. 3-31-g4 Description FY95 Fyg5 Fyg4 Actual % in $1L.J.,.~/ FY95 Actual % of to Total Beginning Cash Balance Bud.~g.~ ~ Actual Revenue $477 Bud~ FYg4 $477 Expenses 3,417 2,080 61% $533 ENDING CASH BALANCE -3.~.~476 -2~590 1,g80 ~ 75.~% 60% Revenues go/a/in. $2 ...... ~ -2..~_~504 76~% 83% of/he FY9~ ~... ,,Uov, ~ -~ o are 61% of the, ~- ..... 9 -- received throu.h~U~?· $1,609,662 or'~o~r~ budg? of $3,416 gl . . ~ and 50% - * u. -o/-~. The m~;~.~- - ~ of the FY95 ~ ..... ' 2 Properly tax ,- npn~ This c~;--.-. w~,.y or prope~. ..... "'~vuW ~ax ray n,,. ~ _, '~vunues are a ~,.ulaes w/lh the due dat; ,~v~n~e Is received ~ce ~'~ uU~ge/of $2,823 91~pr~xlm?ely Expenses Iolaling $2,590 16 u. prope~ tax bills from .~_ye~r, apProximatelu ~n;~. ,~s been ~ ?e General Fund. ,~.7_ ~re 75% of the FY ~ ~ .... ~'upew OWners ' ~ ~0 m October ~' ~,uA, tPERs, PolicelF r;"~ transfer Pays for th~ ~'~ of $3,476,374 Th · -~ ~e~sJo~, ha~n~ ~ ~,,unzs of e~l~. * . ~ ,,,wor bUdnet~ ~.nn premiums ~. , ~.~ees m the Ge-er- ~ ~"e~.,~ .... ~ premiums and WOrkers "c';'~ fund. The employer ~;~;~r - 22 - FY95 Debt Service Fund Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands / Revenues Excerlses Cash Balance FY95 BTC Operations Fund Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands Expenses -23- Cash Balance FY95 JCCOG Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands ~e,.,enues Exr~ef~ses Cash Balance FY95 General Fleet Maintenance Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands Revenues Expenses Cash Balance FY95 Equipment Replacement Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands FY95 Central Supply & Print Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands Revenues Expenses Casr' Balance FY95 Road Use Tax Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands Revenues Expease5 Cash Balance FY95 Employee Benefits Budget to Actual Comparison for the Nine Months Ending 3/31/95 Thousands Revenues Expenses Cash Balance City of iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: TO: FROM: SUB J: May 9, 1995 City Council and City Manager Donald J. Yucuis, Finance Director Monthly Utility Billings On June.7, 1995, the City of Iowa City will be mailing their first cycle of monthly utility billings. Bills will be processed four times per month, on Wednesdays. We have divided the utility accounts in five bill cycles by the route number or first three digits of the utility account (i.e. the route would be 001 for utility account 001-496-01). The fifth cycle (routes 200 and 201) were considered special accounts requiring monthly readings, Those accounts that remain in this cycle will be billed the second week of each month. The June billing is a conversion billing-meaning the periods actually billed will range from one month to two months, or from the customers last regular reading date to their new monthly reading date. The regular July billing will be the first true monthly billing. A second phase in this billing conversion is to reassign 241 industrial/business account numbers from routes 200 and 201 into routes 1 through 99 (note, route 100 is only for accounts at Bon Aim Mobile Home Lodge). The account reassignment is dependent upon the physical location of the property within the city limits, to better manage the monthly readings. A special notification will be sent to each affected customer. The conversion billing for these customers will be processed in July. Those accounts remaining in routes 200 and 201 must be read on the last workday of the month for special billing purposes (BOD and SS monthly surcharge testing, special calculations, etc.). Along with producing monthly billings for our customers, we have changed the format of the actual billings to include 1 ) the comparison of cubic foot to gallon measurement units and 2) to include the customers average consumption for their account, also in cubic feet and gallon measurement units. The attached article will be published in the June, 1995 CityNews. We will also included a short message on the June, 1995 billings stating this is their first monthly billing and referencing the article in the CityNews. A press release on monthly billings has been prepared. att: 1 Monthly Billing Conversion Periods by Route for First Monthly Bill Route* ! Previous ; Reading Date 'First three digits of your uti[i{'/account number New Billing !st Monthly 1st Monthly Cycles Reading Date Billing Date Pedods for Minimum Fees - 001 to 016 017 to 028 029 to 032 033 to 048 049 to 054 - 055 to 063 064 to 078 079 to 080 081 to 099 100 200 to 201' 5-Apr 12-Apr 12-Apr 18-Apr 3-May 3-May 10-May 10-May 10-May 12-Apr 3-May 001 to 028, 029 to 054; 055 to 078 079 to 100 200 to 201 · 31-May 31-May 7-Jun 7-Jun 7-Jun 14-Jun 14-Jun 21-Jun 21-Jun 21-Jun 7-Jun 7-Jun 7-Jun 14-Jun 14-Jun 14-Jun 21-Jun 14-Jun 28-Jun 28-Jun 28-Jun 14-Jun 'Some of the 200 or 201 route numbers will be re*assigned to routes 001 through 099 with the July, lgg5 billing. A separate notice will be mailed to these customers. ' : i 2 months 1-1/2 months 2 months 1-1/2 months 1 month 1-1/2 months 1 month 1 month 1 month 2 months 1 month Beginning June 7, 1995, the City of Iowa City is converting to monthly utility billings. Each of our customers will be billed once a month after their June billing. Your June bill may reflect more than one month of minimum charges, depending upon your previous read date. This is necessary to convert all utility accounts to the new monthly billing cycle. Please refer to the above chart which illustrates the time period between your previous read date and the first monthly read date, To use this billing chart, find your route number (the first three numbers of your City utility account number) on the far left column. Follow it across to find the bill cycle for your route, the date of your first monthly reading, the date your first monthly bill will be processed and the period of time in this conversion billing. The period of time in every succeeding regular monthly billing will be a four (4) week period. We will be re-assigning route numbers for some of our customers who currently have 200 or 201 as their route numbers. This will be accomplished AFTER the June billing and BEFORE the July monthly billings. Separate notices will be mailed to these affected customers. It is our intent to simplify this monthly billing conversion for you, our customer. We welcome your comments and questions. Please contact our Customer Service Representatives at 356-5064or 356- City of iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: May 9, 1995 To: Mayor and City Council From: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk Re: Revised Council Sessions/May, June, July SECOND REVISION DRAFT May 11 May 22 May 23 May 30 May 31 June 5 June 6 June 19} June 20} June 26 June 27 July 3} July 4} July 6 July 11 July 17 July 18 CC: ~ Joint Meeting with County (5:30 - Local Options Sales Tax) - Regular Work Session - Regular Formal Meeting - Special Work Session (6:30 - CIP) - Special Work Session (7:00 - CIP) - Regular Work Session - Regular Formal Meeting - Canceled - Special Work Session - Special Formal Meeting - Cancelled Special Work Session (6:30) Special Work Session (6:30) - Regular Work Session - Special Work Session (6:30-7:30) Regular Formal Meeting Department Directors Media clerk\ccsess.mmo Destgn Plan For The Near Southside Area -- Iowa City, Iowa CITY OF' I0 i,W.A CITY Gould Evans Associates Founded in 1974 Offices in Kansas City, Lawrence, and Tampa 116 Employees ~ Multi-disciplinaryfirm Established urbat~ design and planning group Project Team Organizational Chart Client/ Constituents ('it.v of Iowa ('it)' (;leo LeRoy A IA, A ICP Ih'incipal-in Dave Knopick Pro,jet! Mana.~er Project Team Mike PetE,rs. ASI.4 I~rian Ilttmilto~t, A IC'l' A oiodita Mitra Nicole Boudreaux .1, I.¢e Stlllltlloo.~, AI('P Project Process Scope of Services 7Ytsk 1: Project Initiation -- Develop a worla'ng relationship. -- .~ssemble data and site and project details, -- A..['firm project schedule and logistics. Task 2: ReconnaLgsance/lssue Identi~catlon ~4cqttirc an under,~tanding of iss~es, constraints, and opportuniHes. .~nal. l~e the physical./bamework, relationship, and interface characteristics, Graphically demo~Tstrate design and development opportunittes and constraints, Identify preliminary goals. Task 3: Definition of Design Concept -~ Refine goals. -- ldentiJ3, a prqf~rred vision from three scenarios. Task 4: Design Development -- Refine the selected vision to meet established goals. -- [~*tablish base market considerations and financial implications. -- Define prelimtnary implementation strategies. Task 5: Public Pr~gentation -- Communicate design co~cepts and details to the communtty. ~- .41low community comment on.future design and redevelopment proposals. -- Refine the design plan and implementation strategies. Task 6: Report Preparation -- Record and communicate all details o. f the design plan for future use by the ¢;ity and the community. Conceptual Schedule of Performance APR. MAY [ PROJECT INITIATION .......... ~.~'.?~ ........ # RECONNAISSANCE~SSUE DEFINITION OF DESIGN !11 CONCEPT JUNE JULY AUG. IV DESIGN DEVELOPMENT '~ V PUBLIC PRESENTATION ...... '.i REPORT PREPARATION OCT. NOV. DEC. _-~ ~c;~-:r-; o~ -' I ~ Charrettes / Workshop Existing Framework Views of Iowa River from Near Southside Screened by Vegetation and Fencing. University of Iowa Facilities Plant Views of Facilities Plant; Railroad Tracks Act as Physical and Perceptual Barrier Near Southside Area Old Capitol and the University of iowa Central ~ore/Downtown: Pedestrian Mall, Commercial Center Civic Plaza Area Governmental Center: Courthouse/Federal Bldg./ District Offices Burlington St. Commercial Corridor Gilbert St. Distinctive Commercial Uses Pocket Park/Open Space New Pedestrian Bridge Links Near Southside to Residential Areas Eas~ of Gilbert St. Adaptive Re-Use of Railroad Depot: Mixed-Use Commercial Node ye-Bye, i)ream Phoenix sprawls into the desert at the rate o£ an acre an hour. Great of crime have wrecked the tranquil 'burbs of Ozzie and Harriet's tin i,.illllb:id~ 3,t:r,o D re art. :eateNew %rk git}, stretches clear into Pennsylval~ia. Strip lnalls, trafi:c, tea:' time?low can we bring civility ha& It) suburban ]i{~? BY JEnnY ADLER ~ '" Pavec Paraclse The 'new urbanists' are going back to the future to take the edge off edge cities, They want to bring small-town charm to blighted metropolitan landscapes. why a city like Phoenix. Ariz. ah'eady tile seventh largest in the nation. couldn't keep growing forever: Four times a ),:.~r. a pilot fi'om Landiscot. an aerial-sur;,eying compally, flies over tile city at 20.000 feet, snapping pictures to be assembled into vast phOtograF, hic maps. '|'hey show tl~e wlutc boxes of downtown. the gmeeful loop o£ tke' fi'eewavs as they inletsect and .'.ul I themselves eel by conlpas~. peter. and'the gitask- ing. reels of_~obu~bia stretching to'the horizoo in neMed curve. of loads. meets. drive~ and lanes. The piti ures fi'om fiw end ol'hla~ell s[1ov,- 5.00(I litere housm. Ihan tile ones taken three nlonths ear[tel; llouses squee..'e through the gap betv,'ccn two Indian reservations and Iblhm.' the highways into tile desert. which fiwv are cc, nsummg ill till llel'e ilo hool; l'~xcluding ik'derat land. Ihe onlY' tiring Manl. Jiog Ill lilt' v, ay of PhoelliX's swaJhm.'hl~ Ihe resl ot: the Male. Porcl es, gables and picket feaces-a I brand aew a t Kentlands WONDERFUL TOWN Some people consider such communities too cute, but cuteness is the glue that holds them together at five units an acre Midlael Filleld. director of the o nt Urbap Design Program of :\rizona Slate Unix'ersity. is Ttlcson. Unless. flint is. you sobscribe ~o the view of Ibnner mayor %rry (. d ~. tim Pltoenlx is approaching Ibe nlarginal di~utilit;' of ~";' 'than sin awl This is tile point at which each new subdM~ion 01 lUe tuan the now Iil~ ub [ants wdl contribute ~o tim eeoooaw ~" by b.)m~ ~md tinroes. roes~ quite logs and Navajo-moli~ throw ~gs. Many other places inthecmml~arecominground - ~ ~ ~'~ to this view. Most suburbs are e~loding in size without oven the compensation of economic growth; the Cleveland melm- polit~ area expanded by atlfird .~ -..: ,.- between 19~0 and 1990 eveo as its pop'alien declined. Over roughly the same period, ~li- fo~ia's popnlalion increased by 40 percent wbi]e Ihe total ofve~cle-nfiles driven doubled. Maintaining a fieel of cars to navigate among the hensing tracts, commercial strips and fice complexes of the American landscape now lakes 18 percent of Ihe m'erage fmnily budget. As anyone who rends the fic- tion in The New ~brker koows, Amefi~ns mosdv live in ban~ places with lira souls oF shopping mMls, affording nowhere mingle except Irafl~c jams. nowhere to walk except io Ihe health club. By itself. Ibis hasn'~ been a reason to stop building soburbs. But economic unsustahmbilily may ~an3' more weight. A conEof enee on "AIlernatives ~o Sprawl" at the Broo~ogs Institution this year was eleddfied by a report from the Bask of America endors- ing the femmefly elitist view dml sprawl in California has creatcd "enormous social, em'ironnleutal and economic cosIs. which ontil now have been Ifiddeo. igoe~d, or quietly home by society ... Businesses sn~r l~oln higher cosIs. a loss in x~rker p;od,~etivitv, aud ondemfilized hwashueals in older communities." "~3u ca~'l keep spreading onL" says Mike Burton, executive diredo~ of Peri- land, Ore.'s melropolilao govormnent. Metro "The cost ~o make roads and sewers gels to the poiot where ~l doesn'l work' Twitere people can en,.'isioi~ their chddren i)la','in;_ ut th(. ~streels. II nmst noI evoke' the citv." an aliea iJln,.~ where jby definition atkklle-class :",nted~ans rel'nse to hxe. So a /gl'owin~ col]is Of visiolturies, of which the best-known m-e Miauti-based architeds Andres l)uany nod his wife and :,,n'tner. lZ, liz;lbeth Plater-Zyberk. are lot>king to an eveo older mo~el- tile "village." defined as a cluster of houses a ronnd a cent rat p].,ce that is tile focus of civic Jil~. Uuder the buuner of "new orhani-:n "they have i)romulgated sonte sm'prisiagly siml)le and ohv~ons :-,:les f~r hnikliug better suburbs. described in delad on Ihe Ibllowm= pages. They ran be roughly samram ized in these three pdociple> I ~ensity: A typical moderu suhurb may have one Io twe dwell- big tillils pm here. and ~s laid out enlirelv fm Ihe coavenlence of the including a mix el hou~ieg type~: delached houses. rmx upiulalenls. "~}lanny flats" hwked away ahme the ~a:. ,ca In theory- and the oew mh,mism gill exist~ me,fly in Ih~ :v -the village would exlead lie more than a qoarlm-auh, Irmn I: . ceoler Io Ihe edgc nod include a h'aoql slop nnd a plate to buy milk and a newspapel luciaally, probably. a decaf latle ant a copy of The Keavon 11evlexx~ bui Ihe poinl is die ,amel exclusively private space. ninth of it devoled Io lhe stole most usdess Ib.n of l)hmt hie io all botany. the Ollhnat.nl,d . WII A Mlhllrb is U place Ihal's two-lhlrdq graqq bnl x& flh nmvhv: · Lids l(~ds ival'ting ~o cross ~ ntultilu~e road ~. Temecul~, Colif. NO STREET OF D3,1q:,AMS The' ' ' ' cw c center of many subm'bs, designed for the convenience of the car, is a strip mall along a six-lane highway to play ball except in the streets. Communities need parks outdoor public spaces in wlfieh people eao gather and interact. I ~landat0ry design codes: Obviously no one with a the ce ~ he matter would waut to look out his window at a ?-Eleven. New urbanist pmctitiouers impose daborate design and zoniug eootrol~ intended to create harmcoleus streetscapes. The results eao intensively cute and not to the taste of people unaccustomed to seeing dormers. gab es aud porticoes ou every building. Bet cute- heSS is dte glue that holds ueighborhoods together at five nnits per l,ike nlost visionaryarchitecturalscbemes. tbis idea has sold more hooks than houses. Its principles were known to planners eark' in lite century. when such charming communities as Scatsdale..~' Y.. Marieutont, Ohio. mtd Lake [;crest. IlL were built. But they were torgotteu in the postwar rash rebuild suburbs on the stone pri~ciples of elficiency that bad beelt mnployed in constructtug army bases. Their first new application came a decade ago. when Duanv and Plnter-Zyherk dress' up plans for asn a 'esort town on the Fioridu panhaudle. called Seaside. Seaside-with its cozy, narrow streets. its jnntble ofpastel hmnes with alandateD' front porches- is I)roba- bly the most inlluential resort community since Vm'sailles. Prince Charles noled it approvingly in his BBC special co architectme. Sce le ole ~eorad o~al dexelopmentshavebee btn m places as I;ar-lluug us suburban iMaryland (Kentlauds. ulso phmned by Dnanvand Plnter-Zvberk) and thee ~ sk 'tsofSacrmnento. Cahl. Laguaa West phmoed by Peter Cahborpe of San lq'ancisco~ Bet the real test of this idea will come in ibot t a year. when the D~qnev Co. opens its first plauned community ever, i2elebration. Fla. on $.000-acre swath of land near Disney World. After consideriu'2 a lypical snbdMsion builtaroundagolfcourse. the company opted ibr a pitot which vice presideot Wing Chao described as 'trad onal I lie ox~. IX te '~. (,elebr o xxdl el ler van ate tile oew of banism wilh the, im )rimatar of Disnev-"sufi, tor middle-class cons( ~ )tion"-or )rove(he ,outer s;~ ,.~ atit'sa.O elate Yon can look at Phoooix as a pretty good exmuple of what the eew urbauisra is up against. It is among the five fastest-growing metropolises in the couet~, aod few places are as relentlessly suharban in chm'acter. It has a downtown so exiguous that a pedes .... , "$ea~ide' planner Amarleae city planning :, want to hell during t W°rId war 11,.s~s ' An~ces Dua~y, the ; architect ~o, ~th his ~ ~b and paptne~ ' Elizabeth Plator- Z~erk, designed the neot~adiUonalist town o~ Seaside, Ha. "Any town-plannine text pHor to 1955," be says, "has raTepeaces to social issues, to techni~l Issues, to esthetic issues." But a~er the wa~, specialists and bean counters took ova(. it was as ff America had suffered a stroke: "We lest language, we lost the a~ility to think ~mplexiy." As a ¢esult, "Ule subupDs we have are cartoons oT ~la, nine." trina eelsida its biggest office buildingat 9 on a weekday morning is a phenomenon as singular as a cow in Times Square. Mcanwhile the new subdivisions race each other toward the mountains. Del Webh Corp., a major national developer, recently won approval over hcated opposition for a 5,600-acre project in New River, 30 miles north of downtown and at least I0 miles heyend the outer edge of existing devel- opment. The environmoot, which to de- velopers used to just be tile stuff they knocked doxsm to make room for houses, is now a cbefished selling point. There is a catch, according to Frances Emraa Barwood, a city council member who represents most of(he sparsely populat- ed northeast quadrant of Phoenix: 'q'he ~. people whoboaght houses in Phase One [of a popular development] were told tbey'd be surrounded by beautiful lush deserts, but instead tbey're surrounded by Phases 3\re and Three." embrace nature m'e thousands [] of 1960s-era ranch bouses that Lain too old, small and unfash- ~ionable to attract middle-class buyers, and as a result are turning into that new Americao phenomenon, the suburban slum. This may be the fate of ao area called Maryvale, which like all west-side snburhs suflbrs from tile competitive disadvantage that oonmmt- ers must drive leto the sun both w;kvs. lniem~persed mnoug the houses are large tracts of vacant land, dreaD' com- mercial shSps allda mall. ouce the cynosure of a IhrMng neighborhood. now clark und erupt); "For the same money that Del Wehb is speedlug in New River. I'll bel Ihey could buy up most of this awe and rehuild it," God- dard says. "What is the imperative that suys we bay( to go to a beautiful rmnl m~'a when we have all this land a fi:w miles fi'om downtown? We're de- straying ourselves in shorter and shorter cycles." The imperative, as Goddard well knows. is "the mmket." 'lb build in an existing neighbin'hood, s;kvs .lack Glea- ,,tin. a ~,e~dor vire Iu esident al Del Webb. is Io"rue against Ih(' m;e ket, reslaud of with it." 13anks me reluctant It, Iced to ,uch "inidl" projects because Ihcy have eo assurauce the houst's will so A I) e cngitm of Poe ix's g'ow h apparently cuu4~t~ of middle-aged cmlples fleeing ~dilbreia. This is a markel. (;leason notes. heavily dfivee hy "~ecmit3C' the polite term for "fi.aC'" Fear of crime is u grcal molivalor for development." says Joe VeMoo.{. u I~hocnix phmnen "Everybody x~qquls to be oIHhe Ihr side of the freewast" So Ihe nexx; subdivi4ous go nphehiml ochcr-cohned stucco walls In California. old Ihrms are sprouting more houses than crops DON'T FENCE ME IN 'lb run with the market is to develop virgin lancl farther out, not to rebuild dying communities closer to the city six feet high. with gaards and gates between the public roads and the tenet sauctnm el residetidal streets. Other kinds of barriers defi. nd soulathing uearly as dear to suburbauiles as their own skins. proper- tv yahms. l{omeowners are isolated by desigu kern apalhnents. ~bops. public squares or anydang else that might attract people with less money or of a different race. Deed restrictions mid connuunily essoeta(iotas see to it that no one will ever briug down the toee offhe neighborhood by taming his living room into a boaely parle(; Success for adex alepreen( lies in freezing for elm'airy the social atu{ economic clas, uf the original parchusers. No woedin dte)"te so sterile-sterility is designed into themt .kilt dung eke x- a fin'cat to the steady appreciatiou of res,de value boiueowning Amedrans take as a basic economic figbt. 5bu drive dowu the wide ca~ving streets ol'q~rravilu. in iio[Ih Scottsdale. xdm,e sale~ slog,mis"The 1tarn~ony o f l.and al~d l.ife." and the only s~gu. of "Lift" are lite sagaare caduses, which accrue al the rate of ebon( an inch a x eat The house~ themselves ate magnificent mouu- ment~ to tamik hi): Ihoughlfidly designed. (archally coestn~ctcd. xx ttl~ raastcr bc/d~ suites Ihc size of(he Oval Oltke. but the I~ce they m: n to the ,he(: ~. the blank brown plane ofu three-car garage .....~ : . . ... ....~ ,..,..... .....Popul ~bon Distribution .~...'~k~: ~ , .,..,-,.,~.',,.f.~ .....e,.~.~'~...~ · '~" ''"'' ' " ~~'~.~'~..,..... · ~ .~ x~,. . , , . , , . - ,, ~.~ ., '." ...., '~ ~ "~.') .~~~~,..~. ,~'A?~,.,?~, . .... ~. I .... · .~)' !~T~'~ ~-~,~/~ '~~--~ ;' ~.'. [i: , . ... .. , .. . ......, . . .... ~ . =L ..~ .}. ..~, ,~.. j-~ .,~ . ~.~.~-. .' ......... ~- ~, ,~. .~: . .~=' .,~ . ~.:.. · C h= · J . .r.. . .,& ~ , .....= .........,... .... :~ I'~ · . J'. . · ~ ." . ....~'"" ....~ .....' ' i ..I · . .,. .. ' ,.. . . .h · .. The Expalldlrl~ ~etropolis.. ~~,.., . · ~~,..,,.. ,. . . ,, ,' . .....,.....f .... ....... .,~..~...., ...~..... . ~ ,J, ~.. , ,.. · ' .;~'~?.~..~"'"?~,',...'. "~ ~ ' ~1, , /"' : ' ' .... ' :. ~~L. ':~ ~,:'~ ~:""~..'......-.~,:,~;;,'~:tv~, ., . . ~J~g~.,. ,~.~, ... ..... ., .~.,,~,.,,~,~..?~.~..~_ ...... ,':;-,; .- .. PJlo~IIIX . .~.~ ... · . ·. ~ps ~d tbe el'end 'oper- lents, -~ with nmity of tile ~arJoL .d and drive sdale. -ate of' neted. e they free-market economics. which ia its reductge fashion holds Illat de~elo)e.,r,s by definition are bnilding wbol peop e want to bu); Timre is this slrange conceit among m~bitecls." sa)~ Peter Gordon. a professor of economics at die Universily of Southern California. "that people ought to live in what they design. If yon look at bow people really want to live in this connh'~ saburbanizmtion is not the problem, it is die solution." And for tinit matter, Oscar Newman, a celebrated New York- based nrban planner, describes the new a~banisnl as "a retrogres- sire senlimentnlibc American ~nnilies typically live in a neigb- bod~ood for three to live yem~, foreting connnunilies based not on conrotan birthplace bot on interest' ~t, ng singles, families with children, "active adnhs." Who mnong tlS, Newman asks, really waots to w-create the social ambience of an 18tb-centnq, village? lie thinks the sebnrbs need more exclnsirity. gates and barriers where none exist already. recognizing thst nlost o[ ns are going to live anlOllg s/rangers [~r IllOS[ Ofonr lives. On the other hand. people can bay only what's for sale. The bonding market i~ notorionsly coeservalive and conformist. if tbr no other l'ei15Oll than lb;It Inos[ people expect to sell their booses stnllednx~ Perhaps luore people x~nhl choose to live in urbon villnges if Ihey were exposed to Ihcm. "If }~n ask people if they want 'density.' th(?' will always say no." says Peter Katz, author of "TIw New Urbnnism." "Bnt ffyou ask if they wnnt restaamnts and schools and other dfings close to wbere they live, they s~v yes." Bn[ yon conkhft bnild a village in 111osl ~laces in t, he comma, even ify~u wanted to. Submban spmw s u t into tim zoning c~ es of mosl conmmnilies and the lending i)ohcie~ of virtnally every bank. l~br new villages to become a reality, the)' will have to get past a phalanx ofplaaning boards and baak officers, whose first principle is, "Nobody ever lost his job for following the code." We are, nm,ertheless, oo the verge of a great opportunib: Americans moved to the suburbs for the best of motives-to give their etfildren better schools, cleaner air, a place to tide their bicycles without getting their tires eaugbt in the trolley tracks. Suburbs should teem with life, with humanity in all its diversity {or as ranch diversity as you can find within one standard dm,iation of the median family income)-svitb people wal 'king, running. bi 'king. rocking. Bnt Omit design has promoted instead the ideals of privacy aad exclosivity: the clapboard-sided ranch house, evoca- tive of empty plains; tbe brick colonial, hinting at descent fi'om the Virginia aristocracy. \Ve can continne the trend of the last 40 years. which Gopal Ablnwalia, director of research for the Nation- al Association t,f Ilomebuilders, complacently describes as bigger honses. with more ameoities. sitcared farther from the workplace. Or we can go down a difl'erent patb, which probably will begin with the kiod of bumble observation a visitor made at a subdivi- sion near Phoenix receofi.',; Like nlost new developments. this ooe aimed to come[we water Ibr important uses-namely Ihe golf course-I!v landscaping the lionses with gravel and ca~'tas rather than lawns. As the visitor paced the Iol with a imzzled look. it snddenly dawned on him that the desire for an acre of land is not an unvarying eonstiluent of htnnan natnre. "Gee," lie remarked wonderingly to a saleswoman. "if it's all gravel, you don't really need that nnlcb of it. do yoo?" 15 Ways-;o Fix SU uro S Most of us actually lmow what we want in a neighborhood-we just don't know how to get it, because developers have been building the wrong thing for 50 years, Here's how to get our communities back on track. Moeing day al Keotlands, the neotraditional suburb in Mao'laod u,here honses are close to the slreet and to each other Olt DECADES, ANTON NELESSON OF aUTGEaS F University has been using the tools of science to pursue that most elusive anti snbjective quality, happiness. When a developer coines into a community. humbly seeking permission to re-create ancient Pompeii oo the site of an old Go Kart track, the town's planners com- liltssion Nelesson to survey the populace and determine if that's what they'd actually like there. Usieg ~hotographs, models and qnestiommires, Nelesson has surv?ed people all over the connt D', and these m'e some of the thin~ he s fouad: ~ Everybody will call for a green open space in the middle- Ihat's automatic. They will put Ihe major commnnity boildings around Ihe plaa~. then group Ihe houses on relatively narrow slreets. Ninely-nine pm~-ent doa'l want sireels thai me ~ore than two laaes wide. At ilm edges of the village they leave open space." ! "With two working spoases, [smaller lots] make a lot more sense· Yon dofft want to mow that big lawn." · "People have a fundmneotal, ps)'chological. spiritual response to nature. If you show them recently bnilt muhi- family hoasing or office parks. they go negative. A small. tra- ditimnd neighbarhood is what people want· They dofft know how to get it." · Well. of course they don't: most of them haven't even seen a "small. traditional neighborhood" in 3'ears, if ever. Bot they in- stioctively choose it anyway. The prenfise of the new arbani~m is · that ~eo fie can have the kinds of neighborhoods the)' saythe~ like. ] Architects know how to tiesign them. developers can build'them. I banks can make money on them. All it takes is a measure of i political will to overcome the inertia of50years ofdoingthings the ; wrong way... and tim application of a few simple rules. · GIVE UP BIG LAWNS ONE USEFUl. WAYTO DEFINE A SUBURB 's a place that grows lawns." The great postwar disillusionrecur began for many Ameficmns when they left the city in search era simpler life and discovered that watering, fertilizing, weeding and mowtug the measliest yard takes more time over a year than the average New Yorker spends looking for parktug. Aud the expanses of ..... "': ... front lawn themselves serve no purpose but their owners' vanity- except that most sub- urban communities require them, on the ..... ' theory that large setbacks help preserve tbe bucolic character era commanit); ' Tim ~nay have beeu true in the 1920s, · ' when suburbs were being settled II0 houses " ' at a time. But when highways opened np huge areas of countryside ,after the war, _ ........ : . . : . large-lot zoning had the opposite effect: by . spreading population over a larger area, it . ' . : · accelerated spmwh If zoning boards weren't so fearful of "density," they could reqoire '- .... ' ' ' developers to cluster houses and set aside :" "' ' : ' ' land nearby for open space and recreation. ~":" " ' This is also a narre efficient way to btfild a ......... community. l-louses that are 100 feet apart, .~ .' ~... .'. r,,'" ".'" obviously. have 100 feet of unused road and ' ' ' .... utility lines between them. School buses have that much farther to travel. And the goal of making a walkable corn- "'" munib'isdefeatedwhenhousesarespread 'lbs t des tee t ~e ecdn. Culi[.isfineforcarsbutnotforkasaudotherpedestrious out on huge lots. Even the depth of the front yard tun~s out to u,ake a crucial psychologi- ~ dia~muce. Wheu hensns are set backMAKE THE STREETS SKINNY behind 30 feet of lawn. the streetscape be- comesoppressi,.eb. desoh, te:your perspee-~ Modern ~nbdivisions are designed to be driven, not live chauges so slowly yon don't fed yon're reaching a destiuatiou. I'robab[v no single~,~xvalked. Even little-used streets are 86 feet or 40 feet cMnge wouhtimprovethe qualib'ofsubur- wide, with big sweeping curves at the corners. It's great bau life as nnmh as shriu'kiug dm size of Iots-aud it ,,'cold actualb'make housesfor cars: traffic barely needs to slow down. But ibr those · cheapel; on foot, the distance is daunting. Narrow streets--as BRING BACK THE little as 20 feet wide-and tight, right-angled corners are' CORNER STORE a lot easier tbr walkers, and probably safer as well, ~,,,.-. sn,un,,.,. ~o,~,,r,,o~..~.,,'sbecause they force drivers to slow down. One objection: }a,'chitect l'etar Caltha,],e. "is a Innd-fifedepa,'tments worry about getting trucks through. ~scape of absolute segregatiuu ... not - ~,st ~n to,', is or eo e. age oreth,,e~ty but But that hasn't been a big problem in old nabes in cities ; simple au,ctiouai use,." This i~ so o~,,'ions like New 5brk and Boston. thai ulusl people uo longer see the absmdi- lyof makmga li,.'e-milc round Irip for u loaf of bwad. 'l'h,,t is. as long as they have n car. hles:.ed chikhen. tile elderly or: handicapped. peopJe who r,ul'l ovt,i deeper role the couuti_Tside. allb~d a car Ibr evary hietuber of the fitmirv- it's unls. O}.wJonsly. malls ned suparularkets, with their vast selections Agaiu. t}liq is a timetlon ufgood inteulions mlduuc hy the explo- and economics ufscale. will uever be supplanted by neighborhood siou of snbud.qa. Vrhat worked in a cronplier neighborhood iu a shoppiugstteetsmlclcornergroceries. Butitstillshoulclbeposslble ' city -a dry cleauer. a drugstore. a corner grot'cry heraroe tesque wheu blowu up a hundredfnkl and upphcd to v.'hoh.. ('titIll- mail?' i~t'uple. Thenyou coukl seed yourk d oul for thai bread - aud lit". Shopping. slIips stretched for &)zeus el milc~ :dmn: the anee, sl)al)Ct whalehe's at it. DisCOU~..alled.:w~.o~.gstr,et~.,d~a~.,a=. 0 Transit stop Main ~e~.?~- . ~ ~ ~- .: ,.;. ?~'".*~ !~~ ~ ? ~ · *'~/ ~ -' '..! DROP THE CUL-DE-SAC 4The ?-de-sac, a fancy term tbr "dead end, has emerged as the street plan of choice for modern suburbs. Its great ad- vantage-the elimination of through traf- fic-is also its weakness, because it com- pels evm'yone in a given subdivision to use the same few roads, often at the same times. Anyone attempting to travel on foot or by bicycle will eventually wind up on the shoulder of a busy highway-and probably give up. But streets don't have to be like that: they can tbllow predictable routes and interconnect. This gives mo- torists a choice of routes, so they don't all pile up every morning waiting to make a left turn at the same intersection. DRAW BOUNDARIES d in the United States; if the entire population lived on an rare of land par household, it would occupy less than § percent of the contiguons 48 states (plus all of Canada and Mexico for parking). But in the regions where Americans actuully want to live. they are swarming into the countp,.'side, coveting whole counties w~th edge calms flangoutwardfromthebeh~mysasffbveentnfu- gel force. New lork Cty s suburbs reach across the whole state of New Jersey into eastern Pennsyh'ania, nearly 100 miles froln 'rimes Square. To new-urbanist theoreticlens, tiffs is the disastrous result of shortsighted government policies, such as the bias in the federal mortgage-guanmtee progrant toward detached hoeses on large plots of land. 'lb free-market economists, it represents the snln of millions of choices by informed individuals who have decided that, on balance, getting up before davra in Bncks County beats a fidl night's sleep in Broo 'klyn. But sprawl is not a necessary component of affluence. In Europe and Japan, governments have proclaimed "urban-growth bound- aries," beyond which development is more or loss prohibited. Even in a democratic countl3' such as Her land, a businessman seeking to live on a farm and dtive into the city to work would have to request permission from the government-m~d he might not get it. Try telling that to Lee Iacocca. Con- trary to popular Ameficm~ political the- or3', these mgulatious haven't notice- ably affected the prospetity of Western Enrope-nor of the one major Ameri- can city that has instituted its own ur- b~-growlh boundary: Portlm~d, Ore. In Oregon, naturally, no one would prevent the hypothetical busieessman from IMng on a farm: he jest couldn't sell it off for a subdivision when he re- tired to Pahn Sptiags. More than 20 years ago. planners for Ibe Portland metropolitau area drew a line around 325 square miles-covetieg 24 mnnici- Irdities and part~ of three counties- and designated it to receive virtually all popelatiou growth. Along the way ihey have reduced the arm'age lot size for detached houses from 13,000 square feet to au average of 8,500 square lk, et- roughly the dillS'l'once between putting three anti five ueils oa all acre The proposed fi~tum goal is aa even mingier 6.C,00 square feet. Betweeu uow anti the year 20.10. Portland's planners ex]mct the popularlea to grow some ?Z per- cent. but they ~re cannnitted to an in- crease of resiaent~d land use of only 6 perceul. Instead of phmling moro "edge cilies" at Ihe mbitrau' points where h-eewavs intobeet. Portlm~cl has con- cenlrated job growth in ~ts downtown. The urbau-growfi~ beuadary has been so snecessful thai even a consel-Vanv¢ prope~y-riQ~ts group, Oregonians in Action. endorses {he concept (ahbougb it argues with some cletails). hna¢ine how Ires Aageles would I~k today if it had dun{' thi~ 20 year~ ago. Leading new urbanist . Nothing Irks Peter Calthorpe more than "naysaym's who say that Americans don't want to live in high-density cities--they want suburbs, as though · there were only two choices!" Accardlnll to the San Francisco architect, "The answer is to mldarstand there are a huge number of people with different lifestyles. There are different densities in new urbanism, some low, some high. Neighborhoods that have dlversily--ca~bs, recreation, casual social encounte~s-- will be Increasingly Important. Suburbs aren't Just about bedrooms anymore." HIDE THE GARAGE GMost suburban houses give the ap- pearance that they are first of all places to park, turning to the world the blank and desolate face of a garage door. Neigh- borhoods look more pleasant when ga- rages are put behind the houses, accessi- ble by side yards or by alleys. Multicar garoges turn an umeelcoming face to the street HOUSING TYPES Of ALI.'I'IIE WAYS 'l'(} IMPROVE 'file SOCIAl, AND I'11'~SICAL ~ breaking tbe monopoly of single-fmuil) detached homes: that cudless altematioa of "Crestwoods" Rod "Auroras" inteRred to foster die ilbsiou of prel~reoce iu boyera' choosing betweea four }rodmorns and three bedroouls plus a den. Homogeoeity is the vetD, esscute of the subt. bs. Attached honses, mural nnits. sbops or busiuesses-aaylhing that might attract traffic mid its atteudaot evil. a deriRe in pmpe~y values-~e hanned. This is a hirly eew phenomenou io human histoD; For most of he last 9~ yea~, most peo ~le iuhabited villages, where by deft o oddug was yet7 far frmn anythiog else. As late as the 1040s. for Ihat matter, Memphis, 'l~uu., developsr Ilem7 'lkirley grew op ia Ihe kiud of haphazerd city ueigh~rh~ that is the despair of sensible phmuers: a jumble of stores. shacks· flats, walk- ups aud dr'cayiog mansions. all snfl~sed with the vivid street life .eigbbor~ made fm themselves in the era before air couditiooiog lured them iadoo~. It is. of course. beyond Ibe power of zoning to bring ha& those days. ever if we wanted them hack, but it may be possible to recaplure some oflbe ener~, ROd spirit that character- zet Americau cMe life before talevision clamped its moaopoly on public discoarse aud entertainareut- So in 1987, wbea 'l~tr ey bought a 13S-acre vacant plol ou ao island iu the Mississippi five tabures fi'om dowatown Memphis. he embarked ou a radically dilh,rent kiml ol (levelolnnenl. which begaa oot by uskiug "What will tbe connty let me build?" or "What will the banks finance?" but "What kied of place do people want to live in?" The result was ltarbor qbwu, intended to be "a slice of the world-the more complete and varied the better." There are houses ranging in price from 8114,000 to 8425,000. which contrasts with a typical subdivision in Phoenix, Ariz., for exmnple, where the seven basic models run the gamut from 8271,990 to 8516,D30. There are town houses and apartments. mid shop.s, being planned. Devel,- opers had t tied mixing housing types in the plmared communities' ' oftbe 1970s, but in those each use was isolated in its ox~m thousm~d- acre quadrant; in Harbor Town they are all within a few blocks of each other. Turley seems to have deemed that lustcad of golf, the leading recreational activity would bfi' chatting with neighbors while watching the sun set over the river, so he set the houses close together and built cozy village squares. The houses themselves are an eye-popping collection of styles, ineloding Charlestown provin- cial, Cape Cod and Bauhaus roodera, but the)' have an traderlying unity based on materials (mostly clapboard or wood siding) and the ubiquitous new-orbanist amenity, porches. Turley e.'cpects to make money on the project, when it's completed in 1997, but he also has a higher aim. "Democracy assumes -demands-that we know, un- dentand aud respect our fellow citizens," he says. "Itow can we appreciate them if we never see them?" PLANT TREES C, URBSIDE Nothing humanizes a street more than a row of trees shading the sidewalk. But they must be broad-leafed shade trees such as sycamores or chestnuts, not the dinky globular things like flowering pears that developers favor in parking lots. And they should be planted out at the curbline, where tL-v will grow out to form a canopy o'~er the roadway. Why don't more places have such an obvious amenity already? Because traffic engineers worry that people nfight drive into them. :- / · J Strolhug umtcr a cnaol~v of spring blossoms PUT NEW LIFE INTO OLD MALLS 91'1tEY'VE GOT FOUNTAINS, ItANGING [eras and ice rinks, and if you stay iu ~ne long enough you may eventually hear "Wichita Lineman" rescored for 140 violins, but most shoppiog malls are, es- sentially, just vast sheds that constraints trudge throngh until, with nothing left to spend, they are spit out into the parking lot. No wonder people are so quick to desert them when a bigger one opens up down the mad. Ghost malls are no longer a rare sight in America. Phoenix has at least two, in- dudtog one right across the street from several of its lmgest offtee bailrings. But the land they occupy can, with some inge- uuity and a lot of money, become the nucle- us of a real neighborhood, an architectural adornment rather than a hulking blight. The process is happentug first with strip shopping canters, wbicfi are usually older than enclosed malls and less complex archi- teeterally. The first step is to transcend the definition ofa "shoppiug center" as a group- ing of unrelated stores in the middle of a parking lot. That pretty nmch deseribzd the New SeabuD' Shopping Center, a dreary 1960s-era strip mall on a bus)' highway in Cape Cod, Mass.. aborn 70 miles frmn Bos- toe. A decade ago, the owaers decided to redevelop it on a radically different scheme, modeled on a New England town. New streets were laid oat ill what hall been the parking lot: new shops were huih in the uegleeted area behind the existing ones. A 25-year revelopulent plan was drown up, envisioning a snbstantial connnanity; rices, a libram a dmreh and a sanior-citi- zeos' home }ulve already been buih. 15u'king was tedistribnted along tile crabs of the uew interual streets. This makes for sanle congestion and inefficien- cy, bat lessens the frustrntim~ of trudging down long aisles of parked cars toward a distant mall entmuce. Developer Douglas Storrs says that shoppers find tile streugth to walk as much ns half a mile down the sidewalks of what is now, callel! Mashpet Cmlunons, passing shop v. indov, s, tone ms and planters. The same people rea,c,b the threshohl of exasperation when rim) bnve o park nmre ran ,100 feet from die door to an ordiuary mall. Them are other exmuples. indndiag Mizner Park. in Boca Ratmi. l:la.. wbere a failtug shoptfiug tenIra' wus replaced wilh n 28-acre mixed-u~e devdoluoent organized aroaud a uew public park. 'lb be sure, not all developers will he this ambitions wiffi their properties. Bnt as a rirst step. hiding Ire ugk' collecliou of Dumpsters aed load- ing do~'ks ou tile backskies of strip malls clmld eliminale a lot of soburban blight. In Portland, Ore., these commuters are choosing ~o ride the rails PLAN FOR MASS TRANSIT 1~ Is there an.,,, xvay to get Americans out of their ~ cars and into buses and trains? In Los Angeles. not even an earthquake sufficed; only about 2 per- cent of drivers switched to mass transit after their freeways fell down last year, and most of them went right back to driving as soon as the roads were patched up. The problmn is that transit seems to need a critical mass to work, and many metropolitan areas (Los Ange- les among them) are just too spread out. Many commut- ers seem to think that if you have to drive to the train station anyway, you might as well just keep going to the office. Hence Caltborpe's idea for the "pedestrian pocket": a relatively dense settlement Mthin a quarter-mile walk of a transit stop. In Portland, Ore., they're building the transit line lb'st-putting stops literallb, in the middle of I empty fields-in the expectation that the developlnent will follow. LINKWORKTO HOME 4 4 $unuans AaE NO I.ONGER JUST nSo~OOM I I connnunilies; the dispers~ of employ- ~ ~ ment out of the central cities bas been corporations leaving the oil) tend to [elo~ate with- in a few miles of the chief e~ecutive s hq}~se.) But theresuh-d~eox~noronic office parks consist- ing of indistinguishable glass cubes amid a token tbe same developrecur you work in." he says: "there are a lot of criteria for where yon choose your house. But if people eao walk to a park. to midday shopping, restaorauts anti day care. it's better for the people working there." SHRINK PARKING LOTS I_I~PARKING IS ONE OF SUBUI1BIA'S HIGHEST achievements. Ouly in the United States Vdoes the humblest copy-shop or pizzeria boast as much space for ears as the average city hall. fuzz of grass and a giant parking lot-is jest a higher class of sprawl than the gas stations and fried-ddekm~ places tbat would have been built there lustcad. If earnpanics don't want to be downtown, they should at least attempt to integrate their of- flees-or factories, for tbat matter-into commn- nitice. Noboily wants to live next to a steel mill, natnralb: Bet in I~tguna West, outside Sacramen- to, people are bappy to live withie a qnarter-mile oran Apple Computer plant, wbich provides 1,200 white-collar and asserably-lioe jobs. Apple agreed to locate there after the coonnunity was already planned: developer Phil Angelides says the corn- pan}' liked the idea dmt executives and workers could afteel to live in the same coremunit): Playa Vista, a new-urbanist connnunity being planned for Ix)s Angeles, has been mentioned as a possible home for the DreamWorks SKG muhimedia coin- llauy. It conld lie an upduted-and ver)' tipscale- A different approach Mixing Inoorne levels in a neighborhood Is a new- urbanlet oredo, and nobody does that hetter than planner Oscar Hewman. His scattered- slte Iow-lnczme housln~ for Yonkers, N.Y., ls a model of Its kind. But Newman Is no fan of the new urbanlsts. "Instead of saying, 'lhts is what's wrong [with suburbsl: they should ask, 'Why do people feel It's worth it to live there?'" Bnt it is also a curse; the vast acreage given over to asphalt is useless for any other purpose. and goes nnnsed more than half the time an.5-.va.x; Most plan- ners regard parking as a prerequisite for ecooomic grov,'th, like water. But downtown Portland. Ore.. wNeh strictly regulates parking, bas beeo thriving witb essentially the stone space for cars as it bad 20 years ago. Developers often build more parktug than they actually need; a half-empty lot is presuroed to reassure prospective tenams that they'll never roe ont of space for their cars. let a bauk. a movie theatre' and a chnrch are all full at different times. Oue simple improveracet towns can nlake is to look for v,-ays to sham and pool parking space among differcut users. The ideal-although expensive-solntiou to the par'king problem is for cars to vmfisb nndergroand when they get where they're going. A shoppiog center surrounded by acres of striped asphalt. whetbet it's empty or full, ulight as well put tip a raoat against pedestrians. I,arge parking lots shookl be siteareal version of the company town, which in this case will comprise 15,000 houses aod apartments, shops, a pink. promenades and joggiug trails along the last tidal raarsb in the cib; calthoqm believes tbat more husiuesses will reeve to new- urbanlet projects as they grow disillusioned with the traffic aud isolatiou eftheir office parks. "The idea is not necessarily to live in behind buildings wbenever possible-somethiug most suburban zoning codes don't curreudy allow - and dwided by streets, sidewalks or struetnres into smaller segments o f aronnd three acres or less On-street parking in residential neighborhoods ~s con- troversial. Some plaoners favor it, because it cleates a "buffet" betweee pedestrians mid irafire, but others consider It a danl~er to childreo running oct between the cars. MAKE A TOWN CENTER 12' Every town needs a center: a plaza. : square or green that is a geographi- cal ret~renee point and a focus of civic lith-even if that just means a place to push a stroller or throw a Frisbee. Shop- ping malls are a poor substitute; the area they serve is too diffuse, and in any case their civic function is incidental to their {real purpose-making money. Develop- Iers often provkte some pm'kland in their 'subdivisions, but it's usually on leftover parcels that wouldn't be built on anyway, by the edge of the highway or adjoining another subdivision. ~2 ~lWSWlq:}; MA~15.1995