HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-10-24 CorrespondenceOctober 15, 1995
Iowa City Council
Iowa City, Iowa
Dear Council Hembets;
I am grateful to our city council for the work you have
done to make Iowa City the progressive and unique city that
it is. But I am concerned about the proposal of including
gender identity as a protected class of citizens. Would
that mean that our schools could be accu=ed of
discrimination if they refused to hire a transvestite or
drag queen to teach in our schools or preschools?
At what point do we quit taking pride in how tolerant
we are, and start using our common sense and say, "This
isn't right."?
I hope the Council will reconsider this issue and
delete transsexuals from being a protected category.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Wanda Evans
Mayor Don Swanson
138 Koser Ave.
University Heights, Iowa 52246
October 16, 1995
Mayor Susan Horowitz
City of Iowa City
Civic Center
410 E. Washington St.
Iowa City, Iowa 52242
Dear Mayor Horowitz:
Thank you for inviting City of University Heights representatives to the October 23 informal
work session. Because this is a topic of major concern to UniversityHeights, I anticipate most of
the Council will attend.
The positions of the City of University Heights are as follows:
Melrose Avenue will remain a residential, two lane street through University Heights.
The Council is willing to consider having a third turning lane between the bridge and the
Koser/Golfview interchange.
The striping for the bridge lanes should be a matter of mutual involvement and agreement.
The Council strongly favors maintaining vehicle and pedestrian traffic flow during
construction.
The bridge should be the minimal width necessary.
Parking for businesses along Melrose Avenue should be maintained.
There should be minimal disruption of access to homes, especially Olive Court and the
homes to the East.
· The construction period is an optimal time to correct problems with sanitary sewer line that
runs along Melrose and up Olive Court.
· The pending litigation should be resolved.
Sincerely,
Don Swanson
THE IOWA CITY
Free Medical Clinic
P.O. BOX 1170, IOWA CITY, IOWA 52244
319-337-4459
120 N. DUBUQUE, IOWA CITY, IOWA 52245
October 5, 1995
Dear Members of the Iowa City City Council:
I am writing to thank you all for your support of the Iowa
Medical Clinic.
City Fr~
We saw over 6,000 clients last year for medical visits, financial
assistance, HIV counseling and testing, walk-in referrals and over
the counter medications.
The funds with which you have provided us this fiscal year will help
us continue our mission of providing accessible health care to low
income people.
We are pleased that you also value this goal and hope you will
continue to support the Free Medical Clinic in the future.
Sincerely,
Sandy P--re kup, Co- Diro'ctor
(for the staff and board of FMC)
C' ~
A UNITEDWAYAGENCY
OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY-THURSDAY gA.M.-3 P.M. AND FRIDAY 9-11 P.M.
CLINIC HOURS: MONDAY & THURSDAY EVENINGS, TUESDAY 9 A.M.-3:30 P.M.
CALL 337-7909 FOR APPOINTMENT
te.,,.,¥he-.,.me~..~.rs of the
B~'rd te-f EC'"~menical Towers
- HUD ~ Des ,,~oines,
City HousJ. d~..~CommisJ. on,
- City Council,
RECEIVED OCT 18 1995
COMPLAINT
1. This is our second complaint about very high temperature
(80-85 degrees) which happens under certain conditions in our
apartments.
First complaint (copy is attached) about overheating has been
sent in May lggl to HUD and Board and resulted in:
a. installation of a new ventilation system,
b. installation of special sun-reflecting blinds on South
side.
2. During such periods of high temperature in OUT apartments
(80-85 degrees) our quality of life deteriorates considerably and
our health is put in danger.
As a result of high temperature we have:
- during a day time:
a. often to leave our apartments until night,
b. not to prepare our meal because temperature goes even
higher,
c. to open windows and use fans exposing ourselves perilous of
draft,
during a night time:
a. to open windows. This often results in nightmares when
siren goes on. We live next to police and fire departments and
close to hospital,
b. to have sleepness nights causing later drowsiness.
3. Conditions under which such overheating takes place are the
following:
a. heating system in the building is put on,
b. Outside temperature is 60 and higher: such temperature
happens at least during September-October and March-May
periods, i.e. at least during six months.
c. temperature in corridor (from where hot air flows to our
apartments) is kept at 80-85 de~rees.
4. When we ask Ms. Pusson (our building administrator):
a. "Why is it necessary to put heat on so early (last time in
the middle of $emptember of 1995) or continue heating season
until May and 3une?", she explains that this is done in response
to complaints of some residents about cold in their apartments,
b. "Why is it necessary to maintain high temperature in
corridor?", she says that some residents complain that it is to
chilly for them to wait for the elevator.
c. "How high is temperature in the apartments of those
complaining?", she says "I do not know"
5. It looks (according to those answers) that puting heating
system on and off is regulated now by complaints of some
residents but not according to certain written rules based on
notion of normal temperature which is defined by DOE as 72
degrees.
6. We disagree with such approach because many of us have been
told before moving to this building that it is not run as a
nursing home but as a normal one were temperature is maintained
at normal level. But if 8pard changed policy it has to be put in
writing in our rental agreement. If policy has not been changed
it also has to be stated clearly and put in writing.
7. As the very first draft of such policy we offer the
following:
a. There is rigid schedule for switching on and off heating
system: ON on October 15, OFF on April 15, no matter what.
b. Temperature of hot water in heatting system is kept at
such level which guarantees 72 degrees in apartments.
c. Temperature in corridor is kept at 72 degrees as
recommended by DOE for public places.
d. Residents who complain about cold temperature receive
portable electrical heaters (about $30 a piece) which they can
use as needed.
We hope that such measures (if implemented and followed) wi]l
help all tenants (not just selected ones) of this building ...
at all times ... enjoy ... the property" as it is promised to us
in our rental agreements (see p. 5, paragraph 24).
8. We strongly believe that all of us (who signed this lettel')
will receive (unlike previous time) some kind of written response
to this letter. .pa
~ote 1. One may say that use of electricity for heaters will be
to expensive (in comparison to what? our health and quality of
life!). But if the same one looks at our building in October on
sunny day when outside temperature is 70 and higher, the same
curious one finds that at least one third of windows is open. But
it means that although cheaper source is used (gas) nature is
warmed up also.
Note 2.. Some peppie say: What do you want. Older people need
2
more heat. Look at nursing homes. But is this building run as a
nursing home? If it is, than it is necessary to put such policy
in writing in our rental agreement.
Note 3. Well, let us assume that some our residents are more
comfortable at higher temperature (say at 80 degrees). But how
about those "hot-blooded" ones? Do they have less rights to enjoy
property?
By the way: if it is chilly for one when temperature is 72
degrees she/he may put on additional clothes, turn heater on and
so on. But what to do those ones to whom 80-85 degrees is to hot?
Open window, but it does not help when outside temperature is 70
and higher and temperature in corridor is maintained at level of
80-82 degrees. To install air-conditioner, but this is
prohibited. To take our clothes off but often it does not held
much and we have not learned yet how to take our skin off.
The following documents are applyed to this letter:
1. Copy of the first complain.
2. Extract from Mrs. Flynn's 3ournal.
Thank You for your attention.
3
Mrs. Flynn, Apt. 9-A, contributes these comments taken from
her Journal:
Nov. 29,'92, the day I moved in. I've had to draw the blinds
to shut out the sun...so warm in here...I probably won't have
to turn the heat on at all!
Dec. 4,'92: One hates to say one battles the sun in Dec. by
closing blinds throughout the day but ~t would be too warm
in here otherwise. I hate the "closed-in" feeling and I run
the ceiling fan continuously and have windows open much of
the t~me!
Jan.24, 1993: What will it be like when it turns 60 degrees
outside? At 9 a.m. I've lowered the blinds; it was SO warm
in here yesterday! I've not had the heat on since I came here!
Sept. 18,1995: Notice on bulletin board: Due to weather fore-
cast heat will be turned on tomorrow!
Oct. 3,1995: So w-~rm in my apartment, I sweat as I sit on
my couch...windows open wide!
What is to be gained by running the furnace too warm? It is
a waste of energy! Can not the heating system be set so that
the lobby and halls are at a temperature reco.~memded by the
DOE, yet residents who require warmer temperatures could have
that in their apartments, while those who feel healthier with
fewer BTU's could regulate toward that?
Each apartment is the home of the occupant(s); each resident
has his/her own physical "make-up" and %s entitled to be as
comfortable as housing maintenance can provide!
CITY OF I0 WA CITY
NOTICE: PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT
In accordance with Iowa-Code Section 28E.20 JOINT PURCHASES OF EQUIPMENT,
the City of Iowa City is giving notice of intent to purchase one or more items or
accessories or attachments to equipment, the total cost of which is estimated to be
$50,000 or more.
The following political subdivisions have been contacted:
City of Coralville - City Clerk
Johnson County Board of Supervisiors - Chair
iowa City Community School District - Business Office
NOTICE WAS MAILED: October 19, 1995
EQUIPMENT TO BE PURCHASED:
Five(5) Transit Coaches - Iowa City
City of Iowa City
Finance Department
Central Procurement & Services Division
cc: City Council
~1%reater Iowa City Area
Apartment Association
Post Office Box 1765
Iowa City, Iowa $2244
October 17, 1995
Members,
Iowa City City Council
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington
Iowa City IA 52240
Greetings:
Please find enclosed a copy of the document we submitted to
Mr. Boothroy's Task Force on Service Quality For Housing Code
Enforcement Activities. It has the endorsement of our board
of directors.
We thought it might be of some interest to you.
Sincerely,
President
Areas of Concern
with the
Department of Housing and Inspection Services
Prepared by the Greater Iowa City Area Apartment Association
October 1995
A) Major concerns based upon input of members:
1) Apartment owners and managers are not told in advance what
the "area of emphasis" will be on inspections so that we may
have the opportunity to cure the problems before inspection.
2) As the 1978 Housing Code was written, there were two sets
of responsibilities established: one for landlords and one
for tenants. The one for landlords was divided into two
categories: those items to be inspected for on a regular
basis and those items for which a one time thoroughgoing
inspection would.be made and if everything is satisfactory a
"Certificate of Structure Compliance" would be issued. It is
very clear that the actual enforcement of the housing code
has not been as the 1978 housing code was written or
intended: a) Tenants are almost never cited on inspections
for items covered in the code under their areas of
responsibility b) The difficulty is even more acute with
"Certificates of Structural Compliance". Basically, this
section of the housing code has been ignored by both the
Housing inspection people in writing their citations and by
the Board of Housing Appeals in rendering their decisions.
Items that legitimately belong under the Certificate of
Structure Compliance (CSC) section of the ~ode have been
cited incorrectly under the maintenance section of the code.
3) At least two years ago (and perhaps earlier) housing
inspectors began inspecting not only for the items
appropriate under the maintenance section of the housing
code, they were also inspecting for building code, fire code,
zoning code and tree ordinance requirements as part of the
housing code maintenance inspection. Now there are two
problems with this action. a) They gained entrance to the
properties under the guise of a housing inspection and then
inspected for all these other things as well, WITHOUT
ADVISING THE PROPERTY OWNER EITHER PRIOR TO THE INSPECTION OR
AT"THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION of the other items for which
th'~ were inspecting. Indeed, unless the property was cited
fo~ a violation under one of these other codes, the property
owner/manager may even today not be aware of the hidden
~pection agenda that came through the door with the
· nsDector. This concern is not directed at whether the city
ha~ the right to inspect for these items, but the ethics of
their approach. It is an inappropriate way for the city to
do business.
The second issue that this change in inspection practice of
adding every other possible city code or ordinance
requirement to the duties of the housing inspector while
doing housing inspections EFFECTIVELY ADDED;iLL OF THEMTO
THE HOUSING CODE. This change in practice constitutes a huqe
chanqe, in what constitutes a state mandated housing code
inspection. This change in inspection practices was done, to
th~ best of our knowledge, by HIS without any discussion or
approval by the city council. The decision to make a change
of ithis mag~qitude in what is inspected for as part of the
housing code inspection should be made by the city council,
nd~.~he department of Housing and Inspection Services (HIS)
a~d.~ertainly not by HIS without discussion with and prior
no~ice to those it regulates.
~) This year the city council did decide to add a new section
to the housing code that was proposed by HIS staff. This code
change adds essentially three requirements to the housing
code, two of which somewhat legitimize the actions just
described above. These are: a) every structure shall be
maintained in compliance with 1) the state fire code as
amended, and 2) the building codes in effect at the time the
building was constructed and b) if the use or occupancy is
changed, then compliance with currently adopted codes is
required. While the addition of this one paragraph Der se is
not large, it constitutes a major change in the housing code.
We are concerned a) with whether these changes are
appropriate b) whether they received the attention they
deserved prior to enacting this code sections and c) that
there may be some unintended and perhaps undesirable
consequences from this new code section. We feel that there
needs to be discussion of these issues, to address these
concerns and assess whether they are appropriate for a
reasonable, workable housing code that meets all the
community's needs.
5) Housing inspectors are polite, courteous and
knowledgeable. But they are also inconsistent with respect
to the items they inspect and in the rigor of their
inspections. These two practices are the source of a large
number of complaints. Clearly, what is needed are
standardized inspections, possibly in the form of a written
checklist which the inspectors are instructed to follow and
whose content is known in advance to those being inspected.
6) The Greater Iowa City Apartment Association, whose members
own or manage more than half the apartments in Iowa city,
feels that it has been excluded from the process currently in
place for considering changes in the housing code. We would
like to see a policy in place under which HIS and the people
its regulates are invited and encouraged to communicate and
cooperate in addressing common concerns such as changes in
the housing code and enforcement policies $nd practices.
7) Finally, those active an the apartment association hear a
number of complaints about HIS, some of which may not be
justified but some do appear to have merit. Perhaps the most
common denominator among these complaints is one of the
perceived absence of fairness in the conduct of the business
of HIS. Unfortunately, at present, there is no good way for
those who feel incorrectly or improperly treated to seek
redress of these concerns. Please note that this is not
solely a question of fairness of interpretations of the
hoqsing code, it primarily is a question of fairne.ss in the
wa~'HIS operates. A means to address these concerns should
be'~nsidered which protects them from the risk of reprisal
an~ provides them with a fair and impartial hearing.
B)l~Sbecific concerns expressed by members:
R~bnder a
~) The'I0wa City housing inspectors are now inspecting each
residential rental unit for their compliance with the
building code that was in force when they were built and
citations can be issued for anything found as not complying
with the appropriate code. This means inspecting older
.properties for compliance with building codes as far back as
1955 - forty years ago. Between the time these buildings were
constructed and now most, if not all of them, have met all of
the other standards established between their completion and
now. These properties have passed inspections for such things
as a Certificate of Occupancy, Certificate of Structure
Compliance, Minimum Housing Code standards and have met or
have corrected and then met all their housing code
inspections for many years. Why routinely inspect for these
items now? There is a fundamental issue of fairness here. No
other group of properties is subjected to this level of
inspection.
2) Some property managers would prefer housing inspections in
times other than July and August because that is their peak
busy season with rentals and turnover.
3) During inspections tenant caused problems result in
landlord receiving citation. This is not as per code.
4) Items showing up on inspection reports - not as citations
but as "recommendations" in effect become requirements
because of the legal liability implications of such
recommendations. In essence these recommendation are a
"shadow" set of requirements added to code.
Responder B
1)
residential rental property in communities of
thousand population or greater. The level of
breadth of inspection is at city's discretion.
requirement for any other regular inspections.
City's so comprehensive and why are all codes
rental housing inspected for at each rental housing
inspection? I am not aware of any other community in Iowa
with such an onerous set of rental housing inspection. Who
made this decision? Why?
The Iowa Code mandates regular inspections of all
fifteen
intensity and
There is no
Why are Iowa
affecting
2) There are costs as well as benefits associated with high
minimum requirements for rental housing. Benefits include
better maintained and safer housing. Meeting higher standards
in both existing and new construction of multifamily units
means higher cost to build/or upgrade. These costs are
ultimately borne by the tenants and thereby contribute to the
absence of low cost rental housing in Iowa City.
3) The goals of housing codes should be to protect occupants
of multifamily structures and to protect the values of
neighboring properties by establishing minimum standards of
health, safety and maintenance.
Responder C
1) There appears to be a city policy of having increasingly
higher standards for both new and existing rental housing.
This means ever increasing housing inspection requirements
and higher minimum construction standards and therefore
rising costs for new construction of rental units and for
improving existing units. Ultimately these cost will be
reflected in the rents charged. Issue of affordable housing.
2) There is also a question of the fairness of having
prop. ~rties that having once met all the existing standards
fo~rental housing to now become the victim of retroactive
laws and requirements. Isn't this a form of double jeopardy
o~c.ontinual jeopardy? Question of fairness.
Re,ponder D
1) I would like to see a) a minimum ~afe set of housing code
standards to abide by, plus b) any additional requirements
that were in place when my building was constructed.
2) I would like to see tenants written up for any hazard
created by the tenant.
3) I would like to see no upgrades other than upgrades to the
minimum safe set of housing code standards.
4) I would like to see a citation without enforceability
1 b) above unless an eminent danger factor can be
demonstrated by the city.
for
Responder E
This person expressed their strongly held views of injustice
and unfairness experienced in dealing with the Housing and
Inspection Services Department and Housing Appeals Board but
declined to make their specific complaints public~ for concern
that they would be identified by their association with the
specific problems they would describe and therefore felt
there would be a significant risk of reprisal via the
i?~pection process.
E~itor's note: In discussions with members of the apartment
a~s. ociatlon about concerns with the Department of Housing and
.7~spection Services, there is wide spread recognition that
this department has an immense amount of power and a great
.deal of lattitude in enforcing the codes for which it is
responsible. As a result there is a perceived risk of
retaliation, should an apartment owner or manager speak out
against the operation of this department. This perception of
reprisal as a real risk appears to be a frequently held view
among rental property owners and managers. It also appears
to have stifled public expressions of their concerns.
Responder F
l) It appears that the Certificate of Structural Compliance
has very little , if any, meaning at the present time. If my
memory serves me correctly, that was developed some years ago
so that when a building is in compliance with all building
codes at that time, no further work would need to be done
other than regular maintenance and compliance with new safety
requirement that are not "grandfathered".
2) Housing inspections should concentrate on safety concerns
and the proper functioning of mechanical, plumbing, etc.
equipment. Esthetic concerns should be those of the owners
with the market place dictating what needs to be done.
3) When the housing inspection staff members are setting
inspection priorities for the coming year(s), owners should
be advised of those priorities a reasonable time prior to the
inspection. These should be presented to the apartment
association for reaction and suggestions.
4) All properties should be inspected under the same time
table. Inspections should be consistent from property to
property and from inspector to inspector.
5) Every effort should be made for housing inspectors to
refrain, consciously or unconsciously, frQm intimidating
small owners. There are many people who are scared to death
of inspectors. Every effort should be made to avoid having
this happen.
Responder G
1) I am concerned with the inconsistencies experienced in
inspections. There are major inconsistencies between
inspectors and between inspections (over time). We need an
inspection checklist.
2) If we are going to be inspected for things not in the
housing code, such as old building codes, then any violations
of the old building codes (when the building was built)
should not be enforced unless a clear and present danger to
the health and safety of the occupants is present. Non-
lifethreatening old building code violations should be
grandfathered.
3) The focus of the housing code enforcement effort should be
on safety, not on esthetics or minor maintenance issues. I am
not sure what useful purpose is served by issuing citations
for peeling paint, a little rust on a fire escape or a
partially dead tree. If these are the only items they can
find to write up, then our rental housing stock must be in
excellent shape.
C) Conclusion
We really have two sets of concerns: one deals with the way
this department does business and the other is the recent
change in the housing code which we feel did not receive
sufficient discussion prior to its enactment, in view of the
huge changes in the code that it represents.
1) With respect to the way the Department of HIS does
business:
a) We feel marginalized and excluded from any ongoing dialog
on issues affecting us. We would like to see frequent and
full cooperation and communication between apartment owners
and managers and the Department of Housing and Inspection
Service. We would also like to see a more open and
participative approach to housing code regulation and
enforcement where changes in the housing code and in the way
it is implemented are discussed with the people to be
affected by the regulations and practices PRIOR to their
sub.m~ssion to council or becoming departmental procedure.
RegUlation by consent is much superior to regulation by
edict.
b)!;W~£1e this point should not be exaggerated, there is some
fe~ng of oppression by and fear of Housing and Inspection
Services by some of our members. The citizens of a community
Q~ ~he quality of Iowa City should not have these sort of
concerns with any of its government departments.
c) At present there is no really good way for individuals who
feel aggrieved by actions of the HIS department to seek
redress. If implemented, such a procedure should be operated
outside the department of HIS by a neutral third party.
d) The focus of our housing code enforcement efforts should
b~ on the safety of the rental units occupants. At present it
appears to be off this mark.
e) We really need to work on consistency of inspections.
This is a major problem. Standardized inspections with prior
notice of area of emphasis would go a long way toward
reducing the frustrations experienced by those being
inspected.
2) With respect to the recent changes in the housing code:
These constitute a really huge change that deserves more
comment than it has been given. We would like to have more
discussion on them.
City of iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date:
To:
From:
Re:
October 19, 1995
City Council
City Manager
Task Force for Housing & Inspection Services
I received a copy of the September 30 memo signed by Dick Hupfeld as president of the
apartment association. This letter is critical of our task force efforts, notably its organization
and it also appears to be critical of the charge to the task force.
The task force, as organized, was made up of a variety of interests with the full intention of
seeking input from those interests in improving upon the quality of the City's housing
inspection efforts. It has been my understanding, and I felt was well explained in the June
13 memo, we were to deal with how we can do our job more effectively and service our
clientele - those subject to inspections. A review of the Code was not planned unless
relevant to the work product/quality issue. It has been admitted publicly by Mr. Hupfeld that
we "do our job too well" and yet in his memorandum he states that he "demonstrates the
difficulties we encounter in dealing with the HIS department." This conflict and others
throughout his correspondence seem to be taken as a message that the Task Force is not
organized to his intentions. Our interest and desire has been to serve the apartment
"industry" - both landlords and tenants - through a quality of service review. What an
apartment owner may find onerous in an inspection could be met with s[Jpport and
appreciation from a tenant. We hope to serve both interests, clearly the intent of the Code.
The task force was designed from a variety of interests and I believe we have satisfied that
goal.
The comment as to whether Doug should serve as a facilitator I believe is a misunderstanding
on the part of Mr. Hupfeld in that he fails to recognize that a facilitator is intended to
encourage discussion and arrive at some conclusion, I believe we are accusing the director
of an immediate bias while not allowing the task force to proceed with the task at hand,
Further comments concerning the nature of a task force are mentioned and it is true that we
are not conducting a public hearing and the discussion is intended to be from and among the
parties assigned to the task force. If the City Council wishes to have a public hearing on this
or any matter, you need only notify and declare your intentions.
There seem to be other issues that are in the subtleties of this memorandum. If, in fact, there
is a dissatisfaction with the code - because apparently there is little with our enforcement of
the code, at least from earlier comments - I do not believe the task force is an appropriate
mechanism to deal with matters of law. I would suggest that the representatives of the area
apartment association or any interested party simply prepare in writing and direct to your
attention those elements of the code with which they apparently have some disagreement.
These can then be referred to your Housing and Community Development Commission for
their review. A determination as to whether the code should or should not be recommended
for amendment to you would be forthcoming as the Commission saw fit. They currently
review and recommend on such matters. Beyond these comments, the task force appears
to be in my judgment a good idea and we should proceed and see where it takes us without
any preconceived notions, other than the original charge.
cc: Doug Boothroy, Director, HIS
Dick Hupfeld
Attachment
October 20, 1995
ROBERT P. BURNS
319 East Washington
P.O. Box 1226
Iowa City, Iowa 52244
(319) 338-760O
FAX (319) 337-2430
Mayor and City Council
City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Rezoning Application No. REZ95-0010
Saratoga Springs
Dubuque Road
Dear Mayor and Council Members:
Last night, the planning and zoning commission voted to defer action on the above
referenced rezoning application until not later than March 31, 1996. Therefore, I request
consideration of rezoning application number REZ95-0010 by the city council as soon as
possible.
They took this action even though I had pointed out that I face deadlines regarding the city's
HOME funding of November 1, 1995 pursuant to Marianne Milkman's letter to me dated
August 31, 1995 and December 1, 1995 for the 1996 Low Income Housing Tax Credit
Program.
Furthermore, the purchase agreement which I have with the sellers, Charlie and Made
Ruppen and Mary and Lee Hitchcock, becomes null mad void on January 9, 1996. I believe
the sellers will not renew or extend the purebase agreement beyond January 9th.
I am available to provide information or answer any questions which you may have at this
time or in the future.
Thank you for your consideration of my request and your assistance with bringing additional
affordable rental housing to Iowa City.
Sincerely Yours,
Robert P. Bums
RPB/slk
XC: City Clerk
City Manager
Iowa City Planning and Community Development Department
Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship
'._rq
.~.>:
August 31, 1995
CITY OF I0 W/I CITY
Mr. Robert Burns
Robert Burns and Associates
328 E. Washington St.
P.O. Box 1226
Iowa City, IA 52244
Mr. Charles Eastham, President
Greater iowa City Housing Fellowship
P.O. Box 1402
Iowa City, IA 52244
Dear Bob and Charlie:
At the end of July, HUD monitored the City's 1994 HOME Program and recently sent the attached
followup letter. The $240,000 in uncommitted HOME funds referred to in the letter include the
$150,000 allocated to your proposed affordable rental housing project. Your efforts to find an
appropriate site for this project have been impressive and your perseverance commendable. The fact
that you still have no acceptable site is due to circumstances beyond your control. However, the City
must commit these HOME funds by May 30, 1996 or lose them. In order to have a reasonable time
period to commit the 1994 HOME funds to an alternative project, we must have evidence from you
by November 1, 1995 that you are able to get legally binding commitments for these monies.
While HUD does not set a similar deadline for the commitment of CDBG funds, it regulates the amount
that a City may carry in its Letter of Credit, and we are over that limit. In addition, as HUD and the
City struggle to maintain federal funding for these programs and as Congress tries to reduce the budget
deficit, it is vital that we spend this money promptly.
We will therefore probably make recommendations to the Housing and Community Development
Commission and Council in November on options for alternative uses of both the 1994 HOME and
1994 CDBG monies. If you would like to talk to me about your options and possible ways of getting
these funds committed, please give me a call at 356-5244 so we can discuss it. There seem to be
no easy answers to these problems.
Yours sincerely,
Marianne Milkmen
Community Development Coordinator
acT8 25,turn
Iowa Finance Authority
Building a Foundallen for lowo's Growth
1996 LOW INCOME HOUSINGCREDIT PROG M
ANNOUNCEMEN
DATE:
TO:
October 13, 1995
Interested Parties
FROM:
RE:
Iowa Financ~ Authority
1996 Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program
The 1996 Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program application package is now available
upon request. The application package contains the State Allocation Plan (as amended May 3,
1995), the 1996 Application Form, the current Section 8 income information for Iowa, and the
NCSHA (National Council of State Housing Agencies) Tax Credit Allocation Standards
Report.
All applications for the 1996 program must be received by 3:00 p.m. December 1. 1995.
The Authority will hold a second application cycle only if there is adequate credit remaining or
returned at~er this round of Cunding
If you would like to receive the aunlication uackag_e, nlease call, write or FAX the Iowa
Finance Authority at the address listed below and reaue~t a !996 Low Income Housing
Tax Credit Program application package. LIHTC Applications are available on diskette in
MicrosoR Excel 5.0 format upon request. Please provide us with your name and a complete
address for mailing purposes.
Iowa Finance Authority
100 East Grand Avenue, Suite :250
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-4990
FAX (515) 242-4957
Subic 250
5O300
(515) 242~990
Fax (515) 242.4957
(96not I.mem)
October 23, 1995
The Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Iowa City
410 East Washington
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Dear Mayor and Councilors,
This letter is a followup to our request for a reduction of
the Bus & Shop reimbursement rate.
We have planned a campaign to personally contact all
Downtown Association members to solicit participation in the
Bus & Shop program. We are hoping that your positive
consideration of our request will remove the most frequent
objection we hear, that is the cost of the bus reimbursement
rate.
It would be reasonable to us if you were to set a time
period, possibly a year, for us to increase bus usage with
our program sufficient to replace the lost revenue. If
after this period the usage is not sufficient, reverting to
the $.50 rate would be appropriate.
We have prepared promotional materials and a list of
participants for advertising but are waiting for your
decision.
Thank you very muc~
/John A. Gross, Chairperson
DTA Parking and Transit Committee
cc: Joe Fowler