HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-12-05 CorrespondenceNeffember
29, 1995
,I
CITY OF I0 I/VA CITY
Dear City Councilors;
There has been concern expressed by some members of the public
about the phrase "public access and community programming" on
page 11 of the franchise agreement. The Commission want the
Council to understand that we prefer that wording, as it grants the
City flexibility in the use of access funds. But our support for that
wording should not be interpreted as reflecting any lack of support
for the concept of public access.
If you have any questions or request additional information please
feel free to contact me at 335-2645 between 8 AM and 5 PM or at
home, 351-3740.
Broadband Telecommunications Commission
q\ t3
JOHNSON
COUN '¥
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
Board of D~rectors Mildred Bidlack loire Ota&ma T. Panida De~, Pt~idenl $onnifcr EIIswetth Lloyd Epley
Michelle Grace l{~ith Hemingway Loren Horton Claudia MeGohe~ David Muhlena Emily Rcherts
Nov. 14, 1995
Mayor Susan Horowitz
Councillors Baker, Kubby, Lehman, Novick, Pigott, Throgreorton
City of Iowa City - Civic Center
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mayor and Councillors of the City of Iowa City:
In 1996, Iowa will celebrate its 150th birthday! Led by 99 county S~quicentennial commissions,
Iowans will participate in hundreds of events throughout the state in a year long festival celebrating
Iowa's unique heritage and culture. Best of all, the entire effort will be paid for by non-tax dollars!
Iowans are funding their state's birthday party with their own voluntary purchases of Sesqui-
centennial license plates.
Right here in our county, 4.5% of eligible license plates are already sold. That means that more
than 3250 local cars are owned by someone who cares enough about history to spend significant
extra reoney for his or her license plates! It's just one indicatorof the importance area residents
attach to local history and heritage.
In Iowa City, as you know, one organization that is at the forefront of local history education and
preservation efforts is the Johnson County Historical Society and Heritage Museum. Since 1992,
the Iowa City Council has recognized the importance of local history by providing increasing pace
with the increasing dereand for our services as more and reore Iowa City residents begin to explore
their local history.
But demand for h/story-related services continues to rise. During the past year, for example,
Council discussed the historic Butler Bridge House. As least one councillor expressed a wish that
the house could be saved as a museum depicting Iowa City's history. If, in fact, this objective is
accoreplished, the Johnson County Historical Society, which already manages three local historic
sxtes and maintains extensive collections of Iowa City-related artifacts and archives, would be the
logical choice to create and administer such a fac~ty.
The cost of living also continues to rise. And in the upcoming year, all cultural organizations will
face a new challenge. We must prepare for the projected demise of the federal grants programs
which have provided us with assistance totaling $24,900 over the last six years.
Therefore, for FY97, we are asking you to consider support in the ~<n~un~of !?
$$,000 from Iowa City - about 8 cents per city resident. This is aff=l~re~e ~
$2000 over last year's figure. This relatively modest amonnt woul~l~e~rmi~," the
growth in our annual operating budget tha~ is necessitated by rises in the ~bst
of living; and help insulate us from the devastating effects of the cessation of
federal programs.
We believe Iowa City should support the Heritage Museum for the following
reasons;
The Heritage Museum provides an essential service to our community and
contributes to our quality of life. The Heritage Museum is the steward of our
community's cultural heritage and the keeper of its memories. As our community faces a new
ceutury, we face complex social and environmental challenges. We must be rooted in our past
in order to make intelligent decisions for the future.
The Heritage Museum provides its services fr~c, to all members of the public.
When we were notified that we had received an important federal grant in August, our board
acted immediately to rescind the admission fee we were forced to put in place last year. Other
services offered free to members of the public include the preservation of museum collections,
traveling exhibits, and inquiry and referral services.
The Heritage Museum is a tourist attraction. Almost 30% of Heritage Museum
visitors come from outside our community, bringing spending money and charge cards with
them. Heritage Museum visitors do not usually confine their visit to the Coralville-located
museum alone. They are also likely to visit the two Iowa City tourist attractions we manage:
Plum Grove Historic Home, and Johnson County's First Asylum.
The Heritage Museum brings other economic benefits. In the last seven fiscal
years, the Heritage Museum has received $78,808 in federal and state grants. Grant dollars
are spent locally, which directly benefits many local merchants.
The Heritage Museum is valued by Iowa City residents. Currently, the Heritage
Museum enjoys the financial support of about 750 individual and business members. Of those,
almost 70% cite "Iowa City" as their home.
The Heritage Museum is an excellent museum. This year, we were one of only three
Iowa museums to receive a General Operating Support Grant from the U.S. Institute of
Museum Services. These grants are awarded every two years to museums that demonstrate
excellence in all areas of museum operation.
Last year, the Iowa City City Council set an important precedent by offering $5000 in support to
two other local cultural entities: the Iowa Festival and the Jazz Festival. Increasing city support for
the Heritage Museum to $5000 would send a message that you value the preservation of local
history as much as you value the cultural festivals mentioned above.
Currenfiy, the city provides 3% of our operating budget. We raise the other 97% through
memberships, programs, grants; and we receive county support a well. We have been proactive
and aggressive in seeking means of support other than governmental. But county and city
appropriations are still the seed money which allows us to attract those other monies.
-3-
In the upcoming fiscal year, with increasing program demands and the rising cost of everything
fr.o.m postage to paper, we expect our operating expenses to top $110,000. Members of our board
will be visiting with each of you to discuss this request. I hope you will feel free to call upon any
of them-- or to call me-- if you have any questions or would llke further information. I appreciate
the difficulty of the ta.~ you have ahead of you; and I know you'll do the best you can for
everyone. Please support us if you can.
Eaufie Robinson ' ~
Museum Director- Heritage Museum of Johnson County
also to: Councillors-elect Norton, Thomberry, Vanderhoef
also to: City Manager Steve Arkins, City Finance Director Don Yueuis, City Clerk Marian Karr
(:3
Annual Report
Information for the members of the Johnson County Historical Society
9
June 1995
JCHS Financial Report for
Fiscal Year Ended May 31, 1995
Receipts:
Actual for Year Budgetfor,war
Johnson County Supervisors 25000
City of Coralville 3000
City of Iowa City 2300
Individual membership 15042
Corporate Memberships & Donations 10904
Interest 179
Program Revenue, Sales, Admissions 23847
[Includes revenue from Plum Grove mgmt]
Grants - General Operating Support 3750
Grants. Other 5227
Grant. Brochure 1000
Grant - Conservation Assessmeat 6110
Old Coralville School Sustaining Fund 575
Total ReceipB 96934
25OOO
3OOO
2300
15000
12000
2OO
14750
3750
0
0
0
0
76OOO
Ending Cash Balances May 31, 1995
Checking Account 826
Petty Cash 70
Restricted Funds 13289
[Includes Old Coralville School Fund]
TOTAL 14,185
Disbursements: Actual for Year Budgetforyear
Personnel [salary detail at left] 49146
Membemhip ces~ 2477
Program costs 23633
Operation - Audit, insurance 1887
Operation - Services 1363
Operation - Telephone 1021
Operation - Utilities 2637
Office expenses 4620
Shop purchases for resale 214
Conservation Assessment 6010
Brachurea 910
Deferred giving campaign 0
Total Disbursements 93918
49830
2000
10235
2155
1470
1700
26O0
556O
0
0
0
450
76OOO
Salary detail FY94-95
Director
[full time] 20000
Volunteer Coordinator
[half time] 9300
Exhibit Designer
[half time] 7700
Curator
[half time] 7700
Museum manager
[quarter time] 5,35/hr.
Excess receipts over disbursements 3016
Add beginning cash balances
Ending cash balances
NOTE: These designated donations deposited after May
31, 1995, are not included inthe report above:
$302 History Video Project
$29 PJum Grove Garden
11169
14185
UESTIONS? Call JCHS Treasurer Pat Dee
or Museum Director Laurie Robinson
at 351-5738 to obtain a copy of any JCHS fiscal
report, treasurers report, au_.dited fin~l~clal
December 4, 1995
Bob Elliott
1108 Dover Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
The Honorable Susan Horowitz
Mayor of Iowa City
Civic Center
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Dear Mayor Horowitz:
When affordable housing surfaced as a serious issue in Iowa City a few years ago,
it did so with almost total agreement.
The concept is that an appropriate smount of affordable housing in Iowa City is
necessary for both h~mane and business purposes. The former deoJs with the
American dream of owning your own home. The latter is an acknowledgement
that many jobs important to Iowa City business and industry don't pay enough for
people filling them to buy $100,000 and $200,000 homes.
I think there are few people in Iowa City who disagree with that concept.
Certainly, the City Council, the city's professional staff, and countless citizen
groups have spent countless hours and dollars addressing the problem.
However, many now feel the City Council is spending an inordinate ~mount of
time and tax dollars on the issue. But the larger issue is that's indicative of what
many feel is the council's need to reassess and reassign priorities.
Reading election results is something like reading tea leaves. But it appears that
November's city election represented a clear vote for moderation....in many ways.
Along with a need for affordable housing, there's also a critical need to be as cost
effective as possible in constructing and paying for new water and sewer plants;
to address street improvements, traffic control, public transit, and other
transportation needs; to initiate more effective cooperation with the Johnson
County Board of Supervisors; and on and on.
I believe perhaps the single most important quality to attain for a person or a
group of people is perspective. The council -- including those who won't be
members until January I and those who will be former members after that date --
needs to put Iowa City's problems and opportunities in proper perspective.
Mayor Susan Horowitz
December 4, 1995
Page 2
A proper perspective is needed for establishing appropriate priorities to enable the
council and city s~ff to work as efficiently and productively as possible. To do
that, I urge the new council to focus more on concepts and issues and less on
specific activities.
The city has a strong staff that should be held responsible and accountable for
managing and carrying out activities within the concepts and policies laid out by
the council. The council should send strong, clear signals that enable the city
manager and staff to provide leadership.
I suggest most of the council members' time at formal council meetings be confined
to addressing issues, policies, and concepts. Being more efficient in use of their
time at formal meetings will allow council members to spend more time
interacting individually with staff and with the public about specific activities and
special interests.
I close by expressing my deep appreciation to you and to all out-going and
continuing members of the City Council for your time, effort, patience, and hard
work in trying to do what you have felt was in the best interests of our
community.
Sincerely,
Bob Elliott .-<
C¢.'
Mayor Pro Tem Naomi Nov~ck
Councilman Larry Baker
Councilwoman I4~ren Kubby
Councilman Ernie Lehman
Coun(d]man Bruno Pigott
Councilman Jim Throgmorton
SARATOGA SPRINGS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
319 EAST WASHINGTON STREET, SUITE t 11
P, O. BOX 1226
IOWA CITY, IOWA 52244
(3191 338-7600
FAX (3191 337-2430
December 5, 1995
City Council
City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
RE: Saratoga Springs Limited Partnership
Dear Council Members:
The goal of Saratoga Springs Limited Partnership is to build new construction,
affordable rental housing and managed by the Greater Iowa City Housing
Fellowship.
The limited partnership has not been able to proceed with meeting this goal due to
the lack of a suitable site which is:
Available for sale
Priced at fair market value for an approved density
Properly zoned at a density required for the housing type (apartment,
townhouse, duplex or single family) preferred by the city council.
Therefore, we request the city council's assistance with locating and acquiring a
suitable site through the following methods:
Advertising.
Identifying a potential site or sites and contacting landowners.
Possible use of eminent domain.
We are open and flexible to the form of the neighborhood and adjacent land use,
housing types and ownership into which a site would fit,
Sincerely Yours,
Robert P. Burns
General Partner
Charles Eastham, President
Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship
General Partner
RPB/slk
December 5, 1995
CITY OF IOWA CITY
Charlie Duffy, Chair
Johnson County Board of Supervisors
913 S. Dubuque St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Charlie & Members of the Board:
An application was submitted to Johnson County by Alvin and Mary Jo Streb, on behalf of
property owners William Phelan, Webster Gelman, John Houghton and Betty Tucker, to rezone
approximately 66 acres from RS, Suburban Residential, to M1, Light Industrial. This property
is located in Fringe Area 5 on the east side of Scott Boulevard, north of 420th Street SE.
At its November 16, 1995, meeting, the Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission
recommended that the City Council forward a comment to the Johnson County Board of
Supervisors recommending approval of the requested rezoning from RS to M1. The
Commission feels that the proposed rezoning is consistent with the mutually agreed upon
Fringe Area Agreement, and is in conformance with Iowa City's Comprehensive Plan. The
Commission did note that city services may be available to this property within the next few
years, and urges the applicant to pursue annexation at that time.
Council agrees with the recommendation from the Commission that this rezoning request be
approved, and urges the applicant to pursue development of this land as a cohesive extension
of the BDI industrial park and pursue annexation at such time that city services are available
to the property.
Sincerely yours,
Susa~
M. Horowitz
Mayor
4[0 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · 10WA CITY, IOWA $2~40-1826 · 4319) 356-$000 · FAX (319)
City of iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date: November 16, 1995
To: Planning & Zoning Commission
From: Scott Kugler, Associate Planner
Re:
CZ9543. East Side of Scott Boulevard, North of 420th Street, SE (Alvin and Mary Jo
Streb)
Johnson County has received an application from Alvin and Mary Jo Streb, on behalf of property
owners William Phelan, Webster Gelman, John Houghton and Betty Tucker, to fezone 66 acres
from RS, Suburban Residential, to M1, Light Industrial for property located on the east side of
Scott Boulevard north of 420th Street, SE. The site is located within Fringe Area 5.
This site is located immediately south of a 73.85 acre parcel that was recently rezoned to M1 by
the County. In addition, it is located east of property zoned I-1, General Industrial, within the
corporate limits. Both the Comprehensive Plan and the Fringe Area Agreement suggest future
industrial development for this area. The proximity of this site to the existing industrial park, the
Iowa Interstate Railway, and major transportation arteries contribute toward this area's suitability
for industrial development.
Although staff does support industrial zoning on this parcel, it would not be an ideal situation for
large scale development to occur hero without city utilities. The Snyder Creek Interceptor sewer
extension is currently under design and could be constructed and available to serve this area
within the next few years, pending approval by City Council. Small lot, piecemeal development
that is not developed to City standards should also be discouraged, as this may make
development of surrounding property for large scale industrial park more difficult and less
attractive in the future. In accordance with the Comprehensive Plan, annexation of this property
should be considered before it is developed.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council forward a letter to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors
recommending that CZ-9543., a request to rezone 66 acres located in Fringe Area 5 on the east
side of Scott Boulevard, north of 420th Street, SE, be approved, but that upon the extension of
City services to this property annexation be considered.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Location Map.
Approved by:
Robed Miklo, Senior Planner
Dept. of Planning & Community Development
II
LOCATION HAP
CZ ~.~ a-~ to
i
!
I
I
December 5, 1995
CI
OF I0 WA CITY
Charlie Duffy, Chair
Johnson County Board of
913 S. Dubuque St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
sots
Dear Charlie & Members of the
An application was submitted
property owners William Phelan, Webster
approximately 66 acres from RS, Suburl
is located in Fringe Area 5 on the
by Alvin and Mary Jo Streb, on behalf of
man, John Houghton and Betty Tucker, to fezone
,'sidential, to M1, Light Industrial. This property
Scott Boulevard, north of 420th Street SE.
At its November 16, 1995, meE
recommended that the City Cou
Supervisors recommending
Commission feels that the
Fringe Area Agreement, and
Commission did note that c
years, and urges the appli
the
forward a
of the
rezoning is
]n conformance
services may
City Planning and Zoning Commission
mment to the Johnson County Board of
,'sted rezoning from RS to M1. The
~istent with the mutually agreed upon
City's Comprehensive Plan. The
to this property within the next few
to pursue annexation ~at time.
Council agrees with th~
approved, and urges
available to the prol
~ndation from the Commi
applicant to pursue annexation
ion that this rezoning request be
JCh time that city services are
Sincerely yours,
Susan M
Mayor
bl%duf fv ,smh
410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 * (319) 3}6-}000 o FAX (319) 3}6-5009