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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