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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-05-12 Info Packet~ CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKET ~ May 12, 2005 CITY OF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org IP1 Council Meetings and Work Session Agendas IP2 Memorandum from the Director of Planning and Community Development: Burlington Street Enhancement IP3 Memorandum from the City Attorney: Alcohol Issues - Also enclosed is a memorandum from Council member Elliott, documentation from The Stepping Up Project, Johnson County Public Health, and Mike Porter IP4 Memorandum from the Community and Economic Development Coordinator: Investment Policies for CDBG and HOME Funds IP5 Memorandum from the City Manager: Downtown Alleys MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS IP6 Memorandum from the City Clerk: Absence IP7 Memorandum from the Director of Planning and Community Development to the City Manager: Historic District Designation Notification IP8 Letter from John C. Castle to Mayor Lehman: Department of the Army Invitation to the Corps of Engineers Dedication Ceremony, Memorial Day, May 30, 2005. IP9 Report of the 2004-2005 Iowa City Deer Task Force IP10 E-mail from Anna Lackender to the City Clerk: Chamber Luncheon Monday, May 16, 2005. Memorandum for the City Clerk: Timeline for Initiative Petition re: Medical Marijuana Use I PRELIMINARY DRAFT/MINUTES IPll Parks and Recreation Commission: April 13, 2005 IP12 Senior Center Commission: April 26, 2005 IP13 Telecommunications Commission: April 25, 2005 [See item 6 City Council Agenda] CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKET C~T¥ OF IOW^ C)T¥ May 12, 2005 www.icgov.org / IP1 Council ngs and Work Session Agendas IP2 Memorandum the Director of Planning and Community Devel?pment: Burlington Street Enhancement / IP3 Memorandum from City Attorney: Alcohol Issues - AIS~d enclosed is a memorandum from Council Elliott, documentation from The?Stepping Up Project, Johnson County Public Health, d Mike Porter IP4 Memorandum from the and Economic D~Velopment Coordinator: Investment Policies for CDBG and Funds / ,/ IP5 Memorandum from the City er: Downtown I LANEO ITEMS IP6 Memorandum from the City Clerk: Abse IP7 Memorandum from the Director of PI~ ng and Community Development to the City Manager: Historic District Desig ~tion 3artment of the Army Invitation to the IP8 Letter from John C. Castle to Mayor of Engineers Dedication Ce~r~mony, ~orial Day, May 30, 2005. Corps IP9 Report of the 2004-2005 Iowa City Deer Task For(~e / IP10 E-mail from Anna Lackender torte City Clerk: Chaml~tr Luncheon Monday, May 16, 2005. IPll Parks and Recreation COmmission: April 13, 2005 IP12 Senior Center CommiSsion: April 26, 2005 / IP13 Telecommunicatio~sCommission: April 25, 2005 [See item 6 City Council Agenda] ~,.~=_L~-=~r~_ City Council Meeting Schedule and c~T~ oF Iow^ C~T~Work Session Agendas uay 42, 200~ www.icgov.org · MONDAY, MAY 16 EmmaJ. HarvatHall 6:30p Council Work Session · Planning and Zoning Items · Burlington Street Enhancement · Agenda Items · Council Appointments · Alcohol Discussion · CDBG and HOME Funds - Investment Policies · Downtown Alleys · Council Time · Schedule of Future Pending Items · TUESDAY, MAY 17 Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00p Regular Formal Council Meeting TENTATIVE FUTURE MEETINGS AND AGENDAS · MONDAY JUNE 6 Emma J. Harvat Hall 6:30p Council Work Session · TUESDAY JUNE 7 Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00p Regular Formal Council Meeting · MONDAY JUNE 20 Emma J. Harvat Hall 6:30p Council Work Session · TUESDAY JUNE 21 Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00p Regular Formal Council Meeting · MONDAY. JULY 4 Emma J. Harvat Hall Independence Day - City Offices Closed · TUESDAY JULY 5 Emma J. Harvat Hall TBD Special Council Work Session Regular Formal Council Meeting · MONDAY, JULY 18 Emma J. Harvat Hall 6:30p Special Council Work Session · TUESDAY, JULY 19 Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:00P Regular Formal Council Meeting YMOc IOWA c' Date: May 11, 2005 City Manager and City Counci TO: From: Karin Franklin, Director, Re: Burlington Street Enhancements On Monday evening, we will be presenting a computer simulation of possible enhancements to Burlington Street in the context of a "future" Burlington Street. This simulation was executed by a class in the Urban & Regional Planning Department under the guidance of Prof. Alan Peters. In collaboration with Prof. Peters, we have envisioned a possible streetscape for Burlington Street including redevelopment of some sites and new buildings on vacant parcels. We have also included a median for the length of the corridor from Madison Street to Gilbert Street. The median, intended to channelize pedestrians and enhance traffic safety in the corridor, has been reviewed by regional IDOT officials who have endorsed the concept. At this point, our presentation is to apprise the Council of work we have been doing on this project and to demonstrate the computer simulation as a tool for decision-making. Further work on enhancements to Burlington Street will be at the Council's discretion. Cc Jeff Davidson Date: May 11, 2005 To: City Council From: Eleanor M. Dilkes, City Attorney Re: Alcohol Issues In anticipation of Council's discussion regarding efforts to address underage drinking and over- consumption of alcohol attached is my memo to the City Council dated July 20, 2000 regarding the probability of implementing suggestions proposed for addressing alcohol issues. This memo itemizes the suggestions that were made by Council members, bar owners or members of the public at the time and provides a very brief response as to whether the suggestion was likely to be legal and what work would be necessary in order to implement it. Some of these proposals were discussed further and adopted (e.g. drink specials); others were discussed and rejected (e.g. zoning restrictions). Because there has been some focus lately on zoning restrictions I also enclose a copy of Bob Miklo's memo to the City Council dated February 14, 2003 in which he discusses the various issues involved in such regulation. I likely have additional material which may be relevant once this Council determines where it wishes to head with these issues. Please call me if you have any questions. cc: Steve Atkins Dale Helling Marian Karr Karin Franklin Bob Miklo eleanor/mem/alcoholissues.doc City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: July 20, 2000 To: City Council .~. ,,,t/V/ From: Eleanor Dilkes, City Attorney' Andrew Matthews, Assistant City Attorney/~,,,~/ Re: Brief response regarding the probability of implementing suggestions proposed for addressing the alcohol issues. The following memo will list the various methods that have been suggested by Council or members of the public, specifically at the Council's meeting With bar owners on July 11, for dealing with excessive consumption of alcohol/under-age drinking in Iowa City. Next to each suggested method will be a very brief notation as to whether the suggestion, if imposed by City Council legislation, would be legal In several cases we will simply note that the suggestion may be possible but additional research is required. It is our understanding that the Council will direct staff concerning which option or options it desires to pursue at its work session on July 31't. 1. Under 21 restriction. Yes, the Council may impose such a restriction. Any legislation would have to be carefully drafted to limit potential abuses and allow under-age persons to enter in appropriate situations (e.g., with a parent). The Council may also wish to consider limitations based on time of day when under-age persons are allowed into such establishments until a particular time in the evening. 2. Limitation on drink specials/Happy Hour, etc. This may be a possibility. Research on the legality of such restrictions is required and may involve constitutional law issues. 3. Imposition of administrative penalties for sales to under-age persons, Such administrative penalties are already authorized by state law. There are two different mechanisms under state law for imposition of civil penalties, one requiring a conviction of the establishment's employee for serving an under-age person before the penalties can be applied, and one that does not require a conviction. The penalties also differ. In either case, implementation would require an enforcement effort by the police and the establishment of procedures for hearings in front of the City Council. Additionally, actions by the City Council are appealable to the Alcoholic Beverages Division of the Iowa Department of Commerce. 4. Increased enforcement of capacity restrictions. This can be done and citations can be issued. Such action will, of course, require dedication of fire personnel and resources. 5. "Subdivide Iowa City into separate liquor districts and establish a limited number of licenses per district." As we have previously stated, we cannot deny the issuance of a liquor license based on the number of licenses that have already been issued. The City could, by way of zoning regulation, regulate the proximity of bars upon a finding of the negative impacts of the concentration of bars. Existing uses would be "grandfathered," however. 6. TIPS certification and training for bartenders. This can, in all likelihood, be done. Such training is currently provided by the Police Department on a voluntary basis. Additionally, State legislation from this session specifically authorizes the City Council to require, as a condition of a liquor license, that a designated security employee be trained and certified in security methods, which may have the effect of limiting incidents at establishments. 7. Minimum price formula for alcohol sales. This may be possible. Research on the legality of such legislation is required. There are constitutional law and anti-trust issues to review, as weld as issues relating to equal protection, i.e., treating bars differently from other establishments which sell alcohol with respect to price limitations. Eleanor Dilkes memo to City Council July 20, 2000 Page 2 8. Wrist bands. This could be done. The exact mechanisms would have to be worked out as to where they would be obtained, procedures, price, etc. 9. Prohibition on advertisement of drink specials or prices. Research on the legality of this option is required and would likely involve 1" Amendment issues. 10. Keg registration/permits. Yes, the City Council could craft legislation to require keg registration. The City Council has looked at this alternative in the last several years and has declined to pursue it. 11. Limit out of sight sales. This is a possibility. Additional research is required. Enforcement will be an issue, not only with respect to employees of such establishments, but also with law enforcement. 12. Establish a coalition committee of interested parties and agencies to meet regularly and actively monitor progress of programs. This can be done. 13. Physical segregation within liquor establishments of areas where drinks are allowed and not allowed. Yes, this is possible; most likely as a condition to allowing those under 21 in. 14. Hiring of off-duty police officers in uniform by bar owners. Legally, there is nothing prohibiting the police department from allowing this. However, there are a number of policy and liability issues that would need to be looked at prior to implementation of such a policy. 15. Scanning machines to identify fake I.D.'s. This can likely be done. Issues of cost, availability, compatibility with various I.D.s issued would have to be investigated and addressed. I hope we have caught all the suggestions in this memo. If not, please let u,s know and we will respond. cc: Steve Atkins, City Manager Dale Helling, Assistant City Manager Marian Karr, City Clerk R.J. Winkelhake, Police Chief Andy Rocca, Fire Chief I ndexlwlmem/ed-alcohol.doc · City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: February 14, 2003 To: City Council From: Bob Miklo, Senior Planner Re: Zoning Regulations for Bars and Nightclubs The City Council asked staff to investigate zoning regulations that would prohibit or limit the possibility of additional bars being located downtown. We have reviewed regulations from other communities that use zoning controls to regulate bars. Although there are few communities in Iowa that use such zoning techniques, nationally it is not uncommon for communities to regulate the location of bars in relationship to other establishments that serve alcohol, as well as other land uses such as churches, schools and residential neighborhoods. Many communities have zoning regulations that require bars to be located a certain distance from other bars (generally 300 to 1,000 feet); a certain distance from residential areas (generally 200 to 1,000 feet); and a certain distance from sensitive land uses such as churches, schools, daycare centers, etc. (generally 200 to 1,000 feet). Because Iowa City's zoning regulations currently do not distinguish between bars and restaurants, if the City Council wishes to pursue zoning requirements for bars we would need to create a definition for bars that is separate from that of restaurants. Because of the complexity of creating such regulations, staff would like further direction from Council. There are several questions and related issues that we would like the Council to consider. 1. Should all restaurants which serve alcoholic beverages be regulated? This method of regulation would be simple to draft and enforce. However, depending on the separation distance required, it would make it very difficult to establish new downtown restaurants that wished to sell any sort of alcoholic beverage with meals. Is this a consequence that the Council would accept in order to prevent the opening of new establishments that serve alcohol? 2. Should a distinction be made between restaurants and bars based on the percent of sales that come from alcoholic beverages? Many communities classify businesses with a certain percentage of revenues form alcohol sales as restaurants and thus not subject them to regulation as bars*. For example if 55% in alcohol revenues is determined to be the tipping point between a restaurant and a bar, a business which derives 46% or more of its revenue from the sale of food and 54% or less from the sale of beer and wine, would be treated as a restaurant and therefore not subject spacing regulations for bars. A business that derives 56% of its revenue from alcoholic beverages would be classified as a bar and could not be operated within a specified distance from another bar. This type of regulation is more complicated to enforce. It requires establishments with liquor licenses to submit certified accounting reports so the City may determine whether a business is classified as a bar or a restaurant. Another difficulty of this approach arises when a business that serves both food and alcoholic beverages first opens - the relative percent of food and beverage sales is not known. A restaurant operator may intend to derive a high percentage of sales from food, but after opening for business finds that it does not achieve its target for food sales. This may be less of a problem if the relative percentage of alcohol sales allowed for restaurants is set *Based on research available to staff, other communities use a percent of sales of alcoholic beverages somewhere between 40% and 75%. Zoning Regulations for Bars and Nightclubs February 14, 2003 Page 2 high (the top of the range based on other communities appears to be 75%). This would regulate only the establishments that feature very limited or no food service as part of their business. 3. Should the zoning ordinance create different classes of bars depending on the occupancy load? For example, smaller bars which have occupancy loads of less than 200 people may have less stringent regulations than larger bars or nightclubs that have occupant loads of 200 or more persons. A list of downtown'businesses with liquor permits is attached with occupancies noted. 4. If the Council chooses to implement zoning regulations for bars, should these regulations apply to all commercial zones throughout the city as well as the downtown zones (CB-2, CB-5 and CB-10)? 5. Communities that use zoning to regulate bars generally also regulate liquor stores. Does the Council wish to consider regulation of liquor stores as well as bars? It should be noted that if the Council chooses to pursue zoning regulations to control the location of bars, existing establishments will be grandfathered in and will be allowed to remain in operation. However, adoption of such regulations would likely prohibit the opening of additional bars in most of the downtown. For example, if a 500-foot separation is required for bars, additional establishments would not be allowed in most of the downtown, because there are very few buildings that are not located within 500 feet of an existing bar. The attached map illustrates the location of downtown businesses with liquor permits. ppdadmin/mem/bars.doc Memo To: Council membe~ From: Bob Elliott ,/~e/~' Date: May 11, 2005 RE: Addressing alcohol abuse problems I have two comments and a recommendation for my fellow council persons. First, late night problems resulting from too many people too often consuming too much alcohol in our downtown area are real and serious. Second, I'm tired of hearing that prevailing thought is our city council is solely responsible for resolving the problem. And I'm almost equally tired of people focusing only on 21-over as the solution. Thus, I urge our council to join with the university, and perhaps others, to consider a wide range of alternatives to address the problems. Initially, we need to understand we can't resolve the problem; but we can and must do whatever is possible to alleviate it. For starters, I've attached a listing of possible actions for consideration in a comprehensive approach to addressing the problems. Some are outside the city's authority and may or may not be possible. But these and others need serious consideration to determine if they're possible and could be effective. Other, perhaps be¢ter, suggestions would probably be forthcoming from our city attorney, police chief, county health department, university, bar managers council, and others. Attachment: Possible Considerations for Addressing Alcohol Problems Possible Considerations for Addressing Alcohol Problems City Zoning to limit number of bars in downtown/campus area in the future Video cameras for patron-ID checks at entrance Increase bar requirements to 2 l-over Graduated police bar checking/monitoring based on number of previous offenses Police checking/monitoring convenience/grocery stores' alcohol sales Bars remain open 45-60 minutes after alcohol consumption ends Bars on street level only For data comparison with other cities, include level of police checks/enforcement Increase bar-restaurant differentiation beyond 51% (perhaps 60-70%) Assure bar checking/monitoring focus on problems, rather than just age City-State Graduated liquor license fees based on bar capacity Stronger/more meaningful fines (individuals and bars) for alcohol offenses Stronger/more meaningful fines for private house party bootlegging County-City Alcohol offense punishment include downtown cleanup Keg registrations University 1-to-3-day alcohol sessions before fall semester classes for incoming students Students guilty of alcohol offenses get warning or probation from dean's office Involve parents association and student government Collect data comparing bar-private party dangers Create continuing additional student-oriented late night entertainment venues Assure Thursday-Friday class effectiveness for meaningful student attendance General Involve wide range of representative groups to address problem. Such as Stepping Up, Downtown Association, JC Health Department, Bar Association Council, Chamber of Commerce, UI Administration, UI Parents Association, UI Student Government, JC Board of Supervisors, Coralville and North Liberty city councils, grocery and convenience stores, etc. itl - A COMMUNI~ AND CAMPUS COALITION TO REDUCE BINGE DRINKING M~y ~0, 2005 :.? ~-, ~-~ ~xecufive Members Dear Ci~ Counc~: Susie Becdermann The local alcohol ~dus~ is yet aga~ as~g for more ~e to ad,ess the problem of Shelly Campo underage and excessive ~g. Your enac~ent of the 19 or~ance was &e f~st L~he~e Chfistense response by counc~ to ~ve ~e bar owners "more ~e". One year later, noth~g had S~ Cochran changed and so counc~ created the ~cohol Adviso~ Board. Ag~, no documented Sarah Hansen ~provement regar~g underage and excessive cons~pfion has occurred. Instead, you have been ~fo~ed by the Board about the~ co~u~ activities, camaraderie and told, Dfle He~ng "t~ngs ~e better do--town". Michael J. Horn W~ Jennin~ I am enclos~g copies of ~e adverfis~g placed ~ ~e D~ Iowan by local b~ from P~p E. Jones Janua~ 23, 2005 t~ough ~rch 7, 2005. You ~ cert~ly reca~ that &e Board had sought to reduce price special adverfis~g. T~s brief s~p~g would ~cate ~ey have Ma~ Khowassah fated. Mark ~esowik Erie ~hman ~e Board has frequently herflded the~ "b~ monitor" pro,am. Wea~g a t-s~t and Lauren McCarthy pieing up broken glass to make the b~ s safer does not reduce underage access to alcohol. We have not seen any data ~at would m~cate success for ~is progr~. The bar momtors B~ Nelson shoed have been ~ed and empowered to report PAU~ violators to the ponce, evict Steve P~rott ~nors in possession, evict le~ pa~ons who pro,de to ~ors and ~en focus on safe~ Lane Plume issues such as overcrow~ng and loc~g unconscious pa~ons ~ the b~ overmght. G~hn Rosenberg Monitor actions of ~s ~e would of co~se, have a ne~five ~pact on bar cash flow. Nan Trefz ~e Board has asked for le~slafion about the 'b~ crawls" wMch ~e a frequent so,ce of R~ph Wflmoth bo~ underage and excessive consumption. They complied ~at ~e crawlers come ~to Eric Wolfmeyer ~e~ bars ~ ve~ large cups w~ch enco~age over consumption. A ~ashcan at &e door ~th a po~ of "no outside conta~ers" would solve that problem. Research data consistently supports reduc~g access and av~ab~ as the most effective s~ate~es to reduce underage ~g. Wi~ 48 ~quor ~censes ~ the CBD we have an overabundance of avaflab~ and by per~t~g ~ors ~ the b~s we offer ~emendous access. 21 is the next lo~c~ step. j~Up lOO Currier Hall, University of lowa, Iowa City, lA 55242 (319)335-1349 [$"~ 50 Domestic .~ Pints ...MONDAY... '"~-- Cans ...TUESDAY... --I - Pints ..iWEDNESDAY. 152OO.o..:,c Bottles Beer ...~nunou~ is2oo ,90z, Domestic ['I''V Grenades ,..rn~u~... ]~50 DOmestic Pitchers ' All Da' ..SATURDAY ~ - :.~..~ ~' ~ W;th the purchase of any drink* ff you ca~ find us; ~.~ -CLOSE; COVER ~ ~hu'll §u the epori~r Ted McCartan at: tedn'{ cartan@hotmail.com R.~ DAY DAY '- { ,., ', ,'~ uy nor coach or her teammates, la Iowa s loss at Vurdue on "I think that st Statistically, she leads the Jan. 23, VandeVenter had two enough at~ntion team in rebounds with 7.5 per offensive boards in the last few accomplished on ,: game and is fourth in scoring' minutes, got fouled, and made said. with 7.5 per game. She had a her fl'ce throws. The poise she And the freshm~ infect-high 14 rebo~ds~ Iowa's displayed down the stre~h was leadership as wel WEDN! 5OCp,.,s Cd'ICl'u~ker S"I50 ~JU Shots I Wells Cover starts @ 9pm - $5 Cover itarts @ 9pm - $3/$5 ,lO,O,0 .,20o..o,,.s,,u., u Call It & Bud Light FRII $ iI~O0 slr~oo Jiiger Shots mi Bombs & ~ Martinis IO:OOPM nllAll SliOW $ ~50 i Co~er .or,, ~ *.m- $. Z Wells IO:3OPM GRIG SHOW I USHER FEBRUARY 3 Outkast, Usher, Ludacris, Nelly, & many more/ 'I think that she dOeSlTc enough at~ntion for what she's accomplished on/~ur team," she "B~L then she'll go said. And the freshman contributes E-mail O/repode Ted McOa~n leadership as well. Cavey ~aid FRI DAY SATURDAY TURNING 2']. IS FUN ~ ? ~- ~ '-© ~ Rachel MummeyFrhe Daily Iowan Ashley Ciavarelli, a two-year employee at Bo-James, pours a beer for a customer on Wednesday evening. Bo-James is celebrating its 21st bidhday this week by having $2.10 pitchers and burger baskets. 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IRISH PUB / i ~' tavern ~ eater9 - iowa City Vine - _ - Coralville Vine - $1oo _,,_30~ Domestic Wings By the Dozen Pints -..DAY- $3oo ~ Dome.lc $q50 ~?on Steins (~er) Pin~ ~ wings -~ON~DAY- ~ Pitchem g 94 am s25o -THU.DAY- Domestic Steins $250 ~'""- SQ Jack'n ~Bom~ Captain P Dome~ic Pints, $200 Bo~tes, & Welts O' Pints ...MONDAY... Tall Boys 152~ Cans ...TUESDAY.. I ~--~ 50 Domestic ""1 Pints ...WEDNESDAY. $200 _ Bottles Beer...THURSDAY.. $'900 ~g oz. Oomos.c ~ _~--- Grenades ... $3.o O Domestic St~ins- All Day ...SUNDAY... . ........ _ ~n cna?..G.., .... ............. ......... ~ el any (]rink il yOU can lind usl Ex ................ ;-:---/ *Drink must be $2 or more *Must present coupon *One per customer sdoo s2. Domestic I YouCalllt 22 Bo"'e'°' Beer 00 S 5 ~, Si.9~e All Bombs & L~quor Shotsl All Martinis 10:OOPM DRAG SHOW 50 ~ SUFEn SUNDAY ~ .....~..~.,,-,, Wells/~ 3 $~50 ~ , . 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Domestic Steins- All Day ...SUNDAY... · E~EB ~. ~OVEI{ , ~. ~ With the purchase of any drink' if you can find us~ 'Drink must be ~2 or more ~ust present co,pon 'One per Pints The Daily Iowan - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, February 18, 2005 - 3B ~ 'n~Iowa City, Iowa - Friday,~" 50 pucker U Shots You Call It ~m Beer. ~nn $i~25 .A.I! S~ngle ~~i.ls ~ ~oom..~ show s~ ~ casm_. w~,, ~ TIllS SUNDAY ~gle Liquor~MISS G~Y Shots ~ Open Again Next Sunday TUESDAY SPECIALS ,.,~.c,osE {~OVER -WEDNESDAY .0 COVER S1 50c Pints& Pucker Shots U-Call-It Pal SEXgEST s2 Bottles BUd · & BudLight · . i S WEDNESDAY THURSDAY , Pucker ,... 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Must be 19 to enter as an adult, 21 to drink adult beverage~ JOHNSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH Ralph Wilmoth, MPH, MPA Director May 11,2005 ':~--'! Iowa City Council ~-.;, 410 East Washington Street , Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Dear Iowa City Council Members: In the fall of 2004, a group representing the alcohol-related businesses in downtown Iowa City indicated their interest in self-monitoring and policing of advertising practices of bars in downtown Iowa City (among other efforts). This raised the interest of the Alcohol Awareness Working Group in monitoring this issue for the winter and early spring months of 2004-2005. I am submitting for your reference a PowerPoint presentation. The first four slides of the presentation are a record of the liquor licenses and bars downtown in 1975, 1981, 1998, and 2005. The fifth slide is a graph comparing the growth of the population, University Enrollment, and liquor licenses. The remainder of the presentation is a set of digital photographs taken on Friday afternoons from December 2004 through April 2005. These photographs were taken at various times on Friday afternoons ranging from as eady as 2:30 p.m. to as late as 7:00 p.m. They do not include all drink specials advertised in the bar windows. Those with the primary purpose of targeting Friday sales are included, with a few exceptions such as a sign promoting "bar crawls" and some signs that targeted an event including one or more Fridays. On some occasions, signs were not re- photographed, when the business owners left the sign up for more than one week. You will notice that the majority of the printed signs include advertising for specific alcoholic beverage producers. Most of the photographs cleady identify the business where it was displayed. However, if you have questions about any specific photograph, I have a record of the date and location it was displayed. Please feel free to contact me at 319-356-6040, extension 104. Thank you. Sincerely, Ralph Wilmoth Director 1105 GILBERT COURT · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 · PHONE: (319)356-6040 · FAX: (319)356-6044 1975 there were 9 liquor licenses downtown Iowa City, 6 were bars IOWAAVE E WASHINGTON ST WASHINGTON ST ~ ~ ~ E ~L~GE ST ~ E BURLINGTON ST 1981 there were 17 liquor licenses downtown Iowa City, 10 were bars IOWAAVE WASHINGTON ST E WASHINGTON ST ~ ~ E COL~GE ST ~ ; E BURLINGTON ST 1998 there were 33 liquor licenses downtown Iowa City, 20 were bars 2005 there are 48 liquor licenses downtown Iowa City, 32 are bars 1975 there were 9 liquor licenses downtown Iowa City, 6 were bars IOWAAVE F_ WASHINGTON S' WASHJNGT~ ST ~ E ~LLfiGfi ST ~ E BURLINGTON ST 1981 there were 17 liquor licenses downtown Iowa City, 10 were bars IOWAAVE E WASHINGTON ST ,.u WASHINGTON ST ~ ~ E BURLINGTON ST 1998 there were 33 liquor licenses downtown Iowa City, 20 were bars IOWAAVE 121 WASHINGTON ST E WASHINGTON ST _z ~'~-- E COLLE 3E ST ~ uJ F_ BURLINGTON ST 2005 there are 48 liquor licenses downtown Iowa City, 32 are bars IOW^AVE WASHINGTON ST ~ E WASHINGTON ST ~ ~ E BURLINGTON ST Rates of Growth 500% 450% 400% 350% ,,~ Population 300% // 250% University enrollment 200% // ~--~-~ Licenses 150% / downtown 100% / 50% ~ " I I 1974 1981 2005 Bar Special Signs December 2004 - April 2005 · Photographs of bar special signs at downtown Iowa City bars on Friday afternoons · Primary focus on Friday specials or specials that included Friday · Signs loft from week to week often photo§raphed Bars Represented · College Street Billiard · Studio 13 Club · Sports Column · Brothers Bar & Grill · Yacht Club Bo J ETC · - ames . Skybox Martini s -' · 808 · Vito's · Summit · Union · Deadwood · Gabe's · Micky's · Bonehead's · Buffalo Wild Wings · Quinton's Bar & Deli · Third Base Sports Bar December 3, 2004 December 3, 2004 December 3, 2004 December 3, 2004 December 10, 2004 December 10, 2004 December 10, 2004 December 10, 2004 December 17, 2004 December 17, 2004 December 17, 2004 December 24, 2004 December 24, 2004 December 24, 2004 December 31,2004 December 31,2004 December 31,2004 December 31,2004 January 7, 2005 January 7, 2005 January 14, 2005 January 21,2005 January 28, 2005 January 28, 2005 February 4, 2005 February 4, 2005 February 11, 2005 February 11,2005 February 18, 2005 February 18, 2005 February 25, 2005 February 25, 2005 March 4, 2005 March 4, 2005 March 11,2005 March 18, 2005 March 18, 2005 March 25, 2005 March 25, 2005 April 1,2005 April 1,2005 April 15, 2005 April 15, 2005 April 1 5, 2005 April 22, 2005 April 22, 2005 April 22, 2005 April 29, 2005 April 29, 2005 Mike Porter 760 Forest Edge Drive Coralville, IA 52241 May 9,2005 Council Members 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Council Members, I wanted to send you a copy of a letter that I sent to The Iowa City Press-Citizen concerning the ratio of alcohol related charges of under 21 to over 21. I think you will find these statistics interesting. 87% of OWl charges are 21 and above and 74% of public intoxication charges are 21 and above. After talking with Officer Doug Hart in the ICPD records department, he agreed that these percentages were about normal. We can all agree that alcohol abuse is an issue that needs to be addressed. Even though our police department chooses to focus on young adults drinking, these stats show it is not just a young adult issue. Sincerely Mike Porter Mike Porter 760 Forest Edge Drive Coralville, IA 52241 March 6, 2003 Iowa City Press-Citizen P. O. Box 2480 Iowa City, Iowa 52241 Dear Editor, At last Monday's council work session, it seemed that two councilors were very concerned about the statistics provided by the police department on student drinking. I found some stats on www. icgov.org that the police neglected to include in the presentation. From March 28 through April 17, 74% of all public intoxication charges were people aged 21 and above. From April 6 through May 5th, 87% of OWl charges were aged 21 and above and the vast majority of them were not even college aged. This is especially astounding considering the fact that the legal limit for OWl for people under the age of 21 in only .02 percent BAC. Some people in this town tend to blame young drinkers for the majority of alcohol related problems in this town. This is simply not the case. With very few exceptions, UI students are a very responsible group of people. They are the future leaders of Iowa and should be treated with respect, not treated like a second class group of criminals. As the above stats demonstrate, alcohol is misused by all ages. This is why the ICAAB focuses on all alcohol abuse, including underage use. I sincerely hope these efforts will help make Iowa City a safer community for us all. Mike A. Porter MEMORANDUM DATE: May 10, 2005 TO: City Manager FROM: Steven Nasby, Community and Economic Development Coordinato RE: Investment Policies for CDBG and HOME Funds At the May 2"d work session, the City Council discussed their investment policies for CDBG-funded public facilities projects. Specifically, the Council requested that staff prepare several options for discussion. Before addressing the investment options one fundamental question must be answered by the City Council. Does Iowa City want to invest CDBG funds for repayment and reuse in the future (program income) or do we want to provide grants? The answer to this question will form the basis for the various investment options. The current City Council policy is to provide CDBG funding for public facilities projects as a "Conditional Occupancy Loan" (COL). A COL is essentially an interest free, 99-year lien on real property that will be paid back to the City's CDBG account at some point in the future when the subrecipient (e.g. Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County) no longer provides services or disposes of the real property. This policy was designed to meet the Council's goal of recycling CDBG funds for future use while not imposing a repayment burden on the subrecipients. Subrecipients that have received CDBG funds for rehabilitation projects or minor repairs have typically made requests for waivers to this policy. The rationale is that the repairs will depreciate over time so the value added by the CDBG funds is gone while the long-term debt remains. Where the COL has proven to be the most effective is in the larger capital projects (e.g. building acquisition, additions or major renovations) as the value added by the CDBG funds is permanent in nature. Following Council's direction on the "grant" versus "loan" question, staff will prepare investment options for presentation to the Council at a future meeting. Regarding the investment policy for housing projects, there were two projects proposed for FY06 that are not covered by the existing policy. These two were Tenant Based Rent Assistance (TBRA) and direct downpayment assistance to individual homebuyers. TBRA operates much like the Section 8 rental assistance program where federal funds are used to pay a portion of a low-income household's rent. Due to the nature of TBRA there is not an available mechanism for repayment. As such, staff recommends adding TBRA to the existing housing investment policy as a grant. Downpayment assistance is proposed to be a front-end payment directly to low-moderate income households to enable them to move from rental to homeownership. New homebuyers typically are at their maximum debt level in the first few years of a mortgage. To keep from increasing the monthly payments on these low-moderate income homebuyers, staff is recommending a 20-year deferred payment loan for downpayment assistance. The downpayment assistance would be repaid at the end of 20 years or at the time the homeowner sold or rented the property. This approach would effectively limit any debt impacts on low-moderate income homebuyers while maintaining the Council's policy of recycling these federal funds for future re-investment. If you have any questions please contact me at 356-5248 or via e-mail at Steven-Nasby~iowa- ci _ty.org. Cc: Karin Franklin, Director of Planning and Community Development Date: May 11, 2005 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: Downtown Alleys There were a number of questions raised at an earlier Council meeting concerning the status of alley cleanup, licensing of dumpsters, etc. The legislation necessary to implement the alley cleanup initiative will be on your agenda for Tuesday, May 17. I have also included an item on the work session for Monday, May 16 in order that we may discuss this issue. mgdmem/downtown alleys.doc DATE: May 12, 2005 TO: Mayor and City Council ~x,~ FROM: Marian K. Kart, City Clerk RE: Absence I will be out of the office the week of May 23-27, and will return on Tuesday, May 31. Please contact Deputy City Clerk Julie Voparil with any questions you may have. To: Steve Atkins, City Manager .' · From: Karin Franklin, Director, P~ Re: Historic District Designation Notification In response to your request for clarification, future notices for the potential designation of historic districts, whether the districts be national or local, will consist of letters to property owners sent by regular mail. We will not use neighborhood newsletters or letters covering other issues, but send a mailing specifically and expressly for notification of the impending discussion of such designations. Property owner lists will continue to be derived by research of the City Assessor's files. Cc Bob Miklo Sunil Terdalkar Historic Preservation Commission DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY ROCK ISLAND DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS CORALVILLE LAKE PROJECT 2850 PRAIRIE DU CHIEN RD NE IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-7820 May 7, 2005 Mayor Ernie Lehman 401 E Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240 The Corps of Engineers at Coralville Lake will be honoring twelve military veterans on Memorial Day, May 30, 2005 at 1:30 PM. Our selections for this year's honor are as follows: Garlyn R. Ash Michael C. Bruggeman Steven J. Clark Junior W. Courtney Danny D. Curtis Harlan E .Henely Michael D. Hess Clarence C. Hightshoe Leo T. Slattery Reno H. Walter The Corps of Engineers would be honored to have you and council members in attendance at the dedication ceremony. The ceremony will be conducted at the East Overlook Picnic Area located on the east side of the dam. In the event of rain the ceremony will be conducted in the ranger storage area adjacent to the visitor center. Should you have any questions please contact Park Ranger Jeffrey H. Peck at 319-338- 3543 ext. 6310. Sincerely, ~. ohn C Castle ~,._)Operations Manager REP Iowa City Deer Task Force 2004-2005 Plan (found on page 4) approved by the Deer Task Force on November 17, 2004 (6-0, 2 absent) and the Iowa City City Council on December 7, 2004 (7-0) TABLE OF CONTENTS I)EER TASK FORCE ............................................................................................................................................................... I I~ONG-TERM I)EER MANAGEMENT PLAN ..................................................................................................................... 2 INTROI) UCTION ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 2004-2005 DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN ............................................................................................................................. 4 DETERMINING IF DEER SHOULD BE KILLED 1N 2004-2005 ....................................................................................... 5 Deer Counts by Helicopter. ................................................................................................................................................ 6 Deer Count Conditioas ............................................................................................................................. 7-8 DNR Projections ............................................................................................................................................................ 9 Projected Namber of Deer to be Removed ....................................................................................................................... 10 Simulation of Deer Numbers ....................................................................................................................... 11 SUMMARY OF POPULATION MANAGEMENT OPTIONS THE TASK FORCE CONSIDERED ............................... 12 No Lethal Action ............................................................................................................................................................. 12 Control of Deer Reproduction via Contraception and Sterilization ................................................................................ 12 Trap (or Dar0 and Relocate ............................................................................................................................................ 12 Bo~v Hunting .................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Trap and Kill .................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Sharpshooting ...................................................................................................................................... 15-17 TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUES ................................................................................................................................................ 18 Deer-~/ehicle Accident Statistics ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Reflectors ......................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Traffic Speeds ................................................................................................................................................................... 19 EDUCATION AND OTHER NONLETHAL INITIATIVES FOR IMPROVED HUMAN-DEER COEXISTENCE ........ 19 Completed and Current Projects ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Ideas for Future Consideration ........................................................................................................................................ 20 HISTORY OF DEER MANAGEMENT IN IOWA CITY - 1997-2005 ............................................................................. 21 1997-1998 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 21 1998-1999 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 22 199%2000 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 22 2000-2001 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 23 2001-2002 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 24 2002-2003 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 24 2003-2004 .................................................................................................................................... 24 2004-2005 .................................................................................................................................... 25 COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND TASK FORCE ANSWERS ...................................................... 25-27 DEER TASK FORCE Members Pat Farrant (Chair) Janet Ashman Linda Dykstra Harold Goff Peter Jochimsen Martin Jones Alan Nagel Pete Sidwell Gene Szymkowiak (effective March 1,2005) Responsibilities To annually recommend to the City Council a Deer Management Plan that meets the goals of the Long-Term Deer Management Plan. To that end, members should review data (population count, deer-vehicle accidents, reflector effectiveness, previously implemented population control programs, herd health), review current and recommend future educational tools, review and consider all non-lethal and lethal management methods, and recommend appropriate action. The members of the 2004-2005 Iowa City Deer Task Force acknowledge that we are not wildlife specialists, traffic engineers, mathematicians, or pofiticians, but rather citizens who have come together to address an important matter facing our community. We developed this plan after researching options for deer management, considering documented evidence, gathering information about other communities in comparable situations, receiving advice from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, listening to the opinions and experience of fellow citizens, and exploring our perceptions of the kind of plan likely to be both accepted by and effective for the community. We believe it is unlikely that every component of any deer management plan would be accepted by every member of the Task Force or every resident of Iowa City. This plan is a compromise, the product of our attempt to understand and respect many different voices. City of Iowa City Advisors Department of Natural Resource Advisors Brian Krei, Doug Hart (Police) Tim Thompson Kathi Johansen LONG-TERM DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN i. Thc City of Iowa City will develop an educational program that will provide residents ~vith inlbrmation on deer habits and guidelines lbr limitiug localized deer danmge through thc use o£ screening, alternative plantings, and other techniques. The City's comprehensivc management plan will bo inclnded. Educational materials will be distributed through a variety of methods including public inl'brn~ational meetings, pamphlets, and government television programs. Thc City of' Iowa City will evaluate thc need l'or and, where appropriate, install or petition the State or County to install ou roadways under their jurisdiction warning signs and/or reflectors that may reduce the Iikelihood of vehicle-deer accidents. The City will prepare annual reports on effectiveness of deer rellectors. In addition, tlmughtful consideration will be given to dccr nfigratory paths as transportation improvement projects are approved by thc City Council. 3. In order to prevent irreparable damage to the ecosystems in Iowa City and to preveut significant injury nr damage to persons or property, the City Council bas set the maximum deer populatiou density to be thirty-five per square nfile per City-designated n]al~agement district. Actual numbers are to be collected via helicopter count. 4. In order to in~plement its long-term population goal of thirty-five deer per square n~file per management district, the City of Iowa City formally requests that the Natural Resource Conunission approve a rule establishing a special deer population managenrent area for Iowa City to the following conditions, limitations, and procedures: a. The special deer management area is defined as all public and private land in Iowa City as designated by the City Council of Iowa City. b. The City is allowed to kill as many deer as the City determines necessary to reach its desired goal. Killing may occur between September 1 and February 28. (1) The City is allowed to utilize sharpshooting with centerfire rifles for the killing of deer. Bait may be used to attract deer to the sites. The City shall determine locations, training, and all other conditions for the sharpshooting activities. The City shall also comply with all applicable state laws. (2) The City is allowed to utilize City personnel to use baited traps to capture and kill deer in locations determined by the City Council. (3) All deer killed by sharpshooting and/or trapping operations are to be processed for human consumption and distributed free of charge. Processing lockers participating in the plan will be allowed to keep and utilize the deer hide. (4)No licenses will be required for the City and no fees will be charged. c. The City wilt initially utilize sharpshooting over bait and trap-and-kill to reduce the number of deer in each management district to the goal of 35 deer per square mile. By the end of the initial reduction plan, it is projected that the deer population will be to a level that requires maintenance rather than aggressive reduction. The City will strongly encourage use of non-lethal methods to maintain deer numbers but recognizes that killing of deer may be necessary to maintain the population goal. 5. The Deer Task Force will convene each spring to review educational material, deer population numbers (current and projected), and management options, and to recommend methods to kill deer. Any or all legal lethal methods available (currently consisting of sharpshooting, trap-and-kill, and bow and arrow hunting) may be utilized after the initial reduction plan if the methods meet the following criteria: 1) public safety, 2) community acceptance, 3) effectiveness in maintaining the desired number of deer. 6. Task Force recommendations must be approved by tlle City Council following public hearing prior to initiation of City management plans. Annual plans approved by the Council will be forwarded to the Department of Natural Resoumes and, if necessary, the Natural Resource Commission for authorization to implement. 03/05/98 Approved by Deer Management Committee 07/08/03 Affirmed by the Deer Task Force 03/10/98 Approved by City Council 07/14/03 Affirmed by the City Council 06/26/01 Affirmed by Deer Task Force 11/17/04 Affirmed by the Deer Task Force 07/09/01 Affirmed by City Council 12/07/04 Affirmed by the City Council 6/05/02 Affirmed by Deer Task Force 07/02/02 Affirmed by City Council INTRODUCTION The members of the 2004-2005 Iowa City Deer Task Force affirm our concurrence with the goals of the City's Long-Term Deer Management Plan. We agree that deer management within the city limits is a necessary duty of the City to maintain the health of the herd, to prevent irreparable damage to plant and animal life in the ecosystems of the natural areas in the City, to protect citizen safety and welfare, and to prevent major deer damage to public and private property. Because managing deer-human-ecosystem interaction is an ongoing process, each year the City must gather information and evaluate the outcomes of the implementation of the long-term plan. As have previous committees, we value the presence of deer in the city limits and are recommending a number of ways to encourage citizens to become better educated about ways to coexist with deer. We do not recommend total elimination of deer in the city limits. But it is clear that the presence of high numbers of deer in areas in the city limits may endanger human lives because of deer-vehicle accidents, cause destruction of landscaping and yard plantings, and further disrupt already altered ecosystems. Natural habitat for many types of wildlife in the Iowa City area is being continuously reduced as previously rural land is developed for housing and commercial purposes. In a natural setting, the size of a deer population depends on food sources, predators, hunting, and wildlife management practices. Inside the city limits, deer have an abundant supply of food and no natural predators. Starvation and disease will have little effect on the deer population. After reviewing the results of the most recent deer population survey, we concluded that killing of deer is necessary within the Iowa City corporate limits for the winter of 2004-2005. We recommend the killing of no more than 282 antlerless deer. We also agreed the City should pursue a number of other nonlethal methods, discussed in subsequent sections of this report. 2004-2005 DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN It is the unanimous recommendation of the 2004-2005 Iowa City Deer Task Force that the City Council of Iowa City resolve that the City Manager is authorized and directed to implement the 2004-2005 Deer Management Plan, including the following elements: 1. The City will continue to assemble resources that provide residents with information on deer and offer guidelines for limiting localized deer damage through the use of repellents, screening, alternative plantings, and other techniques. Educational materials will be available at City Hall and the Public Library, on City Channel 4, and on the City web site (www.icgov.org). A video on deer-traffic issues will be produced. 2. The City will continue to maintain appropriate warning signs and reflectors designed to reduce the likelihood of vehicle-deer accidents. To further minimize deer-vehicle conflict, Council will direct staff to consult with a qualified professional to evaluate feasibility of passageways under roads in planning and designs for transportation improvement projects. The City will also investigate the availability of federal funds for including such passageways in eligible transportation projects. 3. The City will actively work with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to fully understand and support their efforts to control the deer population for which the DNR is responsible and which affects the health, safety, and welfare of Iowa City residents. 4. The City of Iowa City will continue to inquire from qualified scientists the feasibility of a deer contraception pilot project or program in Iowa City. 5. The City will continue to compile data for deer management, including but not limited to information about vehicle-deer accidents, citizen comments, and an annual helicopter deer count. 6. The City will immediately apply for permits from the DNR to implement a plan to kill no more than 282 antlerless deer within the Iowa City corporate limits, by sharpshooting, during the winter of 2004-2005. a. To enhance understanding of deer reproductive rates, in cooperation with the DNR, the sharpshooting agency, and meat processors, the City will allow reproductive necropsies to be performed on deer killed. b. The City will fully comply with all state law governing the killing of deer, exercise great caution and observe alt possible safety measures during the sharpshoot, assure use of the most humane methods available, and arrange for free distribution of processed deer meat. 7. The Task Force will evaluate the effectiveness of this Deer Management Plan. A report will be filed with the DNR. 8. As the Iowa City Deer Task Force "sunsets" in March of 2007, the Task Force will formulate for the City Council a recommendation on continuance. DETERMINING IF DEER SHOULD BE KILLED IN 2004-2005 For deer management purposes, the most commonly accepted number of deer an urban setting can sustain is 20 to 25 per square mile. Based on recommendations from the DNR and review of management plans from other communities, the 1997 Deer Management Committee established the following guidelines for the City's long-range management plan: 0-24 deer/square mile: Educate residents about living with deer. 25-34 deer/square mile: Review on an area-by-area basis. Educational material may be recommended or killing methods implemented depending on the management area, number of complaints, and/or evidence of types of damage. 35+ deer/square mile: Reduction must be implemented. At this level, deer pose threat to the ecosystem. Since deer populations generally tend to increase by approximately 30% each year, approximately 30% of a given population must die or be killed annually if that population level is to remain stable. Deer Counts by Helicopter: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001,2002, 2003, 2005 To estimate as accurately as possible the number of deer in the city limits, the City has conducted six counts via helicopter. 1-31 1-19 ~1-24 3-17 2-3 2-17 Area Description D/st Acres Sq. '1997 Deer/ t999 Deer/ 2000 Deer/ 2001 Deer/ 2002 Deer/ 2003 Deer/ 1-24 Deer/ Mile Deer Sq Mi Deer Sq Mi Killed Deer Sq Mi Killed Deer Sq Mi Killed Deer Sq Mi Deer Sq Mi 2005 Sq Mi Deer 15 NA NA 2 6 17 27 NA NA NA I NA NA NA W of Dubuque St/N of 1 23O 0.360 NA NA NA NA Peninsula 2/3 590 0.922 69 75 154 167 208 81 88 74 33 30 48 30 33 30 ~ 33 19 21 Dubuque St to Dodge St 4/5 780 1.219 78 64 90 74 57 99 81 123 39 32 51 36 30 60 49 43 35 Dubuque St to Hwy 1 6 560 0.875 37 42 60 69 -- 74 85- -- 64 73 -* 29 33 76 87 71 81 (N of 1-80) Hickory Hill/ACT 7 1280 2.000 65 33 127 64 102 140 70 122 38 19 93 25 13 100 I 50 88 44 SE Iowa City 10 720 1.125 NA NA NA NA -- 7 6 -- 9 8 -- NA NA 12 11 9 8 Iowa River (S) 11/12 720 1.125 11 t0 15 13 -- 48 43 19 42 37 10 15 13 74 66 65 58 Willow Creek 17 280 0,438 3 7 0 0 -- 4 9 ~- 0 0 -- 0 0 0 I 0 5 11 Manville Heights 20 500 0.781 NA NA NA NA -- 6 8 -- 3 4 -- NA NA 2 I 3 0 0 5660 8.845 263 I 40 446 t 68 382 459 J 54 340 234 26 229 135 [ 21 354 I 44 300 34 · 1-31 1-19 1-24 3-17 2-3 Area Description D/st Acres Sq. 1997 Deer/ 1999 Deer/ 2000 Deer/ 2001 Deer/ 2002 Deer/ 2003 Deer/ 2005 Deer/ Mile Deer Sq Mi Deer Sq Mi Killed Deer Sq Mi Killed Deer Sq Mi Killed Deer Sq Mi Deer Sq Mi Deer Sq Mi Finkbine (U of t) 16 370 0.578 6 10 31 54 -- 48 83 -- 24 42 -- 23 40 42 73 6 10 East Clear Creek* 889 1.391 49 35 79 57 -- 193 139 -- 99 71 21 43 31 169 121 109 78 West Clear Creek** 2.359 152 64 *Includes properties under multiple jurisdictions (Iowa City, Coralville, and The University of Iowa) **Includes Iowa City, Coralville, and Johnson County. ***No helicopter counts were made in 2004. Deer count conditions were as follows: January 31, 1997 Surveyors: Tim Thompson and Dale Garner (DNR) Navigator: Ron Fort (Iowa City Police Department) Conditions: Temperature 45 degrees F, wind 15 to 30 mph SW, sky clear and sunny, snow cover 5" and melting Technique: Parallel back-and-forth flight pattern by management district, counting only deer actually viewed (no estimations) Results: 269 total deer January 19, 1999 Surveyors: Tim Thompson and Dennis Proctor (DNR) Navigator: Lisa Mollenhauer (City Manager's Office) Conditions: Temperature 28 degrees F, wind 3-7 mph W, sky clear and sunny, snow cover 1-2" new snow on top of 10" old snow Technique: Parallel back-and-forth flight pattern by management district, counting only deer actually viewed (no estimations) Results: 477 total deer January 24, 2000 Surveyors: Tim Thompson and Bruce Freeman (Coralville Police) Navigator: Lisa Mollenhauer (City Manager's Office) Conditions: Temperature -2 warming to 25 degrees F, wind 10 mph S, sky clear and sunny, snow cover 1" new snow on top of 6" old snow Technique: Parallel back-and-forth flight pattern by management district, counting only deer actually viewed (no estimations) Results: 507 total deer March 17, 2001 Surveyors: Tim Thompson and Bruce Freeman (Coralville Police) Navigator: Bill Clarahan (Coralville Police) Conditions: Temperature 20-25 degrees F, wind still, sky clear and sunny, snow cover 8" new snow Technique: Parallel back-and-forth flight pattern by management district, counting only deer actually viewed (no estimations) Results: 258 total deer in Iowa City (with an additional 99 in East Clear Creek) February 3, 2002 Surveyors: Tim Thompson and Bruce Freeman (Coralville Police) Navigator: Bill Clarahan (Coralville Police) Conditions: Temperature around 31 degrees F, wind NW at 17-24 mph, sky clear and sunny, snow cover 6-8" Technique: Parallel back-and-forth flight pattern by management district, counting only deer actually viewed (no estimations) Results: 135 total deer in Iowa City (with an additional 66 in areas under multiple jurisdiction) February 17, 2003 Surveyors: Tim Thompson and Bruce Freeman (Coralville Police) Navigator: Bill Clarahan (Coralville Police) Conditions: Temperature around 30 degrees F, winds calm, sky fog, snow cover 5" Technique: Parallel back-and-forth flight pattern by management district, counting only deer actually viewed (no estimations) Results: 354 total deer in iowa City (with an additional 211 in areas under multiple jurisdiction) January 24, 2005 Surveyors: Tim Thompson and Greg Harris (IDNR) Ron Freeman, Perry Walton Conditions: Temperature around 25 degrees, wind S at 10 mph. Sky sunny, snow cover 5-6 inches. Technique: Parallel back-and-forth flight pattern by management district, counting only Deer actually viewed (no estimations) Results: Per DNR helicopter counts, the estimated deer total is 871 which includes Iowa City and multiple jurisdictions. Helicopter counts were not performed in 2004 by the DNR due to issues with obtaining use of a helicopter and problems with high winds. DNR Projections In October, 2004, the Task Force requested that the DNR provide a projection of the number of deer that must be killed in 2004-2005 to maintain the progress being made toward the goal of 35 deer per square mile by area established by the Long-Term Deer Management Plan. in making such projections, the DNR typically assumes 30 deer per square mile to allow some flexibility so areas are not constantly stressed with the maximum number of deer. The recommendations the DNR provided (see Table I on page 10) indicate a total of 282 does be killed. In Iowa City's management program, it is typical that one antlered deer is killed for every three antlerless deer killed. Taking into account the deer/vehicle accidents and projections by the Department of Natural Resources, the Task Force recommends killing no more than 282 antlerless deer during the winter of 2004-2005. Under this plan, sharpshooting activities will occur only within the iowa City corporate limits. The Task Force recognizes that attainment and maintenance of population goals in these areas will require cooperation among these jurisdictions. The Task Force affirms its desire and willingness to coordinate our activities with those of other jurisdictions. The Task Force specifically recommends the City Council issue a request to University of Iovya President Skorton to allow consideration of University property as possible shooting locations for future management plans. Reduction of the herd to the level established in the Long-Term Deer Management Plan will be an ongoing activity, and its complexities require constant evaluation. The Council relies on the Task Force for the information needed each year to make decisions regarding management of the herd. But, even with aerial counts, no one can determine exactly how many deer are inside the City limits or how many will survive and reproduce after each year's count. Survival variables include weather, traffic speed and volume, available forage, disease, reproductive rates, the success of killing activity by area, the degree of harassment by activists and others during shoots, development of land, deer movement, and willingness of residents to allow deer to be killed on their property. We recommend that, as it was last year, deer meat be processed and distributed free of charge. If requested, reproductive necropsies should be conducted to increase our knowledge of the deer herd. Projected Number of Deer to be Removed by Willie Suchy WildliFe BielosIsl, IDNR The simulations developed here are based upon lhe number of deer observed during helicopters surveys conducted since 199'7. The simulations assume that about 60% of Ihe initial number counted were does and about I/3 of thc docs were ['awns. Thc annual cycle begins wilh dispersal and reproduction. Then Ibc number of dccr prcsenl after normal mortality Ihrough thc cad of December arc calculated. Removals occur during the fall and winter and arc additive to normal mortality. Then thc cycle repeats. NluitipIc simulations are made for each area to find a model Iha! best "fits" the observed aerial counts. Table I lists the eslimalcd number el'does that need to be removed to reach (or maintain) the objective of less than 30 deer per square mile in I year. Thc simulations "fit" thc counts observed on all areas reasonably well il' thc productivity data from thc statcwidc model is used (Sec FiE, I ). This is the same estimate o£ productivity that has been used in the past to make the projections. Table 1. The number of female deer that would need to be removed this year to reduce the simulated poFulations below the goal of 30 deer / square mile. Deer Goal Deer Number of sighted (30 deer killed in does to Area Dis~'ict Sq. Miles in 200~ per sq. mile) 200.~ remove W of Dubuque & I 0.36 NA 11 0 12 North of I80 Peninsula 2&3 0.92 ' 30 28 31 6 Dubuque Street to 4&5 1.22 60 37 49 18 Dodge Street Dubuque to Hwy I 6 0,88 76 26 0 80 North of 1-80 Hickory Hill/ACT 7 2.00 100 60 117 22 SE Iowa CiV/ I 0 1.13 12 34 3 0 Iowa R/vet (South) I l&12 1.13 74 34 0 54 Willow Creek I 7 0.44 0 13 0 0 Manville Heights 20 078 2 23 0 0 Einkbine (U ell) 16 0.59 42 17 0 30 Clear Creek East 1,39 169 42 0 60 Total 10,06 563 325 200 282 Because no aerial counts were conducted in 2004 there is no way to determine how well the simulations fit the counts. lO Figure 1. Results of simulation of deer numbers in districts 2 and 3 (the Peninsula) using productivity from Kent Park model where doe fawns produce 0,95 fawns and adults 1.83 fawns. The simulation indicates the projected population with annual "maintenance" removals. 250 - - - Simulation ,~ · Aerial Counts 200 // x Goal / \ / \ / \ 150 100 \ 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 11 SUMMARY OF POPULATION MANAGEMENT OPTIONS THE TASK FORCE CONSIDERED No Lethal Action The Task Force considered and rejected this option. Control of Deer Reproduction via Contraception and Sterilization Most studies of the effectiveness of contraceptives with deer have been conducted on populations living in enclosed or confined areas, not with free-ranging deer. Because of drug safety issues, the FDA has not yet approved the use of immunocontraceptives on free- ranging deer. The Task Force reaffirms its interest in the progress and results of tests using immunocontraception and recommends the City continue to investigate the feasibility of a pilot project in our area. The Task Force has also agreed'to research the possibility of deer population control through sterilization and release programs that are similar to techniques being used to humanely manage colonies of feral cats. Trap (or Dart) and Relocate The Task Force assumed the use of a box trap. Is it humane? A properly-constructed trap is unlikely to injure deer. if the trap is checked with sufficient frequency, the trapped animal is unlikely to suffer significant trauma from its stay in the trap. To minimize trauma in transport, trapped animals must not be held for long prior to transport. Even with prompt transport, experience with trap and relocate methods suggests that a 4% mortality rate is to be expected during transport, 26% delayed mortality due to stress induced by the experience, and between 58% and 85% mortality in the following months. At this time, trap and relocation of deer cannot be considered humane. Is it safe? Properly managed box traps pose very little risk to people. Is it effective? No, considering the high mortality rate of transported deer and the fact that few sites in the Midwest have the combination of adequate habitat, Iow deer population, and willing human stewards this method requires. This method is selective; if only does are to be relocated, bucks caught in a trap may be easily released. Dart and relocate was considered briefly. We find no distinction between trapping and darting when relocation is the goal, since the results of relocation are the same, and conclude trap/dart and relocate is not effective. 12 What does it cost? The cost depends on trap placement and deer population. Frequency of trap monitoring adds uncertainty. In the late 1990s, North Oaks, Minnesota reported a cost per deer capture of $131. Urban trapping for live release has been reported to cost, per deer, $113 in Wisconsin and $800 in Long Island. Total costs, including transport, have been reported in the $300 to $1,000 range. Highland Park, IL, reported a cost of $3,074 per deer to relocate 20 deer. Eight months after transport, 11 of the 20 were reported dead. Frequent trips with small numbers of deer are more humane but more expensive. The cost of trapping by dart is comparable to the cost of sharpshooting. Is it legal? The Iowa DNR does not recommend trap and relocate for deer, although it is currently used for dealing with waterfowl and small animals. Relocation of wild deer to private ownership is not currently legal in Iowa. Task Force Conclusion The Task Force does not view trap and relocate as an option because of high mortality, the possible high cost, and lack of areas to relocate deer. Bow Hunting Suggested regulations for bow hunting in urban areas assume the hunter shoots from a fixed stand, waiting there until the deer comes to the hunter. Stalking or driving deer is not permitted. While the use of elevated stands is common, it is required in some, but not all, jurisdictions. The Task Force assumed the imposition of strict hunter education and certification standards such as have been adopted in Waterloo/Cedar Falls and Coralville in addition to regulations governing hunter behavior. Such standards address some of the more severe criticisms of the humaneness and effectiveness of bow hunting. Is it humane? Bow hunting rarely leads to instantaneous death. Estimates by hunters indicate that bow hunting cripples more animals than gun hunting. A crippling injury is defined as one which does not kill, and after which the hunter fails to find and kill the injured animal. The Waterloo/Cedar Falls and Dubuque experiences suggest a significant degree of success. Recent studies appear to confirm the belief that crippling rates from bow hunting in relatively cramped settings such as those encountered in urban deer management are indeed lower than the crippling rates reported for bow hunting in general. The only scientific studies the Task Force found to review were conducted by bow- ' hunting advocacy groups or funded by archery-related industries. Is it safe? Evidence indicates that urban bow hunts pose very little risk to people. No evidence of injury to humans appears in any of the programs reviewed. 13 Is it effective? It can be, assuming that sufficient numbers of hunters are willing to comply with the additional regulations governing hunting within city limits, tn a recent year, hunters killed 74 deer inside Dubuque city limits and an additional 98 in the area surrounding the city. However, in areas where killing of large numbers of deer is recommended, bow and arrow hunting alone would be ineffective in reducing the population. Bow hunting is moderately selective. The hunting season is before the bucks shed their antlers, so gender is fairly easy to determine. Hunting traditions place a high value on killing older bucks--the so-called trophy bucks with large, many-branched antlers. This is of little use if population control is the goal. If bow hunting is to be used as an effective component of a population control plan, hunters must be induced to kill does. What does it cost? The costs of a DNR-administered hunt are largely borne by the individual hunters who, through license fees, pay for the cost of regulating the hunt. These costs are partially offset by the value of the meat taken. DNR generally relies on individual hunters to police other hunters. The cost to the City would be minimal. Is it legal? Yes, according to State law. However, the City of Iowa City prohibits bow hunting within the City limits. Task Force Conclusion The Task Force does not recommend bow hunting as an option for killing in the 2004- 2005 Iowa City Deer Management Plan. Some members view bow hunting as inhumane. In addition, some members do not regard Iowa City's deer management as a recreational activity or sport for hunters and do not wish to encourage such a concept. The Task Force recognizes, however, that bow hunting is a potential legal option, and some members have voiced interest in a bow hunting component in Iowa City's management plan. Further discussion of the bow hunting option was deferred until early 2005. Trap and Kill The Task Force assumed the use of a baited box trap or modified clover trap. Trapping is typically done in mid to late winter. Deer are killed by gunshot to the head; deer meat so acquired is suitable for human consumption. Is it humane? If a trap is properly constructed and checked frequently, deer are unlikely to suffer significant trauma while in it. The killing methods assumed are instantaneous and therefore humane. Is it safe? Properly managed box traps pose very little risk to people. Is it effective? Yes, but only to remove small numbers of deer. As with trapping and relocation, this method is selective. Deer may be released if they are not of the desired age and sex. Dart and kill was briefly considered. The cost of darting is approximately the same as sharpshooting; meat from darted animals is not considered fit for human consumption~ What does it cost? Costs depend on trap placement, deer population, and weather conditions. The sometimes-complicated logistics of regular trap monitoring add complexity to this method. In the late 1990s, North Oaks, MN, reported a cost per deer capture of $131, not including carcass disposal or processing. Minnetonka, MN, reported total costs of $209- $214 per deer, including meat processing. Is it legal? The DNR has authorized use of box traps for the killing of deer in Iowa City. Task Force Conclusion The Task Force does not recommend use of trap and kill. With the high number of deer recommended to be killed, the costs and staff time associated with trap and kil~ would not justify the number of deer killed. Sharpshooting Sharpshooting has been used in many residential areas and parks to control deer populations and has been the kill method recommended by the Task Force and approved by the City Council over the past several years. High-powered rifles are the weapon of choice for sharpshooting. Sound suppression devices were used by the USDA in 1999 and by White Buffalo, Inc. staff in 2001 but not by White Buffalo, Inc. staff in 2000 because, at the time, it was illegal for a private person to possess a suppressed weapon in the State of Iowa. As of July 1, 2000, suppressors could be used in Iowa by a person shooting a deer pursuant to a state-approved deer management plan, if the person has a valid federal permit for the device. Also effective July 1, 2000, a shooter need only get permission of the owner or tenant to discharge a firearm during a sanctioned sharpshoot if the shooter is within 50 yards of an inhabited structure. The prior law prohibited the discharge of a firearm anywhere within 200 yards without permission. The City requested the legislature make these two changes to the Iowa Code in order to facilitate future sharpshooting in more developed areas. In a professional sharpshoot, shooting sites are selected basedon safety and access to deer. An appropriate site includes an orientation relative to the bait station so that shooting occurs from an elevated location (e.g., a tree stand or from the top of a ridge), which directs the bullet in a downward trajectory. Site preparation, consisting of clearing underbrush and pre- baiting, lasts for several weeks. Shooters typically work at night using artificial light. Is it humane? A high-powered rifle can cause instantaneous death; from this point of view, no method of killing is more humane. Of all weapons for killing at a distance, high-powered rifles are the least likely to inflict an inhumane wound, one that cripples, or kills slowly. The likelihood of such injuries is reduced even more by using trained sharpshooters and a bait station to attract and hold deer for the kill. 15 Is it safe? All evidence indicates that urban sharpshootin§ poses little risk to people. No evidence of injury to people or property was reported in any of the programs we reviewed. Is it effective? Assumin§ there is appropriate access, yes. Studies have shown, and DNR advisors concurred, that sharpshooting is more effective at reducin9 lar§er numbers of deer than bow and arrow hunting. What does it cost? The City contracted with the USDA in 1998, and the USDA killed 22 deer at a cost of $3,850. Ruzicka's Locker charged $35 per deer to field dress and process the meat into 5 lb packages. In 1999-2000, the City contracted with the private firm of White Buffalo, Inc. White Buffalo, Inc. killed 360 deer. Costs incurred were approximately $72,000, including $69,300 to White Buffalo, Inc. for labor and reimbursable expenses, and about $2,500 for supplies and other expenses (e.g. housing, bait). Ruzicka's Locker charged $45 per deer to field dress and process the meat into 1 lb and 5 lb packages. The Salvation Army received Community Development Block Grant funding to help defray processing and storage costs. In 2000-2001, the City contracted with White Buffalo, Inc. White Buffalo, Inc. killed 340 deer. Costs incurred were approximately $109,400, including $96,400.97 for labor and reimbursable expenses and about $13,000 for supplies and other expenses (e.g. housing, bait). Ruzicka's Locker charged $50 per deer to field dress and process the meat into 1 lb and 5 lb packages. The Salvation Army again served as the main distributor to individuals and agencies. In 2001-2002, the City contracted with White Buffalo, Inc. White Buffalo, Inc. killed 250 deer. Costs incurred were approximately $100,000, including $75,000 to White Buffalo for labor and reimbursable expenses and about $10,000 for supplies and other expenses (e.g. housing, bait). Ruzicka's Locker charged $55 per deer to field dress and process the meat into 1 tb and 5 lb packages. The Salvation Army again served as the main distributor to individuals and agencies. In 2002-2003, the Task Force determined killing of deer would not be necessary during the winter of 2002-2003. In 2003-2004, the City contracted with White Buffalo, Inc. White Buffalo, Inc. killed 200 deer. Costs incurred were approximately $94,000 including $74,899.14 to White Buffalo, Inc. for labor and reimbursable expenses. Ruzicka's Locker charged approximately $65 per deer to field dress and process the meat into 1 lb and 5 lb. packages. The Salvation Army served as the main distributor to individuals and agencies. In 2004-2005, the City contracted with White Buffalo, Inc. White Buffalo, Inc. killed 154 deer. Costs incurred were approximately $60,000 including $45,379.79 payable to White Buffalo, Inc. for labor and reimbursable expenses. Ruzicka's Locker charged approximately $65 per deer to field dress and process the meat into 1 lb. and 5 lb. packages. The Salvation Army served as the main distributor to individuals and agencies. Is it legal? This method involves night shooting over bait, with lights and high-powered rifles. The DNR has approved sharpshooting as a method authorized for the City of Iowa City. The City must petition the Natural Resource Commission each year to be eligible to utilize sharpshooting. To assist deer management programs, the Iowa legislature amended the Code in spring 2000 to allow sharpshooters to use devices to decrease the sound and to permit shooting within 50 yards of an inhabited structure, with the owner's permission. Task Force Conclusion The Task Force recommends sharpshooting as the most effective, efficient, and humane method to continue to make progress toward the population goals established in the Long-Term Deer Management Plan. The Task Force recommends White Buffalo, Inc. be engaged this year to conduct the sharpshoot. All public grounds should be assessed for safe and appropriate shooting sites. Private properties should be allowed as sharpshooting sites with the permission of land owners and occupants and in conformance with all laws, regulations, and safety concerns. The contractor engaged to conduct the sharpshoot must arrange with property owners and occupants for use of their land. 17 TRAFFIC SAFETYISSUES Deer-Vehicle Accident Statistics The Iowa City Police Department is responsible for collecting deer-vehicle accident information. The Department prepares maps showing locations and dates of accidents reported from 1996 to the present. They are available for review at the City Manager's Office. The deer-vehicle accident reporting process has improved beginning with the 1999 report. Each accident is assigned a reference number and the date, time, location, property damage amount, and miscellaneous comments are included. Accident victims are mailed a questionnaire to return to the City indicating information such as age of driver, weather conditions, speed, etc. to better our understanding of deer-vehicle accidents. Chart 3. Deer-Vehicle Accidents 1996-2004 Number Number in Reflector ; Reported~ $ Damage Estimate2 Areas3 1996 15 N/A 2 1997 31 $32,505 ; 7 1998 50 $58,870 4 1999 103 $116,273 26 r E~ ~ $110,833 2'5 2001 ! 106 ~ $115,531 124 i i 85 2002 i 39 ~ $92,909 :, 2003 i 59 ~ $112,100 2004 i ~ ~ 1 Includes deer reported dead along roadways (vehicle left scene of accident). In 2000, drivers officially reported 46 accidents; 2001,48 accidents; 2002, 32. 2 Damage estimates by police staff, not certified repair personnel. Estimates over $1,000 require claimant and police to file special state report. 3 Time of accident and position and maintenance of reflectors influence effectiveness. 4 11 of the 12 accidents in reflector zones occurred during darkness. 5 4 of the 8 accidents in reflector zones occurred during darkness. 6 6 of the 8 accidents in reflector zones occurred during darkness. Reflectors Reflectors were installed on Dubuque Street (38 posts) in September 1994 and N. Dodge Street (152 posts) in spring 1997. Construction began on N. Dodge Street in summer 1998, temporarily displacing many reflectors. Additional reflectors were added to N. Dodge and Dubuque Streets, and a new system installed on Rochester Avenue in spring 2000. Effectiveness of reflectors is yet to be determined. It is important to keep in mind they are designed to work only when vehicle lights are in use. They also require diligent regular maintenance. In 2005, the Deer Task Force met with Misha Goodman, Animal Control, regarding the upkeep and maintenance of the reflectors. This item will be discussed at a future Deer Task Force meeting. 18 Traffic Speeds In a meeting with the Task Force in 2000, Jeff Davidson (City Planning & Community Development Assistant Director and JCCOG Transportation Planner) explained the speed a motorist travels is primarily a function of comfort level, not of the posted speed limit. Eighty-fifth percentile speeds are measured; 85TM percentile indicates the general comfort level of drivers and is generally used for determining appropriate speed limits. Speed limits should be set so there is compliance by most motorists; otherwise, they create an enforcement problem for police. Artificially Iow speed limits are not only difficult to enforce, they may also create general disrespect for speed limits, including those in areas where lower limits may be particularly appropriate. On Dubuque Street, the average speed was 39.5 miles per hour in the 35 mph zone; the 85th percentile speeds were 42 mph. On Rochester Avenue, two locations were studied. On the eastern portion, 85th percentile speeds were 33 mph. Further west, 85th percentile speeds were 42 mph. As a result, the City concluded that the current limits are appropriately set at 35 mph. In light of this information, we concluded that reducing limits below 35 mph would not reduce actual driving speeds. It should be noted that we found no studies that relate the incidence of deer-vehicle accidents and vehicle speed (for speeds in the 25 to 45 mph range). Since 1999, the City has mounted a defensive driving campaign during October and November, when deer-vehicle accidents are more frequent. Media releases prompted articles, display ads were run, and a sequencer on City Channel 4 warn drivers to be alert. Recommendations: Because of the high number of deer-vehicle accidents, the Task Force recommends the City: · Continue to assess the effectiveness of reflectors. Since maintenance of the reflectors is essential to their effectiveness, the Task Force continues to request resources be committed to reflector maintenance. · Continue to monitor developments in the area of road signage so Iowa City regularly uses the most up-to-date and innovative signage technologies on the market. · Agree to thoroughly assess, during design and planning phases of new road and road improvement projects, the impact these projects may have on deer migratory paths and, if appropriate, to include passageways under roads for deer in such projects. EDUCATION AND OTHER NONLETHAL INITIATIVES FOR IMPROVED HUMAN-DEER COEXISTENCE Completed and Current Projects The City has undertaken a number of steps toward nonlethal management: · Coordinated an educational program with the Johnson County Conservation Board entitled "Whitetail Deer: Treasure, Trophy or Trouble"? Two programs were presented and both were made available to the public. · Requested the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to consider Iowa City as a deer contraception test site. 19 Conducted Deer Issues Listening Sessions at which residents can convey to Task Force members and each other their opinions about and experience with Iowa City's deer. These sessions were taped for broadcast on the City Channel. Began updating the brochure explaining Iowa City's approach to deer management and emphasizing methods to help residents devise strategies for living with deer. · Utilized the City's website and City Channel 4 for disseminating information. The Task Force recommends continued expansion of both forums. · Participated in classroom discussions, presentations, and radio call-in programs. · Installed additional reflectors as well as five warning signs. Upgraded warning signs with the highest quality of reflective material available. The City will continue maintenance of these systems. · Worked with media on defensive driving campaign during high deer-vehicle accident incidence time of year. · Completed a consultant-assessment of impact of N. Dodge Street improvements on deer. An under-passageway is being considered. · Made available for checkout and began broadcast of "Whitetails at the Crossroads," a deer management educational video. · Began production of a video on deer-traffic issues. · Advertised seminar on gardening, landscaping, and wildlife (joint project with lC Landscaping). · Information sharing with comparable communities. Ideas for Future Consideration We have developed a long list of possible initiatives for nonlethal management of the interactions between Iowa City deer and Iowa City people, drawing on our own discussions, resident comments, correspondence, and the listening sessions. Here is a working draft of that list, which will continue to guide our deliberations about nonlethal deer management: · Gather and consider information on experience with deer contraception/sterilization projects across the country. · Produce educational video. Could deal with practical or 'philosophical' issues. Provide copies for checkout at libraries, broadcast on City Channel 4. · Expand information on City web site. More resources. More links. · Adopt-a-reflector system or City staff assignment to assure continuous maintenance. · Presentation by HSUS staff or others on immunocontraceptives or other reproductive control project. · Add a 'deer resistant' garden to the Project GREEN Garden Tours, other gardener activities. · Provide information, etc., at Parade of Homes, Project GREEN and business fairs, Chamber office. · Promote safe driving through campaigns on TV, in newspapers--particularly in May and October/November. · Provide newspaper/TV/radio features on timely deer-related issues (traffic, plantings, etc.). · Visit deer-resistant gardens. · Host gardening seminars (present live, rebroadcast on public access TV) · Research solar powered deer deflectors that are currently being used in Indiana. These are deflectors that turn on flashing lights to warn motorists when deer are present. 2O HISTORY OF DEER MANAGEMENT IN IOWA CITY - 1997-2005 1997-1998 In response to citizen complaints, in 1997 the City Council established a Deer Management Committee to recommend a management plan. Council appointed members representing the following interests: Iowa City staff, Iowa City/Coralville Animal Shelter, Iowa City Police Department, hunters, Project GREEN, residents of areas heavily populated with deer, residents of areas not heavily populated with deer, animal protection, science/nature/biology, Iowa Wildlife Federation, City of Coralville staff, residents of Coralville, and Johnson County Board of Supervisors. The Committee divided the Iowa City/Coralville community into twenty Deer Management Areas, using natural and constructed barriers as lines of division and taking into consideration the ability to implement management techniques in each area. After reviewing the size of the deer population, numbers of deer-vehicle accidents, the deer management plans of other communities, comments from citizens, and advice from the DNR, the Committee recommended and Council approved a multi-component management plan. The plan consisted of initiating an education program, using reflectors and warning signs, consideration of deer when constructing/renovating arterial streets, and the killing of 180 deer by sharpshooting over bait and by trap and kill. To arrive at consensus about killing methods, we considered the costs, legality, risks to humans, and humaneness of each method of killing. For purposes of our discussion, we defined a humane death as one that is instantaneous and painless. For deer management purposes, the most commonly accepted number of deer an urban setting can sustain is 20 to 25 per square mile. Based on recommendations from the DNR and review of management plans from other communities, the 1997 Deer Management Committee established the following guidelines for the City's long-range management plan: 0-24 deer/square mile: Educate residents about living with deer. 25-34 deer/square mile: Review on an area-by-area basis. Educational material may be recommended or killing methods implemented depending on the management area, number of complaints, and/or evidence of types of damage. 35+ deer/square mile: Reduction must be implemented. At this level, deer pose threat to the ecosystem. Upon reviewing the 1997-1998 plan, the DNR rejected sharpshooting as an option for urban deer management. But after making a comprehensive assessment of Iowa City's situation, DNR officials concurred that bow and arrow hunting (a kill method that would be permissible) would not be an effective method to reduce the herd according to our guidelines. Staff recommended and, on February 12, 1998, the Natural Resource Commission approved, Iowa City's request to sharpshoot deer. City officials worked with legislators to amend the State of Iowa Code to allow the use of artificial light over bait for the purpose of urban deer management. There was not enough time remaining in the season to initiate a sharpshooting program for 1997-1998; however, a permit was authorized for September 1, 1998, through February 28, 1999. 21 1998-1999 On October 21, 1998, the Deer Management Committee resubmitted the original plan to the City Council for approval, setting the number of deer to be killed at 240, as a result of increases in the size of the deer herd. Council approved the plan on December 1. The City contracted with the USDA to conduct the sharpshoot. In the south Peninsula area, 19 deer (8 adult does, 6 fawn does, and 5 fawn males) were shot on January 20, and 3 deer (1 adult doe and 2 fawn males) were shot on January 21, 1999. All adult does were pregnant. On January 20, one deer was shot and dropped, but ran off and was not recovered. A group of local animal rights activists backed by national groups filed a request in federal court for an injunction against the USDA, thereby halting shooting activity until a federal judge could review the points of contention. The request for injunctive relief alleged that the USDA had failed to meet federal procedural requirements before the sharpshoot. The window of shooting authorization expired before mediation eventually settled the litigation. 1999-2000 The 1999-2000 Deer Management Committee met from April 21 through August 16, 1999, formulating a plan similar to the first two and increasing the number of deer to be killed to no more than 733. The Committee examined the credentials of three agencies that submitted proposals to conduct the sharpshoot. The Committee recommended and.the City agreed that the sharpshooting contract should be awarded to White Buffalo, Inc., of Hamden, Connecticut. The 1999-2000 sharpshoot included a preliminary kilt of 11 deer on November 9 to coordinate logistics. Extensive preparation of 29 bait sites took place between December 12 and 31. Between January 1 and January 11, White Buffalo, Inc. killed 349 deer by sharpshooting [215 females (60%) and 145 males (40%) /65 (18%) had visible antlers and 295 deer (82%) were antlerless. Including the 11 killed in November, 360 deer were killed and transpoded to Ruzicka's Locker in Solon for processing and packaging. Graduate students from Coe College performed reproductive autopsies and collected blood samples to test for evidence of Lyme disease. Blood analyses revealed the incidence of Lyme antibodies in the samples studied was consistent with the statewide average of 5 percent. Deer meat was distributed to local residents by the Salvation Army. Approximately 16,600 pounds were distributed to 1,574 households (4,331 individuals), the Free Lunch Program (Wesley House), the SE Linn Community Food Reservoir (for Johnson County families), churches and community groups, and the Salvation Army Evening Meal Program. Crisis Center distribution is not included in the distribution figures. Qualifications for receiving meat included: Johnson County resident, collect meat only once a month, choose either but not both the Salvation Army or the Crisis Center as preferred, pick-up location, and five pounds per family/one pound per individual. Recipes were provided with the meat. The City initiated an educational program, including display ads in local newspapers, the use of City Channel 4 to convey high risk periods for deer-vehicle collisions, a brochure discussing Iowa City deer issues and suggesting ways to coexist with deer, and a deer management video broadcast on City Channel 4 and available for checkout at the public library. Additional Streiter reflectors were added to the N. Dubuque Street and N. Dodge Street systems, and a new system was installed on Rochester Avenue. Deer warning signs manufactured with improved reflective material were placed at the beginning of the reflector systems along each traffic lane. In March, the City's website launched a deer information page including frequently asked questions, a listing of deer resistant plantings, a map indicating deer-vehicle accidents for 22 1999, and a public comment board. Content of the website will be expanded as the program progresses. After assessing the local situation, White Buffalo staff did not recommend Iowa City as a potential site for a contraceptive study at this time. The City requested a similar analysis and recommendation from HSUS. 2000-2001 The 2000-2001 Deer Management Committee met from June 19 through August 30, formulating a plan similar to the first three and increasing the number of deer to be killed to no more than 500. The Committee reviewed criteria on recommendation of a sharpshooting contractor. White Buffalo, Inc. had established contacts with property owners and performed the shoot in 1999- 2000 as they indicated. Committee members felt comfortable with the manner in which they conducted their operation. Therefore, the Committee recommended and the City Council agreed that the sharpshooting contract should be awarded again to White Buffalo. Extensive preparation of 36 bait sites took place between November 27 and December 11. Sharpshooting took place between December 12 and December 22 and resumed again January 7 through January 18. During those periods, White Buffalo, Inc. killed 340 deer by sharpshooting. When using the "first opportunity" approach, the killing demographics are usually representative of the population as a whole. A total of 204 females (60%) and 136 males (40%) were killed. Seventy-six deer (22%) had visible antlers, whereas 264 deer (78%) were antlerless. Sixty male fawns were included in the antlerless grouping. Students from Coe College performed reproductive autopsies and collected blood samples to test for evidence of Lyme disease. Deer meat was distributed to local residents by the Salvation Army; Approximately 15,000 pounds were distributed to 3,104 households, the Free Lunch Program (Wesley House), the SE Linn Community Food Reservoir (for Johnson County families), churches and community groups, and the Salvation Army Evening Meal Program. Recipes were provided with the meat. The City continued an educational program, including display ads in local newspapers, the use of City Channel 4 to convey high risk periods for deer-vehicle collisions, an area on the City's web site containing deer issues and suggesting ways to coexist with deer, and a deer management video broadcast on City Channel 4 and available for checkout at the public library. The Streiter reflectors were maintained. After assessing the local situation, White Buffalo staff again did not recommend Iowa City as a potential site for a contraceptive study at this time. The City continues to await a response from HSUS. 2001-2002 The 2001-2002 Deer Task Force met from March 20 through September 10, 2001, formulating a plan similar to the first four and setting the number of deer to be killed to no more than 325. The Task Force reviewed criteria on recommendation of a sharpshooting contractor. White Buffalo, Inc. had established contacts with property owners and performed the shoot in 2000-2001 as they indicated. -I-ask Force members felt comfortable with the manner in which they conducted their operation. Therefore, the Task Force recommended and the City Council agreed that the sharpshooting contract should be awarded to white Buffalo. Extensive preparation of 28 bait sites took place between November 20 and November 30. Sharpshooting took place between December 1 and December 20. During that period, 18 days of fieldwork were required to achieve the killing of 250 deer. When using the "first opportunity" approach, the killing demographics are usually representative of the population as a whole. A total of 137 females (55%) and 113 males (45%) were killed. Fifty-six deer (22%) had visible antlers, whereas 194 deer (78%) were antlerless. Fifty-seven male fawns were included in the antlerless grouping. Deer meat was distributed to local residents by the Salvation Army. Approximately 8,715 pounds were distributed to 3,548 individuals as well as 852 pounds of meet distributed to nine organizations. Recipes were provided with the meat. The City continued an educational program, including display ads in local newspapers, the use of City Channel 4 to convey high risk periods for deer-vehicle collisions, an area on the City's web site containing deer issues and suggesting ways to coexist with deer, and a deer management video broadcast on City Channel 4 and available for checkout at the public library. The Streiter reflectors were maintained. After assessing the local situation, White Buffalo staff again did not recommend Iowa City as a potential site for a contraceptive study at this time. 2002-2003 After taking into consideration several factors, the Task Force, by a vote of 6-1 (2 members were absent), determined killing of deer would not be necessary during the winter of 2002-2003. The money that was budgeted for deer management in 2002-2003 was carried over for possible use in 2003-2004. 2003-2004 The 2003-2004 Deer Task Force met on a regular basis, formulating a plan similar to the first four and setting the number of deer to be killed to no more than 200. The Task Force reviewed criteria on recommendation of a sharpshooting contractor. White Buffalo, Inc. had established contacts with property owners and performed the shoot. Task Force members felt comfortable with the manner in which they conducted their operation. Therefore, the Task Force recommended and the City Council agreed that the sharpshooting contract should be awarded to White Buffalo, Inc. 24 Initial site preparation and prebaiting were conducted from 16 November 2003 - 26 November 2003. Sharpshooting began on November 28, 2003 and continued through December 13. During that period, 14 days of fieldwork were required to achieve the killing of 200 deer. When using the "first opportunity" approach, the killing demographics are usually representative of the population as a whole. A total of 107 females (54%) and 93 males (46%) were killed. Sixty-two deer (31%) had visible antlers, whereas 138 deer (69%) were antledess. Thirty-one male fawns were included in the antlerless harvest. Deer meat was distributed to local residents by the Salvation Army. Approximately 4,851 pounds of meat were distributed to approximately 556 families. Recipes were provided with the meat. 2004-2005 The Deer Task Force was re-established in August 2004 with two of the three vacancies being filled at that time. Originally, a deer kill was not scheduled or budgeted for the winter of 2004- 2005, however upon review of the deer/vehicle accidents and a population modeling prepared by the Iowa DNR, it was determined deer removal should be implemented for the winter of 2004- 2005. It was a unanimous decision by the Deer Task Force to recommend to the City Council to enter into an agreement with White Buffalo, Inc. to kill deer during the winter of 2004-2005. Initial site preparation and prebaiting were conducted from 20-30 January 2005. Deer removal activities began on 31 January 2005 and continued through 9 February. During the 10-day removal period, 9 days of fieldwork were required to achieve the killing of 154 antlerless deer. Deer were shot on a "first opportunity" basis. A total of 96 females (62%) and 58 males (38%) were killed. The summary report of White Buffalo's 2004-2005 activity is included with this report. Approximately 6,000 pounds of meat is currently being distributed to local residents by the Salvation Army. COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND TASK FORCE ANSWERS Don"t I have the right to enjoy the deer in my neighborhood or the park I visit? Absolutely yes! It has never been the intent of the Task Force to eradicate Iowa City's deer herd. I don't understand the discussion of a deer no-feed policy. If we can have bird feeders, why can't we feed cracked corn to deer in the backyard? Our desire to observe wildlife and to know they are present in our surroundings is understandable. However, the well-being of wild creatures is best maintained by watching from a distance and not by attempting to entice them to our immediate living area. Even bird feeders can have undesirable consequences if placement or poor maintenance alters migration timing, spreads disease, or causes an imbalance in species distribution. Given the large deer population in Iowa City, supplemental feeding is an invitation to negative deer- human interactions that further promote the call for lethal deer removal. Deer movement to and from a supplemental feeding site or salt block frequently involves street crossings and consequent automobile accidents. Concentration of deer at a feeding site causes increased browse damage, soil erosion, and excrement in the feeding area and on neighboring properties. Given their varied diet, it is wrong to assume deer will eat only the corn and ignore vegetation in the area. Routine backyard feedings alter deer behavior patterns such that they no longer fear humans. 25 With repeated invitations to human surroundings, deer that should otherwise be shy and dispersed away from humans spend their time looking for handouts and tasty plantings in more densely developed areas. The desire to feed and view deer up-close should be tempered by the realization that this activity is a primary cause for deer-human conflicts. Deer will ultimately be the loser in these conflicts. A good general reference is Living with Wildlife, California Center for Wildlife (a Sierra Club Book, 1994) available at the Iowa City Public Library. ll' no population control inethods are iml}lemented, what would likely occur to other plant and animal life in the city? The effect of deer on ether plant and animal life depends greatly on the number of deer present and the length of time numbers stay at a given level. Although at even Iow levels (10- 20 deer/sq, mi.), the effects on species composition of the plant and animal communities are measurable, they are quickly reversed when deer levels are reduced. At high levels (25 or more deer/sq, mi.), the effects over the short term are likely reversible; over the long term, however, many native plant species will be eliminated locally, and they will not likely reestablish even if deer numbers are reduced. In addition, animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate, that depend on those plants will be driven locally extinct. The result is a species- poor community consisting only of a few plants, often nonmative, that are avoided by deer because of their thorns or distastefulness. For example, the area behind the Mayflower Apartments contained a full complement of spring flora species 25 years ago, but today nearly all non-woody vegetation between ground level and approximately 6 to 8 feet above ground has been eliminated. Why don't you provide more educational programs and materials? It appears the most cost-effective method of educating the public is to respond to citizen requests for information by providing items such as a brochure. Information from each year's plan will be available on the City's website. The Task Force is committed to regularly recommend and develop new educational materials and resources. We also encourage all those interested in educating the public about ways to live with deer to do so. This effort does not necessarily have to be organized through the City. Can't the peninsula be preserved to provide a refuge for the deer in Iowa City? No. Deer frequently swim across the Iowa River and cross the highways to feed in other areas of town. Creating a safe haven for deer there would require fencing the peninsula and would eventually lead to destruction of all vegetation there. Have you killed deer on the peninsula because of the planned development? The City purchased portions of the peninsula in 1995 for $2,000,000, using general funds ($1.3m) and HUD Supplemental CDBG Flood Relief Funds ($.7m). The lower peninsula, situated in the floodplain, is already designed as both a natural woodland, prairie, and wetland park as well as a well field for the City's water supply. To reimburse the general fund, the 70-acre upper peninsula has been sold to a developer. The peninsula neighborhood is intended to be a well-designed and environmentally sensitive development in the special setting of land overlooking a natural park and the Iowa River. The goals of the project are to provide housing for a variety of types of households and to show how different housing types can be proximate to each other and succeed through careful design, to complete an urban neighborhood in an infill site, and to provide a model of an alternative to conventional subdivisions for the development community in Iowa City. 26 The recommendation to kill deer on the peninsula was made without reference to planned development and, according to City staff, the planned development was made without reference to the deer. The peninsula was one of the most appropriate areas to implement the reduction program because it has the highest number of deer per square mile and it provides several natural sites for sharpshooting. Why aren't you recommending that bow and arrow hunting be included in the plan, particularly since it is cheaper than hiring sharpshooters? Some members believe that sharpshooting is the most humane and effective lethal method of reducing Iowa City's large deer herd. Some members view bow hunting as inhumane. In addition, some members do not regard Iowa City's deer management as a recreational activity or sport for hunters and do not wish to encourage such a concept. The Task Force recognizes, however, that bow hunting is a potential legal option, and some members have voiced interest in a bow hunting component in Iowa City's management plan. We recognize that costs are minimal with bow hunting, but believe the community finds sharpshooting a more acceptable method than bowhunting for killing deer for management purposes. How have other communities handled deer management? Programs for deer management vary widely. Communities we contacted in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and New York have tried a variety of methods: · City officials implementing a plan without citizen input. · City officials appointing a citizens' task force to review options and recommend a plan. · Leaving the issue of killing deer up to the citizens via a non-binding referendum (it is interesting to note the residents voted to kill deer and the Council ultimately decided not to kill deer.) · Use of bow hunting only (both extremely regulated and nearly unregulated restrictions). · Use of sharpshooting only (local law enforcement, federal agents, or private contractors). · Use of a combination of methods to kill deer (bow hunting and sharpshooting). The Task Force did not locate a single community in which deer were not killed and the population stabilized or decreased naturally. One community in Illinois reported that they did not kill deer and no longer had a "deer problem." However, the surrounding communities were actively managing deer using an annual kill. 27 Marian Karr From: Anna Lackender[anna@iowacitycoralville.org] Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 4:32 PM To: 'Marian Karr' Subject: Chamber Luncheon on Monday, May 16th Marian, The CVB is hosting the joint chamber luncheon this Monday, May 16th beginning at noon. Could you please email the City of Iowa City staff and council and let them know they're invited to attend if they'd like. The cost is $10 per person and the Sheraton will be grilling out for us. We'll be giving tours of our new building after we eat (we're now at 900 First Avenue in Coralville). We'd love to see anyone there that can make it! Thanks Marian! Anna Lackender-Lacina Convention Sales Manager Iowa City/Coralville Convention & Visitors Bureau 900 First Avenue Coralville, Iowa 52241 319/337-6592 or 800/283-6592 319/337-9953 FAX an na@iowacitycoralville~org www. iowacitycoralvi!!e.org What's happening this weekend in Iowa City/Coralville? Visit www.culturalcorridor.org to find out! 5/11/2005 C ! T Y klm DATE: May 16, 2005 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk 1%x4''v~ RE: Timeline for Initiative Petition re: medical marijuana use On Friday, May 13, George Pappas filed a petition, which on its face, contained at least 2,500 signatures of registered Iowa City voters. A list of all registered voters has been ordered from the Johnson County Commissioner of Elections office. Once that list has been received my office will begin the verification of those signatures to the voter rolls. A certificate of the petition's sufficiency must be issued within 20 days. On or before June 2 1 will either: 1) Issue a "Certificate of Sufficiency" which verifies that the petition has the required 2,500 signatures in the form required by Section 7.03 of the Charter. Or, 2) Issue a "Certificate of Insufficiency" which specifies the particulars wherein the petition is insufficient. The petitioner willbe notified by registered mail. If the petitioner wishes to amend and submit additional signatures the City Charter provides for the filing of a "Notice of Intent to Amend" within 2 days. Additional signatures may be filed within 15 days after the Petitioner's receipt of the "Certificate of Insufficiency" and will be verified in the same manner as the original submission. If the petition is certified as sufficient the Council would have 60 days to act upon the measure or submit to the voters for the November election. The City Attorney informs me that she will provide the City Council with an opinion on the proposed measure's enforceability after the petition is determined to be sufficient and prior to the end of the 60 day period within which the Council must act. U:initiativepetition3.doc IPll MINUTES DRAFT PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 13, 2005 MEMBERS PRESENT: Craig Gustaveson, Judith Klink, Margaret Loomer, Jerry Raaz, Sarah Walz, John Westefeld MEMBERS ABSENT Ryan O'Leary, Matt Pacha, Phil Reisetter STAFF PRESENT: Terry Tmeblood, Mike Moran, Terry Robinson FORMAL ACTION TAKEN Moved by Klink~ seconded by Raaz~ to approve the March 9~ 2005 minutes as written. Unanimous. Moved by Westefeld~ seconded by Walz, to support the PIN Grant proposals with the following comments: 1) The Commission supports the Weber Playground request with required ADA guidelines. 2) Commi,~sion would encourage the school district to reexamine their policy of not financially SUl~l~orting 01avRround equipment. 3) Commission endorses Galway Hills Street trees request with a comment that they would like to see developers make tree planting a part of their planning and development process. Unanimous. Moved by Walz~ Seconded by Westefeld that the City purchase the McCollister Property {adiacent to Sand Hill). Unanimous. Moved by Klink, seconded by Westefeld that the letter to City Council from the Parks and Recreation Commission re~ardin~ fundraising for capital proiects be approved as written. Unanimous. PUBLIC DISCUSSION No public discussion. Tmeblood distributed Parks and Recreation Commission roster for review and revisions. PIN GRANT PROPOSALS Trueblood reviewed with commission members the PiN (Program for Improving Neighborhoods) Grant program. This program awards a total of $15,000 in grants to neighborhoods for proposed projects, some of which are parks and recreation oriented. Commission is to review and make comments and then pass on to the Neighborhood Council for Parks and Recreation Commission April 13, 2005 Page 2 of 6 their review and approval. The maximum award is $5,000 per project. City Council then reviews for final approval. The proposed projects for Commission review are as follows: 1. Brookland Park Master Plan request: The Parks and Recreation Department is to survey the Park (which has been complete) and will contribute up to $1000 towards the cost of developing a master plan if the P1N Grant is not sufficient. The Parks and Recreation Department will then undertake the high priority items thought to be affordable using existing funds to the extent possible and will shepherd the proposed project through the Capital Improvement Program budgeting process. Once the plan is finalized it will be presented to the Commission. 2. Southwest Estates/Weber School Plawround. Southwest Estates is requesting $5,000 to go towards new playground equipment for Weber School. The school district has a policy whereby they do not put any funds towards playgrounds. The PTO/PTA's are responsible for raising the funds. Commission discussed whether or not a school playground was appropriate disbursement of city funds. Walz asked staff if this playground would be open to the public. Terry Robinson stated that this school playground is indeed open (during non- school hours) and is very well utilized. Trueblood stated that when Weber School was being built the PTO came to Parks & Recreation Commission (not through a P1N grant) requesting $10,000 to be donated towards a school playground. The Commission voted at that time that they could not in good conscious give them $10,000 when their own administration would not give them any funds. It was suggested that if they could talk the administration into giving funds that the P & R Commission would look at the possibility of matching those funds. Gustaveson commented that in the view that this playground is used as a "restricted park", he feels denying this request would hurt the children living in the area. On the other hand, if this project is approved it may increase the number of requests from other schools. 3. Happy Hollow Play,round Equipment: Trueblood directed attention to the statement "existing equipment is old, falling apart, and unsafe." He reminded Commission members that the Parks and Recreation Department does not wait until equipment is "falling apart or unsafe" before replacing it so feels this is an overstatement. This park is on the high priority list for improvements including the playground. This money would supplement what has already been planned. 4. Benton Hill Park Kickoff Celebration: This is a request for $1800 for a kick-off celebration for the opening of the park. Tmeblood noted that typically PIN Grant projects are of a permanent nature. Some comments made about the dollar amount of the request. No other comments made. 5. Galway Hills Street Trees: Request for $4000 to plant street trees in Galway Hills. Terry Robinson stated a similar request was approved three years ago for this neighborhood. Robinson stated that it really helps out the Forestry Division for these requests to be approved as it gives the neighborhood a sense of ownership in the project. Walz made the comment that all developers should be required to include tree planting in their initial planning. The trees cost approximately $200 per tree and are usually 8-10' tall. Parks and Recreation Commission April 13, 2005 Page 3 of 6 6. Saturday Night Drive-In/Wetherby Friends and NeiGhbors: Request for $600 so that the neighborhood can show movies in the park on two Saturdays, one in the fall and one in late spring/early summer of 2006. Such requests have been approved in the past. Tmeblood asked for comments from the commission that they would like to be incorporated in any of these requests. Moved by Westefeld~ seconded by Walz~ to approve the PIN Grant proposals with the following comments: 1) The Commission supports the Weber Playground request with required ADA guidelines. 2) Commission would encourage the school district to reexamine their policy of not financially supporting playground equipment. 3) Commission endorses Galway Hills Street trees request with a comment that they would like to see developers make tree planting a part. of their planning and development process. Unanimous. PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN Trueblood stated that the next step towards creating a master plan is to put together a request for proposal. He distributed examples of RFP's and master plans for the commission's review. The process that Trueblood envisions is 1) staff writes RFP, 2) commission reviews draft of RFP, 3) RFP is distributed to selected consultants. The review and selection committee would involve staff, (Terry Trueblood, Terry Robinson, Mike Moran) plus three or four Commission members. Trueblood may also ask for a representative from Public Works and/or Planning Department to be involved. Committee would select consultants to be interviewed, conduct interviews, make selection and enter into a contract. The above process would be incorporated if Iowa City does this alone. There has been previous discussion about involving Coralville and/or North Liberty in this project. This would involve a lengthier process but could also be more economical for each community. Parks and Recreation Commission needs to determine if they want to, as a whole, review an RFP and also if Trueblood should again inquire with Coralville and/or North Liberty. Klink stated that it is great to have governments working together. Gustaveson agreed. If timing is such we can bring back to the whole Commission for review and if not, can make it a committee function. All members present expressed interest in being a part of the committee. Trueblood commented that we wait until the next meeting to determine who will serve on the committee. Deferred to May meeting. Parks and Recreation Commission April 13, 2005 Page 4 of 6 NEIGHBORHOOD OPEN SPACE-BROOKWOOD POINTE SUBDIVISION: The developer has agreed to put an entryway into Wetherby Park. This development would require just under an acre of land to be dedicated to the city which is felt to not be necessary in light of the close proximity of Wetherby Park. It is suggested by the Parks and Recreation staff that we accept fees in lieu of the land. Moved by Walz~ seconded by Raaz to accept fees in lieu of land for the Brookwood Pointe Subdivision. Unanimous. REVIEW/DISCUSS DRAFT OF LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL RE: FUNDRAISING: Gustaveson reminded Commission of discussion at March meeting regarding Council's request for fundraising activities, and the decision to draft a letter. Gustaveson asked Commission for comments/revisions to letter. Walz mentioned that Muscatine receives funds from the utilities program--information item only. Klink moved~ Westefeld seconded that letter to City Council from the Parks and Recreation Commission regarding fundraising for capital proiects be approved as written. Unanimous. COMMISSION TIME Walz commented on how beautiful all the flowers and trees look in Iowa City and commended Parks staff for a job well done. Walz also commented on the angel statue. She feels that the issue is not an esthetic one or whether this would be a religious symbol, but that Mr. Titus wants to put a use in the park. While she feels this is an admirable request and noted that she is not in any way against the idea, she also feels we need to come up with a compromise. She suggested that perhaps we reach out to appropriate organizations and find out what they would like to see done rather than basing our decision on the request of one individual. Loomer suggested perhaps the Hospice Memorial at Willow Creek Park would be a more appropriate location for such a statue. Klink stated that she really likes the look of the Parks & Recreation Activity Guide and commended staff for their efforts. Westefeld commented on the great job done by Parks & Recreation staff on the city ball fields. He also mentioned that Hickory Hill park remains an issue regarding dogs off leashes. Trueblood stated that this is an enforcement issue and that Animal Control does give citations when they are present. Raaz stated that on Sunday, April 3, he had the opportunity to use City Park & Terrell Mill Park which were both very busy and found it encouraging and commended staff for how wonderful the park looked. Raaz made a recommendation that the Iowa City Web Site have a direct link to the Parks and Recreation Department. Trueblood is conversing with the ITS Department about the possiblity of Parks and Recreation Commission April 13, 2005 Page 5 of 6 creating a Parks & Recreation web site or least a direct link on the main city home page. We are on the list as one of the most requested pages. Raaz stated that he has been approached by two groups requesting that Iowa City look at the possibility of creating a disc golf course and lacrosse fields. Trueblood recommended that they first contact Parks and Recreation staff and then if needed they may attend a Parks & Recreation Commission meeting. CHAIR'S REPORT Gustaveson received a comment from a couple of visitors from Minneapolis who stated that our skateboard park is "awesome." Other members made comments on the amount of use that the skatepark gets. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Trueblood announced that the Iowa National Heritage Foundation has accepted the City's offer for property near Sandhill of $22,000. This item is on the council agenda for their next meeting. Trueblood stated that we have entered into a contract with the Driftless Land Stewardship out of Wisconsin to do a management plan for the Sand Prairie area. The Public Art Committee toured Hunters Run Park and Willow Creek Park and are scheduled to tour upper City Park, South Sycamore Greenway and the Soccer Complex to get ideas where public art may be incorporated. Trueblood has drafted a letter from the City Manager to the National Guard about the city possibly being interested in a partnership for their new armory. Trueblood reviewed e-mails regarding smoking at the soccer complex. This issue came up a few years ago and it was determined to place signs discouraging smoking at the park. One person sent the suggestion to ban smoking at the soccer park to board of directors. It is difficult to enforce in this large of an area (110 acres). Information item only at this time. Trueblood briefly discussed the angel statue request. Mr. Titus has provided Trueblood with a list that includes other parks in the nation where these types of statues have been placed. Trueblood will be contacting some of these areas to discuss issues they may have encountered. Trueblood would prefer to have City Attorney's opinion so commission would know up front whether this would be okay or not. However, City Attorney does not want to go through the work of researching it unless the commission has given their endorsement first. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Raaz, seconded by Walz to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Unanimous. Parks and Recreation Commission April 13, 2005 Page 6 of 6 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD YEAR 2005 TERM NAME EXPIRES 1/12 2/16 3/9 4/13 5/11 6/8 7/13 8/10 9/14 10/12 11/19 12/14 Craig Gustaveson 1/1/07 NM X X X Judith Klink 1/1/07 NM X X X Margaret Loomer 1/1/08 NM X X X Ryan O'Leary 1/1/06 NM X X O/E Matt Pacha 1/1/05 NM X X O/E Jerry Raaz 1/1/08 ...... X X Phil Reisetter 1/1/09 NM X X O/E Sarah Walz 1/1/07 NM X X X John Westefeld 1/1/06 NM X X X KEY: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = No meeting LQ = No meeting due to lack of quorum .... Not a Member Draft~ MINUTES SENIOR CENTER COMMIS SION APRIL 26, 2005 ROOM G09/8 - SENIOR CENTER Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 2:05 PM. Members Present: Lori Benz, Jo Hensch, Jay Honohan, Betty Kelly, Sarah Maiers, Charity Rowley and Nancy Wombacher Members absent: None Staff Present: Michelle Buhman, Linda Kopping, and Susan Rogusky. Others Present: Charlotte Walker Recommendations to Council: None. Approval of Minutes: Motion: To approve the minutes from the March 15, 2005 meeting as distributed. Motion carried on a vote of a 7-0. Rowley/Kelly PUBLIC DISCUSSION Walker asked to have copies of the Commission minutes posted on the Center's website as soon as possible following their approval. CONSIDER GIFT FUND TRANSFER TO SENIOR CENTER FUND INC.- Honohan Honohan reported that there is approximately $8,000 in the Senior Center Gift Fund that has been donated to the Senior Center since July 1, 2004. These donations are either non-designated donations or designated by the donor for deposit in the Center's Endowment or Charitable Giving accounts in the Johnson County Community Foundation. Changes in the City's accounting system make it difficult to provide precise dollar amounts at this time. Discussion focused on the transfer of available money in the Gift Fund to Senior Center Fund, Inc. Motion: Work with the City Accounting Department to determine the precise amounts of donations collected since July 1, 2004 as well as the distribution of this money into the donor designated or non-designated categories. Then, submit a request to the City Finance Department for the transfer of all designated and non-designated donations collected since July 1, 2004 from the Gift Fund to the Iowa City Senior Center Fund Inc. The target date for this transfer is May 18, 2005. Rowley/Maiers Motion carried on a vote of 7-0. COMMISSION ASSIGNMENTS Hensch volunteered to write the web article from today's meeting. Honohan volunteered to report to the Board of Supervisors. Betty Kelly agreed to report to the City Council. Maiers will go to the May meeting of the City Council and will write the article for the web. Draft PLAN FOR UPDATING THE STRATEGIC PLAN- Each member of the Commission and staff will conduct a focus group comprised of community members who are non-participants at the Center. The purpose of the focus groups is to discover such things as: · What do people know about the Center? · What keeps them away.'? · What would they come here for? · What are they interested in? · How do they spend their free time? · What changes could be made to make the Center more attractive to them? A draft guideline for conducting these focus groups (Senior Center Evaluation of Services: Community Focus Groups of Non-Participants) was distributed in the April Commission packet. Commissioners reviewed and discussed draft document. Motion: To accept the draft titled Senior Center Evaluation of Services: Community Focus Groups of Non-Participants to be used as a guideline for conducting the community based focus groups. Rowley/Maiers. 6-0 Benz abstained. The deadline for completing and reporting the findings of the focus groups is June 1st, 2005. Jim Swain, Director for the United Action for Youth, has agreed to facilitate the strategic planning and goal setting session. Sue Futrell will assist him by taking notes and helping to produce a summary of each session. Swain recommended two full days (e.g. 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) to complete the strategic planning process. His fee will be $1,600. Swain says he is available to conduct the session during the last part of August and in October. Commissioners identified two potential dates, August 19 and 20 and August 20 and 27. Kopping will check on Swain's availability at these times. Swain recommended including members of the Participant, Curriculum and Volunteer Advisory Committees in the strategic planning process. Kopping said she talked about this with the Participant Advisory Committee and all the members expressed interest in participating in the planning process. She has given them a copy of all the preparatory reading materials that have been distributed to the Commission. PARKING ISSUES UPDATE - Honohan Commissioners discussed the memorandum to City Council prepared by Joe Fowler and Chris O'Brien that addressed the Center's parking concerns in Tower Place and Parking. Commissioners agreed that the memo was informative, but it generated several questions and did not solve the problem. Although less frequent than during the winter months, staff and Commission continue to receive parking complaints from participants and visitors on a regular basis. Kopping reported that members of the Participant Advisory Committee reviewed the Fowler/O'Brien memo and reached similar conclusions. They asked that the Parking Review Committee be reconvened and follow up on some of the lingering questions and problems. Commissioners agreed and Kopping stated she would set up a meeting of the Parking Review Committee--Betty Kelly, Jay Honohan, Dawn Rogers and Rae Blanchard. Draft 28E UDATE - Honohan Honohan reported that he talked to Terrance Neuzil and they are working on a scheduling a time to meet in the near future. The purpose of the meeting would be to discuss developing a new 28E Agreement. SENIOR CENTER UPDATE- Operations- Kopping An envelope review of the facility revealed several problem areas on the exterior that need to be addressed. Craig Buhman, Senior Center Maintenance Worker III, has been working with city engineers to develop a prioritized plan of action to repair the problem areas. At this point, there are no cost estimates for the work that needs to be done. Kopping solicited volunteers from the Commission to plan the Volunteer Recognition Event. Jo Hensch, Charity Rowley, Jay Honohan volunteered be on this planning committee. Programs - Rogusky (for Seal) Rogusky briefed the commission on programs that occurred during April and distributed a summary list of programs scheduled for May. For a complete listing of programs scheduled for May, see the 2005 Spring Program Guide. Volunteers - Rogusky Rogusky reported on programs she facilitated during the month of April. Membership Fundraising Report -Buhman Buhman reported that the Center currently has 892 registered members and has collected $19,263.00 in membership dues since July 1, 2004. COMMISSION DISCUSSION: Motion: To adjourn. Motion carried on a vote of 4-0. Hensch/Rowley. Draft Senior Center Commission Attendance Record Year 2005 Name Term 1/24 2/15 3/15 4/26 Expires Lori Benz 12/31/05 O/E X O/E X Jo Hensch 12/31/06 X X X X Jay Honohan 12/31/07 X X X X Betty Kelly 12/31/07 X O/E O/E X Sarah Maier 12/31/06 X X X X Charity Rowley 12/31/05 X X X X Nancy Wombacher 12/31/06 X O/E X X Key: X = Present O = Absent O/E= Absent/Excused NM = No meeting -- = Not a member