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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-11-03 Correspondenceosetown 11-03-98 4f(1) October 21, 1998 Mayor Ernie Lehman Iowa City Council - Civic Center Deer Mayor Lehman and Members of the Council: We write to express our surprise and dismay with an impasse that has suddenly developed in our negotiations with the City's Traffic Calming Program, and to ask that you lend a hand in helping us to move beyond the impasse toward a satisfactory resolution of the acute traffic problems that exist on several streets in Goosetown. Following is a brief account of the situation. During the past yeer, the Goosetown neighborhood has worked with the City of Iowa City Traffic Calming Program to address the volume of cut_through traffic in Goosetown. Residents initially solicited input on the problem via our neighborhood newsletter and then requested and received a neighborhood traffic count (data enclosed). The City's traffic count established that Reno Street and east Church Street carry 800 vehicles daily while Bloomington Street carries more than 1700 vehicles daily. Ygt eech of these streets is designated as a local street, i.e., a street intended to provide access to individual residential properties and not to carry over 500 vehicles daily, according to criteria as set forth by the Iowa City Traffic Calming Program and The Iowa City: Beyond 2000 Compressive Plan. After receiving this information, we met with Mr. Doug RipIcy, Traffic Engineering Planner in an open neighborhood meeting to voice our concerns, over 30 Goosetown residents attended. Subsequently a neighborhood committee was formed to work with Mr. RipIcy to propose physical modifications to the neighborhood. In short, the Goosetown neighborhood clearly meets the criteria for traffic calming and a large number of residents were and are actively involved in the planning process. Yet, this week we were told that it would not be possible to reduce the volume of traffic without street closings and that street closings were not acceptable to emergency and sanitation officials; therefore, Goosetown would be dropped from the Traffic Calming Program and n_Q action would be taken on behalf of our neighborhood. We realize that street closing creete difficulties for the various service and emergency departments of the City. However, we also think it is important to recognize that unacceptably high levels of traffic also create potentially dangerous conditions within the neighborhood, as well as substantially reducing the quality of life (and property values) in the areas immediately affected by those high levels of traffic. So, we hope that you will ask the Traffic Calming officials to meet once again with the neighborhood to propose options to address the problem including physical modifications short of street closings. The increase of traffic in central neighborhoods like Goosetown is an on-going problem, and solutions will obviously take creetive and imaginative effort. We have worked through the City's process in good faith and ask that the City continue to work with the neighborhood to find a solution that is acceptable to the people directly affected. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Goosetown Traffic Calming Committee Kathy Janz, David Rust, Viviana Martinez-Bianehi, Linda Stipe, Carl and Kate Klaus 328 Reno Street, Iowa City, IA 52245 Co:Mr. Doug RipIcy, Ms. Karen Franklin Enclosure: Traffic Count, E-mail of Traffic Calming Program Decision Traffic Counting Report Goosetown Neighborhood Iowa City, Iowa CONDITIONS A survey of vehicle traffic was conducted using NuMetrics Histar NC-90A traffic counters that were placed in each of the travel lanes of the 900 blocks of Bloomington, Davenport and Church Streets. Counts were also taken in the 400 block of Reno Street. The counts were conducted for 48 consecutive mid-week hours each in the months of October and November. Data were recorded in fifteen minute time intervals. Weather during these counts was consistent with the time of year, cool in the evenings, warming throughout the day. VOLUME The 900 block of Bloomington Street had an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of 1712. The 900 block of Church Street had an ADT of 799. 400 Reno Street showed an ADT of 850 while Davenport Street had and ADT of only 442 vehicles. The graph below illustrates the average daily traffic of the four streets. Goosetown Traffic Volumes 1600-/ 400, / ' 200· -/ 000- ,/- 800-/ 6o0 / 400/'' 200,) o tY 0 799 850 I I 442 =; ' SPEED Speed is also measured by the NuMetrics traffic counters. The posted speed limit for these residential streets is 25 MPH. The 85th percentlie speeds were recorded for each travel lane. The 85th percentlie speed is the speed at which 85 percent of the vehicles are traveling at or less than, and considered the general comfort level speed of most drivers.' The bar graph below shows the 85th percentlie speeds of each travel lane of the four streets that were counted. None of the 85th percentlie speeds exceeded 29 MPH. 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 Goosetown 85th Percentlie Speeds 29 · n..., 29 29 27 26 26 II Northbound/Eastbound ' IgSouthbound/Westbound ~  o t c o CLASSIFICATION Vehicle lengths are also measured by the NuMetrics counters. This gives us an idea of the types of vehicles that are using the street. On Davenport St., 95% of the vehicles were passenger cars and 5% trucks. Reno Street showed a total of 7% of the vehicles were trucks. Bloomington Street had 6% trucks and 94% passenger cars and Church Street also had 6% trucks and 94% passenger cars. On residential streets in the Iowa City area, truck percentages are usually between 5-10%. A truck is considered any vehicle longer than 20 feet and includes delivery and service type vehicles. City of Iowa City, 410 E. Washington St.. Iowa City, IA 52240 (319)356-5254 from: "Doug Ripley" <dripley@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu> To: "Kathleen Janz" <kathleen-janz@uiowa.edu>. Cc: "Klingaman, Marcia" <klingama@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu> Subject: Re: your thursday meeting Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 15:34:46 -0500 X-MSMaiI-Priority: Normal Kathy: I spoke to Jeff Davidson and Marcia Klingaman after our phone conversation today and discussed your desire to delay making a recommendation until after we have had a chance to meet with you and the neighborhood. Although we are not in any hurry to move forward, it is our opinion that the process as defined by the Council has been worked through as far as staff can take it. From a technical standpoint, traffic calming should not be installed in the Goosetown Neighborhood because a project to effectively reduce cut-through traffic will in itself hinder the public safety to an unacceptable level. The traffic calming program process as developed by Council was not intended to guarantee that traffic calming would occur in any neighborhood that qualified, but to enable that evaluation to occur with the input from the neighborhood and staff. It is our opinion that you have a dght to disagree with our findings and we would be happy to have a discussion with the City Council. If you are interested in coordinating a meeting amongst the residents to discuss how you would like to pursue the staff recommendation to the City Council, Marcia would be happy to assist in distributing meeting notices. I can make the City Council memo available to the neighborhood for distribution if that would be helpful. If you have any questions, please let me know. I will be sending you a letter stating the reasons within a few days. If you would like to pursue the issue of on-street parking, please let me know as I will be happy to do so where feasible. Sincerely, Doug Ripley October 23, 1998 Ms. Kathy Janz 328 Reno St. Iowa City, IA 52245 Dear Ms. Janz: CITY OF I0 WA CITY As we discussed via e-mail, City staff members met late last week to discuss the Goosetown neighborhood traffic calming proposal. The reason for the meeting was strong opposition to the proposal from public service providers. As we discussed at the neighborhood meeting this summer, to be effective the traffic calming proposal would have to be very aggressive. Although we have developed an aggressive proposal, it is our conclusion that it would result in significant safety hazard to your neighborhood. We feel less aggressive traffic calming measures would not be effective at alleviating the neighborhood's concerns. The safety concerns voiced by the Police and Fire Departments center around how the traffic calming features would increase emergency vehicle response time to the neighborhood. The Public Works Department also has concems of how the proposal would require service vehicles to back up into the new dead end streets, creating an unsafe situation. It was also agreed that less aggressive measures would not provide a solution to the cut through traffic problem. We believe your neighborhood's cut through traffic problem is created by the lack of artedal street connections between north and east Iowa City. The City believes that the best solution to reducing cut through traffic through the Goosetown Neighborhood is to construct the extension of First Avenue. This would effectively reduce cut through traffic in the Northside and Goosetown neighborhoods. This project is currently programmed in the City's Capital Improvements Program for construction in 2002. Based on the process we have been directed to use by the City Council, we cannot at this time recommend traffic calming in your neighborhood because of sed0us safety concerns. The traffic calming process was not intended to guarantee that traffic calming would occur in all neighborhoods, but to enable an evaluation to occur with input from the neighborhood. The City Council will receive our recommendation on October 30 and you are welcome to contact them after that if you disagree. If there are other specific traffic concerns that we can address, including adding parking on both sides of the street, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, ----,.. Doug Ripley JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner cc: City Council Chuck Schmadeke Rick Fosse Andy Rocca Marcia Klingaman Johnson County Ambulance Irn~,ltr%drl 0-19.doe Steve Atkins Kadn Franklin Jeff Davidson Pat Hamey Bud Stockman 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA ~2240-lB26 · (.11~)) 3J6-5000 · FAX (319} 356o~009 IOWA CITY P.O. Box 64 IOWA CITY, IOWA 52244-0064 (319) 354-0863 OCT 2 8 1998 CITY I,'.ANAGE. R'S GFF[C: October 27, 1998 Iowa City City Council 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Council Members: On behalf ofthe Downtown Association of Iowa City, we'd like to thank yon for your past support ofthe Friday Night Concert Series. During the past few years this event has grown to 17-18 weeks of free music every Friday night. In 1999 the Friday Night Cencert Series will begin mid May and we wonld like to extend it into September. Well over 30,000 people attend these c~ncerts. The Friday Night Concert Series draws a very diverse audience from the community and surrounding areas. At the Ch_nmber of Commerce's Walk of the Stars Business Fair in January, 1998, the DTA oonducted a survey asking people what they like most about downtown. At the top ofthe list were the Ped Mall and the concerts. The DTA organizes, supervises, promotes and raises all the funds forthe series. We hire local musicians including area high schools and community bands. All promotion is provided by the DTA and the Iowa City Press-Citizen (in kind). Our paid staff member only spends approximately 30 hours PER YEAR ca this event. All the rest of the work is done by volunteers. In 1997 we consistently hired a professional sound person to ensure the quality fxom week to week. One of our volunteers also emceed every concert to provide control and recognition of contributors. Last year, we were able to match the City' s generous cc~ixibution of $6,250 to the concerts through voluntary donations from members and friends of the Downtown Association. This year we would like to ask that you consider renewing your oontribution of $6250 forthe stmu~er of 1999 and we will try to increase our member donation level. Thank you for your consituation and support. Sincerely, Executive Director, Downtown Association of Iowa City City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM 11-03-98 4f(3)(a) Date: To: From: Re: October 20, 1998 City Clerk Doug Ripley, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner ~ No Parking Between Signs on Woodside Dr. near intersection with Oakcrest St. As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action. Unless directed otherwise by the City Council, this action will occur on or shortly after November 4, 1998. Action Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(10) of the City Code, signage will be installed on the east side of Woodside Drive indicating "No Parking Between Signs" 15' to the north and 15' to the south of the intersection of Oakcrest Street. Comment This action is being taken in response to concems from an Iowa City police officer who indicated there is a problem for buses using this route having to turn onto Woodside Ddve from Oakcrest Street. This portion of Woodside Ddve is cun'ently posted "No Parking 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday- Friday." The additional signs will be most effective during weekends and special events on the University of Iowa Campus. ~lmern/dr-woods.d~ City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: To: From: Re: October 29, 1998 City Clerk Doug Ripley, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner ~> Traffic Control Installation in Wetherby Neighborhood As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action. Unless directed otherwise by the City Council, this action will occur on or shortly after November 13, 1998. Action Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(5) of the City Code, signage will be installed indicating the following: · Westbound traffic on Tracy Lane must stop and yield the right-of-way to Taylor; · Northbound and southbound traffic on Davis Street must stop and yield the right-of-way to Sandusky Ddve; · Northbound and southbound traffic on Russell Ddve must stop and yield the right-of-way to Bums Avenue; and · Westbound traffic on Bums Avenue must stop and yield the right-of-way to Taylor Ddve. Comment This action is being taken in conjunction with neighborhood efforts to define the street system in the Wetherby neighborhood by establishing through streets and controlling conflict points. jwlrnenVdr-sign.doc October 13, 1998 TO: RE: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council Civil Service Entrance Examination INVESTIGATOR - HUMA.N RIGHTS We, the undersigned members of the Civil Service Commission of Iowa City, Iowa, do hereby certify the following named person(s) as eligible for the position of Human Rights Investigator. Lazara Pittman SERVICE Chair ATTEST: Marian Karr, City Clerk 410 EAST WASIIINGTON STREET * IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 * (319) 356-5000 , FAX (319) 356-5009 October 16, 1998 TO: RE: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council Civil Service Entrance Examination - MAINTENANCE WORKER I - STREETS We, the undersigned members of the Civil Service Commission of Iowa City, Iowa, do hereby certify the following named person(s) as eligible for the position of Maintenance Worker I - Streets. John Fuhrmeister IOWA CITY CIVIL CO ISSION C~ch~~~nnedy, o SERVICE Chair ATTEST: an Karr,M City Clerk 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET * IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 * (319) 356-5000 , FAX (319) 356-5009 October 16, 1998 TO: RE: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council Civil Service Entrance Examination - MAINTENANCE WORKER II - STREETS We, the undersigned members of the Civil Service Commission of Iowa City, Iowa, do hereby certify the following named person(s) as eligible for the position of Maintenance Worker II - Streets. Nile Fay IOWA CITY CIVIL SERVICE ATTEST: M~a~ian Karr, City Clerk 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 * (519) 356-5000 · FAX (319) 556-5009 October 16, 1998 TO: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council Civil Service Entrance Examination - MAINTENANCE WORKER III- STREETS We, the undersigned members of the Civil Service Commission of Iowa City, Iowa, do hereby certify the following named person(s) as eligible for the position of Maintenance Worker III- Streets. David Gillham IOWA CITY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Mi/i~ennedy, Chair ATTEST: City Clerk 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET , IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 356-5000 * FAX (319) 356-5009 October 21, 1998 CITY OF I0 WA CITY TO: RE: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council Civil Service Entrance Examination - OPERATOR TREATMENT PLANT_ We, the undersigned members of the Civil Service Commission of Iowa City, Iowa, do hereby certify the following named person(s) as eligible for the position of Treatment Plant Operator. Albert Figueroa IOWA CITY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION M~5~dy Chair ATTEST: Mar~n Karr, City Clerk 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY. IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 3~6-5000 · FAX (319) 356-~;009 NICK KING 215 South Governor Street Iowa CIty, Iowa 52240 Tel: 319-351 -,5,528 Fax: 319-354-5499 October 20, 1998 Iowa City Counsel City of Iowa City Iowa City, Iowa, 52240 Re: The Pedestrian Mall Water Feature. Dear Counsel Members: My name is Nick King and I am a resident of Iowa City. Several years ago a city planning commission assembled a citizens committee to get public impute on the new streetscape planned for the Pedestrian Mall. I was on that first committee. Last week I attended the meeting in which a Selection Committee presented the three finalists for the new water feature. Fcfllowing the presentations the public was encouraged to give their opinions. At that time I remained silent because I was uncomfortable critiquing the designs with the artists present. I wasn't alone. I believe there should be another forum on the designs outside the presence of the artists before you make your final decision. It is easier to compliment a design you like than to criticize one you don't. Espedally if the artists are present. Just because we were silent doesn't mean that we approved of the design. The Selection Committee's enthusiasm for Weatherdance may not be shared by the general public. As you may recall, a Selection Committee approved of the "initial design" for the skywalk between the two Biology buildings and the public rejected that design. That Committee had the fortitude to go back to the drawing board. This water feature will be greeted with similar enthusiasm if the public is not allowed more impute. The point is, it is possible for a Selection Committee to like a design that the public will not. 1 It appears the meeting was a formality and that the choice was preordained. The Selection Committee made its choice before the public had a chance to even see the designs in the newspapers. The designs were not published until Wednesday! Did the Committee actually want public impute or had they already made their decision? It's obvious that those of us who attended the meeting were pawns to give the appearance the public was involved with the decision. A handful of people should not presume to know what the general public will like. The public should have seen the designs before the Selection Committee made its choice. Has the public been polled since the designs were published? The process has been for the most part dosed to the public. One meeting is not enoughto choose the focal point of our new city streetscape. Please postpone your decision and give us the opportunity to comment on the chosen design without the artists present so we can speak candidly. Do not limit our impute to one public meeting. This decision should be fun but it should be inclusive. What harm could come from waiting unt~ all options have been explored? Also endosed is a larger body of work which addresses several issues that were not raised at the meeting. Many of these issues should be addressed. I would have provided you with this reformation earlier but the process did not allow adequate time to respond to the designs. Please do not rush this decision. Very truly yours, Ends. 2 The Water Feature Project 10-19-98 Weatherdance is modern water feature design. However, the newly renovated Pedestrian Mall is more "retro" in its design. Even the new Trellises and Kiosks are retro. The focal point of the Pedestrian Mall should be consistent with the rest of the streetscape. Will Weatherdance be consistent with the newly renovated streetscape? Building with consistency has been an issue in Iowa City for years. University of Iowa Presidents and residence alike have voiced their displeasure with the tendency to bu~d without any thought to consistency. Perhaps a more traditional water feature or fountain would be more in line with the Old Capitol, the Pentacrest, and the new streetscape. A design that looks good today may not be as desirable ten or twenty years from now. The design should be as desirable years from now as it is today. Does Weatherdance meet that criteria? Perhaps the dty should build a traditional fountain or renovate the existing one. Obviously, the fountain would have to be interactive and safe. The fact of the matter is, the City Counsel does have several options. The first option would be to replace the existing fountain with a new but traditional fountain. Weatherdance would not be built. The City Counsel coulcLlook the city of Kansas City for advice. Kansas City has more fountains than any c~h~E~ than Rome. The design fee could be put towards the new fountain. c~ --'~ A traditional fountain would blend in with the new streetscape and to be replaced. This should have been a priority with the Selection Committee. 1he city~oa should not have to build a new water feature every twenty years. The second option would be to renovate the existing fountain and build a scaled- back version of Weatherdance next to the new playground equipment. This would be cost effective and everyone wins; Myldebust and Stanton Sears, the children of Iowa City, the Selection Committee, and those of us who long for a more traditional fountain. 3 The city could build a scaled-back version of Weatherdance by requesting that changes be made to the design. This would not be without precedent. The University accepted the skywalk design chosen by the Selection Committee but requested that the original design be changed. The existing fountain and the new water feature could share common ground. The existing fountain would get a facelift and the children of the mmunity weird get~ CO C~ water feature. The sculpture at the top of the existing fountain could be impend b~ sheathing it in copper. The sculpture is currently painted red. The blue-green L'erdig~ color would lend itself to the surrounding foliage as well as the verdiris eleme.nl~rof th~ new skywalk between the Biology bu~dings. 'Again, consistency. c~ ~ ~ Secondly and most importantly, the brick base of the fountain could be replaced or covered with a safer "smooth" facade. The base would take on a pyramidal shape on the sides where there are brick steps. This would reduce the chance of people climbing the fountain or slipping on the brick steps. The base could be constructed of a stone material that would be compatible with the new steetscape. The reservoir at the base of the fountain could be painted black to create a shallow reflective pool. The reflective pool was arguably the most attractive eliminate of the Spirit House design. A creative lighting display could be added to enhance sculpture at the top of the pyramidal base and to improve the visual experience. New upward foliage lighting in the planters around the fountain would compliment the fountain and as well as the new city streetscape. Such lighting would not interfere with the University's Observatory. Adjacent to the remodeled fountain (next to the new playground equipment) would be the "arching water jets" inherent in the Weatherdance design. Some structural elements could be incorporated as well. This could easily be done because most of the structural elements of the design are at or near ground level. This option would not alter the planters surrounding the fountain. This would be a cost effective alternative to building a full scale water feature that we may want to replace in a few years. The existing fountain could be made more attractive and safer. 4 The new playground could be kept at or near its current size if the water feature was added to the playground. The city plans to build a larger playground as part of the new streetscape. Savings from keeping the playground at or near its current size and scaling back the Weatherdance design could be passed on to other projects. This option would create an "interactive" water feature within the confines of the playground. The fountain would not have be interactive because the water feature would be interactive. If space is a problem the city could remove the new chess board on the sidewalk. That would be a waste but it may be cost effective in the long run. A larger playground will be more expensive. Most children would prefer the water feature to the pl~Sgroun~ equipment anyway. :~ ~ c-~ --~ ,:--~ The third option would be to renovate the existing fountain and then.-~t~ld Weatherdance design on the west of the existing fountain. There is an ab~c.et~. room there and the west side is the least utilized portion of the Pedestrian l~all. I~s would save the new chess board and might pull people to the under utilized west side of the Pedestrian Mall. Merchants on the west side would be the benefactor. This option would balance the east and west ends of the Pedestrian Mall. Furthermore, renovation work has not yet begun on the west side streetscape. It might be less expensive to build a water feature on the west side then to replace the wooden planters and Trellis with limestone ones. There are other reasons for building a new fountain or renovating the existing one. Traditional fountains are the only water features that will be aesthetically pleasing in all four seasons. None of the three finalists had any drawings of what their designs would look in winter. At least six months a year we will be looking at a non functioning water feature. The Weatherdance design is a spatial theme with seven water jets. This is the problem with the design and why it should not be at the apex of the Pedestrian Mall. In winter the low level granite and water jets will be covered by leaves and snow. 5 Weatherdance will be boring if not invisible during our long winter months. Weatherdance is a flat design. No one will see the complicated weather theme when it is under a foot of snow. Simply put, "poetic images" can not be seen in winter. At least the old fountain is visible when covered with snow. Weatherdance has too much symbolism and not enough sculpture. Furthermore, the City Counsel should be leery of designs that depend heavily on "themes." I realize that the Selection Committee requested designs that would; "... conceptually illustrate labyrinths, compasses, weather, directio_.f~.c~ c~ and/or time, or other appropriate themes relative to the geography5 "~ "7 history or spirit of the community..." ._~ c~: r,o ~. However, we have too many examples of themes gone bad in the Iowa City~:th ~ ~:~ Old Capital Mall and the Coral Ridge Mall incorporated country themes. T~at is ~[~e for a shopping mall but not for a city fountain. The cityis only fountain! Do you really want the centerpiece of the new streetscape to look like a theme park? Weatherdance incorporates every theme ever associated with the State of Iowa. The state flower, the state bird, corn fields et cetera. If the design would have included a "tiger hawk" emblem it would have been completely over the top. Designs that rely on abstract themes are inherently hard to understand. We had the benefit of a 15 minute presentation. Most people will not have a due as to what the many, many features in this design represent, especially when its under a foot of snow. How many people knew that the floor of the Old Capital Mall was meant to represent the "fields and streams" of Iowa? I thought they got a deal on left over tile. Many of us are not particularly attached to the 'Three Women Peeing" fountain, but it isn't trendy and it isn't gaudy. Is Weatherdance too busy for the new streetscape? And will the commtmity like it years from now? A water feature is not a riddle. The design should be simple, attractive, and something that the mind pictures without a map. I have traveled in extensively and do not remember a single water feature. However, I do remember many beautiful fountains. 6 Amazingly, it seems that water and lighting elements were only an afterthought. Only one of the designs included a reflective pond and only one included a light show. The creators of Weatherdance admitted water would accumulate it in shallow "puddle." Not a reflective pond or reservoir but a puddle! If you can't see it will it be safe? None of the artists anticipated what "sound" their water feature would create. Part of the beauty of a fountain is the soothing sound they make. Since the ar~sts di~ We e 2~ z.z c~ not anticipate what sounds their designs would make, we need to. ath rd~ght~ incorporate more of an Iowa theme than anticipated. Too put it in the wt~' o~ member of the audience; ~ ~ .... "... it will sound like a cow peeing on a fiat rock...." ~F-:~' .~. Imagine seven people holding hoses above their heads watering a driveway. That is the sound this design will make. Not exactly soothing. The other designs would have been less problematic because their sculptural elements would break the fall of the water jets. Another member of the audience called Weatherdance the "Seven Boys Peeing" water feature. We went from a fountain affectionately referred to 'Three Women Peeing" to a water feature called "Seven Boys Peeing." Why can't we build a water feature that has no reference to urinary functions? This would not be a issue if we built a traditional fountain (unless it had a small boy peeing). Even that would be more tasteful. All of the artists vaguely claimed that lighting could be added to their designs (after being questioned about the lack of lighting) but only the Fissure design anticipated lighting as an accent. This is an important component to any water sculpture and the audience was quick to point it out. The low trajectory of the water jets in the Weatherdance design may also prove to be a problem on windy days. The arching effect (which varies from 7 to 10 feet high) may become more horizontal thus diminishing the arching effect of the water feature. The other designs would have been less problematic because of their vertical water jets. I do not mean to single out the Weatherdance design for flaws; it just happens to be the most complicated design. For example the creators of the Weatherdance want to chisel symbolic "storm clouds" into the west side limestone planters. 7 I urge the City Counsel to reject any design or elements of a design which alters the new limestone planters. I think the city planners and contractors working on the new streetscape would agree that the continuity of the larger project would be compromised if they were allowed to carve symbolic "storm clouds" into the new limestone blocks. These planters happen to be some of the largest limestone blocks in the Pedestrian M~J~. This aspect may make Weatherdance too expensive to build if the City Counsg~,lansct~ keep within the budget. 3> ~ ~ Weatherdance is replete with symbolism and ambiguity. In all likelihood~masa; people would not understand what the symbolic "storm clouds" were. The_..-,-,~ ~ bo "storm clouds" may not look good and may in fact look bizarre. c2o Each of the three designs had their individual selling points. The best feature of the Fissure design was its combination of multiple water jets, their trajectory and the computerized light show. Another selling point is the fact that children love volcanoes. Children would have gotten a kick out of the "exploding" water show. Especially if the water jets and light show could have been orchestrated to have intermittent "eruptions." The reflecting pond in the Spirit House design is a one of the most sophisticated features. And the Weatherdance design has interactive arching water jets for children to play under and creative storm sewer covers. Please consider the benefits of building a traditional fountain or renovating the old fountain. A traditional fountain would not have to be "interactive" if the city built a scaled-back interactive water feature to compliment the new playground equipment. The traditional fountain would only have to be attractive and safe. Weatherdance could be built next to the playground equipment or on the west side of the Pedestrian Mall. Please bu~d something that will stand the test of time. Something the community will never want or need to replace. All of these options could be explored if we had more time. Please postpone your vote on the water feature project until all options have been fully explored. The city might end up with a better water feature. Enclosed is a photograph of my interpretation of a "more traditional fountain." The type of fountain found in almost every significant city in the world. 8 Enclosed please find pictures telling the story of the wind break damage from the deer at our home at 5 knollwood Lane. We find it prudent no ~reep us an~ down our drive aE all hours oz the day and night for fear' of hitting One Kathrynn Gay George Gay ~ Date sent: To: From: Subject: Mon, 02 Nov 1998 09:39:09 -0600 council@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu "James A. Martin" <james-martin@uiowa. edu> Traffic Calming in Goosetown Iowa City Council, Last week learned that the traffic division had recommended that no traffic calming measures should be used in Goosetown. These officials believe that the new Captain Irish project will obviate the need for calming in Goosetown and added that public safety would be endangered if streets in Goosetown were altered to reduce traffic. This was both a surprise and a disappointment. I though I understood that since the traffic burden on Bloomington greatly exceeded the threshold set by Council, something would have to be done. Now I find that there are really no formal criteria that can be used to support a request for traffic calming. The idea that public safety will suffer more with traffic calming than without strikes me as grossly counter-intuitive when I compare the risks associated with the hundreds and hundreds of cars speeding past my house every day and night, versus some of the rather modest risks associated with the strategies for controlling traffic shown in traffic calming brochures and even those already in place in Iowa City. I believe as the city expands eastward the traffic burden in Goosetown, particularly on Bloomington Street, will worsen. The Captain Irish project will provide only temporary respite. Additional measures will be needed to actively discourage cut-through commuter traffic from Rochester onto Bloomington and other residential streets. The current arrangement does just the oppositesencouraging more than 1500 drivers per day to commute through our streetlight-less neighborhood rather than use the major arteries. Much of this traffic comes off Union street as drivers intending to travel north on Governer try to save themselves a few seconds by avoiding the Jefferson/Governer light. Recent actions suggest that Iowa City officials do not think this is a significant problem, however, along with the safety and quality of life issues, I think we will see real declines in property values if something isn't done to stem the tide. Therefore, I hope the City Council will consider applying creative traffic calming measures in our neighborhood. -- 1 -- Tue, 3 Nov 1998 08:00:38 Sincerely, James A. Martin 928 Bloomington Street Iowa City, Iowa -- 2 -- Tue, 3 Nov 1998 08:00:38