HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-11-17 CorrespondenceNOU-04-1998 11:24 FROM SM~ CO. INC. TO
TO:
From:
Date:
RE:
Cindy SchonhOItz
Animal WeLtarc CcN:~rdinator, Professional Rodeo Cowin
November 4, 1998
o~Zs' AsSo~ilon
Iowa City Permit Process and Rodeo Rules and Regulations
13193565009
4f(1)
Thank you very much for showing support of the rodeo industr~ !~Y ~~ the pmppsed
ordinance rede6-ing rodeos and circuses. I appreciate the thodgl~ .aid c0nl.kler~0n.that
~ ~ wok ~m ot~ ~- t~ ,od~o ~usuy ,o fo-~ee a
rules and regulations. In addition, I will forward oopiea of all dd~ ~e ~ 'federal
laws. I will endeavor to have all of this information submitted to ~e~coundi.!prio~to the
working session on November 16 working session.
t¢~ ¢~ b¢ orrurt~ as~stan~ please don't hecate to
TOTAL P.O1
955 Mesquite Drive
Coralville IA 52241
October 29, 1998 . ~'~1
The Iowa City Library Board ~~,/~
The Iowa City City Council
The Iowa City Press-Citizen ~5~/'
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen: ioCtv
I have been reading the debate over the size and location of the a City Public Library
over the last several years. You need only walk in the door to recognize the pressure for
more space for patrons, materials, and service. At the same time there is a
reluctance/inability to fund more space out of available revenues and a question, at least on
the part of a vocal part of the constituency, of the best location for additional library space.
Perhaps we would be better served by looking at the problem from a somewhat different
perspective. Are there other means of dealing with those issues?
From the library user point of view there are those concerned about library accessability in
its present downtown location. The proposed solution is a branch library. Unforunately, a
branch library, while making materials and services more available to a portion of the
public, is very expensive. A branch library requires duplication of space, materials, and
staffing--all of which are at a premium already and for which no funds are readily
available. Considerably more money would have to spent with no increase in materials or
staffing, just accessability. However, no one will argue with the difficulty of finding
parking, whether you simply want to put something in the book return or if you want to
take your toddler to story hour. If you are not already downtown, parking during the day is
a nightmare. On the other hand, if we are to continue with a single public library facility,
locating it anywhere other than the downtown area is not central and readily accessible for
all of Iowa City, especially for those dependent on public transportation.
Due to the apparent shortage of funds for building additional library space, the question
might be raised whether the library space might be found as part of another City project--
such as the proposed Iowa Avenue ramp. The current library is a quarter city block plus
part of a second story. I do not know what, if anything, is in the basement. What if,
instead of commercial space on the ground floor of the new ramp, an entire new library
facility were built on the first (and, conceivably, part of the second floor) of the ramp. If
necessary, below ground space could be utilized for a television studio, meeting rooms,
and other functions where exterior windows are not required or desirable. Parking would
thereby be immediately available for all library functions. Quite probably no more parking
spaces would be lost by having the library in the ramp than would have been lost to the
commercial enterprises already planned for the ground floor. The Cottage and other
businesses previously envisioned for the ground floor of the ramp could then rent or
purchase the present library building, or the building could be used for additional City
office space. Aesthetically, I have to admit that this notion of ramp as library is lacking, but
it is practical. The ramp could, in part, possibly defray the cost of the library space, thereby
reducing the cost of the increased library space.
Alternatively, perhaps there is a location in the area south of Burlington Street between
Gilbert and Capitol Streets which could be used for building an entire new public library
facility complete with parking. This is the more expensive option but would also make
possible adding both space and parking while keeping the library centrally located. The
library would be consistent with the types of buildings already in the area, and traffic is
slightly less congested. You could even do a combination ramp-library here, but Iowa
Avenue is clearly the more pressing location for a ramp if funds are limited for building
ramps.
The point of this letter is to "stand on top of the desk" to get a radically new vision for the
future. It may be that neither of the options proposed is viable. But perhaps they will lead
to thinking about the library space issue in a new way so that a solution will be found
which is more appealing to all involved and provides maximum materials and staff services
in a public library conveniently located for patron use.
Sincerely,
Judy Thayer
October 29, 1998
PO Box 1005
Iowa City, Iowa 52240-0001
Iowa City City Council
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Council Members:
Since 1991, The Iowa City Jazz Festival has brought nationally and internationally
recognized jazz artists to Iowa City for a two day festival of jazz in all its manifestations.
It has attracted audiences of as much as 25,000 and visitors from as far away as California.
It has invited and encouraged local professional and high school jazz bands to share a
stage with some of the legends of jazz. Perhaps most importantly, the Festival has
provided opportunities for education, through the associated clinics and jam sessions, and
through consistently and consciously bringing musicians with a variety of jazz styles.
For eight years, The Iowa City Jazz Festival has provided all of these things completely
free to the public. This is accomplished because all of the labor involved in the Festival is
volunteer; much of the equipment and advertising is provided as gifts-in-kind; funding for
the two-day festival is provided by grants, corporate sponsors, individual contributions
from citizens of Iowa City, and of course through the generous donations of the City of
Iowa City.
On behalf the Board of Directors of the Iowa City Jazz Festival, I want to thank you
again for your past generosity. It has been truly invaluable to us in our efforts to bring the
best in Jazz to Iowa City. We hope that the City will once again be able to help us
financially with this truly unique and valuable event. We expect the 1999 Jazz Festival to'
cost approximately $50,000. You provided us with $7640 last year and we hope that you
will consider increasing your donation to $10,000.
Sincerely,
Steve Grismore
Executive Director, Iowa City Jazz Festival
IOWA CITY
Date sent:
To:
From:
Copies to:
' I
11-17-98
4f(4)
Sun, 08 Nov 1998 17:54:30 -0600
Rusty Martin <i-news@igc.org>,
"Nathan Haydn Willard (Radar O'Reilly)" <nathan.willard@yale.edu>,
Rusty Martin <jcnews@yosemite.leepfrog. com>,
lbrintle@chop.isca.uiowa.edu, jim-fausett@uiowa.edu,
bakerl@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu,
"Mrs. Marian Karr, City Clerk" <council@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu>,
kkubby@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu, klingama@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu,
denorton@blue.weeg. uiowa. edu, joe.bolkcom@pobox.com,
rnoorerj@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu,
"Ms. Kim Benge, Dep. Adm. Asst." <krmbenge@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu>,
daily-iowan@uiowa. edu, "C.R. Gazette" <gazette@fyiowa.infi.net>,
"ICON, IC Weekly Newspaper" <icon@pobox.com>, icpc@inav.net,
michael-kanellis@uiowa. edu, john-widness@uiowa.edu,
d-yarbrough@uiowa.edu, richard-gibson@uiowa. edu,
marysue-c oleman@uiowa. edu, gerald-stone@uiowa. edu,
jjquig@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu
John Nesbitt <jnesbitt@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu>
daily-iowan@uiowa.edu, gazette@fyiowa.infi.net, icpc@inav.net,
icon@pobox. com, kgan@kgan.com
NEWSWATCH BULLETIN o- by John Nesbitt
November 7, 1998, University Heights, Iowa
The question posed by this article on state and national patterns,
"Does
any of this take place in one way/form or another in Johnson County --
Iowa City and incorparated cities?" ~-JN. - .... TIME MAGAZINE, Nov.
9, 1998
"What Corporate Welfare Costs You; a special investigation by Donald
Barlett and James B. Steele.
"Special Report; Corporate Welfare, a System Exposed, PAGE 36.
"An 18-month Time investigation finds that two years after the
country
curtailed welfare for individuals, another welfare system -- welfare
for corporations -- has infiltrated the entire economy. The ratonale
is that subsidies and tax breaks granted to companies creates jobs.
THE RATIONALE ISA MYTH.
"Companies: How the Bagcraft Corp. bagged $1.5 million, PAGE 50.
"History: It all began in Durant, Miss, PAGE 52.
-- 1 -- Mon, 9 Nov 1998 07:34:45
"Special Report; First in a Series.
"Corporate Welfare: A Time investigation uncovers how hundreds of
companies get on the dole -- and why it costs every working American
the equivalent of two weeks' pay every year. - ....
"How would you like to pay only a quarter of the real estate taxes
you owe
on your home?
"And [how would you like to] buy everything for the next 10 years
without
spending a single penny in sales taxes?
"[How would you like to] Keep a chunk of your paycheck free of income
taxes? "[How would you like to] Have the city you live lend you money
at rates
cheaper than any bank charges?
"[How would you like] Then have the same city install a flee water
and
sewer to your house, offer you a perpetual discount on utility bills
-- and top it off by landscaping your front yard at no charge?" PAGE
36.- ....
"During one of the most rebust economic periods in our nation's
history,
the Federal Government has shelled out $125 billion in corporate
welfare, equivalent to all the income tax paid by 60 million
individuals and families." PAGE 38-39. - ....
"States at War ...
"Shrewd companies are increasingly pitting politicians against one
another
in a quest for bigger and better tax breaks. Yet rarely do these
subsidies creat jobs, and the incentives sometimes rob government
coffers of funds that could be used to improve services for you and
your neighbors.
"Corporate welfare has proliferated over a decade. From 1986 to 1996
the
number of stats offering TAX INCENTIVES for jobs rose from 31 to 44."
PAGE 40-41. - ....
"LAID OFF AT GENERAL MOTORS ...
"New York State officials leaped at the chance to help GM retool an
existing plant Tonawanda in 1996 to build new enginves and generate
jobs. NET EFFECT: fewer jobs now than then...
"WHAT WAS PAID OUT -- $16.9 million in tax exemptions, training
grants,
-- 2 -- Mon, 9 Nov 1998 07:34:45
reducted borrowing charges and lower power costs from the state. $3
million in property- and sales-tax reductions from local government
"HOW IT PAID OFF: LOST JOBS. The Tonawanda plant employed 3,800
workers
in 1996. A GM spokesman said the work force today is about 3,600.
State and local governments thus provided $99,000 in incentives for
each job GM has emliminated." PAGE 42. - ....
"LEAN JOBS AT NEBRASKA BEEF: These workers start at about $8 an hour
and
may work their way up to $9 in they stick around for four years. Many
don't: the turnover rate for the subsidized jobs is more than 50%.
"WHAT WAS PAID OUT: $22 million to $29 million in job, tax, and
investment credits, grants and other assorted subsidies; $2.5 million
to train workers.
"LOW PAYING JOBS. Because of the hight turnover rate, the training
money
ran out in less than a year, so more than 200 replacement workers were
never trained. Others continue to fee these grueling jobs. PAGE 44.
"'Want to go to the bathroom? Sorry, you went this morning."' PAGE
44.
"IN THE SHADOW OF MERCEDES: Kids in Vance, Ala., are part of a school
district so hard up that it relies on portable classrooms. Nearby is
Mercedes' new plant, put up with a $253 million package of incentives.
"WHAT WAS PAID OUT: $77.5 million for roads, water and sewer lines,
and
other infrastructure improvement. $92.1 million to acquire the site,
build the plant and construct a training school. $86.6 million in
training funds, tax rebates and other incentives.
"HOW IT PAID OFF: Crowded Schools. For the Vance Elementary School,
it
meant more portable classrooms -- the school now has 17 [portable
classrooms] -- with two a year being added to house the school's
burgeoning enrollment." PAGE 46. -
"Monroe County granted $26 million and watched 426 jobs disappear."
PAGE
46.
"PHILADELPHIA: NEW MATH: $323,000 TO BUY A $50,000 JOB. In 1997
the
-- 3 -- Mon, 9 Nov 1998 07:34:45
City and State gave incentives worth $307 million to Kvaerner ASA, a
Norwegian global engineering and construction company, to open a
portion of the defunct Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and employ 950
people ... It will take 48 years of tax collections from the
shipyard;s employment to earn back the money first grant to create
these jobs .... "PAGE 48 .....
"Intel's taxable income increased more than 1,000% six years. But
its
state income tax rate nationwide fell nearly by half." PAGE 49.
"Bagcraft Corp., based in Chicago ... 1993 ... let the word out that
the
paper bagmaking factory it had operated in Joplin, Mo., for more than
20 years would be replaced... six towns in Missouri, Kansas and
Colorado jumped at the bait ... Baxter Springs, Kans., came up with
... a deal ... $15.5 million including free real estate, 10-year
freeze on property taxes and a low interest loan form HUD.
"HOW IT PAID OFF: It didn't. Bagcraft closed plants in Missiouri,
New
Jersey and Georgia. New jobs created nationwide: zero." PAGE 50.
"Durant, Mississippi, WHERE IT ALL BEGAN ... 1936 .... "PAGE 52.
"GM auctions its dwindling jobs to whichever towns bid the most."
PAGE 52.
"Time Warner, WE PLAY THE GAME TOO ... A $2 million-a-year exemption
from
Florida... A five-year freeze on real estate and personal property
taxes ... $224,550 ... Memphis ... A rebate from $168,800 from Simi
Valley .... "
PAGE 54.
"NEXT WEEK: Life with America's Biggest Sugar Daddy." PAGE 54.
QUESTION: Are there "Biggest Sugar Daddies in Johnson County?"--JN.
-- 4 -- Mon, 9 Nov 1998 07:34:45
Barbara M. Buss
(319) 351-3309
I 11-1(7~1~
747 West Benton Street Iowa City. IA 52 4f
e-mail: 72703.2457@compuserve.com
November 8, 1998
Mayor Ernest W. Lehman
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240-1826
Dear Ernie,
I am writing in response to your letter of November 6, 1998 in which you refer
to my request for a "joint meeting with representatives of the Miller Orchard
Neighborhood in order to discuss ... the Benton Street project." Here I am
quoting from your letter. My request of October 12, 1998, was more specific
and, I thought, more routine. It was a request for the inclusion of the lane
configuration of Benton Street as an agenda item at a Formal City Council
meeting. I was speaking for the neighbors who did not want this decision to be
made at a Council Work Session where they would not be permitted to speak.
Marcia Klingaman prompted me to make this request.
A bit of history may be helpful here. When those of us who live on or near West
Benton Street were first informed of the imminence of the Benton Street
Reconstruction Project, we were told the following: (1) the street and the utilities
beneath it were in need of major repairs; (2) increased traffic needed to be
addressed; (3) the City wanted to work with the neighborhood in designing plans
which would address the problems noted. It was the neighborhood's
understanding that the City wanted to avoid an adversarial process in which a
unilateral decision made by the City provoked a public reaction which then had to
be addressed.
Early in the summer, neighborhood meetings were held for the purpose of
discussing the Project. Jeff Davidson spoke to the neighbors outlining the
reasons for reconstructing Benton Street. At that time, he assured us that the
City had no particular design in mind and, specifically, that it had no position as to
the number of lanes for the finished project. He asked us to consider the
features we wanted for the street e.g., the number of lanes, the width of the
sidewalks, the type of lighting, the location of bike lanes and a possible
pedestrian overpass.
Not being traffic engineers we are not able to come up with a reconstruction
plan of our own to submit to the City. And we did not think that the City expected
us to do this. It was our understanding that as the planning process went on, we
would be given tentative proposals to consider, and that piece by piece the City
would proceed through dialogue with us to a plan for the Pro)ect. I realize that
the details of the final design are a matter for the engineering firm hired by the
City for this purpose. The engineers, however, will act on the basis of ma)or
decisions made by the City, and we had expected to play a part in making these
decisions.
It appears that we misunderstood the process. We have been talking and
planning among ourselves, waiting for an invitation to participate, but there
seems to be no effective way to communicate our collective thoughts to the City.
My recent request was not intended as a request for a special accommodation.
We would like to cooperate, but the process whereby we might do so is very
unclear to us. It would be helpful if the Council would clarify the role it has
assigned to the neighborhood. To this end, we would appreciate knowing the
procedure you will follow in reaching decisions on the Benton Street Project and
the role you see for us in the process.
Sincerely yours,
Barbara M. Buss
CC:
City Council
City Manager
Jeff Davidson
Marcia Klingaman
Mitch Botts
1611 W. Benton Street
Iowa City, IA 52246
November 6, 1998
Mayor Ernie Lehman
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Ernie,
We have been talking about the issue of safe school zones for a little over a year now. Enclosed I
am offering some options that I believe would increase the safety factor in our school zones on
the city's heavier traveled arterial roadways, such as Benton Street, Rochester, First Avenue and
others. But before I offer these options for safer school zones, I feel I need to outline the safety
issues that pertain to these school zones.
Most school speed zones are controlled weekdays only from 8:00 am to 6:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
a. Children and adults use the school and playgrounds after school hours, on weekends
and during summer vacation.
o
The speed limit drops from 25 to 20 mph.
a. Unless there is a school crossing guard to visually remind drivers that they are in a
school zone, many ignore the 20 mph speed limit as they blow through the school
zones at 30-40 mph all day long.
These zones are marked by several school crossing zone, yellow/fluorescent signs on
either side of the crosswalks.
a. These signs are at times obscured or unnoticed due to surrounding brush, trees, terrain
and traffic conditions in front of or coming at the driver.
Because emergency vehicles need to be able to drive quickly and faster for obvious
reasons, there are state regulations that forbid speed bumps on major roadways, so the
placement of speed bumps to slow traffic in the school zones is not an option.
Therefore, l am suggesting that the following options be considered for all school crossings in
the Iowa City District.
Option 1. To overcome the obscurity of the beginning and ending of the school zones, a
modified mini-rumble strip that is actually felt by the driver of the vehicle should be installed at
the beginning, ending and at several intervals during this zone.
2
This modified rumble strip, which unlike the traditional rumble strips that are 20 feet in length
and make a tremendous amount of noise, could be as simple as an aggregate gravel imbedded
into the top layer of the pavement. This layer would cross the street at the beginning of the
school zone (perhaps a 3 - 6 foot wide area) at the crosswalks, and at 200 and 100 feet before the
crosswalks.
Other ways to modify these rumble strips would be to use six 3" cut out strips or three 6" cut out
strips spaced 3" to 6" apart cut into the pavement on the driver's side of the street so only the left
tires would have to cross these strips. Or extend the strips all the way across the roadway. The
point I'm trying to make is that the noise level from these modified rumble strips will be less
than the full 20 - 30 foot long rumble strips because only two tires from the vehicle will be
crossing the strips at one time. The sound from the modified strip will be 10% - 20% of the full
highway styled rumble strip noise levels. A good example of these mini-rumble strips can be
found on left hand shoulder of Highway 1 going west, at the entrance to the Walmart complex.
Another option would be to utilize paving bricks or concrete-etched, deep-set paver forms, in the
school zone, as 6 ft. wide strips at the crosswalks, at the beginning and ending of the school zone,
and at the 200 and 100 foot intervals before the crosswalks. A couple of great examples are
Harrison Street by the Post Office and the paved etching on either side of the entrance into the
Highway 1 West Handimart. Perhaps some of the local paving companies could provide
information, time, and equipment to cut different strip configurations into a patch of concrete and
determine the best type of modified rumble strip that would be conducive to the city's noise
ordinance, but still be effective in directing the driver's attention to the slower speed school zone
that is about to be entered.
Option 2: Blinking yellow warning lights should be attached to all school zone signs. These
signs should be placed immediately following the mini-rumble strips, at the beginning of the
school zone, and at the 200 feet and 100 feet intervals before the crosswalks. The lower speed
limit should be posted on all school crossing signs in the school zone.
Option 3: The lower speed limit (20 mph) should be enforced 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to
allow for the children who need to cross the streets to play on the playgrounds after school, on
the weekends, and during the summer months. Perhaps it would make sense that the school zone
policy should also apply to all playground and park areas in the city, and should be clearly
marked with the 'Children Crossing Zone' signs with the lower speed limit clearly posted.
Option 4: The State of Iowa has determined that an effective way to protect the highway workers
is by doubling speeding fines in highway construction work zones. I suggest that the fine for
speeding in a school zone should also double. Post this notice on all school zone, playground and
park crossing signs with the lower speed limit. If the driver has chosen to ignore all the other
safety warnings, then they should be willing to pay the price of their ignorance.
As I mentioned, this city has a lot of young inexperienced drivers who have h tendency to drive
on the fast side of the speed limit. On the major thoroughfares, drivers of all ages at times have a
tendency to push the limit as they hurry to work to class, to soccer practice, or rush home from
work to get dinner started. I strongly believe that this combination of the blinking warning lights,
the modified mini-rumble strips, the lower speed limit and the enforcement of doubled speeding
fines, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, will visually, physically and mentally remind all drivers
that there is a reason to slow down in these school crossing zones. That reason is very simply to
save lives, the lives of our children, our spouses, our parents and our friends.
No one is immune from pre-occupying or distracting thoughts while driving; some drivers may
miss the signs; they may miss the warning lights; but when they feel their wheels cross over
those modified mini-rumble strips, they will be brought back to their task at hand, which is to
drive safely and lawfully through school and playground crossing zones. I truly believe that the
majority of the people will react in the proper way and slow down as we all understand the need
for these school crossing zones.
Ernie, I would be more than happy to volunteer my time, if a committee is needed for further
study. Please let me kmow if I can be of further assistance. I can be reached at 338-1282.
Sincerely,
Mitch Botts
Dean Thornberry
Mike Connally
Conhie Champion
Dee Vanderhoef
Karen Kubby
Dee Norton
{ ' - 11-17-98
- 4f(7)
From: "Tom" <tbair~blue.weeg. uiowa.edu> ~
To: <council@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu>
Sublect. Crosswalk that needs fLxed //'
Datje se:nt: Fri, 6 Nov 1998 09:11:04'-0600
I have phoned the public works department several times in the past
month to fix a crosswalk, that has a potentially dangerous fla. '
the new one going north across Burlington St along Riverside drive. It
flashes a walk signal at the same time it shows a green right turn
arrow for traffic turning right from Riverside onto Burlington. This
creates a situation were I have seen several pedestrians almost hit by
cars. It is only a matter of time before someone does actually get
hit. As I mentioned before I have phoned this in several times but the
situation was unresolved when I used the crosswalk this morning. I
would appreciate it if you could look into the reason for the delay
and expedite repair of this hazardous situation. If a verbal
description is required by someone to understand the problem please
feel free to give me a call at 341-8327.
Tom Bair
-- 1 -- Mon, 9 Nov 1998 07:34:46
November 4, 1998
TO:
RE:
The Honorable Mayor and the City Council
Civil Service Entrance Examination -
OFFICER
ANIMAL CONTROL
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 Animal Control Officer.
Vicky DiBona
IOWA CITY CIVIL
COMMISSION
M~chael W. ennedy,
SERVICE
Chair
ATTEST:
M~r, City Clerk
410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET * IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 356-5000 · FAX (319} 356-5009
October 26, 1998
TO:
RE:
The Honorable Mayor and the City Council
Civil Service Entrance Examination - BODY REPAIR MECHANIC
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 Body Repair Mechanic.
Vic Zender
IOWA CITY CIVIL
COEMISSION
Mi!~~.~nedy
SERVICE
Chair
ATTEST:
MatrOn Karr, City Clerk
410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET * IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 356-5000 * FAX (319) 356-5009
Barbara M. Buss
(319) 351-33o9
LV
747 West Benton Street Iowa City, IA 52246
e-mail: 72703.2457@compuserve.com
November 15, 1998
Mayor Ernest W. Lehman
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240-1826
Dear Ernie,
[What follows is the letter I was writing when you called this evening. I had just finished it,
and there are some points in it that I would like to be on record as having made, so I am
sending it along to you even though much of what I say below was addressed in our
conversation.]
On Friday, November 13, I received a copy of the memo Jeff Davidson sent to the City Council
re Reconstruction of Benton Street between Orchard Street and Sunset Street. I am writing
now in response. It is not my intention here to speak to the merits of his memo, but rather to
address the process by which it was produced, and, in particular, the failure of the process to
include input from the neighborhood as had been promised. In his memo, Jeff suggests a
dialogue that never existed when he repeatedly alludes to "discussions with the neighborhood
group."
An article on "Benton Street Widening" in the Iowa City Press-CitiZen as early as January 12,
1998, stated, "... given the city history with similar efforts [street reconstructions], they [the
City] wanted to ensure neighborhood input while sticking to the construction schedule." I
took the City at its word, and in all of my correspondence with the Benton Street neighbors I
have reminded them of this promise and of my confidence in it. I feel now that I owe my
neighbors an apology, especially the ones who have been skeptical all along that the City was
going to make any more of an effort to solicit public input here than they have elsewhere.
In early June Jeff Davidson made a presentation to the Benton Street Neighborhoods
identifying the reasons for the reconstruction of West Benton Street and suggesting some
possible solutions. At that meeting. and at a subsequent meeting, he assured us that no
decision had been made on any part of the plan, including the lane configuration. We
understood that he would be soliciting suggestions and responses from the neighbors before
proceeding with his final recommendations.
That was five months ago. In the meantime, in addition to informal conversations among
ourselves, we have contacted the Principals and PTO Presidents at Horn and Roosevelt
Elementary Schools, and the Executive Director of Oaknoll, inviting their participation in the
process, and have canvassed the neighborhood as to its support for keeping Benton Street a
two lane street. During this time, however, no one from the planning department has
contacted us as to whether or not we had anything to contribute to the planning of the
project. Calls to Jeff always received the same answer, that there were still no definite plans.
My message to the neighborhood parties interested in this project was that I would contact
them as soon as I heard from the City that they were ready to hear from us.
In September, having heard nothing from the City, I contacted Marcia Klingaman as to the
neighborhood's next step. I subsequently learned that the City Council was going to discuss
the project at an informal meeting. As I understood it, the purpose of this discussion was for
the Council to articulate its preliminary ideas about the project so that the neighbors would
have some idea as to the Council's position. Marcia and the planning staff encouraged me to
request that the item be removed from the agenda at this time. We appreciated the fact that
our request was honored.
In October, having heard nothing further from the City, Marcia suggested that I write to the
Council requesting that the Benton Street Project be made an agenda item for the Formal
City Council Meeting of November 17. I wrote a letter to this effect on October 12. On
November 6 you responded that you did not "believe it would be in [the Council's] interest to
discuss the project with [our] neighborhood until they had a briefing from staff outlining the
elements of the Benton Street project."
In his memo, Jeff is mistaken when he states, "... neighborhood representatives have
indicated a need to have the number of lanes question answered by the City Council before
they can really concentrate on working with us on the remaining design issues." I was told, by
the City, that the lane configuration was a political decision to be made by the Council after
which the project would be submitted to NNW Consultants for the actual engineering of the
design. Our request to the City Council was strictly a request for our inclusion in the
discussion of the lane configuration.
As matters now stand, we are waiting to learn when the Benton Street Reconstruction
Project will be put on the Council agenda. Marcia anticipates that this will be in early
December, and has suggested that we have a neighborhood meeting on November 23 or 24
to prepare for it. These two dates are the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, hardly
dates one would choose to maximize attendance. I hope you can understand how frustrated
the neighbors feel, not only because they have not been consulted, but because the
submission of Jeff's memo is timed to set the schedule for consideration of this project at
the holidays when most of us are short of time and/or out of town. Given the five months we
have waited to hear from the City, I feel that we have a legitimate complaint that this timing
puts us at an unnecessary disadvantage, especially if we are to be given only this one chance
to appear before the Council on this matter.
In hindsight, it is obvious that we should have been more aggressive in approaching the City.
But since the City was "running the show", so to speak, and had made a point of inviting public
input, and, given the fact, that as ordinary citizens we are not current as to the rules by which
the staff and Council interact, I do not think we can be faulted for failing to initiate the City-
Neighborhood dialogue. Having stated its desire for such a dialogue, I believe that it was the
City's responsibility to structure the means whereby it could occur.
Some measure of confidence in the fairness of the process might be reestablished if
consideration of the project were deferred until procedures were established whereby o~
neighborhood input would be seriously considered. These need not be complicat~l~-. z
~ ....
[ Your call to me this evening was to let me know that you were considering including a
thirty minute public discussion on the Benton Street project at the Council's informal
meeting on December 14. I appreciate your acceding to my request that this meeting be
deferred until after the holidays for the reasons I have stated above. We did not talk
specifically, however, about whether this deferred meeting of the Council with the
neighbors would be at an informal or a formal meeting. I respectfully request that it be at
a formal meeting, as that has been the expectation of the neighbors all along. I would now
like to go on record as saying that, after our talk tonight, I feel that skepticism need not
carry the day. Many thanks for understanding how important this process is to us.]
Sincerely yours,
Barbara Buss
CC:
City Council
City Manager
Jeff Davidson
Marcia Klingaman
November 16~ 1998
City Council
Iowa City Civic Center
410 E. Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52244)
Dear Council Members;
I write to you as members of the Iowa City Council to express my concem and
disagreement regardin9 proposals for the widening of a portion or all of West Benton
St.
I live at t617 West Benton St., and have never found traffic congestion a problem even
on footbell Saturdays. Seldom do I have to wait for more than a few seconds to back
out on to this street.
Widening of even a portion of W. Benton will certainly increase traffm on the remaining
section-especially in the Earnest Horn School area. Nearly 1/2 of these students live
south of W. Benton and must cross twice each day near our house. Increased traffic
flow rspresonts a further hazard to them. The same is even more true for the numbers
of chiMren attending Roosevelt Elementary who must cross on the Benton St. hill.
W. Benton is a pleasant multiple use neighborhood at prevent, fronted by private
homes, apartments, condos, two churches, senior housing, and a park. It is ill advised
city planning to widen a residential street in a residential neighborhood to
accommodate the effects of urban sprawl west of Mormon Trek Ave.. IN'Klening West
Benton is not a solution for urban sprawi~ but contributes to the Muse.
There is a solution: encourage baiT.: usage on the Highway/Riverside Drive corridor
and discourage traffic on W. Benton by means of speod limits, stop signs and better
police enfopcement of traffic laws.
Public discussion at a formal city council meeting is certainly needed. Waen will it be
scheduled?
Sincerely~
The Rev. Thomas S. Hulme
1617 West Benton St.,
Iowa City, IA 52246
~1~2/98
Robert G. Dostal
326 Douglass St.
Iowa City, IA 52246
Dear Mayor Lehman and Councilors:
I have a suggestion for those timid souls who are afraid of having
eggs thrown at their houses if they call police on neighbors: stop
being a pain in the ass - tell the neighbors to shush and leave the
police out of it. The kids next door to me had a party from the
beginning of finals week to the end but it was their hangover, not
mine. Tell residents of this city to arm themselves and protect
their own property and be tactful when dealing with neighbors.
Tell police to stay off private property unless serving a warrent
or answering a distress call.
Thankyou for continuing to allow elephants in this concentration
camp.
An intergenerational toilet for old people and small children would
be a more useful attraction on the pedestrian mall than another foun-
tjan. Under the previous arrangement, kiddies were able to splash
and pee but seniors were left out of the picture. I am getting too
old to gallop down to Ralston Creek and relieve myself.
Very truly yours,
Robert G. Dostal
P.S. Get rid of the toothless "police citizens" review board and
hire a full time police commissioner who can settle claims against
the city and roll heads in the police department. Better yet, do
away with the police and conscript a civilian militia organized in
accordance with Subtitle II, Ch. 29, of the Iowa Code.
Date sent:
From:
To:
Subject:
Tue, 17 Nov 1998 17:12:13 -0600 (CST)
"a. bendixen" <abendixe@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu>
council@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu, Kkubby@blue.weeg. uiowa. edu,
Dnorton@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu
Benton Street Project
I live on Hudson Avenue, just at the bottom of the Benton Street hill.
I bought my house a few years ago because I liked the mixed
neighborhood. Mixed as far as SES, race, educational level, age, and
permanent/student. I also bought my house because Hudson Avenue was a
quiet, residential street with relatively little traffic. These
qualities are now in danger because of the proposed widening of Benton
Street.
This summer I spent a lot of time walking up and down and across
Benton. (My newborn daughter provided me with a lot of time for walks
with the stroller.) Even as an adult, Benton Street was difficult and
dangerous to cross. I shudder to think how my children will cross it
when they are of school age. And this situation will only worsen if
Benton Street is widened.
Speeding is already a problem on Benton, especially at the bottom of
the hill (by Miller). Won't widening it increase the speed limit and,
as a result, increase the average speed of drivers using the street?
And I'm concerned that traffic on Hudson will increase. Hudson is
already used as a cut-through...despite the number of children who
live on the street and are forced to walk on the street since we don't
have sidewalks. This is already a very dangerous situation since so
many cars park on the west side of the street; it's very difficult to
see children before they cross.
Since Benton is only one block north of Highway One, I fail to see how
widening will benefit any of the residents of our neighborhood. I
fear that those, like myself, who are financially able to move out,
will. But those of less means will be forced to remain. I fear for
those children who play in the area. I fear for those who must cross
the street to get to and from school.
Sincerely,
Anne Bendixen
-- 1 -- Tue, 17 Nov 1998 17:11:59
902 Hudson Avenue
Iowa City, 52246-5304
358-8360
Tue, 17 Nov 1998 17:11:59
From:
Date sent:
To:
Copies to:
Subject:
VCRewl@aol.com
Mon, 16 Nov 1998 21:00:31 EST
council@blue.weeg. uiowa. edu
72703.2457@compuserve.com, ABuss2662@aol.com
Benton Street Project
Dear Council Members;
The Press-Citizen article of Nov. 14 stated that "staffers emphasize a
need to resolve the reconstruction part of this project -- replacing
deteriorated pavement and upgrading utilities". Keeping in mind that
Jeff Davidson himself said at a neighborhood meeting that a
reconstruction of this nature should last at least 40 YEARS, may I
please remind you that half of the distance under consideration for
reconstruction WAS ALREADY RECONSTRUCTED JUST 10 YEARS AGO. From
Riverside Drive to Miller Street was COMPLETELY TORN UP, NEW SANITARY
AND STORM SEWER INSTALLED AND THE STREET SOMEWHAT WIDENED AND
COMPLETELY RECONSTRUCTED. Why then, WITH 30 GOOD YEARS LEFT,
ACCORDING TO JEFF HIMSELF, ARE WE CONSIDERING POURING MONEY INTO THIS
PROJECT?
If replacing deteriorated pavement and upgrading utilities is the
primary
concern, then there is no reason to redo a street that still has 30
years left. This part of the street needs NO repairs. Why waste
taxpayers money?
Apart from the above argument, We as a neighborhood majority don't
want the
street widened. Please don't consider doing this to our neighborhood.
PLEASE CONCENTRATE, INSTEAD, ON ROUTING TRAFFIC TO HIGHWAY #1. Most
traffic only cuts through to Benton because of all the stoplights on
Hwy #1. Widening Benton will only increase traffic speed and severely
decrease safety. I absolutely shudder to think of all the accidents
that will happen with traffic sailing down a three or four street
Benton hill. Personally I believe this to be inviting disaster.
Please be prudent and do not make an unwise and unsafe decision.
Lastly, Jeff Davidson told us that we as a neighborhood would have
input on the number of lanes, if changed. It is extremely distressing
to read in the newspaper that he has already recommended the number of
lanes to Council without our input.
If your reasons for widening Benton would be to increase safety, be
assured,
this will do the exact opposite. I BEG YOU NOT TO WIDEN BENTON!
-- 1 -- Tue, 17 Nov 1998 17:12:08
Sincerely, Ginny Rew, 302 W. Benton St., Iowa City, IA
Phone
354-5182
52246
2
Tue, 17 Nov 1998 17:12:08
From:
Date sent:
To:
Subject:
Jrettiglll@aol.com
Tue, 17 Nov 1998 11:13:25 EST
council@blue.weeg. uiowa.edu
Current issues
Dear City Council Members:
I have a couple of thoughts on issues currently before the Council.
Thank you for allowing me to share them with you through this
convenient method of e- mail.
1) Proposed increased sales tax revenue spending. The 10% that is
set aside for transportation should include a fare reduction. A few
years ago, we increased fares from .50 to .75. The sales tax will
effect folks who are living paycheck to paycheck or on a fixed income
the most. Many of these folks rely on public transportation.
Ideally, I would love to see all public transportation be free.
Perhaps if taking the bus was free, we would not find the need to
continue to build a new parking ramp every couple of years. I'm sure
you are not willing to make all public transportation free at this
point, but lowering the rate or adding additional free routes would be
a step in the right direction.
2) Deer reduction. I have reluctantly come to the point where I
realize the need to reduce the herd. But I believe this is a short
term solution. We must find ways to reduce the herd on an ongoing
basis. More research needs to go into natural predators, birtl.
control, etc. In addition to searching for a long term solution, we
must not let the deer meat go to waste. I lost track of the request
for money to process this meat by the Crisis Center, so perhaps it has
already been funded. If not the City should pay for processing this
meat to be given to the food shelters and feeding programs in the
City, ! ~/
3) The Iowa Avenue parking ramp. I own a business on Market Street.
I watch the parking on Iowa Avenue and the Market Street lot daily.
The next time the University is out take a look at Downtown and
Northside parking. You'll find that there is not usually a problem
when the students are gone. The parking problem is caused by the
University's inability to provide alternative transportation
incentives or parking for their employees and students. I do not
7
-- 1 -- Tue, 17 Nov 1998 17:12:05
believe building another ramp will correct the parking problems. The
University Community must be involved in finding a solution to this
problem. For example the new building on Dubuque is being built
without any thought to how those students and staff will get to work
and if they drive where they will park.
For some reason people do not like to park in ramps. If we must have
ramps to allow our businesses to compete, then we must make ramp
parking a better deal than parking on the street. A couple ideas: 1)
Make ramp parking significantly cheaper than street parking and
advertise this fact in the Daily lowan. 2) Give students an even
more significant financial incentive to ride the buses. 3) If Street
parking is increased again, offer businesses (along with the bus and
ramp parking programs) a method to purchase tokens at a reduced cost
that could be used in the meters. This way customers who will be
paying 1% more to shop in Iowa City already will not have to pay more
to park to encourage University folks to use the ramps.
4) Party enforcement Allowing police to report a loud party will not
make a significant difference in the noise on party nights. The
police are not fully using the tools given to them now to end loud
parties, so giving them more tools will not make much of a difference.
The possibility of abuse or selective party control is enough to vote
against the proposed change, but I believe the proposed change is a
feel good offer. Look at us we are doing something about this
problem--type proposal. The solution must involve a cooperative
relationship with landlords, neighbors, the police, the University,
and the party givers. Some ideas: 1) Set up an anonymous tip line,
with no caller ID, tracking, etc., 2) On repeat violators, ask
landlords for assistance in putting pressure on the party house
occupants to knock it off. 3) An escalating fee structure for loud
party violators. 4) The majority of these party houses are in
existence because of the University Fraternities going dry. The
University must be involved in educating their students about City
ordinances 5) In prime areas, have the police go door-to- door each
semester in a friendly way explain the ordinance and how it will be
enforced. 6) Enforce the ordinance we currently have now.
Thank you for listening to my thoughts and for your wiliness to serve
on City Council.
-- 2 -- Tue, 17 Nov 1998 17:12:05
Sincerely,
Janelle Rettig
3013 Cornell Ave
Iowa City, IA 52245
319/338-0999 home
319/337-4124 store
jrettigl 11 @aol. com
-- 3 -- Tue, 17 Nov 1998 17:12:05
'~ '/4 7-98
32
POLICE CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD
A Board of the City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240-1826
(319)356-5413
November 13, 1998
Mayor Ernest W. Lehman
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mayor and Council Members:
At our meeting of November 10, 1998, the Police Citizens Review Board unanimously
voted to request an extension of the 30-day reporting deadline according to Section 1 of
Ordinance No. 97-3792 for PCRB Complaint #98-17.
At the request of the Police Department for additional time, we are requesting an
extension of:
· PCRB #98-17 - Report presently is due November 19, 1998
Extension request - Report would be due December 18, 1998
The Board appreciates your prompt consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Leah Cohen, Chair
Police Citizens Review Board