HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-12-15 CorrespondenceFIRST
CHRISTIAN
Cnu cn
(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)
Dear Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission,
DEC 0 7 998 3
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
On December 2, on behalf of the Trustees of First Christian Church of Iowa City, I filed an official protest to designation
of the Harmon Building as an Historic Landmark. Our masons for protesting that designation are as follows:
l. In principle, we support the preservation of buildings which are of aesthetic and historic significance to our
community and commend our City for its historic preservation efforts. However, while the Harmon Building may
qualify technically for nomination as an Historic Landmark, we do not believe the building has sufficient architectural,
aesthetic, or historic merit to wan'ant the special recognition and protection which Historic Landmark status confers.
2. We believe that the greater access to downtown public services, businesses, churches and other centers of community
life which the planned parking facility would allow serves as a higher and better use of the land at Linn Street and Iowa
Avenue than the Harmon Building. The planned parking facility will also accommodate many of the businesses whose
buildings it will displace.
3. It is very likely that our congregation will decide within a few months whether to remain at 2 17 Iowa Avenue or
move our primary location to a site on North Dubuque Street. One of the major factors which our membership will
weigh in making this decision is the availability of parking downtown. If naming the Harmon Building as an Historic
landmark places the future of the parking facility in doubt, that action may have a direct affect on what our members
decide.
In addition to the Trustees' reasons, I would add one of my own. With my own hands I renovated a home that was placed
on the National Register of Historic Places and normally fred myseff preferring preservation to development. In the case
of the Harmon Building, however, I fred the attempt to save an undistinguished building at potentially great cost to the
living businesses/organizations which surround it to be mainly an attempt to block the parking facility. As such, I
believe that designating the Harmon Building as an Historic Landmark would do a disservice to the cause of historic
preservation by lowering the standards for what deserves that designation to a point where support and respect for
Historic Landmark status would be greatly eroded.
Thank-you for your voluntary service to our community. On behalf of the Trustees, I ask you to consider our reasons.
217 IOWA AVENUE P.O. Box 887 IOWA CITY, IA 52244 (319),337,&181
STATE FINANCIFL BP~I<
2-15-98 J
3f(2)
10910 Main Streex
Iamrespondi~toeachofyouinrelaf~toT~eat~:hed~~~loauBourr~. Ihavebenin
oormmt with Mrs. Bourr~t and bag disumed tmr concern and would like to have a c. baae to usw~' ~o the
First and fonnost I would lik~ to clear what I considu to be a ~oss iuaouauacy which the letter would lead
all oFyou to believe. Mrs, Bourret has ben ilz victim oi'$ window smashing by a manbet ofli~ U of
lowa Caek sys~m. Howe~f, by lxroem gnittanco,thr person was not aKappa Si~ma as we maybave
national Eugmtive Dire~or. Inadditiou, itis also afaatbatKappa Signmhas had afront sidewalk since l
was indeed an undergraduate. Thcpolfingdownord~bumperwasdottbythegazbagcbaulinSservice
which was no fault ofth~ Fatauity, INtwasExaibythosemenbes,
As far as tlz otha charges, I figel it is bard to substantiate emaly which l~aternity is respotm'ble For any
!omi noises or vaN _tgfl;sm comin_~ eom the 0hapter houses at latc hours. I fiud it hatd to believe that it is only
Kaplm Sigmas who panlcipste iu any behavior wh~t may be detrimmtal to the neigbbots. Idonot
~r~ hand bow behavior could get out of hand st late hours, sad I boliov~ it is som~ dlat each of the
chaptasuatworkhsrdtocurtail.
opportunilics for fellowship and philanthropy, but ~ we become a timrest to our neighbors, then all of tit
goodtluttwodoisnc~ggd. IlisanabSohxtedBZcvilmenbertmderslandtbapoliciesofbeingagood
to these ehapter houses. At amiaimum, *~.,'~dmptermust agr~to tbe ro!lowing:
1. Nonoiseoutsid~th~chapt=rbous~sa~rg:OOp.m.
2. Maim~ofttm~ntifeperimeU:toftheclmptahouseeaclttwoweeksataminimam.
ur_~.-uY-z~j~jU 11:3~ STATE FINANCIAL BAI4( P.~EI4,q~4
4. Nouereosandorlndoorfumimre shallbe~mtainedoutsideofthemainimeriorresidetr, e.
The discussion of the mtuirement tim each dmptcr must have a live-in .~,rWuate as~unt, which will ~o
long way in dlevizti~ future problems.
haw alr~dy bccn in d~,jssiom w~ R~n~ curr~ ~ ~ s~t ~o~. I
~i~.
I er.,Oura~ cormspondcr~ ~ any of you on this matter to my OlrnCe address alpore. Your input would
be~'eadylppteciated, atldlassureyouitw:dlb~take/xintoac, uounL
//~1~o low~ Corporadon
TOTAL P.04
2-15-98
3f(3)
From: Surachman Dimyati
To :City Courteel of Xowa City
Subject: Need City Bus Transportation for
Saddle Brook Community.
Dear City Cosnee] of ,~ow~ Ci~
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
Let me introduce my self, My name is Surachman Dimyati.
I have been lhring in lows City since early June 1994. My family has six members, me, my wive
Sri and four children( Its, Abroad, Aft, and Tins}. My family already love to this city very much,
especially that we can rely on the City Bus transportation wherever, and whenever we go in
a~2m.o~ ~.,ery p!ace ia ~is city.. T~at's why we made decision to buy a house at Saddle Brook area
jus~ close 1o Boa Air area.
However, since mid September ~hi.q year when we move in Saddle Brook community, we rea.:lize
that the City Bus transportation that we enjoy for the eatitaly 4 years and ~nree monks was muci:
~ess convenient. The reason is very clear that Saddle Brook community iS relativdy new, and
there is no connection ye~ between Boa Air for Lake Side route to Saddle Brook communk~J.
'21 ~akes about. f~een minutes to walk with shortcu~ ~rom back fence of Boa Air community, or
about 2~ m';~utes when we ~ake regular s~ree~, f:rom our hoase 1o ~e c~osest City Bus $~op.
Therefore, 2 ~eed yon: he~p if you can provide our corntonally with Bus Transpor*~aion aa soo::
as possible. Since the winter is coming, X reai~y hope if~ae mon~ of January ]199~, ca~ be
realized.
Anyway, it ]us~ aory about my son A~f, fifteen years old, who are stragEH~g ~o get 1o schoo.]
every day. He takes Ci~ Bus every day 1o Wes~ Higl~ Schooi He goes 1o school a 6:45 ~o cacra
the bus a:. Boa ~ Bus Stop ~a~ u~aHy a~e aro~d 5 ~u~es a~ez ho~. Because he ~ee~ ~o
practice Baske~ ba~ a~er schoo~ ye~erday he back home amid ]0:20 ~M. ~ 8m ~ wo~7
abou~ ts ~feW e~eci~y d~g ~er ~m k akeady d~k a~er ~e. No~ lo me~ie~ ~ o~er
members ~d o~ nei~bors' proMeros. ~ey ~ be ao~ ~8~g ~ou~ ~e ~e ~e ~ ~e~er t~
y~u e~g ~ow ~po~ is ~e av~ab~ of~e Ci~ Bus ioa comm~.
and al~ family members looking forward for your help.
T~a.~k you very much.
Sincerely ,-
Suraclhrnan
169 paddeck Circle
,iowa Cky, ~ 5 ] 140
Phone: 341 ,~9671
Eraall: sdimyai@ao]!.com
December 9, 1998
Surachman Dimyati
169 Paddock Cr.
Iowa City, IA 52240
CITY OF I0 WA CITY
Dear Mr. Surachman:
Thank you for your letter regarding bus service to the Saddlebrook community. Iowa City Transit
is currently conducting a route study to evaluate the current service. In addition, they will be
exploring options to expand service in the community. One of the options being discussed is the
possibility of a deviated bus at night. No definite plans have been submitted at this time but this
may be a solution for your son.
This plan will hopefully be presented to Council in January/February. At that time, a public
hearing will be held and a final decision serve will be made. I encourage you to attend the public
hearing and review the submitted plans.
If you have any questions regarding current service or the route study please contact Ron
Logsden, Transit Manager, 356-5154.
Sincerely,
City Manager
CC:
City Council
Joe Fowler
Ron Logsden
I m%lt~sa 12--8, doc
410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240ol826 · (319) 356-5000 · FAX (319) 356-5009
DEC--~1-199E) 16:23 UI ~ICULLIt/INSTRUCTIDN 319 335 5688
Iowa CiW Council Members
410 E. Wash!ngton Strut
Iowa City, IA 52240
December 1~ 1998
Dear Ci.-y Council,
This iS.' a letter to prot~t the proposed shooting of deer in Iowa City.
I am a resident of the north $~le of Iowa City, and I just want to say that
me and ~y f.'amily very muc~ admire the deer that live in the woods in our
back ya~'d. I reEret that the ~ is taking such action against the deer
population. il ~rn asking the ~ity council to not 'proceed with the proposed
plan to **hoot d~r in Iowa C~.iy.
I ".ntend to do as muchils I can to dissuade you from shooting deer
anywhere h~ Iowa City. At ~e very least, I will make a note of who voted'
in favor of shooting the de~ri! and I will respond on election time. I also
intend to share my views public with my colleagues, friends, family, and
students.
I lope that the city co ~mwil can find a better solution for the
increasLag flutubers of humans,.' encroaching upon the deer' s territory.
S~nce~ely,
I-:eriberto Godina, Phi)
i"
259 ~t Ctr. N
lm~mCltl,,lemaSZ142,-1520
3f(4)
319/335-53Z4
FAX 3 1
TOTAL P.O1
Date sent:
To:
From:
Subject:
Tue, 01 Dec 1998 18:42:54 -0600
council@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu
Florence Boos <florence-boos@uiowa. edu>
sharpshooting within city limits
Dear Members of the City Council,
I read in the Press Citizen that you have agreed to begin
sharpshooting of
deer this winter. I urge you to give some thought to safer, more
humane methods of deer reduction in the future. A recent NY Times
article mentioned the availability of contraceptives in the
east--expensive, but so is sharpshooting. The $42,000 spent for this
brutal proceedure could well be used in installing reflectors and
financing more efficacious long term methods. Many of us believe that
the notion of "excess deer" is highly exaggerated in any case.
Thanks for your attention.
Sincerely, Florence Boos
1427 Davenport Street 52245
-- 1 -- Wed, 2 Dec 1998 08:09:35
1209 West Benton
Iowa City, Iowa
OEC 0 1 998
CITY AIVAGER'S OFFICE
November 29, 1998
City Council
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
Attention: Madan Karr, City Clerk
We have been a resident on West Benton Street for over 35 years
and don't feel that the street needs to be changed from present two lanes.
We cannot back out of our driveway now w/thout waiting for
traffic and if it is increased to three or four lanes, it will be impossible
for us to go in and out of our driveway without severe hardship.
If the traffic lights on highway #1 west were coordinated traffic could
move at a faster pace· This would eliminate the public from coming onto
West Benton Street where there are only two lights.
West Benton Street has two schools and an increase in traffic would
only make it more dangerous for the children.
Please see that all the council members have a copy of our letter. We
urge the council to vote no regarding this issue.
Thank you for your consideration.
Raymond & Margaret Welsh
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date:
To:
From:
Re:
November 30, 1998
City Clerk
Doug Ripley, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner ~
Parking Prohibition on Scott Boulevard from Court Street to Rochester Avenue
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 December 16, 1998.
Action
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(10) of the City Code, signage will be installed prohibiting parking on
both sides of Scott Boulevard from Court Street to Rochester Avenue.
Comment
This action is consistent with parking policy on other arterial streets. Parking on Scott Boulevard
south of Court Street is already prohibited.
jw/menVdr-court.doc
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date:
To:
From:
Re:
November 30, 1998
City Clerk
Doug Ripley, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner ~
No parking 8 AM to 5 PM, Mon-Fri on south side of Tower Court
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 December 16, 1998.
Action
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(10) of the City Code, signage will be installed indicating "No Parking 8
AM-5 PM, Mon-Frr' on the south side of Tower Court.
Comment
This action is being taken based on a neighborhood survey, in which 24 of 32 surveys were
returned and 15 of the 24 (62%) favored this action. The issue for the neighborhood is University-
related commuter parking. Parking on the north side of Tower Court is currently prohibited and will
not be changed by this action.
jccogtp\mmo\twrcrt.doc
~..: -- Cz- .-:, ;z
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
12-15-98
3f(7)(C)
Date:
To:
From:
Re:
December 3, 1998
City Clerk
Doug Ripley, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner
Parking Prohibition on West Side of Scott Court ~
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 December 16, 1998.
Action
Pursuant to Section 9-1~3A(12) of the City Code, signage will be installed indicating "No Parking
Any Time" on the west side of Scott Court.
Comment
This action is being taken to address existing traffic concerns on Scott Court due to commercial
development. Currently during times of peak parking demand, on-street parking is occurring on
both sides of Scott Court, restricting the ability of traffic and emergency response vehicles to travel
down this street. Scott Court is 25' wide.
jw/mern/dr*scott.doc
November 23, 1998
TO:
RE:
The Honorable Mayor and the City Council
Civil Service Entrance Examination - TRANSIT MECHANIC I
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 Transit Mechanic I.
Bill Quinlan
IOWA CITY CIVIL SERVICE
COMMI S S I ON
ATTEST:
M , Clerk
410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET * IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 * (319) 356-5000 · FAX (319)
Dwayne and Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret
215 Brown Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52245-5842
1-800-728-9998 FAX 319-351-6846
E-mail: penfield@penfield-press.com
319-337-9998
December 6, 1998
Update on more recent drunken violence our neighborhood, another glass attack.
The Kappa Sigma house, below our driveway, December 3, at 3 a.m., received a rock
or rocks hurled through their third floor window. There were obscenities,
screaming, and obviously someone was drunk or more than one person was
drunkenly involved. We called the police, and the nex[ day I called the national
Kappa officers, and the office of student affairs.
Of course, we do not know if liquor or drugs are involved when we say "drunk".
Everyone in our house was awakened first by the glass crash and one of our friends,
an older student finishing her degree, could not get back to sleep for two hours and
the day was one of tests for her. Nor could I get back to sleep for over two hours.
We suspect that the rock thrower would have been trespassing on our lower
driveway except our new padlocked black gates. Barbwire is on order to go on top of
the chain link gates to keep drunken pedestrians off our property. The rock thrower
could have cut through the backyard of Coach Patton's Riverview apartments and
the Kappa Sigma basketball court to avoid going on Dubuque street without
sidewalks in front of the homeless shelter (originally a fraternity on the alley in back
of Brown street, facing Dubuque) and in front of the Sig Ep house. We think the
Kappa Sigmas may have received the violence instead of our windows.
We had a cordial visit with the next president of Kappa Sigma tonight about the
violence they have experienced from the Beta Fraternity members and the breaking
of our car windows by the drunken Beta member whose name we now have. Also
our dog April suffered a cut foot on glass missed in our cleanup and we had $60
worth of vet bills.
This afternoon at 4 p.m. we found four student men short-cutting through from the
alley to Brown street on our lower driveway. They said the Mayflower was their
destination. The Kappas think it was a group of Betas. 'i~f-tose destined for the
Mayflower have sidewalks. Later I saw this group at the Beta driveway. We are
considering filing for a restraining order to keep Betas from trespassing since we can
not lock gates 24 hours a day. Our no trespassing signs have been torn down.
The basic problem continues to be lack of adequate sidewalks since Dubuque street
traffic is formidable on the East Side of the street. In addition, the Kappa Sigma
house was robbed at Thanksgiving. Our neighborhood is dangerous and we have
asked for additional police patrol.
Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret
Dwayne Bourret
Dwayne and Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret
215 Brown Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52245-5842
1-800-728-9998 FAX 319-351-6846
E-mail: pen~eld@pen~eld-press.com
319-337-9998
November 18, 1998
Mayor and Iowa City Council
Iowa City Police Department
Iowa City Department Public Works
Office of Student Affairs (Dean Jones)
University of Iowa President Mary Sue Coleman
Dear Friends,
Our home and car at 215 Brown Street are under attack by drunk fraternity
trespassers using our lower private property driveway from the alley to Brown Street.
Fraternity men walk this driveway because there is no sidewalk on the east side of North
Dubuque between Ronalds and Brown Street. One member who called to apologize for
his pledge first smashing our back car window with a brick and then going home nearby to
get a baseball bat to smash the driver's window on our car parked by our porch door on
this driveway explained that they are too drunk when walking home to negotiate
Dubuque street traffic so they walk in back of buildings facing Dubuque street, ultimately
walking through to Brown street on our driveway. Cost of glass repair was almost $800.00
Our insurance man is billing this fraternity.
On this driveway, black gates (antique) are damaged. Signs for no trespassing, private
property and bad dog are torn down. In addition to the smashed car windows and earlier a
broken radio antenna, a small folkart sign was broken. Outdoor porch furniture has been
stolen. We also had a bullet hole in one of our garden room windows, upper level of the
house.
Our planter next to the Kappa Sigmas were damaged by them or their members or guests
hanging car bumpers on the rocks and pulling them down around Labor Day. No word of
apology or offer to help restack rocks has been received. They continue to have loud drunken
noise often at 1:30 a.m. on the street as they come home. We repeatedly call the police.
Because of the recent car attack two weeks ago we are going to chain link fence and gate our
entire property. The frat member apologizing for the car glass attack says it is a good idea to
put barb wire on top of the fence or their drunks will try to scale the fence. Our fencing cost will
be in excess of $4,000. This damage to our property is new. Three years ago we rarely had a
problem with our fraternity neighbors. While we can defend ourselves by spending money,
there is no money that can pay for the life of a drunken University of Iowa student killed
on North Dubuque street because of lack of sidewalks on the east side in front of
fraternities. Years ago lack of sidewalks en route to a Sioux City country club caused a
death and then sidewalks were installed. Does it take this in Iowa City where already a
fraternity man has died of drinking?
It is in the spirit of helpfulness we are bringing lack of sidewalks and the current drunken
fraternity violence, not just noise, to your attention.
Sincerely,
Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret
Dwayne Bourret
Dwayne M & Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret
Photography Publications Advertising
215 Brown Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52245-5842
FAX 3 19-351-6846
E-mail: penfield@penfield-press.com
319-337-9998
December 7, 1998
Gary R. Dunham, President
C/o State Financial Bank
Beta Rho Iowa Housing Corp.
10910 Main Street
Richmond, IL 60071
Dear Gary:
Thank you for your response to my letter. There is no comparison between your generation we
knew and some of the Kappa Sigma members today. There are serious problems. We appreciate
your concern. We did not have gross inaccuracies since only the Riverview apartments and the
Kappa Sigmas have sidewalks on east Dubuque. We did have car glass broken reportedly by a
Beta pledge of the Greek system as reported by his pledge leader who came to us to confess
who did the car window glass attack because he felt badly about our damage and his own house
being damaged by this person.. We are giving everyone in charge fair warning that we are no
longer tolerating our property being a shortcut for the lack of sidewalks on the street and if
pedestrians are then killed, so be it survival of the fittest dodging cars.
The glass attacks continue. See my letter updating the December 3 incident..Also a
recommendation to the city council relevant to where sidewalks are missing and to having an
ordinance mandating more adult leadership within all houses in Iowa City having over 20
unrelated people. This would include non-Greek residences.
We have witnesses in our house that it is the Kappas coming home drunk brawling in the street.
We see them go into the house from the street loudly brawling. We can certainly substantiate
exactly which fraternity is making the loud noises whether from the street going into the side
entrance of the Kappa house or shouting obscenities from the balcony levels of the house.
There are other issues not covered earlier relevant to the Kappa Sigmas which pale in
comparison with the sidewalk issue and the vandalism to our property.
For instance one of my friends who was in my home went outside with her dog and a man was
urinating from the balcony of the Kappa Sigma house and he yelled at her to look at him. This
was in September when school was in session. She ignored this behavior and just now told me
about how unbelievable the fraternity men are below us.
She told me she is upset at the language usage of the men playing basketball with each other
yelling "fuck" and obscenities right below our driveway. What about our young grandchildren
when they visit learning these words from Kappa Sigmas? Do we not dare to let them outside
our home in case someone is urinating from the balcony or a group playing ball are shouting
obscenities?
This incident was in daylight hours last fall. The words brawled the night the Kappa House was
glass attacked Dec. 3 were "fuck and pussy".
About garbage and our rock wall, the very nice new president elect of the Kappas visited us last
evening and indicated the garbage truck collecting their garbage backed into our wall. This was
the first we learned of who damaged two of our planters. It would be nice if the Kappas
communicated with us instead of assuming the driver and his company would take care of the
repair expense. We will give them a bill for proper rock restacking repair estimated by our
grounds helper. The Kappas did after my initial letter lay the stones loosely on top of each other
so they are no longer on the sidewalk or in Kappa grounds.The rocks have not been correctly
restacked and this problem is not yet totally fixed. Mr. DeMelenaere charges $20-$25 an hour
for rock work.
The new Kappa president elect indicated the reason garbage was strewn recently over our
grounds, splattering under our wood fence and on our planters and on our driveway, the Kappa
front yard and the Brown street sidewalk was because a female Greek group attacked them. He
would not or could not remember the name of the house trashing them. We did call the garbage
control office of the city. It was over a week before anyone picked up the grounds or street
area. PATROLLING YOUR GROUNDS ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS IS INADEQUATE
PARTICULARLY IF THERE IS A GARBAGE ATTACK NOT JUST THE USUAL T-P
ATTACK. We constantly have trash on our grounds from your house.
These lesser incidents plus vandalism clearly show lack of role model on site leadership for
these young people. What kind of community leaders will they be for society?
Possibly there would not have been a fraternity man dead if there had been in house
supervision. Hopefully good role model respectable supervision would make the fraternity
members once again the great young men we lived next door to for almost two decades part of
the years when you were there.
Incidentally, you do have indoor fumiture outside on your balcony. It is a plaid davenport
receiving rain and snow.
Thank you and the national officers for tuming off the loud music. This has worked this year.
We would like to have a reception next fall with food and beverage for your Kappa members to
meet them and the newly elected president loves that idea. We will try to be of assistance to you
in going out of our way to assist the development of these men.
Sincerely,
Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret
Copies to appropriate Members Iowa City Council and University of Iowa officials.
Dwayne M & Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret
215 Brown Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52245-5842
1-800-728-9998 FAX 319-351-6846
E-mail: penfield@penfield-press.com
3 19-337-9998
December 8, 1998
To Members of the City Council:
We request permission to string barbwire over our gates and fences to
prevent trespassers from entering our property to vandalize.
We also request a streetlight on the pole at the end of our driveway
because very unusual people are hanging around the wooden frat fence
on the side of the alley, which is very dark. This is a potentially
dangerous area for young women walking the alley. The alley has
dozens of people walking it day and night.
John Fitzpatrick had the Sig Eps turn off their yard pole light near the
ball court because it bothered him at night. Now the area is very dark.
Midwest Energy was going to contact the city on this matter.
Thank you,
Joan and Dwayne Bourret