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Home My WebLink About1999-04-20 Correspondence owa City Public Library 123 South kinn · Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1820 Susan Craig, Director · Information (319) 356-5200 · Business (319) 356-5206 · Fax (319) 356-5494 April 10, 1999 Mayor Emie Lehman Iowa City City Council Civic Center Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Mayor Lehman, The Iowa City Public Library Board of Trustees held a special meeting on April 7 to discuss the results of the recent sales tax referendum. At that meeting the Board decided to request a joint meeting with the City Council during your work session on Monday May 17. We would like to let you know our thoughts following the defeat of the sales tax referendum and also to begin the process of developing another appropriate expansion project for the library. As part of that process, we would like to ask Council to delay disposition of 64 1-A until a strategy to address the space needs of the library can be agreed on. With your concurrence, we would like to consider the use of 64 1-A in our planning process. We have come to several conclusions following the defeat of the sales tax referendum. One of them is that the next library expansion project should involve the library only. Many of us believe that the Community Events Center would do a great deal of community good. However, it seems clear to those of us that worked on the recent campaign that these projects need to be decided separately by the voters. In addition, it is clear to us that a Local Option Sales Tax should not be tried again to finance the library expansion. There are too many supporters of the library who, rightly or wrongly, question this method of public finance for it to be successful. We believe that a bond referendum funded by property tax is the only other source of funding available to you for a project of this size and we would recommend that method. As you know we have been working on the shortage of space at the library since 1992. We have talked through numerous solutions and brought two projects to Council over the past eight years. At this point the Library Board of Trustees feels a great deal of urgency about the library's inadequate facility. Iowa Citians use the library too heavily to allow this vital public service to decline. We must act quickly. Although we know it will take time and careful thought to figure out how to address the current and projected space needs at the library, our goal is to develop a new plan as Page 2 quickly as possible. If feasible, we would like to bring a new referendum to the public on the November ballot. We recognize this is a very ambitious time frame. However, a great deal of work has already been done. We are confident that we can work within this time frame while continuing to receive public input and educating the public about our needs and limitations. We welcome your ideas and feedback as we begin this important process. ~sse Sin~em~an~1/¢~ President ICPL Board of Trustees ~}APR 0.5 1999 CITY MANAGER'S OFfiCE ~L<jE ~ENI3c~F Ap~i 2, 1999 City of Iowa City 410 E. Washington Iowa City, ZA 52240 ~' liPR 0.5' 1999 j CITY NA#AGER,S OFFICE ATT: Housing and Inspection Services To Whom Zt Hay Concem: Please find enclosed a list of concems regarding property owned by 3ack Young on Muscatine Ave. I would appredate hearing from someone able to address our concems and perhaps help us alleviate bhis long-standing neighbcrhood problem. Thank you, Sally Rol:~nson 507 7~ Ave. S Iowa aty, IA 52245 Enc. (1) ~J Emie Lehman, Mayor Dean Thomberry, Coundl Member Connie Champion, Coundl Member Karen Kubby, Coundi Member Dee Norton, Coundl Member Hike O'Donnell, Coundl Hember Dee Vanderhoff, Coundl Hember Stephen Atldns, City Hanager Harcia Klingaman, Neighorhcxx] Services Coordinator Andy Rocca, Fire Chief ~ohnson County Health Department CONCERNS ABOUT PROPEhT S~ OWNED BY 3ACK YOUNG Property at 1618 Muscatine: ZONING: This property is currently rented as a rooming house in violation of the zoning restrictions of this neighbor (single family/duplex). I have been told by the dry that it is considered a "non-conforming" property, which the city lists as a "duplex/rooming house." Prior to Mr. Young's purchase of the property in the mid 70's it was a rented as a single-family dwelling. BUILDING PERMIT: When Mr. Young began installing dormer windows in the back of the house last summer I called the Qty to determine if he had a building permit. Z was told he did not. However, a short time later he cut a similar hole in the front of the roof and began to install dormers there as well. I understand that when he then applied for a building permit and it was denied. However, to date, nothing has been done to remove the dormers in the back or permanently dose the hole in the front of the house. appears that he continues to work on converting the third floor to rentable space. RENTAL PERNIT: I wonder whether Nr. Young has a valid permit to rent this structure. If he does, wonder why. I know many owners of rental property who have been meticulously scrutinized in regard to wide vadety of structural and safety issues. It appears that Nr. Young is not subject to the same scrutiny, or simply refuses to comply and is not help accountable by city inspectors. Especially in light of the recent disastrous fires in Iowa City that have left numerous renters without shelter, i can not help but express dire concern for the residents at 1816 Nuscatine, Both the upper and lower porches in the back of the house are (and have been for years) littered with old furniture, appliances, scrap lumber, and assorted trash. The egress for both floors is virbjally blocked. The backyard is lil~ered with s'cacks of lumber and other trash, and both sides of the garage am full to bursting with junk items. This is not only unsightly, but also appears to be a ~al fire, safety and health hazard. Property at 1606 Muscatine: ZONING: This property is currently rented as a triplex in violation of the zoning restrictions of this neighborboxed (single family/duplex). It was initially rent~ as a duplex townhouse, however, several years ago the upstairs was converted to an aparl~nent and all three spaces are currently occupied. 2. RENTAL PERNIT: ! would like an explanation of why the city issues occupancy permits that don't conform to zoning resttic'dons. Do neighbors have any recourse? I know this man has been a thom in the side of the city for years, but we have been IMng in the shadow of his dilapidating tenement houses. This is a very active and concerned neighborhood. We will continue to pursue remedies to these eyesores, which we find not only annoying, but also unsafe and unhealthy. I would greatly appreciate someone from the dry meeting with me to view and discuss the condFdon of these Sally Ro~ 507 7~ Ave. S Iowa City, IA 52245 338-5259 April 15, 1999 Sally tRnobinson 507 7 Ave. S. Iowa City, IA 52245 Re: 1606 and 1618 Muscatine Avenue Dear Ms. Robinson: CITY OF I0 WA CITY In response to your letter of April 2, 1999, this letter is to inform you of the City's legal action concerning 1618 Muscatine Avenue and to answer your questions about the legal non-conforming use status of both 1606 and 1618 Muscatine Avenue. LITIGATION - 1618 MUSCATINE AVENUE 1. Housing Code Violations On January 20, 1999 in the District Court of Johnson County Mr. Young was found guilty of numerous Iowa City Housing Code violations (including storage of salvage material). The District Court gave Mr. Young until June 1, 1999 to bring the property into compliance with the Housing Code. 2. Building Code Violations Trial is set in the District Court of Johnson County for April 21, 1999 concerning the removal of the dormers as well as the storage of junk and debris on this property. ZONING-NONCONFORMING STATUS Review of the City's property files indicate that 1.618 Muscatine Avenue has been. classified as two dwelling units and four rooming units since 1968. The property located at 1606 has been classified by the City as three dwelling units since 1966. City records indicate both properties have been continuously recognized as legal nonconforming uses under the Iowa City's zoning ordinance since the mid to late 60s. A legal nonconforming use under the City's Zoning Ordinance has the right to continue as long as the use is not abandoned by the property owner, The City's enforcement history with both properties shows continuous effort through numerous inspections and litigations to bring them into compliance with the Iowa City Housing Code but the use classification was never challenged during the past 30 plus years of rental history. HOUSING CODE VIOLATIONS - 1606 MUSCATINE AVENUE Numerous Housing Code violations have been cited on this property and compliance with the exterior items (including removal of junk and debris) are expected this Spring. Failure by Mr. Young to comply with the Housing Code violations will result in the City litigating this matter. If I can be pf further assistance concern ng this matter please contact me at 356-5121. Douglas Wi B,3othroy, Directo ' Housing & I'~=pection Services Gary Klinefelter, Senior Housing Inspector Tim Hennes, Senior Building Inspector Im'dtAdb4-13.doc 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 356-5000 · FAX (319) 356-5009 Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Subject: Knox, Jeff [JKnox@aeal 0. kl 2. ia.us] Wednesday, April 07, 1999 7:22 PM council@iowa-city.org Tower Court Parking Dear Members of the Council, Thank you for Tuesday evening's discussion of the Tower Court Parking controversy. We know this has taken an unusual amount of your valuable time over the course of several months. We especially thank Karen Kubby and Connie Champion who were opposed to any ban of parking on our street. We appreciated Dean Thornberry coming up with the compromise solution which should make most people happy. Sincerely, Audrey and Jeffrey Knox 1012 Tower Court 351-2464 Peter Matthes 510 E. Burlington #3 Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 339-7672 April 7, 1999 Iowa City City Council 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Council Members: We would once again like to thank the council for allowing us to share our survey results on the perceptions, relationship, and problems between students and the Iowa City Police Department. As a group, we would like to reiterate that this is an extremely important issue facing students of the University of Iowa. Enclosed with this letter is the data that the council requested. Along with the data we have also included some proposed solutions to this problem. Our research group would like to sit down with the council and discuss these solutions at your convenience. If the council has any questions please contact Professor Arthur Miller at the Iowa Social Science Institute or Peter Matthes at the above listed address or phone. We look forward to heating from you regarding a future meeting. Sincerel~~ Professor Arthur H. Miller Peter Matthes Enclosures: Problem/Solution Outline, Graphs Problems · Talking Points for Presentation on Relations Between the Iowa City Police Department and U of I Students Students comprise of a third of Iowa City's population · 61% of the students perceive that the attention from the ICPD is negative · This is roughly 18,000 students or about 20% of Iowa City's population Women perceive the attention towards students as more negative than do males · The difference is 7% which is statistically significant within our study Negative perceptions are also present in all grade levels · Seniors have a more negative view of the ICPD than Freshman · This difference is substantial; 33.8% Perception of treatment by the ICPD · There is no statistical difference between the percentage of students who felt as though they were treated with respect compare with disrespect · 50.3% treated with respect, 49.7% treated with disrespect · Approximately 17% of Iowa City's residents feel as though they are being treated disrespectfully by the ICPD. · All grade levels also feel as though they had been treated with at least some disrespect · Graduate students responded negatively at 50% perceiving disrespect · Females responded much more negatively than males · 56.6% said they or someone they know have been treated with disrespect from the ICPD · 43.4% of males responded as the above females responded · This 13.2% is a statistically significant difference between the two groups 1 c:\wind~ws\deskt~pxhighsch~s.urvey-bingedrinking(ar~sdass)xta~kingp~intsf~rpres~nta~n~d~ 03/18/99 Solutions · Sensitivity training · Help to get at the root of the 13.2% difference between males and females · Attack this problem from two fronts · The ICPD and the University community · The U of I · Stepping Up project, continue with current efforts and expand those efforts · Make events at Hancher and other venues more accessible for students · Open up discussion on this topic, refrain from negative comments · Several student liaisons between the U of I and the ICPD · Peer response group that is well known and advertised · The ICPD · Open up dialogue between student groups and the police · The Greek system, talk to every house individually · The resident halls, talk to each floor individually · Various student groups that are social in nature, talk to each individually · Provide liaisons not only between the University as a whole and the ICP D but a liaison between students and the ICPD · Increase the number of female police officers 2 Percent Perception of Police Attention Toward Students as Positive, Negative, or Neutral 100- 80- 60- 40- 0'- 7 61 32 Positive Negative Neutral Perception of Treatment by Police Percent 100.0 80.0 60.0 40.0 20.0 .0 50.3 Respect 49.7 Disrespect Perception of Respectful Treatment by Police 100 80¸ Percent 60- 4O 2O 64.3 62.5 27.8 45.7 5O Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Graduate Perception that Police Attention Towards Students is Negative by Year in School Percent .Negative 100 8O 6O 4O 2O 32.9 80.4 64.8 66.7 3O Freshman Sophomore Junior : Senior Graduate Perception of Police Attention Toward Students as Positive, Negative, or Neutral by Gender Percent 100 8O 6O 4O 2O 13 2 Positive 64 57 Negative 3O Neutral Male D FemaleI The Perception of Disrespectful Treatment from the Iowa City Police Department by Gender Percent 100 8O 6O 4O 2O 43.4 Female Male Evert Conner Rights and Resources Center for Independent Living 20 East Market Street, Iowa City, IA 52240 · Voice and TrY: (319) 338-3870 March 18, 1999 Dear Center Friends, The Evert Cormer Rights & Resources Center for Independent Living is hosting the 3rid Annual Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) observance on Saturday, July 24, 1999. The observance commemorates the 9th anniversary of the passage of civil rights legislation that affects the lives of hundreds of individuals in our community. The event will be conducted much the same as last year, with a parade at 10:00 AM followed by speakers, music, food, and activities for all ages at College Green Park. Please join the ADA celebration by participating in the parade or in park activities. The parade entry fee is $25. (Last years' event featured 28 parade entries and a variety of entertainment and children's activities.) The celebration resulted in an award certificate coming to the Conher Center. The award from "Justice for All" was an acknowledgment of the community's commitment to the ADA and inclusion of all its' people. If you are unable to participate in the celebration, you can become a sponsor and help to defray the cost of the event with a tax-deductible contribution. Help us, as a community, to repeat last years' successful celebration. Please contact Harriet GoodLug at the Cormer Center 338-3870 for more information on ADA "99". If we have not heard from you by mid April, we will phone to comgkrm participants and for activity coordination. Respectfully, Harriet Gooding 3rd Annual ADA Celebration Saturday, July 24, 1999 9th anniversary of the signing of the ADA The Even Connet Rights and Resources Center for Independent LivIng invites all businesses, human service, and sodal organizations and agencies to become Involved with the 3rd annual ADA Celebration. There are a variety of ways to participate. Please check your contribution: __ Provide financial assistance to defray the costs of the annual event In the amount of: (Your contribution is tax- deductible.t) __ $100 $50_ $25 Other March Provide a vehicle in the parade. Assist marchers __ Provide activities or assistance in the park. Businesses, organizations and agencies wishing to participate in the parade: Entry fee is $25.00 payable to the Evert Cormer Center. An additional fee will be assessed after June 1. Groups or organizations who cannot afford the fee, please call the Conner Center for possible fee waiver. Organization or Agency: Contact person: Address: Parade entry: Hoar Other:. Telephone: Car Horses Banner For more information, contact: Harriet Gooding 338-3870 PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO: Evert Conher Center 20 E. Market Street, Iowa City, IA 52245 OFFICE PHONE (319) 337-9659 CYNTHIA E. PARSONS ATTORNEY AT LAW SUITE 300, BREWERY SQUARE 123 NORTH LrNN STREET IOWA CITY, IOWA 52245 FAX (319) 354-0559 March 10, 1999 Dear Water Dept./Dept. of Treasury: I have two issues relating to several of my rental properties and policies of your department, which I would like to bring to your attention. The current problems involve: # 1 Building Code and Water Department regulations which are in conflict,' and #2 Refuse billing for efficiency and one-bedroom apartments. In regard to the first issue, this past year I rehabilitated a house which had been converted to a four unit rental property. The property was in poor condition and was apparently converted before Building Codes were relevant (1970%). The cost of this upgrade was in excess of $75,000. Entire new infrastructure was installed in this building including: a new electrical service and all new wiring, new water service and water piping (separated for each unit), new gas piping (separated for each unit), and all new drainage piping and sewer service to the building. Significant other work was performed to upgrade these rental units. When the utilities were split it became necessary to install four separate water heaters and water meters. This was most efficiently done by constructing a "mechanical room" for the new water heaters and water meters. The mechanical room was constructed in an interior space (no exterior walls) and the appropriate fire resistire construction and fire door was installed. This mechanical room is required by the Mechanical Code to have "combustion air" piped in from the exterior per formula in the Code. My contractor expressed concern over this matter, anticipating the consequences of the significant amount of outside air which was required to be piped inside the room to meet the Code. Complicating this issue was the requirement of the Water Department that the lowest water meter be located within one foot of the floor height (cold air sinks). The water service is fed from overhead into this mechanical room and then split, with the meters stacked beginning one foot from the floor and spaced vertically every eight inches. The Very cold weather we experienced at the beginning of the new year resulted in the freezing of three of the four meters (the water heaters and other water piping did not freeze). The conflict in regulation is the substantial amount of combustion air (outside cold air) as opposed to location of the water meters required by the City Water Dept. This is a recipe for disaster. The cost of replacing/repairing the water meters billed to me by the City is $171.00. My contractor says that most people simply defeat the combustion air after it is installed because they know what results from the conflicting requirement for outside air and low water meter height requirement. The second issue is related to the cost of refuse collection which is a policy established by the City Council. This particular building has three one-bedroom units and an efficiency unit (there are four persons living in the building). We provide three refuse containers. The third container is rarely set out for collection. The point I would like you to see is that the cost of refuse for these tenants is exactly four time the cost for a single family dwelling. The tenants pay their own individual water/sewer/refuse bill. They are essentially paying the same amount for refuse that a single family (consisting of four, five, or more persons) is required to pay. This is a high cost for single individuals (who produce little waste); is an unfair pricing structure, and contributes to the high cost of housing in Iowa City. I request that the repair fee caused by water meters freezing be rescinded and the conflict between the Mechanical Code and the Water Department be resolved so that I can relocate the water meters to prevent a future freeze up. I further request that the refuse cost be based on the number of bedrooms within a rental dwelling unit. (Housing Inspection knows the number of bedrooms within each dwelling unit as that is a component of their Rental Permit and inspection fees). The current policy is unfair and contributes to the high cost of rental housing in Iowa City. I look forward to heating from you and would be happy to discuss this matter further at your convenience. Sincerely thanks, Cynthia E. Parsons CEP:klb CC Bemie Osvald, Plumbing and Mechanical Inspector Y:~...'xcep~LETTER~x. Water Dept-Dcpt of Treasury.ltr CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 E. WASHINGTON ST IOWA CITY, IA 52240 CYNTHIA PARSONS 1131 E. WASHINGTON ST. IOWA CITY, IOWA 52245 INVOICE # 1,029 DATE 2/10/99 RE: FROZEN METER @1024 E. WASHINGTON ST APT. #'s 1,3,4 1-25-99 QTY MERCHANDISE/SERVICE DESCRIPTION HOSE BIBB VACUUM BREAKER METER (5/8") 3 5/8" PLATE,GASKET SET, CHAMBER METER ( 1" ) 1" PLATE,GASKET SET, METER (11/2") 11/2" PLATE,GASKET SET,CHAMBER SALES TAX 3 REPAIR AND TEST FROZEN METER TEST METER FOR ACCURACY AFTER HOURS SERVICE CALL (DIST) AFTER HOURS SERVICE CALL (CS) 1 SERVICE CALL (CS) EXTENDED $ 87.00 $ 4.35 $ 60.00 $ 20.00 CITY ACCT. AMOUNT 43140-46369 $8.00 43140-46369 $65.00 43140-46369 $29.00 43140-46369 $124.00 4314046369 $75.10 43140-46369 $265.00 43140-46369 $120.00 43140-46409 4314043169 $20.00 4314043169 $35.00 43130-43169 $40.00 43140-43169 $40.00 43140-43169 $20.00 $ 171.35 Authorized Sign 9ture PWANATER DepartmentDivision LOCATED AT: CIVIC CENTER 410 EAST WASHINGTON ST. IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 PHONE (319) 356-5084 City of MISCELLANEOUS ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE REMIT TO: CITY OF IOWA CITY PAYMENT PROCESSING CENTER P.O. BOX 3013 CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 52,406-9115 i 7 1. :::: :.' PAR SONS C: YN'I'H i: A 1!3! E WASHINr, gTON ST IOWA C:I'FY 1/% 52L7.'40 $ AMOUNT PAID · DETACH HEFIE · 4 00000~.0702 0000 00017135 000160299 2 PLEASE RETURN THIS PORTION WITH YOUR PAYMENT BILLING DATE: 16-- FEB-99 ;\'ttlUl' 01070 PARSONS CYNI'HIA 1131 IOWA CITY OF IOWA CITY E WASH I N~TON ST CITY IA 52240 irlth'u~.%Dnle- 16'7FEB-9'9 171.35 .. 13-MAR--99 171.3~ 001029 "' [)l'Sc'Fl',iItiCUfi lO-FEB--99 SUMMARY OF CURRENT AC~VITY WATER PARTS 87.00 TAX 4.35 REPAIR & TEST METER 60.00 SERVICE CALL 20.00 SUB!'OTAL: 171.35 SUBTOTAI.,: 171.35 171. gRAND TOTAL: 171.35 171. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO "CITY OF IOWA CITY". PLEASE SEND TOP PORTION OF BILL WITH CHECK April 7, 1999 Ms. Cynthia E. Parsons Attorney at Law Brewery Square, Suite 300 123 N. Linn Street Iowa City, IA 52245 CITY OF I0 WA CITY Dear Cynthia: This letter is in response to your letter of March 10, 1999 concerning building code and water department regulations and refuse billing. I have discussed your concerns with the other staff involved in these matters and we have come to the following conclusions: The building code and water department regulations are not in conflict. Design decisions made by you in the remodeling resulted in the mechanical room being sized and configured in such a way that it was difficult to bring ventilation air into the room in any other place except in close proximity to the water meters causing them to freeze. It is my understanding that suggestions were made by staff during the remodeling process that could have avoided this problem. The repair bill for the frozen water meter repair work will not be voided. As mentioned above, the frozen meters were the result of your design decision and not the result of code requirements. The refuse fee is a fiat fee based on the actual cost of picking up refuse and recyclables. Flat fees are sometimes criticized as unfair; however, devising a fee structure based on number of occupants per address would be costly and extremely difficult to administer. Staff does not recommend revising the fee structure. If you should have any further questions about the repair bill please contact Dianna Furman at incere ,.,~ ~ Douglas Boo roy, Director a mn in n ci i s Hous g I spe t on Serv cet' cc: Steve Atkins, City Manager City Council Dianna Furman, Customer Service Manager jw/Itr/db--parln.doc 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 356-5000 · FAX (319) 356-5009 Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Subject: john calvin jones [jcjones@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu] Tuesday, April 06, 1999 8:34 PM council@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu DARE information To Dean Thornberry and Distinguished Council Members: Please go to the following websites to discover federal government evaluations of the DARE program and its effectiveness as a drug-use "prevention" program: http :lldrcnet.orglDAREIsection5.html http :llwww.turnpike.net/~jnr/dareart.htm http://www.turnpike.net/~jnr/dareeval.htm#RESULTS Sincerely, John Calvin Jones PhD candidate, Department of Political Science College of Law (class of 2001 ) 341 Schaeffer Hall University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242 (casa/huis) 319 351 0480 (before 8.00) (trabajo/werk) 319 335 2066 (Saturday and Sunday only) ~.z/(!. ,J APR 1 .?, 1999 · , ,' CITY MANAGERS OmCE 4,rr/Kansas Ave SW iowa City L~ S22e-eszs April6,1999 TO: RE: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council Civil Service Entrance Examination- PARKING OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR 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 parking Operations Supervisor. Scott Duncan lOW CIT~ CIVIL Mi~aelW~,~~edy, Chair SERVICE ATTEST: Marjan Karr, City Clerk 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET * IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 356-5000 * FAX (319} 356-S009 Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Subject: E. McCabe [emccabe@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu] Monday, April 19, 1999 3:51 PM council@iowa-city.org Intersection of Kirkwood and Gilbert Court I am writing to pass along a concern that I received today regarding the intersection of Kirkwood and Gilbert Court. This is the first concern that has been brought to my attention regarding safety at this intersection. People who take the bus to the Center need to cross over Kirkwood either on the way to the Center or to make the return trip. The crossing is complicated by the lack of signals and the heavy traffic. As you may be aware, cars move quickly along Kirkwood and it is difficult for pedestrians to navigate due to the rise in the road to the east of the intersection. Please contact me if you have any questions about this concern. Thank you for all that you do to make the Crisis Center's services available to all members of the Iowa City community. Ellen McCabe Executive Director Crisis Center 351-2726 (business line) 351-0140 (Crisis line) 1121 Gilbert Court Iowa City, Iowa 52240 ,/,/ D.A.R.E. doesn~ work. study finds http://www.tumpike.net/~jrn'/uicstud.hU D.A.R.E. doesn't work, study finds Students in progrant used same amount of drugs as others By Jim Avila, NBC News Correspondent CILAPEL ItILL, N.C., March 18, 1998-- The D.A.R.E. anti-drug program may be a good idea gone bad. A new study concludes that the program is not working and, in fact. may actuall?,.' be hurting drug-abuse prevention efforts in some communities. The six-year stu~' followed 1,800 Illinois kids from fifth grade through high school. FOR MORE THAN 23 million children 80 percent of America's schools the nation's anfich~tg mantra is I pledge to lead a drug-flee life. That pledge comes from a program called D.A.R.E., which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. At McDougle Elementary School in the Carrboro School district of Chapel Hill N.C., D.A.R.E. is one of the fiivo~te subjects among fifth-graders. Though popular, Chapel Hill is thinking about dropping the class. The body of research about D.A.R.E. says that it has no long-term effect for drug-abuse prevention, said Susan SpaIt, the health director for the Carrboro School District. In the most comprehensive study yet on D.A.R.E., researchers followed 1,800 students using techniques endorsed by D.A.R.E. itself. Its author concluded that D.A.R.E. is a a waste of money $220 million in tax money and donations last year alone with no beneficial effect on drug use. It hurts me to sit here and tell you that D.A.R.E. does not work, said Dennis Rosenban~, the author and head of the Criminal Justice Department at the University of IllinoiS.. But it's time for us to go back to the drawfitg boara and hgure out how it 'Tan be improved or what better ways we can spend our money on drug education in this com~trv. Roscnbaum's six-year study finds that kids in the D.A.R.E. program used the same amount of drugs as others. Perhaps the researchers most surprising conclusion: D.A.R.E. actually appears to have an aftverse effect on drug activity in suburban Xt~c°mmunities' Kids in the suburbs who were exposed to the D.A.R.E. program, who participated in D.A.R.E., actually had significantly higher levels of drug use than suburban kids who did not get the D~ A.R.E. program, said Rosenbaum. This was very disturbing to us. It's a mystery the researchers say requires further study. Bill .Alden, a former U.S. Drug Enforcement agent and spokesman for D.A.R.E., calls the stu~, outrageous. + NBC News provided him with a copy and asked him about its findings. I don t have an answer,+ he said. For its part, D.A.R.E. embraces one study from Ohio State University that says the program does work, if students are given additional anti-drug classes through high school. But an ovem'helming majority of students do not take such classes and a dozen WINDS - DARE: Drag Abuse Resistance Education of Trojsn Horse? wysiwy~Hl4/M~://www.r, ocities .corn/Are451 ~5/a102896f. lR DARE ALLEGED TO HAVE INCREASED USE OF DRUGS AMONG THE YOUNG In the past two decades statistics have Indicated a sharp increase in the use of drugs in the United States. The news media has portrayed a drug epidemic and politicians ha~ eagedy crestcA new ~ ostensibly to fight the drug pwblcm. New prisons have been built and 100, 000 new police officers are on the street. One of the "drug fiShring" programs is called "DARE", which stands for "Drug Abuse Resistance Education." DARE is an elementary school curriculum that is taught by police officers. As we take a look at what thc D ARE program teaches and its results, onc might bc led to question thc forces DARE was created in 1983 by former Los Angeles Police Chief, Daryl Gates. The goal was to get police officers in thc classroom to teach children about the dang~ of drugs and violence. The progr4m exploded in size after President Bush committed a largc amount of federal money to it. Police officers now teach thc DARE cunicdum to owr 60% of all fifth graders in thc U.S., and thc program recdv~ over $700 m~lion in taxpayer funds per year. The wain concept of the DARE curriculmn is ernbodicd in the "rdusal skilb" or eight ways to "just say no." These hclude methods such as repeated refusal, walking away or giving someonc the cold shoulder when offered a dru~ Thc uniformed D ARE officer lectures and wlc plays with thc students, playing thc wlc of thc drug pusher as wcll as thc authority figure. Numerous independent studies have been donc in thc U.S. and Canada on the effectiveness of the D ARE program, and none indicate that the program has resulted in a reduction of drug abuse by minors. h fact, somc studies have indicatcd an increase of drug use that parallclcd thc growth of D ARE. This is confirmed by researcher Hoyd Johnston. of thc University of Michigap,. Hc conducts the nationwide "Monitoring thc Future" Survey caCh year ior drug us~ trends. Hc ibund that a "third of eighth-graders, mostly 13-ycar olds, repofi using illegal drugs. Madjuana use more than doubled among eighth-graders between 1991 and 1994. Two-thirds of eighth-gnders have tried alcohol. A quarter ~ they slitl drink. Twenty-eight percent say they have been drunk at lcast once. Smoking among eighth-graders rose 30°/6 tween 1991 and 19947 "If DARE is effective on a national basis, should not these trends be in the opposite direction? Lloyd Johnston said, 'I have to conclude that DARE has had little or no effect except to give police officers ething to do.' [I_as Vegas Sua, 5/1-2/94]. An editorial in the Worcester, Mass. Telegram hmented: 'One distin'big fact: while DARE has expanded, drug abuse and cigarette smoking among young people have increased nationwide.' [Sunday Telegram, 1/28/96]." CFwrn an article by Steve Wallace enfi~ed "A Different Look at DARE"). DARE's version of drug education has produced results that are similar to modern sex education. There has been an cxponential increase of the problems both of these progrants wer~ created to address. As sex education was promoted by Phnncd Parenthood and thc socidi.t clite, te~ pregnancy and illegitimacy cxploded. As DARE increased its influence in the school system and community, so did thc use of alcohol, tobacco and ilq~al drugs among minors. "The findinS of significantly higher hallucinogen use among the D ARE group raises the ~ that drug education programs may increase gud~t curiosity about drugs and lead to earlier and greater drug experimentation ..." [ On comparison of D ARE lof~ scotion fivc: a diScrent Iml at d.a.r.c. unattainable. · For example, some studies have shown fiat adolescents who experimented with illicit drugs (especially madjuana) are better adjusted than either abstainers or frequent users and were more socially skilled with higher levels of serf esteem than abstainers. 1~e finding of signfficantly high hallucinogen use among the D.A.R.E. group raises the possibility that drug education programs may increase student curiosity about drugs and lead earlier and greater drug experimentation. · [On comparison of D.A.R.E. vs. Non-D.A.R.E. students:] There was a sharp decline in positive attitudes toward police, and a growing unwillingness to condemn peer's consumption of alcohol. · D.A.R,E. was judged by all group members as having no lasting influence on student's drug-related attitudes or behaviors. · Imposing D.A.R.E. upon divided student audiences produces outcomes likely to diminish the program's effectiveness, especially among resistant students. Other studies confirm this prospect and demonstrate that when "socially-deviant youths are required to participate in the school setting in peer-led denunciation of activities they value, they are more likely to become alienated than converted." · After tracking D.A.R.E. for five years, our quantitative and qualitative data both point in the direction of no long-term effects for the program in preventing or reducing adolescent drag Use. See Bibliography for additional material forward to section six: what's wrong with D.A.R.E.? .to the DRCNet home Dazae subscribe to DRCNet today, it's freel DARE Scar~: Turning Children Into Informants? Washington Post lanuary 29 1994, By James Bovard Robcrta Silvcrman, a spokcswoman for DARE, rcjccts the idea that DARE teaches or cncotwages childrcn to bc informants. "Whcn students bc~i~'n the D ARE program thcy arc spccffically adviscd not talk about thcir parcnts or fricnds. We arc vcry clcar that when DARE instructors arc in the classroom, thcy arc thcrc as tcachcrs, not law cnforccmcnt officers." [Evcn though the officcrs appcar in uniform- havc DARE-mobiles, etc.] Not surprisingly, children somctimcs comfidc thc names of pcoplc thcy suspect arc megally using drugs. Ninc-ycar-old Darrin Davis of Douglasvillc, Ga., callcd 911 a~cr hc found a somc pills in his parcnt's bcdroom bccausc, as hc told thc Dallas Morning Ncws, "At school, they told us that ifwc cvcr scc drugs, call 911" bccausc "pcoplc who usc drugs nccd hclp.' Darrin thought the policc would comc gct thc drugs and tcH his parcram that drugs arc wrong. Thc DARE officcrs ncvcr told Darrin thcy would arrcst his parents. But Darrin insisted that in court, "I heard them [the police] tcll the judge that I wanted my mom and dad arrcstcd. That is a lic. I did not tcH thcm that. The arrcst wrcckcd his parcnts' iivcs, said thc Dallas ncwspapcr; both parcnts lost thcir jobs, a bank thrcatcncd to forcclosc on their homes and his fathcr was kcpt in jail for three months. nE~tcvcr DARB's effect on familics, its rccord at discouraging &tug usc is thc subjcct of c controversy. A study financed by thc National Institute on Drug Abuse on thc effect fDARE on Kcnmcky studonts bctwccn 1987 and 1992 reported "no statistically significant diffcrcnccs bctwccn cxpcrimcntal groups and control groups in the percentage cw usc~s of cigarcttcs, smokclcss tobacco, alcohol and marijuana." At a March 1993 confcrcncc on drug cducation at the UC San Dicgo, rcscarchcrs agrccd that after 10 ycars [now 15] thcrc is littic cvidcncc that DARE actually rcduccs drug usc among thc young. Prof. William ~ of Wakc Forcst Univ., onc of the carly adviscrs to DARE said, "I think the program should bc cntircly scrappcd and rcdcvclopcd anew." section six: a different look at d.a.r.e. (DRCNet} http:/Avww. drcnet. org/DARFJsecti on6 .htn officer. Parents find this film a bizarre, brazenly exaclfierated depiction of dru.cl use. Although each child is given a D.A.R.E. 'V/orkbook," students are encouraged to leave them at school and not take them home. Some parents worry that the heavy emphasis on "resistance skills" subverts their own authority with their children. It is a well established fact that children's greatest drug risk is with alcohol and tobacco, yet D,A.R.E is soft on those drugs, hammering almost exclusively on illicit drugs. As a condition of "participation" in D.A.R.E, children are expected to abstain from all drugs. D.A.R.E. officers themselves are not required to meet that standard. D.A,R.E is based on unproven, and likely false, educational hypotheses, the most notorious one of which is that using drugs is a syrupton of low self esteem, or of high stress. Thus casual, responsible use of any drug (alcohol, caffeine, tobacco) by parents or anyone else is to be seen as pathological, i.e., "abuse." From this dubious premise, it is alleged that self-esteem can be "built" by reciting state-sponsored catechisms. These catechisms consist of claims of "rights" which are said to have been conferred on fifth grade D.A.RE. students. They include the "right to be happy" and the "right to be respected." Many parents take issue with the emphasis on "self-esteem" in schools these days, and the notion that it can be readily '~aught." Lillian Katz, Professor of Early Childhood Education at the University of Illinois, put it this way: "Self-esteem and self-confidence don't come from being told you are great. You get them by facing challenges and mastering them through hard work and persistence." (Reader~ Digest, April 1994, "Are We Demanding Enough of Our Kids?) To determine ~f students are experiencing a tow, medium or high level of stress, students are given a test, in Lesson 8, called "My Stress Level." Among the causes of "high stress" are said to be: taking a test, being late for something. meeting someone new, being the first one to do something. or helping to plan a special event. In an earlier version, even "doing your chores" was said to cause stress. Undermining the role and credibility of police. The role of police is to protect the public safety, and to respond to emergencies. It is neither fair nor reasonable to expect them to take on the job of teaching mental health and attitudes. Nor it is helpful for civics education for children to be taught fictitious "rights." When a child grows up and learns that she was lied to about her "right to be happy," how will she feel about the officer who taught her otherwise, or the school in which she was so taught? Not fair to professional teachers. D.A.R.E. mocks their years of study, by asking them to step aside for a high school graduate with two weeks training to come in and teach mental health and psychology. If police officers have the education and training necessary to be good teachers, what ~s the point of requiring years of study and teaching certificates? If Johnny can't read, teachers bear accountability. If Johnny doesn't stay off drugs, will the police take responsibility for the failure of drug education in schools, and protect teachers from any attribution of blame? Sacrifices excessive academic time. D.A.R.E. consumes approximately seventeen hours of academic time that would otherwise be available for science, math, reading or some other academic subject. In the absense of any proof that D.A.R.E. works, this is a substantial sacrifice of valuable school time. Perpetuates the war. To many people, D.A.R.E. represents the strongest commitment our nation can make to curb drug abuse by young people, and that it deserves to be pursued, even when we know it isn't working. By thus deceiving America into thinking that we are doing something serious about keeping kids off drugs, D.A.R.E. is impeding the nation's efforts to find more efficacious ways to achieve the broader goals of national drug policy, viz., to protect the public health and safety, to prevent abuse, and to eliminate the crime and violence associated with illicit drug trafficking. Peter G. Arlos, a Pittsfield, Massachusetts, city councillor, put it this way: 'q'he tragic truth that the nation is spending $700 million a year on a program that may not work has not sunk in on the local orthe national levels. A large D.A.R.E. bureaucracy has City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: March 15, 1999 To: Stephen J. Atkins, City Manager From: David Schoon, Economic Development Coordinator Re: City-Sponsored CEBA and NJIP Applications Attached is a summary highlighting the City's participation in sponsoring Community Economic Betterment Account (CEBA) applications and New Job and Income Program (NJIP) applications. The first part lists all of the CEBA and NJIP applications that the City has submitted to the State, whether or not the projects were awarded State funds. The second part provides detail on those projects that received State funds. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: To: From: Re: March 15, 1999 CEBA - Previous Application Files David Schoon CEBA and NJIP Applications The following is a list of CEBA and .NJIP applications with which the City has been involved. 1998 1996 1994 1993 1993 1991 1991 1988 1987 1986 1986 National Computer Systems (NJIP) Awarded state and local tax credits and exemptions. OraI-B Laboratories (CEBA) Awarded $150,000 forgivable loan;jobs have been created. Moore Business Forms (CEBA) Awarded $300,000 forgivable loan;jobs have been created. Iowa Processed Meats/Millard Refrigerated Services (CEBA) State did not award funds to company. National Computer Systems (CEBA) Awarded $635,000 forgivable loan; jobs have been created. Sueppel's Flowers Inc. (CEBA) State did not award funds to company. Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Co. (CEBA) Awarded funds, but company never entered contract for funds. Central States Can Co./Siligan Containers Corp. (CEBA) Awarded funds, but company requested termination of contract. A-JEM Co. (CEBA) City Council approved resolution authorizing the submission however, application was never completed/submitted to the State. Computer Aided Design Software Inc. (CADSI) (CEBA) Awarded funds, but company requested termination of contract. WORLDVIEW (CEBA) Awarded funds; however, in 1987 the company defaulted on loan. of an application; ecodeve~em',cebaapps.doc Iowa City Projects Receiving Community Economic Betterment Account (CEBA) or New Jobs & Income Program |NJIP) Funds National Computers Systems - 1993 CEBA Project (Project Has Been Closed Out) Site & Building Investment Pledged in Application $6,720,000 "Project Completion Date" Figure or "Most Recent Reporting" Figure $9,775,000 Machinery & Equipment Investment $3,000,000 $4,515,000 Total Number of Positions (*Approximately 75% are full-time positions) 800 FTEs 1000 FTEs * Average Hourly Wage for All Positions NA $17.87 Moore Business Forms - 1994 CEBA Project (Project Will Be Closed Out This Spring) Site & Building Investment Pledged in Application $534,000 "Project Completion Date" Figure or "Most Recent Reporting" Figure $691,000 Machinery & Equipment Investment $565,000 $573,000 Total Number of Positions 317 326 Average Hourly Wage for All Positions NA $14.21 Iowa City Projects Receiving Community Economic Betterment Account (CEBA) or New Jobs & Income Program (NJIP) Funds (cont'd) OraI-B Laboratories - 1997 CEBA Project (Project Will Be Closed Out This Spring) Site & Building Investment Pledged in Application $3,871,000 "Project Completion Date" Figure or 'Most Recent Reporting" Figure $5,722,800 Machinery & Equipment Investment $20,514,500 $57,983,500 Total Number of Positions 514 756 Average Hourly Wage for All Positions $13.95 $15.36 National Computer Systems - 1998 NJIP Project (Finalizing the NJIP Agreement) Site & Building Investment Pledged in Application $2,300,000 'Project Completion Date" Figure or "Most Recent Reporting" Figure NA Machinery & Equipment Investment $9,000,000 NA Total Number of Positions: Full-Time Part-Time 940 725 NA NA Average Hourly Wage: Full-time Part-time $17.42 $7.20 NA NA F:\prospect\statfund .doc