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2000-01-04 Info Packet of 12/30
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKET December 30, 1999 MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS IP1 Letter from City Manager to Jim Leach: Storm Water Quality Management Regulations IP2 Memorandum from City Manager: Miscellaneous IP3 Memorandum from City Manager: Pending Development Issues IP4 Letter from Julie Phye (Stepping Up) to Assistant City Manager: Information IP5 Memorandum from City Clerk: Johnson County Board of Supervisors Agendas IP6 Memorandum from Parking and Transit Director to City Manager: Downtown Shuttle IP7 Memorandum from Fire Marshal to City Manager: New Year's Eve Fireworks Display at Hancher IP8 Letter to Police Chief from Mark Menadue (Iowa Chapter American College of Emergency Physicians): Enforcement of Child Passenger Safety and Seat Belt Laws IP9 Memorandum from Police Chief to City Manager: Mildred Flynn Letter IP10 Letter from Jonathan Jordahl (JC Board of Supervisors) to Senior Center Coordinator: Appointment of Carol Thompson to Senior Center Commission IP11 Memorandum from JCCOG Human Services Coordinator to Finance Director and Parking & Transit Director: Free Bus Ticket Program IP12 Notice: Purchase of Equipment IP13 Deer Line: August 20 - November 30 IP14 Article: High Marks for Iowa City [Atkins] IP15 Article: 'Smart Growth' is Dumb: The Case for Suburban Sprawl [Vanderhoef] Information from Cedar Rapids regarding Council effectiveness; core values; operating norms. 12-30-99 IP1 December 21, 1999 ~~_ CITY OF I0 WA CITY The Honorable Jim Leach 102 S. Clinton Street, Room 505-507 Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Jim: We recently were advised, as were many cities throughout the United States, of our new responsibilities with respect to storm water quality management regulations of the EPA. Those new regulations were published in the Federal Register. They are extensive and currently under review by our staff. I would like to pose a question to you in order that I might not only understand this issue better but also respond to public inquiries concerning these new regulations. The question is "what obligation the federal government has with respect to financing these new regulations?" Many folks are knowledgeable or at least aware of the Unfunded Mandates Act and it would seem this stormwater quality requirement is an obligation for local governments to expend local funds to fulfill federal regulations. We believe that our estimates of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year will be necessary to fulfill these regulations. To our good fortune we have, through our development codes, satisfied many of the storm water quantity requirements. The new quality component will have substantial costs, but we believe we will be prepared. The cost to our citizens will be in the form of a new stormwater management fee as well as new general obligation debt, retired by way of property taxes. I would appreciate your thoughts, in particular having your staff determine whether the federal government does have any obligation to assist in the funding of this new mandate. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, City Manager CC: \~ityCounCil Department of Public Works Is\ltr%sal 2-17.doc 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 3J6-5000 · FAX (319) 356-5009 City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: December 20, 1999 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: Miscellaneous 1. The Chamber of Commerce annual banquet is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 3 at the Radisson Hotel - Highlander. The City covers the cost for attending Council members. 2. The Chamber Annual Business Fair is scheduled for March 24-26 at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Council members are often asked to "staff' an elected official's booth. The City staff also participates by having a booth at the fair. jw/rnem/sa-misc.doc City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: December 28, 1999 To: City Council From: City Manager Re: Pending Development Issues · An application submitted by Arlington L.C. for a preliminary plat of Windsor Ridge Part fifteen, a 40.27-acre, two-lot, residential subdivision with two outlots located on the north side of Court Street at its eastern terminus. · An application submitted by Martin Gaffey for a special exception to permit dwelling units above ground floor commercial uses for property located in the Neighborhood Commercial (CN-1) zone on Lots 176 and 177 on Scott Court. · An application submitted by Plum Grove Acres for a voluntary annexation of 26.88 acres and to rezone 31.88 acres from Low Density Single-Family Residential (RS-5), County Highway Commercial (CH), County Local Commercial (C1) and County Multi-Family Residential (R3A) to Community Commercial (CC-2 - 12.9 acres) and Medium Density Single-Family Residential (RS-8 - 19.59 acres) for property located at the southeast corner of Rochester Avenue and Scott Blvd. · An application submitted by H&O, LC for a rezoning to amend the Sensitive Areas Overlay (OSA-8) conditional zoning agreement to allow a driveway access onto Foster Road for property located at 500 Foster Road. jw/mem/sa-pending.doc A COMMUNITY AND CAMPUS COALITION TO REDUCE BINGE DRINKING THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · IOWA CITY · CORALVILLE ~~/(~(~) 12-9-99 Dale Hellrag Assistant CiW Manager, Dear Dale, You had mentioned at the last Community Policy meeting that you may be able to provide mfonnation to the Council via routinely created information packets. If so, the enclosed article and letters would be good reading to council members in light of our strategic plan for 2000. Thanks for your help in getting this information to the Councilors. Sincerely, e THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · Winter ~999-oo Volume ~ Number ' Campus Drinking Culture Can Harm Any Student Feel EFFects ol: Too Much Alcohol t'sa crisp, fall morning near the east- non-drinking ~d~ ~ho h~ to ~. '.'. T,., .o .~. '1 'veN ever Had a side residence halls. A chalked greeting up repeatedly when their roommates have Phye hopes parents will be concerned on the sidewalk ~eads: "Happy ~gth been throwing up. Students are angry at about these issues, too, and join others who birthday, Alieia. Now you can get in the having to babysit a sick roommate at :~:3o in are beginning to help Stepping Up. Jana Schwartz, a graduate student in Union." the morning. Students are a critical stakeholder for A non-student passing by could be for- "As annoying as these effects are, more Stepping Up-pan of the organization's Student Development from Ames, is given for wondering when the Iowa disturbing i8 the known correlation strategic process. "They are the driving helping Stepping Up to run the non-alco- Memorial Union put an age limit into between hinge drinking and physical and creative force behind most of the non-alto- effect, but most university students would sexual assault. Current data indicate that holie events on campus," says Phye. hol tailgates before Iowa home football get the intended message: Now you can one in three women at Iowa have experi- "Student groups that have sponsored tail- games. Lot 14, located near the resi- drink illegally, Alieia. enced an unwanted sexual advance from an gates include Greek organizations, intoxicated person," she Women's Athletics, Student Alumni dence halls, has been dedicated perrod- .... !. /..~.. says. Association, the Associated Residence nently as a non-alcohol venue. -~ -. Halls, and UI Student Government. "A tall, athletic young man came up to "~, ! ~ii ~i','-'i-; BARS ADMIT UNDERAGE Community churches and organizations STUDENTS ,_41~~ ,~ ,.'T'''''':~ ' ,""",i.: have provided time and financial contribu- me while I was working at one of the ~ ~-,- ;~ Iowa City is one of the lions, too." ~ " " , . last college or university The Parents Association Board is a wel- : tailgates," Schwartz says. "He said, '1 "~ " "' zS- to :lo-year-olds, she student-run activity called Night Games ~ ~ ~ "g~'q that allows bars to admit "Thanks to their contributions, a popular what you're doing. I don't drink and I've ' '~ ....... ~ ': ~ + i "' says. The bars say the sin- never had a place to go before.'" j. .' -~. : - . I~ The Stepping Up tailgates feature a .... ~ · I, band, dancing, volleyball, free ice cream, sodas, and hot dogs. Attendance '~llb ' ~; has picked up at each of those held this The offices of Stepping Up, a University <' fall, Schwartz says. office charged with developing ways to ~ 4~ change the hinge drinking culture at The ~':: ' ~I X ' ~ "" Having the tailgates in Lot x4 also Universi~ of Iowa, are located half a block '~ ~, '// ~ f~ _ '~ keeps the nearby residence halls safe," from this sidewalk message. Julie Phye, ' " ~ ' ' ' ::'~L; /( ' ~ t - · she adds. "They have had to be locked director of the office, admits that she is - frustrated sometimes. But she believes that 5: :'~; ~:+:" ~ ~X on football Saturdays before because of with the help of parents of Iowa's ~8 ,ooo+ ~ : ~ ~; vandalism and other problems. Now that has decreased." Julie Sueppel, President ~ ~ , ~ ~i~_ dents are se~ed only soft has expanded to ~ice its previous size. Downtown ~sociation . .:~, ,: drinks, but according to Night Games provides special activities and m5 S. Dubuque St. i:.~: " students it is not difficult, refreshments in the Field House until 2 Iowa Ci~, ~~,,~. once you're inside, to find an older student to order a.m. on Saturday nights." Now, Phye says, it's time for individual John Beckor& President beer for you. parents to add their voices. Iowa Ci~ Chamber of Commerce under~aduate students, change in Iowa's "At the Universiff of Noahern Iowa '~at I would like parents to do is write 3% E. Washin~on St. binge drinking culture is possible. bars don't admit students younger than =~," or call the Iowa CiW Chamber of Iowa Gift, Binge drinking usually is defined as Phye says. "les bars don't, either. Commerce, the Gift Council, the Downtown (3~9) 337'9637 consumption of five or more drinks in suc- Underage kids from les come here to cession for men and four or more for pax~y." Association, or Universi~ officials," she says. "Tell them that you want downtown Iowa Gift CiW Council women in one sitting. Fre~ent hinge Bar owners in Iowa Ci~ insist they bars to obey the law and you would like Ernest Lehman, mayor, Stephen Atkins, drilng is drinking to excess three or don't market to the underage students. "But downtown businesses to offer alternative ciff manager more times in ~o weeks. it's obvious that they market strongly to ente~ainment at night for students who Councilors Connie Champion, Steven them," Phye says. "I'm not against free don't want to drink." Bnner, Dee No~on, Mike O'Donnell, NON-DRINKERS HARMED, TOo enterprise, but giving away kegs of beer on Mter all, she adds, the math is pret~ I~in Pfab, Dee Vanderhoef, Ross Wilburn Stepping Up sta~ed by assessing the th~ condition that the beer must be drank clear. "We have x8,ooo+ under~aduates, 4xo E. Washin~on St. impact that high-risk drinking has on the that night; selling drafts of beer for a quar- 5~ percent of them underage. There are 98 Iowa Ci~, IA 5~o entire Universi~ culture. Students who ter; running specials on shots of liquor--all bars within a one-mile radius of downtown. councilSiowa-ciff.org binge- drink can expect to miss classes and of this goes well beyond just admitting Mter xo p.m. almost nothing else is open fall behind academically, sometimes to the underage students who"~ like to go out with downtown. Many of these bars admit ~8- to Phillip E. Jones point that their only option is to leave. But a their friends. student's binge drinking also causes signif- "We're not trying to close bars down, 2o-year-olds at night, and once they're Vice President, Student Seaices icant harm to non- binge drinking students. we're t~ing to have them behave in a inside they find a way to get alcoholic bey- n4 Jessup Hall "We call this second-hand effects," responsible way and obey the law." Phye erages." Iowa Ci~, IA 52252 Phye says. 'Tin f~strated when I hear from says. By ~ne Tanner 3~9'335-3557 phiIll p -j o nes~uiowa. edu Phillip Jones, 02:15 PM 12/5/99 , Re: Date: Sun, 05 Dec 1999 14:15:50 -0600 To: "Robert or Connie Boyer" <boyer@kdsi.net> From: Phillip Jones <phillip-jones@uiowa.edu> Subject: Re: Cc: julie-phye@uiowa.edu, steven-parrott@uiowa.edu, marysue-coleman@uiowa.edu Dear Mr. and Mrs. Boyer, Thank you for your supportive comments. As you know, abusive use of alcohol is a public issue that transcends the issues we face on campus. We have taken an approach that is based on changing the environment. There are four specific areas where we have concentrated our efforts; changing availability to underage drinkers, education and publicity about the harmful affects of the second hand effects of abusive drinking, enforcement of existing laws related to underage drinking and public intoxication, and providing alternative attractive activities for students. The coalition we have formed consists of university( including students) and community as well as secondary school leadership. At this point, we believe that support from parents by c~Tnm,~n~cat~nq with the local Chamber of Commerce about the need for more wholesome activities in downtown Iowa City may stimulate a useful dialog about the level of bar activity in downtown Iowa City which serves to encourage underage students to drink. We appreciate you support in this important but difficult campaign. At 12:21 PM 12/5/99 -0600, you wrote: As a parent of 2 university students, I was very pleased to read about the Stepping Up program. The university needs more of these kinds of activities. My daughters have felt a lot of pressure to drink and it has been a challenge to deal with this issue from 60 mi~es. aw~y... The university. needs to find an effective way to teach higher values than abusing alcohol. How and what can we do to help support this program? Sincerely, Connie Boyer 202 E. Burlington Fairfield, Iowa 52556 Phillip Jones, 12:13 PM 12/6/99 , Re: Campus Drinking Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 12:13:59 -0600 To: kscoville@elmhurst.kl2.il.us (kscoville) From: Phillip Jones <phillip-jones@uiowa.edu> Subject: Re: Campus Drinking Cc: julie-phye@uiowa.edu, steven-parrott@uiowa.edu, marysue-coleman@uiowa.edu, ccavitt@dainrauscher.com Dear Ms. Scoville, I appreciate receiving your thoughtful comments in response to the Parents Times article on the campus drinking culture. As you know, abusive use of alcohol is a societal public health problem that is seen on colleges across the country. The University of Iowa has recognized hinge drinking as a campus issue and is one of ten universities nationally that has been funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the American Medical Association to develop environmental approaches to curb the abusive use of alcohol among college students. Your comments are consistent with the University's position that underage drinking is encouraged by the easy availability of alcohol at bars adjacent to the campus and residence halls. The University and community have formed a coalition to work on ways to change the environment and limiting access to bars to those who are 21 is an issue being discussed presently. In addition to limiting access to those who are 21, the coalition has also worked with landlords, the Iowa City Police, the University Public Safety Department, and private citizens to raise questions, propose solutions, and enact legislation to ensure the safety of students and other citizens and to enhance civility in downtown Iowa City. We appreciate comments like yours being shared with the City Council and the Iowa City/Coralville Chamber of Commerce to reinforce the concerns that the Stepping Up Coalition is addressing. At 11:03 PM 12/5/99 -0500, you wrote: >Dear Vice President Jones, > >As a parent of a University of Iowa freshman and as an educator, I was >dismayed to read the article in the Parent Times on campus drinking. Had I >realized that Iowa City, unlike other campus towns in Iowa~ allowed >underage students into bars, I woul~ h~ve gi~er~careful consideration to >sending my out-of-state tuition dollars to a different university. > >As the parent of a high school junior who has been invited to apply for the >Honors Program admitting highly qualified juniors to attend the University >a year early and who would hopefully remain through medical school, I may >have to reconsider her application to attend school where a university >chooses to ignore or allow underage and illegal drinking. Ny daughter is a >varsity athlete, band member, and student council officer who has recently >returned from both our Illinois State Swim Meet and from a two day IDEA >conference on drug and alcohol awareness. She is wondering if a university >which may allow her to be negatively affected by someone else's drinking is >the school for her. > >As a parent at Downers Grove South, I'm not sure if I can continue to sing >the praises of the University of Iowa when asked by parents of soon to be >college students what I think of the University of Iowa. This will also be >the case in the district in which I teach which includes York High School. >In good conscience, I will have to mention the illegal drinking that is >allowed to go on in the town. Phillip Jones, 12:13 PM 12/6/99 , Re: Campus Drinking > >I encourage the University of Iowa to move quickIy to enforce legal age >requirements for admittance to any establishment where. drinking is allowed. >As a parent I demand that lawsregarding. the legal drinking age are >enforced at the university wheaze m~ und~age. student. is ~ttending school. > >Sincerely, >Karen Scoville >1400 62nd Street >Downers Grove, Illinois 60516 > > Phillip Jones, 12:32 PM 12/6/99 , Re: Underage Drinking Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 12:32:00 -0600 To: Kathy Okerberg <KOkerberg@vil.lisle.il.us> From: Phillip Jones <phillip-jones@uiowa.edu> Subject: Re: Underage Drinking Cc: julie-phye@uiowa.edu, steven-parrott@uiowa.edu, marysue-coleman@uiowa.edu, ccavitt@dainrauscher.com Dear Ms. Okerberg, Thank you for your insights in response to the Parent Times article and the campus drinking culture. As you know, the Stepping Up Coalition is a University and community coalition supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the American Medical Association to curb drinking to get drunk behavior among college students. We have taken an environmental approach to combat the abusive use of alcohol including underage drinking. One of the issues currently being discussed is the need to limit the availability of alcohol to underage people by requiring people to be 21 to enter a bar. Your comments reinforce information we have heard from students and the high number of citations issued by the Iowa City Police in downtown bars. I think it is important to share your insights with the Iowa City Council and the local Cheer of Commerce. Thank you for your concern. At 07:56 AM 12/6/99 -0600, you wrote: >This past weekend, I received a copy of the University of Iowa's Parent >Times, Vol. 43, No. 2. I found the article on the front page, "Campus >Drinking Culture Can Harm Any Student" to be very interesting, informative, >and unfortunately, very discouraging. > >I am a parent of an 18 year old freshman student. The facts presented in >the article about 18-20 year olds being admitted' to bars isentirely true. >My son has told me on numerous occasions that he has no problem getting into >the bars because the owners stamp. their hands with a. different colored stamp >which is supposed to indicate that they are underage. However, once inside, >he has told me that there is no problem getting any type of drink at all. > >Why does the City of Iowa allow this to happen? Why do you let bars admit >underage persons to bars and once inside, does anyone (police) ever check to >see if underage kids are drinking? There is a quote in the article which >says that the bars say the underage students are served only soft drinks. >Now, how stupid are we? Does the City of Iowa enforce any codes with >respect to underage drinking? I was extremely frustrated and amazed when I >read that there are 98 bars within a 1-mile radius of downtown. Who in >their right mind would issue 98 liquor licenses to bars in the downtown >area? This only promotes more drinking - the more bars, the harder it is to >enforce any regulations. >Something needs to be done about this. My son says that it is not unusual >to go to the bars every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and that he sees >"everyone you can imagine" in the bars. Of course, as a parent I have >repeatedly asked my son not to drink, but as you know, once the kids go off >to college, there is very little we as parents can do to control their >behavior when we are 3 hours away from them. However, if the regulations >were enforced the way they were supposed to be (not admitting 18 to 20 year >olds to bars AT ALL), this would surely help the drinking situation. >Please do your part to enforce the regulations about underage drinking. I >work for the Village Manager of a municipality in the western suburbs of >Chicago. We have one college in town and another in a neighboring town. >There is no way that we would ever allow as many liquor licenses and bars to >operate here, and we are always conducting undercover operations to >discourage underage drinking. >I would appreciate a response to this message, and I would like to know what >you will be doing in the future to control the "out of control" situation of >students being admitted to thahazs and. the,,naeEage drinking that goes Phillip Jones, ~2:32 PM 12/6/99 , ~ed:UMaerNgde~m~ek~aWnking \ >along with it. The first step should be NOT TO ADMIT 18-20 YEARS TO BARS AT >ALL ! >Kathy Okerberg >kokerberg@vil. lisle. il .us Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 13:22:26 -0600 To: julie-phye@uiowa.edu, ccavitt@dainrauacher.com From: Phillip Jones <phillip-jones@uiowa.edu> Subject: Fwd: RE: Underage Drinking Text of forwarded message From: Kathy Okerberg <KOkerberg@vil.lisle.il.us> To: "'Phillip Jones"' <phillip-jones@uiowa.edu> Subject: RE: Underage Drinking Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 12:44:01-0600 Thank you for your response. I did send a copy of my email to the City Council of the City of Iowa. I hope they will respond positively, and I hope that other parents who read the article will follow through and write to them as well. As a parent of a freshman who is "free from home and our rules" for the first time, the ability to go to bars and drink is something very displeasing to me, and it is something that I don't want to become a habit. I wish that the City would make it much tougher for all kids involved. Thank you. Kathy Phillip Jones, 11:41 AM 12/9/99 , Re: Date: Thu, 09 Dec 1999 11:41:49 -0600 To: "eddiel" <eddiel@wans.net> From: Phillip Jones <phillip-jones@uiowa.edu> Subject: Re: Cc: julie-phye@uiowa.edu, steven-parrett@uiowa.edu, marysue-coleman@uiowa.edu, ccavitt@dainrauscher.com I will not apeak fon the. Iow~ City Council,. hut I appreciate your comments and the time you took to share them with us. One objective of the Stepping Up Coalition is to create dialog in the community to limit the availability of alcohol to underage young people. At 07:21 PM 12/6/99 -0800, you wrote: Dear Iowa City Council: I am reading with interest the recent cover story for the University of Iowa Parent Times regarding campus drinking. I am wondering why the propensity for ddnking is a mystery to anyone on the staff of the University or on the City Council. The simple market rules of supply and demand are alive and well. The University of Iowa is obviously one of the last meccas for those who want to ddnk but who are caught in the 18 to 20+ range - the article states that "Iowa City is one of the last college or university towns in the state of Iowa that allows bars to admit 18 to 20 year olds". I would like to know: 1. What positive societal impact does this law impart? 2. Who are the proponents of the law - other than the bar owners? I know that it is easier to repeat the sins of the past than to change. 3. Has anyone from the council visited towns in Iowa (or other states) where the laws are different to compare the situation to that in Iowa City? 4. Does anyone on the council find the "98 barswithin one miJe o[ downtown" statistic laughable(if not sad)? Believe it or not, I am not against drinking. The logic of the article just astounds me. If you want to curtail underage drinking, then make access more difficult. You won~t.stapit all.. But you will move it to a different level. I would ask all of the city council membersto. look deep inside themselves and ask what they would really like Iowa City to be in 5 years... 1. Fort Lauderdale on spdng break? or 2. A respectable small town with great small town values to which the best people are attracted? A Concerned Parent of a current U of Iowa Student who is interested in a reply. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: December 16, 1999 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk A number of you have requested that I no longer copy Johnson County Board of Supervisors agendas for distribution. Effective immediately copies will not be distributed to you and will be provided only upon request. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM' ' Date: December 13, 1999 To: Steve Atkins, City Manager From: Joe Fowler, Director Parking & Transit Re: Downtown Shuttle October marked the end of the second year of operation of the Downtown Shuttle. Ridership this year was 186,107, an increase of 17,273. The majority of these rides were on the south loop, 173,820 (93.4%). This was an increase of 28,573 rides in this area. The north loop had a decrease of 11,300 rides or 52% during the year. This is attributed to a reduction in service to this area. During the first year of operation the shuttle made two trips per hour to both the north and south sides. This year the north side had one trip per hour and the south side had three. The change in service resulted in an overall increase in ridership but there were several months that ridership was lower than the previous year. April, June, July and August had lower ridership during the second year of operation. The conclusion I am drawing from this is that there was a core of north side residents that were taking the shuttle when service was twice an hour, but not when service was reduced. While north side ridership has never been high, Transit will evaluate distribution of shuttle service during the next year. An effort will be made to reach the north side residents through the Neighborhood Service Planner to determine demand for shuttle service. Rerouting, if necessary, will also be discussed. After exploring the issue further a summary memo of findings will be sent to you for further direction. indexbc\memos\l - 1 J F.doc Iowa City Fire Department Serving With Pride & Professionalism 410 East Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa 52240 (319) 356-5260 INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: STEVE ATKINS, C1TY MANAGER P~~AT SUBJECT: IS HANCH]~ DATE: 12/15/99 For the past several months, we have been working with Hancher Auditorium on plans to permit a New Year's Eve celebration that includes a 20-minute fireworks display at midnight. The show will be rather spectacular. It will be choreographed to music and include larger mortar shells than the typical Fourth of July f~reworks display at Lower City Pare The larger mortars were permitted because the park will be closed and the required separation distances from people and buildings can be provided. Given the hour of the display and the certainty of louder concussions, a concern was expressed to Hancher regarding the potential for neighborhood complaints. Hancher responded by undertaking a mass mailing campaign to raise neighborhood awareness. The text of their letter is attached for your review. If I can offer anything further in terms of the planned display, please do not hesitate to ask. 12/:1.3/1999 14:22 3::1.93532245 STUDENT LTFE PAGE 02 Dear Hancher neighbor, As you may know, Hancher Auditorium has planned a gala New Year's Eve celebration that will culminate in a 20-minute fireworks spectacular. We expect the show to begin very soon after midnight. The fireworks will be shot off from lower City Park and the Hartchef Green.. You are welcome to watch the fireworks from outside Hancher, if they are not visible from your own back yard. Or join us for the evening of dancing to the Glenn Miller Orchestra and watch the fireworks from the warmth of the Hancher lobby. Tickets, priced at $200, include hors d'oeuvres. desserts and champagne and are available at the Hancher Box Office. We hope the fireworks display will not be an incom/enience to you. In fact. we hope they add to your celebration of the new millennium. Sincerely, Chades Swanson Associate Director .[: !!!!. PHYSICIANS no.-,en or~tR~o~ December 16, 1999 ' 1990-2000 PRESIDENT ~ .v~ c .v~.~,t.~. Do. F~CEP R.J. Winkelhake, Chief of Police 410 East Washington Street PseE. vn~.vr m.e~ Iowa City, Iowa 52240 ~ Den~ Kuhlman,, ,$[D, FA CEP .s'~c~4nr Dear Chief of Police Wi~elhake: Do,g Weedma,. MD TREqSURER I am the President of the Iowa Chapter of the ~e~can College of Paul.4. Berger, ~$tD, ~CEP Emergency Physicians, and I am writing to tha~ you on behalf of our .wE.V~E~ATL4RGE members for your stepped-up enforcement of child passenger safety and Timothy L. Bowers. MD. FA CEP c:.~,. r. n~..,,. ~o seat belt laws in Iowa during the holiday season. You have truly saved lives. l.~l. llEDlA rE P.4ST PRES[DE~VT Robert Singer. MD Your hard work has helped bring the results quantified in a recent su~ey C 't)U. VCILLORS /e..~.~.v~,g. ....v, by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (~TSA). which r,,,,,,s,yO~P~t~o,,.,VO. EqCEPfound that 19 million more ~eficans buckled up in 1998. If these 4Lr~'/cx:.tr~cov.,vcttto~ ~e~cans continue to use their seatbelts; an estimated 1,500 lives could .~'~,,,,,~, ~ S~,.nh~k ~0. ~4c~be saved each year. That's why we urge zero toler~ce for unbuckled kids E.x'Ec~'n~ ot~gcrog - and urge you to use eve~ means at your disposal to get kids buckled up. .1 lur~,o Griotm Prese~ing the health and safety of the citizens of Iowa is a priority for the Iowa Chapter of the ~efican College of Emergency Physicians. Crashes .~ ~4 H. LVG .4 DDRESS P.o. a,.~t4o8 are the leading cause of death to ~efican children. Last year alone, ,'~,,~t .....~o.~.~ soro4 more than 19 children died find 4,725 were injured in Iowa crashes. As P/ro.x'~- many as 18 of the children who died were completely u~estrained. (31o) 23~-231~ ~-~.x~ It is time that we, as a nation, tha~ eve~ law enforcement officer on duty ~_,s~z_~-s6. for their unwavering focus on buckling up passengers - p~icul~ly children. On behalf of the Iowa Chapter of the ~efican College of Emergency Physicians, we appreciate your leadership on this. Sincerely, ~rk C. Menadue, DO, FACEP President c: Ernest W. Lehman, Mayor · ' MEMORANDUM TO: Steve Atkins, City Manager FROM: R.J. Winkelhake, Chief of Police,~/ RE: MILDRED FLYNN LETTER DATE: December 15, 1999 I assigned Captain Widmer the task to review the incident referred to in Mildred Flynn's letter to the City Council. Captain Widmer had the tapes of the incoming phone calls and the "calls for service", but was not able to locate the call. The "calls for service" and the phone recorders were checked for October 29, October 30, and October 31 to no avail. Captain Widmer was able to locate a call from Mildred Flynn on May 6, June 11, October 9, and October 16. The calls were for intoxicated subjects (area checked), obscene/harassing (report taken), loud subjects (on the street nightly), information only (given to watches), and yelling on the street (area checked). The call referred to in the letter would not result in the dispatch of an officer because at the time of the call, as stated by Mildred Flynn, the people who were creating the problem had left the area. TO the Iowa City Council, CITY B ; AGER'SOFRC[ re: NOISE in DOWNTOWN STREETS...at NIGHT, especially in the area of GABE'S, and the newly remodeled PED MALL. Time: EVERY night, but specifically SAT., Oct. 30; 11:45 p.m.; I called police station, getting a male voice instead of the customary female dispatcher ---a REAL policeman, maybe] THIS was, almost verbatim, our "conversation" after I had voiced my complaint about a noisy gathering on the street in front of my 9th floor apartment: Officer: "Are they in front of your place NOW, Ma'am"? Me: "Not at this moment...you know how it is- by the time you get to your phone to call your complaint, they're gone- up or down the street- they're ALL OVER the place...the Ped Mall must be full of them". Officer: "But are they in front of your place NOW, Ma'am? If I/we come up there and there's no one there, no CRIME has been COMMITTED". Me: "But SIR] You know how it is- they're in front of your window, on Washington St, YELLING, SCREAMING; they're not STATIONARY: they're MOVING...east- west- and there are a LOT of them...and it's the end of Daylight- Saving Time...they'll have an EXTRA HOUR to HOWL! I hear them EVERY NIGHT of the WEEK-many times through THREE A.M. If it was an occasional group of KIDS, talking/laughing, I think we (citizens) could handle it, but it's NOT that] It's LOUD and OBSCENE! WHY can nothing be done about it?" P.S.: I wish I'd had the presence of mind to ask this representative of our police department HIS name; he asked me MINE, along with my address and phone number, several times! Sincerely, 320 E Washi. g~tt St, Apt 9-A ,City, IA Johnson County I lo,~.~ BOARD OF SUPERVISORS --I Jonathan Jordahl, Chair Charles D. Duffy Michael E. Lehman Sally Stutsman Carol Thompson December 9, 1999 Linda Kopping Acting Coordinator Senior Center 28 South Linn Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Dear Ms~ KovVing: ~ g During the formal meeting on December 9, 1999, the Board of Supervisors appointed Carol Thompson to the Senior Center Commission. Mr. Pugh resigned as of December 31, 1999. Thank you. ona. than Jordahl r JJ/jh 913 SOUTH DUBUQUE ST. P.O. BOX 1350 IOWA CITY, IOWA 52244-1350 TEL: (319) 356-6000 FAX: (319) 356-6086 :. ccoE Date: December 2, 1999 ~I~ ~ To: Kevin O'Malley, Acting Director of Finance ~ Joe Fowler, Director of Parking & Transit From: Lin'J~'e~verson, Human Services Coordinator (' Re: Free Bus Ticket Program For the second quarter of FY00 (October, November and December 1999) the City of Iowa City dispensed 3,165 tickets to human service agencies through its Free Bus Ticket Program. The totals, by agency, were: Second Year to Oct. Nov. Dec. Quarter Date Crisis Center 325 325 325 975 1950 Department of Human Services 220 220 220 660 1320 Domestic Violence Intervention Program 100 100 100 300 490 (DVIP) Emergency Housing Project (EHP) 115 115 115 345 690 Work Force Center (formerly Job Service) 125 125 125 375 750 Neighborhood Centers: Broadway 40 40 40 120 240 Pheasant Ridge 40 40 40 120 240 Vocational Rehabilitation Services 50 50 50 150 300 Nest of Johnson County 20 20 20 60 120 Veteran Affairs 20 20 20 60 120 TOTAL 1055 1,055 1,055 3,165 6,220 The tickets dispensed in the first quarter were numbered 073971-07600; 055611-055615; 142771-142790; 062001-063000; 142891-142945; and 55 various tickets. Please contact me at x5242 if you have any questions or concerns. cc: Jeff Davidson City Council )ccoghsVnem~ustix. doc NOTICE: PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT In accordance with Iowa Code Section 28E.20 JOINT PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT, the City of Iowa City is giving notice of intent to purchase one or more items or accessories or attachments to equipment, the total cost of which is estimated to be $50,000 or more. The following political subdivisions have been contacted: City of Coralville - City Clerk Johnson County Board of Supervisors - Chair Iowa City Community School District- Business Office West Branch Fire Department Kalona Fire Department Riverside Fire Department Hills Fire Department Oxford Fire Department Lone Tree Fire Department Solon Fire Department Coralville Fire Department Jefferson-Monroe Fire Department Tiffin Fire Department North Liberty Fire Department Notice was mailed: December 15, 1999 Equipment to be purchased: Self-Contained Breathing Appartus City of Iowa City Finance Department Central Services Division Cc: City Council 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 356-5000 * FAX (319) ~.56-5009 Updated 12/14/99 DEER LINE RESPONSE - AUGUST 20 - NOVEMBER 30, 1999 Page 1 DATE DIST NAME ADDRESS PHONE COMMENTS F/U 11/16/99 20 Missy Allen Normandy Dr, 873 338~6871 I would like a call back. I live in the part of mosquito flats. I back up to City Park. Last night at about 4:15 am or so, I could hear sharpshooters very clearly on this side of the river. My understanding was that they were only going to be shooting on the peninsula. I called 911 and my question is are they going to be shooting on this side of the river near or in city park and if so, is there any way to let us know so we aren't calling 911 at 4 in the morning. [Caller informed that there were no sharpshooters out the evening in question. Requested she ca//the Police/f it occurs again - that Police dispatch is a/ways aware of when and where White Buffalo shoots.] 8/26/99 20 Kevin Magowan Avenue, 227 I fully support the sharpshooting for deer control. I have noticed a number of deer in our back Dellsperger yard which is very unusual and many of these deer have very poor, sickly looking coats as well as extremely thin appearance. 8/20/99 19 David Malone Waterfront Drive, 2018 Perhaps there is no solution to the deer problem since it is a 99 county, state-wide problem, is it likely that a few square miles of one city are going to come up with the solution to a state problem? It's a thought. 9/8/99 19 John Theliar Washington Street, E. 351-1044 I am going to be doing some research on this organization including the city council deer 713 management. I was wondering if I could become a volunteer. I need to do some form of community service. 10/29/99 19 Nell Smith Van Burart Street, N. I would like to say that this deer problem is pretty easily summed up. Just a bunch of damn 431 liberal hippies trying to get pointless animal rights (not all animal rights pointless - but this one is). Personally I think the deer would be better off getting shot in the head than freezing and starving to death during the winter without enough food. I would personally rather be shot in the head by a trained sniper than starving to death. You can turn it on them by saying it is mean to the deer by their policy. This is ludicrous. You should throw out the idea of not shooting them or transporting them which I have seen statistics of that shows actually kills them in the process so it is very cruel. I just think the deer should be shot and also that local hunters should be given a choice to be able to shoot them also as a good way to get rid of the deer if you really want to is to raise the number of deer you can kill with a hunting license. I think it would really help out farmers, hunters, land owners, city officials and the deer themselves. 10/24/99 19 Ken Harding Scott Blvd, 21 O0 338-7760 I think that the guy that came in here and said he would dart the deer and take them out for nothing you guys should have went and done that instead of spending 942,000 to have sharpshooters come in and make our neighborhoods unsafe. 11/16/99 19 Pam Post Road, 205 I just wanted to report that the deer are thicker than ever. There are six or seven in the Bleckwenn backyard today. I hope the shooting continues and goes well and however the moving or whatever is going on with them, I wanted you to know there are quite a few. 11/21/99 19 Victoria Green Mr. Vernon Dr N, 225 We have noticed that you put up the deer lights and we think that is a really good idea, but we wondered why the speed limit hasn't been changed to 25 mph just as it is in front of Regina. Also, I don't know if you're aware of it but there is just as much a deer run in that wooded area by Regina that goes across Rochester as there is out further out by the Boyd property. We actually see more deer there when we are on Rochester at night than we have been up by our own property. That leads me with a final comment. We have lived in this house since 1976. We don't feel we have any more deer now than we had when we moved here, so if anything the last couple of years we've seen somewhat fewer. Anyway, the main Updated 12/14/99 DEER LINE RESPONSE - AUGUST 20 - NOVEMBER 30, 1999 Page 2 DATE DIST NAME ADDRESS PHONE COMMENTS F/U issue for calling was the speed limit. Machine 19 Mike Orthel Modern Way, 31 337-2843 We feel that it is a good idea since there is no natural predators and the city is tearing down down Tammy Voske the location that the deer live to have sharpshooters to thin out the population. We were also wondering if any of the venison was going to be available for public use. 11/14/99 19 Margaret Lucas S, 525 I have major concerns on your deer shoot that is occurring. I cannot believe that the City did Redding not start something a year ago - where in other cities they have put birth control in salt blocks to keep the females from producing more deer. If you would have done that a year ago, had the smarts to do it you would have had half the deer population that you have now. Second, there's a few citizens that seem to be concerned about this and they are the residents that live there where money in this town is. I live on S. Lucas Street, have for 20 years, have been a homeowner for 10 years or better. The condition of this neighborhood - I'm going to have to move. I cannot stand it anymore. If you drive down the 300-500 block of S. Lucas and take a look at the garbage that is on the curb 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you would not live in this environment. Could we put some of our resources to clean up this rat-infested area. This is the first time that I have ever made a complaint to the City and I feel like I deserve my fair attention. I would much rather have deer nibbling on my trees and on my grass than all the garbage from the neighborhood blowing in my yard, all the rats running around here. 10/23/99 19 Robert Lakeside Drive, 2434 I just want you to know I am in favor of the deer reduction program. I think it would be a Fangmann #1 terrible idea to not do it. 10/26/99 19 Gwen Kirkwood Avenue, 722 338-6306 I think we should seek a positive solution to the problem in Iowa City. For me it isn't a Countryman problem but if it is a problem for other people, I think we should seek a positive and peaceful solution. I consider the slaughter of deer to not be a positive or peaceful solution. I would be willing to work to pursue other ideas to solve the problem as it is perceived by other people. I feel that as the city expands and we take over areas that belong to the deer, used to be their habitat - those people that make profit from the expansion of our city like real estate developers should find ways to solve the problem they create through this expansion. This is a conversation that t he city council and the people making decisions about the deer should make. I feel very strongly that the slaughter of the deer through this deer kill program is something we'll look back on 50 years from now and think was barbaric much as we thought the slaughter of buffalo was OK when it happened and then look back and wonder how we could possibly do that. Those are my thoughts. If someone has a way that I could be actively involved or somehow help this issue, you are welcome to call me and I would very ~; much like my comments to go on public record. I! li i i 9/17/99 19 Pat Yoder Jefferson E, 1153 I just wanted to report that I have had deer bedded down in my backyard for the last couple !' of weeks off and on. Right now there are three bedded down there. Last Monday, a week ago Monday, I woke up at about 6 in the morning and there were seven bedded down in my backyard. I have stopped feeding the birds so they wouldn't come up but lately the last week they've been in the backyard most of the time. My number is 338-2275 in case you want to ask me any questions. 11/14/99 19 Brigittine Dodge S, 536 354-0772 I would like to make comment for the public record regarding the deer management program. French I would like to say that I am very opposed to the way that this deer management has been handled. I feel it is very unethical and really it makes me ashamed to be a member of this community. I have a couple of comments that I would like a return call on: 1) what is the Updated 12/14/99 DEER LINE RESPONSE - AUGUST 20 - NOVEMBER 30, 1999 Page 3 DATE DIST NAME ADDRESS PHONE COMMENTS F/U possibility of contracting an outside consulting firm to assess the deer situation in Iowa City rather than have a board of City Council do it. I think it would give a lot more credibility if someone indeed were paid to assess the situation and have those folks be independent people who would not be involved in the management so there would be no financial benefit for them to make assessment. I think would lend a lot more credibility to proposed solutions and I wondered if that was being considered 2) I watched the City Council meeting and heard that the efforts for birth control were experimental and the deer committee wasn't sure if Iowa City would qualify to be involved in a program. I want to know if this option is being pursued for future years and what it takes to qualify and if the Council is looking into it in a serious and specific way. 9/15/99 19 Judy Miner 7th Avenue S, 71 3 I would like to add my input. I would like you not to kill the deer. I was reading Laurie Stone's guest opinion in the paper this week and I thought she had some practical solutions including deer crossing signs. We want nonlethal measures that address the issues and benefit all citizens. If you need anymore input from me, I'm at 339-0280. Don't kill the deer. Machine 17 Michelle Gilmore Court, 8 338-4796 Just wanted to know if someone could call us back and see if someone could help us with a down Mayfield 356-7944 deer problem. We live off of Westgate, we are a cul de sac what I consider in town by all means and this weekend we got up in the middle of the night and there were 6 deer in their backyard. We also have a swimming pool, it is covered now, but I am concerned that they might jump the fence and end up in a fenced-enclosed area or in the summertime could end up in the pool which could be catastrophic. I am also concerned about deer crossing Melrose Avenue potentially. We saw them in the middle of the night, either a car coming over a hill and hitting them or a motorcycle. So if someone could call us back and let us know if we could have some help with the problem of deer in our backyard, I would appreciate it. 10/27/99 17 Janice Benton, W. 1000 I don't need a phone call back. I would like to report what looked like a very large buck down Showers #313E by the intersection of Melrose and Koser. He looked very scared, pretty large sized. Did not have any antlers. I'm not sure if the males have antlers this time of year. Pretty good sized deer and looked spooked. Looked to be heading in the general direction of the Melrose Lake so I was hoping that he was just following his nose toward water. Just concerned with as much traffic as Melrose would get that someone would hit him and there would be a rather large accident going on. Very concerned about the deer population in Iowa City and I am very much in favor of thinning out the herd in the general direction that the City is planning to go. Wanted to let you know about the deer. I did call the police and they gave me this number. The deer looked very scared and a scared, large animal like that is not good that far into the city. 10/29/99 07 Eddie Berto Dodge St Court, 1313 I am opposed to the deer killing. I believe that there could be safer and more practical Godina methods to curtail the deer population. I also view the deer as an aesthetic resource. I enjoy having their presence in the park and my yard. I think that they are a really special asset to Iowa City and I don't think any of the solutions that have been proposed have been practical or effective. I think more time should be invested in finding out how to control traffic around the deer and setting up certain zones where the public can enjoy the deer. 11/14/99 05 Scott Faughty Prairie du Chien Road, 887-9841 This is against the deer control. Thank you. 1515, #6 11/27/99 05 Ed Klau Prairie du Chien Road, 887-9841 I want to know how to get a hold of some of that deer meat. 1515 #6 Updated 12/14/99 DEER LINE RESPONSE - AUGUST 20 - NOVEMBER 30, 1999 Page 4 DATE DIST NAME ADDRESS PHONE COMMENTS F/U 9/21/99 04 Carol Braddock Ridge Road, 1704 337-4008 I want to encourage the Council at the deer management committee to move into the additional means they have been talking about to reduce the herd. It seems that there are several times as many this fall and I have four little fawns and two does that I doubt will get shot - I don't really want them to be shot - to discourage their depredation. They are tearing up things I've planted that are supposed to be not interesting to them. They stomp through them. I'm not sure what I can do anymore. I'm not sure I can everything. Machine 04 Mike Prairie du Chien Rd, 354-7590 I would like to know why it is taking so long to get a contract signed to eliminate the deer. down Brusnahan 2908 At the rate they are killing deer on Prairie du Chien Road and Dubuque Street, they won't need these people pretty soon. 10/13/99 04 Fran Austin Burash Avenue, 1552 I live very close to Prairie du Chien. We have a lot of wooded area in our residential district. If you had gone past our house and down our block on Burash Avenue you could see for two months now it looks like fall has been setting in. The deer have been eating the leaves off the trees, have eaten everybody's hostas until they are just bare. It is impossible to plant and keep your plants and have pretty flowers because the deer are eating everything. It is a little bit distributing. It is quite disgusting. I enjoy deer. I love the deer, however I am definitely for the sharpshooters. I do think the deer need to be controlled. Thank you. 11/11/99 Nancy West Branch 643-3133 I am calling about the deer problem. It would seem to me that if we are returning to nature, I Anthanson Fourth St N, 302 am entirely serious, it would seem that putting one or two wolves in the area. One or two wolves could take care of prey in a 700 square mile area. They don't bother people and they don't bother children or livestock if they have other prey. It would be humane and it would also be natural. 8/20/99 Rick Carran North Liberty 626-6709 As far as hiring sharpshooters to hunt deer in the area, I feel it is a mistake to do that. Heritage Drive, 135 Especially if it comes out of the taxpayers money. I'm a bow hunter, have been for several years. I feel that would be a good way of disposing of the deer population. It may take more than one deer to do so but you could charge so much per tag and make money instead of using taxpayer money to pay the sharpshooters and processing the deer. I feel there is a large number of hunters that would like to hunt there and it would save Iowa City money in the long run but it will take more than one year to do it. Seems like you are trying to do it in one year. I do believe it would be a lot safer way of doing it. 10/13/99 Betty Stratton Homestead, IA 828-4195 I was calling in concern to I want to dig up some trees on Friday afternoon at Foster Road but I wanted to be safe if I was out in the timber digging up trees. It'll be up by the buildings on Foster Road. 10/12/99 Jenny Wiers Coralvilla 351-7296 Last night about 8:30 I was picking my daughter up from a City High activity and there were 7th Avenue, 81 O five deer crossing Glendale Drive - not far from City High probably the 1400-1500 block on Glendale Drive. There were four cars waiting for the five deer to cross. I just think it is another evidence of way to many deer in our area. It is a growing concern of ours. JOHNSON COUNTY TODAY High marks for Iowa City HUD: Housing pro.grams among best in Nebraska-Iowa region By Adam Lowensteln wrote Gregory Bevirt, the direc- and HOME in fiscal 1999, and sistance to 25 households. Gazette staff writer tot of the HUD's regional corn- another $140,000 from program And public facfiities and ser- IOWA CITY- The U.S. De- munity planning and develop- income, which consists of men- vices provided assistance to partment of Housing and Urban ment division, in a letter to ey paid back to the city for 4,243 people, including hun- Development has given Iowa Mayor Ernie Lehman. loans the city issued with feder- dreds of families who received City high marks for city pro- Steven Nasby, who oversees al dollars. furniture through a city pro- grams in fiscal 1999 that assis- the disbursement of the funds gram that provides used furni- ted the homeless, low-to-moder- as the city's coordinator for WIIEREAS THE national ture to those in need and' in ate-income families and others community development, said standard is to get 70 percent of doing so keeps the items from in need. Iowa City consistently is recog- the funding to low- and moder- ending up in the landfill. The federal agency reviews nized as one of the top perform- ate-income people, in Iowa City City 'Manager Steve Atkins all municipalities that use fund- ing cities. 100 percent of the funding went said HUD's praise is warranted ing from Community Develop- "Part of it is, we've got a real to ~that group, Nasby said. because it is in response to "not merit Block Grants (CDBG) and experienced staff. They have all And people were helped in a only the management capability the HOME Investment Partner- been around these rules and variety of ways. of the (city) staff, but also theft ships Program. In the two-state regulations," Nasby said. During this period, the city personal commitment to mak- region of Iowa and Nebraska, "Also, our recipients, the peo- rehabilitated 33 single.family ing sure things are done well Iowa City's use of these funds, ple going out and doing these homes for low- to moderate-in- for citizens, and particularly as far as getting them to the projects, are doing them in a come families and provided re- those in the greatest need." neediest recipients in the fastest timely matter, serving a very pair assistance to 40 homes II- Contact writer Adam kowensteln at (319) time, is among the best. high number of low-income i_u-.where senior citizens lived, 339-3157 or adamlceffyiowa.com "We congratulate you on your dividuals. They are doing a whfie also providing rental as- many accomplishments ... on great job." achieving housing and commu- Iowa City receiVed'about $1.55 ~ - - .... nity development objectives," million in funding from CDBG The Gazette, Tues., Dec. 14, 1999 3B · 'Smart growth' is dumb: The case for suburban sprawl By Thomas J, DiLorenzo land more for housing than the previous owners has arguably been the worst use of tax dollars in To millions of Americans a house in the sub- valued it. Reallocating resources to their SubufbaR|zat|o~ is said to be the past 50 years. Every single public transit urbs with a nice yard and a garden is the higher-valued uses is the textbook definition of system in the United States operates at a loss. In American Dream; but to others, it is a sheer economic efficiency. "inefficient," but the movement of the no city do revenues account for even as much as nightmare. Another smart-growth myth is that U .S. population into the suburbs is 40 percent of total operating costs, according to Suburban "sprawl" is said to be the root cause suburbanization is the main cause of poverty and actually the very definition of eco~olRic the U.S. Department of Transportation. The of nearly every social problem, from racial unemployment in the cities. The reality is that cost-per-passenger-mile is higher for mass transit segregation, poverty and even loneliness to the suburbanization is a response to the failed urban ef~c|ericy. than for cars; mass transit is slower; and it even "destruction" of cities. policies of the last generation of urban planners. uses more BTUs of energy than automobiles do. To ostensibly reverse these social ills, a Escalating crime rates, poor schools and high To carry out their central-planning schemes, coalition of environmentalisis, state and local taxes are a cause of suburbanization, not an accompanying pollution) that they will abandon smart-growth advocates propose "regional officials, and the Clinton administration has effect. their cars. "Congestion signals positive urban governments" in metropolitan areas that are proposed a sprawling agenda of government Suburbanization is said to be eating up development," declared the Metro Portland (Ore.) granted broad taxing and land use regulatory regulations and taxes (labeled "smart growth") America's farmland and threatening the Planning Commission, the "model" that powers. This is best described as monopoly designed to force much of the population back agriculture industry. But non-farm uses of land smart-growth advocates point to as their ideal. government and, like all monopolies, it is into the cities. But thoro's one thing wrong with in the United States (cities, highways, railroads Smart-growth restrictions on housing harmful to the public. Perhaps "smart growth" is this agenda: It is based almost entirely on myths and airports) amount to only 3.6 percent of total construction are bound to send home prices not so smart after all. and misunderstandings about real estate land. Three-fourths of the states have more than through the roof. In Portland, which has gone Thorfins J. DiLorenzo is an adjunct fellow of the markets. 90 percent of their land in rural uses, and the further than any other city in implementing the Center for Study of American Business at · Suburbanization is said to be "inefficient," but U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared that smart-growth agenda, housing prices increased Washfngton Uniuerstty tn St. Louis and a the movement of the U.S. population into the "losing farmland to urban uses does no~ threaten three times faster during the 1990-1995 period professor of economirs tn the Sollinger School o.f suburbs is actually the very definition of total cropland." than during 1980-1985, placing a particularly Business and Management at Loyo~ College in ~conomic efficiency. Turning previously Smart-growth proponents want to force people onerous burden on lower-income faroflies. Maryland. He is the author of "Suburban undeveloped land (or farmland) into housing into the cities and make their lives so miserable Another dubious aspect of "smart growth" is Legends.' Why 'Smart Growth' Is Not So Smart." levelopments can occur only ff people value the with increased traffic congestion (and the higher taxes to pay for more mass transit, which D,s~r ~me~ by K, gh~ ~ doer n ser~,ces CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL EFFECTIVENESS WORK SESSION GRANT WOOD AREA EDUCATION AGENCY DEC. 15, 1999 !. INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITIES A. ESTABLISH SET B. ASSUMPTIONS: CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT TEAM DEVELOPMENT THE PRINCIPLES OF QUALITY LEADERSHIP 1. CUSTOMER FOCUS 2. OBSESSION WITH QUALITY 3. RECOGNIZING THE STRUCTURE IN WORK 4. FREEDOM THROUGH CONTROL 5. UNITY OF PURPOSE 6. LOOKING FOR FAULTS IN SYSTEMS 7. TEAMWORK 8. CONTINUED EDUCATION AND TRAINING WHAT HAS TO BE IN PLACE FOR TEAMS TO WORK WELL? 1. TEAMS MUST HAVE CLEARLY'DEFINED PURPOSES AND GOALS THAT SERVE THE ORGANIZATION. 2. TEAMS NEED CLEARLY DEFINED PARAMETERS WITHIN WHICH TO WORK. 3. TEAMS NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. TEAMS NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE WITH THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR TASKS. 5. TEAMS NEED TO KNOW HOW THEY ARE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR TASKS. C. MEETING GROUND RULES D. REVIEW CITY MISSION/VISION/VALUES STATEMENT Ii. GETTING ACQUAINTED A. COMPLETE "MY LEGACY" EXERCISE B. MEMORIES OF FIRST YEAR ON COUNCIL/ANXIETIES ABOUT i ST YEAR. Ill. COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT A. TEAM/COUNCIL TERMINOLOGY WEBSTER ..... TEAM: ..... DRAFT HORSES ..... TWO OR MORE PLAYERS ON SAME SIDE IN A GAME. A GROUP WORKING TOGETHER. COUNCIL: A GROUP OF PEOPLE CALLED TOGETHER FOR CONSULTATION/DISCUSSION, AN OFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE BODY. B. TEAM EFFECTIVENESS BEST TEAM/WORST TEAM EXPERIENCES?. C. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD TEAMS D. FOUR STAGES OF TEAM DEVELOPMENT E. DANGERS OF "GROUP THINK" F. VOLUNTARY PROFILING FROM YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF YOURSELF AND/OR FROM PAST PROFILES, PLEASE RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING: ! NEED OR PREFER REGARDING: I. COMMUNICATION/INFORMATION 2. DECISION MAKING 3. CONFLICT 4. MEETING OPERATION - 5. A TEAM RELATIONSHIP G. REVIEW/REVISE COUNCIL CORE VALUES H. REVIEW/REVISE COUNCIL OPERATING NORMS IV. IDENTIFICATION OF PRIORITIES A. PLEASE LIST YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES FOR YOUR ~DMIN!..STRATION IN THE NEXT TERM. B. PLEASE LIST YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES IN YOUR VIEW FOR THE COUNCIL IN THE NEXT TERM. V. COUNCIL MEETING EFFECTIVENESS A. IDENTIFY THE THINGS THE COUNCIL DOES WELL IN YOUR VIEW REGARDING THE OPERATION OF C!'i'7 COUNCIL MEETINGS. B. IDENTIFY CHALLENGES WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE COUNCIL IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE COUNCIL MEETINGS MORE EFFECTIVE. C. FORMULATE A DRAFT "PLAN OF ACTION" TO HELP COUNCIL MEETINGS BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE. Vision Statement To be recognized as an outstanding city in which to live, work, play, and visit, where future generations will inherit an even better community. Mission Statement To provide quality services in an efficient, effective, and economical manner; to ensure an environment of respect and support for our employees; and to stimulate community cooperation, innovation, and opportunity. Values Statement We Pledge: Concerll To have compassion, respect, and sensitivity for all. Personal Development To improve skills through personal and professional training. Initiative and Innovation To plan, anticipate, take reasonable risks, and try new approaches with a "can-do" attitude. Pride To take pride in our community, ourselves, and the accomplishments attained. Ethics To be open, honest, responsible and accountable. Responsiveness To deliver our services in an effective manner. Excellence To work together striving for the best results. CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL 2000 OUR CORE VAI-UES What we believe about Public Service... ... Govemment is for everyone - all citizens have a role to play in the success of our city. ... Public service and equity go hand in hand - preventing injustice and providing equity of opportunity are fundamental responsibilities. ...The best decisions are reached when those affected are involved in finding solutions. ...The quality of life for all citizens is enhanced by the quality of city government ...A city which provides appropriate, efficient, and needed services allows its citizens to focus more easily on family, work, spirituality, and quality of life. ...Excellent customer service and continuous improvement are essential tO our success. ... Taxpayers should expect and deserve efficiency in government at any level. ... Good organizations focus on prevention and plan for the future. ... Leadership development and high quality training are essential to the public servant's performance. ... Increasing complexity and declining resources demand innovative solutions and practices. ... Individuals have a fundamental need to balance family, recreational, and spiritual matters with their work lives. ...An effective team approach demands an enthusiastic and respect- oriented environment where trust and honesty prevail. ...We owe those who elected us the continual exercise of individual and collective integrity. ... Our first and foremost responsibility is to carry out our work at all times in the highest possible ethical manner. (December, 1999) CEDAR RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL 2000 OUR OPERATING NORMS WE PLEDGE... · .To place cooperation, trust, and respect at the heart of all we do. .. To behave ethically as we carry out our daily responsibilities. .. To remain optimistic, looking for the good in all people and situations. .. To support one another at and beyond the council table. · .To operate as an effective team, continually improving that effectiveness. · .To work for "win-win" solutions instead of "win-lose". · .To actively listen, keeping an open mind and suspending judgemerit. .. To stay focused & avoid tangents. .. To do our best to answer questions posed by one another, our employees, and the community. ...To honor "discussion" prior to "decision". ... To avoid discounting each other and the public by our words, gestures, body language, & "side bar" conversation. · .To be consistent in process and operation. · .To address and refer to one another by title while on the job. .. To be honest and candid with one another. · .To maintain con~dentiality when appropriate. · .To give and take positive feedback and coaching. · .To focus on working "with" instead of "for" or "under". .. To not take differences of opinion personally. · .To disagree agreeably and professionally. · .To realize that people make mistakes - forgive and learn from those mistakes. ...To realize the virtue of debate and to avoid the liability of argument. ...To realize and honor varying work styles, personalities, and process needs. ...To share information and avoid surprises. ...To encourage and motivate one another. ...To maintain a sense of levity - public service should be fun as well as work. M~Ja--~ Four Performing Stage Three--~Norming Stage ~ ~ Storming Stage One Forming /~_ \_~ Cbap,ter 6 Ill~' ~.lt' ,,I Ilk' {~,,~,1 .l~l~t ,L,I,i,{,,L.,'' } - . ~ · Tip ' II. Stages of Team (;ro h ~ading a Team Through ..x~ i},~. {c;l,u {ll;Ht,rk's, nlCHl{~c,'s ~,':tdt,:,[[~ Ic:,,',~ I~, t'¢,},c Forming ~.,,,,,,,¢,,~:,1 ;~nt{ great{t) {)rcsstlrt'.~ Iht'x {;tit' ..Xs ;~ t'u~tdl. lilt' tt'~uu k';m~ Ic:,dc,'$.q~,tdcl;.d;,lu II.t',. t,t'l.:,~ . ,, ,Vl~lg(' 1: F(J!'lllillg [{~ Ihc [c';l111's sJliflin.~ ncc'cl~ '1'o htuid trtlsl :lrlcJ c'¢~nJ'lcJun¢c tilt' t~.-nluIR M;~gc'. tile IL';tclt'~ ~1. ,ultl :Kccpl:llfic' gr¢~uI) JK'II3Vi¢H' l.ikt' Jic'~i;~rll ~x~,mucrs. tJlc'~ q:lncl {w lilt' (~i{Icr l~.'m:dly :rod inl~rm:dly. · I~rCwiclc clear dircd. ,n :rod purls, ,~c' Forming includes these feelings... · involve iI1ciilbcrs in dt-~cl¢,p~ng * Excitci11cnt, :lniicipalion. ;incJ pl;tns. cl:lrifyinE re,it'd. csl;ihli.~hing w3v~ ¢fi' x~,rkln~ · I'riclc in being chosen t~r the K-3m together * Inilial. lcntative lltt/ichlncnl i¢~ IJlu - I'roviclc the inform~U¢,n IJw It'.lll~ · Su.~pici~n. f~';ir, and :lnxic~ty ;ll}{~tsl tilt' i~,h ;tl~c;tcl needs Io gel si:~rlc'd ...and these ~havioB. ......... - ,,XttcHq~l~ to clcl'inc the l~sk 3nd tic'tick' {i¢ ~w it will bc - Atten~pts to dctcrnlinc ~wc:cpt;dfic IcLiiIi bch:~vior :~ncl wiih IL'~HI1 pr<>hlcn~s · I)cc'isi(~ns on wh;~t int~H'n~3ti¢~n i~ nt't'clcd IllL'IIII)CFS. in~p~tiunc'c with [hc'sc' · J)isc't~s~ion of Nynlpton~s or pr<d~JcnIs n¢~l rcJc'v~H~l diffic'uhv in iclunlifying rc'lcv3nt pr¢~hlc'm~ (C) I()t)(, ()[It'{ hl{i,ij~(,r.lh'~J All t(l~ltl~ Learning to Work Together ~ Storming ~ ;tnl()tJrlt ()f xv¢,'k that lies ;Ihc;td. it is .ormaL Leading a Team Through Stage 2: Storming Storming At the storming stage, to build self'- Storming is probably the most difficult stage for the team. It is as if team members jump in the water, and, thinking they are about to drown, stan direction the leader shoukl: thrashing about. They begin to realize that the task is different and more o Resolve issues of power and difficult than they imagined, and become testy, anxious, or overzealous. authority. For example, don't allow one person's power to squash others' Impatient about the lack of progress, but still too inexperienced to know contributions. much about decision making or the scientific approach, meml~:rs argue about just what actions the team should take. They try to rely solely on o Develop and implement agreements their personal and professional experience, resisting any need t'or about how decisions are made and collaborating with other team members. who makes them. · Adapt the leadership role to allow Storming includes these feelings... the team to become more · Resistance to tasks and methods of work different from what each independent. Encourage members individual member is comfortable using to take on more responsibilities. · Sharp fluctuations in attitude about the team's chance of success ...and these behaviors. * Arguing among members even when they agree on the real issue · Defensiveness and competition; factions and "choosing sides" ·Questioning the wisdom of those who selected this project and appointed the other members of the team · Establishing unrealistic goals; concern about excessive work · Creation of a perceived "pecking order"; creating disu nity, increased tension, and jealousy 1996 oriel Incorporated All Rights Re.sewed 6-5 /"'~ Chapter 6 · \~- I','.llll lllt'lll~V/', .~,~'t.'l tl',',",t hi \XtHi,.lll~ ~ ,~ . I~L,.,L'lhcr. IIl{'il' nllll.ll rv,-i,,I,illt{' I.itl{',, ~f """ :' ",111% .lll():ll I:llllvl Ill. Ill tIHIll~cIIIl,*Z.' '.\llll i l~~" .. /\,L~'211il. {{It'~C Illlilly' I)l'(.'~.',tlr,.'s Ill,,'jll) {C~llll lil,.'llil)t'l', )" Tip npcllcl ~,n l.'{,.Rrcs.'~ing t~:xv;li'dn lilt' lc;~nl', ~,,;ll l~tll lllcv .Irt' l,c,L, uu]il].L, Leading a Team Through ,,. u,ldcrsi;lnd ¢,nc :m,,ihcr Norling Stage 3: Norling In lht' n~:rntin.R ',l: ,,c it, l~t:il{l t'( )( q~Cl':llI< :11 the l¢':id{'r xh~ ,uld I )tll'ii1~ Illis Sl;lJ4t'. IIICilII)CI'S rL-t'( 3ilnlilics. They :Icccl){ th,: It'llill. [t';inl .Rr{+uilt] ru]L'.. I~H' n¢ :rnl-'l. lilt. if - Fully ulilizc lC;lIlI llICflll'lCl's' skills. r<>Ics 111 The' [0;.i111. :ICIC{ lh,: individu:llitv {,l fcll{:\\ lllk'Jlil~t'l', l':ili, :li{HI;II kn<:wl~:d~c. :ll~tl ~:xpcricncc c:}nl]icl is ivduccd :is prcvi~,ixly c~nllpclilixc rcJ:ilie,nnldl~-)'CC(HliL' lll{If'L' · l':r]~,~tmf2igL' ;il1{l ,it l<n<,xvlcd~u c<.,l~cr;itivc. h]<~lhCrxv(u'dn, AnIC;llllillL'Jlil~L'rnrt':lli/Vlli{'~ {IIL'IIIIIL'I'n' {'c'nl~c'{'l h ,r c';i{'li {:lllcr l<: (ll'(t~vll. lllCy Sl(}J} {hl':InJlil1~ :lJt()lll :if1(l nhlr'l JlcJl~in · l(nc< >u i';i~c nlcinl tern l{ > "r< ,ll u 1} I hci r :ill< $1ccvcs" :rod w{:rk cf,ll;d,~ ,r:,tivcly Norn]ing includes these feelings... · Acccl~t;mcc of mcml+crnhip in the · Relief that it seems everything ...and these ~haviors. · All ;IIICIIl[)I I() ;ic'hicvc h;il'n]<:nv hv ;,v{,iclin~4 · M¢,'c friendliness, c¢mfiding i~r¢:lficms; discussing IJlc IC;HH'S · A new ul~ilily t¢: cxprc.~.~ criticinnl · ICst;ll}]ishing ;incl ntain[zlining Ic:llll ( lilt' "n{ )I'111~" ) ;n;mkmn.~ ni.Rnd'ic':mnl pr<}grcss I :*, I*,",'(, ()f:',,'/Itl,,,rl,,r.tl','d \ll I<:,Jhl- · ~ As IL'alll IIlelnJ)ers becolne illore co111- "--r' fc~l~al~h: wi~l~ each other, and as they ~ ' ' ' ' ' J)cllcr uncler,~land I. Jle work and what is ~ " CXJ)CCI~CJ ()J' [JlC111, lJlc'y J1~C0111~' zl nlorc ' :' ut'l~c'livc unil wilh ~'vcryonc' working in c()llc'crl. ' Stage 4: Pe~orming ~ Tip By this stage, the team has settled its relationships and ex~ctations. ~ading a Team T~ough They can ~gin performing~iagnosing and solving problems, and Perfor~g chasing and impletuenting changes. At lasi, team n~embers have discovered and accepted each other's strengths and weaknesses, and In the perf~rming stage, to I~uild learned what their roles are. Now they can swim in conce~. openness to change the leader shouk[: Pe~o~ghclud~th~ef~gs... · Update the team's methods and · Mem~rs having insights into personal and group processes, and pr¢~edurcs to suppo~ c~peration better understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses - Help the team understand how to · Satisfa~ion at the team's progre~ manage change -Represent, and advocate for, the - Close attachment to the team team with other groups and ...and ~e ~Mvio~. individuals - Const~ctive self-change - Monitor work progress andcelebmte -Ability to prevent or work through group problems achievements The team is now an effe~ive, cohesive unit. You can tell when your team [ has reached this stage ~cause you start getting a lot of work done. The duration and inl.ensity of these stages va~ from team to team. Sometimes Stage 4, ~oming, is achieved in a meeting or two; other times it may rake months. Use the descriptions here to compare your team with the normal pattern for maturing groups. Understanding these stages of gro~h will k~p you from overreacting to normal problems and setting unrealistic expectations that only add to frustration. pon't. ~. With patience and effo~ this assembly of independent individuals will grow into a team. © 1996 Oriel Incorr~:~rated, All Rights Reservc:d. 6-7 Dealing With Conflict ~ Grouptlfink When team members want to get along al}ove all else, * 'l'hc' lean1 leader slates his or her {~pinions early there is a danger that ~groupthink" can occur. This in the discussion rather than waiting until the n~eans thai critical infbrmation is withheld from the team has cloveloped some of its own ticinking. teanl J)ec:ltfse inclividt~al iiictllJ~crs consell- tJlcHiscJvcs, * '['Jic Ica~11 [e;Idcr czlci~tH':lgcs nl~lllJ)crs to agree deciding thal their c<~nc'crns arc nc ~l wonh clisctassing. with the Icadcr's ~>sitic>n instead o('encour;~ging Ideas are accepted without c;ircful c'onsiclcralion o1' critical clist:t~ssion of all options. the pros ancl cons. So111ctinles i~clllJ)ers pressure * The team does not Jlavc meth~xls or proceclttres anyone who suggests an alternative viewpoint [o that require data colJet'lion and reality checking withdraw their idea fron~ the discussion. Also, some members might see themselves as maintaining the of ol~tions, ;IncJ thcrclbre the team chooses a c[osccl-n~inclccl path thai is relatively free of team's "togetherness" by pu~tecting the team from criticism anti conflict. outside information that might challenge the team's thinking. How to prevent groupthink How to ~cogn~e ~uptlfink Have the team agree [o Ibllow the scientific methyl. - Once a position is outlined, especially by Gather dam to help understand the nature and poten- someone witJ~ ~wer or authority on the team, tial causes of the problem I.~fore juxnping to so[utions. eve~one focuses on why the position is the Have a group norn~ of brainstorming a list of alterna- fight one. No one raises obje~ions. There is an tires ~fore discussing any course of action in detail. insufficient examination of risks or weaknesses. (ISee Chapter 4, pp. 4-13 and 4-14, on the explor- - No alternatives are offered. ato~ phase of discussion.) · If different ~ctives are offered, they are quickly dismissed. Team leaders or mem~rs with positions of power should not state their opinions and positions at the -Options that were rejected during discussion ~ginning of discu&sion. are never brought up again for teevaluation. Invite ou~ide expe~ to share their knowledge with · I~o~ation that might challenge the team's the group. Actively ~arch for info~ation that d~ thi~ing is not actively sought (the team thinks it kno~ all it nee~ to know). not sup~ the prefe~d cou~ of action or the evolving decisions. ~n~flom for ~upl { Develop a list of criteria against which to evaluate all Iwing Janis, who originally develo~d the theo~ of the options. groupSink to explain some disastrous presidential decisions, identified the following conditions that Once an option is selected, ask the team to bminsto~ encourage groupthink. eve~hing that could go wrong with that choice. Discu~ ways of a&~ssing risks and preventing ~ten- - The team has a high level of agreement and tial proble~ that have ~en identified. Decide whe~er cohesivehess among its members. Team or not additional info~ation is needed. mem~ are ve~ similar to one another. There is liffle diversiW in background, experience, or ~..Once a solution has ~en selected, require the team ~liefs. to develop a second solution to the problem. Often · The team is isolated from sources of information the second solution is more creative and robust than that might contradict i~ emerging opinions. the first one developed. .................... 1. Clarity in team goals. 2. An improvement plan. 3. Clearly defined roles. 4. Clear communication. 5. Beneficial te~m behaviors. 6. Well defined decision procedures. 7. Balanced participation. 8. Established ground rules. 9. Awareness of the group process. 10. Use of the scientific approach. The Team Handbook Peter Scholtes, Joiner, 1988. 1. A shared goal/mission that everyone knows and agrees on and is committed to accomplishing. 2. A climate of trust and openness. 3. Open and honest communication. 4. A sense of belonging. 5. Diversity valued as an asset. 6. Creativity and risk-taking are encouraged. 7. Ability to self-correct. 8. Members who are interdependent 9. Consensus decision-making. 10. Participative leadership. Skill-Building for Sell-Directed Team Members by Ann & Bob Harper 1992, MW Corporation. My Legacy... This is your opportunity to articulate your legacy. All of us will pass from this world at some point in the future. Assuming we will live life to its fullest and leave a legacy, how would you want others to describe your legacy? He/she cared a great deal about... She/he enjoyed life and had great fun doing... He/she was a very unique person and will be most remembered for... She/he was very committed to city council work and was able to influence... The contributions he/she made during his/her city council tenure included... The lasting, visible signs that she/he was on the council are...