HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-02-29 Transcription#2 Page 1
ITEM NO 2. CONSIDER ADOPTION OF TIlE CONSENT CALENDAR AS
PRESENTED OR AMENDED.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell.
Champion: Second.
Lehman: Seconded by Champion. Discussion?
Karr: Excuse me. Mr. Kanner, do you want discussion on this item?
Kanner: Yeah, there was- I wanted to amend the minutes and the- under Council
Time it was missing about my statement to have potential City Clerk time.
And I would like to add that to the minutes that that was discussed.
Champion: That should be in. Yeah, that should be in.
Lehman: The correction is noted. Any other comments? Roll call. Motion carries.
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ITEM NO 3. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2000 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2001,
THE PROPOSED THREE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN, AND ALSO
THE MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM
THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2004.
Lehman: Public hearing is open. Now, before we start- those folks who would like
to address Council about issues not involving First Avenue please do those
first because those will be, I think, much fewer and then those of you who
aren't here for First Avenue won't have to spend the rest of the evening.
So, any issues not relevant to First Avenue first.
Jay Honohan: Well, by now you know I am not here for First Avenue.
Lehman: We do now.
Honohan: My name is Jay Honohan. I am a member of the Senior Center
Commission. And I am here tonight at the budget heating to (can't hear)
and the Commission would like to request that the Council approve the
proposed budget for the Senior Center Commission and act favorably on
it. Again, we hope in the future, as I stated at the budget meeting, that the
Council might see fit to add additional staff. But we understand that you
are not going to do it this year and we can live with that. I would like to
also say on behalf of the commission that we appreciate the cooperation of
the City Council and the City Administration, the past Councils and
Administration. With the Commission, which has produced in my
opinion, a Senior Center which is the envy of others in the state- if not the
best Senior Center in the state. Recognizing the budget constraints and the
budget you are acting on tonight, you have to realize that we are still
advocating and hoping that in the near future the Council can find funds to
help us fund the Senior Center Skywalk. Through the able efforts of
Joanne Hora who is here tonight, the chair of the Strategic Planning
Committee, we have raised over $54,000 to date. And this has come from
the contributions of 200- over 260 people. Mostly seniors. So I think this
demonstrates that the seniors are quite interested and advocates of the
Senior Center Skywalk. We have our detractors. And we have had
something in the Press Citizen criticizing what we are doing. We are
bloodied but unbound.
Champion: I can sympathize with that.
Honohan: Uh, we will continue to urge the skywalk. We think the skywalk is a
golden opportunity for the Senior Center to provide a safe and convenient
access to the Center in all kinds of weather, in all times of the year. And
we believe very strongly that the skywalk will enhance the participation-
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increase the participation- of the Senior Center by both city and county
residents. And thank you very much for your time.
Lehman: Thank you Jay.
O'Donnell: Thank you Jay.
Nancy Purington: Is there a sign in sheet?
Karr: Jay, do you have the sign in sheet?
Honohan: I stuck it on there.
Karr: Do you have the pad? Did you pick it up by chance?
Honohan: Oh, yeah I did! I thought I'd be ready for next meeting.
Purington: Thank you. My name is Nancy Purington and I am speaking at this
moment as the chairperson of the Public Art Advisory Committee who
wishes to remind you how much effort we put into investing into
beautifying the downtown at this point. And to please reconsider reducing
our budget within the next few years, especially this next coming year as
we continue to create in tandem monumental changes in the downtown.
Champion: You know, we have never had a chance to discuss that part of the budget.
When are we planning on doing that?
Lehman: Tonight.
Champion: Tonight, okay.
Pufington: Are there any questions?
Champion: I meant with the $25,000 reduction.
Purington: Yes, $25,0000 reduction is also a 25% reduction which we thought was
pretty dramatic. So, are there any other comments on that7 While I am
here so that I can make a quick exit- I am also the President of the Board
of Directors for Arts Iowa City who urges you to consider supporting them
in a way which is more minimal than our original request but equal to the
amount of support that you may consider giving the weekend festivals
which add to the cultural activities to the downtown. Even that amount
would really greatly enhance our forward movement in continuing to help
develop and redevelop economic avenues for the downtown area. Thank
you.
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Lehman: Thank you Nancy.
Bob Elliott: My name is Bob Elliott. I live at 1108 Dover. I am here to talk just very
briefly about the First Avenue extension. I know a number of people,
friends and acquaintances, who are against it. Many of them were out
here tonight. I respect their thoughts. I happen to disagree. For 30 years I
drove from my home on Dover Street to the north side of Iowa City.
Almost daily I rued the fact that First Avenue did not go on out so that it
would be just a little hop and a skip for me to get to work. That did not
take place, I am now retired so I don't have those thoughts. But I do think
that the extension of First Avenue is for the betterment of all of Iowa City.
Those folks who live on First Avenue, I understand how they feel. Those
people who know Dover Street know that when we moved there in the
middle '60s it was a very quite block with virtually no traffic. It ended at
the end of our block. It is now the main thoroughfare to Mercer Park. But
I think that is for the betterment of all of Iowa City. I don't disagree with
that at all. The traffic is more than I like but that is one of the prices I pay
for living in Iowa City. So, I hope you will strongly consider extending
First Avenue. Thank you.
O'Donnell: Thank you Bob.
Lehman: Thank you Bob. Before- is there anyone else who wishes to speak on an
item other than First Avenue?
Elliott: I am sorry.
Lehman: That is okay. That is all right.
William Boos: It is hard to know when one began and the other left off. I am completely
in sympathy with the opponents of the First Avenue extension but I am
going to read a brief prepared statement about Anthony DeNicola's sharp-
shooting report which has been discussed in the newspaper and elsewhere.
Some weeks ago, I suggested that considerations other than- I am Bill
Boos, by the way- the other than concerns for lawns, accidents and
ecology drove the City's decision to harvest, the going euphemism for
'kill', 360 herbivores. I asked you then to declare victory and retire the
field. More recently a Council has approved extensive Capital
expenditures and construction projects in several areas in northern Iowa
City. And many of us have come here tonight to protest this decision.
Many of these tracks moreover, part of a new northern corridor we are
now told, coincided roughly with areas the City cleansed of its deer. Of
those area's deer at least. Was this rather striking coincidence really
dictated by the needs of City' s drivers- of the City' s drivers- and flower
growers? Rhetorical question. Most recently, Mr. DeNicola and his
collaborators have also submitted a report of their services rendered. In
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this report they acknowledged that they had shot healthy animals, not
pitifully undernourished and diseased deer of the sort many proponents of
the killing had lead us to expect. They killed in all 65 adults male deer,
along with 80 fawns and 215 does, about half of which were pregnant.
This proportion of pregnant deer, I am told by a wildlife expert who
communicates with us, is actually low, in high, in a population of free-
range deer. Evidence in fact that the local population may have begun to
regulate itself. Before the killing city officials also told us, through the
newspapers at least, that more than 700 year were living in the area. Now
we are told that there are only 447 then but 459 now. If the new figures
are accurate, they suggest that the city will have to carry out an annual
dear slaughter of significant portions to attain its ends. It his report Mr.
DeNicola also pressed for authorization to use silencers, to fire in closer
proximity to peoples' houses, and shoot in Hickory Hill Park. I believe an
overwhelming majority of voters in the city would reject these demands.
And I ask the council tonight, over time at least, to repudiate it. in the
report finally, Mr. DeNicola dismissed out of hand use of be immuno-
contraceptive agents he studied in his 1996 thesis. This is an arguable
matter but I wish to ask if Mr. DeNicola ready intended to suggest that
effective methods for targeting deer with bullets would be ineffective with
contraceptive darts. Did his rejection perhaps reflect also an awareness
that each round of killing makes the surviving population more difficult to
target with anything? Bullets or darts- they become very wary. Whatever
the answers to these questions, the Humane Society of the United States
has offered to send a representative to evaluate the cost and feasibility of
immuno-contraceptive methods in Iowa City. The offices of the Humane
Society acknowledge that technical problems accompany such so
experimental methods. Indeed they believe, as do I and many others
including a few City Managers, that we can and simply should live with
the deer that live with us. Those officers of the Humane Society, however,
are well aware that many communities will still insist on "controlling their
deer". Mindful of this, they predict that immuno-contraception will
become a widely available method of such control within the next year or
18 months. Cooperation with the Society to this end may initially cost the
City somewhat more than the officially acknowledged cost of White
Buffalo's- sorry?- harvest this winter. Perhaps as much as two downtown
telephone kiosks. Worse, immuno-contraception would solve a problem
Boulder, Colorado and several other large- other cities, excuse me- with
large deer populations have decided they don't even have. But it would
also take the City out of the bounty hunting and venison butchering
business. And that it seems, would be an intrinsically good thing- it seems
at least to me. I therefore ask the Council tonight to suspend its
negotiations over the next months- or the deer commission the, I also put
this appeal to- to suspend its negotiations with White Buffalo's scientific
mercenaries, to invite the Humane Society's representative to visit in fact,
and to try other less drastic paths in the years to come. Thank you.
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Lehman: Thank you Bill.
Charlie Majors: My name is Charlie Major and I live at 7 Blue Stem Court. I rise
to make a point that I am concerned about the fire fighters- from what I
can tell from the newspaper the number of fire fighters hasn't grown since
'73. And I am concerned with all the population and I work at the VA
which is a very safe building and I live within about 2 blocks of the
Eastdale Fire Department but I think that with all of the population we
should consider raising the number of firefighters. I know in the plans we
have plans for an additional fire fighting station and I want to reinforce
that we need that and I think we need more firefighters. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you Charlie. Other budget comments?
Caroline Dieterie: I guess you just leave this here? How do you stick it down? Lick
it? Okay. I am Caroline Dieterie. I am here for First Avenue but I will
talk about that maybe later. The budget, I don't know whether you have in
the budget that is coming up any amount of money to do this industrial
development project that I read about in the paper. But, budgets are about
income as well as out go and I think that you're pursuing a futile effort in
doing this with the industrial development. And reason that I believe that
is because- there are two good reasons- one is that if you look at Iowa City
as compared with other Iowa cities you will find that the amount of
commercial industrial property that we have now is not, you know, under
the average at all. In fact, is fairly high. The last time I checked this the
only other cities that were comparable with us were Des Moines and
Davenport. And we were right up there. The other problem is that any
time that you bring in new industry you also bring in more people which
then need places to live, and roads to drive on and you know all the rest of
the services that you have to provide. So that it is kind of like scratching a
mosquito bite. The more you scratch it the worse it gets, you know, to try
to solve it with industrial development. The other thing that I am afraid
that you're going have to think about, not so much in this budget but
coming budgets, is the changing nature of the workforce in the entire
country. With the advent of the computer, the laptop, and the quick
modern communications systems that have been developed you have
people who want to work at home and are more and more working at
home. And you also want people who then think that they are going to get
a better quality of life by moving to a rural area such as Iowa City where
you have cultural events and other things that they are interested in having
because these people are somewhat upscale, they are working in a fairly
responsible position, and they can live pretty much anywhere they want.
But wherever they live they are going to have to drink water, they are
going to want to drive a car, they are going to want a house, they are going
to probably have kids that are going to want to go to school, and
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undoubtedly they will have sewage. So, I think that the realistic viewpoint
here for a City Council to take is to be considering, you know, what really
is the amount of money that we have to have in order to take care of the
residential population that we are going to have and think about trying to
raise that from property taxes or going to the Legislature- and by that by
property taxes I mean property taxes on residential property which is not a
very popular stance to take. And they don't think it is really a very fair
want either. I think that really what the city ought to be doing is trying to
convince our representatives at the state house that we need a local option
income tax to take care this. And that it is a much better way to go then
by trying to basically give out tax abatements and inducements of one kind
or another to get industry here. Because that costs us money and the
return that we get isn't going to cure our problem. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you.
Kanner: Just a comment on that. The new economic development strategy has
budgeted $1.2 million dollars for this fiscal year coming up.
Dieterie: Well, I would say that that money should be put in something else (can't
hear).
Lehman: Caroline, we can't hear you when you are sitting on the floor.
Dieterie: Well I think that that is $1.2 million that can be much better spent on all
kinds of other things. I don't think it takes an awful lot of thinking to
think about programs that are going to benefit people far more then trying
to spend this money to induce more industry to come here. I really hope
that you do not spend $1.2 million on this project. It is foolish. It is
shortsighted, is old-fashioned, and it just won't work.
Lehman: Any other comments on the budget other than First Avenue? Okay. We
will start with First Avenue. Now, if you speak on the First Avenue- first
of all, the rules will- we will try to keep the rules because we have a lot of
folks here I am sure that would like to speak. We would like you to keep
you comments to 5 minutes and preferably less if you can. And if you are
speaking to First Avenue and you oppose the project- now, my
understanding is that there is a group of folks who would like to see this
project delayed. I sense that there is another group of folks who would
like to see this project eliminated. And I guess I would like to know when
you speak if you are speaking in favor of delaying the project or
eliminating the project. I think that Council- I would like to hear that as a
Councilperson. So, if you speak against it let us know whether you totally
oppose the concept or whether you are encouraging that it be delayed
rather than being built at the same time as Scott Boulevard. Okay.
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Sandra Hudson: Excuse me. I am sorry, I didn't move quickly enough to get to the
microphone. I did want to speak on the budget. Is that possible?
Lehman: You are quick enough. You are fine.
Hudson: Just in time? All right. My name is Sandra Hudson. I live at 782
Westside Drive. The Iowa City Council appointed me to their Public Arts
Advisory Council 4 months ago. And this evening I am here to speak to
you about that. For the benefit of the new members on the council, permit
me to read the resolution of 1997. The council adopted that and it directs
the actions of our advisory committee. "Whereas public art expresses the
community' s spirit and improves the community's image, and whereas the
public welfare is furthered by the presence of art in public places, and
whereas the city council has determined that financial and technical
support for a public art program is in the best interest of the people of
Iowa City, and whereas such a program should enhance public spaces for
most Iowa City's reputation as a cultural center and build Iowa City's
image as a vital place to live and work. Now, therefore, be it resolved by
the City Council of Iowa City Iowa- one, each fiscal year a minimum of
$100,000 will be allocated in the capital improvements program for public
art." That was underlined a minimum of $100,000 will be- will be-
allocated in the capital improvement program for public art. Now, of
course the Council has the fight to amend or rescind any resolution after a
public hearing on a proposed amendment. However, the question is
should there be an amendment? Permit me to express how I interpret the
whereas(s) of that resolution. If you see them as I see them perhaps you
may even decide to increase the allocation for public arts. The resolution
mentions Iowa City's reputation as a cultural center. Currently, Iowa
City's nearest cultural competition is Minneapolis to the noah, Chicago to
the east, St. Louis and Kansas City South and Southwest, and Omaha to
the West. This provides Iowa City a unique at the center location. This is
a remarkable strength. When businesses look for a place to locate, or
when skilled employees decide where they will accept employment these
outsiders judge our community on what they see on a short visit. Public
art is perhaps your most cost-effective way to share the cultural spirit of
our community. This is an outstanding strength. A strength that must be
nurtured, but we should build on that strength. For those of us who are
fortunate to live here we experience the rich cultural fabric of Iowa City
daily. Our public art provides us with a sense of place. It signifies to us,
and more importantly to our children, that Iowa City is a vital place to live
and work. A place to stay and to establish deep roots. This is an
outstanding strength that needs to be nurtured. But we should build on not
strength. Benefits do not end with a sense of place. Permit me to share
some statistics with you. A year ago the New York Times published an
article stating that there are currently 1240 museums in United States, half
of them less than 25 years old. Art is a growth business. Iowa City has
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the cultural history. Do we have resolved to build on the strength? They
say the importance of arts on community's quality of life is hard to
quantify. But let me try. According to information compiled by the
National Arts Education Association, the arts are a significant part of the
United States economy. 6%- 6% of the Gross National Product is based
on the arts. More than is based on construction, which is only 4.8%. And
just under wholesale trade- 6.9%. As an example, each year the nonprofit
arts alone contribute $156 million to the economy of Miami, and $122
million to the economy of Pittsburgh. In fact, the one area of the United
States that has a positive trade balance is the arts. But you are saying,
"hey, we aren't in Miami". "We aren't in Pittsburgh". Well it is not easy
to find a city with the demographics of Iowa City that has done a
sophisticated study. But I found one, all right? One study in 1995, a bit
ago but think of where the figures would be now, by the mayor' s office of
Bloomington, Indiana- approximate population 60,000- good
demographic? Home of Indiana University. Good demographic? Best I
can do. That study confirmed that supporting the arts makes good
business sense. They discovered the total impact from the arts for
Bloomington was $53 million. 1995- $53 million. Imagine- $53 million!
That is not counting the things you can't put a price on such as the sense
of place, the spirit of community, or the simple delight of a piece of public
art. Those priceless things are precisely what the City Council asked the
Public Advisory Committee to provide. We have a great heritage in Iowa
City. We have an outstanding strength. It must be nurtured. Let us build
on this strength. Budgeting $100,000 for public art can bring a
magnificent return on investment. Think on the investment. Think of the
initial resolution. Each fiscal year, $100,000 will be allocated in the
capital improvement program for public art. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you.
Jake Roskup: Mayor, Emie Lehman, (can't hear) here in this chamber of Iowa City. I
introduce myself as Jake Roskup, a resident of Iowa City for almost 60
years. I went through very big tribulations of growth in this Iowa City. I
went tlu'ough things that nobody can comprehend. I think that we have a
lot of things to look at. We have to grow. There is things here in the city
that are lacking nowadays. Not, complaining about you citizens that are
running the city community. It takes a community to keep the growth
growing and it takes everything moving forward, forward. We have
traffic (can't hear). We have- I live on a constructed avenue. When it was
dirt street and they changed it over better than 40 years ago. And at the
graveyard- okay, but you know what? We turned that thing over. We
turned it over to the government- what we call Highway Commission- and
I paid for all of my results on that. And these people are talking about
First Avenue- but we have to have construction. We have to have
construction. We've got to move ahead. We've got to go ahead. We've
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got to get the community moving with traffic. We've got to get- we've
got to get the traffic moving. We can't keep it in one place. A lot of
people say "hey, we've got to keep it in one place". I know- I went to
school here at Iowa City. I graduated, I went to service, and I know what
this community is about. The best thing is to what to do is to keep
progression going. Keep the kids moving, keep this community moving.
You cannot stand still. It is what you call stagnation. We can't have
stagnation. We can't just stay there and stay there and stay there. And I
don't care who it is, who runs this commtmity, I don't care what it is, who
it is, or what it is- you have got to look. And you guys are the ones that
are going to control this, whatever it is. You are going to have to control it
as a community. A community means everybody has got to get together.
And they have got to get together and (can't hear) has got to get together.
I have people that live with me for 50 years almost- that I live with. And I
get along with them. I have got along with (can't hear) and I worked for
the City of Iowa City for over 30 years. But, there is what you call- I
don't know what you can call it- it might be stagnation or something like
this but we all got to get together as a community. You have got to be a
community. Every one of you guys. Ernie Lehman and all you Council
members and Kanner- we read in the paper all the day, we look at that and
we clap our head saying "what are we going to do?". I know too many
people in this community- I love them- we have got a lot of work to do.
There is a lot of work to do. And I mean, the work it out there between
the Council and every one of you guys that are sitting here. (can't here) to
get out there and say "let's get a good job done and let's..". I don't care- I
lived on Governor Street (can't hear) 40 something years- everybody
wants to work but we've got to keep the community moving. I don't care-
Lehman: Jake, you are going to have to kind of wind it up a little because we have
got a lot of people who want to talk yet.
Roskup: Okay. Okay Mr. Emie Lehman, I will say one thing. I am sorry.
Lehman: No, no, that is fine. I appreciate what you say.
Roskup: But you don't understand- we do live in a community, you know, you've
got to have not under-stagnation. You have got to have under station.
You know what I mean? You have got to be a community person. And
community is what it is. That is what it is all going to take care of. Okay?
I wind it up with that. Ernie Lehman? You guys (can't hear) every one of
you, just get out and do the best job you can okay?
O'Donnell: Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you Jake.
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Champion: Thank you.
Roskup: All fight.
Bob Roelf: Hello, I am Bob Roelf. And I live at 403 Elmira Street. For those of you
who don't know where that is, it is very near Scott Boulevard and on the
comer of Court Street. So I know quite a bit what it is like to live on busy
streets. And there are days when I would like to put bales of hay up on
Court Street and Scott Boulevard so I could get across. But never the less
I am in support of the extension of First Avenue, as I am the extension of
Scott Boulevard and Court Street. I believe it is the fight thing to do for
our community to have a good grid of cross streets- north, south, east,
west. And certainly I won't come before you and ask you not to extend
Scott Boulevard when that day comes and I hope that you will go ahead
and extend Court Street- I am sorry- First Avenue. I think it is the best
thing for the town. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you.
Mackenzie Pierce: Hi I am Mackenzie Pierce. About the First Avenue extension- I
think it shouldn't be done. I go to Hoover School and everyday I walk to
school or ride my bike. And that is right along First Avenue. And I see
how busy it is. It is pretty busy. If it is even more busy I think it is really
going to increase the traffic. And I don't think we need any more traffic.
I like to fide my bike over to Hy-Vee across First Avenue and when I do
that I have to cross there. And I already have a hard enough time crossing
and I think if there was more traffic there it would be even harder to cross.
Also I went to Hickory Hill Park for a long time and I really like it. And I
think if there is a- if the extension is made through that whole area will
really become not much of a park anymore and the park will be very noisy
and run over. I just think everything is good the way it is now and we
don't need more traffic on the First Avenue extension.
Lehman: Thank you.
Major: Hard to follow that. My name is Charlie Major. I live at 7 Blue Stem
Court. I wanted to ask the Council to delay it for 2 years. I think that after
that area of town gets built up I want you to possibly run- consider running
the water main through there and also build Scott Boulevard and
economically develop that area and build a fire station and when that area
of city gets built up maybe reconsider it. But for now, delay it 2 years.
Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you Charlie.
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Dan Coleman: Hi, I am Dan Coleman. I am opposed to the First Avenue extension. And
what I wanted to talk to you about out of the many reasons and
understandings of this issue you will hear tonight is the question of the
citizens and how the citizens feel about an issue. Because very often there
are citizens who come before you and sometimes it will be one, sometimes
a few, sometimes even a couple dozen on an issue and you wonder- it this
NIMBYs, is this a few people who care about this, how much does this
reflect the pulse of the community? But you really have a luxury tonight
with this particular case in that you know how the majority of Iowa City
voters feel about the First Avenue extension. For the very reason that in
1997 they voted on it. And as you are probably somewhat aware, 5000
people in this community voted at that time to delay the extension. And
many of those people understood that vote as a vote against the road. If it
had said: no road, delay road- it is hard to know what the difference would
have been on that referendum. But in any case it was 5000. To put that
vote in perspective in that same year in 1997 Ernie Lehman received 5000
votes. Ernie is a popular fellow and about as many people like him as
dislike First Avenue. By contrast, Mike who was admittedly a newcomer
that year got only 3900 votes. Last year in '99 Dee received 4200 votes.
So, of the Councilors opposing this of supporting this road, only Ernie is
as popular as First Avenue is unpopular. And I also wanted to commend
Connie for her comments reported in the paper this morning of not
wanting to divide the community unnecessarily. And there have been a lot
of divisive issues recently. And I think my own perspective on that is
when you have a decision that very clearly divides a majority of the
electorate from the City Council, that is a division you don't want to
make. And I hope you won't. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you Dan.
Bill Synan: My name is Bill Synan and I live at 833 Cypress Court. And I am
opposed to the extension of First Avenue. I was born and lived in New
York City for 36 years prior to moving to Iowa City. So, I feel I know
little bit about urban growth. For all the problems New York City may
have they have had the foresight to preserve some beautiful parkland
within their city limits. I personally would like to see Hickory Hill Park
become similar to Central Park in New York City. I would also like to say
that Iowa City has been consistently ranked as one of the most educated
cities in the United States of America, if not the most educated. I urge the
elected members of the council to listen to those educated people. The
people have voted in opposition to the extension of First Avenue. And I
hope you hear that again tonight. I also hope that Jeff Davidson, Iowa
City's assistant planning and community development director, is here
tonight since according to one of the City's newspapers he has commented
that he hasn't heard a peep regarding opposition to extension of First
Avenue. I hope he is listening tonight. Thank you.
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Lehman: Thank you Bill.
Tom Carsner: Good evening. I am Tom Carsner. I live at 1627 College Court Place.
And myself, along with many of the people who are here tonight, speaking
against the First Avenue extension. We have been involved with many
issues over many years regarding City Council matters and county issues
and a variety of issues that come before the public. And one of the basic
principles that I think we all believe in is that citizen input is the keystone
of the decision making process in our representative government. But, I
think, one of the most unfortunate experiences that I have had and many of
the people who have been involved in the first Avenue issue was the way
that the city council basically disregarded the 1997 vote of the people to
delay the first Avenue project. Only a matter of a few months after that
November 1997 vote several of us went to the first meetings of the
Noaheast District Plan. And barely was the ink dry on that vote, but that
they were asking for citizen input- and before any person spoke, the City
people at the meeting brought out their maps, nice full color maps, but
they all showed First Avenue being extended up to Captain Irish Parkway.
Every diagram showed that just a matter of months after the citizens had
expressed their opinion that this is exactly what they don't want. And it is
this disregard for the voice of the citizen that breeds cynicism and a sense
of powerlessness and causes people to drop out of the system. (changed
tapes) And I think it is difficult enough to get people involved in the
process, but when people have this sense of powerlessness they are
definitely not going to get involved. And I hope that tonight and next
week as you vote on the issue of the First Avenue extension, that as City
Councilors you can write a happy ending to this story and acknowledge
and even give great weight to the vote- to the voice of the citizens of this
community not to extend first Avenue. Thank you.
David Redlawsk: Hi, my name is Dave Redlawsk. Unlike most of the people I
suspect who have spoken, I am virtually a brand new resident of Iowa
City. We moved here in August. We are very happy with having moved
here in August. We really like the place. It is a wonderful place. I've got
two kids who are getting right involved and are real happy about things. I
am standing up in front of you because I am opposed to this first Avenue
extension, but I would like you to understand that it is not a NIMBY issue
for me personally. I happen to live on the far west end of town. West of
Mormon Trek- there is an Iowa City west of Mormon Trek. We moved
into a neighborhood there that the house was built about 10 years ago. So
it wasn't one of the brand-new houses but it certainly is a recently
developed area of Iowa City. It doesn't take living next First Avenue to
understand what the impact of that extension could have on his
community. I am speaking to you with some experience from your side of
the table. Prior to this move I served on the city council in a community
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in New Jersey which is one of the most developed and densely populated
states in the country. Our community was going through incredible
problems related to grow. Particularly related to residential growth. We
learned very much the hard way that growth, residential growth in
particular, follows the sewers and it follows the streets. And if you build
that infrastructure they will come. The problem with that is that
residential growth costs us all money. You I believe know this, I know
this, I am not sure if everybody in the community knows this, but every
time you allow a house to be built in this community it costs us money.
Because houses don't pay for themselves- in terms of the tax revenue vs.
the services required for the residence. It is just a given. The more streets
you extend, the more time you build roads like First Avenue, the more you
do this the more you're bringing in residential growth. The more you are
going to cost us. Ultimately this is a question of priorities. It is a very
serious question of priorities and I am concerned because the priorities
seem such that they are a little mixed up. I mean, it seems to me you don't
even provide the services needed now- never mind with additional
housing, with additional residential growth. Now I will talk about my
back yard. We don't have bus service. It doesn't go west of Mormon
Trek. There is a road on the map just past my house that supposedly goes
from Rohret to Melrose except it doesn't really exist. We don't have the
kind of infrastructure even though you allowed the development 10 years
ago out there that we need that other people in the community take for
granted. Roads don't get plowed very quickly. The roads don't get
maintained as well. And, the fire prevention issue scares me to death.
The idea that we are in an 8 to 12 minute response area while you are
worrying about more infrastructure for growth which is simply going to
place more pressure on the existing services that we already have. It is
important to understand that growth is not always the right goal for a
community. Some growth is reasonable but quality of life is what it is all
about. It requires managed growth. It requires controlled growth. Not
growth at all costs. And I think this example with the First Avenue
extension is growth at all costs and it ought to be removed from the
budget. Thank you.
John Beckord: Hello, my name is John Beckord from the Area Chamber. And boy, I
wish I had more time than you are going to give me but I better limit my
response to four items related to the extension of First Avenue. I speak on
behalf, of course, for the Area Chamber, 1050 business and community
development members who obviously have a keen interest in the
development not just of First Avenue but a comprehensive transportation
network in this community. The first think I would like to talk about is
safety because I think there is a lot of misunderstanding about safety as it
relate specifically to this project. The completion of First Avenue as an
arterial street will improve the safety of those traveling noah to south on
the east side because arterial streets are better at separating vehicular and
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pedestrian traffic and provide better sight lines than collector and
residential streets. I urge you to talk with and present your traffic and
engineer- your city engineer- to talk about safety. Because it is our
understanding that in fact an arterial street such as we are talking about
will ultimately improve safety. Much of the current traffic of course
chooses to route itself through residential neighborhoods that are ill
equipped to handle even the traffic that we have now. Emergency
services- it is now very difficult for the city to provide emergency services
to the north and the northeast areas of the town. And a completion of the
First Avenue extension coupled with the proposed new fire station that
was talked about earlier will greatly improve the response time for
emergency services. Yet another reason why safety will be enhanced the
extension of First Avenue, not compromised. Second item is an efficient
transportation system. Again, this gets to the overall development of a
comprehensive transportation network, which involves the efficient
movement of people and goods around not only east side but around our
community. Proponents have argued that it will lead to more traffic and of
course there is no arguing that the portion of the road that will be
constructed will increase from zero to something around 3000 cars a day.
But the net effect over all of First Avenue hasn't been shown to be
appreciably different than it is today. In fact, with the enhancement of the
road and the safety enhancements we're going to have more efficient and
safer movement of traffic with First Avenue. Costs - the project cost was
estimated at $1.2 million two years ago. Now it is $1.5 million. The
longer you delay, the more we pay. People in this room are all concerned
about their taxes and the cost of services you provide, this is an example
of that a decision to delay will only cost taxpayers more money. And
bidding these projects together also has efficiencies. By doing these
projects together we can get a better price and a better value for Iowa City
area taxpayers. City policies - this relates to economic development. I
know there are some other people who are going to talk about this fallacy
of the growth that we are talking about always costing more money. And
in particular, the comments that were made earlier about industrial growth
and the effect that will have. All you have to do is look around the state at
communities who have not experienced growth and you will see the
impact it has on services. And the cutting that has had to go on in places
like Waterloo and Council Bluffs and any number of other communities.
Even in our school districts, we got into trouble what- we got into trouble
when we didn't see increases in the number of students in our schools. It
was when the numbers started to increase that the pressure eased and the
budget constraints eased as well. We have talked about in-fill
development ever since I came here and I am sure that the conversation on
that was long before that. This is a perfect example of in-fill development
as opposed to the outlying county area development where there aren't
services available. This is exactly what a lot of people have [been]
suggesting we should be doing for a long time. Even people who aren't
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necessarily interested in what the Chamber of Commerce happens to
think. We thought we had the votes on this and looking at this in recent
weeks but we understand the pressures- not just the NIMBYs, not just
cave dwellers- citizens against virtually everything, not just the banana
heads that will build absolutely nothing anywhere anytime. There is a lot
of different groups. There is people who have genuine interest about
safety that need to be addressed. There is people who have genuine
interest about the park which needs to be preserved. There is lots of
strategies for buffers that can protect that park. We need to do what we
can to address those concerns- because they are legitimate concerns. And
5000 people did vote to delay this project, but that does not mean it is not
still a good idea and you need to proceed. So I urge you to continue with
your evaluation of this project and eventually vote to continue to build the
extension of First Avenue. Thank you.
Brandon Ross:Hi. My name is Brandon Ross and I live on 1822 Rochester Avenue. And
I am originally from Boston. And I have lived in Oakland, California.
And one day I was in Oakland, California and I met with somebody at a
play and we were sitting next to him and his wife we got to talking and we
were talking about places to live. And he said to me, "Do you know what
the most beautiful place to live is in the whole world?" And we hadn't
been speaking much more than a few sentences it seemed. And I said,
"Where?". Not having told him where I was from or where I had lived.
He said, "Iowa City, Iowa". Expecting perhaps to get a rise out of me.
Well he didn't get a rise out me. This gentleman was from New York
City. He is a playwright. He is a book publisher and he has published
several books. He is an intelligent guy and he was fun to talk to, but I
couldn't believe that I was sitting in a theater in Oakland and someone
sitting next to me just brings this up out of the blue. Well, my heart just
opened. And I want you to know that a lot of people come here because
this is one of the most beautiful places in the whole world. It is a great
community. I heard that word used. This is a beautiful place. Do you
know what kind of an opportunity you have here? To live in a beautiful
place not overrun by that planning? A place that looks like a sewer. How
many people have been into some parts of Oakland, California? Or even
where I come from- Boston. And I am actually proud of what we do in
Boston but, you know, you have to think of what your priorities are here.
I'm getting married to an Iowa City girl. We are getting married in
Hickory Hill Park. It is the place where I want to be married. It is the
most beautiful place. I hear a lot of talk about safety and well, how much
safety do you get when you add more roads? More roads is more roads.
Do you want a concrete maze of streets crossing every yard? Is that the
kind of place you want to live in? Do you want to live in Gary, Indiana?
Or do you want to live in Newark, New Jersey? Some of us people come
from places like that- not too happy about living there. Is that what you
want? I am tired of seeing the parade of gold watches coming up and
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pushing their point so that a few can put their hands in their pockets. Why
not stop fight here? It is a great opportunity. Why not stop fight here and
make it known what is important to the community? When you think
about your decisions think about that youngster who came up here and
talked because there are hundreds and hundreds of them. How many
people here have been to Hickory Hill Park? How many people walk their
dogs in Hickory Hill Park? How many people have enjoyed afternoons
and taken sanctuary in this place? The gentleman from New York City is
right on the mark. You know, a place that has a beautiful park is a great
place. It is a great resource. It means a lot to the community spiritually.
We are not talking about dollar bills. Do you want your children to pledge
allegiance to the dollar bill? I think we are a little bit deeper than that. I
know we are going to see a lot of maps and colorful diagrams and X's and
O's and how we can make more money by having factories, industry and
things like that. Well, someone has already spoken on the issue of growth.
About computer industry and about how people in the upper-middle class
are going to stay home. Well come join us, you know, for our wedding in
Hickory Hill Park. I don't want to see that road being constructed as we
are standing there taking our vows. As it is there is a big fat piece over
there that shouldn't be there. If I wasn't such a civil man myself I would
buy a sledgehammer I think. Well, you know, what other things? Air
quality, safety of the air. How do you like to breathe clean air? And what
about the animals that live there and things like that? These are all
important things. I am getting a little long winded. Well thank you very
much. Please do not vote for Hickory Hill Park.
Kanner: When is your wedding?
O'Donnell: Take a break in about 15 minutes.
Michael Santangelo: Hi. My name is Michael Santangelo. I live at 425 Beldon. And I
wanted to let you know that I am opposed to the First Avenue extension. I
want it taken off the books. I want it completely gone. As other Sicilian-
Americans like myself would say "forget about it". All right? I also
wanted to let you guys know that I am a downtown business owner, a
member of the Chamber of Commerce. And I also wanted to let you
know that Mr. Beckord doesn't speak for all us. He was concerned about
safety and how it would actually improve safety to extend First Avenue. I
have a hard time seeing that with the problems with kids crossing the
road- four schools along there. And the fact that while not all traffic on
First Avenue, were it to be extended, would be new traffic- no, it wouldn't
all be new traffic. It would be some new because you would be building
houses there etc. But what you would have is a funneling of traffic from a
variety of areas down through there. Now that to me, it reminds me a little
bit of a magnifying glass. You know, when you played with a magnifying
glass when you were a kid in the sun and you'd get that beam really tiny,
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#3 Page 18
it can cause quite a lot of trouble. And I think that is probably what you
are asking for if you complete the road, from a safety standpoint. As far
as emergency response etc.- I think the Scott Boulevard extension and the
proposed fire station etc would handle that area nicely. As far as the cost
goes, Mr. Beckord was right. $1.5 million dollars now and as he said the
more you delay, the more you pay. Well my opinion is let it sit still and
you have $1.5 mill. Okay? There is no reason to spend all that money to
do that. As far as growth goes, Iowa City is a growing place. There is no
doubt about it. The challenge is going to be to manage it in such a way
that it doesn't get out of control. And I think taking an area of town such
as the northeast district and turning it into another densely packed area,
impacting Hickory Hill Park etc. unnecessarily is going to be a problem. I
think managing growth is more important than just sort of slapping roads
here and there and expecting the houses to be built and everything will be
all right. And overall, as far as it being a good idea despite the fact that
5000 voted for it, or against it rather, well, I think Mr. Beckord would
agree that 5000 voting for Ernie Lehman was a good idea. All fight? So,
you know, 5000 people voting is a significant number and you guys know
that because you know how few people actually vote. So for people
actually to get out and do and to get themselves on the line for it is a
significant statement. So I guess maybe that makes me a cave dweller. I
don't know. But I am opposed to the First Avenue extension. I hope you
guys consider it very strongly and vote to not only delay it but to remove it
from the plan. Thank you.
Mike Gatens: My name is Mike Gatens and I live at 2045 Dubuque Road- in the middle
of all this. A lot of things have never been said in public. First of all,
when we had that referendum one time there were so many
misconceptions. The road was going through the park, the road that we
want will be no closer to the park than what has already been built. And
we all know that. And when the vote was taken everybody was saying it
was going through the park and people were signing that- a lot of people
would sign it if you said a road was going to go through City Park. People
surely would oppose that. But the road- it was a misconception. It was
lies. They said it was going through the park. Never was going through
the park. ACT property boarders the 1600 feet on the west and on the
east. There is a buffer of ACT property between the park and this
proposed road. If you have a problem with the way the City wants to
develop the noaheast plan- northeast neighborhood- talk to them about
that. Don't talk to them about the road. We've got to have the road for
development. We need development here in Iowa City. The last five
years we have seen what has happened in Iowa City compared to
Coralville. This is a spot that needs to be developed. We need roads to go
places. We need east west roads. We need noah south roads. First
Avenue is a dead end right now. People that bought along First Avenue
up by Hickory Trail, they knew it was going through. It was never a cul-
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#3 Page 19
de-sac. It is a dead end meaning it will go through when it needs to go
through. It needs to go through now because there is $2.3 million worth of
road 1600 feet away. Why do people want to keep Hickory Park hidden?
I don't understand that. I think a majority of the people in Iowa City don't
even know where it is. It is a shame. People are scared to go there.
People are scared to enter Hickory Hill on- there is no really safe entrance
into Hickory Hill Park. Access is terrible and it is not a real safe park to
use. City Park has roads by it- park roads on the south side of City Park.
It is accessible. There is homes that overlook City Park to the west. Is
there anything wrong with a home overlooking a park? I just don't
understand it. I live- my family used to own the property that bordered
Hickory Hill. We sold it to the Press Citizen. We sold property to ACT.
we have 12 acres left now. If anybody should oppose these roads I should.
I had 12 acres in the middle of nowhere and now I've got a beautiful road
by it that can get me someplace if we ever complete it. I am in favor of
this and always have been. It is a beautiful stretch of road. It is very
equivalent to the new Oakdale Boulevard out in Coralville. This is a
beautiful stretch of road the City has started. Please let them finish it. It is
good for Iowa City. You know, if anybody should be against it, it should
be us. You know, we wouldn't have been there if 100 years ago
somebody would have opposed Dubuque Road. You know, you've got to
think about that. I am an INBY. Put it in my backyard. Traffic- Jeff
Davidson can put- I don't know what those studies cost but if Jeff
Davidson has studies that show that the staff wants this, calls for it. You
know, I don't understand where are the people that live on Dodge,
Governor, Bloomington, Rochester, Court, Muscatine and First Avenue?
Where are they? This road will help alleviate traffic all over this area.
When you go- if First Avenue was through and you came up First Avenue
to Dubuque- or to the comer of Rochester by Iowa State Bank and
Drugtown- you know, everybody is not going to go straight south down
First Avenue. They are going to go to the fight, they are going to go left.
You know, they are going to go different places. All this traffic isn't
going to go straight down First Avenue. Staff has recommended this
forever. It is just incredible how long staff- people that we pay a lot of
money- to spend a lot of time doing work for us here in Iowa City. Steve
Atkins, Jeff Davidson- all his staff- have recommended this thing for 5 or
6 years. The only thing that changes is the Council. The only thing that
changes is that Council agrees with it and then they change their minds.
You know, it sickens me. Absolutely sickens me when people agree to
things and then they let politics change their minds. I have seen it time
after time after time on this issue and it sickens me. They are educated by
the staff, by people that we pay lots of money to and then politics change
decisions. You people are not experts. I appreciate your time-
unbelievable how much I appreciate your time. But not one of you is an
expert on a lot of City management things. Don't try to micromanage.
And that is what a lot of you try to do. Get rid of the staff. If you guys
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#3 Page 20
want to run it get rid of them and just let them do it. You know, you can
do it. I would like- you know, if you turn this down, I tell you, I will do
what I can to get a vote and we will get the majority, the silent majority,
out and we will get a petition and it will blow them away. It just seems
like in Iowa City the vocal minority carries too much weight. Thank you
for your time. Thank you for your time on the Council. We all appreciate
that a lot.
Champion: I just want to make a comment Mike since your comments were directed
toward me. You know, I have never- I think I have total right to change
my mind as a Councilperson. In fact, I think it would be narrow-minded
of me not to. Not to be willing to do that. Secondly, I have never made a
decision in my life based on politics. You haven't talked to me, you know
have any-
Gatens: I didn't mention anybody's name.
Champion: You didn't have to. But, you know, if you'll stick around you will hear
the reasons why I am not going to support it.
Lehman: Bob, we are going to do you and then we are going to take about a five
minute break.
Saunders: Thank you. My name is Bob Saunders. I live on 24 Edgewood Circle. I
live just off Scott Boulevard, one of the busiest streets in Iowa City. I can
see Scott Boulevard from my house. I can hear Scott Boulevard from my
house. When I built my house I didn't know I would be able to feel Scott
Boulevard. I know it was that way when I built that house and I
understand it. Nobody seems to be discussing here tonight the issue of do
we need north south roads? The issue seems to be is- what street or streets
are we going to use? Many letters to local papers have spoken about
getting this traffic off of First Avenue a residential street onto Scott
Boulevard, my street. As ifI don't live on a residential street. Well, folks,
I do. Just how residential is Scott Boulevard? I didn't understand it so I
decided to walk it one day. The entire length of it. And I counted the
houses. And then I walked First Avenue. And I counted the houses.
What do you think I found out? Surprise, surprise. There is as many
homes on Scott Boulevard as there is on First Avenue. Don't believe me?
Walk it and count them. You don't see this room full of people from Scott
Boulevard opposed to the Scott Boulevard extension. We understand that
Scott Boulevard was built to be extended. But so was First Avenue. We
understand that there needs to be thoroughfares on the east side of Iowa
City. We are happy to offer our street as one of them. We don't
understand why the other people are so unwilling to offer theirs when it
was designed for that in the first place. Streets like Court, Washington,
Rochester, Kirkwood, Muscatine, Gilbert, Burlington, Dodge, Governor-
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#3 Page 21
they were all built for one reason- to make traffic flow across our
community. When it was small and as this town got bigger major streets
were added. And they will continue to be added as our town grows. I
came from a town that stopped growing and I saw what happened when
the town stopped growing. And the decay that took place was pathetic.
And trust me, you don't want to have that happen. You don't want to see
the schools crumble. You don't want to see the City streets crumble. So I
am happy to see Iowa City grow. I support the extension of both First
Avenue and Scott Boulevard. On behalf of all of those who live along
Scott Boulevard, and I guess ask your support to continue to make it a
little bit easier to get along on the east side of Iowa City. My street,
Edgewood Circle is not private drive. Some people in this town feel that
once they get on their street it has become a private drive. Well, if I want
a private drive I will build someplace else in the country I guess and have
a private lane. But city streets are for all of us. They are not private
drives. Some are designed for more traffic than others. Some people have
a hard time accepting that. I understood when I built my house near Scott
Boulevard, it was a busy Street. I have lived here 30 years. First Avenue
has always been a busy street for the entire 30 years I've lived in this
town. It will continue to be a busy street whether it is extended or not.
Just like Scott Boulevard will be a busy street. The I offered this once in
jest on the radio talk show on Fridays that the mayor participates in that if
those on Scott Boulevard would be happy to trade all of our trucks for all
of the cars on First Avenue. We would be very happy to do that. We need
streets on the east side. I ask for your support in extending both of these
streets. Thank you.
Lehman: We are going to take about a 7 or 8 minute break. Okay. Let's get started
again. I just think in the interest of time- if you folks would, I realize there
is a lot of folks who agree with each side out there but if we would kind of
refrain from applause I think we can move along a little quicker. Go
ahead.
Don Anciaux: (starts letter)
Lehman: Sir, give your name first.
Anciaux: Oh, excuse me. Don Anciaux, 2119 Russell Drive, Iowa City, Iowa. I
might add too that I have been, for the first 24 years of my life I was a
resident of this area. I moved away for 18 years. I worked for various city
governments including stints as a director of Parks and Recreation for
several cities. I can't agree more with the people who have been up here
speaking. This is one of the finest places in the country to live and that
why I am back here. (Reads letter). Please leave this in the Capital
Improvements thing and schedule an election and let's get it on. I believe
that we will pass it this time.
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Lehman: Thank you.
Anciaux: The last election was not to vote this thing up or down. It was to delay it
for 2 years period. Thank you.
John Balmer: Mr. Mayor and members of the Council, my name is John Balmer. I
reside at 10 Princeton Court. I was here several weeks ago to address you
on this issue. I will try not to plow new ground that I spoke of then. I,
too, live in this area. Exactly one block from First Avenue. When our
family moved there 20 years ago from the west side we knew full well
what we were getting into with the street configuration. First Avenue is an
arterial street meant to carry traffic. We knew that there would be future
development there. We had four children that went to Hoover and South
East and City High who had to traverse that street. And certainly as
parents you are very concerned about that and that is part of our job, to
make sure that they get there safely. And with that and the school
crossing guards things went quite well. I think the thing that concerns me
is that if we continually delay this project is going to become much harder
to finish it in a timely fashion and finish it without the division that Connie
Champion has spoken about. Twenty years ago there was a plan to finish
Scott Boulevard and run it around to where it would hook up eventually
with Captain Irish. Those plans were changed by a change of Councils. If
we had done that infrastructure then, that we should of, this would be a
moot point at this time. That is what happens when we don't plan and
provide before the development occurs and then when the development
happens that is when we run into resistance. And I would submit to you
that some of the folks that are organizing against this do not wish to see
any development out there. And we have talked about in-fill
development. You have heard that term previously. It is one that has been
mentioned numerous times. What better area is there than this to have in-
fill development? This isn't sprawl development ladies and gentlemen.
And the east side needs something positive. You know, we talk about
what is moving west, let's get something moving east for a change.
Because you are going to have a neighborhood that is going nowhere
ultimately if we don't have options out there with shopping etc. We have
great schools there. We will continue to have, but we have to have more
and I would urge you to keep this in the capital improvements program.
First Avenue and Scott Boulevard together. Thank you.
Mark Hale: My name is Mark Hale. I live at 2748 Hickory Trail. I want to speak
briefly to oppose the extension. I drive daily on First Avenue so I see
what the traffic is down to Hoover School because I am dropping a child
there. And I think that the comments about needing east side arterials are
fairly important ones but it is not clear that this is a good place for that
arterial. I think the 2 projects ought to be separated and looked at
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#3 Page 23
separately. There is a hidden economic impact in this plan. You've got a
price for the extension of the First Avenue part that is there. But I think
you need to consider the cost of building that artery if that in deed
becomes a connection. Because it will be inevitable that there will be
much more traffic funneling there and you will have to be coming back to
widen Rochester and the rest of First Avenue in dealing with that traffic
by the schools. A second thing is that enhancing the traffic on that side of
town has another economic impact. I saw this in Gainesville, FL where
I've lived for the last 30 years. A regional mall to the west of that city
basically sucked the commercial life out of that city. And it was the
arterials that made that happen. So, I think you want to look at those
arterial plans very carefully and see what the impact is on the economics
of the city and the health of the downtown as well as for the health of
rapidly moving traffic. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you.
Steve Dolezal: My name is Steve Dolezal. I live at 3301 Rochester Ave. Born and raised
in Iowa City, life long resident. I come here today for 2 reasons. The
personal reason is to support the expansion of First Avenue. I live
between First Avenue and Scott Boulevard. I think both should be
expanded. We need north south routes to move the traffic. And the only
way we are going to get that done is by putting these roads through. We
are talking 1600 feet. I think both need to go through. On a professional
level I work for the sheriffs department. When traveling between the
noah and the south east corridors of Johnson County, we can't get through
Iowa City without either one, going down First Avenue or two, going out
to a local road and coming back in to get north or south. When time is of
the essence, it is important that we sometimes get there in a hurry to help
someone. We are delayed because of not being able to get through town.
Hopefully expanding both Scott and First Avenue allows other accesses to
do that. Thank you.
O'Donnell: Thank you Steve.
Diedre Fleener: My name is Diedre Fleener and I live at 72 Goldfinch Circle. I am in
support of expanding First Avenue and Scott Boulevard. My property
backs up to Scott Boulevard and I also, as someone mentioned earlier,
lives in a very residential area. On my one short block we have 30 young
children and on the adjoining block there are like 50 young children that
live on there. So, traffic is a concern to us also. And I feel that Iowa City
has an obligation to attempt to balance that traffic flow throughout the
city. Therefore, I am supporting developing the First Avenue extension in
conjunction with Scott Boulevard. I think this would be a more cost-
effective method and spread the traffic burden more equitably throughout
the northern portion of Iowa City. And, there's a lot of talk about
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preserving Hickory Hill Park. And I feel like there is some hypocrisy with
this concern. It seems like irresponsible dog owners are already making
this a very unfit and unsafe park to be in. So I think that they need to look
at some of those issues also. Thank you for your time.
Lehman: Thank you.
Caroline Dieterie: I am Caroline Dieterie. I was here earlier. People keep talking
about the referendum, the '97 referendum. And I vote in that referendum
to delay the road. I am opposing it entirely. I don't think it should be
done at all. When they talk about a quarter-mile from the park it sounds
like a lot. But, if you think about that in terms of feet, that is only a little
over 1000 feet. 1300 feet. That makes it seem an awful lot closer. In
terms of the effect on wildlife and the noise and so forth, it is fairly close.
So, I think that people who are protective of the park, you know, have a
reason to be feeling protective of the park. I would come down here and
speak against it if for no other reason except in memory of my friend
Isabel Turner who recently won a posthumous Human Rights Award. She
lived up there near the park and it was her number one goal in life to
protect the park. She even fought the drainage- the water, the flood
retention basins because she was afraid of the effect that it would have on
the park. I am sure that if Isabel was with us today she would be
preparing to lie down in from of the bulldozers if that should have to
eventually be done. But what I look at is the recent Council election.
Like one of the other speakers this evening, Dan Coleman, I was very
much a participant and an observer of the recent Council election. And
none of the people who won seats in the recent Council election
campaigned that they were in favor of this road. In fact, in the discussions
it was generally said that they were against this road. You were elected.
Please don't make a mockery of the political process by turning around
now and voting in favor of it. Please. Because the other person who
spoke earlier about disillusionment in politics had a point too. You know,
when you get out and you work and you have the election go your way
and people who are protecting your interests you think get elected you
would like to think that that would be meaningful. And that there would
be some reason for the work you put in. I am been an activist in this town
for a long time and I have seen the City Staff come forward several times
saying that something had to be done. We had to widen Burlington from
Summit Street on out to First Avenue. We had to widen Keokuk. We
must make Kirkwood Avenue 4 lanes. They were staking there
professional reputations on this. We even had a former City Manager who
said at one point that he didn't want to ruin 2 neighborhoods and that was
why he was willing to widen more roads. We had one who said that a
person really wasn't important unless he was in a car. Now, fortunately,
local activists were able to get rid of those two folks. But, you know,
politics is what we have to deal with. Democracy isn't always pretty. It
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can be messy. It can be hard to deal with sometimes and it can lead to all
sorts of divisiveness. But out of the discussion you generally come out
with a better answer in the end. And if the City Staff can't live with it that
the City doesn't want those streets widened and doesn't want First Avenue
then they can go work for Coralville. Do we want Iowa City on that side
of town to look like Coralville? Mr. Gatens can go live in Coralville if he
thinks that that is a good place. So anyway, please do not put this street
through. Please.
Ctwis Miller: Mr. Mayor and Council Members. My name is Chris Miller. I live on 942
Bluffwood Drive. And I am here to speak against the extension on First
Avenue. First of all, I think Iowa City is a very beautiful place. But I also
think it is an educated place and I think that the 5000 people that voted
against the extension and to delay the extension knew exactly what they
were voting for. And I think you see some of those people here tonight. I
bring some other folks with me. They are very frequent members of the
walk on First Avenue Club to schools. Can you stand please? I have
Noah Miller, (can't hear) my son Josh was also here. I also have children
at Regina so I have children at 3 of the 4 schools that are along First
Avenue. They listen to this participation- they listen to people say that
they thought it was going to be safer to widen the roads, put more traffic
and more people down this neck of the woods. Do you agree with that or
not agree with that? You did not agree. Did you agree or did not agree?
They feel that it is a matter of numbers. You put more cars on the road
with more kids and you are going to have a problem. You have got 4
schools down there. As I said, I have children at 3 of the 4 and I have had
children at all 4. And it really is busy there. I cmmot think that people
don't think that the increase in traffic is not going to be tremendous. I
have heard 3 and 4 times the number. For my neck of the woods north of
Rochester it is going to be more than 3 times an increase in traffic. It is
going to be much more. We are going to have more children in danger.
Hickory Hill Park does abut right up to the curb there. I can't imagine that
that road won't have to be at least widened a bit to handle the excess
traffic. Do you kids like playing at Hickory Hill Park? It is very nice. It
is a nice access and I think if people are interested in making Hickory Hill
a better place that is fine. Let's do that. But we don't need to put an
extension up to Captain Irish to do that. So I would ask you to not support
an extension going north on First Avenue. Thank you very much.
Lehman: Thank you.
Ruth Baker: My name is Ruth Baker and I live at 515 W. Benton Street. So I am not-
this is not in my backyard. I do travel to the east end of town. I know the
problem in the noah south traffic. I don't think anybody is denying that. I
also- I have lived here since 1964 and I recall when Scott Boulevard was
put in (changed tapes) and it was the intent at that time to continue that
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street through. And it seems to me that ought to be the street you are
looking at as far as carrying east west, I mean north south, traffic. Pardon
me. It also- someone earlier made a comment and I totally agree with this.
You know how difficult it is to get people out to vote. I know that
because I was trying to help someone run for City Council this time. And
it is difficult. So when you talk about 5000 people, we know that is a
substantial number of people and the fact that the people who have just
been elected to City Council definitely were not favoring this extension, it
should tell you that we are not just talking about a certain group of people.
We are talking about the citizens of Iowa City. And we have to listen to
these people. I hope you do. I think it is important. And I would ask that
you not extend First Avenue. Thank you.
Ben Lewis: My name is Ben Lewis. I live at 24 N. Gilbert. And I was one of the 5000
people that voted to delay the First Avenue extension in 1997. And I just
wanted to address the issue of commutes briefly. I did a little research on
my own just thinking "well, let's see, people are complaining about
driving times between the south east side of Iowa City and the ACT sort of
area". So, I did a little research and I drove from- I can't remember the
exact street- it was a southeast street. I think it took me about a little over
11 minutes at about 7:30 in the morning to get to ACT's parking lot from
there. And that is without Scott Boulevard or the First Avenue extension.
So, I don't think that is a real big issue except for the safety thing which
will be addressed by the fire station and all that. But, really I do hope that
you consider that 5000 people did vote against this and I encourage you to
eliminate it. If anyone is in doubt of what people knew- if anyone is
doubting if the public knew what they were voting for in 1997 1 encourage
you to do a study of the voting records that would be available at the
County Auditor's office. You could possibly do like a telephone survey to
find out- did you or did you not think that the park was actually going to
have a road going it through it when you voted in '977 I think people
knew what they were voting for in '97 and I hope that they are still paying
attention. And I encourage you to eliminate that. Thanks.
Casey Cook: New page. My name is Casey Cook. I live on the west side. I spent
approximately 6 years on the Planning and Zoning Commission here in
Iowa City and worked for 3 years to develop the neighborhood and open
space plan. And it is an ordinance that we put together that has cost
developers a lot of money and had done more to add parkland to this city
then any ordinance before or since. I am in favor of extending First
Avenue. And I am in favor of it for many of the same reasons that many
of the neighbors are opposed to it. I think that- and not just neighbors
clearly- but I think people are concerned number one about the safety of
their children. I think they are concerned about parks and park resources.
I think they are concerned about the value of their housing and how this
will affect it. And I also think they are concerned in general about growth,
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sprawl and the (can't hear) of life that they associate with the extension of
First Avenue. I was- we talked about funneling traffic and I guess the
question I had was "Where does the traffic go now? Where is it
funneled?" My office is near Sycamore Mall and I was funneled twice
from that area on to Highway 1 out toward- going toward Monticello
today. And the area that I passed on my way involved a lot of historic
housing. It involved a lot of affordable housing. It involved a lot of
narrow streets. It involved a lot of cars parked on the streets. It involved
children that were on their way to school, or two parks or to all the places
children go. And I was one of many, many cars that were moving through
that area. What I would submit is that the concerns that the neighbors
have on First Avenue are the same concerns that people had who live in
the Goosetown district. They are the same concerns that people have who
live in the historic districts. And they are the same concerns that people
with children in the inner city have trying to get their kids to school. I
think it is for those reasons that I would strongly encourage you to extend
First Avenue, take that traffic out of our older more fragile neighborhoods
and channel it more directly to its destination and where it needs to go.
Thank you very much.
O'Donnell: Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you Casey. I really would appreciate it if we wouldn't applaud. I
know that there is a lot of folks who feel both ways but we really need to
move this along. It is approaching 9:00 and I think shortly after 9:00 we
are going to wrap this up.
Marty Gaffey: Well, then I am going to make it real short. Marty Gaffey. I was sitting at
home about a half hour [or] an hour ago and I decided to come on down. I
am in favor of extending First Avenue. I called several of you this
morning to express that. I think the last time with the vote where the
"yes" meant "no" and the "no" meant "yes" was a major problem. Also, I
think that the idea of going through Hickory Hill Park I think has been
resolved now. It does not go through Hickory Hill Park. And to keep this
under one minute which is what my goal was, I vote that you vote "yes"
and that is all I can ask. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you.
Susan Young: I am Susan Young. I live at 1720 Muscatine Avenue. I have lived in Iowa
City basically all of my life. I even drink the local water because I like it.
When I went to Henry Sabin school I had to cross Burlington Street. That
is when that was Highway 6, US Highway 6 coast to coast. I now live on
Muscatine Avenue which was Highway 6 at that time and is still one of
the few streets in town that goes anywhere. We get a lot of traffic. Let's
face it. I also like to walk a lot. I walk a lot on the east side time. I walk
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almost every day including up in the Hickory Hill Park area. There is a
crying need for the extension of First Avenue. Extended First Avenue.
Extend Scott Boulevard, the Captain Irish Parkway, build it across there.
Spread the traffic out. It needs to be done. And it needs to be done soon.
If you're putting- if you were talking about extending Seventh Avenue,
that would go through the park. First Avenue does not go through the
park. Build it. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you.
Kevin Boyd: My name is Kevin Boyd. I live at 2216 N. Dodge. I spent an hour trying
to find someone to work for me tonight so I could be here to tell you this.
But I'm not telling you about my work because I think you care [but]
because I think you need to be reminded. Not everyone of Iowa City's
60,000 residents can afford to take off time from work, time away from
his or her family to come down and express his or her interest in this issue.
Many of them don't understand the intricacies of government, the
governmental process, or the details of every issue at hand. We can't
decide every issue and that is why direct democracy ended. The citizens
shouldn't be obligated to educate themselves on every issue. That is your
job and the city staff's job. I will speak of only three of the major benefits
of the extension. You understand these and the others as well, but they
need to be heard. Increased safety will be gained due to easier access for
the fire department. As a resident of the north eastern Iowa City
neighborhood this will ease my concern of the current long travel times to
our neighbors- to our area. A united east side is important for the
economic diversity of the Noaheast and the southeast areas of Iowa City.
It is long overdue and will help both sides. Roads go both ways. Again,
as a resident of northeastern Iowa City the extension will provide our
neighborhood with access to the struggling southeastern side. To cost-
effective bus routes could be joined leaving the possibility of using that
money for additional routes in other areas of the city. I hear criticism that
you aren't listening to the residents of the area. Especially about the Noah
East planning session. I was there, and I understand that a group of people
made a choice. Listening does not mean following a group of people 100
percent of the time. It means listening to their concerns and deciding what
is best for highly city as a whole. So I ask you to keep the rest of Iowa
City in mind. Citizens elected you to do it difficult job, to balance all
aspects of the project or issue and decide what is best for the entire
community. Not a vocal and emotional group. Because the citizens don't
have time to educate themselves in every issue they chose you in gave you
their trust to make decisions for them. They shouldn't have to come here
to oppose an interest group. It is difficult to be in your shoes and I respect
you for possessing the foresight to understand there is a whole community
outside of these walls. Most of whom are voicing their support tonight-
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#3 Page 29
what ever their reason is- work or family commitments. But they too are
part of Iowa City and they will gain the benefits of the as well.
Lehman: Thank you.
Bennett Brown: Hi, Bennett Brown. 879 Echo Avenue, Cedar County. I hope you
will let me speak anyway.
Lehman: Go right ahead.
Brown: Thanks. I hope that you see the First Avenue issue not as a First Avenue
issue but rather as First Avenue or First Avenue Scott. There are two
choices in front of you and if you don't extend First Avenue, Scott is still
in the 2002 CIP as you have it. And all of the things that people are
talking to you about need to be compared between the two. I oppose the
First Avenue extension. I hope you remove it all together from the
budget. And the only reason that we didn't write the referendum to say
remove it from the budget was that the city charter doesn't allow that. It
won't let you remove something from the budget so our only option was
to put to move it further back in the CIP. I would like to see you remove it
for 3 reasons. It is unpopular out of the people that went to the Northeast
District Plan for instance- to those meetings. Out of the 13 groups, 9 of
them asked for First Avenue not to be extended altogether. And another
two groups said "well, I guess it is inevitable that they are going to extend
it so at least if they extend it don't make it an arterial". And they drew
little curvy things on their map to show that it wouldn't be a viable
arterial. The second reason is that I think it is unnecessary. It- the reasons
stated have been that you just need an arterial every half mile. That is a
traffic planning rule that Jeff Davidson cited and if you actually look at the
numbers that he produced in a traffic study, which admittedly is poor, it is
based on data that were calibrated over ten years ago. But the numbers
that he produced- if you look at the congestion between Rochester- on
Rochester between First Avenue and 7th Avenue- if you compare the two
plans putting through just Captain Irish to Scott you will get 8000- I am
sorry- you will get 7850 on that. A difference of only 150 cars to if you
put through both streets. So, the two- whether you put through both or
whether you just put through Captain Irish, the congestion on Rochester is
the same. If you look at the congestion on Dodge Street this is between
the intersection with Captain Irish and 1-80. If you put through just
Captain Irish then you get 11,000 cars on that street. Which, incidentally,
was built for 8000 cars. If you put through both Captain Irish and First
Avenue you get 16,000. Let me repeat that- 11,000 for just Captain Irish
vs. 16,000 for both. So you get worse congestion on Dodge Street at least
once you get past where the First Avenue extension would connect. The
congestion along the other parts of Dodge are comparable, meaning that
the two plans are roughly the same. These numbers can't really be trusted
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tO be within even 500 cars, but the gist of them should be believed. That
is why you do the study. Congestion won't be helped by putting through
First Avenue. If you put through Scott you help some of it. Adding First
Avenue to the mix does very little except on First Avenue. The numbers
on First Avenue, and this is going from Rochester south from Rochester, I
don't know how far south it goes I think to- what would be the next major
cross street on First Avenue?
Champion: Muscatine. Court.
Brown: Muscatine. Court, yes. So if you look- if you look at those numbers they
are currently 7000. If you put through just Scott Boulevard they jump
about 500 cars per day. If you put through both Scott and First Avenue
they jump up to 21000 per day. Do I believe that? Does JeffDavidson
believe that? Should you believe that? Absolutely not. Should you
believe the general conclusion that if you put through both of these streets
First Avenue is going to walloped? Yes. That is what the study shows.
That is what the purpose of building it would be. To get people to use
First Avenue. I didn't come here to talk to you tonight about First
Avenue. So, what I did come to talk to you about was the Capital
Improvements Program and I would like to-
Lehman: You are going to have to make it quick Bennett.
Brown: I will, I think I have 30 seconds left maybe.
Lehman: You have got a little more than that.
Brown: Okay. So, if you total the five years in the CIP, and I am on page 41, and I
am comparing street reconstruction with pedestrian and bike trails. So, to
me that says cars vs. other modalities of transport. 36 over the five years-
36.7 million dollars for streets. $1.3-1.4, we will round up, million for
pedestrian and bikes. That is a ration of $27 for cars to every one dollar
for pedestrians and bikes put together. To me, that is a mistake. When I
think of Iowa City I think of a cultural Mecca that is small enough and
compact enough to still enjoy the countryside. To me, the emotional issue
in First Avenue had to do with my perceived impact- the impact I
perceived it would have on Hickory Hill Park. Hickory Hill Park sits at
the tip of a Peninsula of the Iowa countryside. We are surrounded by
beautiful countryside that invades Iowa City nearly to its downtown via
Hickory Hill Park. If you hike to the end of Hickory Hill Park you get to a
barb wire fence and when you cross it there is a cornfield. That is no
longer. Now it is Captain Irish, right? So those days are over. Iowa City
has decided to expand beyond Hickory Hill Park already. That is done in
my mind. But the question is- how far? When I went on and extolled the
beauties of Hickory Hill Park to one of the Councilors who is no longer up
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#3 Page 31
there he said "But, Bennett, Hickory Hill Park has to have a boundary at
some point. Hickory Hill Park has to have a boundary." Iowa City has to
have a boundary. At some point urban concrete must stop and the areas of
the countryside must begin. $36.7 vs. $1.4 million. What is your vision
and what will the City look like for your great, great, great, great, great,
great grandchildren? Thanks.
Kanner: Bennett? Do you have those original figures that you were talking about
in presentable form that you can submit to us now or at a later date?
Brown: Yeah, you bet.
Kanner: Could you do that?
Brown: Yeah, it is the traffic- JCCOG's traffic arterial study. It is available from
the JCCOG's council- JeffDavidson.
Lehman: Jeff Davidson would probably have it.
Brown: I will get you a copy.
Karmer: I like your summarized version if you could present that.
Lehman: I don't want us to really impinge on anyone's time but we really need to
keep moving along. We have been at this for about 2 hours. We are not
going to go all night. Go ahead.
Jean McCollister: Can I go ahead? Okay. My name is Jean McCollister. I live on
2313 Tudor Drive. I have a second grader who goes to Hoover
Elementary. She goes along Court Street. And I am here to speak against
the extension of First Avenue. I have become active fairly recently
because I thought this issue had been dealt with 2 years ago to the public's
satisfaction. I was a little surprised to see it mentioned in the press again.
I have been doing quite a lot of homework in the last couple of weeks.
And especially over this weekend I have read the minutes of wonderful
presentations that Bennett Brown did before the planning and zoning
commission. I have read a letter by Debbie and Richard (can't hear). A
lot of my research and statistics are coming from that. I want to address
the general issue of First Avenue being walloped, as Bennett put it. First
of all, I want to say it must look very tempting to put this road through. It
seems like on the surface a very cheap efficient way of moving traffic.
You've got people on one side of town who want to go across to the other
side and vice versa. The shortest distance between two points is a straight
line. You go to the end of First Avenue, you can see Capt. Irish Parkway.
What would make better sense than just put the road through, it won't cost
you much, everybody's happy? This is not how things look on the
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#3 Page 32
ground. Okay. Based on these studies that Bennett mentioned that were
done by the city planning office itself- projected a threefold increase in
traffic. That is 21,000. Okay, you can talk about numbers. It is
inarguable that the traffic is going to increase considerably. If you
compare First Avenue extended with say Mormon Trek or Melrose, it is
going to have significantly more, perhaps twice as much, 40% more. It is
going to be a very, very heavily traveled street. Again, as they say, that is
the point. Okay. That is one thing to consider. The other thing to
consider are the schools along First Avenue. We have 4 of them. We
have Regina, we have Hoover Elementary, Southeast, City. Taken
together the children that attend these schools represent 40% of Iowa
City's school children. All right? What this road is proposing to do is put
40% of Iowa City's school children- the road with the greatest single
concentration of school children- on the single most congested street in
Iowa City. And that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I think you need
to seriously consider that. I don't think the plan takes- addresses this issue
of traffic congestion and child safety. I don't think it has been addressed
to anyone's satisfaction. They talk about First Avenue as a critical link in
the community arterial system. It does not meet any of the highway
standards for an arterial street. None of that has been budgeted for. So if
you think this is going to be cheap, well, you are going to come back and
you are going to have to widen it. There really is not room to widen it. It
has got 138 residential curb cuts. I believe Richard and Debbie went out
and counted them one day. There is a hill north of Rochester that has a
10% grade. Maximum for an arterial is 8%. Mind bogglingly enough, I
think I say a reference in some of the minutes- somebody was suggesting
that that very curve- the curve and the steepness of it in itself would act as
a traffic calming measure. You realize the implications of that? We are
building a dangerous road because we hope that will slow people down so
they won't be tempted to speed. I think if you take all of these things into
consideration you find that this road is neither cheap nor efficient. At non-
peak periods you might find traffic moving along fairly rapidly. Some of
these projections- a figure of 35 miles per hour was used. Where this
comes from I am not sure. I sent JeffDavidson an e-mail yesterday. I
haven't had a reply yet. For a large part of the road the mandatory speed
limit between 8 and 5 is 20 miles per hour. Okay. So you are not going to
be moving traffic very quickly. People are still going to want to take the
long way around because they are going to be able to travel more quickly
doing it. At times of peak congestion when people are trying to get their
kids to school, when people are trying to get to ACT which is expanding
and enlarging you are going to have a mess. You are going to have stop
and start traffic. What are frustrated motorists going to do? They are
going to turn off, go back into residential neighborhoods, zip through, go
around. I don't think- I think you need to look at these issues pretty
seriously and get some real figures and try to a little imagination of what it
is actually going to look like if you do this. There is one thing that you
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#3 Page 33
can't calculate in all of this. And that is the cost of a single dead or
maimed child as a result of a traffic accident. Statistics are statistics. The
more kids you've got out there in traffic, fatalities are going to go up.
There is going to be something. I don't think it is worth cutting five
minutes off of some commuter's drive. Not that I think it would do that
anyway because as I say it is likely to be stop and start.
Lehman: You need to wrap this up.
McCollister: Okay. I would like to address one other- the other issue is how people feel
about this. This is something that people have talked about. They say I
am pretty fresh in this but I have been out in my neighborhood and I have
talked to people and I can tell you that they are very upset, frustrated,
depressed, extremely cynical about how government works. These are
people who work long and hard in these planning workshops. They did
their homework, they thought they were working with the city. Mary
(can't hear) said to me "We felt so empowered. We felt .like we were
participating. That they were listening to our input. And when they came
back at us with this map showing the connection of First Avenue with
Captain Irish Parkway-". That was a major point of consensus among all
of the groups that they did not want that connection made. She said "we
felt betrayed, shocked. We couldn't believe it". I don't know if you have
looked at the organizational chart of Iowa City recently. I just looked at it
the other day on the web because I said, "Hey, I am new to this". So I
wanted to see how things worked. Well, if you look at it. Citizens of
Iowa City are on the top of the chart, then comes the Council, then come
the various boards and commissions, then come the various departments.
I think the flow recently have been going the wrong way. I think we need
to turn that around. I think you are right to want to listen to what people
have to say about this. It is an extremely upsetting issue. The arguments
against extending First Avenue are compelling enough that you should at
least delay it and ideally eliminate it. you can put Scott Boulevard through
first and see how that works. Bottom line, it is not going to accomplish
what you hope it will. It is not going to move traffic more quickly or
effectively. It is not going to be cheap because you are going to have to
do those improvements to make it safe on existing sections of First
Avenue. And you are going to upset the whole community in the process
and cause a lot of problems.
Lehman: Thank you.
McCollister: Why bother? Why push it through at all costs?
Lehman: Thank you.
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Bill Ford: Hi, I am Bill Ford and I live fight off First Avenue so I have a vested
interest in this. As matter-of-fact I addressed you two years ago opposed
to the project. I am back again. I certainly haven't changed my opinion. I
have modified my views lightly and I would like to take a moment to
bring them to light. I'm not going to deny the need for an arterial north
south access for the east west side. This is something obviously that has
been unit for quite some time. What was really disturbing to me is that the
insistence that first Avenue be the arterial street when a far better
altemative exists. And that is extending Scott Boulevard. This has been
the recommendation of both community groups and planning groups for
many years. In fact, since the construction. As a matter of fact that was
why Scott Boulevard was built. As everyone who is familiar with First
Avenue knows, it is ill suited to handle the additional traffic that has been
projected. As a matter of fact it has been mentioned a number of times
you will have to expand that street to at least four lanes, certainly south of
Rochester. And that cost I am sure is not in anybody' s budget at the
present time. Outside of the issues of cost we're looking at safety, quality
of life and the disruption of the community. These must be thoroughly
addressed before any plan to expand First Avenue is approved. Again, a
far better alternative exists. Rather than just blindly extend First Avenue,
regardless of the consequences, you can do the right thing for the
commutefist, the community, and the Highway 1 businesspeople if you
just extend First Avenue as planned. And then assess to see if the goals of
the Northwest arterial have been met. If they have, you save the money
that you would be spending on the First Avenue extension plus all the
additional money that will be needed to bring First Avenue up to an
arterial street. If not, then proceed carefully with a planned extension of
First Avenue. And I promise you, you will not see me two years from
now. It is not often that you can have an opportunity to do the right thing
and satisfy needs at the same time. This can truly become a win-win
situation. With this in mind I ask you to please take advantage of the Scott
Boulevard extension. Thanks.
Lehman: Thank you.
Keith Kurth: My name is Keith Kurth. I am here as president of the Homebuilder's
Association of Iowa City. I think what we are seeing here this evening is
in Iowa City we are developing this scenario of not in my backyard. We
have seen it when he came to discussions regarding Kirkwood Boulevard.
We have seen it when it has come to Benton Street. We have seen it when
it has come to Melrose Avenue. And now we are seeing it here.
Eventually, something is going to have to be done. There is going to have
to be some compromise. And in some area we're going to have to start to
make some of these improvements and do something with this traffic or
we are going to have some problems. For another area that we talked
about here this evening is cost. I've lived in this town since about 1967. I
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can remember not too many years ago there was another major project that
we kept putting back. A much greater project than this quite obviously.
That was the water treatment plant. We kept putting that back and putting
that back and we all know what eventually happened to the cost of that
and loss of grant funds and everything else. So I think that is an issue that
we need to keep in front of us. There is also the issue here- I recently
went through the public hearing that went on in regards to putting the
building code in place out in Johnson County. Again, we got the attitude
there not in my neighborhood. It is not needed. We hear the issue every
day in the building industry of urban sprawl. No more building out in the
rural areas. Not in my areas. We're hearing the same thing in town here.
We've got some areas that we want to protect. Not in my area.
Eventually something is going to have to go in somebody's area. We're
going to have to reach some compromises on these things. We're going to
have to work together. We can continue to sit here and say not in my area.
Quite obviously we are in favor of that extension of that First Avenue.
Also the extension of some other streets and the widening of some other
streets so that we can spread this load all over and not just expect to put it
on the streets. That a few people are going to have to carry the load.
Thank you.
Kanner: Keith, I just have a question. You are speaking on behalf of the
association?
Kurth: Yes.
Kanner: Okay, thanks.
Holly Berkowitz: I am Holly Berkowitz. And I come here often to speak out for those
who cannot come here to speak. I know- I respect and honor your desire
for cash.
Lehman: Holly, talk into the mic.
Berkowitz: I honor and respect someone's desire for cash and quantities of it because
that is what this is all about. Is that I think someone is valuing cash and
cash counts more than the life, health, safety, smiles, hugs and laughter of
the entire area. Which, by the way, are impossible to calculate or count in
dollars or any other form of currency. If we say- if we value cash only
then we will listen and work with the neighbors who are part of the whole
that we need to coordinate with and not build freeways over their
backyards. Can you imagine the planners and the Council in Los Angeles
in 1920, which by the way is marked by prohibition and the cigarette- the
legalization of cigarettes- if you can imagine them saying "Let's think
about the outcome of our actions 70 years from now". What would LA
look like today? Who wants Iowa City to look like Los Angeles? The
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mechanics of freeways and concrete and asphalt which dominate that city
and is traditionally an example of poor urban planning. I am not
discounting the need for (can't hear).
Lehman: Holly, you need to speak in the microphone.
Berkowitz: Okay. Let 's build Scott Avenue and get it over with. The studies 10 years
ago- for 10 years the studies indicated that the safety hazards on First
Avenue are unacceptable. Second of all, the operation costs after a road is
built is usually not included in the budget- as in the water plant. And if
you think of the city as a natural system, and you work with the city and it
grows- allow it to grow as it wants to and just live there as it is Eden. So
that it grows the apples that you need. This sounds crazy. Then it will
improve in value through time. I called the tax assessor and said "Why
don't you tax- calculate the trees in your tax calculation?" Because trees
hold the soil. Okay, we are talking about the same thing at Hickory Hill
Park. There is a study of the impact of roads on in the Amazon in the
rainforest that the impact of a road goes several miles into the rainforest so
that you cannot say "We are going to build a road close to Hickory Hill
Park and it will not affect the flows". The microscopic molecular flows
that product the oxygen that all the people in Iowa City and Johnson
County need. I am- I don't want to have to come here again. I don't want
to have to say that Hickory Hill is a rare treasure. That is impossible to
calculate in cash. That the lives of the children on First Avenue are
impossible to calculate in cash. That the word sanctuary, which many
people have called Hickory Hill Park, and it already has been invaded by
the building of the cemetery. The word for sanctuary probably comes
from sanctity. Which probably comes from sane. Which probably comes
from sanitize. Which probably means cleaning your mind out of all the
crud we have to deal with in an urban jungle and cauldron. Thank you
very much.
Lehman: Thank you Holly.
Dan Daley: My name is Dan Daley. I live at 2325 Mayfield Rd. The first thing I want
to say is that we should all appreciate the hard job you have to do
especially recognizing the few times I'm interested enough in a topic or an
issue- I'm going to say- to see what you have to put up with. But see what
you have the patience for when you are doing your job. I guess I do have
a bit of a NIMBY syndrome. I've got a fourth grader who crosses first
Avenue about ten times a week on his way to Herbert Hoover. So I have
that vested interest. I don't have any, while I have a not in my backyard
and don't have any not in my back pocket. I am not a home builder. I'm
not a business owner. I don't have acreages that come close to the area
proposed for development. And I haven't done a lot of research or
homework. But I got vague recollections from living in Iowa City all my
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life. And one of them is I think I was in high school when they first
proposed and started building Scott Boulevard. And that was not without
controversy at that time because it was a big expensive thing. I sent you
an e-mail saying my dad really thought it was a boon doggle. And it was
like designed to take the strain off streets in down- all across Iowa City to
go noah and south because these streets were judged at that time as not
able to handle the flow that was going to come their way. And already we
see that First Avenue and Court Streets are pretty crowded now. When we
come home from work a little after five we can look forward to a block
long line of cars just to get onto First Avenue or cross it. I realize that all
the interests of your constituents have to be taken into account and no
matter what you decide you're going to disappoint some people. And it is
a hard job. But I think that we made an investment in Scott Boulevard and
it should be given a chance to do what it was designed to do. And I don't
think you are going to find out if it works by giving it a measly 2 year
delay. You had better delay it a little bit longer than that for the First
Avenue proposed extension. I would prefer it be taken off the agenda all
together because I think that in the next generation we will really
appreciate what we have got left of Hickory Hill. And I hope it is as much
as we have got now. Thanks.
Lehman: Thank you Dan.
Anna Buss: I am Anna Buss and I live on Benton Street. Well actually I now I live
just off of Benton Street. But I also have a property on Benton Street. In
our neighborhood we kind of have the reverse situation. We are bringing
a park to a busy street. So, as far as I am not aware that the road is going
to run through Hickory Hill Park. Some of the things that we have heard
tonight are where you have more cars and more kids you have problems.
Benton Street has lots of cars and we have lots of kids. Don't put it in my
back yard. I don't want it here. We keep hearing the 5000 people voting.
The community needs the street. It doesn't need this street. They are pros
and cons to every issue. We could beat this issue to death, which tonight
it has been. It is a dead horse and we have kicked it around and around for
years. I had been in Iowa City since '66 and I have heard this issue
repeatedly. I've heard a lot of issues repeatedly. The child safety factor
on this issue. The park. Puts it began somewhere else. This is an
emotional issue. It is a political issue. It is a practical issue. It is an
economical issue. I have heard that there is an 8% grade over there. So
what? There is an 10% on Benton Street. People are frustrated. They are
distressed. They have had it. We have seen a flow chart presented. They
say listen to the people on this issue. Iowa City does not historically get
out and vote. We have all watched that over the years. A lot of us have
been subject to the lack of vote. So to that end this year is a major election
year. Take it all offof your backs and put it fight where it belongs in the
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City issue. Put it on the ballot. Do it this year and get it over with. Let
the citizens decide. Whatever they decide, bury it and let it go.
Lehman: Thank you Adma. I think I see three people. We are going to take those
three and then we are going to end the heating at 9:30.
David Hempel: My name is David Hempel. I have also been living in Iowa City
since 1966 when I came here as a freshman music student. I live at 751
Grant Street, by the way. I am also the owner of a downtown business.
O'Donnell: David, I can't hear you. Can you speak up?
Hempel: I am also a downtown business owner. Only 10 employees but it has
been continuous operation in downtown Iowa City for 50 years. That is
Eble Music Company on Linn Street tight next to the Library. I haven't
been around that long of course. I have owned it for the 12 years.
??: Can you speak up?
Hempel: I am sorry. I have heard so many people over speaking I guess I am
under-doing it a little bit. I hope you get a little closer. Is that better? I
think this is a big issue and I appreciate your thought and concern and I
appreciate the fact that some of you, Connie Champion in particular, have
tried to have both ears open on this issue. I implore you all to continue to
listen to what the citizens say. And I really think that last speaker had a
good ides. I really think you should take this before the people as directly
as you can and find out what the sentiment is out there. I live in Connie's
neighborhood just south of Summit Street and I love the Longfellow
neighborhood. We are one of the closest bunches of people that I have
ever seen in a town this size. I am from Chicago originally and I have
made Iowa City my home for many good reasons. I love it here. I
appreciate watching other people's kids grow up along with ours, you
know, all these years in Longfellow. It is a wonderful neighborhood. It is
a wonderful town. But the folks that I talked to in my neighborhood don't
like this ides. They don't like this First Avenue extension for many of the
same reason~ you have heard all night. Especially for the fact that we
thought it was settled. That is why I encourage you to get some direct
input from the citizens. Talk to people. Get their opinions as much as you
can. I think you will find out that there is a lot of ill will about this. It is a
real divisive issue. People are worried about lots of things. I am too. Mr.
Santangelo spoke a while ago, an hour or so ago, as being a business
owner downtown and a member of the Chamber of Commerce. I too am a
business owner as I said before, but I have chosen not to join the Chamber
of Commerce of this town for the reason that it is so blindly pro growth. I
would not be opposed to growth. I think I am a reasonable person. I don't
think I would be opposed to it if I hear the cons as well as the pros. I don't
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hear a lot of the cons being discussed in high places. The people with the
gold watches only have one thing on their mind. And I would like a
balanced approach. I am a business owner, I am a citizen of this town for
35 years, and I want a balanced approach. And that is all I ask of you. So,
for what it is worth, my opinion is that the First Avenue extension should
be just stricken from the ledger. Definitely. Go with Scott Boulevard.
Look at the pros and cons of that project. But that is the project that I
thought was on the books a few years ago. I don't speak too much at these
gatherings but I do watch them on TV if I don't show up myself in the
background. And I care about what happens to this city. I really do. But I
think this First Avenue extension idea is a big mistake. From a
businessman's point of view. From someone who cares about parkland
and greenery in cities. My only hiatus point away from Iowa City in the
last 35 years was a few years in Philadelphia. And believe it not,
Philadelphia for a big city is a pretty livable place because they really care
about parks. They have got a huge park that adjoins the (can't hear) River
for acres and acres and acres. It is amazing. We are, you know, we are
denying ourselves a great opportunity here to continue this here. And so I
will shut up, but I really think First Avenue should be chucked and I thank
you for your time.
Lehman: Thank you.
Larry Schnittger: I am Larry Schnittger and like Bennett Brown I am not a resident
of Iowa City. But I have worked here for 27 years- not in Iowa City the
first 2 years or 3 years- was in Coralville. And three years- actually it has
been longer than that, anyway. I am in the favor of First Avenue. I think
that I may not be able to convince Connie or Irvin or Steven or Ross but
that First Avenue has been on the books as a project that has been needed
and desired and is of great function to the city of Iowa City since before
my time in Iowa City. Because when we started our business in 1975 one
of the first projects we worked on was the extension of- the current
extension of- First Avenue for the Plum Grove acres. And at that point in
time it was understood that it was to go on and connect with Dubuque
Street. And that, to my knowledge, that process of thought not been
changed. Granted, political decisions like this are tough. It is like being a
parent. We have to make a decision for our families sometimes that is not
popular. And I hope that in the process of making these decisions that we
can make a decision that is good for Iowa City. I feel that First Avenue
would be good for Iowa City. If a community doesn't grow it is like any
other living thing, it will die. And we don't need Iowa City to die.
Lehman: Thank you Larry.
O'Donnell: It is 9:30.
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Lehman: Yeah.
Ross: Hi, I am Brandon Ross. I am an Iowa City resident. I live at 1822
Rochester Ave. There are a few points that I wanted to add. First of all,
something that does not grow dies. Well, there is all kinds of
development. There is all kinds of growth. Cancer is a growth. I think
that we are taking a risk here. I think that this is the greatest country in the
world. I see that flag and I am very proud of it. My parents, my family,
came here, were poor and were always poor. They were immigrants and
they had a chance in this country where they probably wouldn't in any
other country as well as they have here. And I fully believe in
opportunities being given to us as citizens. This is the greatest country in
the world because it stands for the people. It is not rhetoric. What this
whole process is about is it is for the people, it is for the democracy.
There is no vested interest in saving the park as far as money goes. We
are not looking for power. There is nothing to be made. It is purely for
the benefit of what it is. It is the most beautiful thing we have. Do you
want to crash set up? As far as traffic, I told you before. I am from
Boston. Has anybody driven in Boston? Well if you haven't, you haven't
lived. Five minutes of traffic? Five minutes of traffic, you can take an
hour and a half going to work in the morning and an hour and a half
coming back and that is good. Five minutes of traffic? I can't tell you
how much my heart went out (changed tapes) And now if I can recover
from that sadness. I would just like to say finally that I think that the road
is not necessary. If you decide to make growth this way then what you are
going to do is you are just going to give in. You are going to give in for a
few interests. You are not going to stand up for what is really necessary in
this community. Someone talked about compromise. Well, we have
compromised here and we have compromised there and it is time to move
on and build ourselves, you know, our Gary, Indiana. You know, if we
have to compromise in order to save that park 3000 times or whatever it
should be done. And if- and it should be done if for no other reason than
the flag sitting tight there in the comer if anyone has looked at that. It
should be saved. Completely. It should be stopped right here. So, my
main issue is that I don't see the need for the road as it is. And I am
absolutely against it. And anybody who is against it I suggest you
strongly stand up and say so. And don't sit at home. For many of us it is
really difficult to get out here because we work. Most of us are not very
wealthy. And the people who care about the park tend not to be the people
who have the vested interests. So I am asking the Council to please make
a vote for the people. Thank you.
Lehman: Thank you. Folks we are going to take a quick- a break until about 20 of
and then we will start this discussion among ourselves. Public heating is
closed. There is some discussion that we need. I think that probably the
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first item that we should probably continue talking about is the First
Avenue.
Kanner: What was that? I didn't hear the last-
Lehman: I am sorry. I think the first- we should be discussing First Avenue. There
is a couple of questions I think that we have to answer among ourselves.
First of all, I think a number of people spoke against the extension of First
Avenue at any time. And I think we need to decide is there any interest on
the part of the Council (can't hear) extended any time?
Champion: Do you want me to start?
Lehman: I don't care who starts.
Atkins: Ernie?
Lehman: Yes.
Atkins: May I comment?
O'Donnell: Is this on the agenda?
Lehman: This is part- yeah, I think this is on the agenda.
Atkins: I am making the assumption just from looking at Eleanor too that the
discussion is not out of order but anything that comes to a nose count-
Dilkes: There is no action scheduled for tonight. You- I think you have given
proper notice that you are discussing the budget and First Avenue and its
placement in the CIP as a component of that but there is certainly no
action to be taken tonight.
Lehman: Well then let me just suggest that the Council consider a couple things.
First of all, whether or not First Avenue extension is a viable option that
the city should consider first of all in the 2002 CIP where it is now or at
any time- I think that decision-
Pfab: (can't hear)
Lehman: I think that is 2 questions. Well, the first question you have to answer-
first of all and I think we have to decide, is that a viable thing for the City
to do? If it is, is 2002 the time to do it? If2002 is not the time to do it and
it is a viable option, what is the cost to the community to postpone it and
have it done as 2 projects rather than having it done at the same time as
Scott Boulevard. I there is a significant amount of money involved there
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that if it were done a year or two years later would cost the community a
great deal more money. I think that that is a pretty important distinction
for us to make. Those are things that we can be thinking about before our
next meeting. I think we do have to- we have to address those issues
(can't hear) you've a lot tonight from I think some very sincere people
who feel very strongly both against (can't hear) that issue. But we will
take that up Tuesday when we vote. Is that correct?
Atkins: IfI can make a suggestion on [that]. You need to find some way to
express your policy. This is a budget hearing which you must ultimately
adopt the budget because state law requires you to ultimately adopt the
budget.
Lehman: (can't hear) at the next regular meeting?
Atkins: Yeah.
Lehman: Which is a week from tonight.
Atkins: And I guess what I would suggest to you is that at the meeting of the 7th
you will have a resolution that adopts the budget. At that time you have
available to you the ability to move and second and virtually make any
kind of changes you want. And if the Council majority says delete it and a
motion and a second and a vote on that would delete. Then you go to the
main motion that is approving the budget.
Lehman: (can't hear)
Atkins: So I think that is the instrument to express your policy. Okay?
Lehman: Okay, we will handle First Avenue in that fashion. Now we will discuss
any other discussion relevant to the budget.
Champion: I have a discussion point I would like to bring up and that is the reduction
in the Public Art Fund of $25,000. We are not going to discuss First
Avenue, is that correct?
Lehman: Well, I think we can do that next Tuesday night when we have the motion
to approve the budget. The budget does include the CIP which is 2002.
That is actually not in the- in our budget- but it is in the CIP which is part
of the budget. Is that not correct?
Atkins: No that is correct. By law you appropriate annually.
Lehman: One year at a time.
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Atkins: We chose to adopt a three year operating budget and a five year capital
plan. So, for example, if you wish to add back the $25,000- that happened
to be a general obligation debt proposal and thereby you would be
increasing. We would have to find another trade off somewhere else.
Remember you can't increase the budget. You can only reduce the
budget.
Lehman: Now is that- okay, let me get that straight. If we chose to increase that art
funding from $75,000 to $100,000. When is the appropriate time to do
that?
Atkins: That would be at the meeting of the 7th were you ultimately vote on the
budget. You can certainly discuss it that that is an issue that you wish to
out- will ultimately will put on the floor. But if you wish to make those
budget amendments then I think similar to how you chose to handle like
Captain Irish or First Avenue- just a motion, second, support and then we
amend the budget in accordance with your direction.
Lehman: Okay, so Connie that is of concern to you. That will be another item in
addition to First Avenue that can be discussed next Tuesday. Are there
other-?
Wilburn: I have a question about this for clarification about the item. If the- how
does the fact that that was passed as a resolution and a dollar amount
attributed to that?
Lehman: We would have to have a public hearing and change the resolution in
order to change the funding level from $100,000 to $75,000.
Atkins: That is correct.
Dilkes: There is no public heating requirement for the change of that resolution.
Atkins: In the public art resolution that (can't hear)
Dilkes: Unless there is in the- is there a separate? Okay. All right.
Lehman: So we couldn't just fund it at that level without having a public hearing,
taking public input and then voting to reduce the funding to $75,000.
Atkins: Now, I had made the assumption that this public hearing would satisfy that
requirement. I think it is a matter of how you chose to express yourself on
that issue because this is a public hearing. It is a budget. There is a dollar
figure in there. That certainly is an expression of your policy. If you
chose to have a separate public hearing I think that is a matter of choice. I
think I have understood that this hearing would satisfy budget issues.
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Lehman: Okay. Then that would. Then if we chose to go with the budget amount
this hearing tonight would have satisfied the requirement in the ordinance?
Atkins: That is correct.
Lehman: Or as you suggest you may amend it to change it to the $100,000.
Pfab: And that is still covered under the- that would still be covered as part of
this public hearing?
Atkins: Yes.
Lehman: And that was spoken to tonight.
Pfab: Okay.
Lehman: Other Council comments?
Champion: The other question I would like to ask Eleanor- if we can't really make
budget decisions tonight- I mean I know we can't vote on them. But we
can't really consensus on them either?
Dilkes: The appropriate thing to do would be to perhaps schedule it for your work
session on Monday.
Lehman: I think we need to raise the issue tonight so we can talk about it.
Dilkes: There is no problem with raising the issues tonight and saying we have
these issues that we need to discuss before we vote on the budget on the
7th. But the item on the agenda tonight was the public hearing. And so
that really needs to remain the focus. And I would- if you need further
discussion among yourselves you should do it on Monday.
Lehman: I think it is important that Council, at least for me, I would like to know
what other interests- what other issues we would like to be talking about
Monday so that all of us can be prepared to discuss those issues.
O'Donnell: I would like some questions answered on First Avenue.
Atkins: If you want me to have a staff person come to the Monday meeting. I
didn't say to you all, for that I apologize, the budget work session- you
have a work session on the 6th. Your routine work session at which time
you could certainly also- you have another opportunity. If you want to go
home and think about some things and put those on the floor also to alert
the other members of Council that you would make a motion at the next
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meeting. If you wish some staff present for First Avenue on the 6th, that is
fine.
O'Donnell: I would like to know Steve, if this is delayed what is the cost? If we bring
it back in another year. We are talking about a money savings if we do
them together.
Atkins: If it is just First Avenue? You policy position had been First Avenue and
Captain Irish were to be one project. Now we haven't designed Captain
Irish. And so there for we don't even really have a good engineer's
estimate on the thing. We only have our very generalized estimates. Will
it cost more money? I honestly don't know unless you bid the- until you
bid the projects. But traditionally construction inflation runs a tad bit
ahead of regular inflation so I think you can look forward to a 3% or 4%
increase on a project without too much trouble.
Lehman: Steve, I think it would be nice to have Chuck or Rick at the meeting.
Atkins: Okay.
Lehman: Because the First Avenue issue also includes a water line. A water line
without the road is about 20 feet. If the road is built the earth is moved
and it then becomes a 6-foot ditch so there is a significant difference in the
cost of installing the water line.
Atkins: Yes. I think regardless of how you come down on the issue you need to
make a very clear public statement. The water line needs to go in because
it connects the Rochester Reservoir with the new plant. That doesn't
mean you have to put a road in but you do need to have that water line
installed. And we need authorization from you eventually to begin that
process because there are some easements and other acquisitions that have
to occur.
Pfab: I have a question. Let's just suppose that First Avenue was stopped and
never went on. Is that the only place or is that the best place to run the
water line?
Atkins: It is the best place to run it because it is the shortest. And thereby it is
going to be the least expensive. It also helps provide for a looping of the
system. You could run it out Scott Boulevard and come back around but
you are also talking about a whole heck of a lot more money.
Pfab: So if there was no such thing as Scott Boulevard- or First Avenue
extension- if that never existed we probably still run the water line in the
same place.
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Atkins: That is correct Irvin.
Kanner: Emie is talking about savings from when we put in a water main also
putting a road in. Maybe we would realize those same savings if we did it
along Scott Boulevard and Captain Irish.
Atkins: That is a mile long Steve, I can't imagine (can't hear).
Kanner: I am not saying equal to First Avenue but I am saying that there would be
some savings as opposed to just putting out. And I would like to know
what those savings would be as opposed to not having Captain Irish -
building it at the same time so we could have that as an option.
Atkins: We will get that for you.
Kanner: Another thing I would also like to have in addition to Mike's request for
figures is what would the cost be of fixing First Avenue if we have to do
that at all? If we have to widen it south of Rochester. What are the costs
when we go north? What are the costs south? People brought that up that
there was talk about widening it to four lanes. Is that what is going to
have to happen? And what would that cost if that does have to happen?
Atkins: We can give you a pretty rough estimate on that.
Lehman: Well, I think policy of this Council and the last Council and maybe the
Council before is that we really go 3 lanes- we do turn lanes, we don't go
four lanes. I mean, we have not done that in the six years I have been on
council. So I doubt that that, you know- there would certainly be
additional costs with some of that. Steve, the other thing on that water
line- it may..
Atkins: We will get you that. We can give you very rough estimates.
Lehman: I think there is another issue on that water line. You run that water line a
mile and the efficiency of the line goes down so significantly that it might
not even work for you- run it around Scott to get to the reservoir on
Rochester. I don't think that will work.
Atkins: Well, there is lots of interest- I mean, I think the important thing is that if
you chose not to proceed with First Avenue I would really request separate
the water line as an independent issue of that. Because building a water
plant-
Lehman: Still it would probably have to go there.
Atkins: I can't imagine why you would want to do it otherwise just given the cost.
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Champion: It seems the logical place to put it.
Lehman: Yeah. Other questions for Monday night that we should be alerting each
other to ?
O'Donnell: What year is the new fire department scheduled in? I can't remember.
Atkins: '03. Fourth station.
Vanderhoef: '03.
Lehman: Oh, I think that is another issue that Steve that would be prepared to
discuss if First Avenue is delayed or eliminated. What that will do to a
fire station on the east side.
Champion: Or where it would be placed.
Lehman: Or where it would be placed.
O'Donnell: Or if it should be placed.
Atkins: Okay.
Lehman: All right, that is an issue that may take some time. Any other Council
issues?
Vanderhoef: I have one that I would like people to think about. I think I have talked to
everyone individually at this point. I am interested in adding a half time
person for Recreation. We presently have a half time person doing youth
programming and it is very difficult to bring forward trust by the young
people to work with a specific person in the Recreation department. And
if they find full time employment vs. a half time job these people chose to
move on. I'd like to get going with this youth programming a bit more in
our community. I think it is needed and particularly in our Junior High/
High School age groups. This has been a wish of Parks and Recreation for
as long as I sat on Parks and Recreation. So that puts it back about 8 or 9
years to get this person.
O'Donnell: I am interested in that also Dee.
Lehman: Any other issues that we want to alert each other to on Monday night?
Champion: I was going to ask about the money that we are taking from the public
transit out of the parking fund. What will replace that money? There was
a movement of funds.
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Atkins: We had-
Champion: I mean, don't answer it tonight.
Atkins: For the last 4 or 5 years we contributed to the transit fund $90,000 from
the parking fund. This year we recommended that that not occur. A
couple of reasons. One is the parking fund needs the money.
Champion: (can't hear).
Atkins: Yeah, and secondly we were fortunate that if you look at our grants and
aids, state and federal grants and aids, they increased enough- it didn't
offset it- but also it was, I think it was in the neighborhood of about a
$50,000 increase in the state aids. We felt if we were going to do it this
would be the year we would do it.
Champion: Okay, thanks Steve.
Kanner: Ernie, I have got a few things. The DARE programs, the DARE program
in the schools. I would like to consider cutting the funding to that. We
put in about $50,000 a year in police officer time. And ICAD I would like
us to consider cutting back in half this year, Iowa City Area Development.
I would like us to cut the Economic Development Fund from $500,000 to
$250,000 this year. That is the general fund part. And include hiking the
parking fees to not only raise money but also to encourage more public
transportation. And my understanding is that there may be four police
officers that are nearing the age of retirement. And I would recommend-
and also we are going to be losing federal funding for a number of
positions over the years to come- and I would recommend that we cut
back three positions over three years from the police officers and not
replace the retiring police officers. And with the money that we save I
would recommend that again the Public Arts Commission get that
additional $25,000. That Arts Iowa City receive funds equal to the other
weekend art festivals which was I think $7500.
Atkins: That is correct.
Kanner: That the Johnson County Crime Prevention, which is having its budget
cut, receive $10,000 out of their $21,000 request.
Lehman: Do we know that their budget has been cut or it is likely to be cut? The
last letter I saw was they were concerned about the likelihood of (can't
hear).
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Kanner: You might be fight. I am not sure and maybe that would be contingent on
if it is cut or not. And I would also agree with Dee about the half time
afternoon recreation person. And then we also consider adding 3 fire
fighters.
Champion: They are on the slate to be hired for the new fire department fight? They
are in the budget.
Atkins: '02.
Lehman: That is in '02.
Vanderhoef: Nine total though.
Champion: Right.
Kanner: I am saying outside of that new fire station regardless of what happens
with that. That we need additional fire fighters and there has been a big
cry for that and I think that is something that we should increase. And
then increase the public subsidy, the general fund subsidy, to the buses an
additional amount which I would say in the $50,000 to $100,000 range.
And then the final thing which was voted already but I don't know if this
would apply but keeping the Park and Rec.'s fees increases at the rate of
inflation. The increase in those fees instead of the higher than inflation
rate.
Champion: I had one more thing, not necessarily to deal with anything in this file or
that big one I have. But if Captain Irish and Scott Boulevard are built but-
I almost forgot the name of it- First Avenue has been delayed or removed-
that I don't want it- I am not interested in reducing the budget, I mean I
would if there was something else- but that $1.5 million. Steve, is there
something that could be done with that money to- for economic
development on the southeast side of Iowa City? Or do you have enough
allocated for that?
Atkins: First of all, you haven't spent the money. It is not there. Remember, this
is a budget for '02. If you were to take that out that would reduce the
borrowing planned over the four years of your Capital Plan. If you
remember we had the four year $40 million? If you were to remove the
$1.5 million for First Avenue, in effect, you would be authorizing
borrowing in the $38.5 range. That is how that would work. Now, if you
wish to use it for something, then that is clearly up to you to designate.
Champion: That is what my question is.
Atkins: You can designate that as you see fit.
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Champion: I need to know if it would even be valid.
(Several talking)
Champion: I mean, you have already allocated a certain amount of money to
economic development?
Atkins: Yes we have. And those- that is the maximum amount per year we can
levy under the law for economic development so (can't hear).
Champion: That answers my question.
Kanner: I have a question for the Council and the City Manager. For the proposed
bus driver' s what are we calling it? Outside of Younkers their break
room?
Atkins: Oh, the transit interchange?
Kanner: The transit interchange which will have a bathroom for bus drivers. Do
we also have space for them to sit at a table during a break? Any kind of
break room facilities?
Atkins: I don't think it is big enough for that. I mean, I will check with Joe but I
suspect it is intended to be a warm spot that you can go in and that there
would be a rest room but there would be a ticket counter. But I don't
think there is much other room in there. I will check for you but right now
I guess my reaction is no. It is not that big.
Lehman: Pretty small space.
Atkins: But I will check for you.
Kanner: Is there any way- any room that we could make it a little bigger because
that is a major place where the bus drivers take breaks and they really
don't have a break space there unless they use public facilities.
Atkins: I will find out for you. I can't answer that now.
O'Donnell: It is not a bad idea.
Lehman: Any other concerns that we would like to be- alert each other to for
Monday.
O'Donnell: I do think it is very important- First Avenue two years ago was $1.2
million, did I understand?
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Atkins: Yeah. That sounds fight.
O'Donnell: And today it is $1.5 million. So that is a substantial increase. That is
several hundred thousand dollars that the taxpayers have spent. I think it
is very important that we understand if this thing- and I heard tonight we
had much discussion on it. We had two more opposed than in favor of
First Avenue. So it is very close. But we need to know what this is going
to cost the taxpayers if we put it on the ballot in two years.
Lehman: We will talk about that Monday night.
O'Donnell: But we need to be ready for that.
Lehman: Do we have a motion to adjoum?
Karr: Could we have a motion to accept correspondence first?
Vanderhoef: So moved.
Wilburn: Second.
Lehman: Moved by Vanderhoef, seconded by Wilbum to accept correspondence.
All in favor?
All: Aye.
Lehman: Opposed?
O'Donnell: Motion to adjoum.
Lehman: Moved by O'Donnell.
Wilburn: Second.
Lehman: Seconded by Wilburn. All in favor?
All: Aye.
Lehman: Opposed? We are adjoumed. Thank you.
This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City Council meeting of
February 29, 2000.