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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-02-29 Public hearingForm 631.1 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BUDGET EST!!vIATE Fiscal Year July 1, 2000 - June 30, 2001 City of Iowa City, Iowa The City Council will conduct a public hearing on the proposed Budget at the Civic Center, 410 E. Washington St. on ~/~9/00 at 7:00 o'clock p.m. The Budget Estimate Summary of proposed receipts and expenditures is shown below. Copies of the detailed proposed Budget may be obtained or viewed at the offices of the Mayor, City Clerk, and at the Library. The estimated Total tax levy rate per $1000 valuation on regular property is ....$14.75759 The estimated tax levy rate per $1000 valuation on Agricultural land is ............$ 3.00375 At the public hearing, any resident or taxpayer may present objections to, or arguments in favor of, any part of the proposed budget· (Date) xx/xx/xx City Clerk Budget Re-estimated Actual FY 2001 FY 2000 FY 1999 (a) (b) (c) REVENUES e~ OTHER FINANCING SOURCES Taxes Levied on Property 1 26,088,827 23,944,807 21,636,693 Less: Uncollected Property Taxes-Levy Year 2 Net Current Property Taxes s 26,088,827 23,944,807 21,636,693 Delinquent Property Taxes 4 TIF Revenues 5 49, 784 Other City Taxes 6 1,230,067 460,667 556,643 Licenses ~ Permits 7 628,825 601,800 676,433 Use of Money ~ Property 8 4,480,039 4,449,500 5,354,522 Intergovernmental 9 14,066,931 23,006, 196 16,597,030 Charges for Services lo 33,023,595 30,938,348 29,450,958 Special Assessments 11 20, 453 23,504 33,968 Miscellaneous 12 2,722,785 2,632,804 3,823,063 Other Financing Sources is 117,633,903 136,837,585 77,705,025 Total Revenues ~ Other Sources 14 199,895,425 222,895,211 155,884, 119 EXPENDITURES ez OTHER FINANCING USES Community Protection (police, fire,street lighting, etc. ) 1 s 12,962,077 13,867,931 12,093, 188 Human Development (health, library, recreation, etc.) 16 11,954,802 14,566,088 11,083,727 Home ~ Community Environment (garbage, streets, utilities, etc.) 17 86,592,177 122,017,065 67,692,611 Policy ~ Administration (mayor, council, clerk, legal, etc.) 18 6,639,557 8,812,227 5,980,403 Non-Program ~ 9 0 Total Expenditures 20 118, 148,6 13 159,263,3 11 96,849,929 Less: Debt Service 21 19,219,524 15,470,515 12,856,824 Capital Projects 22 47,992,320 85,884,982 32,216,71 7 Net Operating Expenditures 2:~ 50,936,769 57,907,814 51,776,388 Transfers Out 24 77,435,463 89,925, 127 52,040, 775 Total Expenditures/Transfers Out 25 195,584,076 249, 188,438 148,890,704 Excess Revenues e~ Other Sources Over (Under) Expenditures/Transfers Out 26 4,311,349 (26,293,227) 6,993,415 Beginning Fund Balance July 1 27 64,214,203 90,507,430 83,514,015 Ending Fund Balance June 30 28 68,525,552 64,214,203 90,507,430 Marian Karr From: Bradford Roark [BJNCYCLING@email.msn.com] Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2000 10:14 PM To: icpc@inav.net; jeff_davidson@iowa-city.org; karin._franklin@iowa-city.org; council@iowa- city.org; ross_wilburn@iowa-city.org; dee_vanderhoef@iowa-city.org; ipfab@avalon.net; Mike_odonnell@iowa-city.org; ernie_lehman@iowa-city.org; connie_champion@iowa-city.org Subject: First Avenue Extension February 27, 2000 To: Council Men~bers: Planning and Community Development: Connie Champion Karin Franklin Steven Kanner Jeff Davidson Ernie Lehman Mike O'Donnell Irvin Pfab Dee Vanderhoef Ross Wilburn An open letter to the counselors and planners for the City of Iowa City. You are all elected or hired to serve the best interests of this community. That is a daunting task that requires much effort on all parts. In order to serve the citizens who employ you, it is incumbent upon you to not only do what you may believe is right, but you must also respond to what that citizenry wants. In the case of your push to drive First Avenue through to an ill thought out Captain Irish Parkway, I believe you are in error and violating the desires of that public and the trust they place in you. The vote to delay construction of this extension was more than a time delay. It was a mandate to you to dig deeply into the issues and problems associated with the proposal and to find a better way. I am aware of no meetings initiated by you as public servants to explore this issue. The North East Quadrant development issue was not it even though many tried to help you see how it could be a tool to resolve the First Avenue extension issue. The reason to connect First Avenue to Captain Irish Parkway is rather compelling. This will provide an easy access route to ACT for many people on the east side of town. It will also provide an improved route to west bound 1-80 from the east side of town. If easy access is the ONLY valid issue to be considered, then by all means we should go full speed ahead and get this accomplished. As public servants, I will presume you are responsible enough to not leap into a solution without having first weighed all of the effects and alternatives. What are those effects? 1) Increased automobile traffic on First Avenue: Are additional lanes necessary to handle the increased traffic? Will turning lanes be necessary at key intersections? Will traffic signals be required to manage the traffic flow? Are pedestrian safe guards going to be initiated? Will pedestrian bridges be needed for South East Junior High, City High School, Hoover Elementary, and the Regina Education Complex? The First Avenue/Rochester intersection already grid locks two times each day when school is in session and the traffic at South East Junior High nearly does so. Is the additional traffic on First Avenue going to correct these problems? 2) Advent of truck traffic on First Avenue: (I understand that trucks are not going to be allowed on this route, but I question whether that can actually be controlled.) Is the street wide enough to handle the semi-tractor/trailer rigs that will now be traveling this corridor? Is the current street construction capable of handling the stress of 40000 pound loads? 1 Are noise levels going to be considered in the residential neighborhoods that truck traffic will now pass through? Have the additional costs associated with maintaining a much more heavily used street been factored in? 3) Changes in special events: City High plays host to many football, track, baseball, softball, and soccer events at its Bates Field complex which adjoins First Avenue. Being responsible public servants and supporters of the Iowa City community I'm sure most of you have attended a few of these events over the years. Have you envisioned how vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be managed with First Avenue being a major arterial road? Regina hosts a delightful Fall Fun Festival each year that brings thousands of people to the First Avenue and Rochester Street area. Will the special use permit that allows this event to occur cease being issued because the arterial roadway creates a safety hazard for the event? City High's students instilled community pride and revived its homecoming parade tradition this past year. A First Avenue which is a major arterial will certainly prevent issuing a permit for that event. Will we as a community model a behavior for them that says their community pride is less important than establishing this arterial route? If First Avenue is extended, the additional lanes, traffic signals, improved road beds, pedestrian bridges, etc. will be demanded very quickly. Since none of these items appear to be in the proposed cost of First Avenue extension, when will they be in the budget? What is the total cost? Let the taxpayers see the entire cost of this initiative before you authorize it. Are there alternatives? 1) One alternative already in the planning is the extension of Scott Boulevard. It was designed to be a major traffic bearing arterial where First Avenue was not. It is wide, designed to handle heavy truck traffic, and passes through fewer residential areas. It connects directly to south east Iowa City's industrial park area and passes more than one-quarter mile from the nearest school. Several years ago, the Iowa City Council traded the land that provided the logical extension route for Scott Boulevard to ACT. Iowa City then proceeded to build Captain Irish Parkway which, for those of you who are not familiar with it, is presently the primary entrance driveway for ACT paid for by the taxpayers. Completing the extension of Scott Boulevard by tying it to Captain Irish Parkway will not get the city back to the best route it had available a few years ago, but will address the need to move traffic on the east side of town. It will also do so without the negative impact on 30 year old residential areas and four school zones serving nearly 4000 students. It is time to put aside the servitude to special interests, and responsibly care for the citizens and city as a whole in this matter. Put an end to the First Avenue extension! Connect Scott Boulevard to Captain Irish Parkway! Respectfully Submitted, Bradford J. Roark 217 Post Road Iowa City, IA 52245 February 23 2000 , '," CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE Dear Councilor Champion, ~**/ I'm writing to you to ask that you continue to keep an open mind about the fate of First Avenue before committing any more funds to it. Several years ago when the City's Northeast District community planning meetings began, my daughter, who was then a sophomore at City High, and I were renting a house on Upland Avenue, which is one block south off Court St. and one block east off First Avenue. Until I bought a house on North Linn a year ago, we had lived all I ] years of our Iowa City residency in the Longfellow / eastside part of town and have done most of our shopping downtown and in the Towncrest / Sycamore areas. That is the part of town I know best and feel most connected to. When I began attending the planning meetings I was pleased to observe that there were a number of residents who had not been involved with city politics before. These meetings were their first experience with citizen participation, and from the first meeting, people were concerned about the direction the city staff seemed to be leading us, particularly regarding First Avenue, which was the main concern of many of the participants. It is, in fact, the critical issue for that community. As you may recall, the majority of citizens opposed the extension, for reasons of safety, the design of the road, the negative impact increased traffic would have on the neighborhood and Hickory Hill Park, and a strong feeling that this area was being asked to pay a very high price for poor planning in the past and to literally pave the way for questionable planning in the future. In short, people felt their neighborhood was being sold out. In response to the direction and conclusions the city staff was imposing on the process, a group of citizens designed a professional Citizen's Alternative Plan, which accurately reflected the intentions of the majority of participants. When the city staff presented its plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission it was with First Avenue extended. The citizen's alternative was met by open hostility from some of the P&Z Commissioners, most notably Dick Gibson. At this point, many of the neighborhood folks felt so betrayed by the process that they gave up, a sad comment on the city's so-called "citizen participation, . will impact the people who have invested their savings in a home in the exi~n~ ~:~* community. Too often that trend of the City staff to sacrifice existing neigh~h~'ods'*~3~r - new development and pet projects, running roughshod over legitimate questi.~,~,_a, bouSs_ the way in which decisions are made. Critics are dismissed as "NIMBYs" or "a vocal minority" with little regard to genuine concerns about the vision for the future of Iowa City. Steve Arkins, Jeff Davidson and Ernie Lehman do not speak for many of us. You have been one of the few incumbents who has shown a willingness to listen to people and not dismiss anyone out of hand who disagrees with the city staffs plans for our future. It takes a lot for a citizen to persist when faced with rudeness and indifference, and many give up. Government by attrition is a far cry from anyone's idea of democracy, but it seems to the preferred method of some highly placed city staffers and some city councilors. In short, I hope you will consider removing the First Avenue extension from the CIP budget at the February 29 budget hearing, at the very least until the very real concerns are meaningfully and fully addressed. Thank you for listening. Sincerely yours, Dianne Kaufman 811 North Linn Street Iowa City, Iowa 52245 THEUNIVERSITY OF IOWA February 28, 2000 1023 E. Bloomington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52245 319-338-7899 Mr. Ernie Lehman And City Council Members City of Iowa City Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Dear Mayor Lehman and Members of the Council: You have recently earned my respect in a number of ways, including your support for the library expansion and for the Englert theatre. But I honestly believe that the four of you who support the First Avenue extension are making a serious error in judgment. I urge you to re-consider and refuse, tonight, to fund that extension. While Scott Boulevard is clearly a necessary cross-town connection, First Avenue is not. Furthermore, it will absolutely prevent the necessary further growth of Hickory Hill Park; it will add untenable stresses of development in an environmentally sensitive area; it will inappropriately increase traffic and congestion, the very problems it is reputed to solve; and it will pose a traffic threat to the children who already play in the area. Most important, it is an extension that Iowa City voters re.iected in 1998. For you to approve it in the face of this rejection is--I feel sad to say this--to throw representative government back in our faces. While I do thank you for your recent contributions to this city, I thus urge you to refuse the First Avenue extension. Tom ~immens ~ Asso~ial~'=Pro essor ~ f Columnist Iowa City Press-Ci~zesn Department of English 308 English Philosophy Bldg. Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1492 319/335-0454 FAX 319/335-2535 Edwin S. McCo!!ister /~ FEB 2 8 2000 ~ 2313 Tudor Drive Iowa City, ]owa 52245 Clff MANAGER'S OFFICE (319) 33%2450 February 25, 2000 Council Member / CONNIE CHAMPION City of Iowa City Dear Councilor Champion: Lots of people are agitated for lots of reasons about the possible extension of First Avenue. Let me tell you mine. First Avenue cannot take any more traffic. I drive it several times a day and it is plain to see. It cannot be an arterial highway. It is inconsistent with the established neighborhood and there is no way the street can be widened without causing utter devSstation. Access to North Dodge Street from here is not that difficult. I often drive it. Both Dodge and Governor are in effect arterial highways and traffic is not excessive. Both are easy to get to from Rochester. Why not leave well enough alone? Perhaps ACT and developers might benefit from a First Avenue extension but the people in this part of town would not. We comprise the over- whelming majority. I hope you will see it that way. Sincerely, FROM: Doris Houser 1~ FEB I~ 8 2000 ~ .... , DATE: February 24, 2000 [}ll~ MhNAGE[~'S [}[[ICE ~ ~ S~JECT: First Ave Extension plans You indicated you had not heard much ~om ~e public on the First Avenue plans ~d the paper seems to only reflect the minori~ of the public that are against it. Thus, I am providing my opinion on the ma~er. I am in FAVOR of the First Ave Extension plans ..... in fact, it is long overdue. Iowa Ci~ needs several arterial sweets in differera directions as well as around the ci~ if traffic is going to move in an efficient manner. Sco~ Blvd cabot ~ndle all the east side NoahSouth traffic, nor is this the most efficient approach. I live by the ScoR Blvd ~ea and I c~ ~derstand ~ople's concern, but this street also goes through residential and park are~. ~en the SE commerciaUindus~al area expands and developes,. this ~11 become a busier sweet for ~cks, etc. However, we need several streets that provide efficient access if we are to be com~tetive in a~acting indust~ to Iowa Ci~. We do need more commercial/indus~al ~o~h if we are going to increase the t~ base and have sources of funds other than residemial prope~ Br ci~ se~ices, schools, etc. My desire would be to res~ct semi waffic in residential areas and to build a track arterial connecting H~ 6 to Herbert Hoover H~ f~her east than the Windsor Ridge bo~q. Perhaps in the distant fut~e~ We also need good ~affic pa~ems to move fire and emergency vehicles aro~d the ci~ in the most efficient manner. If a fire track cabot respond in a shoaer time than 8-10 minutes to certain are~ of the ci~ (as re~ned in the Press Citizen), something needs to be done .... that res~nse time is too long---a person could be dead or a house burned out of con~ol in that time frame. This is a higher pfio~ than Hicko~ Hill Park~ The impact on Hicko~ Hill is geatly exaggerated and ~e result of ~e early campai~ that did not provide a clear picture of the road in relation to the park. It would help yo~ public relations if the Ci~ could get the Press Citizen and CR G~e~e to rein facts in relation to a GOOD map of the area. The maps in the Press ge so small and ~clear, ~ey are worthless. A good map ~th labels and some idea of distance points would be ve~ helpful for visuali~tion. Hopefully, you ~11 be able to proceed with this woahwhile project with minimal distractruns. cc: Mayor E. Lehman :C ~ .... ~ CITY ! ANAGER'$ OFFICE BEPPIE WEISS 36 Lakeview Knoll NE, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, (319) 351-8266 February 25, 2000 Stephen J. Arkins, City Manager Civic Center 410 East Washington Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Mr. Arkins: I would first like to thank you for your support this past fall and winter. Arts Iowa City with the generous help of the owners of the Paul Hellen building was able to host a great ceramics show that coincided with a U of I conference. Many of the participants stayed at the downtown Holliday Inn and visited and enjoyed our exhibit. We were a great addition to the fall Ped Mall activities, cultural, tasteful, and classy. Our two month flee rent status ended and you graciously came through with enough to keep us there a few more months. During that time we have had our best ever members show, a show from area high schools, and our most recent show of various area artists. Our next show, Book Arts Etc. (opening this Friday 5toT...hope to see you there) and the following national jurried show, Paper Fiber, will bring us to the end of our occupation of the gallery in the Paul Hellen building. In May that wonderfully visible space, we hear, will become a Hawk Eye shop. We will go back under ground and continue our efforts to acquire grant money and fund raise while we look for another street level gallery space. We will also have to seriously consider our mission in Iowa City. Are we obsolete after 25 years of giving birth to local art activities? (Arts Fest, Jazz Fest, art classes, and high quality art exhibits to list just a few) I don't believe that our work is finished. Our president is currently leading a group interested in forming a cultural epicenter in Iowa City with other interested arts and entertainment leaders. Our organization, the Englert group, and other pivitol people in the community are trying hard to make Iowa city distinct from any other eastern Iowa comznunity. We have a great start. Regular readings at Prairie Lights, organized and impromptu entertainment on the Ped Mall, our eclectic group of unusual shops, coffee houses and restaurants, the library, new playground and beautified open space, (and I must include bars) are all part of what will make us special. Arts Iowa City needs to remain a part of this picture. We are non conunercial, open year round, and all of our classes, opening parties, and exhibits are open to all and except for classes, free of charge. There is nothing else like us around. We need your continued financial support, and in exchange, as an entertainment and cultural highlight for local residents and visitors alike, we will bring people back downtown .... Thank vou for your consideration. ~?~ C3 ~'~ Sincerely, Beppie Weiss ~i> po s,c ,,e. · .e ' ' t 9 ' Februe 22, .2(X)0 Dear Connie, Steven, Ernie, Mike, I~in, Dee and Ross; I wish to thank you all for the time you have taken to review the state of affairs with regard to Ads Iowa City. I realize that our budget and business projection appear modest, at best. Compared to the budgets of the Iowa Ads and Ja~ Festivals, I ~n see that br de~des, the adists ~o have tried to create a ~mmunity ads ~nter had to 'make do' and invent ~at was needed out our nothing. It's a testimonial to the power of the creative pro~ss. Our experience in a first class business loftion has given us quite an awakening. We know that a new organizational cha~ is ~iti~l to be viable in our 21 st ~ntu~. A Board of Diredors retreat directed by staff from the Iowa Ads Council is slated to occur this ~ril. A~s Iowa City is grateful for the assistan~ from the City of Iowa City ~i~ enabled us to re~gnize the scope of change necessa~ for us to remain active as this ~mmunity's visual ads venue. One of the many ~ntributions ~ich Ms Iowa City's presen~ on the plaza created in the downto~ during our shod tenure at 207 E. Washington, is the establishment of the Cultural Distri~ Dis~ssion Group. This group was ~lled to order in November, 1999, and has met weekly to discuss a wide range of issues ~n~ming the ads in Iowa City and how they might be identified and harnessed to assist with e~nomic redevelopmerit in the downtown area where most of our cultural assets currently are active. We invited members from the following groups to join in these discussions: Do~town Association, IC/Coralville Visitor & Convention Bureau, Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, IC Libra~, IC Ja~ Festival, Iowa Ads Festival, Senior Center, University Of Iowa Facilities, UI Stepping Up Program, City Planning and Development, City Council members, Riverside Theater, Community Theater, various Io~1 ads business owners as well as other business owners, Prairie Lights and most recently, the Engled Coalition Group. Our vigilan~ in ~nduding these discussions produced a concept which accurately describes the state of the ads in Iowa City, and that term is: Epi~nter. We discussed the 'energy for the a~s' in this town and tried to understand the changes which are o~urring, seemingly as eruptions of and by themselves. All the years of planning a Center Spa~ and Community Events Center have fueled the creation of these recent ads quakes. Although the futures of A~s Iowa City and the Engled Theater, two major destination points, remain a myste~; the Epi~nter ~ncept is alive and well and has formed a core alliance which is outlining a plan of action and fundraising which suppo~s the original intent of a Cultural District. That intent is to ~nverge the energy of the ads in the Iowa City area and apply it to e~nomic development in the do~town area of our community as a community rebuilding initiative~ All of this is a volunteer effo~ on the pa~ of our organization and this effo~ benefits ALL OF US~ In considering expenditures for FY2001, I think that supposing Ads Iowa City at an equal level that you suppod the weekend festivals would be the minimum of fair. Until last year, the A~s Fair component of the Iowa Ads Festival was solely sponsored and suppoded by Ads Iowa City. Our effo~s to suppo~ year around cultural activities for this ~mmunity have been steadfast for 25 years. As we experience strong currents of transformation within the cultural climate of our ~mmunity; WE ABSOLUTELY NEED SOME HELPt ~s.p~tted,~ · Nancy L. Pur~gton';Pre~rs ~ Iowa Cit~ Board or Director= Gene Anderson H~k Gins~r~ Nancy ~urinSmn C~isdnc Boycr O¢orSia Heald Ch~les ~¢ad C~is Bu~d Jon & Sh~i Lem~¢ ~adeline Sullivan David Dennis John Loomis ~¢ppi¢ Weiss L~ Ec~olt K~en ~ichaeli Laura Youn~ Wendy Ford Betty We, the undersigned, encourage the iowa City City Council to extend First Avenue north r,~___ ............. ~sOOn We, the undersigned encou ~ the a City City Council to extend First Avenue north 1600 feet a soon a's po / y~"' "', :" ,. ,~ .' / . ~,~~ /52 D~~, ~, /~ ~/ //~ Marjan Karr From: Jrettigl 11 @aol.com Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2000 11:03 PM To: council@ iowa-city. o rg Subject: Citizen's Summary 2001-2003 Proposed Financial Plan Dear Members of the Iowa City City Council: I am writing you concerning the Citizen's Summary 2001-2003 Proposed Financial Plan. I have some questions, concerns, confusion, and some opinions that I wanted to make you aware of. Some of my points may be because of typos or lack of complete information in the document -- some may be because my fiscal conservatism -- some may be because of philosophical differences. Here they are in order that they appear in the document: 1) Steve Atkins letter to you. He says that he has taken the position that would propose no reduction in full-time employees. I'm curious what staffing levels are in similar size cities department by department? Are we high in some, low in others? 2) Page 6 Budget Highlights- A) Increasing utility bills by $1.80 each month. I realize that the upcoming federal guidelines on storm water treatment could mean a drastic change for us and we should begin to get financially prepared, but on top of increases in water rates this year and sewer next year how much more can you take from us? Perhaps we should find some room in our budget to set aside the $400,000 annually without rasing rates again. By the way, I think water rates should be fairer. People should be rewarded for being water conservationist, not by paying a higher rate per gallon. B) Emergency Levy on property tax. I'm not sure using an emergency levy in boom times represents good financial planning. It seems like you are abusing this "emergency" to cover for the city's lack of financial discipline. 3) Page 12 -- Hotel/Motel Tax I've never understood what we get out of all the money we give the Convention and Visitors Bureau. It appears to me that the majority of visitors we get can be directly attributed to University or other special events, not from the efforts of CVB. I would support cutting their budget and funding more community enrichment projects, local events, and local museums/performing and arts. (My wife, Robin, wants to know if the CVB has been responsible for bringing any convention to Iowa City...) 4) Page 17 A) Line 3-- Why is the Airport Operations going up so much 64,000 to 80,700 -- 26%? Is it for a new worker? B) Line 4-- Why is Transit Operations going up so much? Not that I'm opposed to public transit. I think ridership would drastically increase if you spent more money on transit by reducing fees. I can't imagine that being a priority when you have invested so heavily in parking facilities, 5) Page 18 -- General Fund Cash Balances. Frankly that graphic scares me. If you are going to use an emergency levy in this financial climate, what are we going to do when a real crisis occurs? Spending more than we take in is a bad idea in my book. In the five years listed, we spend more than we take in in three different years. 6) Page 20 A) Wastewater Treatment Fund -- Why will we need to spend $300,000 of new expenses when the plant is operational? I thought new usually means more efficient, less workers, etc. B) Water Fund 1. One new position being created this year. Why? What happened that we need a new clerk/typist? 2. Why will we need to spend $300,000 of new expenses when the plant is operational? I thought new usually means more efficient, less workers, etc. 7) Page 22 Debt -- I don't care how much we are allowed I don't think we should be this far in debt with more coming. We should learn to live within our means a little better. By being frugal, we can find the money in our current budget to pay for things we want and need. There may always be a need for some debt, but these jumps are too much (and the library project is not even included). 8) Proposed Expenditures A) Page 27-- Financial Services: A $7,500 microfiche reader? Seems high. Computer Scanners for $3,500. A local office supply store sells scanners for $99, $199 and $399. There are six offices included in this budget line. I can't imagine why they all need the best scanner, but only the best when you are using taxpayers money. It still doesn't add up. The $100 scanner in my business works just fine! B) Page 29-- Police: Chair, Side $1,200; Chair, Task $6,400; Chair, Task $3,200; Computer Workstation $7,500. Notice none of these are plural. I don't know where you buy your chairs and computer desks, but this is outrageous. I talked with my Mom this evening, she can get you a great computer workstation for $900 and one fit for the King's castle for $2,000. Call her at Rettig's Furniture 217/852-3538, you'll save thousands. C) Page 30-- Fire: Projection display system $3,000. Must be pentagon quality. D) Page 32-- Parks and Recreation: Microcomputer $4,450. One computer for 4,500 -- call gateway and save thousands. Floor/Carpet Protectors $8,100. That's more expensive than new carpet. (Did I tell you my Dad and Mom sold and laid carpet for 35 years?) E) Page 33-- Library: Microcomputer, Laptop $20,000. One laptop for 20k -- and I thought Parks and Rec. were big spenders. I bet Bill Gates doesn't have a $20,000 laptop computer. F) Page 34-- Senior Center: 1 Radios, Portable $750. You could probably buy each senior at lunch a radio for that kind of money. G) Page 37-- Parking and Transit: This is an environmental pet peeve of mine. Why do the meter readers drive around on trucks that are not fuel efficient and are polluting our air? Can we buy them bicycles, electric carts or even have them walk? H) Page 39-- Miscellaneous Divisions: Network Server $35,000; Printers $26,000; Microcomputers $78,500; Memory $4,000; Satellite Dish $8,000. A $20,000 computer here, a $4,500 there, and sooner or later you're talking real money. I thought they gave you those satellite dishes free if you sign up for a year's service? 9) Capitol Improvement Plan A) Page 44, #34740 Iowa Avenue Streetscape. I think paying $3.5 million to make 170 downtown and northside customers (at a time) shop somewhere else is silly. I wish they would walk, bike or take the bus, but the fact of the matter is many drive and they want to park near stores and on the street. No wonder all the downtown stores are struggling. I would spend some money to make the street nicer, but leave the parking mostly as is. B) Page 45, #34530 Street Pavement Marking Thank you, thank you. Can we increase this budget so that we are sure we can get it all done this year? This wins my award for the best use of city funds this year. C) Page 45, #34635 Traffic Calming I heard on NPR the other day where the City that "developed" traffic calming methods is having troubles because their fire department believes they significantly slow down response times. I think this money could be better spent or given back to the people of Iowa City. D) Page 48, #31120 Peninsula Site Devel. I really don't get it. When you add it all up, we are spending a great deal of money to develop the Peninsula, which we will sell for a significant loss. I must be reading and adding wrong. I'm not sure I think that is the best 2 land to be developed into housing at this time. E) Page 50, #9137 Riverside Arts Campus I'm all for the arts. I think the Riverside Shakespeare project is a great use of city funds. I just don't know what this project is. F) Page 52, #9108 Mercer Park Ball Field Lighting Pet peeve time again. A few years ago Women's softball leagues were kicked off the Mercer Fields. They are now out in what I believe is Coralville at the UI Softball Complex. They have great fields, but... There are no concessions, dogs cannot attend and its at the edge of town. Aren't we sending enough people to Coralville already? Keep the lights the way they are, $200,000 could be better spent on something else. G) Page 53, #38655 Park Restroom Improvements Where are all these $40,000 a year restrooms going? Is this a first year for this budget line? We do need more public restrooms. One of them should be in the Central Business District. At first I thought that's what those kiosks were? They look much like a street bathroom I saw once in San Francisco. H) Page 53, #38650 Park Shelter Improvements Why is this year so much higher than the rest? I thought the new parks have separate park development budget lines? I) Page 56, #32240 Hazardous Waste Recycling FAC This is a great idea, but I have a couple of concerns. A million dollars is a lot of money. As I understand it you will still need to make an appointment to drop materials off. Can there be some set hours? On weekends too? Side note: There are some changes coming up in curbside recycling. We are dropping glass pickup and adding paper. According to JCCOG the majority of drop off glass is dumped into the landfill. When we get rid of curbside glass our only option will be the drop off centers. There must be a way that we can have drop off sites where the glass is actually recycled. Could volunteers staff a site once in a while or something? J) Page 58, #38970 Downtown Streetscape Another $4.5 million dollars. Some of it I like, some of it I don't, but all of it has been too expensive. The $52,000 telephones and locked bulletin boards are just the most visible. For the price of those kiosks, we could have done all the streetscape and landscape improvements in the Northside Business District. K) Page 59, #38740 Computer System I know this stuff is expensive, but $1.3 million? That's 65 laptops at the library's rate! L) Page 60, #38550 Library Expansion Cost to renovate and expand the public library -- $60,000. I wish! M) Page 60, ~36250 Parking Ramp-Near Southside I'm opposed to another parking ramp. I'm also opposed to the city buying up land that is generating property taxes and building more stuff. N) Page 61, #36940 Transit Downtown Interchange This is a great deal of money for what the real purpose is -- a restroom. Who will staff it and what will that cost us? In this vane, I'm really concerned about the proposal to buy up a block on Burlington and build a transit facility. I believe we need that to be tax generating property. That's property we should consider using some of that economic development money you are setting aside on. Recruiting somebody to put in a suites hotel/conevntion center would be high on my list. I want to thank you for the opportunity to tell you my reactions from reading the 2001-2003 Proposed Financial Plan. For years I have read your budgets, marked my copy up, and never shared my thoughts. Its is probably clear from my points that I am very concerned about the direction the City of Iowa City is going. Its not that I don't believe in 3 spending money for the betterment of the community, I just believe that we do not have unlimited resources. I also believe that with more careful spending on some smaller things, we can find money to pay for bigger projects. Unfortunately I didn't have the information necessary to comment on most of the major capitol projects -- some may be important, but I would guess that others are not. I encourage each of you to ask tough questions and guard your vote. Not every project proposed to you is one that should be funded. Thank you for your time and considerations, Janelle Rettig 3013 Cornell Ave Iowa City, IA 52245 319/338-0999 home jrettiglll@aol.com Febma~ 28, 2000 Dear Mayor Lehman: Being a lifelong resident of Iowa City for 53 years, I have a major concem about the First Avenue Extension Project. I have compiled some statements, both past and present, that I have researched from various citizens' editorials to the Iowa Ci~ Press Citizen. These statements have convinced me that this project should be removed from the Capital Improvements plan and that it would have a negative impact on Iowa City's eastside. Please read the enclosed concems and questions and consider the impact your vote will have on the future of our neighborhood and Hicko~ Hill Park. Thanks so much. Mark D.Wilson 527 Stuart Ct. Iowa City, IA 52245 Phone: 338-4059 0uestions and Concerns About the 1st Ave. Extension If we' re as intelligent and progressive as we claim to be we should move faster toward reducing auto traffic. Corbin Sexton Put more resources in public transportation, zoning changes to allow more business to be available to people within walking distance and more bike-friendly areas. Otherwise, the city is only promoting more traffic. Corbin Sexton There's a number of commercial areas now that need the city, s attention. Rather than building new roads, maybe the city should work on getting these areas up to speed. Corbin Sexton ...ruin the atmosphere and view of the park. Q ~ Corbin Sexton ~i.~. ~7i ~ -'[~ ..need an east-side, north-south arterial tol take the~ii~!~, ~'~ ~ pressure off residential streets. If 1st Ave. goes th~ ~ the interstate, the safety of our kids will be compro~ed. ii Dan Daly Why should the parents of the children who attend any one of the four schools that will be affected by the increase in traffic on 1st Ave. risk the safety of their children so a few commuters can cut five minutes off their drive time? Dianne Kaufman The most prominent downfall will be the destruction of wildlife and vegetation through pollution. With all those cars going through there, it is blatantly obvious there will be a steep decline in wildlife and vegetation through there. Examples of pollution in this case would be people littering, people trampling the vegetation, as well as ever-present carbon dioxide from vehicles. Ben Hall Why would we want to destroy nature in its most beautiful and natural form? Whoever planned 1st Ave. extension obviously doesn't appreciate nature for what it's worth in beauty. Ben Hall What will happen to the wildlife in the park? Deer pose a special problem in that aspect because of the over-population and lack of land. with so many problems, is it a good idea to take more land from them? My assumption is that area of Iowa City would be a very bad place to drive because of the deer. Ben Hall This extension will not only dramatically increase traffic on 1st Ave., it will also greatly affect Hickory Hill Park by contributing to noise, air and visual pollution of our last unspoiled green space within city limits. Candida Maurer Let's see what extending Scott Blvd. brings, since it ~ '~n originally intended to carry this kind of traffic load" ifj .-~ ']~ without d_~mage to existing neighborhoods and parks. ~?i -..~ ~o Candida Maurer ~-=i -~ The news that ACT will expand its North dodge campus will ca only add fuel to the fire. Extension opponents will believe - correctly or not - that council members are pandering to the company, rather than really trying to help the conmmlnity. ICPC Editorial Board The council must listen to and respond to concerns. It cannot simply say, "The roads going through, and that's that." ICPC Editorial Board Lately, a new and counterrailing view10oint is being heard. This view says that we can't build our way out of traffic problems; that if we try to do that, we actually end up making things worse - if you build a bigger road, they will cor~e o Jim Walters The challenge is not to accommodate more traffic, but to reduce it. There are many ways of doing this: mass transit, carpooling, encouraging bicycle and pedestrian alternatives and building new neighborhoods and work places that reduce auto dependency. Jim Waiters The reason it has become a magnet for opposition is because it goes against so many other parts of what we consider good urban planning. If the city undertakes the construction of a new "arterial" street, design features can be made to accon~nodate the expected flow of traffic ~ limiting access points and stops, providing turn lanes, etc. In the case of 1st Ave., very little can be done to make this a good arterial street other than to call it that. Jim Walters Why, in the midst of an ongoing and multi million revitalization of our downtown, are we creating ramp onto 1-807 And shouldn't this same question be a~ regard to the sagging con~nercial areas on the southeas~%\id~ If this road is opened, a more appropriate name might ~e th~ Coral Ridge Expressway. Jim Walters Schools are a problem. No road in Johnson County has two high schools, two grade schools, one junior high and two day care centers along a two-mile route. Pat Lind The driveway situation with vehicles needing to back into traffic is not rec~f~ended for arterial streets. North of Rochester the city allowed such driveways to be built knowing they violate the safety standards for arterial streets. Jeff Davidson said that was a "mistake." Pat Lind Traffic projections indicate an increase, not a decrease, in traffic along Rochester if 1st Ave. is extended. Candida Maurer First Avenue already carries 10,000 cars per day between Rochester and Court streets. An additional 4,300 cars per day will make it one of the busiest streets in a residential area tied only with Melrose Ave. for the dubious distinction. It is the only road in town that has four schools located along it, with literally thousands of children crossing it every day. Candida Maurer The steep and winding incline of 1st Ave. to the north of Rochester has already caused several accidents during winter driving conditions. One shudders to think what an additional 4,300 cars per day will do to these safety concerns. Candida Maurer Scott Blvd. is scheduled to be built regardless of wheth__er 1st Ave. is built or not. The cost will not change, andCthe truth is we don't need both roads. Candida Maurer L~_~ ~o -":::'] C', c-g ["' One last concern is the road's impact on Hickory Hill Although the road will not go through the park, it wil~ create significant noise and air pollution, as well as spoiling one of the last scenic vistas in TOWa City. The land that would be destroyed by 1st Ave. is used by wildlife, contains sensitive areas on both sides of it, and would likely affect the area ' s watershed. Candida Maurer Do we wish to be remembered as the generation that spoiled our last remaining wild place with more development? Or dare we be the generation that had the foresight to preserve what little is left of our precious Iowa land, the unique and beautiful jewel that is Hickory Hill Park? Candida Maurer Years ago when we as a community argued to pay for Scott Blvd. it was worth the understanding that that road would be the main route from the interstate to the industrial areas. Why then is this city council going back to a very old and dangerous idea of a 1st Ave. extension? Juanita Richmond when Scott Blvd. was built it was designed for a heavy traffic flow. There are no driveways that extend into Scott Blvd. It is also a much wider road than 1st Ave. with a nice sidewalk for pedestrian use. First Avenue is a very old street...It is narrow with many crossing streets that are the terror of any pedestrian using 1st Ave...From the standpoint of safety alone, it is not reasonable to add any more traffic to this residential neighborhood. Juanita Richmond How fast will that traffic go? Well, you can be sure of one thing: it won't be going 25 mph! People do not drive 25 m~h on what they perceive to be "arterial" streets - and the city would never allow 1st Ave. to be an arterial street in any new neighborhood. Could your neighborhood be a sacrifice zone? This has to be asked, because it's well-known that wherever there is more and faster traffic, property values decline...and this doesn't just affect houses on the main road, either - it affects entire neighborhoods! Jim Walters Marian Karr From: Mel Sunshine [sunshine@zeus.ia.net] Sent: Monday, February 28, 2000 10:21 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: First Avenuue extension MY WIFE AND I WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT WE ARE AGAINST THE FIRST AVENUE EXTENSION. I RIDE THE BUS DOWN COURT ST IN THE MORNING PRIOR TO SCHOOL OPENING AND THERE ARE ALWAYS LONG LINES OF CARS AT THE 1ST AVE INTERSECTION. PERHAPS THE COUNCIL SHOULD SPEND SOME TIME OBSERVING JUST THAT INTERSECTION. OTHER 1ST AVE INTERSECTIONS ARE EQUALLY BUSY. SO WHY DO YOU WANT TO MAKE IT WORSE? SCOTT BLVD IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE NORTH/SOUTH AVENUE. IT IS WIDE ENOUGH AND WITHOUT ALL THE DRIVEWAYS FOUND ON 1ST AVE. ALSO, I BELIEVE THAT IOWA CITIANS ALREADY VOICED THEIR OPINION AND VOTED AGAINST A 1ST AVE EXTENSION. SO, WHY CANT YOU GO ALONG WITH THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE? DO YOU HAVE A SECRET AGENDA THAT WE, THE PUBLIC, ARE UNAWARE OF? MEL AND DIANE SUNSHINE 340 P~AVEN ST Marian Karr From: tim j svatos [teab@juno.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 29, 2000 8:49 AM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: 1 st. Ave. Just a few thoughts on 1st. Ave. and Scotts Blvd. 1. Scotts Blvd is designed better as a bypass form HWY 6 to I80. Scotts Blvd has very few driveways coming on to it. I think that would mean that it would safer for the people of Iowa City. 2. Why extend 1st Ave. when Scotts Blvd is so close, within a mile. Not all streets need to run from the north to the south side of town. How does the 1st Ave. extension cost so much more? 3.1st Ave. has four or five school located near by or on it if you count Lemme school. 4. If you feel that we need 1st Ave. to connect up with the other roads then make sure that it is not a truck route or that trucks will not want to use it.(speed bumps, slow speed limit, weight restrictions) 5. Build Scotts Blvd first so 1st Ave. will not be over run with traffic until Scotts gets done. Again , with the schools and other issues it would be safer. 6. Just some thing to think about WWKD? See below Tim Svatos 510 Second Ave Iowa City, IA 466-1752 teab@juno.com What Would Karen Do? YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. Marian Karr From: Terri Daugherty [teresa-daugherty@uiowa.edu] Sent: Tuesday, February 29, 2000 1:51 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: 1 st Ave It is my understanding that tonight you will be voting on the 1st Ave extension. I have been living on Govenor St. for most of my life and feel that something must be done to reduce the traffic on this street. The amount of traffic seems to have steadily increased over the years and don't forget the mess during the floods of 93. I also am a big fan of Hickory Hill Park having spent many hours there as a teen when it was first given to the city by the Irish Family and also in recent years with my children . I feel that either the 1st Ave extension or an extension of Scotts Blvd must be done and done soon. Thank You Mary Moyers 02/29/00 TUE 14:44 FAX 3193417797 Applied-SYstems [~00Z .. ~ ~ -~' ~ ..... ~ : · .. ,I - ~ ..... 02/29/00 TIrE 14:44 FAX 3193417797Applied-Systems[~003 ..... ,~._.._~,~~~~ ~.~~~_~.~.~ ~~ ~ -~ .... . .~'... ,~~~..~..~_~..~.:_~,._~,.~,~,~ .~__~.. ,~ ..... _ · . , _ ..~~,..'~ ~~_~ ~,.-~,,~ ~,_ ~.~.~ ~.~,~._~ .... ~ . 02/29/00 TUE 14: 44 FAX 3193417797 Applied-Systems ~ 004 ~ ~'~'~ u:~ ~-- ~~~.. ~~_~_~.._~ ~ ~ Marian Karr From: Irvin Pfab [ipfab@avalon.net] Sent: Tuesday, February 29, 2000 2:42 PM To: cou ncil@iowa-city. org Cc: Richard Dorzweiler Subject: Re: 1 st Avenue Extension As you requested. Irvin First I want to thank you for taking my phone call tonight. I understand that this is an emotional issue and it takes time to work our way through these kind of issues. I live in the Hickory Hill neighborhood on Bluffwood Dr. with children at both Southeast and City and want to speak out in favor of putting the road through soon. The newspaper makes it sound like the only opinions are against the road; that is clearly not the case. I wanted to list several reasons for wanting to see 1st Avenue put through this year. First, it would open up the option of bus service to this whole north side development. If an argument against putting the road through is traffic, the bus service can help to reduce the number of cars using our roadways throughout the north side. I am one of only a few who ride the bus on a daily basis from this neighborhood and I believe that is because bus service is so inconvenient for us. Our neighborhood is one of the furthest from bus service in the city and a natural route would go past ACT and the related businesses near the Interstate. Also related to the issue of traffic noise is the fact that some who do not live near the park consider it to be a wilderness park. They have clearly not listened to the sound of Interstate 80 less than a mile to the north. By routing the truck traffic to Scott Blvd., the automobile traffic on 1st Ave. would not drown out the sound of the truck traffic speeding down the Interstate. Hickory Hill is not a wilderness park like the national parks in Alaska but an urban park much more like Central Park. It is a most valuable resource but definitely not wilderness. Second is to move ahead now because the city planners have spent years listening to the input of the people of Iowa City and have produced a plan that is sensitive to the ecological concerns, the visual concerns of development bearing down on the park boundaries and traffic estimates that are within the norms established throughout the city. I don't think waiting until we all agree will ever happen and the people elected to the city council are there to make the hard decisions in the best interests for the future of Iowa City. Number three is the need to get the water line through this year and the cost goes up dramatically if we do the road at a different time than the water line. We also need the fire department substation located in the area and that can't happen till the road goes through. Number four is the attitude that people who live on the east side of town "should" be routed to downtown Iowa City. I don't feel that is the role of the government to make choices concerning where the citizens go and how they get there. Let's let the downtown prosper on it's own merits, not because the city makes it's citizens spend time there. Sour grapes over the crowds at the Coral Ridge Mall sounds like someone who is a sore loser. This choice also has an environmental impact by making thousands of people drive out of the way to go east or north out of the city. Who wins here? Thank you, Richard Dorzweiler P.S. Could you share this email with the other city councilors as I don't have their addresses. February. 29, 2000 Dear Connie Champion, First we want to say that we admire and appreciate your willingness to reconsider the extention of First Avenue as mentioned in today's Gazette. Although we do not live in the neighborhood, we are familiar with the area and consider the proposed extention to be inappropriate for many reasons. Our best wishes as you make this difficult decision. Sincerely, Iowa City IA 52245-5621 FII.,_ED FROM NANCY ADAMS-COGAN '2'~i:rit FEB 2'3 Pi:13:32 -'-,- 1117 ST CLEMENT'S ALLEY IOWA CITY 52245 RE HICKORY HILL PARK AND FIRST AVENUE EXTENSION Please postpone decisions on the extension until the Captain Irish is open and its function and impact can be assessed. Hickory Hill Park is a public treasure which is already being nibbled away on the west side. I believe that traffic running next to its eastern border and the development that will bring will be likely to harm wildlife as well as compromise the wildness and quiet refuge the park offers. Not all of us see development and faster traffic as beneficial. The decision to change its nature should not be made without much consideration. RE SENIOR CENTER SKYWALK I see the Senior Center as a very valuable facility for Iowa City, as an asset in attracting residents as well as promoting the health and wellbeing of Johnson County residents now and in the future. The skywalk will make access to the building easier and, more importantly, safer. It is an investment for both current and soon to be elders. We are all growing older and ~iEeventually many of us who wonder about the short term expense will come to appreciate safer access to programs, meals and companionship which help to keep us well in body, mind and spirit. 2~8~0 S,_ ARTS CENTER AND GALLERY · 129 East Washington Street · Iowa City, Iowa ° 52240-3925 ° 319.337.7447 E-Mail: artsic@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu · Web Site: www.artsiowacity. org / ["'~ February 29, 2000 ..... Mayor Emie Lehman City of Iowa City Civic Center Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Mayor Lehman: On behalf of the Arts Iowa City Board of Directors, please accept our gratitude for your generous support and funding to our organization. As you know, Arts Iowa City has been blossoming and we hope to continue to grow. We hope that you consider to continue your support. In particular, funding Arts Iowa City at a level of funding that is given to the two day arts festival held downtown. This would be a great deal for the City as Arts Iowa City' s Gallery can be seen throughout the year. Thank you again for your continued support. .S.~,erely, Christine Boyer Arts Iowa City Board of Directors: Gene Anderson Mark Ginsberg Nancy Purington Christine Boyer Georgia Heald Charles Read Chris Burd Jon & Shari Lemke Madeline Sullivan David Dennis John Loomis Beppie Weiss Larry Eckholt Karen Michaeli Laura Young Wendy Ford Betty Monroe Marian Karr From: Rsti ka7691 Gaol .com Sent: Tuesday, February 29, 2000 3:49 PM To: Steven_Kanner@iowa-city.org Cc: Irvin_Pfab@iowa-city.org; Connie_Champion@iowa-city.org; Ross_Willburn@iowa-city.org; City_Council@iowa-city.org Subject: First Avenue Extension Before you vote on the First Avenue Extension,you should note that by actually going to the site and seeing a barracade that has been there for years,with a stretch of roadway leading up to it, this was planned years ago, and should have been implemented long,long ago.The people living in that area nearby are what's known as "nimbys"...NOT IN MY BACKYARD...I am sure that they noticed that roadway and barracade there before they purchased in that area. I furthermore do not understand how there can only be one way in or out of that area. If Rochester Avenue and First Avenue were blocked north of the intersection,how would they get in or out and how would Emergency equipment get in? As for children's safety going to and from school,it would be no different than Court Street or anywhere else. If it was a problem, that is why we have adult crossing guards. As a veteran of the Iowa City Police Department of 23 years, I am well aware of this and was in charge of the adult crossing guards for quite sometime. The increased traffic on First Avenue of recent times was generated by the new HyVee store. The roadway will not get much if any closer to Hickory Hill "dog park" and the excuse of not wanting to hear any motor vehicles while walking in the park is ridiculous,to say the least. I urge you to vote to extend this roadway. I am sorry I could not be at the meeting. Thank you for your consideration on this matter. Retired Iowa City Employee Robert J. Stika Marian Karr From: Rsti ka7691 @aol .com Sent: Tuesday, February 29, 2000 4:12 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: FIRST AVENUE EXTENSION Since I am unable to attend the Council Meeting, I wanted to tell you that I feel it is in the best interest of ALL citizens to vote to extend First Avenue.The excuse of it being too close to Hickory Hill Park, is not valid,since it will not be much closer to it,than it is now. Furthermore,the excuse of not wanting to hear any motor vehicles while walking in the park is nice,but unreal.As for the safety of the children going to schools, this is no different than Dodge Street,wheras you utilize adult crossing guards.As a 23 year veteran of the Iowa City Police Department, I am well aware of child safety and in fact was head of that area for quite some time. The persons living in that quadrant I am sure do not want this to happen, since "nimbyism" usually does enter in to these types of actions. I personally,would want another way out of my area,besides the existing one at Rochester and First Avenue. If something were to happen north of the intersection, I don't think they would get out,and in fact they would have great difficulty getting out to their protest and Council Meeting tonight. The traffic on First Avenue is heavier than it has been recently, due to the new HyVee store,since they now have "the only store on the east side",eventhough FAREWAY is actively seeking 4 acres to put an eastside store in. I urge you to vote FOR the extension of First Avenue. Let's keep Iowa City's eastside a viable place and not lose anymore ground to the City of Coralville... Sincerely Robert J. Stika Ret. Iowa City Police Officer First Ave. Extension Safety · Opponents of the project argue that the extension will be unsafe. UNTRUE! The completion of First Ave. as an arterial street will improve the safety of those traveling N/S on the East Side because arterial streets are better at separating vehicular and pedestrian traffic and provide better sight lines than collector and residential streets. Much of the current traffic chooses routes through residential neighborhoods, ill equipped to handle this volume and type of traffic. · Emergency services safety: It is now very difficult for the City to provide emergency services to the N and NE areas of town, completion of the First Avenue extension, coupled with the proposed new fire station, will greatly improve the response time for emergency services. Efficient transportation system · Currently there is no expedient way to travel N/S on the East Side of town. Completion of the First Ave. Extension will help in the development of a comprehensive transportation network, which allows for the efficient movement of traffic on the East Side. · Opponents argue that the extension will lead to more traffic. This is largely untrue. Although the absolute number of vehicles-per-day may increase, since arterial streets are more efficient the net effect will be quicker and safer traffic flows. Cost · The project cost was estimated at $1.2 million two years ago and is now estimated to be $1.5 million today. The longer we wait the more it will cost. · Bidding bigger projects tend to lead to cost saving. By chopping this up, you are costing Iowa City taxpayers more money. City Policies · In the past few weeks the public has been hearing how the City has a goal to improve and expand its efforts in Economic Development. As our Council, you need to advance this goal through policies supportive of economic development. This is an opportunity to show that y~._~_ sup~)~t expanded economic opportunity in Iowa City. Elected responsibility · Completion on the First Avenue extension: > will be safer > will greatly improve access for all travel on the East Side of Iowa City > building it now will cost less, saving Iowa City tax dollars > will lead to more economic opportunity and activity in the NE part of town. This is not an issue of whether or not one likes Hickory Hill Park, the proposed project will not significantly affect park users and this issue should not be driving this discussion. Most of the land along the extension is privately owned, NOT part of the park. If a concern for the park exists consider a buffering concept designed to address noise and visual concerns of development in the watershed. This would mitigate the impact of additional development on the watershed and would preserve the separation of the park and nearby traffic. The Home Builder Association of Iowa City and The Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce each urges you to keep the First Ave. extension on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). IOWA CITY ~ "u 2'{ r ~ COMMERCE ~ J15~ t'ch~l 325 East Washington Street ~l~, Tel. :~19.:~:~7.9(;:~7 P.O. Box 2358 :. I:ax Iowa City, IA 52244-2358 .~. Page 1 of 1 7~ Marian Karr From: James Kledis [jkledis@home.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 29, 2000 4:51 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: First Ave. Extension Dear Friends, Thank you for serving on the city council. I appreciate your willingness to serve our city. I am writing to request that you vote for the extension of First Ave. and Scott Blvd. I believe that it is vital to the life of the east side. It is very difficult for me to give directions to my church to visitors. With the extension it will be easier for visitors and more importantly for Iowa Citians to get to the east side. I believe that it will help to revitalize the east side. Please consider voting yes for the extension of First Ave. and Scott Blvd. I would be happy to discuss this with you further if you have any questions of me. Sincerley Yours, Rev. James A. Kledis Hope UMC 2929 E. Court St. Iowa City, IA 52245 319-338-9865 (work) 319-338-4799 (home) 2/29/2000 Two years ago a petition was delivered to the Iowa City Council demanding a vote to delay for two years the construction of a 1600-ft. extension to 1 ~t Ave. State law requires that the ballot be worded in similar fashion to the petition. This meant that a yes vote would kill the extension and a no vote would put the extension through. This lead to confusion right from the start. Add to this the half-truths and innuendoes espoused by supporters of the yes means no proposition and you have a really convoluted ballot issue. To correct some of these I offer the following: 1.1~t Ave. was intended to be a through street. If you look at the right of way, it is of an adequate width. Additionally the city has already reimbursed a developer for additional width and thickness from Rochester north. (This is not like Benton Street, which doesn't have the width to support additional improvements.) 2. The current street north of Rochester abuts Hickory Hill Park, but the additional 1600 ft. will run through property not included in the park and is in fact a quarter of a mile from the park in places. Some questions I think that need to be answered are: Why are the kids of Horace Mann, Mark Twain, Longfellow and other schools subjected crossing heavy traffic that would in some cases be eased by First Ave. being extended. Why are residential streets such as, East Bloomington, Church, Brown St. and others subjected the additional traffic which would be borne by the First Ave. extension. Why do people have to go two miles out of their way to get from one end of town to the other when a 1600 ft. extension would ease the use of gasoline and reduce air pollution? (Especially on Dodge and Governor.) Why are we building a North Side Fire Station, (which I support) and not giving it direct access to respond much faster to a fire at Southeast, City High, or Regina. Why are we handicapping the South Station in Responding to fires at ACT, NCS, and other north-side concerns. The City Council needs to address these issues and to leave the First Ave. extension in the Capital Improvements Budget. Since the Yes means No supporters will no doubt request a referendum. I would suggest a referendum with a ballot issue that is stated in a clear and concise language that won't leave any doubt as to what we are voting for be scheduled for the November General Election. Sincerely Donald J. Anciaux, Jr. 2119 Russell Dr. Iowa City. Iowa 52240