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Home My WebLink About2000-04-04 Info Packet of 3/23 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKET March 23, 2000 MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS IP1 Meeting Schedule and Tentative Work Session Agendas IP2 Letter from Mayor to Northside Area Residents and Friends: Successful Living Meeting IP3 Letter from City Manager to Marsha Hucke: Near Southside Transportation Center leq ",-n=qil fr~,-, ~J!E~ Meg~itk. Lk'b,,, O;.r. Fwl IV~'*i-0 ,,f MnrCh '74 [tO bo ::lof, rA~f"d e" Apr!l t 0,,, ,~,,, ,[ 0j~.,, ,d~,r] IP5 Memorandum from Police Chief to City Manager: Tobacco Compliance IP6 ICPD Monthly Bar Check Report - February 2000 IP7 Memorandum from Police Captain Widmer to City Manager: Vest Grant Funding IP8 Memorandum from Associate Planner Yapp: Summary of Cellular Communication Tower Issues IP9 Notice: March Business PM 03-23 O0 E ' '~ ' IP:i ~~i, City Council Meeting Schedule and Marc. ~, ~ooo ~,~ c~~' Tentative Work Session Agendas J April 3 Monday 6:30p COUNCIL WORK SESSION Council Chambers April 4 Tuesday 7:00p FORMAL COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers April 17 Monday 6:30p COUNCIL WORK SESSION Council Chambers April 18 ..................... Tuesday 7:00p FORMAL COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers J April 26 Wednesday 4:00p SPECIAL COUNCIL WORK SESSION Iowa City Joint Meeting - Cities of Coralville and North Liberty, Board of Supervisors, and School Board J May 1 Monday 6:30p COUNCIL WORK SESSION Council Chambers l May 2 Tuesday 7:00p FORMAL COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers May 15 Monday 6:30p COUNCIL WORK SESSION Council Chambers l May 16 Tuesday 7:00p FORMAL COUNCIL MEETING Council Chambers Meeting dates/times subject to change FUTURE WORK SESSION ITEMS Hickory Hill West Council Goals Commercial Use of Sidewalks Newspaper Vending Machines Kirkwood Avenue Signalization Communication Towers Campaign Contributions Sidewalk Cafes Liquor Licenses Joint Meeting with Parks and Rec Comm - Master Plan Deer Management Committee Joint Meeting with PCRB Summer Schedule ~ar~ ~, 2000 Dear Northside Area Residents and Friends: At our work session of Monday, March 20 the City Council discussed the Thursday, March 23 meeting to be held at Horace Mann School. As we have come to understand, the purpose of the meeting is to provide for an opportunity to hear representatives of Successful Living and others discuss a pending request for federal HOME monies. In the March 9 announcement it states that "members of the City Council" will be in attendance and clearly implies our active participation in the discussion. Upon reflection, we were all made aware that not all members can attend this meeting because some Councilors have schedule conflicts that evening. Additionally, the Council was concerned about engaging in a discussion concerning the proposal of Successful Living without benefit of the formal public hearing process. Our participation in such a discussion without benefit of a public hearing may imply a particular position (vote) of a Council member. We do not believe this to be in the best interest of all those interested in this issue and therefore we decided collectively that the City Council would not attend this meeting. Please note this decision is not based on a belief that these types of meetings are unproductive. We encourage such discussion and debate. If a majority of Council members were to attend the meeting it would also trigger open meetings requirements, public notice, requirement for minute taking and recording, etc., but most important of all is the public hearing process could appear to have been circumvented. Any and all interested citizens need to have the opportunity to express their opinion to the Council in a public forum. Speaking on behalf of the City Council, we all hope that your meeting this evening is productive. Again, the Council is supportive of the community having this type of meeting and discussion but to have the full Council in attendance and to suggest that we be an active participant we believe is contrary to our public hearing process. You may, as always, feel free to call us individually and express your concerns and interest. Sincerely, Ernie Lehman Mayor jw/Itr/sa-noside.doc 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY. IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 356-5000 · FAX (319) 356-5009 March 21, 2000 Marsha Hucke 418 Hawaii Ct, Iowa City, IA 52246 C Dear Ms. Hucke: Thank you for your letter regarding the Near Southside Transportation Center. The concerns you have raised are very legitimate but I believe you may have a misconception about the function of the new facility. I believe your concerns have ah'eady been, or will be, addressed in the final design. First I want to insure you that there is no intent to move the current interchange from its present location at the new Old Capitol Town Center. In fact improvements are planned for this location. The City has been well-served by this location over the years and will continue to be the focal point of local transit service. The purpose of the Transportation Center is to consolidate the various modes of transportation in one location making it easier for users. If you are going to use an inter-city bus for a trip you have a place to store your vehicle. If you bus to town you have a choice of using the City bus or a taxi to get to your final destination. In addition, it is being designed to encourage people to park their vehicle on the edge of the business district and then to use the transit system to complete their trip. In summary, the purpose is not to change anything that currently exist but to encourage new users. If you have any further questions concerning this project please contact Joe Fowler, Director of Parking and Transit, at 356-5156. Sketches of th'e new Transportation Center will be available in a few months. Sincerely, City Manager cc: City Council Joe Fowler Ls~ltr~sa3~21 .doc 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 356-5000 · FAX (319) 356-5009 03-23-00 IP5 ME M 0 RAND UM ~ TO: Steve Atkins, City Manager FROM: R.J. Winkelhake, Chief of Police RE: TOBACCO COMPLIANCE DATE: March 22, 2000 Attached is a fax the department received from the Iowa Department of Public Health to stop all tobacco compliance enforcement. The department officers have been informed to stop the enforcement efforts. The fax states that additional information will follow. When I receive the follow-up information we will be able to review and determine the next step, if any. SENT BY:PUBLIC HEALTH ; ~-21- 0; 15:50; SA/ItP~ 3193565449;# 1/I FAX COVER SHEET I IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH Division of Substance Abuse and Health Promotion Lueas State Office Building Des Moines, Iowa 50319 FDA TOBACCO COMPLIANCE FAX NUMBER - (515) 281-8492 FAX NO.: '~ ~ o ~,: (~"'~d Q,.~Z,~ -,,./_ - ....... DATE: ~ ' ~/~ 0 Number of sheets transmitted including cover sheet: Message: ~x~v, the US Sum~_emeCaurt ruled that FD l~.Cks i.urisdiction over cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Please inform your officers stop conducting FDA compXiance checks effective iffa~ediately, :-.-. Please call.(515) 242-5224 and speak to Judy Ireland if you do not receive proper number of pages. SENT BY:PUBLIC HFJtLTH ; 8-21- 0; 15:;38; ;SA/I-IP-, 81885C>544D;# 2/2 Notice fi-om FDA this aRemoon: Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that FDA lacks jurisdiction over cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Please inform your officers to stop conducting FDA compliance checks effective immediately. Further infomation will be following. /- Iowa City Police Department Monthly Bar Check Report February 2000 Monthly Total Year to date total Arrest/Visit Bar Name A B A B YTD 1 ST AV CLUB 1 0 1 0 0 AIRLINER 6 1 15 14 0.93 BREWERY 0 0 0 0 0.00 BO JAMES 3 2 11 ~?,~;i7 0.64 CARLOS O'KELLYS 0 0 0 0 0 CHAUNCEYS 0 0 9 3 0.33 COLONIAL LANES 1 0 1 0 0.00 DAVES FOXHEAD 0 0 0 0 0.00 DEADwoOD ', 0 4 i';?"ii ~i!!!!~1 0.25 DIAMOND DAVES 3 0 4 1 0.25 DUBLIN UNDERGROUND 2 0 4 1 0.25 EAGLES LODGE 0 0 0 0 0.00 ELLERS 0 0 0 0 0.00 FIELDHOUSE 12 13 20 31 1.55 FITZPATRICKS 1 0 2 0 0.00 GA MALONES 7 8 13 14 1.08 GABES 0 0 2 0 0.00 GEORGES 0 0 0 0 0.00 GIOVANNIS 0 0 0 0 0.00 GREEN ROOM 1 0 3 0 0.00 GRINCOS 0 0 1 i:!iii!!!i0 0.00 GRIZZLEYS 3 0 6 1 0.17 GROUND ROUND 0 0 0 0 0.00 HAPPY JOES 0 0 0 0 0.00 HIGHLANDER INN 0 0 0 0 0.00 HILLTOP TAP 0 0 0 0 0.00 JIMMY'S BISTRO 0 0 0 0 0.00 JIMMY'S BRICK OVEN 0 0 0 0 0.00 JIBSAS 0 0 0 0 0.00 JOES PLACE 4 0 8 i!:ii~ [0 0.00 KITTY HAWK 0 0 0 ?=i:ii=0 0.00 Column A is the number of times a bar is visited specifically checking for underage drinkers. Column B is the number of people charged with possession under the legal age in each bar. Note this is not the total number of charges in each bar. Iowa City Police Department Monthly Bar Check Report February 2000 Monthly Total Year to date total Arrest/Visit Bar Name A B A B YTD MABELS 1 0 2 0 0.00 MARTINIS 2 0 7 2 0.29 MAXIES 0 0 0 0 0.00 MEMORIES 0 0 0 0 0.00 MICKEYS 1 0 5 0 0.00 MIKES 1 0 1 0 0.00 MILL 0 0 1 0 0.00 MONDO'S 0 0 0 0 0.00 MOOSE LODGE 0 0 0 0 0.00 MUMMS 0 0 0 0 0.00 ONE EYED JAKES 11 8 18 25 1.39 OUTER LIMITS 1 0 1 0 0.00 PLAMOR 1 1 2 1 0.50 PRESS BOX 3 0 5 0 0.00 QUE 3 4 10 17 1.70 QUINTINS BAR &DELl 1 0 3 0 0.00 RT GRUNTS 3 3 4 3 0.75 RUSH HOUR 2 7 6 13 2.17 SAMS 0 0 0 0 0.00 SANCTUARY 0 0 0 0 0.00 SHAKESPEARES 1 0 2 0 0.00 SPORTS COLUMN 17 20 28 42 1.50 TUCKS 0 0 0 0 0.00 UNION 10 22 23 64 2.78 VFW 0 0 0 0 0.00 VINE 1 0 1 0 0.00 V~TOS 6 3 15 31 2.07 WIG AND PEN 2 0 2 0 0.00 TOTAL 112 92 240 271 1.13 Column A is the number of times a bar is visited specifically checking for underage drinkers. Column B is the number of people charged with possession under the legal age in each bar. Note this is not the total number of charges in each bar. 03-23-00 IP7 Memorandum DATE: March 20, 2000 TO: Steve Atkins FROM: Captain Widmer SUBJECT: Vest Grant Funding In the summer of 1999, the Iowa City Police Department was advised of a funding program available through the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program. They were taking grant applications from state and local units of government to reimburse up to 50% of the cost to purchase bulletproof vests. On August 27, 1999, application was made to recover the cost of 21 vests currently on order. Nine of these vests were for newly hired officers and twelve were for scheduled replacements. On October 13, 1999, our department was notified that our application for funding had been approved for the requested rate of $4515.00. On March 9, 2000, the money was received from the Vest Partnership Program. Copy: Chief Winkelhake Captain Harney City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM ' ' Date: March 16, 2000 To: City Council Re: Summary of Cellular Communication Tower Issues There has been some interest in exploring whether Iowa City's regulations regarding the placement and design of cellular communications towers is adequate. Specifically, there was consideration of requiring co-location in industrial zones and of additional aesthetic requirements. Since the Telecommunications Act of 1996, three towers between 150 and 200 feet tall have been constructed within City limits to serve cellular phone customers. In addition, a number of cellular phone related antennae have been placed on the roofs of tall structures such as the Sheraton hotel, the VA Hospital, and a grain mill. Cellular phone providers prefer to place antennae on existing buildings or structures whenever possible due to the lower cost, easier maintenance, and "invisibility" of the components. There are also a handful of towers in Johnson County outside of City limits, the most recent of which was constructed east of Taft Avenue near the Windsor Ridge neighborhood. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 is federal legislation that relaxed some federal restrictions on communications providers in an attempt to encourage increased competition. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires that a municipality allow a cellular communication company to provide service. A municipality may use zoning authority to regulate the location of communications towers but not to the extent that zoning regulations make it impossible to provide service to an area of the city. Following the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the City Council amended the zoning code to allow communications towers in public zones with special exception approval from the Board of Adjustment. To place a tower in a public zone, the applicant would need to show it is not possible to place the telecommunications equipment on an existing facility. If a new tower was being built, it would need to be designed with capacity to allow co-location with other communication facilities. Co-location is two or more wireless communication providers locating on the same tower. Co-locating various communications components on one tower helps to minimize the total number of towers in the area. Allowing communications towers in public zones by special exception was to help meet the intent of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 by designatin9 the public zone as bein9 potentially appropriate for telecornrnunications facilities. The idea behind requiring Board of Adjustment approval for a tower in a public zone is that towers may be appropriate on sites like the landfill property or the wastewater treatment plant, but may not be appropriate in a park or another public gathering place. The Board of Adjustment could differentiate between different types of public land on a case-by-case basis. To date, the City has not received any requests for telecommunications facility in a public zone. Regarding other zones, communications towers are prohibited in residential and commercial zones unless they are accessory to the home or business, such as a "ham radio" tower or a business associated tower such as at the AT&T cable office. Communications towers are also permitted in the interim development (ID) zones, but only with special exception approval. Communications towers are permitted in industrial zones provided their distance from a residential zone is at least equal to the height of the tower. It was our intent to provide an incentive to locate telecommunications facilities in industrial zones by not having co-location or special exception requirements for the industrial zones. The industrial zone is the only zoning Cellular Communication Tower Issues March 16, 2000 Page 2 classification where stand-alone towers are permitted without a special exception. Representatives of communications companies have told us they try to co-locate on existing towers wherever possible due to the cost savings involved. One area that may warrant further screening or design standards is where communications towers are located in densely developed commercial or mixed-use areas such as in the downtown and near-downtown. Towers in these types of pedestrian-oriented dense areas, which would be allowed if they are accessory to a business, stand out and have much more of a visual impact than towers in other commercial and industrial zones. For example, the television- related tower near the corner of Market Street and Linn Street generated neighborhood complaints and concerns when it was first constructed. Staff will address screening or design standards for accessory towers in mixed-use areas as part of our upcoming review of the zoning ordinance. We do not feel it is a priority at this time. Some cities have experimented with requiring towers to be constructed with "stealth" technology. Examples of this include towers the color and shape of trees, football stadium light poles, silos, and even church steeples. The most common use of stealth facilities is to place antennae on top of existing buildings; this is a common practice locally. Staff would be wary of requiring stealth technology for communications towers. The special exception process is able to deal with location, screening, and design issues in the ID and P zones. In industrial zones, in staff's opinion, a fake tree or silo is more unappealing than a real tower. Staff, therefore, recommends that no further regulation be adopted at this time. Cc: Steve Atkins Karin Franklin jw/mern/jy-celf.doc To: Vaoderho~f, Dee Fro~: Cole Chase~IC_Cha~b~-r 83/17/88 22:8~ :38 ~ ;~o advo~te 6~ a vibrant bcaI econom3~ pmv~e op~i~ and ~I~able ~ices ~ o~ m~ and ~n~i~ ~ ~ q~Hy of l~ ~ ]ohn~n ~tS~ ~ March '15, 2000 ~ at Carver-Hawkeye Arena IOWA Friday, March 24 ~A~Oa~A~ 4:00 -- 7:30 PM UNION THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA Hosted by the Iowa Memorial Union The Business PM is held in conjunction with the annual business fair. The Chamber would like to thank the Iowa City Gazette for their sponsorship of Gold Rush 2000. IOWA CITY'