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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-05-16 CorrespondenceApril 26, 2000 ~ ~ [g ~ a ~ ~ '~ Ernie Lehman, Mayor ~ L J~Pl~ ~ 8 ~O0O ~, City of Iowa City CI~MANIGER'S OFFIC[ 410 E. Washin~on Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Dear Ernie, This letter is to ac~owledge the coop~ation and support the West Side Drive Neighborhood Association received from many departments of the city to accomplish a neighborhood improvement plan. Specifically, the Association was supported by Marsha Klingaman, Neighborhood Se~ices Coordinator, ~ck Fosse, City Engineer, Rodney Walls, Re~se Depmment, Ter~ Treeblood ~d Ter~ Robinson, P~ks ~d Recreation Depmmem. These individuals helped us plan, ~nd and implement a project to improve the wate~ay and detention pond in our neighborhood. Individuals from the neighborhood p~icipated in a very success~l clean up day on Saturday, April 22. Private businesses and local org~izations also supported the efton. l w~t to express to you my ~atitude for such a wonde~l city staff. Sincerely, Kay Mescher, West Side Drive Neighborhood Association CC: Steve Atkins City Councilors Marsha Klingaman ~ck Fosse Rodney Walls Te~ Treeblood Ter~ Robinson 0 B 2000 CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE Iowa City Council 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Councilors: I am writing express my support for a local orcl~nance which would allow only those of minimum legal drinking age into el, inking establishments. High risk underage drinking costs our community dearly in both the economic and social realms. Such an ordinance would save the City in enforcement and clean up costs and increase the quali~ of life downtown for all citizens. Iowa City is one of very few communities across the state and nation that allows people below the m~ninaum legal drinking age to enter bars. Despite the best intentions of bar owners, it is unrealisdc to expect that under-age patrons will refrain from alcohol consumption once allowed entrance to the establishment. I feel we must do all we can to assist our young people in making healthy choices and allowing 18 year old access to bars is inconsistent with this philosophy. Iowa City prides itself on being a diverse and inviting community. Restricting access to under-age elrinkers would ckive a vital new late night market for a population of approximately 10,000 University of Iowa students under the age of 21. It is time for Iowa City to do the right thing and promote healthy choices for our young citizens. Please restrict access to bars to those of minimum legal drinking age. Sincerely, THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA ~~, ._..~/ April 26, 2000 Mayor Ernie Lehman and Members of the Council ~). ~ (~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ City of Iowa City ~ Civic Center ~/IY 0 11 g. O0f 410 E. Washington Street CITYMANAG[R'S OFFICE Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Mayor and Members of the Council: Greetings. I know that you are quite busy people, but we would like to invite you to an event that we are co-organizing. We won't dare promise that it will tell you how to solve the many problems and issues that you have to deal with, but we do think you might find all or parts of it to be interesting, enlightening, and maybe even helpful. So what is the event? It is a three-day symposium, which we are calling Planning as Storytelling: Sustaining America's Cities, and it will be held in the University of Iowa' s English-Philosophy Building on June 15 through 17. On the first day and a half, six invited "storytellers" (three scholars and three non- academics) will position themselves within the conventions of their professions, explaining what counts as facts in each profession and what tools of persuasion-- linguistic, visual, numerical--are common in it. These storytellers come from diverse urban professions, and include a landscape architect, a director of a regional planning agency, a private investigator, a critic of urban-based literature, an activist researcher, and a scholar of African-American history. In the last day and a half, four invited urban scholars -- one historian, two planning theorists, and one geographer -- will attempt to imagine how we might bring all of these six stories and their diverse ideas of fact and persuasion into the same conversation about the sustainability of U.S. cities. Throughout the symposium, there will be ample time for members of the audience to ask questions and to introduce their own ideas and reactions. As elected officials who routinely deal with urban issues, you could make a valuable contribution to the symposium simply by keeping us connected with the wo~d of daily practice and by occasionally inserting your own stories into the conversation. Graduate Program in Urban and Regional Planning 347 Jessup Hall Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1316 319/335-0032 The symposium will be conducted in Iowa City, and it is supported by the U. of Iowa's Obermann Center for Advanced Studies, Office of the Provost, College of Liberal Arts, Graduate College, Department of English, and Graduate Program in Urban and Regional Planning, and by Humanities Iowa. Details and directions can be found at http://www.uiowa.edu/-obermann/planning.html, or by contacting Jim at james- throgmorton @ uiowa.edu or (319) 338-0880, or Barbara at barbara-eckstein @ uiowa.edu, or (319) 335-0449. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of us. We hope you can come. Best regards, James A. Throgmorton Barbara J. Eckstein Associate Professor Associate Professor Graduate Program in Urban and Regional Planning Department of English -.._~~ DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY ROCK ISLAND DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS CORALVILLE LAKE PROJECT 2850 PRAIRIE DU CHIEN RD NE IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-7820 May 1, 2000 City Council Members of Iowa City Civic Center Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Dear City Council Members of Iowa City, On Memorial Day, May 29,2000, at 1:30 PM the Corps of Engineers and the Johnson county military organizations will be honoring seven local military veterans at Coralville Lake. The 45 minute ceremony will be conducted at the East Overlook Picnic area located on the east side of the dam. This year's honorees are: George R. Dane Terry L. Michel I. Reed Parker David D. Patten Earle E. Scheetz Curtis W. Utley John S. Wilmoth JR The Corps of Engineers would be honored by your presence at the dedication ceremony. In the event of rain the ceremony will be conducted in the ranger storage area adjacent to the visitor center on the east side of the dam. Should you have any questions please contact Park Ranger Jeffrey H. Peck at 338- 3543. Sincerely, ~C. CQ&stl~'Q~ Operations Manager "RACING-INTO A NEW CENTURY" "- THE CITY OF CORALVILLE & 4th FEST COMMITTEE invites you as an individual, organization, or a business, to participate in the 17th Annual Old Fashion July 4th Parade to be held on Tuesday, July 4, 2000. The parade will begin at 10 am from the GElCO/McGregor (Hwy 6 West) parking lot in Coralville and will proceed over a 2 mile route. Entries must be in place by 9 am. The theme will be "RACING INTO A NEW CENTURY." Let your imagination run wild! This will be an exciting celebration and every entry will receive a picture sent to you after the parade. Your entry sponsored by an individual, organization or business can be anything: decorated cars, trucks, floats, horses, decorated bicycles and wagons, etc. Children's groups are encouraged with patriotic and fun entries to go along with this year's theme. NO entry fee is required. However, because of the length of the parade, we are asking that you try to limit your vehicles to one. Please send the bottom form by June 1 to: Sherry Carpenter, 1406 10th St., Coralville, IA 52241 Phone 319-351-1845 (evenings or leave a voice mail for return call) We will contact you with the details, map, etc. a week before the parade. All forms must be returned ASAP. If additional forms are needed, please pick up Coralville City Hall. BIG Thanks to our Parade sponsors: The Advertiser, hj Limited, Hawk-l, Hills Bank & Trust, Iowa City Press Citizen, Mercantile Bank. We look forward to your participation in this year's July 4u~ Parade. Thanks, Sherry, Susie & 4th Fest Committee I would like to participate in the July 4% 2000 Parade Name of person in charge: Group or Business Address City Zip Business Phone Home Phone Describe Entry (Send to: Sherry Carpenter, 1406 10th St., Coralville, IA 52241) City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: May 9, 2000 To: City Clerk From: Jeff Davidson, Acting Traffic Engineering Planner '~/ Re: "No Parking Between Signs" in the 500 block of Second Avenue As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code this is to advise the City Council of the following action. Unless directed otherwise by the City Council, this action will occur on or shortly after May 17, 2000. Action Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(10) of the City Code, signage will be installed indicating NO PARKING BETVVEEN SIGNS in front of the residence at 524 Second Avenue. Comment This action is being taken to accommodate the pick-up and drop-off of an elderly resident who lives at 524 Second Avenue. The condition of the resident has been validated by a City staff person. This action will be rescinded when the individual no longer resides at this location. Ls\mem\jd5-9.doc ~_.. :,. ~ -~-~ City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM' Date: May 9, 2000 To: City Clerk From: Jeff Davidson, Acting JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner Re: Installation of NO PARKING CORNER TO HERE signs at the intersection of East Benton Street and Van Buren Street, and the intersection of East Benton Street and Webster Street As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code this is to advise the City Council of the following action. Unless directed otherwise by the City Council, this action will occur on or shortly after May 17, 2000. Action Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(10) of the City Code, signage will be installed at the intersection of East Benton Street and Van Buren Street, and the intersection of East Benton Street and Webster Street indicating NO PARKING CORNER TO HERE. Comment This action is being taken to facilitate the movement of large trucks traveling to the Iowa Interstate Railroad yard. Parked cars currently make it difficult for large trucks to negotiate these corners. jwlmem/jd-bentonpkg.doc City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM' Date: April 24, 2000 To: City Clerk From: Jeff Davidson, Acting JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner ~ Re: Modification to Allow On-Street Parking to be Permitted on the North Side of Dodge Street Court As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action. Unless directed otherwise by the City Council, this action will occur on or shortly after May 3, 2000. Action Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(12) of the City Code, signage will be removed on the north side of Dodge Street Court indicating NO PARKING ANY TIME. Comment There is currently no on-street parking permitted on either side of Dodge Street Court. A neighborhood resident requested on-street parking be allowed on one side of the street, and an investigation showed that this was permissible. A survey of neighborhood residents was taken which indicated that ~',~e households were in favor of allowing on-street parking on the north side of Dodge Street Court, and three households were opposed. jw/menVlld-dodge.doc ~~,-~-I~ May 3, 2000 / I .... ~- Residents in the ~ 300 bloc~ of Dodge Street Cou~ and Re; On-Street p~in~ in the ~ 300 baoc~ of Dod~e Street Cou~ Yo~ ~ecei~ed a le~e~ from me dated Apdl 24, 2000 indicatin~ that the City Council would ta~e action on the issue of on-street pn~inQ on 5od~e Street Co~ st thei~ their agenda was to approve aaaowing on-street parking on the nodh side of Dodge Street CouP. This action was proposed following a neighborhood su~ey which indicated a majori~ of the adjacent residences were in favor of allowing on-street parking on the noah side of Dodge Street CouP. At the May 2 City Council meeting, Mo persons appeared to present their opposition to the establishment of on-street parking on the noah side of Dodge Street CouP. It is my understanding that these individuals were residents of Dodge Street Cou~ not from the area suNeyed, although I was not at the meeting and cannot confirm this. The individuals who spoke at the City Council meeting expressed confusion that the initial vote on the su~ey had been 4-3 in favor of allowing on-street parking on the nodh side of Dodge Street CouP, and later repoded to be 5-3 in favor. I am responsible for this confusion; I received a su~ey response after the deadline and allowed it to be included in the results. That is the reason for the shift from a 4-3 vote to a 5-3 vote. This discrepancy was enough to have the City Council request I re-su~ey the neighborhood regarding this ma~er. To clari~, the old su~ey and the new su~ey are being conducted consistent with our standard policy throughout the ci~. The area suNeyed is only the area directly adjacent to the potion of the street proposed for the change in on-street pa~ing. On Dodge Street Cou~ this includes seven addresses on the east-west podion of Dodge Street Coud, plus the Mo houses at the intersection of Conklin Lane and Dodge Street CouP. The residences on the noah-south podion of Dodge Street Cou~ are not suNeyed because they are not directly adjacent to the area of the proposed change. There are no pa~ing restrictions on the noah-south potion of Dodge Street Coud. One other ma~er I would like to clari~ is the issue of emergency vehicles being able to use Dodge Street Coud. The largest emergency response vehicle in the ci~ is the Fire Depa~ment ladder truck. The Fire Chief has stated that even with pa~ing allowed on one side of Dodge Street CouP, they will be able to maneuver the ladder truck to all residences on Dodge Street CouP. This is a significant factor in why we have agreed to allow the neighborhood to decide the issue of on-street parking on Dodge Street CouP. Enclosed you will find another postage-paid suNey card for you to indicate your preference regarding the issue of on-street pa~ing on Dodge Street CouP. You must return this second su~ey card to be included in the results. Please return this to me no later than May 19 so that this ma~er can be resolved. I will be out of the o~ce May 10-16, but you should feel free to contact me before or after this time if you have any questions. Sincerely, Jeff Davidson Acting Tra~c Engineering Planner co: City Council / indexbc~t~3-6JD.doc 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (~[9) 356-5000 · FAX (~19) ]56-5009 Steve Atkjns From: Ma~ Lou Eme~ [ma~-eme~@uiowa.edu] Sent: Monday, May 08, 2000 5:10 PM To: stephen_atkins@iowa-ci~.org C/~/~L' Su~ect: Parking on Dodge Street Cou~ Dear Stephen Arkins: We are writing to inform you of the faulty procedure 5y which decisions are 5e~ng made concerning the parking s~tuat~on on o~r Dodge S~:ee~ Court. ~his item wi~ come up at ~he next C~ty meeting, and we hope that you wil~ ~Lsten to our concerns. ~ecently, Jeff Davidson sent ~o some of the ~esidents on Dodge Street Court a second oppo=tun~ty ~o vo~e as to whether we are w~l~nq to change the current ~o ~ark~ng s~atus of Dodge Street Court to a~ow on-s~=eet parking. The ballot ~s accompanied by a ~e~ter, which was cop~ed to a~ of you. Zn the lette:, ~r. Davidson s~ates ~hat "the area surveyed is the a:ea direct~ adjacent to the portion of the street proposed for the change." .zLmong the residents s~:veyed are two who ~ve on Conk~in Street and are presumably s~uated "adjacent" to ~he ~300 block o£ Dodge St~ee~ Co~. Roweve:, ~wo residents of Dodge S~reet Coart, whose houses are ad3acen~ ~o ~he ~300 ~ock have been omitted ~rom ~he survey, ~w~ce now. 7hei: ho~ses are exactly ad~acen~ to ~he area proposed fo= ~he change, and their drLveways back onto that portion of the s~reet. When one o~ these residents, Te:esa Young, ca~ed 3e~f Davidson to ask why she was not s~rveyed, he informed he: ~ha~ ~t d~d not effect Eoweve:, i~ ef£ec~s ~e=esa as much or more than any of us s~nce she is in a wheelchair and depends on the spec~a~ Camhas tha~ takes he= ~o he~ everyday at ~he University. ~he bus needs adequate c~ea=ance to get to her house, and is often ~nade~ate, especially ~n bad weather on o~ narrow ~oad when ~he=e are numerous trucks and vans also parked along the road. ~hese trucks also b~ock visLon ~o~ drivers who may have difficulty seeLng sma~ ch~ld:en who ~Lve on ~his road now as we~ as ~eresa ~n wheelchair. ~he othe~ neighbors who d~d not :ece~ve notice or have o~po=~un~ty to vote a:e also concerned aboa~ :oad c~earance and ~hese are a~Z ~ong-time residents of Dodge Street ~hen ~he :ecen~ s~bd~visLson was approved by ~he City Council, the o~der residents were p=om~sed no-pa~k~ng s~gns, and we expected ~hat wo~d stay. Zf this ru~e ~s to be reconsidered, we fee~ tha~ a~ =es~dents of ~he street should have the opportunity to vote before any change ~s made, especially when those residents w~ be so e£fected 5y the change. ~e are additionally concerned abou~ the amount and kind of 1Lke~y ~o take p~ace on ~he s~reet if ~he change ~s approved. numerous cars, ~r~cks, and vans park dai~y nea: one :esidence-- on the street, on a vacan~ ~o~, and on the s~dewa~k. On a :ecen~ Saturday at th~s =es~dence, ~ ca=, ~ van, and 3 ~rucks we=e pa:ked on these ~ocat~ons, b~ockLng the s~dewalk and causing visibility p:ob~ems ~o~ drive~s and pedestrians. ~ho~gh we canno~ be ce=tain, ~ appears as if this ~a=king is connected w~h some kind o£ construction 5usiness. ¥e~ this area is zoned fo: residentia~ use only. We a:e concerned ~hat, if the ~o ~arkLng signs go down, there wi~ be no o££ic~a~ l~mL~ ~o the amount kind of parking on our Ne hope tha~ ~ is not too ~ate ~o conduct a fa~= su=vey of the residents ef~ected by the parking sLtua~ion on Dodge S~reet Court. Thank you £or your time and S~ncere~y, ~a~y ~ou ~me:y and Stephen Wootton (133~ Dodge Street Co~:~) 3~dy ~icho~son (~3~ Dodge Stree~ Clifton and ~e:esa Young (~124 Dodge Street City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: April 7, 2000 ~ To: Steve Atkins, City Manager From: Joe Fowler, Director Parking & Transit ~J."~ Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director of Planning 7~ Re: No Parking 6AM - 10 AM restrictions, Capitol Street Ramp In the early 1990's the City of Iowa City was requested to implement a parking restriction on the lower levels of the Capitol Street Parking Ramp. The Downtown Association and the Old Capitol Mall Merchants Association made this request. The request was made because early morning parkers were taking the spaces on the lower levels, forcing shoppers to use the upper floors. As a result, parking was restricted on the lower three floors between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 10:00 A. M. The initial implementation of this policy resulted in many complaints from the public. While the number of complaints about the policy has decreased over the years, they continue to be received. At one point the Parking Division proposed elimination of the policy but this was resisted by the merchants. While this policy has produced some negative responses it has also had some positive results. Requiring early morning parkers to use the upper floors has resulted in open spaces for shoppers. In addition, it has decreased traffic control problems in the ramp. In the past two weeks the City has received requests from the Downtown Association and the Old Capitol Town Center to eliminate the 6:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. restriction. These requests are being made because several businesses open before 10:00 AM. The merchants feel the policy is confusing to their customers and rescinding it will better accommodate their customers. As this policy has been subject to so much public discussion in the past, we believe the Council may want to discuss any possible change at an upcoming work session. If Council eliminates the 6:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. restriction the Parking Division will remove the signs posted in the drive lanes and paint out the stencils on the walls. 1 Marian Karr From: paula o. brandt [pobrandt@avalon.net] Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2000 3:51 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: thanks Dear Council Members--I was out of town when the Council voted on the downzoning in the Longfellow Neighborhood, but I was thrilled to come home and read of the unanimous support of the Council for the conservation districts. This was a great thing that you did, and I know it also took a little bit of courage. Thank you for doing the right thing--years from now, you will look back at that vote with great pride. I am also glad to hear that you have asked staff to look at the concentration of group living facilities. I find several things disturbing about Eleanor Dilkes' opinion. First was the timing of the announcement of the opinion which took the neighborhood totally by surprise and gave them no time to hire an attorney, prepare a counter-argument or research her opinion. Our ENTIRE objection to the Successful Living project was based on concentration, and the City Attorney knew that. What was the point of the neighborhood meeting with Marcia Klingaman and Theresa Kopatich and of the follow-up research that Marcia did if our argument was not even to be considered? We were badly misled. As someone who has always believed that the City's staff will at least be straight with its citizens, I feel my trust level has definitely declined. I also very much doubt that the point of the Fair Housing Act was to concentrate transitional housing, which is the impact of the Council's decision (reluctant on some of your parts, I realize). The City Attorney's opinion is saying to everyone that it's perfectly okay for all the transitional housing to be placed within a few blocks of the North Side] I believe that one of the points of the Fair Housing Act was to promote de-concentration, and for wealthy neighborhoods not to be NIMBYS. As our neighborhood has said many times, in many ways, we absolutely do not mind doing our share. We just think other neighborhoods should do their share as well. Clearly, that's not happening, and agencies need to be encouraged to stop targeting the North Side and the South Side. Thanks for listening. Paula Brandt 824 N. Gilbert St. 354-6948 May 15, 2000 Dear City Council Members, The following are reasons that we at the SouthePoint Neighborhood development would like to see the two lots under discussion go to a private builder. 1. The original Swenson home was brought in on a trailer unannounced. We were told even though our covenant said "No home may be brought in on wheels", that really without a lengthy, expensive, legal court battle we could do nothing about it. 2. Greater Iowa City Housing Fellowship, after the fact, said they regretted the neighborhood was not consulted in the planning/building of their three homes. But, now we have three homes identical to each other. 3. In the process of building one of those three homes, a very nice SouthPoint sign and shrubs were tom down and lost. No one seems to know what happened to the sign and it has never been recovered or replaced at the entrance to our neighborhood. 4. The newest home to go up, while being very energy efficient, has a stucco exterior and again is nothing like the homes in the area. All told, these five homes along with a student built home brings the number of financially assisted homes to 6 on a street with approximately 14 homes. In summation, we feel a private builder (i.e. Steve Kohli, Barry Frantz) would be more apt to put in homes that are consistent with the styling and scale of the homes built before our diversification. Thank you, Kevin McCarthy SouthePoint Neighborhood Association --