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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-04-25 Council Minutes City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: June 7, 2000 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk RE: Spec. Work Session, April 25, 2000, Joint Meeting with Iowa City School Board- 7:30 AM, Council Chambers Council Present: Champion, Kanner, Lehman, O'Donnell, Vanderhoef, Wilburn. Absent: Pfab School Board Present: Jackson, Reece, Schultz, Wallace, Absent: Goodlaxon, Johnson, Left. City Staff present: Arkins, Helling, Winkelhake, Davidson, Franklin, Karr. School Board Staff present: Plugge, Palmer, Bailey Tape: 00-50, Both Sides (A complete transcription is available in the City Clerk's office.) ZONING APPLICABILITY TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS PCD Director Franklin presented information and clarified that zoning applies to all private property. The School District, City and County are all zoned "P" for public means those properties do not comply with specific zoning requirements. Franklin stated the Iowa City strives to comply in.every instance with our own regulations. Mayor Lehman stated the City had received a request that the City seek zoning compliance of the School District and suggested the School Board might be interested. Franklin stated the most frequent concerns deal with lights, parking and noise. Assoc. Supt. Palmer reported the schools do go through a review process for site plans, and also followed the City tree regulations for planting at Weber School. Wallace questioned private school compliance. Franklin stated that private schools such as Regina are required to get special exceptions and go through a complete review process. It was agreed that the City and School Board staffs would discuss the matter further, explore implications and gaps that currently exist, and report back. TENNIS LIGHTS School Board Member Reece explained the School Board would be discussing the lights at their meeting that evening, and three members would have to vote in the affirmative to take the ~f, rom Dr. Plugge's hands and schedule a hearing. Dr. Plugge reported the lights come on at 8:00 "~ and off at 10:00 PM, a future enhancement is an on/off switch which would not allow the lights to come on automatically the next night, and he decided to disconnect the lights one month earlier than the agreement with the City called for. DARE PROGRAM Council Member Kanner noted a number of studies showing that the program was not effective and questioned whether the School Board had done any internal studies. Dr. Plugge noted one City Council/IC School Board Minutes April 25, 2000 Page 2 of the real benefits of the program is the presence of the officer in the classroom and building the relationship. Police Chief Winkelhake was present for discussion. School Board Member Wallace suggested a countywide review of multiple programs and different populations concerning alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse, and involving the whole population not just fifth graders. Council Member Wilburn suggested a two-part approach, specific programs the schools use to address substance abuse prevention, but also looking at the entire law enforcement activity in schools. Council Member Kanner noted two issues, police presence and the DARE program. Mayor Lehman asked the School District keep the City informed. ALCOHOL ISSUES Mayor Lehman reviewed discussion and correspondence on the underage drinking problem and upcoming meeting with bar owners. Council Member Vanderhoef wondered if it would be beneficial for the School Board to attend the upcoming meeting with bar owners. School Board Member Wallace suggested the notice be sent to Supt. Plugge and he could poll the members on attendance. Council Member Kanner noted drinking problems are starting earlier and encouraged City involvement to work out the problem. Council Member Champion stated children will take the problem more seriously when parents do not buy alcohol for parties or when the University stops placing large ads in their newspaper. Supt. Plugge said he would continue his involvement with Stepping Up. Council Member Kanner noted the recent tobacco settlement and questioned if any of the $11 million would be available to the City or Schools for local programming. City Mgr. Atkins and Supt. Plugge indicated they were not aware of any such programs at the present time. HIGHWAY 6 PEDESTRIAN OVERPASS Mayor Lehman stated the City had been contacted by individuals south of Highway 6 regarding safety concerns for children crossing the highway. Assoc. Supt. Palmer stated the School Dist. does provide bus access for those students, and noted that because of the distance many chose to walk rather than bus. City Mgr. Arkins stated that an engineering study was done roughly 10 years ago to determine the feasibility of an overpass on First Avenue/Highway 6 and the estimate was $700,000, and one major issue was whether the children would use it. The City Mgr. Also noted another request for an overpass at Keokuk/Highway 6 and because of ADA requirements the slope actually pushed the overpass back into the Kmart parking lot and raised the possibility of taking out houses. Assoc. 8upt. Palmer noted the City did adjust the timing of the lights to improve the situation. School Board Member Wallace suggested the School research how many children cross Highway 6; how many ride the shuttle; if they don't ride the shuttle would they use a pedestrian walkway/overpass or would they continue to walk. Council Member Vanderhoef encouraged the Board to keep in mind safety issues when citing schools and boundaries crossing arterial streets. Council Member Wilburn noted City improvements that would increase pedestrian traffic in the area. SIDEWALK/LIGHTING ISSUES ON FIRST AVENUE Council Member Vanderhoef raised concerns regarding no sidewalks on First Avenue adjacent to the schools and parking on the grassy areas adjacent to First Avenue. Assoc. Supt. Palmer indicated a sidewalk will be installed on First Avenue this spring as part of the improvement plan approved last year. City Mgr. Atkins noted that more "No Parking" signs be installed by the City since it is public right-of-way. Assoc. Supt. Palmer will follow up with City High administration on directing visitors to the Court Street lot. City Council/IC School Board Minutes April 25, 2000 Page 3 MOBILE HOME TAX Council Member Vanderhoef distributed information on taxation of Mobile Homes, and the Iowa League of Cities recommendation that residential and commercial customers paying taxes on the assessed real value of their property are subsidizing the residents of parks who have not been subject to even an inflationary increase in almost 30 years, while all classes of taxpayers receive the same access to services such as fire and police protection. Council Member Vanderhoef encouraged School Board Members to call attention to the matter at the State School Board Association and State Administration group levels. Assoc. Supt. Palmer clarified that the School Board operating fund would not be affected by the proposed change but the physical plant equipment levy would. Meeting adjourned 8:50 AM. deddmin/O4-25-OOws.doc