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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-11-21 Correspondence You r Office Centre .'--"!:' 4 ~IOWA CITY ~ CEDAR ~PIDS ~ CO~LVILLE ~ DUBUQUE .:' ...., "'";"7 ,~,, .,..~. City Cou.dl ""'~"'~'~;~ City o~ [owa City 4 ] 0 E washifigto~ Street ]owa City~ ]A 52240 Dear Councilors: I have long had a very serious interest and involvement in the betterment of downtown Iowa City and I would like to share a few thoughts with you. I believe the maintenance staff is doing an outstanding job of keeping Downtown tidy. However a crowd of sometimes-unruly youth, the source of a lot of the mess, has taken over the center of the pedestrian mall in front of my store. They obstruct and intimidate pedestrian traffic in the middle of the ped mall with their hackey sack games and antics. A meeting was held recently with the Chief of Police, Capt. Harney, and Dale Helling and several other business owners. We discussed police patrols, stricter enforcement of smoking, littering, and loitering laws against unruly juveniles. I want to be perfectly clear that they have every right to enjoy the pedestrian mall, as I do; however their behavior is disrupting and intimidating to our customers and staff. We feel that a police presence is necessary to curb this behavior. Since our meeting with the Chief of Police, we have seen no increase in patrols and the problem continues. This has become an annual discussion with no results. My feeling (and this is shared by several others) is that if we can't make downtown Iowa City a safe and desirable place to be, then we should remove the benches, flower beds, and light fixtures and put in parking meters. If we can't patrol it, pave it. I have asked several city staffers to investigate the poor maintenance of vault covers on sidewalks throughout downtown Iowa City. There are many loose covers, covers that stick up above the surface of the sidewalk. This is disconcerting to pedestrians who I have seen avoid them. It is not a safe situation. To date nothing has been done to get the vault covers repaired. I hope that you can cause the building department to force the owners to better maintain sidewalk vault covers. Should the city sign shop be privatized? As early as last year, the courts began dismissing tickets for bicycling and other similar violations in Downtown. They held that the signs were less than adequate, that the stenciled sidewalk warnings are insufficient. What happened to the signs removed when the stencils were done? It may be a good thing for justice to move slowly, but for the city to be this slow is hard to understand. Plaza Centre One 711 Center Point Road NE RiverView Square 821 Central Avenue P.O. Box 1846 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402 474 1 st Avenue Dubuque, Iowa 52001 Iowa City, Iowa 52244 31%364-7010 Coralville, Iowa 52241 319-556-3030 319-354-5950 800-779-0094 319-338-6274 800-598-8694 80()-779-0093 FAX 319-364-7133 FAX 319-338-7788 FAX 319-556-1525 FAX 319-338-2797 Have we completed all necessary arrangements to allow restaurants to place tables in designed are next summer? IfDowntown's $1,000,000.00+ tax flow means anything, please get this moving. I will continue to support downtown Iowa City. I think it can be a wonderful place but only if you will support it too. I a getting tired of being the Plaza Centre One policeman. lnce / S~ JAG/ces 11-21-00 Farnam Group, Inc. 1623 Farnam Street, Suite 830  Omaha, NE 68102 ~ ~ e ~ a ~ ~ Telephone ¢402) S41~0888 ,~,~f'N0V O 6 2000 ,J,J~ Fax (402) 341~2655 November 3, 2000 ~ OIlY MAI A E/ 'S FFiCE Council Members / Iowa City, City Council ~ ~ 410 E Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Dear Council Members: As we complete construction and formally open our Regency Heights Senior Residence, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the City Council for the support provided to this unique and affordable senior housing alternative. Iowa City has been a wonderful community to develop in and we could not be more pleased to become, through this development, a more formal member of the community. I would be remiss if I did not commend to you the fine work and support we received from both City staff and the various City Commissions and Agencies that we worked with throughout the process of creating this development. Of special note, I would like to acknowledge Mr. Steve Nasby and the Housing and Community Development Commission, as well as the Elderly Services Agency. In addition, Karen Franklin and her staff at the Planning Department were most helpful. In closing let me say again how appreciative we are of the support we have received from the City. As we move forward now with construction of Phase II of our development, we look for;; ard to becoming an even greater part, of this terrific community. Sincerely, Lawrence A. Mazzotta President LAM/rs P:xlowa Pm',Rive~'iew',Council Members.lam 110300.doc 11-21-00 IOWA CITY RO. Box 64 ,~ V' IOWA CITY, IOWA s 22 CITY t iliASEft'S OFFICE (3~ 9) 3s4-0863 November l, 2000 D~r City ~ ~half of~e Do~o~ ~s~ia~on of Iowa Ci~, I'd l~e to ask y~u to ~si~r ~b~g t~ F~y Ni~t Con~e~ $e~. Dung ~e pa~ ~ y~rs ~is ev~t has Fo~ ~d ~is y~r we had~ee ~s by l~l musi~i~s, do~to~, eve~ F~y ~t, ~d-May ~rou~ S~mber. al~ys ~dude a ~n~ ~at f~tur~s 1~1 hi~ s~l Ja~ b~; ~is ~r we w~m able to also ~v~ C~ ~'s oreh~m play do~to~ be~re ~eir Eur~ tour. ~e Iowa C~ S~h~l pr~u~ ou~g y~g musi~i~s ~d · e F~y Ni~t C~ $e~es is a w~de~l way f~r all ~e ~s o~Iowa C~to h~r~em. For a s~nd y~r~e F~y Ni~t C~ Se~es jo~ ~ ~e Univ~rs~ of Iowa O~i~ Com~ to hold a Wel~me Ba~k to ~e F~day Ni~t C~ Se~es ~ws a w~ ~ve~e au&~e ~om ~e ~~ ~d su~o~g ar~s. I r~i~ more p~s~ve ~baCk ~ ever ~s y~ ~d mu~h ~ ~ ~e ~om p~le or~es, supe~ses, prom~es ~d rais~ a]] ~e ~ ~or ~e se~es. We ~ we w~re abl~ to b~k ~ mHsi~i~s ~om a ~Hy broad~ ~ proem, ~ad~ ~ow, ~i~h gave [~ Cky some wonde~l n~i~] prom~i~. ~1 promSion is pro~d~ byte DTA ~d ~e I~a C~ Press-C~iz~ (m ~d). We would l~e to ask ~at you ~sider a ~b~ of $7,000 to ~sure ~e ~~ of~s ~~ ev~. We f~l ~d~ ~at we ~ more ~ ~t~ ~at amo~ ~ vol~ ~bmi~ ~om mem~rs ~d ~en& of ~e Do~ Aspirin. ~ese ~ were ~joy~ ~d well ~ by a ~de ~fi~ of p~le, o~g a ve~ r~l s~ of ~i~ do~. W~ your he~, we would l~e to ~sure ~at ~ey e~ue to ~ ~ Iowa C~ ~on. Ex~mive Dir~or, ~~ ~s~i~ of I~a C~y ~?'L~~"~~k~t~ i ~ 1-21-00~ L IOWA CITY P.O. Box 64 ~ IOWA CITY, IOWA 52244-0064 (319) 354-0863 / Emie ~n Iowa Ci~ Ci~ Co~cil 410 East Was~n~on St~t Iowa Ci~, IA 52240 ~o~r 24, ~ ~ E~e The ~d of the ~town ~iation of Iowa Ci~ was t~H~ to 1~ ttmt the $500,~0 go~ hM ~en reach~ and s~ allo~ng the Co~i~on to Save the En~en m p~c~ ~e ~l~ng from the Ci~. ~e effort to pre~e ~d restore of the En~en to ~e lovely ~ter it once was ~11 ho~ly ~n ~n. T~s ~ter ~ ~ ~ as~t for ~e entire ~~' and ~11 aUmct mo~ ~ple to ~wnto~ Iowa Ci~, e~c~g its re.ration as a ~nter of ~e ~s ~d of ~$m~ involvement. It will ~ ~ a welcome o~on to the ~s as ~ ente~iment venue. The Co~i~on ho~s m ~n i~ately and in or~r to ~ ~ th~ ~11 n~ ~pi~. Sin~ ~me of the pl~ges ~ to ~ ~11~ over as m~y as ~ y~, ~sh flow may ~ a ~$1em in ~e i~ pM~. We w~t m encomge ~e Council to facilitate t~s effort ~ ~o~ng the C~ition fie~liW in ~e ~em of the p~c~se p~. The ~town ~iation Ms ~n su~ffive ~d im mem~rs have ~n genero~ to ~e effort to m~e · e En~en Th~ter a ~m~ ~t ~d we ~tend to ~ntinue ~s such. In ~on we wo~d l~e to ac~owle~e t~t ~out the c~ra~on of ~ Ci~ Co~c~ ~s &~ world not ~ve had any ~ssibili~ of ~ng ~e. We sin~ ho~ the Co~cil ~11 ~n~nue to ~n the ~m ~ ~e~ w~ ~ssible. Sin~rely, Ex~utive Dir~tor, ~e ~town ~iation of Iowa Ci~ Page 1 of 1 Marjan Karr From: JIMMYO14@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2000 12:12 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: Englert Theatre Plan My name is Jim Olson and I live at 2643 Westwinds Drive and am 30 years old. I have been a fairly regular non vocal observer of the City Council and the issues that have been in front of you. I have of course followed the Englert Theatre issue and was compelled to speak for the first time today. First let me say that I am not really for or against the Englert Theatre group purchasing the theatre. What I am for is fair and honest solutions to Iowa City's problems. When the council agreed to purchase the theatre and turn around and sell it to the Save the Englert group my initial thought was that the city should not be getting involved with tax payer dollars. A date of Nov. 8 was set for the purchase from the city of the Englert Theatre for $200,000 less than what the city paid for it. About two weeks ago the Englert group held a big rally and declared they had the funds to ! purchase the theatre. Now they announce that they actually don't have the funds and would like to propose paying the city in '5 E-Z payments'. During this time the city has incurred $58,000 in lost interest and property taxes. Over the next four years it is estimated the city will lose another $65,000 in interest revenue. The final straw for me was that the extension on the payments will occur interest free for the Englert group. By now, not only has the city invested $200,000, $65,000, and $58,000 but they are extending tax payer dollars to this group interest free. Dick Summerwill, who I respect very much and is an outstanding citizen of Iowa City, was a board member that asked that the extension be granted interest free. Mr. Summerwill has enioyed an outstanding and successful career by earning a living charging other people interest and by earning interest on his investments. &nbs! p;For him to request a loan interst is free is hypocritical to me. I believe these are the things that frustrate citizens. I don't expect to get interest free loans when I go into Iowa State Bank and I don't expect the city to go into the business of changing honest agreements and then entering into new agreements that cost the taxpayers more money. Why is there so much animosity toward national and local governments? Because citizens either don't trust the elected officials or they feel that they are out of touch and not capable of common sense solutions. I have a friend who says "Common sense sure isn't common anymore." Dealings like this prove him right. I believe the council has done a good job and I respect all of its members. But money doesn't grow on trees and I believe it's time that the city start running its business the way every other citizen does, with a common se! nse budget, common sense approach, and most importantly by protecting honesty and fairness in its business dealings. Anything less would be extremely hypocritical. Thank you very much for your time. -Jim Olson 11/7/00 11-21-00 THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA ! , 4g(6) ~ . November 9, 2000 Mayor Ernie Lehman Civic Center 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City IA 52240 Dear Mayor Lehman: I am pleased that the Englert Civic Theatre organization has been successful in raising more than the required $500,000 in donations and pledges that will allow the group to purchase the theatre from the City of Iowa City. I hope that ECT, Inc. and the City will be able to come to a purchase agreement that is satisfactory to everyone. A restored Englert Theatre will be a great asset to our downtown area and to the community as a whole. As a major new live theatre venue, the Englert will diversify the entertainment options that are available in the downtown area. I also hope that the theatre's cultural events will help bring our permanent residents and our University students together in positive ways. A stronger cultural environment downtown cannot help but to create a stronger economic environment as well. A restored Englert Theatre will also be a major community resource that we can point to with pride as business and industry look to locate in Iowa City. A restored Englert Theatre will also make a positive statement about the ways our city values its heritage and history. The Englert is the only remaining historical theatre in town, and fortunately it was the most beautiful. If we lose the Englert, we lose our last chance to preserve this important part of Iowa City history. I am grateful that the City Council has taken proactive measures to assist our citizens in preserving this cultural landmark, and I hope such support continues as our community finalizes its purchase. We all know that the work ahead will be long and challenging, but the restoration of this beautiful piece of Iowa City history will benefit us all. Sincerely, Ma~t'%ue Coleman President Office of the President 101 Jessup Hall Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1316 319/335-3549 FAX 319/335-0807 11-21-00 Marian Karr J 4g(7) "- From: goosetowngraphics [goosetowngraphics@earthlink. net] Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 8:36 AM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: Englert I have supported the Englert project from the inception of the committee. Thank you for backing them with the no-interest loan. Some may argue that this is not the City's purpose, but if not you, who? With big projects like the library, First Avenue and the new Public Works Facility this may be stretching resources but it is nice to save some of the old while building the new. Thanks again for your vote on this issue. Libby Shannon Marjan Karr 11-21-oo 4g(8) -- From: Stevekranz@aol.com Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 8:35 AM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: Englert To the City Council Members in Iowa City: Unfortunately, work has taken me away from Iowa City, but I love to return when possible. The rennovations to the downtown area have been impressive. Restoring the Englert is unquestionably in the best interest of the Iowa City downtown revitalizing effort. I am pleased to hear that the City Council is supporting the rennovation. For me it is one more reason to return to Iowa City. Everyone in Iowa benefits from Iowa City's role as Iowa's cultural center. The Englert's rennovation will be a great addition to Iowa City~s downtown. Sincerely, Steve Kranz Marian Karr 11-21-00 From: Nancy Purington [npstudio@zeus.ia.net] 4g(9) Sent: Friday, November 10, 2000 10:24 AM To: city council Subject: Arts Iowa city/Tower Place Dear Council Members; Recently, Arts Iowa city has been given the opportunity to consider accepting donations earmarked for a Foundation which would target purchase of space for a permanent, community gallery location. This is timely, in-so-far-as the Englert reached it mark to be able to pay for their permanent, performance location. Our focus has been on the NW corner location available in Tower Place. We would have begun this campaign earlier if the Englert storm had not arisen simultaneously with the visual arts whirlwind at the 207 E. Washington Street streetlevel event. The arts community did not want to focus on fundraising for two venues at one time, even though this concept of arts spaces for all venues has been an intense focus of the community for at least 15 years, i.e., Center Space. I think it is not unusual that the silent, visual arts component facilitated this arrangement due to their inherent, non-verbal style of communication practiced by painters, sculptors, potters, etc. This silent practice of ours makes it difficult to compete for attention. So, we thought we would also support the performance venue direction by not competing for funds at that time, even though it was the most appropriate time due to our visibility .... at long last(25 yrs). Arts Iowa City gained a lot of support when positioned in a visible location. We learned that we could not, however, raise money for high downtown rent. We identified Tower Place as a space which could be purchased from the city and have been hoping that it would be available when the Englert reached it goal. We need assistance in designing a plan to purchase space. Since the city owns this space, what can be considered in the development of a process which would facilitate this goal? Sincerely, Nancy Purington Arts Iowa City e-mail: nancy@purington.com 11-21-00 i, 4g(10) Marian Karr I ll-21-00 i4g(11) From: Eve Casserly [casserly@zeus.ia.net] Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 3:35 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: Johnson County Task Force on Aging Tasksign.doc A~29021.t~ eSafe Protect Gateway (tm) has scanned this mail for viruses, vandals and suspicious attachments and has found it to be CLEAN. File: Tasksign.doc i34,304 bytes) Encoding: Base64 Result: Clean. This attachment I am sending to you describes a Holiday Mixer that is being sponsored by the Johnson County Task Force on Aging and the Senior Center on December llth. It will be held at the Iowa City Senior Center, 28 S. Linn Street. We hope that you can come. Eve Casserly Chairperson Johnson County Task Force on Aging HOLIDAY MIXER Meet, Greet, see Friends, Feel Better Date: Monday, December 11 th Time: 2:00-4:00 Presenters: Johnson County Task Force on Aging and the Iowa City Senior Center Location: Assembly Room Iowa City Senior Center 28 S. Linn Street Iowa City, Iowa Start the Holiday Season off early by mixing with your fellow Seniors at a coffee-refreshment get together. Oh, and By the Way, besides getting together with other friends here, We are also inviting members of the Senior Center Staff, Senior Dining staff, Council of Elders, Senior Center Commission, Heritage Area Agency on Aging staff, U.I. Hospital Senior Care, Visiting Nurses Association, Senior Peer Counseling, SEATS personnel, Pathways, EIder Services, Social Security, members of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, City Council Members and of course members of the Johnson County Task Force on Aging and the general public. This is a Senior Center MIXER (No speeches or Formal Stuf]), so we hope lots of people will come .... especially YOU ..... and if you'd like to bring something along to share, like cookies, etc., that will be fine too. City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: November 3, 2000 To: City Clerk From: Jeff Davidson, Acting JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner Re: Agenda Item for November 21, 2000 City Council meeting: Installation of NO PARKING HERE TO CORNER and NO PARKING CORNER TO HERE signs on the south side of Brookland Park Place between Melrose Court and Brookland Place 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 November 22, 2000. Action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(10) of the City Code, a NO PARKING HERE TO CORNER sign will be erected on the south side of Brookland Park Place near the intersection with Brookland Place. A NO PARKING CORNER TO HERE sign will be erected on Brookland Park Place near the intersection with Melrose Court. Comment: This action is being taken in response to neighborhood complaints that motorists are parking illegally too close to the corner on Brookland Park Place and restricting visibility. The proposed signage will clarify current City Code requirements for on-street parking near the intersection of two streets. The existing on-street parking control on the south side of Brookland Park Place between Melrose Court and Brookland Place is NO PARKING 8 A.M. TO 6 P.M., MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, which will not change. jccogtp/mem/brookland.doc ,~ 11-21-00 '~- November 8, 2000 TO: The Honorable Mayor ~d ~e Ci~ Co~cil ' ~: C~vH Sc~icc ~c~ Ex~i,afio~ - ~olice Captain ~, th~ ~dcrsi~cd m~mb~rs o~ffi~ Civil Sc~ic~ Co~issjon o~[owa ~a~ 3o~o~ ~ck Wyss D~ Sdlc~s IOWACITY~~~C ~ISSIO~ ~. Djck~rson ATTEST: ~ ~- ~'~ Manan Karr, City Clerk' 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 356-5000 · FAX 319) 356-5009 November 8, 2000 ,,,~' TO: The Honorable Mayor and the City Council RE: Civil Service Entrance Examination - Police Lieutenant We, the undersigned members of the Civil Service Commission of Iowa City, Iowa, do hereby certify the following named person(s) as eligible for the position of Police Lieutenant. Jim Steffen Sid Jackson Bill Campbell Mike Brotherton Mike Lord Kevin Heick Michael W. Kenn/edy,~~r 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 * (319} 356-5000 * FAX (319) 356-5009 Marian Karr From: Amy Dobrian [adobrian@earthlin k. net] Sent: Monday, November 20, 2000 8:14 AM To: council@iowa-city.org Cc: Olozimmer@aol .corn Subject: Englert Theatre Dear Iowa City Council Members, I would like to urge and encourage your support of the purchase of the Englert Theatre by the Englert Civic Theatre Group at this Tuesday's Council meeting. This group is made up of a large and diverse membership of highly committed, hard-working individuals who believe in the future of Downtown Iowa City and and the vital role that this non-profit performance space can have in that future. This effort has tremendous public support from a broad spectrum of the community and is a great opportunity for our city to preserve a piece of its history and build on its future as a flourishing center for the arts and for conununity involvement. Thank you very much. Amy Dobrian / Marian Karr From: CMTugwell@aol.com Sent: Monday, November 20, 2000 9:20 AM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: re: Englert Civic Theatre The negativity of the recent Press-Citizen editorial (Tuesday, November 14) about the Englert Theatre concerns me. It appears that they jumped in with their view without checking with members of the group that has been working so hard to preserve this fine facility. Let me assure you that there are still many fundraising efforts that are ongoing. There is a fundraising committee that is targeting major donors (including corporations and individuals). There is an events committee that continues to plan fundraising events that include as many community members as possible. (Coming up will be a New Year's Eve party at Old Brick that will feature the Orchesta de Jazz y Salsa Alto Maiz, also known as "The Salsa Band".) I, myself, participate in a grant writing committee that is initially targeting funds available for capital and will then move on to renovation and operating funds. (Though we have already targeted some funds, we are always open to any you may know of.) I've been in Iowa City for more than 20 years. I know that there have been calls for such a facility as we are working toward. At your recent work session the council members voted unanimously to allow the Englert Civic Theatre group to proceed with the buy of this facility. For this I am grateful. Your support goes a long way toward making this a successful effort. In any endeavor there are opportunities for negativity. Rather than negativity, I would ask that you focus on constructive criticism. Every group needs a healthy dose of that. If you have questions or concerns contact members of our organization. We always welcome inquiries and will do our best to allay concerns. Let's keep our hands joined to continue to work toward making this avenue that everyone in iowa City can be proud of. Thanks, Cheryl M. Tugwell Grant Writing Committee Member Englert Civic Theatre Marian Karr From: Jame Donovan [jdonovan@mammoth-mtn.com] Sent: Monday, November 20, 2000 3:05 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: The Englert Dear Council Members - As a former resident of Iowa City I wanted to let you know how thrilled I was to hear of your support for the Englert Theater. I believe that downtown Iowa City is a remarkable place and that not only preserving, but reviving landmarks like the Englert is instrumental in keeping the cultural identity of Iowa City flourishing. Thanks for your vision. Stephanie Donovan PO Box 626 Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 '~ ', IC07 ~H J ~%~, ~) ~_ xco2 ~ ' zCOS xc~ 0 ~c24 -,':~'-, f /~Z",~ ,c:~ L " ' ~ 'US "~it~ ~ I P~C~ ~ ~.p ~.~d ~ Ci~ of l~ Ci~ SEHEMBE~ 2~ a~ Co~ !1001 ROOSEVEI'T i - ' : ~ 627. 469~ 81%~ 109~ 19%~'7~ ~-iiC02HORN :, 481! 3391 73°/oi12Si ~'1C04 LINCOLN 811~ 581~ 75%j 190; 25%~?,~ ~iC05 BURGE .......... ~ '53~ SS21"'S5%~' 62~ :1c08 WEBER 908~ 549~ 65%1 297: 35%~1~ ~;ec~ COuRTHOuSE>~_~!.s~3~ 82%:~3Z :1C12 G~NT WOOD ~ 879 480~ 58%~ 354 42%~(~ .~c~3 c~ T~NS ~ "668 380~60%i 25~ :IC14MARKTWAIN _,~ 622 351T 58%s; 257 42%[~7% ic15 SE JR. HIGH 6871 352~ 54%~ 303~ '~'~'~ ~c~s Lutes 7T6F"~'~]55%1342; ~1C17 HOOVER 588~~%i 204~ 36%b~ i ' ' 5.G ELLOW .................. ...... +jlC20 SB. CENTER468~ ........369~ ~%{ ~.1C22 SHIMEK 697[ 453~ 68%~ 214~ ~1C23 REGINA ' 1058~ 595~ 58% 437~ 42%~$ ~1C24 CI~ HIGH 7261 462~ 67%i 228: 33%'~?~ ~1C25 HELEN LEMME ~ 8901 450~ 52%i 412 48%~f~ ;~RLY VOTE , 1355~F 8323~ 660/o~ 4246, S~ECIAL .... : [' 21~ ~ 6 1 ofl City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM-I I- Date: November 15, 2000 To: City Council From: Karin Franklin, Director, PCD ~~ Re: Lake Ridge Manufactured Housing Park The requested rezoning of property in the county south of the Iowa City Airport for Lake Ridge Manufactured Housing Park continues to be an open item on the Council's agenda. At your November 6, 2000 work session, you were requested to again defer this item to your November 21, 2000 meeting. You indicated a willingness to defer this item again since the applicant and applicant's attorney were out of town. However, there were also statements made that you would defer to November 21 but with the understanding that you would vote on this issue on the 21st. In the letter from Mr. Downer's office dated November 2, 2000, requesting this deferral, reference was made to the anticipated receipt of a draft agreement in the Planning Department upon Mr. Downer's return on November 7. To date, we have not received any draft agreement or communication from Mr. Downer or from the developers, Bob and Erma Wolf. Again, seeing no progress on the issue, and with the desire of clearing your agenda of the rezoning item, I would suggest that you vote on the rezoning as requested at your November 21 meeting. As indicated in a letter to Mr. Downer dated October 31, 2000, I see no reason why we cannot continue to work on a mutually agreeable resolution of the Lake Ridge Manufactured Housing Park issue after your vote on the 21st. cc: City Manager Robert M. Downer Bob and Erma Wolf ppdadm/mem/lakeridge.doc City of The Honorable Sally Stutsman, Chair Johnson County Board of Supervisors 913 S. Dubuque Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Re: CZ0027. County Rezoning Request for Property Located East of Dane Road and West and South of the Lake Ridge Mobile Home Park Dear Sally and Members of the Board: Johnson County has received an application from J.E.B.B., LC, to rezone an approximate 125.43 acre parcel located east of Dane Road and west and south of the Lake Ridge Mobile Home Park from A1, Rural, and RS, Suburban Residential, to RMH, Manufactured Housing Residential. The property lies within Fringe Area C and within the City's adopted growth area. At its July 6, 2000, meeting, the Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission recommended, by a vote of 6-0, that the City Council forward a letter to the Board of Supervisors recommending denial of the requested rezoning due to its non-compliance with the Fringe Area Agreement, Iowa City's Comprehensive Plan, and the Johnson County Land Use Plan. The Commission further recommended that if the County is inclined to approve the rezoning request, that the Council and Board meet to discuss the relationship of the Fringe Area Agreement to this particular request as well as the future of the agreement itself. The Commission believes that, in part, the intent of the Fringe Area Agreement is to ensure that urban density growth occurs within the City, built to urban development standards, and with the benefit of City sewer and water and other City services, and that growth in the County occur at densities more appropriate for a rural setting and be directed away from prime agricultural areas and environmentally sensitive areas. The proposed development plan does not appear to comply with the development policies of the Fringe Area Agreement for Area C, and the applicant has not agreed to develop the property in accordance with City development standards. The development of this parcel without annexation may inhibit the City's ability to serve and annex other properties within its growth area. The development of the subject property without annexation will result in a substantial population being served by a private sewage treatment plant when a modern publicly operated treatment facility is available by gravity flow. The proposed rezoning is not consistent with many aspects of Iowa City's Comprehensive Plan or the Johnson County Land Use Plan. The lack of a useable secondary access for residents of the development, the amount of grading that will likely be required to implement the concept plan, and uncedainties regarding storm water management are also of concern. The attached staff report provides more details regarding these issues and the reasons for the Commission's recommendation of denial. Based on the above reasoning, Council agrees with the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission, and therefore respectfully forwards a comment to the Board that the requested rezoning of approximately 125.43 acres from A1 and RS to RMH is not consistent with the policies of the Fringe Area Agreement, the Iowa City Comprehensive Plan, or the Johnson County Land Use Plan. Therefore, Council respectfully requests that the spirit and integrity of the Fringe Area Agreement be maintained, and recommends that the rezoning request be denied. Sincerely, Ernest W. Lehman Mayor Enclosure indexbcMtr,~\~l 2CL.do¢ 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 · (319) 356-5000 · FAX (319) 356-5009