HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-02-20 Correspondence Mayor Ernest W. Lehman
State of the City Message
February 20, 2001
I welcome tonight this opportunity to say a few words about our great city and some of the very positive
things that are going on here. We all work diligently to keep Iowa City a safe and enjoyable place to be,
and we have achieved great things as a community working together. I see us moving ahead with the
same cautious optimism that has lead to our past successes and that will undoubtedly shape and
influence our future accomplishments.
We continue to focus on the downtown area and have invested significantly in public infrastructure
there over the past few years, including renovation of the pedestrian plaza and streetscape
improvements in the entire Central Business District. This year we will complete the Iowa Avenue
Reconstruction Project from Clinton Street to Gilbert Street, a long-awaited and much needed facelift
for this area, restoring a pedestrian-friendly and attractive vista to the Old Capitol from the east. The
University of Iowa has partnered with the City in this effort to create an attractive interface between the
business district and the University campus. We are appreciative of the University's willingness to
participate in making this portion of Iowa Avenue a true amenity that we will all enjoy for years to come.
The Tower Place and Parking Facility will be completed this year and will accommodate a high demand
for parking displaced from iowa Avenue as well as provide additional parking for downtown businesses,
residents, and visitors. Several businesses have relocated to commercial condominiums in Tower
Place, and we expect that the remaining spaces will be sold soon.
We applaud the efforts of the Englert Coalition and have assisted in their purchase of the Englert
Theatre building. The ultimate renovation of this facility will provide a new venue for the performing arts
downtown, adding a new and much needed dimension for attracting citizens to the area. We will also
be looking at new ordinances to regulate the sale and consumption of alcohol and at other ways to
make our downtown more attractive to citizens of all ages and interests. Our ultimate goal could be
characterized as offering "something for everybody!" downtown.
We will soon boast a bigger and better public library. Voters recently approved an $18.4 million bond
referendum for the financing of this project. While it will allow us to provide an enhanced, state-of-the-
art library service to the people of Iowa City, it does present a challenge to this Council in that we must
incorporate the sale of an additional $18.4 million of general obligation debt into our Capital
improvements Program and financial plan. There is probably no "good" time to add such a significant
amount of bonded indebtedness, and we have had to accommodate this project in our budget both by
closely scrutinizing our borrowing for other capital projects and by allowing our debt service levy to
slightly exceed, for a few years, our self-imposed cap of 25% of the total property tax levy. We have
been able to keep other high-priority capital projects intact in our Capital Improvements Program, while
at the same time maintaining a reasonably comfortable debt level. As long as the State does not
impose some sort of tax or revenue freeze or further property tax restrictions, our debt position will
remain favorable.
Last year the Council established a strong priority for economic development to increase the tax base
by encouraging expansion of local business and industry, and by attracting new commercial and
industrial development. We set aside $2 million for this purpose. Thus far, $700,000 has been allocated
to the development of the Airport North Commercial Development Project, and $1 million will be used to
help fund the cost of extending Mormon Trek Boulevard south and east from Highway 1 to Highway
921. The north airport development is approximately 57 acres, consisting of 17 commercial lots, and
has been planned for a number of years. It will generate additional tax revenue to help fund the
operation of the airport. Eventually, our goal is to generate enough revenue from that development to
make the operation and maintenance of the airport a self-sufficient enterprise. Further, the extension of
rng~asstjstatecity01 dec
Mormon Trek Boulevard around the airport will provide the opportunity for development in that corridor,
including access to airport property to be developed on its south perimeter.
We expect to see substantial progress this year on the renovation of the Sycamore Mall and the former
Randall's building, The City is partnering by way of a tax abatement on the added value that will result,
and it is expected that this project will not only greatly improve that area but will serve as a catalyst for
further reinvestment in southeast Iowa City.
On the northwest side we will begin construction of Captain Irish Parkway from ACT to Scott Boulevard
along with the extension of First Avenue to connect with Captain Irish Parkway near ACT. This will
open up a large area within the City limits for development and will provide more direct access from the
east side to Interstate 80 and to the businesses and industry along the North Highway 1 corridor.
Further, the Dodge/Governor Streets-Highway 1 couplet through the near east side, as well as adjacent
neighborhood streets, should see a significant reduction in traffic as motorists will no longer need to
travel through these neighborhoods to get from the east side to the North Highway 1 corridor. This
entire project will be completed by the end of next year. The eventual location of a new fire station in
the Captain Irish Parkway/North Dodge vicinity will further result in a shortened response time for fire
and medical assist calls in northeast Iowa City.
We need to maintain a strong tax base to support these and other local initiatives.
Three factors contribute to our need for increasing revenue on an ongoing basis. The first is inflation.
The cost of providing the same services at the same level increases steadily due to inflationary affects.
The second factor is the need to expand services as growth occurs. There is a corresponding increase
in cost to provide growth areas with the same level of service offered to the existing community,
Commercial and industrial development will generate sufficient increases in tax revenue to cover these
costs and more. Residential development, on the other hand, usually will not. Thus we cannot rely
totally on expansion of our tax base to fund new initiatives.
Expansion in existing service levels or funding new initiatives are the third factor which may create a
need for increasing revenues. We must look for alternative sources of income if we are to sustain new
initiatives or increases in the level of existing services. While occasionally we can cut services in one
area and reallocate those funds elsewhere, the demand for new services and initiatives far exceeds our
willingness to give up existing services that we as citizens have come to rely upon. However, we
continually face the threat of revenue restrictions or "freezes" from the Iowa legislature, and we are
subject to tax policies imposed by the State which severely limit our ability to generate adequate
revenue. The recent legislation exempting the value of commercial and industrial machinery and
equipment from assessed valuation has cost the City at least $700,000 annually in lost tax revenue.
Further, the residential rollback which ties urban property value increases to agricultural land valuations
continues to hold taxable values at well under 60% of assessed value, down from nearly 80% ten years
ago.
In spite of all this, we are committed to maintain our fiscal policies, limit our debt, and maintain a
healthy general fund balance to meet our cash flow needs. Our Aaa General Obligation Bond rating
sets us apart as a city with sound fiscal policies, controlled and manageable debt, and sustainable
financial resources, These should not be cornpromised and we will avoid any practices which might
place our superior bond rating in jeopardy. Our efforts notwithstanding, a revenue freeze such as is
currently being considered by the Iowa legislature would almost certainly jeopardize our Aaa bond
rating and that of the few other Iowa communities which now enjoy this distinction.
I believe we have done pretty well in establishing priorities for the City. We have been able to maintain
current service levels in the upcoming budget and will begin the first expansion of our fire department in
thirty years. This expansion will culminate with the construction of a new satellite station on the
mgr/asstjstatecity01 doc 2
northeast side in FY03. We will soon open a new recycling center at the City landfill to be financed
entirely from solid waste disposal fees. Within the next two years our new water treatment plant and
distribution facilities will be activated as will the expanded wastewater treatment facility currently under
construction. The Near Southside Transportation Center is planned to open in FY03 as well.
All cities are faced with challenges and opportunities. We are certainly no exception. It is our charge as
Council persons to turn challenges into opportunities. This requires the vision, dedication, and hard
work of the Council, along with that of the very capable professionals we are so fortunate to have on
our staff. One overriding measure of success for any community is the quality of life its citizens enjoy,
and the expressions of pride that come as a result of maintaining that quality. Many of us feel that we're
number one, while others would perhaps not afford us quite that same distinction. As for me, I only
know that we're a long way out in front of whoever is in second place.
mgrlasst/statecity01 doc 3
~/~/ 02-20-01
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA ,
12, MANA ER'S FFICE
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College of Education Division of Curriculum and Instruction 259 Lindquist Ctr. N 319/335-5324
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1529 FAX 319/335-5608
January 29, 2001
:i'fY MANAGER'S 0FF!g/ 2725 Hickory Trail
Iowa City, Iowa 52245-3524
To: Iowa City Council Members
410 East Washington S~eet
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
I am writing to you to call attention to a problem concerning mail delive~ in areas where mailboxes
are located near the curb.
The mail callers do not deliver mail if they cannot drive their vehicles up to reach the mailbox. This
is logical.
The problem arises when o~er people park ~ek cars near someone's mailbox. One time we did not
receive our mail because a lady visiting a neighbor, parked her car too close to our mailbox. My
husband saw ~e carrier coming back by on ~e o~er side of ~e s~eet and ma~ged m get our mail
~om him ~en.
Another time another lady parked her car there while visiting a different neighbor. I asked her to
move her car so we could receive our mail. She even remarked that she missed her mail once because
someone parked too close to her box. I asked why she didn't think about it ~en when parking her car
n~r our box.
Recently ~ere is a boy whom I believe m be a high school boy who parks his car close to our box. At
first I didn't ~ow where he was visiting, but called one neighbor to learn if he was visiting there. He
was and we were able to get him to move his car before the ca~ier came. The second time I told him
never to park close to a mailbox unless it was at night or on a Sunday. To~y he parked there for a
third time, but we did not know it in time. Fortunately, my husband was looking out and saw ~e
carrier coming and was able to get our mail direct ~om ~e ca~ier at our ~iveway.
Recently, a MidAmerican track was parked close to our mailbox while the two men inside ate their
lunch. My husband went out and told them ~e situation about mail delive~ and asked ~em to move
~eir ~ck back a few feet. They said ~ey would finish in a bit and ~en ~ey would be moving on.
They actually were there quite a while and never moved until ~e mail cauier was right behind ~em.
Offiy ~en did ~ey move.
Can ~e city council pass an ordi~nce making it illegal to park wi~in a certain nmber of feet of any
mailbox and set a fine for doing so, so residents don't need to keep watching out for parkers?
It gets very annoying ~at some few people can prevent one ~om receiving ~eir mailZ
I would appreciate any consideration you can give ~is problem.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Trummel
Eleanor Trummel
February g, 2001
2725 Hickory Trail
Iowa City, IA 52245-3524
Re: Your Letter of January 29, 2001
Dear Eleanor:
I have forwarded your letter of January 29, 2001 to the City Council and taken the liberty to
respond. Currently the City Code does not make it illegal to park in front of a mailbox. Post-
mounted mailboxes at the curb are generally placed adjacent to driveways because there is an
ordinance prohibiting parking in front of a driveway. This typically solves the issue of parked
cars blocking mailboxes. However, as you have noted, parked cars can affect the ability of the
postal service to deliver mail and is an issue in certain neighborhoods. Most of our
neighborhoods in Iowa City have postal delivery to the house. Newer neighborhoods have
cluster mail boxes. It is from neighborhoods such as yours where the post office requires
mailboxes be located at the curb that we hear of problems with parked cars.
Our Traffic Engineering Planning Division has contacted the post office to see if there is a way
this issue should be handled. Passing an ordinance making it illegal to park within a certain
number of feet of a mailbox is only a small part of the issue, and I believe would not be received
well in many neighborhoods. It would require the police to ticket and enforce such a law, when
many parked cars are owned by residents of the neighborhood. We encourage neighborhood
communication rather than an ordinance. I am aware you have a neighborhood association, and
this might be a good topic for an upcoming newsletter. I will inform the City's Neighborhood
Services Coordinator to approach your neighborhood association about such an idea. Our staff
will also research how other cities deal with this issue.
Sincerely,
City Manager
cc: City Council
Jeff Davidson
Marcia Klingaman
Iccogtp/llr/Irummel doc
410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 1826 · 1319) 356 5000 · FAX ~319) 356 5009
Marian Karr
From: Scott McBdde [gamecon@ssm.ca] ~ 02-20-0t
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 4:51 PM 5f(3)
To: council@iowa-city. org ,
Subject: Setting a New Course for Golf
Hello,
Would you please forward the following information concerning Tri-Par Golf
Courses to the appropriate people within your municipality.
A Tri-Par inspired golf course design places a par 3, par 4, and a par 5 tee
off location on each and every hole on the golf course, making over 387
million different round combinations on just one 18 hole course. A Tri-Par
course design is the only common sense way to build a new course, one which
is different every single day for it's golfers. What golfer wouldn't want
to play a different course every single day? There are numerous other great
advantages of a Tri-Par golf course, which are all mentioned on our web site
www.tripargolf.com.
We are aggressively trying to make as many contacts in the golfing industry
as possible and think
several major cities and areas such as yours are ideal for Tri-Par Courses
being built. We have a Tri-Par slated to open in Ontario, Canada, catering
to 13 million people within the surrounding area. We also are in various
stages of negotiation and/or development in several other regions within
North America. Developers have realized Tri-Par's potential with regards to
boosting tourism, and as a further result the economy, in the region they
are built. Exclusivity is granted to each and every new course. We are
also planning a professional tour; to be played solely on Tri-Par golf
courses.
After coming home recently from the Orlando Golf Show, we are excited to
announce we are batting a thousand; we received nothing but praise and
enthusiasm from everyone we met at the show. You could literally feel the
electricity in the air as the public realized our potential, and how we can
change golf the world over. Don't take our word for it, share it with a 100
people in your municipality and see the excitement amongst even the best
golfers in your area.
If anyone in your region is planning on building a normal golf course, or
may have the land to build a Tri-Par (100 acres for a 9 hole Tri-Par, or 200
acres to build an 18 hole Tri-Par) would you please ask them to check out
www.tripargolf.com where everything is explained in great detail. At this
point in time, it is possible that your region could still be the first
within your state to build one of our world class facilities.
Thank You,
Scott McBride
Vice President
Tri-Par Golf Courses Incj
~Setting a New Course"
www.tripargolf.com
Phone: 705-945-1327
Fax: 705-945-5204
Email: info@tripargolf.com
Head Office
Edward McBride 1
CEO
Tri-Par Golf Courses Inc.
705-897-1819 (office)
705-688-2252 (cell)
Email: info@tripargolf.com
2411 Tudor Drive
lowa City, Iowa 52245
January 26, 2001
Lisa Dewey
SEATS
2000 James Street
Coralville, Iowa 52241
Dear Ms. Dewey:
This letter is a follow up to our meeting on January 12, 2001 at which time you said that you
would write a letter explaining the causes of the problems in November and December which
necessitated 15 telephone calls in the two months, the letter of January 2, 2001 and the meeting. We
have not yet received a letter.
Sarah has been late to work.
Sarah has been on the van longer than one hour.
This further listing of our problems is being copied to the City Council and our lawyer.
Sarah works two responsible jobs:
Target: 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Iowa State Bank and Trust Department, downtown
Monday through Friday, 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
It is important for her to be on time.
The erratic and unpredictable service from SEATS is now affecting the quality of her work,
particularly at Target. She has goals to meet, set by her coaching agency, and daily data is taken
by the coach who checks her in and out of Target. The reports on her work this week have
indicated that her folding and stacking have been below standard. Her Individualized Case Plan
from the Department of Human Services sets expected goals for her performance. She has worked
at Target since November 1998 and Target expects quality performance.
Sarah understands and accepts the concept of the 30 minute window (for Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday morning pick-up only, window revised to 50 minutes at the January 12th meeting). She
and we cannot accept being late.
At the meeting you indicated that the problems would be resolved by the time that Sarah resumed
riding this week, January 22nd, after the Special Olympics ski trip for which she was excused from
work on January 16th, 17th and 18th.
Last week:
Monday, Jan. 15th pick up window: 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM to go to Nautilus
Van arrived at 8:25 AM. Driver:" I just happened to be in the neighborhood and thought 1
would stop by." We refused the ride. Another van then arrived within the window at 9 AM.
Thursday, Jan. 17th. The ride had been canceled for the ski trip. A message on our answering
machine: "Sarah, it is 7:40 AM and we are here, but you are not there."
Friday, Jan. 18th The ride was canoeled for a doctor's appointment for Sarah. But, the van
arrived to pick her up to go downtown.
This week:
Tuesday, January 23rd Pick up window: 7:10 - 7:50
Van arrived at 7:25. Sarah got on and said it was not acceptable to get to work late.
Driver (Mike) told her to come back in the house and another driver would pick her up. I called the
office. Cathy said that another driver would be there at 7:40 AM, which he was (Sonny).
EVEN SO, SARAH GOT TO TARGET LATE AT 8:55 Ahl. The coach is recording the
arrival times for us.
THUS SHE was 1) LATE AND 2) ON THE VAN ONE HOUR AND 15 MINUTES.
Jan. 241h and 251h: Sarah arrived at work on time. Thank you.
Thursday, January 251h The window is 4:05 - 4:25 P.M
The van was late picking up Sarah at the bank at 5:05 p.m.
See the note copied from Sarah's notebook in which the coach suggests Sarah should let
a bank co-worker know if the van is late so they can call SEATS.
THESE PROBLEMS ARE IN ADDITION TO THOSE IN THE JANUARY 2ND
LETTER AND IN ADDITION TO THE MEETING Jan 12th MEMO which listed over one
hour on the van on January 3rd, January 4th, January 9, 10 and 1 lth.
We have tried working within the limits of the new (but problematic) computer system at SEATS
and we have tried to allow for occasional errors.
It is a poor use of my time to have to write letters with these requests after a long day at work.
When can we expect Sarah to arrive on time with less than one hour on the van?
Sincerely,
Betsy and Peter Riesz
ec: Sally Slutsman, Board of Supervisors
Bob Simpson, Chair, Paratransit Advisory Committee
J e Fowler, Department Head, Parking and Transportation
~ity Council
Philip Left, attorney
2411 Tudor Drive
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
January 12, 2001
Joe Fowler
Department Head
Iowa City Parks and Transportation
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Dear Mr. Fowler:
Enclosed is a series of letters from last year and from this fall and winter to Lisa Dewey of
SEATS.
This year had been the most difficult of the 8 years Sarah has been riding SEATS.
Sarah works at Target from 8:30 to 11:30 AM on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
She works at Iowa State Bank on Monday through Friday aRemoon from 1:00 - 4:00
P.M.
As you will see liom the enclosed, we have been very patient with SEATS, calling (more
than 10 times) when rides have been early, late, cancelled and when Sarah has been on the
van for one and one half hours and arriving late after that amount of time on the van.. She
is a responsible worker, is paid well and enjoys her work. She needs to meet her
commitments to he employers.
She depends on SEATS from November 15 to March 1st due to using one eye at a time,
being subject to ear infections and having had two heart surgeries.
We met with Lisa Dewey today to try to arrive at a solution to these problems. We will
let you know if circumstances do not improve. She has promised to explain the errors and
to make appropriatae adjustments as listed in my letter to her of January 12th (today)
which smnmarizes our meeting.
I would appreciate it if you could make copies of whatever material is approprite for the
City Council.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Betsy and Peter Riesz
cc: Lisa Dewey
2411 Tudor Drive
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
January 12, 2001
Lisa Dewey, Director
SEATS
2000 James Street
Coralville, Iowa 52241
Dear Ms. Dewey:
Peter and I appreciated meeting with you at our request this afternoon. We asked for the
meeting due to the additional problems experienced in the last two weeks, including the
time on the van yesterday of 11/2 hours. These problems follow the November-
December problems outlined in my letter of January 2nd when no one had signed up to
drive and we had to take Sarah to Target.
Stmunary of meeting as we traderstand it.
1. Sarah will arrive at Target for work no later than 8:20 AM.
2. She will not be on the van longer than one hour.
3. Rides will be scheduled based on a drop off time of8:10 A.M.
4. She will not arrive at Target before 7:45 A.M.
5. The pick up will be between 7:10 AM and 7:50AM. (This is a 40 minute window
compared to the 30 minute window if we schedule based on a pick up time.) We hope the
ride pick up will be in the middle of that window.
We will also expect your letter, as promised, with an explanation of the problems outlined
in our January 2nd letter.
Sincerely,
Betsy and Peter Riesz
cc: Sally Stutsman, Board of Supervisors
Bob Simpson, Chair Paratransit Advisory Committee
Joe Fowler, Department Head, Parking and Transit
410 East Washington Street
January 12, 2001
Meeting: Lisa Dewey, Betsy and Peter Riesz
Question: How can the rides for Sarah Riesz get her to work on
time?
We request that she not arrive earlier than 7:45 AM and
no later than 8:20 AM. It is not a good practice for her to sit in the
break room for 45 minutes before beginning work, nor to be late to
work.
Since we wrote on January 2, we have continued to experience
problems with the moming rides:
Pick up time adjusted to 7:30 A.M.
arrival at Target: January 3rd 9:00AM
January 4th 8:40 AM
Tuesday January 9th 8:42 AM
Wednesday January 10th 840 AM
Ride change announced to Sarah on January 10th by driver
Thursday picked up at 7:08 AM
arrival at Target 8:40 AM
ONE & ONE HALF hours on the van
and still late to work
Sarah needs to be at work at 8:20 so she can get into her smock,
put away her lunch, punch in and begin work at 8:30 A.M.
2411 Tudor Drive
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
January 2, 2001
Lisa Dewey, Director
SEATS
1701 S. Riverside Drive
Iowa City, Iowa 52246
Dear Ms. Dewey:
We are totally frustrated by the SEATS reliability from November 15th until today. The
enclosed letter indicates your verification that Sarah would have a scheduled ride five
mornings per week.
I know that you have a new computer system, but we would think that after several
months, it could be under control. In addition to computer problems, there are human
eftors.
This morning was the 10th time since November 15th that we have had to call to check on
rides. This is a waste of our time, of SEATS time and sets a poor tone for the start of
Sarah's work day.
We have talked at various times with Doug, Randy, Dorothy, Isabel and with you.
EARLY PICK-UPS; MANUAL SCHEDULE CHANGES. The problems through
November and December centered on early pick-up instead of the window of 7:15 a.m to
7:45 a.m. When Sarah was picked up at 7:05 or 7;10, she then had to sit in the Target
break room until her work start time of 8:30 AM. For someone working in supported
employment, this is a good time to develop bad habits (teeth grinding, talking to sell,
asking others for snacks, etc.) In November, Peter had to make the calls and sometimes
he had to take Sarah to Target if the ride was not on the schedule (I was in Japan). On
12/19, after the 7:30 Target Time had been discussed on four occasions (11/16, 11/23,
11/30, 12/4), the driver arrived at 7:05 a.m. and said his printout said that time. Dorothy
told me that a manual change had been made in the Sarah's pick up time for the
convenience of SEATS routing.
LATE RIDES. Other problems have related to late rides: On Dec. 15th I had to drive
Sarah to Iowa State Bank for her 1:00 p.m. start time for work. On Dec. 22, the van
wasn't going to arrive until 8:30 a. m., fifteen minutes after the window of 7:45 - 8:15
a.m., so I took her to Nautilus. She needed to do complete her workout, go to HyVee for
shopping and be ready for the Life Skills coach to meet her at HyVee and supervise her
hot lunch preparation at home.
NO DRIVER. LOST DRIVER. On Dec. 261h we took her because it was not clear who
had signed up to drive on that day.
On Dec. 271h we took her to Target because the driver was late and lost (Jose).
And now, this morning, I called to be sure that the aRemoon rides for this week and next
week, which you had scheduled for Sarah last week, were, in fact in the system. When I
asked Isabel to check the moming ride (since it was already 7:40 AM and the end of the
window was 7:45), she said that the moming ride had been cancelled! There was no
explanation of how that could have happened.
So Peter has taken Sarah to Target again this morning.
If we are having this much trouble, what must the case be for others who are trying to get
to work where they are supposed to arrive on time and in a good mood? What happens to
people riding SEATS who do not have parents calling if the rides are late or cancelled?
I fervently hope that beginning on January 8th, there will be a series of weeks when we do
not have to make calls and learn that rides have been inadvertently cancelled, drivers are
lost or that the subscription ride times have been changed manually.
As you know, we are fortunate to have this system in Johnson County, as I explained with
slides during my lectures in Japan. But this has been the most frustrating year since Sarah
graduated from high school in May 1993 and began using SEATS in the winter months.
Sincerely,
Betsy and Peter Riesz
cc: Sally Stutsman, Board of Supervisors
Bob Simpson, Chair, Paratransit Advisory Committee
J HNSON Ct)UNTY
170l S. Riverside Dr.
Iowa (::i~y, IA 52246
(31c)) 339-6125
September 28, 2000
Ms. Betsy Riez
2411 Tudor Drive
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
Dear Ms. Riez:
Thank you for your letter, undated, regarding your daughter's subscription
service.
We are able to provide a subscription ride from 7:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. on
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Although this is not the 7:20 a.m.
to 7:50 a.m. requested time it is the best we are able to do. This subscription will
start on November 15, 2000. We would ask that you contact our scheduling
department at least three (3) weeks prior to the date her subscription needs to
end to notify us of the date you wish the subscription to go on hold.
I hope that your trips are productive and pleasant and that this information
provides you with a peace of mind. Should you have any questions, please feel
free to contact me at (319) 339-6126.
Sincerely,
,isa Dewey :3
Director
Cc: Board of Supervisors
Bob Simpson, Chairperson, Paratransit Advisory Committee
02-20-01
Marjan Karr
From: Rebecca Soglin [rsoglin@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu]
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 1:33 AM
To: council@iowa-city.org
Subject: Proposed changes in shuttle service
Dear Council Members,
As the council works toward a decision about the changes to the shuttle and
other city bus routes, would you please consider the following suggestions:
--instead of completely eliminating the shuttle from mid-June to
mid-August, could the shuttle run at peak ridership times based on route
statistics for those months?
-- If the shuttle must be eliminated from mid-June to mid-August, please
consider allowing South-area passengers to board the Mall bus inbound for
free at stops beginning at the intersection of Dodge/Bowery and on into
downtown (the same route the South-loop shuttle takes after it turns on to
Bowery). I ride the Mall bus inbound several times a week around 8 or 8:30
a.m., and there is always room for more passengers. In addition, the Mall
bus almost never picks up a passenger once it turns onto Bowery. "Freebie"
passengers wouldn't be likely to abuse the system -- for one, without
transfers they couldn't get very far. This same idea might work with one of
the inbound North-area city buses. I am not familiar enough with those
routes to make a suggestion, however. Of course, outbound shuttle service
seems difficult to temporarily substitute with existing city routes, as no
easy distinction could be made between short-route passengers and
long-route passengers.
-- If a 25-cent shuttle fee must be instituted year-round, would it be
worthwhile to consider a compromise of charging during peak hours but
keeping free service during off-peak hours? This would be similar to some
of the senior and family discounts offered.
I've made the above suggestions with the majority of users -- student -- in
mind. I personally do not take the South-loop shuttle as often as I used to
but I am not a typical user. I am not a student, and I now have a UI
faculty-staff bus pass for the colder months. However, I do use the
South-loop shuttle as a back-up form of transportation when no regular city
bus is running to or from my area (Longfellow neighborhood). In addition,
I've depended on the shuttle in inclement weather in the summer, when I
can't bike in to campus.
I realize the City needs to make some budgets cuts and respond to other bus
routes needs so that simply retaining the shuttle service as-is isnlt
feasible. However, I hope you can use creative solutions and compromise
wherever possible as you decide the future of the shuttle service.
Sincerely, Becky Soglin
Iowa City resident
Note: This is a personal e-mail account held
privately through the University of Iowa. It is
not a UI work account.
I 5f(7)
Marian Karr
From: TLHOFMANN@aoLcom
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2001 3:10 PM
To: council@iowa-city.org
Subject: RE: Alley access and condition
Member of the City Council:
I live at the Senate apt building on Market Street, next to John's Grocery.
The alley between Gilbert and Lucas street running in the middle of that
block is in HORRIBLE shape, and has been for quite a number of years. I
understand from a friend that the repair of this alley was on the budget for
this year, but was not funded. There are a number of older individuals that
live in this complex, as well as disabled. I myself have had repair and
replacement of a fractured hip and the very act of riding through this alley
is uncomfortable if not painful. it is also very hard on a vehicle when
driving through. I realize that most, if not all of you, perhaps believe
that only students live in this vicinity and therefore may not deem it
necessary to put the repair of said alley on the budget. That, however, is
not the case. There are at least 7 iowa City residents that have lived here
for a number of years, myself included. Have any of you driven this alley in
the last 3 or 4 years? If not, I suggest you do so and experience for
yourself just how bad it is. (By the way, it is a "main" street of sorts, as
it is the only entrance into this apartment complex, as well as a couple of
others.)
Thank You
Ted L Holmann
411 E Market#101A
iowa City Iowa
2/1/01
I02-20-01
5f('8)
~"" February 9, 2001
TO: Iowa City City Councilors
FROM: Jim Walters
RE: Current Council Matters
Dear Ernie:
I couldn't help but be struck by the contrasts between the council's attention to the
two different ordinance matters at Tuesday's council meeting--the one on
nuisances (too many vehicles) and the proposals to change the regulations on sales
of alcohol.
In the latter case, the council seems to be particularly cautious in analyzing the
ramifications of each part of the ordinance and hearing the concerns of all
parties. In the former, this seems not to be the case at all--treating the matter as
if the crafting of this ordinance is a nuisance in itself.
I've enclosed an article by legal scholar and critic Jeffrey Rosen that appeared in
the February 4, New York Times Magazine. I'm sure that all of us can agree with
Rosen that moving to "legalize" all social disputes is a trend that should be
resisted.
I think council has a special responsibility in this area--and it's a responsibility
you neglect by allowing neighborhood disputes to segue so quickly into rule-
making. By passing this ordinance, you encourage others to seek a similar
resolution. That's something I don't think you want to do.
So again, I strongly urge you to examine both the intent and potential
consequences of this ordinance, and to reject it on third reading.
Sincerely,
Jim Walters
copy to James and Sandra Thomas
As respect for authority in all its forms erodes,
Americans turn to the courts to tell them how to live their lives.
What happens when we no longer respect the courts?
In Lieu of Manners
By Jeffrey Rosen
]]lustrations by ~teven Gua~nacc~a
n the new Fox series "Boston Public," students have name, although this may have defeated the purpose of the whole
been forced to take random drug tests, teachers have creepy exercise. Neither she nor I had done anything wrong, but
been fingerprinted because the school board was wor the whole thing had to be filed away in the event of future litiga-
ried about child molestation and the parents of the star tion, which of course never transpired because both the student
football player have sued the principal because their and I pretended it hadn't happened.
son wasn't allowed to play after he failed two courses. It is exactly this sort of pretense -- the hallmark of civilized in-
It is a lot of litlgiousness in one hour, particularly in a teractions -- that is increasingly difficult in a world where every
show that is not about law. Oddly enough, though, the glance and gesture can lead to a lawsuit. And a result of this fear of
idea that teachers and students live in fear of lawsuits litigation is to drive teachers and students further apart.
doesn't feel like sensationalism. Instead, it seems that This trend, by the way, is not limited to romantic matters. I first
prime time is finally catching up with the reality of noticed it when Iwasalawstudentintheearly1990'sandthegrad-
American life. As trust in traditional authorities de- uate students tried for the first time to form a union. As professors
~:5];~ clines, we are increasingly turning to law to regulate the grew more remote and atomized, the grad students responded by
kinds of behavior that used to be governed by manners trying to legalize their relationship with their professors. The infor-
and mores. In schools, in workplaces, in churches and in politics, our mal mentorship roles that defined the relationship only a decade
interactions are increasingly conducted in the shadow of legalese. We earlier had all but collapsed.
are becoming a nation of separate, resentful, legalized selves. More recently, students' relationships with their fellow students
The litigation explosion in the last decades of the 20th century have been legalized as well. A friend recently sent me the remark-
has been well chronicled. (In the 1990's, workplace bias suits able sexual harassment code of The Harvard Crimson, the under-
tripled thanks to a series of new federal discrimination laws.) But graduate newspaper at Harvard. The Crimson has always taken it-
the phenomenon I am describing is something different: not the self ver7 seriously, but its decision a few years ago to apply the re-
explosion of litigation -- most of us. God willing. will never be quirements of federal antidiscrimination law to unpaid student vol-
parties in an actual case but the explosion of legalisms, which unteers was something of a watershed. The code forbids a daunting
have become a substitute for moral and political debate. list of behavior, including "lewd pictures or notes," suggestive e-
Ever since I started teaching four years ago, for example, I have mail messages and "requests for sexual favors: touching, patting,
lived my professional life against a backdrop of rules that force teach- hugging or brushing against a person's body in sexually suggestive
ers and students to think more legalistically about even the most manners." The policy applies not only to all activities in the Crim-
fleeting interactions. Not long after I started, a student made a halt- songs headquarters but also to "social outings which are largely
ing pass at me in my office. This wasn't a big deak and as gently and dominatedbyCrimsonstaffmembersandemployees."Thepolicy
firmly as I could, I rebuffed it. That was the end of the matter, as far concludes with a stern warning about "consensual relationships,"
as I was concerned, but I happened to mention the incident to a co[- which notes that "the power exercised by a higher-ranking staff
league, who told me I had to protect myself by informing the dean member over a lower-ranking person's advancement ... may di-
immediatel.~ So I trooped downstairs to the dean's office and, to my minish his/her freedom of choice."
embarrassment and his, duly reported the innocuous incident. What makes codes like this so jarring isn't that they are routinely
In an effort to protect the student's privacy, I withheld her enforced. Instead, thecodesareare~ectionofasocial transformation:
the vocabulary of law and legalisms is the only istered by lav, Ters and politicians who acted not challenged him to a duel, and if you were insult-.
shared language we have left for regulating behav- like "tyrants but rather schoolmasters." Look- ed by a social inferion you bludgeoned him with
ior in an era in which there is no longer a social ing far into the future, Tocqueville feared that as a cane. But under no circumstances would a gen-
consensus about how men and women, and even individuals increasingly turned to the nanny tleman sue another gentlemah. because the hon-
boys and girls, should behave. But rather than state to regulate the most minute aspects of so- or code held that an offense against honor could
leading to more understanding and empath).~ the cial life, personal interactions might be governed only be answered by a physical attack.
legalization of our personal and professional lives by "a network of small. complicated, painstak- For example, when Sam Houston, the former
is leading to more ~ocial polarization and more ingl uniform rules." These rules might be so ar- governor of Tennessee, was accused of corruption
mistrust of authority in all its forms. cane, he feared, that citizens would eventually by Representative William Stanbery of Ohio in
stop trying to understand or resist them. and in- 1832, Houston wrote a letter demanding satisfac-
THIS PHENOMENON HAS VINDICATED THE creasingly large aspects of social and political life tion in a duel. Stanbery did not reply -- corn-
prediction of Alexis de Tocqueville, who argued would be overseen by the American lawyer, "the pounding the insult by refusing to recognize
that as traditional sources of authority were un- lone interpreter of an occult science." who Houston as an equal and so Houston took a
dermined by democracy, legislators would pass would resemble an Egyptian priest. cane that had been cut from a hickorS' tree on the
an increasingly mind-numbing web of laws and When Tocqueville came to America in 1831, estate of his patron, Andrew Jackson, and used it
regulations, designed to eradicate special privi- American society was still vertical enough to to bludgeon Stanbery on the street. Jackson's op-
leges and to prevent those in power from favor- have clearly identifiable social hierarchies. And portents tried Houston on the floor of the House
ing some citizens over others. Tocqueville in an age when citizens had no doubt where they of Representatives for contempt. Despite an able
warned that these laws would run the risk of stood in the ruthless pecking order, interactions defense by Francis Scott Key. the author of "The
creating despotism of a different sort, admin- among different classes of people were regulated Star-Spangled Banner," Houston was censured by
by a sense of honor. The idea that gentlemen the speaker and was later fined $500 by a federal
Jeffrey Rosen, an associateprofessor at the George should behave honorably, for examplel was an court. But Jackson. who had been raised in the
Washington Universi.ty Law School and the legal idea that high-status people traditionally used to Southern tradition that courts should never inter*
affairs editor qf The New Republic, is the author differentiate themselves from low-status people. fete in disputes about honor, officially remitted
of "The Unwanted Gaze: The Desrr. ction of In a traditional honor-based society, like the Old the fine. Jackson's own mother, the president lat-
Privacy in America.' South. if you were insulted by a social equal, you er emphasized. had raised him to "indict no man
The one branch oi government thai society .' i'
~rusts to exercise its authority -- lhe courts -- loses its authority lhe '- ,": ~"
more lhat it tries lo asserl itself.
for assault and batteR' or sue him for slander." message at work from his girlfriend, Claire, a 26- no-tolerance pol~cy," sala the dis~r~ct superla-
In 20Eh-cen~u~' America, thankfully, identity vear~old PK. executive ior MagicButton.net. In tendent, ~th echoes of Kenneth Start. "Given
became ~ar more open and fluid: like Jay Ga~sby, ;he message, Claire expressed her apprecla~ion the dimate of our society% we cannot uke any of
you could choose who you wanted to be ra~her for an intimate encounter they had shared the these statements in a light n~anner."
~han being defined by your social s~atus at birth, other evening, Brad proceeded to toward ~he
And as American society became less hlerarchl- message to six male friends, boasting, "Now
caL the code of honor came to be seen, under- THAT'S a nice compllmen~ from a lass, isn't it?" [
sundably, as oppressive and patriarchal ~ a way ~thin a week, the message had circled the globe, he climate that leads ~o these
ofkeepingwomenandminorltles~n~heirplaces. and ~he ~eb she at Brad's f~rm crashed after re- legallstic absurdities is not,
But these changes had uninrended con- ceivlag70,O00hltsinasingleday. ClaireandBrad in facLafearofviolence. I~
sequences. The soclaI critic Christopher hsch fled their homes to escape from the tabloid press, is a fear of undenlocratic
has noted ~hat as ~radltlona] hierarchies ]n lain- and a ~eb site was set up to debate what should forms o~ authority, a refusal
ihcs, schools and workplaces collapsed in the become o~ Brad. to de~er to teachers on prin-
1960's, the authority of parents and bosses came Bu~ ve~' qulck]y a debate that began by focus- ~ cipie. Th~s is the social trans-
~ be replaced by a panoply of experts ~ guid- ing on manners and morals devolved ~nto one ~orma6on that David E. Kelley, the la~'er and
ance counselors, psychia~6sts, therapists and about legalisms and la~ The Brad and Claire %Veb "LA. Law" writer who created "Boston Pub-
judges ~ who imposed social control in more site took a poll about whether or not Brad should lie," "Ally McBeal" and "Picket Fences," has
therapeutic but no less con~inln~ ways. And at be f]red from h~s law firm, Norton Kose. The managed to capture, regara]ess o~ whether his
the sanle time, law began to ~ill ~he social space ~argest percentage of respondeats -- 39 percen~ shows are successful in o~her terms. Kelley
prevlous]y occupied by manners ann mores. The -- said he should be fired because he had abused usdully exploring the corrosive ways that le-
rights revolution of the 1960's had many noble company resources. A smaller percentage -- 26 gabsins infect the most informal ]nteractions at
achlevemems, bu~ in rebelling a~ainst hi~mrchi- percen~ ~ said he should be fired for abusing school and in the workplace when tradi6ons of
ca] authority in all d its forms, it arguab]y threw Cla~re's t~st. No one ~ook the position tha~ trust and manners break down. "~ should be
o~ the baby with the bath water. In ~he hte would have seenled obvious 10~ years ago: Brad ~]ngerpr/n~ed because we work on a high-
l q6C's, a~ the authorltv of teachers and parents should be shunne~ socially for being a braggart, school facultyY' asks a youn~ teacher in
canle under siege, school discipline began to be bu~ his boasting wasn't his emp]oyer's business. ~on Public" who refuses to ~ake par~ in ~he
legalized, The United States Supreme Court se~ Norton ~ose, for its part. cranked up a formal school boarQ's mas~ fin~erprlntjng scheme.
the tone in 196q, when it upheld the right of a~scipllna~' procedure, grilling Brad and his cob s~ead of promoting confidence in ~he impartial-
h~gh-school s~uaents to protest ~he ~ar by wear- leagues in an exhaustive hearing, Finall~ the hw i~y of administrators, the atmosphere of lit/-
rag black armbands. Students, ~he court no~ed, firm posted a statement about "e-mall ~buse" on giousness makes the school, llke the
do no~ '%hed ~he~r consti~utlonal rights to free its own ~eb site, saying that it was "concerned imposslb[e to govern.
speech or expression a~ the schoolhouse gate." about a clear breach" of company rules and that This atmosphere has become so pe~'asive that
But soon, more ~rh'ial conflicts found their Brad and the others had been "d~sciplined bu~ h is transforming even the L~st bastions o~ tradi
way into court. As standard~ of grooming be- not dismissed." The moral deba~e about whether riohal authori~ where consensus abou~ wha~
came contested. a series of federal cases arose Brad should be punished for his caddlsh behavior sov~ of behavior is shameful still exists. Kobert
out of rules that reguI~ed the way high-school was transformed into a lega]]st~c debate about Turtle, a law-school colleague of m~ne, ~s a con-
boys wore their hair. The rights revolution gave workplace roles. Norton Rose, nt least, had ~he suhanc for ~he Evangelical Lutheran Church in
way to what k~wrence M. Friedman, ~he Stan wit to resls~ public pressure to f~re Brad the Cad, America. "A generation ago, if a clergym~n was
~ord legal his~orlan, has ca}lea a genera] expec~a- In America, by contrast, employers and caught in shameful circumstances, such as steal-
~ion of "to~al iusrice" ~ the idea that cour~s schools are increaslng~y a~optlng "zero tol- flag money or having sex with a parishioner, he
could compensate individuals for eve~ mlsfor eranee" policies when it comes to v~ola~ions o~ would slink into the wl]derness/' he says,
tune, social slight or general brush with unfair- codes d condue% because the general collapse of da~ he might come back as a li~iganL' Now,
hess or bad luck. Th~s ~rend accelerated in the authority means tha~ society no longer trusts churches who ~ire ministers ~or aaul~e~ or oth-
S0's and 90's, as the democratizing e~1ects o~ the employers and teachers to exercise discretion er misconduct risk a countersuit for wrongful
Interne~ made vast amounts of information abou~ whether or not ~o punish wrongdoers for termination, defamation or emotional distress.
available onhne, and ordlna~, citizens found it technical violations. Even more recent]y, ~ederal courts have begun
easier to challenge ~he authority of traditlona] In an effort to avoid any hint of favoritism, to dismantle ]ongstanalng Firs~ Amendment
in~evn~edi.1ries, hke {ax~'ers, doctors and teach some schools have also abandoned common pro~ectlons for a church's ability w enforce tra-
ors. ~ result was an explosion of 1egalisms, as sense. This pas~ September, an 11 year-old girl dit/ona] standards of behavior. Some religions
vast areas of llfe that used to be regulated by a was suspended ~ro~ a sLxth-grade class in an At- have a practice called "shunning," which re-
complicated array of formal and informal socla] lanta suburb on the grounds ~hat the chain on her quires members ot the church ~o avoid all social
conventions ~ ~rom school discipline ~o abor- Tweety Bird wallet violated her middle school's contacts with members who have been expelled
tion, gay rights and sexual harassment -- be antiweapons pollc~: hst March, four boys ~n a tot breaking the church's moral code. Shunning
came regulated instead by rules and laws. New Jersey kindergarten class were suspended and shaming are the traditional ways that hierat-
Consider, on this score, the recent internatlon- for three days after a game of cops and robbers in chicai societies enforced standards of behavior
al XVeb drama concernln~ Brad the Cad, the 27- which they pretended ~he~r tiny fingers were before personal in~eractlons became legalized.
vea~old British la~'er who received an e-mail ~uns and played at shooting ,each other, "This is a Although ~hese rituals may seem archaic to ou~-
Once a social dispute becomes legalized,
people in the middle move toward the extremes. Thus, in th:e Florida !case,
the U.S. Supreme Court justices behaved like polarized molecules,
just like Democrats and Republicans. ?.1
siders they' are central to the church's ability to serve along with members of Congress on a bi- but it should not be," Bork wrote. "To the ob-
practice its religion without interference from partisan commission to resolve the dispute, but jection that a rejection of a court's authority
the state. In the past few years, however, some the commission dMded along part)' lines. The would be civil disobedience, the answer is that a
parishioners who have been shunned for immor- stalemate was eventually resolved by a negotiat court that issues orders without authority en-
al behavior have responded with lawsuits. ed deal between the two political parties, in gages in an equally dangerous form of civil dis-
In a curious case from the 1980's, a woman which the Democrats agreed to support the Re obedience." In their attacks on the authority of
who had moved to a small town in Oklahoma publican who had Iost the popular vote in ex- the Supreme Court, the consep.'ati`,'es had
sued the Church of Christ after it expelled her change for a promise to remove federal troops turned themselves into the mirror images of the
for having sexual relations outside of marriage from the South. But in 2000, the parties were 60's radicals they deplored.
with a local resident who wasn't a member of the too weak to negotiate on behalf of their candi- This sensibility reached its apotheosis in Bush
congregation. The church had followed the dis- dates. The prospect of Congress choosing the v Gore. which many consep,'atives seemed to
ciplinaU,' procedure set forth in Matthew 1 g: the next president was so unsettling that Bush and view as a kind of culminating rebuke for decades
elders confronted the woman three times: after Gore scrambled to sue each other instead. of judicial and cultural defeats. Invoking the rhet-
she refused to repent of her fornication, the), As the lawsuits were tossed llke medicine balls oric of vodng rights cases from the 1960's, five
formally announced her transgressions to the between state and federal courts, some observeys conser,'atlve Supreme Court justices stopped
entire congregation. which then refused to ac nai\'ely imagined that the U.S. Supreme Court Florida's manuaI recount by inventing a novel
kno~ledge her presence. The x~oman sued the had the authorit)' to reach a Solomonic decision constitutional right ~ the right of each ballot to
church, claiming that the shunning ritual violat- that could be respected by both camps. "Let the be examined in precisely the same manner as ey-
ed her privacy and caused her emotional distress. High Court count," Robert L. Bartlett wrote in er)I other ballot. By preventing states from cor-
A urv awarded her $435.000. and in an outland- The \X'hll Street Journal in November, in a fore- recting the counting errors that result from dif-
ish opinion. the Okhhoma Supreme Com't up- lock-tugging plea to the justices. "The Supreme ferent voting technologies, the consei~'atives ar
held the verdict. Because the woman had re- Court is the one body with the prestige to lend le- guably precipitated a violation of equal treamJent
~igned from the church during the expulsion gitimacy to any decision." But this misunder- far larger than they one the)' claimed to avoid.
procedure, the court held, she was no longer a stood the fact that the Supreme Court has en- What made the decision so galling for liberals
member of the church, and therefore the cburch hanced its power by hoarding it. By keeping cain- and moderates, however. was that its reasoning
had no right to discipline her. eras out of its courtroom, the Supreme Court has was so sketchy and unconvincing that it seemed
In the wake of this opinion. lavQIers are advis long understood the precarious nature of author- like a transparent mask for a predetermined po-
ing churches to dismantle their traditional sham- itv in a televised societ): Television makes public lltlcal result. This suspicion was only enhanced
ing rituals and to offer wa;w~'ard parishioners ar- officials seem more familiar and less mysterious. by the fact that few consep, lative commentators
bitratlon agreements instead. decreasing their authority while increasing their even attempted to defend the legal reasoning of
Decisions like this point to :he paradox of our celebrit): To exercise power in a televised democ- the decision; instead, they focused on what they
increasingly democratic age. As traditional au rac~.~ elected officials have to act like Oprah, con- considered the rough justice of the outcome.
thorities find themseh'es under siege, citizens fessing their intimate secrets -- like Bush's past William Satire. for example, suggested in his col-
increasingb' turn to laws and bgalisms to resolve drinking problem and Gore's fraught relationship umn in The New xzbrk Times that the Florida
their social and political disputes. But when with his father ~ to convey the impression of be- Supreme Court was a group of rogue liberals
courts actually take sides in those disputes, they ing authentic and accessible. But this confessional tD"ing to steal the election. and the)' had to be
find their own legitimacy challenged by the los- accessibility creates the risk of overexposure. The stopped by the U.S. Supreme Court -- a view
ers, who disagree too violently with the rulings justices had shrewdly positioned themselves as that Justices Antonin Scalia. William Rehnquist
to accept them with good grace. As a result, the the most respected branch of national govern- and Clarence Thomas seemed to share in their
one branch ot government that society trusts to ment precisely because the)' had refused to dis- separate opinion, in which they called the Flor-
exercise its authorlt',' the courts ~ loses its play themselves and had spoken unanimously ida opinion "peculiar" and "absurd." In their
authorit)' the more that it tries to assert itself. during times of national crisis. like Brown x: joint dissent, the liberal justices John Paul
Board of Education and the Nixon tapes case. Steveas. Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen
,- .~ By contrast, when the court issued ideologi- Breyer ~ objected that their colleagues' con
j .i '] call)' dMded decisions in the most polarizing so- temptuous view of the Florida court could "only
t his was one of the most sig- cial and cultural disputes, the losers questioned lend credence to the most cynical appraisal of
.'L nificant lessons of the presi the legitimacy of the Supreme Court itself, Roe the work of iudges throughout the land." But
~ dentiM election of 200a. The v Wade is the defining example: it galvanized a this cynicism was the culmination of decades of
i fact that Bush and Gore generation of consel;'atives to attack the Su- judge-bashing, and in deciding a presidential
started filing lawsuits days preme Court as a group of lawless partisans, im- election on such cynical grounds. the conseD'a-
1'~ after the election was a his- posing alien social values by iudicial fiat. Com- tive justices invited people of good faith who
"~' torical sea change. In 1876, paring Roe ,,: Wade with Dred Scott v Sanford, disagreed with the outcome to be similarly skep-
the last time a presidential election turned on Robert Bork, the rejected Supreme Court nomi- tical about their own handiwork.
disputed electoral votes from the state of Flor- nee, predicted that elected officials might some- The per curjam decision in Bush ~: Gore was
ida, the courts largely staved out of the fight. day refuse to obey the Supreme Court's dictates. unsigned. The principal author of the decision,
Five Supreme Court iustices were drafted to "That suggestion will be regarded as shocking, however, was Justice Anthony Kennedy: a rood-
50
erate conservative who. along with Sandra Day Moreover, once you take a side in a polarized In the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton,
O'Connor. voted in l992toupholdRoev3~'ade. situation, youarelikelytofeelincreasinglycom- Rehnquist preser~'ed the illusion of his own
In upholding Roe. Kennedy and O'Connor ex- mitted to it, even if the legal arguments on be- neutrality by refusing to say what he thought
pressed great concern for the legitimacy of the half of your position turn out not to be very about the merits of the case. But by presum-
court. What, then. can explain their decision to convincing. This is a phenomenon that psychol- ing to intervene in Bush ,~: Gore, the justices
side with Rehnquist, Scalia and Thomas, greatly ogists call "confirmation bias" -- the tendency squandered their carefully hoarded mystique.
damaging the court's reputation in the process? to interpret all subsequent facts and events so exposing themselves more nakedly than any
Kennedy had been harshly criticized by conser- they support the position that you were initially television camera could. A few weeks after the
vatires for his liberal votes in the abortion and less sure about. As this dynamic continued to decision, I met President Clinton at a fare-
gay rights cases, and he may have felt betrayed spiral, liberal and conservative Supreme Court well reception~ and he summed up the dis
bythecourt'soverlyexpanslvedecisionlastJune justices~ like Republicans and Democrats appointment that many Democrats now feel
to strike down the so-called partial-birth abor- throughout the countr~ behaved like polarized toward the court they had long tried to give the
tlon laws. which he plausibly viewed as an illegit molecules, alignlug themselves even more dra- benefit of the doubt. "That was one of the
imate extension of Roe. matlcally in the direction in which thev were . worst Supreme Court decisions in my lifetime.
But there is another explanation for Kennedy only tentatively leaning on Election Day. and one oI the five worst decisions of all time,"
and O'Connor's behavior, and it has to do with Early last month. for example, in a remark- he said.
the inherent polarization that results when so able speech to a Catholic service organization, So what can we look forward to at the bright
cial and political disputes are legalized. Psycho- Chief Justice Rehnquist defended the partici- dawn of the George W. Bush administration?
logical studies of group polarization suggest pation of Supreme Court justices in the noto- The one branch of national government that
that after deliberation, members of a group of rious Hayes-Tilden Commission of 1877 and still commanded respect in a fractious society is
llke-minded people are likely to move toward seemed to be pleading for similar appreciation now as weakened and discredited as the others.
an even more extreme version of the positions from an ungrateful nation. "There is a national Nothing commands respect except public
they initially held. As the response to Roe v. crisis, and only you can avert it," he said, opinion, and now public opinion, too, is bitter-
Wade demonstrated, once a social dispute be- describing the pressure on the justices to save Iv divided. ~[t should be a lively four years.
comes legalized, people in the middle often the country during moments of crisis. "It ~here will be plenty of new laws, lawsuits and
move toward the extremes in order to signal may be reD' hard to say no." For the past 40 scandals conducted entirely in legalese. As the
their allegiance to the polarized camps. ~'People years, howeverl conserx'atives had argued that nation becomes even more legalized, we will
in partisan groups don't want to be unpopular judges should resist the temptation to save the find ourselves less able to discuss with nuance
with their friends.'* says Cass Sunstein. whose count ~ry from social turmoil and that political and complexity the moral gray areas that exist
new book, "Republic.com," discusses the phe disputes should be resolved in legislatures in all of our lives. David E. Kelley will thrive,
homenon of group polarization. rather than courts. even if the Republic does not. ·
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date: February 9, 2001
To: City Clerk
From: Beth Pfohl, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner ~
Re: Item for February 20, 2001 City Council Meeting: Installation of a No PARKING
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE LOADING ZONE Sign on the South Side of Coud Street
Between Madison Street and Front 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.
Action
Pursuant to Section 9-1 ~3A(10) of the City Code, signage will be installed indicating NO PARKING
2AM TO 6AM TOW AWAY ZONE on the top half and COMMERCIAL VEHICLE LOADING ZONE
4 HOUR LIMIT ENFORCED 6AM TO 5PM on the lower half will be erected on the south side of
Court Street in front of the University of Iowa Hydraulics Lab building.
Comment
This action is being taken at the request of the University. Commuters are parking vehicles in this
area and blocking access to the Hydraulics Lab building for University commercial vehicles.
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Clerk
FROM: Beth Pfohl, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Plannerv/~
DATE: February 8, 2001
RE: Item for February 20, 2001 City Council meeting: Designation of a NO
PARKING ANY TIME zone on the west side of WooIf Avenue between
Rider Street and the WooIf Avenue bridge
As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City
Council of the following action.
Action:
Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(10), signage indicating NQ PARKING ANY TIME will be
erected on the west side of WooIf Avenue between Rider Street and the WooIf Avenue
bridge.
Comment:
The west side of WooIf Avenue in this area is currently designated NO PARKING 8 ~ 5
MON-FRI. Parked vehicles can cause a visibility problem during University of Iowa
athletic events because of the vertical geometry of the new WooIf Avenue bridge. The
new bridge has more of an arch than the old bridge and makes it difficult to see
oncoming traffic. An Iowa City Transit vehicle was recently involved in a traffic accident
because of this visibility problem. The establishment of no parking any time in this area
will resolve the visibility problem because it will no longer be necessary to cross the
WooIf Avenue centerline in order to get around parked cars.
jccogtp/rnern/woolfave.doc
February 20, 2001
Johnson County Board of Supervisors
913 South Dubuque Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mr. Lehman and Members of the Board:
The Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council have reviewed the revised
request from Bob and Erma Wolf regarding the Lake Ridge Manufactured Housing Park. It is
our understanding that the Wolfs have amended their rezoning application requesting the
rezoning from RS to RMH of 1.76 acres on the west boundary of the existing Lake Ridge
Manufactured Housing Park. The 1.76 acres is a pie-shaped parcel that is a consequence of an
error in the legal description of the rezoning of the original Lake Ridge Park. Although Iowa City
did not support the original rezoning to establish the manufactured housing park, the current
request is a minor rezoning and merely rectifies a previous error. The inclusion of this parcel will
merely align the zoning boundaries with the actual boundaries of the Lake Ridge Park.
The City has no objection to this requested rezoning, despite the fact that we continue to believe
that further rezoning to RMH of any property of significant size in this area would be inconsistent
with the Fringe Area Agreement.
Ernest W. Lehman
Mayor
410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET · IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 ° (319) 356-5000 · FAX (319) 356-5009
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
Date: January 26. 2001
, , ,, , ~ ,
Re: Rezoning for Lake Ridge M d Housing Park
As many of you will recall, in July 2000 the Commission considered and rejected a request to
rezone 125 acres in the County from RS and A1 to RMH. This was a request submitted by Bob
and Erma Wolf for an e~ension of the Lake Ridge Manufactured Housing Park. When this
application was fo~arded to the City Council, discussion began between the City and the Woifs
about annexation of Lake Ridge and the proposed extension of the park. Those discussions
resulted in the deferral of City Council consideration of the rezoning for a number of months.
Finally, in Janua~ 2001, the Council acted on the 125 acre rezoning request, with the
understanding that the Wolfs had amended their rezoning application to reduce the requested
rezoning from 125 acres to 1.76 acres. Since no formal notification of this reduction was received
by the Council's Janua~ 16 meeting, the Council recommended to the Johnson County Board of
Supe~isors that the requested 125 acre rezoning be denied since it was inconsistent with the
Fringe Area Agreement.
Subsequently, on Janua~ 22, a letter was received in the Iowa City Planning offices, from the
Johnson County Assistant Planning and Zoning Administrator, formally notifying us of the
amended rezoning application that was currently before the County Planning and Zoning
Commission. At this point you are being asked to consider a recommendation regarding the
rezoning from RS to RMH of 1.76 acres on the western bounda~ of the existing Lake Ridge
Manufactured Housing Park.
The 1.76 acres is a pie-shaped parcel which is the consequence of an error in the legal
description of the rezoning for the original Lake Ridge Park. Although Iowa City did not suppo~
the original rezoning to establish the manufactured housing park, the current request is a minor
rezoning and merely rectifies a previous error. Inclusion of this pie-shaped parcel will merely align
the zoning boundaries with the actual boundaries of the Lake Ridge Park.
The staff recommends the Commission indicate to the City Council that there is no objection from
the City to this requested rezoning, despite the fact that we continue to believe that ruffher
rezoning to RMH of any properly of significant size in this area without annexation is inconsistent
with the Fringe Area Agreement.
cc: Bob & Erma Wolf
R.J. Moore, Assistant County Zoning Administrator
Attachments
ppdadm/mem/kf-lakeridge.doc
RICHARD J. DVORAK
Johnson County PLANNING & ZONING
JOHNSON COUNTY AD~IN,ST~TOg
ImWA 5 PLANNING AND ZONING n a MOORE, ~aCP
] ]~} It ASSISTANT PLANNING&
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
DAN SWARTZENDRUBER
ASSISTANT PLANNER
'Rg'~"EIVED
JAN ~
January 19, 2001
._ P.C: D, DEPARTMENT
Karin Franklin
Director Community Development and Planning
City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City IA 52240
Dear Karin:
As you know from our recent discussion, Bob Wolf has asked the County to reduce his original
application for Manufactured Housing Residential District Application # Z00027 from 125.43 acres to
1.76 acres. Per past practice, the County allows applicants to modify an application provided the
request is for a reduction in density or size, without withdra~ving or amending the application.
However, per the Johnson County/Iowa City Fringe Area Agreement, the Planning and Zoning
Commission cannot act on this request until we receive the City's recommendation.
If you have any questions or comments please contact me.
Sincerely,
R. J. Moore, AICP
Assistant Planning and Zoning Administration
RJM/j s
Cc: File