HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-03-05 Correspondence 03-05-01
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Am Family Input to the North District Plan as presented Tuesday, February 6, 2001 at Shimek Elementary and as presented on the
Iowa City Web site www.iowa-cit¥.or~
To: Planning and Community Development Staff
Planning and Zoning Commission
The Iowa City Council
Tom Hobart
Subject: Am Family Inl~ut to the Draft of the North District Plan
From: Mike Am, Family Spokesman
Members,
Introduction
I am Mike Am, son of William and Geraldine Am, and spokesman for the family regarding matters affecting the family real estate
that lies within the North District Plan area. We certainly appreciated the email notification sent by City staff. However, due to the
short notice, that three of us live in Texas, and Mother is spending the winter there, we were unable to make arrangements to be
present at the February 6, 2001 meeting at Shimek Elementary to hear the staff presentation or give our input regarding the Draft.
We therefore request that the City of Iowa City accept this document as Arn Family Input to the City regarding the Draft of the
North District Plan.
Section I. The North District Past and Present
Past
The Iowa River forms a meandering boundary around the western half of the District. Rurming north and south, Dubuque
Street divides the North District roughly in half. We have no input regarding the half of the District east of Dubuque Street at this
time, feeling that is more appropriate for those that have lived, worked, and enhanced that area to have the most input.
Foster Road, as it is known today, was a 77' territorial highway that crossed the Iowa River near the power station dam. It
was one of only a few river crossings in the area at the time. This overlooked historical information should also be included with
the other references to the history of the North District. Many pioneer wagons going west from Illinois crossed it.
Although I live in Texas, I was born, raised, and worked in Iowa City until I was forty-two. I spent many wonderful years
roaming the timbers of the entire Peninsula. My father took me hunting, fishing and mushrooming in season. 1 used the Elks' for
cross county practice and the greens made nice starting blocks for sprint starts. On our property, I shot squirrels in season and
ground hogs and blue jays any time I got the chance. Blue jays wreck havoc with the robin nests. I ate ~vild gooseberries and black
berries from thicket shrubs that were everywhere. Bud Louis planted rhubarb along his Foster Road fence row. I love rhubarb. 1
even found some surviving plants a couple of years ago when we were back for a reunion and I had the chance to renew old
experiences. We raised ducks until the fox got more than we did. We had several milk cows, raised a little corn, a little hay, and a
little beef. We had fresh milk and ate home grown beef. We milked those cows twice a day. My brother and I had to go round
them up in the timber if our schedule and theirs didn't jive. In the summer you went inside a half-hour before sundown because of
the mosquitoes.
When 1-80 was built, it took a little over seven acres off the north end of our 40 acres. The real bummer was that we had just,
a year or so before, spent the entire summer putting up a new fence. Custom poured concrete comer posts on the two ends insured a
straight and taut fence and north anchors for the replacement of the east and west fence lines that were planned. When they dozed
those posts out and built the new fence, after 1-80 construction, the new fence didn't do justice to the one it replaced. After 1-80
went though, Iowa Illinois Gas & Electric ran their high voltage power lines, with easement restrictions, right over the top of that
fence. The Willjams Gas Line runs just south of our entire south property line, has easement restrictions similar to the north power
lines and only two approved road crossings in the west district, Laura Drive and our private lane. About 3 years ago when Willjams
Gas was rebuilding their lines they were allowed to access their easement through our lane. This one action significantly reduced
environmental and neighborly private property damage to sensitive areas. That gas line runs fight through the middle of most of the
sensitive areas in the North District and is a long way from accessible from Foster Road. Access via our hard surfaced lane to their
easement eliminated the need for Williams to slog all the way from Laura Drive to the Iowa River. It speeded up the project by
shortening travel distances. It made equipment, maintenance, repairs, and the delivery of construction supplies reasonably feasible
through the steep wooded ravines that the line crosses. It was a win-win situation. They saved time and money, the sensitive areas
were minimally impacted and only within the easement, private property damage was spared and we got a bored crossing.
Cooperation and compromise are beautiful things when they lead to positive outcomes for all concerned.
In the winter you had to be going 40-45 mph to make it up the narrow curved Foster Road hill. Mr. Donham farmed his
place, the "Peninsula" and the "Englert" tract; Herb Kohl famed next door. We all lived on the properties; famed them; had
livestock, dogs, children, and cars. We saw a few deer in the summer but they disappeared right before gun season. Deer were not
a problem. The fox, raccoons and bluejays were. The butterflies, moths, spiders and wasps were plentiful and I had collections of
each. This is the personal part of the history of Foster Road and the Peninsula that I remember and was told about for well over the
past 40 years. The Am families have lived in and near Iowa City since 1842 and the Century Heritage Am farm lies just east of
Iowa City. In an April 1, 1966 Press-Citizen article, page 14, it chronicles Michael Arn's activities. He was my great great
grandfather and namesake.
Present
Before the '93 flood there was little push to develop along west Foster Road. Only two properties had turned over and been
acquired for long term investments years earlier. The Englert tract was allowed to be developed when fill dirt from the University
was brought in. What was a corn / bean field that flooded every spring and when the dam floodgates needed to be opened for any
length of time, now has an ever expanding church and multiple condominiums on it. This was overflow area for the Iowa River.
The City did have major problems with development in east Iowa City due to flooding along Ralston Creek, an aging sewer system
and eventually EPA concerns about potable water. A building moratorium resulted for several years.
At~er the '93 flood, FEMA funds and eminent domain were used to acquire the Donham (Meardon) Peninsula and the
Glasgow properties. The new facilities will provide good water for long into the City's future. Although the deep wells into the
aquifer didn't pan out as planned, the shallow lateral sand points on the Peninsula produced wonderful results. Due to the close
cooperation between the city and my father, the high pressure water feed lines and new sewer trunk line now connect both sides of
the interstate without any damage to sensitive areas or the future development potential of any of the properties.
At this point there still was no private pressure to develop along west Foster Road, but the City needed to recoup FEMA
funds. The end result is the creation of this Plan. It will provide the controlled sale and development of the marketable portion of
the original Donham (Meardon) property. The upgrade of Foster Road to accommodate the Peninsula Development wiped out all of
the trees on the very steeply sloped south side of the Foster Road hill. It wiped out the trash trees along Bud Louis's fence row and
"my" rhubarb. A steep densely wooded hillside was disturbed so fill dirt could be put down to improve a very much needed arterial
roadway with a pedestrian / bicycle trail. Hillside retaining walls were installed in other areas with deep anchors to preserve trees
and protect cars.
Muilti family units were built at Louis Place. The site butts up to a sensitive area with steep wooded ravines. That new sewer
trunklinemnsrightbythenorthendofthoseunits. Infactitrunsrightalongthedownslopeshoulderofoureastpropertylinewith
slopes in excess of 60 degrees and about 400 feet of fence row trees that had to be removed to put it in. It then crosses Louis~s
ravine and nms down through McDonalds ravine.
You could not have picked a more environmentally sensitive area to disturb. That sewer trunk line and those units sit right in
the middle of the over land drainage outfall of the 60 or so highest acres in the area. Our 32 acres, Cole's 15 and Louis's 13 or so
(original acreage) all drain through McDonalds ravine
Where the City wanted to originally run those lines was right down the middle of our property since it is open space with no
trees. Unfortunately it also has the highest elevation in the area. Eventually the City saw the wisdom my father had, that gravity
sewer hunk lines should follow natural ground terrain. Those fence row trees were mostly very old, bad barbed wire and other
remnants of make shift fencing nailed, stapled or otherwise buried in the bark. More than once after big storms we had to go over to
Dr. Van Allen's yard and bring the cows home, then remove the fallen dead limbs and cobble the fence back. The cows couldn't
find much to eat in the thick timbers because very little light actually gets to the ground. Thick timbers kill off lower limbs and
shade out erosion controlling ground cover and grasses as the trees grow and the canopies cut off the life (light) support. The only
significant tree loss in the whole row was a very big pear tree. In season, I always had to go find the cows and knew right where to
look. After the pears started getting ripe, I bad to climb that tree to get my share. The cattle got everything that fell on the ground
or they could reach. Fortunately, that old tree was nearly dead before it gave way to progress. The lay of our eastem property line
is, and was, ideal for a gravity sewer trunk line from 1-80 to McDonalds ravine. The only really steep slope is within the last 200
feet of the south property line. After the trees were cleared, the sewer line was installed, a new fence was put up, the slope was
seeded and grass was growing, it was apparent that this was a definite improvement. That steep ravine slope looks pretty good with
grass and flowers on it. I remember it as dirt or mud and nearly impossible to climb due to the dead under brush and dead and
decaying limbs. What's absolutely astounding is that now you can't even tell anything was done. If you didn't
know how bad this steep sloped sensitive area looked before this major excavation project, there is no way to
explain it to any one, even with pictures.
The Peninsula sand point wells are west of us. The high-pressure water feed lines from the wells needed to be routed to the
water plant north of I-80. It made more sense to dig them in through open farm ground on the eastern property line of the Kohl
(B~yd)p~acethant~tryt~ranthempara~~e~withthesewertrunk~inethr~ughthemidd~e~fthehighestgr~undinthearea. Last
summer when we were back for a funeral, it appeared that substantial earth work had been done to the north half of the Kohl (Boyd)
property dunng the installation of the high-pressure water lines. In view of the proposed North District Plan it appears that
preparation for future development was accomplished.
The result was a win-win situation where cooperation and compromise allowed the City to upgrade its
utilities without adversely affecting the sensitive areas, private property rights, or development potential of any
of its individual citizens. After all of this recent development, the one thing that pains us the most is losing our privacy. Those
trees along the south side of Foster Road separated us from the city. We were still in the country even if the city was just over the
hill.
Existing Conditions, Assets, Constraints
Existing Conditions
1. Between 2003 and 2006, 1-80 is being expanded to 8 lanes from Dubuque St. to 1st Ave and to 6 lanes from Dubuque St. to
North Dodge St. (Highway 1). How many more vehicles will use Dubuque St? The Plan talks about extending Foster Road
east to Prairie du Chien Rd. I have recently been assured that city water will be installed along the proposed roadway by 2002.
A park and other amenities are slated for the Water Plant site. The Plan talks about and shows a stop light at Foster Rd. and
Dubuque St. The Plan shows commercial development and the removal of all sensitive area timbers, from Dubuque St. west
through the Mobile Home Park and south to Laura Drive, approximately 30 acres. The Plan shows the removal of half the trees
between Dubuque St., 1-80 and Laura Drive, the creation of a Pill Hill island and south bound traffic routing along Laura Drive
and north bound traffic routing along the existing right of way. Although I have recently asked about this island issue, I don't
understand the response. Does the Plan create an island and route south bound traffic along Laura Drive or an
improved Knollwood Lane? The Plan does not explain how the City will ensure emergency and fire
protection. Another '93 flood isn't expected for another 500 years but it could happen next year. The closest
food, gas and shopping centers are not in Iowa City. Every dollar spent on these shopping trips leaves Iowa City. It seems that
the Plan is focused on sensitive areas issues. doesn't address the barest &neighborhood basic needs like, food, gas and
shopping, and has not adequately handled traffic infrastructure support to he it all together and make it work. One convenience
stop would certainly make a big difference.
Our input is that the Plan needs to address Dubuque St. from 1-80 to Park Road. It needs to address the Iowa River
issue, the Foster Rd. / Dubuque St. intersection and access to the designated commercial property at the 1-80 / Dubuque
St. intersection.
2. Too late to undevelop the Englert tract. The swampy undeveloped ground next to Terrill Mill should be filled enough to dry it
out and eliminate a real health hazard in what is rapidly becoming a people populated area. At the edge of town or in the
county, this critter infestedl mosquito incubator with potential rabies carrying marcanals would pass as valuable wetland habitat.
Here and now it is out of place. It should not be developed, unless by elevated structure for river overflow, but added to the
park system. It could be a heck of a unique architectural project for City / Community uses.
Assets
1. Many of those big beautiful trees I remember were ELM and they died. Others are second generation, grown from clear-cut
stumps after WWII. They are at or nearing the end of their healthy life spans. Because of lightning strikes, carpenter ants and
the tornadic wind damage from several years ago, many more trees are standing but will die with out human intervention.
Those timbers were allowed to grow unthinned. The result is too many trees, growing too close together, in rich black soil with
no need to develop deep spreading root systems. When the high winds of several years ago roared through, some of those big
beautiful straight tmnked trees just got blown over because they didn't have root systems out to the drip line. More are now
precariously hanging, suspended at funny odd looking angles by the grace of a neighboring tree or two, just waiting to fall on a
deerT~ a hiker?, a child?. In years past we allowed several trusted individuals to drop the dead trees and remove the downed
ones for personal fire wood use. It was safe to wander our timber then, not today. Healthy timbers need proper tree spacing,
underbrush removal, periodic inspection and pruning as required.
2. When you drive along your neighborhood streets and through your parks, are they so thick and jumbled that the sun can't get to
the ground, shade-loving plants won't grow and your shoes get muddy after a rain because nothing grows? That's what's
happened in these timbers. There is little erosion protection for the steep wooded ravines. I busted my derriere more than once
chasing those cows up and down those ravines. The extremely steep heavily wooded slope along the north side of Foster Road
from Louis Place to Dubuque St that runs east & west has full southern sun exposure year round. Except for a deer path just
east of McDonald's wood fence that used to run straight up that slope, there never was an erosion problem along that slope.
Every time it rained the brown substrate clay washed out across the road. Most of those V shaped, tree covered ravines are
packed so tightly and oriented north & south such that they don't benefit from the one requirement that they need the most,
sunshine. Development in the North District must include a pro-active approach to the timbers, not a leave
them alone and ignore their problems. They are our most valuable assets. The solution is so simple. Require
appropriate thinning, pruning, trash-tree and under brush removal and wild flower and wild grass seeding.
Require tree replacement or tree installation after development to maintain or regain a natural balance, in
the manner that the City will be doing shortly on the south side of Foster Road from No Name Road to the
Elks' entrance. Encourage xeriscape concepts and the use of minimum water needs material. When we
buried my father I noticed many trees had been downed and damaged by Mother Nature in the cemetery,
but human intervention was used to clean up the mess and make it safe again for human occupation,
enjoyment, and remembrances.
Constraints
1. Foster Road is the only arterial roadway that has or should ever serve the western half of the North District. Even if the Iowa
River was bridgcd at Rocky Shore Drive or more unlikely at Ist Ave, Foster Road's central location and relatively straight path
can't be improved upon. Taft Speedway and No Name Road can be slightly elevated and hard surfaced for limited local access.
Laura Drive is a dead-end feeder spur that should only connect Foster Road to the fut~tre developed property north of Foster
Road. Laura Drive provides the same single access to this area as Foster Road does to every property west of
the McDonald property. All other controlled access points to Foster Road only serve local traffic. Therefore
additional roads in the western half of the North District are unnecessary.
2. Now that the Peninsula Development Plan is nearly ~nalized and construction is ready for a spring start, this issue is no longer
a constraint.
3. We believe that sensitive areas issues can be easily and successfully dealt with as long as common sense, cooperation and the
North District Plan are used for the mutual benefit of the City and the developer, used as a guideline, not as a role set in stone.
4. It appears that the North District Plan could be just months away from acceptance. We have
growing concerns that the Plan west of Dubuque St. may be inflexible and biased. It appears that
preferred development type areas, sensitive areas, and buffer areas have been drawn on the Plan as
a DONE DEAL. It appears that the Plan will be used, after approval, to rotely dismiss any
development proposal without consideration of its merits or attempts to meet the Plan's guidelines if
are not shown on the Plan. It appears that the Plan says, If it is not shown, it won't happen, and if it
is shown, it will only happen per the Plan. The Plan appears to be biased in favor of recent
development and biased against the development of the last of the undeveloped or underdeveloped
property in the west District. If the Plan, as is shown and articulated, will be inflexible and used as
a Rule the Arn family objects in the strongest terms possible and permissible under law.
If on the other hand the Plan is used as a guideline where some deviation from the original Plan is
appropriate and sensible, and cooperation and compromise will produce win-win situations, the Arn
family has no objections other than as stated above.
Recommendation
I believe this is the first of potentially 10 District Plans. As such, this Plan will need refinement over time just as the U.S.
Constitution did. Make the Plan pro-active. not reactive. Create an Appeals process for projects that don't appear to pass
muster on first blush. When you have private sector developers willing to risk their capital, why not help them to use their
resources to benefit the City and its taxpayers. Bump the proposed project to reiview committee with local district citizen
input. Those local citizens will be the most directly affected by development in the neighborhood. They probably will come
up with the best reasons to accept, reject or modify it.
Mike Am, Family Spokesman
mam(a~austin.rr,com
512-335-0244
Marjan Karr
From: Caroline Dieterie [caroline-dieterle@UIOWA, EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 5:03 PM
To: icnews@yosemite.leepfrogcom
Subject: Re: JCNEWS: Coralville tax increase
Also interesting to note in today's DI story about the CV council meeting
that 'because of their expanded tax base they need to raise taxes' - growth
coming with a price. Kind of a vicious circle, eh?
At 09:48 AM 2/28/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>I assume the property tax payers of Coralville understand that they are
>paying higher taxes in part because Coral Ridge Mall is paying no taxes to
>the City of Coralville (or for that matter to Johnson County) thanks to the
>Tax Increment Financing Arrangements. The wealthy investors in Coral Ridge
>Mall (out of town, I assume) get a larger return on their investment;
>homeowners and small business owners make up the difference. It's called
>redistribution of wealth.
>
>Jeff Cox
03-05-01
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Jay H. Honohan, Chair
Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center Commission
28 S. Linn Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
February 23, 2001
The Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Iowa City
Civic Center
410 E. Washington
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
The Honorable Chair and Members
of the Board of Supervisors
Johnson County Iowa
County Administration Building
913 S. Dubuque Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
re: 28E Agreement Committee
The Governance subcommittee of the Accreditation Committee of the
Iowa City/Johnson County Senior working on national accreditation
of the Center recommended that the Commission pursue a new 28E
agreement between the City and the County.
They recognized that the previous committee, after spending a
great deal of time, reached an impasse. They felt, however, that
another effort should be attempted because of the importance of
the agreement and the need for revision after so many years.
The recommendation of the Senior Center Commission was to request
a new committee be appointed consisting of two members of the
Council, two members of the Board, and the Chair of the
Commission. The committee would be advised by staff members of
the City and the County.
We would appreciate your consideration of this request.
Ve truly yours,
/Jfy~Honohan
THEIOWA CITY/CORALVILLE JAYCEll
4g(3)
"Leadership Through Involve~nent"
P.O. BOX 2358 -- IOWA CITY, IOWA 52244
February 18, 2001
Iowa City, City Council ~'.
Civic Center ' -
410 E. Washington St. - :: .
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear City Council Members:
We wish to thank each of you for your consideration and ultimate decision to
financially support this community wide celebration. Your donation will help to defray
some of the costs associated with putting on such an event in our community. This will
allow us to continue to support the many other projects that we provide for our citizens.
The Jaycees hope that you will be able to attend this year's festival.
This year we are presenting an afternoon and evening of celebration in the park that
will truly take advantage of the entire park and all it has to offer. The Jaycees' Fireworks
Festival will be held on Saturday, July 7th, 2001. This will allow the people in our
communities to enjoy two ~rework's displays and for everyone to enjoy the Iowa City
Jazz Festival on Sunday as well. The fireworks festival will include musie and
entertainment, games, rides, food and other events for the entire family and community to
enjoy. The festival will start at 4:00 p.m. and will wrap up with the largest fireworks
display ever seen in Iowa City; potentially with a music radio simulcast. As you know, the
total budget for this community event will surpass $30,000.
If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at (319) 351-1634,
631-3000 (Jim's cell) or email heimsj~,home.com
The Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) thanks you for your support. We invite
you and your families to enjoy this year's Fireworks Festival in our beautiful city park.
Sincerely,
Jim and Cynthia Heims, Co-chairpersons
Jaycees' 2001 Fireworks Festival
03-05-01
WHITEWAY 2000 APARTMENTS 4g (4)
MARC B. MOEN
SUITE 300, BREWERY SQUARE
123 NORTH LINN STREET
IOWA CITY, IOWA 52245
TELEPHONE: E-MAIL; mmoen@icialaw,com FACSIMILE:
319.358.0400 : ' 319.354.0559
MOBILE;
319.4303010
,..
February 14, 2001
. .
_
The Honorable Mayor
and Members of the City Council:
I want the Council to know that throughout the aftermath of the Whiteway fire and through
completion of the reconstruction of the new building all of the City personnel involved were
enormously helpful and cooperative.
I also wanted to thank you for designating the CBD as a revitalization district. What a great
thing for our City. I believe the Council's foresight in designating the CBD as a revitalization
district will have a major positive impact on downtown development.
As you know, we were faced with a decision to either sell our site and let someone else
develop it, or to rebuild. Even without tax abatement, it is unlikely that I would have allowed
the site to be sold for development by others. However, without tax abatement, for economic
reasons we would have been limited to essentially replacing what was there before the fire. We
would not have been able to construct the building that is now in place. The WHITEWAY
2000 exists because of the Council's designation of the CBD as a revitalization area. Indeed,
the appraisal necessary to obtain financing for the project specifically addressed the abatement
which would be available to the building as a significant factor in justifying an appraisal from
an income approach to warrant a loan sufficient to construct the building.
Without abatement, the City would have continued to receive approximately $30,000.00 per
year in taxes on the property, or perhaps a bit more. With the abatement, the City will receive
more than that on the apartments alone (i.e., the portion of the building that will not receive
abatement), and after three years the City will receive several times that amount, which will
continue indefinitely.
Thank you for making this possible. I think you should be very proud that your efforts
convinced my partners (who live in Des Moines and Boise, Idaho) to make this major
investment in downtown Iowa City.
Johnson County ~
]I ,ow, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Mike Lehman, Chairperson ' _~
Pat Harney ""' '
Terrence Neuzil % ~
Sally Stutsman ,-., -E-
Carol Thompson 7;
February 15, 2001 :" "
Mayor Lehman
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mayor Lehman and Council:
In December of 2000 the Board of Supervisors adopted the revised Johnson County/Iowa City Fringe
Area Agreement as adopted by the iowa City Council. At that time the Board was not in full agreement
with the City regarding the potential for commercial and industrial development surrounding the Herbert
Hoover/ha0 interchange. Upon a recommendation from County Attorney J. Patrick White, the Board
adopted the fringe area agreement as written, and requested that the Iowa City Council, along with Karin
Franklin, staff, the Board of Supervisors and representatives from the County's Planning and Zoning
depadment develop a Commercial/Industrial Development Plan for this area.
The Planning and Zoning Department has received an application to rezone approximately 7.13 acres of
a 15.51 parcel described as lot 1 of Donovan's Green Acres Subdivision from A1 Rural Agricultural, to
CP2 Planned Commercial. The applicant is Paul Dykstra, of Iowa City Landscaping. This property was
recently platted as a Farmstead Split, and abuts the Gateway development on the west and south sides,
on the north side of Herbert Hoover Highway.
If at all possible I would like to begin the process of creating this Commercial and Industrial Development
Plan for this area as soon as possible. Upon consultation with County Planning and Zoning staff, the
Dykstra application would not receive a favorable recommendation because it violates the fringe
agreement. This poses a unique problem because the proposed use appears to be compatible with the
area.
I appreciate your time and attention to this matter, and hope we can begin the process soon. If you have
any questions or comments, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Mike Lehman
Chairperson
Johnson County Board of Supervisors
S:\BD\letters\Mayor Lehman re FFA.doc
913 SOUTH DUBUQUE STREET, SUITE 201 , IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-4207 · PHONE: (319) 356-6000 , FAX: (319) 354-4213
But when the snow hit, absence of
sidewalks in my part of town
made strolling hazardous and
Lrnpossible.
Lean on Iowa City's prude ele-
merit to invest in sidewalks, not
jail space. Make it possible to uti-
lize shoe leather, the mode of
transportation doctors recom-
Keep sidewalks clean, mend. Make it possible for us
for safety's sake geezers to take our jalopies off the
street and make room for stu-
I decided that when I retired, dents who are anxious to get to
would repiace the exercise I got class.
on the job with walking to desti- Bob Dostel
nations within walking distance Iowa City resident
Council on Substance Abuse Services
Chemical
AbLISe
Web Page February 21,2001
www. rnecca-ic.org
[] central Iowa
Regional
Office
1290 Des Moines Street
P.O. Box 3287
Dcs Moines, Iowa 50309
(515) 262-0349 Mayor Ernie Lehman
FAX (515) 266-6808 City of iowa City
410 E. Washington
~ Eastern Iowa IOWaCity,IA 52240
Regional
Office Dear Mayor Lehman:
430 Southgate Avenue
Iowa ciW, I^ s2240 Attached please find MECCA's perspective on he issue of underage
(319) 351-4357
FAX (319) 351-4907 drinking. The attachment was approved by MECCA's Board of
Directors at their recent meeting. The Board and the staff wanted
[] Cedar this information to be available to the City Council.
county office
1304 Moscow Road If yOU have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Tipton, Iowa 52772
(319) 886-3468 Sincerely,
County Office
Marengo Bank Building
no~ court Ave.ue Arthur d. Schut
Suite 10 Executive Director
Marengo, Iowa 52301
(319) 642-5528
FAX (319) 642-3263
[] Warren
County Office
515 North Jefferson
Suite B
Indianola, Iowa 50125
1515) 961-8830
FAX (515) 961-2275
[] Washington
County Office
314 McCreedy Drive
Washington, Iowa 52353
(319) 653-7597
Comprehensive substance abuse treatment and prevention services
Underage Drinking in Johnson County:
The Public Health Position of Mid-Eastern Council on Chemical Abuse
(MECCA)
In response to recent discussions and meetings surrounding the issue of
underage drinking, we encourage the Iowa City Council to consider MECCA's
perspective on this very important public health issue. Our perspective comes
from over 30 years of providing substance abuse treatment and prevention
services to this community. We have a long history of addressing substance use
and abuse on an individual, family and community level.
It is clear that there is not a "one solution fits all." Recommendations that are too
shallow or too complex to implement will not lead to effective change.
Locally, the Johnson County Community Health Needs Assessment Committee
identified alcohol use as the primary health problem in this area, based on the
magnitude and seriousness of the problem. Nationally, researchers from the
Boston University School of Public Health reported in the September 27, 2000
issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association that the younger people
are when they begin drinking, the more likely they are to be injured later in life
when under the influence of alcohol. For each year under age 21 that drinking
onset is delayed, risk for later life injury diminishes. The National Institute on
Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) reported in 1998 that early drinking onset is
associated with increased lifetime risk of the clinical disorders of alcohol
dependence and alcohol abuse.
Based on available research, it is clear that access is one of the major causes of
underage drinking. Dr. Peter Nathan, UI professor of psychology, estimates that
if the 21-only ordinance were enacted, high risk drinking would be reduced by
one-third. If enacted, some of the local alcohol consumption would shift to other
places in the community. It is important to note, however, that research indicates
this would be far less than has been suggested. Regardless, other measures are
warranted to address other-than-bar drinking.
We support the following general strategies:
21-only ordinance:
Simply put, as long as 18-20 year olds are allowed access to bars, they will be
allowed increased access to alcohol.
Price sl~ecials control:
"Beer and booze buffets," 21 pitchers of beer for a 21st birthday, and other low
cost specials promote high risk - and potentially lethal - drinking. We encourage
effective sanctions against these promotions.
Community education for adults:
Because minors frequently initiate drinking with alcohol from parents' cupboards,
parents need to be educated about how to secure and monitor alcohol supplies.
Adults who provide alcohol to minors need to better understand the health risks
to minors in addition to criminal and civil liabilities. Unfortunately, the fact that
many parents see alcohol use as a rite of passage and a good alternative to
"drug use," perpetuates the problem.
Server/Seller Training:
Rigorous and regular training of all servers, retail staff and managers who serve
or sell alcohol needs to be implemented. This training should include the liability
involved with serving or selling to a minor and skill development to assist both
employees and management to better handle these situations.
Stepping Up has initiated discussion and action on a number of other strategies
that address this issue which include: alternate late-night activities, outlet
density/zoning issues, keg registration, and many others. In addition, substance
abuse prevention, education, and treatment services need to be available to
everyone.
This is far from a simple matter with easy answers. Even though this issue has
garnered significant media attention, many people are not aware of the far-
reaching impact of high risk drinking on all of us as a community members, family
members and individuals. Underage drinking is a public health issue worthy of a
comprehensive, well-researched plan.
4g(8)
Marjan Karr
From: APTJPAGS@aol,com
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2001 11:17 PM
To: council@iowa-city.org
Subject: Support Alcohol ordinance
Dear Members of the Iowa City City Council;
We urge you to support the proposed alcohol ordinance. It is an important
step toward concrete action to address the problem of underage and binge
drinking in Iowa City.
We hope that the City Council will continue to review the possibility of a
"21 only" law, realizing the numerous pros and cons of such action, it does
have some merit.
The Stepping Up Program should be commended for its ongoing efforts to
provide alcohol free entertainment alternatives.
Thank you for your consideration, and your continued concern and effort to
curb underage and binge drinking.
Polly and Armond Pagliai
2/27/01
Marian Karr ~ 03-05-0,1
4g(92
From: Capaccioli, Jan [CapaccioliJ@uihc.uiowa.edu]
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2001 2:50 PM
To: 'council@iowa-city.org'
Subject: Alcohol Ordinances
Dear City Council Members:
I wanted to thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet with some of you
and learn a little bit more about the alcohol ordinances. From what I
witnessed st the last city council meeting, there are some problems with the
proposed change of the alcohol ordinances, but I believe there is an easier
solution and the most logical solution--change the admittance into the bars
to twenty-one and older.
I think it was best summarized when Mayor Lehman said that the bar owners
"did have the power and lost it", and now the council has the power. The
council has the power to make a difference and a change in iowa City. The
bar owners had plenty of opportunity, as well as the underage drinkers, to
change and work toward decreasing the misuse of alcohol in their
establishments. The bar owner of Malone's said that he has worked on
decreasing problems in his establishment by having several people "cruise"
the bar looking for people who are underage, or causing problems. If he has,
then I don't think his establishment will be affected by the change.
I look at this change as something that shouldn't affect everyone, except
those who are breaking the law--mainly bar owners and underage drinkers. How
do I see this? Well, bar owners should not be profiting from illegal sales
of alcohol to minors and the students should not be participating in an
illegal activity like underage drinking. If bar owners are saying that they
cannot control all the people in their establishments and keep track of all
the minors; then it is time to limit who can enter their establishments,
which will in turn take the pressure off of them.
The City of Iowa City will also benefit from this change. Hopefully, after
some time, the police force can decrease its presence in the pedestrian
mall; demonstrating a friendlier atmosphere and bringing families back to
the downtown area. The students may say that there is nothing else to do in
this town, but that does not give them the right to participate in an
illegal activity--drinking and drugging. They are adults and should be
treated as such--not enabled. Students are sent messages that say, "it's
okay to go into a bar and drink even though you are underage because it is
tolerated." If they think that a $150 fine is all that they will get for
participating in an illegal activity and getting caught, then they might
also think that taking other drugs will be just as easy-like the use of
marijuana.
If you, the council, decide to change the admittance into the bars you will
send a clear message to everyone that "underage drinking is not tolerated
anymore." I believe that, again, this will not completely resolve the
underage and "hinge" drinking problems that plague Iowa City and Coralvilla,
but I believe it will help and make a big difference. People will argue that
students will then be forced to drink elsewhere and drive while under the
influence {OWl's). Change is difficult for everyone, not just the students,
but people should realize that change is also good.
Again, this is about enforcing a law that already exists in Iowa, "no one is
permitted to drink under the age of twenty-one," and not about changing that
law, but making it more difficult for individuals to break it--especially in
Iowa City. If the bar owners and students find this such a burden on their
well-beings, then the burden should be placed on them to go to the State
Capital and advocate for a lower drinking age, and not advocating to the
1
City Council to condone an illegal activity--underage drinking.
I invite you all to come and visit Health Iowa at Student Health Services
and see what we do here. If the council is interested, I could possibly
arrange for you all to meet with my current University Short Term Outpatient
Program (USTOP) group members, and talk with them about their offenses and
beliefs surrounding alcohol and other drug use.
Again, thank you all for your hard work and dedication to making Iowa City a
safer place for everyone. If you have any questions please feel free to call
me at 319-335-8386, or at home 319-895-8978.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan M. Capaccioli, BSN, LMSW, CADC
Substance ~aDuse Counselor
MECCA/Health iowa
University of Iowa
I03-05-01
Maria. Karr 4g(10)
From: Madan Karr
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2001 12:04 PM
To: 'Ben Patience'
Subject: RE: Iowa City Alcohol Ordinances
Thank you for your letter. I'd like to send you a copy of the proposed ordinances and a contact sheet for individual Council
Members. Could I have your address? My office is also open 8-5 if you'd like to stop by. Please let me know how you'd
like to proceed.
..... Original Message .....
From: Ben Patience [mailto:crewguy84@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2001 1:24 PM
To: council@iowa-city.org
Subject: Iowa City Alcohol Ordinances
Dear Sir/Ma'am,
My name is Ben Patience and I am Junior at City High School. I am doing
a project on the new proposed drinking ordinances and how they would effect
student drinking at City High. If you would please answer some questions
for me so I can have a better understanding of what you are proposing I
would be greatly apperciative. I will be sure to share the results of my
project with you as soon as it is completed. Thanks for your cooperation.
What are the proposed drinking ordinances for Iowa City?
What effect do you feel these ordinances will have on high school students
who drink?
Are you for all of the proposed ordinances or are there a few that you don't
like or think need to be changed before becoming law? Please explain your
way of thinking.
I heard of some new machines that stores and bars may use to find out if an
ID is fake or not. Are any of these in place in Iowa City?
If not, are there plans to get them into drinking establishments or other
places that alcohol is sold such as convenience stores or supermarkets?
What are the details of these machines that you know of?
What kind of an impact, if any, do you feel these machines would have on
high school drinking in Iowa City?
Are you for or against the usage of these machines to detect if an ID is
fake or not?
Where do you think most underage drinking occurs in Iowa City?
Any other comments on the alcohol ordinances that you would like to make or
other things you think I should know?
Thanks again for responding to my questions, and I will be sure to get
you the results of my work as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Ben Patience
crewguy84@hotmail.com
03-05-0t
4,q(11)
Tuesday, February 20, 2001 ~ I [~ ~ I] '~ ~ ~
Iowa City Council FEB :~ 6 ZOO1
410 E Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240 [~11~ M~,NA[I~[~'S 0[~1~[
Dear Iowa City Council members:
1 would like to address all of the research concerning underage drinking &binge, not just the statistics which
one special interest group backed by $830,000 provides as "bets."
First I would like to point out that the concern of the University of Iowa and the Iowa City Council is not
underage drinking. If the concern was truly underage drinking then the University of Iowa would not allow
fraternities to have alcohol in individual rooms (a recent transgression because during the previous academic
year all fraternities were dry). If the true concern is underage drinking, then Iowa City needs to install
aggressive alcohol education starting with its elementary school children. According to the Centers fo~
Disease Cont~l "approximately 8% of 4th & 5th g~ade~ admit to allearly having a full be~. By 9th
~ade, 70% have had at least 1 d~nk and 20% have binged at least once. By 12th ~de, 80% have had at
least 1 ~ink, 60% in the last mouth, and 40% have had a binge." (And they were not served the
beer/drinks in bars). As a side note, 1 want the City Council to be aware of the Stepping Up Committee's Chair
and her tendency to distort the hcts for the advantage of her salary and organization. Below is a letter, from
me, to the Daily lowan in response to Julie Phye's accusation that 1 am distorting the hcts.
I want to reply to Julie Phye's letter to the editor written on August 24, 2000. She stated that "none of
our statistics even remotely support this (that 40% of UI students NEVER DRINK) assertion." 1
would like to draw everyone's attention to h~p://www.uiowa.edu/~stepping/howyouhelp.htm
Where according to the information provided on The Stepping Up Projects page How You Can Help
subheading Here's What Students Can Do: (bullet point 4) "Respect those who choose not to drink.
There are a lot of non-drinkers out there. A survey by UI students found that 40 percent of students
never drink. So it is an optionS"
I do not make up my statistics or pass along knowingly hlse information. I do my own research. So I
am somewhat offended that Julie Phye implied I made up the statistics I used in my letter and in my
information that 1 provided to the Iowa City Council. My salary does not depend on an $830,000 grant
to stop drinking on college campuses. I am solely interested in the whole story being available to the
public so that all people, on an individual basis, can make an informed decision.
Secondly, regarding the increase in underage drinking arrests and citations, it is due to an increased number of
police officers, (according to Iowa City Police Sergeant Jim Steffen). If you speak to anyone who attended the
University of Iowa prior to 1997 you will be hard pressed to find someone who can tell you that the police
presence in the downtown area and specifically in the downtown bars was as great as it is today. The only
logical conclusion, is the increased focus and attention on 19 and 20 year olds drinking would result in a
corresponding increase in the number of citation, arrests, and statistical increases.
Thirdly, I want to know what statistics support underage drinking has escalated in the past 15 years. According
to the National Institute on Drug Abuse "the percentage of college students who used alcohol in the past 12
months is at the lowest point of any time during the 17 years that data has been kept. Also alcohol
abstinence is at an all time high on college campuses." Even the Stepping Up Project stated "a survey of the
University of Iowa students found that 40% of students NEVER DRINK."
Fourthly, the assertions that almost all college campus crimes are alcohol related and specifically related to
adults between the ages of 18 and 20 is not supported by the facts. (I suggest reading McNamara-Meis, Kathy.
Burned. Forbes MediaCritic, 1995, 20-24).
I also suggest the following as other sources of information on drinking on college campuses:
The Journal of American College Health, 1996, 45. pp. 34-140 and 1999, 47, pp.247-252 (available at
no cost by calling 1-800-676-1730)
A Social Norms Approach to Preventing Binge Drinking at Colleges and Universities, by Michael P.
Haines. (also available at no cost by calling 1-800-676-1730)
Mottitor, "Perceptions influence student drinking." (American Psychological Association), p. 35.
Alcohol Education: What We Must Do, by David Hanson
Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 1999 (www.isr.umich.edu/src/mtf)
The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention, 1997, pp. 177-206.
Alcohol and Other Drugs Education Project (www.hws.edu/~alcohol)
Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 1998, pp. 123-124.
Journal of the American Medical Association, 1998,273 (24), pp. 1903-1904.
PRIDE Survey, September 8, 1999 (press release).
The 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, 1999, Table 14. (www.samhsa.gov)
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, by Carol Prescott & Kenneth Kendiet, 1999,
23(1 ),pp. 101-107.
This next section is to address the recent city council meetings. It merely contains my concerns about the focus
and targeting of downtown bars rather than focusing on underage and binge drinking and real solutions to these
problems. It is my hope that the following questions and concerns will generate a true investigation and
discussion amongst the Iowa City Council members concerning ALL underage and binge drinking.
· Why is the focus solely on the downtown bars? What about other alcohol sales outlets like Hy-Vee, Kum-
N-GO, QT, John's Grocery, etc.? Are those stores also going to be the target of sting operations? If one of
those merchants sells to someone underage, will they be subject to the same penalties as the downtown bars
- revoke their liquor license?
· If other outlets are not targeted why not? Where do you think the high school kids are purchasing their
alcohol? I don't think it's at the downtown bars, but I do think it is at the local convenience and grocery
stores.
· Why has no one done a study to document the number of people, both underage and those over 21 years old,
who drink at home or at parties prior to going out to bars?
· Under the proposed ordinance it is ok for an underage person to drink at home with the supervision of
his/her parents/guardians, but what happens if that individual leaves his/her home intoxicated? For
example, what if he/she is in a bar to socialize/dance, etc. and is not drinking but the police come in and
card him/her and then ask him/her to take a Breathalyzer .... Currently the police issue a possession under
the legal age ticket - even though the individual is not in possession. How is this legal? How is this
situation interpreted by the Iowa City Council when reviewing liquor licenses? Will the Iowa City Council
me~nbers take into account the source of alcohol which was sold by retail outlets or just condemn the
downtown bar for allowing a 20 year old into his/her establishment?
· The City Council stated they are concerned with the negative affects of drinking on the community in the
form of increased vandalism, violence, (Could a fight be just a fight? I know when I was growing up there
were several fights starting as early as elementary school and continuing throughout my high school years
between completely sober, yet angry, adolescents). Why should a business owner (a restaurant or bar
owner) be held responsible for the actions of a few "bad apples" who vomit on the sidewalks, etc. Why are
the police not cracking down on the "trouble makers"? What happened to personal accountability? When
did it become the "norm" for people to pass the blame? Some of the people who spoke at the Council
meeting stated if someone wants to drink he/she will drink, and that a problem drinker or alcoholic will only
stop drinking when he/she personally decides to stop drinking. So why is the City Council not issuing new
stronger, tougher, more expensive ordinances to combat the problems of vandalism, violence, vomiting on
sidewalks, public urination. etc? Doesn't common sense dictate that if a person is faced with a $500 fine,
500 hours of community service, and/or a jail sentence; he/she would be less likely to engage in the illegal
activity'? PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY - you do the crime, you do the time. Do the Iowa City
Council members honestly believe that by shutting down a few downtown bars the resnlt will be 19 and 20
year olds will uo longer drink? I know if I was a19 or 20 year old and faced a huge fine accompanied by
community service and/or jail time I would be more tempted not to break the law than if I thought some bar
owner was going to have his livelihood taken away because of my actions.
· ls Hy-Vee, Kum and Go. etc held responsible for selling a case of beer to an individual who then decides to
consume the entire case by himself, get into his car with the result being the death and/or injury of innocent
people in another vehicle? NO - the individual is held personally responsible and accountable. SO WHY
IS ONE TYPE OF LIQUOR ESTABLISHMENT (RETAIL OUTLETS) FAVORED BY THE LAW while
other liquor establishments (restaurants and bars) are punished?
· Why is it the policy of the City Council to NOT provide grants, funding, tax breaks, etc. to
organizations/businesses who are willing to provide alcohol and DRUG FREE events? There are several
cities that show movies on a 6pro, 8pro, 10pm and midnight schedule, so why doesn't Iowa City? Has any
council member tried to encourage the local movie theaters to change their show times - at least on
weekends? Did the City Council ever consider using the Englert as a late night movie house, social
gathering place for providing, alcohol, tobacco and drug free environment? WHY NOT7
· If people say non-alcohol clubs don't work, they are wrong. There are two teen clubs (run by a non-profit
organization) that are thriving in the Des Moines area~ one is located in the Southridge Shopping mall and
the other is located iu the Valley West Shopping Mall. They provide a bar/club like atmosphere without the
smoke, alcohol, or drugs. Initially the club had a slow time attracting teens, however, with time they have
boomed and therefore expanded and are still expanding. So why not put one in the Old Capitol Mall?
(Why not help the mall fill some of the vacancies and encourage non liquor license establishments,
especially since the Stepping Up Committee members complain that there are too many bars downtown and
they believe it is the bars driving out the other business - even though in reality it the Coral Ridge Mall and
the pro-business attitude of the Coralville City Council & City Manager)?
If you have questions concerning this letter. please feel free to contact me at the addresses and telephone
numbers provided below.
Sincerely,
K~s~lived in Iowa City and Coralville since 1990)
Coralville, IA 52241
fighting4truth2@yahoo.com
(319) 621-1020
Marian Karr
From: Kate Newberg [fighting4truth2@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2001 11:37 PM
To: council@iowa-city.org
Subject: Alcohol ordinances
Tuesday, February 20, 2001
Iow~ City Council
410 E Washington Street
iowa City, EA 52240
Dear Iowa City Council members:
I would like to address all of the research concerning
underage drinking & binge, not just the statistics
which one special interest group backed by $830,000
provides as "facts."
First I would like to point out that the concern of
the University o~ iowa and the Iowa City Council is
not underage drinking. If the concern was truly
underage drinking then the University of Iowa would
not allow fraternities to have alcohol in individual
rooms (a recent transgression because during the
previous academic year all fraternities were dry). If
the true concern is underage drinking, then Iowa City
needs to install aggressive alcohol education starting
with its elementary school children. According to the
Centers for Disease Control "approximately 8% of 4th &
5th graders admit to already having a full beer. By
9th grade, 70% have had at least 1 drink and 20% have
binged at least once. By 12th grade, 80% have had at
least 1 drink, 60% in the last month, and 40% have had
a hinge." (And they were not served the beer/drinks
in bars). As a side note, I want the City Council to
be aware of the Stepping Up Con~mittee's Chair and her
tendency to distort the facts for the advantage of her
salary and organization. Below is a letter, from me,
to the Daily iowan in response to Julie Phye's
accusation that I am distorting the facts.
I want to reply to Julie Phye's letter to the editor
wr,tten on August 24, 2000. She stated that "none of
our statistics even remotely support this (that 40% of
UI students NEVER DRINK) assertion." I would like to
draw everyone~s attention to
http://www.uiowa.edu/~stepping/howyouhelp.htm
Where according to the information provided on The
Stepping Up Projects page How You Can help subheading
Here's What Students Can Do: (bullet point 4)
"Respect those who choose not to drink. There are a
loe of non drinkers out there. A survey by UI
students Sound that 40 percent of students never
drink. So it is an option!"
I do not make up my statistics or pass along knowingly
false information. I do my own research. So ~ am
somewhat offended that Julie Phye implied I made up
the statistics I used in my letter and in my
information that I provided to the Iowa City Council.
Hy salary does not depend on an $830,000 grant to stop
d~inking on college campuses. I am solely interested
in the whole story being available to the public so
that all people, on an individual basis, can make an
informed decision.
Secondly, regarding the increase in underage drinking
arrests and citations, it is due to an increased
number of police officers, (according to Iowa City
Police Sergeant Jim Steffen). If you speak to anyone
who artended the University of Iowa prior to 1997 you
will be hard pressed to find someone who can tell you
that the police presence in the downtown area and
specifically in the downtown bars was as great as it
is today. The only logical conclusion, is the
increased focus and attention on 19 and 20 year olds
drinking would result in a corresponding increase in
the number of citation, arrests, and statistical
increases.
Thirdly, I want to know what statistics support
underage drinking has escalated in the past 15 years.
According to the National institute on Drug Abuse "the
percentage of college students who used alcohol in the
past 12 months is at the lowest point of any time
during the 17 years that data has been kept. Also
alcohol abstinence is at an all time high on college
campuses." Even the Stepping Up Project stated "a
survey of the University of Iowa students found that
40~ of students NEVER DRINK."
Fourthly, the assertions that almost all college
campus crimes are alcohol related and specifically
related to adults between the ages of 18 and 20 is not
supported by the facts. (I suggest reading
McNamara-Meis, Kathy. Burned. Forbes MediaCritic,
1995, 20-24).
I also suggest the following as other sources of
information on drinking on college campuses:
The Journal of American College Health, 1996, 45, pp.
34-140 and 1999, 47, pp.247-252 {available at no cost
by calling 1-800-676-1730)
A Social Norms Approach to Preventing Binge Drinking
at Colleges and Universities, by Michael P.
H~ines. (also available at no cost by calling
1-800-67~-1730)
Monitor, "Perceptions influence student drinking."
(American Psychological Association), p. 35.
Alcohol Eduoation: What We Must Do, by David Hanson
Institute for Social Research, University of
Michiqan, 1999 (www.isr.umich.edu/src/mtf)
The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other
Drug Prevention, 1997, pp.177-206.
Alcohol and Other Drugs Education Project
(www.hws.edu/~alcohol)
Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 1998, pp. 123-124.
Journal of the American Medical Association, 1998,
273(24), pp.1903-1904.
PRIDE Survey, September 8, 1999 (press release).
The 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse,
Substahoe Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, 1999, Table 14. (www.samhsa.gov)
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, by
Carol Prescott & Kenneth Kendler, 1999, 23(1),pp.
101-107.
This next section is to address the recent city
council meetings. It merely contains my concerns
about the focus and targeting of downtown bars rather
than focusing on underage and binge drinking and real
solutions to these problems. It is my hope that the
following questions and concerns will generate a true
investigation and discussion amongst the Iowa City
Council members concerning ALL underage and binge
drinking.
<slim> Why is the focus solely on the downtown bars?
What about other alcohol sales outlets like Hy-Vee,
Kum N-GO, QT, John's Grocery, etc.? Are those stores
also going to be the target of sting operations? If
one of those merchants sells to someone underage, will
they be subject to the same penalties as the downtown
bars revoke their liquor license?
<sum> If other outlets are not targeted why not?
Where do you think the high school kids are purchasing
their alcohol? I don't think it's at the downtown
bars, but I do think it is at the local convenience
and grocery stores.
<sum> Why has no one done a study to document the
number of people, both underage and those over 21
years old, who drink at home or at parties prior to
going out to bars?
<sum> Under the proposed ordinance it is ok for an
underage person to drink at home with the supervision
of his/her parents/guardians, but what happens if that
individual leaves his/her home intoxicated? For
example, what if he/she is in a bar to
socialize/dance, etc. and is not drinking but the
police come in and card him/her and then ask him/her
to take a Breathalyzer .... Currently the police issue a
possession under the legal age ticket even though
~he individual is not in possession. How is this
legal? How is this situation interpreted by the Iowa
City Council when reviewing liquor licenses? Will the
Iowa City Council members take into account the source
of alcohol which was sold by retail outlets or just
condemn the downtown bar for allowing a 20 year old
into his/her establishment?
<sum> The City Council stated they are concerned with
the negative affects of drinking on the community in
the form of increased vandalism, violence, /Could a
fight be just a fight? I know when I was growing up
there were several fights starting as early as
elementary school and continuing throughout my high
school years between completely sober, yet angry,
adolescents). Why should a business owner /a
restaurant or bar owner) be held responsible for the
actions of a few "bad apples" who vomit on the
sidewalks, etc. Why are the police not cracking down
on the "trouble makers"? What happened to personal
accountability? When did it become the "norm" for
people to pass the blame? Some of the people who spoke
at the Council meeting stated if someone wants to
drink he/she will drink, and that a problem drinker or
~lcoholic will only stop drinking when he/she
personally decides to stop drinking. So why is the
City Council not issuing new stronger, tougher, more
expensive ordinances to combat the problems of
vandalism, violence, vomiting on sidewalks, public
urination, etc? Doesn't common sense dictate that if
a person is faced with a $500 fine, 500 hours of
co~ei~unity service, and/or a jail sentence; he/she
would be less likely to engage in the illegal
activity? PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY - you do the crime,
you do the time. Do the Iowa City Council members
3
honestly believe that by shutting down a few downtown
bars the result will be 19 and 20 year olds will no
longer drink? I know if I was a19 or 20 year old and
faced a huge fine accompanied by contmunity service
and/or jail time I would be more tempted not to break
the law than if I thought some bar owner was going to
have his livelihood taken away because of my actions.
<sum> Is Hy-Vee, Kum and Go, etc held responsible for
selling a case of beer to an individual who then
decides to consume the entire case by himself, get
into his car with the result being the death and/or
injury of innocent people in another vehicle? NO -
the individual is held personally responsible and
accountable. SO WHY IS ONE TYPE OF LIQUOR
ESTABLISHMENT (RETAIL OUTLETS) FAVORED BY THE LAW
while other liquor establishments (restaurants and
bars) are punished?
<sum> Why is it the policy of the City Council to NOT
provide grants, funding, tax breaks, etc. to
organizations/businesses who are willing to provide
aloohol and DRUG FREE events? There are several cities
that show movies on d 6pm, 8pm, 10pm and midnight
schedule, so why doesn't Iowa City? Has any council
member tried to encourage the local movie theaters to
change their show times - at least on weekends? Did
the City Council ever consider using the Englert as a
late night movie house, social gathering place for
providing, alcohol, tobacco and drug free environment?
WHY NOT?
<sum> If people say non-alcohol clubs don't work,
they are wrong. There are two teen clubs (run by a
non-profit organization) that are thriving in the Des
Moines area; one is located in the Southridge Shopping
mall and the other is located in the Valley West
Shopping Mall. They provide a bar/club like
atmosphere without the smoke, alcohol, or drugs.
Initially the club had a slow time attracting teens,
however, with time they have boomed and therefore
expanded and are still expanding. So why not put one
in the Old Capitol Mall? (Why not help the mall fill
some of the vacancies and encourage non liquor license
establishments, especially since the Stepping Up
Con~ittee members complain that there are too many
bars downtown and they believe it is the bars driving
out the other business - even though in reality it the
Coral Ridge Mall and the pro-business attitude of the
Cordlville City Council & City Manager)?
If you have questions concerning this letter, please
reel free to contact me at the addresses and telephone
numbers provided below.
Sincerely,
Kate Newberg (a 30 year old who has lived in Iowa City
and Coralville since 1990)
Coralville, IA 52241
fighting4truth2@yahoo.com
(319] 621-1020
P.S. I am mailing a hard copy of this email to the
Iowa City Council.
4
The Stepping Up Project - How You Can Help Page 1 of 3
A Community and Campus Coalition to Reduce the Harmful Effects of Binge Drinking
Surve~/s & Stars UI A[cohor, POlicy R~sources ReLated Links NewsLetter Talk Back to Us
.o.,e What can you do to help
The Pr0jQct
ThQ Problem Here's what students can do:
Solutions · If you are underage, don't drink.
Look for ways to have fun and
How You Can Help socialize with friends that don't
i~ students involve alcohol. If you have ideas
for events that match that
I~ p~renfis description, call us at (319) 353-
t~ mti, iter, 2529 about how we can help
How We Can Hetp publicize and support your event.
· Drink responsibly. You can enjoy
Calendar of Events beer and wine with friends without
getting ripped.
· If you go out drinking with friends,
appoint a designated driver.
Designated drivers save lives and
cut down on court costs.
· Respect those who choose not to
drink. There are a lot of non-
drinkers out there. A survey by UI
students found that 40 percent of
students never drink. So it is an
option!
· Stand up to the bingets who can't
handle their alcohol. Tell them that
what they do to themselves may
be their own business, but they
don't have the right to cause
problems for the rest of us.
Return to top of page
Here's what parents can do:
· Be good role models. Drink
responsibly in your homes and
outside of your homes.
· Talk to your children about the
http ://ww~v. uiowa.eduV-stepping/howyouhelp.htm 2/2 1/0 1
The Stepping Up Project - How You Can Help Page 2 of 3
problems associated with alcohol
abuse. Think carefully about
allowing your underage children to
drink even in your home. While
some people believe it is important
to teach children how to drink,
there is no good model for such
"training."
· Don't serve alcoholic beverages to
other people's children, even in
your own home. You could be
liable for injuries and deaths that
result.
· Support efforts to provide alcohol-
free events for teenagers and
young adults. Volunteer your time
or offer your financial support.
· Tell your city council that you
support efforts to enforce
underage drinking laws. Studies
show that enforcement of exisiting
laws helps reduce death and injury
among teens and young adults.
· Ask your representatives in the
U.S. Congress and the Iowa
Legislature to support two acts that
have proven to reduce death and
injuries due to alcohol abuse: l-an
increase in the excise tax on beer
and wine; and 2-a reduction of the
blood alcohol content necessary to
be presumed guilty of driving while
drunk from .10 percent to .08
percent.
Return to top of page
Here's what tavern owners and
retailers who sell alcoholic beverages
can do:
· Train your employees not to serve
or sell alcoholic beverages to
underage persons.
· Make sure your employees know
about Iowa penalties for serving
underage drinkers. Both the
employee and your business can
be assessed significant fines for
doing so.
http://www.uiowa.edu/-stepping/howyouhelp.htm 2/21/01
The Stepping Up Project - How You Can Help Page 3 of 3
· Stop offering drink specials that
encourage people to drink large
quantities of alcohol in a short
period of time, such as 2 for 1
drink specials, happy hours, and
low-priced pitchers.
Return to topof page
CONTACT INFORMATION:
E-maih steppin u~owa,edu
Address: S-20 Curder Hall, The University of Iowa, Iowa
City, IA 52242
Phone: 319-353-2529, Fax: 319-353-2527
Home I The Project I The Problem I Solutions I How You Can Help I How
We Can Help I Calendar
Surveys and Stats I U! Alcohol Policy I Resources I Related Links
Newsletter I Talk Back to Us
http ://www.uiowa.edu/-stepping/howyouhelp.htm 2/2 1/0 1
The Stepping Up Project - How You Can Help Page 1 of 3
,~~G UI~ ~ ~
A Community and Campus Coalition to Reduce the Harmful Effects of Binge Drinking
Surveys 8, Stars Ul A~ohoi Policy Resources Rehted L{nks Newstotter Talk Btick to Us
.ome What can you do to help
The Project US.'?
The Problem Hero's what students can do:
solutions · If you are underage, don't drink.
Look for ways to have fun and
How You Can Harp socialize with friends that don't
I,~ ~tu,:le~t.s involve alcohol. If you have ideas
for events that match that
~- p~e,t~ description, call us at (319) 353-
~-~ t~,ite~ 2529 about how we can help
How We Can Help publicize and support your event.
· Drink responsibly. You can enjoy
Calendar of Events beer and wine with friends without
getting ripped.
· If you go out drinking with friends,
appoint a designated driver.
Designated drivers save lives and
cut down on court costs.
· Respect those who choose not to
drink. There are a lot of non-
drinkers out there. A survey by UI
students found that 40 percent of
students never drink. So it is an
option!
· Stand up to the bingers who can't
handle their alcohol. Tell them that
what they do to themselves may
be their own business, but they
don't have the right to cause
problems for the rest of us.
Return to top of page
Here's what parents can do:
· Be good role models. Drink
responsibly in your homes and
outside of your homes.
· Talk to your children about the
http ://www.uiowa.edu/-stepping/howyouhelp .htm 2/2 1/0 1
The Stepping Up Project - How You Can Help Page 2 of 3
problems associated with alcohol
abuse. Think carefully about
allowing your underage children to
drink even in your home. While
some people believe it is important
to teach children how to drink,
there is no good model for such
"training."
· Don't serve alcoholic beverages to
other people's children, even in
your own home. You could be
liable for injuries and deaths that
result.
· Support efforts to provide alcohol-
free events for teenagers and
young adults. Volunteer your time
or offer your financial support.
· Tell your city council that you
support efforts to enforce
underage drinking laws. Studies
show that enforcement of exisiting
laws helps reduce death and injury
among teens and young adults.
· Ask your representatives in the
U.S. Congress and the Iowa
Legislature to support two acts that
have proven to reduce death and
injuries due to alcohol abuse: 1-an
increase in the excise tax on beer
and wine; and 2-a reduction of the
blood alcohol content necessary to
be presumed guilty of driving while
drunk from. 10 percent to .08
percent.
Return to top of page
Here's what tavern owners and
retailers who sell alcoholic beverages
can do:
· Train your employees not to serve
or sell alcoholic beverages to
underage persons.
· Make sure your employees know
about Iowa penalties for serving
underage drinkers. Both the
employee and your business can
be assessed significant fines for
doing so.
http://www. uiowa. edu/-stepping/howyouhelp. htm 2/2 1/0 1
The Stepping Up Project - How You Can Help Page 3 of 3
· Stop offering drink specials that
encourage people to drink large
quantities of alcohol in a short
period of time, such as 2 for 1
drink specials, happy hours, and
low-priced pitchers.
Return to top of page
CONTACT INFORMATION:
E-mail: steppingup@uiowa.edu
Address: S-20 Currier Hall, The University of Iowa, Iowa
City, IA 52242
Phone: 319-353-2529, Fax: 319-353-2527
Home I The Project I The Problem J Solutions ~ How You Can Help 1 How
We Can Help ( Calendar
Surveys and Stats J UI Alcohol Policy J Resources ~ Related Links
Newsletter J Talk Back to Us
http ://www.uiowa.edu/-stepping/howyouhelp .htm 2/2 1/0 1
THE UNWERSITY OF IOWA
MEMORANDUM
Date: February 19, 2001
To: UI President Mary Sue Coleman ,
UI Vice President for Student Services Phillip Jones ,-;- ,',
David Grady, Director, University Life Center
Ernie Lehman, Mayor and Iowa City City Council Members4'~'
Sheila Boyd, Interim President, Iowa City Chamber of Commerce
Julie Phye, The Stepping Up Project
From: Jane Hoshi, Executive Secretary, UI Parents Board
Re: Non-alcoholic social venues for UI students
As Executive Secretary of the UI Parents Association Board of Directors, I occasionally receive
correspondence from parents of UI students that concern our entire community and the issues we face
everyday.
The attached letter is from Palmer Klaas whose daughter attends The University of Iowa. After
responding to him by e-mail, he followed up with a phone call to further articulate the importance of
providing alcohol-free venues for our young adults. Mr. Klaas passionately believes in the goodness and
potential of our students to make the right choices when socializing, however, real choices need to be
available.
The Parents Board has recently voted to help fund on-campus programs that offer non-alcohol events for
students. They include: "Night Games" the late night "sport" activities at the UI Field House; '~Night
Hawks" Iowa Memorial Union activities that are popular with students. Residence halls are also offering
"Up All Night" activities planned by students for Friday or Saturday nights.
Many of these programs are new and in different stages of development. Many more are needed,
especially downtown. The Parents Board has a strong commitment to sponsoring non-alcoholic social
venues for students and would like to hear from other community partners who are working to offer an
improved environment. Please contact me if you would like to share your plans or current activities with
the UI Parents Association. Thank you.
IH[ UNIY[RSITY
Of IOWA
PARENTS
ASSOCIATION
University Communications and Outreach 100 OlcI Public Library Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1373 319/384-0000
FAX 319/384-0055
Financial Services Inc. c~,ig ,. ~,,
Steven L. Schou, CFP
(815) 877-8440 · F~ (815) 877-6807 c~i~ Fin~c~l P~anner
Ga~ D. Love
University of Iowa Parent Association Board of Directors
c/o Jane Hoshi, Executive Secretary
100 Old Library
Iowa City, iA 52242
Dear Jane,
I am a parent of a freshman, Joanna Klaas, who attends the University of Iowa.
Please note a copy of the article regarding a student who is asking for a drinking
alternative. As parents of a student, my wife and I think it's a wonderful idea to
have a non-alcoholic social center close to campus. Our daughter, as well as
many other students, would also like to see a place these young adults can meet
without having to contend with alcohol. Offering students an entertaining place
close to campus is the key. They simply really need more good alternatives
versus the bars.
This is an opportunity for Iowa City, the University of Iowa, and even the public
business sector to be involved in a very worthwhile endeavor. I believe many
students would support it if offered consistently. Iowa City and the University
would benefit, as many families very much consider a responsible social
atmosphere of a college in determining whether to enroll. A non-alcoholic
student center idea shows many students we believe in them as capable of
ha,ing fun without hinge drinking. A~so, the University of low3 could become a
shining example to countless other schools that face a similar challenge.
Thank you for evaluating this important area that can, in a positive way, affect the
future of the University. Wishing the "Parent Association Board of Directors"
wisdom in the many decisions that lie ahead.
Warm personal regards, !:i:i
Palmet Klaas, CFP
Certified Financial Planner
PK:mm enclosure - ! 2:
: , ,,
SECURJTIES BY LICENSED INDIVIDUALS OFFERED THROUGH FNVESTACORP, FNC.
A REGISTERED BROK2EPJDEALER · MEMBER: NASD, SIPC
Iowa City Press Cftizen - November 6, 2000 - p. 2A
roup asks::;arinking alternative
For tl~ Pre~-Citfzen /at2< of ~aas~rtal~on to/~wlin8 bar (that offered music. fc~xl and
alley~ and other entert3inment
nate~n~somme~UrUve~tyof suchas~haZa~Com//~d~eM~lzs &&We Z~ tO gO daTlC- sudaX~m~,lfee~theywouidhave
~a sel/o~ La SheHe C~ a problem for her and many o~er .c~Scu]~] cornix, fin~ w~h the
~er~ ~ed a reuben ~th ~den= ~TzCJ b~tt don't enjoy] mg ~ o~ ~ ~- or
basis. So if the alterr~ve ~s
rods when they returned to theTo solve the pmblern~ offer a phK'e downtown, ~here is
c~npu~ for me cffr/snms~s~-~t~k~_~. hatr/~J alcohol spoilZeal omens ~ tha~ ~ woul~ nr~er
[ semester. ~:'~e~T-c'onsistenr~II:~k~li¥~
k accor~g -bar4ike ac'avi~es dev~lq~l in the a~ O~er ~,~ 07~ the to see them u~,* he sakL
W'abum ~ugge~ea ~ar the
Chz~en~en, · downtown area ,,&~, me help of dancefioon. ~ R~n .k u~ ~on
kofavenuefor i btm~luI~/ex~Tmad c~7 lead-
S' mxaoo ~ ex- , [.3 Shelie Chri~ensen might be used as such a Iocauen
and encottr~ed UVAA and other
lark shadow on She ~s cre-a~,nS a ~k~ of o'v,~ UVAAfounder
groups to be cruxire wi~ facilities
r exdtement suppo~te~m whose name ~
~ prompted ~he pan of an ~ pn~en~,~on that alP~dy exk~t
WMIe ~ating ~ t~e develop-
· Y~ar-old nsy~ Christchin to ~uppo~ their cause, which pro- made to combat alcohol-re!a~ed merit of ~e proposed alcohol
:{ogy and pro- motes a change of a~--~on w/thin problem, Ck~tensen ~aj.d the naive ~ would be the. it
d m~or to start United Voic~ me eoramurdty ~ ctut~ b~nge eommurdty needed to [os~er devil- goal, ~n said UVA,-~
'Alcohol:Mt~,mli~""~" drinking. oPmcot and rkscnlly support an off. rnnzy goal wa~ to obtain vLsibility.
'Trayself, ~'a'~jIot of my 'rmnotwordednl~uts~ping c~rnp~saltera~ve. Sheencouragespe~pIeofallag~,
~ are ~ big barroom,' ~jd people who are aireatS' her~, but I Io~a City Council member communi~es and interests to sign
~whoe~ljo~theactivi~ wauttopreventthc~eint.herutm.~ ~ WHburn ~ chat a need uPas r--NAAsup~ertem and attend
s but not the.en~'hom~ent from binge- drmldn:g,' saj. d foralten*kltivesexis~tandsajdhe Saturday mon~ng's present,Iion
~ i1~ loc~ ~ Clu'L~te.,~e~ who ~ ~ her wa3 wilIiag to look 3I prop~al.s near the Old Capitol where a ban-
'We like to go dancing but don't efforts are not 3iroe~ a~ stoppL~g that ericeta-aged ther~ nor of suppo~'dng name~ will be
.oy having alcohol spilled all ck, mki~ but m; pr~mom~g inspen- Wabtwa ~id he would be h~si-
~ us on th~ dance floor,* she sible drm~ng. 'And the only way rant, however, msuppott city fuad. "We ~ t~ show the commu-
~-'-~md(although)wehavellot to do thar," she a~tded, gstooffexa ~gtobuildorputd'msesgacefora nity that there are people who
other wonderlid oppomm~es. co~t a/t~ ' juice bar-~,jl~ ~
· want to see thgs happen, andt/~jsis
Iowa City, none of them ~s dc~e While acknowledging recent 'rf someone were ~ n7 to put- an oppornmity to bring ~ese
camptu%' she added, dt~,g the conununk3, efforn~ and proposals ' chase space and mrn[e h~m ajuice ple togTaxer,'she sald.
I03-05-01
Marjan Karr 4g(13)
From: Bock, Jeanne [JBock@mail.public-health.uiowa.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2001 1:40 PM
To: 'council@iowa-city.org'
Subject: input on tonights meeting RE: alcohol
Dear City Council Members:
I have lived in the Iowa City area since 1974, and in Iowa City since 1989.
I would like to register my input on tonight's agenda to discuss the Iowa
City stand on Alcohol.
I strongly support the idea of imposing penalties for bar owners who serve
alcohol to under age patrons.
I also support action taken to curb "drink specials" in iowa City bars.
I support a ban on allowing those under the age of 21 from entering a bar,
but I think that issue is not part of tonight's discussion.
Iowa City bar owners are driven by profits.
There is a great deal of money to be made by continuing to prey on our young
adults.
I am in an age group where I have witnessed children of friends and
acquaintances and finally my own son, fall victim to the slipshod rules, or
shall I say, non-existent rules relating to alcohol here in Iowa City.
For the past 12 months I have been gathering example stories and have
religiously read the daily "drunk driving report"
A large percent of those charged are between 19 and 20 years of age.
And arrested within the short window of time before and after the bar
closing hour.
Generally right down town as opposed to bars on the periphery of the city.
It is painfully obvious to me what is happening here.
19 & 20 year olds at in bar in significant numbers.
They are often not even being carded.
They are served to excess.
Bar owners are making money.
The city is making money of the fines paid when these kids are arrested.
The police are eut in force before and after the bar closing to pick up even
those people walking.
I believe in arresting someone for public intoxication, but many of these
arrests are unprovoked.
This leads me to believe that Iowa City is in Zact preying on our young
adults.
We must act to stop this ridiculous situation. It is similar to the phrase
"shooting fish in a barrel".
No rule or law will eliminate all the problems, but that should not hamper
our efforts to try to do something.
PLEASE CITY COUNCIL, DO THE RIGHT THING FOR OUR TOWN AND FOR OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE.
H. Jeanne Bock, RN, CIC
Clinical Services Coordinator
Institute for Quality Healthcare
5229 Westlawn
Iowa City, IA 52242
Hary-bock@uiowa.edu
Iowa Coordinator
Hidwest AIDS Training & Education Center
1
319-335-8013 phone
319-335-8814 fax
03,05,01
Steve Atkins 4g(14)
From: VandenBerg@iowa-city.k12.ia.us
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2001 5:25 PM
To: ernie_lehman@iowa-city.org; mike_odonnell@iowa-city.org; connie champion@iowa-
city.org; ipfab@avalon.net; dee_vanderhoef@iowa-city.org; ross wiTburn@iowa-city.org
Cc: steve_atkins@iowa-city.org; ju~ie-phye@uiowa.edu; PluggeL@ioTNa-city.k12.ia.us
Subject: Youth Survey Data
Dear Council Members,
I'm sorry that I can not attend the council meeting this evening to discuss the
issue of alcohol. Since I can't be there personally, I would like to encourage
you all to think about access to alcohol not only for the 19 and 20 year olds
of our community, but also junior and senior high students.
I would like to share a couple of statistics with you from the Iowa Youth Survey
which was conducted with 1,760 students in the 6th, 8th and llth grades in the
fall of 1999.
In terms of prevalence...
for llth grade:
67% reported having ever used alcohol; 41% report currently using alcohol
for the 8th grade:
29% reported having ever used alcohol; 14% report currently using alcohol
for the 6th grade:
14% reported having ever used alchol; 4% report currently using alchol
In terms of access...
Students were asked the following question:
"In your neighborhood or comanunity, how difficult do you think it would be for a
kid your age to get alcholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor)?
79% of llth graders responded that it would be easy or very easy! 39% of 8th
g~aders and 16% of 6th graders responded that it would be easy or very easy!
Please keep the younger members of community in mind as you discuss this
important topic. The issue of alcohol isn't just about college students.
Please contact me if you would like a copy of the Iowa Youth Survey. We also
are planning a workshop to analyze the data on April 18 from 4:00 - 7:00.
Thank you for your consideration!
Joan Vanden Berg
Youth and Family Development Coordinator
Iowa City Community School District
/' 03-05-01
4g(15
City of Iowa City Council Members, ~
We are ~nding this letter in regard to the closecl ally located behind our
property at 62g S Lucas St. in Iowa City. We would like to purcha~ this land and
are offering the city $1700.00 for it. Enclosed are copies of the assessments for this
ground. We can be reached at 354-8322 or 330-2696.
Thank-You,
1104 Penkridge Dr
Iowa City, Iowa 52246
L o 4-' i ~ c~ y I yb; c ,.,, .~^
IOWA CITY IA 52244-2420(3~s 356
L - t 7 o, 7 .,":= IIIIIIIIHIIIfii~IIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIII
"2- ~ /TAX DUE:;:UU. VEA.
,~....,(2~ "" $3,660.00 $'1,830.00
fOOb 7 ~;/D Make checks payable to Johnson County Treasurer.
LISA L SWEETING
1104 PENKRIDGE DR
IOWA CITY IA 522q6-4932
E] Check here if your mailing address has Changed
rtgage ccx-npany pays your taxes, this statement is for your I~f~ymm mortgage company pays your taxes, this statement is
This Is your 200012001 Johnson County Property Tax Statement.
Taxes for the period 7/1/99 through 6/30/00 payable September 2000 and March 2001 based on January I, f999 valuation. !~.~
Loan Cuspsay: 01 ::~' ASSESStO VALUES
2420, Iowa City IA 52244 Taxing District: 0050 Land 20,790
:3t9) 356-6087 A Building 169,020
msNp: ~OWA C~TY k TOTAL 2el,seo
~ SINEETING, USA L !~: ROtI.BACK FACTOR
Ti! TAXAm,E VALuSS
0 Other 0 0
~:N GROSS TAXABLE VALUE 110,b'TZ 107203
LESS CREDITS TO VALUE
.:RTY INFORMATION: parcel: 10151100O9 j:~ Millsty 0 0
m:618-20 S LUCAS ST ICWVA CITY 52240 :!!::~!:.;7 NET TAXABLE VALUE 1t0,677 107J03
i~:E !' Total COmbined LEVY RATE 33.104570 32.112840
iX Family Farm 0 0.00 0.CO
!:~ LESS OTHER DEDUCTIONS
{UCI1ONS · IMPORTANT INFORMATION: it is the !~:. Low Is/Briefly 0.00 0.00
~nts COvering ell proRaffles you wish to pay, Indudlng ~iE.~ 92-Water 0.00 0.00
tl assessments Or any other tax assessed against you. iZE~ 93-sewer 0.00 o.oo
nearest dollar, A $4 publication cost is added If not paid by ~ES:' 9541ent0yalAMisc 0.00 0.(30
(code 446.9). !E~:E:TOTAL AIINUAL TAXES &FEES 3,680.00 3,442.00
AL MIESSMEIIll I TAX SN.E$ I DELINQUENT Tls_~'~s__: ~ Johnson County received S96.78 In State Mental Health Tax Relief for
~tdis -NO Tax Sales - NO Ddiftquent - NO the period July 2000 through June 2001 on this property.
Yo,, '"" "'"'
% OfTIx J Curmet Year I Pmevtoul Year CaTsat Year I % C~enge
L-IOWA CITY 035 1,308,50 1,253,88 30,881,232,00 29r512,583,00 005
IOWA CITY IA 52244-24.20 (31s)
Pillhint Me~ C~k, Cash, ~lsa,
Receipt ~:
TAX DUE: ~LL Y~ DUE
$1,362.~
RONALD J SWEETIN6
l/0~ PENKRIDBE DR
I0~A C~TY IA 522~6-~932
[] Check here if your mailing address has changed
This is your 2000/2~1 Johnson ~un~ Pmpe~ Tax Statement.
Taxes f~ t~ ~ 7/1/99 thr~h 6/~/~ paya~e Sept~r ~ and Mar~ 2001 bas~ on Janua~ 1, 1999 valuation.
1~ L. Kriz Pa~: 101511~0 ~ ~ y~ ~ y~
~n Cou~ Treasurer ~H: ~
~ ~,7~
~ 0 0
_A O~ O~789
~: Tl~ V~U~
~' ' { 2g.7~ 28~71
: ~S ~ TO V~
~E~E~:; Te~ ~.~ ~ ~TE ~.1~0 ~.~1~
~l ~li~: STROHMS ADD LOT 3 BLK I :~ NM ~ble Value" ~ Rate
· ~SS CREOITS TO T~ES
': Ag ~nd 0 0.~ 0.~
E-X. Family FI~ 0 0.~ 0.~
~~SS OTHER DEDUCTIONS
PLUS UNPND CITY
· ar~ ~lar. A ~ ~i~ ~t is i Ir ~ ~d by ~:~:' ~R~allMi~ 0.~ 0.~
~ IDl~ I TG B I ~NQU~ T~: } Jo~n hu~ ~Ned $36.01 In Sme Meal He~ T~ Relkf for
~1~ -NO T~ Sal, - NO N~ - NO ~ H~ Ju~ 2000 ~Nugh Ju~ ~t on ~is pro~.
SS~R ~1 12.25 16.16 5~.~ ~,419,~ ~4
~ 017 ~7 .~ 2~2 ~1
)L-I~A CI~ ~ ~6.81 470.~ ~.~1~2.~ ~12~.~
~HIP- ~ 0.~ 0.~ 0.~ 0.~
rENSI~ ~ 2.~ 2~ ~7~.~ 2~.W
Page 1 of 1
Marian Karr
From: WebDawg86@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, Februa~ 22,200'12:49 PM
To: council@iowa-city.org
Subject: Iowa Ave.
Mayor Ernie,
Did you smell too much leather when you ran that store. That whole Iowa Ave
is such a joke or is this another way of saying that Coleman needs a better
view.
Taking out 50 parking spaces and expecting people to walk. What group of
rocket scientist thought that one up.
Ernie, I never thought you were too bright, but this takes the cake.
Jack O'Brien
2/22/01
03-05-0t
Marian Karr ~
From: GIoDawnS@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, February 25. 2001 4:43 PM
To: council@iowa-city.org
Subject: Parking while in the iowa City Library
Dear Members of the Council:
It has come to my attention that after the expansion of the Iowa City
Public Library has occurred, the current parking lot will no longer be
available to the public for use. Where do you think the general public will
park? I have been coming to the Iowa City Library for about 16 years (3
children, ages 18,16 and 12} bringing our children to storytimes, special
events and simply visiting the library every Saturday throughout the year. I
do use a H~ndicapped Parking Spot and I do not see the parking ramp as a
viable option. It will be very icy and precarious at best in inclement
weather to walk from there to the library. The ONLY REASON and I do mean
ONLY REASON we come downtown is to go to the library. If we are going to
renovate and improve the existing library and provide no parking for the
public, what are we gaining? No one will come because there will be nowhere
to park. I appreciate what we have at least now, but really don't know what
we will do or where we will go if we won't be able to park. I don't care for
the Coralvilla Library because the Iowa City Library is somewhat closer for
us to visit. I hope you will seriously consider this request, because it
will ultimately affect many other people than myself.
Thank you
Gloria Schulte
Page 1 of 1
J03-05-01
Madan Karr 4g(1
From: John Mortier [kinglear@home.com]
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2001 1:25 AM
To: council@iowa-city.org
Subject: Deer Hunt
I hear you deer hunt was a blood bath with more than 300 hundred deer killed. You could have closed the
Highways down and chased the deer out with some type of noise. Or you could have had a good vet see how
long it would take a buck or doe to be out and the found a place out that would take less that time to ge there.
Because I know if the deer would wake up it could kick itself to death. But, the barbaric way you handled the
problem show that you are a redneck over grown farm town with idiots governing it. We have brought things in
you town and gone to musicals there and half of our furniture are from the Amana as well as clocks. But, no
more I wouldn't even step in your town let a lone spend a dime. What comes around goes around and you will
pay for this in some way or other. I just bet you all go to church and since the Bible says to love all God
creatures this makes you on top of everything else a big hyprocite. Seeing as I don't eat anything that has eyes
or eggs you can not call me a hyprocite. If anyone tells me they go to University of Iowa I will look down on
them for going to school in such a redneck overgrown farm town who has idiots running the town. Sure you
can go after a defenseless animal but if another man challenge you to a fight be runnning home to roomroy
crying. Since a fight is what a man fears most, but easy for them kill and innocent animal. I have absolutely no
respect for the leaders of that town. Never go there again and no more will you get our money
2/26/01
From: betterways@webtv.net
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2001 8:52 AM
To: council@iowa-city.org
Cc: redwriter@webtv. net
Subject: Senior Center Change-- Council of Elders
To ALL of the Council:
I just read, in the Senior Center Post, some troubling news of a serious
change being advocated by the management at the Senior Center, under the
cover of a committee called the "Governance Conunittee".
I would respectfully ask that you review what I have told the members of
the existing Council of Elders in the message below. I am very angry
about this proposed change. I hope you will not allow the independent
Council of Eiders to be abolished.
Charlotte Walker
Looking for Better Ways
Iowa City
Here is what I wrote to the Council of Elders:
From: betterways@webtv.net (Better Ways) Date: Thu, Mar 1, 2001,
8:25am
To: GoCart54@aol.com, WELSHBOB@aOl. COm, jallaire@soli.inav.net,
emmy1769@prodigy.net, cellars@willinet.net
Cc: Linda-Kopping@iowa-city.org, cthompso@co.johnson.ia.us,
redwriter@webtv.net, comconcas@webtv.net Subject: CoE ..... Just as I told
you .....
Greetings CoE: I just read the Post. I warned you all that this was
coming and it has turned out that I was right. You were angry at me when
I made the accusations at the December Commission meeting. No one
supported me and you cringed in silence when I was critical of the
Center management or the Commission.
I felt sure that this "Governance Committee", which included one of your
own members who kept silent about it, that they were planning to do away
with the Council of Elders. That is indeed what they are doing by having
the Commission select the members of the little committees with specific
assignments. What a deal!! If you can accept that deal, the CoE deserves
to end.
All you have to do is look at the Commission and see the newest
appointments by the City Council to see the kind of people who will be
chosen for the little nice committees who will not rock any of the lead
laden boats at the Senior Center. Ask yourselves why Nancy did not
reveal to the rest of the members what she was hearing in those
meetings. Ask why the minister Charity Rowley and Nancy denied that it
was the intention of the Governance committee to do away with the
Council of Elders as it is now.
Fear is a gruesome thing. Perhaps we all get more fearful as we age. I
too am not as fearless as I once was. It is sad to see how elderly
people are looked upon as children. But for those who have any spirit
left, I think there should be a great resistance to ending the only
independent senior group that attempts to give their ideas about the
operation at the Senior Center.
1
You can all be glad that I was not at your last meeting when the black
ball was dropped. Maybe Nancy alerted you ahead of time but I have my
doubts. If you are too fearful to resist, the Council of Elders has
already died.
Charlotte Walker
former member CoE
Looking for Better Ways
http://members.tripod.com/~Better_Ways/index.html
2
City of Iowa City
MEMORANDUM
DATE: March l, 2001
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Marjan K. Karr, City Clerk
RE: Addition to Consent Calendar
The attached information was mailed to Council Member Pfab's home, and he requested
the item be accepted at the next Council meeting. As the agenda packet had already been
scanned, this information is being provided hard copy and should be accepted as part of
the Consent Calendar [Item #4g(20)]
Packet, doc
Febraa~27.2001
/rvm l~fab
505 E. Jefferson St.
Iowa City. Iowa 52245
Dear ,'~r. F'fab,
This letter is tO address the problem of snow removal on Wright St.
The city has been plowing the street,although not very throughly, since my request to do so several years
ago At that time, I was told it was considered an alley not a street, ~o not much attention is paid to
If the city did want to maintain the street, as they do others, they would have a difficult time doing so.
This is because of the large nnmber of cars always parked On the street for long periods of time Mo~t of
these cars belong to students living in the large apartment buildings around us that have not provided
parking for their tenants. They park wherever they can, including my lot. Because of this, the snow is never
removed from the sides of the street and never throughly removed from the middle. This results in a snow and ice
sm~atiou that can be very dangerous.
I hav~ no real suggestions, other than no parking signs between certain hours..This is very likely to cause
more problems for us because they will be parking m my lot.
I feel that the city neeAs to pay a bit more attention to this area, not only with snow removal, but in the area~
of storm drain maintance and water supply. We have had water up to our front step because the draius were
This problem has gotten a hit better since i called, and there is one city worker who trys to r~member
The water problem has t~een an ongomg hassel between the water dept. and me. We have always had low
water pressure here, but ever since the large apt. building went up behind us, wa have periods of up to one
hour several times a week that we have absolutely none. This makes ronnmg a busiuess very difficult. This
happens in my building and the one across the alley. The water dept tells me this is my problem, even though
f've had my lines checlced and they are clear.
Whatever you can do about any of this would be gr~tly appreciated.
Beverly Klein
Mike' s Tap
22
TENTATIVE AGREEMENT
Iowa City Association of Professional Firefighters
IAFF, AFL-CIO, Local #610
And
City of Iowa City
February 28, 200'1
The parties agree to the following changes in the Collective Bargaining Agreement:
1. Amend Article VII, Section 3, subparagraph e, as follows:
e. must use all accumulated vccct!cn leave time to which he/she is entitled prior to
the time that the leave without pay commences:
2. Amend Article VII by deleting Section 7, Votinf:l Time in its entirety.
3. Amend Article VIII, Section 4, by increasing the payment in lieu of overtime for working
on a holiday to $200.00 for the first year of the agreement and then to $250.00 for the
second year of the agreement.
4. Amend Article XII, Section I by deleting frown the list of uniform items the "2 uniform tee
shirts (annually)" and replacing them with "2 uniform Polo type shirts (annually)."
5. Amend Article XIII, Section 2, by updating the annual salary figures to reflect more
current actual salaries, as follows:
e.g., If an employee's annual salary is $!2,2'!,0 $40,240, the face value of the life
insurance policy is $13,300 $4'1,000.
6. Amend Article XXVI, as follows:
This contract shall be in effect between July 1, 2000200'1, and June 30, 20012003, and
shall continue from year to year thereafter unless written notice to change or modify it is
served by either prior to August 15 of the year preceding the expiration date of this
Contract or any extension thereof.
7. Amend Article XXVII, Section 1, second paragraph by deleting "June 24, 2000" and
adding July 3, 2004.
8. Amend Article XXVII, Section 1, third paragraph to reflect increases in base pay of
3.25% effective July 7, 2001 and 3.25% effective July 6, 2002.
9. Amend Article XXVIII, Section 4 to reflect an increase in the EMT-B certification payment
to $425.00 for the first year of the agreement, and then to $475.00 for the second year of
the agreement.
All other terms and conditions of the Collective Bargaining agreement remains unchanged.
IA!F L~al #6~"'0'/ ~' p'~" O/ /
ty
humanrel\unions~re\tentagmtdoc