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Home My WebLink About2001-03-20 Info Packet of 3/15 CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKET MARCH 19 WORK SESSION ITEMS IP1 Memorandum from Planning and Community Development Assistant Director: Selection of Preferred Design Alternative for the Reconstruction of Dodge Street between Governor Street and 1-80 IP2 Memorandum from Library Director to City Manager: Lenoch & Cilek Building/ Tenants/Mural IP3 Memorandum from City Attorney: Alcohol Ordinances MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS IP4 Memorandum from City Manager: Pending Development Issues IP5 Memorandum from City Manager: Airport Commission/Iowa City Flying Service IP6 Memorandum from Police Chief to City Manager: City Park Trails Reconstruction Grant Application IP7 Letter from Kenneth Haynie (Ahlers, Cooney, Dorweiler, Haynie, Smith & Allbee, PC): Municipal Bond Sales Over the Internet IP8 Memorandum from First Assistant City Attorney to City Manager: General Information regarding Anonymous Reports to Police IP9 Memorandum from Senior Building Inspector to City Manager: Condominium Conversion Fee IP10 Memorandum from City Clerk: March 5 Work Session IPll Memorandum from Planning and Community Development Director and First Assistant City Attorney: Request for Disposition of Vacated Alley Property Behind 628 S Lucas Street by Ron and Lisa Sweeting IP12 Letter from Thomas Bredeweg (Iowa League of Cities) to City Clerk: ICN Presentation regarding Fire and EMS Services IP13 Letter from Administrative Assistant to Anne Hesse (Project Green): Iowa Avenue Landscaping IP14 Letter from Public Works Director to Beverly Klein: Wright Street IP15 Agenda: March 23 - City Council Economic Development Committee IP16 Letter from L. Craig Nierman to Police Chief: Appreciation IP17 Minutes: January 18 PA'I'V Board of Directors IP18 Wastewater Treatment and Collection Facility Contract 3 - South Plant Improvements Report #5 [color version available in City Clerk's Office] IP19 Emails to JCNews from Carol DeProsse: Drugs (2) IP20 Eraall to JCNews from Carol DeProsse: Supervisor Neuzil Development Regulations Analysis submitted by Kirk Bishop on 3/19/01 (Power Point Presentation) MEMORANDUM Date: March 14, 2001 To: City Council From: Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Dept. of Planning and Community ~d4If Development Re: Selection of preferred design alternative for the reconstruction of Dodge Street between Governor Street and 1-80 You are aware that for the last several months we have been conducting an Environmental Assessment for the Dodge Street (Iowa Highway 1) reconstruction project that is scheduled for 2003. This project will fully reconstruct Dodge Street between Governor Street and 1-80, including the reconstruction and signalization of the Prairie du Chien Road intersection. The project will include an 8' sidewalk on the north side of the street and a 4' sidewalk on the south side of the street through the entire corridor. This $6.8 million project includes $5 million from the Iowa Department of Transportation, $888,000 of STP funds allocated by JCCOG, and approximately $700,000 in local funds. The Environmental Assessment has progressed to the point where a final design decision needs to be made. A total of four design alternatives have been evaluated: four-lane alternative, three-lane alternative, intersection spot improvements, and do nothing. The intersection spot improvements alternative is no longer being considered because the traffic analysis conducted as part of the Environmental Assessment showed that the "spot" improvements would actually necessitate the reconstruction of 70% of the corridor. The do nothing alternative is required to be evaluated by the Environmental Assessment process, but we believe that the analysis shows there are valid safety and traffic service reasons for reconstructing the corridor. The remaining alternatives under consideration are the four- lane and three-lane alternatives. The Iowa Department of Transportation has concurred with the worthiness of these two alternatives, and has deferred the final decision between the two to the City Council. An Iowa DOT representative will be present at your March 19 discusssion. You should be aware that the three-lane alternative consists of a three-lane cross-section between Governor Street and the Captain Irish Parkway intersection with Dodge Street, and a four-lane cross-section between Captain Irish and 1-80. The four-lane alternative consists of a four-lane cross-section through the entire corridor between Governor Street and 1-80. The most significant components of the reconstruction, namely the signalization of the Prairie du Chien Road intersection, the realignment of the Dubuque Road/Conklin Lane intersection, and the construction of sidewalks on both sides of the corridor will occur with either alternative. Staff believes the 3-lane alternative is a good compromise between traffic service considerations and neighborhood considerations in the portion of the corridor between Governor Street and Captain Irish Parkway. At the March 19 work session I will make a brief presentation and answer any questions about the Environmental Assessment process which has been conducted. Prior to the March 19 work session you may wish to review the transcript of public comments received March 14, 2001 Page 2 at the public hearing held January 30, as well as the subsequent written and verbal comments we received. This document is 95 pages in length, so I have not made each of * you a copy. There will be a copy on file in the City Clerk's office. I also have a copy, and you should let Marian or me know if you would like a copy made for you. Following your decision on the preferred design alternative, our Environmental Assessment consultant will finalize the document by preparing the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). It has been determined that the FONSI is the appropriate conclusion for either of the remaining design alternatives. Bring your questions and comments to the March 19 work session. cc: Stephen J. Atkins Karin Franklin Chuck Schmadeke Rick Fosse Marcia Klingaman Marian Karr Bob Lentz, Earth Tech Brenda Durbahn, Earth Tech Terry Vandewalle, Earth Tech Dick Kautz, Iowa DOT jccogtp/mern/dodgedoc * See copy of North Dodge Street Improvements/Public Hearing report attached. INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE PUBLIC HEARING HELD IN THE SHIMEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IOWA CITY, IOWA JANUARY 30, 2001 CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA NORTH DODGE STREET IMPROVEMENTS GOVERNOR STREET TO INTERSTATE 80 IOWA CITY, IOWA STPN-1-5(69)--2J-52 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Project Statement Advance Notifications for Public Hearing (Letters, Legal Notice, Newspaper Advertisement) Location Public Hearing Transcript Overhead Slides Used During the Presentation Sign-In Sheets Letters Received Following the Hearing INTRODUCTION On January 30, 2001, a Location Public Hearing was held at the Shimek Elementary School in Iowa City, Iowa, to discuss the improvements to North Dodge Street from Governor Street to Interstate 80 (I-80). The proposed project consists of improvements to North Dodge Street from Governor Street north to 1-80, for a total length of approximately 1.3 miles. All build alternatives will include the addition of a continuous sidewalk/bikeway, traffic signals and turning lanes at highly congested intersections as well as the realignment of the Dubuque Road and Conkiln Lane intersection. All attendees were provided handouts (the "Project Statement") and were given the opportunity to voice questions and opinions during a formal comment period. Following a brief presentation, staff members from the City of Iowa City and consultants (Earth Tech) were present to discuss the project with individual citizens. A tape recording station was also available for citizens to make oral comments. Citizens we~'e invited to submit written comments, and a comment form was provided. The public hearing was held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Attendance was approximately 80 people, in addition to City staff and consultants. PROJECT STATEMENT FOR THE NORTH DODGE STREET IMPROVEMENTS GOVERNOR STREET TO INTERSTATE 80 IOWA CITY, IOWA PRESENTED AT THE LOCATION PUBLIC HEARING HELD AT THE SHIMEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IOWA CITY, IOWA JANUARY 30, 2001 PROJECT NO. STPN-1-5(69)--2J-52 PROJECT STATEMENT LOCATION PUBLIC HEARING NORTH DODGE STREET IMPROVEMENTS GOVERNOR STREET TO INTERSTATE 80 IOWA CITY, IOWA HEARING LOCATION: SHIMEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1400 GRISSEL PLACE IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 JANUARY 30, 2001 Prepared By: Earth Tech, Under Contract For THE CITY OF IOWA CITY LOCATION PUBLIC HEARING Iowa City, Iowa Date of Hearing: January 30, 2001 INTRODUCTION The City of Iowa City is conducting this Location Public Hearing to present the results of the Environmental Assessment and to acquaint the citizens of Iowa City and surrounding areas with the proposed improvements to North Dodge Street from Governor Street to Interstate 80. This public hearing is intended to give the City an opportunity to explain the project, and allow the public to express their opinions regarding the proposed improvement. Consideration will be given to all suggestions received. This is your opportunity to express views either as an individual or a group representative. The City encourages oral and written statements pertinent to the project. Written statements or exhibits may be mailed to Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Community Development, 410 East Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240. Deadline for receipt of statements or exhibits for inclusion in the printed transcript is February 12, 2001; however, all correspondence received after this date will be included in the project file and reviewed as this project is developed. Information regarding the proposed project is available for public inspection. This hearing satisfies the public involvement process required by federal and state regulations and helps assure that social, economic and environmental effects are identified. For this reason, a tape recording station will be set up to receive oral comments at the hearing. Hearing transcripts are provided to City staff, elected officials and to the Federal Highway Administration for their review before the project is approved for development. A copy will be available at the Iowa City Department of Planning and Community Development for inspection. 36 35 HEARING FORMAT The purpose of this public hearing is to present factual information about the proposed project, to hear the views of the public and to incorporate this information into final improvements that will best serve the public. The following procedure will be used in the public hearing: 1. Individual discussion with City staff and consultants. Display maps will be available at the hearing to review specific questions about the project. 2. Brief presentation to be given at approximately 6:15 p.m. 3. Acceptance of oral and written statements from citizens at the hearing. Oral statements will be accepted at the tape recording station. Written statements may be submitted following the hearing. Those received by February 12, 2001, will become a part of the public hearing transcript. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed project consists of improvements to North Dodge Street from Governor Street north to Interstate 80, for a total length of approximately 1.3 mi (Figure 1 ). PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROJECT The primary purpose of the proposed improvements on North Dodge Street is to safely accommodate current and future pedestrian volumes and vehicular traffic volumes, I~rovide street system continuity between Interstate 80 and Iowa City, and to provide access to adjacent properties and neighborhoods in the vicinity of North Dodge Street. The need for this project is supported by: · The Need for System Continuity Within the Highway 1 Corridor. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is planning to upgrade Iowa Highway 1 to a "Super-2" facility between Washington, Iowa, and Mt. Vernon, Iowa, on both sides of the project corridor. A "Super~2" highway is described as a 2-lane roadway with high design standards, including frequent passing lanes, flatter grades, higher design speeds and added tuming lanes or interchanges when needed. A Super-2 highway can carry more traffic with a higher degree of safety as compared to a conventional 2-lane highway. State design standards require a multi-lane facility when Super-2 highways are extended through urban areas. · Increasing Traffic Volumes. Between 1986 and 1998, traffic volumes at the south end of the corridor increased from 10,400 vehicles per day to 13,500 vehicles per day, an increase of 30 percent. Traffic volumes at the north end of the project during the same timeframe increased from 7,180 to 10,800 vehicles per day, an increase of 50 percent. Traffic volumes in the northeast part of Iowa City are expected to increase in the future, resulting in higher traffic volumes on North Dodge Street and/or other available streets. Future increases of 1,500 to 2,600 vehicles per day are anticipated for this corridor. If no other street improvements are constructed, much of the future traffic increases will be carried by North Dodge Street itself. One project which will reduce traffic on North Dodge Street is the First Avenue Extension. When constructed, this project will divert approximately 3,000 vehicles per day off North Dodge Street for the segment south of Captain Irish Parkway. · Pedestrian and Vehicular Movement. The proposed project will allow for easier travel by pedestrians, including those with disabilities. Vehicular traffic, including bicyclists, buses, cars and trucks will benefit from easier movement through the project corridor. · The Narrow Width of North Dodge Street in Comparison to Its Connecting Roadways, The existing roadways connecting with North Dodge Street on both ends of the corridor currently provide 4 lanes of traffic. At the intersection of Captain Irish Parkway near the north end of the project, recent improvements on Dodge Street (Iowa 1 ) have increased the width of this roadway to 4 lanes, plus turning lanes. At the south end of the project, North Dodge Street splits into a pair of 1-way streets. with two traffic lanes each. · The Need for Improved Traffic Safety. During a 5-year analysis period from 1994 to 1998, a total of 86 accidents were reported in this segment of North Dodge Street. While none resulted in fatalities, many of these accidents are characteristic of those which occur at congested intersections, Improvements in the traffic capacity of North Dodge Street, especially the addition of turning lanes and traffic signals, is expected to improve traffic safety by providing refuge for fuming vehicles and reducing driver impatience. · Future Conditions. In its present condition, North Dodge Street is near its practical 2-lane capacity. The reconstruction of North Dodge Street will be expected to serve the community without substantial modification for 30 years. We are planning for the long-term future. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED Based on design criteria, coordination with state and federal resource agencies, as well as public comment, several alternatives for this project were developed. These alternatives include a No-Action Alternative, Spot Improvements Alternative, and 3- and 4-Lane Alternatives. A "Preferred Alternative" will be selected after completion of the Location Public Hearing and comments are received from resource agencies and the public. No Action Alternative: This alternative would be the continuation of the street system as it exists at the present time. No physical changes would be made in the pavement width, lane configuration, intersection layout or traffic patterns. If no changes are made to the existing street system, it is expected that traffic congestion and traffic-related crashes on North Dodge Street will continue to increase in proportion to future traffic volume increases. The existing street is incapable of handling any significant increase in traffic volume. In addition, the existing at-grade intersections on North Dodge Street are also incapable of safely handling the future traffic volumes. For these reasons, the No Action Alternative would not meet the purpose and need requirements of this project. It is, nevertheless, carried forward as a detailed study alternative to serve as a baseline for comparison of the Build Altematives and for evaluation of their environmental impacts. Spot Improvements: This alternative consists of constructing spot improvements at the most highly congested locations on North Dodge Street rather than widening the entire corridor. The spot improvements considered under this alternative include: 1 ) Left-turn lanes and traffic signals at the intersection of Praide Du Chien Road, 2) Realignment of Dubuque Road and Conkiln Lane, 3) Left-turn lanes at the New Dubuque Road/Conklin Lane intersection, and 4) Complete the 4-lane roadway between Captain Irish Parkway and Interstate 80. This alternative was evaluated with respect to traffic volume projections, traffic safety, system continuity, future development plans and compatibility with adjacent street improvements. Based on these evaluations, this alternative was eliminated from consideration because it would not meet Iowa DOT design requirements or the system continuity needs of the project. In addition, this alternative would result in approximately 70 percent of the 1.3-mile corridor being widened to 3 or 4 lanes, while 30 percent of the roadway would be left as a 2-lane roadway. 3-Lane Alternative: This alternative consists of widening the existing roadway to a 3-lane facility. A center, 2-way, left-turn lane would be provided from Governor Street to Captain Irish Parkway to accommodate left turning vehicles from either direction. The other two lanes would carry the through traffic and right turning vehicles. Separate turn lanes may be provided at some intersections. A continuous sidewalk and bikeway would also be included on both sides of the street. The intersection of Dubuque Road and Conkiln Lane would be realigned to form a single intersection. Between Captain Irish Parkway and Interstate 80, this altemative would provide a 4-lane segment. Additional turn lanes may also be provided at ACT Circle. 4-Lane Alternative: This alternative consists of widening the existing 2-lane roadway on both sides to obtain a 4-lane, undivided urban street. This alternative also includes continuous sidewalks on both sides of the street to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle movements in the corridor. The intemection of Dubuque Road and Conkiln Lane would also be realigned to form a single intersection. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS A Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) has been written for this project. The Draft EA was made available for review to state and local planning agencies and the public on December 11, 2000. The review for the Draft EA ends on January 26, 2001, while the public hearing comment period extends to February 12, 2001. Summan/of Environmental Effects The Draft EA presents a written evaluation of the expected social, economic and environmental effects of the proposed project. Some of the significant impacts that have been identified in the Draft EA for the alternatives carried forward for detailed study are as follows: 3-Lane Alternative 4-Lane Altemative Right-of-way would be required fromRight-of-way would be required from 23 properties. 28 properties. One home is expected to be One home is expected to be displaced. displaced. Approximately 4.05 acres of Approximately 4.60 acres of woodland woodland would be affected. would be affected. Approximately 0.22 acre of wetland Approximately 0.22 acre of wetland would be affected. would be affected. Public Comment Copies of the wdtten Draft EA are available at this hearing for your inspection. All persons are invited to review the Draft EA and submit their written comments. RIGHT-OF-WAY Iowa City's policy provides for appraisal of property and/or property rights needed for each project. These appraisals use professional techniques and methods to determine "just compensation" in accordance with federal and state constitutions, laws and regulations. The appraisals are prepared to assure fair treatment for both the property owner and the public. After the appraisals are completed, each owner is contacted by a right-of-way agent for the purpose of explaining the plans and appraisals and for contracting the required right-of-way. In instances where an agreement cannot be reached through negotiations, the property may be acquired by the laws of eminent domain. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION If you have any comments on the proposed project or questions about its development, please make your comments known at this hearing or forward them on the attached Citizen Comment form. All comments received by February 12, 2001, will be included in the public hearing transcript. Thank you for your participation in this hearing. CITIZEN COMMENT FOR]~ TO: Mr. JeffDavidson, Assistant Director Department of Planning and Community Development 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 RE: North Dodge Street Location Public Hearing January 30, 2001 Comments: Please Print Name: I (do al do not desire a response. Address: Written statements received by February 12, 2001, will be included in the public hearing transcript. Phone: 38640/lO.050/CornmentSheeLdoc 3~ 35 3~ ADVANCE NOTIFICATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING 5o~ Sycamore Street. Suite 222, Post Office Box x497, Waterloo, Iowa 5o7o4-x497 January 16, 2001 Subject: North Dodge Street Earth Tech Project No. 38640 Dear : Our firm, Earth Tech, has been hired by the City of Iowa City to conduct environmental studies and prepare an Environmental Assessment for the proposed improvements to North Dodge Street from Governor Street to Interstate 80. In April, 2000, a Public Information Meeting was held in Iowa City to inform local officials and Telephone residents of the status of the project and to receive public input. Based on design criteria, coordination with state and federal resource agencies, as well as public comment, several alternatives for this 3 ~ 9-: 3 2.6 5 3 ~ proposed project were developed. An Environmental Assessment was completed for this project and is currently available for review at the Iowa City Public Library and the City Clerk's Office. A Facsimile "Preferred Alternative" will be selected after the completion of the Location Public Hearing and comments are received from resource agencies and the public. 3 r 9.23 a. o 27 t As a resident along North Dodge Street, the City of Iowa City would like to invite you to attend a Location Public Heating concerning the proposed improvements to North Dodge Street from Governor Street to Interstate 80. The purpose of the meeting is to present a brief summary of the Environmental Assessment and give interested individuals an opportunity to express their views, ask questions about the proposed project and provide comments. The public hearing will be held Tuesday, January 30, 2001, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.trt at Shimek School, located at 1400 Grissel Place. The heating will be an open house format with a brief presentation. City staff and consultants will be available to answer any questions you might have regarding the project. We hope you will take the opportunity to attend this public hearing. If you are unable to attend the meeting, but would still like your comments to become part of the permanent record, please fill out the enclosed comment sheet and return it to the address shown by February 12, 2001. If you have any questions concerning the project, please feel free to contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Iowa City Department of Plarming and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle Enclosure: As Noted E A R T H ~ T E e: H 38640/l O,050/ResidentLtr.doc-162 A ~ INTERNATIONAL LTD. COMPANY 5ox Sycamore Street, Suite =as, Post Office Box t497, Waterloo, lovta 5o7o4.1497 January 16, 2001 Subject: North Dodge Street Earth Tech Project No. 38640 Gentlemen: Ottr Yam, Earth Tech, has been hired by the City of Iowa City to conduct environmental studies and prepare an Environmental Assessment for the proposed improvements to North Dodge Street from Governor Street to Interstate 80. In April, 2000, a Public Information Meeting was held in Iowa City to inform local officials and Telephone residents of the status of the project and to receive public input. Based on design criteria, coordination with state and federal resource agencies, as well as public comment, several alternatives for this 3 t 9-= s 2. 653 x proposed project were developed. An Environmental Assessment was completed for this project and is currently available for review at the Iowa City Public Library and the City Clerk's Office. A Facsimile "Preferred Alternative" will be selected after the completion of the Location Public Hearing and comments are received from resource agencies and the public. 3 ~ 9.23 ~. o. 7 ~ As a business located near North Dodge Street, the City of Iowa City would like to invite you to attend a Location Public Hearing concerning the proposed improvements to North Dodge Street from Governor Street to Interstate 80. The purpose of the meeting is to present a brief summary of the Environmental Assessment and give interested individuals an opporttmity to express their views, ask questions about the proposed project and provide comments. The public hearing will be held Tuesday, January 30, 2001, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Shimek School, located at 1400 Grissel Place. The hearing will be an open house format with a brief presentation. City staff and consultants will be available to answer any questions you might have regarding the project. We hope you will take the opportunity to attend this public hearing. If you are unable to attend the meeting, but would still like your comments to become part of the permanent record, please fill out the enclosed comment sheet and return it to the address shown by February 12, 2001. If you have any questions concerning the project, please feel free to contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Iowa City Department of planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle Enclosure: As Noted E A R T H ~ T E C H 38640/10.050/BusinessLIt.doe-17 5ol Sycamore Street, Suite an2, Post Office Box i497, Waterloo, Iowa 5o7o4-i497 January 16, 2001 Subject: North Dodge Street Earth Tech Project No. 38640 Dear : Our firm, Earth Tech, has been hired by the City of Iowa City to conduct environmental studies and prepare an Environmental Assessment for the proposed improvements to North Dodge Street from Governor Street to Interstate 80. In April, 2000, a Public Information Meeting was held in Iowa City to inform local officials and Telephone residents of the status of the project and to receive public input. Based on design criteria, coordination with state and federal resource agencies, as well as public comment, several alternatives for this 3,9.232. 653, proposed project were developed. An Environmental Assessment was completed for this project and is currently available for review at the Iowa City Public Library and the City Clerk's Office. A Facsimile "Preferred Alternative" will be selected after the completion of the Location Public Hearing and comments are received from resource agencies and the public. 3 x 9.232. o 27 ~ As a property owner along North Dodge Street, the City of Iowa City would like to invite you to attend a Location Public Hearing concerning the proposed improvements to North Dodge Street from Governor Street to Interstate 80. The purpose of the meeting is to present a brief summary of the Environmental Assessment and give interested individuals an opportunity to express their views, ask questions about the proposed project and provide comments. The public hearing will be held Tuesday, January 30, 2001, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Shimek School, located at 1400 Grissel Place. The hearing will be an open house format with a brief presentation. City staff and consultants will be available to answer any questions you might have regarding the project. We hope you will take the opportunity to attend this public hearing. If you are unable to attend the meeting, but would still like your comments to become part of the permanent record, please fill out the enclosed comment sheet and remm it to the address shown by February 12, 2001. If you have any questions concerning the project, please feel free to contact JeffDavidson, Assistant Director, Iowa City Department of Planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle Enclosure: As Noted 38640/10.050/AbsentteeLtr.doc-28 A iglOO INTERNATIONAL LTO, COMPANY CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA NOTICE OF PUBLIC tIE, ARING AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AVAILABILITY North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to Interstate 80 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Notice is hereby given to aH interested persons that an open forum public hearing will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2001, from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., at Shimek Elementary School, 1400 Grissel Place, to discuss the proposed improvements to North Dodge Street between Governor S~eet and Interstate 80 in Iowa City. A brief presentation will bc made at 6:15 p.m. This public bearing will be conducted utilizing an open forum format. City staff and consultants will be present with displays and related information to discuss this project. Interested individuals are encouraged to attend this hearing to review project materials, express their views and ask questions about the proposed alternatives. Oral and written statements will also be accepted at the public hearing. The proposed project consists of upgrading North Dodge Street from the current 2-lane roadway to a 3- or 4-lane facility. The total length of the project is approximately 1.3 miles (2.09 kin). Both aliematives would include continuous sidewalks on both sides of the street to accommodate pedestrian movements in the corridor, and would provide for intersection improvements at Governor Street, Prairie Du Chicn Road and Dubuque Road. Two side roads, Dubuquc Road and Conklin Lane would be realigned to form a single intersection. The 3-lane alternative would include a center, 2-way left-turn lane from Governor Street to Captain Irish Parkway. Between Captain Irish Parkway and Interstate 80, this alternative would provide a 4-lane segment, and may include additional turn lanes at ACT Circle. The 4-lane alternative would be a 4-lane roadway f~om Captain Irish Parkway to Governor Streetl The "Draft Environmental Assessment" is available for review at the Iowa City Public Library, located at 123 South Linn S~ceet in Iowa City, telephone 31 9-356-5200 and the City Clerk's Office, Iowa City Civic Center, 410 E. Washington Street in Iowa City, telephone 319-356-5041. Please submit your comments regarding this document to Mr. Jeff Davidson, Department of Planning and Community Development, at 410 East Washington S~eet, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240, telephone 319-356-5252. A deadline of February 12, 2001 has been established for receipt of comments to be considered in the final public hearing transcript. Written statements and related exhibits, in place of or in addition to oral statement made at the public hearing will be accepted at the bearing, or may be submitted to the Deparmacnt of Planning and Community Development at the above address. All written material received by February 12, 2001 will be included in the hearing transcript. All persons interested in the project are invited to attend this hearing. The meeting room is accessible for persons with disabilities. However, if you require special accommodations at the hearing, please notify Brenda Rotherham at 356-5230 no later than Friday, January 26, 2001 so arrangements can be made. Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director Department of Planning and Community Development City of Iowa City, Iowa Iodi~ussmeFop<t, edlmFovem~to ~ OF !OW~ ~ ~ "~ ~ ~ ~ ~ IOWA ~~ fa~. ~t~d~b ~t I m ~ ~ c~ of ~ IOWA ~ ~ ~ ~' d ~ .~ ~b~ ~ ~ c~W, ~ ~t a ~.. R.d. Two side ~ds. m~r i ~s), on ~ fo~ ~. Id~ Pa~y a~ Ime~to ~. ' ' "F' ~ ~ ~ ~.n~ Deve~mnt, at 410 ~D ~pt. PUBLIC HEARING ,~ID ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AVAII,A~ILrP( THE CITY OF IONVA CITY LOCAllON PUBLIC HEARING Norffi Dodge Street betwe~ Iowa City Press Citizen, January 23, 2001 LOCATION PUBLIC HEARING TRANSCRIPT NORTH DODGE STREET IMPROVEMENTS GOVERNOR STREET TO INTERSTATE 80 IOWA CITY, IOWA Transcript of PUBLIC HEARING JANUARY 30, 2001 SHIMEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1400 GRISSEL PLACE IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 Earth Tech Under Contract for THE CITY OF IOWA CITY North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor Street to Interstate 80 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 1 Davidson Good evening, and thank you for coming out again tonight. My name is Jeff Davidson, I'm the assistant planning director for the City. I recognize many of you as people we've talked with and worked with on this particular project. We want to thank you again for coming out tonight. What we're here to do tonight is hear a short presentation on the environmental assessment which has been done by Earth Tech Consultants of Waterloo for the reconstruction of North Dodge Street, and I think most of you are familiar by now that in 2003 the City in conjunction with the Department of Transportation plan to reconstruct Dodge Street between Governor Street and Interstate 80. It will be a complete, full depth reconstruction between the fight-of-way, sidewalks, intersections, the whole deal. And the lady who operates the Hilltop Tavern was quoted in the paper this morning as saying, "Well, they've been talking about this for 20 years and I'll believe it when I see it." Well, it has been talked about a long time, but I do certainly want to emphasize to you that we are getting to some pretty serious decisions, and the input that we receive tonight, and I've already received some formal comments, about 4 or 5 of them, from some of you already. The input that we receive tonight, as well as any comments that are made up until, Brenda - where's Brenda? - the 12th? Okay. Will be part of the permanent record for this project, and will be taken into consideration by the people who will make the eventual decisions on the design of this project. We haven't decided anything yet, what we've been doing since the last meeting we had in this room was evaluating the impacts of the various things that we can possibly do, and you're going to hear about some of that tonight. The decision making on this will be later this year. During this next construction season we want to decide what we are going to do. Because next year we need to do two things - we need to get the project designed, when we finally land on what we're going to do, we want to do get the project designed and we will have to do then the property acquisition for any property that we're going to need from all of you for the project. And we'll speak to some of that this evening, as well. In the following year then, 2003, is when we we'll build the project. So there are a number of things to be decided between now and then, but we are getting to needing to make those decisions. The ultimate decision on what this project is going to look like will be made by the City Council of Iowa City with the concurrence of the Iowa Deparm~ent of Transportation. So this is not one that the City Council has the sole jurisdiction over. DOT will have to concur; they're our partners on this project because of Dodge Street being Iowa Highway 1. As I've said, after the presentation is made, we have Bob Lentz here from Earth Tech, as well as Brenda Durbahn. You might remember Brenda being quite a bit larger at our last meeting. She was pregnant with her daughter, who has since been born. They will be making the presentation on the environmental assessment that's been completed, and we want to certainly try and answer any questions that any of you have, but we are actually more interested tonight in hearing your comments. I know from speaking to many of you that there are several people who can take the same information and draw different conclusions from it. So we 1 North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor Street to/nterstate g0 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 2 may hear some of that tonight, but that's fine. That's exactly what this process is supposed to do. We have a recording system set up here so that your comments will be recorded. You also... are there forms in the back? There are forms in the back for written comments and you should feel free to make those either way you are most comfortable with. So with that, I'll turn it over to Brenda and we'll have a brief presentation here and then start the comment period. Durban Thank you, Jeff. I am ... my name is Brenda Durbahn. At the end of this presentation when you do come forward for any questions you might have, we would like to you spell your last name, say your full name and spell your last name for us. Just to get started briefly, as Jeff mentioned we are here because the environmental assessment has been completed. And some of the things we wanted to go through is, review the environmental assessment process, review the purpose and need, discuss the alternatives, review the initial findings, but one of the most important things is to get your input on the project, get your questions answered as best we can, receive your comments and just get your input so that it can be part of the process. This is the environmental assessment. There are a couple of copies here tonight if you would like to look at it. I don't have enough for everyone to take home, but you're welcome to look at it. It is also available at the City Clerk's office, the library, and possible some other locations, I don't recall right now. It was also sent to state, federal and local agencies. Just briefly going through the environmental assessment process, the first thing is the public and agency coordination. As Jeff mentioned, we were here in April, and informed you about the project, tried to answer some of your questions from the early aspects, we also did some coordination with federal and state agencies, local agencies, we moved into data collection, prepared the document, distributed it, which again that's what this environmental assessment is that was distributed in December, and then here we're at the public hearing stage, and again comments to be included as part of the official transcript are due by February 12th. The next step is to complete the final environmental document. Part of the reason that we prepare an environmental assessment is because of a law called the National Environmental Policy Act. Another reason that we produce such a document is because it just makes good planning sense, to try to look at all the alternatives, assess the impacts to them. The National Environmental Policy Act says just that - they want you to look at a whole host of alternatives, assess the impacts to those, and present that information to the decision makers so they can make the best possible choice of alternatives possible for the project. Other pertinent laws relate to park and recreational areas, the cultural resources or archaeological and historic sites, wetlands and endangered species. We did not find any endangered species on this particular project. Next, I am going to turn it over to Bob Lentz who is going to briefly go through some of the more engineering aspects of the project related to purpose and need and alternatives. North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor Street to Interstate 80 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 3 Lentz Thank you, Brenda. I'll just briefly go through the description of some of the alternatives that we did look at and some of the other engineering aspects of the project. To start with, as you saw on the maps, the section of project that we're talking about is here on Dodge Street from just north of Governor Street on up to where the four lanes start at 1-80. It's about 1.3 miles in total length. There are a numbor of reasons the City has considered this project for improvement over the years, and I'll try to go through the description of some of those reasons for the project. This does include the traffic volumes which have been increasing over the past 10 or 15 years that we have monitored them. There is a lack of convenient altemative routes for people to travel in this part of the community. There's a need for improved accommodations for pedestrians and bicycles; in the North Dodge Street area right now there's no continuous path for pedestrians or bicycles to safely travel outside of being on the road. And then I'll review here a little bit about the traffic safety history and some of the other improvements that are planned on Highway 1. The next two slides here show the history of the traffic volumes as they have been counted here since 1986. And the first slide here indicates the traffic volumes that are on the section just north of Governor Street over to over to Prairie du Chien Road. You can see that the traffic has been increasing from that time frame up to a certain point; it's leveled off here since 1994. Part of the reason for that we believe is that that section of roadway has already exceeded what is normally the desirable capacity for a two lane roadway in an urban area, which is somewhere around 12,000 vehicles a day, depending on what kind of track traffic and turning movements that you've got. And right now this section is carrying about 13,500 so it has already exceeded that. In the north section of the project, north of Captain Irish Parkway, since 1986 the traffic volumes have risen over 50% in that area. Right now they're at 10,800 vehicles a day. There are a number of different types of traffic that are served by this facility. Listed here are all the different driveways and side streets that connect to North Dodge Street. Many of the people that travel this road really have no other alternative to get to their home or business other than to use North Dodge Street. And in addition to that, we know that there is a good component of through traffic also that would be traveling all the way up to 1-80 and beyond. So there is quite a demonstrated need based on just the traffic volumes alone. When we looked at the future traffic estimates that are expected, in the section east of Captain Irish Parkway, that section of roadway we believe is going to continue to increase in traffic on the order of 10 or 15% more as we look 20 or so years into the future. West of Captain Irish, that section may actually experience a decrease in traffic, and that' s primarily due to the effect of First Avenue Extension that may pull some of the traffic offof Dodge Street. Another reason that I mentioned was to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle traffic. This is a section on the east end and the situation there is that there is no continuous path for bicycles and pedestrians to travel and so all of the alternatives that we have looked at would provide that on the project. The street pattern that we have in this part of Iowa City is very discontinuous and there are really no other northeast type of roadways for any of North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor Street to Interstate $0 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 4 the tnffic to go on. If anybody wants to avoid this congested roadway, they really need to be taking other routes out of town, perhaps on Dubuque Street and then over on 1-80 or some other path that is really way out of the normal direction of travel. The next reason that we looked at was traffic safety. There have been a number of crashes that have occurred on this roadway. This spot map just illustrates some of the main locations where there have been accident problems. Prairie du Chien Road here is the largest one. Several other intersections have also had some accident problems, and overall in this five year period there have been a total of 86 crashes and 33 injuries. So this is an area that can greatly benefit from some street improvements. And finally, as far as the future need goes, we looked at what's being planned elsewhere on Highway 1 by the Iowa DOT. In the section of Highway 1 all the way from just north of Washington up to the city limits and then from 1-80 up to Mt. Vernon, the Iowa DOT is planning improvements on Highway 1 which would create a high level two-lane facility with very frequent passing lanes, turning lanes at the intersections, and a higher design speed than 'what's out there fight now. This is a type of facility that they refer to as a Super 2 facility, and as part of that kind of improvement, when those roadways come into an urban area their planning guidelines require that the connecting streets to that would have at least three lanes of traffic service just to make the whole system work effectively. So those are some of the main reasons that the project has been proposed. Again, it's related to the traffic, the pedestrian and bicycle needs, traffic safety and the other improvements that are planned. l'd like to briefly review the alternatives that are being considered. First of all, there are maps in the room here that show a lot more detail about the 3 and the 4 lane altematives. One thing I'd like to mention on those is that as part of the project there is no intention to close down any of the driveways that connect up to the homes or businesses on the project. The only way that those would be closed is if that is agreed to as part of the right-of-way acquisition that eventually takes place. So the alternatives that are being considered are first of all, the three lane widening, which would provide continuous three lane section with a center turning lane from end to end on the project. On the very east end north of Captain Irish Parkway, the three-way alternative is actually a four lane section and that would connect between the existing four lane section at Captain l~sh out to the interchange. The second alternative is a widening to four lanes wide from end to end. There is a spot improvements alternative that I will describe, and then do nothing. And finally I'd like to mention here as far as any of the construction altematives that the signalization of the Prairie du Chien Road intersection would be included in any of those and sidewalks on both sides are also an integral part of any of those build alternatives. These are the typical cross sections that illustrate the three and then the four lane alternatives. On the three lane alternative there would be one lane for west bound, North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor Sweet to Interstate 80 Public Heating Iowa City, Iowa Page 5 one lane for eastbound tralTtc and a center lane which would be for turning movements going either direction. And you can see here also the sidewalks and bikeways that are going to be built on each side. The four lane alternative is very similar to that except that it provides two continues lanes of traffic in each direction. Now the last construction alternative that I will describe is called the spot improvements alternative, and this concept considers just constructing improvements in those areas of maximum congestion and the highest traffic areas that will need it in the future. There are three locations that we have identified. The first one here is at the Prairie du Chien intersection and this spot improvement would consider adding turning lanes and traffic signals at that intersection. When we looked at that, because it's so close to the Governor Street intersection, that concept would actually widen the section between Prairie du Chien and Governor Street to a three lane cross section. The second location here is at Dubuque Road and Conklin Lane. That improvement would add the turn lanes similar to the one at Prairie du Chien, but it would also realign beth Dubuque Street and Corddin Lane so that they would come into the intersection at a single point, whereas presently those two intersections are offset. And then finally the third location is at the north end of the project north of Captain Irish Parkway and in that location this concept would provide the four lane connection and that would be just a continuation of the four lanes that are there at Captain Irish at this time. This map shows how those spot improvements would actually stack up 6n the project itself. First of all, here's the Prairie du Chien intersection, and that first spot improvement would widen this section of roadway on either side of that intersection. This is the Dubuque Road intersection, and that spot improvement would widen the project from east of Dubuque Road and actually connect with the other spot improvemenL And then this section here is already widened at Captain Irish. And the last spot improvement would continue that widening out to 1-80. In the end, this alternative was not recommended to be carried forward in the project primarily because when we looked at the length of those improvements, they comprise about 70% of the total project length and there is only about a 4/10 mile gap in between the two and it really did not make good planning sense to leave 4/10 of a mile of unimproved roadway within this entire corridor, that also happens to be one of the higher accident locations right in the middle of that. So the final alternatives that we have recommended to go forth in the study are the 3 and 4 lane widening or the do nothing alternative. At this time I'd like to turn it back over to Brenda to discuss some of our findings. North Dodge Improvements Januap/30, 200 I Governor Street to Interstate 80 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 6 Brenda Thanks. We won't keep you much longer here sitting with us talking at you. I just wanted to summarize the environmental impacts. I do want to s~xess that as I go through these, these are at the planning level at this point. We haven't reached final design and I don't want you to go away thinking that these are exactly the impacts that are going to happen at this point. But, as Bob had said, the length of the project is about 1.3 miles. We would anticipate that for the 3 lane alternative, 23 properties could expect to have a small amount of right-of-way acquired from them, a small strip. That would be for the roadway and also for the sidewalk/bikeway that would go by. 28 properties for the 4 lane alternative. That includes four businesses that would be for each alternative. We estimate about 4 acres of woodland impacts for the three lane and just over 4-1/2 acres for the four lane. An equal amount of wetland impacts, at just under a quarter acre. The estimated cost, this is based on year 2000 dollars, would be $4.2 million for the three lane and about $4.52 million for the four lane. And again that is just a planning level estimate at this point. Overall, the schedule, Jeff went through some of this at the beginning, but again, we were here in April to discuss with you the project at the early stages, the environmental assessment, and I'll show that to you again in ease you would like to look at it. See one of us afterwards - there's a couple back on the table but we do have a few more with us if you want to look at it - that was designed in December. Here we are today at the public hearing. We expect to have the final environmental document done in March of this year. Moving into design and property acquisition next year, 2002, with construction happening in 2003. Again, the main reason that we're here is to receive input from all of you. There are comment forms at the back of your packet that are stapled to the project statement. We'd be happy to take written statements tonight, and those will automatically go right into the transcript exactly as you have written them. So that would be great. If you want to leave those with us tonight that would be fine, otherwise you can mail them to the address that it says there. We're going to break up and answer questions around the tables to project specific things, accesses, we won't know exact amounts of right-of-way that people might be impacted with the project, but we can answer questions as best we can project specific, At this time, though, if you have any general questions, maybe general interest type questions about the environmental process or something like that, we'd be happy to take those. Just come forward to the mike and say your name and spell your last name, and you can hand us written statements, and we also will have an opportunity here, a little recording station if you'd rather just record your comment or question, I guess, but comments, statements if you will, if you don't want to write that down, that's fine. You can record it - we have a little recording station. And again, those comments are due by February 12th. Thank you. North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor Street to Interstate 80 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 7 Davidson As Brenda and Bob have indicated, if anyone would like to come forward we'll take a few minutes right now and then similar to how we did last time, we'll break up. I think everybody's going to be here until 7:30 so the consultants and myself ... we didn't introduce the Iowa DOT representatives. We have Roger Walton here, Dick Kautz is in the back. Anybody else here from DOT? Okay, just those two gentlemen so if you have a Department of Transportation related question, otherwise the mic here is on, I think and feel free to give us any comments you have. I guess also, maybe first off, any questions about anything you heard tonight so far, either? Sorry to have to go through the recording everything, but this is part of a formal heating. Dunham Alright. Laura Morgan Dunham. And I wonder if there is, is there a possibility of an impact study on the difference between 3 and 4 lanes, if there are 4 lanes and so there are two middle lanes that are used both for passing and for left turning, I wonder if there is a higher likelihood of rear end collisions because of people going faster in that lane and then coming upon somebody turning left. Davidson I can answer that, that there is typically, and I'm speaking typically now, a higher incidence of rear end collisions with a four lane cross section than a three lane. And, in fact, that's one of the advantages of a three lane section in a stretch of road where you have a lot of left turning movements, you can really bring that accident rate down having a three lane section over a four lane section. You might recall the First Avenue improvement over by the new Hy Vee where we decided to put a three lane section because there are so many turning movements in that corridor we really had about as much capacity with a three lane section as with a four lane and we were able to bring the accident rate down. So that is something that I think will be part of this decision. Dunham I don't know, this may be a comment or a question. I am concerned about even the three lane encouraging additional speeding on top of the speeding that already occurs particularly between Prairie du Chien and Governor and as it heads down to the elementary school, that's a section where people already are going 5-10 miles over the speed limit easily, and... I mean I see them put the speed signs out there that are supposed to monitor peoples' speeds. I see the police out there trying to monitor speeds, and I'm concerned, you know, particularly of traffic getting faster as it goes towards the school. Davidson Okay. I think that's appropriately received as a comment. Dunham Alright, this is a comment and not question. I guess I'm a little disturbed in reading an environmental effects summary that does not include information on the fact that, well from the drawings we've seen from the engineers and from the pictures, that all of the shade trees in the section between Prairie du Chien and Governor, it looked like all on the north side of the street, or I'm sorry that would North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor Street to Interstate g0 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 8 be - I get my directions mixed up - all on one side of the street looked like they would be removed and most on the other side of the street, which is certainly an environmental impact on the people who are trying to live in those homes. Lcntz Your number of accidents ... Davidson The question, just for the benefit of the recording, was if wc had a handle on the number of the accidents that were part of deer-related collisions, and Bob, we do I think have a handle on that. I think most of you are aware that the City has a deer management committee dealing specifically with that issue, the North Dodge corridor is one of the main corridors of deer-vehicle collisions that they are trying to address, and you're probably aware of the program that we've had recently to reduce the size of the deer herd, which I understand has been very successful and wc will scc the results of whether or not it's really been that successful in this next year when we see if hopefully we've had a reduction in deer-vehicle collisions in the corridor. VanDcWalle If you're interested, we do have information on each of the individual accidents that happened in that five year period, and there were a significant amount of deer-related accidents when you get east of Dubuquc Road. We're not talking 50% of the accidents by any stretch, but I can go over that information individually with you if you like. Lentz 19 of the 86 of the accidents involved a deer collision. VanDeWallc Yeah, the response was that 19 of the 86 accidents involved a deer collision. Dunham I'm Laura Morgan Dunhum again. This is more trying to insure that people are making informed decisions, in that it was mentioned that 23 or 28 of the properties would likely have a small right-of-way purchase that would affect their property, but I think it's important for people to realize that they nccd to look at what the property lines really are because the current or existing right-of-way I know hetween Governor and Prairie du Chien, anyway, is actually quite deep and so it may only be 6 inches or a foot of right-of-way that needs to bc acquired. Nonetheless, it may still put the sidewalk, curb and traffic five or six feet into your lawn and people need to realize that. Claussen I'm Darlene Claussen. I'm speaking for the Northside Neighborhood Association. The Traffic and Parking Committee. Our questions wcrc the same as what you had about the traffic coming down Dodge Street hill right by the school, so we're wondering what the road is designed for. What speed limits would there be at what points, and where will the signal lights be.'? North Dodge Improvements January 30, 200 I Governor Slxeet to Interstate 80 Public Heating Iowa City, Iowa Page 9 Davidson To answer the first question, we would, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, assume we'd have the same speed limits that we do now. Now the DOT is ultimately the authority for the speed limits on Dodge Street, and they have an engineering study that they require involving what's called the 85% percentile speed, the reasonable speed oftraffm, and that's how speed limits are set. So if DOT were to suggest that we do that study and it showed something different, they're the ultimate authority there. But we certainly don't propose any changes in the speed limits. The other question, about the traffic signals, of course most of you are aware that the Captain Irish Parkway intersection has been signalized, and as you heard Bob say earlier, under any scenario here other than the do nothing one because we just physically can't fit them into the do nothing scenario, but under all the build scenarios we do plan on signalizing the Prairie du Chien Road intersection. And I've had many, many comments that that needs to be done. The Dubuque Road-Conklin Road intersection, we do not currently have slated for a traffic signal became we want to see how it works with Captain Irish and Prairie du Chien signalized. We think what is going to happen is it will ereate better gaps in the traffic stream for making tums in that intersection, but we are setting it up when it's reconstructed so that it could be signalized in the future if need be, but it won't have a signal initially. Claussen Okay. Thanks. Bovbjerg My name is Ann Bovbjerg. I'm glad you're looking at the North Dubuque and ConklinFNorth Dodge CourlJeemetery because that comer is very important, especially I would say a turning lane for the cemetery and either amalgamating the North Dodge Street CourtdConklin, that whole configuration is very confusing. So that should have to be looked at. I like the three lanes with the turning lanes. I think that would accommodate the problems and also accommodate the actual amount of traffic that' s there 24 hours a day, not just an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. I have a question about the impact of Captain Irish and First Avenue on the type and timing of the traffm that will be on North Dodge. Davidson I'm not sure I know what you mean, Ann, about the type and timing of traffic. I think most of you are aware, and as you saw in the slide that Bob had, we do and you probably heard it during the whole First Avenue extension controversy, that we do forecast a decrease in traffic, initially we think it will be around 3,000 vehicles a day in the segment of North Dodge Street between Captain Irish and Govemor, and that was reflected in the slide that you saw that Bob presented. However, in the other segment between Captain Irish and Interstate 80, we do show an increase, I believe it was 10-15%, wasn't it, Bob? Right. And those projections, Ann, will be taken ... well, they are being taken into consideration with respect to the eventual strategy that we have for reconstructing the road. Nor~th Dodge Improvements Jannan/30, 2001 Govemor Street to Intentate $0 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 10 Bovbjerg Those are, when are they due to be completed? Davidson Oh. The First Avenue extension and the extension of Captain Irish Parkway from where it ends fight now over to ACT's east prol~rty line, the property line between ACT and if you know where Ralph Kral used to live, his property line there, that will be done this upcoming construction season. The following construction season, in 2002, we will then complete Captain Irish Parkway from that ACT Kral farm boundary down to Scott Boulevard. And then, of course, the following year is when we've got North Dodge Street scheduled. Waiters My name is Jim Walters. I have a couple of comments and then I have a question. ! guess it seems strange to me first of all that we are spending in excess of $6.5 million to improve a road that will ultimately see a decrease in traffic. Now I say that recognizing, of course, that we're doing some improvements on parts of the road that we will see an increase in traffic. However, for the segments that significantly effect most of the people in this room, what we're predicting through the traffic study is that in the year 2025 we will be seeing, I think it's 12,600 vehicles on that stretch of road, let's say at the comer of Dodge and Governor, which will be a significant decrease over what we have there now. And I guess I'm really concerned about why, if the tmlT~e is ultimately going to be going down in that stretch of road, we need to be seeing such a significant change. And I guess my comment would be that I think you've essentially nanrowed the so-called spot alternative down to kind of a straw man that you can automatically shoot down and t think that you can probably come up with a whole series of spot alternatives that might be better both in terms of the neighborhood, in terms of the traffic, and in terms of cost. And I think most of us are aware that clearly we need a stop light at the comer of Pralfie du Chien and Dodge. That's obvious. Maybe you don't need turning lanes all the way from Governor all the way to Prairie du Chien and beyond all the way to Conklin and beyond. Maybe you only need them for a block on either side of those intersections. And then you 'can significantly reduce the cost of this project and keep it within a reasonable budget. The City fight now is under budget constraints. We went to the budget hearings today and they're under severe budget constraints. And we' re talking about spending a lot of money here. SO I would suggest, strongly, that the City consider going back and looking at some other spot alternatives that would reduce the cost, reduce the improvements - dearly you can put sidewalks, you can put the signalization in, you could realign Conklin and Dubuque Street, and you could do this for significantly less than you've proposed here. And, the other thing ... my final question is, regards traffic counts. Because the environmental assessment says that JCCOG, the Johnson County Council of Governments, maintains computerized traffic models to forecast traffic volumes for the year 2010, short range, and for the year 2025, long range. And I would dearly love to know what those figures are for First Avenue South of Rochester. North Dodge Improvements Janua~ 30, 2001 Governor Street to interstate 80 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 11 Robertson Bill Robertson. Just a couple of questions. We currently have a bus stop fight now right on the from edge of the Hy Vee property. Will that continue to be there during the completion of the project? Davidson We would assume the bus stop would remain there, yes. Robertson Okay, alright. The speed limit, correct me if I'm wrong, but right now it's 45 miles an hour to Dubuque Road. Then it goes to 25 - that would stay the same? Davidson As I said, it would stay the same pending any decision by DOT that it should be changed. We did check that, Dick, I can't remember how many years ago it was, but several years ago, did the engineering study that was required, and it was determined that it should remain what it was. I think the thought was that we might step it down from 45 to 35 or to 25 and a determination was made based on that engineering study that it should remain the way it was. So subject to that coming up again, we would not propose to change the speed limits. Robertson Okay. I do run a business on Dodge Street. Right now there is too much traffic on Dodge Street. It's hard for my customers to get in and out of my business so I'm all for the four lane. Siders My name is Glenn Siders. First I have a question, on these maps there are some red lines indicated, I would assume that those are what you're thinking now might be future fight-of-way acquisition points? You are showing a roadway system on your profiles here and then there are some red lines that more or less parallel. Lentz One thing that you should keep in mind, at this stage of the project the roadway has not actually been designed yet. And so, we know that to widen the roadway is very likely going to require a narrow strip of right_of_way but we would not be able to identify exactly what the numbers are on each property at this point in time. Siders I understand that, but the red lines are fight-of-way lines on the maps? Do you know? Lentz That's correct. Siders And then, secondly, can you tell me, the proposed traffic ... future traffic in 25 years on Dodge Street - can you tell me what the difference in traffic volume from a three lane to a four lane would be to justify the difference in cost? Are you to that point where you can do that? North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor Street to Interstate 80 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 12 Davidson Yeah, and Bob may want to add to this. That depends, Glenn, on how many turning movements you have. If you are in a stretch of road that doesn't have many driveways and doesn't have many turning movements on it, you're wasting your money to put in a center turn lane. With this one, it kind of varies through the corridor. There are certain areas that have a great deal of turning movements, and then of course when you get out to the Bristol Drive area part of it, there are few turning movements, although there is the intersection there where the Press Citizen is. So we feel like the majority of the corridor would benefit tremendously by having that center turn lane because there are so many turning movements, what you would end up with a four lane section is kind of the inside lanes being used pretty much exclusively for turning movements and so none of the l~affie uses it. So instead of providing a single lane for those turning movements, you've provided two lanes which costs you more. And I think that'll be part of the decision-making that goes into trying to determine if four lanes or three lanes is appropriate. Siders That actually was the point of my question. I was trying to determine for the extra $325,000 how much you were going to benefit from that fourth lane. Davidson I'm not sure in the vicinity of the Hy Vee and Prairie du Chien Road you benefit at all. Tucker Norville Tucker. With Highway 1 being made a Super 2 Highway 1, it's unclear to me why it's being continued through Iowa City. It would be very easy to swing it around to the west and join there. And, as was stated earlier, people coming into Iowa City treat our street as ifit's a highway, which of course it is. And traffic goes quite rapidly there. On three occasions I have been ... my car has been stopped at the red light at the elementary school and cars have gone around me and gone right through the red light. At high speeds. So I do not understand why Highway 1 will be continued through Iowa City. And if that ... if, as I think, this should be moved, I think that takes away quite a bit of your reasoning for widening the highway, what is currently the highway, Dodge Street. So I think moving Highway 1 and leaving Dodge Street as it is, except for a very few improvements, is the best alternative. Lentz The question about the DOT's plans for Highway 1 are possibly a question that one of the DOT representatives can answer to you also afterwards. In general when we look at a number of the primary highways that are, say, not at the interstate or the major highway level, if you look at all the traffic that's on Highway 1 north of Iowa City and you trace those vehicles through town to the south end, you'll find that a very small proportion of that traffic actually goes all the way through Iowa City and continues to on down to Kalona or Washington or somewhere down there. What you'll find is that by far the majority of those vehicles are stopping somewhere within the metro area, and regardless of if you North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor Street to Interstate 80 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 13 would bypass or not, most of that traffic would still stay on North Dodge Street because that's where it's going to its destination. Kanner Hi. My name's Steven Kanner, and I had a cormnent and some questions for you folks. I, too, question the wisdom of spending $6.6 million, whether it's state funds, federal funds, or local funds, it's all our tax money and it seems to be an excessive amount. Especially when the forecast is for decreased traffic. Especially so far out in the future, so that doesn't make any sense also to me. And I wanted to know if, when you looked at spot solutions to the problem, did you factor in such things as increased public transportation as a possible solution? Did you look at that as a scenario? For instance I've gotten a few calls from people from North Liberty that would like public transportation during rush hour, there's quite a few commuters coming in. Was that factored in at all into the spot solutions? Davidson I'll answer that, Steven, only because those projections came from JCCOG and we just handed them to the consultant and they used them. The traffic analysis model looks at trends in the different modes of transportation. And because the trend with public transit after pretty much declining consistently since the late 70s, has kind of stabilized and flattened out, and so we just continued that and assumed the same percentage use of public transit as well as walking and bicycling in the traffic analysis model when we made projections. So no, we did not include an increase in bus usage. Kanner So is that something that could be done - to look at what would be the traffic usage if, for instance there were more commuter buses in from outlying community, what if there were more public transportation buses from Iowa City out to businesses, how would that affect the traffm? In conjunction with putting perhaps a traffic light at Prairie du Chien and Dodge and a few other spot improvements and turning lanes. So instead of spending $6.6 million, perhaps getting it down to half that cost and include in that some money for other types of transportation? Davidson As I indicated, Steven, we didn't project any increase in transit usage because we didn't feel the trends leading up to this point led that to be a good assumption. But one could certainly make that assumption and I would assume it would reduce traffic on other modes, such as automobiles, if one were to project that. I think the answer to your other question, the funds that are being made available from the state, at least the majority of those funds, are not ones ... let's put it this way, about $5.2 million of those funds are not funds that we have local jurisdiction over, I mean they are the state's money for this project and if they weren't used on this project they'd be used somewhere else in the state. We do have about $900,000 of STP funds that go through JCCOG, as you know, as well as about $200,000 of local funds, so a total of abeut $1.1 million of local funds where you North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor Street to Interstate 80 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 14 would have that ability to use them for something else if they weren't used on this project. Kanner And isn't it true that as you widen a road people the perception from the drivers is that you can go faster and that people do tend to go faster, that's my understanding. And wouldn't that lead ... you put down that there would not be increased deer accidents. Wouldn't that lead to increased deer acoidents with the increased speed from cars? Lentz I don't believe that we indicated that there would be less deer accidents if the road were improved. Kanner No, I think you said the same in the impact ... in the environmental impact study. Lentz But, I guess in general what I'd like to say about traffic accidents - there's been a lot of studies done on the concept of widening roadways to three lanes and widening roadways to four lanes. As Jeff has mentioned, I believe in every instance that they've studied these in Iowa, roads that have been widened out to three lanes have shown a very significant decrease in traffic accidents. And as Jeff mentioned, four lanes - that kind of a situation has a different accident characteristic to it. And that's one of the things that the decision makers will look at when they choose on this project. Kanner Well, I assume that during rush hour that cotrid be true. But I would think that outside of rush hour, people would tend to go faster and that would itself lead to greater possibility of deer accidents. And you're projecting that there wouldn't be ... that it would stay the same. Davidson Actually, Steven, I would think with the efforts of the deer management committee, which did not... was not information that the consultant has, was privy to; I think the intention is that by reducing the deer herd down ~'om the several hundred per square mile, or 100 per square mile, that it has been down to somewhere between 20 to 30 or 35, that they intend that to reduce the number of deer accidents significantly. I mean, we'll see if it happens, but I think that's the intention certainly. I think that will be a much larger consideration than the design of this road. It's the number of deer that are out there. Kanner Because I really didn't see that in the environmental assessment, that consideration of the deer plan affecting it. Maybe it was in here. Davidson I don't believe it is in them, Steve. Kanner And then, finally, I had some questions about the water retention basin and the wetlands that you ... the plans. I believe both the three lane and the four lane plan North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor Street to Interstate 80 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 15 to take land away from those, and what's the success rate of wetlands mitigation? It talks about having to mitigate some of that wetlands. In my understanding, it can be close to a 50% failure rate of mitigating wetlands. So I was wondering how you take that into account. Lentz I'm going to ask Terry VanDeWalle to answer that question. Teny has done a lot of wetland mitigation designs statewide and in other states, and I think he's probably got some information. VanDeWalle In answer to your question, I would agree that wetland mitigation is difficult to do, and when you look at national averages for the success of mitigation it probably is around a 50% failure rate. Now having said that, there are also mitigation sites that work very well. In this case, the wetland impacts are very small and so any mitigation that would be done, and we haven't done any mitigation plans, haven't come up with any for this project, but any mitigation plan here for a quarter of an acre is much simpler, because the acreage is so small, it's a much simpler mitigation plan than if we were dealing with five or ten or more acres. So, you know, again, overall success rate from wetland mitigation isn't good, but you have a better chance of having it work on this project because it is a small amount that we're dealing with. It's also, it's an emergent wetland - it's not a foresled wetland, it doesn't have trees. Emergent wetlands are much easier to mitigate for than foresled wetlands. Kanner And what about the water retention basin, storm water? That's a part of the project that would be affected. VanDeWalle Right. And your question with that is? Kanner Well, how will it affect it and how will that affect the area around it? VanDeWalle I'd like to have Jeff or someone else answer the question. Davidson I have to admit, Steven, I'm not familiar with the basin you're talking about. VanDeWalle The storm water facility. Kanner Yeah, that's shared with Hickory Hill Park. Davidson I mean, there's the storm water detention basin in Hickory Hill Park. Kanner There's also one outlined here. I believe next to the wetland. VanDeWalle The storm water management area. North Dodge ImprOvements January 30, 2001 Governor Street to Interstate gO Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 16 Kanner Storm water management area? Davidson Okay, that does come up and touch the highway. Right. Kanner YeaIx, so the question is how will the road affect that and the drainage of that water and so forth? Davidson Is that taken into ... I mean, I assume when the road is designed, Steven, there'll be a hydrologie study done to size the culvert and if there needs to be some type of downstream, you know, process of removing sediment or something like that, that that will all be taken into consideration in the design of the road. But I don't think it's anything that's been taken into consideration at this point. I mean, we'll have to engineer that. Kanner Well, it is a concern and I didn't see it addressed in here, and so that's something that I think... Davidson Well, we should so note that as a comment. Kanner Thank you. White My name is Bob White. It looks to me like this street can be improved greatly. You're saying, put a stop light at Prairie du Chien and maybe overhaul that intersection and make turning lanes, but I don't understand the need to go clear back to Governor with turning lanes. Also, I think it'd improve greatly by putting a stop light and turn lanes at ConklinfDubuque Road. It'd make it easier for people to get in and out ofHy Vee. The other thing I don't understand is, I asked you about it, is this 8 foot sidewalk they are putting. I have a business on that street, and there's not that many people going up and down the street. Ijast don't understand it. Davidson Just for the benefit of the audience, the 8 foot sidewalk is part of the City's overall design for arterial streets to have a sidewalk on one side of the street that will accommodate both bicyelists who are more comfortable being on the sidewalk than on the street, as well as pedestrians. You really can't do that with a four foot sidewalk, and that's why all the arterial street improvement projects that we've done recently, Rohret Road and First Avenue, they've all had the 8 foot sidewalk put on one side. That's not anything unique to this particular project, but to the City' s overall design of medal streets. White Is Governor an arterial street? Davidson Yes, it is. North Dodge Improvements January 30, 200 I Governor S~reet to Interstate 80 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 17 White Why does the City not have sidewalks along it, next to ... on their property. Davidson Next to what property? White Happy Hollow playground. Davidson If that street or sidewalk was ever reconstructed we would at that point consider an 8 foot sidewalk. White There's no sidewalk there. Davidson Right, there's no sidewalk there now. White Why not? Davidson There are arterial streets all over town that don't have sidewalks along them, it's just a matter of money and the ability to put them in. But if there was one put it, it would be considered for the wider width. White Okay. And there's other arterial streets in residential areas that don't have sidewalks? Davidson Some, sure. Or have just the four foot sidewalks. For example, recently ... not recently, but in the early 90s, we reconstructed Kirkwood Avenue and because of the desires of the adjacent people who live along there, they were able to convince the City Council not to put the 8 foot sidewalk along Kirkwood Avenue and so the City Council decided that, for that particular project, it should only be four foot sidewalks on both sides. And that's just a matter of the political process and what they decide for every individual project. Whim I still don't understand why you want wide sidewalks there when the City won't even put them in on their own property. It doesn't make sense to me. Nichols I guess I, my name is Judy Nichols, and I would like to reiterate one comment that was made by someone earlier. About the trees and the destruction of even just grass and shrubbery and just wild growth that rims up and down that Highway 1 area. It's very easy for the City to say, well you know we're only going to wide the street by so many feet. But we all know that when they get in there and they start their developing and they start their digging, it goes well, well beyond just those few extra feet needed to widen a road, and they end up really destroying a lot of natural growth that exists on either side of the road. So I would really like the City to address whether or not they will replace at the City's expense any trees and shrubbe~ that does get destroyed as a result of the construction, and if there will be any new growth planted. Because there is going to be a lot of concrete now, a North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor Street to Interstate 80 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 18 lot more concrete, which means that for those of us that live in that area it's going to be a lot more noisy. Any time you start removing trees and shrubs and replacing it with concrete, that means the noise is just that much intensified. And the cars will be going faster. We all know that that' s what happens on four lanes, three lanes, you widen roads, you go faster, which means higher speeds, higher noise levels. So I think that all tics in there together. I'm also just, there has, I don't know, I haven't read this plan, so this is a question but it's also a concem- that when you start talking about highways or super highways, I know along a lot of highways they end up like building like unsightly concrete barriers or walls or things like that, I've seen that in different, you know, ureas. And I, for one, just don't want to see that and don't want to have that unless they serve some type of purpose. And I can easily see, you know, you putting, you know, instead of grass we're going to have gravel and some concrete thing, and so I'm just real concerned about the appeurance and the noise and the destruction of the natural growth. I'm also wondering about stoplights and I assume at the cross streets that they will be computerized, if I can use that word, so that during non-peak hours or like on a Saturday or Sunday when the traffic is not heavy going up and down that highway, that if you were on a cross street and you want to cross traffic and go left, you won't have to sit and wait and wait and wait and wait because the light is red for non-existent traffic. So I assume that that will be done, or it's a question, is it going to be done? Also, there is going to be some lighting up and down that roadway that I assume you will have to take out, and I am wondering what is it going to be replaced with? What type of lights? And how will this affect existing properties as well? And there is also a liUle stretch of road that actually intersects Conkiln and Dodge Street Court, but it rims out to the highway, and it runs kind of right ... I don't know if it's part of the cemetery or not, but it really is not Conklin. If you actually look at it, it is actually Dodge Street Court crossing Conklin right there by the cemetery. And I' m, I don't know what' s going to happen to that, is that going to be closed off?. Because technically, if you are coming down Conklin you can either go straight or you can kind of veer left to get to the highway from the purk. And I don't know if that's going to be closed off or not. Davidson I'll answer that one Judy. That will be not the way it is now, where you can go two different directions out of Conklin Lane, just because if we were ever to signalize it in the future that wouldn't work. That will be made more a of a four way, it won't be exactly 90 degrees but more of a four way type of intersection. I appreciate your comments. There will be a landscaping plan prepared. We'll try to work with the property owners on that, certainly acknowledge your concems about that. And certainly the traffic signals, they are computerized. You may have read in the paper recently about the video detection that we have now, it's a much smarter system. It can be set for different times of day depending on how the traffic is moving, and certainly the idea of being able to get a detection from the side street and not have to wait all day long, we agree completely. North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor SWeet to Interstate 80 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 19 Lentz I might just add one more comment. One of your questions, I believe, was whether there would be concrete barriers along this roadway. No, that's not the plan that there would need to be. The road would be built to standards that would not require that, and I believe even on the east end right now where you have those cable guardrails, those are there because of the very steep embankments. Those would not be there under any improvement either. Donahue Good evening. My name is Penny Donahue. My husband, Richard, and I live on Dubuque Road, so I'm very familiar with that intersection there and the stretch of road that we're discussing, I guess, tonight. I have to say that I'm disappointed in some aspects, that the only thing it seems like we're concerned about is widening the road, which is actually going to cause more traffic. And there hasn't been any mention about maybe looking into some kind of public transportation. Or making Iowa City more appealing for, instead of all the ways to get in and out of it in your cars, to maybe make it more attractive to have some alternative. I'm an Iowa City native, and I truthfully see Iowa City losing a lot of its flavor. It's just, I'm not against progress but I do question sometimes how we go about it. I guess that's all I wanted to say. Dunham Laura Morgan Dunham. Related to the computerized or sensitive traffic signals, we'd actually put this in writing after the last meeting, but if spot improvements would come under consideration again, I'd like to put forward the idea of being able to control even the intersection at Prairie du Chien by a smart traffic signal instead of a turning lane, one that would be scheduled so that all oncoming traffic would stop so that, you know, the traffic can either turn left or go straight. And that might be one possibility instead of widening the road at all. Going back to the trees again, that section with either 3 or 4 lanes, the section between Governor and Prairie du Chien, would lose all of its trees along the street which not only affects noise, which is very hue, but also the trees provide protection from heat, from pollutants, as well. And without any shade trees on that street it's going to be pretty brutal. Especially with more concrete and more traffic, and traffic that's sitting there waiting to turn. And the last comment I have is just a concern that there is a little bit of a class issue to this. And that is because, particularly on that stretch between Governor and Prairie du Chien, those are properties of lower value, they tend to be smaller houses and older homes, and my concern is that those are the people who are ultimately going to sacrifice trees and property and quality of life, and the people who are going to benefit the most from these improvements are the people who own businesses further north on Dodge, and the people who have been able to afford to move out of town, not deal with other peoples' traffic and not pay city taxes to pay for the improvements. Davidson Well, thank you all very much for your comments. It looks like we have 10 minutes or a little longer, certainly as long as it takes. If you'd like to mill around the room, look at any of the drawings, grab one of us. If you've got a question for North Dodge Improvements January 30, 2001 Governor Street to Interstate 80 Public Hearing Iowa City, Iowa Page 20 the DOT representatives, certainly if you think of something tonight after you get home, a comment you wish you would have made, make sure you take your form that you have attached to your handout and send it to us, and make sure that we get it by the 12th. Thank you very much. I, Neana M. Saylor, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true record of the public hearing of January 30, 2001. STATE OF IOWA COUNTY OF JOHNSON Subscribed and swom to before me by onthis ,}/_ap/~ dayof Notary Public in and for Iowa I''l KELUE K. TUTTLE I I~(CC~,',ISS~NEXPIRES /~1xi 5, 2002 20 OVERHEAD SLIDES USED DURING THE PRESENTATION North Dodge Street Corridor Study Iowa City, Iowa Location Public Hearing January 30, 2001 Purpose of Public Hearing · Review Environmental Assessment Process · Review Purpose and Need for Project · Discuss Alternatives Considered · Review Initial Findings · Receive Public Comments and Questions Environmental Assessment Process · Public and Agency Coordination · Data Collection · Document Preparation and Distribution · Public Hearing and Comment Period --Public Comments due February 12, 2001 · Final Environmental Document Federal and State Laws · National Environmental Policy Act · Park/Recreational Areas · Archaeological and Historical Sites · Wetlands · Endangered Species Project Location Purpose and Need for Project · Increased Traffic Volumes ,-Local and "Through" Traffic · Lack of Convenient Alternative Routes · Pedestrian and Bicycle Traffic · Improved Traffic Safety · Compatibility with Other Highway 1 Improvements 3 Traffic Volumes Governor Street to Prairie du Chien 16000 14000 · ~qTnn e 13500 12000 ......... _.,~.12-~6~ .............. · 10000 o. 8000 Desirable e Maximum ~ 6000 T, arfi,, .c e 4000 For 2-Lanes 2000 0 1986 1990 1994 1998 Traffic Volumes Captain Irish Parkway to 1-80 12000 ~ .~ 10800 10000 j r-, 8000 u} 6000 · ~ 4000 .c 2000 0 1986 1990 1994 1998 4 Traffic Served by N. Dodge St. · Local Traffic ,- 17 Residential Driveways ,- 15 Commercial Driveways ,- 9 Side Streets ,- Other Future Development · "Through" Traffic Future Traffic Estimates · East of Captain Irish Parkway: 10-15% Increase · West of Captain Irish Parkway: 5% Decrease · Traffic Forecasts Assume 1st Avenue Extension and Captain Irish Parkway Are Built Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodation · Currently No · All Alternatives Continuous Sidewalks Include Sidewalks on Both Sides · ! ~ Street Pattern in Northeast Iowa City 6 Traffic Safety: Crash Locations, 1994-1998 .... i, L,i ;:: ,,"'--"z~-.L...---~ :-::~.:: Traffic Crashes, 1994-1998 North Dodge Street · Total Crashes = 86 · Injuries = 33 · High Crash Locations: ,-Prairie du Chien (26) ,- Dubuque Road East (18) ,- Dubuque Road West (11) ,- Bristol Drive (11) 7 Other Improvements Planned For Iowa Highway 1 Summary of Project Need · Increased Traffic Volumes -- Local and "Through" Traffic · Lack of Convenient Alternative Routes · Pedestrian and Bicycle Traffic · Improved Traffic Safety · Compatibility with Other Highway 1 Improvements 8 Alternatives Considered · Widen to 3 Lanes (With Center Turn Lane) -- Includes 4 Lanes, Captain Irish Pkwy to 1-80 · Widen to 4 Lanes · Spot Improvements · "Do Nothing" · Improvements Expected for All Alternatives: ,- Signalize Prairie du Chien Intersection ,- Sidewalks on Both Sides Typical Cross Section 3-Lane Alternative 9 Typical Cross Section 4-Lane Alternative I TYPIClE. CIIC)Sc SEClION "Spot Improvements" Alternative · Prairie du Chien Intersection ,- Add Turn Lanes (Prairie du Chien & Governor St.) · - Traffic Signals at Prairie du Chien · Dubuque Road / Conklin Lane Intersection ,- Add Turn Lanes ,- Realign Side Roads to Eliminate Offiet · Widen Dodge Street Between Captain Irish Pkwy and 1-80 · ~ Widen to 4 Lanes 10 Limits of Spot Improvements Final Alternatives · Widen to 3 Lanes · Widen to 4 Lanes · "Do Nothing" 11 Summary of Environmental Impacts Factors 3 -Lane 4~Lane Length 1.3 mi 1.3 mi Properties 23 28 Businesses 4 4 Woodland Impacts 4.05 ac 4.60 ac Wetland Impacts 0.22 ac 0.22 ac Estimated Cost $4,200,o00 $4,525,o00 Estimated Project Schedule · Public Information Meeting - April 26, 2000 · Draft Environmental Assessment - December 11, 2000 · Public Hearing - January 30, 2001 · Final Environmental Document - March, 2001 · Design and Property Acquisition - 2002 · Construction - 2003 12 Public Comments Please State Your Name and Spell Your Last Name John Smith S -M-I-T-H 13 SIGN-IN SHEETS SIGN-IN LOCATION PUBLIC I:IE.~RING NORTH DODGE STREET IMPROVEMENTS IOWA CITY, IOWA Name Address Phone Number ~-<. ,;, SIGN-IN LOCATION PUBLIC HEARING NORTH DODGE STREET IMI~ROVEMENTS IOWA CITY, IOWA Name Address Phone Number ,~ / 7/o ~ y~~ ~ a ga~ lS~ ~ C.A 2Z7-/60/ 3g~lO.O~-In.~ SIGN-IN LOCATION PUBLIC HEARING NORTH DODGE STREET IMPROVEMENTS IOWA CITY, IOWA Name Address Phone Number 38640/10.050/Si~-ln.doc LETTERS RECEIVED FOLLOWING THE HEARING (RESPONSES TO LETTERS ARE ATTACHED) TB_; P. 01 ~:x]-szEN COMMENT FORM D~artment of Planning and Community Dewlopm~t 410 ~ Was~ 3~ Io~ Ci~, Io~ 52~0 RE: N~ ~ S~ ~ ~lio In~ 30, 2~1 c~,.,,~: ~ ~ ~ ~ dcsir~ a r~spons~. WritU~ statements rcc.~iv~d by Feonm~ 12, 2001, will be included in Ihe publk~ hearing Wang~pt. March 2, 2001 Mr. Mike Gatens 2045 Dubuque Road Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Tech Project No. 38640 Dear Mr. Gatens: Our finn, Earth Tech, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the public hearing for the North Dodge Stxeet project. On behalf of the City, we would like to thank you for your interest in this project. Enclosed you will find a copy of the Project Statement that was dis~buted at the Location Public Hearing on January 30, 2001. This statement provides concise background information on the project. The Enviromental Assessment is available for your review at the Iowa City Public Library and the City Clerk's office. Currently, only the 3- and 4-lane alternatives remain under consideration. After considering the project impacts and all of the public comments, the City Council is expected to choose a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. Constxuetion of this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. A copy of your letter and our response will be included in the public heating transcript for this project. If you have any further questions, please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle Enclosure: As Noted CITIZEN COMMENT FORM TO: Mr. Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director ~ h.~nt o f Planning and Community Dcvelopmcnt 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 R_E: North Dodge Street Location Public Hearing January 30, 2001 Comments: Sycamore Street, Suite 222, Post Office Box t49). Waterloo. Iowa 5o7o4=x497 February 27, 2001 Ms. Judy Nichols 1311 Dodge Street Cotat Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Tech Project No. 38640 Dear Ms. Nichols: Our fro'n, Earth Tech, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the public hearing for the North Dodge Street project. On behalf of the City, we would like to thank you for your interest in this project. T · I ¢ p h o n e You expressed concern over the replacement of trees removed as a result of the project. As left ~, 9.: 3 :. 6 s s t Davidson mentioned at the hearing, there will be a landscaping plan prepared during the final design phase. If any trees or shrubs are removed from private property, these will be addressed as part of the F m c s i m i I e fight-of-way acquisition process. 319.2~,:1.o27t YOU also inquired about lighting, traffic signals and other design details along the corridor. Specific information regarding these improvements will be evaluated during the final design stages of the project and have not been determined at this time. We do anticipate that any traffic signals would be "traffic actuate{" and would not cycle continuously when no t~affic is present. The short roadway near the cemetery will probably be modified or i~corporated into the Conklin Lane intersection. Currently, only the 3- and 4-1ane alternatives remain under consideration. After considering the project impacts and all of the public comments, the City Council is expected to choose a Preferred Ahernative for this project in the near future. Construction of this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. A copy of your letter and our response will be included in the public hearing transcript for this project. If you have further questions please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle E A R T H ~ T E C H 38(>40/10,050/R~ponseLl~.doc-12 A ~ tt~rrEsNArtO~ lr~. COA4PANY February 10, 2001 For the public hearing on the widening of north Dodge Stree~ I am the owner of a home on the corner of Dodge and Bristol streets, and was in attendance at the recent public hearing at Shlmek School. Of the options reviewed at that meeting, [ am strongly in favor of the option which widens the majority of that section of Dodge SL to three lanes. This option seems infinitely prefer#able to the options of four lanes, piecemeal options, or dolng nothing. The three-lane option would seem to accomplish the necessary reduction of traffic congestion wlthouh a) taking any more land than is necessary; b) posing various safeAy risks which are impBed by the four-lane option; or c) turning file street into even more of a speeding nightmare than it already is. Having stated my preference, rd like to also comment on several aspects of this pwject beyond the basic options; 1) It has always seemed irresponsible to me to label a lengthy piece of North Dodge as a 45 m.p.h. speed limit zone. Most of that seclion runs through a mostly- residential neighborhood, with many driveways exiting onto Dodge. Oiven the fact that this speed limit encourages average speeds closer to 55 m.p.h., it is worth your life to try entering Dodge from a side street or a driveway during some periods of the day. I worry that widening of the street will only serve to create an even higher average rate of speed, and make entering from side streets and driveways impossible. 2) The aide of my prope~y which bordeB on Dodge is a high, steep bluff. Prior to three years ago, the bluff was densely covered with mature h'ees and bushes. Then somebody .... the City or the Highway Co~nmlssion or a utility company ---came end cut almost all of them down. I could never get any agency to confess. No piece of any tree which was cot down was posing a threat to power fines or hid'tic. Since then, a slow process of erosion has begun,. I am concerned that a plan which might cut into that bank would cause additional erosion to begin, and ultimately would threaten the structomi integrity of my home. Sincerely, t0i'riatol Driv "' H pe Iowa City, IA 52245 Sycamore Street, Suite a=a. Post Office Box 14970 ~{~aterloo, Iowa 5o7o4.1497 February 27, 2001 Mr. John B. Hatper 1310 Bristol Drive Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Tech Project No. 38640 Dear Mr. Hatper: Oar fLrm, Earth Tech, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the public hearing for the North Dodge Street project. On behalf of the City, we would like to thank you for your interest in this project and the commcnts you have submitted. You expressed concern over speed limits and erosion control. Since North Dodge Street is a State Highway, speed limits on this roadway are established by the Iowa DOT. If North Dodge Street is widened, the DOT will then conduct a new speed limit study to determine if the speed limit should be changed. An erosion contxol and slope stability plan will be developed during the final design phase, and will be implemented during construction. This plan may include slope controls such as silt fences and vegetative cover to prevent erosion. You also mentioned the removal of trees as a result of the project. A landscaping plan will be developed as part of final design. As the project progresses into the final design stages and right-of-way acquisition, the number of trees removed from each individual property can be b~tter assessed. Replacement or payment for tzees would either be .included in the project or negotiated with each property owner. Currently, only the 3o and 4-lane alternatives remain under consideration. After considering the project impacts and all of the public comments, the City Council is expected to choose a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. Consauction of this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. A copy of your letter and our response will be included in the public hearing transcript for this project. If you have any further questions please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Cormtotally Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle E A R T H ~,~ T E 13 H 38640/10.050/~seLtrs.cloc-2 CI~Z~N COMMENT FORM TO: Mr. Jeff ~n, A~i~t ~tor ~ent of Pl~g ~d ~i~ ~velop~t 410 ~ WE~ngon S~t Io~ Ci~, Io~ 52240 No~ ~ge S~t ~fi~ ~blic H~ J~ 30, 2~1 Please Print Name: I (do~o not desire a response. Address: W fi~ ~tem~ received by Fe~ 12, 2001, ~11 ~ ~clud~ ~ ~e public ~g ~pt. ~ Pho : 3~:o.o~t~ 5ox Sycamore Street. Suite 2zz, Post Office Box z49~, ~zmterloo, lowx 5o7o4.z497 February 27, 2001 Mr. Ed Wasseman 1252 Oakes Drive Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Teeh Project No. 38640 Dear Mr. Wasseman: Our firm, Earth Tech, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the public hearing for the North Dodge Street project. On behalf of the City, we would like to thank you for your interest in this project. Ctm'ently, only the 3- and 4-1ane alternatives remain under consideration. After considering the project impacts and all of the public comments, the City Council is expected to choose a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. Conslxuclion of this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. A copy of your letter and our response will be included in the public hearing transcript for this project. If you have any fuaher questions, please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle Cff~ZEN COMMENT FORM TO: Mr. JeffDavidson, Assistant Director Dq~lmnent of Hanning and Community Development 410 East Washington Sheet Iowa City, Iowa 52240 RE: North Dodge Sleet Localion Public Heating January 30, 2001 ' 3"" ' Please Print I (do [] do not El) W~ mte~ ~eiv~ by Feb~ 12, 2~1, ~ ~ ~ll~clud~me~blic~g~pt. t~'~ t~ a-~. ~ ~' ~C 3~o.~~ Sycamore Street, Suite 22=, Post Office Box t497, ,(?atefloo, Iowa 5o7o4.t497 Febn~ry 27, 2001 Ms. Ann Bovbjerg 1710 Ridge Road Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Teeh Project No. 38640 Dear Ms. Bovbjerg: Our finn, Earth TeeIx, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the public hearing for the North Dodge Street project. On behalf of the City, we would like to thank you for your interest in this project. Currently, only the 3- and 4-1ane alternatives remain under consideration. Both of these alternatives would include sidewalks and/or bikeways on both sides of the street. ARer considering the project impacts and all of the public cormncnts, the City Council is expected to choose a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. Construction of this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. A copy of your letter and our response will be included in the public hearing transcript for this project. If you have any further questions, please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle CIT"ZRN COMMgrer YORM TO: Mr. JeffDavidson, Assimnt Dir~tor ~t of Plarming and Communit~ Dcvelopngnt 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 RE: North Dodge Street Location Publi~ Hearing January 30, 2001 Comments: 1. We would like to see any project designed to limit the d~struction of woodland as much as possible. The project should involve the remova:X. of as few trees as possible. Would it be necessary for all trees to be removed from the additional right-of-way shown by the red lines on the maps displayed at the public hearing? Would design standards pertaining to this project allow retention of standing trees within the borderlines of the fight-of-way itself?. I would appreciate any answers you can give me regarding how decisions are made concerning how much clear space there has to be along a roadway of this type. We together with others in our neighborhood would prefer that every possible step be taken to avoid rooting up mature tr~es no matter what alternative is selected. We also feel that the three lane alternative would be preferable unless there is a ' clear advantage gained by going to the four lane design alternative. 2. Why is it necessary to destroy .22 acres ofwetland? The area in question appears to be a natural depression where water gathers mainly because the road itself was constructed. Could any wetland that was destroyed be replaced by adding to the dimensions of the wetland going further south and east? Again we would like to see the wetland disturbed as little as possible and replaced completely if it is necessary to disturb any part of the existing wetland. 3. We are regular users of the city bus and we request that the existing bus stop in front of HyVee and any other bus stops in the project area be preserved or if possible improved. Name: 1 (do ~ not ~) desire a r~nse. Address: WfiUen mtemen~ meiv~ by Feb~ 12. 2~ 1, ~ll~inoludedin~publio~g~pt. P~ne: 5or Sycamore Street, Suite zaz, Post Office Box t49}. ~aterloo, Iowa $o7o4.14!~7 February 27, 2001 Mr. Gerald F. Denning 1146 Oakes Drive Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Tech Project No. 38640 Dear Mr. Denning: Our fu-m, EatJh Tech, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the public hearing for the North Dodge Street project. On behalfofthe City, we would like to thank you for your interest in this project. T · t e p h o n · In your comments you expressed soma concern over the removal and replacement of trees, mitigation s ~ 9- 23 a. 6 s s t of wetlands, and the preservation of current bus stops. Regarding the trees, it is not necessary to remove all trees within the future right-of-way line, as long as they are outside of the safety "clear Facsimile zone" and do not interfere with the construction. During final design, the need for removal of each tree will be evaluated and a landscaping plan developed. 3 x 9. a s 2. o = 7: With regard to weftands, in compliance with the Clean Water Act any wetlands filled by this project will require a Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A wetland mitigation plan will be developed during the {'mal design stage of the project. Your suggestion of extending the existing wetland to the south and east may be possible, but this will have to be determined during fmal design. Regarding bus stops, it is currently the intent of the City of Iowa City to retain all existing bits stops. At this titan, however, we are not aware of any plan to improve these stops. Currently, only the 3- and 4-lane alternatives remain under consideration. After considering the project impacts and all of the public comments, the City Council is expected to choose a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. ConsInaction of this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. A copy of your letter and our response will be included in the public hearing transcript for this project. If you have any further questions, please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Community Developmaut, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle CTsZV. N COMMENT FORM TO: Mr. leffDavidson, Assistant Director Department of Planning and Community Development 410 East Washington Sheet Iowa City, Iowa 522,10 RE: North Dodge Slreet Location Public Heating January 30, 2001 Comments: Please Print I (do~ do not D) dgsirea~n~. Ad~ess: ~ I g~ W~ s~tegB regeived by Feb~ 12, 2~1, Mll~ingludedin~e~bli¢~gg~pt. ~DeA G~V , IA 3~10.0~~ 5or Sycamore Sireel:, Suite 222, poll: Of(ice Box z49,. *+Vaterioo. Iowa 5o7o4.t497 February 27, 2001 Mar. Jay Patel 2153 ACT Circle Iowa City, Iowa 52245-9581 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Tech Project No. 38640 Dear Mr. Patel: Our fum, Earth Tech, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the public heating for the Notat Dodge Street project. On behalf of the City, we would like to thank you for your interest in this project. You expressed an interest in improving the North Dodge/ACT Ch'cle intersection. Please note that both the "3-lane" or "4-lane" alternative would widen the roadway to 4-lanes between Captain Irish Parkway and 1-80, thus providing an additional lane to improve the left turning traffic. Also, ACT will be closing their side of ACT Circle and, during construction, this intersection will be lowered and will create better site distance at this location. When Iowa DOT reconstructs the south side of the 1-80 interchange, it will be signalized. which will provide better gaps in traffic for vehicles getting in and out of ACT Circle. A signal here in the future is not out of the question, but it would need to be evaluated after these other improvements are completed. Currently, only the 3o and 4-lane alternatives remain under consideration. After considering the project impacts and all of the public comments, the City Council is expected to choose a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. Construction of this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. A copy of your letler and our response will be included in the public hearing transcript for this project. If you have further questions please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Ten'y J. VanDeWalle TO: JeffDavidson Dept. Planning and Community Development 410 East Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240 DATE: January 31, 2001 RE: North Dodge Street I attended the meeting last night at Shimek and was amazed/amused/disappointed at the citizen input regarding Dodge Street. I, too, am concerned about the trees, but there is such a desperate need to do something with Dodge Street, I'm willing to see some things removed. Captain Irish Parkway is a good example of how the city plants - in fact, there are trees on both sides of that street and I'm wondering where the power lines will go - underground? And Foster Road is a good example of how the city under-plants as not one tree was planted on that steep slope going up Foster Road. A 3-lane street would be preferable to me. That turning lane is really needed not only at HyVee, but also at Dubuque Rd., Bristol Dr., ACT Circle and the Press Citizen. It is an awful feeling when I'm sitting on Dodge, waiting to turn on Bristol and folks are bearing down on me going way too fast. And then they pass me on the shoulder not slowing down one bit. This happens about 95% of the time and I'm still not used to it! I've seen people practically go up on the sidewalk to get around a ear waiting to mm at HyVee. The passing lane would be much, much safer. I'm wondering if the 8 foot bike path/sidewalk and another sidewalk are both needed. It doesn't seem there is much foot traffic along Dodge from HyVee on. I know it will be much safer, but there are currently wide shoulders (wide enough for a car!!!) and still not much bike traffic. Maybe that's one area for reduction in cost of the project. The speed on Dodge St. should be limited to 25 mph all the way from I80. It is hard to get people to slow down when they're coming off the interstate or coming straight in on Hwy. 1. People are so impatient they can hardly wait to get to that 2-lane 1-way at Governor and Dodge so they can go even faster! The speed on Dodge seemed to be a concern for everyone at the meeting. I know that widening Dodge St. will affect many homeowners and businesses (my personal opinion of Hilltop is it could go, too. It's an eyesore and sits right on the street!) I think your timeline gives those folks plenty of time to relocate or adjust to the project. We need the First Avenue/Captain Irish Parkway link to help get some of that traffic off Dodge St. Don't we need that link for a detour when the Dodge St. project gets started? It would have been nice to ask questions without having to go to the microphone: How wide is a 3- lane road? A 4-lane road? How much extra feet per side is required for sidewalks and space between sidewalk and street? This would give us an idea on how wide the project might be. Thanks for listening] February 27, 2001 Ms. Barb Jones 1318 Bristol Drive Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Tech Project No. 38640 Dear Ms. Jones: Our finn, Eartit Tech, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the public hearing for the North Dodge Street project. On behalf of the City, we would like to thank you for your interest in this project. T · I · p h o n e In your letter you inquired about sidewalks and the widths of a 3- and 4-1ane road. The 4-lane 3 ~ 9- a 3 2.6 s 3 x alternative would widen the existing 2-lane roadway on both sides to obtain a roadway approximately 53 feet wide. The 3-lane alternative will result in a roadway approximately 45 feet wide. It is Facsimile currently the City's policy to construct an 8-foot bikeway on one side of new arterial streets and a sidewalk on the other. The distance between the sidewalk and sleet will be determined during final You expressed concern over speed limits on this roadway. Since North Dodge Street is a State Highway, speed limits on this roadway are established by the Iowa DOT. If North Dodge Street is widened, the DOT will then conduct a new speed limit study to determine if the speed limit should be changed. Cun'entiy, only the 3- and 4-lane alternatives remain under consideration. After considering the project impacts and all of the public comments, the City Council is expected to choose a Preferred Alternative for titis project in the near fumre. Constmction ofthis project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. A copy ofyottr letter and our response will be included in the public hearing transcript for this project. If you have further questions please call Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle [ A R T H ~ T E C H 38640/10,050/RespcmseLtrs.doc-8 February 5, 2001 Douglas E, and Barbara L, Patrick 1804 North Dodge Street Iowa City~ Iowa 52245 319-337-4417 Mr. JeffDavidson~ Assistant Director Department of planning and Community Development 410 East Washinglon Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 RE: North Dodge Street Location Public Hearing January 30, 2001 Dear Sir: We were unable to attend the above mentioned public hearing but would like to ask that this correspondence be included in the heating transcript, In general we support a modification to this entrance corridor to lowa. City, Having lived on North Dodge for 6 ~ years we realize that at times there is a congestion problem, Our major concern at this time is whether our property entrance would have a restricted exit and entrance after any new desi~gn and construction were completed, Our property entranc~ is on the west side_ofNoxth Dodg~ Streetand approximatelye00 to 400 feet south of the Captain Irish Interchange. At this time a divided highway stops ,~ust north of our entrance, Under current conditions .we .are .able to turn north on NQrth Dodge due to the divider stopping at apoint that allows us enough room to tom in that direction, We .find that this space. is just s~ffiaient for. our personal vehicles and. our recreational vehicle (32' travel trailer and tow vehicle), If North Dodge is expanded to multiple lanes and the divider is extended any farther south we. would no. long~r.be a, ble to turn north onto Dodge nor would we be able to enter our property if we coming north from downtown Iowa City. If we assume that a divided highway. is constructed in front of our drive we would be required to drive several blocks in order to rum into our driveway or onto Dodge Street ~diug oil which way, one wanted. to, .go~ I~we~ were~ conling north from downtown we would have to tom at Bristol then right on Old Dobuque to the Captain Irish interse~;tion then south on North Dodge to ou~ entrance, ffwe want~cl to go north on Dodg~ and a divider were present we would needto tom south from our driveway and go to Bristol then to Old Dubuque to .the ,Captain. Irish inters~ion .~nd obtain 1he north lane, of Dodge at that point. Both of there options result in driving a circle of several blocks to obtain entranc~ .at .exitto ~r. from ouE pml;~ty- It is our understanding that at this time a decision regarding design and construction is only. in the .d~v~lopmant.gage, We .als~ .underatand that this ix a joint pmj~t between Iowa City and the Iowa Department of Transportation due to this being a state highway. W~ f~l as owaen of this~ proper~ that arty design that would result in an .entrance or exit restriction would cause a alevaluation of our property and would pose a hardship of usage. It. ix ~slced thatthis, be ~ into consideration ~regards.to.any desig~,and. that we be advised of any design work that would concent our pwperty Douglas E. Patrick Ba~han-LP~dc. , 5ox Sycamore Street, Suite 222. Post Office Box 1497, ,4/aterloo, Iowa 5o7o4-I497 February 27, 2001 Mr. and Mrs. Douglas E. Patrick 1804 North Dodge Street Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Subject: Proposed NorIll Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Teeh Project No. 38640 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Patrick: Our firm, Earth Tech, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the public hearing for the North Dodge Street project. On behalf of the City, we would like to thank you for your interest in this project. T · I e p h o n e You expressed concern over access to your property following improvements to Noah Dodge Street. 3,9.2 3 2.6 s 3 · Currently only the 3- and 4-lane alternatives remain under consideration. Both alternatives are designed as an undivided roadway. Accesses to existing businesses and properties are not expected to Facsimile be closed or rolecared by this project, and we do not expect the raised median to be extended further south. 319.232.o27I City planners and the City Council will take into account project impacts and public comments and will choose a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. Coustruction on this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. Currently, only the 3- and 4-lane alternatives remain under consideration. After considering the project impacts and all of the public comments, the City Council is expected to choose a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. Constxuction of this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. A copy of your letter and our response will be included in the public hearing transcript for this project. If you have further questions, please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle Crr~zF, N COlVIMENTFO1BI TO: Mr. J'cffDaviclson, Aasistant Dixector Dci~uhn~nt of Platming and Community Devclopm~t 410 ~ Washington Strcet Iowa City, Iowa 52240 RE: North Dodge Street Locadon Public Hea~hg January 30, 2001 5oi Sycamore Street, Suite 222, Post Office Box x49~. .llterloo, Iowa 5o7o4.1497 Febmary 27, 2001 Mr. Charles Kinney 858 St. Annes Drive Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Teeh Project No. 38640 Dear Mr. Kinney: Our fkrm, Earth Teeh, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the public hearing for the North Dodge Street project. On hahalf of the City, we would like to thank you for your interest in this project. T e I e p h o, e Currently, only the 3- and 4-lane alternatives remain under consideration. Regarding your comments 3 r 9.232.6 s 3 t on the number of lanes, the Iowa DOT and other states have done a lot of before-and-atler research on 3~lane roadways and have found them to be safe designs for this level of traffic. After considering the F a c s i m i I e project impacts and all of the public comments, the City Council is expected to choose a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. Construction of this project is tentatively scheduled for 3,9. a 3 a. o 27, 2003. A copy of your letter and our response will be included in the public hearing transcript for this project. If you have any further questions, please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle 38M0/10.050/ReslxmseLtrs.doc-10 NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION 09 February 2001 JeffDavidson, Assistant Director Departmere of Planning and Community Development 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 RE: North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to Interstate 80 The Northside Neighborhood Association provides this correspondence for inclusion in the printed transcript of the location public hearing concerning the above project. Although outside the defined boundaries of the neighborhood association, the project directly impacts safety and quality of life within our neighborhood. The association appreciates the oppommities provided by city staff to solicit publiC input into the project. City staff is to be commended for an outstanding job in communicating with all perceived stake holders, dearly presenting, in an unbiased manner, the alternatives available, and soliciting input. The Northside Neighborhood Association supports the North Dodge Street neighborhood in concerns of safety and quality of life. Specifically we support the following concerns: ~ Volume and speed of traffic. A design speed of 50 m.p.h. affords the potemial for abuse. · We strongly support maintaining the present, posted speed limits of 45 m.p.h. and 25 n~p.h, · We support inclusion ofstoplights at the intersections with both Captain Irish Parkway and Prairie Du Chien Road. · We encourage the addition of stoplights at the New Dubuque Road/Conklin Lane intersection and North Dodge Street and Governor Street intersection to slow traffic and remind drivers that they are in a residential neighborhood. · We support the inclusion of signage that would redirect through truck traffic around the residential neighborhood. ca Sidewalks and bikeways. We strongly support the inclusion of a continuous bikeway and sidewalks on both sides of the street. ca Bus shelters. We strongly support ma'mtaining present bus shelter locations and encourage the use of public transportation, ca 3-Lane alternative vs. 4-Lane alternative. We oppose the 4-lane alternative, preferring to minimize the width of concrete and provide more green space. Studies would seem to indicate that there is a significant reduef~on in the number of rear-end collisions in a 3-lane design, compared to a 4-lane design` ca Streetscaping and Landscaping. There is great potential to generate a feeling of welcome into Iowa City. · We believe it is important to rephce and an~oment trees and shrubs of North Dodge Street in a way that is sensitive to the diverse and historical nature of the neighborhood. · We support the use of street lights and street furnishings that are designed to complement the unique nature of North Dodge · We recommend the inclusion of Iowa City welcome signage comparable to the signage included in the Melrose Avenue and Dubuque Street entrances to our community. Mr. Davidson, thank you for the opportunity for the Northside Ne'~hborhood Association to provide input into thi.q project. For the Northside Neighborhood Association Steering Committee, C. Fitzpatrick ~ ~ Telephone: 337 3223 February 27, 2001 Mr. John C. Fitzpatxick 721 North Linn Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Teeh Project No. 38640 Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick: Our finn, Earth Tech, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the public heating for the North Dodge Street project. On behalf of the City, we would like to thank you for your interest in this project. T e I · p h o n · Curren~y, only the 3- and 4-lane alternatives remain under consideration. After considering the 5 t 9. a 32. 653 x project impacts and all of the public continents, the City Council is expected to choose a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. During the f'mal design stage, the City will be Facsimile developing the specific project details, such as signing, lighting, landscaping and traffic signals. Constxudion of this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. ~ ~ 9.2 ~ 2. o 27 ~ A copy of your letter and our response will be included in the public hearing txanscript for this project. If you had any further questions, please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle CITIZEN COMMENT FORM TO: Mr. Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director Depaament of Planning and Community I)evelopmant 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 RE: North Dodge Street Location Public Hearing Janumy 30, 2001 ~ 69 7~4~,~-k~ C,~ c44~.~.) I(dodnot~) Name: F{dro desirearesponse. Address: 170 I Written statements received by February 12, 2001, will be included in the public hearing transcript. ff-CJl~a Phone: 35q--o31 t8640/10.050/Commm6h~t.doc 5or Sycamoce Street, Suite azz0 Post Office Box s49~. .,/gtetZoo, Iowa 5o7o4.z497 Febnmry 27, 2001 Mr. Pedro J. Alvafez, Ph.D., P.E., D.E.E. 1701 Quincent Street Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Teeh Project No. 38640 Dear Mr. Alvafez: Our finn, Earth Tech, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the pubhe hearing for the North Dodge Street project. On behalf of the City, we would like to thank you for your interest in this project. T · t · p h o n e Enclosed you will fred a copy of the Project Statement that was distributed at the Location Public 3 t 9- a 3 a. 6 s 3 x Hearing on January 30, 2001. This statement provides concise background information on the project. The Environmental Assessment is also available for your review at the Iowa City Public L~rary and Facsimile the City Clerk's office. You are welcome to provide any comments on this document; however, the official reviews of the Environmental Assessment have already been conducted by the public resource 3 ~ 9- a 32. o 27 t agencies. Currently, only the 3- and 4-lane alternatives remain under consideration. After considering the project impacts and aH of the public comments, the City Council is expected to choose a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. Construction of this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. A copy of your letter and our response will be included in the public hearing transcript for this project. If you have any further questions, please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Deparlrnent of Planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Very truly yours, Earth Teeh Terry J. VanDeWalle Enclosure: As Noted Vanguard Properties, Ltd. February 6, 2001 Mr. JeffDavidson, Assistant Director Department of Planning and Community Development 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 RE: North Dodge Street Location Public Hearing January 30, 2001 Comments for the Public Record Dear Mr. Davidson: Hy Vee Food Stores, Inc. wishes to be on record in favor of improving the intersection of N. Dodge St., Dubuque Rd., and Conklin Ln. We arc particularly in favor of signalizing this intersection. The shoppers at our food store located on the NW corner of this intersection experienc~ great difficulty making left-turns in and letS-turns out of our parking lot fronting Dodge St. Our engineers have performed field tests to measure the amount of time motorists have to wait in traffm to make thos~ ldt-turns. During rush hours in the morning and evgning, shoppers can experience wait times as long as 2 ~ minutes when tttrning left in or out of our parking lot onto Dodge St. This is true as well for east bound motorists turning left onto Dubuque Rd. from Dodge St. or south bound motorists turning left onto Dodge St. from Dubuque Rd. Clearly this situation presents a safety hazard to all motorists on Dodge St. We believe the solution is to improve the Dodge St./Dubuquc Rd./Conklin Ln. inters~-'tion and signalize it. In the interest of public safety, shortened left-turn wait times, and improved traffic flow in all directions at this intersection, we urge the D~pa~ tment of Planning and Community Development to include these improvements and signalization in your plans. Si el , ~ \"., 15561 NW Madrid Driv~ Ms&rid, Iowa 50156 Phone:. 51~-795-4001 Far 515-795a049 ~o! Sycamore Street, Suite 222, Post Office Box 1497, Waterloo, Iowa 5o7o4.x497 Ma~h5,2~l Mr. John G. Kujac HyVee Food Stores, Inc. 15561 N'W Madrid Drive Madrid, Iowa 50156 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Tech Project No. 38640 Dear Mr. Kujac: Our firm, Earth Tech, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Telephone Assessment and assist with the public hearing for the improvements to North Dodge Street project. On behalf of the City, we would like to thank you for attending this hearing. We 3,9. z 32.653 ~ appreciate your interest in the project and the comments you have submitted. Facsimile YOU expressed concern regarding traffic congestion and traffic flow into and out of your 3,9-, 32 .o ~ 7 ~ facility. The addition of a traffic signal at Prairie du Chien, in conjunction with the one at Captain Irish Parkway is proposed as part of the initial project. These signals, when operational, will create new gaps in the traffic stream and may satisfy the needs at Dubuque Road. The proposed added lanes on North Dodge Street will also improve traffic flow and safety. The City intends to study the traffic volumes and delays at Dubuque Road after construction, and if warranted, traffic signals would then be installed. Currently only the 3- and 4-lane alternatives remain under consideration. City planners and the City Council will take into account project impacts and public comrpents and will ehooso a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. Conslruetion on this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. A copy of your letter and our response will be included in the public hearing transcript for this project. If you have any further questions, please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Sincerely, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle E A R T H ~ T E C H Please' find l~Omments attached. 1~: Robert ,White l(do ~idonot U) desimar~. Addrcsm 2112 Wes.tern Road WriU~n mu,mmts ~ by F~ 12, 2001, willlEii~ludcdintlE!mblic:hcm. i~trm~dpt Iowa City, Iowa -- 1~ 351~1323 (owner) Hilltop Sinclair '1123 N. Dodge St.- phone; 351-3129 February 7, 2001 JeffDavidson, Dept. of Plonning Iowa City Coun~l I have worked on north Dodge Street for the past 31 years and have seen many changcs in the traffic. I know some times traffic is very congcsted and there is room for improvement but I think some of the city' s ideas arc over done in light of the fact that the traffic vohmc is predicted to be lower for many years after First Ave. and Scott BIrd. arc completed. Turn lanes and a stoplight should be added at the Dodge Street and North Summit, Prairie Du Chicn Road intersection. There is no need for turn lanes the whole length of the street as traffic turning into private drives does not seem to be a great problem. Turn lanes as you approach the intersection would be sufficient and would not have the adverse affect on the homeowners along Dedgc that widening the whole street would. Them should also be turn lanes and a stoplight along with realignment of thc Dodge Street and North Dubuquc Road, Conklin Lane intcrseaion. The road west of this intersection is already quite wide and I think this could be accomplished without major changes to the road as it is now. These changes would greatly aid traffic going into and out ofHy-Vee. I feel the addition of S-foot sidewalks in this area is a waste of taxpayer money as there is very little foot and bicycle traffic in the area now. In these times when the city is burdened with a tight budget we should look for ways to save and not just throw money at a problem because a large part of it comes fxom the state. I hope the city is asking for public input because the are truly interested in what the public wants and not just to satisfy one of the conditions for them to receive state money. 1123 North Dodge Street 5ox Sycamore Street, Suite ~22, Post Office Box ~497, Waterloo, Iowa 5o7o4,1497 March 5, 2001 Mr. Robert White 2112 Western Road Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Tech Project No. 38640 Dear Mr. White: Our titre, Earth Tech, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the public hearing for the improvements to North Dodge Street project. We appreciate your interest in the project and the comments you have submitted. T e i · p h o ~ e 3x9.2~a.653~ You asked about the need for adding lanes for the entire length of the project. The design alternatives are intended to serve future traffic and development well into the future, and Facsimile would provide a similar layout for motorists at each driveway or intersection. This consistent layout is intended to improve safety and traffic flow at all locations, even those with lower 3 ~ 9~ 232. o 27 ~ traffic volumes. The sidewalk and bikeway shown at the hearing are in accordance with current City design standards for new arterial streets. Traffic signals are proposed at the Sunufftt Street/Prairie du Chien Road intersection. The need for signals at other locations will be evaluated during the final design stage. Currently only the 3- and 4-lane alternatives remain under consideration. City planners and the City Council will take into account project impacts and public comments and will choose a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. Construction on this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. A copy of your letter and our response will be included in the public hearing transcript for this project. If you have any further questions, please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Planning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Sincerely, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle A tq~ INTERNATIONAL LTD. COMPANY TO: Mr. ~IgffDavidson, Assistant Di~tor Dc~irtm~t of planning and Commtmity Dcvelopr~nt 410 F_~mWa~Magton Iowa City, Iowa 52240 P~E: North Dodgc Slrcct Location Public Hearing 3anum'y 30, 2001 I(do [3 donot [3) Name: r/~6~ ~"~16.~ '~'~ W~ff~n mt~m~nt~ ~_,~v~ by F~ 12, 2001, - March 5, 2001 Ms. Mary Ellen Stamp 1029 North Dodge Street Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Subject: Proposed North Dodge Street Improvements Governor Street to 1-80 Earth Tech Project No. 38640 Dear Ms. Stamp: Our titre, Earth Tech, was hired by the City of Iowa City to prepare the Environmental Assessment and assist with the public hearing for the improvements to North Dodge Street project. On behalf of the City, we would like to thank you for attending this hearing. We 7 e ~e p h o, e appreciate your interest in the project and the comments you have submitted. 3 x 9., 32.653 ~ You expressed concern over the loss of shade trees on your property and any noise impacts r a c sim i l e that would result. As the project progresses into the final design stages and right-of-way acquisition, the number of trees removed from each individual property can be better 319.232.o271 assessed. At that time, the City would develop the final landscaping plan for the project. If trees are removed from private properties, these would be addressed as part of the right-of- way negotiation. This project is not expected to cause any substantial increases in noise levels throughout the corridor, and would reduce the level of stop-and-go traffic at many of the intersections. You also expressed some concern over the 8-foot sidewalks that are proposed to be part of this project. These 8-foot sidewalks are pan of the City's overall design for arterial streets. They will be able to accommodate both bicyclists and pedestrians. Currently, only the 3- and 4-lane alternatives remain under consideration. Please note that this project is intended to serve North Dodge Street traffic and adjacent development well into the future. City planners and the City Council will take into account project impacts and public comments and will choose a Preferred Alternative for this project in the near future. Construction on this project is tentatively scheduled for 2003. A copy of your letter and our response will be included in the public hearing transcript for this project. If you have any further questions, please contact Jeff Davidson, Assistant Director, Department of Plauning and Community Development, at 319-356-5252. Sincerely, Earth Tech Terry J. VanDeWalle E A R I H ~ T E C H 03-'15,0~ ran/ 123 South Linn · Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1820 Susan Craig, Director · Information (319} 356-5200 · Business (319) 356 5206 · t-ax (3191356-5494 DATE: March 8, 200'1 TO: Steve Arkins, Gity Manager FROM: Susan Graig, Library Director~~x'~ RE: Lenoch & Cilek Building/Tenants/Mural I understand there was some public comment at the City Council meeting Tuesday night from former tenants of the Lenoch & Cilek Building. I thought I would update you on several things that are happening in that space. Lenoch & Cilek, Freshens and Mind Matters chose not to renew their leases on the same terms offered to all the former tenants. Subway had intended to leave, but we have accommodated their request to stay until their new quarters on Washington Street are ready. F.I.T. Zone will be leaving in May when their "school-year" passes expire. I believe they are relocating downtown. China Star and the Seattle Coffee Cart have signed leases to stay until July 31. The Library will be using the windows in the former Freshens location to put up plans and drawings of the expanded Library and I plan to work with the Arts Fest, Jazz Fest and Friday Night Concert organizers to utilize the space vacated by Mind Matters as a festival headquarters. There is a great deal of interest in the Library project so I'm glad to have a space to show off our plans. I think having a convenient place for concert and festival people to use as a homebase during their busy seasons will benefit their operations. The Library Board has appointed two of their members to work with a community group to discuss possibilities regarding the mural painted on the wall of the public space in the building. One meeting has been held which was aftended by the board members, library staff, two of the students who worked on the mural, a parent of one of the students, and the art instructor. They are studying if it possible to move the mural in whole or in part, and if it is possible where it should be located. They are planning some basic restoration work where damage has occurred and photographic documentation. Any removal would occur after August I when leases expire. If you have any questions please let me know. Cc: Library Board City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: March 14, 2001 TO: City Council FROM: Eleanor Dilkes, City Attorne RE: Alcohol Ordinances Attached you will find the proposed ordinances sent to you most recently under cover of January 25, 2001 to which I have made only two revisions: 1. Section 4-2-5 (Civil Penalties) has been changed to clarify, in accordance with our discussions with the Alcoholic Beverages Division, that suspension (for a period not to exceed one year) is the only penalty that the City Council could levy for a violation of a City ordinance or regulation that was not also the subject of State law (e.g. the restrictions on specials that you are considering implementing). A civil fine cannot be imposed in these circumstances. 2. In accordance with recent changes to the State Code, the civil penalty in Section 4- 2-5(G) for a first offense sale to minors has been changed from $300.00 to $500.00. The state code was recently corrected to make this consistent with the $500 penalty following a conviction for this offense found at Section 123.50 of the Iowa Code and set fodh in the proposed ordinance at 4-2-5(I)(a). This issue is on your work session agenda for Monday, March 19. At that work session I will look for direction from the Council as to how it wishes to proceed with the proposed ordinances. Some specific questions that the Council will need to answer are as follows: 1. Does the Council wish to proceed with the provisions implementing the administrative penalty provisions of the State Code? 2. Does the Council wish to proceed with the limitations on sales and if so: a. With respect to the prohibition on out-of-sight sales, how many drinks should one person be allowed to purchase? b. Which of the exceptions that we have italicized, if any, does the Council wish to include? Does the Council wish to prohibit specials only during some hours of the day? c. If the ordinances are adopted in their current version, the criminal penalty for violation of the specials prohibition will be unscheduled and therefore, the general penalty provision ($50 minimum; $500 maximum) will apply and the magistrate will impose a fine he or she believes is appropriate. If the Council wishes, it may establish a particular criminal penalty for these simple misdemeanors not exceeding $500. March 14, 2001 Page 2 3. Are there additional changes that the Council desires to make in light of the recent public comments? 4. Does Council wish to proceed with the proposed ordinance increasing the maximum penalty for simple misdemeanors to $500.00 when another penalty is not scheduled or specified in accordance with the recent change to State law which brings the maximum penalty for City simple misdemeanors in line with the maximum for State misdemeanors? Although it has some impact on the alcohol offenses, it affects all unscheduled City charges. I look forward to discussing this with you on March 19. If you have any questions in the meantime, please call me or Andy Matthews at my office. cc: Steve Arkins Dale Helling Marian Karr Andy Matthews R.J. Winkelhake Tom Widmer Kevin Hurd Eleanor\memos~lcohol2.doc Prepared by: Eleanor M. Dilkes, City Attorney, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240; 319-356-5030 ORDINANCE NO. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA, BY ENACTING NEW SECTIONS NUMBERED 4-2-3, ENTITLED "LOCAL REVIEW OF APPLICATION/INVESTIGATION OF APPLICANT"; SECTION 4-2-4, ENTITLED "NOTICE AND HEARING"; AND SECTION 4-2-5, ENTITLED "CIVIL PENALTIES"; REVISING SECTION 4-5-4 ENTITLED "REGULATION OF PERSONS UNDER LEGAL AGE"; ENACTING A NEW SECTION 4-5-6 ENTITLED "SALES TO INTOXICATED PERSONS"; AND ENACTING A NEW SECTION 4-5-7 ENTITLED "LIMITATIONS ON SALES", ALL OF WHICH PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATION OF ALCOHOL SALES. WHEREAS, underage drinking, binge drinking, and the over consumption of alcohol in Iowa City have a significant and negative impact on the health, welfare and morals of its citizens, and result in increased burdens on Iowa City's criminal justice system and social services agencies; and WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Iowa City City Council to address and discourage underage drinking, binge drinking, and the over consumption of alcohol and the negative externalities associated with such behaviors and activities; and WHEREAS, State law authorizes the City Council as the licensing authority to impose administrative penalties for, among other things, violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control provisions of the Iowa Code and ordinances of the City; and WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Iowa City City Council to hold holders of liquor control licenses, wine, or beer permits accountable and responsible for fully and effectively complying with all state laws and city ordinances with respect to the selling and serving of alcohol to patrons; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to address negative impacts associated with such activity and conduct through accountability, enforcement, and penalties; and WHEREAS, such accountability, enforcement and penalties are in the best interests of the health, welfare and morals of the citizens of Iowa City, Iowa for the reasons stated above. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA: SECTION I. AMENDMENT. Title 4 of the City Code, entitled "Alcoholic Beverages" is amended, as follows: I. Adding a new section 4-2-3, entitled "Local Review of Application/Investigation of Applicant" to provide additional detail regarding the review of applications for liquor control license, beer permit, or wine permit, or a renewal of same by the Iowa City Fire Chief, the Iowa City Chief of Police, the Iowa City Building Official, the Johnson County Health Department and the Johnson County Attorney, as follows: Section 4-2-3: Local Review of Application/Investigation of Applicant A. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant for a liquor control license, beer permit, or wine permit, or a renewal of any of those, to obtain the appropriate application from the City Clerk. B. Prior to submission to the City Council, the application must be submitted to the Iowa City Fire Chief, the Iowa City Chief of Police, the Iowa City Building Official, and the Johnson County Health Department and the County Attorney, each of whom will approve or disapprove the application. It shall be the responsibility of the Fire Chief, Building Official, and Health Department to inspect the premises and determine if it complies with all applicable state and local laws, rules, and regulations. The Chief of Police and County Attorney shall each make an investigation to determine if the applicant is of good moral character as defined in Section 123.3(26) of the Iowa Code and the Rules of the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. With regard to renewal applications, that investigation shall include any relevant information about prior operations under the license or permit. Disapproval of the application by any of the above must be in writing and must set forth the reasons therefore. Each official reviewing the application must complete the investigation and, if applicable, the memo setting forth the reasons for disapproval within five working days following receipt of the application. II. Adding a new section 4-2-4, entitled "Notice and Hearing" to provide the licensee or permittee an opportunity to be heard prior to the imposition of a civil penalty, suspension or revocation or disapproval of an application for renewal, as follows: 4-2-4: Notice and Hearing: The City Council shall provide the licensee or permittee an opportunity to be heard prior to the imposition of a civil penalty, suspension or revocation or disapproval of an application for renewal. Notice may be given by personal service or first-class mail directed to the manager or contact person of the applicant as listed on the application. Notice by personal service must be given at least five days before the hearing. Notice by first-class mail is effective on mailing and must be given at least six days before the hearing. III. Adding a new section 4-2-5, entitled "Civil Penalties" to provide for the imposition of civil penalties for violations of the provisions of this Chapter, as follows: Section 4-2-5: Civil Penalties A. Any violation of state law, local ordinance, or the rules of the Alcoholic Beverages Division by any employee, agent, or servant of a licensee or permittee shall be deemed to be the act of the licensee or the permittee and shall subject the license or permit of said licensee or permittee to civil penalties, including suspension or revocation. B. The City Council may suspend a license or permit for a period not to exceed one year, revoke the license or permit, or impose a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation. Before suspension, revocation, or imposition of a civil penalty the license or permit holder shall be given written notice and oppodunity for a hearing in accordance with Section 4-2-4. C. A license or permit issued may be suspended or revoked, or a civil penalty may be imposed on the license or permit holder by the City Council for any of the following causes: 1) Misrepresentation of any material fact in the application for such license or permit. 2) Violation of any of the provisions of Chapter 123, the Alcoholic Beverages Control provisions of the Iowa Code. 3) Any change in the ownership or interest in the business operated under a Class "A," Class "B," or Class "C" liquor control license, or any wine or beer permit, which change was not previously reported to and approved by the City Council. 4) Any event which would have resulted in disqualification from receiving a license or permit when originally issued. 5) Any sale, hypothecation, or transfer of the license or permit. 6) The failure or refusal on the part of any licensee or permittee to render any report or remit any taxes due under Chapter 123 of the Iowa Code. D. A license or permit issued may be suspended for a period not to exceed one year for violation of any ordinance or regulation of the City of Iowa City relating to the purchase, possession, sale, supply, dispensing or giving of alcohol. E. When a liquor license or wine or beer permit is suspended after a hearing as a result of violation by the licensee, permittee, or the licensee's or permittee's agents or employees, the premises which were licensed by the license or permit shall not be relicensed for a new applicant until the suspension has terminated or time of suspension has elapsed, or ninety days have elapsed since the commencement of the suspension, whichever occurs first. However, this section does not prohibit the premises from being relicensed to a new applicant before the suspension has terminated or before the time of suspension has elapsed or before ninety days have elapsed from 2 the commencement of the suspension, if the premises prior to the time of the suspension have been purchased under contract, and the vendor under that contract had exercised the person's rights under Chapter 656 of the Iowa Code and sold the property to a different person who is not related to the previous licensee or permittee by marriage or within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity and if the previous licensee or permittee does not have a financial interest in the business of the new applicant. F. A criminal conviction is not a prerequisite to a suspension, revocation, or imposition of a civil penalty pursuant to this section. G. If the cause for suspension is a first offense violation of section 123.49, subsection 2, paragraph "h" of the Iowa Code or section 4-5-4(B) of the City Code, the City Council shall impose a civil penalty in the amount of five hundred dollars in lieu of suspension of the license or permit. H. The City Council shall notify the Alcoholic Beverages Division of any action taken under this section and shall notify the licensee or permit holder of the right to appeal a suspension, revocation, or imposition of a civil penalty to the Alcoholic Beverages Division. I. If any licensee, wine permittee, beer permittee, or employee of a licensee or permittee is convicted of selling, giving, or otherwise supplying any alcoholic beverage, wine, or beer to any person in violation of section 123.49, subsection 2, paragraph "h" of the Iowa Code or section 4-5- 4(B) of the City Code, in addition to criminal penalties fixed for such violations, the City Council shall assess a civil penalty as follows: a. Upon a first conviction, the violator's liquor control license or wine permit or beer permit shall not be suspended, but rather, the violator shall be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of $500. Failure to pay the civil penalty will result in automatic suspension of the license or permit for a period of fourteen days. b. Upon a second conviction within a period of two years, the violator's liquor control license, wine permit, or beer permit shall be suspended for a period of thirty days and the violator shall also be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of $1,500. c. Upon a third conviction within a period of three years, the violator's liquor control license, wine permit, or beer permit shall be suspended for a period of sixty days and the violator shall also be assessed a civil penalty in the amount of $1,500. d. Upon a fourth conviction within a period of three years, the violators' liquor control license, wine permit, or beer permit shall be revoked IV. Repealing in its entirety section 4-5-4 concerning persons under the legal age, and substituting in-lieu-thereof a new section 4-5-4, entitled "Regulation of Persons Under Legal Age", providing for the regulation of persons under legal age, as follows: Section 4-5-4: Regulation of Persons Under Legal Age A. A person or person under legal age shall not purchase or attempt to purchase, or individually or jointly have alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer in their possession or control; except in the case of liquor, wine, or beer given or dispensed to a person under legal age within a private home and with the knowledge, presence, and consent of the parent or guardian, for beverage or medicinal purposes or as administered to the person by either a physician or dentist for medicinal purposes and except to the extent that a person under legal age may handle alcoholic beverages, wine, or beer during the regular course of the person's employment by a liquor control licensee, or wine or beer permittee under this chapter. 1. A person who is under legal age, other than a licensee or permittee, who violates this section regarding the purchase of or attempt to purchase alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer, or possessing or having control of alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer, commits a simple misdemeanor punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars for the first offense. A second or subsequent offense shall be a simple misdemeanor punishable by a fine of two hundred dollars and the suspension of the person's motor vehicle operating privileges for a period not to exceed one year. The court may, at its discretion, order the person who is under legal age to perform community service work under section 909.3A of the Iowa Code, or an equivalent value to the fine imposed under this section. 3 B. 1. An employee or agent of a person or club holding a liquor control license or retail wine or beer permit shall not sell, give, or otherwise supply any alcoholic beverage, wine, or beer to any person, knowing or failing to exercise reasonable care to ascertain whether the person is under legal age, or permit any person, knowing or failing to exercise reasonable care to ascertain whether the person is under legal age, to consume any alcoholic beverage, wine, or beer. 2. Any person who violates this section commits a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation under section 805.8, subsection 10, paragraph "a" of the Iowa Code (currently $500). 3. A person under legal age shall not misrepresent the person's age for the purpose of purchasing or attempting to purchase any alcoholic beverages, wine, or beer from any licensee or permittee. If any person under legal age misrepresents the person's age, and the licensee or permittee establishes that the licensee or permittee made reasonable inquiry to determine whether the prospective purchaser was over legal age, the licensee or permittee is not guilty of selling alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer to a person under legal age. V. Adding a new section 4-5-6, entitled "Sales to Intoxicated Persons" to prohibit selling, dispensing or giving any alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer to an intoxicated person, as follows: Section 4-5-6: Sales To Intoxicated Persons A person shall not sell, dispense, or give to an intoxicated person, or one simulating intoxication, any alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer. A person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a simple misdemeanor. VI. Adding a new section 4-5-7, entitled "Limitations on Sales", as follows: Section 4-6-7: Limitations On Sales A. It shall be unlawful for a holder of a liquor control license, or wine permit or beer permit, or its employees or agents, to do any of the following: 1. Sell, offer to sell, dispense or serve for on-premises consumption, two or more servings of any alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer to any one person for the price of one such drink. 2. Sell, offer to sell, dispense or serve for on-premises consumption an unlimited number of servings of alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer for a fixed price. 3. Increase the volume of alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer contained in a serving, for on-premises consumption, without proportionally increasing the price charged for such serving. 4. Sell, offer to sell, dispense or serve for on-premises consumption, more than one f271 serving of any alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer at any one time to any one person. 5. Encourage or permit any game or contest or tournament of any kind which involves drinking any alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer or the awarding of alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer as a prize. 6. Dispense, pour, or otherwise serve any alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer directly into a person's mouth. B. Exceptions: Nothing in section A shall be construed to prohibit a holder of a liquor control license, or wine, or beer permit from: (there are a number of options available to Council with respect to drink limitations - the listed exceptions to drink limitations are identified and Counc~ will need to identify those ol~tions it wishes to include, if anV, as part of the ordinance) Including servings or drinks of alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer as part of a meal package. 2. Including servings or drinks of alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer as part of a hotel package. 3. Selling pitchers, carafes, or bottles or the equivalent, of alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer which are customarily sold in such manner and delivered to two or more persons at one time. 4. Time restrictions on "Happy Hour' or drink specials. 5. Fixed price for unlimited or indefinite amount of drinks for catered events. SECTION II. Violations; Penalty. Violations of this ordinance may be prosecuted as a simple misdemeanor or as a municipal infraction, as provided for in this chapter, or as provided for in Title 1, Chapter 4 of this Code, as amended. SECTION II. Repealer. All ordinances and pads of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance am hereby repealed. SECTION III. SEVERABILITY. If any section, provision or pad of the Ordinance shall be adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or any section, provision or pad thereof not adjudicated invalid or unconstitutional. SECTION IV. EFFECTIVE DATE: This Ordinance shall be in effect after its final passage, approval and publication, as provided by law. Passed and approved this __ day of ,2001. MAYOR ATTEST: CITY CLERK Approved by: City Attorney's Office Andy. Ord. Alcohol Prohibitions. 12-15°00 Prepared by: Eleanor Dilkes, City Attorney, 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, IA 52240; 319-356-5030 ORDINANCE NO. ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 1, ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION", CHAPTER 4, ENTITLED "GENERAL PENALTY", SECTION I(B) TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR SIMPLE MISDEMEANORS TO $500 AS AUTHORIZED BY STATE CODE. WHEREAS, City Code sets the criminal penalty for a simple misdemeanor, unless another penalty is specified, at a maximum fine of $100 or a sentence not to exceed 30 days in jail; and WHEREAS, state law now authorizes cities to impose a maximum penalty for simple misdemeanors in the amount of $500; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to increase the maximum criminal penalty to $500, as authorized by state code. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY, IOWA: SECTION I. AMENDMENT. Section 1-4-1(B) City Code is hereby deleted and the following substituted in lieu thereof: B. Criminal penalty: The doing of any act prohibited or declared to be unlawful, an offense or a simple misdemeanor by this Code or any ordinance or Code herein adopted by reference, or the omission or failure to perform any act or duty required by this Code or any ordinance or Code herein adopted by reference, is a simple misdemeanor and is, unless another penalty is specified or the violation is scheduled under state law, punishable by a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) or in excess of thirty (30) days' imprisonment. SECTION II. REPEALER. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with the provi- sions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed. SECTION III. SEVERABILITY. If any section, provision or part of the Ordinance shall be adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such adiudication shall not affect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or any section, provision or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconsti- tutional. SECTION IV. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall be in effect after its final passage, approval and publication, as provided by law. Passed and approved this __. day of ,20 MAYOR ATTEST: CITY CLERK Approved by City Attorney's Office City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM TO: City Council FROM: City Manager DATE: March 7, 2001 RE: Pending Development Issues 1. An application submitted by Larry and Charmaine Svoboda for a special exception to reduce the front yard setback for property located at 112/118 Bloomington Street in the Planned High Density Multi-Family (PRM) Zone. 2. An application submitted by the Preucil School of Music for a special exception to establish a school of specialized instruction on lots 7 & 8 of the Northgate Corporate Park, Phase 2 in the Research Development Park (RDP) Zone. 3. An application submitted by Arlington L.C. (Gary Watts) for a preliminary plat of Stone Bridge Estates Part 1, a 5.74 acre, 22-1ot residential subdivision located east of Camden Road, north of Court Street, and west of Taft Avenue. 4. An application from Southgate Development for an amended Sensitive Areas Overlay plan and a preliminary plat of Walnut Ridge Parts 9-10, a 13-1ot residential subdivision located on Kennedy Parkway. MgrVnemos\developissues,doc City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM TO: City Council FROM: City Manager DATE: March 15, 2001 RE: Airport Commission/Iowa City Flying Service On Wednesday, March 14 at 5 p.m. the Airport Commission/City Council Committee (Lehman, Wilbum, Mascari, Horan) met to discuss the current financial as well as operational concerns associated with the impending departure of Iowa City Flying Service from the Iowa City Airport. The representatives of the Airport Commission assured the Council representatives of their efforts to continue services at the airport, knowing the Iowa City Flying Service was leaving. Arrangements with the lOW Aero Club on a temporary basis will continue to allow for the provision of the basic airport services. The Airport Commission will be seeking a new fixed base operator (FBO) as soon as practical. Much of the discussion revolved around continuing the provision of basic airport services and an update of the ongoing negotiations with ICFS. The representatives of the City Council indicated their interest in periodic written updates. The Commission representatives understood and indicated future written materials will be provided. cc: Rick Mascari Howard Horan Ron O'Neil ~' Sue Dulek City of Iowa City '1 MEMORANDUM TO: City Council FROM: City Manager DATE: March 7, 2001 RE: City Park Trails Reconstruction Grant Application We received word from the Iowa DOT that our grant application for state recreational trail money for the reconstruction of City Park trails has no__t been funded. All of the monies for this grant cycle ($1,021,250) were granted to one project (out of 21 projects) to help construct a pedestrian bridge over the Missouri River in Council Bluffs. So much for spreading the money around the state. We have in our budget $440,000 for the reconstruction of the trails throughout the park. We had anticipated 50% funding from the state. We will go back and review the project and look at other alternatives. mr\memos\trails.doc AHLERS, COONEY, DORWEILER, HAYNIE, SMITH & ALLBEE, P. IP7 ATTORNEYS AT LAW KENNETH H HAYNIE WILLIAM J. NOTH STEVEN L. SERCK OF COUNSEL JOHN F MCKINNEY, JR DAVID SWINTON STEVEN M NADEL PAUL F. AHLERS 100 COURT AVENUE, SUITE 600 RICHARD G. SANTI LINDA L. KNIEP ELIZABETH A GROB H. RICHARD SMITH EDGAR H. BITILE JOHN D. HINTZE JENNIFER A. CLENDENIN ROBERT G. ALLBEE DES MOINES, IOWA 50309-2231 RONALD L SUTPHIN PETER PASHLER PATRICIA A. WESTEMEYER DOUGLAS R SMITH LANCE A. COPPOCK IVAN T. WEBBER NATHAN I. OVERBERG ht(p://www.ahJersJaw.com DAVID H LUG/NBILL JANE B. MCALLISTER DANIELLE J. LATHAM MARKW. BEERMAN JAMES C. HANKS JAMES R. WAINWRIGHT TELEPHONE 515-243-7611 EDWARD W' REMSBURG R. MARK CORY J ERiC BOEHLERT PHILIP J. DORWEILER, Retfred RANDALL H. STEFANI SERGE H. GARRISON GORDON g. GRETA JAMES EVANS COC)NEY TELECOPIER 515 243 2149 ELIZABETH GREGG KENNEDY RONALD I PEELER MARK W JOHNSON (1917-1998) WADE R HAUSER III ANDREW) BRACKEN March 5, 2001 Stephen J. Atkins City Manager ~ Civic Center 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240-1826 Dear Steve: I was contacted by Julio Morales who is an experienced public finance professional affiliated with Muni Auction. Muni Auction was founded in 1996 and has extensive experience in the conduct of municipal bond sales over the intemet. I am slightly acquainted with its founder, Myles Herrington, who is a highly competent and professional individual. Mr. Morales advises me that Muni Auction has conducted over 1450 fixed income auctions for 177 different issuers, with a par value exceeding $1.3 trillion. As you can see, the average size of those issues would be substantial. Mr. Morales advises me that Parity and Bloomberg also offer electronic bidding services, conducting only closed/sealed bid sales, but Muni Auction has the ability to conduct open auctions where the bidders have the ability to see their rank as well as closed sales. I am enclosing an electronic bid comparison sheet which he furnished to me showing the capabilities of the their available providers. Naturally, the firm has a web site and Mr. Morales has offered to provide a demonstration of this system over the telephone, and interact if desired. The name "Muni Auction" has changed to Grant Street Group and may be found at 409 13th Street - 17th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612; telephone: 510-453- 2330; fax: 510-452-1689; email: Julio(i, GrantStreet.com. The Iowa statute covering bidding for public bonds has always mandated sealed bids, delivered to the place of sale. In 2000, the legislature adopted an amendment which permits the use of various electronic bidding systems upon certain conditions. The city council must make a finding that the proprietary system selected for use will provide reasonable security for the bidders and will maintain the integrity of the competitive bidding process. If a would be service provider should be selected, an investigation is Stephen J. Atkins March 5, 2001 Page 2 made to determine the security of the bidding process and the extent of persons who will have access to it so that a report and recommendation can be made to enable the city council to make the required finding if the council is satisfied with the security procedures provided. I am sure that Mr. Morales, ifMuni Auction were selected, or one of his competitors, would be pleased provide that assistance. The above being said, it is difficult to anticipate any savings of substance or any better bids than the city has received utilizing the current process. The current process accommodates to a large number of bidders, competing very strongly, modifying their bids right up to the close of bidding, with the information generally necessary to permit rapid bid verification. A number of the optional features available attest to the versatility of the Muni Auction bidding system, but are not likely to be beneficial in the case of Iowa City's bonds. For example, Mr. Morales and I discussed maturity by maturity bidding and agreed that the city was not candidate for its use. There is, however, always a certain interest in advancing the art. Very truly yours, , Kenneth H. Haynie FOR THE FIRM KHH/pg Enclosure cc Kevin O'Malley David Dirks PGOODRICHX269338\l\10714000 Electronic Biddin Comparison Real-Time Bidding 3 3 3 P, cal-Time Observation of Sale 3 X 3 Results Available to Public on Web 3 × X ~ Online Bid Calculator 3 3 3 Automatic Bid Error Checking 3 3 3 Bidder Activity Report 3 × X ~ Closed Bidding Format Available 3 3 3 Open Auction Fom~at Available 3 X X Marketing via Web Site 3 3 3 Marketing via Fax 3 X X ~ Marketing via E-Mail 3 3 3 POS/NOS Available Online 3 × X (*) Amendments Available Online 3 X 3 Press Releases Available on Web Site 3 × X Bood Ratings &Reports posted Online 3 X X All-or-None (AON) Bidding 3 × X Maturity-by-Maturity (MBM) Bidding 3 × X AON vs. MBM Bidding 3 × X Direct Sale to Institutional Investors 3 x X Two Minute Sale Extension 3 X x ~ Bidder Relations Staff 3 X X ~ GIC, Repo, & treasnry investment auctions 3 X x (*) Parity charges a fee to post City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date:March 13, 2001 To: Steve Atkins, City Manager From: Sarah Holecek, First Assistant City Attornet~/''/ Re: General Information Regarding Anonymous Reports to Police Per your inquiry, I am providing some general information regarding the use, treatment and/or response to anonymous reports, tips, or complaints by the Iowa City Police Department. First, when a citizen contacts the Iowa City Police Department with a report, information and/or a complaint, the call is logged into the City's computer-aided dispatch system (CAD), and depending on the nature of the ca/I, a car is dispatched to respond, if appropriate. The Department's response and/or prioritization are not dependent on the caller's willingness to provide their name. In other words, a caller's name is not required to receive an appropriate response and/or service from the Iowa City Police Department. Requiring a caller's name and/or personal information as a condition for a response and/or service would be an unreasonable standard that would undermine the Department's duties to the community, "chill" citizen reporting of crimes and/or incidents and likely give rise to Departmental liability. If a caller makes a specific request to speak with an investigator, dispatch will attempt to accommodate that request and/or arrange for such communication when an investigator is available. Anonymous reports or tips of criminal activity may be followed up by officers to corroborate the information supplied by a confidential informant. This follow up will generally take the form of observing specific activities and confirming objective facts supplied by the reporting party to establish the credibility of the report and obtain additional information. However, unless an officer meets one of the four exceptions for a warrantless search (criminal act in plain view, stop of a motor vehicle allowing limited search for officer's safety ("Terry stop"), exigent circumstances and/or consent) an officer must apply for a search warrant. A search warrant application is made to a magistrate and is supported by the officer's oath and affirmation as to facts, information and circumstances tending to establish sufficient grounds for granting the application and probable cause for believing the grounds exist. (See, Iowa Code §808.3) If the grounds for issuance are supplied by an informant, the sworn testimony supplied in support of the application must establish the credibility of the informant or the credibility of the information given by the informant. The magistrate may, in their discretion, require that a witness upon whom the applicant relies for information appear personally to be examined concerning the information. Only if the magistrate finds that probable cause exists shall the warrant be issued. In sum, an anonymous tip, report or information cannot in and of itself provide the probable cause necessary for a warrantless search of a person, their home or other area in which they have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Nor can such information be the sole basis for a warrantless arrest of an individual, per the limitations of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Cc: R.J. Winkeihake CITr OF C Tr MEMORANDUM Date: March 7, 2001 To: Steve Atkins, City Manager From: Tim Hen"~es, Senior Building Inspector Re: Condominium Conversion Fee The $200 condominium conversion fee was established as an estimation of staff time that I felt would be involved to consult clients on the conversion requirements. It is based on hourly wages paid to Building Inspectors, Development Regulation Specialist and the Senior Building Inspector. It is anticipated that the consultation and preliminary plan review for a condominium conversion could take anywhere from four to ten staff hours depending on the project. At $30 per staff hour that would be $120 to $300 and the fee was rounded to $200. The $30 per hour fee is based on an estimated average hourly rate, with benefits, for the three previously mentioned positions cc: Doug Boothroy, Director, Housing and Inspection Services City of Iowa City M MORANDUM Date: March 14, 2001 To: Mayor and City Council From: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk Re: Council Work Session, March 5, 2001 -4:00 p.m. in Council Chambers Council: Champion, Kanner, Lehman, O'Donnell, Pfab, Vanderhoef, Wilburn Staff: Atkins, Helling, Dilkes, Franklin, Fowler, Logsden, Furman, Nasby, O'Malley, Kopping, Schoon, Winkelhake, Craig, Davidson, Shaffer, Karr Tapes: 01-28, Both Sides; 01-29, Side One (A complete transcription is available in the City Clerk's Office) PLANNING & ZONING ITEMS PCD Dir. Franklin presented the following items: A. Setting a public hearing for March 20 on an ordinance changing the zoning designation by establishing a Conservation Overlay Zone for properties generally located south of Burlington Street along Governor and Lucas Streets. B. Setting a public hearing for March 20 on an ordinance changing the zoning designation from High Density Multi-family Residential, RM-44, to Sensitive Areas Overlay, OSA-44, for approximately 4.01 acres of property to allow 39 dwellings in three buildings located on the east side of Harlocke Street. C. Public hearing on an ordinance amending the zoning code, section 14-61-1Q, to allow adult day care in commercial zones on streets less than 28 feet in width. D. Resolution approving a final plat of Westcott Heights Part Three-A, a 78.96 acre, 47-1ot residential subdivision located in Johnson County on the west side of Prairie du Chien Road, south of Newport Road. (SUB00-00027) [Item revised to Part Three] AGENDAITEMS 1. (Consent Calendar #4b(5) - Planning and Zoning minutes) In response to Council Member Kanner, the majority of Council requested advance copies of the development regulations prepared by Duncan and Associates prior to the scheduled discussion on March 19. 2. (Consent Calendar #4d(1) - Public Art Advisory Committee minutes) In response to Council Member Kanner, PCD Dir. Franklin reminded Council that permission could not be obtained from the authors in time last year to coincide this project with the streetscape project already planned in the area. Due to the area being a high pedestrian area and the Tower Place construction on the other side, the decision was made to go ahead start the , streetscape project in the 300 block between Linn and Gilbert in mid April; remove the Council Work Session March 5, 2001 Page 2 sidewalk band on the nodh side, do a repour, install the literary walk plaques, do the stamping, and then pour on the south side to complete the project. Franklin noted the additional $14,000 would come from the Public Art fund. 3. (Consent Calendar ~4g(2) - Senior Center 28E agreement) In response to Council Member Kanner, a majority of Council agreed to schedule discussion of Council appointments to that committee on an upcoming work session. 4. (Consent Calendar #-4g(5) - JC Board of Supervisors regarding Donovan's Green Acres Subdivision) Mayor Lehman requested the matter of establishing a subcommittee with the County be also scheduled at an upcoming work session. Staff will respond. 5. (Item #16 - Resolution approving Financial Plan) City Mgr. Atkins stated an amendment would need to be made to add $500,000 in GO debt to the 2002 CIP for First Avenue, and a $500,000 reduction in the Captain Irish project in order to fulfill Council policy. Council agreed to make the amendment. 6. (Item #10 - Ordinance amending Title 14...unpaid delinquent utility charges) Customer Services Rep. Furman outlined the procedure in response to Council concerns. 7. (Consent Calendar #4g(9) ~ Letter from Jan Capaccioli re: alcohol) Majority of Council requested a letter be sent acknowledging the invitation extended to Council to come visit the Health Iowa at Student Health Services, and informing them individual Council Members may be contacting them to schedule a visit. 8. (Item #18 - Resolution awarding contract for Iowa City Transit Interchange Project Phase II - rebid) Transit Mgr. Logsden stated the original bidding resulted in a low bid of $173,500, and the project was rebid (with a change In working days from 60 to 78, removing two windows, and changed the tile floor). Majority of Council agreed to award. 9. (Item #6a - Setting public hearing. .. conservation overlay zone....south of Burlington Street along Governor and Lucas Streets) In response to Council Member Kanner, PCD Dir. Franklin stated Council had down zoned the area previously to a zoning classification that is residential neighborhood conservation, but this is a request for an overlay district which addresses the architectural items rather than density. More information would be provided at the time of the public hearing. 10. (Consent Calendar #4g(15) - Letter from Lisa and Ronald Sweeting) In response to Council Member Vanderhoef, the City Atty. reported that the request to vacate the alley at 628 Lucas Street had been assigned to Asst. City Arty. Holecek for follow up. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS Historic Preservation Commission: Re-appt Michael Gunn (Summit St. District) Re-appt Richard Carlson (At-large) Civil Service Commission: Re-advertise, no applications PARCEL 64-1a REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (IP1 of 3/1 Info Packet) PCD Dir, Franklin outlined the draft RFP for Parcel 64-1a and Council agreed to the draft as presented with the following changes: Council Work Session March 5, 2001 Page 3 · Page 3, Proposed Uses - Remove language in third paragraph "...10% of any residential units must be for low income and moderate income persons · Page 4, Public Space - Delete paragraph · Page 4, Design - Remove language regarding sunlight at the end of the first paragraph STAFF ACTION: Make changes as directed and prepare final for Council action on March 20. (Franklin) Council Member Pfab left the meeting 5:30 PM LOW POWER RADIO LICENSE (IP2 of 3/1 Info Packet) Cable TV Administrator Shaffer outlined the proposal to apply for a radio license. Majority of Council directed staff to proceed with the application. Council Member Pfab returned to the meeting 5:50 PM STAFF ACTION: Proceed with application. (Helling) SENIOR CENTER PARKING PROPOSAL (IP3 of 3/1 Info Packet) Senior Center Commission Chair Jay Honohan, Senior Center Coordinator Kopping and Parking and Transit Dir. Fowler present for discussion. Majority of Council directed staff to proceed as outlined. STAFF ACTION: Staffs from Senior Center and Parking will coordinate to implement the policy with the opening of Tower Place. (Fowler) Meeting adjourned 6:00 PM. clerk/min/O34)5-01ws doc City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: March 14, 2001 To: City Council From: Karin Franklin, Director, Planning and Community Development Sarah E. Holecek, First Assistant City Attorney~ Re: Request for disposition of vacated alley property behind 628 S. Lucas Street by Ron and Lisa Sweeting Your last meeting packet contained a request by Ron and Lisa Sweeting to purchase the vacated alley behind their rental property at 628 S. Lucas Street and offering $1700.00 for the property. Staff has reviewed the Sweetings' request, and for the reasons outlined below, recommends against selling this property. First, a bit of background is necessary to fully understand the rationale for staffs' position. I have included a copy of the staff report regarding the vacation as well as a plat map for reference. The substandard 12' wide alley was vacated in early 1997 after area property owners submitted a petition requesting closure of the alley. Most of the alley had not been used for many years and had grown over with grass, and none of the alley was paved. However, the alley was graveled and did serve approximately three existing parking areas in the vicinity on its northern portion as well as a duplex being constructed by the Sweetings at 620-624 S. Lucas Street. At that time, the Sweetings opposed the vacation of the alley and requested that it continue to remain open to allow access to the adjacent three lots to the south of 620 S. Lucas Street. However, as the alley was unimproved beyond the southern boundary of 620-624 S. Lucas, was only 12' wide and therefore substandard, and as no other properties relied on the alley for access but rather had street access, City Council vacated the alley. As the alley in question is substandard and neither designed nor constructed to City standards for vehicular access, allowing an additional property to use this alley as access inappropriately intensifies the use of and burden on an acknowledged inferior path and is inconsistent with prior City Council action. Additionally, as the Sweetings own property adjacent to the area requested for disposition, subsequent purchases may result in a continued increase in traffic on this inferior route and eventually result in the creation of a "private alley". For these reasons, staff does not recommend disposition of the property. If you have any questions regarding the above information, please feel free to call. Cc: Ron and Lisa Sweeting STAFF REPORT To: Planning &Zoning Commission Prepared by: Robert Miklo Item: VAC97-0001. Alley in A.E. Strehm's Addition Date: February 6, 1997 GENERAL INFORMATION: Applicant: City Initiated Requested action: Vacation of alley. Purpose: To eliminate potential for additional traf- fic. Location: South of Bowcry Street between Gover- nor and Lucas streets. Comprehensive Plan: Residential, 8-16 dwelling units per acre. File Date: January 16, 1997 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Owners of property located south of Bowcry Street between Lucas and Governor Streets submit- ted a petition requesting that this alley remain closed (see attached petition). Technically the alley does not appear to have ever been officially closed, although most of the alley has not been used for several years. With the exception of the east-west portion of the alley and an area located west of Lots 1 and 2 of A.E. Strehm's AdditiOn', where recent construction has occurred, the alley is overgrown with grass. After receiving the petition the City Council referred the request to staff and indicated that vacation of the alley should be initiated. ANALYSIS The subject alley was platted near the turn of the century as a twelve foot wide right-of-way. As shown on the location map the alley begins east of Lucas Street on the north side of Lot 1 and then travels north-south between Lucas and Governor Streets until it reaches the Iowa Interstate Railroad right-of-way. It then turns east until it intersects with Governor Street. The alley right-of- way is only 12 feet wide and none of the alley is paved. Typically alley right-of-ways are 20 feet wide and when improved and opened to traffic, the paved or reck surface is generally 16 feet wide. This allows two-way traffic and access for large service vehicles such as trucks. In this case only the east-west portion of the alley adjacent to Lot 1 and Lots L, K and J, has a surface matedal of rock to allow vehicular traffic. The area adjacent to the east side of Lots 1 and 2 has recently been graded as part of a construction project occurring on Lot 2 (620 S. Lucas Street). The remainder of the alley may have been covered by a rock surface at some point in the past but is now overgrown. Long-term residents of the area recall that at one time the alley was open to vehicular traffic and that City refuse trucks used it to pick up refuse. Maintenance of the alley by the City was apparently ceased several years ago. With the exception of the east-west portion of the alley adjacent to Lot 1 and Lots+ L, K and J, it has not been used for vehicular traffic. 2 In the fall of 1996 a building permit was issued to allow the construction of a duplex on Lot 2 (620 South Lucas Street). This new duplex will rely on the alley for vehicular access. In the attached letter dated December 22, 1996, the owners of this property have requested that the alley be left open to allow access to the adjacent three lots to the south (Lots 3, 4 and 5). As stated other property owners in the area have requested that the entire alley be vacated. There are existing developments which rely on the alley for access to parking areas in the vicinity of the northern portion of the alley. The most recent of these being the duplex which is currently under construction. South of Lot 2, where the duplex is under construction, there are no other properties which rely on the alley for vehicular service. All of the other lots on Lucas and Governor streets in this vicinity have vehicular access via the streets rather than the'alley. Alleys can provide access to the rear of properties and serve as an alternative to streets for access to garages and parking areas, They can also serve as a location for utility lines. This alley, however, was never designed or constructed to City standards. Until recently, it only served to provide a means of vehicular access to those properties fronting on Bowery Street (Lots L, K, J of the A.E. Strohm's addition). Unless an additional 8 feet of right-of-way is dedicated and the alley is improved to provide a 16 foot wide travel surface, it would not be appropriate to allow for additional vehicular traffic to use it. It would not be reasonable to remove or vacate portions of the alley which currently provide access to garages and parking areas; this would include the garage currently under construction on Lot 2. However, unless the alley is improved to City standards, portions of the alley south of Lot 2 should be vacated. There currently are no City utilities located within the alley right-of-way. There do not appear to be pdvate utilities such as gas or electric located in the alley. The private utilities have been notified and asked to comment on the proposed vacation. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the portion of the alley located south of Lot 2 of the A.E. Strohm's addition located south of Bowery Street between Governor and Lucas streets be vacated. Approved by:~Fran~'/~',Di~e~ Attachments: 1. Location map 2. Plat map 3. November 6 petition 4. December 22 letter from Ron and Lisa Sweeting ppdadmln~Crmp'e~ley.rm ~,AH DUREIJ [i,:~' -f I I " :~~2'/: VAN BL : WEE:zTFR q' ~ .' a ' I ~ ' [ ~i ]~-%i ~gA~ ./ JOH~SC.~ DODGE I ' / . //~ "L7 c .LU A I, , ERNOR ~ ' SUMMIT S' .mm i ./' / Czn> - ~r~ ~ ' I ZC~- CLARK ST n,o: / ~ ~' o>gz: 0 m ~-- · < Pr~OSEVELi z~ C v, ~ z z ~ ~ , I/; ,r,~F- ' · - IOWA LEAGUE of CITIES March 7, 2001 TO: City Clerks FROM: Thomas G. Bredeweg, Executive Director ~ SUBJECT: ICN presentation regarding fire and EMS services Due to the significant changes in state regulations regarding fire and EMS services in Iowa, the Iowa League of Cities is assisting ISU Extension to Communities and other partners in offering a workshop via the ICN. This workshop will focus on these issues important to your city: 1. Legally establishing a fire department 2. Contracting for fire protection and EMS service 3. Determining the fair share of costs (city/townships) 4. Separating official duties and civic/social activities of firefEMS departments 5. Using the Response 2020 Program The hosts for these workshops are the ISU County Extension Education Directors. We are asking for your assistance in promoting the workshops to your city's officials. Enclosed are seven copies of the promotional flyer and schedule. Please provide the elected officials and, if applicable, the city manager/administrator in your city with copies of these materials. Please feel free to make additional copies as necessary. Other promotion will be accomplished through the Fire Service Training Bureau of the State Fire Marshal, the EMS Bureau of the Department of Health and the Iowa State Association of Counties. In addition to mayors, council members, city clerks and managers, those invited include fire chiefs, EMS providers. township trustees and clerks and Emergency Management Agency Directors. If you have questions, please call George Oster of ISU Extension to Communities at 888-469-2374 ',,?-,..,.:/,'. =,~, ! '., (toll free) or email at oster9ODiastate.edu. You may access additional information at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Paees/communities/firetrainin~ '~"' !''' "' Thank you very much for your assistance. r,,~.. ,,:. ...... (515} 244'7282 FAX (515) 244 0740 c WEB SIIE: www iowaleague org FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES LEGAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS WORKSHOP A FREE WORKSHOP PRESENTED AT MULTIPLE TIMES AND LOCATIONS VIA THE IOWA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK (ICN) NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED and NO FEE! You are invited to attend any one of the 2-hour workshops offered 200 hundred times throughout Iowa. Attend the one site nearest you at the time most convenient to you! WHO SHOULD ATTEND? FIRE CHIEFS AND OFFICERS/EMS SERVICE PROVIDERS TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES AND CLERKS MAYORS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY CLERKS COUNTY ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS Workshop presented at 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and repeated at 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM March 28, March 29, April 4, April 5, 2001 ATTEND ONLY ONE DATE AND TIME ATTEND ONE WORKSHOP TO LEARN TIlE LATEST LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND HOW TO: 1. LEGALLY ESTABLISH A FIRE DEPARTMENT 2. CONTRACT FOR FIRE PROTECTION AND EMS SERVICE 3. DETERMINE THE FAIR SHARE OF COSTS (CITIES AND TOWNSHIPS) 4. SEPARATE OFFICIAL DUTIES FROM CIVIC/SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 5. USE THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT'S RESPONSE 2020 PROGRAM A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD FOR YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED. HOW TO ATTEND: 1. FIND ONE DATE, TIME AND LOCATION ON THE ENCLOSED SCHEDULE MOST CONVENIENT FOR YOU 2. ATTEND THAT ONE PRESENTATION THIS WORKSHOP PRESENTED BY IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION TO COMMUNITIES WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF: FIRE SERVICE TRAINING BUREAU BUREAU OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES D1VISION OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IOWA LEAGUE OF CITIES IOWA STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES IOWA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT YOUR IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION COUNTY OFFICE YOUR COUNTY AUDITOR Fire Service ICN Schedule Page I of 4 Fire Department and Emergency Services Legal and Organizational Requirements ICN Presentation March 28, 29, April 4, 5, 2001 Morning presentation: 9:00 to 11:00 a,m, / Evening presentation: 7:00 to 9:00 p,m, KEY: HS = High School MS = Middle School NG = National Guard AEA = Area Education Agency CC = Community College Contact your ISU County Extension Office if you need details regarding site location. Site information also available at http://www3 .iptv.org/iowa_database/aeamap.cfm NOTE: When a location straddles both a.m. and p.m. cells, it means both the a.m. and p.m. presentations are in the same ICN classroom. County County Date Site # a.m. Location p.m. Location 1 Adair 04/04/01 612/86 Orient / Macksburg Greenfield HS HS 2 Adams 04/05/01 87 Corning HS 3 Allamakee 04/05/01" 619 Postville MS 4 Appanoose 04104/01 253/10 Centerville NG tl Centervi!le CC 1 5 Audubon 03/29/01 139 Audubon NG 6 Benton 04/04/01 345 Vinton Washington HS 7 Black Hawk 03/28/01 ~ 48/530 UNI 1 II Hudson - HS 8 Boone 03/28/01 573 Boone HS 9 Bremer 04/05/01 712 Tripoli-HS 10 Buchanan 04/04/01 40 lndependence-HS 11 Buena Vista 04/04/01 478 Buena Vista University (Storm Lake) - 2 12 Butler 03/29/01 621/41 Clarksville-HS II Ailison-HS 13 Calhoun 03/28/01 578/26 Manson .S II Rockwell City-HS 14 Carroll 03/28/01 182 Carroll NG 15 Cass 03/28/01 251 Atlantic-NG 16 Cedar 04/04/01 752 Bennett-HS Fire Service ICN Schedule Page 2 of 4 17 Cerro Gordo 03/28/01 581 Mason City - Newman Catholic HS 18 Cherokee 03/29/01 589/640 Cherokee CC ~ Alta HS 19 Chickasaw 03/28/01 2/638 New Hampton HS ~ Fredricksburg HS 20 Clarke 04/04/01 508 Oseeola Clark Cornre. HS : 21 Clay 03/28/01 193 Spencer NG 22 Clayton 03/29/01 3 Elkader AEA 23 Clinton 04/05/01 677/741 DeWitt-Central HS t[ Goose Lake-NE-HS 24 [ Crawford ' 03/28/01 192 Denison HS 2~Dallas 04/04/01 65 Adei-HS 26 Davis 04/05/01 403 Milton-Fox Valley-HS 27 Decatur 04/04/01 510 Leon - Central Decatur Hospital 28 Delaware 04/05/01 664 Manchester Public Library 29 Des Moines 04/04/01 611/240 Mediapolis HS ] Burlington HS 30 Dickinson 04/05/01 388/211 Buena Vista Estherville NG University- Iowa Lakes CC (Spirit Lake) 31 Dubuque [~ 5 Peosta CC1 32 Emmet 03/28/01 211 Estherville NG Fayette 03/29/01 755 Fayette Public Library 34 Floyd 04/04/01 10 Charles City CC 35 Franklin 04/05/01 230 Hampton NG 36 Fremont 04/05/01 80 Sidney HS 37 Greene 03/29/01 112 Jefferson Greene Co. Hospital 38 Grundy 04/04/01 501/42 Dike-New Hartford Grundy Center HS HS 39 Guthrie 04/05/01 745 Guthrie Center Public Library 40 Hamilton 04/04/01 562~28 Biairsburg - Webster City-CC NE Hamilton HS 41 Hancock 04/04/01 422 [ Ventura-HS 42 Hardin 03/28/01 34 Iowa Falls CC [~ 43 Harrison 03/28/01 397 Logan Magnolia HS I 44 Henry 03/29/01 ~ 109 Mt. Pleasant HS I 45 Howard 03/29/01 554 Riceville H S I 46 Humboldt 04/04/01 29 Humboldt H S I 47 [Ida 04/04/01 75 I Ida Grove CC Fire Service ICN Schedule Page 3 of 4 48 Iowa ]] 04/05/01466Middle Amana-C!ear Creek MS 4___~ JacksonII 03/28/01741Goose Lake-NE .S 50 JasperI 03/29/01310/67Newton CC 2 IINewton 51 Jefferson 03/28/01 96 Fairfield HS ~ 52 Johnson 03/29/01 46/117 U of 1 - 1 ]l U of I - 2 53 Jones 03/29/01 457 Anamosa HS 54 Keokuk 04/05/01 97 Sigourney HS ~ 55 Kossuth 03/29/01 234 Aigona NG 56 Lee 04/05/01 517 Donnelson Central Lee HS 57 Linn 03/28/01 410 Marion Public Library 58 Louisa 03/28/01 107 Wapello HS 59 Lucas 03/28/01 364/98 Chariton CC 1 ]] Chariton H S 60 Lyon 03/28/01 21/426 Rock Rapids Inwood West Lyon HS Elementary & MS 61 Madison 03/28/01 68 Winterset HS 62 Mahaska 03/28/01 99 Oskaloosa HS 63 Marion 04/05/01 ~ 315 Knoxville NG 64 Marshall 03/28/01 136 Marshalltown CC 2 I 6sliMills 04/04/01 412 Malveru.S 66 Mitchell 03/29/01 13 Osage HS 67 Monona 03/29/01 658 Whiting-HS 68 Monroe 03/29/01 100 AIbia HS 69 Montgomery ~ 04/04/01 352 ~ Red Oak HS ~___~l O'Brien 04/04/01 541 Hartley-Melvin Sanborn HS 72 Osceola 03/29/01 23/426 Sibley HS ]] George-HS 73 Page 03/28/01 402 Clarinda CC2 74 Palo Alto 04/05/01 20/178 Em~metshurg ccII E~e~hurg.s 75 Plymouth o3/28/01 235 Le Mars NG I 7~ ~'oeabontas ]03/29/0~ 3O Vocabontas US 77 Polk O3/28/01 708 Des Moines Botanical Center 78 Pottawattamie 04/05/01 450 Oakland (East) Riverside HS (West) 79 Poweshiek 04/04/01 199 Montezuma HS Fire Service ICN Schedule Page 4 of 4 80 Ringgold 04/04/01 701/91 Diagonal HS I] Mount Ayr HS 81 Sac 04/05/01 684 Sac City Public Library 82 Scott 03/29/01 429/175 Eastern Iowa C C 3 Mt. Joy Army Aviation (Davenport) Support Facility (Davenport) 83 Shelby 04/04/01 85 Harlan HS 84 Sioux 04/05/01 158 Moc-FIoyd Valley HS - Orange City 85 Story 03/29/01 338 Nevada HS 86 Tama 03/29/01 437/263 Iowa Juvenile Giadbrook/Reinbeck M Home (Toledo) S 87 Taylor 03/29/01 92/511 Bedford HS Lenox H S 88 Union 03/28/01 173/421 Creston AEA ]] Creston CC 2 89 Van Buren 04/04/01 103 Keosauqua HS 90 Wapello 04/04/01 444 Ottumwa CC 4 91 Warren 04/04/01 72 lndianola-Central School District Admin. 92 Washington 03/29/01 227 Washington N G 93 Wayne 03/29/01 735/102 Morman Trail HS a Corydon HS Garden Grove 94 Webster 04/05/01 273 Fort Dodge HS 95 Winnebago 03/29/01 404 Thompson North 1A MS 96 Winneshiek 03/29/01 731 Decorah - N Winneshiek H S Woodbury 04/04/01 520 No AM presentation Moville-Woodbury 97 this date Central HS Note: only PM presentation this date and site. Woodbury 04/05/01 116 Sioux City CC2 (Note: presented both AM and PM this site and date) 98 ~ Worth 04/05/01 15 Northwood HS 99 ]1 Wright 03/29/01 425 Clarion MS March 14, 2001 ~ Clt~} 0~l~l~ Ms. Anne Hesse C 3948 Stewart Road NE Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Anne: This letter is to follow-up on our March 1 meeting at which time we discussed winter damage to Iowa Avenue landscaping. Below I have outlined follow-up to suggestions posed at the meeting: 1) Enhanced enforcement of private individuals depositing snow onto the Iowa Avenue median. According to the City Attorney's Office, it is necessary for us to "catch them in the act." Violators would be charged with a municipal infraction, with a first offense fine of $100. Our Housing & Inspection Services Department enforces this ordinance Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Police Department all other times. 2) Distribute a letter.to property owners along 10wa Avenue. The City has the capability to send a letter reminding property owners along Iowa Avenue of the ordinance that prohibits placement of snow in the median (or anywhere on public right of way) as well as the fine for doing so. We will send letters out to owners at the beginning of December. 3) Place markers along the outer edge of landscaping. The Parks & Recreation Department will place markers along the outer edge of the landscaping to aid Streets employees in identifying bushes and shrubs under snow cover. 4) Snow emergency route declaration to allow clearing of snow. In discussions with the City Manager, he feels we should declare snow emergencies in only extreme circumstances. Because of the uniqueness of our population, in that we have many neighborhoods where old houses have been converted to student apartments where adequate off-street parking is unavailable, an ordinance requidng persons to move cars off-street would create a real problem. Finding a place to relocate hundreds of cars would be an absolute hardship for residents. Hopefully, implementation of these ideas will alleviate the problem in future years. As was discussed in the meeting, please forward the estimate of replacement costs to the City Manager prior to the work being performed. Thank you for your concern and assistance in maintaining the integrity of the landscaping along Iowa Avenue. Please call me if you have any questions. m trative Assistant to the City Manager cc: City Council City Manager Bud Stockman Sheri Thomas March :~2, 2001 ~lllllli~ Citl/o Beverly Klein TOi~ 122 Wright Street ~ ]owa Ci~, ~A 52240 Re: Wright Street Dear Ms. Klein: ] am in receipt of your letter to Councilman Irvin Pfab dated February 27, 200:~, regarding snow removal, storm water drainage along Wright Street, and water pressure at your business at ~.22 Wright Street. Wright Street is a public street with a thirty foot wide right-oFway and 23 foot wide paving. Sidewalk is along the north side adjacent to the curb. The street paving slopes to the north gutter line and the gutter line slopes to the east from Clinton Street to Dubuque Street. Inlets are located at the north gutter. The canopy of the old Rock Island Railroad Depot extends approximately two feet into the street paving, and cars are continuously parked along the north curb line. Wright Street is a City street and snow removal is provided by the City. There is some difficulty in moving snow due to the parked cars and the canopy and driveway access to the old depot. Snow must be pushed along the block toward Dubuque Street and stored south of the paving. The City is providing the best snow removal possible given the existing site conditions. Snow is not removed from the north gutter because of the parked cars. All drainage flows to the north gutter where it freezes and remains frozen because of the parked cars. The only solution is to remove parking which I do not believe is in the best interest of the neighborhood. Drainage is provided by the inlets along the north gutter and a culvert under the Iowa Interstate Railroad tracks at Dubuque Street. Inlet maintenance is the responsibility of the City and culvert maintenance is the responsibility of the railroad. During severe winter conditions, it is difficult to keep these shallow storm sewers and culverts from freezing, especially if cars are perked over them. The water pressure problems you encounter at your business at 122 Wright Street is due to your service line and not water flow and pressure in the City water main. Your service line is a 3/4 inch line extending west from the water main on Dubuque Street about 150 feet to a manhole where a I/2 inch tee is connected. 1/z inch service lines then connect to your building and the duplex at 1~.4 Wright Street. This service line is not adequate to serve your business at 122 Wright Street. Respectfully, ~~ Public Works Director Cc: Bud Stockman, Street Superintendent Ed Moreno, Water Superintendent 410 EAST WASHINGTON STREET * IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240-1826 * (319) 356-5000 * FAX (319) 356-5009 AGENDA Iowa City City Council Economic Development Committee The Committee meeting scheduled for March 15, 2001 has been rescheduled to Friday, March 23, 2001, at 2:00 p.m. Civic Center - Public Works Conference Room MEMORANDUM Date: March 13, 2001 To: Economic Development Committee ~a~,/~,,..~ From: David Schoon, Economic Development Coordin Re: March 5, 2001 Econom'c Development Comm'ttee Meeting The next Economic Development Committee meeting on March 15, 2001, has been cancelled and rescheduled to March 23 at 2:00 p.m. in the Public Works Conference Room. The meeting is being rescheduled so that the Committee can respond to the Housing and Community Development Commission recommendation to the Council regarding the application to establish a CDBG Economic Development Fund. HCDC will meet on March 20 to review their ranking scores of all the projects and again on March 22 to formulate its funding recommendation to Council. I plan to both of these meetings. Enclosed is a copy of the materials staff sent to HCDC summarizing the Commission's preliminary rankings and average individual committee members' allocation recommendations. As you can see on the enclosed chart, four out of the eight HCDC members recommended n_.9o funding for the City of Iowa City - Economic Development Fund. While four HCDC members recommend funding levels from $30,000 to $150,000. The average funding level was almost $45,000. Please note that the Committee also received two other economic development applications. One project by the Extend the Dream Foundation would establish a micro-enterprise business incubator for businesses operated by persons with disabilities. The other project would assist a new downtown business, Ruby's Pearl, provide a livable wage. u:\files\eco dev strategy\rescheduled meeting memo.doc AGENDA HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SENIOR CENTER, LOWER LEVEL CLASSROOM THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2001 6:30 p.m. (Times are Approximate) 6:30 pm Call Meeting to Order 6:35 pm Public/Member Discussion of Items Not on the Agenda 6:40 pm Development of a FY02 CDBG/HOME Budget Recommendation to Council Review final project rankings Discuss funding scenario Formulate a FY02 CDBG/HOME budget recommendation 8:40 pm Old Business 8:45 pm Public/Member Discussion of Items Not on the Agenda 8:50 pm New Business Review Remaining FY02 Allocation Schedule Discussion of National Community Development Week Celebration 8:55 pm Adjournment PLEASE NOTE: MEETING BEGINS AT 6:30 PM IN THE SENIOR CENTER PLEASE USE THE WASHINGTON STREET ENTRANCE AGENDA HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SENIOR CENTER, LOWER LEVEL CLASSROOM TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2001 6:30 p.m. (Times are Approximate) 6:30 pm Call Meeting to Order 6:35 pm Approval of Minutes from February 13, 2001 6:40 pm Approval of Minutes from February 15, 2001 6:45 pm Public/Member Discussion of Items Not on the Agenda 6:50 pm Review of FY02 Applications for CDBG/HOME Funding (See Presentation Schedule in Application Notebooks) 8:50 pm Old Business 8:55 pm New Business 9:00 pm Adjournment PLEASE NOTE: MEETING BEGINS AT 6:30 PM IN THE SENIOR CENTER PLEASE USE THE WASHINGTON STREET ENTRANCE City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM DATE: March 12, 2001 TO: Housing and Community Development Commission FROM: Angels Williams, Associate Planner ~ RE: HCDC Meetings on March 20 & 22, 2001 Thank you for making the presentation hearings go smoothly and for the many hours of time and energy that you have put into the allocation process up to this point. At the HCDC meeting on March 20th yOU will be discussing the applications and the preliminary rankings. This meeting is designed to help you finalize the ranking sheets. To assist with this process we wanted to again provide the amount of FY02 CDBG and HOME funds available to you for allocation, within the CiTY STEPS categories. Please keep in mind that the amount of funds within these categories is flexible, with the exception of the Public Services category. At the March 22''~ meeting, you will be forrealizing a budget recommendation to Council. Estimated Funds Available to Allocate Economic Development $120,000 Housing $890,000' ($107,400 MUST go to Greater lows City Housing fellowship) Public Facilities $410,000 Public Services (statutory limit) $ 53,000 Total $1,473,000 As we discussed, staff was only one program scenario, the average allocation. This scenario reflects a funding allocation based on the composite result of individual Commission members funding for each project. In this scenario, all projects received an average score over the minimum score (60 points), and all projects were at least partially funded. However, two problems result from following this scenario. The first problem is that the amount allocated to Public Service projects is over the statutory limit, which is set by law. In this scenario $64,051 was allocated towards Pubtic Services, this is $11,051 over the limit. The second problem is that some of the applications received such reduced funding, that the projects may no longer be feasible. To assist the discussion, staff prepared a "consensus" worksheet. This worksheet tries to show the consensus of the commission to fund projects. Please see the enclosed consensus worksheet. Staff will provide you with a brief overview on how this worksheet was assembled. Once the Commission has formalized the budget recommendation on March 22nd, it will need to decide whether the funding for each project is to be in the form of a grant or a loan. As in the past, staff has been given the flexibility to negotiate all rates and terms. If you have any questions regarding this information, please feel free to contact me at 356-5244, or email at Angela-Williams@iowa-city.org. Please remember that both meetinqs will be at the Senior Center in the lower level classroom and will beqin at 6:30 PM. HCDC CONSENSUS WORKSHEET FY02 Project Name HCDC HCDC HCDC HCDC Fully Fund Particallv Fund 50% or More Particallv Fund Under 50% No Fundin.q SECTION f DVIP - Furniture Project 8 o 0 o GICHF - Student Built House 8 o o o Family Services - Consumer Credit Counseling 7 I o o Hillcrest Family Services - Facility Rehab 6 2 o 0 Emergency Housing Project - Facility Rehab 6 1 0 1 Neighborhood Centers of Johnson Co. - Facility Rehab 5 2 I o Emergency Housing Project - Shelter Coordinator 5 1 I I Section 2 EIder Services Inc. - Small Repair 4 3 o 1 Extend the Dream Fdn, -- Micro*enterprise Start~up 2 6 o o 4Cs - Facility Renovation for Toy Library 3 4 0 1 Habitat for Humanity - Land Acquisition for Homeownership 2 s 0 $ GICHF - Construction of Rental Housing 2 5 0 1 Salvation Army - Apartment Rehab 3 3 0 2 Pathways Adult Day Cam -- Facility Acquisition I 6 1 0 Successful Living - Homeless Services 3 2 0 3 Section 3 Metro Plains - Construction of Rental Housing 3 I 0 4 Foxboro Ridge - Construction of Rental Housing 3 1 0 4 Eagles Flight, Inc. -- Women's Health I 3 2 2 Emergency Housing Project - Deposit Assistance 0 3 2 3 Section 4 Salvation Army - Food Distribution and Storage 2 0 1 5 City of Iowa City -- Economic Development Fund 1 2 I 4 Ruby's Pearl -- Micro-enterprise Start-up 0 2 1 5 Emerson Point -- Construction of Rental Housing I 0 1 6 Section I shows a majority of HCDC members want to fully fund the project. Section 2 shows a majority of HCDC members who want to fund the project in excess of 50% of the proposed request Section 3 shows that thero is not a clear majodty of the HCDC members to fund or not to fund the projecL Section 4 shows that thero is a majority of HCDC members who do not propose funding for the proposed project. FY02 CDBG\HOME PROPOSED ALLOCATIONS Average Allocation Amount AVE REQUESTED AVERAGE PROJECT NAME RANK SCORE AMOUNT ALLOCATION / / FY02 Preliminary Rankings CDBG~HOME Projects : I E~memencYH°usingPr°ject%ShelterC°°rdinat°r i 72 ! 76 J ~ _ 95~J 725 _ 88 __ 80_ j 91 i 282938 . 84 , 5 ~ ExlJndtheDreamFour~ation-Micro-EnterpnseSt~ : 80 J 75 87 ~9 ~ 775 91 78 74 i ~8 438 9 Emergency Housing Proiect- Utility DepositAssista~ce 76 ! 78 ~ 87 87 ~8'8:5 88 76 i 73 2L 79188 77 . 12 Eme~,~npointLp-ConstructionofRentalHo~ ~ ] 80 75 96 63 ~ 93 ~ 88~ ,__ 0~ ~ 100 j 74375 84 4CS Community Coordinated Child Care - Facility Renovation i ~ 70 ~ 73 ~ 79 81 I 666~ 75 ] 70 J 79 L ! 74209 74 j 18 ~-"~ C~ of Iowa C~ty - Economic Development Fund ! 56 ~ 4 67 ~ 46 65 741 73 48 73 J 62763 66 22 03-'/5-01 ATTORNEy AT LAW~ L. CRAIG NIER ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ MAR 0 9 2001 P. O. Box 987 MANA ' CITYGEe S ~4-7957 Facsi~le Iowa CiW, Io~ 522~-0987 ~e~n~w,com March 9, 2001 Chief R. J. Wi~elh~e Iowa City Police Department 411 East Washington Street Iowa Ci~, IA 52240 Re: Appreciation De~ Chief Wi~elh~e: I ~ the leader of the Tiger Scout group from Hom School. Recently, o~ den of first graders was studying Comm~ity ~d I cme by your depaHment to ~ge a tour of the station ~d to le~ abom communi~ safer. S~gent Heick was ve~ accommodating ~d ~acious. I ~ p~icul~ly grateI~l to Officer Fowler, whom the boys cle~ly admired $d felt comfoaable with. He went out of his way to make the trip educational, interesting, ~d fun. The other police personnel present Wednesday evening (including the dog) were simil~ly helpful. Two other parents ~d my eleven year-old daughter were with me ~d shoe these impressions. The boys now have a much better understanding of community ~d safety as well as the impon~t role that police officers play in them. Please convey our appreciation to Sargent Heich, Officer Fowler~ ~d the other members of yo~ dep~ment. Ve~ truly yours, L. Craig Nierman cc: Mr. Steve Atkins PATV BOARD OF DIRECTORS M1NUTES MEETING OF JANUARY 18, 2001 Board Members Present: Calvert, Cook, Luong, Petersen, Phillips Board Members Absent: Clancy, Nothnagle, Pads PATV: Paine ICTC: McKray 1. No fonun. 7pm-8:35 pre-meeting discussions 2. Call meeting to Order:8:35 p.m. by Sing 3. Consent Agenda: No changes 4. Approval of January Minutes: Approved by all present 5. Public announcements: none 6. Board announcements: none 7. Old Business: plan to avoid melting of cords will be moved to Strategic Planning session 8. New Business: Strategic Planning Retreat is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, February 4th at the Senior Center, ipm-6pm. All beard members will brings snack foods and PATV will provide beverages. Retreat will be utilized as a planning session for developing a 3-year business plan/VISION for PATV, including provisions with the Englert Project. 9. Reports: ICTC Betty McKray will be re~ring her position as liaison between the commission and PATV. COMMITlEES Outreach plans will be formulated at retreat. TREAS[TRER None MANAGEMENT Cable radio show with 5th graders from Clear Creek Amana School District on tanuary 12th was a success and will be replayed in February. CAP will be at City High on Friday, January 19th from 8pro to midnight. Business Expo at CarVer Hawkeye Arena with include a PATV booth. Adjoumment: 9:15 p.m. SPECIAL PROJECTS x ~lllllms WASTEWATER TREATMENT ,,,,,,~t'~- AND COLLECTION FACILITY Contract 3 - South Plant ~ Improvements 70~ CITY COUNCIL REPORT Report Number: #5 Contractor: Story Construction Company Report Date: March 6, 2001 300 South Bell Ave. Ames, Iowa Project Number: 3387.0 Engineering Consultant: City of Iowa City Administration and Inspection Staff: Tim Randall, Special Projects Manager Stanley Consultants, Inc. Terry Simmons, Special Projects Inspector 225 Iowa Avenue Muscatine, Iowa Date Construction Started: March 14, 2000 Approved Time Extensions (Daysl: 0 Contracl Completion Date/Days: March 13.2002 / 730 'Revised Completion Date: N/A Days Elapsed: 352 Percent of Project Completed: 35.6 % Days Remaining: 378 Contract Price: _ $26,574,000.00 Percent of Time Used: 48 % Progress Payments to Date: $8,980,308.90 Summary of Construction Activities To Date: ~ Laborato.ry/Administration Building: The building has been heated so that construction work could continue throughout the winter. interior CMU walls are complete. Work on the above ceiling plumbing. electrical and duct work is well underway, some work is nearing completion. The penthouse floor slab is in-place. Work on the metal stud structure has just started. The ballasted EPDM roofing system is in-place, with some minor detail work remaining to be finished. Work is underway on the brick and cast stone veneer. r Maintenance Vehicle Storage Building: Work recently resumed in this area. Erection of the structural steel is complete. Placement of steel floor deck on the mezzanine is complete. Installation of the steel roof deck is nearing completion. ~- Addition to Sludge Processing Facility: No work during this winter. South Wastewater Plant Contract 3 City Council Report #5 Page I March 6, 2001 ~ Sludge Digestion Building: The concrete walls for Digester Tanks 8101, 8201, 8301 and 8401 are complete. The concrete basement walls for the Sludge Digestion Building are complete. Erection and welding of the stainless steel digester tank covers and mixing tubes is underway. The Utility Tunnel base slab is complete. The tunnel's walls are nearing completion. Wall pours for the Sludge Equalization Tanks are anticipated next. Form work for the ground floor slab is expected soon. Chlorine Contact Tanks: The concrete work for the tanks is complete. No further work is anticipated until spring. Secondary Clari~ers: Work on the under-slab piping and concrete encasement for Clarifier 5300 is complete. Pipe work and the concrete encasement remains for Cladtier 5400. No further work is expected until spring. > Primary Clari~ers: Work on the under-slab piping and concrete encasement for Cladtier 3300 is nearing completion. Work on under-slab piping for Clarifier 3400 is underway. Piping and concrete for the center pier have been placed. Work on the pipe encasemerits is anticipated next. )~ Aeration Tanks: Concrete wall pours on the east half of the structure are nearing completion. The east two walls have been completed from south to noah. The north end walls will be cast next. Work on the west half of the base slab is expected in the spring. ~. Blower Building: Work is scheduled to start in spring 2001. Grit Dewatering Building: Work is scheduled to start in spring 2001. Vortex Grit Chambers: Work recently started on this structure. Excavation work is complete. The base slab for the Grit Pump Wet Well and one of the vortex bases is in place. Work will continue on the concrete pours for some time. High Strength Flow Equalization Tank: Work is scheduled to start in spring 2001. , High Strength Flow Pump Station: Work recently started on this structure. Shoring and excavation work is complete. The base slab and first wall pours are complete. The concrete work will continue for some time. ,- Flow Equalization Basins: Placement of the 6" aggregate base in Cell No. 2 is anticipated next. Placement of ACC and PCC paving is scheduled for April 2001. r North Plant Sludge Equalization Tank and Sludge Pumping Station (revision of existing structures): Work is scheduled for September and October 2001. Respectfully submitted, Tim Randall City of Iowa City Special Projects Manager South Wastewater Plant Contract 3 City Council Report #5 Page 2 March 6, 2001 Cheers for New Mexico's legislators I odd 5-~1 IP19 Marjan Karr From: Carol DeProsse [cdeprosse@earthlink.net] Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2001 4:36 PM To: JCNEWS@yosemite.leepfrog.com Cc: mary_mascher@legis.state.ia.us; vicki_lensing@legis.state.ia.us; joe_bolkcom@legis.state.ia.us; barry_brauns@legis.state.ia.us; ro_foege@legis.state.ia.us; richard_myers@legis.state.ia.us; richard_drake@legis.state.ia.us; ipwhite@co.johnson.ia.us; cthompso@co.johnson.ia.us; m3ehman@co.johnson.ia.us; sstutsma@co.johnson.ia.us; pharney@co.johnson.iaus; tneuzil@co.johnson.ia.us; tjneuzil@msn.com; Connie_Champion@iowa-city.org; Ernie_Lehman@iowa-city.org; Ross_Wilburn@iowa-city.org; Dee_Vanderhoef@iowa-city.org; ipfab@avalon.net; Steve_Atkins@iowa-city.org Subject: JCNEWS: Cheers for New Mexico's legislators Marijuana Can Be Medicine, Senate Says March 07, 2001 at 07:28:33 PT By Steve Terrell, The (Santa Fe) New Mexican Sufferers of serious medical conditions who can ease their pain by using marijuana would be able to do so without fear of prosecution under a bill the state Senate overwhelming approved Tuesday. By a vote of 29-12, the Senate passed Senate Bill 319, sponsored by Sen. Roman Maes, D-Santa Fe. The bill mandates the state Health Department set up a program for therapeutic marijuana. The vote for the bill was bipartisan with nine Republicans joining 20 Democrats to pass it. Four Democrats and eight Republicans voted against the bill. The bill now must be approved by the state House of Representatives before it can become law. A similar bill, HB431, introduced by Rep. Joe Thompson, R- Albuquerque, has been making its way through House committees. "The message I want to send to my kids and my grandkids is that I don't approve of recreational marijuana," said Sen. Steve Komadina, R-Corrales. "1 don't think voting for this says you support recreational drugs." Komadina is a physician. The bill is part of Gov. Gary Johnson's drug-reform package. Sen. Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, who voted for the medical-marijuana bill, said, "1 hope this is as far as we go." Sen. Ramsay Gorham, R-Albuquerque - who voted against the bill - unsuccessfully attempted to pass an amendment that would allow processed forms of marijuana - pills, creams or suppositories - to be used as medicine. She said this would prevent people from smoking marijuana. This was mocked by Sen. Shannon Robinson, D-Albuquerque, who sarcastically 3/8/01 Drug Prohibition Page 1 of 1 Marian Karr From: Carol DePmsse [cdepmsse@ea~hlink.net] Sent: Friday, March 09, 2001 1:45 PM To: JCNEWS@yosemite.leepfrog.com Cc: jpwhite@co.johnson.ia.us; cthompso@co.johnson.ia.us; mlehman@co.johnson.ia.us; sstutsma@co.johnson.ia.us; pharney@co.johnson.ia.us; tneuzil@co.johnson.ia.us; tjneuzil@msn.com; Connie_Champion@iowa-city.org; Ernie_Lehman@iowa-city.org; Ross_Wilburn@iowa-city.org; Dee_Vanderhoef@iowa-city.org; ipfab@avalon.net; Steve_Atkins@iowa-city.org; Jim Fausett; Har~ Herwig; John Weihe; Diana Lundell; Dave Jacoby; Jean Schnake; mary_mascher@legis.state.ia.us; vicki_lensing@legis.state.ia.us; joe_boikcom@legis.state. iaus; barry_brauns@legis.state.ia.us; ro_foege@legis.state.ia.us; richard_myem@legis.state.ia.us; richard_drake@legis,state.ia.us Su~ect: JCNEWS: Drug Prohibition The Week Online with DRCNet, Issue #176 - March 9, 2001 A Publication of the Drug Reform Coordination Network "Raising Awareness of the Consequences of Drug Prohibition" TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Interview with Steve Kubby http:~/www.drcnet.org/wol/176.html#stevekubby 2. Puerto Rico: Battle Over Island Drug Czar Exposes Fault Lines on Drug Policy http://www.drcnet.or~/wol/176.html~puertorico 3 Follow That Story: Harried Thai Government Plans National Summit on Meth Use, Policy Prescriptions Go In All Directions http://www.drcnet.org/wol/176,html#thaimeth 4 Conference on the Drug War and People with Disabilities Convenes in Arkansas http://www.drcnet~or~/wol/176.html~disabilities 5 European Study of Teen Drug Use Suggests Impact of Drug Policy is: (A) Paradoxical (B) Irrelevant http~//www.drcnet.org/wol/176.html~eurostudy 6 Marijuana in the Statehouse: Good News and Bad News for Medical Marijuana and Decrim as Legislatures Go To Work http://www.drcnet.org/wol/176!html~statehouse 7 Marijuana Legalization Initiative Rises Again in Michigan, Personal Responsibility ~endment Petition Drive to Kick-Off at Ann Arbor Hash Bash http://www.drcnet.org/wol/176~html#pramichigan 8 Job Listings: New York, DC, Michigan http;//www!drcnet.org/wol/176.html#joblistings 9 The Reformer~s Calendar http://www.drcnet.org/wol/176.html#eventcalendar 10. Editorial: Thinking About Drug Policy http://www.drcnet.org/wol/176.html~thinking 3/9/0 1 Supervisor Neuzil I 03-15-01 IP20 Marian Karr From: Carol DeProsse [cdeprosse@ear~hlink.net] Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2001 5:51 PM To: JCNEWS@yosemite.leepfrog.com Cc: jpwhite@co.johnson.ia.us; cthompso@co,johnson.ia.us; mlehman@co,johnson,ia.us; sstutsma@co.johnson.ia.us; pharney@co.johnson,ia.us; tneuzil@co.johnson.ia.us; tjneuzil@rnsn.com; Connie_Champion@iowa-city.org; Ernie_Lehman@iowa-city,org; Ross_Wilburn@iowa-city.org; Dee_Vanderhoef@iowa-city.org; ipfab@avalon.net; Steve_Atkins@iowa-city.org; mary_mascher@legis.state.ia.us; vicki_lensing@legis.state. ia.us; joe_bolkcom@legis.state.ia.us; barry_brauns@legis.state,ia,us; ro_foege@legis.state.ia.us; richard_myers@legis.state.ia.us; richard_drake@legis.state.iaus; Jim Fausett; Harry Herwig; John Weihe; Diana Lundell; Dave Jacoby; Jean Schnake Subject: JCNEWS: Supervisor Neuzil This letter appeared in the 3/8/C Gazette: I invite Supervisor Neuzil to respond to the question asked in the last paragraph. Does Neuzil agree with opinions? Recently, on a radio talk show on KCJJ, statements such as these were made. That a former Iowa City council member prays to the red flag of communism. That the mayor should slap a certain member of the city council. That the police should search a council member for drugs because of his position of a grant that encourages questionable police practice. That certain members of the community who question this grant use drugs and should be stopped and searched. A key element of democracy is the free expression of ideas. KCJJ, as it well should, takes full advantage of the privilege. A county supervisor, Terrance Neuzil, reads the news on this program and joins in the banter. It is at this point that I become concerned. To his credit, Neuzil wants great citizen involvement in county government. But because of his association with programming that promotes assault and retribution in exchange for the free expression of ideas, I have to question his sincerity, I think Neuzil has the responsibility to tell the people of Johnson County what he thinks of the opinions expressed on KCJJ and reassure us that no one should fear coming before him in his capacity as a county supervisor, to express an opinion. Dan Brock Iowa City 3/9/01 Developmen~..~egulations Analysis Iowa City, Iowa Project Objectives · Identify conflicts between comprehensive plan and development code · Identify possible code barriers to affordable housing · Identify revisions that might help reduce development costs · Identify actions that might improve development process efficiency Power Point Presentation Kirk Bishop 03/19/01 1 Process · Staff and stakeholder interviews · Independent analysis of plans and regulations · Comparison with development practices in other communities · Report > Presentation Iowa City Beyond 2000 · Stabilize and Improve Older Neighborhoods/Commercial Areas · Develop New Mixed-Use, Pedestrian-Friendly Neighborhoods · Promote Affordable Housing · Protect Environmental Resources 2 Neighborhood Commercial · Recommendations · broaden range of uses allowed in CN-1 · add additional design standards to ensure neighborhood scale/pedestrian character · amend CN-1 to permit (above-ground floor) residential uses by-right, Residential/Housing · Diversity of Housing Types ~ · allow duplexes/attached single-family on corner lots in RS-5 · revise RS-8 to be primarily a small-lot SF zone (allow duplexes/attached single-family units on corner lots) · accommodate a wide range of single-family and duplex structure types in RS-12 · Implement plan's MF scale policy 3 Residential/Housing · Diversity of Housing Types · encourage/require a mix of housing in new subdivisions · allow more widespread use of small accessory dwelling units in single-family zoning districts · include "by-right" standards for duster housing subdivisions and other residential development alternatives Residential/Housing · Setbacks and Lot Size · reduce residential zoning front setback requirements · make greater use of front setback averaging · couple reduced front setback standards with new standards for garage placement/design · reduce lot width standards to accommodate more "compact development" 4 S[:ree~:s · Recommendations ~ · implement a consistent policy on street connectivity · adopt access management regulations · clarify arterial sidewalk standards · require installation of arterial roadway buffers for residential developments at the time of subdivision approval Stree~:s · Recommendations · adopt regulations allowing additional flexibility in local street design, perhaps a menu of local street design options · investigate approaches that would allow for canopy tree plantings within the right-of-way · encourage greater use of alleys, rear lanes and shared drives Housing/Development Costs · Existing regulations appear to reflect adopted policies and do not appear to unduly restrict the market's ability to provide affordable housing or nonresidential development opportun ities Housing/Development Costs · Examine land supply for higher density single- family and multi-family development · Reduce reliance on planned developments and other discretionary processes · Implement "Environmenta] Regulations" through a "development standards" approach, while retaining the OPDH zone as a voluntary route for developers with unique or innovative proposals 6 Housing/Development Costs · Make the development review/approval process as efficient as possible: · greater use of objective development standards · timeframes for reviews and approvals · greater use of pre-application conferences · formalized DRC procedure · concurrent reviews · greater use of administrative decision-making · combining second and third ordinance readings on non-controversial rezonings · requiring neighborhood meetings on major development proposals very early in the process Other Recommendations · Add character-based standards to address site design and building orientation issues · Update the zoning ordinance's use classification system (160+ uses) · Implement Community Vision Task Force Goals through code amendments · Move the residential design guidelines from the Envi.ronmental Regulations article · Add additional flexibility within the off-street parking section 7 Other Recommendations o Reorganize/relocate site plan regulations · Revise sign regulations to eliminate most content-based standards (e.g., real estate signs vs. political signs) · Amend adult use regulations · Add additional nonresidential interim development zones · Relocate existing alley and alternative access standards from the "Sensitive Areas Ordinance" · Revising Sec. 14-6M-2-A-C to greatly reduce the existing 10-foot alley (garage) setback Organization and Format · Table of Contents and Index How to Guide Page Layout 8 Organization and Format · Computerization ~';~";~ll~ll~ll~lln.~-~'~, *1 · Tables ..~ Organization and Format · Illustrations · Reorganization ,'~="'-, ~: . -,~_., ~:~ Building Neighborhoods (1) Mixed-Use Live-Work Space Building/Parking Design Pedestrian Amenities Housing Diversity Smaner Lot S,zes Small-Scale, Multi-Unit Alternative Layouts Building Neighborhoods (2) Connectivity Access Management Pedestrians/Bicycles ~Fence Canyon Alternatives Local Streets/Lanes/Alleys Snout Houses Reduced Front Setbacks 10 Building Neighborhoods (3) Neighborhood*Based Pedestrian Connections Resource-Based Open Space Other Challenges · Traffic Congestion · Parking · Affordability · University Growth · Resource Protection · Facility Adequacy 11