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Home My WebLink About2006-01-10 Correspondence I ~ j --= -~ ~~Iii~'t -..;;:,.;.sr...DII.' ....... ... CITY OF IOWA CITY~ MEMORANDUM Date: December 19, 2005 To: City Clerk From: Anissa Williams, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner 0Jlf Re: Item for January 10, 2005 City Council meeting: Installation of NO PARKING ANY TI ME signs with ARROWS in front of 1421 Ridge Street As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 38 of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action. Action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A(10), install NO PARKING ANY TIME signs with ARROWS in front of 1421 Ridge Street. Comment: This action is being taken at the request of an elderly resident who resides at 1421 Ridge Street. This will allow pick up and drop off in front of her home that has an accessible ramp. When the resident no longer resides at this address, the signs will be removed. Mgr/agd/aw-ridge st npbs.doc ~ l{') ~ M V'5 r-.. x: ~O l_..J' :-1-- W a... !_U .~J>-" --l ~ (,)L.... U LL (.., ~ w i-<( = O~ Lr.> = 0 = <'-.: ..... ~ Marian Karr From: Ball, Phoebe [phoebe-ball@uiowa.edu] Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 11 :56 AM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: Snow Removal Dear Council Members, As you are all well aware, we have had more snow this year than we have had for a number of years. This raises an issue that is of utmost concern to people with disabilities in the City of Iowa City, snow removal from sidewalks, curb cuts and bus stops. As a woman with a mobility impairment with a young baby this has been a particular problem for me this year. The city needs to impress upon homeowners, landlords and business people that they have an obligation to clear sidewalks in front of their property in a timely fashion so that pedestrians (particularly wheelchair users and parents with strollers) can use the sidewalk. Additionally, every year curb cuts that are supposed to make the sidewalks accessible are covered with mounds of snow that are pushed there when the city plows clear the street. These mounds of snow quickly turn into impassable glaciers as people walk over them and pack them down, making the curb cuts utterly useless to people with disabilities. Furthermore, there are a number of bus stops throughout the city that are heaped with snow, making using the lifts impossible and rendering the public transit system difficult if not impossible for a person in a wheelchair to use. I understand that you can't do anything about the weather, but keeping the city accessible to people with disabilities is as important in the winter as it is during the summer months. As a mother with a disability and a full-time job it is very frustrating for me to have to miss work because of snow, especially if I can't get to work because of snow that's been on the ground long enough for someone to deal with it. I urge you to put this issue on the agenda as soon as possible, the expertise of the Evert Conner Rights and Resources Center is always at your disposal in helping to identify possible solutions to access issues such as this. Thank you for your consideration of this issue, Phoebe Ball, J.D. Chair, Board of Directors Evert Conner Rights and Resources Center for Independent Living 12/19/2005 Page 1 of 1 Marian Karr From: Dunlap, Terry A [terry-dunlap@uiowa.edu] Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 12:13 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: SNOW REMOVAL I really don't understand. Is it revenue from parking tickets and towing that would be lost? I urge each of you to drive east from downtown on Jefferson, Iowa Ave, Washington, and College streets Gust to name a few) and tell me if you can take pride in the conditions of those city streets. It is a shame to see car after car after car buried by city snow plows because we don't have a plan in effect too efficiently and effectively remove snow from city streets that allow on street parking. It looks like a war zone. It really is a mess and should be an embarrassment to the people who raise and collect our tax money if that's the best they have to offer its citizens when it snows. 12/12/2005 Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Subject: alex-sagers@uiowa.edu Thursday, December 08, 20054:46 PM council@iowa-city.org Student Concern Hello, r am a U of I student and I have talked to many students about the roadside conditions. We believe that the conditions oecuring on the road are not in the best shape. While the snow falls down and the street fills up I havent seen all but once snow plow. We personally believe that there should be a reorganization of the snow routes. Thank you for your time. Alex Sagers 1 Marian Karr ~ U9QU From: Sent: To: Subject: cootie twoshoes Oewishwedding@msn.com] Thursday, December 22, 2005 9:35 AM council@iowa-city.org Snow on City Bike Racks Dear Councilperson, I would like to bring to your attention that it has become common practice for the snow from streets and sidewalks to be very deliberately plowed onto bike racks (as well as any poor bicycle that happens to be locked to it). I am a dedicated cyclist and resident of Iowa City, and I am disappointed in the City's lack of regard for cyclists' needs. Can we please find truly unused space around town to plow the snow? Bike racks are still being used despite the weather. I appreciate consideration of this matter. Thank you, Cody Gieselman Iowa City resident 1 Page 1 of 1 Marian Karr From: Steve Goetzelman [gpickle@iowadsl.net] Sent: Thursday, December 22,20059:20 AM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: Bike Racks In Iowa City Dear Councilperson: A quick look around Iowa City will show you that nearly every single bike rack in town is currently covered in snow. It did not just fall there, it was pushed there by snowplows. Go take a look and you will see. Many bikes that were on the racks were are now buried. As a resident of Iowa City who does not drive a car and gets around by bike I can assure you that it is very difficult to find parking for my bike in Iowa City. Please contact our snow removal crews and have them stop piling snow on the racks. Maybe, if they have time, they could dig out a few that they buried, too. Respectfully, Steve Goetzelman 632 Reno St Iowa City, IA (319) 325-1359 12/22/2005 Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Subject: mark@north-liberty.com Thursday, December 22, 2005 7:54 PM cou noi I@iowa-city.org Clear snow from bike racks I appreciate the efforts Iowa City makes to clear the streets and sidewalks of snow and ice. While the bicycle traffic and parking volume may decrease during the colder months, a large group of bicyclists still ride to work, school, and shopping. On my trip to work in Iowa City by bicycle, I stopped at the mall for lunch. I needed to use caution on the thick layer of ice and walk around the snow to find a parking spot for my bicycle. When time permits, Iowa City should take the time to open a few of the downtown bicycle racks. Thanks you for your attention to this issue. Sincerely, Mark Wyatt North Liberty, Iowa 1 Marian Karr c:n From: Sent: To: Subject: James E. Clayton Uim@iowacity.net] Thursday, December 15, 2005 11 :22 AM Marian Karr Daily Iowan Articles on House Parties. City Council: I hope you all have the opportunity to read the excellent Daily Iowan focus articles on the local house party scene. Thank- You. Jim Clayton, Co-Chairperson, The Stepping Up Coalition 1 us l7./</C> WWWDAILYIOWAN.COM 5C .... ~tC,-~ A OliN-DEPTH REPORT By Drew Kerr & Nick Petersen TALES FROM THE UNREGULATED WASTELAND NickloomisIThe Daily Iowan Eager party-goers hold their cups out for beer from a newly tapped keg during a house party on Melrose Avenue before the lowa/Michigan football game on Oct. 22. Iowa City party hosts are rarely ticketed for distributing alcohol to underage people. YOUTHFUL PARTY GOERS FILL a white-walled Gilbert Street apartment to capacity on a recent Friday night this fall, making movement difficult. In the kitchen, a robust keg rests in a tuh of ice on the linoleum floor - now a slippery, stale ". but it seems Rediger's escape from penalty isn't unusual. While first-year chief Hargadine ini- tially said he would pressure his officers to bypass warnings, because they "don't work," a review of complaints versus tick- ets shows the practice has persisted. .T""t th.."" rl;""..rl"..l" h,,,,,,,, t;,...l,~.," MORE INSIDE . Area high-schoolers prefer to attend college parties because ofa lesser chance of being caught drinking underage, Nick loomisfThe Daily Iowan Eager party-goers hold their cups out ror beer from a newly tapped keg during a house party on Melrose Avenue berore the lowa/Michigan football game on Oct. 22. Iowa City party hosts are rarely ticketed for distributing alcohol to underage people. YOUTHFUL PARTYGOERS FILL a white-walled Gilbert Street apartment to capacity on a recent Friday night this fall, making movement difficult. In the kitchen, a robust keg rests in a tub of ice on the linoleum floor - now a slippery, stale smelling indication of the evening's drink of choice. Over a whir of drunken dialogue, a opposed to off-campus residences, in a male voice unexpectcdlycries out the one one-month period from October to word every underage drinker fears. November. "Cops," the voice from outside bellows Police and city officials say the sparse prophetically, inciting party attendees to enforcement is a result of minimum instantaneously rush the room's only exit staffing levels, little pressure to change, or weasel into a closet. and a lofty burden of proof. Their attempts to avert a fine were "If it weren't for that darned Constitu. unnecessary, at best. tion, it would be much easier," Iowa City Despite Iowa City's preoccupation with Police Chief Sam Hargadine said, noting underage and excessive drinking, as the inability of an officer to enter a resi- evinced in the annual push for a 21-year- dence without probable cause, old age entry minimum for bars, another And, while ]oca] attorneys say the ability substantial facet of the drinking scene is of police to enter a house is a complex issue, often marginalized - house parties. police departments at other Big Ten wli- A Daily Iowan review of Iowa City versities make a habit of doing just that. police records shows house-party hosts I See Big Ten Comparison story, 7Al and their guests are rarely, if ever, repri- manded for their indiscriminate dispens- 'He was real cool about it' ing of alcohol. Iowa City police have not arrested any party hosts for bootlegging since 20(1l; just Beven have been cited for distributing alcohol to minors during that same time. But take a walk east of South Gilbert Street on any fair. weather weekend night during the school year, and at least that many underage partil's are accessible. Police records also show 93 percent of underage drinkers cited for possession of alcohol were ticketed at the bars, as "I'm guessing there were five people here that were 21," said Tony Rediger, one of three roommates to share the aforementioned apartment that housed a beer-pong table and a 4-foot beer bong the night the police visited. The officer "was real coo] about it. He looked at my ID for quite a while. I'm not 21, and I was obviously drinking, He could have given me lots of fines." Local police say disorderly house tick- ets are their primary enforcement tactic, but it seems Rediger's escape from penalty isn't unusuaL While first-year chief Hargadine ini- tially said he would pressure his officers to bypass warnings, because they "don't work," a review of complaints versus tick- ets shows the practice has persisted. ,Just three disorderly house tickets materialized out of III calls involving noise complaints at residences during a recent 30-day period. The 811 disorderly house tickets issued in the last five years could also be due to nuisances, such as overgrown weeds or trash, making it difficult to detennine just how many of those tickets belong to party hosts. Hargadine said he has not issued any policy directives on the issue, But for those unfortunate few in Iowa City who do receive a disorderly house ticket, the penalties can include more than the maximum $500 fine and night in jail. A city ordinance, implemented two years ago, makes renters who receive numerous disorderly house tickets meet with city officials and their landlord to hash out a solution. If it becomes a per- sistent problem, the tenant can face evic- tion, and the landlord could lose her or his rental license. But, ""ith police responding sometimes as much as two hours after a complaint, both landlords and police note the ability for partiers to stay out of the system unscathed, Some disgruntled landlords who acknowledge this have begun patrolling their properties themselves. SEE HOUSE PARTIES, PAGE 6A I MORE INSIDE . Area high~schoolers prefer to attend college parties because of a lesser chance of being caught drinking underage, . Iowa City city councilors say alcohol is an ever-present topic of debate, but the conversation seems to revolve only around bars. See what theyfhought about house parties, . Being a super house party host doesn't need luck or broad business knowledge -justa great location and a lot of jello shots, . How Ie compares with other Big Ten and Iowa regent schools, DAILYlOWAN.COM . Photographer Nick Loomis took to the slreels-seehis house-party photo page DI gy OIlV Featured in loday's show: . Addiel Gomez reports his findings al area house parties . Drew Kerr talks about his [and Nick Petersen's] semester-long investigation 6A - The D:.lily Iowan. Iowa City, lown - FridilY, ])eC{'mber 9, :'W(I:, A DI IN-DEPTH REPORT -----------.. SUPER HOUSE ~~.. PARTY HOSTS f;i "~ Nickloomls/The Daily lowarl UI students (from left to right) Mike Palermo, Austin Meier, Zach Rampold, and Stuart Higgins are known for the house parties thrown at their Clinton Street apartment The guys are all under 21, except for Rampold, and their house is equipped with a bar. SY NICK PETERSEN lllf D/,:;YI()I'.'NJ Upon entering one Clinton Streel house, guests immediately see a Nick loomisfThe Daily Iowan Christmas tree decked out with empty beer and energy-drink cans. A Two affectionate party-goers at a College Street apartment find some intimate space in a crowded kitchen on Dec. 3. Once the hosts ran out IlID mantle is lined with used liquor bottles to the left, and of beer and stopped mixing "jungle juice," the guests quickly left" I . 1 through a doorway to the right, rests a wooden bar with a beer tap protruding out olthe lop. TAKING IT TO THE HOUSE IN Ie This is where UI students Stuart Higgins, 20, Austin Meier, 19, Mike Palermo, 19, and lach Rampold, 21, live and throw parties that they estimate have raked in roughly $250 from the lour bashes lhis year. Their parties, which feature themes, such as Redneck and Will Smith Millennium, have never gotten them a licket - even atter the same police onicer visited the home twice in one night, they said. HOUSE PARTIES i---n Below are excerpts from a conversalion with the students. CONTINUED FROM PAGE IA . MAKING MONEY PARTY RISKS >> How did you end up living here? Rampold We all lived in Daum last yeal: :I'is plaCe \'Id'i our IdSt-cjitc~1 effort "Wl' do the research on our Just how much can one house st;mJ (Q makc on a house part,.? Quite II bit, to get olll 01 the dorms own," said Nancy Sk.TY, owner when you brule. down the number<>. Comidu: A sin~le lS-gaIlon keg uf It's well known that hosting a >> Where doyou make the most money? or Lincoln H.eal Estate, which party can turn quite the prollt. has about 2;; campus-area Miller High Life l.ighl sells for $4'J. 9'J at the Liquor Ilouse, 326 S. Clinton But there are also risks. What Meier: We make the most mOrley With Hie 150-cent) Jell-O 5110ts_ tlV IJf Sr.lhat'senough to 611 a 16-/)ulH~e soto cup approximately ISO rimcs. 'Ihese properties I lU"e how thc numbers break down at SS ~ (.up: exactly Is at stake? Higgins: There were approximately 200 Jello S110ls al Halloweell. Jliutt:ey She said sht, has nt>ver OIH.~l' ~Q\e f!A'" . Under state code, bootlegging weregoneirllWohovrs, Wehavealmrl(llliatllJlll'!1dsHest;!\,'s,nlwl !)('('n through Ow cilv\ urbitra- ~o' ~o'~ Total profit is a serious misdemeanor. For >> Where did the barcome lrom? "'VO> ~v, -, Ui students (from left 10 right) Mike Palermo, Austin Meier, lach Rampold, and Stuart Higgins are known for the house parties thrown at their Clinton Street apartment. The guys are all under 21, except for Rampold, and their house is equipped with a bar, BY NICK PETERSEN Till D!.ll' I(:\'...\~j Upon entering one Clinton Street house, guests immediately see a i Nick loomis/The Daily Iowan Christmas tree decked out with empty beef and energy-drink cans. A I Two affectionate party-goers at a College Street apartment find some intimate space in a crowded kitchen on Dec. 3. Once the hosts ran out ~ mantle is lined with used liquor bottles to the lett, and of beef and stopped mixing "jungle juice," the guests quickly left. ~ through a doorway to the right, resls a wooden bar with a beertap protruding oul olthe lap. lAKING IT TO THE HOUSE IN Ie pa~~~~~;,e:~~~~::~~~:::t2~:gI1::S;n2:ih~~~i;a~~:~h;;;h~~ke estimate have raked In roughly $250 from the lour bashes thiS year. Their parties, which feature themes, such as Redneck and Will Smith Millennium, have never gotten them a tickel- even atter lhe same police officer visited lhe home twice in one night, they said, I HOUSE PARTIES - - ---~-I Below are excerpts lrom a conversation with the sludents. I CONTINUED FROM PAGE IA I MAKING MONEY I PARTY RISKS >>How did you end up living here? I I Rampold: We all lived Irl DalJm last year \llis place was Ollr !as\-liit(h P,ftor1 "\Ve do the research on our J h ~ . . to gel :::<It ollhe dorms . " .. 'd N' Sk' ust ow much can one house staml to make on a house party. QUite a hIt, It's well known lIlal bostlng a OVl-I1, S,ll doey U}, owner .. . fL' ,] - I E h- when you bruk down the numbm. Consider; A smgle 15-gallollkegof party can turn qu.te the profit >> Where do you make the most money? o Inca n Hea state, W lch I MiIluHigh Life Light sdls for S49.99 at the Liquor House, 326 S.Clinton i I.. . has ahout 25 campus-area S 1h ' h fill 16 1 "1150. Th I But there are also risks. What Meier, We makelhemoslmoneywilhthe [50-cerlt] Jell.O shots. IJV far . ' t. at s enoug to a -ounce so 0 cup approXimate y hOles. ese ' ') propprtles. ~ how the numbers breakdown at $5 a cup: I exactly Is at stake. Higgins: There were approximately 200 JeHu S!lOtS at Halloween, JIIlJ lhe~i She said she ha~ n,ever ?nce ~\0 'i> . . Under state code, bootlegging were qOrle in two hours We have a frlencl that bartends_ He stays sober {WL'll through the CltV s arllltra- J. ~ \ 'Y-fA Total profit ' ' . d f >> Wh did th ba co 10m' tion process, so he; company . Q' .0 . IS a seflOUS mls emeanor. or _ _ ere. e r me r _. has had to draft no-keg-cIauses ,_ Q1 anyone o.ver 21, that could HIQ.glns: A fnend's dad h.ad It We drilled a hole in illorthe .tap . I = $250 $200 mean a tine between $250 and Into lease agreements and - $1500 d t ' . "I. >> Whal do you do to prepare for a party? force parents to co-sign in ' an up 0 a year In )al, d b h' ram tor underagers it's a simple Meier we. clear everything oft ttle fl.oor. buy sheets 01 plastiC. and lay HlCm or er to cur t e partymg.. ,- _ __ _ _ $400 $300 misdemeanor that carrie fne down on the carpet. We lay down pieces 01 carpet over the top A common excuse fOf pohce . , . - 5 a I , has been the difficulty in between $5.0 ~~d $500 and up Rampold. Its so gross afterwards enforcing what they cannot _ mIlD to 30 days In J~1l1. Me:er: Anofher Ihmg we do is go around arld look for valuables that could be se(~. , = $5?5 $375 . Also under state slatute I sIC' ~n And, in examining the hand- , providing alcohol to min~rs is a I Hlggms: We also vlllte a lelter to neiglltJors 10 Ie! tllelll kl~'JW \'ie re lIJVlIlY d ~uJ of cases that have resulted _ tJJfDfBm serious misdemeanor for those party_ We put phone numbers on It and lry to deliver the letter III pelSon m charges, it seems true that' _ _ - ^ : = $625 $425 over 21 that could carry up to a Palermo: The letter is effective. The pany 011 Halloweerl was llle ll~sl action c~n and ,,:,ill only be ^ $500 fine_ If injury were to because cops Ilad other lhmgs 10 do taken If ~he Indulgence _ result, that fine would be >> How do you spread the word about your parties? "pcead, ou'"de the ,onfine, of , 1m fB fB III $ $ 50 b d $5000 d 1. th" h 'f ffi 'i 'I _ _ = 700 4 umpe up to , an a Higgins: We serld out invites on Facebook_ Based on RSVPs, we rleh;IIIlIIF~ L o~se o~ I an 0 Icef IS va - - possible sentence of two years how rT:uch liquor we buy untanly gJVcn access to the I ' . f d' interior - tJJ fD Ql m QlQl In prison. I someone tes at a M.eier: We invite people we know and lelllllern to brina a lrlend That ,vav. VI student James Terrell' _ - . - -_ =$750 $450 party,andyouco.uld.getas weu~\lallyknowwho'shere , 'd h ,,' h" 2004 ' much as $7,500 In fines and Palermo- We invile 150 10 200 people and 200 or more sllOw durillg the Sa! e was given IS pro~ - I f' " I "I . , .d. t hIt . ,. k , Ive years In pnson, p us CtVt night VI mgaco 0 oammor IC e - _ _ r ,., after sidewalk nippy cup , mmmmmmm =$775 $425 labilitIes. Higgins:A1Hall.oween,lheroomswereallfull.Youcouldll'lwalkHlrough games, a 115-pound hog roast, QJ 'II QJW 'II QJ 'IJ; People were splllmg oul 11110 the hallway and eight kegs attracted [~S . I Not the "fun police" >> Have you ever run into any tr.oUble with the cops? manv as 90 studenb to hIS _ -~ . - , I b"t S th J h' St "I --_.-- ---- ---- Despite the apparent lack of HlgglllS: No, we haven I gotterl arlytlckets You carl probablyaltrlbu telhat10 lum e ou ,() n,';OD, ree . . ...... our IDcatiOrl abode. no ('ntry age III 1 lllmu III , nor 00 keep patronK ltl line and pobce regulatIOn, city counCIlors have "Everything was fine, and the faedes;; hand;; pu,;hif'g ofliecr;; an ('arKhot away ~- or n'lll!lined relatively mute on RamfJold: I lhinkthey just kind 01 accept it then the fucking cop dragK me toward a house party kt'g ha~'e !In. unsupervised, no-limit the topic of house party Meier: Tile cops have always beerl rlice outofthehouKt,"rl'eallc;the ages as they hold l'UpK aWillt- onnkingenvironllH'nt enfurc.ement '-'"iving it scant PI It' II.k ~ I" k III" I b I _ _, _' . _ ." _ _' ., aermo: s no I ewe ,,0 illS every wee erlC SOil Y a all onc~ a now 21-year-old mg a rehl!. Pt~oplt' aK yUUllg <IS Bt';;ldt's fights, exceK,;IH' attentW[l beyond what impact monUI "Ht' didn't ask tlH' ahout the 15 years old were found ~lt one drinking In unKupervi,;ed a 21-only bar ordinance would . . , .' d. t. , , t 1-' - . - Hlggirls: We try to spread it out. so we dOld pis~ HI(' neiglltJorS (Ill We usu. keg or anyont' else who hved at pdrty, aecor In~ to "po let' are,lc;.can.a so oster prime have on their magnitude. ally picka weekend that works lor all of us the place. It seems like he was records. (See High School condltlOns lor rapists. While councilors do not have, . .lust on a mission, th:\t d:lY.~ Students,5AI. "It's becoming a sport. at par- direct policy oversight, they>> What s the cleanup process lIke? \Vh i Ie departnH'ntK els,,~ BesideK off('J'Ing" easier ties,~ said Karla Miller, exeeu- say they could use their seats Meier: The afternoon of the next day we start to clean up '_"" h:l\" 1""",.,1111;- \I;n ,H'r'l'''S.;l \1011"I' 11;\1'1, [':111 IH' tlVV oirl'ctor of the Rap"Victilll to j:!".'lrnl'r puhlic awareness or Higgins:Aflereveryparty,w~makeallsloft~inIJs\wc;lIl(jol)l'rr"r ,.,,,,,--., ";-, ."u.., - ......:/.....j -...........", i-!IUVkllily d,l.,uilUI IU ,iIlIlUj~'~ d f.\d;ty, We put plll!lI1: 111.111101:10 UIII[ dllLl ~Ii lu ;lei,,' ful of cases that have resulted ~W~~ serious misdemeanor for those ".-tl<; ;-"'"L.', in charges, it seem" true that , lif WW 0,,;25 $425 over 21 that could carry up to a P;llerml) :11f~ lett~r I~; effective Iii.. i:,~;l'i l',,; '-,'l~~ 1 i .: "L, action can and will only be $500 line. II injury were to becausecc:pshadotl1erlllillgslolJO taken if the ind u 1gence result, that fine would be >> How do you spread the word about your parties? spreads outside the confines of . fDQl Ql mID ~ $700 $450 bumped up to $5,000 and a Higgins We send out invites on FacdJook. Ba~ed 011 RSVP~, we det, 1I!i:lIi~ the house or if an of1icer is vol- untarily given access to the possible sentence of two years howmucl1 liquor we buy interior. " QlQlQlQli1l11 "$750 in prison. If someone dies at a Meier: We invite people we know and teli tllel:! to orlllg J ~rldld, Tt1al \',';\'/ UI student James Terrell $450 party, and you could get as we usually know who's l1ere said he was given his 2004 pro- much as $7,500 in fines and Palermo: We invite 150 to 200 people. and 2000r more sllOwduringtl le viding alcohol to a minor ticket mllllDQ1lDlDtD "$775 five years in prison, plus civil night. after sidewalk nippy cup , $425 liabilities. Higgins: At Halloween, the rooms were all full. You couldn'l walk throllgll games, a 1I5-pound hog roast, People were 5pilling Ollt into the hallway and eight kegs attracted as I Not the "fun police" >> Have you ever run into any trouble wilh the cops? many as 90 students to his i J humble South Johnson Street Despite the apparent lack of Higgins: No, we haven't gotten any tickets_ You carl probably attribute 111<11 to ourlocalior. abode. no entry age minillllHll, nor do keep pntrons in line and police regulation, city councilors have "Everything was fine, and the faceless hands pushing ollicers an earshot away - or remained relatively mute on Rampold: I think they just kirld 01 accept it then the fucking cop drags me toward a house party keg have an unsupervised, no.limit the topic of house party Meier: The cops have always been rlice out of the house," recalls the ages as they hold cups await- drinking environment. enforcement, giving it scant Palermo: It':; not like we dothis every weekend It's only aboul allcea now 21-year-old. ing a refilL People as young as Besides fights, excessive attention heyond what impact month "He didn't ask me about the 15 years old were found at ont' drinking In unsupervised a 21-only bar ordinance would keg or anyone else who lived at party, according to polin' areas can also foster prime have on their magnitude, Higgins: We try to spread itoul. so we don't piss tile neigllllOrs 0/1 Weusu- the place. It seems like he WClS records. I See High School conditions for mpists. While councilors do not have ally picka weekend that works tor all of us just on a mission, that day:' Students,5AI "'It's becoming a sport at. par. direct policy oversight, they >> What's the cleanup process like? While departments else- Besides offering easIer ties," said Knrla Miller, exem. say they could use their seats Meier: The Jlternoon of the rlext day we start 10 clean up where have averted this hin. access, a houS{' party can hI' Live director of the Rape Victim to garner public awareness or Higgins: After every party, we make a list 01 lhirlgs we can do lJetler dmnce by implementing sting cheaper than a night at the Advocacy Program pr('ssun~ the department to >>WhaloJYou do with your profits? operations, Harg-adine said bars. It,,; all the be"r a drinker The leader of the Iowa Citv- beef up its eflorts. Councilors oflicers here must simply rely wants, until the parly dil's, l(lI" lJased program that. counsels aeknowh~dge they could also Higgins: Put it toward the next party. Allhe elld af llle yedf, we'!1 pro~dol:,' on their own discretion. $;") - an amount that would rape victims said she has help the department find put it toward rer1t So, with little thrt'at aside translate to only a couple of hl'ard stories about parties scarce dollars to fund specific Meier: It's Ilotabout makirlg money, It'satJoutpeuplecdlliIlQ,/outlwil(;xl from the prO,;pl'ct of theft, bottles downtown. where male hosts target party patrols, as campus cities dayarld saymg, "Damn, that was sweet" property damage, or alcohol .'I'm not going to spend $50 women by feeding them drinks elsewhere have done. E-I:',d:1 DfrepOfler Nick Petersenal poisoning on the premise, do at a hur when I can spend $5 fit out of a punch bowl flnd direct "Cops are not out to make nictlulds-p~terol'rl([l)l."awa eell party hosts have any reason to a house party," said 19-Yf'ar-old men to drink out ofa keg. fiure people don't have a good stop partying? Kelly McInerney. '.Plus. cops Hut, despite these dangers, "~ time," said outgoing Mayor The anSWl'r, al:cording to don.t bUfit hou:-<e pnl'ties; they \1iller <lcknowledw's that most Ernit' Lehman, expressing a KEGGERS somp recently interviewed bust people in bars_ At h()uc;e mpes tend to originate at the widely felt sentiment among hosts. is, apparently. no. parties, they tell {'Vt'fyont' to g-o bars in Iowa City. Based on her cuuncilors. home." c'xperience, she said most of "They're out to make sure A booming business Strapped-for-l'a"~h partiers the 28f-i rapc's reported to neighborhoods have some har~ "I don't want to sfly it's a like McInerney do, howevc.r, HVAP last Yl'IH originated ill business, but it is:. said Ul stll' acknowledge rifiks uther than bars becaust' of the sheer nUIl1- mony." dent Jim Hilton, afte,. a recent those that come ftom n badg-p. her "f people that filter And even typically vocal Friday night soiree that through tfH'JIl in a given wel'k. policy advocates don't seem reaped hundreds of dollars in 'It's becoming a sport' To prevent rape at house terribly dissatisfied. profit. "This is how we nwke "r will beat the fuck out of parties, :\1iller recommended a ~Police arc doing the best our grocery money." you." y(~lled Anroll Williams buddy system and making- a they can, with their staffing The 21-year-old, like many outsidl' a ,Johnson Street plan to get home sflfely. She nN:!ds," said Angela Reams, party ho"ts, says he knows and apartnlC'nt party. "'l'1I heat llw said that man.y assaults occur coordinator for the Stepping understands the law hut has luck out of you and your moth- after the rapist offer" to walk Up project, adding that the low few concerns about being erfucking friends. Keep looking lhe victim home. number of citations was not caught, after surviving almust at me." Miller alsu cautioned particularly surprising. an entire semester ofbi-weekly Williams, who travels from partiers to avoid large parties, Still, others contended that parties ticket-free. the Quad Cities to lowa City because hosts can easily con- house-party enforcement war- Noise from his apartment on the weekends to party. near- cea] from police what goes on ranted more attention. traveled past a balcony crowd- ly found himself in a fight inside their house. '"Is it the best policy ed with smokers and down a while - in his words - "The more people and tlw approach? Probably not,'. said NlckloomisfThe Daily Iowan ",,'ooden staircase, so the hum defending a visiting fric'nd crazier tht, party gets, t.hc' Councilor Regenia Bailey. An enthusiastic party"goer parades a finished keg at a house of the crowd was audible from from Iowa State University more people inclined to act out "I don't think there are party on Melrose Avenue before the lowa/Michigan game on the sidewalk on Johnson outside the party. do so," sill' said, ndding that active det.errents and, yes, Oct. 22, The party filled the backyard of the home but quickly Street. Hilton expected to prof- While the altercation ulti- sexual assaults knd to occur that's probably a problem." it at least $250 that night. mntely fizzled, the lack of over- when the victim and agh'Tcssor Dllepu::'< Flli~ Isel'ltlft cuntribuied dissipated after the beer was finished and the game started. Drinkers, too, realizl' the sight gave rise to the question f'itlH'r start out alone or l1rl' in I' ~~ulli I~'; t,: !~\i s rero;l Police presence at the party was intermittent, and few IOs bendits ofresidentinl rartil's, of just what could he safl'r: a H hectic situation where tllt',\' [-!I1d'; DlrllJOrtersal were checked. i LTnlikl' ttll' bar:-<. part ies hav(' bar with :-<taf1" llll'm\l{'I'S p~lid t<! '::\n slip ;\\\';1'\' ul111otin'd t:aity-i'-iv,d"'f~'III()Wd r~,~:u Page 1 of2 Marian Karr From: Gaulding, Jill R Oill-gaulding@uiowa.edu] Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 6:44 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Cc: Marcia Klingaman Subject: The City's Response to House Parties and Other Neighborhood Issues Dear City Council Members: I have just finished reading the recent series of articles in the DI about house parties, and I am appalled. Not because under-aged students drink, or because students of all ages sometimes drink too much -- that behavior is to be expected. Rather, I am appalled at the City's shoulder-shrugging reaction to these problems. Why is it that Iowa City is the least responsive of all the college towns the DI reporters surveyed? The police department must bear some of the blame. Our police chief seems to believe that neighborhoods like mine (the Northside) have no problems with student parties, or that ifthere are problems, they are not the responsibility of the police department. He is wrong on both counts. But I am afraid that this particular problem typifies the governance of Iowa City. With all due respect to the Council, it seems to me that many on the Council buy into a sort of "apartheid" vision of Iowa City: let the students and the landlords who profit from them do what they want in the so-called student ghettos, and focus instead on the (imagined) interests of suburban residents. It doesn't have to be that way. We would all be better served by an integrated Iowa City, made up of diverse and appealing neighborhoods. Our quality of life would improve, as would our economic prospects. The following actions would take us in that direction: (1) Be proactive in your approach to student drinking. Please do not assume that "nothing can be done." Other college towns have found solutions that work, including stricter enforcement of bootlegging laws. Pick the best of these solutions and implement them here. If we need to get grants in order to implement these solutions, then someone should be applying for grants. (2) Take house parties at least as seriously as downtown drinking. Despite what the police chief believes, house parties cause at least as much harm to the quality of life in this city, and they are actually far more dangerous to student health, given the dangers of alcohol poisoning and rape. It should not take two hours for police to respond to a complaint about a house party. If this means we need more police officers, then we need to find the money to hire them. (3) Talk to the police chief about his beliefs and his priorities. The police chief noted that the students involved in illegal house parties are adults, so he can "sleep like a baby" while parties continue unabated. (I suppose by "adults" he meant college students age 18 or older. He did not mention the 15-year-old City High students who attend these parties as well.) I wonder if he would have the same attitude about other illegal activities that adults take part in? Does he not worry about theft or assault because the people involved are adults? (4) Consider taking a "New York City"/Rudy Giuliani approach to policing and regulation. Little things, like trash, tall weeds, and cars parked on lawns, make a huge difference in the atmosphere of a neighborhood. Set a higher standard of public behavior -- that is, expect and require everyone to be a responsible citizen - and responsible behavior will follow. Create a positive rather than negative spiral. This may require more creative scheduling: for example, having someone check for cars parked on lawns at times other than M-F, 9-5, when all the students have driven off to classes. Likewise, we need officers scheduled to check the so-called "glide paths" from the bars into the neighborhoods. If we know that students are likely to disturb the peace around 2:30 every weekend night, why can't we do something about it? (5) Pay as much attention to law-breaking by landlords as you do to law-breaking by students downtown. Yes, one's home is one's castle, and landlords have property rights, but they should not have carte blanche to violate existing laws. Why not take overcrowding of rentals seriously? Yes, it is hard to enforce occupancy laws, but I know that the City could try harder to do so. (When my student neighbors tell me that they remove the extra bed from their rental before the housing inspector came, because that is what their landlord -- who lives in Seattle -- tells them to do, I know something is going wrong with the enforcement mechanism. When I spoke to the landlord, he readily admitted to breaking the occupancy laws, since he profits from every student in the rental. In his opinion, there was no risk to doing so, since the enforcement was so lax and the consequences of 12/13/2005 _,_~_~___~.___.~__..___w_____________ .....__.._._______,.___,_______...___...___'__'_.'_'__-----.- Page 2 of2 gelling caught so minimaL) And why not require landlords to keep their properties free of trash, levying heavy fines when they fail to do so? This wouldn't require anyone to enter the home -- you can walk or drive by and ascertain whether the property is covered with trash. If we are asking students to be more responsible -- as I think we should be -- why can't we ask the landiords to be more responsible as well? (6) This is a long shot, but I do think it is reievant: Along with other college towns in Iowa, pressure the legislature and the regents to push colleges to demand more from their students. Recent research shows that undergraduate students on average are doing less and less work outside of class. Read the research -- it is quite disturbing. Frankly, colleges may not care as much about this as they do about the reputation of their faculty and their sports teams. But they should be made to care, because the welfare of the state depends on the education of its residents. And it would certainly be a positive side-effect, if students had a little less time (say, less than "80 hours") to party each week. Asking more of the students will do far more to reduce binge drinking than any "Stepping Up" project could ever do. Thank you for considering these suggestions. Sincerely, Jill Gaulding (and family) 225 E Davenport Street Iowa City, IA 52245 12/13/2005 Iowa City, City Council council@iowa-city.org <;2 ~'-O p:::::-, / C) __~ 3() "n- - \ i O:D ~7' z p Jaclyn Kaeding j aclyn-kaeding@uiowa.edu Dear Council Members, The health, turned economic issue of workplace smoking bans (or the lack thereof) is a current issue that has proved to be very troubling to me. I am writing to you today to request that something be done to bring back this ban that was once present two years ago. The proof is in the pudding: before smoking bans in restaurants and other workplaces began to be implemented nearly fifteen years ago, the cost of medical treatment for second-hand smoke was three times as much as it is today. In addition, a study performed by Mori J. Krantz of the Colorado Prevention Center, showed that the heart attack rates fell by 27 percent in the months after a ban on smoking in all public spaces took effect in Pueblo, Colorado. These bans are obviously effective in terms of the health and well-being of all individuals; however the incomes of these establishments have reduced due to the decrease in customers who smoke. This dilemma presents the question of today that has unfortunately taken far too long to answer: Which is more important, economics or personal health? Since the money issue is obviously very much at hand, I'll throw out a relating statistic. The cost of second-hand smoke in the United States is estimated at around $10 billion dollars a year, according to a report sponsored by the Committee on Life ~ ~ ~ ~ o r> c-> rv ~ '? U1 c.n 1\ - ,- m tJ Insurance Research. There is absolutely no question that the exposure to second-hand smoke, especially for over 30 minute time periods, is detrimental to one's health. The last thing non-smoking customers want would be to acquire a side oflung cancer along with their steak. Americans are paying billions of dollars each year to receive treatment for complications caused by second-hand smoke. This is the statistical evidence we should be consulting, as opposed to the income of restaurants. Our priorities today are truly upsetting. The ban was enforced in Iowa City in 2003, but was lifted after a short amount of time. The issue is still being discussed today, but this is not enough. Powerful lobby groups representing the tobacco industry, restaurants, and bars would clearly make it difficult to implement the law, but the well-being of customers must be put ahead of their money. In terms of people having the right to smoke, it is almost as iflegislators see this as a personal rights issue, not a public health issue. If someone has the right to choose to smoke then so be it, but this right that many smokers still have clearly affects surrounding individuals. It all boils down to the fact that if smokers currently have the right to smoke in public restaurants, then non-smokers should have the right to be able to sit and eat a meal without being bothered by cigarette smoke. Each year from 1997 to 2001, 438,000 premature deaths occurred as a result of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. It's time you sit back and look at the hard evidence. We can't continue to turn away from this epidemic. Thousands of people are dying, and billions of dollars are spent every year due to this problem. A handful of states have already taken some action, and it is time that we follow their example. C5 ~C) --= --.., C) """(-' -...c . -in "'-'::::1-':" Th C5::d ~;:>;; :s. ~ ~ fi? C') - f\.) ~ ~ CJ"; Cfl ::a r-.:. {!{ u r:::n Marian Karr From: Nila Haug [imahaug@avalon.net] Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 12:12 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: December 12 Meeting Hello- To Mike McDonnell- I am extremely disappointed in the yes vote of you, Mike McDonnell. Before you were voted in another term of the council, you indicated to us personally, at a council meeting, that you understood the concerns of us who had disagreements with the new zoning code proposals. To vote yes to not accept the notarized protest petitions of those people who were concerned about the text or down zoning was a breach of trust to those of us who voted for you. Shame on you. I believe it is unethical of you to vote the way you did. You told us you took your investments out of Iowa City and took them to Arizona. I wonder why. Of course, your investment income is not being devalued because it is in Arizona. However, for those of us who had properties down zoned by one occupant, we will loose 1/4th of our income - which will amount t<? thousands of dollars. It is really devastating. We are not big corporations or businesses, but individuals trying to make a living, not a profit, just a living. To the rest of you- I am so disgusted with your reasoning on why this code must be accepted now. Because the staff worked for three years does not mean that the results were an improvement over the existing code nor does it mean that their work considered anyone else except the ideals of their own design whether they were reasonable or not. The planning and zoning staff are paid to work. They were simply working their job - nothing extraordinary as you proclaim, Ernie. You all were voted in by constituents in your neighborhoods, but you are not voting with their concerns in mind. You are voting for your own desires and concerns. We need a new council who will represent the working people of this community, not just wealthy idealists who are trying to create their own utopia at the expense of the poorer people or the less "wealthy" property owners in this city. Nila Haug Golden Haug Bed and Breakfast 517 East Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 319.354.4284 1/3/2006 Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Subject: Joe Murphy [msound@iowacity.net] Thursday, December 15, 2005 2:36 AM council@iowa-city.org down sizing watching the council meeting it seems that questions about properties within 200' of changes are not being answered.. please remind the city employees who are being asked these questions that it is their job to answer our questions..the response should be "we will figure this out and respond by xx date.. they should have had this information ready to go at the time of presenting the change all protests by any property owner are valid protests. Reduction in occupancy should only take place if it is grand fathered in. the city does a lousy job of informing the public of changes in their neighborhood planning and design. .for example we were never contacted or asked about the Dubuque Street design changes-- at least my neighbors to the north, south and east.. planners need to spend more time knocking on doors. just because people have "done a lot of work on this" is no reason to vote yes Mike. Joe Murphy 2050 North Dubuque Street Ie 1 ~ umzu December 28, 2005 To the Iowa City Council: There are times when the City Council has to think beyond the corporate boundaries and realize that the state of Iowa has and abundance of renewable resources which can be utilized to develop renewable energy alternatives. Renewable energy is a plus for the power industry and the Iowa City Council should investigate the feasibility of a govern- ment/private sector partnership that would include the electric power industry, Johnson Council of Governments(JCCOG) and the uni- versity of Iowa, as the research base, to determine which energy alternatives would result in development of alternate energy pro- duction facilities. The government/private sector partnership would be a regional entity and could simplify electric distribution services. Chapter 476 of the Iowa Code covers regulations for the electric utilities(private and municipal) and may provide a legal road map that would lead to a government/private sector partnership. Chapter 476.25 could provide the basis for discussions with the Iowa Utility Board and the proposed partnership. The Iowa Utility Board has the authority to review a request of an electric utility or municipal corporation to modify the boundaries of an electric utility exclusive area if found to be in the pUblic interest. ~ regional partnership with Mid~merican Energy, JCCOG, Univer- sity of Iowa and possibly other energy suppliers would increase awareness for renewable energy research at the University so that cost effective alternate energy production facilities can result from ongoing research. Chapter 476.41 encourages the development of alternate energy production facilities. Research at the University is necessary to determine the type of alternate energy production facility and what renewable resource will result in a cost effective system. This approach to alternate energy production facilities can open the door for a new industry in Johnson County. Funding for renewable energy research would be factored into the various electric rates(residential, commercial and industrial) to sustain the University research effort. The City Council can take the lead in the government/private sector partnership idea that may generate job opportunities.~ o g copy: JCCOG ::2:0 ~ Sincerely, )> --I :;; ~.;,..,.."'/A'~~~ 0; N -<./""Y,Y-{ . ( -1 \.', co ennlS Saeug1 g .-<;-" nl ::p. Retired Consulting En~qeer=: Iowa Ci ty, Iowa ~....~ S? )> 0 -.I TI m ,---. .......J' Marian Karr ~ ~ Subject: Rod Sullivan [rodsullivan@mchsLcom] Thursday, December 29, 2005 2:28 PM Bob Elliott; Regenia Bailey; Amy Correia; Patti Fields; LizCrooks "Crooks, Elizabeth A; Gayle Klouda; Alelia Morgan; sleve-alkins@iowa-cily.org; lonLcilek@iccsd.k12.ia.us; jan.leff@iccsd.k12.ia.us; pele. wallace@iccsd.k12.ia.us; counciil@iowa-city.org City Conference Board From: Sent: To: Attachments: Assessors.doc ~ Assessors.doc (42 KB) Dear Member of the City Conference Board: Attached is a letter I sent about 11 months ago urging us to look at combining the City and County Assessors. There are currently only 7 cities in Iowa maintaining their own Assessors. In keeping with the idea of a "Metro Agenda", I urge you all to seriously consider a change in this arrangement in 2006. I know that the budgets of local governments are tight. All the more reason to explore an area where Polk County & Des Moines have enjoyed a tremendous savings. I would like to formally request that this item appear on the agenda of the next meeting of the City Conference Board. Sincerely, Rod Sullivan *** eSafe scanned this email for malicious content *** IMPORTANT: Do not open attachments from unrecognized senders *** *** 1 2-1-05 Dear Iowa City City Council: The recent discussion by the Conference Board showed that Iowa City is concerned with the cost of the City Assessor. With this in mind, I think you will find that the biggest possible savings comes from consolidation. A consolidation of City and County Assessors in Polk County has saved hundreds ofthousands of dollars, according to figures from the Polk County Auditor's Office. A concern that perhaps the County Assessor does not possess the optimal background and/or qualifications to assess city property was mentioned. This is quite the opposite. The County Assessor, with 32 years of experience, handles all assessments for Coralville, North Liberty, Solon, Lone Tree, Tiffin, and every other municipality in Johnson County. This includes hundreds of millions of dollars worth of residential, industrial, and commercial property. When compared to the other Assessors throughout the state (see attached), the Iowa City Assessor fared very well, but not quite as well as the County Assessor. Statistics do not support the idea that the City Assessor would be somehow uniquely better suited to addressing Iowa City's needs. In fact, the exact opposite is likely true; because Iowa City has recently annexed considerable acres of farmland, the City Assessor may be the one who lacks the optimal expertise. It appears that the City Assessor has provided the taxpayers with an outstanding service, and this should not be ignored. That office deserves credit for a job well done. I am also extremely sensitive to the individuals whose livelihoods might be affected by such a change, and I believe that the Conference Board should keep this in mind as alternatives are studied. The people have charged their elected officials with providing governmental services in a cost-effective manner. We must not charge the taxpayers for our individual needs for control. We must work together. I think you will find that the abolition of the City Assessor would be a positive step in this direction. We owe it to the public to explore the pros and cons of just such a move. Sincerely, Rod Sullivan 2326 E. Court St. Iowa City, IA 52245 rodsullivanlalmchsi.com Cc: ICCSD Board of Directors Johnson County League of Women Voters _._---~_._--'"._----_._.-~-~----_.._---~-_.._--~.~._-'-~-----_.-~.__._",.._-,.__.._- ~ ~ Marian Karr From: Dale Helling Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 9:40 AM To: 'SANDMANPAR@aol.com' Cc: 'City Council Subject: RE: JAKE BRAKES Dear Mr. Sanders, Please allow me to explain why you have not heard from any Council members in response to your email. Council members do not receive their email messages directly. They are forward to Council as official correspondence as a part of the regular Council meeting consent agendas. Council will receive a copy of your messages as a part of their January 10 meeting materials which will be available to them on Thursday afternoon, January 5. Typically this matter would be brought up at their regular meeting or preceding work session if they wish to revisit this issue. I say "revisit" since such an ordinance was considered by Council within the past couple of years but they elected at that time to not pursue it further. You may wish to contact Councilors directly. Please feel free to do so. Their names and telephone numbers are listed on the City web site at www.icqov,Qrg Just click on "Council" on the red menu bar. I hope this clarification helps. Sincerely, Dale Helling, Assistant City Manager From: SANDMANPAR@aol.com [mailto:SANDMANPAR@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 20069:01 AM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: Fwd: JAKE BRAKES Dear Members of The Iowa City Council, On December 26, I sent an email regarding the use of "Jake Brakes" within the city limits to this email address. As of this morning, January 3, I have yet to receive a single response. While we were in the middle of the Holiday Season, I would have hoped by now, someone would have reviewed their email and sent me some kind of a response back. If you would happen to receive this email, please acknowledge with a reply that says you received the message and hopefully that will save me a trip downtown to hand deliver copies to each of you. Thank you for your time, Don Sanders Email: SANi:lMANPAR@8QL.COM H* eSafe scanned this email for malicious content *** IMPORTANT: Do not open attachments from unrecognized senders H* H* 1/3/2006 Page 1 of 1 Marian Karr From: SANDMANPAR@aol.com Sent: Monday, December 26,200510:02 AM To: 'City Council Cc: roelf@mchsLcom Subject: JAKE BRAKES Dear Members of The Iowa City Council I would like to take this oportunity to request that the IC Council once again address the ongoing issue of truckers using their "Jake Brakes" within the city limits and specifically, Scott Blvd. First a little background. From what I can determine from phone calls to the Traffic Department, several years the council addressed this problem and determined that an ordinance was not necessary, it didn't seem to be that much of a problem. Since then, truck traffic to and from our industrial park via Scott Blvd. has increased tremendously. As company's like P&G, Oral B and Lear hopefully continue to grow this will create even more truck traffic. Also, since the last time the council addressed this problem there has been a tremendous change in the overall traffic pattern on the East side of Iowa City. Almost the entire stretch of Scott Blvd. from Rochester Ave to the railroad tracks has been or soon will be, residentially deveioped. There has been the extension of Scott Blvd. north to Hwy. 1, the addition of the very much needed stop lights at the intersection of Court and Scott Blvd., more development of Wellington Condo's and soon there will be major development on the corner of Scott Blvd. and Rochester Avenue. So now we have an intersection at the corner of Rochester and Scott with a soon to be built development on that corner, another intersection at Court and Scott Blvd. with stop iights and another intersection at the bottom of the hill two blocks south of American Legion at the intersection of Scott and Wellington. All within the city limits, all in residential neighborhoods and all on the main truck route to our industrial park where the truckers frequently use their Jake Brakes at all hours of the day and night. Many, many other cites have ordinances prohibiting the use of Jake Brakes except in an emergency and I truiy think we need one in Iowa City. We have Nuclear Free signs, we have chicans, we have speed bumps and "drive around's" so why not severai easy to read signs prohibiting Jake Braking. I ask for your guidance as to how to best address this ongoing probiem. If a petition is needed, I will be more than happy to start one. How many signatures are needed and who do I forward it to? I look forward to your responce and assistance in eliminating this extremely aggravating problem. Sincereiy, Don Sanders 1203 Chamberlain Drive, IC, IA 52240 email: SANllMAj\lPAR@AOLCOM 1/3/2006 12/20/2005 City Council City of Iowa City 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 o ~o ,-"'> ---; ~ -, -< q-, ~,l./ ~r~ nl r--j :D '-"7' ~ Christopher Traynor 705 Streb Street Iowa City, Iowa 52246 Dear City Council: I have some recommendations for the Housing Inspection Office ofIowa City. On Thursday Decmeber 15, 2005 an housing inspector named Bob came to my apartment with property manager Ken Reimers. Both Bob and Ken became very rude and threatening while they were here. I have no recommendation to you about Mr Reimers, but I would ask that a city employee have a standard of conduct when he comes to somebody's place of residence. Bob behaved in a very unprofessional and biased manner, which I have documented with the Iowa City police department. I suggest that city employees be trained to act professionally and with courtesy when dealing with citizens ofIowa City. Bob's rude and unprofessional behavior sets a bad example for all city employees and for citizens of Iowa City. As of today I have spoken with Mr. Norm Cate of the Housing Inspection office. I was also dissatisfied with the way he dealt with my complaint, as he was very rude and unprofessional as well. Which is why I am turning to your attention to deal with this matter. All of these gentleman do not typify what we would like to see when dealing with city govemment employees. They should be a helpful resource rather than a menacing, unfriendly entity. I suggest you take any appropriate measures that you feel necessary to correct the situation that I have documented. R?Jfully submitted, CYn~ ) rlj t,-Jf' Christopher Traynor ~ ......, = = c.n = ,-., r, N o -0 ::J: ca en N 11 ~ , m o "... ._.._--_.._----~----"-~.._-_.----~---_._- -------...... --_._--~..._......_.-.-..._.._-,.,.._..._-_._-_._-_._--....-.-....---- ~ Marian Karr From: Kathryn Johansen Sent: Wednesday, December 21,200510:13 AM To: 'Lee McGovern'; ElliottB53@aol.com; R Bailey; Steve Atkins; amycorr@avalon.net; 'City Council; WalkerCL04@aol.com Cc: Linda Kopping; Betty Kelly; EMckray; Eve Casserly; nroamer@aol.com; Patricia Ephgrave; WELSHBOB Subject: RE: Commission meeting agenda Lee, The Senior Center Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 20 was canceled and will be rescheduled. Thank you, Steve Atkins From: Lee McGovern [mailto:bouldinmcgov@msn.com] Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 6:45 AM To: ElliottB53@aol.com; bailey@avalon.net; steve-Atkins@iowa-city.org; amycorr@avalon.net; Council@iowa-city.org; WalkerCL04@aol.com . Cc: Linda-Kopping@iowa-city.org; Betty Kelly; EMckray; Eve Casserly; nroamer@aol.com; Patricia Ephflrave; WELSH BOB Subject: Re: Commission meeting agenda Do you get answers from this e-mail? Lee McGovern, 621.5916 ----- Original Message ---- From: 'NJ>)!seIc'lJ24@1l9.LcQm To: ElliottB53@aol.com; bailev@avalon.net; Steve-Atkinslaliowa-city.orQ; amvcorr@avalon.net; Council@iowa-citv.orQ Cc: lmQll,!5QQPJng@i9.wa""i1Y.c9I9 Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 11 :54 AM Subject: Commission meeting agenda To the City Council and the City Manager This morning I checked again to see if there was any agenda posted for the Senior Center Commission meeting for this month. There was still nothing posted so I contacted Michelle Buhman at the senior center to see if there will be a Commission meeing this month. I have attached her message. I just checked again and still there is no agenda posted for the Senior Center Commission meeting. As you will see from Michelle's message, the meeting is to take place today. . As some on the council already know, I have often had to encourage the senior center staff to post the Senior Center agendas and minutes. For elderly people, especially in the winter, it is helpful to have the agendas and minutes posted on the website in a timely: manner. Since the monthly Senior Center Post is no longer published, it is very hard to keep track of things going on at the Senior Center. The periodic Program Guides are not as useful. I am hopeful that you will take steps to make sure that the staff takes care of this simple matter in a better way. I hope you care about little things too. Agendas and minutes are important. Charlotte Walker ----~~--------_._-_."-_._--~._.,-"_.~'-'------"---~~------~------,~ .."._~..__.~~_..- Page I of I Marian Karr From: Michelle Buhman Sent: Tuesday, December 20,20058:53 AM To: 'WalkerCL04@aol.com' Subject: RE: Commission meeting question The Commission meeting is scheduled for 2:00 this afternoon, Michelle From: WaikerCL04@aol.com [mailto:WalkerCL04@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 8:50 AM To: Micheile-Buhman@iowa-city.org Subject: Commission meeting question Michelle, is there going to be a Commission meeting this month? If so, when? Thanks Charlotte Walker 12/21/2005 ~----"-----_._",,..._----, ------.-.----"^ --'""-- .._.._--"~._...- ~ Marian Karr From: Tom Smull [tsmull@associationsinc.us] Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 3:53 PM To: ceakins@netins.net; ceh@ci.davenport.ia.us; cerickson@shive-hattery.com; cfhistory@cfu.net; cfuller989@aol.com; chamber@crestoniowachamber.com; chamber@frvnet.net; chamber@iafalls.com; chamber@storycity.net; George& Cynthia Wakeman; Curt D. Heidt; chenet@grinnell.edu; chip@k-o.com; chris@fourmounds.org; chris@historycenter.org; Chris Chapin-Tilton; christopher-collins@uiowa.edu; chucpiet@gatecity.com; cismc@kdsi.net; city@mchsi.com; cityadminbp@netins.net; City Attorney@MaharishiVedicCity.net; cityhall@kalnet.com; cityhall@reinbeck.net; citymanager@cityofmarion.org; cityoc@orangecitycomm.net; cityofdexter@hotmail.com; cityolin@netins.net; citysplk@iowaone.net; ckbawden@hotmail.com; clairblong@adelphia.net; c1angel@NCSML.org; clcodev@iowatelecom.net; clintsinclair2004@yahoo.com; cliplib@netins.net; clyde.evans@wdm-ia.com; cmgronstal@cox.net; cmspd@adiis.net; cmssc@longlines.com; cnemitz@iwc.edu; colley@iastate.edu; commdevl@ncn.net; corderman@heartland.net; council@iowa-city.org; crawford 1 @aol.com; cschafer@alpinecom.net; csheidt@msn.com; csmitcheIl7@earthlink.net; cubby@iafalls.com; cubsJover@hotmail.com; cwand@dyrrant.com; cwb@ci.davenport.ia.us; d-kenney-handler@uiowa.edu; dalem@invisionarch.com; dales@deansnyderconst.com; dan.dmsl@mwci.nel; dance@comotion.org; dandhglasson@pcsia.net; DANLEVI@AHTSARCHITECTS.COM; dansherri@mchsi.com; darlene.brickman@ided.state.ia.us; daryllewis3@mchsi.com; david-brenzel@uiowa.edu; david-j- nelson@uiowa.edu; Dave Cordes; david.maxwell@DRAKE.EDU; david@nonprofitam.org; davrrinc@msn.com; dawn@harlannet.com; dawnelle.conley@sba.gov; dbqmainst@mwci.net; dcastenson@hudson.k12.ia.us; dccaris@midamerican.com; dcdc@grm.net; dcromig@ci.des-moines.ia.us; ddonovan@scottcountyiowa.com; DDS59@aol.com; ddunkhase@theicm.org; ddUrham@siouxlandchamber.com; deang@siouxcenter.org; deantorreson@smunet.net; deborah_l_williamson@hotmail.com; decorah@alpinecom.net; Deirdre Giesler; della-mcgrath@uiowa.edu; denise.mendt@amerus.com; denlauver@mcleodusa.net; dennis@kcck.org; Jacky Adams; devukder@netins.net; dginc2@designgroupinc.com; dgkeokuk@interl.net; dgradeless@albiachamber.org; dgv@alexandercompany.com; dhaws@iastate.edu; diane-gallagher@uiowa.edu; diane.ford- shivvers@dnr.state.ia.us; diane.schu pbach@uni.edu; d irector@decorah-iowa.com; director@dybb.com Subject: Cultural Advocacy Day Update Attachments: 2006 ICC legislative platform - final 2005-12-Q5.pdf Hello! Many of you received the first email information about the'lowa Cultural Coalition 2006 Cultural Advocacy Day (CAD), January 23/24, 2006 at the State Historical Building and Capitol. We have a few more details to provide with more information to come. Please mark the date on your calendar and make your hotel reservations if you plan to stay over on the 23rd! -Monday, January 23, 2006 will kick CAD off, including a tour of the East Village, a newly designated Cultural District and sessions on Measuring the Economic Impact of Historic preservation, Renewable Energy Technologies, Diversity Training, Brownfield Property Redevelopment, information on the Downtown Resource Center and much, much more. -Then Monday evening we'll host a reception for legislators (sponsored by the Iowa Gaming Association) at Absolute Art gallery in the East Village. -Since we'll start Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. with a rally at the Historical Building, many of you will want to take advantage of a reduced hotel rate at the Qualitv Inn and Suites. near downtown Des Moines. For reservations. call 515-282-5251 and mention that vou're comino in for the Iowa Cultural Coalition to get a room rate of iust $68. which includes hot breakfast. The hotel is located at 929 3rd Street at 1-235 between 2nd and 3rd Streets. iust South of 1-235. Take the 3rd Street exit to oet there. But hurrv. the ICC room block goes away after Januarv 9. so call as soon as vou can! -After the rally at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, we'll march to the Capitol to meet with legislators and man our organizational tables repping our various member organizations in the rotunda. We'll be discussing the ICC Platform (below) - but don't wait for CAD, please meet with your legislators sooner and explain why the programs and concepts on the platform are vital for Iowa! We'll also be revisiting the Iowa 2010 Goals b!!R:llW'>'!W,cuJ!uIalaffajrsJ:>rglaJ>Qutlimagio!LiQ"",,,i and successes and featuring the Iowa Great Places as well as having a legislator team-building experience with the timber frame barn building and taking photos of grant check presentations with recipients and legislators. 12/19/2005 - -,._.~-_._._.__.._--_._._~~-_._--,.-.__._-_._---_.,.,~_......-_.~_._.._,,--~._--"--_._--,._---_. Page 2 of 4 -Then at noon on Tuesday, we'll regroup at the Historical Building for a box lunch and wrap up. Mark the dates on your calendar. A program with RSVP info is coming soon. Make your hotel reservations soon! The discounted room block expires' on January 9. Thanks! Tom Smull 319 E 5th, Ste 3 Des Moines II' 50309 ph 515-280-7234 fx 515-280-6399 tsmull@associationsinc.us .. IOWA CULTURAL ---- ----- COALITION 2006 Legislative Platform Goal: To promote great livable communities for Iowa through support for culture, arts, history, and focused community development. Promote preservation and interpretation of Iowa's Cultural Heritage. Restore Department of Cultural Affairs grant program funding to historic levels: . Community Cultural Grants $500,000 . Historic Site Preservation Grants $1.5 million . HRDP grants - 5% of REAP appropriation $20 million ($1 million) . Operational Support Grants $750,000 . Big Yellow School Bus $50,000 Provide continued funding for the Gubernatorial Records Project as originally funded by the 2005 session of the General Assembly: $75,000 annually. Provide continued funding for the Iowa Battle Flags project at the level funded by the 2005 session of the General Assembly: $220,000 annually. Adopt the Iowa Studies bill as considered by the 2005 General Assembly to add a high school class on Iowa history to the curriculum. Promote Iowa as a place that supports "cultural creatives" in our communities. Create a health insurance plan designed for "cultural creatives." Increase support for Public Art Programs in Iowa: . Increase the reserve of construction dollars from %% to 1 % to support public art associated with construction. . Redefine public art to include maintenance of public art as well as the original acquisition and installation of public art pieces. Adjust rules related to donation of art so artists will be permitted to deduct as a charitable donation the market value of art not just the cost of production. Provide additional state incentives for the development of local arts commissions in Iowa communities. 319 E 5th Des Moines IA 50309 IOWA CULTURAL ---- ---- COALITION Promote preservation, restoration and adaptive re-use of Iowa's historic buildings as lynch-pins of community development. Revise the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program to make the program more effective: . Increase the annual general funds available for statewide projects from $2.4 million to $15 million to better fund projects across the state and re-open the program. . Set up a small project fund of $1 million annually for projects under $200,000. . Convert the $4 million in special funding for Cultural and Entertainment Districts to permanent funding. . Amend the program language to allow tax credits for rehabilitation of barns 50 years old or older to bring program in align with national standards (currently the barns need to be 1937 or older). Fund a significant portion of the current backlog of tax credit projects by allocating a one-time appropriation of $25 million in FY07. Promote the adoption of SMART building codes to protect and preserve Iowa's historic buildings. Encourage the development of Cultural and Entertainment Districts as anchors for the development and enrichment of livable communities in all' parts of Iowa. Adopt additional statewide incentives for Cultural and Entertainment Districts: . Create marketing and promotion grant program for Cultural and Entertainment Districts in the amount of $5000 for each district. . Encourage development of 15-year municipal property tax abatement programs for properties in Cultural and Entertainment Districts. . Establish Sales Tax-Free weekend for one weekend each year for the sale of cultural products sold in Cultural and Entertainment Districts . Encourage local governments to waive special assessments for improvement in Cultural and Entertainment Districts. 319 E 5th Des Moines IA 50309 -_.~-~-----~-_._-~-'".- ...---..---." ---~~--,-_..._---------~---- IOWA CULTURAL - --- COALITION Support and encourage the development and enhancement of Iowa's Great Places. Direct state agencies to create flexibility in administrative rules to facilitate development of Iowa Great Places. Develop "block grant" program to provide funding to Iowa Great Places pilots that would provide financial incentives to Iowa Great Places pilots tq bridge gaps and develop projects not able to be funded through other means. Why Our Mission is Important for Iowa Investment in cultural programs improves the quality of life in Iowa and ,attracts and retains a vibrant workforce while helping to develop Iowa's economy. For additional information, contact the Iowa Cultural Coalition: Rod Scott, President, rodscott@iowaconnecl.com Iowa Cultural Coalition, 319 E. 5th Street, Des Moines, IA 50309 319 E 5th Des Moines IA 50309 Marian Karr G;J From: Sent: To: Subject: Dale Helling Thursday, December 22, 2005 10:08 AM 'Courtney Ball'; 'City Council RE: New Mayor Dear Courtney, Thank you for your email message to the City Council regarding an invitation to the Mayor. Council members do not receive their email messages directly. Your communication will be forwarded to them as official correspondence. Council will elect a new Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tern at its organizational meeting on January 4/ 2006 at 3:00 PM. You may then wish to extend your invitation to the newly elected Mayor. In addition, please feel free to contact Council members individually. Their phone numbers are included on the City Council web page on the City website at www.icgov.org I hope this information is helpful. Dale Helling, Assistant City Manager -----Original Message----- From: Courtney Ball [mailto:pastor-courtney@icfirstchurch.org] Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 1:07 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: New Mayor Hi, I am writing because an organization I am involved with recently sent a letter of invite to Mayor Lehman for an event on January 8th, 2006 (Interfaith Reflection on Hospitality) . When we sent the letter, we did not realize that Mayor Lehman was not going to be in office at that time. We would like to know if the new mayor will be in office by the 8th, so that we can extend the invitation to him/her for the event. If there will be no new mayor in place at that time, or if he or she will not be available on the 8th, we would like to request that another representative from the City Council be present at the event. I appreciate any guidance/feedback you can give us in this matter. With sincere thanks, Rev. Courtney Ball Associate Pastor Iowa City First United Methodist Church Representing Johnson County Congregations Organizing for Homelessness 1 ._____,~___~__._____" __..._,.~_~____'m.__"~_".___._",_-<--__""~ __________..___.~_. ___,______m_____~____ I];l;J Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Subject: tips@publicus.com on behalf of DesMoinesRegister.com [webmaster@dmreg.com] Thursday, December 22, 2005 3:07 PM council@iowa-city.org State Gov!. - Athlete housing protest targets NCAA You have been sent this message from garry klein as a courtesy of DesMoinesRegister.com. FYI council@iowa-city.org State Govt. - Athlete housing protest targets NCAA To view the contents on DesMoinesRegister.com, go to: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID= 2005512220372 Regards, garry klein 1 ---_._,--~-_._._---_._---,._..._-----_._..._-'-_.------'.-------..----- DesMoinesRegister.com Page 1 of 3 DesMolnesRegister .com news sports business Home :: News weather calendar jobs cars c1assifieds State Govt. entertainment juice travel U.5./World opinion ................. ........ ...... ..mal thl. I print Ihll I send lefl&rlc ..dllor I &mal n..-llhJ_ HUD rules Under past rules of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, virtually any full-time student who lives primarily off loans, grants or other financial aid could probably qualify for Section B housing. Changes in eligibility being drafted by HUD will use criteria similar to those used for federal financial aid for students. Under those rules, the income of a student's parents must be taken into consideration when determining eligibility - unless the student is older than 24, married, has dependent children or is a veteran. Athlete housing protest targets NCAA Advocates want the association to get players with stipends out of homes intended for the needy. By LEE ROOD REGISTER STAFF WRITER December 22, 2005 Twenty-two state and national housing advocacy groups asked the National Collegiate Athletic' Association this week to prohibit scholarship athletes who receive housing stipends from living in federally subsidized housing intended for the "truly needy." In a letter sent Monday to NCAA President Myles Brand, the groups also asked the organization to help move the athletes out of taxpayer-subsidized housing so they can use their housing stipends for rent elsewhere. "Despite the provision of a housing stipend i~ their scholarships to cover housing costs, many student athletes are paying little or no rent in these subsidized housing complexes and pocketing the funds earmarked for housing," the letter said,. "This occurs while thousands of truly needy families in these university communities, for whom this housing was intended, languish on waiting Iists,lI President Bush recently signed legislation sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia., that places much tighter eligibility restrictions on college students who want to apply to live in the government "projects" that are part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 8 housing program. However, Jim Cain, who heads Iowa's Coalition for Housing and the Homeless, said it could be a year before the new HUD rules are written and put in place at complexes nationwide. The housing groups want the NCAA to immediately http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? AID=20055122203 72 site map customer service contact us homes apartment . obituaries interactive r today's headlines . Immigration fuels Iowa's slow growth Updated at 12:10 pm . Athlete housing protest targets NCAA . Iowa senator set to be a grandpa Updated at 3:05 pm . Neal rescues Cyclones In Hawaii Updated at 6:25 am ADVERTIS :Bush Do You Agree? ISANDS MORTGAGE COMPANY 12122/2005 DesMoinesRegister.com Page 2 of3 take a leadership role and change bylaws applying to student athletes, he said. Waiting lists for iow- income housing in many college towns are so long that housing authorities have quit taking applications. "We're appealing to them from a moral standpoint," Cain said of NCAA officials. "They continually stress fairness, integrity and responsibility, and that's what we're calling into question. " NCAA spokeswoman Crissy Schluep said the issue was "definitely on our radar screen." However, she said, any proposed rule change would have to come from one of the organization's 1,200 member schools, not from the NCAA's national office. National leaders, she said, think the law recently passed by Congress should provide equal restrictions for all students, not just athletes. U of I athletic director Bob Bowlsby said he "didn't see how" the NCAA could take action, given that not all college athletes receive housing money with their athletic scholarships and that bylaws do not prescribe where student athletes should live. "Those who receive a stipend could live at home if they wanted to," he said. "Most people don't do that because of the distance, but theoretically you could." The groups that signed the letter include housing coalitions from Iowa, California, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont and Washington; as well as the National Housing Assistance Council, the National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Housing Law Project, the National Housing Trust, the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the National Policy and Advocacy Council on Homelessness. The letter followed numerous articles in The Des Moines Register during the past 1B months exposing the problem, and more recent coverage by ESPN's in-depth news show, "Outside the Lines. " "Who can forget the images, captured by ESPN, of kids carving a Halloween pumpkin in their apartment with no furniture because the majority of their mom's income goes toward rent, while a Virginia Tech football player, who is residing In subsidized housing intended for such a family, pays no rent and talks about using his $500 per month housing stipend to go to the mall and buy video games?" the letter said. The Register found that thousands of college http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? AID=2005 5122203 72 12/22/2005 DesMoinesRegister.com Page 3 on students across the country have been living In Section 8 complexes in recent years, because of a loophole in HUD rules that allowed virtually any student to become eligible. Their ranks included athletes from the University of Iowa, the University of Nebraska, the University of Oklahoma, Penn State University, the University of Alabama and elsewhere. This year and last, the Register also identified dozens of U of I athietes who were living at Pheasant Ridge Apartments, Iowa City's only project designated for poor families. Many had been rotating onto leases and into the apartments as other athletes graduated from the university, blocking those on waiting lists from gaining access. Full-ride U of I scholarship athletes receive $6,560 annually to pay for room and board, but many of the athletes who lived at the complex paid nothing in rent. At the same time, the most recent applicants for low-income apartments in Iowa City were facing waits of more than two years. Bowlsby said he didn't think the U of I and other schools had an unfair recruiting advantage because their athletes were abie to tap the Section 8 and others on other campuses could not. "It's not something that the university has had a hand in arranging or talked to prospective recruits about," he said. Tim Funk of Crossroads Urban Center in Salt Lake City said housing agencies nationally want the problem resolved, not only because single students with more options are taking housing from the poor but also because the agencies fear a backlash. "It's difficult to get these programs funded," he said. customer service contact us subscribe now place an ad Copyright @ 2005, The Des Moines Register. . Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. M Updated June 7, 2005. Partners: Jobs: CareerBuilder.com - Cars: cars.com - Apartments: apartments.com - Shopping: ShopLocal.com http://www.desmoinesregister.com!apps/pbcs.dll/article ? AID=200 5 5122203 72 12/22/2005 Marian Karr t::J From: Sent: To: Subject: Ihe3rdiowa@mchsi.com Thursday, December 22, 2005 3:54 PM council@iowa-city.org Homeless funding for Nashville sees increase Council members, NashvilleCityPaper subscriber Garry Klein thought you would be interested in this article: Headline: Source: Homeless funding for Nashville sees increase By Casey Westlake, cwestlake@nashvillecitypaper.com Click here for a summary of the article and a link to the original source: http://66.45.l3.l38/index.cfm?section~9&screen~enews&enews_id~46705 (Free membership may be required for some article$.) MESSAGE: FYI Garry Klein NashvilleCityPaper.com is the online news and information resource of The City Paper. Visit http://www.NashvilleCityPaper.com to become a NashvilleCityPaper subscriber and receive an e-mail each weekday with the latest headlines covering Nashville and Middle Tennessee. 1 Nashville City Paper Thursday, December 22, 2005 News SEARCH SITE [ I_ SEND TO FRIEND I POST OPINION I PRINT ,,' ,~"'_~"o 1M Homeless funding for Nashville sees increase By Casey Westlake, cwestlake@nashvillecitrpaper.com December 21, 2005 .~ . . ',. .' PDF Format Today's City Paper as it appears in print. TV/Movie Listings TV Listings Movie Listings Comics Crossword Enter to Win Free E-updates Photo Reprints Titans Slideshows Traffic Cams World in Photos Place your .. "ds online Archives View Archives Week in Review Advertise Media Kit Advertising Guidelines Site Services About Us Event Submissions Contact Us Mama_lip for uequel r By The Dozen' ys cut in laughs ,anden Basch ,~.Bns Thursday' e 4:02 PM nashViIlIJci/ypapcr.com Login Classifieds Place Classified Photo Reprints Archives Advertise Nashville will receive over $3.3 million in federal money to fund programs that provide housing and services to the homeless. The funding comes through grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), In the Metro area, 13 organizations will receive nearly $3.15 million in Continuum of Care grants to provide permanent and transitional housing to homeless persons. Nashville will also receive $218,458 in Emergency Shelter Grants to fund local shelters and homelessness prevention programs. Funding has Increased more than 60 percent since the last fiscal year, when Nashville received nearly $1.85 million in Continuum of Care funding. The city also received $217,772 in Emergency Shelter grants in the 2004 fiscal year, a sum that HUD uses a formula to calculate future disbursements. Only Urban Housing Solutions and the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA)received funding in the 2004 fiscal year. Last year's funding for Nashville was a "stop-gap" measure, designed only to keep programs running for a year, HUD spokesman Brian Sullivan said, MDHA will receive nearly $1.74 million In funds, a slight decrease from last year. The grants will go to three primary areas - service, the Shelter Plus Care program, and permanent housing, MDHA Executive Director Phil Ryan said. Services that MDHA will use the money for include various kinds of treatments for drug and alcohol abuse, employment assistance and transportation assistance. These services will be provided through a variety of local nonprofit organizations, Ryan said. Funding will also go to MDHA's Shelter Plus care program, which provides rental assistance designed to serve homeless people who are struggling with mental Illness, substance abuse, disabilities and HIV-AIDS, Ryan said. The largest portion of funding, a new grant for $1.2 million will be used to create 46 new housing units to help between 50 and 60 homeless people. MDHA will work with local organizations to create the housing units. MDHA began working more cooperatively with local nonprofit organizations In 2004 when the groups began collaborating on Mayor Bill Purcell's 10'year plan to end chronic homelessness, Ryan said. The bulk of the funding from HUD will be used to help people who are chronically homeless find housing and keep It, Ryan said. Ryan said he believed the increased funding for the Nashville area was the result of the collaboration and hard work between the government, nonprofit organizations and private interests. Other organizations receiving grants include Urban Housing Solutions, Park Center, YWCA and the Campus for Human Development. http://66.45.13 .138/index.cfm?section=9&screen=news&news _id=46705 Page 1 of2 I ndulge In printlb Ie gift certificate purchasing. 1 I , I- Cc Af Area Sports: Scores >> Weekly schedule>> Weekly Sections City Seven >> Real Estate >> Profits and Profiles ">> Titans Thursday>> News . Democrats bash Harwell over campaign finance acts . Local group takes Napster back to court . City sees increase in hunger in 2005 . Nashvifle doctor stars as 'Bachelor' . State pushes COllege graduation with media grant . Bredesen poll numbers up Business . CCA to manage detainees for Feds P Ad City Seven . Second installment 01 'Cheaper' proves a slight bit better . Cookie cutters give shape to sweets . Toasting with a great champagne doesn't have to break the bank 12/22/2005 Nashville city paper Link to Us Pick-up Locations Request Delivery Invite a Friend The funding that Nashville receives Is part of HUD's nationwide grant program. This year, HUD will award more than $1.3 billion in grants nationwide, a decrease from last year's record $1.4 billion appropriation. This year's grants will go to nearly 5,000 local programs. A record number of programs applied for and received grant funding, said Mark Johnston, acting deputy assistant secretary for Special Needs Assistance. "It's more than just a financial commitment," Deputy Secretary Roy Bernardi said. "It's taking a human response to a human need." To determine what programs receive a HUD grant, a local task force meets and prioritizes among local programs that have applied for funding. Page 2 of2 . Reynolds keeps traditions at hand . Cartoons, film classics comprise part of Christmas fare . Arts Listings . Music Listings Sports . Franklin's Anderson takes classes at old school . Defensive lapses may catch up with Vandy . Foster shoots more to shake slump . Athleticism is great, but 'Dares must be cohesive . Belmont women fall to VCU Titans Thursday . Vanden Bosch heads list of snubbed Titans . Is Pacman the Grinch? . Titans missions . Dolphins missions . NFL Preview & Picks: Week 16 Games Editorials . Strong idea to fund schools through state . Letters to the Editor Home I News I Business I Noticias I Sports I Lifestyle I City Seven I Profits and Profiles I Editorials Copyright 2000-2005 The City Paper. LLC Read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service http://66.45.13.13 8/index.cfm?section=9&screen=news&news id=46705 12/22/2005 Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Subject: the3rdiowa@mchsi.com Thursday, December 22, 20054:00 PM council@iowa-city.org NJ to receive $35.4 million in homelessness prevention grants This story was sent to you by: Garry Klein NJ to receive $35.4 million in homelessness prevention grants December 21, 2005, 5:01 PM EST TRENTON, N.J. (AP) The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Wednesday announced $35.4 million in grants to 126 New Jersey programs that work to prevent homelessness. The disbursement is part of $1.33 billion in grants nationally anno~nced by HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. "Today, we take another step along the road toward the day when we end chronic hornelessnesson our streets," Jackson said in a statement. The HUD grants go to emergency homeless shelters as well as "continuum of care" programs. Those programs provide transitional housing and some rental subsidies, as well as such services as job training, child care and counseling to people who struggle to keep their homes. The Catholic Diocese of Trenton received several grants for a combined $340,294 to provide services to hundreds of people in Mercer, Burlington and Ocean counties, said Joyce Campbell, director of community and government relations for the diocese. The diocese will use the HUD grants for such projects as housing assistance for the mentally ill, as well as "self-sufficiency" programs for individuals and families who find themselves homeless after fleeing domestic abuse. "Each year some of the requirements change, so when priorities change you're not quite sure you'll be able to continue a project that you had going," Campbell said. "What I'm really happy about is this not only brought us some new programs, but renewed some that had been in place for a while." P> On the Net: Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton: www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org u.s. Department of Housing and Urban Development: www.hud.gov Copyright (el 2005, The Associated Press This article originally appeared at: http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj-- hudgrants122ldee2l,0,4024380.story?coll~ny-region-apnewjersey Visit Newsday online at http://www.newsday.com 1 1i1/1:] %~ ~ ~"'- q Co~;Jf~ JcJ G 12A The Gazette, Sun., Jan~ 1. 2006 OPINION Lf) <:( ..:r v~ r- --I r-' :lC o::~ L-J """ uJ ~ u..l _'T r -..L- Lf) '.....J~ t U -' I T LL % t:= <C .a; 03 -, -.P 0 = ~ Thanks to deer hunters for pfeservjng lIature Thanks to the deer hunters for making it less dangerous for me to travel the roads that have so many deer crossings. Thanks for paying the extra fee for the processing to make the deer meat available for the needy - after already paying for the' deer license. Thanks for helpingtQ keep deer in the realm of a ptized patural reSource and not allow them to become road kill, a burden or a pest. It would be a shame to see such a valuable resource wasted. AI Myers AIburnett ; ~r~r ~v- '- Thursday.s [edar Rapids Gazene, Detember 22, '05 Deerbowhunt in. G.R. exceeds expectations Zahn doesn't think sharpshooters will b.e needed to thin herd thus, deer-vehicle collisians. The hunt has been so effec- tive, Public Safety Cammis- . sianer David Zahn said Wednesday, that he did nat think the city wauld need ta emplay a castly sharpshoot: ing program in years ta come ta cut .deer numbers. . An annual bowhunt, which cast the city . virtually na maney, may be able ta keep the deer herd inside the city ta a manageable size, Zahn said. The city's Urban Deer Task Farce, which Zahn convened and is a member .of, vated in AUgUst ta in- stitute. a bow- hunt. The thaught then was the effart wauld be suc- cessful if hunters killed deer in the fITSt year. By lick SmIth The Gazette CEDAR RAPIDS. - Bow- hunters have killed 236 deer PUBLIC SAFID inside the city since Oct. 1 as part .of the city'S effart. ta reduce dller~~lJ(,rs.1lIl.4, ~ FROM PAGE 1B inchiding Marian,. Des. Moines, Narth Lib!)rtr and Dubuque, candUct boWhunts .of deer. In 2004, 4,348 deer were killed in Linn Caunty (.out- side Cedar Rapids) during the hunting seasan, accord- ing ta Willie Suchy, the De- partment .of Natural Re- saurces biala- gist who tracks and manages the state's deer. That tatal included 1,065 killed by bawhuntets. The special archery seasan 1lIIIe SucbJ. DNR biologist IIlnId ZaIIn -Safety commissioner in Cedar Rapids, with its har- vest .of 236 so far, .outdid the entire 2004 archery harvest in :f~;'~:::a~l:s::: counts far a f11"st-year hunt that r have heard .of," he said. "They did really, really well, and they shauld da even bet- ter in the secand and third years naw that they knaw what they are daing:' Zahn saId 30 percent .of the deer meat fr'am Cedar Rapids' bawhunt has been danated ta the needy as part .of a state program; . Bawhuntinil .of deer in Iawa and the city ends Jan. 10. .Comact the writer. (319) 39&8312 or rick.smith@gazettecommunicatioos.com S1dHnIUetl by Peler B. Jecblmsen, MD, Deer Commission meJlllJer 12/23/2005 The task farce recam- mended an annual bowhunt to maintain deer numbers but said hiring prafessianal Sharpshooters wauld be need- ed ta actua11y cut thenum- bers aver time. In Iawa,mast does deliver twa fawns a ,ear...About 2,400 deer were inside the city befare the bowhunt, accarding ta state estimates. 100 . Several ~. BOWHUNT, PAGE 6B Iawa cities, 0 ".", "'" = ~Q "" 0 ---i 1"'1 0-< C"") II I'\.) -j0 0::> r- .-....r- rn fT1 %>0 -:::0 Ox :II: 0 ~ <:? <.0 ~1 Marian Karr From: Todd Hodgkinson [thodgkinson@cherrycreekschools.org] Sent: Monday, December 26,20059:40 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: What happened to the local "feel" of downtown? Hello there, My name is Todd Hodgkinson, and I am a former resident of Iowa City. I am writing to inquire whether or not your council has ever thought of subsidizing local shops in the downtown pedestrian mall. In a recent visit to downtown, I was disappointed to see the lack of "ma and pa" type stores that used to thrive in the area. Gone, as well, are many of the book shops, craft stores, and artist's galleries. Many of these places, as you know, have been replaced by bars and/or bar-style restaurants. I may be a little naive, or sound old-fashioned, but without help from its city government I am arraid of what downtown will look like in the future. I am aware that subsidizing local businesses is not a profitable enterprise, but aren't some things worth paying for? I would be anxious to hear what your council is doing to remedy this problem. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Todd Hodgkinson Denver, Colorado 12/27/2005 Marian Karr ~ From: Sent To: Cc: Subject: Garry and Betsy Klein [the3rdiowa@mchsLcom] Thursday, January 05, 2006 7: 1 0 AM counciUowa-city.org steve-atkins _iowa-city. org Congratulations to Ross Willburn Mayor Wilburn and the City Council, Congratulations to you, Regenia Bailey and Dee Vanderhoef for your new appointments. To the council, with regard to the collective wisdom of the council in selecting Ross and Regenia unanimously, I salute your solidarity. With regard to NLC, I appreciate them recognizing Dee's leadership abilities. To Ross specifically, you have some good-sized shoes to fill but given your musical ability, I'm sure/ pardon the very bad pun/ you'll conduct yourself exceedingly well. I look forward knowing that the issues that come before the council under your watch (and with the support of Steve) will continue to be worked through respectfully and with all due dilligence. Sincerely / Garry Klein 1 _________~_'_~___"._____" __~___,_______ _._.-.._._______"..__h_>-___._ -ll's #1 Place to liVe Named one of best places to start a career (Forbes Magazine), Jid'Y Best Places To Live (Men's Journal, 2004), and one of the night nation's top retirement destinations (Money Magazine) co~cert our community is truly a great place to live no matter what stage of life you're In. senes What is it that makes this place so special? Some say it is the Date: June 2,3, & 4 Date: May-September diversity, others contend it's the low cost of living and educated Estimated attendance: 30,000 Estimated Attendance: 9,600 pop..I'l'..;....."l,-andasmalLcontingcnt of fQlk~ believe it's might Founded: 1987 Founded: 1991 even be the weather (...a very small contingent). The Friday Night Concert Series is a free, family-friend~:~ The Iowa Arts Festival is a weekend-long free community While all of these factors are essential to the whole equation, celebration featuring over 100 local and regional visual event held on the Pedestrian Mall in downtown Iowa City. ". one major characteristic that plays a key role in these rankings, artists displaying and selling their artwork, a music festival, a The event features live music performed by local bands one characteristic that helps our businesses attract and "Culinary Row" sl!:rving regional and ethnic food, and a variety each and every Friday night While children climb on the \' .~. retain talented people, and one characteristic that of activities and entertainment, both creative and educational, playground equipment, a diverse audience of all ages and makes this a great place to live, for children and families. The Iowa Arts Festival is the most cultural backgrounds, whose numbers range from a few .........: is the vibrant arts and culture scene. anticipated visual art~entered event of the summer. hundred to a few thousand people, come down to dance ~ and enjoy the free music. <Ii- Now is your opporttJnity to help keep our co~munity a top place I ~ to live, work, and play by financially supporting an organization whose mission is to to grow some of our areas most ~a~~l~, cherished arts and cultural traditions. SUm Date: May-September Estimated attendance: 3,200 Iner of the Founded: 2005 ~~ The Saturday Night Free Movie Series is an outdoor film series, Date: First Weekend in July held in on the University of Iowa Pentacrest. The old screen from ~,~ Estimated attendance: 25,000 the Englert Theater hangs from the historic columns of MacBride Founded: 1991 Hall providing the perfect outdoor theater in the soft green grass Named one of the Top 10 Jazz Festivals in the nation, The Iowa under the shade of the old oak trees. Each Saturday from Memorial Day through Labor Day a family-friendly, feature City Jazz Festival is a free music event held in the heart of Iowa length film is screened for all to enjoy, free of charge. City. The event treats audiences to some of the very best jazz Audience members are invited to bring performers from around the world. A vital component of the their own lawn chairs or blankets Created in 2005, Summer of the Arts in a 501(c)(3) nonprofit festival is the focus on Jazz education, collaborating with the for seating and picnicking on the umbrella organization that works to encourage and facilitate the University of Iowa to provide free jazz workshops. Area high grass with a pre-movie live collaborative efforts to create a summer filled with arts and school jazz bands have been featured as ~openers" for musical performance by cultural entertainment in the Iowa City Area. some of the world's most influential jazz personalities a local musician. induding John Scofield, Charlie Hunter, Karla Bley, and Summer of the Arts' four major events: The Iowa City Jazz Stefon Harris among many others. Festival, Iowa Arts Festival, Friday Night Concert Series, and Saturday Night Free Movie Series will bring synergy in marketing and fund raising, while ensuring each event maintains its own unique identity. The collaboration gives our sponsors more value for their financial contributions and ensures the community will have hundreds of free, high-quality arts and cultural events each and every summer, far into the future. . 10 0 artscene 0 October2005 In November 2004 Iowa's Department of Cultural Affairs made headlines with their vision to make Iowa a national leader in culture by 2010. The plan, named "Imagine Iowa 2010," made it their primary mission to dis- tinguish Iowa "as a national leader in culture with support for an environ- ment that allows the arts, history, humanities and sciences to thrive" in just six years. Considering everything from historical preservation to ways to engage young Iowans, the plan offered approachable, inclusive goals that would be driven by and drawn from the talents of Iowans. Another component of the plan addressed Iowa's need to attract new people to the state who work in these areas, putting a creative plug in the "brain drain" problem. Governor Vilsack and Anita Walker, the director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, led the charge to inspire cities and individuals in organizing their goats through workshops and by arranging resources ranging from grants to professional guidance in a program called "Iowa Great Places." In this program, applicants compose a proposal to improve upon. create or define a "great place" in the state of Iowa. Three winning places will win funds and guidance from state employees on how to implement their plan In its pilot year. "Iowa Great Places" was designed to be a loosely interpreted program, with even the concept of the word "place" being hotly debated among those writing proposals. For this initiative, a "place" could be a historical property needing renovation, or a "place" could more of an idea linking numerous towns and cities together by a common goal. The "Iowa Great Places" initiative will be announced at Hancher Auditorium on October 11, where for the second time in less than three years, economist. professor and creative thinker Richard Florida will address an towa audience interested in the impact of creativity on the economy. Florida's speech is part of a larger month-long celebration called "Iowa Visionary" which was inspired in correlation with National Arts and Culture Month. (Log on to www-iowavisionary,info for the full month's agenda: for a free ticket call Jennifer at 800-283-6592.) For a free advance ticket you will get to hear Florida himself, the mint-maker of the term "creative economy" and "creative class" talk about why programs like "tmagine Iowa 2010" and "The Great Places Initiative" will not only improve Iowa's economy, but make Iowa a better place to live for all. Florida previously spoke at the innovative and much talked about "UnConference" held March 5, 2003, and hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs; a gathering that successfully redefined the musty conference setting, creating a place where economic and civic leaders joined with artists and young people in discussing the revitalization of their communities to attract a creative workforce Josh Schamberger, president of the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICCVB) and board member of the Johnson County Cultural Alliance (JCCA) soon to be merged with the Cedar Rapids Cultural Alliance. called October 11 "the banner day for arts in Iowa." Having been heavily involved in the plan- ning of Iowa Visionary, the October 11 Flarida event. Schamberger proudly noted that he does- n't believe there has been a bigger day in the state focusing on these ideas. "Everyone from the Iowa business world and the government are going to be here in Iowa City to hear Richard Florida state clearly that arts, culture and quality of life are viable industries important to economic and community development." Florida, author of two books on the subject of the creative impact. "The Rise of the Creative Class and How It's Transforming Work. Leisure. Community and Everyday Life," followed by "The Flight of the Creative Class." became interested in why big companies were starting to leave big cities, where they were going and why. What he found has become the hope of places like Iowa that are suffering from that nasty but aU too real bUll word: brain drain. The most vocal in the state seem to think that Florida has a great Idea with his own buzz.ward-laden ideas, In florida's case, the buzz is the word "creative," in this case most often meaning young people that work in the arts, tech. nology, sciences and the humanities, more often a diverse group looking to live somewhere with a good quality of life. According to Florida and his many Iowa sup- porters, "creatives" are the people that we want to repopulate our state, who will in turn reinvent WW'I'J,artsceneiowa .eOIlI the state, attracting more creatives, more people, and more jobs through this reinvention. In other words, creatives will make Iowa a hip place to live, thereby helping keep more young, educated, money-making people here. But in order to attract these people we need to concentrate our revital- ization efforts on perfectly balancing what Florida calls the three T's: Technology, Talent and Tolerance. For example, in balance, an ideal Iowa would have enough technology, such as wireless Internet. readily available so that people working in creative fields could work here regardless of where their company was based. But they will have to want to live here, so we also have to make Iowa tolerant of diverse peoples, accepting of all. In Florida's books, a community.stolerance for diverse peoples is a key component to attracting and retaining creative people. Creatives tend to be more diverse than our present population. And. these creative people are in turn going to attract more creative people, who wili also tend to be more diverse. Most people would say that histori- cally, diversity in Iowa has meant the Germans tal. erating the Irish or the Irish tolerating the Germans, depending on what kind of potato dish you grew up eating. But that is not Iowa today. nor will that be Iowa in the very near future. For example, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, one-seventh of the U,S. population is Hispanic, which also hap- pens to be Iowa's fastest growing population. Iowans are going to have to be proactive in wel- coming diversity. And Florida, like many econo- mists, would argue that the "5e Habla Espanol" sign in the window of your business, gallery or even that pop-up window on your web page, is going to not only increase your business and audience, but put you in a better position for the future. Studying up on your cultural com- petency and being "gay friendly" are also trends that a creative economy ethi- cally endorses. In some ways this is the natural progression for small cities and towns that most often model their progress off of trends set by larger cities who are hardly suffering from brain drain Whether a lucrative "creative economy" would result from successfully employing these components has been heavily debated by leading Iowans in recent years, Heavily embraced by Governor Vilsack's administration, the debate has lead to a renewed interest and drive for community revi- talization to attract a new workforce and tourism. It seems that whether you think the "creative economy" model should be the plan or not. a great motivator and guide has been born and the momentum is continuing. Putting their Illoney wllere their mouth is, Iowa has now committed $200 million to, in the words of Anita Walker, "invest in cultural and com- munity attractions." Iowa is giving itself a preemptive make- over, slllartly redefining itself in order to compete in the future b0yond our traclitionatly agricultural economic past Universities are presently our state's biggest singular Rose Frantzen's "Portrait of recruiter of new Iowans, but unfortunately most of these Maquoketa" Iowans only stay long enough to complete their degrees. In a recent speech to the Iowa City Area Development Corporation, president of the University of Iowa. Dr. David Skorton, challenged his audience to change the way that they think or the University of Iowa and Iowa as a whole, Skorton cited "the arts" as the University of Iowa's "greatest asset." giving his school bragging rights for winning over 40 Pulitzer Prizes, most recently awarded this year to Marilyn Robinson for her novel" Gilead." Inspired by the "Imagine Iowa 2010" plan last year, Dr. Skorton has publicly worked for local and statewide economic development, announcing last year an impressive campaign claiming 2004 as "The Year of Arts and Humanities," Encouraging the school at that time to tour its cultural resources around the state, Dr. Skorton is leading yet another call claiming 2005 "The Year of Public Engagement. U This namesake year will challenge the University to find new ways to reach out to the whole state by making the general public aware of the resources that the University of Iowa has to offer. Taking the capitol city's lead, Iowa City has probably led the most cheers in favor of Richard Florida's ideas, with public advocates ranging from city officials and business people to working artists and community activists, Iowa City is in many ways already recognized as an economy driven by creatives, with the University of Iowa as the main attraction constantly attracting young, innovative, creative people. However, even the Iowa City business community has jumped on the creative band wagon with people like Tom Cilek, senior vice president of West Bank in Iowa City, gathering up a group of people he simply calls his "friends" from surrounding areas to create an event Lo bring people together. This loose idea was discussed at a series of freestyle meetings by people interested in supporting the idea of a creative economy. That event quickly evolved into having Florida himselF come to speak, Cilek knowing how Florida tends to generate interest. "I don't really care jf you agree with Florida's ideas," said Cilek. "Just debating these ideas bring people together (and) inspire us to make things happen." And making things happen is what Iowa City residents seem to do best. Recently the Iowa City Jazz Fest. Iowa Arts Fest. FrIday Night Concert Series, and the Saturday Night Free Movie Series combined into "Summer of the Arts," providing free summer-long entertainment in the downtown area. The Riverside Festival Stage has attracted audiences from all over the state and beyond as the home of the Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival. an open-air theatre of 4 72 seats, designed to be reminiscent of the Globe. And now a free wireless Internet network called "cFree: The Corridor Free Wireless Network" is being launched in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Coralville in a number of key public spaces Dubuque is another excellent example of a medium-sized city that seems to be modeling much of its progress off of bigger cities that have harnessed the cre- ative element However, Dubuque began its revitalization before Florida's ideas became all the rage. Jerry Emler - first president of the America's River project, a $188 million riverFront development in Dubuque, and director of the Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. as well as president of the Dubuque County Historical Society - says that he didn't know much about Florida's ideas at the inception of many of the projects that he has headed up over the years. Dubuque, once an industrial and shipping town with a huge farming and meat packing business, found itself. like so many towns in Iowa, with a nearly empty downtown in the '80s and '90s, In addition. the Mississippi waterfront was looking abandoned and run- down. While some in Dubuque sought tourists through casino racing dogs, others like Emler sought to enrich the community through edu- cational projects like museums. As a city. Dubuque hac; taken the lead of a popular trend in Iowa -- progress with historical renovation. Beginning in 1989, Dubuque's Egyptian.style "Old Jail" was designated as a National Historic I andmark, and the Dubuque County Historical Society tool< up the lease, turning the space into an art museum. Since the Old Jail proj- ect. numerous museums have been developed throughout the town in renovated properties. The most impressive undertaking was one of Emler's that combined new constructions with historical renovations nf unused factory and river warehouse buildings, The end result is the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium whicll was soon complemented by The Grand Harbor Resort WateqJsrk. a huge con- vention center with views of the Mississippi. Other community efforts helped to create the Dubuque Art Museum, and to restore The Grand Opera House, which had been "modernized" in the '50s with metal siding that covered its ornate fac;ade, Revitalization is big money, but it also gives Iowans a sense of pride and an investment in their communities. Dubuque has adopted its own 2010 plan - which drew in 1,800 suggestions from residents as to what they would like to see changed in their city by that year. On a smaller scale, Rose Frantzen, owner of The Old City Hall Gallery, the only gallery in the small town of Maquoketa, has seen how the presence of this single cultural beacon has altered her community. It has made Maquoketa an attraction, giving people a reason to get off the highway, and it has inspired other cultural attractions to organize and open up their doors, like the town's first Internet coffee shop which has given locals a place to perform their poetry and walls to put up their artwork, Frantzen recently won a grant from the Iowa Arts Council making it possible for her to continue work on her "Portrait of Maquoketa" project. in which Frantzen has made it her work to document the inhabitants of the town to a goal of 300 oil paintings, painted from life, on location, Her project has grown from initially hop- ing to paint in a storefront to encouraging the commu- nity to observe her working. Schools have even designed class trips to watch Frantzen work at various locations, such as nursing homes, the bingo hall and dance halfs. Not unlike so many urban industrial areas that have tried to become residential. Maquoketa found it expe- rienced a sense of place, a destination and an identi- ty when it turned to the arts. Frantzen would say that this is because it is the nature of an artist. of the human- ities, more than any other areas, to be self reflective and wonder about their relationship to the community and their impact on the world around them. Florida's faith in the creative element has given Iowa a consci- entious ambassador into the future. We can only hope that Frantzen, other creatives and the state itself wilt continue to foster the arts, culture and the humanities and help to make a permanent and welcoming home for those that are working closely to create the future of Iowa, I) (; , L ,.; ;\ I) Marilyn Robinson's novel "Gilead" Dubuque Museum of Art "Voices From the Warehouse District'" FOR MORE INFORMATION BE SURE TO CHECK OUT: WWW IOwavlslonary.lIlfo wwwcreauveclass.org wwwlowaartscounCl1 org WIJ\lW culturalcorndor org www.culturalaffalrs.orgwwwthcJamcsgang.ws Octoh'or2005 0 ilrlscene 0 11 Th;:'E<:~( :;~a"...I'{ ~i~""S ~~U. , After n . 'New Yark~ly, my ~ha ~';"';'f~lS' imp"'" 'l!ast~ oouId' nat futhorn . !'I~ want ';;'m;'velo ~':~Z~=~ 'li'~~~aS;.:7a:: boring.- hours', .... .. ~~southern .a~~' while. watPring:p , w, Iowa, I proud' Iy told them,.jS^' r OhiO' for that -1l1a~,-J' '~Vi~;ij " hqme sta~in the highest.. " abaut every- 'thing fl'OnHmr avid . n in ~p<>lit. ". :':. ical process 00, I~~.GU,y~. tlUjd,m~h~U;St~~~~ percentage 0'1' adults,who-bave cqllege dogre... . Uppn J110ving back.:.. we'VE.. b~. sw:pru.~--to:tinQ .,c....,.'.... ,', .,......_,."....:."..' 1;' -"- :"""',,'_'" -. ',. "':>':."- that.many lawans ~ j!tljt os perll!~ by aur IIWve. DailY vveans~er ~~_~'t~~on, :~;:::~i~tyo" ... '- ,~ here!" while.local peOple interested:.ltt attra . papulatian back to the ~ ask uS;:~m.}' did Y9 iIithe'fitst place?"">' - _ , ':;7F~!;:y::~:::i_;::,:;.,:_.',--::-:. These qu~~on~'~~--al',the_ ce~i~i',,~:_~~~e .." issues~cing the state asa ,\vl.101e.~,~._' .. how Iowa ~}{eepand ,atjttar;t YO~'~~,-:>., to the warkforce. As we all knaw, the-staW1~' fig gTily"-at .l' faster pa~_,ih~, th,c rest, of the c01;lnny. The number pf young versus _I():ld workers would be~F man; pron()unced Wen:-it-JDot for the ov~allyouth';f the diver~i~gpopidati~ moving' to out state. Some: . .,' '_..... ',. __, .... .1"; . ',- ..... _'>'-',:_ have s~gge~~d-tha,t~e conpllct a qUaI)titative~ s~~~ ,analysis of'''why" this ~op~ation has left and contimie to leave Iowa. I th4ik wecane:asily ,venture to, guess the "why": ofkonour oWIi. Roche. conrinUEd-fn?m_pagil:_l~ cared, -while ~,up the good wark afa~n.w~i:Ssesaudoppar-. . tuni9~I~r.o~~~:~tkfor~. ':_I*:-'~iIi~~~:_~::;:a:ne~~~(ion~driven, at~ai:.',*e-nie~t:,t6'CrititiIwe"oirr,d"fQ~'1O" e,d'u~ie,_ aIid'tt~- out'rtewest' d1it~~~:, . ~We are: missi~g !Ke~~atjfwe do~:i~ s~~'-, h~:PfOactiv~h~_-:etnb~gdiversity ~ n~~ythe _156_p~rc:~~t,~~h in the Hi~p~~c p~p41~ti()(i'~[lth~Jast: ~o yea~. - can ben~flt rIle stoite' as a'whole. New irrimjgpmtpopuhitiQtW:tm' b~ a drain on imp~~ed,'~o~o~ies:~fthey are treat- ed'.. merely' ~s:'ollstades:"i~_the. way of operati~" as' '1J$'~'31':'\"ll1~~r,you w~ bo~~iri,t:Aai~,o or;M~tVern()n.-ifyou li:eJ\eie OQv" y<;,uare an _ Iowan. We a~:t.;"~ping?ui~orkfiJrce options if' w.: "ren't~l()iing__: how to give our ntrWest citizens. the same advantages' as native]oWatls. Stepping 'off the SO~ll box, how do we .~~ yoh~~: ~ucatet:Ipeople to stay, come back tlr,fD.pve here from else- where?1 thihk the'.n.wer cim be faund in: our - owrl~erierlce': -I':m that rare cas'e that came 'back, and I brought a '~8L:w,,:, '.'" "",, ~:..__'~ _";,/i-:"-" ~,:" :.~; '''5-..',,11;',1:','''> __'':.<i;.;,~~';/..:_. ...'_'. _...',L::-_,',.'--......."-..",......,'.-'....,,.. ~i,it' tis (9f(:e ,l?e_~iJI4,-~~~ po~~tio~_ .19~.~' ~:~ml~:a la_ck of good_"jobs~ If.~,.\touldfi't_put,~~:'~~;(lifialtion~ .~o use~ you' ~'_g()'-~~~.e~.-:If y~~__co~'4~;,~~4~jobin Your field: -to get" ~ 'expenerice td' mOVe 3head, you . '" :>-.,:.-:' .,.,., ."--...'".,,..-\. ..'-,.,;" '. >'........:.-:...:, .....:'.",'..'.. ":'..,::'. . . :would-:f?Q,~li~f_tlie_jo9-~S'.~\~,~~-'~~~~1~-~~ate and Coiridar we need to' ke,ep lOokiJ;\jl lit' ~",ploymep.t from the aspect of creating Jobs fdr t<he tmirt~aJ1d:~u~ See Roctte:-page;13 N~yQfk-centrk-:e~'c~lEJ?.with;Oie. I~ Out .late',20S,- after-that senSe:,of :,a~~. has. pJt}inishoo_a' bit~.~nd ,ed~~rlonal.,q~~,~tiOIl~:-h~e;::turned into reaI~life ""Perleace, many ~aple :s~Jookin~f?r.~..~eJlSe,ofst~bilityaI1d' ~~tto settl~d?Wn,-:We ,~~,toloWa .:9~" ~ecause ii'~,a,g_~~;place tos~tt!e dawn, work hard, artd' raise a furnily. And there is lat more.to dO' than watch- ing'the'cofli.a:n~,soy,~!ow.-,Joe and ~ haV~ fo~d th~CnoLonly:d~\V~'Ylork )~rly;half as:_m~~ ~QU[s$,i;:ut'~urd91- 1<iI go~s al~()~~~ea~ {~,r~).h~tw~Yyie "~'enj,oyall!~ti~~thatt~t~-,~9r3ni, atlturaI Corri~cn:Ji~s t?offer~I S<l_ldrity husband o~'.!b~a'_,~i~"be,91l~~ _~r ~l1,e, quality af life" the ability to' 8et ahead, owll;~ home ana ~njoy~ B~tit~aiIY-~1l1y took a few viSits before he was the o'ne",' always comparing our"~th~[:opqons to Iowa City. W~ are our~wn best J?R,_ and - as Iowa conunues to prove _'itself even better than we expe,cted, we ~op_e .~. be ~ part?f helpingo,ther tiew . Iowans:: plug in to this great state. . K;.tJe ROch&'~ a resJestate8(Jetrf With: NAI :Iowa Re81ty, GofnmsrcJsI; and: SelVeS' on numeroUS locaJ cammftteesdeaJlng with diversity and cammuhlty building efforts. 4 )wJV. 15 - 21, 2004 CORRIDOR BUSINESS JOURNAL www.corridorbiznews.com --_..~--~._---~------~--_._~.~- -~JCitY~ams two state cultural district desi9~ lo"'."-'ci~lIP~~d for one cult,!raldistrict Capitol district and the Iow~ River dis- Iowa Ci:>,s application was spearhe~d- . los? sehamberitr;;#id@ntl~~ destgnauon oom the state Department tnet. The Old CapItol dlstnct takes III ed by the Iowa Cl1y/CoraIVllle Convennon VIsItor s bureausaid hetli!nts,XIha of01lturalAffairs, and received two. downtown Iowa City and the main & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the that Iowa City's'distilc(~s :~li(.~l .'. ...... _', ,. ~:" .' ..' '. .' -', . -,';.' _ -"')'1f '," . . <'J:'M"Ptogt'affi, new to Iowa, drew 13 University of Iowa campus on the east Iowa City Downtown Association, the city, actuaIly enhanee.tl1~ ~lIe'l'f\JQtij.. ;:i. "l!P~~1I1.9ties around the state. side of the Iowa River, while the Iowa thejohnsonCountyCulturaJAllianceand "lthiiik'theyeiimp!em~i-;'~&\'itfiei r.~"t)l!i;!"'~'1ll?ilIlCjlti()ns were approved. River district includes the VI's arts eam- the University ofIowa. very well," he. ~aid-" '. ,;.". ';f;~!~~4~,P:t&..<!i.trict was cut pus on the west side of the river. According to the original application, The spo~sorin!i 'gJ;o,!i>.'WiIl'G>~.'a 'Ir'!"''';'''''='"' Tho","'~'-'_w""~'";''';' "- ,",,,-,,,,,,, "" ",,,=, _ru" -- ,","'m~.... ;,.'L!~_~"'1!fTai~ ~fficial. nations are: Cedar Falls, Charles City, district will.enhance the area'~',:isibility the first 01 the year to sU;at~e anci~ii).ll .' . ~,.~. . ~ ClS shoilld be walka- Cherokee, Davenport, Dubuque, and recogllltIon, commulllty pnde and marketIng for the two dtstricts,be said. ._\'i~PrlginancleaofhaVing Muscatine and Spencer. Muscatine also provide an economk boost to sur- Progress in the distric:-~ be ~~ ;, . _ "~_i,b.eOIl4: square mlle ran will have1.Wodlstncts. roundmg areas. It WIll be promoted uredoverathree-yearpenodtodetenmne 'J~$,\i~:fP-~tg<>al. . ,c, :.,;_,,,., . . . Iowa joins Maryland as the only two Ihrough existing marketing budgets at the economic impact of mIture: mItural !;9:4I,l,tfciWa,.,Glty now ,has ,the old '. states to have cultural district designations. the entities on the steering committee, workers and reJatedeconomic growth. - :'c.':;;:'::?tr-'" ~;":;.' ", -"f.'- ""