HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-04-18 Correspondence
I ~ j
-....= -~
~~~!:8lt
....-:;:..... "'IIII'~
.........
CITY OF IOWA CITY~
MEMORANDUM
Date:
April 5, 2006
City Clerk
John Yapp, Acting JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner 7~/---
Item for April 18, 2006 City Council meeting: Installation of one bus stop sign on
Highland Avenue
To:
From:
Re:
As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council
of the following action.
Action:
Pursuant to City Code Section 9-1-3A(19), one bus stop sign will be installed on Highland
Avenue west of Gilbert Court. The sign will be located on the north side of Highland Avenue,
approximately 40 feet west of Gilbert Court.
Comment:
This action is being taken at the request of Iowa City Transit.
jccogtpfmem/actcomm-highland.doc
"'-'
0 =
=
:;Eo ""
;Plh
1>---:. -c
- -.) :;;0 11
:j
'. . , m
.- ill ~ :--,
O:.-":'cl '-J
<^ co
<.
)> c.n
en
nili{l
420 Iowa Street
P.O. Box 406
Hills, Iowa 52235
pmuIlet23@hotmaiI.com
Ross Wilburn
Mayor
City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
29 March, 2006
Dear Ross Wilburn:
BurIington/Grand west of Riverside Drive bas four lanes - a northbound turning lane, a
southbound turning lane, a left lane, and a right lane. The right lane crosses Riverside and heads east as
one right lane. The left lane crosses Riverside and provides two lanes - an eventual turning lane and a left
lane. If people in the right lane want to move to the left and vice versa, they must yield to the flow of
traffic.
Very few people know how to use the swerving reroute on Burlington Street Bridge during the
construction. Crossiog Riverside Drive the right lane is blocked. Those in the right lane are directed to the
left lane. Those in the left lane are directed to the turning lane. This direction is affected with partitioning
columns.
When the partitioning columns end, the right lane people are in the left (middle) lane and should
swerve back to the right lane. The left lane people are in the turning lane. They should have the option to
stay in that lane or return inunediately to the left lane. As it stands now, most people in the left lane are not
returning to the right lane after the partitions. The drivers in the turning lane are forced to stay in the
turning lane, even though they likely want to return to the left lane.
Again, in non-constmction traffic, the drivers in the left lane have right -<If-way to the left and
turning lanes. The right lane people have right away to the right lane. These are the rights-<lf-way that
should return immediately when the partitions end In other words, the lane expectations should return to
what they would be duriog normal driving.
The City's traffic people should extend those partitions to force those in the left lane (in the
construction zone) to swerve back into the right lane.
I hope you will see the City takes the appropriate steps to get rid of this hazard and confusion.
Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
/ /
" /,
\1' I
. /
.J "/1
./ "
Ijv '..
: l../
Patrick Muller
Enclosure
0 ,.....,
=
=
~C) c"
:J!:
-:;J "".
- :::0 =0
l.l -... w
=--=!c-:; :-
.,.",. e~_ ,
.." , iTI
rTI :b>
o2;} :::r.: '-'
;;E " - '-../
-
)> ..
.::-
N
Fit [)
2U06 i'l,)p 31
II, Ari II: 1:2
C1T\" .
10\/.//\ (-j-- .
,I,', ",:' Y 1(1\0.114,
~..' ,/
"
<:!-
i
,
I
)
)
, G'Y\'" \
,J v~v\'''''1 ~~<lv)
ftt- ,[\.
~0\ ~S,L)
Of'-~~~) ,\-1
\. \,\01' '7
~.)J ,'(X' C~
\u \c[J.- eY~cvV~(,
c~ .
l0o.! '
-+-
! '
! ~
~ i
I I
. 1-....-...
4
1
o
!
b
"::>
----.
/\ \
~.,..,'
,:> \'
, 1'1",'
/
t
( "E
.....-t- 4-,.;, $ -"":>
(/'
.>;
~ vJ
L
:l I
I cD "
!
...<......
"',
0 =
=
0.....
~() z:
....,- ~-~ "'" 11
..;...> --i :AI
C) -- w
~..---
=,~ , en.
:--,: ,- ,Tl
n~ po I~
;::::::.:'0 ::;r. '--j
--j7: -
<; ..
~ ...-
N
, ' \
(, ,. ,~
1 \.0. 1'v\l,,\
~
The Housing Fellowship
opening the doors of Johnson County
1700 South First Avenue, Suite 25B
Iowa City, IA 52240-6036
319.358.9212
April 5, 2006
Mayor Ross Wilburn
City Council
City ofIowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mayor Wilburn and Members ofthe City Council:
Over the past several years, The Housing Fellowship has voluntarily made a payment to
the City in lieu of property taxes. We have encountered some challenging financial
issues and the Board of Trustees directed me to inform you that we are unable to remit
this payment for 2005 and 2006.
We have an active and talented Finance Committee that has provided oversight and
established a workable plan. Decisions by the Board of Trustees are based on having
complete information and thoughtful discussion. Weare confident that this situation will
be resolved and that the valuable services that we provide in our community will not be
compromised.
Sincerely,
,,__~:;t~
Maryann Dennis
Executive Director
0 '"
c""
c:~
~O c--.
>>-
)-..,..- "
.... -j
, ::() 11
C) --<.
I
----; r-,., 0-. i-
--1\_.-'
-,-< ,- iT/
rn :t>>
("J22 ::J1: .r--!
- '.J
<-" /'. -
)3: N
D:J
HBA
11 South Gilbert
P.O. Box 3396
Iowa City, Iowa 52244
Phone: (319) 351-5333
Fax: (319) 358-2443
E-mail: joan@hbaofic.org
www.iowacityhomes.com
HOME BUILDERS AsSOCIATION
Advocatesfor homeownership
by promoting standards for
quality and affordablility
April 4, 2006 .
~/
CtIer iJ--'cii
Cd} =
a~
;2:0 7'--n
, )::--.....= v
, -,
-.(- ."'.....
(J' I
._.. U1
11
Mayor Ross Wilburn
Iowa City City Council Members
410 E Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
~l-'"".
""'-,
,;,
~~~
~
N
:t>o
-;:,.
'.~J
: I
,'.--'
\'.~J
Dear Mayor Wilburn and Council members:
I am writing to you in support of the proposed Stormwater Ordinance. While supportive
of the ordinance as a whole, the LDC would like to caution the Council on some matters
we believe could prove problematic in the future.
First, I would like to offer our appreciation to the Building and Engineering departments.
We have enjoyed a productive working relationship with both departments and found the
staff to be helpful and truly concerned with adopting a workable piece oflegislation.
For example, through our discussions with the staff we were able to agree that the City
should retain some discretion to allow construction to continue in the event of non-
compliance. As Council is aware, a stop-work order is a drastic measure and can
significantly increase the cost of a housing or commercial development. As previously
drafted, a stop-work order would be immediately issued with no allowance for necessary,
unrelated construction to continue. After working with staff, it was clear that it was in
the best interest of our industry as well as the City, for the City to retain the ability to
allow some construction to continue while the developer or builder remedies the issue.
The LDC remains concerned, however, with some provisions in the proposed ordinance.
In particular, we find many of the requirements under section B(6) Applicability, to be
duplicative of existing regulations and exceed the proper scope of the underlying
ordinance. In particular, we believe section B( 6)( d) should be removed.
To illustrate, this section stipulates that beyond the necessary and appropriate measures to
prevent stormwater runoff from construction sites, a developer must also "limit potential
for damage to sensitive areas... plant communities, rare, threatened and/or endangered
species..." and other matters not directly related to stormwater runoff. As land
development professionals, we fully support efforts to minimize detrimental impact on
sensitive features and share the City's commitment to the protection of our community's
rare plant life and wildlife. However, these matters are addressed separately through an
Affiliated with National Association of Home Builders & Home Builders Association of Iowa
independent federal. state and local regulatory scheme which all development must
comply. As such. we feel these matters should not be included in an ordinance drafted
specifically to address matters of stormwater runoff on construction sites and request the
Council to delete section B(6)(d).
Again. we would like to thank the Building and Engineering department staffs for their
efforts and diligence during this process. And while we do support the ordinance as a
whole. we would like to caution the Council about the additional provisions not related to
the mitigation and control of construction site run-off. As always, we welcome any
opportunity to answer any questions or comments you may have.
Sincerely,
~~
Swen T Larson
President
Greater Iowa City Area Home Builders Association
'"
0 =
=
<;: 0-.
:c., 0 ::::.'..
,.:.>=i .-..,.'.
';:t:1 Il
.'~ ~,
I ~
~ r'. c.n J
,.
..:<. r [TI
rn """
(1 ': 3: r--1
,,-,=.;:.: '-.-l
$/'
)> N
I][j
Arlington Development, Inc.
1486 S. First Ave., Unit A
Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone: 319-338-8058 Fax: 319-338-0153
April 10, 2006
City Council
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
RE: Mediacom Service
Dear Council Members:
Arlington Development is the developer of Part 21 in Windsor Ridge. As of last
July, we notified Mediacom about the new streets and that we needed service to
the area. At that time, Medicaom did not have the funding to go joint with the
phone and power companies. Arlington was told by Mediacom that there would
be service to that area, without fail, by the end of the year (2005). It is now April,
2006. Mediacom has been contacted several times about this service. There
are now Owners of units on Court Street that do not have service. These
Owners are threatening to sue Arlington Development. We feel that because
Mediacom has the franchise in Iowa City - we have no recourse action. We
would ask the Council Members for assistance in getting this service that we
were promised last year.
I thank you for your cooperation in this matter. It continues to be a problem for
developers and action needs to be taken. You can contact me any time at my
office 319-338-8058.
Sincerely,
to~}'
Owner
,.....,
0 =
=
"'"
50 ".
>=1 -0 Il
=
C) .-
~'j C) I
\ m
~ 1"'""7-, ~ : 1
I" .--'
--"Tl 3: '--J
,'j -'-"
~/'''' OJ
">
)> ~
w
Marian Karr
D:J
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Jim Tucker Uim@iercomputer.com]
Thursday, April 06, 2006 5: 17 PM
cou ncil@iowa-city.org
. Idea for Community Event: Tons of Trucks - Columbia, MO
Hi,
I just got off the phone with my brother-in-law in Columbia, MO. They do a yearly event
called Tons of Trucks:
http://www.gocolurnbiamo.com/Public Comm/Public_Inforrnation/Press Releases!3
20tons.php
Basically it's about 100 trucks of all shapes & sizes including police cars, etc. The
kids can meet city workers including police officers, climb in the vehicles, and honk
horns. I thought it was an interesting and inexpensive way to bring the city & families
together &'of course, the kids love it.
Aspirin for headaches (honking horns) is not provided :)
Jim Tucker
337-9540
1
D!l[J
Marian Karr
From: Corncobsantas@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 3:29 PM
To: council@iowa-city.org
Subject: (no subject)
Hi......1 was wondering if you knew who we need to be in contact with to address an issue we have had for
several years. We live in a house at 519 N. Johnson Street and when ever we have a delivery to our address
no one can ever seem to find it. Plus, we have had issues with receiving our mail, as well. The apartment
complex that is located right around the circle from us and I am not sure if it is supposed to 519 N. Market
Square or if it is also 519 N. Johnson Street.lt has been and continues to be a problem can you point me in the
right direction.
Thanks much,
Krista Frandsen
www.comcobsantas.com
4/6/2006
[;[]
Marian Karr
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Kathryn Johansen
Tuesday, April 11 , 2006 322 PM
Marian Karr
FW: Is the police log on the Internet?
-----Original Message-----
From: Kathryn Johansen
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 8:47 AM
To: 'VanDyke, Devin'
Cc: *City Council
Subject: RE: Is the police log on the internet?
Hello Devin,
Please visit our website at www.icgov.org. In the middle section of this page under "Most
Requested Pages" you will find a link to the Police Arrest Blotter.
I hope you find this information helpful.
Thank you for writing.
Sincerely,
Kathi Johansen
Administrative Assistant
to the City Manager
-----Original Message-----
From: VanDyke, Devin [rnailto:dvandyke@dmacc.edu]
Sent: Sunday, April 09, 2006 9:28 PM
To: council@iowa-city.org
Subject: Is the police log on the internet?
If so where?
Devin
1
D;]
Dear City Council,
I am writing to you regarding a safety issue that I have in my neighborhood. I
live on East Washington St. in a sorority house. In my area there are at least eight other
sororities in a two-block radius. Considering the fact that sororities hold as many as fifty
girls in them, I am surprised at the lack of safety surrounding our area.
The sorority houses are approximately a ten to fifteen minute walk from campus.
Whether walking to the downtown area or even to the library, walking alone in the dark
is very unsafe. The path that we walk is poorly lit and there are no emergency phone
boxes along the way. In addition, we also walk by a poorly lit and rather large park.
Being both women and members of a sorority, our eyes are constantly open to the
safety issues that surround us. Having heard of stories of both rape and houses being
broken into in 'our area, I feel as though we have to constantly be aware of our own
safety .
A person's house and neighborhood are places were they want to feel safe.
People don't want to have to be constantly questioning what is happening around them. I
believe that our neighborhood could be improved if more lights were put in and also if
emergency phone boxes were installed. More lights would help us all to be able to feel
.
more aware about what is happening around us. Also, considering that there are no
emergency phone boxes, installing some would definitely be a great improvement. This
would assure us all that if a problem were to arise, help would only be a button press
o
-s:
:-=-.(")
-':>-
'"" ~.1
'"'"
=
=
""
'""
-0
::0
I
W
2J
~-
away.
The fact that so many different college women live in such a small radi~<
.,..,
-I,
/.~
definitely brings rise to the idea of safety improvement. Although we are con~ tolf
-:;;:...",,, N
$: r:.;
-.J
iT)
(-1
'-J
to be safe and never walk alone in the dark, it is seemingly hard to find any safety
precautions being taken in our neighborhood. I believe that all the women of the
sororities in our area would defmitely appreciate the cities attention to this problem.
More lighting and emergency boxes would definitely make us all sleep a little sounder at
night.
~
Sarah Hagle
Sarah-hagle@uiowa.edu
0 "->
=
=
~O c,
;;0.
)::>~ -0
. :':'J I]
~~ --.c".
.~~~~, r
tv ,---
iT! -0 in
r::. :v 3: [-1
v-!"- \""j
-.:;::-'/.... ~
:<:
)> N
-.J
Dear City Council,
I am writing you in regards to an issue I feel that is important to the safety of our
neighborhoods here in Iowa City. Due to the fact that there are eight sorority houses
within a few blocks of each other in the eastside ofthe river close to the University
Campus, I feel that there is a need for more safety measures to be taken at night along the
streets of Washington and College between Gilbert and Muscatine. Along these few
blocks of the city there is very little lighting to secure walkers safety at night and I feel
that there should be more steps taken towards making this neighborhood in Iowa City
safer. I am proposing that the City Council provide more lighting along these two streets
to reduce the amount of violence and crimes that happen in this neighborhood. I do
realize there is the City Council building and Police Department right in this
neighborhood but I feel there is a need for more patrol and to aid in that patrol more street
lighting would allow the police officers to see more clearly in these neighborhoods.
Thank you for taking time to hear my proposal.
Sincerely,
Tara Layman
Tara-layman@uiowa.edu
~V(.\ LC4jfl1(1j1
'IllS ~ vJck~f1/Yl
inNO C'fI1/ (p.->6>>tfo
r:: il C" [\
I ! 1_.1".. _j
I];J
Dear Mr. O'Donnell,
O^nr ,..- 3
LUUD 1~I'i< - Af111: 39
l,.-.,-,~,_." ,'~, '----,/
I " ,. 'I)
,I! \...A_L '-\r\
1:)\ ,\ ", ('-C' I rnw
My name is Andrew Lambert and r aik'a j\:m1dt a'ttJil!~niversity ofIowa. When I
came here to Iowa City, I really was amazed at all the fun things to do, I'm not talking
about just going downtown and drinking at the bars. We have a wonderful park system, a
great Frisbee golf course, a very nice community theatre and a host of other activities
year round.
Recently I have been made aware of the property tax hike for all Iowa City
residents. I am not opposed to the hike; I am just concerned that it will be the first step in
trying to squeeze more money out of the community. I am writing because I hope that in
the future, such community events, such as the Iowa City Jazz Festival or the Art Show
every spring are not cut due to lack of funds, as I know that the Jazz Festival is an
expensive event to put on.
I greatly enjoy being here in Iowa City, I feel like it is a place of its own. I feel
that there is a real sense of community in this city and I hope it never leaves. I
understand that the city must have enough of its own money. I just hope that none of the
fun events and places that make Iowa City what it is have to suffer. I am confident that
the council has the best interest of Iowa City in it mind. Thank you for your time in
reading this, have a great day.
Andrew Lambert
112 "~~Q~J~ %+~ Apt. 2
IOWrrCrr1,lft 5ZZt..tD
I 4f( ~'~6) I
To whom this may concern:
March 27, 2006
I am writing this letter for an assignment about a community issue for my
Perspectives class at the University ofIowa. Although it is spring now, the issue
of snow removal is one that bothers me every winter. Whenever the snow falls,
the roads do not seem to be plowed regularly and the sidewalks are the same
issue. It is terribly difficult to drive even a couple miles when the snow falls in
the area due to the roads being covered with ice and snow that has yet to be
plowed. In the three years I have been living in Iowa for the school year, I can
count on both hands how many snow plows I have actually seen working on the
roads. I know a lot of the students walk to and from class, but the people living
off campus that can not catch a bus or even residence of Iowa City run into this all
too familiar problem. This becomes a dangerous issue when the roads are slick
and drivers are trying to get from one point to another while trying to fight the
roads and stay out of each others way. I am curious as to why the roads are not
continuously maintained during a heavy snowfall? Going along with the roads,
the sidewalks are rarely cleaned when it snows, except for the track that people
have made walking repeatedly over the same path. A majority of the students do
walk to class so it would only seem to make sense to have the sidewalks cleared
for an easier and drier walk to their destination. I understand there are many
issues far more important then snow removal but this is a topic that can be
resolved by plowing and salting the roads more, and will make people happier and
safer in the winter months.
Thanks for your time,
Brittany Duggan
'"
0 =
=
~O 0",
".
)>-,,,1 "-0
, At 11
I~ .
_ J
-~-" 0
--1.....0.
.:,<r m
i7i -u
C)~i 3: r~
,~ U
~/'.""
~ W
W
FII Fr-,
"-. '-,..~ .~._~,1
Devin Doheny-Skubic
630 N. Dubuque St.
Iowa City, IA 52245
March 30, 2006-03-30
ZGD6 i'ifJR 3/ AN II: 113
1"/'1-" .-"
...J I L 'LcT'!/
10'^/" ,-,,~ '-111
Vlh 1":1/ Y IOWA
Ernest W. Lehman
Mayor
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mr. Lehman,
I am writing to you today to comment on the lack of an adequate response to bad
weather that occurs every winter in Iowa City. First and foremost in the winter when it
snows the City does not plow the streets or put down salt on the roads to make ice less
likely to form. One of the government's main responsibilities and the reason they are
formed is for the safety of the people of which they govern. By the general idea of
government it is necessary to plow and salt the roads of Iowa City as a basic function of
the government and a responsibility of your office itself. I understand that this would be
a costly expenditure on the town budget; however it is a necessary one that will reduce
traffic accidents and create a safer cornmunity in which we all live.
From personal experience I live in a part of Iowa City that requires me when I am
driving somewhere to have to go up and down hills specifically on Dubuque St. where it
slick and even early this year many cars got stuck trying to get home while going up it. I
suggest if possible rent out two plow trucks and two salt trucks only for one week at a
time and only when it is forecasted to have heavy sticking snow. The main goal of
plowing would be to focus only on the main roads and where snow has in the past posed
the most threat to drivers and pedestrian's safety.
Once again I hope you do not let the cost side of my proposal impair you from
making the right decision and plowing the streets for the safety of your constituents. I
know from an economic standpoint plowing and salting the roads makes little real sense
in that the goal is to be as efficient as possible and in that matter cost-minimization is one
of the key components of a good economic policy. I am myself an economics major
would say that economic policies major weaknesses often are not that they are inefficient
but rather they are unfair. People preferences in this particular case would lean towards
being able to give up some of the cost-effectiveness economic policies of Iowa City, for
feeling safer when they are forced to drive in bad weather. In other words the people of
Iowa City would be made better off having to face a slightly higher tax rate, in order to
have one snow plow for the City.
I appreciate the time and consideration you have taken to read and analyze the
potential problem and solution for which I have addressed in this letter.
Thank You for your Support
Sincerely,
~
~
Devin Doheny-Skubic
0 "'"
COo
=->
~(') cr.
::Jl:
:n.
-c! ::0 l]
C) . w
--'j(-'; i-
"<1'" ill
rrl :bo
'::>x: ::J:: (~
'- -- ;'"-.".l
$/'-..
:s "'-
w
c:m
3 -28-06
To Council Members:
I am an Iowa City resident concerned about the way bikes are used in the city limits.
This didn't become such a concern to me until I almost hit a bicyclist with my car this
past week. As far as I know, bicycles are allowed on roads in the city but I find this very
dangerous and an annoyance to me and many other drivers. I utilize sidewalks as much
as possible and only use roads while in the downtown area where it is banned. I would
appreciate if you took into account the dangers of bicycling on streets and look into how
bicyclists could utilize sidewalks more. I would also fmd it beneficial for bikers to be
allowed on sidewalks in the downtown area. These changes would help vehicle drivers
and bicyclist in Iowa City.
Thanks for Your Time,
Seth Crouch
S c.,tt.. ~
2.2..'" S- 6~ Si;;.
~a. cH.,.rA S-Z7..'fO
0 ">
=
=
<0 en
::r.:
'>--,~ ;n".
-' --1
(-, -<" ::0 11
~ W
.=;::!S) r-
, " iT)
rTJ "'"
-=n :Jl:: ,--,
O~,. \",j
-S;:/' -
-
--
~ .r:.-
N
rni[I
14 Hidden Meadow Lane
Iowa City, IA 52245
29 March 2006
Mayor Ross Wilburn
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mr. Wilburn:
I am writing you as a concerned citizen regarding the subject ofhomelessness in Iowa
City. I believe it is a big issue and needs attention immediately and deserves more
consideration for the future. I grew up in a suburb of Minneapolis, however was never
exposed to the amount of homeless people in my 18 years throughout the Twin Cities as I
have been here in Iowa City.
Iowa City is a caring community, a very respectful and considerate environment. This
town is full of differing views and encourages diversity and independence within its
people and organizations. I know I am not the only one who finds it hard to watch the
old woman dig through the garbage to fmd cans to recycle, or drive the Park Road Bridge
any weekday evening. Some would say ignorance is bliss, but pretending to be oblivious
to those around us who are in need is a shame.
I believe the leaders in this community need to step up and set an example for everyone
else. I'm not saying we can help every person, nor should we have to. By building
awareness about the homeless community, did you know there are around 1257 homeless
people in Iowa City? And that there are only 64 beds in the shelters? It's kind of a
disheartening fact. Along with awareness, maybe more overflow shelters could be
looked into, soup kitchens progressed, temporary work offices established.
It is easy for me to say I am a poor college student, but when I look around I realize just
how much I have. I hope you do the same everyday you wake up. I would appreciate
anything and everything you do help those in our community without a home. Thank you
very much for your time.
Sin~erely-, ' J. L. ^ A. . ~
U~ ~0VV=-V\
Christine Hanson
0 '"
c;:-")
c:::;,
:;fo ""
:J>- ::J;:
. ---; ~,.
(U_) -.< ;;0 TI
, - v)
........j \ -'
,< ,- rn
iT' =
OJ.J -. r---,
~.
:> /, \cJ
-
.:P "
-c-
W
409 S Dodge St. Apt. #1
Iowa City, lA
54420
Dear City Council,
1 am writing this letter in the purpose to vent my concern about the lack of
facilities for the homeless in Iowa City. I am a student here at the University oflowa and
1 recently took a psychology class called "Loss and Trauma". We had a gust speaker
who talked about the Shelter House at 331 N. Gilbert Street in Iowa City. I found that
with the information that had been given in class that there had to be some way that the
city could somehow afford to allocate some funds to establish better housing for the
homeless and others in need.
I think that there is a particular stigma that surrounds homeless people in general,
but with better housing and facilities available to those in need, this stigma could be
alleviated somewhat. Many other students here at the University and I have noticed that
with all the PAULA's given out and the abundance of parking tickets that there has got to
be some way that the city can use at least a part of these funds to assist the Shelter House
in some way. I think that building an entire new facility would be a bit too drastic of a
request, but instead I think that to start with we should be focusing on how we can make
the already available accommodations better.
I think that our city is way over due for a wake up call in the area of homelessness,
due to its apparent prevalence in some parts of Iowa City. I think that taking the step of
giving more funds to the Shelter House would not only help better the lives of those in
need of the facilities, but it would also enrich the community on the whole. Any kind of
committed funds would be vastly appreciated by everyone in our city. It really is the best
direction for every party involved, so 1 hope that you will give my letter some careful
consideration.
Thank you for your time,
ar~
Rhys Heinrich
'"
0 =
~
~O ~
""
,->-1> --; -0
-, ;;0 11
c;-< I
:'=i c: w r-
,-<, in
rT! ".
o =:,2 3: ~)
-s;'^ -
~ "
v~
<.0
FILEr)
20 V entura Avenue # 1
Iowa City, Iowa 52245
20Gii tF\R 3 I f,.1'\ \ \ : 43
March 30, 2006
City ofIowa City
Council Members
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
".' -'."~'\I
CIT\( '~,.) LtJit '\
IOWt, C\T\ IOWA
Dear Iowa City Council Members,
I am a student at the University ofIowa and I may only be seen as a student. On the other hand,
I also see myself as a resident ofIowa City along with a contributing member to our community. And I
believe that I do have the ability to make a difference in our town. I am writing today to voice my
concern about the issues ofhomelessness in the Iowa City area.
I am knowledgeable that there are a large number of people living in the Iowa City area who are
homeless. I am also aware of services available to people who are living without a home or food.
Moreover, I was recently informed ofan issue that will continue to affect the homeless. I have learned
that overflow shelter are only available during the coldest five months during the year. Therefore, after
March 31,2006, all overflow shelters will be closed, leaving the Shelter House as the sole provider of
shelter for the homeless.
From my understanding, the overflow shelters were complete run by religious centers and
volunteers from the community. And all of the overflow locations have never received funding from the
government. However, the Shelter House does receive funding from the government, but they are only
able to provide beds and services to 64 people each night. Why is our government limiting the
availability of basic needs to people in our community?
We are all taught that our basic needs are our means to survival. Our basic needs are food,
shelter, and clothing. Safety, education, health, and acceptance within one's community should also be
included in our basic needs. How can we work together to provide the basics to the homeless
community for them to receive empowerment to earn those needs fur themselves?
I am not writing this letter to blame our city's decisions. I am writing in concern that there are
people in our community who are unable to jump start their lives because of the limited amount of
services available. I believe that it is time for our community, you and me alike, to help bring awareness
to others in the area about the issues ofhomelessness. We need to work as a team to support and
empower all members of our community and eliminated injustices to people who are homeless.
I appreciate the time you are taking to consider my concern in our community. I hope within
time we will be able to form a partnership between the students and all community members to fight the
obstacles for the homeless.
Trisha Smart
(]:]
. 121 E. Davenport
. Apt.14
. Iowa City, IA 52245
. Lindsay-
Hart@uiowa.edu
March 30, 2006
Mayor Ross Wilburn
4] 0 E. Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mayor Wilburn,
While I fee] there are many important issues facing Iowa City, I feel strongly about one particular issue. I
believe that the problem of second hand smoke is very important, and also very over looked. As a bar
worker who has never smoked, I fear that my health, as well as many other resident's health, may be in
danger due to the second hand smoke that we inhale. With a lack of job diversity in a college town,
working in a bar is unfortunately my only option.
I do not think people are aware just how deadly second hand smoke actually is. Diseases linked to
secondhand smoke are among the top killers of Americans, with an estimated 40,000 each year. Sadly,
second hand smoke is actually more dangerous than smoking a cigarette. The actual smoker only inhales
1/3'" of the smoke from a cigarette, leaving an unfiltered 2/3" for the non-smokers. I recommend that City
of Iowa City follow in the footsteps of so many other cities, making their restaurants and bars completely
smoke free.
Wrvct
Lindsay Hart
....,
0 =
c.~
"^
:2:0 :x
j>- "'" 11
--:J "'"
C)." w 1-
:=:jG
:<; :t>- ill
In ::A r--'
r-j:U \....1
'- ~,.'
-/,
~ ~
W
--~--"---~----'~'--'-~~~-"--'---'-".'-"""--'---'-------........--..------ -- ---.--------.-....-----.-----
March 28, 2006
Council Members
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Iowa City City Council:
I feel that a smoking ban in public establishments, mainly bars and restaurants, is an issue that
the city council should strongly consider. I am a senior student at The University ofIowa and
have spent time in the downtown Iowa City bars. However, there are times when I don't feel
like going downtown because I don't want to get a headache or go home smelling like smoke.
There have been many times when I have passed on visiting a bar, and ifI have done this, I'm
sure that many other people have as well. This means that my money, along with other people's
money, is not being spent at businesses in town.
This ban would bring up the issue of whether or not fewer people would go downtown and spend
money in Iowa City establishments because they will not be allowed to smoke inside. However,
I feel that my peers would continue to go downtown because there is no other way to get the
same experience. House parties would be an alternative option, but the experience is not
comparable. I also believe that older, adult citizens of Iowa City would greatly appreciate the
ban and more frequently visit the bars and restaurants in town.
There have already been many cities, states, and even countries that have passed a ban on
smoking inside of public establishments. These governments are trying to give more value to the
rights of non-smokers. Already, there are a dozen states with smoking bans similar to this
including New York and Florida, and many more states that are currently considering the issue.
Since enforcing the ban, alcohol sales in New York have increased 4.5% and restaurant sales in
Florida have increased 7.5%. New Jersey has also passed a smoking ban in bars and restaurants
and is now considering expanding the ban to include the floor of its Atlantic City casinos, which
were previously exempt from the ban. Entire countries, such as the U.K., Scotland, and Northern
Ireland have already passed such smoking bans.
If this ban is not possible, there is an alternative that could lend some relief to non-smokers in the
Iowa City bars. Many of the bars have multiple rooms in the establishment, and currently,
smoking is allowed in all the rooms. Maybe, though, bars should be encouraged to do as
restaurants and designate certain rooms as smoking or non-smoking rooms. There would likely
still be some second-hand smoke in the non-smoking rooms; however, it would not be to the
degree non-smokers face currently.
Sincerely,
,...,
9 =
c;;;;J
0'
<:0 ,.,.
)> ~.I -0 Il
')-< :::<J
to ~
:-~c:; 0 ,
_~-<r -0 ill
r"'-; -,
" ::Y. U
O:Q
<:: 7, i5j
-~
::i> w
w
Jamie Heefner
Student, The University ofIowa
March 28, 2006
FILFf)
. '_._. 1 ~.-'
ZDD6 NAR 3/ AM II: If3
CiTY Ci E;:r~'lv
I01.1IA - -r, \
Vel, Ci7Y IOINA
Council Members
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear esteemed council,
My name is Alex Mortensen and I'm currently a senior graduating this spring from the
University ofIowa with a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance. I'm currently
writing this letter for an assignment in which we respond to a certain social issue that we
would like to change or affect.
The issue I would like the council to contemplate is smoking in downtown establishments
and the effects the second-hand smoke has on those not smoking. Not only does smoking
in downtown establishments make it unpleasant for other patrons who choose not to
partake, but often curbs younger generations into smoking. As I have seen in my four
year tenure as a student, younger students who come to the University who aren't
smokers are peer pressured into doing so, cigarettes were offered to me many times and I
denied all of them. These younger students who are trying to make friends and seem
open to new ideas are often sucked into smoking by the trendy and youthful look it
projects and the downtown establishments promote this. I have also visited Rome, Italy
for a semester abroad, where the city only recently passed a smoking ban on indoor
establishments. The result was that smokers walk to the door and smoke outside while
the restaurant remains smoke free and it seemed the city was very accepting to this new
law. I believe that Iowa City would be as accepting and open-minded.
I'm not writing this to bore you with statistics or the number of casualties that pass away
from cigarette related illnesses since the council is made up of intelligent and educated
individuals and they could research these facts if they so choose. Instead, this is to ask
the council that upon the next consideration of banning downtown smoking, to do so.
This letter is to merely give you a current in-depth look of smoking in downtown
establishments from one who has visited them religiously over the past four years.
Sincerely,
AM f/!C-
Alex Mortensen
: tn..t4lAltII\
S'Jl..~. ~ ub"1.ot "bt-. 'ti:-,
:to..... Cii-y ~ :r-c:.l. '('f>
r 1= [I
I\L.~- J
2uOG ,~Pf( - 3 ~VI \ I: 39
elf V ('I ;:;::a<
1, \....'~__I 11
10\'\1/1 ('ilV IOWA
'I' "-.Ji' 'I
131 E. Davenport #3
Iowa City, IA 52245
. :1>
Dear City Council,
I am writing this letter with regards to the unpleasant smoky atmosphere
of many of Iowa City's bars and restaurants. As we become more aware of the
consequences of second hand smoke, I believe something needs to be done about
the smoke which is present in the majority of Iowa City's establishments. As a
non-smoker, I find myself turned off by many of Iowa City's bars and restaurants.
The smoke is extremely irritating to me, not only while present at the
establishment, but also after I return home. I feel strongly about establishing a
smoking ban in Iowa City's restaurants and bars. I feel that it is vital to the health
of the citizens and the many students who patronize Iowa City's restaurants and
bars.
Similar college towns, such as Bloomington, Indiana, have bans against
smoking in the town's restaurants and bars. I have visited Bloomington and have
thoroughly enjoyed the smoke fliee environment. I believe it is extremely
beneficial to the health of the town. Another advantage of a smoking ban is that
many people, like myself, would be likely to spend more time (and therefore more
money) in restaurants and bars, increasing revenues for Iowa City. Some smokers
might object to the ban; however the ban would cater to the majority of the
town's population. I definitely think it is time to take a stand to improve the
health of Iowa City. A smoking ban would be a large step in the direction towards
a healthier population.
Trfh-J .17~f
Emily Naibert 1
.' \1'(' "
Mayor Ross Wilburn
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
FIL.ED
2OC6 APR -3 tlH 11: 39
CiTY CLEA!\
IOWA. CITY, IOWA
Dear Mayor Ross Wilburn,
As a sophomore at the University of Iowa I pride myself on being healthy. I also
pride myself on being from Minneapolis. Now, although Iowa City is very different from
Minneapolis, I believe we can make them more similar in a very healthy way.
A short time ago Minneapolis and St. Paul became smoke- free communities. The
smoking ban impacts restaurants, bars, pool halls, and any other food or liquor
establishment that requires a license from the city. Excluded are hotels/motels, private
property and outdoor areas.
I believe that this ban has improved the living conditions in Minneapolis and
could do the same in Iowa City without adverse affects for businesses impacted by the
law. Recently published studies by the American Lung Association of Minnesota show
that revenues increased after the smoking ban was put into place. Food and alcohol sales
improved despite the initial frustration by business owners.
Hundreds of workers and thousands of patrons risk being exposed to secondhand
smoke in public places. The medical community agrees: secondhand smoke is not only an
annoyance; it's a health risk.
Second-hand smoke in public places takes away our freedom to breathe clean
indoor air.
Sincerely,
~1~
Mackenzie Patrick
fJ...'\t>.'lfic!(:. ~ *:f.
.110 e. ~ sir:
\ovJ<>..~, I~ 5-z..~
FIL.E[)
RJ. Wagner
222 Fairchild #3
Iowa City, IA 52245
200S M!\R 3 I AM II: tf 3
CITY CLER\<
10\'{\ Co'." 1""I.lA
. nh (,.iil 1. II,,)\Y.
Council Members
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
To Whom It May Concern:
I am a Senior at the University of Iowa. Over the past few years I have become
concerned with the atmosphere at Iowa City's bars and restaurants. I feel that a smoke-
free environment would be more enjoyable and healthier for the city. Many other
communities have adopted this ordinance such as Madison, WI and Ames, IA. Studies
ten years ago determined that separating buildings into smoking and non-smoking
sections had little impact on reducing the harmful effects of Environmental Tobacco
Smoke (ETS). The amount of harmful material in second-hand smoke is significant.
There are.over 4000 dangerous chemicals such as arsenic found with this smoke.
According to national ETS data, bartenders are much more likely to get lung cancer than
fire fighters, duct workers, and miners. It is time to do something about this growing
problem within our community. I suggest making Iowa City/ Coralville a smoke-free
environment in all restaurants and bars.
BJ Wagner
81 WNit1!1'
P7l ~/IC"';rd 1F.:s
/t;{J,/(1 (tly, :r A- S:;'J",r
Dear Council Members,
I am writing this letter from a student's standpoint from the University ofIowa. It deals
with the issue of smoking inside of downtown establishments in Iowa City. Even though
it might seem students could be the biggest advocates for smoking in downtown
establishments I wanted to write a letter to let you all know that is not the case. Many
other students and I believe that Iowa City would be an even greater city if the downtown
restaurants and other establishments were smoke free. One reason alone is for the health
concerns second hand smoke brings. It's hard to even go out to eat in downtown Iowa
City and not leave without smelling of smoke no matter what section restaurant you sit in.
States such as New York, California, and even Florida have all implemented smoking
bans and commented that there have been no real effects on their businesses. I have
personally been in bars in California and people would simply sit outside the doors if
they needed to have a cigarette and the bar atmosphere was so much better than any Iowa
City establishment I've been in. I simply wanted to let the council know a student's
standpoint on this issue and to know I'm not the only student who feels this way. Thank
you for listening.
....,
C5 =
=
0'"
,?-O :>
-u -11
Sincerely, ~t> __.i, ;:0
r-- -<', I .--
'. J W l
=40 m
Daniel Woodka .o-<r- ;po ,
rn 0
':=>"'" :;:
, /'- -
~ o'
W
\D
(]:J
Iowa City Alcohol Advisory Board
City of Iowa City
420 Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Iowa City Alcohol Advisory Board,
As a student at the University of Iowa for nearly three years now I have been
bombarded by the issue of the 21 ordinance. I turned 21 years of age just last May and I
have to admit not much has changed for me on the weekends. Access to alcohol is the
same except for the fact that I do not have to look over my shoulder for cops in the bars.
1bis is not to say that I am writing a letter in favor of the 21 ordinance. Throughout
college I have had the opportunity to visit other schools around the Midwest who practice
some form of the 21 ordinance. From the Big Ten I have visited Purdue and Wisconsin
and I have also spent a bit of time at Northern Illinois University. At every one of these
schools students need to be 21 years of age to enter the bars. 1bis did not impede access
to alcohol however. Apartments and fraternity houses can buy kegs and not card at all
and virtually anyone can go and drink without worrying about age restrictions.
What makes the University of Iowa different is the supervision that is available at
downtown bars. Not only do downtown Iowa City bars have security which can handle
situations and police can always be spotted in the pedestrian mall. 1bis added security
and police presence is why downtown is so much safer than other college campuses that I
have visited. To enact a 21 ordinance in Iowa City would move the party scene to the
outlying apartments and houses where no security or police can be found.
I am writing this letter because I first hand have experienced both sides of the 21
ordinance and can honestly say that neither the 21 ordinance nor the 19 ordinance curb
the ability of college students to drink alcohol. However, by keeping students downtown
at least more supervision is available and po~tiaIly serious and harmful situations can
be avoided.
Sincerely,
M~~
Mike Boychuck
o
<-
~("""1
j>:::'--:
. -j
"--','-""<.."
. ,
~:.:~ C ,~'
.::-(;---
rn
5;;;:.2
~/'"
::<:
)>
"",,)
=
=
""
""
"
:;u
I
W
.11
:Do
3:
'---)
: j!
'-,
;__J
.j:""
o
Dear City Council,
I am writing you today about the ongoing question of whether or not the bars in
Iowa City should admit only persons 21 years of age. From what I have heard over the
years it has been a split decision in the past. There is obviously an upside and a down to
both sides of the argument. Under 2 I bars tend to get more people in their establishment,
but they are also more likely to serve underage students which can result in a fine from
the city. Those bars which only allow 21 years olds in don't get as many customers and
prefer that all bars were 21 so the playing field would be equal.
When I think about the decision that has to be made, it reminds me of the
smoking ban that has been proposed in some cities. I have read a handful of articles on
bars elsewhere losing money because their city has banned smoking in public places.
Their customers simply cross the city line and go to a bar where the can have a cigarette.
I figure it should be the bars decision on what to do. So, as for the bars in Iowa City, I
~
feel that it should be left up to them to decide if they would like to remain opei@ those~
~O "'"
:J:> -:- -0
under 21 or only people of legal age. ::;1 :;0
C)" ,
=-0 w
This decision isn't really a change from the current situation but rather ari. F;=; :>>0
- ~- ::x
opposition to change. The city has done other things to stop underage drinkingi~es ..
. ~ ~
Cl
making all bars 21. The age was raised from 18 to 19, and PAULA's have been raised to
-n
f--
:Tj
:-1
'..J
over 200$ since my freshman year at the University. That is the line of thinking that
should be used to reduce underage drinking. Turning the bars 21 would force a lot of
people out of the downtown area and the city would be losing money. So if the 21
ordinance is a question of underage drinking, find another way to deter them from
drinking, not from enjoying themselves at the bar.
+0~...
(poq 5'. U:'fi--
~ c,'-At I TR
'.i J.- J- '-f (;
Sincerely,
1fjC0Yz; ~
March 29,2006
410 E, Washington St,
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear City Council Members:
I am contacting you in regards to the underage drinking problem in Iowa City. I would like to express my
views on this issue. I hope to give you some new ideas on what to do about the current problems that the
City is having with underage drinking. I will admit I was one of those young college students that went into
the bars underage to drink with friends. Yes, it is very easy to be in the bars and get a drink from a friend
that is twenty-one or a frien.d that got into the bar with a fake !D.
On a positive note, I do agree that you have changed the age to get into the bars to nineteen. I believe that
changing the violation fee is a very big plus because it keeps most ofthe underage people away from
downtown after ten 0' clock.
I believe that it is too easy for young college students to get into the bars with a fake ill. I do not believe
that the bouncers care enough to really look at every persons !D carefully to determine their actual age. I
would suggest using actual policemen and women to check !D's. I feel that would get rid ofa lot ofthe
underage people using fake !D's to get into the bars. Now that I am twenty-one years of age and can look
back on how I acted when I was underage I can say that I was not responsible enough to be in the bars at
nineteen and twenty drinking with friends that were of age. I am only talking for myself but I do believe
that this may be the same way other "of age" college students feel about this situation.
On the subject of finding other things to do downtown than drinking, I believe that may be very hard to
accomplish. Most University oflowa students know before they come to the University that it is a pretty
big party college. Downtown is known for its bars and nightlife and I am cQnfident that it will always be
known for partying.
I thank you for taking your time out of a busy day to read this letter and hope my views and opinions help
with this ongoing problem.
Si~ tk/&-
0 '"
=
=
:>0 ""
-,:::- :::>:
--- -.1 """
.'-\~< ::0 JJ
Co" W
:::::Jt-, ,-
:-<r fll
fT: """
Q;I2 ~ ~--r
S'^ \....-.J
)3; -
W
Emily C. Herbek
404 S. Gilbert Apt 825
Iowa City, lA 52240
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing to you today about the 21 year old ordinance you bring up annually.
I am in favor of leaving the age of 19 to enter a bar the same. There are a couple of
reasons that I will present as to why I believe in the entrance age to the bars.
The first reason I would like to present is that if you make the bars all 21 then you
are telling them all to go to house parties which to happen now but in small quantities.
This is in fact will make it worse if people are driving to the parties or drinking till they
are blacked-out or wandering the streets of the city(which will lead to more vandalism).
When they are in the bars they are more supervised and can't get away with as much stuff.
Next the city is making a killing off of all the underage drinkers you are catching
at the bars currently and all the driving while intoxicated tickets from idiots trying to
drive home from the bars. Yes you would probably catch fewer minors at the bars but
you are going to find many drunks walking the streets. You will also have more people
trying to use or make fake identifications because they won't be trying to make
themselves 19 but 21 which increase the number of students using them.
I guess the real question for you as city council members is that would rather have
the students in the bars in a regulated area being somewhat supervised or out at house
parties making loud noise and possibly increasing the vandalism in the public where not
- .....,
only students live but families too? This is a big dilemma I just think you shoilii! leave &:!
~Q ::.:ll:
."-..,, T.u-
-) ::0
O~. (..)
:<.1 ~~-~ '
r-T~ :::-
;x:~ '-c~ ::<:
0'-" '
<~/,
-'
j;
alone.
Just My Opinion,
Trevor
/-1/.. I
/ \/'''(/(/1.) ( .,.
.I r
I i(J.;.{j
..,-
w
:=n
iT!
r---,
:..~..j
March 27, 2006
Iowa City Council
410 E. Washington St.
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Iowa City Council,
This letter concerns the drinking policies in place in Iowa City. I am a senior at the VI, and
every year there seems to be controversy surrounding the twenty-one ordinance. When I was
a freshman, those who were eighteen were able to enter the bar after 10 PM. My sophomore
year, it was apparent that the council was going to vote in favor of the twenty-one ordinance. I
participated in a protest organized by then UISG president Nate Green. As a result, the city
council voted against the ordinance. However, they agreed to change the age limit from
eighteen to nineteen and stiffened up penalties. I have worked at a bar for three years and
from my experience and observations, the current drinking policy is more effective then any
possible twenty-one ordinance. Personally, I favor allowing under aged patrons into the bar.
Those in favor of the twenty-one policy believe it will reduce under age drinking. Coming
from a senior who has watched this campus evolve since the new ordinance, I assure you this
is a false assumption. If a college student has the desire to consume alcohol, they will
regardless of an ordinance. They will drink in the dorms or find house parties. I am in a
fraternity in addition to other on campus groups and have talked to freshmen for the past three
years. Every year they manage to find opportunities to consume alcohol. Therefore, the
opinion that it will reduce underage drinking is false.
Once again, if a twenty-one ordinance passes, it will result in more house parties. This is a
dangerous environment for under age drinkers. I commonly see mixed drinks at house parties
that contain Everclear and other grain alcohol. Freshman drinking grain alcohol, let alone
anyone, can be very dangerous. Bars have bartenders that can stop serving patrons, and if
ones blood alcohol content is excessively high, I guarantee a bar will take more responsible
action then college kids at a house party. House parties open the door for rape, drugs, and
other dangerous activities. Overall, being at a bar is a safer environment then any house party.
Respectfully,
In conclusion, the current drinking policies seem to be fair. From observation, since the new
ordinance, the number of patrons in the bar has gone down. However, I still argue that the
same amount of alcohol is being consumed. Therefore, for the protection of students on this
campus, the city should never pass a twenty-one ordinance. ""
o gg
~O <'';::'-'
J> :::~i ~
0-( "'0
--~r-i
;:_<,;::...::. 0
~.,
~_~i -0
O~-:: ::tl:
;2E /,
):>
JJ
'-
,
i'Tl
1""--;
/,~ lCllvt
Bill KIuber
\.J
~
w
f\)
r-II r--
1-, "-.1)
; !L.t.
City Council ofIowa City
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
ZDDS APi? -3 AM II: 40
C'IT' '" .-'
I, { !:,...LcR!<
IOW/J ('iN '(Y\"A
\.J, i I, 1...) ,1Vr\
To the Members of the City Council ofIowa City:
As a senior at The University ofIowa, I feel I owe it to future students to express both
my opinions and frustrations in regards to the city's continued efforts to institute a 21-
ordinance throughout certain downtown establishments. While I understand the
legitimacy of many of the city's concerns, I worry that the overwhelming negative
stereotype of Iowa City's "bar scene" may impinge consideration to the other side of
the argument. There are undeniable negative effects that would be generated by the
implementation of a 21-ordinance.
College students, regardless of their enrolled university are going to be engaging in
both of age and underage consumption of alcohol. However, this fact does not make
the act of underage alcohol consumption any less important or any less illegal. Iowa
City's establishment regulations currently prohibit young adults under the age of 19 in
select businesses after 10:00pm. This is in hopes of curbing that segments
consumption. While I applaud these efforts, I have to ask what alternative forms of
entertainment and pure nightly social interaction has replaced the bar scene for those
individuals? The answer, no matter how much parents everywhere would love to
believe, is not increased library visitation. A vast majority of the students who fall
into the category of those affected by the 19-ordinance have discovered a far more
destructive and less supervised means of getting their fix of the nightlife: the college
house party.
By implementing the 21-ordinance the local governing bodies would increase the
number of house parties occurring in off campus housing. This would result in greater
chances of alcohol poisoning, drunk driving, date rape drug usage, and instances of
violence. Not to mention the difficult task the police department and individual
officers would have in finding, ticketing, and shutting down such parties.
The current downtown establishments allow increased police presence by creating a
focal point for students to visit. Also, the establishments, thanks to locally enforced
rules and regulations, are responsible for ensuring that patrons under the age of 21 are
not engaging in underage drinking. That responsibility can lead to consequences,
including monetary fines, if owners and employees do not take it seriously.
It is entirely unreasonable to believe that the same degree of regulations can be placed
on individuals hosting off campus house parties. It is my firm belief that instead of
pushing for the implementation of the 19-ordinance, local government should take
measures to increase the compliance with current regulations. One such measure to
consider might include making ID scanning systems mandatory at all establishments
effected by the current 19-ordinance.
I would like to close this letter by applauding local government of the measures
currently enacted as means to curb underage drinking. However, it is vital that
discussions regarding future changes include the serious consequences that may result
if the 21-ordinance is passed.
Sincerely,
l::-~ '\\..J. ';.r.--.-
Kathryn Nelson
K. Nelson
629 Iowa Ave
Iowa City, IA 52240
o
~n
y?,
-'~
.-'
f?
~
?J
I
c.,)
.'-;
''-..!~ ("-)
:--\, -
-<. r-"
~ (C\
~O-;g
/'
~
:P
~
-
-
."
II
--
c-
\.\\
\~,
'J
~
o
'II '-"')
;-,. 1-
I 'I...".J.
March 26, 2006
2005 APR -3 AM II: 40
Marty Schumacher
1136 N Dubuque St. # 8
Iowa City, IA 52245
CITV ('I C::["K
I I I ,-,' __C(\j
IOW~ CiTY, IOWA
Dear Mayor Wilburn,
My name is Marty Schumacher and I am a senior at the University of Iowa. The
reason I am writing is simply to state my opinion on the prospects of a 21 ordinance here in
Iowa City. As a 21-year-old myself, I understand that the matter no longer directly concerns
myself. However, as a four year student in Iowa City, I understand the importance of the
downtown attnosphere to the students and businesses of the area.
It is no secret that underage drinking is an issue at the University of Iowa, but that in
no way makes us unique. Underage drinking is taking place in every college town across
America. As the old adage goes, "where there's a will, there's a way." If individuals want
alcohol bad enough, they will obtain it through any means necessary.
The main purpose of this letter is to tell you that I believe a 21 ordinance is a bad
idea. I believe that if underage drinking is going to take place regardless of the
circumstances, the best environment for this to take place is in a bar. These establishments
are heavily-populated and are regulated by security, bouncers, police presence, etc. I believe
that if you ask any parent of a college-aged student, regardless of whether the students are
of legal drinking age, the parent would prefer their child drink in a bar as opposed to house
parties in private residences.
We have seen through numerous stories from past years on campus that things can
go tragically wrong when unregulated, unsupervised house parties are held. There are issues
of assaults, rapes, alcohol poisoning, etc. While all of these can still happen at a bar, I
believe that an analysis of the numbers would prove the bars to be a safer place due to
regulation and supervision. Downtown Iowa City provides for a great social attnosphere
and is a great place for students to gather and enjoy the college experience. It is my firm
belief that it is in the best interest of everybody involved to keep "partiers" together in the
downtown area as opposed to scattered throughout campus. As I've seen from personal
experience, a great percentage of the individuals that go to the bars are under 21 years of
age anyway. Most freshmen, sophomores, and many juniors would be prohibited from the
downtown area, and it would only lead to chaos and would also have a negative impact on
the downtown economy. I am in no way trying to "legalize" underage drinking. Instead, I
am simply in favor of keeping it mostly concentrated downtown where we can still keep an
eye on it.
s;;v;; ~
Marty Schumacher
Dear Members of the City Council,
Sincerely,
t;J.1lt4
I am writing this letter in regards to the ongoing attempts of the city ofIowa City
to try to turn minimum age to enter the bars in downtown Iowa City to twenty-one. I am
currently a student at the University ofIowa and am employed at a downtown
establishment as well. Turning the minimum age to enter the bars to twenty-one would
not only be detrimental to the students' safety, but also to the many downtown
businesses.
As stated above I have worked at a downtown establishment for the past four
years. I have witnessed all aspects of the downsides of drinking, which includes
overdrinking and getting sick to bar fights. As a bar employee, it is my job to made sure
that all patrons who enter the bar are safe during their time there and leave in a safe and
efficient manner. It is also part of my job to make sure that people don't get over served,
and if they have had too much to drink, I make sure they get the necessary assistance. If
girls feel as though they are getting sexually harassed, we look into the situation, and if
necessary, the police are involved. The same procedures are also used if there is a fight
or if someone is stumbling around.
The reason I bring up the points of safety and bar protocol is that these kinds of
actions are not guaranteed at off campus house parties. I don't care what kinds of
penalties are enforced;. students of legal age and those who are underage are going to fmd
a way to drink regardless of the minimum age to get into the bars downtown. You all
were in college at some point, so you understand what I am talking about. No matter
how many times you say 'No, this is not allowed' or how detrimental the effects of
drinking can be, students are going to continue to drink. It is just a part of life for most
college students. There is no point in pushing students farther off campus to fmd a
different social scene.
Turing the minimum age to enter the bars to twenty-one could also be detrimental
to many of the businesses downtown. Many patrons who are underage corne in because
of the social environment and to dance and hang out with friends. Many bars charge a
cover for people to corne in and use the facilities for those purposes. Not allowing
students who are under twenty-one in would cost the bar thousands of dollars in profit.
Underage students also go downtown to eat at local restaurants before heading out, and
not allowing them to be in a bar would certainly be a deterrent to them corning down to
eat if the have to go back to the outskirts of town to look for a different social
atmosphere. Many students also grab a snack at one of the many restaurants or vendors
set up after the bar closes.
As you can see the effects ofmming the bars to twenty-one only would not only
be harmful to the students' safety and social life, but also to the many downtown
businesses that make their living largely off of the students. The owners and employees
of downtown businesses, law enforcement, and the city council should all team up to
ensure that all students will be able to have fun safely in the many downtown _ ~
~stabIishm~ts for yew:s to com~. Thank yo~ fo~ being open-minded and for ~~e ~
time to conSider both Sides of this controversial Issue. ::r> --:i s;:
C) -:' :00
.~~:p w
_ cn ""T.J
0::0 :3:
.00:---;::,
~ ~
N
:IJ
r--
En"k Vitols
~-1
i I
r--;
'-....J
FII FT',
'.....l.l
~
March 28, 2006
/..""'""''''1'
UUt riM 3 I AN I I : 42
ClI-v ('( '::r,v
I l.'Ltnt\
IOVI/A, CITY IOWA
City Council
410 E. Washington St
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mr. Mayor and Council Members,
Hello, my name is Molly Harris and I am resident of Iowa City and a student here
at the University of Iowa. I am writing to you with a concern that I am hoping you will be
able to address, or at the very least, be aware that is it a relevant issue to many people
who reside here in Iowa City, The issue I write to you about is recycling, but more
specifically, the lack of recycling in the local apartments.
I tend to be a rather environmentally-minded person and try to do my part to help
out whenever possible, When I moved into the dorms four years ago, I was disappointed
at the lack of interest in something as simple as recycling. The disappointment continued
when I moved out of the dorms and into an apartment complex. In order to recycle I
would have to load up my roommate's car and drive to the recycling center, It wasn't
entirely too difficult, but it was frustrating knowing that I was one of the few college kids
who made the effort to take things to the center.
I understand that this issue is something that the landlords and companies that rent
out the apartment could be held responsible for. But I happen to think the problem should
be shared and taken up by a larger field. Ifthe city can pick up garbage from the
apartment complexes, it seems reasonable that recycled goods could be picked up as welL
With the right equipment provided, I feel strongly that many more people who live in
apartments would be happy with the available opportunity to recycle. It is my hypothesis
that recycling in Iowa City would increase quite a bit, considering the large number of
apartment complexes. And with the way the environment is now, I think this would be a
very good thing.
Thank you so much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
~~
Molly Harris
YJ) VJ \ (W (i\. Av<- A-pr-; \
!(Vvf\ U'~, I/l- ']j-:f4-V
Dear Mayor Ross Wilburn and City Council members,
My name is Kara Koestner and I am a senior here at the University ofIowa. I am
in a class called Perspectives on Leisure and Play and we are writing a letter regarding an
issue we care about. The reason I am writing you is because I live in one of the many
apartment buildings in Iowa City and I think that there should be a recycling program in
place for the apartment buildings around town. I know that houses in the city are given a
recycling box that is picked up by the city and I feel that same program should be in place
for apartment buildings. The environment is very important to me and I hate seeing cans
and bottles being thrown into the dumpster to go to the dump ",ith the rest of the garbage,
when they could be recycled and used again. .....,
=
- =
I know that I often see college students throw out tons and tons of redi1w.les;:
-~y "'"'t'j
):~ -j :;0
because they are either too lazy to take them to the store or to busy. I can onlYJi!l~giI@;
--I', ,
C<C. ""'D
the large number cans and bottles that are thrown out every weekend in apartme~~. ::
~:A ~
I understand that this would be a very large undertaking but I do belieVj:>J.t is ~
necessary. I love Iowa City but one of the things that disappoints me about this town is
11
,-
iT1
-,
1 ,
'--"
the lack of recycling programs in dorms and apartments. For such an environmentally
conscious town I was surprised. If there could be at least one or two bins per apartment
building even then I think it would really make a difference. Many of my friends say the
same thing about recycling: they want to but they just do not have the time to go to the
grocery store and drop of all the cans. Also many are reluctant to save up their cans for
one big trip to the grocery store because they do not have room or the cans cause bugs in
the apartment. I think by putting a recycling bin next to the dumpsters of apartment
buildings recycling in this town would really jump. I do not think saving up cans and
taking them to the grocery store is worth the deposit and neither do many people I know.
Those that do could continue to recycle on their own but the rest of us could use the
recycling provided by the city. A more inclusive recycling program is not only important
to our city but the world as a whole.
Sincerely,
Kara Koestner
'"
6 ~
=
$,-., ""
;bo
.......::-~ '"U
..J.-'" __! ::-0 TI
-
C") -..
--;C) 0 !-
,.;-<:i- ~
IT; " ,I f
----n - ,--,
O~ -"- U
~"" ~
)> W
N
Iowa City Council
410 E. Washington
Iowa City, IA 52240
To whom it may concern,
I am writing this letter, not only as a grade for my class, but also because I truly
am fed up with the way that both the University and city handle the parking. I have
attended the University for 3 years now and still have not figured out why it seems like a
top priority to give out parking tickets.
Being an out of state student, the majority of my friends and of course my family
do not live around here. When these individuals come up to visit, it is almost impossible
to find a place for them to park. At least a place that does not require them to pay over
ten dollars for the weekend ( parking deck) or being forced to walk who knows how far
just to place another amount of change into a meter.
To prove just how obsessed the handing out of parking tickets, I have a situation
to talk about. Earlier in the year, I was visiting my girlfriend at Mayflower when the fire
alarm was triggered. With the fire trucks literally parked outside of Mayflower and the
entire dorm evacuated outside, a little white truck proceeded to give me a parking ticket.
I had to fight this and at first I was not taken seriously until they eventually found out that
there really was an evacuation.
Thank you for your time, and I hope that you take what I have said into
consideration and hopefully find a better way to handle parking in Iowa City.
Thank You,
Adam McGinnis
o
~o
)>-3
-..... -~,~
'.._-,. ....."'"'
.'-i\'" .J
,c<r-
m
c)::~~
i:/'
)>
D!mLI
'"
C-C>
=
""
"'"
-0
:::0
Il
,-
m
o
v
3:
l-~
\..J
':'?
w
N
Council Members,
I have two issues on which I would like to state my opinion. One, what appears to be a
current issue being discussed at your meetings. The second, one that will undoubtedly
again become an issue.
The current issue is the increase of parking rates across the city. Ijust find it a little hard
to believe that the city needs to increase all of the current parking rates to make up for
what can't be very expensive garage improvements. It came to my attention in a recent
class discussion that the city's parking generates $1.2 million. This is already an
unbelievably high amount of money for parking revenues in Iowa City, and the proposed
increases will lead to another quarter ofa million dollars per year. Were the
improvements really enough to defend bringing in another quarter million of our dollars,
or shouldn't the improvements be taken from money we've already paid and will
continue to pay to park?
The recurring issue is of course' 19 or 21'. I will be 21 before this issue could ever again
be passed so it will have zero effect on me, yet the fact that this is an issue will still
irritate me. Underage drinking willhot be bi6Jilit1doWri"because the great majority of the
underage drinking is done outside of the bars.' AIl1hat ~ill happen will be the demise of
many businesses in downtown Iowa City that heJp'~ti~ulate the city's economy as a
,....,
whole. College students will drink where ever they can, PAULA rates will nev~ave ~
>0 ,.,....
~',::-~ -c'
dramatic decreases, and the bar owners should be able to maintain their highly profiJible7J
~~ ("~) C',
businesses because anything that would replace them would never bring in the sani~, -0
--~~
~~ t:'?
);;
profits that are already present.
, I
0"1'"
" I ,'f'",,: ' f..
.:.,1 ..,
,31 (}JNJJ
Q;J
-11
--
\
'c-n
,--.
\_~)
0~
N
City Council
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
March 28, 2006
Dear City Council,
My name is Elizabeth Nemanich and I am a senior at the University of Iowa. I
am writing you to find out who regulates housing in Iowa City and how are college
students able to protect themselves against very strong renting companies like AUR. I
have been an AUR tenant for less than a year. Throughout this year I have seen, heard,
and experienced many of AUR's unethical business practices. For example, this summer
I sublet the apartment I currently live in from AUR/the old tenants, when it came time to
move in my roommates and I found the old tenants still living there in more than
unsanitary living conditions i.e. vomit, urine, loads of moldy garbage, 500 cigarette butts.
AUR explained to us, after they cashed our $385.00 subletting fee, that it was our
responsibility to remove the old tenants as well as turning the apartment into a livable
environment. This rises the question what does AUR do, except cash in on our deposit
because we will be held liable for the damage from the prior tenants. AUR did not bear
the expense of bringing that apartment back up to code, we did. AUR is almost
impossible to battle legally, so what is done to regulate this super power? If you could
please ernail or write me back I would really appreciate it. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Nemanich
Address: 121 East Davenport Apt. 14
Iowa City, IA 52245
Ernail: elizabeth.nemanich{@,uiowa.edu
Phone: (847)340.8071
o
"'>0
:._<~
:~t'-._)
_:<1--
r'
c)~2
-s ,/,
"--
)>
~
'"
=
=
C"
)"-
-0
=
11
c:>
v
:JJ::
N
C..)
N
r-
"'n
.~
'...J
rn::l
March 28, 2006
Iowa City Council
410 E. Washington
Iowa City, Ia 52240
Dear Council,
The purpose of this letter is to address the financial burden of living off campus in
Iowa City. I'm currently living off campus for my second straight year in Iowa City.
While living off campus is my choice, I believe that the prices of apartments have
outrageously increased since I started living in Iowa City.
The rent of my current apartment two years ago was $1170 a month for a 3
bedroom apartment. Next year, Apartments Downtown will be charging $1440 for my
exact same apartment. I realize that gas prices for the purpose of heating have gone up
along with other factors that are affected by inflation, but this increase is unnecessary.
Apartments Downtown controls a majority of off campus housing for students of the
University ofIowa. Apts. Downtown realizes this and accordingly charges much higher
prices than necessary for the quality and location of their facilities.
Due to the constantly increasing prices of apartments, I believe a city ordinance
should be developed in order to limit the rental prices through property management
businesses such as Apts. Downtown. It is extremely unethical and immoral to capitalize
on students' burden of finding off campus housing. I'm sure this issue is something
you've heard a lot about, but it is time that something is finally done. The students of
University ofIowa and Kirkwood alike form a large part ofthe community and shouldn't
be ignored. The city has done a lot for the student body in the past and I hope that they
continue to look out for the students' as well as the city's overall well-being.
I appreciate the time you have spent to acknowledge my complaint and I hope that
you also take the time to address this situation which has plagued many other students
like me. Thanks again for your continuing support for the student community.
Thanks for you time,
Bobby Godbersen
......,
0 =
=
:-~-O "'"'
:J>
'" ...: -0
j ::u 11
(j ~,~
=10 C> .
.
-/~ iTl
. "
rn -0
5~ ::l:; .--,
'-...I
--~ ....."- 1'3
<::
)> w
N
Iowa City Council
410 E. Washington
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Council,
I am currently a third year student at the University ofIowa. I have rented
through APTS Downtown for two, going on three years. I come to you today to address
the outrageous rent practices going on in Iowa City.
APTS Downtown controls most of the campus area apartments and charges unfair
rent prices to students. I understand it is our choice to rent through them, but they
continue to raise prices every year.
The apartment I am currently living in has already risen by $180 over two years.
It is set to rise again next year by at least another $60. This is unacceptable. This
management agency is unfairly taking advantage of students by basically monopolizing
the area.
I feel that this is a big enough problem for the City Council to think about. I ask
that the council members give sincere thought to a way to improve rent pricing conditions
in Iowa City. I would like to thank you for your time and appreciate your considerations
concerning this important issue.
Sincerely,
Ryan Snell
o
s
;,::--C)
-'~'==i
~) .._<
-Ie:
=-<: i~
__ n-:
d::c
~/,
)i):
Cj
-0
::a-
;s>
c....>
c....>
">
"'"
e"
"'"
2~
"
"0
~T)
.-
/-
if.,
!-,
\..J
-
~
Marian Karr
From: Mike hollada [mhollada2000@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 11 , 2006 3:09 PM
To: 'City Council
Subject: Hybrid Cars Incentive
Hello My Council Members,
My name is Michael holladay and I'm an Iowa city resident. I would like the board to consider offering
incentives for people to buy hybrid cars. Please consider the following progressive acts by other cities.
THe fight against smug and smog starts here!!! VIVA LA MOTHER NATURE!!!!
From the wikipedia article "Hybrid cars":
. City of SiJn..!.o,sL CA issues a free parking tag for hybrid cars that were purchased at a San Jose
dealership. The qualified owners do not have to pay for parking in any city garage or road side parking
meters
. City of Los Al1geles,CA offers free parking to all hybrid vehicles starting on October 1, 2004. The
experiment is an extension to an existing offer of free parking for all pure electrical vehicles.
. 1n October, 2005, City of HQ]tilrzore, MD started to offer discount on monthly parking in the city
parking lots, and is considering free meter parking for hybrid vehicles. On November 3, 2005, the
!.tQsfon Globe reports that the city council of Boston is considering the same treatment for hybrid cars.
. Annual vehicle registration fees in the Distric:tof Columbia are half ($3 6) that paid for conventionally
vehicles ($72).
. Drivers of hybrid vehicles in the United Kingdom benefit from the lowest band of vehicle excise duty
(car tax) which is based on CO2 emissions. In London. these vehicles are also exempt from the [8 ($14)
daily c:cmgestion charge in central London
gnothi sauton
4/11/2006
f];]
Marian Karr
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Marygrace Elson [mge78@mchsLcom]
Thursday, April 13, 2006 8:29 AM
'City Council
Proposed changes in the West Loop bus schedule
My family resides at 3661 Foxana Drive. I have a daughter currently at West High and next
year both my daughters will be at West. My West High schooler uses the West Loop bus
frequently to ride home from school. She does not regularly ride it to school but rather
walks as
she desires to be at school earlier than the bus arrives. I
anticipate my other daughter will also be riding the bus.
I applaud increasing the bus service so that it runs more than once in the morning and
once in the afternoon, as well as extending the route to University Hospital. This will
be a great benefit to high schoolers in activities after school, etc. as well as offer
additional possibilities for commuters to the hospital who live in our neighborhood.
I hope that there may be a bus early enough to get the early-bird students (7 a.m.) to
school on time. Recently a female student in our neighborhood was robbed on the walking
path behind West when walking alone to school, and the bus affords a much safer option.
I do ask that the schedule be adjusted to allow time for West High
schoolers to get to the bus-stop after the close of school at 3:13.
(The proposed schedule allows only two minutes from the close of school to get to the bus-
stop at Westwinds/Melrose, which is insufficient
time. )
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Marygrace Elson
1
Page 1 of 1
Marian Karr
From: Joe Fowler
Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 3:55 PM
To: 'tweeks9666@msn.com'
Cc: Dale Helling; Ron Logsden
Subject: west side bus
Ms. Weeks,
I am responding to your request for information on west side bus service.
At the present time there are plans to submit a new west side bus route to the Iowa City City Council. This will not
occur until after a public meeting April 18th at the Iowa City public Library. The meeting is from 4:00 p.m. until
6:00 p.m. The information we obtain both at the meeting and from public input will be compiled and presented to
Council at their May 16th meeting. At that time a final decision will be made on changes that will be implemented
in August. The concerns you have raised in this email will be included in the information given to Council at that
time.
To be specific about your request for information there are no planned changes to the current bus stops west of
Weber School. The major change in the area will be the bus will no longer go down Pheasant Valley but will
instead continue west on Duck Creek to Wild Prairie Drive. The drop off point for West High will be the corner of
Melrose and Westwinds. We have been made aware of the issue of school release times and the timed stop at
Westwinds and Melrose. We are considering several options to address this issue but no final recommendation
will be made until the May 16th meeting.
If you have any further question about the west side service or any other information you would like us to consider
please contact me.
Joe Fowler
Director Parking & Transit
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Theresa Weeks [tweeks9666@msn.comj
Wednesday, April 12, 2006 12:51 PM
'City Council
City bus schedule changes
Dear City Council Members:
I am a parent of a soon-to-be freshman at West High School. We live off Rohret Road, just
west of Weber School. As many parents in my neighborhood already do, I am counting on
being able to use the City bus service to get my high schooler safely to and from school
next year.
It is my understanding that there will be changes to this city bus route (both bus stops
and times) next year that will no longer allow for a timely pick up for high school
students at the end of the school day. The main problem with the proposed changes arises
at the end of the day, when the pickup time is planned for about 3:15 pm and school lets
out at 3:13 pm.
There wouldn't be enough time for students to get to the bus stop. The next bus stopping
at the Westwinds/Melrose location (where the high school students will need to go to catch
the bus) would be at about 4:~5 pm.
!
I am asking you to consider making adjustments to the bussing schedule to coincide with
the high school schedule. I think timely public transportation to and from the high
school encourages families to use the public transportation offered, helps reduce the
traffic issues at and near the school during drop off and pick up times and provides kids
and parents with a safe means to get to school.
Thank you for considering these changes.
Sincerely,
Theresa Weeks
1560 Phoenix Drive
Page 1 of1
y -\' [~)
Marian Karr
From: Davidfranker@aol.com
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 9:50 AM
To: 'City Council
Subject: IC assistance
Dear Ross and City Councilors,
I hope that all is well with you and your families.
Please know that we stand ready as the City of North Liberty to assist in any way you might request. Last
evening we sent two fire crew teams with equipment to downtown Iowa City. I certainly won't bother anyone
with phone calls (I did leave you, Ross, a brief voice mail), but my number is 665-6171 or 541-4883.
Regards,
Dave Franker
4/14/2006
Page 1 of 1
Lt-~ (~)
Marian Karr
From: Jon Crews [Jon.Crews@ci.cedar-falls.ia.us]
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 3:51 PM
To: 'City Council
Subject: Wind Damage
We were glad to learn there were no serious injuries from last nite's storm. I have both a son and a daughter
living in your city. Best wishes for a rapid clean up
4/14/2006
Page 1 of 1
't+ ( ~ ;, J
Marian Karr
From: Jim Fausett Dfausett@cLcoralville.ia.us]
Sent: Monday, April 17, 20062:56 PM
To: 'City Council
Cc: Kelly Hayworth
Subject: Storm assistance
Mayor Wilburn & Council Members.
I can't express enough my condolences for the catastrophe of devastation your City has suffered with the Storms
Thursday. I also want to offer any assistance if needed by the City of Coralville. Please feel free to contact Kelly
Hayworth, City Administrator to arrange for any assistance that might need to be arranged.
Respectfully,
Jim L. Fausetl
Mayor City of Coralville
phone 319 248 1700
fax 319 248 1700
jfausetl(1i)ci. coraiville. ia. us
4/17/2006
~"' \~L\)
Marian Karr
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
david-beerman@uiowa.edu
Monday, April 17, 200611:49 PM
'City Council
Yom Hashoah
City Council Members:
My name is David Beerman and I am a student at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. April
24th be the fourth anniversary of our 24-hour name reading Holocaust Memorial Day Vigil.
Each year, the students take turns reading the names of the victims of the Holocaust for
24 straight hours in 30-minute shifts.
On 7pm Monday April 24th we will have our opening ceremony. Prayers and poems about the
Holocaust will be recited and we would like to have a guest speaker say afew words
commemorating the event. We would like for a council-person to speak at the event. If you
would like further information on speaking at the event, please contact me by replying to
this email or calling me at 847-293-9157. If you want, you can contact Tali Arav at Hillel
directly by calling 319-338-0778 or email her at tali@iowahillel.org.
Thanks for your time and we hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks,
David Beerman
1
~ {: (<S-J
City Council
03/21/06
We the undersigned at Transit are opposed to the proposed Thursday, Friday
and Saturday night shuttle for the following reasons.
I) The safety and security of our drivers and the passengers, particularly our
female drivers.
2) There will be a problem with intoxicated individuals throwing up and
passing out and being unruly. When someone throws up on the bus we will
have to switch that bus out with another. When someone passes out on the
bus and cannot be awakened we will have to have them removed by the
police. What happens to the service while we wait for the police to do their
job? We don't feel that a driver should be out of his or hers se~t to try and
revive someone who has passed out. Transit has a written code of conduct
that all passengers have to abide by. What happens when one or more
individuals refuse to abide by these conduct requirements? 0 g
3) People who are intoxicated tend to fall down a lot. We can see a p~m ;:
with ~juries to those individuals and t? o1her pass~ngers around t~eni;;~en;g
you rrux steps and drunks there are gomg to be aCCIdents. We behevell;:!! co
this presents a very bad liability issue. . What happens when an intoxicatert ~
individual attacks or harasses another passenger? Mere is ano1her se~ "'"
liability and security issue. .)> N
Ul
4) We also see vandalism as ano1her problem that will happen.
5) We have drivers here at Transit that have driven the Cambus late bus.
They tell us many of these problems happen every night and often more then
once.
6) The unions position is if we have drivers on route until 2:00AM we will
request a premium over and above the current $.25 premium paid for hours
after 1 :30PM. We will also request that a supervisor be on duty until
2:00AM.
7) We are aware that not everyone who would board this shuttle will be
intoxicated to the point of becoming a problem. And some won't have been
drinking at all. We suggest extending the length of service of our existing
runs to accommodate these folks whom are working or studying late
downtown at nights. We feel the days of operation suggested (Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday) were not suggested to accommodate workers or library
patrons. Rather they were chosen to service the university students who are
partying to excess on the unofficial university weekend of Thursday, Friday
and Saturday nights. We feel this goes contrary to the message the City has
been trying for years to send students about binge drinking and the dangers
11
1-
;-Tl
r-1
......J
and problems associated with it.
8) In conclusion we think that going forward with the proposal to add shuttle
service until 2:00AM on Thursday, Friday and Saturday would be a mistake
for the reasons stated. An alternative may be to extend hours of service of the
TowncreslJOakCiest to 12:00AM and tIie WestwiIlds/Lakeside to 11 :45PM [0
accolt1lt\odate late workers or studeflts,
Thank you
71a~/ft?~eFV"5
f)~C.~
~~ 3r
oJ.( . 1= Uhq~ f?~ ~, i Uf.1 'f~urS
Jj;~~ 'meT! ~ - C + cp" tl-ll "?ttc ;;'0 f f25
n J) .3 2 U./I./.> /~/;1 t1I1 '-fll"' :\
L~ r()1q~ "' (.;;/fiL;t ~~vl ~'(p)
/7 //. ~ -too (o,.JY(;;," _/~' / ~
. ~ ~~.., ( ~Q) ~ -n,
7~ 7~v'--;:::::'
\ 'r; .2_.)\
, '0 ,~ ,-ri
_ I J Qi1( i}~~Gu'~.~7 ~ '0
. ~ S rvv-" d1~ '". "----" ~ I ~ '
. tt (s;., 0\\G..V ~"{ VG\.\ "" 27("".}'
c~>: " It ~v'Y . ~j,mfEl-~vll(r-
5:fJA- ,-,;o'r 14, (~t;i ;utj~(~ \~ it:)
f~~~ -'iZQ1/'~(!'( P?k)
I ~/ ^ lq.:; 17/1 l0 c.,.->
'\\ Cz '-- \~ ~^ v fj- I
---...'Jw\.",- ~~~ '--~ ~ ~ l
1#ti~ ~ ~- C2r- A /' ~
;/. ~ .1-';'~~
kL~ J-.A t'fu/1o /(;;.r- ~ - r: )
-';?-'7//fi ~ \D-1 J- ) ~ ~ 'd. 'fll!.
cV
ce", ~3'feClr~;
0 .....,
=
=
~O "'"'
)>- l>
-I -0
1',-< -~ 11
, J
=:;c co
=-<J
_ ,_ iT]
___en ""U
0" :::i< ,--,
~;:>:; 't? '-.I
>' N
U1