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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-17 CorrespondenceOWN CITY OF IOWA CITY -5f( 111mm MEMORANDUM Date: April 5, 2012 To: City Clerk From: Kristopher Ackerson, Acting Traffic Engineering Planner Re: Item for April 17th, 2012 City Council meeting; Installation of one (1) HANDICAP PARKING space on the north side of G Street, adjacent to the 1906 G Street property. As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action. Action: Pursuant to Section 9 -1 -3A (14), install one (1) HANDICAP PARKING space on the north side of G Street, adjacent to the 1906 G Street property. Comment: This action is being taken to supply an on- street handicap parking space for a resident living at this address. The resident has a permanent DOT issued handicap parking permit. r 0 -- -.�- p 4 CITY T Y O F IOWA W A C I T Y 5f(2) MEMORANDUM �k Date: March 28, 2012 To: Tom Markus, City Manager From: Ronald R. Knoche, City Engineer Re: Competitive Quotation Results COURT HILL PARK PUBLIC RESTROOM BUILDING Competitive quotations for the Court Hill Park Public Restroom Building Project were opened on March 23, 2012 and the following quotes were received: North Construction LLC Muscatine, IA $ 52,808.00 Calacci Construction Company Iowa City, IA $ 69,900.00 Tricon General Construction Dubuque, IA $ 72,000.00 Seydel Construction Inc. Iowa City, IA $ 73,700.00 SGA Construction Inc. West Liberty, IA $ 74,400.00 Ryan & Associates Davenport, IA $ 77,709.00 Engineering Consultants, Inc. Cedar Rapids, IA $ 82,583.00 Apex Construction Company Iowa City, IA $ 86,500.00 Engineer's Estimate $ 78,000.00 Public Works and Engineering recommended and the City Manager awarded the contract to North Construction LLC of Muscatine, Iowa. The project will be funded with General Obligation bond proceeds. 5f(3) Marian Karr From: Karen Jennings Sent: Friday, March 30, 2012 12:29 PM To: 'campbell.ann.ui @gmail.com' Cc: *City Council Subject: FW: Suggested savings on newspaper publication costs Attachments: job ads. pdf Ms. Campbell, Thank you for your email and suggestions regarding reducing print advertising costs. Your point is well taken and I would like to assure you that Human Resources staff is mindful of trying to minimize costs while still adequately promoting City employment opportunities. We do try to take advantage of opportunities to consolidate ads when advertising multiple positions simultaneously. Our advertisements for seasonal job openings are a good example. We advertised 50 open positions that shared a posting and application deadline date in one advertisement identifying the number and nature of positions available. On occasions when we do end up with more than one advertisement of a similar nature in the same issue of a publication it can be for a variety of reasons, the majority of which are related to timing. The example you provided is a good illustration in that the Water Distribution position was posted on March 7th with ads scheduled (including discounts for running the ad on multiple days) five days before the other positions were posted. The Cemetery positions (a combined ad was used) and Streets position were posted on different days the following week with different deadlines. Because we cannot always anticipate what ads may need to be placed in the coming weeks and we often post jobs on very short notice, we try to make the most cost - effective advertising decisions that we can at the time that an ad is placed. Again, thank you very much for the feedback and suggestions. We will continue to be mindful of these costs and look for ways to reduce costs and for opportunities to consolidate ads when appropriate. Sincerely, Karen Jennings Karen Jennings Human Resources Administrator City of Iowa City (319) 356 -5025 (319) 356 -5027 FAX mailtwicaren ienning 011owa -city ora APlease consider the environment and do not print this email unless absolutely necessary. IMPORTANT WARNING: Attached documents are intended for the use of the person(s) or entity to which this message is addressed and may contain information that is privileged and confidential, the disclosure of which is governed by applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this information is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify me by telephone and return this original message or destroy it. From: Tom Markus Sent: Friday, March 30, 2012 8:48 AM To: Karen Jennings Subject: FW: Suggested savings on newspaper publication costs From: Ann Campbell [mailto:campbell.ann.ui @gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 7:42 PM To: Council Subject: Suggested savings on newspaper publication costs Hello City Council. I was looking at the employment ads the other day and noticed an area in which cost savings can occur for your city. I have attached a PDF of a recent publication in the Press - Citizen, in which three separate employment ads for the city of Iowa City were placed one above the other as separate ads. However, much of the information was redundant and repeated in all ads. This seems a bit wasteful of the citizen's tax dollars. I have attached the PDF for your information. When I worked in an HR office for my hometown, we grouped all job vacancy titles into one all- inclusive ad. I suggest that in the case of the attached, the various job titles could be published as a list, and the standard verbage and website references could therefore be published only once. With less duplicated language, you could even have a larger size print for the job titles to draw attention to them. Newspaper publications are quitely costly, and naturally no advertising sales person worth their respective salt will ever proactively offer ways for their customers to save money! I suggest that your HR office rethink their advertising habits and figure out ways to consolidate advertisements and therefore save money. Governments don't have bottom lines to consider as businesses do, but savings of tax dollars is a noble effort that should be encouraged and recognized. Depending on your number of vacancies, I imagine you can save, at a minimum, hundreds of dollars annually by editing down and consolidating verbage as much as possible. Most of the employment searches are done on the web these days, so newspaper publications can therefore be concise and refer applicants to your website for as much detail as your HR office wants to provide on a specific job. Not only would an all- inclusive ad save money, but would most likely be cleaner- looking and more attention getting as well. Thanks for your consideration, and for your valuable public service. Ann Campbell Iowa City Marian Karr 5f(4) From: Martha Struxness <maristruxness @gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 3:23 PM To: Council Attachments: City Council Noise Complaint.docx; Common_Arguments_About Noise Annoyance[1].docx Please put copies of the attached documents in the April 17, 2012 City Council Meeting packet. We expect to speak during the community comments section of the meeting,. Thank you for your assistance, Mari Struxness City Council Members: My name is Mari Struxness. Our group all reside at Ecumenical Towers. We hope you have read our electronically submitted documents. As residents, we are pretty constantly subjected to not only extremely loud, extremely amplified, music, but also scream, yelling, and disorderly behavior in the patio area after hours (which has included urinating on Ecumenical Tower grounds). My industrial earphones block some of the music, but none of the sound waves caused by the extreme amplification. I have had serious pain in my inner ears, and our experience is not unique. We are not the only residents downtown who are having problems with these issues. We understand there is a push to recruit professionals to reside downtown. Certainly you will be hearing more about this as time goes on. We believe that there are two issues here. One is a public health issue regarding ear damage and partial or total deafness. The other issue is simply that we do not have equal protection under the law, specifically your ordinances, for two reasons: Citizens who reside in this district are not protected by noise and amplification limits set forth in those ordinances as businesses are; And No citations seem to be forthcoming for screaming or yelling, or keeping open after 2 am. I assume that Gabe's bar owners own the patio property as well as the building. Why are they exempt? We ask that you amend the noise ordinances to protect residential citizens who live downtown by amending applicable ordinances, and enforce the ordinances which are already on the books. We are submitting a petition signed by Ec Towers residents addressing this request. And right now, we ask that you agree to put this topic on a work agenda. Will you, as city council members do this? Thank you. Common Arguments About Noise Annoyance "After awhile you get used to the noise " — Studies show that most people do NOT get used to noise annoyance and over time the noise annoyance is likely to increase. What really happens is people stop complaining when they realize that no one is going to do anything about it. "Noise annoyance is all subjective, anyway" —Loud sounds are measurable acoustic phenomenon. That is not subjective. Noise induced hearing loss is not subjective either. Nor is sleep deprivation and its effects on mind and body. Furthermore, the so- called "subjective sounds" can yield measurable results. Experiencing repeated psychological and physiological strain from noise annoyance still harms people. "You are just complaining because you don't like the music" Not so. Loud amplification causes hearing loss, stress and anxiety. These have nothing to do with music. "I have just as much right to make noise as you have to be quiet" —Also framed as "I'm trying to run a business here. And of course, businesses and people DO have the right to make noise, as long as it doesn't affect me in my dwelling. "Nobody else is complaining" –A lack of complaints doesn't mean a lack of distress. Often people stop complaining because they feel helpless. This is because the police don't enforce the nuisance laws and commercially zoned property isn't covered under the Noise Ordinance. "Noise is the price we pay for progress (business)" —usual meaning: Noise is the price that WE are paying for SOMEONE ELSE to make a profit. In other words, we, as residents, are supposed to lose sleep and enjoyment of our home so businesses downtown can make money. "Okay, so what is your solution ? " — Citizens that complain about an established or proposed noise annoyance shouldn't necessary solve their own problem, but since you asked ... we are asking the city council to put amending the noise ordinance to include commercially zoned properties (or write a reasonable noise ordinance for commercially zoned properties) on the next work agenda for consideration. Answers are based on research in "The Unwanted Sound of Everything We Want" by Garret Keizer. s-�(s.J Marian Karr From: Dorothy Whiston <dwhiston @mchsi.com> Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 11:06 AM To: Council; clerk @iowa - city.org Cc: Stefanie Bowers Subject: resolutions before the Council Attachments: Throgmorton resolution letter.apr.12.doc; Correspondence - PCRB- 4 -13 -12 (2).doc Dear City Councilors, Attached are two letters from The Coalition for Racial Justice in support of resolutions the City Council will look at during its work session on Tuesday, April 17. 1 hope these letters will be considered as you look at the resolution requesting a review of the Police Citizen Review Board submitted by the ICHRC and Jim Throgmorton's resolution regarding issues of racial equity in our community. Please feel free to contact me or any member of the steering committee of The Coalition for Racial Justice if you would like more information about our perspective on these important matters. Thank you. Dorothy Whiston Pastor Dorothy Whiston, D. Min First Baptist Church 500 N. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA 52245 319.321.7920 dwhiston(cD-mchsi.com The Coalition for Racial Justice K> , c/o FBC, 500 N Clinton Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Phone: 338 -7995 To: Iowa City City Councilors d'I' From: Dorothy Whiston, on behalf of T")ifijr ?tir16d "I Justice (dwhiston @mchsi.com; 321 -7920) CC: Iowa City Human Rights Commission Re: Coalition for Racial Justice support for the Proposed Resolution from Jim Throgmorton Relating to the Death of Trayvon Martin Date: April 16, 2012 We are writing in support of Jim Throgmorton's proposed resolution asking the City Council to take action in response to the march held in Iowa City after the death of Trayvon Martin. While we all wish it were otherwise, what happened to Trayvon Martin could easily happen in any city in our nation, including in Iowa City. In fact, in recent years many local African Americans report experiences where they believe they have come under suspicion and /or encountered hostility only because of their race, and many white Iowa Citians report witnessing such incidents as well. We also believe that issues of racial disparity in our community go beyond instances of individual racial profiling. Available statistics reveal local racial disparity in law enforcement, education, income, housing, education, the child welfare system and community leadership, among other areas of life. In several of these areas the local disparities are more extreme than they are in other parts of Iowa and in the nation as a whole. The Coalition for Racial Justice will soon issue a compilation of some of these statistics in a Status Report on Racial Equity in Johnson County. In addition to adopting Mr. Throgmorton's resolution, we hope that the City Council will make a formal commitment to look at racial disparity in all areas of life in our community, to respond appropriately as such disparity is confirmed, and to call on other government and private entities in the area to engage in similar study and appropriate corrective action. Finally, we would ask that the Council appoint one of your members to serve as a liaison with The Coalition for Racial Justice to help keep you informed of our work and to bring the related work of the City Council before our group. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance in the Councilors' deliberations on this important proposal and related issues. About The Coalition: In August 2010, the Consultation of Religious Communities (CRCJ of Johnson County established the Task Force on Race, Poverty and Public Safety in response to numerous reports received by its affiliated religious leaders about problems faced by African Americans in Iowa City. The group reorganized in Spring 2012 and changed its name to The Coalition for Racial Justice to serve as a broader community coalition. The Coalition is committed to promoting racial justice by developing community leaders and supporting strategies designed to bring about racial equity in our community. The Coalition has taken several actions since its inception, including planning the "Iowa City Million Hoodie March" on March 26, 2012, which resulted in the most racially diverse rally in the history of Iowa City. The Coalition is on Facebook at www. facebook .com/RacialJusticeCoalition. About The Coalition: In August 2010, the Consultation of Religious Communities (CRC) of Johnson County established the Task Force on Race, Poverty and Public Safety in response to numerous reports received by its affiliated religious leaders about problems faced by African Americans in Iowa City. The group reorganized in Spring 2012 and changed its name to The Coalition for Racial Justice to serve as a broader community coalition. The Coalition is committed to promoting racial justice by developing community leaders and supporting strategies designed to bring about racial equity in our community. The Coalition has taken several actions since its inception, including planning the "Iowa City Million Hoodie March" on March 26, 2012, which resulted in the most racially diverse rally in the history of Iowa City. The Coalition for Racial Justice c/o 500 N Clinton Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Phone:xxxx Email: xxxxx To: Iowa City City Councilors From: Dorothy Whiston, on behalf of The Coalition for Racial Justice CC: Iowa City Human Rights Commission, Iowa City Police Citizen Review Board Re: Coalition for Racial Justice support for the ICHRC proposal Date: April 16, 2012 Given the recent concerns expressed about and the press coverage related to the City's "Police Citizen Review Board," we are writing in support of the IC Human Rights Commission's motion, passed at their March 20, 2012 meeting: Motion that the Human Rights Commission recommends to the Iowa City City Council that a committee is established to review the Police Citizen Review Board. That committee can be compromised of city staff and or Commissioners and or councilors, and community members, and that it investigates strengths and challenges of the current model, but also takes into consideration whether it is the right model for the city. We believe that public safety will be advanced by a review of the PCRB, including a review of its name, its structure, what has been effective, and what community members have perceived as barriers to using the PCRB as it is currently constructed. We have been particularly troubled by the treatment of PCRB member and community leader, Royceann Porter, as told in the Board minutes and in the Press Citizen. We believe that all members of the community will be better served, including the IC Police Department, by ensuring that concerns about law enforcement actions are reviewed by a body external to the police department. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance in the Councilors' deliberations of this important proposal and /or in the development of a review committee. About The Coalition: In August 2010, the Consultation of Religious Communities (CRC) of Johnson County established the Task Force on Race, Poverty and Public Safety in response to numerous reports received by its affiliated religious leaders about problems faced by African Americans in Iowa City. The group reorganized in Spring 2012 and changed its name to The Coalition for Racial Justice to serve as a broader community coalition. The Coalition is committed to promoting racial justice by developing community leaders and supporting strategies designed to bring about racial equity in our community. The Coalition has taken several actions since its inception, including planning the "Iowa City Million Hoodie March" on March 26, 2012, which resulted in the most racially diverse rally in the history of Iowa City. q IZ- About The Coalition: In August 2010, the Consultation of Religious Communities (CRC) of Johnson County established the Task Force on Race, Poverty and Public Safety in response to numerous reports received by its affiliated religious leaders about problems faced by African Americans in Iowa City. The group reorganized in Spring 2012 and changed its name to The Coalition for Racial Justice to serve as a broader community coalition. The Coalition is committed to promoting racial justice by developing community leaders and supporting strategies designed to bring about racial equity in our community. The Coalition has taken several actions since its inception, including planning the "Iowa City Million Hoodie March" on March 26, 2012, which resulted in the most racially diverse rally in the history of Iowa City. Petition for City Council Action on Noise Pollution in Downtown Iowa City We, the undersigned residents of Ecumenical Towers, hereby ask the Iowa City Council to amend the current noise ordinance to apply to commercially zoned city areas or create a reasonable ordinance to promote fairness, equality and reasonable noise q G 1 7 c7 2. 5c? 3. 4. 5. Ool" ro A 6•� levels for all citizens. C- M llc� 1. I ' S- 2. sA 4..&:n:� 3 ff 5.� 8 A 6, 8' F 7 & C7 8. x�Y, -- spa. 6 N 10. C'� :� q I I. -D 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 91 lv4� --,> ...