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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-03-05 CorrespondenceMarian Karr 341) From: Sue Brenneman <suebrenn @g mail. com> Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2013 7:32 PM To: Council; jfausett @ci.coralville.ia.us; sups @co.johnson.ia.us I am writing to ask you to pay your fair share for SEATS transportation. Some people must have this service to go to appointments, the pharmacy and the grocery store. It is their only source of transportation. While you are healthy and able to drive, some day you might not be. At that time you will be glad you chose to fund this important community service. Thank you, Sue Brenneman 410 Ashley Ct. #306 North Liberty, IA 52317 #319- 430 -4293 FEB 261013 '� °wa�Cl Clerk r1; r °wa February 25, 2013 Dear Mayor Hayek & Iowa City Council, I am writing to let each of you know that at the February 19, 2013 Human Rights Commission meeting, the Commission made a recommendation to the City Council that reads as follows: "To maintain the SEATS service '/z price fare as part of our commitment to the disabled and elderly communities of Iowa City." Draft minutes from the meeting held on February 19, 2013 are available for your review in the Council packet for February 28, 2013. Thank you. Respectfully, �:� � � I Jr-. Orville Townsend, Sr., Chair Human Rights Commission Marian Karr 3f(2) From: Adam Bentley Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 4:37 PM To: 'anna -hobart@uiowa.edu' Cc: Council Subject: RE: Audio Story - University of Iowa Ms. Hobart: Thank you for contacting the City of Iowa City. I would direct you to the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) website at http: / /www.edline.net /pages /ICCSD/ to acquire contact information for your story. The ICCSD is the government entity that would have jurisdiction regarding the topic you're citing. Thank you, Adam Bentley City Manager's Office 356 -5010 From: Hobart, Anna K [mailto:anna- hobart@uiowa.edu] Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2013 5:30 PM To: Council Subject: Audio Story - University of Iowa Hello City Council Members, My name is Anna Hobart and I am a journalism student at The University of Iowa. I am doing an audio story on the plans for a third high school here in Iowa City. I was hoping to interview somebody for about 10 -20 minutes this coming week about the plans. If you are able to help me that would be fantastic! Thank You, Anna Hobart Marian Karr 3f(3) From: Mike Moran Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 3:27 PM To: 'jbdillman'; Matt Hayek; Rick Dobyns; Susan Mims; Michelle Payne; Jim Throgmorton; Tom Markus; Eleanor M. Dilkes; Rick Fosse; Council Cc: 'MurphyGeerdes'; Alex Taylor; Allie Gnade; Cara Hamann; Chad Dyson; Clay Claussen; Dave Bourgeois (djbourgeois @q.com); Joe Younker; John Westefeld (John.Westefeld @g mail. com); Lucie Laurian; Maggie Elliott; Tammy Neumann; Terry Robinson Subject: RE: Normandy Drive City Park Access Plans Judith, After numerous neighborhood meetings where this road was discussed and with a couple of meetings with you and your husband, We discussed many things pertaining to this road concerning construction, type and frequency. Although I knew it was not a unanimous decision I felt through those discussions that a majority of the neighborhood was agreeable to this, apparently I was in error and I am certainly willing to discuss with the neighborhood again to get clarity and eliminate confusion. The use of the road can certainly be developed for either full time or part time use based on park events and activities, however the development of the road must be built to the standards of a city roadway due to the saturated ground water that exists in that area to maintain a roadway that we do not need to repair each and every year. The permeable surface was discuss as that part of the roadway that occurs over the FEMA lot into the neighborhood, the city will need to get an exemption from FEMA to construct anything hard surface. I apologize for the misunderstanding and will schedule a neighborhood meeting within the next three weeks to come to resolution. If you have any additional questions or concerns please feel free to contact me. Michael Moran CPRP Director Parks and Recreation 220 S. Gilbert St. Iowa City, Iowa 52240 319 - 356 -5104 From: jbdillman [mailto:jbdillman @aol.com] Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 1:28 PM To: Matt Hayek; Rick Dobyns; Susan Mims; Michelle Payne; Jim Throgmorton; Tom Markus; Mike Moran; Eleanor M. Dilkes; Rick Fosse; Council Subject: Normandy Drive City Park Access Plans Dear City Officials, I am writing today to protest the testimony that was given in the Iowa City City Council special work session (budget) of January 7, 2013. 1 only became aware today of this discussion via the grapevine. For your reference, the transcript is at http:// www. iowa- city .org /Weblink/DocView.aspx ?id= 1282940 &dbid =0 page 36 and 37. I am grateful to Michelle Payne for questioning Mr. Moran on the Normandy Drive neighborhood's concern regarding a permanent road being placed through Normandy Drive to City Park. I am forwarding to you the e-mail which I sent you a year ago regarding this issue. My opinion on this issue has not changed. I have not been more vocal during the last year only because I was assured that this exit was only for use during construction of the Park Road bridge and for emergency use only, and that it would only be of a permeable surface. I was assured that even this emergency use entrance would beat a T junction into Normandy. Mr. Moran's answer to Ms. Payne in the Jan 7 meeting that the citizens are aware of the expansion of this project to a "full time road, for full time access into and out of the park" was simply not true. We were not aware and do profoundly object. Again, we sold one lot to the city, and invested hundreds of thousands of dollars rebuilding our home on another lot, with the understanding that this area along Normandy Drive would remain green space. I believe FEMA regulations require this. Please consider the impact of this permanent road on our neighborhood. Sincerely, Judith Dillman 845 Normandy Drive Iowa City, IA 52246 - - - -- Original Message---- - From: jbdillman <jbdillman @aol.com> To: matt-hayek <matt -hayek @iowa- city.org >; rick - dobyns <rick- dobyns @iowa- city.org >; susan -mims <susan- mims@iowa-city.org>; michelle -payne <michelle -payne @iowa- city.org >; jim- throgmorton <jim- throgmorton @iowa- city.org >; tom - markus <tom- markus @iowa- city.org >; mike -moran <mike- moran @iowa - city.org>; eleanor - dilkes <eleanor- dilkes @iowa- city.org >; rick -fosse <rick- fosse @iowa - city.org> Sent: Tue, Jan 10, 2012 1:14 pm Subject: HMGP and City Park Access Plans Judith Dillman 845 Normandy Drive Iowa City, IA 52246 To: Mayor Hayek, Iowa City Council, City Manager, Directors of Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Attorney's Office RE: Access to City Park via Normandy Drive As a home owner on Normandy Drive in Iowa City, I am writing to respond to rumors I have heard that Iowa City is considering enhancing the access to City Park via Normandy Drive. In November, 2009, my husband and I sold our 853 Normandy Drive home (which bordered City Park) to Iowa City under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. We, and our neighbors who also sold their homes at the time, were told that Iowa City would be restricted from using the land purchased under the Federal program for anything but Green Space. This Federal restriction prevents asphalt paving over the land purchased. Specifically, it should prevent any extension of Normandy Drive into the park via those lands purchased with HMGP funding. We continue to be home owners on Normandy Drive and have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in rebuilding our flood ravaged home at 845 Normandy Drive. We made our decision to rebuild on this property with the understanding that the land on the adjacent properties to the east and south of our home would remain green space and not public road. Could you please inform me of your plans regarding this issue? As I stated at the beginning, I have only heard rumors concerning the option of extending Normandy Drive and would appreciate any information you can give me. Thank you, Judith Dillman 2 Marian Karr From: MurphyGeerdes <mg9425 @mchsi.com> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 10:54 PM To: Council Cc: Tom Markus; Rick Fosse; Mike Moran; djbourgeois @q.com; Aaron Krohmer; Allison Gnade; Clay Claussen; John Westefeld; Lucie Laurian; Maggie Elliott; Margaret Loomer Subject: Extension Of Normandy Drive Into Lower City Park I recently read in the transcript of the city council's budget session that the proposed Normandy Drive extension is now apparently planned to be a regular full time city street. I was actively involved in the meetings with staff regarding the Parkview Terrace landscaping project, as we live in that area. At all the meetings I attended the extension of Normandy Drive was described as being a temporary access for use only during the construction of the new Park Road bridge and as an emergency or overload exit for special events. There was no mention of it being a standard street. I think that you and the parks and recreation commission should take another look at this and decide whether the increased traffic, etc through city park that would come from this new plan is something that we want. I certainly have concerns about the same and think that many of my neighbors do also. Thank you for your consideration. Please let me know the city's intention regarding this project. Gregg Geerdes 890 Park Place Iowa City, Iowa 52246 3191341 -3302 mg9425 @mchsi. corn Marian Karr 3f(4) From: Carol deProsse <lonetreefox @mac.com> Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 8:37 AM To: Council Subject: deProsse /Dieterle Blog http: // twoatthefringe .blogspot.com /2013/02 /single- ticket - voting- and - garbage - cans.html Single Ticket Voting and Garbage Cans Preserve single ticket voting we co not agree with the Press Citizen's recent editorial advocating for legislative action to eliminate the ability to vote for all candidates of a single party by filling in a single oval. Although there is no evidence to support whether straight ticket voting negatively affects independent candidates, retention of judges or the outcome of ballot issues, it seems to us that people who want to vote for or against something know it when they enter the voting booth and will do so (if they don't know maybe it's best they not cast an uninformed vote.) Do you want to vote for all Democrats or all Republicans, but want to vote against the proposed new jail? Simply fill in one oval for the party of your choice, then flip your ballot over and fill in the `no' oval on the jail. Do you want to vote more selectively? Simply go down the list and vote as you want. Many voters prefer straight ticket voting; forcing every voter to go down a sometimes long list of candidates and issues and vote separately for each one would lengthen the time it takes to vote, lead to longer lines during heavy voter turnout elections and perhaps discourage some from voting at all. This legislation is promulgated by the Republican Party, which is working across the country to make it harder for people to vote. Carol deProsse Caroline Dieterle Council says 'no' to garbage container ordinance; good riddance to a bad idea Prompted by complaints from some residents in the North Side the proposed piece of legislation, which would have required residents to keep their garbage cans behind the building line, appeared on the Council agenda last week. We are glad the Councilors decided to shelve it. This ordinance would have created unnecessary expense for many home owners, would not have solved the problem of some people allowing unsightly trash to bulge out the top of their bin, and it would have punished the many residents who do not over -stuff their garbage containers. Those who recycle and compost do not produce enough garbage to necessitate the behemoth containers the City makes us use and we are already having to haul these monsters back and forth from house to curb; doing this from the back yard would double the insult. Some lots in Iowa City are so small that residents really do not have a choice about where to keep their behemoth containers; in front of the building line is the only or the best and easiest option, particularly for the elderly or infirm. A few random thoughts on garbage containers: Smaller cans for smaller producers. Provide a smaller size as an option for many; No matter how big a can is given to some people they will still overflow it; Provide more aesthetically pleasing cans; and Enforce the ordinance requiring garbage to be inside the can with the lid shut, which is a public health issue. Larger cans for larger producers. Carol deProsse Caroline Dieterle 03-05-13 W(5) W(5) RICHARD J. DVORAK - = PLANNING & ZONING PLANNING AND ZONING ADMINISTRATOR To: Matt Hayek, Mayor and Tom Markus, City Manager From: Rick Dvorak Date: February 11, 2013 DEPARTMENT ASSISTTMPLAN ING& ZONING ADMINISTRATOR PLANNING DIVISION DAN SWARTZENDRUBER ASSISTANT PLANNER Re: Iowa City /Johnson County Fringe Area Agreement Dear Mayor, As you are aware, in 1987 Iowa City and Johnson County entered into a Fringe Area agreement. The agreement was reviewed and amended in 2006. Said agreement was to ensure that development in the County, within the fringe area of the City of Iowa City, would not be in conflict with the future vision of your City. I have sent an annual letter inquiring to sustain a dialogue about updates to or issues with the Fringe Area agreement. It is our position that the agreement has worked quite well. We have had a great working relationship with Iowa City which we wish to continue to the satisfaction of both the City and Johnson County. If you believe that the agreement has worked as we envisioned it would, we may not need to update the Fringe Area Agreement at all. One item you may wish to discuss is if you have done any annexations you may wish to amend the map to move your extra - territorial jurisdiction out accordingly. However, if there is a need to discuss changes or extensions, feel free to contact our office. If you have questions or comments, please contact me. Sincerely, Rick Dvorak Planning and Zoning Administrator Johnson County Planning and Zoning Department rdvorak@co.johnson.ia.us 913 SOUTH DUBUQUE STREET, SUITE 204 IOWA CITY, IA 522404273 PHONE: (319) 356-6083 FAX: (319) 356-6084 WEB: W W W Johnson - county coHi ter= CITY OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM Date: February 28, 2013 To: Tom Markus, City Manager From: Robert Miklo, Senior Planner Re: Iowa City /Johnson County Fringe Area Agreement The Iowa City /Johnson County Fringe Area Agreement provides for joint City and County review of zoning and development proposals for properties located within two miles of the city limit. The City has received a letter from Rick Dvorak, Johnson County Planning and Zoning Administrator, inquiring whether there is a need to update or change the agreement. Mr. Dvorak notes that from the County's perspective, the Fringe Area Agreement is working well. I concur that the current agreement is working well for both the City and the County and see no need for amendments at this time.