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Home My WebLink About2014-03-25 CorrespondenceMarian Karr From: Drew Dillman <drewdillman @gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2014 7:59 PM To: Council Subject: Proposed Extension of Normandy Drive into City Park We owned 853 Normandy Drive and raised our children at that location. We retain an active interest since we own a new home physically nearest the proposed road. It was our understanding when we sold our home that it could not and would not be paved. It would make me very sad to see some of the beautiful trees that I personally planted and watched grow over the years cut down. If something must be done, an extension of the existing bicycle path through the higher ground of the next lot South of 853 would seem to be a possible compromise for all concerned. The present bicycle path is used by park vehicles and police from time to time. The more the proposed road is like a path and the less it is like a through extension of Normandy, the less negative impact it will have on our neighborhood which is presently a favorite of joggers, cyclists, dog walkers, and others Drew B. Dillman, M.D. Marian Karr From: ann nevin <atn672 @g mail. com> Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2014 4:26 PM To: Council Subject: road To Iowa City Council, I am a resident of the park place neighborhood. I request that the Lower City Park Emergency Access Road be removed from the budget. My neighborhood has many families and pedestrian traffic which includes bikers and runners. The proposed new road would make our neighborhood dangerous for all of us. Ann Nevin 891 park place Marian Karr 3f(2) From: Terry Scott <vanillawayfarer @gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2014 8:55 PM To: Council Subject: Best not to challenge the status quo Dear Council, As a transplant to Iowa City (from a large, world -class American city) I find it disheartening that whenever the status quo and normal routine of governance is challenged, mainly by Mr. Throgmorton, more often than not he is met with challenging, condescending attitudes from other council members (Mayor Hayek and Ms. Mims notwithstanding, at least they try to give an intelligent answer regarding their opinions, and Mr. Botchway is new to the council so he is not being singled out, either). Case in point is this evening's city council meeting. When Mr. Throgmorton brought up the point of asking for an alternative budget, the best Ms. Payne can come up with is that people only ask for what concerns them, when it concerns them. That couldn't be further from the truth. When citizens are routinely denied the ability to participate in government they slowly succumb, and become numb, to hoping any progress or change will be made. Her sneers and smirks don't help any, and in fact illustrate that when someone doesn't know what they are talking about they should just remain silent instead of talking for the sake of talking. It seems as if Mr. Throgmorton's urban planning background is summarily dismissed by other council members, and I can't figure out why, except it's politics, and this is Iowa, and "we do things the way they've always been done 'round these parts ". I've watched the council rubber stamp projects in ways reminiscent of Chicago -style politics, and it's embarrassing, to be blunt. So Ms. Payne, I can tell you when I talk to the people in this town about projects, budgets, use of TIF funds, the attitudes don't support your opinion. Iowa City is progressive in many ways, yet it has the opportunity to be so much more. So when a colleague with a PhD in urban planning talks from experience about what other, more progressive cities are doing, maybe you should listen and learn rather then challenge, smirk and act in a condescending manner. Regards, T. Scott BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Terrence Neuzil, Chairperson Janelle Rettig John Etheredge Rod Sullivan Pat Harney Dear Mayor Hayek, N m. __J crr 3f(3) Thank you for your letter of January 27, 2014 regarding our request for a joint meeting with the Iowa City Council. We felt that there were several things about our original request which could be clarified. First, we recognize the challenges - involved in finding a time that works for everyone involved, especially the members of the City Council. Therefore, we wanted to make clear that we do not think such meetings would occur frequently. Our joint meetings with the councils of the smaller communities occur, at most, every two to three years. From those meetings, we may look to appoint members of our Board or county staff to assist in follow up assignments. Our Board typically will attend a city council meeting to accommodate your schedules and the meetings typically last an hour. Second, it may be helpful for the Council to have an idea of some of the items that we would suggest for an agenda, recognizing that Iowa City may have things to include as well. Areas where Iowa City and the County have unique, mutual interests include: • Infrastructure serving and surrounding proposed new schools • Shared arterial roads (such as Riverside Drive and Sycamore Road) • Funding support for social services • Issues surrounding addressing the needs of the jail and courthouse, including vacation of Harrison Street and possibilities for a Joint Authority • Certain contracted services, including SEATS, library, and animal services • The proposed community ID program There is no doubt that time would only allow for a cursory discussion of several of these matters. However, we believe that a joint meeting would be a good preliminary step that could provide direction for a smaller group, such as what was proposed in your letter, to consider specific items more thoroughly and report back to our respective entities. 913 SOUTH DUBUQUE STREET, SUITE 201 ♦ IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 -4207 ♦ PHONE: (319) 356 -6000 ♦ FAX: (319) 356 -6036 E5 March 6, 2014 2 "- 4 Iowa City Mayor Matt Hayek °# 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 7- Dear Mayor Hayek, N m. __J crr 3f(3) Thank you for your letter of January 27, 2014 regarding our request for a joint meeting with the Iowa City Council. We felt that there were several things about our original request which could be clarified. First, we recognize the challenges - involved in finding a time that works for everyone involved, especially the members of the City Council. Therefore, we wanted to make clear that we do not think such meetings would occur frequently. Our joint meetings with the councils of the smaller communities occur, at most, every two to three years. From those meetings, we may look to appoint members of our Board or county staff to assist in follow up assignments. Our Board typically will attend a city council meeting to accommodate your schedules and the meetings typically last an hour. Second, it may be helpful for the Council to have an idea of some of the items that we would suggest for an agenda, recognizing that Iowa City may have things to include as well. Areas where Iowa City and the County have unique, mutual interests include: • Infrastructure serving and surrounding proposed new schools • Shared arterial roads (such as Riverside Drive and Sycamore Road) • Funding support for social services • Issues surrounding addressing the needs of the jail and courthouse, including vacation of Harrison Street and possibilities for a Joint Authority • Certain contracted services, including SEATS, library, and animal services • The proposed community ID program There is no doubt that time would only allow for a cursory discussion of several of these matters. However, we believe that a joint meeting would be a good preliminary step that could provide direction for a smaller group, such as what was proposed in your letter, to consider specific items more thoroughly and report back to our respective entities. 913 SOUTH DUBUQUE STREET, SUITE 201 ♦ IOWA CITY, IOWA 52240 -4207 ♦ PHONE: (319) 356 -6000 ♦ FAX: (319) 356 -6036 Per your approval of a joint meeting, the Board of Supervisors Executive Assistant Andy Johnson can coordinate with Clerk Marian Karr to find the best time to meet this year. Thank you for considering our request. Sincerely, �4u� d. F�4 Terrence Neuzil Chairperson Johnson County Board of Supervisors ��11 Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Iowa City Council: Bryon Young <bry0770 @rnchsi.corn> Friday, March 07, 2014 2:55 PM Council Bryon Young Water Fluoridation 03-25-Tr� 3f(4) I do not know when the City Council last took up this subject, but would urge you to revisit the issue of water fluoridation. Iowa City needs to join the ever growing list of American cities who have recognized the clear and present danger of adding this cumulative poison to drinking water —it is inexcusable. • Aisling FitzGibbon, better known as "The Girl Against Fluoride," is taking a High Court legal action against the Irish government in an effort to end the country's mandatory water fluoridation. • The campaign was started after her own recovery from depression, which she attributes to drinking fluoride -free water. • Ireland and Singapore are the last two remaining countries with mandatory water fluoridation, a practice being met with increasing opposition. • Fluoride is a cumulative poison that has been proven to cause wide - ranging, serious health problems, such as damage to your bones, brain, and endocrine system, while offering little, if any, dental benefits. • For more detail, I refer you to a must read: http:Harticles.mercola.com/sites/ articles/ archive / 2014 /03 /04 / ireland- mandatory - water- fluoridation.aspx Sincerely, Bryon Young bry0770gmchsi.com Why We Changed Our Minds About Water Fluoridation: The Fluoride /Thyroid Remove Fluoride Chlorine High qualty water filters remove fluoride, chlorine and homones. friendsofwateer.com; Probiotics - Warning We Tried Them All. Here's The Only One That Mrks ronsumersguides.com Heal Hashimoto's Disease. Eliminate the rootcause autoimmune attack behind Hashimotds Disease. digestaqure.com 3 Thyroid Waming Signs Is Your Thyroid Causing Your Health Problems? Doctor Explains the Signs m:edixselect.com Heal"h Ablwut. It Thyroid Disease Why We Changed Our Minds About Water Fluoridation The Fluoride/Thyroid Connection By Richard L. Shames MD &Karilee H. Shames PhD, Rid Updated April 27, 2006 Updated April 27, 2006 Like many of our professional colleagues, we long held a belief that z the practice of water fluoridation was highly beneficial and relatively low -risk. Currently, we feel otherwise. We are now convinced that it is of small benefit, and carries an unacceptably large risk. ' What changed our thinking so dramatically on this important issue? While reviewing medical studies for a new book, we were shocked to learn about the disturbing fluoride- thyroid connection. We had been a prevention- oriented doctor -nurse team working together for twenty -five years. We had raised three children together, and had always viewed good dental care as an integral part of a complete health program. After training at Harvard and Walter Reed respectively, Rich worked at the National Institutes of Health and Karilee served as a nursing professor, before we each eventually settled into private practice. Page 1 of 1 1' rs_e� Share Free Thyroid Disease Newsletter! Enter emali address Sign Up Discuss in my forum FILED MAR 19 Z014 ,:�:t , os P -m .. City Clerk Iowa City, Iowa Nothing on this path shook our faith in fluoride. In fact, it was not until we were working with a New York publisher that we really did our homework on this subject. The topic of our book, Thyroid Power (HarperCollins 2001), was the unexplained skyrocketing of thyroid disease and its spin -off epidemics of fatigue, depression, anxiety, infertility, and overweight. While researching influences on the thyroid gland, we were astounded by the large number of fluoride citations. We were confronted with long lists of articles, from scientists around the world, reporting in medical journals about the harmful effects of fluoride. We then did a review of the history of thyroid treatment, which showed that fluoride had previously been used by the medical profession to deliberately slow down overactive thyroid glands. It is no longer used for that purpose, only because now there are stronger anti- thyroid drugs [like Tapazole and PTU]. This surprising data was at first an unexpected challenge to our medical and nursing education. But then we recalled being taught that no substance has just one action on the human body. They all have multiple actions. Every medicine has a good action, called "the benefit," and other less desirable actions called "side effects." In hindsight, it did seem odd that fluoridated water was the only substance ever discovered that had a great benefit with no side effects at all. Once we thought about it carefully, it also seemed curious that fluoride was the only medicine ever to be added to public drinking waters. At this point, we felt compelled to investigate further. After reviewing hundreds of articles and books, it became clear that, regardless of any other benefits and side effects, fluoride could indeed be considered a "hormone disruptor." These are a class of chemicals from many unrelated sources, that have the unintended consequence of altering the proper function of important hormones in the body, such as thyroid. For example, in the Archives of Oral Biology (1982, Volume 27), Kleiner found that fluoride interfered with proper metabolism of cyclic -AMP and thus diminished cellular energy. Next, a career university scientist showed us a large textbook about the mechanisms of fluoride tissue harm. Kenneth Kirk in his carefully written volume called Biochemistry of the Elemental Halogens and Inorganic Halides (Plenum Press NY, NY: 1991), described fluoride's remarkable disruption of enzyme systems. We then consulted with a toxicology expert, who explained still another harmful fluoride effect. It progressively disrupts the sensitive G- proteins. These are the building blocks of our body's hormone receptors. (For example, receptors are where thyroid hormone actually starts doing its job at the cell level.) But at what dilution did fluoride have this disruptive effect? At high concentrations, it is well known to be acutely poisonous and caustic. Could it be that at the low concentrations in municipal water, teeth are being helped without thyroids being harmed? No, the data showed otherwise. Contradicting the hoped -for scenario is research going back half a century. For instance, we came across a 1958 study by Galletti and Joyet, published in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. The paper was titled, "Effect of Fluorine on Thyroidal Iodine Metabolism and Hyperthyroidism." These scientists showed that fluoride in the range of 2 -5 mg. per day (what people now ingest in a fluoridated area) was enough to slow down thyroid function. Top Related Searches Overactive Thyroid Glands Thyroid Connection Thyroid Drugs Thvroid Treatment National Institutes Of Health Depression Anxietv http: // thyroid. about. com/ od/ drsrichkarileeshames /a/fluoridechange.htm 3/15/2014 Why We Changed Our Minds About Water Fluoridation: The Fluoride /Thyroid Connection Page 1 of 1 Remove Fluoride Chlorine High qualty waterfilters remove fluoride, homones+ contarrinants f Heal Hashimoto's Disease. Eliminate the rootcause autoimmune attack behind Hashimoto's Disease. digestacure.com 3 Thyroid Warning Signs Is Your Thyroid Causing Your Health Problerys? Doctor Explains the Signs medixselect.com Hormone Treatment Take Our Hormone 'rest to See if Therapy Can Help You. New Leaf A. newleafcenters.com Healih AbK&C= Thyroid Disease Why We Changed Our Minds About Water Fluoridation The FiuorideiThyroid Connection By Richard L. Shames MD & Karilee H. Shames PhD, RN Updated April 27, 2006 (Continued from Page 1) Subsequent research on fluoride /thyroid was just as worrisome. Moreover, an added problem appeared. We learned that the source of fluoride for municipalities is not sodium fluoride, the compound used t by researchers to determine benefit versus risk. Instead, surprisingly, we found that what is added to almost all city water when it is fluoridated is the industrial waste product hydrofluosilicic acid. f -; This scrubber waste item, generally from phosphate fertilizer production, is frequently contaminated with varying amounts of cadmium, aluminum, arsenic, lead, or mercury. We found serious studies showing that minute amounts of these heavy metals (much less than would generally be considered toxic) are harmful in various ways when combined with fluoride. Moreover, we were amazed to find out that not a single safety test has ever been performed on hydrofluo, Jlicic acid! Share Free Thyroid Disease Newsletter! Enter email address Sign Up Discuss In my forum FILED MAR 19 1014 �.o5- P. t" , City Clerk Iowa City, Iowa Thus, we came out "against fluoride" in our Thyroid Power book. But fluoride is not simply an isolated problem for identified thyroid patients. As a widespread hormone disruptor it is very likely to be causing wider mischief, even at supposed safe levels. This larger environmental issue became the topic of our more recent book, Feeling Fat, Fuzzy, or Frazzled? (Hudson /Penquin, 2005) With fluoride added to city water, many millions of people are deliberately exposed to a hormone- altering agent. There is certainly now a massive epidemic of low thyroid, low adrenal, and low functioning sex glands. Many people rightly complain, "There must be something wrong with my hormones." Fluoride is, of course, just one of a great many environmental hormone disruptors. However, it is the only one we purposely put into our drinking water. Perhaps the most sensitive among us are like the canaries brought down into the mines. They might be feeling the adverse effects first. Their vague symptoms of ill health could be the early warning signal for us all. But, do not just take our word for it. Get info from a variety of sources. A good start would be to go to the environmental website www.CanaryClub.oru for an inexpensive home test kit measuring your saliva levels of thyroid, adrenal, and reproductive hormones. If your levels are low, it could be that the not -so- innocent water additive is playing a role. You might be as surprised as we were. And maybe you too wi II change your mind about fluoride. Richard L. Shames MD & Karilee H. Shames PhD, RN are authors of two popular books for thyroid patients, Thyroid Power and Feeling Fat. Fuzzy and Frazzled ?. Both experts provide telephone coaching for optimal wellness. ?tore information is available about their coaching sessions at their site. Top Related Searches Phosphate Fertilizer Massive Epidemic Sex Glands Thyroid Patients Fertilizer Production Low Thyroid _7_ C , http: // thyroid. about. com/ od/ drsrichkarileeshames /a/fluoridechange_2.htm 3/15/2014 Marian Karr From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Dear Mr. Verhille, Eleanor M. Dilkes Tuesday, March 11, 2014 2:42 PM 'ben_verhille @yahoo.com' Council FW: Inquiry about Legislation 3f(5) Your email has been forwarded to me for a response. Subsection I of Section 9-4-4 of the City Code (General Parking Restrictions) provides as follows: Parking Limited to Intended Use: Except as otherwise provided herein, no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle upon any roadway for more than ten (10) minutes for the principal purpose of conducting commercial activity from said vehicle, including, but not limited to, selling merchandise and food. Please give me a call if you have additional questions. Eleanor M. Dilkes City Attorney City Hall 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240 319- 356 -5030 319- 356 -5008 Fax eleanor-dilkesgiowa-ci ..org Notice: Since e-mail messages sent between you and the City Attorney's Office and its employees are transmitted over the internet, the City Attorney's Office cannot assure that such messages are secure. You should be careful in transmitting information to the City Attorney's Office that you consider confidential. If you are uncomfortable with such risks, you may decide not to use e-mail to communicate with the City Attorney's Office. Without written notification that you do not wish to communicate with the City Attorney's Office via e-mail communication, the City Attorney's Office will assume you assent to such communication. This message is covered by the Electronic Communication Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. Sections 2510 -2515, is intended only for the use of the person to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is confidential and subject to the attorney - client privilege. It should not be forwarded to anyone else without consultation with the originating attorney. If you received this message and are not the addressee, you have received this message in error. Please notify the person sending the message and destroy your copy. Thank you. Begin forwarded message: From: Ben Verhille <ben_verhillegyahoo.com> Date: March 10, 2014 at 11:18:37 AM CDT To: " Kingsley- Botchway@iowa- city.org" < Kingsley- Botchway@iowa- cit�org >, "terry- dickensgiowa- cityy.org" < terry- dickens&iowa- city.org >, " michelle- payne(a,iowa- c ity.org" < michelle- payne@iowa- city.org >, "jim- throgmorton(2iowa- city.org" <jim-throgmortongiowa- cit .or g> Subject: Inquiry about Legislation Reply -To: Ben Verhille <ben_verhillegyahoo.com> Esteemed members of the Iowa City Council, I am writing as to see if there is any current laws regarding the commercial use of food trucks in the Iowa City area. It is my understanding that they are currently not allowed, but if you could clarify the law or rules to me and possibly cite the public code, I would be extremely appreciative. In specific, the usage of public parking spaces or land and its restrictions, particularly commercial food vendors. I understand you are very busy individuals, but should you have time, please let me know. I would also be very happy to take a phone call. Best, Benjamin Verhille Food & Drink Reporter- 80 Hours The Daily Iowan ben verhille@yahoo.com 319.329.8789 03 -25 -14 MIS) Marian Karr From: Marian Karr Sent: Friday, March 14, 2014 4:44 PM To: Council Subject: Direct Election of Mayor on Ballot? From: Marian Karr Sent: Friday, March 14, 2014 4:44 PM To: 'stewartchristine06O @ gmail.com' CC: Council Subject: Direct Election of Mayor on Ballot? Thank you for your email. The City Attorney and myself will staff the Commission which will begin meeting in April. All meeting agendas and materials will be posted on the City website, and you may subscribe under E- Subscriptions on the City site: http://www.iowa-citV.org/icgov/a pps /s u bscri be Within the next few weeks the site will include the Charter, the Citizens Guide to the Charter, past minutes of previous Commissions, as well as the names of the past members. Agenda and meeting packets for all future meetings will be located on the site. You will note that Article VIII of the Charter addresses how the charter can be amended. Marian K. Karr, MMC City Clerk From: Christine Stewart [mailto:stewartchristine06O @gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 2:17 PM To: Council Subject: Direct Election of Mayor on Ballot? Dear Iowa City Council: Back in my student days, I learned that Iowa City and Sioux City are the only cities in Iowa that do not allow its citizens to directly elect their mayor. I did a little research just the other day and was surprised to learn this is no longer true. Sioux City voted in 2006 to have the citizens directly elect their mayor. So it appears now Iowa City stands alone in the state of Iowa in not allowing direct election of the Mayor. Could someone on your staff tell me why the City Council cannot do the same thing here? Waiting for a decade for a charter review process seems less democratic than just letting the people vote on the mayor election issue. The appointment by the current Council of several unelected Charter Review members (past councilors, retired City Manager) that perhaps have a direct interest in maintaining the status quo does not guarantee the mayoral election issue will be even dealt with in whatever new charter draft they come up with. And I assume the citizens do not vote to approve the new Charter after the committee finishes its work, that it is instead approved by the Council that appointed the members? With this system of self - perpetuation, perhaps it is no surprise that the Mayor election issue and other representation issues were not dealt with in all these intervening decades. I am sure I do not understand it completely, but this entire Charter Review process seems another way to obstruct the citizens of Iowa City from deciding their own representatives directly. I can't imagine why the governing class at the time (the 60's ?) came up with this particular charter system, unless they didn't trust the wisdom of the people to elect their own mayor and also feared the alderman /district representative system. They diluted direct geographical representation by having the entire city vote on district representatives after a primary (if held). I have never heard of another municipal governance system like Iowa City's. Ironically, although we are citizens of one of the most highly educated cities in the country, the original charter writers seemed to have very little confidence in the ability of Iowa City residents to govern themselves without a lot of these built in "safeguards" (obstacles). My question: Is there some reason why this mayor election issue just cannot be put on the next general election ballot for the people to decide as it was done in Sioux City? In addition, could someone direct me to any historical documents which might exist that list the original Charter members and any background /history on their reasoning for creating such a system? I have to believe there was some reason for it, and would like background on it. I would like to know the names and titles of the original members to discern whether they might have been from Iowa City's governing "elite" class at the time (University professors, attorneys, League of Women Voters, etc.) and might have been fearful of the wisdom of the "unwashed masses "? Are minutes available online of past Charter Review committees through the decades so I could view their thoughts on why they maintained this system? I am curious why so many handpicked committee members decided to maintain the system, whether the issue was thoughtfully debated or whether they were just there to rubber stamp the status quo. I am curious and would appreciate a response by you or your legal aides. Thank you for your service. Christine Stewart, Iowa City 2 Marian Karr 3f(7) From: John Thomas <joh nfredericthomas@g mail. com > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 9:29 AM To: Council Subject: Iowa City Gateway Project Attachments: IC Gateway Comments.pdf; excerpt from Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares. pdf Dear City Council, I have attached my comments regarding the preliminary design of the Iowa City Gateway Project. John Thomas Iowa City To: Melissa Clow, City Council From: John Thomas, 509 Brown Street Date: March 11, 2014 Iowa City Gateway Comments These comments build on the comments submitted to the City by the Bella Vista /Northside neighbors on February 12, 2014. The primary goals of the Iowa City Gateway Project are: 1) Preserving and enhancing the natural scenic qualities and public uses of the Dubuque Street corridor 2) Carefully assessing the project's cost/benefit, operating budget, and minimizing its environmental footprint 3) Promoting pedestrian and bicycle safety by developing a thoroughfare speed management plan 4) Preserving and enhancing the value of adjacent and nearby private and public property Heading south from Foster Road 25 mph speed limit south of Foster Road For the project to realize its goals, this is a critical aspect of the project. South of Foster Road, the function of Dubuque Street transitions from providing high -speed vehicular mobility in a roadway environment to providing safe access for all users in a livable urban environment. Safety, quality of life, and property value measures will suffer if speeds are not reduced. Fortunately, the street grade flattens out south of Foster Road, promoting adherence to a 25mph speed limit. Please refer to the attached list of speed control measures found in Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares, co- authored by the Institute of Transportation Engineers and the Congress of the New Urbanism. The measures include narrowed travel lanes and street trees (on Dubuque St. trees could be planted in the side medians), among many others. Narrower traffic lanes (i.e., eleven -foot lanes) will also reduce the project's capital /operating costs and environmental footprint. West Side Multi -use Trail Since the proposed multi -use trail must be located on the east side of Dubuque Street north of Foster Road, it can cross to the west side at the Foster Road intersection. The multi -use trail belongs along the west side, where it can be better integrated with the corridor's scenic qualities and recreational uses. Trees should be planted to frame views and provide shade. Limit the Eastside Sidewalk between Foster Road and Mayflower Residence Hall 1. Foster to Ridge Road: If the multi -use trail runs along the west side of the Dubuque Street corridor, there is little need for a sidewalk along this segment. In the vicinity of the driveway to 1818 Dubuque Street, the current proposal shows a break in the side median and the sidewalk immediately behind the curb. Eliminating the sidewalk would correct this condition and allow a wider side median. 2. Ridge Road to Mayflower: a five -foot wide sidewalk could run from Ridge Road to Mayflower, providing access for Ridge Road residents and Cliffs condominium residents to the signalized crossing at Mayflower (see next item). Signalize the Mayflower Mid -Block Crossing Mayflower Residence Hall houses more than 1000 students. It deserves a safe, signalized crossing to the west side of the corridor and Terrill Mill Park. This crossing would also serve many other residents to the north and south of Mayflower. Located equidistant from Foster Road and Park Road, a signalized intersection would also help to moderate speeds along the corridor, especially if it is speed actuated (i.e., a vehicle traveling at excessive speed triggers the signal to turn red). Limit the Eastside Sidewalk from Mayflower to Park Road 1. Mayflower to Private Drive (access to 1100 — 1106 Dubugue): a five -foot wide sidewalk running north to Mayflower could provide access to a signalized crossing. 2. Private Drive (1032 Dubuoue St.) to Park Road: a five -foot wide sidewalk could provide access for the 1032 Dubuque residence and residents up Kimball Road to the signalized intersection at Park Road. Limit the need for a retaining wall where the riverbank narrows at the southern end of Terrill Mill Park In order to minimize the amount of retaining wall at the river's edge, the southernmost segment of the center median could be narrowed or deleted, and the southbound lanes shifted to the east. This would allow more space to transition from the roadway elevation back to existing grade along the riverbank. Delete the southbound right -turn lane at Park Road According to Staffs memo to the City Manager on September 26, 2013, the addition of a right -turn lane at Park Road is intended to relieve a backup of about 715 vehicles at the peak of morning commute. As a result, intersection delay will be reduced from 120 seconds to 11.5 seconds. At the evening commute peak, intersection delay would be reduced from 28.2 to 24.1 seconds. In other words, the delay is only a concern in the morning peak commute. My initial response to the proposal is to simply say adding the right -turn lane will not in the long -term ease congestion. The reason is that increasing traffic capacity on freeways and arterials induces greater demand, resulting in a higher level of congestion in a short period of time. The most comprehensive study on congestion to date, the 1998 Surface Transportation Policy Project concluded, "Metro areas that invested heavily in road capacity expansion fared no better in easing congestion than metro areas that did not." (Excerpted from Donald Chen, "If You Build It, They Will Come: Why We Can't Build Our Way Out of Congestion ") In sum, the right -turn lane is providing a short-term benefit of reducing the morning peak commute time by a couple of minutes. Aside from eventually adding to congestion at the intersection, adding a right -turn lane will make the Dubuque St. crossing distance longer for pedestrians by adding a fifth lane. A dedicated right -turn lane will also exacerbate conflicts between pedestrians /bicyclists as drivers continuously turn through the crosswalk. This intersection is along a popular multi -use path. We can expect higher levels of walking and bicycling on the Iowa River Trail once the Gateway and Hancher Auditorium are completed and the greater area becomes a major destination. Other reasons to delete the right -turn lane are costs and visual impacts resulting from retaining wall construction. The turn lane will require a higher retaining wall along the river, as there will be less distance to transition from the roadway elevation back to existing grade along the river. Consider a Dubuque Street "Road Diet' south of Park Road Based on 2010 Iowa DOT average daily traffic counts (18,300) and City of Iowa City peak hour traffic counts (984), reducing Dubuque St. from 4 -lanes to 3 -lanes (one lane in each direction, with a continuous center turn lane) could be evaluated. The existing 4 -lane condition has a high rate of collisions, most likely due to conditions resulting from left -turns from the fast lane. Heading West on Park Road Keep Park Road Bridge 4- lanes, 11 -feet wide The concept of keeping Park Road Bridge at 4 -lanes would help reduce the project budget and keep the crossing distance for pedestrians from increasing by another lane width. One existing condition to consider is whether to keep the center median. Streetlights with twin fixtures are currently located there, thus removing any obstructions from the side walkways. If the median nose is widened to six -feet and extended to the crosswalk, the center median could provide pedestrian refuge. Develop a thoroughfare speed management plan for Park Road As with Dubuque Street, Park Road should be designed to align vehicular speeds to a 25mph speed limit. Are the three left-turn lanes necessary at the Park Rd. /N. Riverside Drive intersection? Is Park Road near capacity for a minor two -lane arterial street? What role did speed play in collisions at this intersection? The addition of the left turn lanes widens the pedestrian crossing distances adjacent to City Park. The added lanes increase the number of conflict points, may block sight lines, and could increase speeds on Park Road, as there will be less reason to slow down. Reducing the intersection delay may not have a positive effect on the collision rates, and could impact quality of life for residents along Park Road. Attachment cases, routes other than state highways may be more appropriate or more easily accommodating. Any such diversions from state routes need to be clearly marked. Chapter 10 (Intersection Design Guidelines) pro- vides further guidance on the design of intersections to accommodate large vehicles. Functional Classification Functional classification describes a thoroughfare's theoretical function and role in the network, as well as governs the selection of certain design parameters, although the actual function is often quite different. As discussed in Chapter 4, functional class may in- fluence some aspects of the thoroughfare such as its continuity through an area, trip purposes and lengths of trips accommodated, level of land access it serves, type of freight service and types of public .transit served. These functions are important factors to con- sider in the design of the thoroughfare, but the physi- cal design of the thoroughfare in CSS is determined by the thoroughfare type designation (as introduced in Chapter 4 and further discussed in Chapter 6).' The Role of Capacity and Vehicular Level of Service in CSS The conventional design process uses traffic projec- tions for a 20 -year design period and strives to pro- vide the highest practical vehicular level of service. CSS takes traffic projections and level of service into account and then balances the needs of all users or emphasizes one user over another depending on the context and circumstances (for example, reduces number of mixed -flow travel lanes to accommodate bicycle lanes or an exclusive busway). While capacity and vehicular level of service play a role in selecting design criteria, they are only two of many factors the practitioner considers and prioritizes in the design of urban thoroughfares. Often in urban areas, thorough- fare capacity is a lower priority than other factors such as economic development or historical preservation, and higher levels of congestion are considered accept- able. The priority of level of service is a community objective; however, variance from the responsible agency's adopted performance standards will require concurrence from that agency. CSS also considers network capacity in determining the necessary capac- ity of the individual thoroughfare (see Chapter 3). NfFr 0 Thoroughfare Speed Management Under the conventional design process, many arte- rial thoroughfares have been designed for high speeds and traffic volumes. As the context of these thorough- fares change over time, such as to walkable compact mixed -use areas, the speed encouraged by the design becomes a matter of concern. Further, municipalities establishing speed limits based on the measured 85th percentile speed are finding they are required to estab- lish higher speed limits than the community desires for the area. In these cases, traffic engineers are tasked with identifying methods to reduce arterial speeds. This section identifies research and the practical ex- perience of agencies in managing arterial speeds. It is popularly held that higher operating speeds result in higher crash rates and higher severity of crashes. Research on the effect of actual operating speed on crash rate is inconclusive (TRB 1998). However, re- search does show that higher operating speeds do re- sult in higher crash severity— higher percentages of injury and fatality crashes and more serious property damage. Hence, lower vehicular traffic speeds will be beneficial when collisions occur with other vehicles or pedestrians. Speed management is an approach to controlling speeds using enforcement, design and technology ap- plications. While "traffic calming" is a type of speed management usually used on local residential streets, speed management can be used on all types of thor- oughfares. Speed management methods can use tech- nologies that provide feedback to the motorist about their speed, or designs in which the motorist perceives the need for a lower speed. These techniques include signage, signalization, enforcement, street designs and built environments that encourage slower speeds. Other methods include physical devices that force drivers to slow down, such as roundabouts, raised intersections, or narrowed sections created by curb extensions and raised medians. Physical devices are generally more effective at changing driver behavior but may be more costly to implement and may not be appropriate on all thoroughfares. Speed management is often a multidisciplinary deci- sion because it requires input from emergency ser- vices, engineering, street maintenance departments, Chapter 7: Design Controls 111 law enforcement and transit service providers. The process of implementing a speed management pro- gram benefits from public involvement to under- stand how the community uses thoroughfares and how it perceives various speed management mcth- ods. Bicycle and pedestrian advocacy groups should also be involved in the process. Effective speed management requires knowledge of the existing traffic patterns, both quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative measures of traffic counts, intersection turn movements and speeds help to determine the existing condition and the need. Qualitative infor- mation, often gathered from the public or through observation, can explain behavioral issues. Imple- mentation of speed management should be exam- ined along corridors and across jurisdictions. It is important for a corridor to have a consistent speed through different jurisdictions if the character and context also remain constant. The following is a fist of speed management techniques or measures commonly used in the United States on thoroughfares designated as arterials or collectors:' Active Measures • Roundabouts, particularly when used within a "roundabout corridor." • Road diets (reducing the number of lanes by adding medians, converting travel lanes to park- ing, or adding bike lanes). • Lateral shifts or narrowing (curb extensions with a center island or other techniques that require vehicles to move out of a straight path or create neckdowns). • Smaller curb - return radii to slow turning vehi- cles and the elimination of free -flow channellzed right -turn lanes. • Provision of on- street parking where adjacent land uses and activities will generate demand. 1 Based on interviews with public agencies and experts in the field of speed management. Source: "Best Practices in Arterial Speed Management," prepared for the City of Pasadena. Kim - lcy-Hom and Associates, Inc, and ITE journal article "Com- plete Streets: We Can Get There From Here," LaPlante, J. and McCann, B., May 2008. • Speed humps and speed tables (not widely used on arterials and lack support of emergency ser- vice providers). • Speed cushions or speed platforms (less impact on emergency vehicles than hump and tables). • Narrowed travel lanes. • Raised crosswalks combined with curb exten- sions to narrow street. • Speed actuated traffic signals where a vehicle traveling at excessive speeds will trigger the signal to change to red. Passive Measures • Synchronized signals to create progression at an appropriate speed. • Radar trailers /speed feedback signs flashing "SLOW DOWN" message when speed ex- ceeds a preset limit (most effective when cou- pled with enforcement). • Visually narrowing road using pavement markings. • Visually enclosing street with buildings, land- scaping and street trees. • Variable speed limits (using changeable mes- sage signs based on conditions). • Speed enforcement corridors combined with public education. • Flashing beacons on intersection approaches to slow traffic through the intersection. • Speed limit markings on pavement. • Mountable cobblestone medians or flush con- crete bands delineating travel lanes for visual narrowing • Shared streets using signs and pavement mark- ings (such as bicycle boulevards). • Automated speed enforcement (including red -light enforcement). Additional Controls to Consider in Thoroughfare Design In addition to the design controls discussed previously, other critical design controls in the conventional de- 112 Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach 404 E. Bloomington Iowa City, Iowa 52245 -2800 Iowa City City Council 410 East Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Council Members: IOWA CITY ALLERGY AND ASTHMA CLINIC John Kammermeyer, M.D. Allergist March 19, 2014 Phone (319) 354 -7014 Fax (319) 354 -3196 I am sending you this letter concerning the Gateway project involving the elevation of North Dubuque and a new Park bridge. I wish to point out that I do very much like the design of the new bridge and I think the amount of elevation you decided to approve for North Dubuque Street is a reasonable compromise considering cost and impact of the project. I and my parents moved to Iowa City when I was a very young child in 1949 and I grew up here in Iowa City. I basically have lived in Iowa City since 1949 except for an eight year period when I was in house staff training for Internal Medicine and Allergy Immunology at the University of Michigan Medical Center and also was in the Navy /Public Health Service for two years. I have used the Park bridge and North Dubuque intersection four times a day on weekdays since 1978, except when that area was closed due to flooding. I am therefore extremely familiar with the area of the project. Traffic for athletic events including football games and basketball games cause tremendous traffic backup at times on North Dubuque and at other times on Park Road. Also at the morning rush hour there is tremendous traffic backup on North Dubuque out toward the Interstate and on the evening rush hour there is tremendous backup on Park Road up as far as North Riverside Drive and at times to Ferson Avenue. Also it is my awareness that the traffic on North Dubuque and Park bridge will only increase in the years ahead whether one wants to have that happen or not. This is due in part to continued University development on the west side of the river including the medical center and athletic complex. Moreover, once the new Hancher Auditorium is finished there will be heavy traffic on Park Road and North Dubuque for events at Hancher. In addition, it is my understanding that the University plans to develop a large commuter lot next to the new Hancher Auditorium which will add even more traffic to North Dubuque, the Park bridge and Park Road. Also there is continued urban development out North Dubuque and eventually there will be urban development along North Dubuque, most likely all the way to North Liberty. With the above in mind, I am strongly urging that the new Park bridge be five lanes wide. This will allow two eastbound lanes to be left turn lanes for traffic to make a left turn out North Dubuque. This should significantly expedite traffic that otherwise might backup on Park Road. Moreover there will continue to be bus stops on each side of the bridge in the right hand lane. It is also my understanding that the new bridge will not have a concrete (continue on page 2) C'? m -a _ N W 'r I am sending you this letter concerning the Gateway project involving the elevation of North Dubuque and a new Park bridge. I wish to point out that I do very much like the design of the new bridge and I think the amount of elevation you decided to approve for North Dubuque Street is a reasonable compromise considering cost and impact of the project. I and my parents moved to Iowa City when I was a very young child in 1949 and I grew up here in Iowa City. I basically have lived in Iowa City since 1949 except for an eight year period when I was in house staff training for Internal Medicine and Allergy Immunology at the University of Michigan Medical Center and also was in the Navy /Public Health Service for two years. I have used the Park bridge and North Dubuque intersection four times a day on weekdays since 1978, except when that area was closed due to flooding. I am therefore extremely familiar with the area of the project. Traffic for athletic events including football games and basketball games cause tremendous traffic backup at times on North Dubuque and at other times on Park Road. Also at the morning rush hour there is tremendous traffic backup on North Dubuque out toward the Interstate and on the evening rush hour there is tremendous backup on Park Road up as far as North Riverside Drive and at times to Ferson Avenue. Also it is my awareness that the traffic on North Dubuque and Park bridge will only increase in the years ahead whether one wants to have that happen or not. This is due in part to continued University development on the west side of the river including the medical center and athletic complex. Moreover, once the new Hancher Auditorium is finished there will be heavy traffic on Park Road and North Dubuque for events at Hancher. In addition, it is my understanding that the University plans to develop a large commuter lot next to the new Hancher Auditorium which will add even more traffic to North Dubuque, the Park bridge and Park Road. Also there is continued urban development out North Dubuque and eventually there will be urban development along North Dubuque, most likely all the way to North Liberty. With the above in mind, I am strongly urging that the new Park bridge be five lanes wide. This will allow two eastbound lanes to be left turn lanes for traffic to make a left turn out North Dubuque. This should significantly expedite traffic that otherwise might backup on Park Road. Moreover there will continue to be bus stops on each side of the bridge in the right hand lane. It is also my understanding that the new bridge will not have a concrete (continue on page 2) 0 Iowa City City Council Page 2� March 19, 2014' C") rj - .. curb or barrier in the middle as the present bridge does. With five lanes this gives F s flexibility to try and expedite traffic in case or an accident or in case of a di d Aicle Now is the time to build the bridge with five lanes since this type of bridge cannot Wve any additional lane or lanes added on in the future once it is built. Also on the present plan there is an extra right turn lane proposed for southbound traffic on North Dubuque so that this traffic will have an extra right turn lane to get onto the Park bridge and head west on Park Road. If there are three lanes, one of which is a right turn lane for southbound traffic on North Dubuque at the Park bridge this will help expedite traffic coming in southbound on North Dubuque. As an example the benefit of having that extra right turn lane for southbound traffic on North Dubuque at the bridge, on Friday, February 14th during the morning rush hour a vehicle became disabled in that area just north of the bridge. When I came through that area across the bridge to go up the North Dubuque hill I could see that traffic was backed up because of this problem as far as the eye could see. This was because only one lane of southbound traffic could get through the area. In deed one of my nurses was caught up in that traffic jam and was a half hour late to work. Moreover Melissa Clow was caught up in the traffic jam out by the Interstate. If there had been an extra right turn lane on North Dubuque at that intersection then there would have still been two lanes of traffic that could have gotten around the disabled vehicle and this would have greatly reduced the impact of having one of those lanes blocked. With all of the above in mind I believe it is critical that the new Park Bridge be five lanes wide allowing for two left turn lanes for eastbound traffic on the bridge. I also believe it is critically important at this point in time to include an additional right turn lane for southbound traffic on North Dubuque to expedite turning traffic onto the bridge heading west on Park Road. If we do not include the above recommendations which will help expedite traffic movement through this area then decades down the road city government and citizens of Iowa City will greatly regret what they might consider to be a short-sided decision. If we do include the above changes, that is having two left turn lanes on a five lane wide bridge and having an extra right turn lane on North Dubuque so traffic can turn westbound onto the bridge then decades down the road the city government and the citizens of Iowa City will applaud the decision that the council made as being a wise and far- sighted decision. Sincerely yours, John Kammermeyer, M.D. JK:km ID C71 Marian Karr From: Carol Seydel <clopey1 @gmail.com> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2014 9:16 AM To: Council Subject: Over building on the peninsula I think the time has come for the Iowa City council members to tour the peninsula neighborhood and observe number of buildings.The neighborhood has become over built. As you are all aware there is only one way in and out of this development. The road that I am referring to is Foster Road. When there is high water or flooding in this area Foster Road becomes impassable.The road has been closed in the past and the occupants of the Peninsula neighborhood have been forced to evacuate. I was always under the impression that neighborhoods had to have two means of egress. This neighborhood has one and that is not always available. Of all the issues you are discussing and evaluating this issue should be foremost. You should be providing a safe and available entrance and exit to this neighborhood. It was the City of Iowa City that chose to develop this land. I believe the City of Iowa City provided the funds for the project. You have a viable alternative to this problem. You have a solid road to the top of the hill. It is now the road to the Cole's trailer park. From there you could build a road into the Peninsula that would be available at all times. I understand that Mr Cole has offered to sell land for this purpose. Instead of more and more building in that neighborhood stop now until you can provide those citizens safe passage. This is the most urgent need that you members face. all is well now there is not a flood. Are you going to bury your heads in the sand and cross your fingers and hope to avoid a disaster. in the future? Imagine who will get the blame for the hardship that will surely come about if there is a major flood and the huge neighborhood will be forced to evacuate. It is not an if it happens it is when it happens. Carol Seydel Marian Karr From: Jeff Davidson Sent: Monday, March 24, 2014 11:21 AM To: Marian Karr Subject: FW: your correspondence to the City Council From: Carol Seydel [mailto:clopeyl @gmail.com] Sent: Friday, March 21, 2014 4:33 PM To: Jeff Davidson Subject: Re: your correspondence to the City Council THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE TO MY NOTE TO THE COUNCIL. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE CITY WAS WORKING ON A SECOND EGRESS TO THE PENINSULA. I LIVE ON TAFT AND HAVE DEALT WITH THE RIVER PROJECTS IN THIS AREA FOR OVER 50 YEARS. THE RAISING OF TAFT WAS A RIDICULOUS IDEA AS THE RIVER HAS NO RESPECT FOR A PIE OF CEMENT ,IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WORTH THE EXPENSE. I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE FINALLY USING YOUR BRAINS AND GETTING AN ACCESS TO THE PENINSULA UP AND OUT OF THE RIVER WAY. I WAS ALWAYS AWARE THAT THERE WAS TO BE 2 MEANS OF EGRESS TO A DEVELOPMENT. THIS RULE WAS NOT FOLLOWED WHEN THE PENINSULA DEVELOPMENT WAS APPROVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE I THINK YOU SHOULD MAKE THE IOWA CITY CITIZENS AWARE OF YOUR PLAN. I AM NOT THE ONLY CITIZEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE ADVERSE EFFECT A FLOOD WOULD HAVE ON THIS AREA. I KNOW WHEN AND HOW TO EVACUATE. I ACCEPT THIS FACT AND STILL CHOSE TO LIVE WHERE I DO. I JUST DO NOT THINK THE NEIGHBORS IN THE PENINSULA ARE AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY AND IMPACT A FLOOD WOULD HAVE ON THEIR LIFESTYLE.THANKS CAROL SEYDEL On Fri, Mar 21, 2014 at 4:04 PM, Jeff Davidson <Jeff- Davidson&iowa- city.org> wrote: Hello Carol Seydel. The City Manager has asked me to send you this correspondence that was recently sent to all peninsula residents living off of Foster Road beyond Idyllwild Drive. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for your correspondence. Jeff Davidson, Economic Development Administrator The City of Iowa City, Iowa March 21, 2014 Re: Access to peninsula during flood events Dear Peninsula Area Neighbors: CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 -1826 (3 19) 356 -5000 (319) 356 -5009 FAX www.icgov.org There has been recent correspondence between residents of the peninsula and the City Council regarding access to the peninsula during flood events. We all recall 2008 when flood waters severed peninsula access and resulted in mandatory evacuation of all neighborhoods along Foster Road west of Idyllwild Drive. Peninsula residents have asked for clarification of the City's strategy for improving this situation so that the peninsula does not need to be evacuated during future flood events. To clarify, I am speaking of all peninsula neighborhoods, and not just Peninsula Subdivision. There have been three potential construction projects considered by the City which would address the concern about peninsula access during flood events. The first project was the Taft Speedway Levee. This project would have raised Taft Speedway between Dubuque Street and No Name Road by creating a levee that would have kept flood waters from flooding Foster Road. This project was considered by the City Council and rejected due to impacts to the adjacent neighborhood. The second project is the elevation of Foster Road, or more specifically the elevation of the portion of Foster Road which is currently flood prone between Laura Drive and No Name Road. This project would elevate the low portion of Foster Road so that there is less probability that it would be closed due to future flooding. This project currently exists in the unfunded portion of the City's Capital Improvement Program with an estimated cost of $3.2 million. The third alternative is the extension of Laura Drive adjacent to the Forest View Mobile Home Park property and Arn /Cole property to connect with Mackinaw Subdivision as shown in the figure below. We now believe this is the preferred alternative. All of the property necessary for this extension to occur is now under a single ownership, and the City is working with the property owner on evaluating redevelopment opportunities. The Laura Drive extension is independent of the 500 -year flood plain, and ensures the highest probability of not being impacted by future flood events. This would provide a secondary means of access to all properties east of Mackinaw Drive, and a flood proof access to all upper peninsula neighborhoods. There was a request to evaluate a temporary access road through the Arn /Cole property, which could be activated during flood events. Even a temporary access road must be constructed to minimum acceptable street standards in order to provide emergency vehicle access. Our analysis shows that construction of a temporary access road prior to redevelopment occurring would cost approximately $503,000 for a gravel road or $843,000 for a road with an asphalt surface. It would involve extensive property acquisition since the alignment is all on private property, and there is no assurance the temporary road would be in the best location for the eventual redevelopment of the site. March 21, 2014 Page 2 The Laura Drive extension is seen by the City as a project that will occur when redevelopment occurs on the Arn /Cole property between Forest View Mobile Home Park and Mackinaw Subdivision. We hope that working with the private property owner in the next 12 months we can bring greater clarity to the schedule for the Laura Drive extension. Feel free to contact me at jeff- davidson @iowa - city.org if you have questions. Sincerely, Jeff Davidson Department of Neighborhood and Community Development 3-- za - Iy I have a complaint. The Iowa City- Coralville -area has become a place to rip people off. The rentals are stealing people blind. One can hardly find affordable rentals that are affordable that are fit to live in. Recently I rented one for $700.00 that I found had cockroaches after moving in. They always say 'if it is clean w /no damages you will get your deposit back. I have lived in the area for 5 years and have never got a deposit back. The apartments are rarely painted freshly or carpet shampood. Then when you move out, you are blamed for the wear and tear. Thus no deposit return. It's a 'racket' going on with the apartment owners. And now that a lot of them are getting run down, they are selling apartment units for an ungodly price. All the appliances are probably worn out, including the furnace. And people who are desperate for a place to live are buying them not thinking about what expenses they will incur in the future. You have a Rental Inspection for housing but do they check for cleanliness or bugs? I think not. What about your Health Department. Do they go out and actually look around or do they just make phone calls? If an owner says he sprayed for bugs every month but still has them I can't see where a phone call or a walk through abuilding would do any good. Inspection, to me, means check inside the appliances and look for dirty walls and carpet. And then make the owner clean up their act before the next renter moves in. The owners are pocketing all those deposits plus the rent. Like I said, people are getting ripped off. The unit I recently rented that had cockroaches even had them in the appliances, bathroom and even crawling out of the faucets and up the walls. Of course I didn't see any of that before I signed the lease. I was only there 1 day.aridI couldn't even sleep there. The 2nd day I moved out and it took a contentious episode to get my money back. They wanted to charge me for the 2 days. I can't imagine how many poor people have had an experience like this in your area. Something needs to be done. I don't have the answer but you Mr. Mayor, or you Council members should make some rules for the apartments owners instead of the owners ripping people off. Charles Gilbertson 4843 Grand View Lane Fort Madison, IA 52627 3f(8) W X21 I have a complaint. The Iowa City- Coralville -area has become a place to rip people off. The rentals are stealing people blind. One can hardly find affordable rentals that are affordable that are fit to live in. Recently I rented one for $700.00 that I found had cockroaches after moving in. They always say 'if it is clean w /no damages you will get your deposit back. I have lived in the area for 5 years and have never got a deposit back. The apartments are rarely painted freshly or carpet shampood. Then when you move out, you are blamed for the wear and tear. Thus no deposit return. It's a 'racket' going on with the apartment owners. And now that a lot of them are getting run down, they are selling apartment units for an ungodly price. All the appliances are probably worn out, including the furnace. And people who are desperate for a place to live are buying them not thinking about what expenses they will incur in the future. You have a Rental Inspection for housing but do they check for cleanliness or bugs? I think not. What about your Health Department. Do they go out and actually look around or do they just make phone calls? If an owner says he sprayed for bugs every month but still has them I can't see where a phone call or a walk through abuilding would do any good. Inspection, to me, means check inside the appliances and look for dirty walls and carpet. And then make the owner clean up their act before the next renter moves in. The owners are pocketing all those deposits plus the rent. Like I said, people are getting ripped off. The unit I recently rented that had cockroaches even had them in the appliances, bathroom and even crawling out of the faucets and up the walls. Of course I didn't see any of that before I signed the lease. I was only there 1 day.aridI couldn't even sleep there. The 2nd day I moved out and it took a contentious episode to get my money back. They wanted to charge me for the 2 days. I can't imagine how many poor people have had an experience like this in your area. Something needs to be done. I don't have the answer but you Mr. Mayor, or you Council members should make some rules for the apartments owners instead of the owners ripping people off. Charles Gilbertson 4843 Grand View Lane Fort Madison, IA 52627 March 18, 2014 Charles Gilbertson 4843 Grand View Lane Fort Madison, IA 52627 Dear Mr. Gilbertson- I b i _ CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 -1826 (3 19) 356 -5000 (319) 356 -5009 FAX www.icgov.org I'm sorry your experience with renting in the Iowa City- CoralviIle area has not been a positive one. With the rental occupancy rate pushing 99% 1 know that it can be difficult to find housing in the area. That being said, all housing should be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. One of the issues you brought up was in reference to your rental deposits not being returned. This is a legal issue and I would encourage you to seek legal advice in this matter. In Iowa City our rental inspection program allows for systematic inspection of all licensed rental property on a two year basis. Because of the high yearly lease turn over, with a majority happening around August 1S`, it is not feasible to inspect all rental properties at lease turnover. Tenants should complete an inspection checklist noting the condition of the apartment when they move in. These checklists are very helpful when disputes arise about the condition of the property at the end of a lease period. Our inspection process verifies that rental properties are being maintained to the requirements of the Iowa City Housing Code, but some issues do not present themselves during the inspections. The majority of these inspections take place while the apartments are being occupied and the tenants themselves are the best resource for finding problems. We do inspect for cleanliness and for bugs, but as you experienced, evidence of cockroaches can be removed before an inspection. I appreciate you contacting us, and if you provide us with the address of the property you attempted to rent, I will conduct a follow -up inspection. Regards, Stan Laverman Senior Housing Inspector, City of Iowa City 3J �_ (n ) Project GREEN Parkways Maintenance Report 12013 The Project GREEN Annual Parkways Maintenance Program includes the maintenance of several of Iowa City's most prominent entries into the community. Landscaping of the parkways by Project GREEN began in 1968, and maintenance of the parkways began in 2006. Both initiatives continue to be an important focus of this vital community organization. Parkways maintained include: Iowa Avenue; Melrose and West Melrose; North Dubuque Street (Meadow Lane to 1 -80); Foster Road /N. Dubuque Street Intersection; Park Road Bridge/ N. Dubuque Street Intersection, Highway 6 from Keokuk Street to Fair Meadows Boulevard (Juniper beds only), and the northeast quadrant of the intersection of HWY. 6 and Gilbert Street. The last two areas were added in 2013. Maintenance work at each of these parkways is performed by contractors awarded the work through a competitive bid process that occurs in February or March of each year. Landscape maintenance work includes: Spring Clean -up; Monthly Maintenance Q site visits); Fall Clean -up and tree protection. At times, as the growing season progresses, "Added Work" such as watering, tree and shrub removal, and pruning and mulching is required. During alternating years, mulch is typically replenished throughout existing beds in the parkways in order to maintain a 3 inch depth. In recent years, mulching has become increasingly important in protecting soil moisture levels through droughty periods. Mowing of the turf areas and removal of large trees is completed by the City of Iowa City. 2013 started -out with drought conditions through the winter months and then thank fully, we experienced a wet spring, which removed us from drought conditions until August 1. An "extreme drought" was declared for many Iowa counties including Johnson on August Vt by Tom Vilsack. This drought was officially removed on October 3rd The following are brief 2013 reports for each of the parkways that Project GREEN maintained: Iowa Avenue Added Work - Replacement Plantings: Some of the replacement yew plantings from 2012, Emerald Spreader Japanese Yews — Taxus cuspidate 'Monloo' , and 'Taunton' Yews —Taxus media iauntonii', declined due to lack of moisture. These will be replaced during the spring of 2014. All of the other replacement plantings are doing well. These included: Eastern Redbuds - Cercis Canadensis, and Amur Maples —Acer ginnala. Supplemental watering was specified for the replacement yews from August 1" through October, and ended when we received normal rain and moisture conditions. Prepared by Hawks Design 12 -10 -13 Spring Cleanup: Spring clean -up for Iowa Avenue during 2013 included: fertilizer application, pre- emergent weed control, debris removal, and crabapple tree sucker removal, and pruning of Spirea, Amur Maples and yews. Spring Cleanup was completed by April 1" Raking and Topdressing of Mulch Areas: Top- dressing, or replenishing of mulch in beds, during 2013, was not required because this work had been completed in 2012, and mulch depths were at 3 ". Raking of mulched areas was coordinated with Spring Cleanup work so as not to disturb pre- emergence weed control herbicide. Mid - summer Weed Application: Ninety days after the spring pre- emergent weed control is applied, a second application of pre - emergent weed control is applied at half the normal rate. Monthly Maintenance Operations: Rindy Inc. performed seven monthly maintenance operations at not less than 25 day or more than 35 day intervals between April 1 and November 30. Monthly Maintenance included: cleaning -up and hauling away of any litter debris or plant waste from Iowa Avenue boulevard; weed control; plant material inspection and pesticide application to prevent pests and diseases; fall leaf clean -up (during October and November); block five maintenance where plant material was replaced due to the tornado of 2006; control of red spider mite on junipers was not necessary in 2013. Cleaning -up of debris along Iowa Avenue seems to be one of the crew's biggest tasks. Watering: Quality care watered newly planted ornamental trees, evergreens and shrubs impacted by the heat and drought from August through October. Quality Care provided 15 to 20 gallons of water per ornamental tree and 5 -10 gallons of water per shrub during each site visit. The heat and drought situation was monitored throughout the summer by Hawks Design and Rindy, Inc. and Project GREEN was notified when it was necessary to provide even more water to keep plants alive. Notes for 1014: • Watch rainfall amounts for 2014, If we experience drought conditions plan to water newly planted material (within the past 7 years), especially the yews planted in 2012. Notify Home Owner at 943 Iowa Avenue to not dump leaves onto median. • Top -dress mulch beds to attain a 3" depth. Melrose & West Melrose Avenue Spring Cleanup: Spring clean -up for Melrose and West Melrose during 2013 included: fertilizer application, pre- emergent weed control, debris removal, and repair of ruts caused during the winter months. This work was completed by April 1. Raking and Top- dressing of Mulch: Mulching was not necessary during 2013 as this had been completed in 2012, and mulch beds were still at a depth of 3 ". Mulched areas were raked. Raking of mulch was coordinated so as not to disturb the pre- emergent weed application. Mid - summer Weed Application: Ninety days after the spring pre- emergent weed control is applied, a second application of pre - emergent weed control is applied at half the normal rate. Monthly Maintenance Operations: Rindy Inc. performed seven monthly maintenance operations at not less than 25 day or more than 35 day intervals between April 1 and November 30. Monthly Maintenance included: cleaning -up and hauling away of any litter debris or plant waste; weed control; plant material inspection to prevent pests and diseases; and fall leaf clean -up (during October and November). Watering: Quality Care watered the Red Maples on West Melrose once every ten days from August 1' thru October due to "extreme" drought conditions. They typically provided 15 to 20 gallons of water per tree during each site visit. Added Work: Rindy, Inc. removed and /or pruned back to the crown of declining and dead spirea shrubs. Notes for 1014: • Watch rainfall amounts for 2014. If we experience drought conditions, plan to water Red Maple trees; or plan to replace them with a more drought tolerant species in the future. • Plant new Kolloylunipers in medians beds that receive full sun and where all spirea plantings have been removed. • A Linden Tree located in the median under overhead wires was topped by Mid American Energy. It will need to be removed by the City, as the tree is susceptible to deterioration. This tree is located east of the east entry to West High School. • Inspect severely pruned -back spirea. Verify that these shrubs come back with a flourish during spring of 2014. If not, remove them and replace with another drought and pest resistant shrub. • Top -dress mulch beds to attain a 3" depth. • In areas where all spirea have been removed, new evergreen plantings (luniperus chinensis 'Kalloy's Compact') will be installed in 2014. This is according to the plan created in 2013. North Dubuque Street Spring Clean -up: Spring clean -up for North Dubuque Street included: fertilizer application, pre - emergent weed control, and debris removal. This work was completed by April 1. Mid - summer Weed Application: Ninety days after the spring pre- emergent weed control is applied, a second application of pre- emergent weed control is applied at half the normal rate. Monthly Maintenance Operations: Rindy Inc. performed monthly maintenance operations at not less than 25 day or more than 35 day intervals between April 1 and November 30. Monthly Maintenance included: cleaning -up and hauling away of any litter debris or plant waste; weed control; plant material inspection to prevent pests and diseases; and fall leaf clean -up and installation of tree guards for protection from deer (during October and November). This work also included fertilizing beds and supplementing fertilizer for some of the Black Tupelos which were showing signs of Iron Chlorosis. Extra Work: Requested City to mow east ditch line. This work was finally completed by the City. Notes for 1014: • Let City know ahead of time that east ditch line will need mowing. Otherwise, the cattails and other noxious weeds will take over landscaping in this area. • Request City to remove dead Aspen trees. Monthly Maintenance Operations: Foster Road & N. Dubuque Street Intersection Spring Clean -up: Spring clean -up for Foster Road included: fertilizer application, pre- emergent weed control, and debris removal. This work was completed by April 1. Mid - summer Weed Prevention: Ninety days after the spring pre- emergent weed control is applied, a second application of pre - emergent weed control is applied at half the normal rate. Rindy Inc. performed monthly maintenance operations at not less than 25 day or more than 35 day intervals between April 1 and November 30. Monthly Maintenance included: cleaning -up and hauling away of any litter debris or plant waste; weed control; plant material inspection to prevent pests and diseases; and fall leaf clean -up and installation of tree guards for protection from deer (during October and November). This work also included fertilizing beds and supplementing fertilizer for some of the Black Tupelos which were showing signs of iron chlorosis. Notes for 1014: • Let City know ahead of time that the Black Locust grove along the SW hillside will need to be included on their schedule for removal on a yearly basis. Otherwise the grove will take over the whole hillside. • Determine how the proposed North Dubuque Street improvements will impact this intersection, and plan to have plant material desired to be preserved by Project GREEN moved to City nursery or to other parkways as appropriate. Coordinate with Terry Robinson. • Prune /thin -out top braches from Kallay Junipers to allow light to limbs below according to Ed Rinderspacher's technique. Park Road & N. Dubuque Street Intersection Spring Clean -up: Spring clean -up for Park Rd. Bridge intersection included: fertilizer application, pre- emergent weed control, and debris removal. This work was completed by April 1. Mid - summer Weed Application: Ninety days after the spring pre- emergent weed control is applied, a second application of pre - emergent weed control is applied at half the normal rate. Monthly Maintenance Operations: Due to future work along N. Dubuque Street, maintenance was focused primarily on areas north of Foster Road with the balance of areas south of Foster Road requiring only once a month visits after Spring Clean -up, to remove trash and weeds. Notes for 2014: • Determine how the proposed North Dubuque Street improvements will impact this intersection, and plan to have plant material desired to be preserved by Project GREEN moved to City nursery or to other parkways as appropriate. Coordinate with Terry Robinson. Highway 6 Juniper Bed Maintenance Spring Clean -up: Spring clean -up for the Juniper Beds began in March and was completed by April 1 ". This work included removing all debris from the beds, as well as removing volunteer Mulberry Trees and weeds. Mulching: Mulching of the juniper beds included removal of all turf and weeds 18" from the tips of juniper branches. Removal of 3" of soil and installation of 3" of shredded hardwood bark mulch and application of fertilizer and pre- emergent weed control. Mid - summer Weed Prevention: Re- application of granular pre- emergence herbicide to all mulched shrub ninety days after the spring pre- emergent weed control is applied, a second application of pre- emergent weed control is applied at half the normal rate. Added Work: Quality Care notified Project GREEN of the need to provide two additional juniper bed weed control visits in order to keep the beds appearance up to standards. Quality Care was hired to remove dead burning bush shrubs and a tree near the Hy -Vee Parking lot. Notes for 2014: • Due to added work required during 2013 to keep juniper beds weed free and looking -good, add monthly visits to the scope of maintenance work for HWY 6 juniper bed maintenance. • Top -dress mulch beds. Highway 6 and Gilbert Street: Spring Clean -up: Spring clean -up at Gilbert and HWY 6 included removal of all debris, and volunteer trees and weeds. Topdressing& Raking Mulched Beds: Topdressing mulched beds was not required in 2013 because this work was completed in 2012. Raking of mulched areas was coordinated with application of pre- emergent weed control and fertilizer. Mid - summer Weed Prevention: Re- application of granular pre- emergence herbicide to all mulched shrub ninety days after the spring pre- emergent weed control is applied, a second application of pre- emergent weed control is applied at half the normal rate. Monthly Maintenance: Quality Care Inc. performed monthly maintenance operations at not less than 25 day or more than 35 day intervals between April 1 and November 30. Monthly Maintenance included: cleaning -up and hauling away of any litter debris or plant waste; weed control; plant material inspection to prevent pests and diseases; and fall leaf clean -up. Over - seeding: Over - seeding of a bare area (south of the planting bed was completed. Added Work: Removal of a dead Flowering Crabapple Notes for 2014: • Prune /thin top limbs of junipers in order to allow light to lower branches and to lengthen junipers lifespan. Follow Ed Rinderspacher's juniper - pruning technique. • Top -dress mulch beds. Miyabe Maple Grove along Highway 6 (Acer miyabei) # ) } ^ \} } }} } }( { \ / - j ---- -- - ::::: - : / \/: / § z0 E ) |� § Z K | || (( \((((\ ) EE §e ■ N d v r m w N W m N a a a a A a v n v m J h O Q O F p v M v F m m 0 w w J O r M O m m (O O M Q N N r O N m r O N F M M O m N N m m V O (O V O O O N N m fA N O r O (O O M m O O r O r O N r r (O N m m m V m M ❑' N N N M I N V I Z W LU ON 0 n N m m V O r O O N N (O r (O V M N M M N M M O � � x 'o c rc O m m m U x W o 2 O U W Z N ❑ Q a j rc r Z F w W¢ w ¢¢ O¢¢ Z Z ❑ w y w w w w Q 0 x w �� Z W U Z Z qa �� Z Z Q 2 0 2 2 F 2 2 Q y w 3: 2 w d' U Q U d ¢ 000000 U U U y z dddddd ddd F o G U � d O O O O O O } W N M Q U M M ON m N Y M N r m r v LL N M M M M S V N M N N V N N r O W 0 r N r r v m m r v K p M M M M M M M M M O LL Q J W F O F > J ~ Q O W `, m o oQ W U' O 3 ¢ J Z ❑ O l2 l2 l2 l2 l2 M M O mZ Z 0 O O O O O\ o O O\ F O K K a V Z W W f f U K Q Q vin in inrn� rnrn� 00 m N W m N a a a a A a v n v m fir) ..-t ,, r % . 2013 Report to the Iowa City City Council A report of our long- standing partnership with the City of Iowa City Summary of Activities A beautiful natural environment enriches the lives of all who live in and visit one of Iowa's oldest and most popular cities, Iowa City. Organized in 1968, Project GREEN (Growing to Reach Environmental Excellence Now) volunteers work to enhance and beautify green spaces and major entryways to our city. Through the years, our volunteer efforts have grown to include parks, roadsides, riverfronts and median parkways on state, county, and city properties and all public school grounds. Our all- volunteer organization also supports Johnson County's efforts to educate its citizens about the importance of beautifying private property as well. Project GREEN is and has always been an organization comprised entirely of volunteers. Partners Throughout our long history Project GREEN volunteers have collaborated, developing long -term cooperative partnerships with businesses and nonprofits to strengthen and enhance our natural environment. Our volunteers are as diverse as our gardens. There is no prerequisite such as a green thumb to help with our tasks that range from digging and planting to finance and organization, including publicity, friend - raising and fundraising. Artist Judy AI len Backyard Abundance City of Iowa City Department of Natural Resources Forester Hills Bank and Trust Company Iowa City Hospice Johnson County Fairgrounds Johnson County Historical Society Johnson County Orchid Society Master Gardeners Earl May Iowa City Birders MidWestOne Bank Iowa City Landfill Pleasant Valley Nursery Iowa City Landscaping Quality Care Iowa City Parks & Recreation Services US Bank Garden Tour: June 23, 2013, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our annual Project GREEN Garden Tour always features interesting gardens because garden lovers are enthusiastic about all types of gardens, large or small, new or old, and gardeners love to share information and ideas! Project GREEN considers this an educational event, to encourage community members to beautify their own spaces. Project GREEN's Contribution to Community Improvement 1968 -1977 $159,538 1978 -1987 $352,959 1988 -1997 $518,897 1998 -2006 $511,100 2007 —April 2013 $329,093 Total $1,871,587 Adopt- A- Bed,Bikeways,ChaunceySwan Plaza, CollegeGreen ,ComlvilleConnecdon, Courthouse, DubuqueSt . /FmterP,d,EchoProgmm,Fall Daffodil Project,4 -H Grounds, Gilbert St,GREEN Grants for Schools, Hospice Memorial, Hwy. 218 S, Hwy.6 Bypass, IC Public Library, IC Recreation Center, ICWater Department, IowaAve,)ohnson Co. Historical Society, Keokuk to Fair Meadows, KindergartenTrees, Landscape Professional Maynard/ Hawks, Linder Rd., Longfellow NatureTmil, Maintenance Support Building, Melrose Ave, Mini Parks, Muscatine Ave, N. Dubuque St, Old Brick, Park Rd, Plum Grove, Prairie Preview, Ralston Creek, Roosevelt Ravine, Sculpture Park, Sunday Garden Forums,Terry Trueblood Recreation Area,Treesfor Schools (Prybil),Waidway Corner,Washington St,West Melrose Ave,Wetlands Research Project,Williamson Memorial Garden www.projectgreen.org Landscape Projects & Maintenance Project GREEN works with city representatives to improve the appearance of our city's entrances. Our nonprofit organization has provided more than $1.7 million in funding for local projects. Our efforts include working with a dedicated landscape architect on design, installing over 30 projects, and funding the ongoing maintenance of this landscaping. This past year, Project GREEN has committed $75,000 to fund landscaping at Iowa City's newest urban park, Terry Trueblood Park & Lake. Other major projects we have implemented include: North Dubuque Sr Melrose Ave. medians Highway 6 bypass (Gilbert Sr to Sycamore) Highway 6 (Gilbert Sr intersection) Highway 6 (Riverside Dr. to airport) Iowa Ave. medians Johnson County Courthouse grounds Historic 1876 Coralville Schoolhouse Willow Creek Hospice Garden GREEN Garden Fair: May 11, 2013, Carver - Hawkeye Arena Launched in 1970, the annual GREEN Garden Fair has evolved and grown to become our major source of income for projects. The plants sold at the fair are all proven performers for our climate and growing zone, and all of our plants have been nurtured and donated by local gardeners. Volunteers amass to divide and place thousands of perennial plants in line -out beds every fall. Each spring volunteers carefully transplant individual plants into pots to be offered for sale. Shoppers at the May 11, 2013 GREEN Garden Fair discovered plants in the following categories: Shade Perennials, Shade Ground Covers and Hosta; Trees, Shrubs and Vines; and Sunny Perennials. Over $30,000 was raised at the 2013 GREEN Garden Fair, which will be used to fund local beautification projects. Garden Forums To prepare for the spring gardening season, Project GREEN and the Iowa City Public Library co- sponsor Sunday Garden Forums during winter months. Our two -hour forums feature speakers on a variety of topics. Each forum features a presentation, followed by refreshments and an opportunity for discussion with the presenter. The free forums are open to the public for no charge, and qualify as education credits for Master Gardeners. The Iowa City Public Library videotapes each program to televise on the Library Cable Channel 10. Videos are also available for checkout in the library's non - fiction video collection. Project GREEN's Contribution to Community Improvement 1968 -1977 1978 -1987 1988 -1997 1998 -2006 2007 —April 2013 Total $159,538 $352,959 $518,897 $511,100 $329,093 $1,871,587 Adopt- A- Bed,Bikeways,ChaunceySwan Plaza, CollegeGreen ,ComlvilleConnecdon, Courthouse, DubuqueSt . /FmterP,d,EchoProgmm,Fall Daffodil Project,4 -H Grounds, Gilbert St,GREEN Grants for Schools, Hospice Memorial, Hwy. 218 S, Hwy.6 Bypass, IC Public Library, IC Recreation Center, ICWater Department, IowaAve,)ohnson Co. Historical Society, Keokuk to Fair Meadows, KindergartenTrees, Landscape Professional Maynard/ Hawks, Linder Rd., Longfellow NatureTmil, Maintenance Support Building, Melrose Ave, Mini Parks, Muscatine Ave, N. Dubuque St, Old Brick, Park Rd, Plum Grove, Prairie Preview, Ralston Creek, Roosevelt Ravine, Sculpture Park, Sunday Garden Forums,Terry Trueblood Recreation Area,Treesfor Schools (Prybil),Waidway Corner,Washington St,West Melrose Ave,Wetlands Research Project,Williamson Memorial Garden www.projectgreen.org Mary Gantz Barb Gartner Marilou Gay Mo Harding Laura Hawks SandyJoynt KaseyJurgenson Betty Kann Bernie Knight Carole & Gene Knutson Shirley Lekin Mary Lowder Jim Maynard Max Molleston Sue Mullins Joan Parsons Linda Schreiber Sue Soderberg JoyTeneick AK Traw SuzieTreloar Gail Zlatnik perennial plants have been planted in more than 40 planters in the downtown district. And, while not all plants have survived, the initiative has generated interest and other private contributions of annual plants to enhance our downtown. Steering Committee A 30- member committee provides self governance. Open meetings are held the second Thursday of each month, except July, at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center in Iowa City. A biannual newsletter is distributed to approximately 3,000 friends providing notice of annual events, environmental awareness, horticultural concerns and information about financial and volunteer support for projects. Members Our organization does not have a membership process; to become a part of Project GREEN one simply volunteers. Gifts qualify as a charitable contribution to an IRC Sec. 501(c)(3) organization and may qualify for Endow Iowa tax credits. Donate online: Visithftp:// communityfoundationofjohnsoncounty .org /pages/give- to- the - endowment.php, indicate your gift is for Project GREEN. Donate by mail: Community Foundation of Johnson County 325 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (Make checks payable to Community Foundation of Johnson County and specify Project GREEN in the memo) www.projectgreen.org GREEN Grants 2013 Steering Committee GREEN Grants represent one of our long -time cooperative ventures with the Iowa City Community School District. Since 1978, Project GREEN has Diane Allen, co -chair funded school projects totaling over $233,526. Additionally, in cooperation Cindy Parsons, co -chair with Iowa City Landscaping, Project GREEN has funded the Kindergarten Fern Allison Tree Project, helping each new kindergarten class plant a tree on elementary school grounds. The Kindergarten Tree Project was started in 2009. Ted and Kay Carpenter Karen Chappell Downtown Iowa City Judy Cilek Project GREEN founders were instrumental in helping the city create Stella Clark the mini park concept and worked to build the Blackhawk Mini Park and plantings in downtown Iowa City. In 2008, in cooperation with the City Jean Dobyns of Iowa City representatives, a Project GREEN volunteer launched a Anne Hesse volunteer project in cooperation with city staff. To date more than 4,500 Mary Gantz Barb Gartner Marilou Gay Mo Harding Laura Hawks SandyJoynt KaseyJurgenson Betty Kann Bernie Knight Carole & Gene Knutson Shirley Lekin Mary Lowder Jim Maynard Max Molleston Sue Mullins Joan Parsons Linda Schreiber Sue Soderberg JoyTeneick AK Traw SuzieTreloar Gail Zlatnik perennial plants have been planted in more than 40 planters in the downtown district. And, while not all plants have survived, the initiative has generated interest and other private contributions of annual plants to enhance our downtown. Steering Committee A 30- member committee provides self governance. Open meetings are held the second Thursday of each month, except July, at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center in Iowa City. A biannual newsletter is distributed to approximately 3,000 friends providing notice of annual events, environmental awareness, horticultural concerns and information about financial and volunteer support for projects. Members Our organization does not have a membership process; to become a part of Project GREEN one simply volunteers. Gifts qualify as a charitable contribution to an IRC Sec. 501(c)(3) organization and may qualify for Endow Iowa tax credits. Donate online: Visithftp:// communityfoundationofjohnsoncounty .org /pages/give- to- the - endowment.php, indicate your gift is for Project GREEN. Donate by mail: Community Foundation of Johnson County 325 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (Make checks payable to Community Foundation of Johnson County and specify Project GREEN in the memo) www.projectgreen.org Marian Karr 3f(10) From: Lngtimedustin @aol.com Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 3:12 PM To: Matt Hayek; Council Subject: MediaCom Service Dear Mayor Hayek and Council Ladies and Gentlemen, It has been my understanding The City Council has some control over the service allowed and provided by the MediaCom TV Cable Company in Iowa City. My Husband and I have lived in Iowa City at the same SE Iowa City location since 1994. We have a long history with MediaCom. We applied for internet service which was slow, but new. At some point MediaCom got High Speed Service and they phoned us promising a "permanent' TV programming package if we would be some of the first to subscribe to the high speed internet service. We decided to do so, and received the entire TV programming package. We had it for years, for the price of the basic package, just as they promised. At the time of the digital high definition switch over, they took away the package, put us back on just the basic package. Going back on their word of "permanent'. The past two to three weeks our internet and TV service has been deplorable. It goes down several times a day, everyday. The internet went down 3 times before 11 AM this morning. We use this service to make our income. Then at lunch time, we normally download a news program from the internet and watch it on our TV. It took over 1/2 hour for the program to load, usually loads immediately, and then it stopped after a couple minutes. The same thing happened last night while we attempted to watch what we normally watch. My Husband called them yesterday to tell them how bad the service was. They told him they were aware of problems in our area. They said they would be giving us a 1 week credit towards our bill. No statement of plans to fix the service, no estimated date about improvements. Nothing. Each day it seems to get worse. I am just wondering if you people have the power to get them on their toes, to do something about this disgraceful service. Thanks so much for your attention to this matter and all you do for Iowa City. Sally Hesseltine Iowa City wf� �s� fth �'�Ift M1 CABLE TELEVISON ADMINISTRATOR CITY OF IOWA CITY March 24, 2014 To: Iowa City City Council, Tom Markus, City Manager Re: Letter of complaint to Council regarding Mediacom Fm: Bob Hardy, Cable Administrator A letter of complaint about Mediacom Internet service was sent to the Iowa City City Council by Sally Hesseltine. Though the City has no formal jurisdiction over Mediacom "Internet" issues, it does maintain an informal relationship with the local Mediacom office to resolve selective customer issues. The significant sections of the complaint letter from Ms. Hasseltine were forwarded to Rick Karnes at the local Mediacom office. As a result, a technician was sent to the Hasseltine residence and determined that the cable providing modem connection was old and introduced "noise" into the system. The cable was replaced and this issue was resolved. On the issue of when " MediaCom got High Speed Service and they phoned us promising a'permanent' TV programming package..." a Mediacom representative reported that the service change occurred because, "before the digital switch ... fox news was coming through the (Hasseltine's) trap and when we moved to all digital that stopped coming through for them." The Mediacom representative "educated" the Hasseltines that this was not a change of the programming package but the loss of channels that were being sent to them in error. I contacted the Hasseltines and was told all issues have now been resolved. 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, IA 52240 Ph: 319.356.5047 rohardy @citychannel4.com I �0_=. ®_r� CITY OF IOWA CITY 3f (11) MEMORANDUM Date: February 21St, 2014 To: City Clerk From: Darian Nagle -Gamm, Traffic Engineering Planner Re: Item for March 4th, 2014 City Council meeting; Removal of BUS STOPS 8285, 8284, and 8283 on Cae Drive, BUS STOPS 8282 and 8281 on Abbey Lane, BUS STOPS 8279, 8278, and 8277 on Plaen View Drive, and BUS STOP 8276 on Gryn Drive; Establishment of three BUS STOPS on Mormon Trek at the intersection with Cae Drive, Plaen View Drive, and Abbey Lane. 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 (17, 10); Remove BUS STOPS 8285, 8284, and 8283 on Cae Drive, BUS STOPS 8282 and 8281 on Abbey Lane, BUS STOPS 8279, 8278, and 8277 on Plaen View Drive, and BUS STOP 8276 on Gryn Drive; Establishment three BUS STOPS on Mormon Trek at the intersection with Cae Drive, Plaen View Drive, and Abbey Lane. Comment: This change to the Plaen View bus route was requested by the Transportation Services department in effort to improve efficiency and on -time performance. 1 �r IN a. Towncrest Design Review District Map: rS ST. _ I 6RU.— ®/ Tdwncresl urban renewal project and Design Review Overlay (ODR) zone area "Nr (Ord. 11 -4421, 2 -1 -2011) B. Requests For Advice: 1'. The city council may request advice and recommendations from the design review committee on projects located outside of desig- nated areas. n(j � Any G& a zl May 201 Iowa City fulc". Loa J