HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-28 Info Packet,r
CITY OF IOWA CITY
www.icgov.org
IP1 Council Tentative Meeting Schedule
I132 Work Session Agenda
City Council Information Packet
January 2 Work Session
IP3 Pending Work Session Topics
December 28, 2017
Memo from City Manager: Sanxay-Gilmore House, 109 Market Street (originally
in12/14/17 info packet) [Re -distributed as Late Handout 1/2/18]
Email from Ginalie Swaim, Chair, Historic Preservation: 109 Market — Sanxay-
Gilmore House [Late handout distributed 1/2/18]
Miscellaneous
IP4 Copy of Article from City Manager: What the `Tax Cuts and Jobs Act' Will Mean for
Cities
IP5 Memo from Acting Senior Transportation Engineering Planner and Transportation
Planner: On -street parking regulation on the 1200 block of E Davenport Street
IP6 Copy of news release: City names new Neighborhood and Development Services
Director
IP7 Budget Work Session Agenda: January 6
IP8 Budget Work Session Agenda: January 9
r
City Council Information Packet
December 28, 2017
CITY of IOWA CITY
www.icgov.org
IN Council Tentative Mee ing Schedule
nuary 2 Work Session
I132 Work Session Agenda
IP3 Pending Work Session Topics
ul
IN Copy of Article from City Manager:
Cities
IP5 Memo from Acting Senior Transp ation Er
Planner: On -street parking regul on on the
IP6 Copy of news release: City na s new Neigl
Director
IP7 Budget Work Session Age a: January 6
IP8 Budget Work Session Ag nda: January 9
Cuts and Jobs Act' Will Mean for
ring Planner and Transportation
block of E Davenport Street
o�d and Development Services
12-28-17
IN
r City Council Tentative Meeting Schedule
SO-
^� Subject to change
M1112=0 M
�a ate_
CITY OF IOWA CITY December 28, 2017
Date
Time
Meeting
Location
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
8:00 AM
Special Formal (Organizational Meeting)
Emma J.
Harvat Hall
5:00PM
Work Session
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
Saturday, January 6, 2018
8:OOA-5:OOP
Budget Work Session
Emma J.
Harvat Hall
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
1:OOP-7:OOP
Budget Work Session (CIP)
Emma 1.
Harvat Hall
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
5:00 PM
Iowa City Conference Board Mtg.
Emma J.
Harvat Hall
Work Session
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
Monday, January 22, 2018
4:00 PM
Reception
Coralville City Hall
4:30 PM
Joint Entities Meeting
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
5:00 PM
Work Session
Emma J.
Harvat Hall
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
5:00 PM
Iowa City Conference Board Mtg.
Emma J.
Harvat Hall
Work Session
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
5:00 PM
Work Session
Emma J.
Harvat Hall
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
5:00 PM
Work Session
Emma J.
Harvat Hall
7:00 PM
Formal Meeting
I 12-2847 --
IP2
� r
CITY OF IOWA CITY
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826
(319)356-5000
(319) 356-5009 FAX
www. icgov. o rg
City Council Work Session Agenda
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Emma J. Harvat Hall - City Hall
5:00 p.m.
• Discuss Sanxay-Gilmore House (109 Market Street)
• Clarification of Agenda Items
• Information Packet Discussion [December 21, December 28]
• Council updates on assigned boards, commissions and committees
11-28-17 --
Fnn
1
� _ 1
-a
CITY OF Iowa CITY
UNESCO CRY OFMMR E
PENDING CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION TOPICS
December 21, 2017
January 1611E
• Review of Pedestrian Mall plans
Other Tonics:
1. Joint meeting with the Telecommunications Commission
2. Discuss Graduate and Professional Student Government relationship
3. Review city -funded organizations `commitment to diversity and inclusiveness
4. Review 2016 Police Department traffic stop date with Dr. Chris Barnum of St. Ambrose University
CITY OF IOWA CITY
MEMORANDUM
Date:
December 14, 2017
To:
City Council
From:
Geoff Fruin, City Manager
Re: Sanxay-Gilmore House, 109 Market Street
Introduction:
Late Handouts Distributed
--/A /
(Date)
In September of this year, the University of Iowa executed a purchase agreement with Gloria
Dei Lutheran Church for property including 109 Market Street. The original portion of the
building currently located at 109 Market Street, otherwise referred to as the Sanxay-Gilmore
House, is one of Iowa City's oldest structures and is eligible for the National Register of Historic
Places.
The University entered a contract to purchase the property with a commitment to financially
assist the Church in relocating the structure to another suitable location. Prior to executing the
purchase agreement, the Church worked to find a nearby lot for the building to be relocated.
The chosen courtyard location on Jefferson Street is within the same block as the current
structure and would enable the Church to continue to operate its ministry outreach programs in
the building. The proposed relocation site has been offered as a gift by the current land owner.
Both the Church and the University support the relocation. However, the move to this site will
require changes to the City Code. If such code changes are not made, then the University, in
accordance with the purchase agreement, will take control of the property in the summer of
2018 and demolish the building.
Both the Church and the University have expressed their preference that the building be
retained, and feel the proposed relocation is sensitive to the architecture and scale of the home.
They further expressed it would also place the home directly adjacent to its original location and
within a recognized historic district that would most effectively protect it and the character of its
surroundings. However, the Chairperson of the Historic Preservation Commission has raised
concerns about the proposed Jefferson Street location due to the impact that relocation to this
site will have on the Jefferson Street Historic District and the historic properties that surround
the courtyard location.
This memo intends to convey to the City Council information about the historic significance of
the structure and describe the feasibility, as well as the pros and cons, of four potential options
for preserving the structure in place or moving it to alternative locations. These four options
were previously identified by the Chairperson of the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission
and communicated to Mayor Throgmorton.
Historic Significance of 109 Market Street:
In the November 301h Information Packet, the City Council received a copy of an article co-
authored by Alicia Trimble, Executive Director of the Friends of Historic Preservation, and
Ginalie Swaim, Chairperson of the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission. The article,
entitled "Saving Iowa City's Oldest House' provides a concise overview of the historic qualities
of the Sanxay-Gilmore House.
Prior to this information being sent to the Council, Chairperson Swaim also wrote Mayor
Throgmorton a letter on the topic which included correspondence from an Architectural Historian
with the State of Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Both the article and the September 21
letter described above are attached to this memo for your reference.
IP7
December 14, 2017
Page 2
The historic importance of the Sanxay-Gilmore House has long been recognized in the
community. Margaret Keyes, the University of Iowa Professor who coordinated the restoration of
Old Capitol, featured the house at 109 Market Street in her 1967 book, Nineteenth -Century
Home Architecture of Iowa City. Historian Irving Weber wrote of the house multiple times in his
column for the Iowa City Press -Citizen. Recent research revealed that the construction of the
house occurred at the same time that the Capitol building was being built, making the Sanxay-
Gilmore, along with Old Capitol, among the oldest structures in Iowa City.
In 2015, the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission identified the Sanxay-Gilmore House
as the number one priority for historic landmark designation. That year the Planning and Zoning
Commission and City Council also recognized it in the Central District Comprehensive Plan
update as a historic building worthy of preservation.
The Historic Preservation Commission was planning to commence the process of
communicating with property owners of eligible properties about landmark designation when
news broke this past August indicating the Church was planning to sell the building to the
University of Iowa.
Discussion of Alternatives:
The September 21, 2017 letter from Ginalie Swaim, Historic Preservation Commission Chair, to
Mayor Throgmorton outlined and weighed the merits of four options for preserving the structure.
The options are furthered reviewed by me below and the locations are illustrated on an attached
map.
Option A - Preserve in Place:
From a historic preservation standpoint, this is clearly the best option for the property.
Preserving it in place would ensure that it remains eligible for designation as moving such
buildings generally result in the loss of National Register eligibility. Rare exemptions can be
made when the property's designation is based on architectural merit rather than historic merit.
Although the Sanxay-Gilmore House has both, its historic merit as the city's oldest residence
and association with a founding Iowa City family make maintaining the house in its historic
location the best solution from a historic preservation standpoint.
The University purchased the property due to its immediate adjacency to the main academic
campus and with an expectation that the structure would be removed, either through a
relocation or demolition. This provides them with long-term flexibility for developing the site in
the future as campus needs are identified. The University's purchase price reflected an
unencumbered lot and they do not have any campus use or operating funding identified to
maintain the structure.
With this in Mind, it does not appear preservation in place is a likely option unless the City
intervenes in some manner that persuades the Church and University to terminate their
purchase agreement and have the Church continue to maintain the structure as it sits today.
Regarding this possibility, the Church approached the University regarding the purchase in
order to garner funds needed to maintain the main Gloria Dei Church building at its current
downtown location. Thus, without the sale proceeds, it is unknown to the City what the long-
term viability of the Church's operations are in the current location.
Option B - Move the Structure East to the Gloria Dei Parking Lot:
Given its age and structural composition, any relocation of the house will carry some risk.
Moving the house directly east to adjacent property currently used for Gloria Dei parking makes
the move less problematic in terms of structural stress on the building. Relocation to the
adjacent property also would allow the house to retain much of its historic context and site
orientation (facing north onto Market Street). Context and site orientation are important
elements needed to maintain National Register eligibility.
December 14, 2017
Page 3
This option would displace an estimated sixteen parking spaces on the Church's property. In
conversation with a representative of the Church, there does not appear to be any interest from
the Church for this particular option. Losing an estimated sixteen parking spaces adjacent to
their building would have a significant detrimental impact on their operations. Without such
parking, the Church's long-term viability in Downtown Iowa City will be at greater risk.
In discussing this option with the University, while indifferent regarding a potential relocation site
and leaving that preference to the Church, it pointed out that many old structures are relocated
without harm. Once lifted from the original foundation, the distance traveled is not a critical
factor, especially when the Church's proposed relocation site is on that same block. It was also
pointed out that the University successfully relocated and reoriented a much larger brick
structure (Calvin Hall) 112 years ago and without modern moving technologies. Nearby, the
University also relocated the Shambaugh House (1898) in 2004, to protect its heritage some
four blocks from its original location. The International Writing Program now occupies the home
on Clinton Street. While the Shambaugh House has been preserved, the move did cause its
removal from the National Register of Historic Places.
Option C - Move the Structure to the City -Owned Market Street Parking Lot:
This option would allow the University unconstrained use of the lot at 109 Market Street and
would not displace any of the Church's on-site parking spaces. However, this option will likely
undermine the National Register eligibility of the Sanxay-Gilmore House. The site is near the
original location but the orientation will be changed and the relationship to Old Brick and the Old
Capitol will be altered. The important role of context in National Register eligibility would be
diminished.
In order to facilitate this move, the City would likely have to gift the publicly -owned parking lot to
the Church. The Church would then presumably continue to operate its ministry operations out
of the structure and retain any leftover parking areas for its operations.
On a per square foot basis, staff believes the market value of the lot is upwards of a million
dollars. The City Council also needs to weigh the opportunity cost of disposing of the parking lot
for this use. It is unknown at this time if the Church would even be interested in such an
arrangement.
Option D — Move the Structure to the Park House/ St. Agatha's Courtyard on Jefferson Street:
Prior to executing the purchase agreement, the Church had worked out this option for relocating
the structure. In relocating the house to the courtyard, the Church would still be able to maintain
its ministry operations as the courtyard is directly south of the existing Church building.
From a preservation standpoint, this option would greatly jeopardize the landmark eligibility of
the house. Additionally, in the attached article from Ms. Trimble and Ms. Swaim, they note a
move of the house to this location will damage the historic context of the Courtyard, as well as
the Park House/St. Agatha's, Saint Mary's Convent, and the Burkley Apartments (all of which
have views onto the courtyard).
In order to facilitate this move, which has been proposed by the Church and enabled by a
private land gift, the City would need to rezone the property or amend the City Code to permit
the additional density and waive parking requirements. Staff has not developed language for
such an amendment, but will need to do so if Council provides such direction. In crafting a code
amendment, the City will need to be clear that preservation of the building supersedes other
conflicting goals, such as preservation of open space in the Central Planning District.
Additionally, the Park House courtyard is located within the Jefferson Street Historic Overlay
District. Prior to any permits being issued to move or erect a structure on the site, a certificate
would need to be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission finding that the proposal
complies with the Secretary of the Interiors Standards for treatment of historic properties and
districts.
December 14, 2017
Page 4
For Council's information, the Church has supplied a rendering that displays the Sanxay-
Gilmore House located on Jefferson Street and positioned toward the front of the lot, preserving
roughly one-half of the Courtyard. That rendering and a site plan are attached to this memo.
City Role:
In the coming month, the City will need to determine what role, if any, it wants to play in the
Sanxay-Gilmore House's future. Staff and the Mayor will have dialogue with the Church and the
University of Iowa about a preservation in place option. If that option is indeed not feasible, then
the City will need to determine if it wants to consider trying to use its parking lot or other
financial mechanisms to facilitate preservation, or accommodate the Church's proposed plan
(Option D) through a code amendment.
At this time, no firm decision is needed from the Council. However, staff does recommend that
the Council have an initial conversation about the situation and determine what, if any,
parameters staff should consider when exploring the above or other yet -to -be identified options.
Perhaps the most critical question to be answered is whether preservation of the structure in a
manner that will likely cause it to lose its National Register eligibility is something the City
Council will support and help facilitate. If maintaining National Register eligibility is a firm
requirement, then the at this time it is my belief that there is strong likelihood that the building
will face demolition.
Regarding designation of the property, for privately owned properties Local Historic Landmark
designation is an overlay zoning district that protects historic structures from demolition.
However, the University is exempt from City zoning regulations and would not be prevented
from removing the Sanxay-Gilmore House if it was designated as a Historic Landmark.
Similarly, inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places is more of an honorary
designation and does not prevent an owner from demolishing the structure. Therefore, staff
does not see an immediate need to move toward designation.
3_� -Towa City
- - -- _ `=•> k'�.(EtUr3.0 ,1.3t°(:'Sli1�.tl.Ql'7, t..r�ri_%1'it.Ei610E3i
tl• j -��"•f7a11, 410 E V luhin on Stm t, Iowa Ci M. 527AO
'rte_ ow9, 6K City.
September 21, 2017
Mayor Jim Throgmorton
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mayor,
To continue our conversation on the Sanxay-Gilmore House at 109 Market, I write today about
alternative receiving sites, as you requested, should the house have to be moved.
Option A The best preservation practice would he to leave the house where it is, where its
history unfolded. New research has indicated that the house may well date to 1843, making it
contemporaneous with the construction of the Old Capitol and probably the earliest extant house
within the city limits of that time period.
Therefore, we encourage the University of Iowa to prepare a plan that creates a new building
while leaving the Sanxay-Gilmore House in place. Given the house's association with University
President Eugene Gilmore (it was his home beginning in the 1940s), this would seem particularly
appropriate and would again remind this community that the University is indeed a partner in
preserving our mutual past. And it's worth noting that just as today the University of Iowa is
considering building an entrepreneurial center here to serve its students and this state, so did the
Sanxays manifest their own innovative entrepreneurial spirit in mercantile, banking, and railroad
endeavors in this growing 19th -century town.
Would building around this house unduly challenge the architect chosen? Certainly not as much
as the Great Depression challenged President Gilmore when he built the Theatre Building, Art
Building, Law Commons, and Hillcrest Dormitory in that troubled decade.
on B. The next best option would be to move the house immediately to the east, onto land
owned by Gloria Dei. I truly appreciate that parking is an issue for the church, as it is for any
entity and individual in the downtown and adjoining areas.
Gloria Dei owns two adjacent parking areas, one between the church and the Sanxay-Gilmore
House, and one to the south, next to the alley. The lot next to the house has 28 spaces. Gloria Dei
reserves these 28 spaces for Saturday and Sunday, but Monday -Friday they are available through
rental permits. On the alley side, the church has another 18 spaces. These are reserved for church
members and visitors Saturday -Sunday, and for church staff Monday -Friday. These two areas
comprise 46 parking spaces.
If the house is moved directly to the east, to the lot with 28 spaces, I estimate it would take as
few as 12 of those spaces. This would still leave the church 34 spaces in all. Can the 12 spaces be
replaced nearby Or can the church do without them, as they currently do Monday -Friday, when
they are rented out? This option keeps the house almost within the same historical
context. Further, it reduces the obvious disruptions and risks of moving a two-story brick house
of this age. The shorter the distance, the less risk. This approach will cost significantly less;
fewer power lines have to be lifted, fewer trees removed, and so on.
Option C. Directly across Market Street is a city -owned public parking lot. It has 24 metered
spaces. The lot is also wide enough to receive the house and still have some parking spaces
behind it. Again, it would probably take up about 12 spaces.
Perhaps the City would be willing to sell half of that lot to Gloria Dei.
The City of Iowa City made considerable accommodations so that the Unitarian Universalist
Church could be saved. In this case, another historic building could be saved through a far
simpler accommodation -12 parking spaces.
tion D. The church's proposal to move the house to the green space next to the historic Park
House Hotel/St. Agatha's Female Seminary at 130 Jefferson presents significant problems and
would adversely affect the historic building and district. The attached letter from the State
Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) details those issues.
This area has been a park -like green space—"a restorative landscape," to quote SHPO—without
any structure of substance as far back as 1865 (according to a historical photograph) and
probably earlier. The building at 130 Jefferson served as a hotel in the 1850s; a girls' day and
boarding school for the next 50 years; a dormitory for university women, named Svendi Hall, for
another 10; and an apartment building thereafter. All of these heavy -occupancy uses benefited
from a green space in which residents could socialize, relax, and recreate. This is not an empty
space, but rather a space that conveys part of the story of the Park House Hotel/St. Agatha's
Female Seminary. Today it is still a visual "breathing space" in a heavily built-up area linking the
North Side and the downtown.
Thank you again for meeting with Alicia Trimble and me a few weeks back. I do believe that
Gloria Dei, the University of Iowa, the City, and the preservation community can arrive at a
solution best for all, and I welcome more conversations.
Sincerely,
Glnalie Swaim
Chair, Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission
ginalieswaim@me.com
Attachment: Letter from Paula Mohr, State Historic Preservation Office
Cc: Geoff Frain, City Manager
Alicia Trimble, Executive Director, Friends of Historic Preservation
Bob Miklo, Senior Planner, City of Iowa City
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF
CULTURAL AFFAIRS c•aLis. • ": c�rL;,;u it
Olf",::Jdoli it iw' IW; kIiI+ifl, :'c11
Dear Mr. Miklo and Ms. Swaim,
Thank you for sharing the proposal forthe Sanxay-Gilmore House at 109 Market Street.
You have asked our office to comment on this project and the effect it may have on the
)1lSWRIGx(
September 18, 2017
. i.r`. k14, };r
Hotel/St. Agatha Female Seminary (Individually listed on the National Register and
r'FF}a.a o IF if)4`�rt
Robert Miklo, Senior Planner
Ginalle Swaim, Chairperson
4 I
1yy'hh (IiST(1((ypylGTi.
Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission
I'IialiUt! i
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Dear Mr. Miklo and Ms. Swaim,
Thank you for sharing the proposal forthe Sanxay-Gilmore House at 109 Market Street.
You have asked our office to comment on this project and the effect it may have on the
)1lSWRIGx(
National Register status of the Jefferson Street Historic District and the Park House
f'AIIS ;U A ! �F 10VA
Hotel/St. Agatha Female Seminary (Individually listed on the National Register and
r'FF}a.a o IF if)4`�rt
identified as a key contributing resource in the historic district). The proposed
relocation site is a green space located in the 100 block of East Jefferson immediately
4 I
1yy'hh (IiST(1((ypylGTi.
adjacent to the Park House Hotel/St. Agatha Female Seminary.
❑i•
LI[l�1ft��t, �SR (rlil��i
'
Research is currently underway on the Sanxay-Gilmore House but it is believed that this
house may date to c. 1842 contemporary with the construction of the Old Capitol. The
IAT f HIS IIIC $ITI:S
house also served as the residence of University of Iowa's President Eugene Gilmore. It
is likely that the house Is individually eligible for the National Register.
TATE "IMP1113
There are a number of considerations and concerns with the relocation proposal:
PRESERVAP611
r'FF}a.a o IF if)4`�rt
First is the effect on the Jefferson Street Historic District. While architecturally the
Sanxay-Gilmore House appears compatible with the other buildings in the Jefferson
iC'Nh
Street Historic District, it probably is outside the district's 185D•1954 period of
FOUNCIAT ION
significance (pending confirmation of the house's date of construction),
The more serious concern Is the loss of the green space within the historic district and
adjacent to the Park House Hotel/St. Agatha Female Seminary. According to Sanborn
maps, the courtyard has been open space since at least 1883 and perhaps earlier. The
1888 Sanborn Map shows the presence of an arbor documenting the value of the space
as a restorative landscape for the students enrolled in the seminary and later for the
residents of the apartment following the closure of the seminary.
Additionally, inserting the Sanxay-Gilmore House into this green space will disrupt the
historical rhythm of the streetscape and remove the last remaining green space in the
district. The other open spaces noted on the 1839 map of Iowa City In this immediate
area—City Park and Center Market—are no longer extant.
If the Sanxay-Gilmore House cannot remain in Its historic location, our office encourages
looking at alternative locations in the neighborhood. If it is determined that these
alternative locations are not feasible and the house needs to be moved into the historic
district, we recommend that the commission seek preapproval for the move from the
:i r.!T@ Ii1F:TOA,CAl OUILD!N.G z (Jvi E', W,119T 8T. v PES hI01N+_5. I.': rJ3l'-: • 515.3N1.F.*11 c l4'E�:�i1Ci'L
National Park Service to ensure that the move will not adversely affect the eligibility of either the Jefferson Street
Historic District or the Park House Hotel/St. Agatha Female Seminary.
If it is decided to move the house, an archaeological survey should be done at 109 East Market and at the new location
to ascertain whether there are archaeological resources that will be disturbed bythe project.
It is important to verify that there is no federal undertaking with the University's future construction project. If there is
a federal undertaking, the removal of the Sanxay-Gilmore House may be considered to be anticipatory to the Section
106 consultation process.
Thank you again for giving our office the opportunity to provide comment on this project.
Sincerely,
r-.
Paula Mohr, Ph.D.
CLG Coordinator and Architectural Historian
Cc: Steve King, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
fc,N'i?€:I� ';i'Ei�;tiF lgfltli'lti.�t �,!(5
Cli I; �115'Clli A'�d `?lliLh H9G • !iOC+C.iMUIli el. Dk::n "drt:fd C?7. I.'. si:�3;9 ?t:S."r nl.bi. 11 iil'4V,?L`IJL111gF..13G6'
Built by March 1843, the house at 109 East Market was home to the Sanxay family (pronounced Sank -say), who played important
roles in early Iowa City, and to Eugene Gilmore, retired University of Iowa president, in the 1940s.
Saving Iowa City's Oldest House
by Alicia Trimble (executive director, Friends of Historic Preservation)
and Ginalie Swaim (chairperson, Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission)
ACTING UPON RECOMMENDATIONS from the Iowa
City Historic Preservation Commission and the Plan-
ning and Zoning Commission, the City Council in 2015
amended the comprehensive plan to include identifica-
tion of the house at 109 East Market Street as a historic
property worthy of preservation. The Sanxay-Gilmore
House was long believed to date as far back as the late
1850s.
Compelling new evidence tells us that the house was
built much earlier, and therefore is even more significant.
We now know that it is likely the oldest remaining house
within the original city limits. It stands with Old Capitol as
the towns oldest structures.
This new research in tax records and newspapers re-
veals that the Sanxay-Gilmore House was built by 1843.
That discovery makes its protection imperative. We be-
lieve that every effort must be made to keep the house
where it is, where its history unfolded. A building's his-
toric significance lies in its architectural integrity and in
its association with the people and events from the past.
The Sanxay-Gilmore House is rich in both. The physical
house and the story of the people who lived in it tell us
much about Iowa City's past.
Helping a Town Grow and Flourish
THE SANXAY FAMILY, for whom the house is named, is
interwoven in Iowa City's history almost from the begin-
ning. The year before the Sanxays arrived, the town had
been platted, Robert Lucas as territorial governor had
made his first visit, and Chauncey Swan had contracted
with an architect for a new capitol.
In February 1840, Frederic Sanxay and his twenty-
one-year-old son, Theodore, arrived with a stock of goods
to sell to the emigrants pouring into this "embryo city,"
as one town founder called it. The first sawmill couldn t
keep up with carpenters' demands. Fortunately that
April Sylvanus Johnson began making bricks, such that
on July 4, the Sanxays and business partner Malcolm
Murray dedicated their store, the towns first two-story
brick structure. The same day the cornerstone of the capi-
tol was set in place.
By 1841, young Theodore Sanxay had purchased
Lot 3 at Clinton and Market streets, envisioning a family
home there. He married Hettie Perry in 1842. The two-
story house built for the couple (probably of Sylvanus
Johnsons bricks) was finished in time for the birth of their
first son, Theodore Frederic Sanxay, in March 1843. Sec-
ond son James Perry Sanxay was also born in the house,
in 1846. Another son died before age three.
The house was built in the popular and elegant Greek
Revival style, as was the nearby capitol. As the family's
economic standing grew, so did their home. The adjoining
Lot 4 was purchased. An addition with Italianate details
was added to the west. Two more additions followed.
Every moming, from his fine brick home at 109 East
Market, Theodore Sanxay strode out into the busy world
of Iowa City civic life and commerce. He was quickly be-
coming a mover and shaker. By 1844, he was a trustee and
founding member of First Presbyterian Church. (Twelve
years later, the stately building we now call Old Brick
would be built diagonally across Market Street from his
home.) Starting in the 1850s he helped push local man-
ufacturing, plan a high school, and promote the towns
first railroad. He served as a director, vice president, and
acting president of the Johnson County Savings Bank.
The store the Sanxays had started in 1840 had shifted
to selling hardware and iron in a new location at Clinton
and Washington. The brick building there grew from two
stories to three, and expanded to the east. Years later the
building became known as Whetstones and it now hous-
es Panchero's. But for decades it was referred to simply as
Samay's Comer, so integral was the family to the town.
Although J. P. Sanxay, the second son, ran the store,
he "developed for everything like business, and all its ac-
tivities, such intense antipathy, to render him almost mor-
bid," according to his brother. Although he took up other
interests and moved away, J. P. and his wife retired to the
family home at 109 E. Market, where he died in 1901.
Meanwhile, his brother, Theodore Frederic, had
become an attorney in the East. He still read Iowa City
newspapers and tried to visit every year. He wrote the
Old Settlers Association in 1908, "The circumstance of
my birth in Iowa City gives me a great affection for the
place, and I confess that, though the major part of my life
has been lived elsewhere, as the years roll on I find my
thoughts turning more and more to the old home of my
boyhood, and I begin to feel that I should like to end my
life there, where it began." He died in New York in 1925
but was buried here in Oakland Cemetery. An impressive
monument marks his grave.
His love of his hometown extended to the Univer-
sity of Iowa. His estate established an annual award for a
liberal arts graduate; the award still exists as the Sanxay
Prize. The initial gift for the prize was $15,000—equal to
$210,000 in today's dollars.
Sharing a History with the University
IN 1946, EUGENE AND BLANCHE GILMORE bought
"the little neo-classic house on East Market street," as
Blanche described it. Eugene Gilmore served as Univer-
sity of Iowa president from 1934 to 1940 (and before that,
as vice governor-general of the Philippine Islands, and
then professor and dean of the UI law school). Despite
the troubling economic times of the Great Depression, the
university under his leadership acted entrepreneurially,
adding the Law Commons, Hillcrest Residence Hall, the
Theatre Building, and the Art Building to the campus.
According to Blanche Gilmore, the Sanxay-Gilmore
House's unusually large foundation stones were "left
over from the construction of the capitol building." That
certainly seems fitting, because the Sanxays, arriving here
even before Old Capitol was begun, were certainly part
of the foundation of this community. Their 1843 house—
and its juxtaposition to the downtown and campus—is a
compelling reminder of the early days in Iowa City, when
bricks were just becoming available but entrepreneurship
and civic values were already paramount.
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church has owned the house in
recent decades and has been a good steward. Now the
church is selling the lot to the University of Iowa and pro-
posing to move the house (with university assistance) to
the courtyard at 130 E. Jefferson Street.
At first glance, this might seem like a good solution.
The National Park Service, however, states that historic
buildings should remain where their history happened.
In other words, the location and orientation of the Sanxay-
Gilmore House is indeed part of its story and key to its
significance.
Protecting a Historic Green Space
FURTHERMORE, THE COURTYARD at 130 E. Jeffer-
son (the proposed receiving site) is part of another story.
The State Historic Preservation Office, representing the
National Park Service, has delineated several issues re-
lated to inserting the house here. One of these issues is
the courtyard's association with the adjoining building,
known historically as the Park House Hotel (1852-1857)
130 E. Jefferson Street was St. Agatha's Female Seminary for Girls for five decades, and then Svendi Hall, a private dormitory
for women. This photo, circa 1891, shows the courtyard west of the building.
and St. Agatha's Female Seminary. St. Agatha's was a
girls' boarding and day school operated by the Sisters of
Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Sisters of Charity in the Midwest—like Cathe-
rine Beecher and other 19th -century educators — valued
natural spaces for its female students. Physical exercise
in the outdoors was essential; so were opportunities to
study botany and contemplate nature. When the Sisters
of Charity started advertising another Iowa school simi-
lar to St. Agatha's in 1858, they extolled its location "in
the midst of a grove of luxuriant timber, the shady walks
of which, together with the grounds which are elegantly
laid out, render it a most eligible place for the instruction
of young Ladies." After St. Agatha's opened on Jefferson
Street in 1861,a stable was moved from the courtyard and
a board fence erected, granting the students and teachers
some privacy and protection. Later, an arbor appeared.
According to 1880s catalogs for St. Agatha's, the school
"derives many advantages from its location in Iowa City,
Even today, the courtyard at 130 Jefferson holds true to its ori-
gins as a treasured green space in the oldest part of Iowa City.
is beautifully and healthfully situated between groves,
woods, and on a winding river."
St. Agatha s closed in 1909 and the large building be-
came Svendi Hall (end later Burkley Place), a privately
owned women's dormitory. The women boarders would
have enjoyed the courtyard as a remnant of nature.
Over all these decades, the courtyard has functioned
as a tranquil, restorative green space in a heavily built
area of town. Inserting an 1843 house here would be a dis-
service not only to the needs of today's urban dwellers,
but also to the history of both the Sanxay-Gilmore House
and St. Agatha's. The significance of two historic proper-
ties would be diminished.
Honoring a Sense of Place
WE ENCOURAGE the University of Iowa to build upon
its long commitment to historic properties and its part-
nership with the Iowa City community. As the university
conducts feasibility studies for construction of an entre-
preneurial center in the area, we believe that its leaders
should indeed embrace its entrepreneurial and innova-
tive spirit and build around this historic home at 109
East Market—just as the Pappajohn Building was built
around Gilmore Hall on campus. There are plenty of
national examples of new architecture juxtaposed with
historic structures, where new and old complement each
other. It can be done. Here lies a wonderful opportunity
for the university and creative architects to do something
truly stellar, in honor of our shared history.
And we urge the City of Iowa City to work with all
parties to protect the Sanxay-Gilmore House, the oldest
house within our original city limits, and to keep it where
it first arose in 1843—a contemporary in time, space, and
story of Old Capitol itself.
Sanxay-Gilmore House Area Map
NEUNANN MMSM ARCHITECTS
SCALE - T' - 20'
8-2e-201]
Ilk
:1 :.'V
AL
Ilk
A
14
LI
AL
A
14
LI
Kellie Fruehling
From: Ginalie Swaim <ginalieswaim@me.com>
Sent: Monday, January 01, 2018 8:34 PM
To: Kellie Fruehling
Subject: For Work Session Discussion: 109 Market
Kellie: Please include this as a late packet addition for the Work Session Jan. 2.
Thanks,
Ginalie Swaim, Chair, Historic Preservation Commission
Begin forwarded message:
Late Handouts Distributed
/ z 11.e
(Date)
From: Ginalie Swaim <ginalieswaim(a)me.com>
Subject: Work Session Discussion: 109 Market
Date: January 1, 2018 at 8:30:48 PM CST
To: kingslev-botchwav(a)iowa-city orq, rockne-coleta)iowa-city orq, Susan Mims <susan-
mims(Wiowa-citv.orp, pauline-tavlolDiowa-city.orcl, mazahir-salihCciliowa-citv.org, John Thomas
<iohn-thomasCa)iowa-city.orci>, Jim Throgmorton<iim-throgmorton(a)iowa-city.org>
Dear City Council:
We are pleased that the City is now engaged in saving the Sanxay-Gilmore House, and that you will be
discussing it at the Jan. 2 work session.
We'd like to offer a few comments on Mr. Fruin's Dec. 4 memo to Council, in which he presented our Options
A, B, C, and D, and reviewed each.
Option A, preservation in place: We continue to see this as the highest priority, and we are pleased and
encouraged that Mr. Fruin's memo states that "Staff and Mayor will have dialogue with the Church and the
University about a preservation in place option."
The memo also states that the university doesn't "have any campus use or operating funding identified to
maintain the structure." That may be true at the moment, but we know that university plans are constantly
evolving. On August 30, 2017, the Press -Citizen reported that the university was buying two lots from Gloria
Dei (plus two more on Clinton) for the possible site of a "new entrepreneurial center." On November 14, the
Cedar Rapids Gazette quoted the Dean of the College of Business regarding the entrepreneurial center: 'The
location selection has shifted and has become more fluid." Within ten weeks, the future site for a campus
building that would displace Iowa City's oldest house was off the table.
We understand that according to the purchase agreement, the university expects a cleared lot this summer,
implying that they will raze the house if it's not moved first. This is particularly distressing when the university
now has no current plan for that lot, and that any future plan will be months, perhaps years, in the making.
This would be short-sighted in the extreme, and discredits any organization's tendency to reassess needs and
resources—as well as the human ability to generate creative solutions and new visions. We would hope that
the university would not dismiss these opportunities so quickly.
Option B, moving the house to Gloria Dei's parking lot:
We clearly understand that all of our downtown churches face challenges because of their location—this is a
nationwide dilemma—and that one of those challenges is parking for staff and congregants. It is harder to
understand how "losing an estimated sixteen parking spaces adjacent to [Gloria Dei] would have a significant
detrimental impact on their operations" and that "Without such parking, the Church's long-term viability in
Downtown Iowa City will be at greater risk," to quote Mr. Fruin's memo.
Is Iowa City being asked to measure the importance of sixteen parking spaces against that of its oldest house
(and along with Old Capitol, one of its two oldest buildings)? And, as well, the courtyard associated with the
Park House Hotel/St. Agatha's Female Seminary?
Option C, moving the house to the city -owned parking lot across Market Street: Granted, there are several
unknowns here: the actual dollar value, the city's goals, the university's and the church's needs and interests,
and so on. Nevertheless, this space is clearly an opportunity worth exploring. If the church wants to continue
to use the Sanxay-Gilmore House, having it across the street seems as convenient as across the alley in the
courtyard (see Option D).
Option D, moving the house into the historic courtyard at 130 Jefferson: This is not a viable option and we
ask that the council remove this option from its discussions with the church and the university.
This courtyard is not a vacant, empty space waiting for development. It is a historic green space dating
back to at least 1865. Inserting the Sanxay-Gilmore House here would diminish the historic integrity of the
house, the courtyard, the adjoining Park House Hotel, and the Jefferson Street Historic District.
In addition, moving the house here would require removal of several mature trees, consume well over half
the courtyard, and most important, fly in the face of the city's polity to protect our precious few green
spaces in older Iowa City.
Mr. Fruin also mentioned "other yet -to -be -identified options." Here we should all take heart. We need only
point to the Unitarian Universalist Church, where continued discussion and give-and-take yielded a workable,
win-win option. The City should look with pride at what was accomplished there.
We believe that there is surely an Option E, perhaps a multi-party agreement involving the city -owned
parking lot, or other uses or owners of the Sanxay-Gilmore House.
We do not wish for Gloria Dei to lose its anticipated $2.7 million. We do not wish to stymie the university's
growth. We do not wish for the community to give away its assets, be they parking lots or green space.
We do wish for all parties to recognize that the 1843 Sanxay-Gilmore House, in its original location, is a
cultural asset to the community and the university, which all parties should value and take pride in. And work
hard to preserve in place.
Thank you.
Ginalie Swaim, chair, Historic Preservation Commission
Alicia Trimble, executive director, Friends of Historic Preservation
12/27/2017 What the'Tax Cuts and Jobs Act' Will Mean for Cities— CitiesSpeak
CitiesSpeak From City Manager Fruin
What the `Tax Cuts and Jobs Act' Will Mean
for Cities
I P4
fl ❑ Menu
By Brian Egan on December 20, 2017December 20, 2017
After a last-minute procedural delay forced the House of Representatives into a re -vote, the Tax Cuts
and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) this morning passed both houses of Congress. The bill will now head to President
Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.
The Senate had to make several last minute changes to the bill early this morning, which prompted the
second House vote. While the procedural concerns delayed the process by a day, it did nothing to
change the final outcome.
Over the last two weeks, Members of Congress and staffers from both chambers have raced to produce
and pass a final bill onto the Presidentis desk before Christmas. We've been tracking tax reform for
several months, so here's a quick snapshot of what city leaders need to know about the final bill.
1) Publicly Issued Tax Exempt Municipal Bonds Continue to Be Safe
As a result of the efforts of thousands of local leaders, Congress heard the message that the tax
exemption on publicly issued municipal bonds was not negotiable. While all versions of the bill
protected this vital tool, Congress did take aim at other forms of bonds that help build stronger,
healthier and more economically vibrant cities.
2) Local Leaders Helped Save Private Activity Bonds (PABs) in Final Bill
The House version of the bill proposed eliminating the exemption for interest earned on PABs, but the
Senate bill spared this tool that helps finance city infrastructure like hospitals, water -sewage systems,
transit systems and university campuses.
Local leaders helped stress the importance of PABs to their members of Congress, while NLC staff
helped rally signatures from members of Congress for a letter of support out of Congressman Sam
Graves' (R -MO -6) office. A nationwide advocacy effort pushed the needle and resulted in a final bill that
preserves the tax exemption for PABs.
3) Advance Refunding Bonds Lose their Preferential Tax Treatment
The final bill slashes the tax exemption for interest earned on one-time refunding bonds. Local leaders
continue to stress the utility of these bonds that have the potential to save cities millions, and we remain
hopeful that technical corrections in the future may reinstate this tool.
4) State and Local Tax Deduction (SALT) Continues to Be Restricted
https://c!Uesspeak.o rg/2017/l2/20/house-senate-republicans-pass-tax-reform-tru mp-ad mi nistration/?utm_ca m paign=Newsletter&utm—medium=em ail&u... 112
12/27/2017 What the 'Tax Cuts and Jobs Act' Will Mean for Cities — CiliesSpeak
One of the main city concerns of tax reform is how SALT would fare. The final bill maintains the
deduction for up to $10k in property taxes combined with either income or sales tax. While this is real
progress from where we started, it still puts the deduction beyond the reach of the millions of middle
class families who currently deduct their local taxes.
5) Key Tax Credits Survive with Some Restrictions
Cities initially faced possible elimination of the Historic Tax Credit (HTC), New Markets Tax Credit
(NMTC) and Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). While the HTC and LIHTC were slightly
limited, local leaders were mostly able to successfully advocate for and preserve important tax credits
for cities.
6) Local Leaders Have Helped Make the Bill Better, But It's Still a Step Back for Cities
In a time of increasing preemption and declining federal investment in cities, the state and local tax
(SALT) deduction has been a lasting tool for protecting local decision-making when setting local tax
rates. Coupled with the elimination of advance refunding bonds, we cannot afford further attempts to
push cities to do more with less.
City leaders nationwide have worked hard to send clear messages to Congress and have succeeded in
making a bad bill better, but the fact remains: this final tax bill continues to target some of the tools that
help millions of middle class families and the cities in which they live.
Visit www.rdc.org/I'axReform to learn more about city priorities in tax reform.
About the author. Brian Egan is NLC's Principal Associate for Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental
Relations. Follow him on Twitter @BeegleME
Tags: donald trump, gop, house, legislation, mitch mcconnell, paul cyanrepublicans, senate, tax cuts.
tax cuts and jobs act, tax reform
https://citiesspeak.org/2017/l2t20fhouse-senate-republ icans-pass-tax-reform-trump-admin istrationl?utm_campaign=News letter&utm—med i um=email&u... 2/2
_TZ-78-97—
CITY OF IOWA CITY iPs
:W'-� sI MEMORANDUM
Date: December 28, 2017
To: Ashley Monroe; Assistant City Manager
From: Emily Bothell; Acting Senior Transportation Engineering Planner
Kent Ralston; Transportation Planner
Re: On -street parking regulation on the 1200 block of E Davenport Street
Introduction: At the December 19, 2017 City Council meeting, Council approved an action to
modify the on -street parking regulations on the 1200 block of E Davenport Street from odd -even
calendar parking to no parking any time on the north side of the black. As a result of this
modification staff has been made aware of concerns (primarily related to vehicle speeds)
brought forth by residents living on/near this block. In response, staff requested additional police
enforcement on this block, short-term use of the radar feedback trailer, and informed residents
of the traffic calming program (brochure attached). Staff will continue to work with residents on
this block to ensure all issues have been addressed. As requested by the City Manager's Office,
staff has provided additional information below regarding the impetus to modify parking
regulations on the 1200 block of E Davenport Street.
History/Background: In November 2017, staff was made aware of congestion caused by
vehicles parked on both sides of E Davenport Street directly across from each other. In
response to this concern staff conducted observations on the 1200 block of E Davenport Street,
reviewed the history of parking regulations on this block, and checked for consistency with the
City's parking standards. Our observations and research indicate: 1) The preceding parking
regulation (odd -even calendar parking) was inconsistent with the City's current parking
standards because parking is not allowed on both sides of a street if the width of the roadway
does not exceed 28' and 2) The 1200 block of E Davenport Street is 25' wide and vehicles
parking directly across from each other made it challenging for other vehicles to safely navigate
the street.
As this block of E Davenport Street is only 25' wide, it does not allow for vehicles to safely
navigate the street when parking is allowed on both sides. For example, a 25' wide street is
actually only 24' from front -of -curb to front -of -curb, assuming the average width of a vehicle to
be 7' and each vehicle parks 18" from the curb (as allowable by City Code) on opposite sides of
the street; this allows for only 7' of clearance between the vehicles. On average, a fire truck can
range from 9'-10' which would make it impossible for the vehicle to safely navigate this block.
Discussion of Solutions: Staff found that the preceding parking regulation created vehicle
congestion caused by vehicles parked on both sides of the street directly across from each
other, did not meet current City parking standards and would restrict City service (snow plows,
emergency response vehicles, etc.) and large residential vehicles from safely navigating the
block. Staff recommended the parking regulations be modified to allow for vehicles to safely
navigate the street while still allowing parking on one side of the street.
Recommendation: Staff recommended and Council approved the removal of the odd -even
calendar parking prohibition on the 1200 block of E Davenport Street and established a "No
Parking Any Time" parking prohibition on the north side of the 1200 block of E Davenport Street
at their December 191 meeting. Staff recommends no further action be taken with respect to the
recently approved on -street parking changes but will continue to work with the neighborhood to
ensure concerns with vehicle speeds are addressed.
Iowa City's Traffic Calming Program
The goal of Iowa Citys Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program is to
traffic volumes on local and collector streets. Participation in the
and is not imposed by the City.
Which streets qualify?
. To be considered for Traffic Calming a street must
be functionally classified as either a local residential
street or collector street. Collector streets will not be
considered for traffic diversion, though they may be
considered for speed reduction.
. Traffic calming will be considered only along street
frontages where 75% of lots are developed.
A traffic study must determine
the following about your street:
Traffic volumes should exceed:
. 500 vehicles per day on a local street;
. 1,000 vehicles per day on a collector street .
Volumes should =exceed 3,000 vehicles per day
on streets considered for the program.
OR
The measured comfortable speed of drivers (85th per-
centile speed) should exceed 5 MPH over the posted
speed limit. In other words, speed measurements must
show that 15% of drivers are exceeding the posted
speed limit by 5 MPH or more.
TRAFFIC CALMING is the practice
of managing traffic speeds and/or
volumes on residential streets us-
ing one or more approaches: in-
creased police enforcement, driver
education (e.g.
changes to the
roadway (e.g.
speed humps,
lane striping, o
reduce excessive speeding and/or
grogram is neighborhood -initiated
Step 1: PETITION FOR TRAFFIC CALMING
Complete a petition requesting a traffic study. Only residents along the portion
of the street for which traffic calming is being sought may sign. To be valid, the
petition must include signatures from no less than 50% of the homes or apart-
ments located on property along the effected street (one signature per house-
hold will be counted). SEE: Petition form on the back of this sheet.
Step 2: STUDY AND EVALUATION
Once a qualified petition is received, City staff will initiate a traffic study to meas-
ure vehicle volume and speeds over a 72 -hour period. If speeds or volumes
meet the criteria for traffic calming, staff will review the street section and pro-
pose a set of traffic calming measures that may be safely implemented.
Step 3: NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Staff will review the traffic study with residents of the street and describe possi-
ble remedies at a neighborhood meeting. This provides an opportunity for resi-
dents to ask questions of staff and discuss solutions with their neighbors. The
goal of the meeting is to determine whether there is support from the neighbor-
hood to pursue any of the measures proposed by staff.
Step 4: NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY
If residents at the neighborhood meeting wish to move forward with a pro-
posed traffic calming measure, staff will send a mail -back survey card to each
household along the affected street section. The proposal for traffic calming
must be supported by 60% of those responding to the survey in order to be
considered for implementation. A 50% response rate to the mail -back survey is
required.
Step 5: REVIEW AND APPROVAL
If the mail -back survey indicates approval by 60% of respondents, Staff will
place the traffic calming request on a City Council agenda. Signs will be posted
along the street to announce a public comment period to allow other neighbors
and the general public to weigh-in on the proposed changes. All written com-
ments received by staff will be forwarded to Council for their consideration.
For questions or to submit a petition for Traffic Calming, contact:
Sarah Walz, Assistant Transportation Planner, 319-356-5239 or sarah-walz@iowa-city.org
NDS, City Hall, 410 East Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240
i r
CITY OF IOWA CITY
By signing this petition you are indicating your support for a traffic calming study on your street.
This will allow City Staff to study traffic volumes and speeds along your street. Results of the study will be provided
to you and, if the measured comfortable speed of drivers (85th percentile speed) is found to exceed S MPH over the
posted speed limit and if measured volumes meet the program's minimum criteria, staff will organize a neighbor-
hood meeting to discuss potential solutions that may be effectively implemented along your street to calm traffic.
Solutions typically include installation of signs, increased police enforcement, or physical changes to the road -way
such as speed humps.
STREET NAME:
• Indicate the specific intersections (or addresses) between which the traffic calming study is being requested (e.g. Main St.
between 3rd and 7th Avenues). To be eligible for the Traffic Calming Program you must have signatures from 50% of house-
holds along the affected street section.
• To sign this petition you must reside along the portion of street for which a traffic calming is being requested (see above). Renters
may sign. One signature per household.
Name
2
5
6
15
16
17
Street Address
Email Address
IP6
Kellie Fruehling
From: Ashley Monroe
Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2017 11:20 AM
To: Kellie Fruehling
Subject: FW: City names new Neighborhood and Development Services Director
Ashley Monroe
Assistant City Manager
City of Iowa City
319-356-5012
From: City of Iowa City Imailto:CityoflowaCity@public.govdelivery.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2017 9:31 AM
To: Ashley Monroe <Ashley-Monroe@iowa-city.org>
Subject: City names new Neighborhood and Development Services Director
O SHARE Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
10WACITY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 12/27/2017
Contact: Geoff Fruin, City Manager
Phone: 319-356-5013
Iowa City names new Neighborhood and Development
Services Director
The City of Iowa City has promoted its current Neighborhood Services Coordinator to the position of
Neighborhood and Development Services Director.
Tracy Hightshoe has been with the City for more than 16 years. She replaces previous
Neighborhood and Development Services Director Doug Boothroy, who retired in September after
more than 40 years of service. Hightshoe has served as Interim Director since his retirement.
"Tracy brings exceptional knowledge and experience and a passion for public service to this
important role," City Manager Geoff Fruin said. "She is a proven collaborative leader who excels in
finding solutions through community partnerships. I am very excited for her to assume this position
and am confident she will do outstanding work as Director."
City of Iowa City
Hightshoe.
Hightshoe received her Bachelors of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of
Northern Iowa. She's worked for the City since 2001 and has served as a Community Development
Planner, and then as Neighborhood Services Coordinator.
During her time with the City, Hightshoe has overseen the redevelopment of the Towncrest
commercial neighborhood, the purchase and demolition of more than 100 flood prone properties,
and administered the Single Family New Construction Program, which incentivized 141 new homes
for primarily low -to -moderate income homeowners. She's also managed more than $15 million in
Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds for housing, jobs and service projects that
have benefited low -to -moderate income residents.
Hightshoe will oversee the City's Neighborhood and Development Services Department, which is
comprised of Neighborhood Services, and includes Housing Authority, Housing Inspections and
Community Development, as well as Development Services, including Building Inspections and
Urban Planning. She will also oversee the Iowa City transportation planning efforts
coordinated through the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County, or MPOJC.
Hightshoe will officially begin her new position on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017.
ow
::M w
�t Questions?
..��� Contact Us
CITY OF IOWA CITY
UNEfcOCrry Of IERAIM
!-12_-2R-_f7
IP7
1 l >
�III���
®�,NT
CITY OF IOWA CITY
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826
(319) 356-5000
(319)356-5009 FAX
www.icgov.org
City Council Budget Work Session Agenda
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Emma J. Harvat Hall — City Hall
410 East Washington Street
8:00 AM *
Saturday. January 6. 2018 Budget Work Session
8:00* Budget Overview and Highlights -City Manager's Office & Finance
9:30 BREAK
General Government Proaram Budaets:
City Attorney
City Clerk
City Manager
Finance
Public Safety Program Budgets: (1 hour)
Police Department
Fire Department
Culture & Leisure Program Budgets: (1 hour)
Library
Parks & Recreation
Senior Center
12:00 Noon LUNCH
1:00 Community & Economic Development Program Budgets: (1 hour)
Neighborhood and Development Services
Metropolitan Planning Organizations of Johnson County (MPO)
3:00 BREAK
Business -type Funds: (1 hour)
Transportation Services
Airport
Public Works Program Budgets: (1 hour)
Discussion wrap-up
5:00 Scheduled ending time
*Times noted are estimates
1z3r17—
IP8
III h
•
INT
CITY
CITY OF IOWA CITY
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826
(319) 356-5000
(319) 356-5009 FAX
www.icgov.org
City Council Budget Work Session Agenda
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Emma J. Harvat Hall — City Hall
410 East Washington Street
1:00 PM
Tuesday, January 9. 2018 Budget Work Session
1:00' Review of Saturday's work session
1:30 Capital Improvement Projects [CIP] (2 hours)
3:30 BREAK
Discussion wrap-up
7:00 Scheduled ending time
`Times noted are estimates