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Home My WebLink About2019-07-02 Correspondencei CITY OE IOWA CITY www.icgov.org July 2, 2019 ATTACHMENTS: Item Number: 7.a. Description Feather Lacy - Replace Clinton St Bike Lanes with Bicycles May Use Full Lane signs [Staff response included] Anne Duggan - Clinton Street Bike Lanes Liz Hubing - Thank you - We <3 Iowa City's New Bike Lanes Kellie Fruehling From: Sarah Walz Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 8:41 AM To: flacy@pobox.com Cc: Kent Ralston; 'Think Bicycles Johnson County'; *City Council Subject: Clinton Street Bicycle Lanes Feather, Thank you for taking the time to write to staff and to the City Council with your concerns about the Clinton Street bicycle lanes. The Clinton Street 4- to 3- lane conversion with bike lanes was identified as a top priority in the Bicycle Master Plan. By eliminating a lane of traffic, we were able to provide space for bicyclists who feel more comfortable riding in a designated facility. Because the parking bays along Clinton are fairly deep, riding in the center to left half of the bike lane should typically place bicyclists 4 feet from parked cars. That said, bicyclists are not required to ride within the bike lanes. Any bicyclist who wishes to move through this corridor in the lane with motor vehicle traffic can do so just as bicyclists have always travelled along Clinton Street. Since completion of the Clinton Street bike lanes, staff have reached out to bicyclists as part of the annual meeting of Think Bicycles of Johnson County and the City's Bicycle Advisory Committee. In both cases, bicyclists supported the changes. In 2015, we amended the Iowa City code such that bicyclists are no longer required to ride "as far to the right as practical" and to allow bicyclists to ride two abreast within a travel lane. We are now looking to modify additional code language to allow for the use of "Bicyclists May Use Full Lane" signs. These will be posted along particular roads or road sections to make it more apparent to bicyclists and drivers where taking to the right of the lane is not the optimal position. In order to make progress on the goals and projects identified in the Bicycle Master Plan, we rely on bicycle advocacy groups—Think Bicycles, BIC, the Iowa City Bike Library, and other bicycle clubs—to bring forward the shared wisdom or concerns of bicyclists. While we will always consider individual insights, we highly recommend that bicyclists engage with one or more of these groups, not only to understand the needs of other bicyclists but to see where they may have shared concerns or goals that we can act upon. These various groups are represented on the City's Bicycle Advisory Committee and on the metro area Regional Trails and Bicycling Committee. Sincerely, Sarah Sarah Walz, Assistant Transportation Planner City of Iowa City: Neighborhood and Development Services Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County 410 East Washington Street, Iowa City, IA 52240 319/356-5239 sarah-walz@iowa-city.org Kellie Fruehling From: Feather Lacy (Personal) <flacy@pobox.com> Sent: Monday, June 17, 201912:01 PM To: Jim Throgmorton; John Thomas; 'Kingsley Botchway'; Council; Pauline Taylor, Rockne Cole; Susan Mims; 'Terry Dickens'; Sarah Walz; 'Think Bicycles Johnson County' Subject: Replace Clinton St Bike Lanes with "BICYCLES MAY USE FULL LANE" signs Dear Iowa City Councilors, Sarah Walz and Think Bicycles, I recommend that Iowa City remove the new bicycle lanes from Clinton Street before spending any more $$ on them and replace the "BIKE LANE" signs with "BICYCLES MAY USE FULL LANE" signs. The bicycle lanes on Clinton Street are dangerous to bicycles and cars. I am an experience bicycle rider. I have been commuting to downtown Iowa City from the east side on my bicycle for the past 39 years. Thus, I was very discouraged when on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 the Cedar Rapids Gazette published a front page article titled "Iowa City cranks up bike -friendly projects" and subtitled "Bikes/Better facilities improve traffic safety". The two photos show bicyclists pedaling on the far left (traffic lane) line of the bike lanes, not within the bike lanes, because the bike lanes are dangerous. The lanes on Clinton Street in Iowa City are either 1) next to parallel parked cars so that the bicyclist will get "doored" when an innocent car driver opens their door into the bike lane or 2) behind diagonally parked cars, where the car driver's view of the bike lane is blocked by pretty bushes. I have only viewed the lanes twice thus far, but have already seen 3 cars parked on the bike lanes. This forces the bicycle rider to swerve out of the lane and into the traffic unexpectedly. One of my car driving friends already complained to me about how inconvenient it was for him to get around the delivery trucks that were parked in the bike lane. The bike lane at Burlington Street magically turns into the car right-hand turn lane. As I understand one advantage of the "road diet" is to slow down traffic, so why not allow bicycles to use the traffic lane downtown? BICYCLES MAY USE FULL LANE signs are already found on some Des Moines streets. MAY USE FULL LANE The following is an excellent article about the state of Delaware. "Share the Road" Signs Don't Work httys://usa.streetsblog.org/2015/09/02/share-the-road-signs-dont-work/ Feather Lacy Iowa City, Iowa Kellie Fruehling From: Think Bicycles Johnson County <thinkbicycles@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 12:37 PM To: Council Subject: Clinton Street Bike Lanes Mayor Throgmorton, Council Members, The project isn't quite complete, but I just wanted to thank the City for proceeding with the Clinton Street bike lanes. These bike lanes have been proposed as part of downtown changes for several years and are part of the Bike Plan, which you adopted in 2017. I have ridden the lanes on Clinton several times since the job was begun. In fact, we led last Thursday's Overdue Ride from the Bike Library up the length of Clinton to test its mettle with a small group. Reaction: positive! Increased accommodations and the slowing of car traffic is certainly a positive thing in the strengthening of our community. Thank you again, Anne Duggan Past President Think Bicycles of Johnson County Together, we can make a difference! Individual memberships of Think Bicycles of Johnson County cost only $10 a year. Sponsoring businesses and organizations are $25 a year. Find out more at thinkbicycles.ore. Facebook: Think Bicycles of Johnson County Twitter: @thinkbicycles Instagram: Think Bicycles Kellie Fruehling From: Liz Hubing <ehubing@icadgroup.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 12:40 PM To: Jim Throgmorton; John Thomas; Kingsley Botchway II (City of Iowa City - City Council); Council; Pauline Taylor, Rockne Cole; Susan Mims; Terry Dickens (City of Iowa City); Sarah Walz; Think Bicycles Johnson County Subject: Thank You — We <3 Iowa City's New Bike Lanes! Dear City of Iowa City Council Members, As many wise people before me have said, "strive for progress, not perfection." As with anything that occurs in our city, and any other city, it's been brought to my attention that there has been a few voices criticizing the recent bike lane addition to Clinton Street. While we can all agree that the new bike lanes aren't perfect, they are most definitely a step, or as I like to say "a pedal," in the right direction. As an avid cyclist, I am here to say THANK YOU for your commitment to increasing bike lanes in our city! While I am very experienced and comfortable riding on roads in Iowa City, the recent addition of the Clinton Street and Governor Street bike lanes have made me feel much more comfortable commuting around town. While I can see the argument for having cyclists use the full lane vs a bike lane, I think bike lanes are more suitable for our community at this time. Sadly, there are still many motor vehicle drivers who hold much hostility for cyclists, and get quite angry when you use the whole lane. Having a visual barrier on the road makes all the difference when it comes to the comfort and safety of cyclists. While the new bike lanes don't have a physical barrier separating cyclists from motor vehicles, they do provide a great visual representation of spaces dedicated for cyclists vs. motor vehicles. This can make all the difference between having a car pass you with 5 feet to spare vs 5 inches to spare. What I've noticed is that vehicles are even more willing to give additional room for cyclists now that we have these bike lanes, moving over even further than they do on other streets. Once again, thank you for your ongoing commitment to making Iowa City more bicycle -friendly. I'm looking forward to seeing the continued improvements happening in the future! If you have any questions about my thoughts above, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I love talking bicycles! Thank you, Liz Hubing President, Think Bicycles of Johnson County Elizabeth Hubing Director of Communications ehubing@icadgroup.com 1319-936-6712 IOWA CITY AREA DEVELOPMENT Iowa City Area Development Group Merge Innovation Space 1 136 S. Dubuque St. Iowa City iowacitvareadevelopment com Kellie Fruehlina From: larryFitzpatrick <Iaplandlarry@gmail.com> Late Handouts Distributed Sent: Friday, June 28, 2019 1:25 PM To: Jim Throgmorton; Council Cc: Geoff Fruin; Sarah Walz; ehubing@icadgroup.com 7-1-19 Subject: Clinton Street Improvements Mayor Throgmorton and City Councilors, I have bicycled and driven on Clinton Street numerous times since the completion of the streetscape project and find it a great improvement. As a daily cyclist here in Iowa City for the last decade and a half, I learned soon Clinton Street was a downtown street to avoid, but with bike lanes it has a new feel to it. Clinton Street bike/ped accommodations connect N. Dubuque/City Park with Riverfront Crossings Park and via Iowa River Trail, Terry Trueblood Rec. Area. This is a link our city has lacked and commuters as well as recreationa lists will make use of. We all know changing traffic patterns and habits always has push back and opponents, but it's a process and a string of compromises. You have taken the first steps in improving our city and making downtown more livable. Thank you for continually working to implement the 5 year bicycle plan. Regards, Larry Fitzpatrick Think Bicycles Board Member 115 Montrose Ave Iowa City Item Number: 7.b. Awl Q- CITY of IOWA CITY www.icgov.org July 2, 2019 ATTACHMENTS: Description Mary Gravitt - Street work on College Street Kellie Fruehling From: Mary Gravitt <gravittmary@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 2:54 PM To: Council Subject: STREET WORK ON COLLEGE STREET Please make sure that there are street drains on each corner of College Street where the street is being installed or repaired. This was not done at Linn and Burlington Streets so that in the winter melting snow forms huge puddles, and in summer swimming holes. Now is the time. Don't wait until the work is finished to have the site inspected. Mary Gravitt 2714 Wayne Avenue Iowa City, IA 319.341.6230 Item Number: 7.c. i CITY OE IOWA CITY www.icgov.org July 2, 2019 ATTACHMENTS: Description Caroline Dieterle - Amended deer plan Caroline Dieterle - Deer overpopulation Christian Schoon - A deer bow -hunting concern & suggestion Allison Jaynes - Bowhunting decision Caroline Dieterle - Deer Management plan example to model upon Florence Boos - bowhu nti ng/tres pass i ng Laurie Crawford - Deer/Human Conflict Management Christine Nelson - Deer hunting within Iowa City Dawn Frary - Deer management Laurie Crawford - Bow Hunt - Resident incidents Kellie Fruehling From: Dieterle, Caroline M <caroline-dieterle@uiowa.edu> Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2019 2:46 PM To: Council Cc: erin-irish@uiow.edu Subject: Amended deer plan Councilors: Thank you for deciding to amend the proposed deer management plan to be presented to the NRC on July 11. However, I was dismayed to hear Jim add the "if needed" to the wording of the amendment regarding the inclusion of bow hunting in years 2-5. Saying Iowa City will use bow hunting during those years only "if needed" will be dooming the plan, because the Commissioners will understandably think that since deer counts are paid out of City funds, it will be all too easy to decide to not do deer counts and not allow bow hunting in years 2-5. Please delete the "if needed" wording and give this amended plan a reasonable chance to pass. - Caroline Dieterle Kellie Fruehling From: Simon Andrew Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2019 3:20 PM To: Kellie Fruehling Cc: Geoff Fruin; Ashley Monroe Subject: FW: Deer overpopulation Attachments: dmz_coralville.pdf Kellie, Can you please include the email below as correspondence? Caroline stopped in and had intended to copy CouncWs address. Thank you! Simon From: Dieterle, Caroline M [mailto:caroline-dieterle@uiowa.edu] Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2019 2:37 PM To: sups@co.johnson.ia.us Cc: council@icgov.org; Geoff Fruin <Geoff- Fruin @iowa-city.org> Subject: Deer overpopulation Rod, Lisa, Janelle, Pat, and Royceann: I don't know whether you have been following the struggles of the Iowa City Council over doing something to reduce the extreme over -population of deer in the local Natural Resources Council -designated Deer Zone, which includes much of Johnson County. Two applications to the NRC have been rejected and a third is to be taken to the NRC on July 11. The City's applications have included the use of sharpshooters to reduce the herd size, which is presently 80 deer/acre (a stark contrast to the 7 deer/acre density recommended by the DNR). The NRC's rejections have cited lack of public comment (remedied with public meeting in August 2018), lack of a five year plan (also remedied), and lack of bow hunting (a very unpopular control choice among Iowa Citians who attended Council meetings). However the third application/plan prepared for July 11 will include bow hunting. It is doubtful that the deer population can be reduced enough and soon enough with the proposed plan. In Polk County the deer situation there has been controlled with a shotgun and bow hunting season in the Chichaqua 10,000 acre natural area there where they are doing wetland, prairie, and swamp -oak savanna restoration. This restoration would not be possible without controlling numbers of deer. Johnson County natural area floras/ecosystems will be very negatively affected if deer numbers are not reduced and controlled here. Could Johnson County follow the Polk County example by declaring a shotgun season in, for example, the newly acquired Schwab property? And possibly in Kent Park? Crowding increases the rate at which Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD is spread; and the increase of ticks who travel on the deer and transfer to other animals such a household pets raises the risk that more people will contract tick-borne diseases (e.g., Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever), so the excess numbers of deer is a public health problem as well. I have attached a map of the local Deer Zone as designated by the NRC and am copying the City Council and City Manager. I am hoping that the Supervisors and the Iowa City Council can work together to solve this problem. Caroline Dieterle i Kellie Fruehling From: chrisjschoon@gmail.com Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2019 3:58 PM To: Council Subject: A deer bow -hunting concern & suggestion Attn: Mayor Throgmorton & the Iowa City Council I'm writing to ask that you consider the proven high rate of bow -shot wounded deer that are either unrecovered and bleed out or die of shock, or are never recovered and live with painful wounds until their eventual death. I include a portion of a website's research on the issue. The site sells something called "pro tracker" which aids hunters in quick recovery of a wounded animal. I don't hunt anymore. I can't vouch for this product. But I would request that at the very least, to prevent needless suffering of these animals: if bow hunting must actually be resorted to in Iowa City, that a device like this one absolutely be required for use in the field by any bow hunters choosing to participate in the thinning of herds. Thanks for your time. Best, Christian Schoon Rural Johnson County https:Hpro-tracker.com/406-2/ Looking back, you will find studies related to deer loss rates in bow hunting dating back to 1989 or earlier. When the studies first began, the amount of animals wounded and lost is almost astounding, but as bow hunting equipment has improved, the number of animal losses has decreased substantially. Unfortunately, even with these decreases, the ratio of unrecovered animals is still causing concern within the bow hunting community and general public. We wanted to look deeper into deer loss rates, and focused on information obtained in two of the better known studies done by Stephen S. Ditchkoff et al and M. Andy Pedersen at al. One study found that of 104 bow hunters, there was an 18% wounding rate. Within a normal hunting season these hunters hit a total of 908 white tail deer, recovering only 746 (Pedersen et al 2008). In another study, it was determined that there was a 50% wounding rate and, of that number, 14% weren't recovered. (Ditchkoff et al. 1998). In the reports, we found that while many of the deer either die (Ditchkoff) or are recovered within 24 hours (Pedersen), that some can survive 5-7 days with wounds before they perish. When looking at these numbers and percentages for any individual state, the number of animals that are not recovered seems miniscule. However once you look at the entire population of bow hunters within the United States alone, the amount becomes much more significant (Ditchkoff). ZENN SCARLETT Available Now in Bookstores and Online UNDER NAMELESS STARS: A ZENN SCARLETT NOVEL Available Now in Bookstores and Online 64 From Angry Robot Books Distributed in U.S./Canada by Random House chrisischoon@email.com www.christianschoon.com @cischoon Zenn Scarlett on Facebook Kellie Fruehling From: Allison Jaynes <allisonjaynes@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2019 4:06 PM To: Council; Rockne Cole; Susan Mims; Mazahir Salih; Pauline Taylor; Bruce Teague; John Thomas; Jim Throgmorton Subject: RE: Bowhunting decision Attachments: IC_Council_20190620.pdf Please find my letter to each of you attached. Allison N. Jaynes, Ph.D. Assistant Professor 404 Van Allen Hall Department of Physics & Astronomy University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (319) 335-3799 June 20th, 2019 Dear Iowa City City Council, The decision to include amateur bowhunting in the deer management plan is an enormous mistake. Your actions will pit neighbor against neighbor, and will cause a backlash in your community. You refused to do the number one recommended action with any deer management plan and that is: to garner community support. Instead, you listened to a Ione few who wish to kill these animals so they don't have to worry about what they plant in their yards, or how to buffer their homes from wildlife. We have testimony from the Master Gardener of Hickory Hill Park that humans are the cause of the depleted understory, not deer. The invasive plants we have introduced are causing the damage, not deer browsing. We have sentjournal articles to you showing that Lyme disease is not spread through an increased deer population. Deer do not contract Lyme, so it does not proliferate from their existence in an area. In fact, studies show that human and dog instances of Lyme increase when a large deer cull is implemented. We have tried to impress upon you that deer management does not necessarily mean killing or hunting the deer. Changing the herd's behavior, and deterring them from the city, is also considered management. Yet, you all scoffed when you read that the management plan included non -lethal methods of control. These are indeed methods of control and have had measurable impacts on the number of deer in city centers in other communities (which, again, we have shared with you). You asked for our help to draft a long-term management plan, and then dismissed it. You claimed you were against bowhunting, and then did a complete 180° turn to advocate for it. The NRC is going to receive the exact plan they wanted you to give them months ago. You resisted then, but now you are going to do precisely what they want. There are communities around the country that are finding creative ways to persuade state governments to implement non -lethal methods of control, including sterilization. Yet, you don't seem to have the will or engagement to even try doing so for Iowa City. I'm deeply disappointed by this outcome, and hope for a change of mind: if not now, perhaps after the rest of the city hears of this decision. Allison N. Jaynes Member of Iowa City Deer Friends Kellie Fruehling From: Dieterle, Caroline M <caroline-dieterle@uiowa.edu> Sent: r Friday, June 21,'2019 10:39 PM To: Geoff Fruin Cc: Council; sups@co.johnson.ia.us Subject: Deer Management plan example to model upon? Geoff - i found these links on-line; apparently the Waterloo plan has been the precedent setter in the state, so a plan modeled on Waterloo's might be a shoo in for approval: htt s://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Deer-Hunting/Deer-Management-Hunts Deer Management Zone (DMZ) Hunts - iowadnr.gov www.iowadnr.gov In 1990, the first deer management zone hunt (then called Special Hunts), was conducted at Springbrook State Park in Guthrie county. This came about following several years of increasing concerns regarding deer numbers and the negative impact the increasing herd could have on commodity crops as well as natural vegetation. https://www.newsmax.com/fastfeatures/hunting-in-iowa-urban-deer-cities-suburbs/2015/05/21/id/645926/ Hunting in Iowa: 5 Things to Know About Urban Deer Hunting in Cities and Suburbs I Newsmax.com www.newsmax.com Iowa has various communities and parks that are officially deer hunting zones. Urban deer overpopulation is linked to many detrimental effects. Deer graze on crops, ornamental plants, gardens, and landscaping bushes. Kellie Fruehling From: Boos, Florence <florence-boos@uiowa.edu> Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2019 10:45 PM To: Council; Rockne Cole; Susan Mims; Mazahir Salih; Pauline Taylor, Bruce Teague; John Thomas; Jim Throgmorton Subject: bowhunting/trespassing Attachments: Florence letter June 2019-1R.doc Dear Members of the Council, I attach a letter to you, but am also reproducing the text below in case this is more convenient. Sincerely, Florence S. Boos Dear Members of the Iowa City Council, I can't believe you have just licensed men armed with lethal weapons to walk freely into the yards of Iowa City residents. Iowa City has never permitted urban hunting in the past. In my view you have not fully considered the radical implications of sanctioning a practice which is at best a threat to inhabitants. For four months of the year, it will be dangerous for persons—especially those who live near parks (as I do), or in landscaped or recently forested places --to walk into their yards. People will return from work or school to find the corpses of deer on their property (for it may take several hours for a deer to die, and many are never retrieved). Alarmingly, they will experience nighttime intruders in their yards—and under darkness, who can tell a bowhunter from a thief? The notion that no one has objected in the past to these intrusions is false. Though hunters may deny it, there have indeed been citizen complaints in Cedar Rapids. Particularly in early years of the hunt, before the current hunt administrator was involved, city records of Cedar Rapids are filled with complaints. And such complaints are difficult to report because without knowing the name of the intruder (is he going to announce his identity? % the city will not act, and citizens then cease reporting offenses. No one can police the lax rules regarding bow -hunting, since who can tell if the intruder in one's yard is licensed or not, and as mentioned, it's impossible to see or catch someone who hunts in the dark. It's unreasonable to expect an unarmed citizen—perhaps elderly --to rush out of his or her house to confront and deny entrance to an armed invader. Worst case scenario if non -lethal methods are used: Some residents will be angry that deer browse in their gardens. Over time, some will put up reflectors or white markers to deter the deer, and others will install small fences. As Iowa City expands into the countryside, sadly, the deer population will naturally decline. Worst case scenario with bow -hunting: Residents who find arrows or carcasses in their yard will be angry and frightened and will limit gardening. Those who witness a hunter shooting into or entering their yard unannounced (it's impossible to enforce laws about requesting permission) will see their rights to property and personal safety infringed. Arrows are notoriously hard to aim accurately, and pets, children or even adults could be wounded, leading to lawsuits against the city for negligence. Homeowners who have never felt the need for fences will be burdened with the expense of erecting these to help deter hunters from entering. Iowa City will lose some of its reputation as a desirable and progressive place to live. At some later time people will say, "What were they thinking?!" 5% of Iowa's population are hunters (and presumably only a minority of these are bow -hunters). 95% of the population are non -hunters, and cities exist to protect the rights of the majority of their citizens. Many peaceful residents of Iowa City are unaware that bow -hunting is even a possibility, or that hunters are permitted to trespass—I was quite surprised and incredulous when someone mentioned this initiative to me—so they will be taken unawares. Before instituting a policy which will inevitably cause conflict, I urge you to mail a survey to all residents—including details on what the law would permit in the way of entering another's property --to gain actual data on what residents desire. Also though other cities report killing many deer, none has recent (post -2010) evidence that in the long run bow - hunting has successfully decreased their deer population. Permitting urban hunting is a revenue -garnering decision falsely mislabeled a "deer management plan." I urge you to pause and rethink this issue, since ultimately it is the city and not the DNR which holds responsibility for the safety and privacy of its residents. Sincerely, Florence S. Boos 1427 Davenport Street Iowa City, Iowa 52245 (near Hickory Hill Park) Kellie Fruehling From: laurie crawford <lauriecrawford517@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 2:43 PM To: Jim Throgmorton; Bruce Teague; Pauline Taylor, Mazahir Salih; John Thomas; Rockne Cole; Susan Mims Cc: Council Subject: Deer/Human Conflict Management/NRC Dear Mayor Throgmorton and Council Members: Deer/human conflict, not the deer population, needs to be managed. Educated, empowered people do not ask others to solve their problems. Educating/empowering citizens to protect plants and avoid accidents is a long term, permanent solution. The City can participate in education (e.g. via trial garden plots) and prevention (e.g. signage), but ultimate responsibility rests with the individual. Responsible citizens seek solutions they can implement. I.C. Gardeners Facebook members help each other with non- lethal solutions similar to those ICDeer Friends proposed. There has been no suggestion to kill. Please remember, no matter how many deer are killed, others will browse and cross roads. A fatal DVA on a city street is highly unlikely due to lower speed limits. Bow hunting presents new problems. It pits citizens against citizen, invites out of town hunters/strangers into our neighborhoods, violates our privacy and right to quiet enjoyment of our homes and yards, and results in wounded and dead deer in resident yards. Despite you being told otherwise, there were numerous incidents reported during the Cedar Rapids bow hunt to Steve Havlik, Fire Chief and Hunt Administrator from 2005-2010. After he retired, reports were made to then Fire Chief Mark English and Jason Andrews (current H.A.). The DNR has also received reports. I urge you to meet with the NRC on July 11th as originally planned, to request guidance about what the City can do, other than a bow hunt, to address citizen complaints about deer. Setting aside green belt areas as protected wildlife habitat and enacting a feeding ban, along with citizens taking steps to repel deer in their own yards will result in the deer moving into and seeking food in those protected green belt areas/set aside habitat, away from roadways and residential yards. These are long term, easily implemented, inexpensive solutions. Respectfully, Laurie Crawford Iowa City, IA Kellie Fruehlin From: Christine Nelson <nelson.christine.a@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 7:22 PM To: Council Subject: Deer hunting within Iowa City I am writing in response to your recent decision to allow deer hunting within the Iowa City limits. As has been pointed out on frequent occasions and in numerous emails, non -lethal solutions to control the deer population exist, and I am asking you to reconsider using those solutions. There is too much at stake not to do so. Do I need to post "No Hunting" signs as I did when I lived in rural Linn County? Will I find hunters on my property? What about the pain and suffering of wounded animals? Will I find dead or wounded animals in my yard? Will hunters endanger the lives of my neighbors? Of the children who play in my neighborhood? Of other wild animals with whom we coexist? What about dogs walking on leash along my street? When non -lethal solutions are available, there is absolutely no reason to allow deer hunting in Iowa City. Christine Nelson nelson.christine.a@gmail.com Kellie Fruehling From: Dawn Frary <kittycatbandit@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2019 7:39 AM To: Jim Throgmorton; Bruce Teague; Pauline Taylor; Mazahir Salih; John Thomas; Rockne Cole; Susan Mims Cc: Council Subject: Deer management Dear Mayor Throgmorton & the members of City Council, I am writing to express my profound disappointment in the Council's the decision to allow an urban bow hunt in Iowa City as a means to manage the deer population. It is with the utmost sincerity that I urge you to reconsider your decision with the safety of your constituents in mind rather than the wishes of the NRC. What Iowa City needs is a strong educational campaign to inform and empower citizens of the many ways they can take precautions to protect their landscaping from urban wildlife — not to wage an unwinnable war on nature. For 13 years I have worked in wildlife education and rehabilitation. In my time as a wildlife educator, I have seen first-hand that providing useful and empowering information to the public regarding our coexistence with wildlife is far more effective than anything else. As the IC Deer Friends have tried to impress upon you: the issue is not the number of deer, and to believe so is to be misinformed. The issue is human -wildlife conflict, and resolving it is as simple as educating the people of Iowa City on ways to peacefully co -exist with the natural world. "Management" does not mean killing, nor is killing the only way to manage a wildlife population. Believing as much is an antiquated and brutal ideology. Attempting to control nature is an impossible feat, a war of never-ending battles that cannot be won. Squirrels, rabbits, mice, and raccoons are all just as destructive to homes and gardens as deer, if not more so; and yet we do not seek to manage them by exterminating them in large numbers. Killing deer, however, turns a profit. But for whom? Certainly not Iowa City. The IC Deer Friends provided — at the city's request— the Council with information showing the effectiveness of non -lethal management techniques in other communities. We did the research. We reached out to these communities and corresponded with the folks who implemented these strategies. And yet the city has chosen to ignore this information, gone so far as to call it "laughable," and, from what I gather, reluctantly given in to the NRC's attempts to bully Iowa City into a bow hunt. This is not democracy at work. It is manipulation. Rest assured, introducing bow hunting to Iowa City's parks, green areas, and neighborhoods will create far more problems than a few deer snacking on hostas. To move forward with this plan will annihilate your constituents' right to safety and privacy: the DNR tells hunters they have a right to enter ANY property to retrieve a dead deer or finish killing a wounded deer. Can you imagine children bearing witness to a dead or dying deer in their yard or the park they frequent? It will cause conflict among neighbors and neighborhoods. It will turn citizens against one another. It will cause citizens to be fearful of spending time in nature (or, in some cases, even their own backyards) because they won't know if a hunter with an itchy trigger finger is hiding in a tree stand nearby with his weapon. Now is the time to ask yourselves whether or not this is something you can implement with integrity and a clear conscience. Please ask yourselves: is this the lesson you truly want to impart? Is this what you want your legacy to be? Iowa City is better than this. I urge you to stand up and show it. Respectfully, Dawn Frary IC Northside resident Dawn Frary Personal / Photo: dawnfrary.com Tarot: folkloracle.com 319-400-2656 Kellie Fruehling From: laurie crawford <lauriecrawford517@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2019 10:19 AM To: Council Subject: Bow Hunt - Resident incidents Dear Mayor Throgmorton and Council Members, I am forwarding an email from a woman who had several disturbing incidents with bow hunters during the Cedar Rapids bow hunt. Begin forwarded message: From: Anne Taylor <Tavlind3(a)_msn.com> Subject: Urban Deer Hunt Date: June 25, 2019 at 10:43:30 AM CDT To:"la uriecrawford517(a)_gmail. com" <lauriecrawford517(cDgmail. com> live on Linden Terrace SE in Cedar Rapids, which is near Bever Park, where many deer live. We have coexisted peacefully for decades, without problems. I would like to warn the good people of Iowa City about some of the horrors I have witnessed. The first horror I encountered was a deer running across the street right in front of me while I was walking my dog, with a bloody arrow sticking out of its neck. It was obviously terrified and in pain. I had no idea there were hunters near where I was walking, until two of them ran out of the woods. After that incident, I checked with the city and learned that all bow hunters are supposed to carry licenses with them, which any neighborhood resident can ask to see. I also learned that hunters are supposed to hunt alone, rather than in pairs or groups. So the guys chasing the wounded deer were in violation of the ordinance. We live on a cul de sac, so it is easy to spot cars that are not typically in the neighborhood. For a number of days, there was an older, beat -up car parked with Wisconsin plates parked there, on and off. I finally asked the police to check it out, because there appeared to be a man sleeping in it. Turned out it was a guy with a domestic violence warrant out for his arrest. He had been hunting in Bever Park (a violation of the ordinance), putting the deer in his trunk, and taking them somewhere. Made me think twice about asking strangers to see their licenses. By the way, hunting licenses are only issued to Cedar Rapids residents, so that was another violation for the guy from Wisconsin. Then there was a 17 year old kid from Palo who shot and killed a deer near dusk on Halloween, while there were children trick -or -treating! It dropped dead in our next-door neighbor's driveway, and he cut up so it would fit in the trunk of his car, leaving blood and entrails on the driveway that children stepped over to get their candy. They thought it was a Halloween prank. How scary is it that he was shooting arrows with children on the street? The city told me that Halloween is not specifically mentioned in the ordinance, but they had hoped hunters would use good sense. Obviously, not! One evening, we noticed a hunter dragging a dead deer down the sidewalk with a rope around its neck. He had parked his pickup truck in the driveway of the house directly across the street from us. He had shot it by standing in the bed of his truck, with his back to the window. Some of the arrows ended up in our front yard, very near our house. Fortunately, our dog was not out there at the time. One of the rules is that hunters must use a deer stand. My husband and I confronted him, he apologized and left, but said he had hit another deer that he had not yet found. I noted his license plate number, and called the DNR. The next day, an officer came out to survey the situation, and he told me how shocked he was that the guy who had violated the ordinance was one of the instructors in the Urban Deer Hunt program! So if he was violating the rules, it was not surprising that other hunters were, as well. We have had numerous guys ring our door bell and ask if they could use our trees as deer stands. The answer is always NO. But they run through our yard when tracking deer, which they are not supposed to do.lt is very unnerving to see an armed stranger in one's yard. I contacted the DNR numerous times with my concerns. Each time, they found violations of the ordinance. I also wrote a letter to the Cedar Rapids Gazette and the CR City council outlining my concerns. I'm sorry to learn that Iowa City has approved bow hunting within the city limits. Anne Taylor Linden Terrace SE Cedar Rapids, IA -ii77, C, Kellie Fruehlin From: Diane Kohl <dianekohl16@grnaiI.com> Late Handouts Distributed Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2019 1:56 PM To: Council Subject: Deer (Date) I do not condone shooting with guns or arrows the deer. More and more houses are built and we keep taking their homes, so your answer is kill them. I do not agree. We need to share the planet, not pick and choose which animals live or die. Diane Kohl Sent from my iPhone .-It 1.(/ Kellie Fruehling From: Lori Kendrick <kendricklori@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, June 28, 2019 8:46 PM Late Handouts Distributed To: Council Subject: Deer Management: Restoring Plant Biodiversity 7—)-1q (Date) Dear Honorable Mayor Throgmorton and council Members, Ongoing erroneous statements by self-appointed citizen overseers of Hickory Hill Park understory plant species biodiversity warrant correction and clarification. In reviewing the 2003, "Hickory Hill Park Past Present and Future: A Vegetation Analysis and Management Plan," by Karla E. Hirokawa, a repeated observation is documented. Human abuse, not deer browse, has had a cumulative adverse impact on the plant composition in Hickory Hill Park. In her analysis, Ms. Hirokawa notes, "the proportion of alien to native species within the park serves as an indication of the level of human disturbance. One of the most important points of a management plan, is the education of the public. It is important for people to realize what plants are desirable and characteristic of a particular habitat. Several plants that seem pretty are in fact dangerous to the health and well-being of the native flora of the various habitats. It is unreasonable to expect to return the land to its original pre -settlement condition, as the land has been used and abused by human presence for too long a period." DNR District Forester, Mark Vitosh, presented "A General Forest Maintenance Plan to Friends of Hickory Hill Park" in April, 2007. Of Ms. Hirokawa's work, Forester Vitosh states, "This paper does a good job of describing the past and present vegetation of the park, and the need for management in the future." In February, 2017, Forester Vitosh presented "Forest Stewardship Plan Healthy Forest Initiative" for the woodland areas of 6 Iowa City Parks including Hickory Hill Park. Preparation of the 2017 plan is part of the "Healthy Forests & Invasive Plant Control in the Cedar River Corridor" grant from the USDA Forest Service; a cooperative effort between the Iowa DNR/Forestry Bureau and corridor communities including Iowa City, Coralville, and Cedar Rapids. According to the plan, the objective is "to provide woodland environments for enjoyment, aesthetics, and safe recreational opportunities such as hiking, walking, running, bird watching, etc.." The plan reiterates that "most of these woodland areas are currently at a crossroads because there is a large diversity of non-native invasive plants invading many areas. If an aggressive/consistent effort is not started soon to attempt to reduce many of these non-native plants they will continue to reduce the bio -diversity, increase the potential of site erosion, and reduce the recreational accessibility in many of these parks in the near future." The presence of oak in some stands presents the potential to have problems with a disease called oak wilt. To prevent oak wilt, Forester Vitosh advised to "focus pruning or work in the woods during the dormant season (November through March 1)." These proposed months coincide with Iowa City's proposed urban bow hunting schedule, adding conflict and danger to Hickory Hill Park restoration. The wildlife management portion of the plan states "the forest cover in each of these parks is beneficial to deer, turkey, squirrels, and a variety of other wildlife species." No where does it mention deer as a problem species. I encourage Iowa City council members to refrain from buying into and promoting the propaganda that killing deer will restore Iowa City parks understory. Eradicating non-native invasives introduced by humans is the only way to restore park plant biodiversity, and maintain recreational and aesthetic value. Sincerely, Lori Kendrick Awl Q- CITY OE IOWA CITY www.icgov.org July 2, 2019 ATTACHMENTS: Description Mary Gravitt - Iowa City Transit Cut-backs Item Number: 7.d. Kellie Fruehling From: Mary Gravitt <gravittmary@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, June 24, 2019 12:39 PM To: Council Subject: IOWA CITY TRANSIT CUT-BACKS Public transportation is one of the few amenities that the City of Iowa City as well as many Iowa urban areas offer the people living in the neighborhoods. Snow removal is atrocious; trash removal is full of so many rules about what will and will not be collected, but the bus service is miraculous for a small Iowa city. I have heard that ridership is down and services will be cut. But I think this is unwise because there are still working-class and middle-class tax payers who depend of Iowa City Transit to get to work. There are handicapped and elderly peoples who depend on bus service for medical appointments and the daily needs of life such as grocery shopping. Children need public transportation to get to school. In an urban situation of which Iowa City is now part of with its skyscrapers and so forth, timely public transportation is a necessity if one is to live in center city and not depend on cars. It is in the long range plan of every city. And to cut bus service is to go backwards. The neighborhoods seem to receive fewer and fewer services from the city, yet the people who live in the neighborhoods are the one who pay real estate taxes. 1 Mary Gravitt 2714 Wayne Avenue #6 Iowa City, IA 52240 319.341.6230 Item Number: 7.e. i CITY OE IOWA CITY www.icgov.org July 2, 2019 ATTACHMENTS: Description Audrey Wiedemeier: Bicycling and diversity in Iowa City Kellie Fruehling From: Audrey Wiedemeier <audrey@bikelibrary.org> Sent: Monday, June 24, 2019 3:17 PM To: Council Subject: Bicycling and diversity in Iowa City Greetings, Council Members: Firstly, I want to applaud all the on -street improvements that are happening this season. It's been very useful working with the Bicycle Advisory Committee; engineers, parents, transportation, community members coming together to have meaningful and productive conversations around cycling. Secondly, I was asked by a fellow community member to share this article with you: Bike Advocacy's Blind Spot. After reading this I asked myself: is the diversity of our community reflected in the bicycling community? At the Bike Library, one of our core values is diversity. A lot of the advocacy we do has shifted in recent years from bicycle infrastructure to building human infrastructure. I want to point out some of the work that Bike Library volunteers and our partner organizations are doing to contribute to building bike equity in our community: • Bike Club (k-3) • Women Empowerment Ride (ages 8-14) • Pedals for People (we're organizing our next class to be held in Arabic) • Women/ Trans*/Femme Night (for anyone who identifies as female or non -binary) I am highlighting these programs because they are allowing us to have conversations around cycling with more diverse groups of people, ie: teens, POC, youth, and LGBTQ folks, women and especially Mothers. I hope that we can continue to create more opportunities for them to be a part of a strategic plan for social change in the bike community. Lastly, I would like to send a belated 'thank you' for approving the proposal we submitted for the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center. We have a lot of programs going on that requires significant square footage of shop space. After much consideration, we decided that the cost of building out the space to suit our needs was out of our reach. We look forward to exploring future potential partnerships with the city. We are excited to figure out our next (hopefully permanent) home so that we can best serve our community; getting more people on bikes. By the way: This Thursday, June 27th at Weatherby Park there is a Bike Rodeo that Angie Jordan has put together and I'm sure she would be thrilled if one of you showed up! Thank you for your time and consideration. Peace & grease, Audrey Wiedemeier (She/her/hers) Iowa City Bike Library, Director 700 S. Dubuque St, Iowa City Hours: Sat. 10-3, Mon. 5-7, Tues. 6-8, Wed. 6-8, Thurs. 6-8, Fri. 4:30-6:30 BikeLibrary.org C: (515) 450-1651 Item Number: 71. i CITY OE IOWA CITY www.icgov.org July 2, 2019 ATTACHMENTS: Description Dan Gable: Safety in our schools and community Kellie Fruehlin From: Dan Gable <gibcol@mchsi.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 1:10 PM To: Board@iowacityschools.org; Council Subject: Safety in our schools and community Members of Iowa City Council and Board of Education, I am passionate about wrestling. I love my family. I love the Hawkeyes and yes the Cyclones, Panthers & that's just the start. I love my town, Iowa City, along with all others. Another passion that I do not always disclose is safety because to most it is taken for granted and is a given. Our kids in our schools are not feeling safe and this needs urgent attention. Our schools and our police need to work together to keep everyone safe and ultimately protect this community and others. When I meet adversity, I take it on and make the necessary changes. I also tell my athletes and my family to be tough. When it comes to safety, we need to be tough. We need to go the distance. My only sister was murdered in Waterloo, Iowa when I was a kid and when my inner voice tells me something isn't right, I have now learned to listen to this instinct. My instinct is telling me to contact you so you can make these necessary adjustments to keep my grandchildren and all the children and folks of our community and everywhere safe. You can do this by joining together to create a plan for funding this urgent need. Your example will help spread the necessary work to be done. Personally, I have grandchildren that attend all three levels of Iowa City schools. One of my grandsons attends Southeast Junior High and the threat of terrorism that occurred in May was a serious and scary time for all to know if it was safe to send kids to school. Children go to school to learn, not to be disrupted by or distracted by foul language and disorderly conduct, or on more serious notes, threats to their lives by the weapons being brought into the buildings. Today's issues are serious and our community CANNOT be desensitized or naive to think it cannot happen here. I am urging you to know that it can! My son-in-law coaches City High baseball and my grandsons plays for City High and Little Hawks Baseball Club. My entire family but especially my son-in-law and grandsons are at City High's field at Mercer Park almost more than they are at home in the summertime. The drive-by shooting that occurred might have been prevented had there been a proper threat assessment in place with a dedicated and trained school resource officer in charge. There appears to be a disconnect between the school board, the city council and the law enforcement and it is becoming obvious in our community. The alarms are going off. Safety needs to be a #i priority on all levels of leadership. Think about what would have happened had a student -athlete, tee -ball player, a tot on the playground or anyone been hit by an intentional or unintentional bullet? This is OUR problem, not a city problem, or a school problem, or a police problem. This is all our problem and once we make it all OUR problem -a solution will be clear. Our leaders need to humble themselves and work together and get the funding in place to fund the necessary officer/s. My two oldest daughters have either addressed the school board or have substitute taught in the schools' buildings. They are feeling the unsafe climate and the urgency in this matter. Our principals are sensing the urgency. The community is beginning to sense the urgency. Our local leaders need to react and respond. Reacting and not being proactive is a luxury that Parkland no longer has. Iowa City has been given a second chance. Please take it. I know all too well the devastation that a school massacre can have on a community. I do not ever want to have to address my own community that I am invested in and love with a restrospective address when so much can be done to prevent these tragedies. Please listen to my address to Parkland after the tragedy occurred and note the urgency in this matter. https: //protect- us.mimecast. com/s/hTM4C73 M Kqugxxmc8 KpAe?domain= dropbox. com From what I have learned from the tragedy in Parkland, experts in safety include the Secret Service, the DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security. They list school resource officers as not optional members, but CRITICAL members of the multidisciplinary threat assessments that our schools need so they can focus on the necessary adjustments because they realize the gravity of doing very little. In coaching, I push others out of their comfort zone and apply the best science that is available. Don't resist what works. Teamwork works. Please come together and do what it takes to make this happen to keep our community safe. Our children and everyone are counting on you. Thank you, Dan Gable Item Number: 7.g. i CITY OE IOWA CITY www.icgov.org July 2, 2019 ATTACHMENTS: Description Carol deProsse: Several questions [Staff response included] Kellie Fruehling From: Carol deProsse <lonetreefox@mac.com> Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2019 9:58 AM To: Geoff Fruin Cc: Council Subject: Re: Several questions If the City owns the building that MERGE is in, why is a church there (something called City Church, has one service one day a week)? Doesn't this violate the principle of the separation of church and state as written in the Constitution? On Jun 26, 2019, at 9:20 PM, Geoff Fruin <Geoff- Fru in@iowa-city.org> wrote: Hi Carol, Please see my responses to your questions below in your original email. Best, Geoff -----Original Message ----- From: Carol deProsse <lonetreefox@mac.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 3:40 PM To: Council <Council@iowa-city.ore>; Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa-city.orR> Subject: Several questions Does the City own the building on the Bed Mall in which MERGE is located? YES, this is Iowa City Public Library building. We currently lease the MERGE space to ICAD. Any explanation as to why a significant number of tress newly planted last year along Camp Cardinal Boulevard died oner the winter? The harsh temperatures this winter are likely to blame. We had similar experiences with new trees on public property throughout the community. The trees on Camp Cardinal are under warranty and are scheduled to be replaced this fall. Who is responsible for the plantings on Washington Street? Except for the begonias, which don't particularly fit with all the grasses and prairie plants, the islands of flowers are gorgeous. Thank you. Our outstanding horticulture team in our Parks and Recreation department design and care for those plantings. We also get tremendous volunteer support on our downtown plantings from Project Green and area master gardeners. What the hell is going on around tow with so many traffic lights being replaced and will Mormon Trek Boulevard EVER be finished? The number of actual replacements of traffic lights is not much different than a normal year. You might be noticing many of the existing poles getting a fresh coat of primer and paint. Many of older but functional poles had peeling green paint and thus we have systematically been painting those to clean up the look and extend their useful life. Yes, Mormon Trek will eventually be done. We regret the delays on this project but I promise the end is near. Thanks, Carol Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. :1f -7,� Kell[e Fruehling From: Sent: To: Geoff Fruin Monday, July 01, 2019 12:32 PM 'Carol deProsse'; Council Late Handouts Distributed Subject: RE: Several questions Hi Carol, (Date) The city owns several properties that can be leased by community organizations, including faith based organizations. Examples include the Library, Recreation Centers, Terry Trueblood Lodge, Ashton House, East Side Recycle Center, and The Center. We have rental information available online at https://www.icgov.org/eventfacilities. A few facilities including the Library and The Center are listed on separate webpages. The City leases the MERGE space to the Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD). We do not have copies of rental agreements they may offer other groups in the community. Thanks, Geoff From: Carol deProsse [mailto:lonetreefox@mac.com] Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2019 7:05 AM To: Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa-city.org>; Council <Council@iowa-city.org> Subject: Re: Several questions Geoff, Council, Second sentence should read, "how much property DOES the CITY OWN that is able to be leased, to a business, a non- profit, or a church?" I would also like to see the terms of the lease the City has with City Church if you could forward that on to me. Thanks, Carol On Jun 28, 2019, at 7:55 PM, Carol deProsse <lonetreefox@mac.com> wrote: If another church came in with a desire to replace City Church how would the City decide who got to lease the space? How much property goes the Coty one that is seed to be leased, to a business, a non-profit or a church? On Jun 28, 2019, at 1:53 PM, Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa-city.ors> wrote: Hi Carol, Faith based organizations have the ability to lease out space in city facilities, including those that are leased. We cannot provide preferential treatment based on religious beliefs but again those organizations have the same right to rent space that other organizations in the community also enjoy. Thanks, Geoff From: Carol deProsse [mailto:lonetreefox@mac.com] Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2019 9:58 AM To: Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa-city.org> Cc: Council <Council@iowa-citv.orR> Subject: Re: Several questions If the City owns the building that MERGE is in, why is a church there (something called City Church, has one service one day a week)? Doesn't this violate the principle of the separation of church and state as written in the Constitution? On Jun 26, 2019, at 9:20 PM, Geoff Fruin <Geoff- Fru in@iowa-citv.ore> wrote: Hi Carol, Please see my responses to your questions below in your original email. Best, Geoff -----Original Message ----- From: Carol deProsse <lonetreefox@mac.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 3:40 PM To: Council <Council@iowa-citv.org>; Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa- citv.org> Subject: Several questions Does the City own the building on the Bed Mall in which MERGE is located? YES, this is Iowa City Public Library building. We currently lease the MERGE space to ICAD. Any explanation as to why a significant number of tress newly planted last year along Camp Cardinal Boulevard died oner the winter? The harsh temperatures this winter are likely to blame. We had similar experiences with new trees on public property throughout the community. The trees on Camp Cardinal are under warranty and are scheduled to be replaced this fall. Who is responsible for the plantings on Washington Street? Except for the begonias, which don't particularly fit with all the grasses and prairie plants, the islands of flowers are gorgeous. Thank you. Our outstanding horticulture team in our Parks and Recreation department design and care for those plantings. We also get tremendous volunteer support on our downtown plantings from Project Green and area master gardeners. What the hell is going on around tow with so many traffic lights being replaced and will Mormon Trek Boulevard EVER be finished? The number of actual replacements of traffic lights is not much different than a normal year. You might be noticing many of the existing poles getting a fresh coat of primer and paint. Many of older but functional poles had peeling green paint and thus we have systematically been painting those to clean up the look and extend their useful life. Yes, Mormon Trek will eventually be done. We regret the delays on this project but I promise the end is near. Thanks, Carol Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Kellie Fruehling From: Geoff Fruin Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2019 8:27 AM Late Handouts Distributed To: 'Carol deProsse' Cc: Council Subject: RE: Several questions 7-a - Iq (Date) Hi Carol, Attached is the lease with ICAD that you requested. Most facility rentals are one-time events, however in some locations, such as our Recreation Centers, we will have a recurring rentals that we book on a seasonal basis. These are evaluated after we set our programming schedule and have a good understanding of room availability. We retain the right to bump those rentals if a public need arises during thatseason. I hope that helps, Geoff From: Carol deProsse [mailto:lonetreefox@mac.com] Sent: Monday, July 1, 2019 5:19 PM To: Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa-city.org> Cc: Council <Council@iowa-city.org> Subject: Re: Several questions May I please have a copy of the lease with MERGE? Thanks On Jul 1, 2019, at 12:31 PM, Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa-city.org> wrote: The city owns s al properties that can be leased by community organizations, including fa' ased- organizations. Examp clude the Library, Recreation Centers, Terry Trueblo ge, Ashton House, East Side Recycle Center, and enter. We have rental informati ai able online at https://www.icgov.org/eventfacilities. facilities in g the Library and The Center are listed on separate webpages. The City leases the MERGE spac a Iowa City Area Development (ICAD). We do not have copies of rental agree me ey may offer other groups in the community. Thanks, Kellie Fruehling From: Carol deProsse <lonetreefox@mac.com> Sent: Monday, July 01, 2019 7:16 PM To: Geoff Fruin Cc: Council Subject: Re: Several questions All the places on the link you sent me offer short-term uses. I don't see any that allow an organization, faith -based or not, to move in permanently or even semi -permanently. You have a right to ask MERGE what the terms of their arrangement with City Church is since the City owns the property. On Jul 1, 2019, at 12:31 PM, Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa-city.org> wrote: Hi Carol, The city owns several properties that can be leased by community organizations, including faith based organizations. Examples include the Library, Recreation Centers, Terry Trueblood Lodge, Ashton House, East Side Recycle Center, and The Center. We have rental information available online at httos://www.icgov.orp/eventfacilities. A few facilities including the Library and The Center are listed on separate webpages. The City leases the MERGE space to the Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD). We do not have copies of rental agreements they may offer other groups in the community. Thanks, Geoff From: Carol deProsse [mailto:lonetreefox@mac.coml Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2019 7:05 AM To: Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa-city.org>; Council <Council@iowa-citv.org> Subject: Re: Several questions Geoff, Council, Second sentence should read, "how much property DOES the CITY OWN that is able to be leased, to a business, a non-profit, or a church?" I would also like to see the terms of the lease the City has with City Church if you could forward that on to me. Thanks, Carol On Jun 28, 2019, at 7:55 PM, Carol deProsse <lonetreefox@mac.com> wrote: If another church came in with a desire to replace City Church how would the City decide who got to lease the space? How much property goes the Coty one that is seed to be leased, to a business, a non- profit or a church? On Jun 28, 2019, at 1:53 PM, Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa-citv.org> wrote: Hi Carol, Faith based organizations have the ability to lease out space in city facilities, including those that are leased. We cannot provide preferential treatment based on religious beliefs but again those organizations have the same right to rent space that other organizations in the community also enjoy. Thanks, Geoff From: Carol deProsse [mailto:lonetreefox@mac.coml Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2019 9:58 AM To: Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa-citv.orR> Cc: Council <Council@iowa-citv.orp> Subject: Re: Several questions If the City owns the building that MERGE is in, why is a church there (something called City Church, has one service one day a week)? Doesn't this violate the principle of the separation of church and state as written in the Constitution? On Jun 26, 2019, at 9:20 PM, Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa-city.org> wrote: Hi Carol, Please see my responses to your questions below in your original email. Best, Geoff -----Original Message ----- From: Carol deProsse <lonetreefox@mac.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 3:40 PM To: Council <Council@iowa-citv.ora>; Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin @ iowa-city.o re> Subject: Several questions Does the City own the building on the Bed Mall in which MERGE is located? YES, this is Iowa City Public Library building. We currently lease the MERGE space to ICAD. Any explanation as to why a significant number of tress newly planted last year along Camp Cardinal Boulevard died oner the winter? The harsh temperatures this winter are likely to blame. We had similar experiences with new trees on public property throughout the community. The trees on Camp Cardinal are under warranty and are scheduled to be replaced this fall. Who is responsible for the plantings on Washington Street? Except for the begonias, which don't particularly fit with all the grasses and prairie plants, the islands of flowers are gorgeous. Thank you. Our outstanding horticulture team in our Parks and Recreation department design and care for those plantings. We also get tremendous volunteer support on our downtown plantings from Project Green and area master gardeners. What the hell is going on around tow with so many traffic lights being replaced and will Mormon Trek Boulevard EVER be finished? The number of actual replacements of traffic lights is not much different than a normal year. You might be noticing many of the existing poles getting a fresh coat of primer and paint. Many of older but functional poles had peeling green paint and thus we have systematically been painting those to clean up the look and extend their useful life. Yes, Mormon Trek will eventually be done. We regret the delays on this project but I promise the end is near. Thanks, Carol Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. i CITY OE IOWA CITY www.icgov.org July 2, 2019 ATTACHMENTS: Description Fred Meyer: Robert A. Lee Cherry Tree Item Number: 7.h. Kellie Fruehling From: Geoff Fruin Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2019 1:37 PM To: Kellie Fruehling Cc: Juli Seydell Johnson; Darian Nagle-Gamm; Ron Knoche Subject: FW: Robert A. Lee Cherry 1 ree Kellie --for council correspondence. Thanks - From: Fred Meyer[mailto:fred.meyer@BackyardAbundance.org] Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2019 1:03 PM To: Rockne Cole <Rockne-Cole@iowa-city.org>; Susan Mims <Susan-Mims@iowa-city.org>; Pauline Taylor <Pauline- Taylor@iowa-city.org>; John Thomas <John-Thomas@iowa-city.org>; Jim Throgmorton <Jim-Throgmorton@iowa- city.org>; Mazahir Salih <Mazahir-Salih@iowa-city.org>; Bruce Teague <Bruce-Teague@iowa-city.org> Cc: Geoff Fruin <Geoff-Fruin@iowa-city.org> Subject: Robert A. Lee Cherry Tree Dear city council: Would you please reevaluate the placement of the new bike rack at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center in order to preserve the mature cherry tree that is scheduled for removal? I recently learned that the cherry tree at the Children's Discovery Garden will be removed to make way for a large bike sharing area. While I applaud the bike sharing initiative, I question this placement as a launching point for bikers. The corner of Gilbert and Washington seems highly congested and has no bike lanes. (Washington Street in front of City Hall or north of the Chauncey building is only a block away and it seems that a bike share would be a perfect addition to the Farmer's Market. Areas for simple bike racks could be conveniently placed near the Rec Center entrance.) History The cherry tree was one of the centerpieces for the establishment of the Children's Discovery Garden on Earth Day 2010. It is a certified Nature Explore Classroom and has offered free play and food to hundreds of families for nearly a decade: https://certified.natureexplore.org/iowa-city-parks-recreation/. Backyard Abundance designed the space in collaboration with Iowa City Parks and Recreation and many community groups. In addition to providing free (delicious!) food for families, the tree screens the Discovery Garden from the busy road. A large bike rack will completely expose the area and this integrity will be very difficult to restore. Thanks so much for the consideration and all that you do to support public edibles in our community. Fred Meyer Director, Backyard Abundance http://www.BackyardAbundance.org https://www.facebook.com/BackyardAbundance 319-325-6810 Item Number: 71 i CITY OE IOWA CITY www.icgov.org July 2, 2019 ATTACHMENTS: Description Martha Norbeck: Climate Action Community Coordinator Kellie Fruehling From: Martha Norbeck <martha_norbeck@hotmail.com> Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2019 2:27 PM To: Council Subject: Climate Action Community Coordinator Dear Members of Council, Last year, the Climate Action Steering Committee recommended that the city hire an additional staff person for the purpose of implementing the Climate Action Plan within the community. I commend the city for adding capacity for additional staff time to be devoted to advancing internal work on the Climate Action Plan. While this is important and good, it is not sufficient. Since then, the news on the rate of acceleration of climate change impacts demands a strong response. We cannot wait for action at the state or federal level. Mr. Biggers has articulated steps he recommends be taken by the city to more rapidly advance plan implementation. One of these recommendations is to repeat the call for a staff person. I am writing to articulate my understanding of the role of this staff person. Climate Action Community Coordinator Emissions generated by the City of Iowa City account for only 4.7% of the total community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The city is in the process of systematically addressing its emissions. While this is important and good, it is not sufficient. Changes to city policies and practices may influence emissions within the community, however this will not by itself achieve the community GHG reduction goals. Strategic community engagement will be necessary to advance the Climate Action Plan. The role of a Community Coordinator would be to amplify the climate action throughout the community and coordinate efforts by for-profit and non-profit entities. Tasks Find and assign stakeholders (a Lead) in the community to every action in the plan. These Leads may be non -profits or for-profit entities. The Community Coordinator will be the hub of knowledge and awareness of all the actions in progress across the community. Work with Leads to: o Define action plans and milestone dates o Develop data collection methods as well as ensuring this data is aggregated. o Secure funding o Coordinate with city departments where needed o Coordinate between Leads Follow up with Leads to assess progress, collect data and engage when needed to help Leads progress. Coordinate the delivery of a common message and advancement through branding/marketing materials; volunteer coordination and public action campaigns (see below). Qualities of the Coordinator: Good base of understanding of environmental science and climate change Sensitivity to Diversity in community and equity Experience with political action campaigns • Outstanding organizational and data management skills • Socially fearless • Good writing and presentation skills. Public Action Campaigns: Climate Action is not a technical problem. We have the tools. The greatest impediment to action is people. Effective public engagement will be necessary to get people to change their behavior and actually prioritize climate action in their lives and through their votes. Think of this as a Political Action Campaign. Current marketing efforts by the city are important and good, but not sufficient. This Malmo Campaign, "No Ridiculous Car Trips", for example, has had tremendous success in changing behavior and raising awareness. No Ridiculous Car .tourneys in Malrn6, Sweden http://www.copenhagenize.com/2010/09/no-ridiculous-car-iourneys-maImo-sweden.htmI I believe Iowa City must have a person in this role to vigorously progress on climate action. The structure of this position deserves reflection. Should this person be a full time City Employee? I'm not sure. It should be a full-time position. There should be funding in place to hire interns to help implement Public Engagement campaigns, but I wonder if the structure and culture of city operations is the right fit. This position will be a substantial divergence from current staff responsibilities. Perhaps the role is better as a cross -funded contract with contributions from the city and a non-profit and/or private entity. Sincerely, Martha Norbeck Martha Norbeck, AIA, LEED + WELL AP Owner, C -Wise Design and Consulting 906 S 7th Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240 319.621.4168 www.cwise.com Kellie Fruehling From: Martha Norbeck <martha_norbeck@hotmail.com> Late Handouts Distributed Sent: Friday, June 28, 2019 9:27 PM To: Council Subject: Re: Climate Action Community Coordinator -7— ) . 19 (Date) Hi Jim, A recommendation by the Climate Action Steering Committee and Jeff Biggers is to hire a staff person to address the public side of coordinating implementation of the Climate Action Plan. I sent the below email to the general mailbox, but wanted to also bring it to your attention. Best regards, Martha From: Martha Norbeck Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2019 2:27 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: Climate Action Community Coordinator Dear Members of Council, Last year, the Climate Action Steering Committee recommended that the city hire an additional staff person for the purpose of implementing the Climate Action Plan within the community. I commend the city for adding capacity for additional staff time to be devoted to advancing internal work on the Climate Action Plan. While this is important and good, it is not sufficient. Since then, the news on the rate of acceleration of climate change impacts demands a strong response. We cannot wait for action at the state or federal level. Mr. Biggers has articulated steps he recommends be taken by the city to more rapidly advance plan implementation. one of these recommendations is to repeat the call for a staff person. I am writing to articulate my understanding of the role of this staff person. Climate Action Community Coordinator Emissions generated by the City of Iowa City account for only 4.7% of the total community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The city is in the process of systematically addressing its emissions. While this is important and good, it is not sufficient. Changes to city policies and practices may influence emissions within the community, however this will not by itself achieve the community GHG reduction goals. Strategic community engagement will be necessary to advance the Climate Action Plan. The role of a Community Coordinator would be to amplify the climate action throughout the community and coordinate efforts by for-profit and non-profit entities. Tasks: Find and assign stakeholders (a Lead) in the community to every action in the plan. These Leads may be non -profits or for-profit entities. The Community Coordinator will be the hub of knowledge and awareness of all the actions in progress across the community. Work with Leads to: o Define action plans and milestone dates o Develop data collection methods as well as ensuring this data is aggregated. o Secure funding o Coordinate with city departments where needed o Coordinate between Leads • Follow up with Leads to assess progress, collect data and engage when needed to help Leads progress. • Coordinate the delivery of a common message and advancement through branding/marketing materials; volunteer coordination and public action campaigns (see below). Qualities of the Coordinator: • Good base of understanding of environmental science and climate change • Sensitivity to Diversity in community and equity • Experience with political action campaigns • Outstanding organizational and data management skills • Socially fearless • Good writing and presentation skills. Public Action Campaigns: Climate Action is not a technical problem. We have the tools. The greatest impediment to action is people. Effective public engagement will be necessary to get people to change their behavior and actually prioritize climate action in their lives and through their votes. Think of this as a Political Action Campaign. Current marketing efforts by the city are important and good, but not sufficient. This Malm6 Campaign, "No Ridiculous Car Trips", for example, has had tremendous success in changing behavior and raising awareness. No Ridiculous Car Journeys in Malmo, Sweden I believe Iowa City must have a person in this role to vigorously progress on climate action. The structure of this position deserves reflection. Should this person be a full time City Employee? I'm not sure. It should be a full-time position. There should be funding in place to hire interns to help implement Public Engagement campaigns, but I wonder if the structure and culture of city operations is the right fit. This position will be a substantial divergence from current staff responsibilities. Perhaps the role is better as a cross -funded contract with contributions from the city and a non-profit and/or private entity. Sincerely, Martha Norbeck Martha Norbeck, AIA, LEED + WELL AP Owner, C -Wise Design and Consulting 906 5 7th Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240 319.621.4168 www.cwise.com Kellie Fruehling From: Martha Norbeck <martha_norbeck@hotmail.com> Late Handouts Distributed Sent: Friday, June 28, 2019 9:31 PM To: Council Subject: Re: Climate Action Community Coordinator -7— (Date) 7_(Date) Hi Rockne, Below is a letter I sent to the general council email regarding a proposal to address the public side of the Climate Action plan. As I've mentioned, the steering committee hasn't been particularly effective. Brenda's time is focused on city based implementation - but that leaves a big gap in the plan. As a bunch of volunteers trying to grapple with an enormous scope of work - we've just been treading water. Hiring the right person for the position I describe would advance the profile of Climate Action in the community - moving it beyond City Hall. Best regards, Martha From: Martha Norbeck Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2019 2:27 PM To: council@iowa-city.org Subject: Climate Action Community Coordinator Dear Members of Council, Last year, the Climate Action Steering Committee recommended that the city hire an additional staff person for the purpose of implementing the Climate Action Plan within the community. I commend the city for adding capacity for additional staff time to be devoted to advancing internal work on the Climate Action Plan. While this is important and good, it is not sufficient. Since then, the news on the rate of acceleration of climate change impacts demands a strong response. We cannot wait for action at the state or federal level. Mr. Biggers has articulated steps he recommends be taken by the city to more rapidly advance plan implementation. One of these recommendations is to repeat the call for a staff person. I am writing to articulate my understanding of the role of this staff person. Climate Action Community Coordinator Emissions generated by the City of Iowa City account for only 4.7% of the total community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The city is in the process of systematically addressing its emissions. While this is important and good, it is not sufficient. Changes to city policies and practices may influence emissions within the community, however this will not by itself achieve the community GHG reduction goals. Strategic community engagement will be necessary to advance the Climate Action Plan. The role of a Community Coordinator would be to amplify the climate action throughout the community and coordinate efforts by for-profit and non-profit entities. Tasks: • Find and assign stakeholders (a Lead) in the community to every action in the plan. These Leads may be non -profits or for-profit entities. The Community Coordinator will be the hub of knowledge and awareness of all the actions in progress across the community. Work with Leads to: o Define action plans and milestone dates o Develop data collection methods as well as ensuring this data is aggregated. o Secure funding o Coordinate with city departments where needed o Coordinate between Leads Follow up with Leads to assess progress, collect data and engage when needed to help Leads progress. • Coordinate the delivery of a common message and advancement through branding/marketing materials; volunteer coordination and public action campaigns (see below). Qualities of the Coordinator: • Good base of understanding of environmental science and climate change • Sensitivity to Diversity in community and equity • Experience with political action campaigns • Outstanding organizational and data management skills • Socially fearless • Good writing and presentation skills. Public Action Campaigns: Climate Action is not a technical problem. We have the tools. The greatest impediment to action is people. Effective public engagement will be necessary to get people to change their behavior and actually prioritize climate action in their lives and through their votes. Think of this as a Political Action Campaign. Current marketing efforts by the city are important and good, but not sufficient. This Malmo Campaign, "No Ridiculous Car Trips", for example, has had tremendous success in changing behavior and raising awareness. No Ridiculous Car Journeys in Malmo, Sweden MEN its http://www.copenhagenize.c Dio/09/no-ridiculou! Io-sweden html I believe Iowa City must have a person in this role to vigorously progress on climate action. The structure of this position deserves reflection. Should this person be a full time City Employee? I'm not sure. It should be a full-time position. There should be funding in place to hire interns to help implement Public Engagement campaigns, but I wonder if the structure and culture of city operations is the right fit. This position will be a substantial divergence from current staff responsibilities. Perhaps the role is better as a cross -funded contract with contributions from the city and a non-profit and/or private entity. Sincerely, Martha Norbeck Martha Norbeck, AIA, LEED + WELL AP. Owner, C -Wise Design and Consulting 906 S 7th Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240 319.621.4168 www.cwise.com Item Number: 7.j. i CITY OE IOWA CITY www.icgov.org July 2, 2019 ATTACHMENTS: Description Mary Gravitt: Metal frame in front of Old Capital Mall Kellie Fruehling From: Mary Gravitt <gravittmary@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2019 2:45 PM To: Council Subject: METAL FRAME IN FRONT OF OLD CAPITAL MALL Please have the landlord of the Old Capital Mall remove that rusting frame that is blocking the sidewalk. The City Charter determines how much sidewalk a property is responsible for. The Frame was put up years ago by a tenant that closed, The Frame is a rusting eyesore and a hazzard blocking the sidewalk. It does not good to beautify the new downtown while the center deteriorates. That is how an urban slum is created. Mary Gravitt 2714 Wayne Ave #6 Iowa City, IA 52240 319.341.6230 Item Number: � + wMO°• CITY OF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org July 2, 2019 Historic Preservation Commission (Woodlawn) - One vacancy to fill an unexpired term. Effective upon appointment - June 30, 2021. (Lee Shope resigned) Correspondence included in Council packet. Applications must be received by 5:00 P.M., Tuesday, August 13, 2019. ATTACHMENTS: Description Lee Shope resignation Chris Olney From: Lee Shope <wleeshope@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2019 7:53 AM To: Chris Olney; Jessica Bristow Subject: Retirement from Iowa City HPC This is to inform you that as of August 1, 2019 1 will be resigning from the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission. My wife and I are selling our Woodlawn home and will be moving to a retirement community in Coralville. Lee Shope -t7.V__ Kellie Fruehling From: laurie crawford <1auriecrawford517@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2019 8:40 PM To: Council Cc: Jim Throgmorton; Bruce Teague; Mazahir Salih; Paul+qaj@y1daff&kii8 V jA"ed Thomas; Susan Mims Subject: TNR qq Dear Mayor Throgmorton and Council Members, (Date) Please support a Trap Neuter Release (TNR) program/ordinance for Iowa City. TNR is the humane way to manage feral and stray cat populations. It saves cat lives, improves the lives of cats, addresses community complaints about cats and stops the breeding cycle. TNR improves the co -existence between outdoor cats and humans in our shared environment. It stops nuisance behaviors like spraying, yowling and fighting and reduces the number of free -roaming cats. Recently there was a case in Iowa where a man had an unaltered pair of cats. The number of cats grew to 40 in 18 months. A similar case occurred in Iowa County several years ago. TNR of the first z pair would have kept almost 8o kittens from being born. And this was just 2 breeding pair of cats. TNR will save costs to the City of trapping, housing and euthanizing feral cat and will save cat lives when community cats can continue to live in their colony vs competing with other shelter cats for homes. OR ITT ;i?"r in Respectfully, Laurie Crawford Iowa City -4k -7, IL - Kellie Fruehling From: Amy Holcomb <holcombamy@aol.com> Late Handouts Distributed Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2019 5:11 PM To: Council Subject: animal control ordinance to allow free roaming cats/TNR (Date) To the Iowa City City Council Members: I am the current President of the Johnson County Humane Society and a member of the Iowa Humane Alliance's (Trap team, and I am writing to encourage you to change the Iowa City animal control ordinances to allow free roaming cats/TNR. I am very experienced with Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR). I have done TNR with community cats throughout Johnson County. I not only do TNR myself, I have also worked with a number of community members to teach them how to do TNR. I have seen the benefits of TNR, including that the population of community cats stabilizes and then declines when TNR is done consistently in a cat colony. I believe that TNR is the best way to manage community cats. The Jonson County Humane Society can provide some funding to assist with TNR. We have people contact us frequently about feral cats in their yard. The Iowa City Animal Shelter staff let them know that if they take them there they will probably be euthanized. People don't want the cats to be euthanized. They want to help them. The best way to help them is to do TNR with them. I will be happy to discuss this with you in greater detail if you have questions. Thanks, Amy Holcomb Johnson Count Humane Society, President 184 Golfview Ct. North Liberty, IA 52317 319-530-1195 it -7, Kellie Fruehling From: Bernard Sorofman <bernard-sorofman@mchsi.com> Late Handouts Distributed Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2019 9:07 AM To: Geoff Fruin; Ashley Monroe; Simon Andrew; Council _ _ , Subject: opposition to Trap, Neuter and Release plan -719 (Date) Dear City Council and City Management. I read in the Press -Citizen today, Saturday June 19, 2019, that the city, and more specifically the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center, is seriously considering a Trap, Neuter and Release program for cats. I am opposed to such a policy. It does not work. For example, see the link below with information on TNR from the American Bird Conservancy. Feral cats are known to kill 2.4 Billion birds and 12. 3 Billion mammals each year in the US. Feral cats have led to the known extinction of 33 species of birds. I appreciate the consideration for the feral cat problem but this is not the solution. I could not find an email link for the Iowa City Animal Care center on the City website and so I was unable to communicate directly with them. https://abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoors/trap-neuter-release/ Bernard Sorofman Iowa City, Iowa 52245 -*-7.V__ Kellie Fruehling From: Liz Ford <liz@bestfriendsdogacademy.com> late Handouts Distributed Sent: Monday, July 01, 2019 2:01 PM To: Council Subject: Community Cat Ordinance —7-1-19 (Date) Dear Council Members, I was just informed that Iowa City Council is considering a "community cat" trap/neuter/return (TNR) ordinance. This is a progressive and forward -thinking approach to reducing the feral cat population, reducing disease, and reducing euthanasia in the shelter. TNR programs conserve a community's resources including shelter staff time and money. They are a win for everyone. While in my position as Animal Services Supervisor, the staff, volunteers and I worked hard to build support for this program and I am so glad it is being considered. Thank you! Liz Liz Ford, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP Best Friends Dog Academy, LLC 4852 Sand Road, SE Building C Iowa City. IA 52240 www.bestfriendsdogacademy.com Follow us on Facebook and Linkedin Kellie Fruehling From: Sent: To: Subject: Greetings Iowa City Councilors, jodylynbailey@gmail.com Monday, July 01, 2019 3:07 PM Council Community Cat TNR -J� -7.�- Late Handouts Distributed -7-1- Iq (Date) As a former Iowa City resident, and long-time Johnson County resident, I am writing you to express my support for a proposal to allow ICACAC to employ Trap -Neuter -Return to humanely manage the homeless cat population in city limits. As a Johnson County Humane Society volunteer and cat/kitten foster for Last Hope Animal Rescue (based out of Cedar Rapids), I have years of experience with TNR and can attest that it WORKS! The last few years, I have been assisting the Hills community with community cat management, and since TNR started 4 years ago, we have reduced complaints about feral cats from residents, reduced the spread of disease, and most importantly —the homeless cat population has declined steadily and become manageable. Newcomers (usually the product of people leaving/dumping their cats behind when they move, or allowing intact cats to roam outdoors) are live trapped as soon as they are reported to volunteers, and whisked off to Iowa Humane Alliance to be vaccinated and sterilized. This effort has been funded by the generous Johnson County Humane Society, and it's making a real difference in quality of life for both humans and homeless pets. The conventional wisdom has been to try to euthanize our way out of this human -created problem, and it's the equivalent of being on a treadmill, an inhumane one at that! I've been a vocal critic of ICACAC's policies and practices for years. As one of Iowa's most progressive communities, I knew Iowa City could and should do better. For a relatively endowed community like Iowa City, a 25-50% euthanasia rate of cats is abysmal. Nevertheless, we can and should sterilize our way out of this problem. I absolutely applaud the new leadership and progressive animal welfare visions that have finally arrived at ICACAC. I look forward to becoming one of ICACAC's biggest fans in the future. Thank you for the opportunity to express my enthusiastic support for this long overdue initiative. Jody Bailey P.O. Box 32 Hills, IA 52235 Kellie Fruehling From: Amy McBeth <mcbeth.amcbeth@gmail.com> Late Handouts Distributed Sent: Monday, July 01, 2019 5:03 PM To: Council Subject: Trap -Neuter -Return of Community Cats 7-2-—/9 Dear Councilors, (Date) I am writing in support of the concept of "Trap -Neuter -Return" of Community Cats. Though I live in unincorporated Johnson County, I work in Iowa City, and have been a Board Member/volunteer of Johnson County Humane Society for almost 15 years. As a personal anecdote, I can attest to the effectiveness of TNR. In 2005, 1 facilitated the TNR of a colony of some 30 cats on a neighbor's property. By removing and re -homing socialized kittens, spaying/neutering almost all the remaining individual cats, and through the eventual attrition of those colony members, 7 years later the colony numbered 8 individuals, which was a reduction of 73%. The decline of the population was steady and sure. While the practice of TNR can be controversial, the fact is, the cats are already there, and removal and killing of healthy cats is impractical, costly, ineffective, and inhumane. Simply removing cats creates a well- documented "vacuum effect," whereby new cats move into an area vacated by the previous colony. If "unadoptable" cats are returned to the original area, generally, they will drive off newcomers. As a resident of unincorporated Jo. Co., I can also tell you there are simply not enough 'rural homes' to which "unadoptable" cats can be relocated. Many municipalities in Iowa are now passing ordinances in support of TNR to allow private individuals and organizations to attend to the problem of cat overpopulation --- at little or no cost to those municipalities. hope that the City of Iowa City will pursue this rational course of action. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, Amy McBeth North Liberty, Iowa -t� -7, Kellie Fruehling From: Schnoor, Jerald L <jerald-schnoor@uiowa.edu> Sent: Friday, June 28, 2019 6:29 PM To: Council; Jim Throgmorton; Rockne Cole; Susan Mims; Mazahir Salih; Pauline Taylor; Bruce Teague; John Thomas Cc: Brenda Nations Late Handouts Distributed Subject: Climate Change and the Iowa City Council -7— Dear Councilors, (Date) As a resident of Iowa City and a citizen interested in urgent action on climate change, I write to lend support for the Iowa City Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and to encourage consideration of even greater action as possible. I was fortunate to be a member of the official media for the Paris Climate talks in December 2015 and to observe that "sausage being made", the Paris Climate Agreement. Incredibly, it was signed by all 194 nations present. Certainly, it was not as strong as some would have liked, but that is the result when compromise is made. We knew it was not "ambitious" enough to achieve the goal of limiting the global average temperature increase to not more than 2.0 degrees C (3.6 °F). In fact, I wrote an editorial at the time for the magazine Chemical and Engineering News entitled "Mind the Emissions Gap," detailing how short we were to achieving the emission reductions required. It's somewhat analogous to where we find ourselves in Iowa City today. The Steering Committee began their work in April 2017. At the time, the U.S. had no climate action plan or legislation (we still do not). The state of Iowa had no climate change policy or plan (we still do not). The only operable "goal" at the time was that from the Obama Administration pledge at Paris: 26-28 % emission reductions by 2025 and 80% reduction by 2050. It made perfect sense to me to adopt that goal as a starting point for Iowa City. I consider the IC Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, completed September 2018, to be exemplary. Not only is it one of the first plans for a City our size, it was developed transparently and with community participation. The 35 action items are sensible and achievable. A couple weeks after the release of the IC Plan, a special report was published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in response to the lack of progress on emission reductions by signatory countries to the Paris Agreement. Sadly, we are falling short of even those (non -ambitious) pledges. In fact, global emissions of greenhouse gases are still increasing when they should be decreasing by now. Furthermore, climate change seems to be more rapid than some models projected. As a result, IPCC called for new goals: 45 % emission reductions by 2030 and "net -zero" emissions around 2050. In December 2018, IPCC and UNEP released a new emissions gap report stating, "...unprecedented and urgent action is required by all nations". It is entirely appropriate given this new information that we make our Iowa City plan more ambitious. But it is not an occasion for insults and innuendo. Rather, it is a time to join together as citizens, and determine what more we can do. We have a great start -- let's keep moving forward. Sincerely, Jerry Schnoor Iowa City resident Survey Results COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO "WHAT SHOULD GO IN LUCKY'S SPACE?" Q1 What do you think would be the best use of Lucky's space for the South District and for Iowa City? (1=most important 10=least important) Answered 231 Skipped 3 8 twkn.$�Dla.,d.neobe Acro v.aoc o o Eie EM Vx W, M Melo x Home Tools Document 79 ® Q Sign In nJ What should go in Lucky's old space'! SurveyMo'.I 01 What do you think would be the best use of Lucky's space for the JJ South District and for Iowa City? (1=most important 10=1east important) Ms"rW 231 Skpp9 3 clmnln6 V-" to he hull IkuM.ankl k..cno. alae.116 1 arntop (Tv6aI {11aEada In000.... IMt{W{M{ mWtLu{e d,.W 0 1 2 0 1 6 6 7 9 9 10 1 2 2 6 S 6 7 6 9 10 11 TOT. M.12G0 it . 1 Clothing: 1.7% Laundromat: <1% Affordable indoor recreation space: 3.2% Grocery: 12.17% Anchor Store: 4.76% Restaurants: 97o Child care: 2.25% Food hub: 3.3% One-stop e.g. Target: 67% Multi -use: 1% Other: 5.76% --Who responded? -- What were the Vis? --How useful would this service/business be? --How often would new service be frequented? 231 people responded 69% live in the South District (154; 67 IC) 67% responded the new service/business would be extremely useful (146) 77% responded they would frequent their selection at least once a week* (180) 1 IM Other suggestions for improvements to the Iowa City Marketplace and its retail neighborhood... Let's bring in something that provide jobs and services that the neighborhood will use. A sign easily seen from Hwy 6 displaying the movies and stores there. Improve the parking lot. Make it pedestrian friendly to get there. Whatever goes in there, it needs to fit the demographic of the area. I think having an anchor such as Target or indoor market/food hall would spur development in the rest of the marketplace.... I hate having to drive to Coralville for socks! This side of IC seems to be generally ignored. We need convenience like a Target. If you want to revitalize the Sycamore Mall retail area, you need a name brand, well-recognized one-stop mid- range shop that draws traffic. That will encourage better restaurants and stores to come to the area. More pedestrian, bicycle, and bus friendly. Now that even the inside is chopped up ... we never stroll around inside, and outside is too ugly and unfriendly to pedestrians to do that either .... Provide an covered outdoor seating area and a throughway inside from one end to the other. Additional suggestions Renovate Eastdale Plaza Affordable attractions for teens Encourage IC Annexes for the public library Marketplace to and the Senior center. Home Depot modernize: renovate the theater, create a food court, attract an anchor store. Help for pedestrians trying to cross Hwy 6. create a walking bridge or at least a better crosswalk.