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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-21 CorrespondenceCITY OIF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org January 21, 2020 ATTACHMENTS: Item Number: 9.a. Description Sally & Richard Hesseltine: Property Taxes, Iowa City Cable Channel Costs [Staff response included] Kellie Fruehling From: Ty Coleman Sent: Monday, January 6, 2020 2:54 PM To: Ingtimedustin@aol.com Cc: Council Subject: Re: Property Taxes, Iowa City Cable Channel Costs Attachments: regulation_of_cable_tv_rates.pdf Hello, Mrs. Hesseltine - Thank you for reaching out regarding your concerns about the increasing cost of cable TV service. I would like to provide you with some information that may help to understand the rates and fees charged in Iowa City. As you have noted, the reason for the most recent increase in cable TV service pricing is due to the local broadcast station surcharge, which was raised by $2.53 per month as of the end of 2019, which certainly is a significant increase, especially when subscribing to the lowest tier of service (all other service tiers received the same increase). Unfortunately, the City does not have the authority to regulate these kinds of fees and is even limited in how much it can influence the rate for basic service. Mediacom has explained to us in the past that they are being charged increasing costs by the local broadcast stations in order to carry their programming on the cable system. Since these stations include those such as ABC, NBC, and CBS affiliates and news stations, they are a must for many basic tier subscribers and Mediacom has had to pass this increase on to its customers in order to remain profitable. This is a difficult business decision they must reach themselves, as they know that increasing the rates often leads to losing customers - especially in the current media landscape, when, as you mentioned, much content can be found online at a smaller cost. Looking back over the past ten years, I have found that the rates charged for basic tier cable TV service in Iowa City have stayed rather low - on the higher end reaching up to the $14-$15 per month range, but staying at $12.95 for the past few years. 20 years ago, I was surprised to find, the rate for basic cable in Iowa City was in the $11-$12 range. Comparing Iowa City's current rate to that of other Iowa Cities, I have found that ours is in many cases less than half of that charged by Mediacom in cities such as Des Moines, Davenport, and even North Liberty. For additional information about the regulation of cable TV rates, I have attached a document provided by the Federal Communications Commission, which does a nice job of explaining who can do what and to what degree. Again, however, the extra fees and surcharges unfortunately cannot be regulated. Finally, as the State of Iowa Utilities Board now oversees cable TV franchises in Iowa, I'd like to provide you with contact information, should you desire to voice your concerns to them. Iowa Utilities Board Online: Online complaint form Email: Customer complaints or inquiries - custom er(a)iub.iowa.gov Phone: Toll-free for utility customer complaints or inquiries, 877-565-4450 Mail or in person: Customer Service, 1375 E. Court Ave., Des Moines, IA 50319-0069 Fax: 515-725-7399 1 can definitely understand your concerns and I wish I could offer more, but I do hope this information provides some additional explanation that I know a customer's bill would not convey. Please don't hesitate to contact me directly for greater clarification or to discuss this further. Thank you, Ty Coleman Media Production Services Coordinator City of Iowa City Cable TV Office (319) 356-5454 Office Location: 10 S. Linn St. (3rd floor of Tower Place) Mail: 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 Email: ty-coleman(a)-iowa-city.orq www.ic-ov.org www.citychannel4.com From: Sally Hesseltine [mailto:ingtimedustin@aol.com] Sent: Sunday, January 5, 202010:41 PM To: Council <Council@iowa-city.org> Subject: Property Taxes, Iowa City Cable Channel Costs January 5, 2020 Dear City Council Members, Today we received our Mediacom Bill which has gone up AGAIN. The last time it went up was for higher charges for the Local Broadcast Station. And again, it was for the same. We now pay $12.95 plus taxes for Basic Channel Service and $17.48 plus taxes for Local Broadcast Station Surcharge This is absurb, these services should be posted on Nextdoor, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and/or YouTube and they would cost us nothing to view. My Husband age 70 and myself, age 71, never look at those channels, they have very little value that could not be fulfilled without costing us all $17.48 a month. If you do in fact care about Seniors on a Fixed Income and Low Income people, you WILL take this seriously and end this costly service that most people don't want, need or use. We need that money to pay for food, medicines and your horrendous proposal of 24 cents per $1000 added to our property taxes for your Climate Change activities. No amount of money will change the climate, that's just another money grab. Our property taxes are based on the location and possible appearance of the outside of our home. The outside has been upgraded, but NOTHING inside has been upgraded since we moved here in 1994. Most of the interior is as it was when built in 1976. Iowa City has some of the highest taxes in the state. Just maybe the City Council should consider lowering your spending. I understand you have a tough, sometimes thankless job and we do appreciate your efforts to serve our community. However, Please note, we are not happy with the unnecessary costs (burdens) that are being placed on our shoulders. Sincerely, Sally Hesseltine Richard Hesseltine 1331 Sandusky Dr. Iowa City, Iowa 52240 2 CITY OIF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org January 21, 2020 ATTACHMENTS: Description Ann Drop: Do you even care Item Number: 9.b. Kellie Fruehling From: Drop, Ann M <ann-drop@uiowa.edu> Sent: Monday, January 6, 2020 4:12 PM To: Council Subject: Do you even care? AK This afternoon I had coffee with friends and someone wondered out loud if Tuesday Morning on the East side of town was closing because the store was almost empty. I had the store on my errand list so stopped on my way home. As I checked out I asked if they were closing and moving (guess where) to Coralville. Of course you all know the answer. Why are you so unable to attempt to keep stores on this side of town. Once this store leaves, you won't be able to buy a good kitchen utensil, a bed covering, anything on this side of town. You can make concessions for the Moens but cannot seem to be able to keep the stores that mild income family need. When Coral Ridge was built it seems the Iowa City Council lay down and gave up the fight. No worries, it will only take someone an hour or more to run out to Coralville via bus so if you need something as simple as a new pair of socks and do not have a car this little trip will only take you a few hours out of your day. YOU ARE ALL A DISGRACE. DO YOUR JOBS AND GET SOME BUSINESSES ON THIS SIDE OF TOWN. Ann Marie Drop 511 Third Ave Iowa City (319) 330-1537 To leave the world a bit better... to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived that is to have succeeded. Ralph Waldo Emerson Item Number: 9.c. CITY OIF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org January 21, 2020 ATTACHMENTS: Description Carol deProsse: California's New Police Use -of -Force Kellie Fruehling From: Carol deProsse <lonetreefox@mac.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 7, 2020 8:47 AM To: Council Cc: Caroline Dieterle; Aleksey Gurtovoy; Latisha McDaniel Subject: What to Know About California's New Police Use -of -Force Law I would like Iowa City to consider passing a similar law. What to Know About California's New Police Use -of -Force Law https: //protect- us.mimecast.com/s/7teZCNkGAoFRoKYSml4ol?domain=nytimes. com This email is from an external source. CITY OIF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org January 21, 2020 ATTACHMENTS: Description Tim Borchardt: McCollister Extension Item Number: 9.d. Kellie Fruehling From: Tim Borchardt <tjborc@yahoo.com> Sent: Thursday, January 9, 2020 8:28 AM To: Council Subject: MCollister Exstension I approve of the extension. Please have your planners take a hard look at Sycamore St. There are 2 schools that will be effected by the increased traffic. Tim Borchardt 52 Regal Ln Iowa City 52240 319-930-6569 Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android CITY OIF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org January 21, 2020 ATTACHMENTS: Description Jerry Bokassa - Issues Item Number: 9.e. Jan 10,2020 SCAM Election can't believe that a Homo -QUEER got made Mayor of Iowa City.. There are not enough Black Voters to Do Something like that..Nobody cares in the Welfare Black part of Iowa City most are FELON'S and free loaders that came here for free room and board..How many Black voters can you people produce???? I know It was a SCAM just like your Criminal Justice System that Kangaroo me into jail. I file a complaint with the F,B.I.Civil Rights division Way back when it happen..) can prove it,lts in my court papers.The shooting in Coralville was at my FRONT DOOR. I had told the Coralville P.D. back in FEB 2019 That I saw the welfare BLACKS and Mexicans wirh Guns.lf your Black mayor is suppose to be such hot stuff he should Tell the Welfare Blacks to stop;; That what I would DO.. Carpenter,Foreman Jerrk Bokassa Union trade school r•m ca ra C_: -C —v Item Number: 9.f. CITY OIF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org January 21, 2020 ATTACHMENTS: Description Emily Burker - Save our deer Christine Shope - Deer Management and Private Property Kellie Fruehling From: Emily Burker <emily.burker@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, January 10, 2020 3:08 PM To: Council Subject: Save our deer Hello, I'm reaching out due to my concerns about the city's allowance of sharpshooters and potentially bow hunters to kill our deer population. As a resident of Iowa City for over ten years, this is absolutely appalling to me. I have never been aware of any serious issues related to our deer population that would make such tragic steps as killing off the deer in our parks necessary. This is unacceptable and it needs to stop. Sincerely, Emily Sent from my iPhone This email is from an external source. Kellie Fruehling From: Christine Shope <chris-shope@mchsi.com> Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2020 1:48 PM To: Council Subject:. Deer Management Plan and Private Property RISK Dear elected officials, I decided to write to you, as our elected officials, about my concerns with the Deer Management Plan that took place in December. As a private homeowner I was concerned about the private property culling program. I had heard rumors that an adjacent property owner was going to allow the baiting and killing of deer on his property. I wanted to know if this was happening and when it would take place. My reasons were very simple ... I don't want to be taken off guard by someone carrying a gun, and I don't want to witness the killings. I contacted the representative listed on the website, Captain Bill Campbell, with some very straightforward questions: Will there be sharpshooters on private property within the city limits? If land -owners give consent for their property to be used will adjacent land owners be notified and kept informed about when the shooters will be in the area? Does the permission from a landowner mean that the harvesting can only happen on their property and that if the deer are on an adjacent property they will not be shot? The response I got was that yes, White Buffalo would be shooting on private property within the city, but that adjacent land owners would not be notified, and that White Buffalo was coordinating all aspects of the private land use. I then sent another email asking how I as a landowner could find out if my neighbor was going to allow baiting and killing. This is the response I received: l believe you have two options: 1. Ask White Buffalo for the information. They have a contact page on their website. l do not believe they will provide it to you, but asking is certainly an option. 2. Ask your neighbors directly if they are one of White Buffalo's project sites. No, I did not follow-up with White Buffalo, and no I did not ask the neighbor. Asking the neighbor was really not an option as we are not friends. So, how did I find out? I found out when another neighbor called me, at work, and said they had just witnessed the sharpshooter killing a deer. Which, as my neighbor relayed it, was not a quick death, but a I sight that would have destroyed me. Once I knew that the killing was happening just down the hill from me and that I could easily witness something so abhorrent, I stayed at work several hours later so that it would be dark before I came home. On the weekends, I left the house and tried to stay away. But, this email isn't really about whether I support the culling or not. This email is the about the total lack of transparency with the private land use. I made an effort to determine if the shooting was going to happen yards away from my house, and got no help. I am totally appalled that shooting is happening 10 blocks from downtown, in a neighborhood with lots of children, adults, pets, and other wild animals but we aren't given any information, even when I tried to get it. You closed city parks and told everyone, but when I asked about shooting in neighborhoods, where people live, walk and play, I was given no information. I wasn't asking about ALL of the private property being used, I was asking about my specific situation. Now, I have already begun to worry and fret about February and if they will be around once again. I understand your reasoning for doing the culling, I don't know that I agree with it, but I do know that I am totally against using private property within the city limits. There are more than enough deer, and enough space, within the parks that it should be all that is used. Please reevaluate your decision and stop the use of private property within the city limits. Respectfully, Christine Shope 1049 Woodlawn Ave. Iowa City, Iowa 52245 Item Number: 9.g. CITY OIF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org January 21, 2020 ATTACHMENTS: Description Laura Crossett: I C P D social media posts Kellie Fruehling From: Laura Crossett <newrambler@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 2:53 PM To: Jody Matherly; Council Cc: rporter@co.johnson.ia.us Subject: ICPD social media posts 1 RISK Dear Chief Matherly, Because I only receive press release updates from the ICPD and do not follow them on social media, I was unaware until I saw posts and articles on social media today that photos and details about the man involved in the incident involving a man involved in "suspicious behavior" outside a Kum & Go (https://content.govdeliverv.com/accounts/IAIOWA/bulletins/2757ded) had been posted by the ICPD on their Facebook account. While I have many questions for the original reporter as to what exactly constitutes "suspicious behavior," my guess, based on anecdotal evidence and the significant research done on implicit bias is that it means "noncriminal activity by black man that would not be noticed if done by a white woman." I gather from reporting that the images were posted after the police had no luck identifying the person in question. I am curious as to what the ICPD's overall social media policy is (and, for that matter, if the department has one) in terms of posting (and removing) images and would appreciate any further information you can give me about it. I believe we would all like to see a world in which spurious reports are not made and in which people's characters are not defamed. I'd like to believe that we can make that happen. Thank you for your time and cooperation, Sincerely, Laura Crossett 1420 Yewell St. Iowa City, IA 52240 Laura Crossett I newrambler.net Kellie Fruehl' ma From: Jody Matherly Sent: Friday, January 17, 2020 8:45 AM Late Handouts Distributed To: 'Laura Crossett'; Council Cc: rporter@co.johnson.ia.us Subject: RE: ICPD social media posts (Date) Laura, Thank you for contacting us. The police department often requests assistance from the public when investigating such matters. To achieve that, law enforcement agencies use various methods to get the information out including television, newspapers and social media. While we cannot release all details of this case at this time it was important, given the allegations, that we identify the person as soon as possible. Thank you again for your inquiry. From: Laura Crossett [mailto:newrambler@gmail.comj Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 2:53 PM To: Jody Matherly <Jody-Matherly@iowa-city.org>; Council <Council@iowa-city.org> Cc: rporter@co.johnson.ia.us Subject: ICPD social media posts I RISK Dear Chief Matherly, Because I only receive press release updates from the ICPD and do not follow them on social media, I was unaware until I saw posts and articles on social media today that photos and details about the man involved in the incident involving a man involved in "suspicious behavior" outside a Kum & Go (httys:Hcontent.govdelivery.com/accounts/IAIOWA/bulletins/2757ded) had been posted by the ICPD on their Facebook account. While I have many questions for the original reporter as to what exactly constitutes "suspicious behavior," my guess, based on anecdotal evidence and the significant research done on implicit bias is that it means "noncriminal activity by black man that would not be noticed if done by a white woman." ::. Jody L. A&therly Chief of Police " Iowa City, Iowa Fair o- 319-356-5271 Responsive Professional From: Laura Crossett [mailto:newrambler@gmail.comj Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 2:53 PM To: Jody Matherly <Jody-Matherly@iowa-city.org>; Council <Council@iowa-city.org> Cc: rporter@co.johnson.ia.us Subject: ICPD social media posts I RISK Dear Chief Matherly, Because I only receive press release updates from the ICPD and do not follow them on social media, I was unaware until I saw posts and articles on social media today that photos and details about the man involved in the incident involving a man involved in "suspicious behavior" outside a Kum & Go (httys:Hcontent.govdelivery.com/accounts/IAIOWA/bulletins/2757ded) had been posted by the ICPD on their Facebook account. While I have many questions for the original reporter as to what exactly constitutes "suspicious behavior," my guess, based on anecdotal evidence and the significant research done on implicit bias is that it means "noncriminal activity by black man that would not be noticed if done by a white woman." I gather from reporting that the images were posted after the police had no luck identifying the person in question. I am curious as to what the ICPD's overall social media policy is (and, for that matter, if the department has one) in terms of posting (and removing) images and would appreciate any further information you can give me about it. I believe we would all like to see a world in which spurious reports are not made and in which people's characters are not defamed. I'd like to believe that we can make that happen. Thank you for your time and cooperation, Sincerely, Laura Crossett 1420 Yewell St. Iowa City, IA 52240 Laura Crossett I newrambler.net Item Number: 9.h. CITY OIF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org January 21, 2020 ATTACHMENTS: Description Larry Svoboda - Proposed construction of high rise buildings on Court St January 15, 2020 To: Members of the Iowa City Council Re: Proposed construction of high rise buildings on Court St The apartment rental business relating to student housing in Iowa City is in serious trouble. There is already an oversupply of off campus student housing, resulting in a substantial number of vacancies in newly constructed high rise apartments. Older larger rental buildings and smaller ones have long standing "FOR RENT" signs in their front yards with no hope of student tenants moving in until next fall and maybe, not even then. Many more large projects for student housing are currently under construction and many more are still on the drawing board. All of this while the University of Iowa is not only predicting but also attempting to limit and reduce enrollment in the University. (Source: Van Stange, head of University Housing). With these facts along with the rising costs of attending college and students leaving college with huge debts are resulting in what I call "The Perfect Storm." Iowa City may very well see future defaults in payments of property tax, mortgage defaults, failure to make repairs, neglect of maintenance, etc. because of the situation that already exists. It would be prudent to step back and examine this information and decide if Iowa City needs more apartment buildings of this magnitude. This situation will only cause more vacancies and more needless exposure of the above problems that are certain to follow. Is this really the direction of the City of Iowa City should go? Only recently within the last few years have big corporations from out of state moved into Iowa City area to build high rise and/or huge apartment complexes. Iowa City is not the only college town where this is happening. They build these projects only to sell them to investment groups which overpay the inflated selling price. These arrangements happen in numbers and can cause financial disaster to the community. This is happening right here in Iowa City. I understand this is already the case with the "Rise". The city of Iowa City has no control over this type of activity once the building is built. The rumors on the Court Street project are that these buildings are being built to house sophomore students from the University of Iowa. If so, will the University of Iowa end up buying these structures, taking them off the tax rolls? The City of Iowa City should stipulate limitations to prevent this from happening before allowing the rezoning. The City of Iowa City should require a "build to own" ordinance before issuing the building permit. If the current process is alloweo continue, Iowa City will cease to be the same city as we know it. CD _ Cc: City Manager Cc: Iowa City Press Citizen " w y larry.svoboda58COgmail.com Item Number: 91 AL CITY OF IOWA CITY =c�- Q T�q� COUNCIL ACTION REPORT January 21, 2020 Install (1) "No Parking Any Time" sign with supplemental arrow placard on the northwest corner of the cul-de-sac of Jema Court. Prepared By: Frank Waisath, Associate Transportation Planner Reviewed By: Kent Ralston, Transportation Planner Tracy Hightshoe, Neighborhood and Development Services Director Fiscal Impact: No impact Recommendations: Staff: Approval Commission: N/A Attachments: None Executive Summary: As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A (10); Install (1) "No Parking Any Time" sign with supplemental arrow placard facing right on the northwest corner of the cul-de-sac of Jema Court. Background /Analysis: This action has been requested by the Resource Management Department to extend the current parking prohibition on the west and south sides of Jema Court to the cul-de-sac and provide more consistent access for curbside collection. The pavement width on the cul-de-sac of Jema Court is 25 feet. This action effectively eliminates only one on -street parking space. On -street parking remains permitted on the north and east sides of the street.