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Home My WebLink About2010-02-02 Correspondence~~~.®t~' ,~®,~~ Date: January 22, 2010 To: City Clerk CITY OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM 4f 1 From: Darian Nagle-Gamm, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner Re: Item for February 2nd, 2010 City Council meeting; Installation of (2) NO PARKING ANY TIME signs on the north and east sides (inner curve) of Westbury Court. As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action. Action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A (10); Install (2) NO PARKING ANY TIME signs on the north and east sides (inner curve) of Westbury Court. Comment: This action is being taken at the request of households on Westbury Court. Survey results indicated that 100% of responding households favor this action. N d ~ J C • D ~ ~ ~~ ' N ~ --4 C ` ~ T~"0 -'~ 1 ~ 1 _ t~ ~ ~ «~: .. A tD S:W000G\TRANS\Traffic Engineering Requests\2009\Council Actions\Westbury Ct - NPAT - Feb09.doc ~~ r ~ ,~®,~~ CITY OF IOWA CITY 4f~ MEMORANDUM Date: January 22"d, 2010 To: City Clerk From: Darian Nagle-Gamm, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner Re: Item for February 2"d, 2010 City Council meeting; Installation of (2) NO PARKING ANY TIME signs on the south side of Lafayette Street between South Capitol Street and South Clinton Street. As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action. Action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A (10); Install (2) NO PARKING ANY TIME signs on the south side of Lafayette Street between South Capitol Street and South Clinton Street. Comment: This action is being taken to prohibit parking on the gravel shoulder in the railroad right of way on the south side of the road. The Transportation Services department concurs with this action. N 4 O ~_ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ '-'~'~ ."`+ ~~pa l~~ i ~~ ~ ~ , . .. ~ r -~ ®~,~ . ,~®,~~ Date: January 15th, 2010 To: City Clerk CITY OF IOWA CITY 4f3 MEMORANDUM From: Darian Nagle-Gamm, JCCOG Traffic Engineering Planner Re: Item for February 2"d, 2010 City Council meeting; Installation of (2) STOP signs on the northwest and southeast corners of the intersection of Kennedy Parkway and Camp Cardinal Road. As directed by Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 3B of the City Code, this is to advise the City Council of the following action. Action: Pursuant to Section 9-1-3A (5); Install (2) STOP signs on the northwest and southeast corners of the intersection of Kennedy Parkway and Camp Cardinal Road. Comment: This action is being taken to assign right of way at the Kennedy Parkway and Camp Cardinal Road intersection as Kennedy Parkway, between Ryan Court and Meadow Lark Drive, has been accepted by the City as of January 12th, 2009 as part of the Cardinal Point South Part 1 subdivision. N C? ~~ O ~ S~ ....t ~' .~~ C~'C N N ~~ ~~ r~ -v r ~ ~~ ~ W .~`~' lD 4f 4 Marian Karr From: YULANDA [yulandacollins@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 2:01 PM To: Council Subject: Iowa City's "bid for Sanctuary City Status" My name is David E. Colins, and I live in Bloomfield Iowa, and I just wanted to let you folks know that it is a violation of Federal Law to enact and policies that are in violation of Federal Law, and establishing a "Sanctuary City Policy" which would in fact remove the duty of POLICE and Public Service Providers from Reporting ILLEGAL ALIENS is against the Laws of our nation. Providing a "SAFE ZONE" for the employment and or aiding and abetting of ILLEGAL Immigration is a violation of Federal Law. Employing Illegal Aliens is against the Law (Sec.274A {8 U.S.C. 1324a}a) Federal Law, and why would you even concider passing an ordinance that circumvented those Laws? Iowa City isjust ahop-skip-and a jump from Bloomfield, and attracting all those Illegal Aliens to your community makes mine just that much more in danger from these criminals and degenerates. Do Not do it, Iowa needs to be a State of ENFORCEMENT not a "Sanctuary" for Criminal Illegal Aliens. Thank You for your time. David E. Collins 1/25/2010 Marian Karr From: sylvia huyck [sylvia.huyck@juno.com] Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 2:43 PM To: Council Subject: sanctuary city Dear Iowa City council, Please do not choose to turn your city into an illegal sanctuary. The result will be to protect criminals and increase crime. I just moved from Phoenix, AZ to Battle Creek, MI. Phoenix has been a defacto illegal sanctuary. ICE has informed the Arizona Republic that 69~ of illegals turned over to ICE have been found to be felons of serious offenses. Drugs are a common presense with illegals. They also drive down wages and are taking jobs citizens need. College students need a supply of jobs to finance their way through scool. We do not need to encourage the above. Iowa City is a great university town of renown. You need to back up your students with a protective environment that discourages drugs and the violence that accompanies it. Sincerely, Sylvia Huyck 900 W Territorial Rd #211 Battle Creek, MI 49015 Weight Loss Program Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=AxOglurX- CgNdfJ[riYOISAgAAJ1CCI-_1TMFW2nRAXW70FfCSAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT~NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF[JgAAAAA 1 UL-U1-1 U ' 4f(5) Marian Karr From: Jeff Davidson Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 5:39 PM To: 'mtandjoe@q.com' Cc: '`City Council; "City Manager's Office; Rick Fosse; Ron Knoche; David Purdy; Doug Ongie Subject: FW: PVT Concerns-- your email message of January 24 Hello Joe and Mary Sturm and Deborah Sass. Your message below was forwarded to me for response The City has applied to the state through the CDBG Public Infrastructure Program for funds to reconstruct and elevate the intersection of Normandy and Manor. The street drains pumping station are elements of that project. The project was not funded in the first round of funding by the state. We remain hopeful that it will be funded in subsequent rounds. We are not even certain of how many rounds of funding there will be or how much money will be available. That will be determined largely by the amount of funding returned by the CDBG Buyout Program on a statewide basis. This could take 12 to 18 months. Property buyouts remain the state's highest priority for use of CDBG flood mitigation funds. Regarding 700 Eastmoor, we attempted to contact this property owner for months by phone, email and letter. We were finally successful, and they have accepted the City's CDBG buyout offer. We will attempt to close on this property ASAP, and fast track the demolition. Duplication of benefits will not be an issue with this property as they have not received rehab assistance. I am glad to hear that the demolitions are going well. Feel free to contact Flood Recovery Specialist David Purdy if you have any questions Jeff Davidson, Director Department of Planning and Community Development The City of Iowa City, Iowa From: Joe and Mary Sturm [mailto:mtandjoe@q.com] Sent: Sunday, January 24, 2010 7:18 PM To: Council Cc: David Purdy Subject: PVT Concerns This afternoon we had a short meeting of a few residents in PVT and listed below are our concerns: 1. We are all anxious to know when the City plans to start the emplimentation of remedies for our three street drains, elevation of Normandy and Manor intersection and the placement of/or preparation of a pumping station on the end of Normandy closest to the City park. 2. We have had email conversations with Dave Purdy (and others) concerning the house at 700 Eastmoor Drive....at that time (a little more than a month ago) we were told that the City was in negotiations with the owners to sell the home to the City....we have not heard anything further. However, with the last few warm days that have occurred the smell coming from that house can be detected from across the street. It is most definitely a health hazard ...and a severe one at that. What can be done imediately to get that health hazard/nuisance out of our neighborhood? We should not have to be subjected to that sort of hazard...we were all told that we MUST clean our houses after the flood and if we did not they would be deemed a hazard and dealt with...time has 1 /27/2010 Page 2 of 2 run out on this one. 3. Finally, this last group of workers that are performing house demolition in PVT are doing a great job....they are efficient, quick and clean up when they are finished. Thank you, PVT Representatives Deborah Sass Mary Sturm Joe Sturm 1 /27/2010 4f 6 Marian Karr _ ._ __ From: Jacob Butler (jacobbutler3@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 10:44 PM To: Ross Wilburn; Matt Hayek; Council Subject: SNOW Good day ladies and gentlemen. I'm hoping that we can somehow open some dialog in regards to this continuing problem that I see. We've met along the way at council sessions in the past. I want to bring back to your remembrance one particular session that I attended after the winter of 2008 in which I had remarks. I suggested that the the powers that be (HEADS OF SNOW REMOVAL & ADMINISTRATION), were using fiscal accountability and restraint, in the lackadaisical efforts at times during a snow program or the need to call one. I said that it was not the drivers and I stand by the statement to this day. They can only do as much as they are allowed or told to do. Fiscal restraints will allow innocent people to get hurt or even die unnecessarily during a snow storm. I worked in snow removal for 10 years. I realize that we are not a big metropolitan city but we can do better with what we have. Case in point.Monday when the snow hit Sunday night Monday morning, the guys were on it, cleaned it up and did a wonderful job. As I was heading to work myself around 1-1:30 pm on Monday, those trucks were finishing up and headed in for the day. Well as you might be aware of, a snow storm hit with high winds, I was out there unti17:30pm and not one single truck did I see or any signs that one had been through. I know the signs! traffic was awful, people were backing down hills, accidents were all over, calls were made, but no results! I did not see a truck for 6 hours. That's a joke but I'm not laughing. Why weren't the crews on the streets? Because they would have been making time and a half pay! Maybe you weren't aware that no trucks were out until now, I'm not suggesting that you were, but someone needs to address this because winter is still alive for another 1 1/2 months.What is more important, saving dollars or the safety of the tax paying citizens? What other explanation can there be? If you can get some answers I'd really appreciate it. What would the citizens of Iowa City have to say about the fact that the trucks were parked, the drivers were at home during a snow storm that was crippling their city? Just asking. Feel free to respond when you have the time after getting some answers. r~ti Jacob B~rtler .,~a, 1 /26/2010 4f 7 Marian Karr From: Gary Sanders [garyiclabor@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 12:19 AM To: Council Subject: Calendar 2008 Salary over 85k Attachments: 20091102132052610. pdf LET'S THINK ABOUT CUTTING SOME SALARIES BEFORE WE ADD MORE TAXES 1 /26/2010 ATKINS.REP 23-DEC-08 LIST OF 2008 CALENDAR WAGES IN DESCENDING AMOUNT ORDER PAGE: 1 DALE HEELING ASST CITY MANAGER 147,336.24 KEVIN O'MALLEY FINANCE DIRECTOR 125,420.00 RICHARD FOSSE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR 125,380.00 SUSAN CRAIG LIBRARY DIRECTOR 114,958.32 ANDREW ROCCA FIRE CHIEF 114,771.36 DOUG BOOTHROY HIS DIRECTOR 114,552.61 TERRY TRUEBLOOD PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR 114,278.40 SAMUEL HARGADINE POLICE CHIEF 109,893.60 JEFFREY DAVIDSON PCD DIRECTOR 104,494.00 MARTIN LEIK POLICE OFFICER 98,640.49 MATT JOHNSON POLICE CAPTAIN 96,442.80 RONALD KNOCHE CITY ENGINEER 96,437.80 MICHAEL MORAN RECREATION SUPT 96,142.80 MICHAEL LOMBARDO CITY MANAGER 95,116.00 GARY COHN ITS COORDINATOR 94,503.40 MARIAN KARR CITY CLERK 94,043.92 ROGER JENSEN DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF 93,504.00 SARAH HOLECEK FIRST ASST CITY ATTORNEY 95,820.65 RICHARD WYSS POLICE CAPTAIN 90,710.59 JAMES HUMSTON BATTALION CHIEF 89,152.94 MAEVE CLARK LIBRARY COORDINATOR 88,619.36 TERRYL ROBINSON SUPERINTENDENT PARKS/FORESTRY 88,547.82 JAMES STEFFEN POLICE LIEUTENANT 88,431.61 DANNY SELLERS POLICE LIEUTENANT 88,180.80 GERALD STOCKMAN SUPT STREETS/SOLID WASTE 88,261.72 DAVID ELIAS WASTEWATER SUPERINTENDENT 88,084.38 BARBARA BLACK LIBRARY COORDINATOR 87,780.80 DEBORAH GREEN LIBRARY COORDINATOR 87,780.80 ROBERT MIKLO SENIOR PLANNER 87,630.80 EDWARD MORENO WATER SUPERINTENDENT 87,727.00 LINDA KOPPING SENIOR CENTER COORDINATOR 87,480.80 CHRISTOPHER O'BRIEN PARKING AND TRANSIT DIRECTOR 87,067.65 HEIDI LAURTTZEN LIBRARY COORDINATOR 85,807.60 KARA LOGSDEN LIBRARY COORDINATOR 85,134.60 DANIEL SMITH BATTALION CHIEF 84,272.12 ERIK LIPPOLD POLICE OFFICER 84,234.45 PAUL BATCHELLER POLICE OFFICER 83,818.15 THOMAS HANSEN EQUIPMENT SUPERINTENDENT 8.3,863.08 HAL PENICK LIBRARY COORDINATOR 82,930.56 WILLIAM CAMPBELL POLICE LIEUTENANT ~ 82,793.20 SHAUN BRADBURY SPEC PROJECT ADMINISTRATOR 82,406.40 BRIAN KREI POLICE SERGEANT 81,743.22 DOUGLAS HART POLICE LIEUTENANT 81,565.76 DENNIS GANNON SR ENGINEER 81,561.20 VICKI LALLA POLICE SERGEANT 81,496.11 MICHAEL BROTHERTON POLICE SERGEANT 82,169.20 KEVIN HURD POLICE SERGEANT 81,418.21 JERRY BLOMGREN POLICE. OFFICER 82,469.40 KEVIN HEICK POLICE SERGEANT 81,153.56 MICHAEL LORD POLICE SERGEANT 80,808.95 STEVEN MILLER SR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR 80,738.52 ~~ Property Tax Relief for Residents Along Ralston Creek Mayor Hayek and council members I would like to bring the following statement to your attention. I have prepared copies for you and distribution to the press. I will try to read quickly but doubt that I can meet the constraints of the 5 minute rule. Be it as it may I offer the following and beg your undivided attention. I beg your kind indulgence. Tonight I hope to enlist you assistance on an issue that impacts many properties in Iowa City. I realize that you are nearing completion of and will be endorsing the Hazard Mitigation Plan and that some of the issues addressed are flood control. Sadly the plan does not include a viable solution for the economic hardships endured by the people living in the Ralston Creek watershed. We have not been heard like the tree falling in the forest. No one will carry the sound to the ears of a populous that would be sympathetic to our cause. These unaddressed issues impact more homes and properties than the collective damage of all the 1993 and 2008 flooding which were in a relatively small portion of Iowa City. My home, as are many others in Iowa City is located in the Ralston Creek watershed. This is deemed to be the 100 year floodplain. Making my concerns of these issues known to the appropriate departments of the city has fallen on deaf ears. I get the response that "We have remapped the floodplain." It is my contention that this was not done by a complete study and including an exact engineering update. A study where there was a physical surveying and gathering all the appropriate data. This was done by cursory adjustment to GIS mapping and excluded assessing the impact all of the changes in the development of the properties on the east side of Iowa City. - That impact was the result of substantial development having been allowed with a few detention ponds being added. However, the water still runs along the gutters and into drains which then feed into Ralston Creek. This lack of system is symptomatic of the disinterest of previous councilors and staff that did little more than pay lip service to any property outside of the Central Business District. This was a travesty and a failure of our elected officials to act responsibly. The problem was band aid patched by a few additional feet of ineffectual sewer running directly into Ralston Creek when it could have been put into a subterranean system replete with lift stations to carry it to the Iowa River rather than allowing the potential flooding to jeopardize the properties along Ralston Creek and the adjoining neighborhoods. This was tantamount to wanton disregard for the economic impact upon those residents that happen to live in the impacted areas. What in fact has happened is that the city has made it easier for storm water runoff to reach Ralston Creek. Through their actions they ended up making the people living in these lower lying areas the recipients of the rain water from all the other properties sitting high and dry. Consider for example the 3000 blocks of East Washington Street or East Court Street. All high and dry but sending their water down the streets and into Property Tax Relief for Residents Along Ralston Creek the few storm sewers which ultimately empty into Ralston Creek. If the City of Iowa City were to undertake a program to flood proof all of residential areas in the city's east side this would be living up to the mandate to serve the entire community. By building a storm sewer replete with lift stations to take the water over such areas as the higher elevated areas of Summit Street the property owners in the other less desirable areas of the east side would not have to pay over $1,000 per annum for flood insurance. They also would not be in the potentially dangerous situation of having to be in a floodplain. These properties pay substantial property taxes based upon an arbitrary evaluation system that does not even take into consideration the diminished value of a property that has to pay flood insurance. Even though the board of appeals has been approached on this matter they closed their eyes, ears and minds to the appeal. Feedback came in the manner of "Would you sell your house for X number of $?" This was not the point. To wit: The assessed value of a typical lot on East Washington Street where I built three homes is $35,500. These lots are 10,300 square feet with shrubs, trees and not in the floodplain. They are also in excellent proximity to Helen Lemme Grade School and City High School as well as within walking distance of Regina. They are located on a bus route and the construction is high quality. The square foot value of these lots according to the city assessor's evaluation is approximately $3.50 per square foot. Conversely the land values of my home and others located on Rundell St. that are designated in the 100 year floodplain are assessed at a value of $48,000. This is a number which approaches $8.00 per square foot per lot. These are narrow lots of 50 feet in width extending back 125 feet to either an alley or Ralston Creek. This is a prime example of the lack of the government of Iowa City to have any idea of what is going on in the assessor's office. Or to even care in regard to areas in which they do not reside. This is also an example of unfair taxation that favors the more affluent neighborhoods of Iowa City and disregards the plight of people having to pay flood insurance because the city will not install a storm sewer system that does not contribute to the potential flooding of Ralston Creek. The city will obviously object on financial reasons even though they have catered to the areas that were in the flood plain and did suffer damage from the 2008 and the 1993 flooding. This as an example of the city responding to the people in one area where the city should accept the blame for allowing the development to proceed and not accepting the responsibility for the areas where they had no control over the development which occurred in the 1930s or before. It is time for the City of Iowa City to either allow the reduction of property values in this area to reflect the decrease in value due to the fact the property owners have to pay flood insurance in excess of $1000.00 per annum. Or on the other hand the city could opt to undertake a program of construction for a storm sewer system that will protect the entire city. Property Tax Relief for Residents Along Ralston Creek I would like to suggest that the entire area of Iowa City be placed into a formula that would produce a cost for complete flood insurance covering the entire city based upon the potential for flooding. That the cost be prorated to all taxable properties of the city through the property taxation system. Once a value is established for all properties within the tax district adjusted for the type of property the city could approach FEMA with a suggested plan. This problem should be rectified either by actions of the Iowa City Council and the City Assessor's office or through petition and litigation through the courts. I should like to add that in one conversation with a FEMA employee I was informed that a substantial problem with the flood mapping is due to the fact that the College and Muscatine Avenue bridges impede the flow of water in times of substantial rain and pose the potential for that water to back up onto the properties up creek from them. We that have this problem in our neighborhoods will not go quietly down the crick while the City of Iowa City ignores our plight for which the city is contributory. It is time that the City Council of Iowa City and the powers that be wake up and start serving the entire city not just the developers and Down Town Business Association. If you go forward with the Hazard Mitigation Plan without addressing the needs of the entire city you will be remiss in your duties as councilors. Mitigation means along with other definitions to make less harsh, soften or to make less hostile. It would definitely make the potential of flooding in the Ralston Creek watershed Less hostile by alleviating the situation. Thank you for your time and attention to this serious matter. I hope this as previous pleas has not fallen on deaf ears. In light of the devastation of the recent floods it is certainly better to be prepared for the unexpected. James C. Knapp 528 Rundell St. Iowa City, IA 52240