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Home My WebLink About2010-02-18 Info Packet'--r ~'r'~,~ ~~ CITY OF IOWA CITY www.icgov.org CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION PACKET February 18, 2010 MISCELLANEOUS IP1 Council Meetings and Work Session Agenda IP2 Memorandum from the City Clerk: Tentative Meeting Schedule (April -August 2010) IP3 Memorandum from the Management Analyst to the Finance Director and Interim City Manager: Budget to Actual Comparison for the Six Months Ended December 31, 2009 IP4 Memorandum from the City Engineer to the Interim City Manager: North Dodge Street Pedestrian Bridge Over I-80 Project IP5 Memorandum from the Director of Public Works and the Director of Planning and Community Development: Update: Flood-related activities IP6 Letter from Steve Semken: Walk of Fame authors IP7 Letter from Lee Grassley, Mediacom, to the City Clerk: Changes to the digital line-up IP8 Invitation: Forums - "What's New and .Improved at the Senior Center," February 19 and 24, 2010 DRAFT MINUTES IP9 Telecommunications Commission: January 25, 2010 ~ i t1 ~r~ ®i~ s1 ~~Ill~i~~ ,,,~ City Council Meeting Schedule and 07-1$-10 CITY OF IOWA CITY Work Session Agendas IP1 www.icgov.org TENTATIVE MEETING SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE • MONDAY, MARCH 1 Emma J. Harvat Hall 6:30p City Conference Board (Separate Agenda Posted) Regular Work Session • TUESDAY, MARCH 2 Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:OOp Regular Formal Council Meeting • MONDAY, MARCH 22 Emma J. Harvat Hall 6:30p Special Work Session • TUESDAY, MARCH 23 Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:OOp Special Formal Council Meeting • MONDAY, APRIL 5 Emma J. Harvat Hall 6:30p Regular Work Session • TUESDAY, APRIL 6 Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:OOp Regular Formal Council Meeting • FRIDAY, APRIL 9 Emma J. Harvat Hall 8:OOa-5:OOp Special Council Work Session (City Manager Search -Recruitment firm interviews) • MONDAY, APRIL 26 Emma J. Harvat Hall 6:30p Special Work Session • TUESDAY, APRIL 27 Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:OOp Special Formal Council Meeting • MONDAY, MAY 10 Emma J. Harvat Hall TBD Special Work Session Special Formal (Continue Work Session if necessary) • MONDAY, MAY 31 Memorial Day Holiday -City Offices Closed • TUESDAY, JUNE 1 Emma J. Harvat Hall TBD Special Work Session Regular Formal (Continue Work Session if necessary) ~ i ~~®a7 III ~~ ' . City Council Meeting Schedule and CITY OF IOWA CITY Work Session Agendas February 18, 2010 www.icgov.org • MONDAY, JUNE 14 Emma J. Harvat Hall 6:30p Regular Work Session • TUESDAY, JUNE 15 Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:OOp Regular Formal Council Meeting • MONDAY, JULY 5 Independence Day Holiday -City Offices Closed • MONDAY, JULY 12 Emma J. Harvat Hall TBD Special Work Session Special Formal Council Meeting (Continue Work Session if necessary) • MONDAY, AUGUST 16 Emma J. Harvat Hall 6:30p Regular Work Session • TUESDAY, AUGUST 17 Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:OOp Regular Formal Council Meeting • MONDAY, AUGUST 30 Emma J. Harvat Hall 6:30p Special Work Session • TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 Emma J. Harvat Hall 7:OOp Special Formal Council Meeting 2(~ 10 Census -Iowa City Moves Fo~wa~d WdZen You Sena It Back wvvw. cgov.org/census ~'~__--r,®~ CITY OF IOWA CITY 1P2 ~iii~~~ ,~®,,-~ A N D L[ ~ ~E~CJR ~~ DATE: February 17, 2010 TO: Mayor and City Council ~~ FROM: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk"~~"' RE: Tentative Meeting Schedule (April-August 2010) At your work session of February 16, 2010 Council agreed to the following meeting schedule: April 5 -Monday Regular work session April 6 -Tuesday Regular formal April 26 -Monday Special work session April 27 -Tuesday Special formal May 10 -Monday Special work session, TBA Special formal May 31 -Monday, HOLIDAY June 1 -Tuesday Special work session, TBA Regular formal June 14 - Monday Regular work session June 15 -Tuesday Regular formal July 5 -Monday, HOLIDAY July 12 - Monday Special work session, TBA Special formal August 16 -Monday Regular work session August 17 -Tuesday Regular formal August 30 -Monday Special work session August 31 -Tuesday Special formal Work Sessions start at 6:30 and formals at 7:00 PM, unless noted. Cc: Department Heads Bob Hardy, Cable TV Jerry Nixon, Cable N City Hall Maintenance U: schedule (April-August2010) r '' I P3 ~~ Date: February 18, 2010 To: Kevin O'Malley, Finance Director Dale Helling, Interim City Manager From: Leigh Lewis, Management Analyst Re: Budget to Actual Comparison for the Six Months Ended December 31, 2009 ~~ _~ r ~ 3 iMll~ ®r ~„ CITY OF IOWA CITY The purpose of this report is to examine revenue and expenditures on a cash basis through December 31, 2009, for General Fund, Road Use Tax Fund and each of the business-type funds. Overview Of particular note for all funds, interest income has taken a sharp decline since last year at this time. Receipts at December 31, 2009 are $833,000, compared to $4.3 million thru December 31, 2008. This represents an (-81%) decrease from the prior year. Electric utility expenditures have increased an average of 8.9% for all funds when compared with the prior year. General Fund -Revenue and Other Financing Sources General Fund revenue and other financing sources total $ 27.3 million and are fifty-one percent (51 %) of the original budget estimate. Amendments totaling $9.2 million include the following items: • Local Option Sales Tax revenue ($7.7 million) • Utility Franchise Tax ($351,000) • Capital Project funding -Fire Station #4 ($568,867) • FEMA Public Assistance projects ($325,000) • Reimbursement from Johnson County for JECC staff thru June 30, 2010 ($150,000) After amendments, General Fund revenue is forty-three percent (43%) of budget. Interfund loan proceeds of $6.0 million will be transferred into General Fund as required by capital project expenditures. The following graph examines receipts through December 31 S` as compared with the same period in the prior fiscal year. fs.o General Fund Revenue as.o Two-Year Comparison for the Six Months ended ~"~0 December 31 A c 53.0 ` FY2009 o Sz.o FY2010 ® ~ St.o So.o Note: Property tax receipts (not shown) total $12.2 mlWon in FY2009 antl $12.7 mlFOn in FV2010. - 1 - Other City Licenses & Use of Intergovt Charges Misc. Interfund Sale of Taxes Permits Money & for Fees 8 Transfers Assets Property Services The following notes reference the graph on page one. 1) Other City Taxes: Sales Tax Revenue of $2.98 million. Also of note in this category: Hotel Motel Tax revenue is down thirty-eight percent (38%) when compared with this time last year. This revenue source provides direct funding for Police Patrol (47.5%), Parks & Recreation Facilities (27.5%) and the Iowa City Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau (25%). 2) Licenses & Permits: As a category, construction-related permit and inspection fees are down eighteen percent (18%) from the prior year. 3) Use of Money & Property: Reduced interest income in FY2010. 4) Intergovernmental Revenue: FY2009 actuals include FEMA reimbursements of $586,000. The University of Iowa Fire 28E contract billing for FY2010 of $1.46 million was billed in late November and remains outstanding at this time. 5) Charges for Services: Receipts for the administrative chargeback total $1.165 million, compared with $678,000 in the prior year. The administrative chargeback to business-type /enterprise funds is adjusted annually and is based on expenditure appropriations for the year. A rental inspection fee increase was approved for July 1, 2009. Associated receipts are up seventeen percent (17%) at this time. Also of note in this category: Plan Check Fees are down thirty percent (30%) from the prior year, as seen with other construction-related activities. Transit fare revenue is down from the prior year. Transportation Services reports a six percent (-6%) decrease in ridership in this time period. 6) Miscellaneous: FY2010 includes flood insurance proceeds. Fines as a category are up twenty-four percent (24%), the majority of which are parking violations, which were increased July 1, 2009. 7) Intenund Transfers: Employee benefits tax levy receipts into General Fund reflect payment of the 14`" (of 26) payperiod prior to December 31. General Fund -Expenditures General Fund expenditures of $24.8 million are forty-five percent (45%) of the original budget. Expenditure authority has been amended for an additional $8.8 million in FY2010, including the following: • Open purchase orders from June 30, 2009 and unexpended project appropriations, including flood recovery projects ($1.3 million) • Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funding: - Elevation of Dubuque Street -Local Option Sales Tax ($3.8 million) - South Wastewater Plant Expansion -Local Option Sales Tax ($3.9 million) - Fire Station #4 -Interfund Loan ($1,568,867) - Fire Station #2 Demolition and Reconstruction -Interfund Loan ($145,000) • FY2010griority-setting reductions /reallocations ($191,000) • Energy-saving LED lighting ($150,000) • Joint Emergency Communications Center staffing through June 30, 2010 ($150,000) • City of Literature Contribution ($50,000) -2- After amendments, General Fund expenditures are thirty-nine percent (39%) of the amended budget. Transfers out of General Fund to capital projects comprise $13.3 million of the $63.7 million in budgeted expenditures. Funding will take place as project expenditures occur. The following graph provides a comparison of expenditures with the prior fiscal year. Of note, fourteen of the twenty-six payperiods in FY2010 were paid out prior to December 31, 2009. For smaller program areas, this may cause expenditures to appear inflated in FY2010. General Fund Expenditures Two-Year Comparison by State Program Area for the Six Months Ended December 31, 2009 $12.0 $10.0 $8.0 !~ $6.0 0 D 0 c $4.0 0 $2.0 $0.0 (1) $9.7 __ D FY2009 e FY2010 (2) $6.1 -- $4.1 i- - $3.6 ~_ ;~ =~ _ i =_ ~~ = ~. $0.8 $0.4 Public Public Culture 8< General Safety Works Recreation Govt. Comm. & Interfund Econ. Dev. Transfers State Program Area (1) Expenditures for flood recovery fall within Public Safety, totaling $2.3 million during the first six months of FY2009 and $184,000 in FY2010. (2) 14`h payperiod; installation ofenergy-efficient LED lighting in Court Street Transportation Facility. (3) 14"' payperiod. General Fund Cash Balance The General Fund cash balance at December 31, 2009, is $12,321,991. Funds encumbered (but not paid) at December 31, 2009, total $98,375. Road Use Tax Fund Road Use Tax revenue of $3.0 million is fifty-two percent (52%) of budget at December 31, 2009, averaging a three percent (3%) increase annually over the past two years. Continued debate at the state level regarding reductions in Road Use Tax funding are being monitored. Expenditures of $3.8 million are fifty-seven percent (57%) of original budget estimates, due to capital project funding. Amendments totaling $373,416 provide project financing for asphalt overlay of Old Highway 218, repairs to the Burlington Street Pedestrian Bridge and construction of the Salt Storage Building. Cash balance, $1.5 million at the start of the fiscal year, is $824,388 at December 31, 2009. This is projected to drop to $453,000 by fiscal year-end. -3- BUSINESS-TYPE FUNDS The Business-Type Funds include Parking, Wastewater, Water, Refuse, Landfill, Airport, Stormwater, Broadband Telecommunications and Housing Authority. Operations are primarily funded from user fees and charges for the services provided to individual customers. The following summaries examine operational revenue and expenditures by comparison to the original budget. Amendments are highlighted where significant. Parking Fund Both revenue and expenditures are $3.0 million at December 31, 2009, and fifty-six percent (56%) of original budget estimates. Revenue estimates will need to be amended due to receipt of parking impact fees from developers in the Near Southside of $247,000. Expenditures are forty-one percent (41 %) of budget after amendments of $2.0 million, which include the following: • FY2009 budget authority for open purchase orders at June 30, 2009 - $329,000 • FY2009 budget authority for capital projects - $1.0 million • Interfund loan repayment for Southside Parking Facility land acquisition, funded by Parking Impact Fees - $520,000 (loan to be paid in full in 2023 versus 2028) Cash balance at December 31, 2009, is $4.7 million. Wastewater 8 Water Operations Revenue and expenditures are between 47% and 48% of original budget for both funds. Expenditure amendments include FY2009 budget authority for open purchase orders and capital projects, charges for internal services and debt service revisions due to bond refundings. Cash balance at December 31, 2009, is $11.1 million and $12.4 million for Wastewater and Water Operations, respectively. Refuse Collection Fund Revenue and expenditures are 48% and 52% of budget at December 31, 2009. Cash balance is $284,943. A rate increase of $.50 per month went into effect July 1, 2009; an additional $.50 increase has been approved for July 1, 2010. Landfill Operations Fund Receipts of $4.1 million are sixty two percent (62%) of the original budget estimate. Amendments include a ($200,000) reduction in interest income projections and a $520,000 advance loan repayment on the Southside Parking Facility. A direct comparison of FY2010 receipts to prior years is inappropriate due to the volume of debri processed in both FY2009 and FY2010 as a result of the flood. This trend is expected to continue through FY2011 due to demolition of homes through the Hazard Mitigation /Home Buyout Program. Expenditures of $3.9 million are thirty-three percent (33%) of original budget due to interfund loan proceeds which have not yet been distributed, including $3.9 million for 420th Street Industrial Park, $1.0 million for Fire Station #4 and $500,000 for the A-2 Fire Safety Loans. Loan proceeds are typically transferred as required by project expenditures. -4- Expenditures amendments net to a $4.6 million increase in appropriations and include the following: ^ FY2009 budget authority -Landfill capital projects, $7.35 million ^ FY2009 budget authority -Loan proceeds to UI Hangar Expansion project, $235,376 ^ Supplemental Appropriations -Loan proceeds to Fire Station #4, $568,867 ^ Reduction in Appropriations -Landfill cell split into two projects, ($3.5 million) Ending cash balance at December 31, 2009, is $28.5 million. Of this amount, $12.8 million is restricted in use by Iowa State Code for cell closure, post-closure, planning and waste reduction requirements. An additional $3.6 million is in compliance with the City's financial policy on equipment replacement reserves. Airport Fund Airport revenue and expenditures exceed original budget estimates due to sale of land in Airport Commerce Park ($223,000) and interfund loan proceeds ($245,780) for UI Hangar Expansion. A portion of the proceeds ($68,000) from Airport Commerce Park were transferred to debt service for repayment of bonds due to G.O bond financing when the property was originally developed. The Airport Fund's cash balance at December 31, 2009 is $242,575. Stormwater Management Fund Receipts of $318,341 are forty-eight percent (48%) of budget. Expenditures of $1.2 million are ninety-three percent (93%) of the original budget due to capital projects, repair and maintenance projects originally budgeted but not completed in FY2009. The necessary amendments totaling $686,000 have been processed, bringing expenditures to forty-one percent (41 %) of the amended budget. Cash balance at December 31, 2009, is $1.2 million. Broadband Telecommunications Fund Receipts of $396,352 are forty-seven percent (47%) of budget and comparable to this time last year. Expenditures of $342,550 are forty-four percent (44%) of original budget. Cash balance at December 31, 2009, is $1.2 million. Housing Authority Revenue of $5.3 million is seventy-two percent (72%) of original budget. Revenue amendments, including a reduction in interest income, net to an additional $759,824 due to sale of three properties at Longfellow Court /Place ($450,000), full and final loan repayment from HACAP for the Broadway Apartments ($445,000) and other loan repayments in the Tenant to Owner Program ($70,000). After amendments, revenue is sixty-five percent (65%) of budget. Expenditures total $4.8 million thru December 31, 2009, and are 64% of original budget. Amendments of $219,778 are for the provision of second mortgages in the Tenant to Owner Program. After amendments, expenditures are sixty-two percent (62%) of budget. Cash balance at December 31, 2009, is $5.93 million -5- Two-year Revenue Comparison by Fund for the Six Months Ended December 31 (in millions) $8.0 $s.o w s? 0 0 ~ $4.0 N C O $2.0 $' $8.0 $s.0 w m o $4.0 a c 0 $2.0 Parking Waste Water Two-year Expenditure Comparison by Fund for the Six Months Ended December 31 (in millions) Water Refuse Landfill Airport Storm Broad Housing Water band Authority -6- Parking Waste Water Refuse Landfill Airport Storm Broad Housing Water Water band Authority The following notes reference the graphs on page six. 1) Parking: Expenditures -CIP funding for Parking Garage Access Controls, revised administrative chargeback for General Fund services, ice control chemical /salt previously provided by Streets /RUT. 2) Wastewater.' Revenue -Reduced interest income in FY2010. Wastewater: Expenditures - Cash funding for the Inverted Siphon Sewer pending FEMA reimbursement. 3) Water.' Revenue -Reduced interest income in FY2010. Metered sales are down (3.3%), charges for services related to new construction are down forty-nine percent (49%). 4) Landfill: Revenue -User fees for FY2009 include FEMA reimbursement for sand bags and tipping fees from private haulers for other flood-related debri. Reduced interest income in FY2010. Landfill: Expenditures -CIP funding for Landfill Gas System and FY09 cell, interfund loan proceeds to Airport for UI Corporate Hangar YTD expenditures, revised administrative chargeback for General Fund services. 5) Airport: Revenue -Sale of land in Airport Commerce Park, interfund loan proceeds for UI Hangar Expansion project. 6) Housing Authority: Revenue -Full and final loan repayment on Broadway Apartments, sale of Longfellow properties, ARRA grant funds. Housing Authority. Expenditures -Repair and maintenance service expenditures for public housing units (funded by American Reinvestment and Recovery Act grant monies), TOP 2nd Mortgages, increased program participation (landlord rents and utility reimbursement) and property acquisition at 321 Davenport Street and 2673 Indigo Court. -7- r IP4 ^~~®,~~ CITY OF IOWA CITY ~.~~ N ~uM M~MO~A Date: February 12, 2010 To: Dale Helling, Interim City Manager From: Ronald Knoche, City Engineer Re: North Dodge Street Pedestrian Bridge Over I-80 Project Project Letting Delay The North Dodge Pedestrian Bridge Over I-80 Project was withdrawn from the Iowa DOT January 20, 2010 letting due to Iowa Department of Transportation errors in processing an addenda. Following removal of the project from the January 20 letting, the Iowa DOT added this project to the February 16, 2010 letting. After receiving Contractor Bids on the 16th of February, 2010, the bids will be reviewed and awarded at the next City Council Meeting on March 2, 2010. -.~®~ CITY OF IC~WR CITY 1P5 ~III~ ~ ~~~~~ RAND ~ M E~C~ Date: February 18, 2010 To: City Council From: Director of Public Works Director of Planning and Community Development Re: Update: Flood-related activities Engineering and Public Works Administration • The new structures and pipes constructed with Iowa Avenue Inverted Siphon Sewer Project are in operation. Coordination with the University will occur in the Spring for site clean up. • The Iowa City 2010 Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved on February 16th. FEMA will give the final approval after they receive a copy of the resolution approving the plan. • The Army Corps of Engineers has plans available to contractors for the Section 14 Iowa River Bank Stabilization along Dubuque Street downstream from the Park Road Bridge at the end of January. The construction is planned for Spring 2010. • The City has purchased 27 properties through the FEMA Buyout Program. The City has 23 of the properties demolished and one property is vacant land. • MMS Consultants have completed the preliminary design for the West Side Levee. Staff is still reviewing funding opportunities. • The EDA has approved the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the design of the relocation of the North Waste Water Plant. The RFQ has been sent out to the consultants. A pre-submittal conference was held on February 16th • The Iowa River Watermain Crossing Reconstruction Plans are being reviewed. FEMA has to obligate the PW for this project to move forward. • Staff participated in a conference call with the Army Corps of Engineers in regards to the Section 206 Ecosystem Restoration Project. Water Division -1/26/10 River Crossings Continued working with Engineering & Howard R. Green (HRG) for design and construction of replacement of two 12" river crossing repairs (Old Plant and Hwy 6) Review comments on HRG's bid design and specifications are ready for submittal to the City Council for approval. The U. of I. and City IT have corroborated by incorporating a fiber optic conduit at both locations as part of the project. FEMA has defined distinction criteria that would allow this to happen. Funding for the water main crossing projects needs final obligation status which includes design and construction costs, through FEMA. The visit with Sherri Huber last week has helped to accelerate FEMA's review process. February 18, 2010 Page 2 Peninsula Source Protection • The HRG Hazard Mitigation Study is the source of planning for proposed funding and projects on the peninsula site and the plant site improvements. • The PW and Hazard Mitigation Plan for peninsula work; CW 3, CW 4, SW 4, JW 2 and the respective electrical systems has been `obligated' by FEMA. • HRG is under contract to provide design, specifications bid documents and inspection for the two projects. HRG survey work and Water Division's design review continues. Water Works Prairie Park Source Protection • The HRG Hazard Mitigation Study is being used for additional funding request for hazard mitigation for plant site well houses. We are currently working with Dave Purdy. • We have submitted information to FEMA for the Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA) to ascertain our eligibility. • We received communication from FEMA that the BCA looks favorable. We are awaiting their decision to proceed further. PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT • The City is finishing the third round of demolitions of properties purchased in the HMGP Program. • To date, the City has acquired 27 properties in the HMGP buyout program and three properties in the Community Disaster Grant Program. • The City continues to work with homeowners in Parkview Terrace on the CDBG buyout process. As of today, the City has received 20 offers back from homeowners interested in pursuing a buyout. • Planning staff attended an I-Jobs event in Coralville on February 12tH. Governor Culver discussed how I-JOBS is helping the Iowa City/Coralville area recover from the floods of 2008. • The Single Family New Construction Program Committee met on February 16tH and voted on project proposals from 10 developers and builders for the second round of the Single Family New Construction Program. This housing will replace the property tax base from the residential properties being purchased and demolished by the City. City staff is still waiting to hear back from the developers and builders if they will accept the number of units approved by the committee. • The City continues to accept applications for the four new business disaster recovery programs: Loan Interest Supplement Program, Expanded Business Rental Assistance Program, Commercial Rental Revenue Gap Program, and Residential Landlord Business Support Program. • The Iowa Housing Working Session organized by the Rebuild Iowa Office has been rescheduled for March 25tH in Cedar Rapids. ~-~~-10 IP6 ~~ N r dl BE,pg ~~ E Iw ~ Dear Connie Brothers: ,~ ~ o ~o As of now, the Iowa Literary Walk of Fame has 49 notable authors honored. Est 1993 I would like to suggest that your Selection Committee consider Iowa City writer Larry Baker as the loth. Larry has been an Iowa (City) resident since 1980. He has a PhD in English from the University of Iowa (1986). His creative dissertation was a novel jointly sponsored by the English Department and the Writers Work- shop. Even before moving to Iowa, Larry had published short stories in national journals, with more after he moved here. His first published novel was The Flamingo Rising (1997), which was also a Ballantine paperback in 1998. Larry was one of three finalists for the 1997 Barnes and Noble "No- table New Voices" award, and Flamingo was one of the Los Angeles Times' Top Ioo Books of 1997. Flamingo was also sold in fourteen foreign language editions. In Zoo1, the Hallmark Hall of Fame chose to adapt it as the open- ing movie in its so Year Golden Anniversary Season. His second novel was Athens/America (Zoos), which fictionalized a certain college town in Iowa. For both those books, his publishers sent Larry on national tours. In addi- tion, the British publisher of Flamingo sent Larry on a tour of England and Ireland. Thus, as an Iowan, he has been recognized on the international as well as the national stage. I am proud to be the publisher of his third novel, the critically ac- claimed AGood Man. I know that you have read A Good Man, and remem- ber the dedication page, so you will appreciate how excited and honored that Larry is to have been invited by the Andalusia Foundation to read at the home of Flannery O'Connor in Milledgeville, Georgia, this March. Larry a~vill be touring several Southern cities in conjunction with that O'Connor c~eadi, ending with him being a presenter at the Virginia Book Festival in M^^^ ~h`~ ottesville. This ast Fall, Larr did an extensive tour throu bout the P Y g r- ~ .~ ~-~ ~~ i~ ~~ o 205 North Front Street North Liberty, Iowa 52317-9302 p & f. 319/626-zo55 Radish Magazine Award Winner steve~a icecubepress.com www.icecubepress.com United States, appearing in over dozen cities. He has already been invited to be a keynote speaker at the Florida Book Festival in September of zoio. I think it is safe to say that Larry has established his literary credentials. And he is also more than just an Iowa resident. He is a noteworthy Iowa "citizen." He has been actively involved in the political and community life of Iowa City ever since his first election to the City Council in. 1983. In addition to the. two terms in that capacity, Larry has also served on the Iowa City Board of Adjustment, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and he was a leader in the creation of the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission, helped write the environmental protec- tion regulations for Iowa City, and was also a Council representative to the John- son County Council of Governments (JCCOG). Larry has earned his status as a noteworthy Iowa writer. I hope you will include him with those already honored. I am writing to you first. Any guidance you can offer about how to proceed with the selection committee would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your consideration. Sincerely, .._1\~~ Steve Semken Publisher cc: Matt Hayek ~ ~ `..' =g=o ac ~ a' ~~ ~= r- , ~ ~ .. ~ ~ ~ `~ ~~ o ._ Mediacom February 11, 2010 Ms. Marian Karr City of Iowa City 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826 Subject: Channel Updates Dear Ms. Karr: 2010 FE6 ! 7 P~ 2~ 48 C1T`t CLERK lQ~IA CITY. ~OW'~ Mediacom will add the Sprout and Wedding Central channels to the digital line-up in your community on or about March 4th, 2010. Sprout Channel 197 Wedding Central Channel 269 The Sprout channel combines a variety of gold standard, curriculum based children's programming with short-form original programming including shows such as Sesame Street, Bob the Builder, and Thomas & Friends. Wedding Central includes 300 hours of series, specials, and movies related to weddings, dating, and relationships. Shows to be featured include: My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding, Bride vs Bride, and Single in the City. Additionally, Mediacom will be dropping the GSN, currently on channe1258, from the digital plus line-up on or about March 29th If there are any questions please call me at 319-395-9699 ext 323. Sincerely, t~ ~~ Lee Grassley Senior Manager, Government Relations Mediacom Communications Corporation 6300 Council St. NE • Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 • 319-395-7801 • Fax 319-393-7017 IP7 IP8 Marian Karr From: Cari Malone [carijm@mchsi.comj Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 1:05 PM To: Council Subject: Reminder of forums at the Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center Dear Council Member, This is a reminder the upcoming forums, entitled "What's New and Improved at the Senior Center," on Friday, February 19th at 2:3o and on Wednesday, February 24th at 7:00. On October 27, 2009, the Senior Center created a Senior Center Self-Assessment Steering Committee whose purpose was the self-assessment and evaluation of all aspects of the Senior Center. The committee is composed of Senior Center members, staff, and representatives of service agencies, businesses, and university personnel in the Iowa City/Johnson County communities. The forum will provide the findings and recommendations of the four sub-committees of the Steering Committee; the revised mission statement and goals of the Senior Center; the formation of the new Center Steering Council; and an overview of activities at the Senior Center. A question and answer period as well as an opportunity for input from participants will be included. Musical programs will be provided 3o minutes before each forum. The forum will be held in the Assembly Room of the Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center, parking is available in the Tower Place Parking Ramp with access via skywalk from level 3A. We look forward to your attendance at one or both of the forums. If you have any question, do not hesitate to contact either myself at carjm~mchsi.com or Dianne Day at ..d....aywear~msn.com. Cari Malone Member, Senior Center Curriculum Committee 354-1373 This correspondence will become a public record. 2/15/2010 2-~g-1o Z P `~ IOWA CITY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION DRAFT MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2010--5:30 P.M. CITY CABLE TV OFFICE, 10 S. LINN ST.-TOWER PLACE PARKING FACILITY MEMBERS PRESENT: Laura Bergus, Hans Hoerschelman, Robert Kemp, MEMBERS ABSENT: Saul Mekies, Gary Hagen STAFF PRESENT: Mike Brau, Bob Hardy OTHERS PRESENT: Josh Goding, Beth Fisher, Kevin Hoyland, Phil Meany RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL None at this time. SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION Goding reported that over the past quarter 36 people attended the guidelines workshop, 16 attended the camera workshop, 1 attended the studio workshop, 11 the editing workshop, and 1 the web media workshop for a total of 65 workshop attendees. PATV's tenant has moved out and they are seeking a new tenant. Hardy reported that a retransmission consent agreement between Mediacom and Sinclair has been reached for one year. Hardy said he has been informed by Mediacom officials that they are no longer interested in negotiating with Iowa City regarding their proposal to bring a 100 megabit Internet service to Iowa City. Mediacom has taken off a couple of analog channels and will soon offer a 50 megabit Internet service in Iowa City. Hardy reported that there will be legislation introduce in the Iowa General Assembly that is intended to require real competition for an incumbent cable operator before they can opt out of a municipal franchise agreement and receive a state certificate of franchise authority. fryeSTORM, a small Internet company, has applied for a state certificate for nearly the entire state, including Iowa City. Following procedures, they informed Mediacom that they intended to provide service in Dubuque and Mediacom applied for, and received, a state certificate of franchise authority. The City of Dubuque is working with the League of Iowa Cities to develop legislative language. Dubuque is also pursuing administrative remedies with the Iowa Utilities Board. The City of Iowa City will assist and follow the lead of the City of Dubuque on the issue. Hardy said he Goding and Hoyland recently met and discussed ideas that they may wish to put before school administrators regarding improving the school channel. One idea is to form a group of parents, teachers, and volunteers to produce programs for the channel. The City could provide some start-up funds. Support from the local access channels could come in the form of an intial advisory board and program production. The ideas will be presented to Perry Ross next Wednesday. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Bergus moved and Mekies seconded a motion to approve the amended November 23, 2009 minutes. The motion passed unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS None. SHORT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS None. CONSUMER ISSUES Hardy referred to the complaint report in the meeting packet and noted the number of complaints was up. MEDIACOM REPORT Hardy said Grassley would be unable to attend due to automobile problems. UNIVERSITY OF IOWA REPORT McBride referred to the annual report included in the meeting packet. The total number of programs produced was less than previous years but the complexity and quality was higher. Bergus said the work of the University channel is quite impressive. KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE Kirkwood provided a written report. PATV REPORT Goding reported PATV did not have its fourth quarterly financial report ready. Over the past quarter 36 people attended the guidelines workshop, 16 attended the camera workshop, 1 attended the studio workshop, 11 the editing workshop, and 1 the web media workshop for a total of 65 workshop attendees of which 46 were discrete attendees. Of the new workshop participants there were no University of Iowa affiliated participants, 37 local participants, and 9 from outside the franchise area. Among recent PATV staff productions are afour-camera production of the Nutcracker at the Englert, the Cultural Corridor ICKY Awards, the What a Load of Craft event, an episode of The Smartest Iowan, and a program with some Russian visitors sponsored by CIVIC. A history of the American with Disabilities Act with Access to Independence is in the planning phase. PATV's tenant has moved out and are seeking a new tenant. The next guidelines workshop will be February 7 from 2:30-4 and the next board meeting will be February 18 at 7 p.m. Hoerschelman asked if PATV was considering going to digital playback. Godeing said they were exploring that option. SENIOR CENTER REPORT Rogusky reported that the Senior Center will be working on a short documentary with some visitors from Russia sponsored by CIVIC. Jean Lloyd Jones is working on a program on the proposed railroad route to Chicago. Anew computer was recently purchased. SCTV will again be working with the University of Iowa Artist in the Community program. A 3`d part-time staff person has been added. Anew volunteer has also joined SCTV. LIBRARY REPORT Fisher reported that December was a slow month. Seven children's productions were recorded. A recent electrical outage caused technical problems and one program had to be cancelled. IOWA CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT No representative was present. CITY CHANNEL REPORT Hardy referred to a written report in the meeting packet. Hardy reported work was in progress on project with the housing assistance department and local realtors on an interactive program that includes a test so citizens could become eligible for housing loans. MEDIACOM/SINCLAIR DISPUTE Hardy distributed a copy of a letter sent by the City to the FCC regarding the Mediacom/Sinclair dispute. Hardy reported that a retransmission consent agreement between Mediacom and Sinclair has been reached for one year. Mediacom indicated they do no believe their assertion that Sinclair was in violation of FCC rules on media ownership in a given market would prevail at the FCC given that the ownership issue rested on the interpretation of a joint marketing agreement. Mediacom officials have indicated that the major barrier to an agreement was Sinclair's insistence on higher fees from Mediacom that other cable providers. ACCESS CHANNELS AND THE DIGITAL TRANSITION Hardy said he has been informed by Mediacom officials that they are no longer interested in negotiating with Iowa City regarding their proposal to offer a 100 megabit Internet service. Mediacom has taken off a couple of analog channels and will soon offer a 50 megabit Internet service in Iowa City. STATE LEGISLATION Hardy reported that there will be legislation introduce in the Iowa General Assembly that is intended to require real competition for an incumbent cable operator before they can opt out of a municipal franchise agreement and receive a state certificate of franchise authority. fryeSTORM, a small Internet company, has applied for a state certificate for nearly the entire state, including Iowa City. Following procedures, they informed Mediacom that they intended to provide service in Dubuque and Mediacom applied for, and received, a state certificate of franchise authority. The City of Dubuque is working with the League of Iowa Cities to develop legislative language. Dubuque is also pursuing administrative remedies with the Iowa Utilities Board. The City of Iowa City is providing support and is following the lead of the City of Dubuque on the issue. In addition, Dubuque is seeking clarification on the status of PEG channels after the expiration of a state certificate of franchise authority. Hoerschelman asked if there would be any refund liability for the City if Mediacom were to convert to a state certificate. Brau said the current law requires a cable operator to honor all PEG obligations for a period of time equal to the end of the municipal franchise agreement so PEG funding is secure. SCHOOL CHANNEL Hardy said he Goding and Hoyland recently met and discussed ideas that they may wish to put before school administrators. One idea is to form a group of parents, teachers, and volunteers to produce programs for the channel. The City could provide some start-up funds. Support from the local access channels could come in the form of an initial advisory board and program production. The idea will be presented to Perry Ross next Wednesday. Hoerschelman said he would like to create incentives in the form of high school and/or college credit or scholarship money for students to produce and run the channel. TRIENNIAL REVIEW Hardy requested this item be deferred. MEDIACOM PSA PROCEDURES Hardy distributed a document that outlined a procedure for local access channels to place PSAs on Mediacom's system. ADJOURNMENT Hoerschelman moved and Bergus seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously. Adjournment was at 6:34 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michael Brau Cable TV Administrative Aide