HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-04-06 Ordinance
Prepared by: Susan Dulek, Asst. City Attorney, 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, IA 52240; 319-356-5030
ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 1, ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION," CHAPTER 4, ENTITLED
"GENERAL PENALTY," SECTION 2D TO PROVIDE THAT THE CIVIL PENALTY FOR OVER-
OCCUPANCY OF A RENTAL UNIT BE $750.00 FOR FIRST VIOLATION AND $1,000.00 FOR SECOND
AND SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS UNDER BOTH THE ZONING CODE AND THE HOUSING CODE.
WHEREAS, in Ordinance No. 09-4332, City Council increased the civil penalties for violating the
maximum occupancy limits of dwelling units under the Zoning Code to $750.00 for first violation and
$1,000 for second and subsequent violations; and
WHEREAS, the Housing Code also limits the maximum occupancy of dwelling units;
WHEREAS, the current civil penalties for violating the maximum occupancy limits under the Housing
Code is $250.00 for first violation, $500.00 for second violation, and $750.00 for third and subsequent
violations; and
WHEREAS, the civil penalties for over-occupancy should be the same regardless if a person is cited
under the Zoning Code or the Housing Code; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City to raise the civil penalty for over-occupancy under the
Housing Code to $750.00 for first violation and 1,000.00 for second and subsequent violations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY,
IOWA:
SECTION I. AMENDMENTS.
1. Title 1, entitled "Administration," Chapter 4, entitled "General Penalty," Section 2, entitled "Civil
Penalties for Municipal Infractions," Subsection D2 is hereby amended by deleting it in its entirety and adding
the following new Subsection D2 in lieu thereof:
The civil penalty for violation of sections 14-2A-5, 14-2B-5, and 17-5-19X1 shall be punishable as
provided in the following schedule for each day a violation exists or continues:
First offense $ 750.00
Second and subsequent offense $1,000.00
SECTION II. REPEALER. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with the provision of this
Ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION III. SEVERABILITY. If any section, provision or part of the Ordinance shall be adjudged to be
invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or any
section, provision or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION IV. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall be in effect after its final passage, approval and
publication, as provided by law.
Passed and approved this day of , 2010.
/,, ~'k1 _
MAYOR
ATTEST: ~{ .lc~u~
CITY RK
Approved by ~~ ~ -- a ~ , ( U
City Attorney's Office
Ordinance No.
Page
It was moved by and seconded by that the Ordinance
as read be adopted, and upon roll call there were:
AYES: NAYS: ABSENT:
Bailey
Champion
Dickens
Hayek
Mims
Wilburn
Wright
First Consideration 4 / 6 / 20 ~ o
Vote for passage: AYES:Mims, Wilburn, Wright, Bailey, Champion, Dickens, Hayek.
NAYS: None. ABSENT: None.
Second Consideration _
Vote for passage:
Date published
M~~
Prepared by: Susan Dulek, Asst. City Attorney, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 356-5030
ORDINANCE NO. 10-4387
ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 10 OF THE CITY CODE, ENTITLED USE OF PUBLIC WAYS AND
PROPERTY," CHAPTER 11, ENTITLED "FARMER'S MARKET,", AND TITLE 4, ENTITLED
"ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES," CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED "PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS," TO
ALLOW THE FARMERS MARKET TO TAKE PLACE ON WASHINGTON STREET AND TO ALLOW
THE SALE AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL AT THE FARMERS MARKET.
WHEREAS, the Farmers Market presently is limited to vendors selling their products in Chauncey
Swan parking ramp and Chauncey Swan Park;
WHEREAS, vendors and others are interested in expanding the Farmers Market to Washington
Street;
WHEREAS, vendors and others are interested in allowing customers to buy and sample alcoholic
beverages at the Farmers Market; and
WHEREAS, it is in the City's interest to permit the Farmers Market to take place on Washington
Street and to allow the sale and consumption at the Farmers Market.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CITY, IOWA:
SECTION I. AMENDMENTS.
1. Title 4, entitled "Alcoholic Beverages," Chapter 5 entitled "Prohibitions and Restrictions," Section 3,
entitled "Consumption or Possession in Public Places and City Buildings," is hereby amended by deleting
Subsection A and inserting in lieu thereof the following new Subsection A:
It shall be unlawful for any persons to consume or drink any alcoholic beverages on any public street,
ground, highway, sidewalk, alley, or public right of way in the city, except at the Farmers Market or if said
person has purchased said alcoholic beverage from an "authorized entity", and is on an "authorized site",
as those terms are defined in this section. A person shall not use or consume alcoholic beverages in any
public place within the city, except premises covered by a license or permit, and when applicable a public
right of way,easement agreement.
2. Title 4; entitled "Alcoholic Beverages," Chapter 5 entitled "Prohibitions and Restrictions," Section 3,
entitled "Consumption or Possession in Public Places and City Buildings," is hereby amended by deleting
Subsection B and inserting in lieu thereof the following new Subsection B:
A person shall not consume or possess an alcoholic beverage in a city park, except if said person has
purchased said alcoholic beverage from an "authorized entity", and is on an "authorized site", as those
terms are defined in this section. This subsection shall not apply to property within a city park that is
leased to another entity for 99 years or more or the Farmers Market. .
3. Title 4, entitled "Alcoholic Beverages," Chapter 5 entitled "Prohibitions and Restrictions," Section 5,
entitled "Open Containers," is hereby amended by deleting Subsection B and inserting in lieu thereof the
following new Subsection B:
Possession Prohibited: It shall be unlawful for any persons to possess any open or unsealed bottle,
can, jar or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage on any public street, ground, highway,
sidewalk, alley, or public right of way in the city, except if said person has purchased said alcoholic
beverage from an "authorized entity", and is on an "authorized site", as defined in this chapter. A person
shall not possess any open or unsealed bottle, can, jar or other receptacle containing an alcoholic
beverage in any public place within the city, except premises covered by a license or permit, and when
applicable a public right of way easement agreement. This subsection shall not apply to the Farmers
Market.
4. Title 10, entitled "Use of Public Ways and Property," Chapter 11, entitled "Farmers Market,"
Section 1, entitled "Definitions," is hereby amended by deleting the definitions of Farmers Market,
Farmers Market Vendor, Grilling Site, and Stall and inserting the following new definitions:
FARMERS MARKET: An open air market sponsored by the city that is intended to provide an opportunity
for individuals to sell permitted items that are grown or produced by them, which conform to all applicable
city, county and state health and safety provision, including state department of agriculture regulations.
GRILLING SITE: A location designated by the director that a grilling vendor is authorized to occupy in
order to prepare and sell items consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
STALL: A space designated by the director that a farmers' market vendor is authorized to occupy in order
to sell items consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
5. Title 10, entitled "Use of Public Ways and Property," Chapter 11, entitled "Farmers Market,"
Section 3, entitled "Standards for Granting or Denying Authorization," is hereby amended by adding the
following new Subsection F:
Ordinance No. 10-4387
Page 2
If the person intends to sell alcohol, the person has obtained all necessary permits and licenses from
the State of Iowa.
SECTION II. REPEALER. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with the provision of this
Ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION III. SEVERABILITY. If any section, provision or part of the Ordinance shall be adjudged to
be invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or
any section, provision or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION IV. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall be in effect after its final passage, approval
and publication, as provided by law.
Passed and approved this 6th day of April , 2010.
/~~ ~L] _
MAYOR
ATTEST: OG l1~
CITY LERK
Approved by
c~a~ ~'c~ ~~ld
City Attorney's Office
Ordinance No. 10-4387
Page 3
It was moved by Champion and seconded by Mims that the Ordinance
as read be adopted, and upon roll call there were:
AYES: NAYS: ABSENT:
x Bailey
x Champion
x Dickens
x Hayek
x Mims
x Wilburn
x Wright
First Consideration 3/2/200
Vote for passage: AYES: Wright, Bailey,. Champion, Dickens, Hayek, Mims, Wilburn.
NAYS: None. ABSENT: None.
Second Consideration 3/23/2010
Vote forpassageAYES: Mims, Wilburn, Wright, Bailey, Champion, Dickens, Hayek.
NAYS: NBne. ABSENT: None.
Date published 4/14/2010
~'1,~~ ~
Prepared by Eleanor M. Dilkes, City Attorney, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240; 319-356-5030
ORDINANCE NO. 10-4388
ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 4, ENTITLED "ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES",
CHAPTER 5, ENTITLED "PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS", SECTION 8
ENTITLED "PERSONS UNDER 19 YEARS OF AGE IN LICENSED OR
PERMITTED ESTABLISHMENTS" OF THE CITY CODE TO PROHIBIT
PERSONS WHO ARE UNDER "LEGAL AGE" (CURRENTLY TWENTY-ONE
(21) YEARS OF AGE) FROM ENTERING OR REMAINING IN
ESTABLISHMENTS WITH LIQUOR CONTROL LICENSES OR WINE OR BEER
PERMITS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10:00 P.M. AND CLOSING.
WHEREAS, the "legal age" to drink alcoholic beverages in the State of Iowa is twenty-
one (21) years of age and said definition, as now or hereafter amended, is incorporated by
reference in the City Code; and
WHEREAS, the City Code currently provides that, unless otherwise exempted by law or
ordinance, a person shall have attained nineteen (19) years of age or more to lawfully be on the
premises between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to closing of any Iowa City establishment holding a
liquor control license, a wine or beer permit, that authorizes on premises consumption; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the citizens of Iowa City to change the bar entry
age to the legal age which is currently twenty-one (21) years of age.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
IOWA CITY, IOWA:
Section I. AMENDMENT. Title 4, Chapter 5, Section 8 -entitled Persons Under 19
Years of Age in Licensed or Permitted Establishments -shall be amended by replacing
"nineteen (19) years of age" wherever and however it appears within such Section 8 with "the
legal age".
Section II. REPEALER. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with the
provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed.
Section III. SEVERABILITY. If any section, provision or part of the Ordinance shall be
adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the
Ordinance as a whole or any section, provision or part thereof not adjudicated invalid or
unconstitutional.
Section IV. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall take effect June 1, 2010.
Passed and approved this 6th day of April , 201iL
/~~ `ae ..
MAYOR
ATTEST: ~~~~~~ 1'~ . - ~~
CITY -ERK
ppr ved
City Attorney's Office
annen\ord\under2l(2010).doc
Ordinance No. 10-4388
Page 2
It was moved by Wright and seconded by Champion that the Ordinance
as read be adopted, and upon roll call there were:
AYES: NAYS: ABSENT:
x Bailey
x Champion
g Dickens
x Hayek
x Mims
x Wilburn
~_ Wright
First Consideration 3/23/2010
Vote for passage: AYES: Wilburn, Wright,
NAYS: Bailey. ABSENT: None.
Second Consideration 3 / 29 / 2010
Vote for passage: AYES: Wright, Champion;
NAYS: Bailey. ABSENT: None.
Date published 4/14/2010
Champion, Dickens, Hayek, Mims.
Cickens, Hayek, Mims. Wilburn.
~~ C~~~`/COUNCiI --
~ 12
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Friday classes .mean fewer
Thursday ER visits, study contends
UI students' Thursday. night ER. ,
visits are down from 2007:
BY MORGAN OLSEN
morgan-olsen@uiowa.edu
For. many University of
Iowa students, perfecting
their class schedule means
no Friday classes. But that
may soon become harder
to avoid. `
Over the last several
weeks, the UI Faculty
Council and Faculty
Senate have .unanimously
voted to support increas-
ing the number of Friday
classes, when, possible.
The draft was approved at
the .same tim8 the Senate
and Council also endorsed
Iowa City's 21-ordinance.
The approved draft stat-
ed "evidence suggests that
Friday morning classes
lead to reduced alcohol
By the numbers
consumption on Thursday
nights and to
reduced alcohol-i'e~ated
emergency-treatment-cen-
ter admissions on Thurs-
day nights." '
Michael Takacs, a UI
clinical assistant professor
of emergency .medicine,
presented his own
research aboutlocal'stu-
dents' Thursday night and
Friday morning alcohol-
related visits to the emer-
gency room. His research
was influenced by a study
In 2007, UI faculty groups began advocating for more
1=riday classes between ti a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Since
then; the numbers have shown the most change in
the fall.
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conducted at University of
Missouri,Columbia, which
a~rialyzed alcohol con-
sumption for every .,day of
the week compared .with
class schedules.
.Results from the Mis-
souri-study show that stu-
dents with no early Friday
classes -those before
10:30 a.m. -drank twice
as much on Thursdays
as students with
those classes.
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•• 4A -The Daily Iowan -Iowa City, Iowa -Tuesday, March 30, X010
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ORDINANCE
CONTINUED FROM lA
"We're not a bar so
much as a community cen-
ter," he said. "Kids use
drag shows and dancing
as an excuse to come out
and feel normal."
Mayor Matt Hayek
assured the public that the
council values Iowa City
culture and said he
remained "absolutely
open" to discussion on how
to preserve access to key
musical, literary, and other
cultural events downtown.
"The arguments about
music, and protecting that
to the extent possible for
young persons, resonate
with me," he said at the
meeting. "I feel that live
music is one of Iowa City's
greatest attributes."
Councilor Terry Dickens
agreed, noting that Iowa
City, unlike many other
communities, offers live
music downtown almost
every night.
The ordinance's sole
opponent on the council,
Councilor Regenia Bailey,
also emphasized the
importance of city identity,
particularly for students.
"(City culture] is just as
much a part of the educa-
tion as attending the uni-
versity," she said. "That's a
critical part of why they're
drawn here. People say it's
a party school, but it's also
an opportunity for people
to go out and find where
the belong in the world."
Other speakers at the
meeting iterated public-
health perspectives and
economic concerns, many
of which were also
brought up at the ordi-
nance's first reading on
March 23.
Members of the public
voiced alternative options
for how the city might curb
underage drinking in bars.
Dan Tallon, a UI junior
"who ran unsuccessfully
for City Council last year,
proposed a system in
which two-tiered bars
serve alcohol on one tier
only and monitor passage
between the levels.
The council heard other
ideas from the discussion
as well, such as making
individual bars with high-
er PAULA records 21-only
and passing measures to
ensure students feel safe
to summon emergency
medical personnel in the
case of overconsumption
at a house party.
Councilors appreciated
the positive support, said
Dickens, who publicly
thanked Tallon for his
proactive suggestions.
The City Council will
issue its third and final
vote on the 21 ordinance
on April 6. If passed, the
ordinance will likely go
into effect June 1.
Understanding. 21
The council has approved the
21-ordinance twice, but the dis-
cussion isn't over. The Daily
Iowan answers some questions
about the process.
Why is the council voting
on the proposed 21-only ordi-
nance numerous times?
State law requires city gov-
ernments to approve ordinances
three times before they can go
into effect; City Attorney Eleanor
Dilkes -said. All ordinances
approved by the council go
through the same process.
Why did the council opt to
hold a special meeting
Monday night?
The council wants to pass
final approval of the measure
before early April. If the coun-
cilors don't approve the third
reading by April 8, .a possible
referendum might not make it
onto the November 2010 ballot
and then would likely be post-
poned until November 201L
When will the councilors
cast their third and final votes
on the 21-onty ordinance?
The final reading of the pro-
posed measure will likely occur at
the City Council's next regularly
scheduled meeting on April 6. If
approved, the council will deter-
mine when the measure .goes into
effect, which may be as soon as
June 1.
Is there any chance the
measure will not be approved
a third time?
The measure passed by a 6-1
vote the first two times, but any of
the councilors are free to change
their position for the final vote.
There has also been a push
to change the bar age to 18. Is
that measure moving for-
ward?
Petitioners have not yet filed any
signatures with the city clerk's
office. If they collect signatures
from 2,500 registered voters, Iowa
City officials will cerfdy the signa-
tures, and the council can vote to
adopt the initiative or put it on the
ballot.
If the 21-ordinance passes
and is petitioned to a ballot
referendum, could the 16-
ordinance and 21-ordinance
proceed simultaneously?
Yes. If both efforts garner the
requisite votes, they could both be
voted on by Iowa City voters in
November.
MOHAMMED ALHADAB/THE DAILY IOWAN
Owner of the Union Bar Marty Maynes speaks to the city councilors
during the second reading of the 21-ordinance on Monday. Maynes and
couple of other bar owners said that they are afraid of losing their
businesses if the ordinance passes.
Page 1 of 2
Marian Karr
From: Jon Shelness [shelness@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 9:11 PM
To: Council
Subject: Banning 19- and 20-Year-Olds From Bars May lead to "Party Riots"
To the editor of the Daily Iowan:
One theory holds that humans abandoned the nomadic life with the discovery of brewing. Large
quantities of beer were just too heavy to carry around, so we invented civilization. But what we
have now is civilization run amok around alcohol at the University of Iowa and around the
country.
The broad range of failed policies aimed at youthful drinking stretches from Washington D.C. to
all 50 states to local governments and to institutions of higher learning. Laws, ordinances, codes
and policies have been instituted to register kegs, curtail drink specials or "happy hours," ban
drinking in dorms, establish party response police teams in communities, and more.
Now, Iowa City is about to try another unworkable policy by banning 19- and 20-year olds from
bars.
Ample evidence exists at Iowa State in Ames, Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and Drake in Des
Moines that harsh restrictions on alcohol drives the behavior underground, pushing young people
to use more hard liquor in unsupervised private house parties. In addition, about the time the
drinking age was raised to 21 in the mid-80s, a destructive social phenomenon began
occurring at mostly large land-grant universities known as "party riots." Over 210 party
riots have occurred since the mid-80s, a half dozen in Iowa.
Party riots are not the only dangerous symptom of the failed policies related to alcohol. Let's not
forget the predatory rapes and sexual assaults of unchaperoned women. And the hundreds, if not
thousands, of deaths from alcohol poisoning and alcohol-related accidents.
Who is mostly at fault for this? Older established adults who have devised this crazy-quilt of
laws in college towns, forcing drinking underground, and enabling this behavior. Yet these same
adults-many of them children of the 1960s-have the nerve to blame undergraduates for
lacking the maturity to govern themselves.
In the words of Dr. Phil, "How's that workin' for ya?"
The results of these laws according to the Amethyst Initiative, an organization that encourages
rethinking the drinking age of 21, are:
. A culture of dangerous, clandestine "binge-drinking"-often conducted off-campus-has
developed.
. Alcohol education that mandates abstinence as the only legal option has not resulted in
significant constructive behavioral change among our students.
. Adults under 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing contracts, serving on juries and
3/29/2010
Page 2 of 2
enlisting in the military, but are told they are not mature enough to have a beer.
. By choosing to use fake IDs, students make ethical compromises that erode respect for the law.
Source: http•//www amethystinitiative.or~/statement/
Currently, 135 college and university presidents and chancellors support the Amethyst Initiative.
The way to fix the problem in Iowa City is not to make access to alcohol even harder. In my opinion, the
Iowa Regents and the Iowa Statehouse have the moral duty, despite federal threats to cut highway funds
by 10%, to reject the 21-year-old drinking age.
In protest, universities should be allowed to organize campus keg beer parties that require student
identification to enter. Keg beer is easier to control and measure, and campus staff and student aids
would be there to supervise. Campuses should also reopen campus bars and allow kegs in the dorms.
Additionally, lowering the drinking age will do little harm if laws around drunk driving and other
alcohol-related offenses are strictly enforced. Proof comes from Canada where the drinking age is still
18, yet drunken driving incidents are down because of creative sanctions and education.
Source:
http•//www nhtsa dot Gov/people/injury/research/FewerYoun~Drivers/iv what caused.htm
http•//www colle~edrinkin~prevention gov/media/Tournal/206-Wa~enaar&Toomey.pdf
Let's not repackage the Prohibition era of the 1920s. Instead, let's be a trendsetter and make it easier for
undergraduates to access alcohol in responsible ways.
Jon Shelness
Des Moines
515-314-5420
3/29/2010
Page 1 of 1
(~
Marian Karr
From: Parkers [rparker@iowatelecom.net]
Sent: Sunday, April 04, 2010 10:45 PM
To: Council
Subject: Proposed age limits
To the Members of the Iowa City Council,
We are writing this letter, as alumni and parents of three recent graduates of the University of Iowa, to
urge the City Council to maintain the current policy of allowing 19 year olds in the bars in Iowa City. While
a change in policy might be well-intentioned as a way of curbing underage drinking, we feel that the
results would be much negative than positive.
We live in Story County, home to Iowa State University, and many of our children's high school friends
chose to attend either Iowa State or UNI. Neither Ames nor Cedar Falls allows 19 year olds in bars. It
has been our experience that this does NOT limit underage drinking. IT JUST MOVES IT. We observed
students at these other universities going to "house parties", where there is absolutely no supervision of
any sort, and where students often have to drive to get there. We would much rather have
our students be able to walk downtown, join their friends at bars to socialize, dance, play pool, etc., where
they are required to wear wristbands to show their age, and where there is at least some monitoring by
bar owners and staff.
We do not condone underage drinking. However, we strongly believe that the proposed change in policy
will only have unintended negative effects. Besides the welfare of students (our first concern), it seems
obvious that such a change would have detrimental economic consequences for the downtown area.
We believe that better ways to deal with underage drinking are to continue to educate students about
alcohol and its abuse, provide alternative activities, and remove some of the mystique of drinking by not
making it such a "big deal". You can't legislate it away - we should probably take a lesson from how well
Prohibition worked - or didn't.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Rich and Barb Parker
65235 Indian Creek Trail
Nevada, Iowa 50201
This correspondence will become a public record.
4/5/2010
House Parties Page 1 of 1
i ;.~,,,
Marian Karr
From: Jim Walters [jcmwalt@infionline.netj
Sent: Sunday, April 04, 2010 8:57 PM
To: Council
Subject: House Parties
Dear Councilors-
I think it is very important in this discussion to not be just categorically "against" any partying.
For me, partying is good, and an essential part of being human. My younger neighbors (like I
once did) sometimes party, and sometimes keep me awake. I live with this now, knowing that I
once probably kept someone else awake when I partied. That's part of life, and life ain't too bad
around here (we should be thankful we have reasons to party).
Of course, there can be issues of too loud, too many, and too late. But it seems to me that the
police are as capable of dealing with this now as they were when I was younger -without much
need for new laws.
And, why be making laws in anticipation of problems that may never materialize? Seems a bit
hysterical. If it ain't broke,.}_et, don't fix it.
Jim Walters
College Hill Neighborhood Assn.
4/5/2010
]~
Marian Karr
From: Morris, Graham M [graham-morris@uiowa.edu]
Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2010 10:53 PM
To: Council
Subject: Taking away jobs
City Council,
If the 21 ordinance goes into effect, it will cost me my job that I worked for over a year
and a half to get. This ordinance is ridiculous and the council members need to STRONGLY
re think what they are doing to this community's main source of income. I am NOT happy
with the councils decision to over turn what the cities population decided against just 2
years ago. It is absolutely offensive to me and my fellow co workers that you are putting
our jobs in jeopardy while the city told you not to do so.
-Graham Morris
1
Page 1 of 2
< <a)
Marian Karr
From: Zock, Stefanie M [stefanie-zock@uiowa.edu]
Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 11:54 AM
To: Council
Subject: Opinion E-mail
Dear Iowa City Council,
I am writing you as a disconcerted underage Iowa student. I plan on making my
argument, hoping this letter will actually be read by someone, but I also have a proposition I feel
is reasonable. I'm sure you have heard all these arguments again and again since this has begun,
but I feel the need to reiterate them.
First of all I understand where everyone who supports this ordinance is coming from.
They want to protect students from something they are choosing to abuse. But I feel that is the
key word--choosing. Every single student at the University of Iowa is an adult, defined as "A
person 18 years of age or older" by www.google.com. Ifeel, as an adult, that my choice to abuse
alcohol or go downtown is just as much my decision as my choice to study hard during the week.
Personally, I don't abuse alcohol but I do enjoy going downtown every now and then. This
ordinance makes me feel as if my rights are being taken away. Further it seems as if every
councilor has his or her mind made up already and that every reading for this ordinance was
worthless. People spoke their opinions to you, but it feels as if you aren't even listening. I don't
mean to attack anyone at all by that statement, but it's how I feel and a few people I know as
well. This decision is being made by a small group of people, not the entire city and that itself
seems extremely unfair. To being with this ordinance shouldn't be put in place at all until
everyone who chooses to vote on the issue has voted. Making a decision this grand shouldn't be
decided by a group of seven people.
Underage students will drink alcohol whether they can get into the bars or not. That is
pretty much a fact. If you take away the bars from underage students, they will get alcohol from
friends and use fakes to buy it from downtown stores and they will continue to drink. I know
some of these people personally. Do I think they have a problem? Yes. But is it their decision to
make, rather than the cities? I think it is. If a student chooses not to do their best in school, I feel
that is their decision and they must face the consequences of choosing alcohol over school. The
bar scene will just migrate to house parties in the neighborhoods. I know the police say that they
are ready to handle whatever comes their way, but I don't think they are. I also feel for the
families who live in those neighborhoods, especially those with children, because people
attending house parties don't usually think to themselves `Oh there may be children sleeping
next door, maybe I should turn the music down'. I feel the danger level for students will increase
if at unsupervised house parties as well. There are no cops policing these parties, unless they are
busted, and students don't feel the need to watch themselves with no authorities around. Drugs
may be more openly involved because of the lack of authorities as well and I'm sure many
people have told you that sexual abuse rates may go up as well.
Like it or not many students come to Iowa because of its reputation as a party school,
while being a party school doesn't just mean the bar scene it's a great attraction for a great many
students. I would like to see how much enrollment goes down for this upcoming school year as
well as the numbers of transfers compared to previous years after this ordinance passes. I think
many students choose their college based on the types of social activity that occurs because, even
though college is supposed to be about education and earning a degree, without entertainment
many students don't want to go to school. Like Jack Nicholson said in the Shining, "All work
4/5/2010
Page 2 of 2
and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Without some form of fun, some students may not be as interested
in Iowa. I myself would transfer to Iowa State if they had a pharmacy program, because they don't is the
only reason I'm staying. That's just something to keep in mind.
If the 21-ordinance is going to .pass and especially if it's going to stay, you need to do some
serious thinking about how to provide non-alcoholic entertainment for everyone under 21. Yes there are
night games and CAB activities on the weekends, but I don't want to go climb rocks or play volleyball. I
want to dance at a club. Particularly after a very stressful and busy week the only thing I want to do is
jam to music with my peers in one big sweaty group. It may sound despicable to you, but that is how I
reduce stress and enjoy myself. If you take away the bars you take away my stress reliever and probably
many other students who have been dancers all their lives. If I can't dance and relieve stress I'm not
going to function as well in school and be motivated enough to try. This is why I propose that Iowa City
create anon-alcoholic bar. This would give students a bar atmosphere without the alcohol. According to
the University of Iowa's website 20,574 undergraduate students were enrolled in Fa112009. I would
guess that roughly three-quarters of those students are under the age of 21. I understand that finding
money for a project such as this would be difficult, but you can't leave out the 15,000 or so students who
will no longer be able to attend the bars. Having anon-alcoholic bar would be a great thing for many
students because, believe it or not, there are many students who only go to the bars to socialize, dance
and hang out. This place could serve fun non-alcoholic drinks including smoothies and sodas and have a
bar atmosphere without the alcohol. It would create more jobs in place of the jobs that would be
downsized in bars because of this ordinance and open up a whole new world for underage students.
So if anyone has reached the bottom of this letter, I hope that someone can realize that it's not
the bars that are the problem, it's the students who abuse alcohol who are the real problem and pushing
them away from a centralized and monitored area may only make the problem worse. I guess if the 21-
ordinance begins June 1St well just see what happens. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Stefanie Zock
University of Iowa Freshman
4/5/2010
Page 1 of 1
?~ ~~-
Marian Karr
From: Heath, Ronald L [RHeath@tiaa-cref.org]
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 2:39 PM
To: Council
Subject: Age 21
Simply put -how it makes sense to admit someone under the legal drinking age into a bar completely
escapes me. Please, do the responsible and adult thing and pass the ordinance requiring all bar patrons
to be 21 or older. Let's stop making it even easier for underage students to obtain access to alcohol - it is
already easy enough.
Ronald Heath
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4/6/2010
Page 1 of 1
/~---
Marian Karr
From: McMahon, John [JEMcMahon@madden.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 2:50 PM
To: Council
Cc: thomas-rocklin@uiowa.edu
Subject: Support for Age Appropriate Bar Entry
To whom it may concern:
As a parent of an Iowa Freshman, I fully support the Iowa City Council's interest in enacting a city
ordinance to prohibit underage individuals from having legal access to Iowa City establishments that
serve alcohol. Our son unfortunately had issues dealing with his new found freedom early in his first
semester, and as a result of several incidents with local law enforcement, was suspended for the spring
and summer semesters. Although his behavior is entirely his own and not all of his activities involved
being in bars as a 19 year old, I fully appreciate the Universities position that the atmosphere created in
a world where underage students have such easy access to alcohol, is at the heart of the schools overall
problem. I would respectfully request the council give strong consideration to this proposed ordinance,
and pass it without delay.
John E. McMahon
4/6/2010
~la
Marian Karr
From: Mike Wright
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 4:57 PM
To: Marian Karr
Subject: FW: Input on 21-only ordinance
--Original Message-----
From: Daniel Bissell [mailto:dlbissell@gmail.com]
Sent: Tue 4/6/2010 4:47 PM
To: Matt Hayek; terry-dickens@iowa-city.org; Mike Wright; Susan Mims; connie-
championc~iowa-city.org
Subject: Input on 21-only ordinance
Good afternoon.
I would like to provide my input on the proposed ordinance that would prohibit adults
under 21 from entering bars.
Enacting such an ordinance would be a disaster for neighborhoods in terms of safety and
quality of life. Moving the 19-20 year olds to house parties in the neighborhoods would
create hazardous situations with impaired drivers driving recklessly through the
neighborhoods and smaller streets.
This ordinance would also create a health and safety situation for those engaged in
drinking alcohol. High-risk alcohol consumption is a problem among all age groups, however
those 18-20 are particularly at risk for acute alcohol poisoning, accidental death and
sexual assault. Currently anyone involved in high-risk drinking downtown has supervision
by bar employees, police, and close access for paramedics. However, in a house party
setting drinks are more abundant, stronger, and there are zero safeguards to watch out for
anyone who may have consumed too much.
Just to assure you that I am not a college student fighting to stay inside bars, or a bar
owner trying to protect the industry, I'll tell you a little about myself. I am a lifetime
resident of Iowa City, currently living in the Longfellow neighborhood. I am a graduate of
City High, and UI. I would urge all of you to reconsider your votes tonight. Don't destroy
our neighborhoods, don't destroy downtown, and keep kids safe.
Thank you,
Daniel Bissell
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