More City Council News

The Iowa City Council unanimously passed the final vote needed to adopt an ordinance amendment that prohibits mopeds from parking on downtown sidewalks and bike racks by creating moped and motorcycle permit parking areas throughout downtown Iowa City. The permits will cost $50 for an annual permit and $25 for a semi annual permit to cover roughly 93 parking spaces, according to the proposal. Metered spaces and paid parking areas are still game for mopeds and motorcycles, but parking between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. is still prohibited for all motorists, and include the new permit areas.

Recommendations to tweak the 21 Ordinance Exception Certificate were addressed by Kelly Bender, the coordinator of campus and community alcohol harm reduction initiatives for the University of Iowa and coordinator of Partnership for Alcohol Safety, a collaboration between the city of Iowa City and the University of Iowa to identify and advocate for strategies that reduce high-risk drinking and promote a vibrant downtown was presented the city council. Bo James Owner Leah Cohen, representing downtown businesses, also backed the suggestions. Seven owners representing 12 downtown bars and restaurants took part in the list presented to council.

"The purpose of those recommendations is to create a level playing field," Bender said, adding the exception certificate allows some bars to reap the benefits of more alcohol sales with none of the legal risk.

"Currently a bar with an exception certificate has a lot of financial incentive to not do much about underage access to alcohol," she said. "There is incentive obviously not to sell alcohol to a minor because if they get caught with that, then the bar suffers the consequence of that as well as the server. But if the young person just has alcohol for instance that is served in a pitcher and they're at the table and have access that way, and it's not sold directly to them, it's the young person that has the consequence and the bar doesn't have one." 

Archeological materials collected in Hickory Hill park collected by University of Iowa on behalf of its Department of Anthropology will be donated and professionally curated for future researchers to study and any donation will available to other institutions or the City for research and display purposes. The council unanimously passed the resolution authorizing the execution of the donation to the Office of the State Archeologist. 

Council unanimously passed a resolution allowing city of Iowa City staff to apply for grants totaling up to $200,000 from an Iowa Department of Natural Resources grant program. The awarded funds would be used to develop a 10-foot trail along the Iowa River from Interstate 80 to Peninsula Park. "This project would increase access to multiple recreational activities and enhance the quality of life of residents and visitors of Iowa City," according to the council comments.

Council passed an amendment to expand the Scott Six Urban Renewal Area, adding 188 acres to the existing 153-acre industrial area located along the east boundary of the Scott Six Urban Renewal Area and along a portion of 420th Street. "It provides highly valued rail access on the north and south side of the railway and is especially well suited for industrial development," according to council comments. "The amended area allows for an orderly continuation of the City’s industrial area, which is nearly at capacity."

Council also unanimously approved the new voting precincts and city council district boundaries to reflect 2010 Census population changes. The Johnson County Commissioner of Elections helped draw up the slightly different boundaries and provided their stamp of approval. New precinct boundaries become effective in January 2012, and do not affect the November 2011 election. State law required the public hearing and publication of the ordinance before September 1, 2011.