College Hill Neighborhood Association March 2004 Newsletter

SILENT AUCTION OF JOHN PAGE LIMITED PRINT

A special feature during the April 20^th General Meeting at the Hearst Center will be a "silent auction" of a valuable limited edition print created by former UNI art professor, John Page.

The intaglio print is titled "Iowa Landscape." In an edition of 30, it was the first in a Print Collector's series sponsored by the Friends of the Hearst Center for the Arts last year as part of a membership drive for the Friends organization. Persons who renewed their membership for $100 more than their previous memberships, or who became new members of the Friends for that sum, received one of the prints.

The print is a delightful black and white farm scene of a 1950s era tractor plowing in an open section of a ripe corn field. Many feel it is reminiscent of James Hearst himself, who plowed at his family farm for many years despite the teenage accident that paralyzed his legs.

"Certainly it speaks of Hearst's deepest interest," said Loree Rackstraw, a longtime friend of the late James and Meryl Hearst who gave their home to the City as the basis for the Hearst Center for the Arts. "The Pages were good friends of the Hearsts, and John knew exactly how to represent the spirit (and subject matter) of Jim's poetry in this picture."

The College Hill Neighborhood Association received one of the prints with its membership in the Friends organization, part of CHNA's ongoing and developing relationship with our neighborhood Hearst Center. However, because the CHNA has no actual headquarters in which to exhibit the print, it was decided by the Board that the valuable work should be made available for purchase to our membership via a silent auction.

Procedures for participating in the auction are as follows: members may come to the General Meeting as early as 6:15 pm to view the print; forms will be available on which a proffered bid may be made in writing. Minimum bid will be $75. As each bid is made, the amount will be notated for all to see. Successive bids must be in $10 increments. Deadline for the bidding will be 8 pm, April 20. If bidders are still competing at the deadline, a sealed bid from each will be accepted, with the highest bidder winning.

We were excited to get over a 50% response rate to the recent survey of the membership. It was obvious from the responses that our members are anxious to have a dialogue about issues that affect the neighborhood. The survey committee is in the process of compiling the information and will present the results at the General Meeting in April. For those of you that cannot attend the meeting there will be a written summary in the next CHNA Newsletter and it will also posted on the Associatio website at www.CHNA.org. Once again, thanks for your input.

On January 23, 2004, CHNA members met with several city staff members to discuss continuing concerns with the neighborhood. Mary Brammer, Sue Doody, and David Glenn-Burns attended for the Association. Mayor Crews and Kamyar Enshayen attended from the elected officials; John Page, Marty Ryan and David Sturch attended from the Development Office; Fire Chief Steve Mitchell and Police Captain Doug Davidson provided input from those services.

The primary purpose of the meeting was to gain a better understanding of those enforcement issues and procedures that continue to be troublesome. There was discussion concerning who (renter or owner) is to be held responsible for the consistent code violations on "problem properties". Past practice has focused on the tenant as the responsible party and on achieving compliance rather than punishment. City staff will examine the implications of rethinking past practice.

Captain Danielson and Chief Mitchell helped clarify which violations are handled through police action or through the inspection/code enforcement process. They also reviewed the complaint and legal procedures involved. The neighbors gained a better understanding of how to use the system to get better compliance. The association continues to encourage better, more consistent enforcement of current codes and ordinances throughout the area.

One very specific concern raised at the meeting was the apparent lack of city follow-up on the completion of improved site plans for new or renovated properties. The basic question concerned who, if anyone, checks whether all that set back and landscaping included in the approved plan ever became reality. One recommendation offered was for the building inspectors to notify the City planner when they approve the construction. That would trigger a review of the compliance with the site plan. City staff agreed to examine standard procedures and improve that communication.

Good discussion of mutual concerns from both the city and the association filled this meeting. CHNA looks forward to some improvement in code enforcement in the area.

The 2004 Membership Survey indicated that the Association could play a more active role in educating the residents of the Overlay about ordinances that directly affect the neighborhood. Through each Newsletter, we will attempt to inform the membership of the most relevant city codes.

Our first suggestion is that those of you that have internet access learn how to review current city codes online. You first go to the City of Cedar Falls' website at www.ci.cedar-falls.ia.us. Once you've entered the site you click on "Administrative Services," then click on "City Clerks Office." Under "General Information" you click on "City Code of Ordinances." Next you'll select Iowa on the map and the then the "Cedar Falls Code of Ordinances." All the city ordinances will appear on the left. Chapter 29 is Zoning, and Section 26-160 establishes the College Hill Neighborhood Overlay Zoning District. This ordinance gives you all the information on the codes that affect the Overlay. We will start to review these codes for you.

If you have a request or question concerning ordinances you may go to the bottom of the City's site and click on "ask here". The City will respond to your inquiry.

                            ___ Booster $10-49                 ___ Protector $50-99             ___ Business $25

                            ___ Preserver $100-249         ___ Champion $250+

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Memberships sent to: CHNA, P.O. Box 974, Cedar Falls, IA 50613

Memberships are renewable yearly and are tax deductible.

THE NEW MEMBERSHIP YEAR WILL RUN FROM August 1, 2003 to July 31, 2004

(This is a change from the previous years.)

Check out our new website at www.CHNA.org