Public Improvement Project Underway

Last week at a special meeting city council approved which version of the public improvement project (intersection realignment at Sunset/Melrose) to proceed with and to award the bid to the lowest bidder. Here are the documents from that meeting:

City Council Adopts Resolution 16-16B with Bio Cell option and awards Public Improvement contract to Maxwell Construction 3/29/2016

• Resolution 16-16B
• Public Improvement Bid Recommendations
• Public Improvement Bid Tabulation

March 2016 Council Meeting Webstream

Thanks to the folks at City Channel 4 in Iowa City U-Heights council meetings are broadcast Thursday evenings at 9:00 PM on Channel 4 AND are available as webcasts. Here is the link to

March 8, 2016

Construction Update #6

To read all construction reports go here:

OUP Construction Page Index

One University Place Construction Update 6

03/11/16

Framing on the second and third floor is progressing. Construction on the roof will begin shortly which will enclose the front building. Foundations for the ramp into the lower parking level have been poured. Plumbing and electrical installation continues on all levels. Installation of the Brick Veneer on the front part of the building will begin shortly. Installation of metal doorway frames throughout the building has begun.

The landscaping plan for the east ravine was submit by the developer and consultants to the City Council and approved. Once the proper slope for the ravine is achieved and confirmed then installation of trees, bushes and ground cover will begin. The plans for the left hand turning lane on Melrose, Sunset/Melrose intersection improvements, median installation on Sunset and the underground water piping on Sunset were approved by the City Council and have been let out for bid. Details on these items can be found in the March 4^th construction update. Council expects to review bids and let the contract on March 29 at a special meeting. The outline for this process is contained in the March 2016 Engineer’s Report to City Council. Also included here is

·         McComas Lacina progress meeting minutes of 2/24/16.

·         Community Center Space DRAFT layout

Construction Update #6

January 2016 Council Meeting Webstream

Thanks to the folks at City Channel 4 in Iowa City U-Heights council meetings are broadcast Thursday evenings at 9:00 PM on Channel 4 AND are available as webcasts. Here is the link to

January 12, 2016

Council Meeting Webstream

As I mentioned back in a post in December, Louise From was recognized at her final council meeting for her service to University Heights. Cable Channel 4 in Iowa City is now streaming that meeting. It's worth watching

December 15, 2015 City Council Meeting

City Budgets and Library Services Feedback Needed!

City Council held a special meeting last week to discuss our FY17 Budget that will begin on July 1, 2016. We will have a budget hearing on March 8, 2016 and vote to approve our budget later that evening. We must submit an approved budget to the state no later than March 15, 2016.

One area we discussed the other night was library services. U-Heights residents are able to get both an Iowa City and a Coralville library card. We pay for library services according to contracts set with both of those community libraries. 

One of the first "political" things I did when my family moved to University Heights in 2005 was participate in the library levy campaign. As a community we voted to enact this levy to help pay for the library services we enjoy. That levy passed with an 88% yes vote. by state law the levy rate is 27 cents per thousand property valuation. 

For next year the Library Levy will generate $18,961 that can only be used for library services. Our assessment from the libraries comes to a total of $47,533. That means $28,000 needs to come from our general fund.


Mayor Wally Heitman would like to know how many people use library services, and which library do they generally use. Could you please email me your thoughts? 

Thanks.

OUP Construction Update #5

To read all construction reports go here:

OUP Construction Page Index

One University Place Construction Update 5

02/14/16

The upper deck for the second floor has been poured and we will begin seeing more construction on the condominiums on the second floor. Concrete block walls for the first floor have been completed. Plumbing and electrical work continues on the lower lever and the first floor. These areas are heated and enables construction to progress at a good pace. 

Cold weather has slowed some of the outside work. A landscaping plan for the east ravine should be completed in March. The City Council and residents will be looking at

drawings for the addition of a left hand turning lane on Melrose into the development and the modification of the Sunset-Melrose intersection for greater efficiency at a Public Hearing on March 8.

Attached to this report is the portion of the February 2016 City Engineer’s report to City Council that relate to the OUP project, and to the public improvements project for the Sunset/Melrose intersection. MMS Engineering has submitted Public Improvements Plan drawings. There is also a link to a water main improvement document that was the subject of council discussion. At this time a route for the water main has not been decided. Also attached is City Building Inspector Terry Goerdt’s update in the February 2016 Building/Zoning/Sanitation Report. The McComas-Lacina minutes of the weekly construction update meeting for 2-10-16 is also included.

Construction Update #5