To the Greater Iowa City Area HBA’s Board of Directors and Karyl Bohnsack, Executive Officer

Hello Karyl,

The email that you sent out on Tuesday to members of the Greater Iowa City Area Home Builders Association incorrectly implies that Public Measure C will make it easier to file petitions affecting “zoning and development code” and also incorrectly states that Measure C “will likely result in delays to our member’s projects based on popular vote, instead of the rule of law.”

The right of initiative and referendum outlined in the Iowa City Charter specifically does NOT extend to zoning or public improvements, and Public Measure C does not affect these already existing restrictions in any way.

Specifically, the Iowa City Charter states (Section 7.01(B), my emphasis):

The right of initiative and referendum shall not extend to any of the following: (a) Any measure of an executive or administrative nature.

(b) The city budget.

(с) The appropriation of money.

(d) The levy of taxes or special assessments.

(e) The issuance of general obligation and revenue bonds.

(f) The letting of contracts.

(g) Salaries of city employees.

(h) Any measure required to be enacted by state or federal law.

(i) Amendments to this charter.

(j) Amendments affecting the city zoning ordinance or the land use maps of the comprehensive plan, including the district plan maps.

(k) Public improvements subsequent to city council action to authorize acquisition of property for that public improvement, or notice to bidders for that public improvement, whichever occurs earlier. “Public improvement” shall mean any building or construction work.

More information about Public Measure C, including its precise language, can be found at http://fix-the-charter.org.

Because Public Measure C does NOT affect the zoning and development code in any way, I respectfully ask the HBA board, a politically neutral body, to rescind its position on the measure as politically charged and therefore inappropriate.

Thank you,

Martha Hampel

Iowa City

team@fix-the-charter.org