January/February Issue of City News NewsletterCopyrighted
December 4, 2023
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 019.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: January/February Issue of City News Newsletter
SUMMARY: City Manager providing a copy of the January/February Issue of the City
News Newsletter.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
City News - Jan/Feb 2024 Supporting Documentation
Inside This Issue ,
21 Muehring Named WRRC
Director
Winter Arts Snow Sculpting
Festival, Feb. 8-11
Recycle Unwanted Holiday Lights
New Year, Volunteer!
3 1 New Ambulance for Fire Dept.
DBQ Shovel Crew
Seasonal Employment
Winter Public Works Reminders
4 1 Events Calendar
New Faces & Retirements
Citizen's Police Academy
VITA Tax Assistance
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text DBQSNOW to 67283.
January/February 2024
Grant Programs Available for Safe & Healthy Homes
Grants for Lead Hazard Mitigation
Dubuque residents may qualify for up to $25,000 in grant funding to help remove lead
hazards from their homes.
As part of the City's Lead and Healthy Homes Program, grant funding is available to assist
with lead hazard removal and other associated costs. More than 1,300 homes have already
been made lead -safe since the program began in 1997.
Eligibility for the grants is partially determined by the age of the home. Homes built prior to
1978 may qualify for up to $20,000 for lead remediation plus an additional $5,000 to address
other household hazards. Homes built in 1978 or later are eligible for up to $10,000 to create
a healthier home.
Residents can submit an interest form online and City staff will follow up to answer any
additional questions and assist with the application process.
Submit an Interest Form: www.cityofdubuque.org/healthyhomes or call 563.589.1724
Home Modifications Assistance
Low-income Dubuque residents, age 62 and older, are eligible for grants to modify their homes
so they can age at home safely rather than move to a nursing home or another assisted care
facility. Inspections, supplies, and modifications are all included in the grant.
Examples of home modifications include:
• Installing grab bars in a bathroom.
• Replacing doorknobs with lever style
handles.
• Installing hand rails on steps to enter/exit
the home.
• Repairing flooring and transitions to
remove trip hazards.
• Moving switches and outlets where
they are more accessible.
• Converting a bathtub to a step-in shower
Submit an Interest Form:
www.cityofdubuque.org/ageinplace
or call 563.589.1724
Energy Assistance Programs
The Low -Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a
federally funded program designed
to assist low-income families meet
the cost of home heating by providing
a one-time payment to the heating
utility. Assistance levels depend on
income, family size, type of fuel used
to heat the home, and other factors.
The Energy Crisis Program helps low-
income families get utility services
turned back on or fix a furnace.
Details at www.hacap.org/energy
or call 563-556-5130
Muehring Named Water & Resource
Recovery Center Director
City Manager Mike Van Milligen has named
Deron Muehring, a civil engineer in the City's
engineering department with 25 years of
experience in the field of sewer collection
systems and wastewater management, as
the new director of Dubuque's Water and
Resource Recovery Center (WRRC).
As WRRC Director, Muehring is responsible
for the operation of Dubuques wastewater
treatment facility on Julien Dubuque Drive as well as its
associated lift stations throughout the community and the facility's
environmental monitoring laboratory. The position also proposes
and enforces ordinances and regulations regarding the operation
of the WRRC as well as the chemical, biological, and bacterial
analysis and sampling services for other City, partner agencies,
and private sector activities.
Muehring has worked in the City of Dubuque Engineering
Department since 1998 as Water Resource Engineer and has a
long history of managing successful projects with the City, most
notably playing a critical role in the implementation of the Bee
Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project. He also has extensive
experience managing the City's sanitary sewer system and has
assisted in planning the WRRC's capital improvement projects.
Muehring is a civil engineer with a master of science degree in
civil and environmental engineering from Marquette University
and a bachelor's degree in physics from St. Cloud University. He
is a member of the Water Environment Federation, the American
Society of Civil Engineers, the American Public Works Association,
and the International Erosion Control Association.
Muehring replaces Willie O'Brien who managed the facility since
2016. O'Brien will transition to the role of WRRC plant manager and
will focus on facility operations.
Mark your calendars for Dubuque's annual Winter Arts
Festival, Iowa's sanctioned snow sculpting competition,
sponsored by the Dubuque Museum of Art (DuMA) in
partnership with the City of Dubuque and Winterfun, Inc.
Snow sculpting will take place Thursday, Feb. 8, through
noon on Sunday, Feb. 11, in Washington Park with teams
competing to secure the state title and an opportunity
to move onto the 2024 U.S. National Snow Sculpting
Competition in Lake Geneva, Wis., in 2025.
The public is encouraged to visit Washington Park
throughout the week as snow sculpting teams transform
their block of 288 cubic feet of snow into inspiring
creations. Stop by on Sunday, Feb. 11, from noon - 4
p.m. for free family -friendly activities including hands-on
sculpting, Peoples' Choice voting, musical performances
by Dubuque Symphony Orchestra ensembles, and more
outdoors and inside DuMA.
www.cityofdubuque.org/winterarts
563-690-6059
Vol
NEWY
VOLU N
Make volunteering one of your new year' resolutions!
In addition to the joy of giving back to the community,
volunteering offers health benefits including reduced
stress and boosting one's mood. Studies also show that
volunteers experience lower rates of depression. Social
connections developed through volunteering contribute
to a strong support system, reducing feelings of isolation
and loneliness. Volunteering can also have career and
employment benefits, including gaining experience and
developing skills.
Learn more about volunteer opportunities throughout the
community at www.volunteerdbq.com or by calling 563-
690-6171.
January/February 2024 www.cityofdubuque.org
New Ambulance for Dubuque Fire Department
A brand new ambulance was recently
placed into service by the Dubuque Fire
Department. The new ambulance is
housed at Fire Station #4,1697 University
Ave. It joins two others stationed at Fire
Headquarters, 11 W. 9th St., and Fire
Station #2, 2180 John F. Kennedy Rd.
The ambulance features a door -forward
design that allows entry to the patient area
from the front part of the compartment,
rather than the middle. This design
more efficiently utilizes the space in the
ambulance, making it seem less cramped.
This is the first DFD ambulance to utilize this
configuration, which is gaining popularity
across the country.
"We've placed an emphasis on upgrades in
configuration and design to enhance safety
and prioritize efficiencies for our team
members," says Dubuque Fire Chief Amy
Scheller. "We are both excited and thankful
to have this new resource"
The department increased its number of
ambulances to three in October 2022.
Approximately 80% of the department's
calls for service are for emergency medical
services. The third ambulance is expected
to help the department advance towards
its goal of responding to nearly all of its
calls within six minutes.
The department has ordered two additional
new ambulance units that it hopes to
receive next spring.
The three active ambulances are a part of
the nearly 30 vehicles that make up the full
Dubuque Fire Department vehicle fleet.
The DBQ Shovel Crew is a program that pairs volunteers with residents who are not
physically able to remove snow and ice from their city sidewalk and do not have other
resources to remove the snow and ice, such as neighbors, friends, or a hired service.
Volunteer DBQ is seeking volunteers who can help throughout the winter season. The
commitment is caring for one address all winter.
Want to volunteer but don't own the necessary snow and ice removal equipment? We
may be able to help! Sign up and staff will follow up with you to assist in accessing
shovels and deicer salt.
We are all pedestrians at some point in the day, whether walking to a car, the bus, to
work, or just in your neighborhood. Your help in keeping sidewalks clear after snow
and ice events is a meaningful way to help neighbors in need and the community.
Sign up as a volunteer (search for DBQ Shovel Crew):
www.volunteerDBQ.com or call 563-589-4159
Residents in need of assistance:
Please call Rob McDonald at 563-589-4159
Don't let the cold and snow get you down,
starting thinking about summer - NOW!
Whether you're looking for work that allows
you to spend the summer outdoors, or maybe
you're looking to really make a difference in
a child's life, we've got something for you.
Seasonal jobs with the City of Dubuque
Leisure Services Department offer fun and
meaningful work, with flexible schedules.
If you or someone you know is interested
in summer employment with the City, visit
the City's website to learn more about the
seasonal opportunities available.
Find more at:
www.cityofdubuque.org/seasonaljobs
or call 563.589.4263
Winter Food Scraps
Collection
Residents who would like to have yard
waste and food scraps collected during
the winter months can schedule an
appointment by either submitting a
request through the City's website at
www.cityofdubuque.org/yardwaste, or
calling the Public Works Department at
563-589-4250. Those who subscribe to
a City -issued food scrap cart will have
collections made weekly on their normal
collection day, no appointment needed.
Merry Mulch: Jan. 2 - 12
City crews will pick up natural Christmas
trees (maximum of 8' high) with a City
brush tie or one yellow yard waste sticker
attached and visible from the street or alley
on your regular collection day.
For set out instructions and more on
what you should "know before you
throw", visit www.cityofdubuque.org/
curbsidecollection.
New Faces & Retirements
Calendar
New City Employees
Ariona Albert
Recreation
Serjon Bennett
Police
Richard Bingham
Public Works
Dale Carroll
Recreation
Braden Daniels
Office of Shared Prosperity
Jeffrey Dozbaba
Housing & Comm Development
Emily Lemire
Recreation
Cathy Recker
Library
Nicholas Schemmel
Public Works
Pamela Swartz
Fire
Grant Vandevoorde
Airport
New Board/Commission Members
Equity & Human Rights Commission
Daniel Garza
Phillip Heim
Recent City Retirees
James Lembke Police
Steven Olson Police
VITA: Free & Reliable Tax Help
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program
offers free and reliable tax help to people who generally
make $58,000 or less, persons
with disabilities, the elderly,
and limited English-speaking
taxpayers. IRS -certified A
i
volunteers provide free basic 1
income tax return preparation to
those who need assistance in j
preparing their own tax returns.
Volunteer for VITA
The VITA program relies completely on volunteers. While
experience filing taxes is helpful, it's not required as you'll
be trained on the ins and outs of taxes — an added perk
of volunteering if you've been wanting to learn how to file
your own taxes. Your commitment can be flexible to your
schedule, volunteering whenever works for you on certain
days, or through the drop-off option for volunteers to pick up
paperwork and prepare taxes on their own time.
To receive help through VITA or to volunteer:
www.hacap.org/taxes or call 563-513-8829
City News is produced by the City of Dubuque Public Information Office.
Comments are welcome at publicinfo@cityofdubuque.org or 563.589.4151
January
3 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Historic Federal Building
15 City facilities closed for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
16 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Historic Federal Building
February
5 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Historic Federal Building
8-11 Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Festival, Washington Park
19 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Historic Federal Building
The public has the option to view and participate in City Council meetings
in person at City Council Chambers or virtually (see agenda for details.)
Meetings are aired live on CityChonnel Dubuque (Mediocom cable channels
8 and 117.2 and ImOn channel 5), streamed live and archived on the City's
website at www.cityofdubuque.org/media, and streamed live on the City's
Facebooh page at wwwfocebook.com/cityofdubuque.
This calendar does not include all events and is subject to change. Sign up
for Dubuque's "Notify Me" e-mail/text alert system at www.cityofdubuque.
org/notifyme to receive agendas, news releases, event notifications, and
other timely news.
Citizen's Police Academy Coming Soon
The Dubuque Police Department will hold
the 27th annual Citizen's Police Academy
(CPA) on Thursday evenings from Feb. 1 to
.o. April 4, from 6 - 9:30 p.m. The purpose of this .o '� - :f..,oE
program is to build a better understanding
between residents and police through
education.
The CPA is a 10-week program and participants are strongly
encouraged to commit to attending all sessions. CPA
sessions are taught by local law enforcement professionals
and other members of the criminal justice system.
Each session covers a variety of topics, including arrest
procedures, search and seizure, use of force, laws and
policies, police procedures, domestic abuse cases, sexual
abuse cases, drug enforcement, OWls, officer safety, and
prevention programs.
Requirements for participation:
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• No felony convictions
• No significant arrest history
Space is limited. Applications are due by Friday, Jan. 12,
and can be found at www.cityofdubuque.org/police. Paper
applications are available at the Dubuque Police Department
at 770 Iowa St.
Preference will be given to Dubuque residents. The CPA does
not certify participants as law enforcement officers. For more
information on the CPA, contact Lieutenant Brendan Welsh at
563-589-4473 or Captain Steve Radloff and 563-587-3807.
January/February 2024 wwwcityofdubuque of