Minutes_Resilient Community Advisory Commission (RCAC) 11.02.23Copyrighted
March 4, 2024
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 01.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: Airport Commission of January 16, 2024; Arts and Cultural Affairs
Commission of December 27, 2023 and January 23, 2024; Cable
Television Commission of August 29, 2023; City Council Proceedings of
February 19, 2024; Historic Preservation Commission of February 15,
2024; Park and Recreation Commission of April 11, 2023; May 9, 2023;
June 13, 2023; August 8, 2023; October 10, 2023; November 14, 2023;
December 12, 2023; January 13, 2024; Resilient Community Advisory
Commission of September 7, 2023; October 5, 2023; November 2,
2023; December 7, 2023; Transit Advisory Board of September 14,
2023; Zoning Board of Adjustment of January 25, 2024; Draft Zoning
Board of Adjustment of February 22, 2024; Proof of Publication for City
Council Proceedings of February 5, 2024.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Type
City Council Proceedings of February 19, 2024
Supporting Documentation
Proof of Publication —February 5, 2024
Supporting Documentation
Park and Rec April 2023
Supporting Documentation
Park and Rec_May 2023
Supporting Documentation
Park and Rec_June 2023
Supporting Documentation
Park and Rec August 2023
Supporting Documentation
Park and Rec_October 2023
Supporting Documentation
Park and Rec_November 2023
Supporting Documentation
Park and Rec_December 2023
Supporting Documentation
Park and Rec_January 2024
Supporting Documentation
RCAC_September 2023
Supporting Documentation
RCAC_October 2023
Supporting Documentation
RCAC_November 2023
Supporting Documentation
RCAC_December 2023
Supporting Documentation
Transit September 2023
Supporting Documentation
Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes Jan 2024
Supporting Documentation
Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes Feb 2024
Supporting Documentation
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
Arts Commission Minutes December
Arts Commission Minutes —January
Cable TV Commission Minutes
Airport Commission Minutes
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
CITY OF DUBUQUE - COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
GOVERNMENTAL BODY: Resilient Community Advisory Commission (RCAC)
DATE: November 2, 2023
TIME: 5:00 pm
LOCATION: Jule Operations and Training Center (JOTC) Circle Conference Room, 949 Kerper Blvd.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Katharine Connolly, Robin Kennicker, Steven Drahozal, Adam Hoffman, Jake
Kohlhaas, Dean Boles, Lalith Jayawickrama, Sandra Evans
MEMBERS ABSENT: Josh Chamberland
STAFF PRESENT: Amanda Lewis
Commissioner Kohlhaas called the meeting to order at 5:01pm.
TEST AGENDA
MINUTES APPROVAL: Kennicker motioned to approve the October minutes. Boles seconded. Motion
carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Paul Schultz: 1040 Carmel Drive
- Attended DMASWA meeting and board approved 5-year strategic plan, but there was no public
process to give input. Wants to see the implementation of a 10-year solid waste management
plan based on Imagine Dubuque 2037 Plan and Climate Action Plan. Would like to see additional
opportunities for public input/public meetings at DMASWA meetings.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Bike Route Signage Update — Next steps with Engineering/Steve Sampson Brown
Jon Dienst and Steve Sampson Brown — Engineering Department
- Smart Parking and Mobility Plan: Move DBQ where all information will be posted. Speed is a
significant contributor to deaths on roadways and particularly hazardous to pedestrians and
impacts comfort level for cyclists. Want to design a low -stress bike network where people of all
ages and experience levels can feel comfortable riding.
- Bike Lane Design Standards: Via National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)
bikeway design guides, discussed different bike lane designs including shared street/boulevards
(with signage), on street bike lanes, and separated bike lanes.
- Connecting Downtown Destinations Project: Designing bike lanes so they go to a destination
where someone wants to go rather than install bike lanes that don't go anywhere, which relates
to ECIA plan.
- Bike Lane Pilot: During education and public engagement sessions, question about cycling
comfort was posed in relation for an east/west street. Most people felt comfortable on 9t" and
10th street. Engineering Department conducted traffic data and speed studies and there is
potential for a bike lane on 9t" to go east bound and 10th to go west bound. Showed examples of
potential bike lanes in relation to existing streets.
- Bike & Pedestrian Safety Campaign: Planning a bike and road safety public education campaign
in the spring. Campaign will focus on cars, pedestrians, and cyclists, shared use trails,
expectations about bike signage, etc. and collaborate with the police department to increase
awareness.
- Regional Bike & Ped Plan — Signage for Bike Routes: ECIA study did not determine where it was
safe to integrate cyclists with motorists, so some areas need further traffic studies. It is possible
to examine streets that are already suitable for bike lanes to get signs in sooner, but better to
wait for a more overall plan with other street projects in progress. Asking for more time to work
on public safety campaign in the spring and understand that there is progress being made and
engagement with businesses. There are also new national standards that will be coming out that
will include promotion of the safety, inclusion, and mobility of all users.
Additional Information: The Engineering Department is looking at one way to two-way traffic on
White Street to get people comfortable walking, which is better for businesses. The preference
for bike lanes is to have buffered, dedicated bike lanes. Pavement parking and signage will be
included to clearly mark bike lanes/boulevards, especially for people who are from out of town.
Bike lanes can be singular on different streets, like having a split on Locust and Bluff with one
lane on each street going in different directions. This would leave room for angled parking and a
bike lane with one lane of traffic (as these streets have less traffic than Grandview, which is only
one lane of traffic).
Question: Many students don't pay attention when they are crossing streets — will education be
done in the schools?
Answer: Yes, there is an opportunity for education in the schools. There are also additional resources
through the Bicycle Coalition that gets involved with education — for both cyclists and motorists.
Question: Are there statistics on who is walking and riding cyclists?
Answer: Can get data from the US community census survey, which gives percentages of cyclists and
walkers. Also have cameras in Dubuque where City can obtain counts of pedestrians, cyclists, and
cars. Dubuque doesn't buy data to track where people are cycling and walking.
2. Deron Muering- Stormwater discussion
NPDES MS4 permit
- City's permit expires at the end of 2024. The City will work with Iowa DNR to modify a permit
that makes sense for Dubuque. To apply for the MS4 permit, public education & outreach,
volunteer opportunities, and public participation & involvement is needed. Seeking
commission's input on what makes sense in terms of commission's role going forward as it
relates to public engagement.
Question: When are green alleys on the north end going to be put in?
Answer: always looking at grants and there are three alleys under design. Using SRF sponsorship to
install them — allows some of what you'd pay in interest and put some of the money into other
projects. Looking at slowly adding funding in capital budget.
Question: What happens with snow melt and how does it impact storm water?
Answer: Inspections happen at sites in the City and measures chloride samples — it is monitored to
determine where chloride is coming from in relation to salt accumulation from snow melt.
Question: Have you approached Catfish creek Management watershed authority?
Answer: Have not approached them yet and are partners with Dubuque Watershed committee.
Follow up: Steve will ask Catfish Creek Watershed chair about having joint meetings with the Catfish
Creek Watershed.
3. Discussion/Review of Waste Reduction Report and Solid Wastes Plan support discussion
Connolly motioned to draft a letter to city council for a solid waste plan in coordination with DMSAW
and include public input and public meetings. Kennicker seconded. Boles will draft a letter. Motion
carried.
4. Education and graduation rates discussion and support ideas (Goal setting/SD grants)
Determine what is role in our relation to education. Boles has presented in the past about education
and education relates to resiliency, but it is difficult to leverage educational efforts. Sustainability
grants do say they need an educational component.
Education depends on state funding and school board, but graduation rates impact City and
employment rates. NICC has programs to support students that are funded by the City and offer GED
classes.
Question: Has there been any organization about why the graduation rate is low?
Answer: Boles has been unsuccessful communicating with the school district to determine causes.
Next step: Evans motioned to create an education subcommittee to increase the graduation rate in
relation to resiliency. Hoffmann seconded. Motion carried. Boles, Hoffmann, Kennicker, and Drahozal
volunteered to join subcommittee.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Policy Work — Review ordinances and policies as they relate to Climate Action Plan and
determine subcommittees and where to focus plane height, urban agriculture, and tree canopy.
a. Reports from Commissioners regarding Climate Action Plan (CAP) activities:
Urban agriculture policy and paring recycling and trash containers has been moved through
various city departments. They will both be reporting back in December.
HOW DID I SHOW UP? COMMISSIONER REPORTS:
Kohlhaas mentioned Sustainable Colleges Coalition is hosting an eco-trivia event next Thursday for
college students (and anyone else is welcome) at Backpocket.
Motion to adjourn by all.
NEXT MEETING: The next commission meeting will occur on December 7, 2023, at 5pm at the Jule
Operations and Training Center (JOTC) in the Circle Conference Room, 949 Kerper Blvd.
ADJOURNMENT: The Commission adjourned at 6:47pm.
Minutes approved by: G
Jacob Kohlhaas, Commission Chair
Prepared by: e/Amanda L. Lewis
Amanda Lewis, Climate Action Coordinator