Pledge Agreement for an Iowa Partners for Conservation Grant Copyrighted
April 15, 2024
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 06.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Pledge Agreementforan lowa Partners for Conservation Grant
SUM MARY: City Manager recommending City Council authorize the mayor to sign a
pledge agreement to partner with the Dubuque Soil and Water
Conservation District (DSWCD), pledging an in-kind contribution in the
amount of$5,000 per year for a total of$25,000 in support of a U.S.
Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) lowa Partners for Conservation (I PC)grant in the amount of
$825,000.
RESOLUTION Pledging Support and up to $25,000 I n-Kind Local
Matching Funds for the Dubuque Soil & Water Conservation District's
Application for a$825,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural
Resource Conservation Service lowa Partners for Conservation Grant
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File;Adopt Resolution(s)
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Staff inemo, Pledge Agreement in Support of lowa Staff Memo
Partners for Conservation Grant
Resolution Authorizing Pledge Agreement for I PC Resolutions
Grant Application
Pledge Agreement in Support of DSW CD I PC Grant Supporting Documentation
Application
Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Pledge Agreement for an lowa Partners for Conservation Grant
DATE: April 9, 2024
Water & Resource Recovery Center Director Deron Muehring is recommending City
Council authorize the mayor to sign a pledge agreement to partner with the Dubuque
Soil and Water Conservation District (DSWCD), pledging an in-kind contribution in the
amount of $5,000 per year for a total of $25,000 in support of a U.S. Department of
Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) lowa Partners for
Conservation (IPC) grant in the amount of $825,000.
The City's IPC grant will expire in August of 2024 and has provided tools and developed
human infrastructure to facilitate the implementation of nutrient reduction practices
throughout the Catfish Creek Watershed and even extending into Dubuque County.
Advancements due to the grant included the development of:
• GIS mapping that indicates where viable structural conservation practices could
be located on specific properties.
• Dubuque County Watersheds, a collaboration between Dubuque County, the City
of Dubuque, and the Dubuque Soil and Water Conservation District aimed at
addressing erosion-control, flood prevention, and water quality through a range
of activities. Through comprehensive education and land stewardship programs,
Dubuque County Watersheds strives to empower and support residents in taking
responsibility for the well-being of our shared watersheds.
• Over thirty conservation management plans — personalized roadmaps designed
to help landowners and agricultural producers address natural resource concerns
such as soil erosion, water quality, wildlife habitat preservation, and other
environmental issues.
• A farmer-to-farmer group where agricultural producers meet periodically to
discuss and share ideas on conservation practices and any other common issues
they face.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
�
Micha I C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Deron Muehring, Water & Resource Recovery Center Director
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Willie O'Brien, WRRC Plant Manager
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Dubuque
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TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Deron Muehring, Water & Resource Recovery Center Director
SUBJECT: Pledge Agreement for an lowa Partners for Conservation Grant
DATE: April 8, 2024
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to seek authorization to partner with the Dubuque Soil and
Water Conservation District (DSWCD), pledging an in-kind contribution in the amount of
$5,000 per year for a total of$25,000 in support of a U.S. Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) lowa Partners for Conservation (IPC)
grant in the amount of $825,000.
BACKGROUND
In 2007, the Dubuque Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) initiated the Catfish
Creek Watershed project, which began as a small 9,000-acre project focused on
utilizing urban and agricultural conservation practices to reduce sediment runoff to a
treasured local cold-water trout stream.
In 2012, the City of Dubuque entered a 28e agreement with Dubuque County, the
DSWCD, and the cities of Asbury, Peosta, and Centralia for the purposes of
establishing the Catfish Creek Watershed Management Authority (CCWMA). The
CCWMA's main mission is to assess flooding risks and water quality, and to allocate
money for the purposes of water quality improvement and flood reduction.
In February of 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution 24-18 authorizing a City
application for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) lowa Partners for Conservation (IPC) grant.
In 2018, based on the strength of its partnerships with the DSWCD and the CCWMA,
the City was awarded a $658,712 IPC grant.
DISCUSSION
The City's IPC grant provided tools and developed human infrastructure to facilitate the
implementation of nutrient reduction practices throughout the Catfish Creek Watershed
and even extending into Dubuque County. Advancements due to the grant included the
development of:
• GIS mapping that indicates where viable structural conservation practices could
be located on specific properties.
• Dubuque County Watersheds, a collaboration between Dubuque County, the City
of Dubuque, and the Dubuque Soil and Water Conservation District aimed at
addressing erosion-control, flood prevention, and water quality through a range
of activities. Through comprehensive education and land stewardship programs,
Dubuque County Watersheds strives to empower and support residents in taking
responsibility for the well-being of our shared watersheds.
• Over thirty conservation management plans — personalized roadmaps designed
to help landowners and agricultural producers address natural resource concerns
such as soil erosion, water quality, wildlife habitat preservation, and other
environmental issues.
• A farmer-to-farmer group where agricultural producers meet periodically to
discuss and share ideas on conservation practices and any other common issues
they face.
The City's IPC grant will expire in August of 2024. To build on the progress to date, the
DSWCD intends to apply for a 2024 IPC grant in the amount of$825,000. If successful,
the grant would run for a five-year period (2024-2029).The main objectives and goals of
this grant would be to:
• Continue to grow and develop the Dubuque County farmer to farmer group.
• Extend (invite) the farmer-to-farmer group to Delaware and Jones Counties.
• Continue field days, outreach events, and annual conference.
• Continue writing conservation plans for farmers and assisting with NRCS
programs and reporting (CPA-52).
• Develop a quantification dashboard that highlights agronomic (conservation)
practices across a three-county region documenting nutrient reduction and
pollutant load reductions.
• Assist with the Nutrient Reduction Exchange Program (NRE) and grow the
program.
• Continue developing farmer relationships.
• Promote both public and private sector cost-share incentives available to
producers.
• Provide additional funding to producers for innovative drone cover crop
applications.
The DSWCD has identified the City of Dubuque as a partner along with Dubuque
County; Delaware County; Jones County; Catfish Creek Watershed Management
Authority; Maquoketa River Watershed Management Authority; Practical Farmers of
lowa; Women, Land, and Legacy (Jones, Delaware, Dubuque); and Innovative Ag
Services.
In support of the grant, the DSWCD has proposed that the City would contribute up to
$5,000 per year ($25,000 total) in staff time, in-kind contributions. While the details are
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not to be determined, nutrient reduction practices implemented as part of the grant
could go towards the City's wastewater permit nutrient reduction strategy.
As part of the grant application process, the DSWCD has requested that the City sign a
pledge agreement documenting its support for the grant.
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend signing the attached pledge agreement that would document the City's
support and an in-kind contribution of $5,000 per year for a total of$25,000 in support of
the DSWCD's request for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) lowa Partners for Conservation (IPC) grant in the amount
of $825,000.
BUDGET IMPACT
If the IPC grant is awarded to the DSWCD, they would administer the grant. The City's
costs would be limited to in-kind staff contributions not to exceed $5,000 per year for a
total of $25,000.
ACTION REQUIRED
I respectfully request adoption of the attached resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a
pledge agreement in support of the DSWCD's grant application for an NRCS IPC grant
in the amount of $825,000.
Attach.
Cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Willie O'Brien, WRRC Plant Manager
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Prepared by Deron Muehring, City of Dubuque WRRC, 795 Julien Dubuque Dr Dubuque IA 52003 (563)589-4177
Return to Adrienne N. Breitfelder City Clerk City of Dubuque, 50 W. 13th St. Dubuque, IA 52001 (563)589-4100
RESOLUTION NO. 82-24
RESOLUTION PLEDGING SUPPORT AND UP TO $25,000 IN -KIND LOCAL
MATCHING FUNDS FOR THE DUBUQUE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION
DISTRICT'S APPLICATION FOR A $825,000 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE IOWA PARTNERS FOR
CONSERVATION GRANT
WHEREAS, the City of Dubuque is party to the Agreement creating the Dubuque
Soil and Water Conservation District (DSWCD); and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution 102-12 authorizing an agreement
with the DSWCD to create the Catfish Creek Watershed Management Authority; and
WHEREAS, the DSWCD is submitting an application for US Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Iowa Partners for
Conservation (IPC) grant in the amount of $825,000; and
WHEREAS, the scope of the grant -funded project includes watershed based
nutrient reduction efforts that would benefit the Catfish Creek watershed; and
WHEREAS, the DSWCD has identified the City of Dubuque as a project partner
and the City of Dubuque will benefit from the project partnership.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
SECTION 1. Pledges an in -kind local match contribution of $5,000 per year for a
total of $25,000, if in fact, the DSWCD is awarded the USDA NRCS IPC grant.
SECTION 2. Authorizes the Mayor to sign a pledge agreement in support of the
DSWCD grant application.
Passed, adopted, and approved this 15th day of April 2024.
Brad M.� agh, Mayor
Attest:
L&ille �'
Adrienne Breitfelder, CMC, City Clerk
Pledge Agreement
Applicant In -Kind Contribution
1) Donor Organization: City of Dubuque
50`b W. 13tb St.
Dubuque, IA 52001
2) Applicant Organization: Dubuque Soil and Water Conservation District
3) Project Title: Growing the Farmer to Farmer Network and Increasing Aerial (Drone)
Cover Crop and Buffer Acres in Northeast Iowa
4) Description of in -kind Contribution: The City of Dubuque (Department of Water
Resource and Recovery Center) is committing $25,000 in an in -kind contribution of staff
time, fringe benefits and indirect costs to this project.
5) Pledge Statement: The City of Dubuque pledges to make this contribution over the
USDA 2024 Iowa Partners for Conservation (IPC) Grants funding period as an in -kind
match to USDA NRCS IPC grant funds awarded to the Dubuque Soil and Water
Conservation District project, Growing the Farmer to Farmer Network and Increasing
Aerial (Drone) Cover Crop and Buffer Acres in Northeast Iowa.
Signature of or Organization Authorized
Representative, City of Dubuque Mayor: Brc� caVan4'
Signature of Applicant Organization Authorized
Representative: