Minutes_Resilient Community Advisory Commission 11.07.24City of Dubuque
City Council
CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
Copyrighted
January 21, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of January 6, 2025; Civil Service
Commission of December 11 and December 19, 2024;
Community Development Advisory Commission of November
20, 2024; Equity and Human Rights Commission of
December 17, 2024; Library Board of Trustees Update of
December 19, 2024; Resilient Community Advisory
Commission of November 7, 2024; Zoning Advisory
Commission of November 6, 2024; Proof of Publication for
City Council Proceedings of December 16, 2024.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 1 6 25 City Council Proceedings
2. Civil Service Minutes 12 11 24
3. Civil Service Minutes 12 19 24
4. Community Development Advisory Commission Minutes
5. Equity and Human Rights Commission Minutes
6. Library Board of Trustees Update
7. Resilient Community Advisory Commission Minutes
8. Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of 12 16 24
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CITY OF DUBUQUE - COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
GOVERNMENTAL BODY: Resilient Community Advisory Commission (RCAC)
DATE: 11 /07/2024
TIME: 5:00 pm
LOCATION: Jule Operations and Training Center (JOTC) Circle Conference Room, 949
Kerper Blvd.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jake Kohlhaas, Dean Boles, Lalith Jayawickrama, Robin Kennicker,
Nolan Bielinski, Rachel Boeke, and Sandra Evans
MEMBERS ABSENT: N/A
STAFF PRESENT: Gina Bell and Michelle Kim
Chair Kohlhaas called the meeting to order at 5:03pm
TESTAGENDA .
OATH OF OFFICE: Nolan Bielinski and Rachel Schmidt Boeke are sworn in as
commissioners.
MINUTES APPROVAL:
Kennicker motioned to approve the October minutes. Evans seconded. Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT: N/A
NEW BUSINESS
1. The Dubuque House —energy efficiency and affordable housing with Shane Hoeper
a. The City has accumulated a number of small lots over the years, one of these
Lots are home to the Dubuque house. Taking over vacant lots is a way to
facilitate vibrancy in the neighborhoods. The goal for the Dubuque house is
to create a universal model/plan that can also be used on different lots. This
plan would include a decent number of bedrooms, make room for possible
future expansion, no windows on the side so you could perhaps build row
houses, and for them to be more energy efficient than the 2012 code. This
house is going to be an example to developers, city leaders, etc to show
people that these standards are attainable.
2. Local Non-profits/Sustainable Dubuque Grantee Input: Current efforts and
concerns related to susta inability and resiliency with Rachel Boeke, Korrin Sch river,
Jessica Pfohl Paisley
a. Korrin Schriver: Owner of a local urban farm which is a combination of
commercial and community plots. They also have chickens, ducks, and
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goats (used for weed management) as well as provides a space for local
students to do career development if interested in urban ag, husbandry, etc.
She also has a space where they grow microgreens and hydroponics
indoors. Some successes have been re -zoning the ball field that the farm is
on to agricultural zoning. Some things that make things difficult are some
permitting issues ($626 quote from the city just to go through the process of
finding out if they can go through with changing the sign of the previous
tenant). It's also difficult to make energy efficiency improvements when you
are renting a building, there is no incentive for the landlord to make any
changes (large single pane windows that leak heat, non LED lightbulbs, etc).
They also run into issues with selling local produce to larger businesses that
have contracts with suppliers that forces them to sole source. Being a small
business they have less flexibility when talking about where they can
distribute and there are not that many incentives for people to buy local
produce when it can be slightly more expensive.
b. Rachel Boeke (not as a commissioner, as a representative of the Mission):
They got solar panels on their greenhouse last year with the promise of the
tax credit, and they have not been able to find out how to get that 30% back
for installing solar. The Mission is at the forefront of homelessness in
Dubuque, it's difficult to find people who want to work with our homeless
community members. After the Mission is at capacity there is literally
nowhere else for houeless people to sleep. 650 people use the Mission as
their address to have their mail sent. Recently, it seems like the rates of
homelessness have been going up, a lot of these folks are people who are
experiencing homelessness for the first time.
c. Jessica Pfohl Paisley sent a statement to the commission as she was not
able to make it in person tonight.
3. Sustainable Dubuque Grant— City Council request
a. The Mayor requested that we reallocate the money/ add it back to the larger
pot or provide another recommendation based on how this meets a principle
of Sustainable Dubuque and other grant qualifications.
b. Robin is making a motion to not fund Clarity Clinic and take that money to be
used to fully fund projects that weren't fully funded and move that remaining
money after fully allocating to the next pot.
i. unanimous yes to move this forward
Old Business
1. Policy Work— Review ordinances and policies as they relate to Climate Action Plan
and determine subcommittees as needed
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a. Reports from Commissioners regarding Climate Action Plan (CAP) activities
2. Policy Work— Follow Up Needed from City Staff/Council/Manager
a. Deer Issue Follow Up + Public Health recommendation
i. Is there an easier way to get areas within city limits to okay hunting?
Hunting within city limits is difficult and experienced hunters have
way more places to hunt
ii. studies show that reducing deer populations does not interrupt the
Lyme disease issue unless you completely eradicate the deer
population
iii. Is there an economic angle that we can take? Cost of deer collisions
with vehicles?
iv. Sustainable Dubuque Green Iowa members put together a list of deer
resistance/deterrent plants to plant in their yards.
v. Is there a way to connect bow deer hunters to landowners that have
Large plots?
vi. Research deer management programs that other city's do?
vii. Someone could talk to at Iowa State extension.
viii. Is this something we want to pursue as a commission?
9. Commissioner Reports: How Did I Show Up?
- Robin is also a member of the Parks commission and they need community input
- Dean — CDAC - analysis of impediments to fair housing in Dubuque, it is out for public
comment now.
Next meeting date: The next commission meeting will occur on January 9, 2025, at 5pm at
the Jule Operations and Training Center (JOTC) in the Circle Conference Room, 949 Kerper
Blvd.
ADJOURNMENT: The Commission adjourned at 6:42 pm.
Minutes approved b Y,,&,�
pp : Y
J , dommissron Chair
Prepared by: <'
Michelle Kim, Climate Action Coordinator
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