Minutes_Historic Preservation Commission_Worksession 01.16.25City of Dubuque
City Council
CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
Copyrighted
March 3, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of February 17, 2025; Community
Development Advisory Commission of January 15, 2025;
Historic Preservation Commission of January 16, 2025;
Library Board of Trustees Update of January 23, 2025; Park
and Recreation Commission of January 14, 2025; Proof of
Publication for City Council Proceedings of February 3,
2025.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 2 17 25 City Council Minutes
2. Community Development Advisory Commission Minutes
3. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
4. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes —Work Session
5. Library Board of Trustees Update
6. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes
7. Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of 2.3.25
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Dubuque
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2017*2019
MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
WORKSESSION
5:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 16, 2025
City Council Chambers, Historic Federal Building
Commissioners Present: Chairperson Janice Esser; Commissioners, Tim Gau, Christina
Monk, Heidi Pettitt and Rick Stuter.
Commissioners Excused: Bill Doyle.
Commissioners Unexcused: None.
Staff Members Present: Wally Wernimont and Travis Schrobilgen.
CALL TO ORDER: The Work Session was called to order by Chairperson Esser at 5:30 p.m.
WORKSESSION: Introduction to 132E2 Project
Other individuals present were a couple members of the Dubuque County Historic Preservation
Commission and staff member Ed Raber with Dubuque County Zoning.
Assistant City Engineer Bob Schiesl introduced the Building Bridges to Employment and Equity
Project (B2E2). He said the city received a $25 million RAISE Implementation Grant toward
construction of the B2E2 project and is working with a consultant, AECOM, for feasibility and
historic review. He noted that the project is a multimodal transportation project to promote safety
and connectivity for the public. He said the project includes several round -a -bouts and a
pedestrian/vehicle bridge over the train tracks. He said the railroad merger is expected to
increase the number of trains through the city and that some alterations are already being made
such as the closure of 15t" Street on either side of the tracks. He noted that the project involves
federal funding and therefore, the city and consultant are seeking comment from the Historic
Preservation Commission on the proposed project.
Nathan Guequierre and Mark Durbahn, both of AECOM, and Ray Werner, with Tallgrass
Archaeology, discussed the project timeline, the steps involved and potential transportation
alternatives and their impact on historic resources within the study area. They clarified the study
area which included the Point Neighborhood, Kerper Boulevard, and the area south of 22nd
Street down to the Millwork District and west to Central Avenue. They noted that the goal of the
workshop was to acquaint the HPC with the project details and to establish a relationship
between the project team and the HPC as impacts to historic resources are likely to be
generated by project activities.
The team presented an overview of project status focusing on project history, the successful
grant application, the NEPA process for transportation system development, transportation
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Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission
January 16, 2025 Page 2
needs, findings from the archaeological and historic resource surveys, and high-level
improvement concepts being evaluated and assembled into project alternatives.
Commissioners agreed that the project would benefit travel in downtown Dubuque, both for
residents and visitors. They agreed that a rail overpass is a reasonable improvement to
evaluate and alternate locations were discussed. 1611 Street was discussed in detail as a
potential alternative. It was noted that the east to west flow of traffic would be less than ideal at
that location and noted that more historical resources would be impacted including the Blum site
and an increase in necessary home demolitions along that route.
Commissioners expressed that an overpass on 14th Street may have fewer impacts on historic
resources than at other locations due to the wider street width, relatively fewer historic
properties than on 16th Street, and potential to reduce cut through traffic. Due to the timing of the
railroad merger, Commissioners asked if an interim action could address issues earlier than the
construction of an overpass.
Commissioners suggested an Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) implementation that
could provide early notification to motorists that the railroad is blocking streets in the
neighborhood to alert both local traffic and traffic entering the area from Wisconsin.
Commissioners discussed a desire for designs under the overpass that develop the area as an
attraction rather than a barrier or eyesore, for instance: an active space with decorative lighting,
a dog park, skatepark, water features, or other neighborhood enhancements.
County Commissioners requested copies of the archaeological and architectural surveys. City
staff noted that they will investigate distributing them after redacting sensitive and confidential
archaeology details as is standard practice.
No action was requested of or taken by the Commission.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Esser, seconded by Gau to adjourn the January 16, 2025, Historic
Preservation Commission meeting. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Janice Esser,
Tim Gau, Christina Monk, Heidi Pettitt and Rick Stuter; Nay — none.
The meeting adjourned at 5:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
17
W ly Wer ' ont, Pfanning Services Director
February 20, 2025
Adopted
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