Minutes_Historic Preservation Commission 05.15.25Copyrighted
July 7, 2025
City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of June 16, 2025; Arts and Cultural
Affairs Commission of May 27, 2025; Civil Service
Commission of January 17, February 12, March 3, March 12,
March 20, and April 9, 2025; Community Development
Advisory Commission of May 21, 2025; Historic Preservation
Commission of May 15, 2025; Library Board of Trustees
Update from May 22, 2025; Park and Recreation Commission
of May 21, 2025; Resilient Community Advisory Commission
of April 23, 2025; Zoning Advisory Commission of June 4,
2025; Zoning Board of Adjustment from May 22, 2025; Proof
of Publication for City Council Proceedings of June 2, 2025.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 6 16 25 City Council Minutes
2. Arts and Cultural Affairs Minutes
3. 25 01 17 Civil Service Minutes
4. 25 02 12 Civil Service Minutes
5. 25 03 03 Civil Service Minutes
6. 25 03 12 Civil Service Minutes
7. 25 03 20 Civil Service Minutes
8. 25 04 09 Civil Service Minutes
9. Community Development Advisory Commission Minutes
10. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
11. Library Board of Trustees Update
12. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes
13. Resilient Community Advisory Commission Minutes
14. Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes
15. Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes
16. Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of June 2, 2025
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Dubuque n
THE CITY OF
DUB E
2007-2012.2013
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2017*2019
MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
5:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 15, 2025
City Council Chambers, Historic Federal Building
Commissioners Present: Chairperson Janice Esser; Commissioners, Bill Doyle, Tim Gau,
Heidi Pettitt, Rick Stuter, Chad Witthoeft, Adam Schwendinger
Commissioners Excused: Christina Monk, Heidi Pettitt
Commissioners Unexcused: none
Staff Members Present: Wally Wernimont and Chris Happ Olson
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order by Chairperson Janice Esser at 5:32 p.m.
MINUTES: Staff Member Happ Olson noted that Commissioner Witthoeft recognized that
wording was transposed on two motions for 1005 Main Street. The correction was made
available via email on May 14, interchanging the words "carried" and "denied" on the
motions for 1005 Main Street near the bottom of page 4.
Motion by Witthoeft, seconded by Schwendinger, to approve the minutes of April 17, 2025
meeting as amended. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Janice Esser, Bill Doyle,
Tim Gau, Rick Stuter, Chad Witthoeft, Adam Schwendinger. Nay — none.
ACTION ITEMS:
REVIEW FOR 20TH CENTURY NEIGHBORHOODS SURVEYS
Commissioner Bill Doyle recused himself from the meeting and took the podium to present
for Heritage Works. Doyle noted he was a contractor for the City of Dubuque and presented
the 95% completion draft reports on two surveys undertaken for Voelker Highlands and
Deereville Neighborhoods.
Doyle noted the drafts include historic contexts and a breakdown of resources, narrative
description, and typology. He reviewed the history of the neighborhoods and their building
types. He noted that this work could be used to develop a National Register Historic District
nomination in the future. He discussed the reasoning for the survey area and things specific
to post-war housing, including the Federal Housing Administration plans and restrictions. He
noted how both neighborhoods had a variety of housing from the time period.
The Commission had questions and discussion for the consultant.
Staff Member Happ Olson noted that the role of the Commission in this case is to review,
provide comment, direction or corrections and eventually recommend approval of the
surveys to the City Council.
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Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission
May 15, 2025
Page 2
Motion by Schwendinger, seconded by Gau, to recommend approval and adoption of the
surveys to City Council, with final edits to be made by the consultant. Motion carried by the
following vote: Aye — Janice Esser, Tim Gau, Rick Stuter, Chad Witthoeft, Adam
Schwendinger. Nay — none. Abstain — Doyle.
DEMOLITION REQUEST
Applicant: Joe Ungs
Owner: Corridor Dubuque LLC
Address: 1527-33 Central Avenue
Project: Rear section demolition as part of a Historic Tax Credit project
District: Washington Neighborhood Conservation District
Commissioner Bill Doyle recused himself due to working on the project and left the
chambers. Staff Member Happ Olson presented the staff report on the nature of the project,
demolishing the one-story rear addition on the contributing property, and providing
information with which to make a determination of economic non -viability, if need be. Happ
Olson showed visual imagery, maps and information about the request. She noted the
owner is working to utilize state and federal historic tax credits and local funding from the
City of Dubuque in order to make the project financially feasible. She explained that in most
cases, the City would defer review to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO),
because their review is more intensive and stringent than the Commissions, but because of
the timing for installation of a green alley behind the building, the owner is bringing this forth
at this time. He also supplied information on economic non -viability of the addition due to
the fact that he didn't want to return at another meeting, due to timing. Happ Olson
described the Commission's role is limited to demolition only, because of the project's
location within the Conservation District, and that she is deferring to the SHPO for review of
the project plans.
Commissioner Chad Witthoeft referred to the fact that a similar case for removing the same
addition on this structure came before the Commission in 2017, prior to the ownership of the
current owner. Happ Olson confirmed that it was approved and that the approval was good
for one year, and that in that case, there was not a full rehabilitation proposed.
Joe Ungs, 2305 Simpson Street, noted the poor condition of the rear addition and added
concerns that the excavation adjacent the foundation to the building, for the upcoming
green alley, would further undermine the addition. He made a case that economically it did
not make sense to attempt to save the structure, and instead was focusing on rehabilitating
the entire building.
Josh Jansen, 11368 Rock Grove Court, spoke on behalf of the owner as a contractor for
Restoration and Renovation Services. He noted the addition is severely out of plumb and
referred to photos of the addition. He agreed with comments by Happ Olson that the
building had been repointed many times and that work had further damaged the brick. He
stated it would be too soft to salvage and that the structural condition would require
rebuilding.
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Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission
May 15, 2025
Page 3
The Commission discussed the case and talked about historical and financial evidence for
the project.
Motion by Schwendinger, seconded by Gau, to approve the application as submitted due to
the fact that the addition did not appear to have historical or architectural significance.
Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Janice Esser, Tim Gau, Rick Stuter, Chad
Witthoeft, Adam Schwendinger. Nay — none. Abstain — Doyle.
ITEMS FROM PUBLIC: None
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION: None
ITEMS FROM STAFF:
• Goal Setting, as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Process for the City of
Dubuque
Staff Member Wally Wernimont introduced the Goal Setting documents and process.
Items discussed and agreed upon were:
o Support of the Historic Tax Credits (state and federal funding to projects)
o Support of the Historic Preservation Fund (federal, but also funds state and
local communities as part of the Certified Local Government program)
o Support of City historic preservation funding
■ For the public, through forgivable loan programs
■ For the City, to use as a match to leverage private, state or federal
dollars
The Commission reviewed the workplan. By consensus, they instructed staff to
utilize these items and the workplan to complete the process.
• Historic Preservation Awards report
Staff Member Happ Olson described the award ceremony and Architecture Days.
• Training Opportunities
Staff reviewed upcoming training opportunities and encouraged Commissioners to
take advantage of them. Commissioner Witthoeft noted he was unable to make the
Preserve Iowa Summit and Happ Olson noted she would cancel the reservation.
• Election of Officers (anticipation for July 2025)
Happ Olson reviewed the memo and reminded the Commission that anyone is
allowed to serve in any position. Elections will take place on the next meeting
following July 1st
• June Meeting Update (scheduling)
Staff explained that the June meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 17 in order to
allow for the City holiday of Juneteenth which conflicts with the regularly scheduled
HPC meeting on the third Thursday of that month.
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Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission
May 15, 2025
Page 4
Commissioner Schwendinger asked a question about the possibility of regulation around
painting and murals. Staff discussed that we currently don't have any regulation around
painting, although there are times when the Commission weighs in on color (when dealing
with additions or replacement materials) and whether an element needs to be painted.
There was a brief discussion of challenges and staff showed a number of examples of
different types of painting, on different materials and historic and non -historic surfaces.
Particularly historic masonry is the biggest concern for painting, due to its damaging and
camouflaging nature. This is something that can be explored through the update of the
Unified Development Code.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Schwendinger, seconded by Doyle to adjourn the May 15,
2025 Historic Preservation Commission meeting. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye —
Janice Esser, Bill Doyle, Tim Gau, Rick Stuter, Chad Witthoeft, Adam Schwendinger. Nay —
none.
The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
June 17, 2025
ally Wer imo ; Planning Services Director Adopted
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