Minutes_Historic Preservation Commission 07.17.25City of Dubuque
City Council
CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
Copyrighted
September 2, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings for August 18, 2025; Historic
Preservation Commission of July 17, 2025; Human Rights
Commission of July 8, 2025; Library Board of Trustees
Minutes of June 23, 2025; Library Board of Trustees Update
of July 24, 2025; Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
of May 21, 2025; Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
of July 8, 2025.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 8 18 25 City Council Minutes
2. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
3. Human Rights Commission Minutes
4. Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Minutes
5. Library Board of Trustees Update
6. Carnegie -Stout Board of Trustees June 2025 Minutes
7. Park and Recreation Commission 7.8.2025 Meeting Minutes
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MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
5:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 17, 2025
City Council Chambers, Historic Federal Building
Commissioners Present: Chairperson Janice Esser; Commissioners, Tim Gau,
Christina Monk, Rick Stuter, Chad Witthoeft, Adam Schwendinger
Commissioners Excused: Bill Doyle and Heidi Pettitt
Commissioners Unexcused: none
Staff Members Present: Wally Wernimont and Chris Happ Olson
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Janice Esser at
5:30 p.m.
MINUTES: Motion by Gau, seconded by Schwendinger, to approve the minutes of July
17, 2025 meeting as submitted. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Janice
Esser, Tim Gau, Christina Monk, Rick Stuter, Chad Witthoeft, Adam Schwendinger; Nay
— none.
ACTION ITEMS:
DESIGN REVIEW
Applicant: American Tower Corporation, Jim Moser
Owner: City of Dubuque
Address: Madison Park, 1824 N. Main Street (cellular tower)
Project: Modification to cellular antennae monopole
District: Jackson Park Neighborhood Conservation District
Seminary Hill Residential National Register Historic District
Staff Member Happ Olson presented the staff report noting its location in the Seminary
Hill Conservation District and Jackson Park National Register Historic District and its
visibility from multiple local and National Register historic districts. She explained the
history of the site and referred to contemporary and historic imagery and information
throughout the staff report. She also referred to the previous Historic Preservation
Commission case where American Tower, the same company presenting today,
requested permission for a monopole, mimicking a flag pole, which was approved with
conditions in 2008. She noted the company proposed one option in the application, not
providing alternative locations or designs. She described the Commission's advisory
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Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission - July 17, 2025 Page 2
role, with the City of Dubuque as the owner, having signed the application, but noted the
signature was an allowance to make the application, not an approval of the proposed
project. The Commission shall review the application and make a recommendation to
City Council, who ultimately has the final review.
Commissioner Monk asked if the dimensions are changing on the pole. Happ Olson
noted the same pole was being used and a 5' wide by 10' tall cylinder structure would
be added over the new antennae to act as a sheath.
Jim Moser, agent for American Tower, approached the podium and stated that this is an
upgrade for T-Mobile's existing equipment. The overall size of the pole is changing at
the top from 2' wide to 5' wide, which is an addition of 18" on each side. He noted the
pole is existing at 50' tall plus the finial.
Commissioner Schwendinger asked if the shield is transparent, and Mr. Moser stated
no, the same material will be used that is existing on the monopole.
Commissioner Witthoeft talked about the possibility of a new design, like a monument.
He suggested a structure like an obelisk and to help clarify, Happ Olson brought up
imagery on the screen to show an obelisk, while referring to the Washington Monument
as an example.
Commissioners discussed whether the existing pole mimicked a flag pole, as the
proportions to a regular pole and flag were not correct. Staff Member Wernimont stated
that he was staff when the original request came through and that he researched based
on the size of the pole the appropriate flag size, noting it was correct. Happ Olson noted
that the original 2008 proposal showed a different shape and width to the pole that was
erected. It was noted that if the proposed sheath was added, flying a flag would be
difficult or awkward.
Mr. Moser noted that additions or changes to the tower would require additional funding
on the applicant's part. He also asked what the goal was of the Commission, referring to
whether the City wanted wireless service. Staff noted that the Commission's goal was to
protect the historic features of the community and that other boards and the City Council
had other goals to consider as part of the review process.
Commissioner Esser stated that she lives downtown and could not see the pole from
downtown with the current foliage. Commissioners debated the value of keeping the
pole as a flagpole. Commissioners further discussed the proposed design.
Motion by Monk, seconded by Gau, to recommend to the City Council the application as
submitted, with the conditions that 1) the antennae sheath matches the texture, color
and surface as the existing pole, and that 2) it no longer should be used as a flagpole.
Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Janice Esser, Tim Gau, Christina Monk,
Rick Stuter, Chad Witthoeft, Adam Schwendinger; Nay — none.
ITEMS FROM PUBLIC: none
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Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission - July 17, 2025 Page 3
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION:
Commissioner Monk noted that the Prairie School Legacy in Iowa Symposium in June
was well done and provided kudos to Heritage Works. Staff Member Happ Olson noted
that five Commissioners and two staff were able to attend.
ITEMS FROM STAFF:
Micro -Training Time (memo and syllabus)
Staff Member Happ Olson presented the concept of bringing micro-trainings to
Commissioners, structured at 15 minutes long and at regular meetings as a way to
ensure that Commissioners have up-to-date and relevant skills for their work.
Chairperson Esser supported the concept, as long as they weren't too in-depth. She
supported a mix of lessons, for instance legal issues and windows.
Staff Member Wernimont noted that the HPC is unusual in that it probably receives
more training opportunities than any other board and commission, due to requirements
as a Certified Local Government. The City therefore budgets to support members with
training. He also noted that not every Commissioner has the availability to attend
trainings, and therefore this micro -training will be an opportunity for Commissioners to
participate without a lot of commitment.
Commissioners by consensus supported the idea of training and for staff to further
develop those trainings.
Upcoming Training Opportunities (memo)
Happ Olson referred to the memo that offers a variety of external training opportunities
that are upcoming for Commissioners.
Election of Officers (memo)
Happ Olson reviewed the memo regarding elections, terms and who is eligible for which
position.
Motion by Monk, seconded by Stuter to reelect Chairperson Janice Esser and Vice -
Chairperson Tim Gau to the Historic Preservation Commission. Motion carried by the
following vote: Aye — Janice Esser, Tim Gau, Christina Monk, Chad Witthoeft and
Adam Schwendinger; Nay — none.
ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Schwendinger, seconded by Monk to adjourn the July 17,
2025 Historic Preservation Commission meeting. Motion carried by the following vote:
Aye — Janice Esser, Tim Gau, Christina Monk, Rick Stuter, Chad Witthoeft, Adam
Schwendinger; Nay —none.
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Minutes — Historic Preservation Commission - July 17, 2025 Page 4
The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
�+-Ir" August 21, 2025
Ily W r mo , Planning Services Director Adopted
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