Resilient Community Advisory Commission Input on Dubuque Area Land and Water Legacy (DALWL) RecommendationsCopyrighted
October 6, 2025
City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 5.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Resilient Community Advisory Commission Input on Dubuque
Area Land and Water Legacy (DALWL) Recommendations
SUMMARY: Resilient Community Advisory Commission providing a letter
to the City Council outlining their input on the
recommendations presented by the DALWL group in the
document titled "Recommendations for Dubuque City
Council, Parks & Recreation Master Plan and Envision 2030."
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
/_Aif_TS]:ILT, 1=1►1116'1
1. 25-09-04_Letter to City Council DALWL Recommendations 2025
2. 25-08-07 mtg_Land and Water Recommendations
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Resilient Community Advisory Commission
City of Dubuque, Iowa
City Council, City of Dubuque
50 W. 13t" Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
September 4, 2025
Subject: Support for Dubuque Area Land and Water Legacy Recommendations
Members of the City Council,
The Resilient Community Advisory Commission (RCAC) has reviewed the "Recommendations for
Dubuque City Council, Parks & Recreation Master Plan and Envision 2030" document drafted by the Dubuque
Area Land and Water Legacy (DALWL).
The commission is broadly supportive of the DALWL recommendations. We strongly support
recommendations #6, 7 and 9. These mainly focus on encouraging the city to protect and improve local
biodiversity in order to ensure Dubuque remains a uniquely beautiful blend of accessible urban, suburban, and
natural landscapes for future generations. These continue to be pressing matters of interest for current
residents and younger generations. We believe many city departments, including the Parks and Recreation
Department in particular, should incorporate these priorities in their future plans.
The commission raised some concerns with recommendations #1, 8 and 11. Although commissioners
largely agree with the sentiment of recommendation 1, that conservation of habitat should be a priority of
Parks and Recreation, we felt the resources required for renaming might be better spent implementing other
recommendations. Regarding #8 and 11, the RCAC is aware of land use concerns around the airport and may
submit its own recommendations in the future and the commission felt recommendation #11 lacked clarity.
These concerns notwithstanding, the RCAC appreciates the work of DALWL in bringing these
recommendations forward and encourages City Council to give the document serious and thoughtful
consideration.
Sincerely,
Jacob Kohlhaas; Chair
Resilient Community Advisory Commission
Page 147 of 1264
DUBUQUE AREA
Land and Water Legacy
Recommendations for Dubuque City Council,
Parks & Recreation Master Plan and Envision 2030
Adopted June 21, 2025
1. Consistent with the City's commitment to sustainability, resilience and
climate action, change the name of the department to the "Department
of Parks, Recreation and Conservation."
2. Consistent with the City's commitment to public -private partnerships,
coordinate conservation planning, projects and activities with the
Dubuque County Conservation Department as well as other
governmental and non -governmental conservation groups..
3. Ensure that all parks and recreation priorities, plans and projects are
consistent with conservation goals, guidelines, standards and plans.
4. Extend the consideration and promotion of conservation principles and
planning to all City programs, policies and properties, whether or not
the properties are managed by the Parks, Recreation and Conservation
Department, and to lands within the City's extraterritorial zoning
jurisdiction.
5. Partner with Dubuque County, Dubuque County Soil and Water District
and other local, state and federal entities to create and maintain a
comprehensive inventory and map of ecological assets for the City of
Dubuque and Dubuque County; develop and produce metrics defining
the ecological services provided by these assets for policy and decision -
making purposes.
(continued on reverse)
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6. Prioritize protection of remaining woodland, wetland and grassland
habitat, including by supporting the state's forest and fruit tree reserve
program and wetlands protection program; re-establish such habitats
where possible.
7. Adopt and annually update a comprehensive tree program that invests
heavily in new tree plantings and existing tree maintenance inside and
outside of the park system, that aggressively addresses invasive plant
species, and that provides for sufficient full-time City personnel and
equipment to implement.
8. End the use of City -owned property for row crop production. In
partnership with non -profits, coops, small/young/beginning/diverse
food producers and others, use agricultural ground and other suitable
open spaces for pollinator habitat or human food production, including
agri-solar developments where possible, with conservation practices
endorsed by the Dubuque County Soil and Water Conservation District.
9. Include protections related to conservation, natural resources and the
environment in the City's unified development and zoning codes;
require adherence to federal, state and local conservation and
environmental laws, regulations and ordinances as a condition of
development; withhold public subsidy and support from projects not in
compliance.
10. Work with Dubuque County and other stakeholders on marquee
projects: upgrade/improve/develop Maus Lake/Park and FDR Park for
wildlife habitat and multiple low -impact uses, consistent with these
recommendations.
11. Jointly prepare and support passage of a county -wide parks, recreation
and conservation bond referendum.
12. Consistently advocate publicly for state and federal policies and
programs to support implementation of the City Parks, Recreation and
Conservation Master Plan.
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