Eagle Point Park ProjectsCopyrighted
October 6, 2025
City of Dubuque
City Council
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ITEM TITLE: Eagle Point Park Projects
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of Eagle Point Park
Projects that are not currently included in the Fiscal Year
2026 budget.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo
2. Staff Memo
Page 1247 of 1264
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Eagle Point Park Projects
DATE: September 30, 2025
Dubuque
All-Amerin Cigf
vsixhLLrn
2007-2012-2013
2017*2019
Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Kalcevich is recommending approval of Eagle
Point Park Projects that are not currently included in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
A Historic Structures Report was approved by City Council at the April 21, 2025, City
Council meeting. The report includes the Bridge Complex, Indian Room and Veranda
Rooms. The completed Historic Structures Report provides the necessary information
to pursue a challenge grant for bricks and mortar improvements in the future from the
Jeffris Foundation. Their Capital Campaign Challenge Grant program provides
additional funds for restoration for the structures of up to $1 million matching funds for
bricks and mortar at 2:1(2 Local:1 Foundation). Currently it is anticipated this would be
a $500,000 grant application with one million dollars in local match raised by a local
non-profit. The Jeffris Foundation does not allow the match to come from the city
budget.
The report provided an opinion on the costs related to work needed on these structures.
High priority repairs and assessments were identified that should be addressed sooner
than later. These include additional structural assessments needed for the existing
conditions at the Veranda Rooms and Bridge Complex and for historic materials
analysis of stone, paint and cementitious floor coatings.
Completing these assessments will provide cost estimates needed regarding specific
existing conditions. This work is necessary to determine specific costs that would be
used in the future grant application to Jeffris for renovation work. This is important as it
would potentially add costs to match the grant application. These assessments are
estimated to cost $40,000.
The roofs of the Veranda Rooms and the Terrace Room are cedar shake shingles. The
roofs have sustained storm damage from trees in recent months. The roofs have been
patched but need to be replaced. They have reached the end of their life cycle and are
leaking. The estimated cost to replace the roof of the Terrace Room is $40,000. The
estimated cost to replace the roof of the Veranda Rooms is $51,000.
Page 1248 of 1264
There is currently $57,000 in the Fiscal Year 2026 capital budget to renovate the Shiras
Memorial Pavilion. Park Division staff obtained an estimate for the repairs and
renovation. The total cost for the project is estimated at $97,000.
Funding is needed to hire a contractor to trim trees along the bluff and improve the
views. City staff are unable to complete this type of work due to the complexity
required. Once completed, the impact will be immediate. Additional trees need to be
removed and trimmed/pruned throughout the entire park. This work is best completed
in the fall/winter months, which is the best time to trim/prune oak trees. Estimates to
trim trees along the bluff and remove, trim, and prune trees throughout the park is
$150,000.
There are six tennis courts in the park. The courts need to be resurfaced including new
poles and nets. The work on the six tennis courts is estimated to cost $302,000.
Fifteen dead trees have been removed from the park in 2025. Additional trees will be
removed by Park Division staff yet this calendar year, following the guidance to protect
threatened and endangered bats.
Two teenage groups completed work projects in the park. The Teen Resiliency Corp,
led by Environmental Justice Tree Coordinator, Laurana Snyder, and a teen group,
Serve Dubuque, led by Sarah Berna, AmeriCorps Program Director, completed three
workdays in the park. Some work included removing invasive plants from prairie areas
and woodland edges. Other work included general park clean-up of leaves, weeds and
debris. One additional special project included placing tree tubes around 100 white oak
saplings to protect them and preserve them for future transplanting throughout the park.
During the last week of October 2025, the Park Division will partner with the Public
Works Department to complete maintenance projects in the park. Projects will include
sidewalk repairs, asphalt repairs, crack sealing, and downed tree limb removal. The
Community Impact Department will also be involved engaging volunteer groups to
target specific tasks such as leaf, weed and litter removal.
There is $57,000 included in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget to renovate the Shiras
Memorial Pavilion which would be reallocated to the roof. The additional funding needed
of $623,000 in funding for Eagle Point Park projects would be provided from Fiscal Year
2025 general fund savings. The Eagle Point Park projects are included in Fiscal Year
2026 first budget amendment that will be considered by City Council at a future public
hearing.
I
Page 1249 of 1264
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jml/sv
Attachment
CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jennifer Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Laura Bendorf, Budget Manager
Matthew Kalcevich, Parks and Recreation Director
3
Page 1250 of 1264
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Matthew K. Kalcevich, Parks and Recreation Director
SUBJECT: Eagle Point Park Projects
DATE: September 29, 2025
INTRODUCTION
Dubuque
MI-Amedea City
tllll®r
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
The purpose of this memo is to request funding from the FY26 Budget Amendment #1
for projects to be completed at Eagle Point Park.
BACKGROUND
During the Fiscal Year 2026 budget process the Mayor and City Council expressed
support for additional investment at Eagle Point Park. Several community members
expressed their support for Eagle Point Park during the FY26 budget hearings. The City
Council approved an additional Maintenance Technician to be placed at Eagle Point
Park as a change to the FY26 budget recommendation. Staff are currently interviewing
for this position.
DISCUSSION
Staff have prepared cost estimates for several projects that could be completed at
Eagle Point Park in FY26.
Historic Structures Report
A Historic Structures Report (HSR) was approved by City Council at the April 21, 2025,
City Council meeting. The report includes the Bridge Complex, Indian Room and
Veranda Rooms. The completed HSR provides the necessary information to pursue an
approximate $500,000 challenge grant for bricks and mortar improvements in the future
from the Jeffris Foundation. Their Capital Campaign Challenge Grant program provides
additional funds for restoration for the structures of up to $1 million in locally raised
matching funds for bricks and mortar at 2:1(2 Local:1 Foundation), for a $1.5 million
Page 1251 of 1264
project. The Jeffris Foundation does not allow city budgeted funds to be used as the
match so the city will partner with a local non-profit in a fund-raising campaign.
The report provided an opinion on the costs related to work needed on these structures.
High priority repairs and assessments were identified that should be addressed sooner
than later. These include additional structural assessments needed for the existing
conditions at the Veranda Rooms and Bridge Complex and for historic materials
analysis of stone, paint and cementitious floor coatings.
Completing these assessments will provide cost estimates needed regarding specific
existing conditions. This work is necessary to determine specific costs that would be
used in the future grant application to Jeffris for renovation work. This is important as it
would potentially add costs to match the grant application. These assessments are
estimated to cost $40,000.
Roof Replacements
The roofs of the Veranda Rooms and the Terrace Room are cedar shake shingles. The
roofs have sustained storm damage from trees in recent months. The roofs have been
patched but need to be replaced. They have reached the end of their life cycle and are
leaking. The estimated cost to replace the roof of the Terrace Room is $40,000. The
estimated cost to replace the roof of the Veranda Rooms is $51,000.
Shiras Memorial Pavilion Renovation
There is currently $57,000 in CIP Project # 3043000004 to renovate the Shiras
Memorial Pavilion. Park Division staff obtained an estimate for the repairs and
renovation. The total cost for the project is estimated at $97,000.
Trees
Funding is needed to hire a contractor to trim trees along the bluff and improve the
views. City staff are unable to complete this type of work due to the complexity
required. Once completed, the impact will be immediate.
Additional trees need to be removed and trimmed/pruned throughout the entire park.
This work is best completed in the fall/winter months, which is the best time to
trim/prune oak trees.
Estimates to trim trees along the bluff and remove and trim/prune trees throughout the
park is $150,000.
Tennis Courts
There are six tennis courts in the park. The courts need to be resurfaced including new
poles and nets. The work on the six tennis courts is estimated to cost $302,000.
Completed/Upcoming Work
Fifteen dead trees have been removed from the park in 2025. Additional trees will be
removed by Park Division staff yet this calendar year, following the guidance to protect
threatened and endangered bats.
0
Page 1252 of 1264
Two teenage groups completed work projects in the park. The Teen Resiliency Corp,
led by Environmental Justice Tree Coordinator, Laurana Snyder, and a teen group,
Serve Dubuque, led by Sarah Berna, AmeriCorps Program Director, completed three
workdays in the park. Some work included removing invasive plants from prairie areas
and woodland edges. Other work included general park clean-up of leaves, weeds and
debris. One additional special project included placing tree tubes around 100 white oak
saplings to protect them and preserve them for future transplanting throughout the park.
During the last week of October 2025, the Park Division will partner with the Public
Works Department to complete maintenance projects in the park. Projects will include
sidewalk repairs, asphalt repairs, crack sealing, and downed tree limb removal. The
Community Impact Department will also be involved engaging volunteer groups to
target specific tasks such as leaf, weed and litter removal.
BUDGET IMPACT
Project
Current
Funding
Additional Funding
Total Project Cost
Historic Structures
$0
$40,000
$40,000
Report Assessments
Terrace Room Roof
$0
$40,000
$40,000
Replacement
Veranda Rooms Roof
$0
$51,000
$51,000
Replacement
Tree removal/Bluff
$0
$150,000
$150,000
Clearing
Shiras Memorial
$57,000
$40,000
$97,000
Pavilion Renovation
Tennis Court
$0
$302,000
$302,000
Resurfacing
43
Page 1253 of 1264
ACTION REQUESTED
I respectfully request $623,000 in funding from the FY26 Budget Amendment #1 for
projects to be completed at Eagle Point Park.
Prepared by Steve Fehsal, Park Division Manager
Cc; Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Laura Bendorf, Budget Manager
Marie Ware, Acting Project and Facilities Manager
El
Page 1254 of 1264