Minutes_Long Range Planning Advisory Commission 1 18 15 Dubuque
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MINUTES
CITY OF DUBUQUE LONG RANGE PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
City Council Chamber, Historic Federal Building
Commissioners Present: Commissioners Jim Prochaska, Joshua Clements, Charles
Winterwood, Craig Beytien and Chad Darter.
Commissioners Excused: Chairperson John Pregler and Commissioner Alan Vincent.
Staff Members Present: David Johnson and Laura Carstens.
CHAIRPERSON PRO-TEM: Chairperson John Pregler and Vice Chairperson Alan
Vincent were absent from the meeting. The Commission solicited nominations for a
Chairperson Pro-Tem.
Motion by Beytien, seconded by Winterwood, to nominate Commissioner Jim
Prochaska as Chairperson Pro-Tem. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye —
Prochaska, Clements, Darter, Winterwood, and Beytien; Nay — None.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Pro-Tem
Prochaska at 5:32 p.m.
CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance
verifying that the meeting was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings
Law.
MINUTES: Motion by Beytien, seconded by Clements to approve the minutes of
December 17, 2014 as submitted. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye —
Prochaska, Clements, Winterwood, and Beytien; Nay— None; Abstain — Darter.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
ACTION ITEMS:
FY2016-2020 Recommended Capital Improvement Program: Staff Member Carstens
reviewed the recommended budget, budget process, and how Capital Improvement
Projects are structured, programmed, justified and related to the Comprehensive Plan
and Sustainable Dubuque principles.
The Commission questioned how the recommendation of the Commission is
communicated to City Council. Staff Member Carstens explained a letter from the
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February 18, 2015
Chairperson is prepared and provided to City Council for their consideration at their final
budget hearing.
The Commission questioned City Council's process if the Commission were to find a
CIP that did not relate to the Comprehensive Plan. Staff Member Carstens explained
that it would be a consideration the City Council would make at their discretion.
The Commission noted the Leisure Services CIP No. 350-2584 should be amended to
reflect that the Performing Arts Center at the University of Dubuque is completed and
not soon to be completed.
The Commission expressed their support for the City Council adopting the Emerald Ash
Borer as a priority as well as the Street Tree Program, Body Cameras for Police, and
sealcoating existing trails.
The Commission noted the Indoor Aquatic Center is identified as a high priority for City
Council's Policy Agenda, but there is no CIP to support it.
The Commission questioned the total cost associated with the FY2015 CIP compared
to the proposed FY2016 CIP. Staff Member Carstens noted the FY2016 CIP is 1.13%
less than FY2015.
The Commission noted City fees are going up but they appear to be in line with other
Iowa communities. The Commission discussed whether Cedar Rapids is an
appropriate comparison.
The Commission noted it has become difficult to make connections to the
Comprehensive Plan as a whole. The Commission questioned how the CIPs relate to
the City Council priorities. The Commission suggested taking a thematic, spatial
approach to illustrating the CIPs, noting it would help to show where these investments
are happening throughout the community.
The Commission questioned whether CIPs were developed based on the goals and
objectives of the Comprehensive Plan or whether CIPs are developed and then related
to the Comprehensive Plan. Staff Member Carstens noted many of the projects
programmed annually are related to ongoing maintenance, repair and improvements to
City infrastructure and facilities. The Commission stated it would be helpful to know
which CIPs are new or not related to ongoing maintenance. The Commission stated it
would also be helpful to know what was in last year's budget as well as how CIPs relate
to City Council goals and priorities.
The Commission questioned why they are asked to comment on the Capital
Improvement Program when City Staff already relates the projects to Comprehensive
Plan goals and objectives. Staff Member Carstens noted the relationships have
become part of the CIP process, in part to respond to this Commission's duty, and
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February 18, 2015
suggested the Commission could re-evaluate their role. The Commission stated
reviewing and commenting on the Capital Improvement Program is not a good exercise
for the Commission, a responsibility they do not need, and not a good use of their time.
The Commission reiterated the connections to the Comprehensive Plan are already
identified before the Commission reviews and comments on them. The Commission
noted the process is institutionalized down to the department level which negates the
need for the Commission to review and comment on the CIPs. The Commission noted
they would like to continue to serve as a resource to City Council for any questions they
may have or to respond to any specific projects.
The Commission discussed what is being done to implement the goals and objectives
of the Comprehensive Plan and how those are measured. Staff Member Carstens
reviewed current performance measure efforts relating to City initiatives and strategic
plans.
Commissioner Beytien left the meeting at 6:28 p.m.
Motion by Winterwood, seconded by Darter, to recommend to City Council that the
FY2016-2020 Recommended Capital Improvement Program is consistent with the 2012
City of Dubuque Comprehensive Plan. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye —
Prochaska, Darter, Clements, and Winterwood; Nay— None.
Election of Officers: Staff Member Johnson reviewed the roles and responsibilities of
the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, noting term limits for the positions and current
officers. He noted that all Commissioners are currently eligible to serve as Chairperson
and Vice Chairperson. He noted that due to travel requirements associated with his new
job, Chairperson Pregler is respectfully requesting not to be nominated for an officer
position.
Motion by Prochaska, seconded by Winterwood, to nominate Commissioner Darter as
Chairperson. Commissioner Darter accepted the nomination. Motion carried by the
following vote: Aye — Prochaska, Clements, and Winterwood; Nay — None; Abstain -
Darter.
Motion by Winterwood, seconded by Darter, to nominate Commissioner Vincent to
continue as Vice Chairperson. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Prochaska,
Darter Clements, and Winterwood; Nay— None.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 6:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager Adopted