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EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Progam Grant Copyright 2014 City of Dubuque Consent Items # 23. ITEM TITLE: EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Progam Grant SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval and acceptance of the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Program grant. SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve ATTACHMENTS: Description Type ❑ EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Program Grant-MVM Memo City Manager Memo ❑ Staff Memo Staff Memo ❑ Grant Proposal Supporting Documentation ❑ Grant Confirmation Letter from EPA Supporting Documentation THE CITY OF Dubuque UBE I erica .i Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Environmental Protection Agency, Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Program Grant DATE: March 31, 2015 Economic Development Director Maurice Jones recommends City Council approval and acceptance of the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Program grant in the amount of $200,000. The City of Dubuque will use this grant to focus its efforts on the Port of Dubuque-South Port area. Proposed activities for the Brownfields Area-Wide Planning project include: • A charrette to gather community input on the revitalization of the South Port; • A market analysis to identify the prospects for mixed-use redevelopment in the South Port; • An infrastructure needs assessment to identify upgrades required to support redevelopment; • An area-wide land use plan that considers cleanup strategies for high priority brownfield sites, adaptive reuse of historic buildings, incorporation of green infrastructure, and Complete Streets; • A detailed implementation strategy with business recruitment approaches, a schedule of infrastructure upgrades, identification of public and private resources that can support South Port revitalization, and a game plan for implementing the area-wide land use plan; and • Community outreach to both residents and potential redevelopers/investors. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. Micliael C. Van Milligen MCVM:jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager Maurice Jones, Economic Development Director 2 Dubuque Economic Development Department THE CITY OF 50 West 13th Street All-AmericaCitY Dubuque,Iowa 52001-4864 DUB36kE1 ' Office(563)589-4393 TTY(563)690-6678 ® http://www.cityofdubuque.org Masterpiece on the Mississippi 200.2012.2013 TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Maurice Jones, Economic Development Director SUBJECT: Environmental Protection Agency, Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Program Grant DATE: March 31, 2015 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this memorandum is to present for acceptance the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Area-Wide Planning (BF AWP) Program grant. BACKGROUND Initiated in 2010, the BF AWP Program provides grant funding and technical assistance to brownfields communities selected via a national grant competition. These communities are using EPA resources to research area-wide planning approaches that will help them achieve brownfields cleanup and reuse in the future. The BF AWP grant recipients represent a cross section of community leaders on brownfield issues, include public and non-profit organizations, and are distributed across the country. DISCUSSION The City of Dubuque will focus its efforts on the South Port area. In the mid-2000s, Dubuque received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding to revitalize the North Port, launching an urban renaissance that converted abandoned waterfront properties into a new downtown community. The 33-acre South Port, bordered by the Ice Harbor on the north, the Mississippi River on the east and railroad tracks and freeways on the west, has yet to be reclaimed. Proposed activities for the $200,000 Brownfields Area-Wide Planning project include: • A charrette to gather community input on the revitalization of the South Port; • A market analysis to identify the prospects for mixed-use redevelopment in the South Port; • An infrastructure needs assessment to identify upgrades required to support redevelopment; • An area-wide land use plan that considers cleanup strategies for high priority brownfield sites, adaptive reuse of historic buildings, incorporation of green infrastructure, and Complete Streets; • A detailed implementation strategy with business recruitment approaches, a schedule of infrastructure upgrades, identification of public and private resources that can support South Port revitalization, and a game plan for implementing the area-wide land use plan; and • Community outreach to both residents and potential redevelopers/investors. RECOMMENDATION/ ACTION STEP I recommend approval and acceptance of the Environmental Protection Agency, Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Program Grant in the amount of$200,000.00. Narrative Proposal Protect Overview -The Port of Dubuque was among the first areas settled in the City of Dubuque and the State of Iowa. Its proximity to the Mississippi River made the area convenient for a variety of industrial uses, including shipbuilding and repair, railroads, bulk petroleum and coal storage operations, food processing, farm machinery manufacturing, and lead mining activity. The Port is divided into two sections: the North Port and the South Port. In the mid-2000s, Dubuque received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields resources to revitalize the North Port, launching an urban renaissance that converted abandoned waterfront properties into a new downtown community. The 33-acre South Port, bordered by the Ice Harbor on the north, the Mississippi River on the east and railroad tracks and freeways on the west has yet to be reclaimed. Dubuque seeks EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning funds to redevelop the South Port into a mixed-use neighborhood, where people can reconnect with the Mississippi River in a walkable, transit-oriented environment. Proposed activities for the EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning project include: • A charrette to gather community input on the revitalization of the South Port; • A market analysis to identify the prospects for mixed-use redevelopment in the South Port; • An infrastructure needs assessment to identify upgrades required to support redevelopment • An area-wide land use plan that considers cleanup strategies for high priority brownfield sites, adaptive reuse of historic buildings, incorporation of green infrastructure, and Complete Streets; • A detailed implementation strategy with business recruitment approaches, a schedule of infrastructure upgrades, identification of public and private resources that can support South Port revitalization, and a game plan for implementing the area-wide land use plan; and • Ongoing community outreach to both residents and potential redevelopers/investors. 1.)Community Need L ECOnOMIC ConCeMS-As demonstrated below, Census Tract 1 (South Port) contains economically challenged neighborhoods, and suffers from serious income inequality and economic disparities: Cff1SMTraCt1 CkY0lDUlffW SlAeollonra Nab" POPUMM 3,1271 57,6371 3,046,al 3M,745,5381 UmphMaRate NVA 4.1%2 4.50/02 6.21/02 kmrtyRate 35.80/03 13.21/03 11.61/03 13.80/03 Percent 29.7%1 9.80/0 1 11.3%1 36.3%1 Wm hconle $22,5833 $44,3093 $48,8723 $53,0463 Per Ca Y oum $16,1303 $24,6M3 $26,5453 $28,0513 DdNotGrdA teH Sd1001 22.1%3 9.80/03 9.30/03 14.30/03 Receive Food Rallps&SupplerrMW 31.1%3 11.1%3 10.50/03 11.40/03 ftit&%sistan RWM Benefits HOMFIg La&C(MPW PknhM Facillies 4.30/03 0.30/03 0.40/03 0.50/03 Renter-Occu Units 8521/03 34.40/03 27.40/03 34.50/03 Dsal" 18.40/03 1330/03 1140/03 12.0'/0 3 NOVehldeAvalable 1 35.0'/03 1 9.9'/03 1 5.80/03 9.0'/03 1 Data from 2010 U.S. Census;2 Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics,July 2014,3 Data from 2008-2012 Amen=Community Survey While EPA funding will provide community-wide benefits, the prime beneficiaries of redevelopment will be the low-income residents of Census Tract 1. Census Tract 1, which is 29.7% minority as 1 compared to 9.8% for the City, experiences much higher poverty rates (38%) and significantly lower median household incomes ($18,523) than Dubuque (13.2%, $42,788), the State of Iowa (11.6%, $48,872) and the United States (13.8%, $51,914). Education levels in the Census Tract are lower than the State and national averages; 22.1% of residents in the area have less than a high school degree, compared to 9.8% in Dubuque, 9.3% for Iowa and 14.3% across the country. Transit walking and means of transportation other than a personal vehicle are also more important to economically- distressed areas in Dubuque. More than 35% of Census Tract 1 workers 16 years and older commute by transit, walking, biking, and other alternative transportation modes, compared to 8.3% citywide. Manufacturing reigned in Dubuque until the mid-1900s. As retail and industrial sectors moved to the western suburbs or fled completely, the downtown deteriorated and fell into disrepair. With the collapse of the farm economy in the 1980s, the community watched as the Dubuque Packing Company closed up shop, and then as John Deere — then the city's largest employer — reduced its workforce by about three-quarters of its peak. All told, Dubuque lost 10 percent of its population and had the highest unemployment in the nation. While significant efforts have been made to diversify Dubuque's economy, the recent national recession has hindered the City's ability to grow jobs. The City is limited in its ability to assess the targeted properties without EPA assistance. In 2014, Dubuque's Economic Development Department has less than $400,000 in operating expenses. The City has also been forced to spend limited resources recovering from extensive storm and flood damages; the region has received six Presidential Disaster Declarations since 2000. In addition to the traditional concerns that communities across the country are experiencing due to the economic downturn, the City has dealt with costly floods and damages to infrastructure. ii. Social, Public Health and Environmental Concerns—Dubuque seeks EPA Brown fields Area-Wide Planning funds to develop reuse plans for former industrial and commercial properties in its South Port. The South Port, 33 acres of downtown vacant and industrial land, has a history of hazardous substances and petroleum contamination. Bordering the Mississippi River,the area has been the home to shipbuilding and repair facilities, railroads, bulk petroleum and coal storage operations, food processing plants, farm machinery manufacturers, and lead mining activity since the early 1800s. Brownfields in the target area pose a number of health, welfare and environmental risks. Dubuque's previous brownfields remediation activities on similar properties have revealed a mix of hazardous materials and petroleum contamination in the soil and groundwater, including: • Metals and inorganic metals, such as lead, selenium and mercury, and • Volatile and semi-organic compounds, including Acetone, Methylene Chloride, Phenanthrene, Trichloroethene (TCE), and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAIS. The City expects to find a similar mix of hazardous materials and petroleum contamination in the target area, likely resulting in subsurface soil and groundwater pollution. EPA has designated some of these substances as priority pollutants. As such, they are highly carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic. The existence of these contaminants would pose significant health concerns. Residents most at risk would include those living in surrounding low-income neighborhoods. A wide range of health problems are associated with exposure to heavy metals: • Lead is toxic to many organs and tissues, including the heart bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems. Low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in permanent damage to the brain and nervous system. Ingestion of lead by children can cause 2 seizures,comas and even death.Lead exposure can also result in serious effects on pregnant women and the developing fetus, including miscarriage, reduced fetus growth and premature birth. • Selenium is toxic at high concentrations. Acute exposure can cause respiratory effects. Long-term exposure to high levels of selenium in food and water can cause skin discoloration, pathological deformation and loss of nails, loss of hair, tooth decay, lack of mental alertness, and listlessness. Selenium sulfide is classified as a probable human carcinogen. • Exposure to mercury can impair neurological development (memory loss, mental instability, speech problems, and ataxia), as well damage the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous system and the kidneys. Mercury contamination along the banks of the Mississippi River also threatens fish and other aquatic species, and imperils human health through seafood contamination. High prenatal exposure to PAH is associated with lower IQ and childhood asthma. The Center for Children's Environmental Health states that exposure to PAH pollution during pregnancy is related to adverse birth outcomes, including low birth weight, premature delivery and heart malformations. Cord blood of babies exposed to PAH pollution has been linked to cancer. TCE also poses significant health risks. In September 2011, EPA assessed TCE as "carcinogenic to humans and as a human noncancer health hazard."TCE exposure has been demonstrated to affect the central nervous system, immune system, secretion system,organs such as the liver and kidney,and fetal development. Sensitive populations in the surrounding neighborhoods, including infants and children, and those with certain diseases (e.g.,diabetes) or lifestyle factors (e.g.,alcohol consumption),are more at risk to TCE exposure. Pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable to environmental contamination in the low- income target area. The 2008-2012 American Community Survey measured women (15 to 50 years) who had given birth in the past 12 months at 81 per 1,000 women in Census Tract 1, compared to 66 per 1,000 women in Dubuque, 59 per 1,000 women statewide and 56 per 1,000 women across the United States. Census Tract 1 also has a larger percentage of children under the age of five (9.4% compared to 6.0% in Dubuque, 6.5% across Iowa and 6.5% nationwide). Studies by the Iowa Cancer Registry show elevated rates of age-adjusted cancer incidence for the region (532.9 per 100,000 over the period of 2007 to 2011) as compared to the state (519.25 per 100,000). Contamination also poses a risk to the Mississippi River's aquatic life. Cleaning up brownfields near the river will safeguard fish and fowl, and protect vulnerable populations within Dubuque who depend upon the Mississippi River for sustenance. Furthermore, brownfields have produced a negative psychological impact on Dubuque's residents. Many of these properties have cut people off from the Mississippi River, and have disconnected neighborhoods. Abandoned facilities and lifeless streets have attracted crime, and for years new development has bypassed downtown for the suburbs. Visitors entering Dubuque on U.S. 20 West are greeted by South Port brownfields, presenting a poor gateway to the city and state. Other environmental issues also disproportionately impact low-income populations in Dubuque. Dubuque's air quality is approaching EPA non-attainment levels. Fine particles (PM 2.5) represent the greatest concern for the region, measuring just under the acceptable standard. The City is working closely with local industry, public and private school systems, and the regional transit systems to improve the overall air quality. More than 200 facilities regulated for use or release of pollutants are also located in Dubuque, many of which are sited in or adjacent to minority communities. N.Broumh'elds Cballenges—A brownfield is defined as any property that is contaminated and/or 3 has the perception of contamination. Based on this definition, the entire South Port area can be classified as a brownfield. The South Port historically contained industrial site uses including bulk oil storage facilities and railroad activities. Current site uses remain industrial in nature, with several railroad tracks,access and sidings located along the west and southwest boundary of the area. Existing facilities include a U.S. Coast Guard station,bulk oil storage,barge repair and maintenance,and a large machinery repair shop. Most of the properties located within the South Port will require Phase I and II environmental assessments before redevelopment is possible. Brownfields in the South Port threaten the economic viability of the area. Lenders, investors and developers have feared expensive cleanup costs. This has resulted in otherwise viable properties becoming blighted. Disinvestment in South Port and the downtown has isolated low-income neighborhoods, and exacerbated existing income inequality and economic disparities. South Port brownfields also threaten the community's social welfare and public health. Brownfields have produced a negative psychological impact on downtown Dubuque. Contaminated sites and abandoned facilities have cut people off from the Mississippi River,and disconnected neighborhoods. Blight has attracted crime, and new development has bypassed the central city. Heavy industrial use in the South Port attracted other businesses thatpollute.These environmentally-regulated firms, often the precursors of future brownfields, are located in or near minority communities in Dubuque. Furthermore, suspected contaminants pose cancer and other health risks for residents, particularly Census Tract 1's significantly higher percentages of pregnant women and children. 2.)AWP Project Description 1. Catalyst, High Priority Brownfield Sites • City-Owned Property: Dubuque owns approximately half of the land (17.0 acres) in the South Port. The City has targeted a 3.5 acre brownfield on the waterfront (north of Dodge Street) as a prime location to spur revitalization. Dubuque has already been approached by hotels and restaurants interested in redeveloping the property. The site contains a both an underground storage tank (UST) and leaking underground storage tank (LUST). Due to the proximity of several of these properties to the railroad tracks and sidings, suspected contaminants for the property include metals and semi volatile organic compounds (SVOC). Further, due to the historical and current site use of these properties and adjacent sites, the impact to groundwater and soil should include metals, total extractable hydrocarbons (TEH) and volatile organic compounds (VOC). • Newt Marine Service: Since 1965, Newt Marine Service has provided marine construction, dredging,dry docking, and specialized towing services along the Mississippi River.The 1.7 acre site (located at 85 Terminal Street and 100 E. 1st Street) was previously used for bulk fuel storage and is now used to repair river barges.The property contains an aboveground storage tank and a former LUST. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources stated in a February 2, 2012 letter that no further action was required at the site. However, future development may require additional assessment and mitigation to address any exposure through vapor intrusion. The City and Newt Marine Service have discussed moving current operations to an industrial park in Dubuque. • Molo Oil Company: Molo Oil Company began selling petroleum products such as fuel oil to homeowners and gasoline to area service stations in 1926. The 1.2 acre site (located at 45 Jones Street), where Apex Concrete is currently located, fronts Ice Harbor on the Mississippi River and would be a catalyst for South Ports revitalization. Dubuque and Molo Oil Company have discussed moving Apex Concrete's operations to a nearby industrial park. A combination of hazardous substances and petroleum will likely need to be remediated on the property. The Molo property includes three aboveground storage tanks. Contaminants of concern include TEHs and VOCs. 4 All three catalyst, high priority brownfields will be tested using recent EPA Brownfields Assessment funds. /L Appropriate PlojectArea— Redevelopment of the 33-acre South Port is a long-time community priority. In the 1990s, Dubuque residents came together for the America's Rorer planning process to repair the city's relationship to the Mississippi River. At that time, the 120-acre Port of Dubuque was plagued by environmental issues, undervalued property and a mix of heavy industrial uses. Residents and visitors were physically and psychologically disconnected from the river. In 2001, the City initiated a planning and design effort to craft a comprehensive, long-term vision for the Port. The City worked with local property owners, developers and residents to gather input on the most appropriate plan. Based upon that feedback, the Dubuque City Council adopted the 2002 Port of Dubuque MasterPlan. Phase I of the Port of Dubuque's revitalization focused on the North Port EPA Assessment and Cleanup grants (awarded in 2002 and 2003, respectively) were the keys to unlocking the North Port's revitalization potential, and are responsible for helping the City pivot from a declining former industrial town into a Midwest tourist destination. EPA funding helped to make possible the development of the Grand River Conference and Education Center, the River's Edge Plaza, the Riverwalk, the National Mississippi Museum and Aquarium, the Alliant Amphitheater, the Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark, and the Diamond Jo Casino. Previous brownfields grants leveraged $500 million in public and private investment, produced more than 700 jobs and created new recreational and entertainment attractions for community members and visitors. In 2005, the North Port project was awarded the Phoenix Award for EPA Region 7. The next phase of revitalization, adopted as a top ten goal of the Envision 2090:Ten Community Projects by 2090 visioning exercise in the mid-2000s, is the South Port rehabilitation. South Port has experienced a steady industrial decline over the past 40 years, and some of the facilities have been closed for decades. The goal is to redevelop the South Port as a new downtown neighborhood,where people can reconnect with the Mississippi River in a walkable, transit oriented environment. The City also seeks to extend its Riverwalk from the North Port to the Mines of Spain Recreation Area. Recently,the City partnered with the University of Iowa's Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities to engage residents and begin to identify reuse options for the South Port. In 2013, the Reimagining the South Port of Dubuque study was released, which recommended a variety of entertainment, recreational, commercial, retail, and other mixed-use development. Dubuque also received EPA Brownfields Assessment funding in 2013, which will be devoted to assessment of the three catalytic brownfield sites identified here as central to Dubuque's area-wide success at South Port The City has established a Steering Committee and brownfield project teams, and has already begun to engage the community. EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning funds will allow Dubuque to prioritize brownfields, spur redevelopment, provide multi-modal transportation options, and restore historic properties. The identified catalyst, high priority brownfields have the best potential to accelerate South Port redevelopment. The waterfront properties are closely grouped, well-served by existing infrastructure, and have already generated developer interest Previous visioning processes have identified the three sites as priorities, and the reuse potential for these properties is strong. in. Environmental Activities at Catalyst, High Priority Brownfields—All three catalyst, high priority brownfields will likely require Phase I and II testing, and potentially cleanup, before reuse is possible. 5 Dubuque received an EPA Brownfields Assessment award in 2013 to focus on the South Port, and the City plans to conduct 8 Phase I assessments and 4 Phase II assessments in the area (including the three catalyst,high priority brownfields).The City is underway with contracting HR Green to perform the brownfields work,and assessments of South Port properties will begin in late 2014. Should cleanup be required at the target sites, Dubuque plans to pursue EPA Brownfields Cleanup funding and support from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in 2015 (within the project period). Federal and state dollars will be leveraged with local funds, as well as private sector support. lV.Budget Taskl Task2 Task3 Task4 Task5 Task6 Task? CooperWe Charrette Market hkastrrrotrre Area-Vide Detailed Comm f Total Age"" Arv4ss Needs Land Use hpletrrenta W Or t ead r MnWnerit s Plan SUegy Persomel $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 $2,500 $17,500 Forge $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Berrefts Travel $2,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $2,000 czars" $0 $24,000 $25,000 $25,000 $67,500 $24,000 $12,500 $178,000 Su ies $500 $2,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $2,500 011W $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total $5,000 $28,500 $27,500 $27,500 $70,000 $26,500 $15,000 $200,000 v. Tasks • Cooperative Agreement Management (Task 1): This task includes management of the grant as a whole. Limited funding will support the time of the project manager, who will serve as a liaison between EPA Region 7 and Dubuque, and will be responsible for assuring compliance with administrative and reporting requirements.The project manager will also lead a Steering Committee of Dubuque residents, business leaders, public officials, and other stakeholders who will provide input in the execution of the project. Travel expenses have also been set aside for two Dubuque staff to attend EPA's national brownfields conference and other regional brownfield events over the course of the project period to learn best practices and identify ways to leverage EPA resources. The cost of $5,000 includes $2,500 in Dubuque staff time, $2,000 for travel to brownfields conferences and $500 for office expenses (copies, telephone charges, other supplies). • Charrette (Task 2): Dubuque staff and a team of contracted specialists in land use, brownfields, engineering, and community revitalization will work together to convene and host a charrette. The charrette will gather input from neighborhood groups, business leaders and other community stakeholders about the types of mixed-use development that are desired for the South Port. The results of the charrette will inform the development of the market analysis, the infrastructure needs assessment and the area-wide land-use plan. The cost of$28,500 includes $2,500 in Dubuque staff time to engage community members and participate in the charrette, $24,000 for consultants to plan and manage the event, and $2,000 for printed materials and other supplies at the event. • Market Analysis (Task 3): Dubuque will contract expert consultants to create a market analysis that identifies the prospects and approaches for attracting entertainment, recreational, commercial, retail, and other mixed-use economic development in the South Port This will be accomplished by combining the efforts of local government economic development staff and procured consultants with key business and community stakeholders. The market analysis will evolve from the results of 6 the charrette. The cost of $27,500 includes $2,500 for Dubuque staff participation in the development of the market analysis and $25,000 to contract economic specialists. • Infrastructure Needs Analysis (Task 4): Dubuque will contract expert consultants to conduct an assessment of existing infrastructure assets and needed infrastructure upgrades to support the intended reuses within the South Port including Complete Street connections to downtown Dubuque and the North Port, and extension of the Riverwalk from the North Port to the Mines of Spain Recreation Area. The cost of $27,500 will support $2,500 of Dubuque staff time to contribute to the infrastructure needs analysis and $25,000 to contract expert consultants. • Area-Wide Land Use Plan (Task 5):This task includes the creation of a sustainable land use plan for the South Port This will include a plan for connecting brown fields redevelopment at the catalyst sites to existing community, commercial and institutional facilities with emphasis on walkability, transit access and multi-modal transportation choices. The plan will also incorporate green infrastructure,green building approaches,adaptive reuse of historic buildings,and community open space. Dubuque will seek the nation's most innovative brownfields and land revitalization consultants to create land use plans for the area. The cost of$70,000 includes $2,500 for Dubuque staff to engage in the planning process and $67,500 to hire consultants with expertise in downtown/waterfront revitalization, brownfields cleanup, transit-oriented development, stormwater management, greenspace, and LEED/green building approaches. • Detailed Implementation Strategy (Task 6): Dubuque staff and expert consultants will put together a detailed implementation strategy that includes brownfields cleanup priorities, business recruitment approaches, a schedule of infrastructure upgrades, identification of public and private resources that can support South Port revitalization, and a game plan for implementing the area- wide land use plan. The cost of $26,500 includes $2,500 for Dubuque staff to engage with community residents,business leaders and other stakeholders to gather commitments and establish buy-in for the strategy, as well as $24,000 to contract a team of experts to develop business recruitment plans, funding roadmaps and an overall game plan. • Community Outreach (Task 7): The team will conduct extensive community outreach throughout the project period. This task will support the development of materials for both community stakeholders and potential redevelopers/investors, including web-based, print and other outreach resources. The cost of$15,000 includes $2,500 for Dubuque staff to help develop outreach materials and $12,500 for consultants to develop content and design the materials. W. Performance Measurement for Project Outputs — Dubuque's EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning project has been divided into five phases —Project Launch, Gathering Community Input, South Port Research,Redevelopment Planning,and Developing Action Plan. Key project deliverables include the convening of a community charrette, the development of a market analysis, preparation of an infrastructure needs assessment,creation of an area-wide land use plan, the drafting of a detailed implementation plan, and an ongoing outreach campaign. Project outputs will be tracked and measured, and shared with EPA through Dubuque's quarterly reports, in the following ways: • Effective Outreach to Community: Number of neighborhood associations,business groups and other stakeholder organizations working with the City to share information about the project; and number of outreach materials produced and disseminated across the community • Strong Community Engagement in South Port Planning Process: Number of participants at charrette; number of participants at community meetings; frequency of community meetings; level of representation from all segments of community (particularly low-income residents and environmental justice g); level of community support for redevelopment options; satisfaction of Steering Committee and project team members; and feedback on project effectiveness 7 • Successful Research (Market Analysis and Infrastructure Needs Assessment): Determination of catalyst, high priority brownfield sites; level of participation among residents, businesses and other stakeholders; and recommendations for appropriate land use activities and infrastructure gaps within South Port • Development of Area-Wide Land Use Plan and Detailed Implementation Strategy: Community consensus on South Port vision; and potential for state, federal, philanthropic, and private sector resources and support for South Port vision V%LResources Leveraged—The City will leverage federal dollars with additional public and private resources to support the projects planned outputs (see attached letters): • EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant: In 2013, Dubuque received a $400,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant to focus on contaminated sites in the South Port. The City is conducting robust community outreach and initial reuse planning with those funds. Outreach and reuse planning activities planned for this EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning project can be coordinated and leveraged with those existing funds. • City Staff: The EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning initiative will be managed by Dubuque's Economic Development Department. Moreover, an intergovernmental team of City staff will support the project, including the Planning Services Manager, Sustainability Coordinator, Human Rights Director, Community Engagement Coordinator, Human Relations Specialist Multi-cultural Family Center Director, City Engineer, Finance Director, City Attorney, and Intercultural Competency team members. These staff will serve on project teams, and help conduct outreach, engage the community, support research activities, and participate in redevelopment planning. • Community Partners: Nonprofits, business groups and other stakeholders will serve on the Steering Committee and project teams, and have pledged to help deliver project outputs. Partners have committed staff resources to distribute outreach materials, attract community members to the charrette, host/facilitate events, help prioritize catalytic brownfields, identify appropriate redevelopment options,ensure that reuse strategies are integrated with other regional plans,explore opportunities to leverage resources, and support implementation of the area-wide reuse plan. • Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Mel Pins, Iowa's Brownfield Redevelopment Program Executive Officer, is providing invaluable technical assistance in the implementation of Dubuque's EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant. Mel will provide continued support to the City's EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning project. Mel's role will be to help prioritize catalytic brownfield sites and identify appropriate redevelopment options in the South Port area. • Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities: In 2012, the City partnered with the University of Iowa's Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities to engage community members and begin to identify potential reuse options for the South Port. A team of graduate students studied the South Port, and issued the Reimaginzng the Soutb Port of Dubuque study in 2013. The Initiative has committed to dedicate additional student time in 2015 to support the delivery of proposed outputs. 3.)Community Outcomes and Benefits J. Addressing Community Concerns and Cha/lenges— Cleanup and redevelopment of South Port brownfields will produce a number of community benefits.As described in Ranking Criterion 1, South Port brownfields create economic hardships for residents of Census Tract 1. Businesses and developers have been reluctant to invest in the South Port area due to unknown environmental contamination, deteriorating infrastructure,blight, and increased crime. Meanwhile, existing polluting industries create environmental justice concerns for nearby residents. The revitalization of the South 8 Port will create new employment opportunities. Economically challenged neighborhoods in Census Tract 1, where the poverty rate approaches 36% and the median household income is $22,583, will benefit mostby downtown job growth.Pedestrian-friendly, transit oriented development in the South Port also serves Census Tract 1 residents who do not own a vehicle (35.0% in Census Tract 1). Brownfields cleanup in the South Port will significantly improve community health. The area has a history of hazardous substances and petroleum contamination, as the home to shipbuilding and repair facilities, railroads, bulk petroleum and coal storage operations, food processing plants, farm machinery manufacturers, and lead mining activity. Removing metals,VOCs and other contaminants from the soil and groundwater will prevent the risk of cancer and other health impacts to area residents,particularly households in low-income neighborhoods. Pregnant women and children stand to benefit most, as Census Tract 1 has high percentages of women who have given birth in the past 12 months (81 per 1,000, compared to 66 per 1,000 women in Dubuque, 59 per 1,000 women statewide, and 56 per 1,000 women across the United States) and children under the age of five (9.4% compared to 6.0% in Dubuque, 6.5% across Iowa and 6.5% nationwide). Environmental cleanup will also reduce the risk to aquatic life in the Mississippi River. Assessing and cleaning up brownfields near the river will safeguard fish and fowl,and protect vulnerable populations within Dubuque who depend upon the Mississippi River to provide food for their tables. Finally,brownfields remediation and new access to the Mississippi River will improve community morale, and enhance the psychological well- being of residents. As such, blight will be removed and crime reduced in the target area. A. D%!BC[OWCOWS—Dubuque's proposed project will generate a number of desired outcomes: • Stimulating Economic Development: EPA Brownfields investment in Dubuque's North Port was leveraged with more than $500 million in other federal and state dollars, as well as private capital. Dubuque seeks to replicate that success in the South Port. Developers have expressed interest in the area's waterfront properties. Mixed-use development in the South Port is expected to produce an estimated 300 new jobs and expand the tax base by$100 million. • Facilitating Use or Reuse of Existing Infrastructure: The South Port's existing infrastructure can support proposed mixed-use development. Streets, sewers and communication infrastructure already serve the area. While an infrastructure needs assessment will determine necessary upgrades, locating new development in the South Port is preferable to siting growth on the urban fringe where no infrastructure currently exists. Municipal police, fire and other services are also better prepared to support redevelopment in the South Port than growth on the community's edge. • Creating or Preserving Green Space, Recreational Property or Other Non-Profit Uses: The recent collaboration between the City and the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities identified a strong community preference for substantial open space,recreational features and other green infrastructure in the South Port. The projects charrette and land use planning activities will help define the types of open space and recreational opportunities that residents desire. Ultimately, South Port revitalization will create more access to the Mississippi River. • Other Sustainable and Equitable Development Outcomes: Residents have expressed a demand for transit oriented development, adaptive reuse of historic buildings, Complete Streets, and LEED/green building in the South Port. Dubuque strives to be one of the greenest cities in America, having launched its Sustainable Dubuque Initiative in 2006. Future South Port development will adhere to sustainability and resilience principles. 9 iii.Partnership for Sustainable Communities Livability Principles • Provide More Transportation Choices o Complete Streets in the South Port will provide residents in Dubuque's economically- disadvantaged neighborhoods with improved options to walk and bike to new job opportunities. o South Port redevelopment will link the Riverwalk to the Mines of Spain Recreation Area. o Planned growth will be integrated with the Jule bus system,which will increase transit ridership. o Revitalization leverages investment in the nearby Dubuque Intermodal Transportation Center, a new transit hub for the Jule bus system, as well as the future terminus of Amtrak operations. • Promote Equitable,Affordable Housing o Redevelopment of brownfields provides the opportunity for new work force housing, which is desperately needed to sustain economic progress in Dubuque. • Enhance Economic Competitiveness o South Port redevelopment will reconnect downtown Dubuque to its waterfront, significantly improving access to the Mississippi River and new opportunities for economic activity. o Revitalization of South Port into a mixed-use development is expected to produce an estimated 300 new jobs and expand the tax base by$100 million. • Support Existing Communities o Envisioned mixed-use development will provide improved transportation choices, including Complete Streets strategies that reduce vehicle miles traveled, energy use and pollution. o Green infrastructure in the target area,including parks,landscaping and open space,will improve air and water quality, and enhance quality of life. o The South Port will utilize low-impact development and green space to prevent run-off. o Redevelopment in the South Port will seek adaptive reuse of historic buildings and recycle deconstructed materials during their restoration, thereby conserving resources. o Efficient electrical, heating and cooling systems will reduce the City's carbon footprint. • Coordinate and Leverage Federal Policies and Investment o The project will leverage millions of existing local, state and federal investment,and provide new opportunities to secure additional revitalization and infrastructure resources. • Value Communities and Neighborhoods o Brownfields cleanup will remove blight in the South Port and increase community pride. o Cleanup of contaminated properties along the waterfront will provide greater access to the Mississippi River, increasing psychological well-being. o Remediating contaminants will limit exposure to hazardous substances,particularly for children and pregnant women, thereby reducing cancer and health risks. o Cleaning up contaminants will reduce run-off pollution into the Mississippi River, thereby protecting the health those dependent on the river for subsistence fishing. iv.Performance Measurement for Project Outcomes—Project outcomes will be tracked and measured, and shared with EPA through Dubuque's quarterly reports, in the following ways: • Improved Health and Environment: Walking/biking/other physical activity in the South Port; reduced incidence of cancer and other health impacts; and Mississippi River water quality • Increased Economic Development: More building permits; more local tax property revenue; and new job opportunities • Greater Community Pride: Sense of ownership of South Port neighborhood, and blight removal of properties adjacent to catalyst, high priority brownfields • Strong Partnerships: Continued interest of stakeholders in implementing area-wide land use plan; 10 and opportunities to raise funds and leverage resources V. Resources Leveraged—EPA support will leverage significant state and federal investments: • Dubuque received a$400,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant in 2013 for the South Port; • Dubuque received a$3.97 million I JOBS Grant from the Iowa Finance Authority for development of downtown disaster prevention measures; • EPA selected Dubuque to receive Building Blocks technical assistance in 2013 for downtown green infrastructure that protects water quality; • In 2013, Dubuque was awarded a $1.2 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) Disaster Relief Grant to daylight the Bee Branch Creek and prevent downtown flooding • Dubuque received a $600,000 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Transportation, Community & System Preservation (TCSP) Grant in 2012 and a $5.6 million U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) TIGER Grant in 2010 to develop Complete Streets downtown with connections to South Port; • Dubuque received an $8 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) State of Good Repair grant in 2011 to construct a new intermodal facility that will serve the South Port; • Dubuque received $120,000 in Main Street Iowa Challenge funds for downtown redevelopment; • In 2011, the City secured a $100,000 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Our Town Grant to develop arts space in the nearby Historic Millwork District; • Dubuque was awarded a FTA State of Good Repair grant in 2010 to purchase a fleet of new clean diesel buses that will operate within the South Port; • Dubuque was awarded a $2.25 million Iowa River Enhancement Community Attraction and Tourism grant for downtown amenities; • Dubuque received a $473,136 EPA Climate Showcase Communities grant in 2010 to develop online to tools to help residents and businesses in the project areas save energy and money through reductions in vehicle miles traveled, water use, electricity, natural gas, and waste; • Dubuque has qualified for more than $37 million in federal and state historic tax credits; and • Dubuque has pledged general obligation bonds and stormwater utility fees, as well as collected generous contributions from businesses, organizations and citizens, for downtown revitalization. Dubuque is currently working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and EPA Region 7 to pursue resources and support for brownfields redevelopment The City will work with Northeast Iowa Community College to pursue EPA Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training resources in 2015 to provide opportunities for residents in area neighborhoods, including Dubuque's diverse and low-income populations, to develop skills in the environmental field. Upon completion of its Phase II assessments, Dubuque will determine if it should acquire any properties and seek EPA Cleanup funds to help remediate and return those sites to productive use. Dubuque has applied to the Rockefeller Foundation to improve downtown resiliency through the 100 Resilient Cities initiative. Dubuque is also prepared to seek additional DOT TIGER funding in the next round to support additional Complete Streets that will improve the flow of downtown traffic. In 2014, EPA recognized Dubuque for its successful revitalization efforts, and honored the City with a National Award for Smart Growth Achievement Revitalization of the South Port builds upon this progress, and will provide a ladder of opportunity for Dubuque's disadvantaged residents. 11 4.)Community Engagement and Partnerships 1. Existing Revitalization Efforts — Dubuque has a long history of engaging a broad range of community stakeholders, including neighborhood groups, business leaders, financial institutions, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, in its community revitalization decision making: • In 2001, the City initiated a community planning effort for the Port of Dubuque. A 10-member committee worked with local property owners, developers and citizens to get their input on developing the most appropriate plan for the Port, and released the 2002 Port of Dubuque Master Plan. As a result of the effort the South Port was rezoned from light industrial to mixed-use. • In 2005, the City, in partnership with the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, launched Envision 2090, a broad-based community visioning process that identified ten priority community projects. This process identified redevelopment of the South Port as a community priority. • In 2006, the City Council identified sustainability as one of its top priorities and created a Sustainable City Task Force in 2007 to develop a broad-based sustainability initiative through community involvement and input. The task force gathered input from thousands of citizens and developed a sustainability plan that includes redevelopment of the South Port. • In 2012, the City partnered with the University of Iowa's Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities to engage community members and begin to identify potential reuse options for the South Port. In 2013, the Reimagining the Soutb Port of Dubuque study was released, which recommended a variety of entertainment recreational, commercial, retail, and other mixed-use economic development for the area. • In 2013, Dubuque received EPA Brownfields Assessment funding to begin characterizing contamination in the South Port, and to take reuse planning to the next level. The City has established a Steering Committee and project teams (including groups and representatives identified for this project) to lead the project. EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning resources complement the work that Dubuque has already accomplished on the South Port and is the logical next step in redeveloping the area. The 2002 Port of Dubuque Master Plan identified a specific vision for the South Ports growth. The 2012-2013 worked conducted with the Iowa Institute for Sustainable Communities demonstrated how community preferences had changed for the South Port in the intervening years. EPA funding will enable Dubuque to build upon its recent South Port visioning process, and develop concrete a market analysis, infrastructure needs assessment, area-wide land use plan, and detailed implementation strategy to actualize the community's goals. ii. Project Partners • The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque is a tax-exempt public charity that plays a major role in convening community members. The City will work with the Foundation to make sure that the community is engaged in brownfields reuse planning. The Foundation will also seek to leverage resources for the project. Eric Dregne (563-588-2700, ericLdbgfoundation.org), the Foundation's Vice President, will be invited to serve on the Steering Committee. • The Greater Dubuque Development Corporation is a non-profit economic development organization focused on job retention,workforce development and business recruitment The City will work with the Corporation to reach out to developers,businesses and financial institutions to make sure they are involved. Rick Dickinson (563-557-9049, rickdLaeaterdubuque.org), the Corporation's CEO and President will be invited to serve on the Steering Committee. • The East Central Intergovernmental Association is a regional council of governments. The 12 Association's services and programs include community development, economic development, housing assistance, job training, and transportation planning. The City will work with the Association to ensure that reuse plans are integrated with other transportation, land use and economic development efforts. Kelley Deutmeyer (563-556-4166, kdeutmeyerLecia.org), the Association's Executive Director, will be invited to serve on the Steering Committee. • The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce is an organization representing the broad range of private sector business interests. The City will work with the Chamber to conduct widespread outreach to Dubuque's business community, and gather private sector input in the development of market reuse studies for the area. Molly Grover (563-557-9200,molly dubuquechamber.com),the Chamber's CEO and President will be invited to serve on the Steering Committee. • Project Concern is a non-profit community organization that helps individuals and families experiencing hardships. The City will work with Project Concern to ensure that redevelopment provides job opportunities for distressed residents. Project Concern will encourage its stakeholders to engage in the South Port planning process, and will help the City address environmental justice concerns. Stacy Martin (563-588-3980, execdirectorLl2roject-concern.org), Project Concern's Executive Director, will be invited to serve on the Steering Committee. • Northeast Iowa Community College provides students with one- and two-year degrees, short- term career pathway certificates, high school equivalency diplomas, and continuing education. The City will work with Community College to ensure that Dubuque residents are trained for new South Port job opportunities. Sue Stork (563-557-8271, storks _,nicc.edu), the Community College's Dubuque Center Director, will be invited to serve on the Steering Committee. • The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities is a campus-wide effort at the University of Iowa to enhance the capacity of Iowa's communities. A team of University of Iowa graduate students studied the revitalization of the South Port, and issued the Reimaginzng the Soutb Port of Dubuque study in 2013. The City will engage with the Initiative to provide further opportunities for students to participate in the South Port planning process. Dr. Charles Connerly (319-335-0039, charles-connerl�:Luiowa.edu),the Initiative's Founder,will facilitate graduate student involvement • The Iowa Department of Natural Resources manages the state's Brownfield Redevelopment Program. The City is currently working with the Department to identify sites for assessment activity. The agency will further help Dubuque determine appropriate redevelopment options in the South Port area. Mel Pins (515-281-8489, mel.pins =dnr.iowa.gov, the Department's Brownfield Redevelopment Program Executive Officer, will advise the project team. At.Development of Brownfields Area-Wide Plan—A Steering Committee and two project teams will implement the project This leadership structure has already been established for the EPA Brownfields Assessment project.The Steering Committee,composed of residents,business leaders,public officials, and other stakeholders, will provide input in the project's execution. The Community Engagement Team, composed of members of various City departments, as well as members of community associations, the business community, education sector, nonprofit field, and other stakeholders, will develop and implement strategies to enhance the involvement of citizens in the redevelopment of South Port. A second Implementation Team will support the planning efforts within the target areas. Dubuque plans to hire a team of qualified consultants to help support community engagement activities, conduct research (market analysis and infrastructure needs assessment),develop reuse plans, and prepare funding and implementation strategies. These services will be solicited using standard procurement practices. The City's established procedures include seeking statements of qualifications and price proposals. Professionals with previous EPA Brownfields experience will be encouraged to 13 compete. Contractors who submit the lowest bona fide bids and are considered to be fully responsible and qualified to perform the work will be selected. Specifically, the Steering Committee and project teams will work together to: • Create Brownfields Area-Wide Land Use Plan:The ultimate project goal is the development of a brownfields area-wide land use plan with short- and long-term targets for action. All viewpoints will be welcomed throughout the process, and decisions about the final plan and implementation strategy will arrived at by consensus among the Steering Committee and project team members. • Achieve Plan Priorities: Performance metrics for project outputs and outcomes have been created. The Steering Committee and project teams will review and expand upon those performance metrics, and will regularly discuss project progress to ensure forward momentum. • Determine Timeline and Assign Responsibilities:A clear project timeline has been established. The Steering Committee will receive regular reports from the Community Engagement and Implementation Teams to ensure that the project is moving forward. The project manager, with the support of the City Manager,will be responsible for assigning implementation tasks. • Track Progress: The Steering Committee will meet quarterly and the project teams will convene bi-monthly (or more frequently if needed). Status updates at these meetings will allow the project manager to track progress, and share that information with EPA and stakeholders. • Modify Implementation Tasks and Actions as Needed: While a timeline and game plan have been drafted, modifications will likely be required. All significant changes will be approved by the Steering Committee. EPA will be kept abreast of these changes through regular reports. IV. COmmunitytnput—The City will utilize its existing community engagement infrastructure to solicit input and communicate information to stakeholders as the City moves forward with this brownfields initiative. Specifically, Dubuque will develop and implement strategies to enhance the involvement of interested stakeholders in the reuse planning for the South Port. A Community Engagement Team (already established with EPA Brownfields Assessment funding), composed of members of various City departments, community associations, business groups, education leaders, nonprofits, and other stakeholders, will host a series of meetings to launch Dubuque's EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning project. The purpose of this engagement will be to identify catalyst, high priority properties whose redevelopment will provide the greatest community benefits. Evaluation criteria that will be used to select properties for cleanup and reuse include: removal of health hazards; ability to create quality jobs for neighborhood residents; capacity to build upon the City's economic strengths, particularly advanced manufacturing and potential to leverage other federal and state resources. Community members will also be asked to suggest possible reuses of high priority brownfields, and to envision how a revitalized South Port would be integrated into the existing community. The project has been divided into five phases. Extensive outreach with community members will precede each phase of the project The City will look for opportunities to share information and gather community input at public meetings, neighborhood gatherings, church groups, speaker's bureaus, newsletter mailings,web sites, social media, and other communication vehicles. Engagement activities will occur at convenient times, be centrally located and provide child care to maximize public involvement. All written outreach materials will be made available in English and Spanish. 5.)Programmatic Capability and Past Performance i. Know/edge, Experience, Qualifications, and Resources — Dubuque has a long track record of successfully managing community projects. Key to this effort is the development of a detailed work 14 plan with clear milestones and responsibilities. This will be developed at an initial meeting, including participation from Mayor Roy Buol, the City Manager, the City's Economic Development Director, and other key staff. Mel Pins, Iowa's Brownfield Redevelopment Program Executive Officer,will also be invited to participate. The meeting will identify goals and strategies, and responsibilities within the work plan will be well-defined and delineated. Performance measures will help to track progress. To ensure that the project is on schedule, status updates will be incorporated into the City's existing reporting structure. Monthly reports will be provided to the City Manager. In addition, staff will meet regularly with key partners, including representatives from the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, East Central Intergovernmental Association, Project Concern, Northeast Iowa Community College, and the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities. The City has the staff expertise necessary to manage the project.A project manager will lead all project teams and will be invested with the authority necessary to complete the project Project management duties will be assigned to Maurice Jones, Dubuque's Economic Development Director. Maurice is responsible for developing and coordinating programs to meet the social, economic and physical development needs of the community. His areas of expertise include downtown revitalization and redevelopment. Maurice has experience managing federal funding (he currently administers the EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant). He will serve as a liaison between EPA Region 7 and Dubuque, and will be responsible for assuring compliance with the administrative and reporting requirements of the cooperative agreement. Maurice will lead all of the community engagement activities, and will be responsible for hiring and managingpaid consultants.Maurice previously served as a managing partner with Paratus Scientia, LLC, a strategic organizational design and development firm. From 1999 to 2008,he was economic development officer for the Louisville Economic Development Authority, the development agency for the Louisville, KY metropolitan government. Maurice will be supported by a qualified team of interdepartmental staff, including the Planning Services Manager, Sustainability Coordinator, Human Rights Director, Community Engagement Coordinator, Human Relations Specialist Multi-cultural Family Center Director, City Engineer, Finance Director, City Attorney, and Intercultural Competency team members. A. PaS[PBlforManCB—Dubuque has an exemplary record of managing federal funds, and has never been cited for any adverse audit findings from an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133 audit. The City has also never been required to comply with special "high risk" terms or conditions under OMB Circular A-102. Recent examples of federally-funded projects include: • In 2013, Dubuque received$1,227,138 from the EDA to rehabilitate and rebuild the city's century- old, flood-damaged sewer and water systems. The disaster relief project will also complete the restoration of the long buried Bee Branch Creek. The project helps to prevent downtown flooding. The City has successfully initiated the project, and is meeting all EDA reporting requirements. • In 2013, the City was awarded a $400,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant. The funding is supporting brownfields assessments in the Historic Millwork District, Washington Neighborhood and South Port. The project is underway, and Dubuque is in the process of contracting HR Green to conduct the environmental testing. All grant requirements have been met to date, and cleanup data will be submitted in EPA's ACRES reporting system. • In 2012, Dubuque received a $600,000 FHWA TCSP Grant to develop downtown Complete Streets. All grant funding was spent within the project period, FHWA reporting requirements were fully met and the City is in the process of closing out the project. 15 UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY o Q WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 "o, PRO,�G OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE Honorable Roy Buol MAR 0 9 2015 Mayor of Dubuque 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 Dear Mayor Buol: On behalf of the United States Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), I am pleased to confirm that the proposal from the City of Dubuque was selected for award under the Brownfields Area- Wide Planning Program. We appreciate the tremendous commitment of time and energy that went into the preparation of your proposal. Through the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2002, EPA is working to help communities and other stakeholders around the country in their efforts to revitalize and reclaim brownfield"sites. The Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Program grant funding will enable your community to plan for the assessment, cleanup and reuse of those sites, in conjunction with creating supportive area-wide revitalization and plan implementation strategies. EPA looks forward to working with your staff and project partners throughout this project to facilitate greater coordination and cooperation amongst Federal, state, local government and community-based organizations. Staff from the Region 7 office will be contacting your project lead soon to provide you with additional information and begin negotiating the workplan for this project. If you have any questions at this time,please feel free to contact Aimee Storm, my staff lead for EPA's Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Program, at(202) 566-0633 or storm.aimee@epa.gov. Sincerely, David R.Lloyd Director Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization Internet Address(URL) • http://www.epa.gov Recycled/Recyclable• Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100%Postconsumer,Process Chlorine Free Recycled Paper