Proposed Incentive to Assist Downtown Building Owners with Fire Escape Compliance Copyrighted
April 17, 2017
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 20.
ITEM TITLE: Proposed Incentive to Assist Downtown Building Owners
with Fire Escape Compliance
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of an amendment to
the Downtown Fagade Program to include eligibility for
financial assistance to repair exterior fire escapes.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Incenti e for Fire Escape Compliance-MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Economic Development Staff Memo Staff Memo
Fire Chief Staff Memo Supporting Documentation
THE CITY OF Dubuque
DUB E i"
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007.2012.2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Proposed Incentive to Assist Downtown Building Owners with Fire Escape
Compliance
DATE: April 13, 2017
Economic Development Director Maurice Jones is recommending an amendment to the
Downtown Fagade Program to include eligibility for financial assistance to repair exterior
fire escapes on a 50/50 match basis, with City costs not to exceed $5,000 on any one
building.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Maureen Quann, Assistant City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Jennifer Larson, Budget Director
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Alvin Nash, Housing & Community Development Department Director
Rick Steines, Fire Chief
Maurice Jones, Economic Development Director
Todd Carr, Building Department Manager
Mark Burkle, Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshal
Jill Connors, Economic Development Project Coordinator
Alexis Steger, Senior Budget Analyst
Dave Johnson, Assistant Planner
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Dubuque Economic Development Department
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CITY OF 50 West 13th Street
All•AmericaCily
Dubu ue,Iowa 52001-4864
Office(563)589-4393
TTY(563)690-6678
Masterpiece on the Mississippizoo?-zolz•zoss http://www.cityofdubuque.org
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Maurice Jones, Economic Development Director
SUBJECT: Proposed Incentive to Assist Downtown Building Owners with Fire Escape
Compliance
.DATE: April 13, 2017
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to present for your concurrence a proposal to fund
assistance to downtown building owners for fire escape repairs/maintenance from
existing Economic Development downtown rehabilitation loan funds.
BACKGROUND
Internal discussions among City staff began in 2016 regarding the development of a fire
escape inspection program that would align with International Fire Code (IFC)
compliance measures. The IFC requires any fire escape or exterior stairway found in a
state of deterioration to be repaired immediately.
Fire Chief, Rick Steines proposed an inspection program, and it was determined the
cost of making needed repairs would likely be cost-prohibitive for some building owners.
Several departments met to discuss possible options for designing and funding such an
assistance program.
DISCUSSION
As the Economic Development department already has downtown rehabilitation grant
processes in place, as well as some current (although limited) funding, we propose
using the same grant process to cover partial costs of these fire escape repairs. The
program would provide up to $5,000 per building.
The fire department has compiled an inventory of fire escapes in the community and is
ready to send notices of inspection, and is waiting to have the proposed repair funding
assistance program in place.
RECOMMENDATION/ ACTION STEP
I respectfully request the addition of fire escape repair funding assistance to the costs
eligible for downtown rehabilitation grants in an amount not to exceed $5,000 per
building.
THE CUB_�QTE
OF Dubuque
DU
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007.2012.2013
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Rick Steines, Fire Chief
DATE: February 1, 2017
RE: Fire Escape Inspection Program
INTRODUCTION
Last fall we began discussions regarding the inspection requirements for fire
escapes in the International Fire Code. After our initial meeting, Fire Marshal Mark
Burkle has been working with various departments to address how enforcement of this
requirement may be accomplished.
DISCUSSION
Fire Marshal Mark Burkle met with the Housing, Building, Planning, and
Economic Development departments in September. At that time, the concern was what
to do about potential repairs needed to bring fire escapes up to code? Mark was of the
understanding that he should wait on implementation of the program until other
departments had time to research funding sources for building owners needing to repair
their fire escape.
The fire department has compiled an inventory of fire escapes in the community,
and developed an inspection procedure. The procedure includes sending letters to fire
escape owners, notifying them of the inspection requirement. We planned to
incorporate fire escape inspections (which are done by a third-party) into the
Compliance Engine program we are implementing for other third-party fire protection
system inspections. We plan to get started with Compliance Engine in the next two
months. However, the Fire Marshal has not received any information regarding possible
funding or assistance programs for owners needing extensive repairs to fire escapes.
I hesitate to begin sending notice of the need to have fire escapes inspected, and
most likely repaired, without information available on possible repair funding assistance
in place.
ACTION REQUESTED
Please advise if you would like the Fire Marshal to proceed with notifications to
have fire escapes inspected, or await more information regarding funding assistance for
repairs.
Cc: Economic Development Director, Maurice Jones
Housing and Community Development Director, Alvin Nash
Building Services Manager, Todd Carr
Project Coordinator, Jill Connors
General Housing Specialist, Bob Boge
Assistant Planner, Dave Johnson
Fire Marshal, Mark Burkle
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