Dubuque Receives Livability Award for Bee Branch Project from USCM Copyrighted
July 5, 2017
City of Dubuque Action Items # 8.
ITEM TITLE: Dubuque Receives Livability Award for Bee Branch Project
from US Conference of Mayors
SUMMARY: Mayor Roy D. Buol awarded an Outstanding Achievement
Award for the Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation
Project at the 2017 City Livability Awards Program on
Saturday, June 24, during the U.S. Conference of Mayors'
85th Annual Meeting.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Dubuque Receives Livability Award for Bee Branch Supporting Documentation
Project from US Conference of Mayors-News Release
rxeciTv of CONTACTS:
Mayor Roy D. Buol, 563-564-5455
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CONFERENCE OF MAYORS Elena Temple, 202-286-1100,
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NEWS RELEASE
June 24, 2017– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dubuque Receives Livability Award for Bee
Branch Project
DUBUQUE, Iowa — Dubuque has again been named one of the "most livable" cities in the
nation. Mayor Roy D. Buol was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award for the Bee
Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project at the 2017 City Livability Awards Program on
Saturday, June 24, during the U.S. Conference of Mayors' 85th Annual Meeting in Miami
Beach.
The award recognizes mayoral leadership in developing and implementing programs that
improve the quality of life in America's cities, focusing on the leadership, creativity, and
innovation demonstrated by the mayors. This year's winning cities were selected by former
mayors from a pool of over 150 applicants.
"I am honored to accept this award on behalf of all Dubuque residents and everyone involved
with the Bee Branch project -- past, present, and future," said Buol. "This award
acknowledges a unique approach to stormwater management and a citizen-driven project
that simultaneously improves public safety and quality of life."
The Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation project is a multi-phased, green infrastructure
investment to mitigate flooding, improve water quality, stimulate development, and enhance
quality of life. The project catalyzes community, economic, social, and environmental capital
to create resilient neighborhoods, foster economic opportunities, and balance resources. It
involves replacing almost one mile of buried storm sewer with an open waterway from the
Mississippi River levee system to Comiskey Park, connecting Dubuque's historic riverfront to
its urban core. The restored creek includes a hike/bike trail, rain gardens/bioswales, walking
paths, lighting, benches, pervious pavement, an amphitheater, and over 1 ,000 trees and
other plantings. The overall project also includes reconstructing 240 alleys in the watershed
to permeable "green alleys" to reduce stormwater runoff within the watershed by up to 80
percent.
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Dubuque was one of six finalists for the first--place award in the category for cities with
populations under 100,000. Dubuque received the first--place award for the America's River
Project in 2008.
"Our City Livability Awards Program gives us the chance to express our pride in cities'
mayoral leadership in making urban areas cleaner, safer, and more livable," said Tom
Cochran, CEO and executive director of the Conference of Mayors. "We are grateful to
Waste Management for its many years of support for the City Livability Awards Program, and
for the opportunity to showcase the innovation and commitment of mayors and city
governments across the country."
This is the 38th year in which cities have competed for the award, which is sponsored by the
Conference of Mayors and Waste Management, Inc., the nation's largest environmental
solutions provider.
Alex Gonzalez, Waste Management's Florida Area Public Affairs Director, presented the City
Livability awards during the annual luncheon in Miami Beach. "Through the City Livability
Awards, Waste Management is immensely proud to honor U.S. mayors who are committed to
strengthening our communities and enhancing the lives of their residents across the nation,"
said Susan Moulton, Waste Management's Senior Corporate Director of Public Sector
Solutions. "For more than 28 years, Waste Management has sponsored the awards,
because the work these Mayors do to keep our communities safe, healthy, and vibrant aligns
directly with our commitment to community vitality by providing innovative, safe and
sustainable recycling and waste services."
This year's first-place winners were Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti for a local program
focused on keeping city street and alleys clean, and Hattiesburg, Miss., Mayor Johnny
DuPree for a local literacy initiative where young people can access free books through
library lounges in local restaurants.
In addition to the two top awards in each category (cities of 100,000 or more and cities of
under 100,000), Outstanding Achievement Awards were given to five cities in each category.
For a complete list and project descriptions, visit www.usmayors.orq/city-livability/.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of
30,000 or more. There are nearly 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented
in the conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. www.usmayors.org
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