Soley, Kelly Sullivan letterPage 1 of 2
Jeanne Schneider
From:
To:
Sent:
Subject:
"Kelly Sullivan Soley" <soleyk@mchsi.com>
<rbuoll@mchsi.com>; <aeml0~mchsi.com>; <danieienicholson~mchsi.com>;
<john.markham@aquila.corn>; <jconnors63@mchsLcom>; <patriclacline@mchsi. com>;
<jschneld(~.)cityofdubuque.org>; <ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org>
Monday, August 19, 2002 11:57 PM
Of Outdoor Cafes, the Plaza & Support of the Arts
Dear Mayor Duggan, Mr. Mike Van Milligen, City Manager, and esteemed membem of the City Council,
I wish to address three issues; I will b'y to be brief.
1) Outdoor Cafes: I appreciate your concern about rowdy behavior but I would like to believe your fears are
unwarranted. My husband and I would welcome the return of outdoor cafes to Dubuque. Gary Germaine had an
outdoor cafe, so to speak, back in the 80s. It was located at the current office of C.J. May on 8th Street; it was a
small group of tables located in the beck yard. In the 90s, Armand Lorenz had a group of tables outside his
restaurant, The New French Cafe (located in the vicinity of the present United VVay office). Outdoor cafes attract
quiet folk; they provide charm and a nice respite, much like ~ new tables at the Town Clock Plaza. I encourage
you to approve permits for outdoor cafes.
2) The Town Clock Plaza: Aesthetically, the newly renovated Town Clock Plaza is a wonderful improvement. 1
worked in the Dubuque Building from 1980 to 1985, at KDUB-TV 40, and once again, in the Dubuque Building
from 1991 to 1994 for United Way Services. I was there when there was Zuckies, Nesier's Jewelers, DB&T,
Hartigs, an antique mall in the old Penneys, John Sturm's restaurant (where Fox 40 is now), the Derby Deli, a
woman's clothing store, a Chinese restaurant, the old Book Nook on the comer of 8th & Main, Inn Books (now
Rivertights), and two used bookstores that came and went. Although ! am not from Dubuque my family and I
shopped at Rosheks, the old Arenz shoe store, and we dined at the Packard Room and Diamond's cafe. All this I
have wi~essed during my brief 50 years. Back when KDUB was an ABC-TV affiliate, we had 28+ employees, and
you can be sure we helped keep the Town Clock Inn in business, dining there between the 6pm & 10pm
newscasts, and often during later hours!
It seems to me that the revitalization of the Town Clock Plaza is dependent upon selling the Tdlog Building and
turning it into unique retail shops. The same is true for the now empty Hartigs. While many people enjoy the "All
That Jazz Concerts" what can be done to support downtown retailers during regular business hourS? What
storefronts are even available? And are there incentives that the City can offer to attract retailers? I also suggest
cross-promotion that involves the new riverfront development, Main Street and Cable Car Square. Tie the three
sites together and promote them in toto. Make it a three-prong marketing effort that takes visitors from the River,
to the Plaza and Lower Main, and on to Cable Car Square and the Fourth Street Elevator. Visitors and relatives I
know are fascinated by Dubuque's architecture, scenery, and the Mississippi. I fear that with the Riverfrent
development, other areas of the City may be woefully neglected.
3) Support for the arts: I am a strong supporter of the arts but I must point out that smaller arts organizations are
being ignored. What about the Dubuque Arts Council, which was organized in 19687! (I worked as their only full-
time employee from 1994-'97).At that time Board members of the Dubuque Arts Council included Edie Norman,
Harriet Heitzman, and Hunter Fuerste. Wonder[ul volunteers who worked long and hard to bring 8-weeks of
nationally recognized artists to schools, public and perechial, and to public venues, such as area colleges and
retirement homes, free of charge. And what about the impact on the local economy made by the Dubuque County
Fine Arts Society, organized in 1976 by Ruth & Rush Nash! Ruth & Russ initiated the first Dubuquefest, now
recognized es the first major arts festival in the state. What about the Colts? And the Northeast Iowa School of
Music, begun by Tracey Rush? And the Tri-State Wind Symphony? These smaller arts and cultural
organizations often are limited by having only pert-time and/or volunteer staff, and thus, they lack the manpower
and influential board membere to devote to lobbying. Why not consider a modest tax on hotels/motels? Some of
you may recall that Paul Hemmer and other arts supporters tried to advocate for this approach, I believe in 1995
or'96. Americans for the Arts, a highly respected national organization, did a study of the impact the arts made on
Iowa and they demonstrated that the arts brought in more revenue than all sporting events in the state of Iowa. I
would like to see the City support all arts organizations and not limit its support to the Grand, the Symphony, and
the Dubuque Museum of Art.
8/20/2002
Page 2 of 2
Although I work at the University of Wisconsin-Piattevilte, I live in Dubuque and I care ve~j much about what
happens here. Thank you for considering my suggestions. If you would like more information about the feasibiity
of a hotel/motel tax, contact me. I'd be happy to provide you with some publications and/or serve on a committee
to study this issue.
Sincerely,
Kelly Sullivan Sotey
1041 Cleveland Avenue
Dubuque IA 52003
(563) 588-1947
Home E-mail: soleyk~.rnchsLcom
Office E-mail: solevk~uwDlatt, edu
8/20/2002