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Downtown Master Plan Grant ApMEMORANDUM October 15, 2002 TO:The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT:American Architectural Foundation for Public Outreach Grant - Downtown Master Plan Planning Services Manager Laura Carstens is recommending City Council approval of the submittal of a $3,000 American Architectural Foundation grant application for public outreach educational programs to introduce the Downtown Master Plan to the Dubuque community. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager MEMORANDUM October 14, 2002 TO:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM:Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager SUBJECT: American Amhitectural Foundation for Public Outreach Grant- Downtown Master Plan INTRODUCTION This memorandum presents for City Council consideration and approval of a $3,000 American Architectural Foundation grant application for public outreach educational programs to introduce the Downtown Master Plan to the Dubuque community. DISCUSSION The project will follow the components of the proposed work plan for the Downtown Master Plan as submitted by Leland Consulting Group, URS/BRW, MSA Professional Associates and Durrant Group. Components of the Downtown Master Plan will include: Project Area Base Maps Physical Profile Socioeconomic Profile Market Profile Synthesis of Stakeholder and Delivery System Interviews Record of Physical Issues Synthesis of Community Meetings Meeting Materials Synthesis of Downtown Planning Committee Work Sessions Retail Inventory Audit Residential Development Inventory Limited Target Industry Analysis Development Concept Plans (Design Elements) Benchmark Variables Key Public and Private Investment Priorities Implementation Strategy (tactics, financial tools, etc). Final Framework Plan Assistance with Developer RFPs RECOMMENDATION I recommend that the City Council adopt the attached resolution approving the submittal of this project to the American Arohitecturel Foundation's "Accent on Architecture" Grants Program 2003 and the use of budgeted City funds of $50,000 as a source of the local match if the project is funded by the American Architectural Foundation. LC/mkr Attachments cc: Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager Prepared by: Laura Carstens, Cib/Planner Address: City Hall, 50 W. 13th Street Telephone: 589-4210 RESOLUTION NO. 559-02 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR AMERICAN ARCHITECTURAL GRANT FUNDING - PUBLIC OUTREACH FOR THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN. Whereas, the American Architectural Foundation has announced the availability of funding through its "Accents on Architecture' grants; and Whereas, public outreach is an eligible activity; and Whereas, The City's downtown master planning process identifies important public outreach components. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA: Section 1. That the Planning Services Manager is authorized to submit this application to the American Architectural Foundation for public outreach educational programs to intrcduca the finalized Downtown Master Plan to the Dubuque community. Section 2. That the City Council authorizes the Planning Services Manager to utilize budgeted funds to provide the match required by this program. Section 3. That in the event said application is approved, the City Council hereby provides its written assurance that the completed project will be adequately maintained for its intended public use for a minimum of twenty (20) years following the project. Passed, approved and adopted this 21st day of October, 2002. Attest: Jeanne F. Schneider, City Clerk day of October' 2002. Terrance M. Duggan, Mayor Downtown Dubuque Master Plan A. Summary Page ApplyinR or,qanization's name, address, phone number, and Web site address: City of Dubuque, Iowa Planning Services Department 50 West Thirteenth Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864 Telephone: (563) 589-4210 Web Site Address www.cityofdubuque.org Contact name, phone and fax numbers, and email address: Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager Telephone: (563) 589-4210 Fax: (563) 589-4221 Email: Icarsten@cityofdubuque.org Names of principal participants: Project Partners: City of Dubuque, Dubuque Chamber of Commerce, Dubuque Main Street Limited, State of Iowa, and Downtown Planning Committee. Consultants: Leland Consulting Group, Denver, Co; URS/BRW, Minneapolis, MN; MSA Professional Associates and Durrant Group, Dubuque, IA. Proiect title: Downtown Dubuque Master Plan Project description: The City of Dubuque is requesting a matching grant to be used for public outreach educational programs to introduce the finalized Downtown Master Plan to the Dubuque community. As American Architectural Foundation aptly stated: "Projects should promote an increased awareness, appreciation, and understanding of how the public's involvement in the design process can enhance the quality of life." Grant amount request: $3,000 Total proiect cost: $100,000 Form of final products: Components of the plan (work products) will include: ~Project Area Base Maps --Physical Profile -Socioeconomic Profile --Market Profile -Synthesis of Stakeholder and Delivery System Interviews ~Record of Physical Issues ~Synthesis of Community Meetings ~Meeting Materials *-Synthesis of Downtown Planning Committee Work Sessions ~Retail Inventory Audit *-Residential Developments Inventory ~Limited Target Industry Analysis *-Development Concept Plans (Design Elements) ~Benchmark Variables ~Key Public and Pdvate Investment Priorities ~Implementation Strategy (tactics, financial tools, etc.) --Final Framework Plan *-Assistance with Developer RFPs B. Background Information of Requesting Organization The city of Dubuque is located on the Mississippi River in northeast Iowa adjacent to Illinois and Wisconsin. The City is 30 square miles in area, with a population of nearly 60,000 people. The City of Dubuque's annual operating and capital budget is nearly $100 million and funds a full range of services. The City of Dubuque operates under the Council-Manager form of govemment. The Dubuque City Council has established the following 2012 Vision Statement: Dubuque is a city of history, beauty, opportunities and excitement. Dubuque, A Masterpiece on the Mississippi. The community has a stable and diversified manufacturing base and a growing sector. Dubuque is the major retail, medical, education and employment center for the tri-state area. Tourism continues to be a major economic force in the community. Downtown revitalization is a long- standing priority of the City of Dubuque and the City Council. City govemment works in collaboration with the private sector to promote economic development. The larger downtown area includes the central business district, transitional mixed-use neighborhoods north, west and east of downtown, and a substantial industrial distdct east of downtown. Downtown Dubuque itself is comprised of five districts: Cable Car Square, Historic Old Main, Port of Dubuque, Town Clock, and UpperMain/Farmer's Market. Downtown Dubuque has a dch cultural, histodc and amhitectural heritage. That heritage is embodied in the investment and improvements that have been made over the last one hundred and fifty years. While urban renewal in the 1960's dramatically changed the character of the central business district, much remains of Dubuque's heritage in the downtown area. As Iowa's oldest city, Dubuque is a community well known for its historic beauty and Victorian architecture, which is the #2 tourist attraction after the Mississippi River. There are five histodc districts encompassing nearly 700 structures in Downtown Dubuque and the surrounding residential neighborhoods. Three of these are National Register districts that lie within the downtown itself. The Dubuque City Council has renewed its commitment to historic preservation in these five histodc districts with adoption of an updated and strengthened Historic Preservation Ordinance, creation of financial incentives, and adoption of design guidelines. The City Council recently expanded and strengthened its demolition districts to protect the downtown area. Demolition permits cannot be issued in these districts without a review by the City's Historic Preservation Commission as to the structure's historic and amhitectural significance. The City also has hired a consultant to conduct an architectural/historical survey/evaluation of the central business district and adjacent downtown neighborhoods. The historic downtown neighborhoods include some two-and three story residential buildings that are fully residential. Other buildings house a mix of uses, with first floor retail office uses and opportunities for uses on the upper floors. The city contains many institutional, commercial, and industrial buildings that are architecturally significant and reflect a variety of styles and materials. The Dubuque City Hall, the Octagon House and the Egyptian Revival style Old County Jail, designed by John F. Rague, are examples of our important historical architecture. The City offers a vadety of programs to support downtown revitalization, including tax increment financing, tax abatement, commercial rehabilitation loans, facade restoration grants, tax rebates for histodc restoration, incentives for creation of upper story housing units, and incentives for job creation. The City also provides a municipal parking system of surfaco lots, ramps, and metered on-street spaces, and operates a public transit system with the main transfer system in downtown Dubuque. There have been many studies, plans and program for revitalizing downtown Dubuque and vadous sub-areas within the contral business district over the years. The most recont overall planning effort was the 1996 Downtown Circulation Study, which included a traffic analysis and management component, a parking analysis component, and an urban design/streetscape component. The most recent sub-area planning effort was for the Port of Dubuque and the area south of the Ice Harbor. This planning process included: examination of existing real estate dynamics, evaluation of development opportunities, and creation of a master plan with design standards. Adopted in March 2002, the plan is for the creation of a mixed-use development with commercial, recreational, educational and residential uses. The Dubuque Downtown Master Plan can incorporate this plan. Currently under construction at the Port of Dubuque are the Mississippi Riverwalk, the National Mississippi Discovery Center and Aquarium, the Grand Harbor Resort and Indoor Water Park, and the National Mississippi River Education and Conferenco Center. Information on these components of the America's River project at the Port of Dubuque is available at these web sites: www.dubuquechamber.com, www.qreaterdubuque.org, and www.americasriver.org. The City of Dubuque has long years of outreach expedenco using the media to stay in touch with the community. The City also publishes a quarterly newsletter, City Focus, which is mailed to all Dubuque homes and businesses. The City of Dubuque invites the community to serve on various commissions and committees and periodically holds public hearings, open houses, focus groups forums and informational meetings on various topics, ordinancos and programs for the community. The City also utilizes the daily Telegraph Herald newspaper and other periodical publications for public relations. In addition, the City offers programs, announcements, and broadcast of City Council meetings on its community access channel on the local cable television station to reach out to the community. Cable TV penetration in the Dubuque market reaches approximately 90% of the community. The latest addition to the City's interface with the public is through the City of Dubuque web site and email. The Public Library, a part of City government, provides free Intemet accass to all citizens. The Library is a link-up site to the Iowa Communication Network, a fiber optic system for live video conferences. C. Project Description In December of 2001, the City of Dubuque adopted Vision Downtown, a community consensus vision for downtown Dubuque. The Vision Downtown document contains six dimensions that will be addressed in the Downtown Master Plan: · Commerce Culture, Education and Entertainment · Historic Features · Public Spaces and Open Areas · Residential Living , Transportation The Vision Downtown document was initially developed with public input, and then refined at each step of the process. The downtown vision was crafted through a highly inclusive process that included community meetings, a citizen questionnaire, reactor group session, and a validation survey. Many individuals and organizations have supported the community visioning process that created Vision Downtown. Over two thousand members of the community have participated directly in the process; some have offered indirect input as well. The downtown visioning process was sponsored by the City of Dubuque with support from Dubuque Main Street Ltd., Main Street Iowa, and the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce4 This partnership will continue with the downtown master planning process. The downtown visioning process was led by the Downtown Planning Committee, a subcommittee of the City's Long Range Planning Commission. This leadership will continue through the master planning process. Downtown Planning Committee members include representatives from the Dubuque City Council, Dubuque Main Street Ltd., Dubuque Cultural Alliance, the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Iowa Legislature. Appointed officials from the City's Housing Authority Trust Fund Committee, Historic Preservation Commission and the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission also are Committee members. City staff from the Planning Services, Building Services, Economic Development and Housing/Community Development Departments provide staff support.. In March of 2002, the City Council approved a $100,000 budget for creation of a Downtown Master Plan based on the vision. The budget includes consultant services, and public relations, printing, and distribution services to the public. The City Council has allocated $50,000 of City funds for the project. The Downtown Planning Committee is committed to raising the remaining $50,000 through a $25,000 state grant and $25,000 in private donations. In June of 2002, a request for proposal was distributed to about seventy-five planning firms nationwide. The Downtown Planning Committee and the City Council evaluated the nine proposals received in July of 2002. In August of 2002, the Letand Consulting Group from Denver, Colorado was retained to complete a Downtown Dubuque Master Plan. The project team will also include URS/BRW of Minneapolis, Minnesota and two Dubuque, Iowa firms: MSA Professional Associates and Durrant Group. The Plan will specify the objectives, action steps and resources needed to reach Vision Downtown. The master planning process will involve assessing the vision versus reality and assessing the vision and reality versus existing plans to create a comprehensive Downtown Master Plan that uses Vision Downtown as its foundation. The City of Dubuque is requesting a $3000 matching grant to be used for public outreach educational programs to introduce the finalized Downtown Master Plan to the Dubuque community. As American Architectural Foundation so aptly stated, 'Projecte should promote an increased awareness, appreciation, and understanding of how the public's involvement in the design process can enhance the quality of life." With Amedcan Architectural Foundation's matching grant, the City of Dubuque, Leland Consulting Group and the consulting partners will be able to foster constructive interaction between design professionals, the media, civic organizations, the business community, the general public and public officials by inviting people to come together to discuss the Downtown Master Plan vision. In the past, the City of Dubuque has aired the AAF television documentary film, Back from the Brink: Saving America's Cities By Design on Channel 8, the City's cable television community access channel. We would like to incorporate other AAF television documentaries in the future plans for public education as part of this project. The goal of the City of Dubuque, the City Council, the Downtown Planning Committee and our community partners is to help empower citizens of all ages to take ownership in and enjoy the revitalization of the Downtown Dubuque area in our beautiful, histodc community. Revitalization of our central core downtown area in the oldest city in Iowa will encourage a thriving tourist industry, produce important revenue and provide employment for the citizens of Dubuque. The City of Dubuque has a wealth of important historical architecture. For years, especially dudng the 1960's downtown urban renewal project, the City of Dubuque has been losing our historical and architectural treasures to the "wrecking ball." The City wants to reverse that trend. Education of the community on historical preservation, downtown planning and the Downtown Master Plan and everything it encompasses is cdtical to the success of revitalization. Vision Downtown states: We envision the downtown area as a diverse commercial center providing many economic opportunities. We envision our downtown as a cultural, educational, and entertainment center. We envision our downtown as a place where the restoration and preservation of our unique historic sites and history are appreciated and recognized; We envision our downtown as an inviting area that appeals to all the senses through the creation of a clean, safe, and environmentally pleasing setting. We envision our downtown as a home to many people that produces a mix of amenities and opportunities. We envision our downtown as having a multi-modal transportation system providing numerous means of access. The City of Dubuque and the City Council have made the Downtown Master Plan a priority in their planning, as you can see from the 2012 Vision Statement. The City and Council have allocated funding to the project and support the vision. D. Project Budget Amount requested: $3,000.00 Project Budget Expenses B. Task 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Description Project Orientation and Initiation Capacity of the "Delivery System" Analysis Planning Workshop/Retreat Market Indicators and Trends Identification of Niche Opportunities Concept Plan Refinement/Design Recommendations Positioning and Investment Strategies Implementation Strategy and Final Plan Public Open House and Presentation 10 Total Professional Fees: Estimated Project Expenses (15%): Total Consultant Contract. Downtown Planning Committee Public Relations: Total Project Expenses: Fees $ 2,500 12,500 6,000 7,500 8,500 20,500 7,500 15,500 5,500 $86,000 12,900 98,900 1,100 $100,000 Project Revenue Source Amount State of Iowa City of Dubuque Private Donations: ~> Dubuque Initiatives $ 5,000 > American Amhitectural Foundation 3,000 > American Trust 2,500 > Woodward Communications, Inc. 2,500 > Fischer Companies 2,500 > Diamond Jo Casino 2,500 > Alliant Energy 2,000 > Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce 1,500 > Dubuque Bank & Trust 1,500 > Dubuque Board of Realtors 1,000 > Capd College 500 > Premier Bank 500 Total $25,000 $25,000 50,000 25,000 Total Project Revenue : $100,000 E. Project Implementation The consultants for the Downtown Dubuque Master Plan will engage in a throe-phase process outlined below in Work Tasks 1 - 9. The Downtown Planning Committee will work with the consultants throughout the project, and their public rolations responsibilities are described in Work Task 10 below Phase h Concept Development Work Task 1: Budget: Timing: Objective: Project Orientation and Initiation $2,500 Weeks 1-3 Clarify the project's goals, establish protocols, and understanding of the project's background and context. refine our Work Task 2: Budget: Timing: Objective: "Delivery System" Capacity Analysis and Existing Conditions $12,500 Weeks 2-5 Through inte;views with leading aroa stakeholders, City staff and community meetings, identify opportunities and constraints to past and futuro public improvement and economic redevelopment efforts. Work Task 3: Budget: Timing: Objective: Planning Workshop I Retreat $6,000 Week 6 or 7 To understand past and curront efforts in order to gain insight into their intent and lessons learned. Phase Ih Concept Refinement Work Task 4: Budget: Timing: Objective: Market Indicators and Trends $7,500 Weeks 8-10 To understand market opportunities for Downtown Dubuque and provide the client team with a technical and analytical Work Task 5:Identification of Niche Opportunities and Benchmarks Budget: $8,500 Timing: Weeks 11-13 Objective: Identify and quantify, by type of land uses, the level of development achievable within the downtown planning area in the short-, mid-, and long-term and the associated public infrastructure improvements. Work Task 6: Budget.' Timing: Objective: Concept Plan Refinement and Design Recommendations $20,500 Weeks 14-20 Based on the results of work completed in previous tasks, recommend urban design elements and physical infrastructure improvements required to implement projects in Downtown Dubuque. Work Task 7: Budget: Timing: Object'we: Positioning and Investment Strategies $7,500 Weeks 21-24 Prepare a positioning and investment strategy for Downtown Dubuque that capitalizes on niche opportunities unique to the marketplace. Work Task 8: Budget: Timing: Objective: Implementation Strategy and Final Plan $15,500 Weeks 25-28 Prepare a strategy and the necessary tools (final plan) including a summary of potential public and private resources designed to attract private and leverage public investment. Phase IIh Final Presentations and Deliverables Work Task 9: Budget: Timing: Objective: Public Open House and Presentation $5,500 Weeks 29-32 Provide the City, stakeholders and interested citizens and opportunities to explore and understand the master plan for Downtown Dubuque. Work Task 10: Budget: Timing: Objective: Printing and Public Relations $1,100 Weeks 1-32 Downtown Planning Committee Public Relations. The active participation of the Downtown Planning Committee throughout the planning process is critical to our team-oriented approach. The Committee will provide input and guidance to the consultants through participation at regular project meetings. We also anticipate that the Committee will participate in any public meetings, open houses and/or Council presentations. As a subcommittee of the City of Dubuque's Long Range Planning Commission, the Downtown Planning Committee must comply with the State of Iowa's Open Meetings Law and Public Records Law through the publication and distribution of meeting notices, and the production and distribution of meeting minutes.