Minutes Long Range Planning Advisory Commission 2 18 09
THE CITY OF Dubuque
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi 200
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MINUTES
CITY OF DUBUQUE LONG RANGE PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 18, 2009
City Council Chamber, Historic Federal Building
Commissioners Present: Chairperson Charles Winterwood; Commissioners Jim
Prochaska, Richard Van Iten, Dirk Voetberg, and Chad Darter.
Commissioners Excused: Commissioners Alan Vincent and Richard Stein.
Staff Members Present: Laura Carstens, David Johnson, Sheila Samuelson, and
Deron Muehring.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Winterwood at 7:15
p.m.
CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance verifying
that the meeting was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law.
MINUTES: Motion by Van Iten, seconded by Darter, to approve the minutes of August 20,
2008, as submitted, Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Prochaska, Van Iten,
Voetberg, Darter and Winterwood; Nay -None.
PUBLIC MEETING
Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) Final Report and Implementation: Peter
Arsenault, Sustainable Design Assessment Team Leader, presented the SDAT final report.
Mr. Arsenault and Staff Member Carstens reviewed Dubuque's accomplishments in
implementing the report's recommendations. Staff Member Sheila Samuelson presented
the Sustainable Dubuque Initiative and Kevin Eipperle of Durrant reviewed the next steps
for Sustainable Dubuque and implementation of the SDAT final report's recommendations.
Commissioner Voetberg questioned how obstacles to sustainability, such as City Codes,
are being addressed in SDAT, the UDC, or elsewhere. Staff Member Carstens reviewed
the UDC process and Staff Member Samuelson reviewed the Sustainable Dubuque
process. Commissioner Voetberg asked how neighborhoods are defined. Mr. Arsenault
responded that buildings and neighborhood characteristics can be defined or they can
come into place on their own.
Commissioner Van Iten asked whether there were any design aspects associated with the
SDAT process. He questioned whether there is a mechanism to evaluate sustainable
design. Staff clarified that the SDAT report is more of a form based document, which
addresses issues such as setbacks, mass, and general characteristics. The SDAT process
Minutes -Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
February 18, 2009
Page 2
is a program that focuses on the principles of sustainability and how those principles can
be incorporated into a community's planning process.
Commissioner Van Iten reviewed the benefits of having a volunteer design review process
for new developments. He felt the SDAT final report should include language that
emphasizes the aesthetic importance of buildings and what it historically means to the City
and what it means to the City's future. Mr. Arsenault explained that those issues are more
appropriately addressed in formed based zoning or city codes and specific design issues
are not typically found in SDAT reports.
Julie Stevens, 207 Ridge Avenue, Delmar, Iowa, was present for the public meeting. She
questioned whether the SDAT process or addresses brownfields. She noted funding
sources for the re-use of brownfields. She also explained how important it is to preserve
the aesthetics of a community's downtown and promote people living downtown. Staff
Member Carstens noted the City's use of grants for brownfield redevelopment at the Port
of Dubuque.
Robin Kennicker, 904 Lincoln, expressed concern that today's developers do not put
enough care or detail in new development. She stated she would like to see incentives for'
developers to provide better quality and equitable housing. Mr. Arsenault suggested
basing those incentives on design principles and having a process for review.
The Commission thanked everyone for their hard work and interest in the project. By
consensus, the Commission recommended supporting the Dubuque SDAT final report and
implementation of its recommendations.
ACTION ITEMS
Review and discussion of proposed FY 2010-2014 Capital Improvement Program lCIP)
Budget: The Commission reviewed the proposed FY 2010-2014 CIP budget. Chairperson
Winterwood commended the City Council and City Manager for including ecological
restoration of the Heron Pond area, continuing inflow/infiltration programs for sanitary
sewer systems, employing summer interns for storm water management, and looking at
LED lighting.
Chairperson Winterwood asked if two projects not in the proposed FY2010-2014 CIP,
Trolley Line Trail and Locust Street resurfuracing, are still planned. Staff Member Carstens
reported both are scheduled for 2009.
Commissioner Van Iten asked whether improvements based on the East/West Corridor
Study would be in the CIP. Staff Member Carstens reported the study will provide cost
estimates for future CIPs.
Motion by Van Iten, seconded by Darter, to recommend approval of the FY 2010-2014 CIP
program budget, noting that it is consistent with the 2008 Comprehensive Plan. Motion
Minutes -Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
February 18, 2009
Page 3
carried by the following vote: Aye -Prochaska, Van Iten, Voetberg, Darter and
Winterwood; Nay -None.
LIAISON/SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Enterprise Zone Commission: No report.
Sustainability Task Force: Staff Member Carstens reported the next meeting will be held
on March 4, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at the Grand River Center.
ITEMS FROM PUBLIC: None.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION:
Bee Branch Designs: City of Dubuque Civil Engineer Deron Muehring reviewed the Bee
Branch Creek restoration project. He explained the conceptual design's input received at
workshops and issues addressed in the project. Staff Member Muehring explained the
main purpose of the project is to mitigate flooding in the area. He ex~lained the pro~ect has
three phases for construction. Phase 1 is located in the Garfield/16 Street and 16 Street
Detention basin area. Phase 1 is designed to have water year round, a vegetative buffer
an overlook control structure and pedestrian path. Phase 2 is a transitional area located
between 21St street and Garfield Avenue. Phase 2 will have intermittent water in response
to storm events and a pedestrian bridge walkway and natural plantings with open space.
Phase 3 will have intermittent water and is designed to have a number of amenities for the
adjacent neighborhoods. He explained that the current discussions for the third phase of
the project include usable green space, parking, an amphitheater, natural plantings and a
low flow channel. He explained Phase 3 will be located in close proximity to schools. He
stated that the entire project will be an amenity in the area.
Commissioner Prochaska questioned the overlook control structure in the first phase of the
project. Staff Member Muehring stated it will be a restrictive bladder system with pumps
and a gate that opens and closes to control water as necessary. Commissioner Prochaska
asked what would happen during a heavy rain event with regard to safety and keeping
people out. Staff Member Muehring explained that throughout the majority of the system,
water will only be in it when it rains. He explained the slope of the Bee Branch Creek
Restoration Project is so low, the water will move very slowly and will not be a risk.
Commissioner Van Iten asked whether the Engineering Department looked at similar
projects around the country. Staff Member Muehring confirmed other communities and
projects were consulted. Commissioner Van Iten stated he felt the Bee Branch Creek
Restoration Project will increase investment and property values in the area. Staff Member
Muehring reiterated it will be a positive amenity to the community but will not price people
out of their homes.
Kevin Eipperle, Durrant Group, stated they are currently working on a Riverfront Master
Plan for the City of Keokuk. He asked whether there is an opportunity in the project for
Minutes -Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
February 18, 2009
Page 4
river access or a boat marina in the future. Staff Member Muehring explained major
changes would have to be made to Kerper Boulevard to accommodate that.
In response to staff questions, Staff Member Muehring stated that measures are in place to
control suspended and floatant pollutants. He explained that studies have been done to
assure that during construction, nothing hazardous will be encountered.
East-West Corridor Study: Staff Member Carstens explained the City's Engineering
Department is working with the project consultant to hold stakeholder meetings in the next
30-60 days to review and refine options for the East/West Corridor Study. She suggested
the Commission can participate in this process at one of the regular meetings.
The Commissioners discussed the study. Commissioner Van Iten noted the influx of IBM
employees will have on the traffic from the west side of town to the downtown, as well as
the parking ramp and shuttle services proposed for IBM workers.
The Commissioners expressed interest in participating in the study and offered to use their
monthly meeting as a venue for a stakeholder meeting.
ITEMS FROM STAFF:
Meeting. Time: Staff noted that there are a number of new members serving on the
Commission and questioned whether the Commission would like to consider changing the
meeting time. The Commission discussed possible times to hold meetings. By consensus,
the Commissioners moved the meeting time to 5:30 p.m.
Election of Officers: Motion by Van Iten, seconded by Voetberg to elect Jim Prochaska as
Chairperson. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Van Iten, Voetberg, Darter and
Winterwood; Nay -None; Abstain -Prochaska.
Motion by Prochaska, seconded by Voetberg, to elect Richard Van Iten as Vice
Chairperson. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Prochaska, Voetberg, Darter and
Winterwood; Nay -None; Abstain -Van Iten.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at. 9:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager Adopted
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