DCHS Vision Iowa River Vision Enhancement AttractionTHE CITY OF DUbUC~U@
-~~.~..
Mastet~iece on the Mississippi
zoa~
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Dubuque County Historical Society Application to Vision Iowa's River
Enhancement Community Attraction and Tourism Program
DATE: July 16, 2009
Dubuque County Historical Society Executive Director Jerry Enzler has requested that
the City of Dubuque support the Dubuque County Historical Society's application to
Vision Iowa's River Enhancement Community Attraction and Tourism program.
The City would be committing to considering negotiating a lease for the public space
along the Ice Harbor between the former Portside Building that is being renovated by
the Dubuque County Historical Society as a Rivers to the Sea expansion of the National
Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium and the existing Museum. Economic, access
and design issues would need to be resolved in those discussions.
The City would also be acknowledging that the almost $4 million of City and Federal
money spent on the transient boat docks in the Ice Harbor, should that be where the
City Council installs the boat docks, could be used as part of the local match for the
project.
I respectfully recommend Mayor and City Council endorsement of the Vision Iowa grant
application.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Jerry Enzler, Executive Director, Dubuque County Historical Society
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Bob Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
,`
NATIONAL
MISSISSIPPI RIVER MUSEUM
St AQUARIUM
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
July 15, 2009
The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City Hall
50 W. 13`" St.
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dear Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council:
The Dubuque County Historical Society respectfully requests a resolution of support for the
Historical Society's application to Vision Iowa's River Enhancement Community Attraction and
Tourism program (BEGAT).
We believe that this development will provide significant energy, enjoyment, education,
environmental awazeness and economic development to our ever improving waterfront.
We look forward to working with you on this exciting project for the benefit of the citizens of
Dubuque.
JE/rns
350 East 3rd Screet Dubuque.lowa 52001 Sb3.557.9545 Fax Sb3.583.1241 www rivermuseum.com
A property ojihe Dubuque County Hlstorxaf Society
THE CITY OF
Maste7^piece on the Mississippi
._
City Clerk's Office
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4805
Office (563) 589-4120
Fax (563) 589-0890
TTY (563) 690-6678
ctyclerk~cityofdubuque. org
www. ci ty of du bu qu e. org
July 15, 2009
Vision Iowa/CAT Board
Iowa Department of Economic Development
200 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309-1819
Dear Members of the Vision Iowa/CAT board
The City of Dubuque is proud to partner with the Dubuque County Historical Society and
its National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in its quest to build the Mississippi
Plaza at the Ice Harbor at the Port of Dubuque. This will be an important component in
Dubuque's economic and cultural renaissance and will be another major step in Iowa's
making effective use of its tremendous access to the Mississippi River.
The Museum is planning to connect the National Mississippi River Museum with the
Great Rivers Center with this Mississippi Plaza. This lively space will provide family-
friendly activities in full view of the waters of the Mississippi River. It will also make the
Museum a campus, thereby allowing the Museum and the City to benefit from the
enhanced economic and educational vitality that this offers.
The City of Dubuque will bring significant new resources to this project. The new boat
dock will allow patrons to dock their large boats and access the many attractions at the
Port of Dubuque.
The proposed Plaza space is owned by the City and the City would be interested in
providing a long term lease for this space should Vision Iowa make this grant available.
The City of Dubuque is eager to partner with the Dubuque County Historical Society and
the River Enhancement Community Attraction and Tourism program for the betterment
of Iowa.
Service People Integrity Responsibility Hmovation Teamwork
RESOLUTION NO. 259-09
ENDORSE APPLICATION
Whereas, the City of Dubuque (City) and the Dubuque County Historical Society
(Society) have partnered in the successful implementation of the America's River
project for the benefit of Dubuque and the entire state. of Iowa.
Whereas, the City and the Dubuque County Historical Society are hoping to
develop the former Ice Harbor Park site as the new Mississippi Plaza.
Whereas, the City is interested in building public boat docks alongside the
Mississippi Plaza in order to increase public transportation options and tourism
opportunities at the Port of Dubuque.
Whereas, the City believes that continued improvements and expansion at the
Port of Dubuque will have tangible educational and economic benefits for Dubuque and
the State of Iowa.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL FO THE CITY
OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
The City Council formally endorses the application of the Dubuque County
Historical Society to the Vision Iowa River Enhancement Community Attraction and
Tourism program to develop the Mississippi Plaza.
Passed, approved and adopted this 20t" day of July, 200.
D. Buol, Mayor
Attest:
panne F. Schneider, CMC
City Clerk
Vision Iowa/CAT Board
Iowa Department of Economic Development
200 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309-1819
July 15, 2009
Dear Members of the Vision Iowa/CAT board
The City of Dubuque is proud to partner with the Dubuque County Historical Society and its
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in its quest to build the Mississippi Plaza at the
Ice Harbor at the Port of Dubuque. This will be an important component in Dubuque's
economic and cultural renaissance and will be another major step in Iowa's making effective use
of its tremendous access to the Mississippi River.
The Museum is planning to connect the National Mississippi River Museum with the Great
Rivers Center with this Mississippi Plaza. This lively space will provide family-friendly
activities in full view of the waters of the Mississippi River. It will also make the Museum a
campus, thereby allowing the Museum and the City to benefit from the enhanced economic and
educational vitality that this offers.
The City of Dubuque will bring significant new resources to this project. The new boat dock
will allow patrons to dock their large boats and access the many attractions at the Port of
Dubuque.
The proposed Plaza space is owned by the City and the City would be interested in providing a
long term lease for this space should Vision Iowa make this grant available.
The City of Dubuque is eager to partner with the Dubuque County Historical Society and the
River Enhancement Community Attraction and Tourism program for the betterment of Iowa.
Sincerely,
Roy D. Buol
Mayor, City of Dubuque
Brief description of activities at Mississippi Plaza:
Elements include:
An enclosed, gated museum campus (an eco-park) which allows visitors
to remain in the museum zone as they go from one building to the next.
Open access to terrace dining and other facilities as public traffic,
boater traffic and operational budgets allow.
An 8 foot high iron-looking fence with lots of see through space and
three gates for public admission when desired.
Riverwalk would be north of Museum plaza and south of parking
Retain the fence along the water's edge to protect museum visitors and
keep them from the public boat docks.
Many trees - 16 foot high to start
Natural plantings
A boatshed with classic boats.
A Pavilion for demonstrations, special events and future carousel
A children's interactive fountain with sculptural catfish and zero-
depth splash vortex
A large living fish stream fed by geothermal discharge with aquarium
quality fish for feeding and a 'Huck Finn' raft ride for kids
A dining terrace with shade sails and seating, etc. with evening
music/movies on the terrace.
A lemonade stand at the old Museum access point
A reflections garden
New paving to be pervious to reduce water runoff and demonstrate
sustainable practices
A bio-swale retention green space along the new fence
Artifacts and graphics for educational exhibits
Space for festivals and museum sponsored public events - snow
sculptures, classic boat festivals, voyageur demonstrations, pirate
festival, etc