Federal Legislative Issues AmenMEMORANDUM
February 11,2003
TO:The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT:Amendments to Federal Legislative Issues
Economic Development Director Bill Baum is recommending two amendments to the
Federal Legislative Issues. One relates to stormwater management and deals with
seeking funding for the components of the project that have been approved. The
second item relates to concerns about U.S. Coast Guard security measures for ports,
vessels and facilities.
I respectfully recommend Mayor and City Council approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
William Baum, Economic Development Director
FT~
Proposed Requirements For Security Measures for Ports, Vessels,
and Facilities.
The U.S. Coast Guard is currently holding meetings and seeking comments on
proposed regulations to implement the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.
These proposed regulations will provide a requirement for:
· Security Assessment Plans for vessels, facilities, and ports.
· Security Measures to implement the plans.
The City of Dubuque will assist in developing a Port Security Plan, including the
identification of potential threats, an analysis of the threats, and determining
performance standards necessary to implement the plan. However, the City is
concerned about, and will be commenting on these issues:
· The regulations should differentiate between large "blue water ports" and small
"gray water ports". Currently the same regulations would apply to Dubuque that
apply to New York City.
· Definitions: The City is concerned that the components of "The America's River"
Project, including the River Museum and Aquarium, the Grand River Center, the
Grand Harbor Resort, the Star Brewery and Shot Tower, are classified as
"facilities", and therefore required to have security plans and security measures.
These facilities happen to be located near the river, but are not connected with or
serviced by vessels navigating the river. We are requesting they not be defined
as a facility under these rules.
· The City is concerned about the potential need to develop security plans for
events which attract large numbers of people along the riverfront. The
implementation could mean requiring the same screening process currently
found at airports. We are concerned that these extreme security measures
would discourage attendance at the events. The City is also supportive of the
representatives of the gaming industry who are concerned about the potential
loss of patronage and the cost of screening passengers on gambling boats, if
airport type security is required.
· Implementing the regulations will be costly, both in the planning stage, and
certainly in the implementation. Will funding from the Federal Government
accompany the regulations?
FEBRUARY 2003 UPDATE TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
The open waterway proposal for solving the Bee Branch Stormwater problems
has been controversial, and is therefore, under continuing study. However, an
important segment of the project, not involving the open waterway concept is not
controversial, and should assist greatly in mitigating the problems with the Bee Branch.
The plan adopted by the City Council identifies improvements necessary to the
north end of the project. The expansion of the 32nd Street detention basin, at a cost of
$4,023,000 would double the size of the existing basin.
When completed, the basin would reduce peak runoff flows from the 100-year
rainstorm by 69%. This significant reduction will lesson the threat of flood damage to
the neighborhood, and assist greatly in solving the problems in the Bee Branch.