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Federal Financial Assist PrioriMEMORANDUM March 4, 2003 TO:The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT:Priorities and Requests for Federal Financial Assistance Economic Development Director Bill Baum is recommending approval of the updated Priorities and Requests for Federal Financial Assistance. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. Michael C. Van Milligen MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Bill Baum, Economic Development Director PRIORITIES AND REQUESTS FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE March 2003 Mamh 2003 City of Dubuque Priorities and Requests for Federal Appropriations DUBUQUE'S STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project Purpose: To limit flooding in Iow/moderate income neighborhoods. In 1999, an unusually intense spring storm deluged Dubuque with rainfall. The storm produced in excess of four feet of stormwater in city streets and five feet of stormwater in basements, and resulted in a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Dubuque County. Flood damage devastated hundreds of homes in the City of Dubuque. At the time of the flood, the City was in the process of adopting a Stormwater Management Plan. On July 23, 2001, HDR Engineering, of Omaha, Neb., the consulting firm hired by the City to produce the Stormwater Management Plan, presented its findings to City Council. One solution is an open waterway proposal for solving the Bee Branch Stormwater problems. This solution has been controversial, and is therefore, under continuing study. However, an important segment of the project, not involvin,q the open waterway concept is not controversial, and will assist greatly in mitigating the problems with the Bee Branch: 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. The City is requesting an FY04 earmark through EPA's State and Tribal Grant program "STAG." The City has approved the establishment of a storm water utility, and therefore the local match is available for this project. 2. TRANSPORTATION IA,32 - (Southwest Arterial): The Dubuque City Council, the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors, and Dubuque Metropolitan Planning Organization (DMATS) have identified the completion of the IA 32 (Southwest Arterial) as the No. 1 surface transportation pdority in the Dubuque arsa. The IA 32 connects the new Dubuque Technology Park on U.S. 61/151 with the new Dubuque Industrial Center West, and the existing Dubuque Industrial Center near U.S. 20. The highway then extends north to John Deers Dubuque Works. in October 2001, McGraw Hill Publishing Company made a decision to locate a new 330,000-square-foot distribution center in the Dubuque Industrial Center West. Assurances that US 32 was under study and construction was in the Iowa Department of Transportation five-year plan weighed heavily in that decision. Other companies asking for a connection between U.S. 20 and U.S. 61/151 include John Deers, Nordstrom Distribution Center, A.Y. McDonald, Swiss Valley Farms, Flexsteel, and Dubuque Stamping and Manufacturing. Total Project Cost: Current estimate: $71,000,000. City and County have agreed to cost share in the Environmental Assessment Phase, and have contracted for $594,000 to complete the FA. The State of Iowa has committed $21 million for the project in the Iowa Department of Transportation's five-year plan. The Metropolitan Planning Organization, DMATS, has committed $7 million in Surface Transportation Program funds for the facility. In February 2003, the City was informed of budget approval of $2,000,000 to assist in accomplishing this work. The funding "gap" is $41 Million. The City is requesting this project be identified and authorized in the next federal transportation act. Current Status: Work continues on the Environmental Assessment. 2 Southwest Arterial Iowa Department of Transportation Project Location Map Capacity Improvements to U.S.20/Julien Dubuque Bridge The U.S. 201Julien Dubuque Bddge spans the Mississippi River and provides one eastbound and one westbound lane of traffic. On either side of the fiver, the highway immediately expands to four or more lanes. The result is a bottleneck in traffic on both sides of the bddge. This link is important for an east-west connection between Dubuque and other communities. To the west: Galena, III.; Rockford, Ill.; and Chicago. To the east: Waterloo, Iowa and the 1-35 intemhange. This project is a very high pdodty with the City Council and the Metropolitan Planning Organization, DMATS. The City of Dubuque appreciates the $28 million commitment to the bridge secured by Dubuque's Congressional delegation. Current Status: The location study and environmental documentation are complete. IDOT has selected the firm of Parsons of Chicago, Illinois, in conjunction with WHKS of Dubuque, to .perform the preliminary and final design of the bddge, bridge approaches, and roadway improvements. The City had hoped to see completion of Phase I construction plans for the new approaches in June, 2003. Phase I construction on the bddge approaches and roadway improvements on both sides of the River was scheduled for the latter part of Calendar Year 2003 and Calendar Year 2004 with the current money available. New cost estimates raising the total bridge project cost from $96 Million to $165 Million has derailed these plans. The design and land acquisition will be completed with existing funds, however no funding is currently available for construction of the project. Additionally, the City has been informed of City responsibility to pay the cost of relocation of utilities, estimated to be approximately $3,000,000. Latest estimates to complete the project are $130 Million. Therefore, the City is requesting 90% funding for construction, and utility relocation in the amount of $117 Million in the next federal transportation bill. If legislation needs to be amended to recognize utility relocation as an eligible expense, we request that change in the law. Dubuque Regional Airport The Airport Commission is neadng completion of an airport terminal study. The study identifies the need for a new terminal approximately 3 times the size of the existing facility. Estimated cost is $25 million. After the study is finalized and approved, the City will be requesting federal assistance for construction of the new terminal. 3. AMERICA'S RIVER AT THE PORT OF DUBUQUE Property Acquisition/Environmental Assessment in Port of Dubuque. The City has, in the past year, invested in the pumhase these properties in the Port of Dubuque: Peavey (ConAgra) property: 5 acres Dubuque Hardwoods property: 5 acres Mississippi Valley Trucking: 1.4 acres Klauer Manufacturing: .529 acres Current status: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) recently announced award of a $2,000,000 grant for the acquisition of the Adams Company property. In October, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the award of a $200,000 grant to the City for Phase I and Phase II Environmental Assessments in the Port of Dubuque. Consultant selection has been completed. In February 2003, the City was informed that Congress had approved of $360,000 to assist in property acquisition and/or cleanup activities. City is now seeking funds to assist in the mitigation of environmental issues on the properties acquired by the City. Specifically, EPA's new grant program for cleanup and HUD's Brownfield Economic Development Initiative are two potential funding sources. Dubuque Star Brewery Located on the Mississippi River and a prominent landmark in the Port of Dubuque campus, this City-owned inactive brewery is a unique historical structure. Eligible for National Register designation, the brewery requires stabilization and is proposed to be redeveloped into a mixed-use project. The estimated cost of renovation is $6,000,000. City has requested $1,500,000 through Save America's Treasures, but the request has not been funded. The City has issued an RFQ/RFP to potential developers, one response has been received, and the City is negotiating with the potential developer. Shot Tower Located on East Fourth Street in the Port of Dubuque, the City-owned Shot Tower is a unique National Register structure used in the eady munitions industry to produce lead 4 DUBUQUE SHOT TOWER shot during the Civil War. The Shot Tower needs to be renovated, landscaped, and improved to make it a strong part of the America's River project. The City has submitted an application to the Department of Interior for the Save America's Treasures grant program, but the application has been denied. The City anticipates applying again for $250,000 in matching funds for Phase I of the renovation, Passenger Boarding Facilities in Port of Dubuque; City Garage Maintenance Facility. The City has requested an earmark of $880,000 through Federal Transit Authority. Purpose: design and construction of passenger boarding facilities within the Port of Dubuque in conjunction with the America's River Project, and new City garage on City property north of Kerper Court. 4. Neighborhood Strategy Lead Paint Poisoning Prevention Program Purpose: To reduce the incidence of childhood lead poisoning through "lead- safe" rehabilitation of older residential buildings Problem statement: Dubuque's residential housing stock is the oldest in the State; Iowa's is the sixth oldest in the nation. 41% of Dubuque's housing was built pre-1940; approximately 90% was constructed before 1978, the year lead paint was banned for residential uses. More than half of the city's housing units are assumed to have an incidence of lead-based paint. Our incidence of childhood lead poisoning - for children from birth to age six - Is twice the national average. Background: Dubuque received a $3.69 million HUD Lead Hazard Prevention grant in 1997. We will have made heady 500 residential units lead-safe by the scheduled termination of this contract, in Mamh 2003. 5 In addition, we have trained and certified more than 200 local contractors, workers and landlords in safe lead paint removal practices. We are the only Iowa Department of Public Health-certified state-wide provider of these training services. We have held these training classes around the State for contractors, risk assessors and municipal health officials, since 1998, certifying 200 additional personnel. We have made application for renewal of these HUD funds, from the Office of Lead Hazard Control, for the past three years. These applications have been denied. At this time, we will be without HUD funding by the end of this fiscal year. Solution: We need to continue our lead paint hazard reduction activities, in the interest of the public health and welfare. Specifically, this program, as we have developed it over the past five years, must: 1. Provide subsidized loans or grants to Dubuque home and apartment owners for the high costs of lead paint removal 2. Continue our program of testing in older housing stock, using specialized technology to identify the presence of lead-based paint 3. Continue our programs of public education, alerting the public to the dangers of this invisible health hazard 4. Continue our training certification programs for area contractors and apartment owners, in safe work and hazard reduction practices 5. Continue our training programs for lead paint contractors and health officials throughout the State. As the only certified training provider, all other Iowa cities are dependent on us to do this, in order to remain in compliance with HUD regulations requiring certification. 6. Continue to respond with medical and environmental investigations, in cases of childhood lead paint poisoning Cost: With existing staff capacity, we can generate 75-80 units annually. At $7000/unit subsidy, this cost is approximately $540,000. Staff and program costs are an additional $225,000 annually. To continue our existing programs and provide all the services listed above, both locally and throughout Iowa, this program cost is approximately $750,000 per year, and the City will be resubmitting an application to HUD early in 2003. 6 5. Dubuque Post Office Renovations The City is very concerned about the ongoing deterioration of the Federal Building downtown currently housing the Post Office. Our understanding is that the Social Secudty Administration will soon be moving out of the facility, leaving only the Post Office operation in this magnificent building, and that the building would soon be for sale. We also are aware of GSA's intention to dispose of the property. The City requests the Congressional delegation work with GSA to fund renovations to this building, and encourage federal agencies to lease space in this downtown facility. 6. Cable TV Rate Regulation The City of Dubuque recently received a letter from our cable TV franchise operator announcing the addition of three program services to the basic cable service package (which they now call "Family Cable") in Dubuque, and a plan to implement an increase in the rate they charge for that service, effective February 1, 2003. Prior to February 1, rate for "Family Cable" was $36.95/mo., plus taxes and federal fees. The new rate will be $41.95/mo., plus taxes and fees. Senior Citizens will receive a $4.20 (10%) discount. This new rate represents a 13.5% increase in one year, and a 90.7% increase since the City's limited rate regulation authority was lost in July, 1996. Inflation for that same 6.5 year period has been about 15%. The $5.00 increase will be the largest single increase in the basic rate in Dubuque's 49-year cable history. The current provider and its predecessors raised basic cable service rates on the first of February in 2001, 2002, and 2003, and on the first of January in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. Many major cable operators are implementing their annual increases across the country. However, the amount of this increase, particularly as compared to inflation, is once again very disturbing and clearly reflects the combined effects of a vertically- integrated industry which is subject neither to regulation nor to effective market competition. Dubuque's need for an entry-level "broadcast basic" package, which includes area broadcast stations and PEG access channels, will be a key topic in franchise renewal negotiations, but local rate controls, per se, cannot be restored via the franchise renewal process. The solution is federal legislation. Deregulation of this industry was passed to create competition and lower prices. Just the opposite has occurred in Dubuque: a monopoly is controlling higher prices. The 1996 law limiting the City's ability to regulate rates should be repealed. 7 7. Homeland Security Regional Emergency Responder Training Facility PROJECT SUMMARY The Dubuque Fire Department is part of the group developing the training facility as a joint venture with all emergency response agencies in Dubuque County. OUR VISION: To develop an emergency responder training facility including training tower, an indoor/outdoor evolution lab and classroom to enable flrefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS personnel, and safety workers in local manufacturing/commercial industry to safely train in real-life emergency situations. Firefighters, law enforcement officers, and EMS workers will now be able to participate in joint training exercises, enabling: -Preparation for multiple disaster scenarios -The sharing of ideas and training techniques -Introduction to and training with new and more efficient equipment -Team building between departments and communities FUNDING CHALLENGES: Private/public partnerships have been established to assist with funding this project. However, additional funding assistance is necessary. Since much of the training will be related to homeland security disasters, we are hopeful that some funding may be possible from the federal government. The total cost of the facility is $2,600,000. Vulnerability Assessment Of Water Systems As a result of the Bio-Terrorism Act of 2002, the City of Dubuque is required to conduct a "vulnerability assessment" of its water system, and prepare an Emergency Response Plan by December 31, 2003. The cost of the assessment and plan could be as high as $100,000. Does EPA or Homeland Security have funds that can be accessed for this purpose? 8 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 wilt 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 "brown water ports". Currently the same regulations would apply to Dubuque as 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 secudty 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 that attract large numbers of people along the dverfront. 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? 8. Federally Qualified Community Health Center for Dubuque County Access to primary health and dental care has been identified as a critical need for the citizens of Dubuque County, particularly Iow-income children and families. In addressing this crucial issue, many organizations and agencies have together to develop a community health center for Dubuque and the Tri-State area: · Mercy Medical Center - Dubuque · Finley Hospital/VNA · Medical Associates Clinic & Health Plan · Dubuque Internal Medicine · Dubuque OB-GYN · TH-States Independent Physician's Association · Gannon Center for Community Mental Health · Dubuque County Health Department · Iowa Department of Public Health · Iowa Department of Human Services · Hillcrest Family Services · Sisters of St. Francis · Clarke College · Northeast Iowa Community College · Dubuque Community Schools · City of Dubuque 10 The health center envisioned by this community group would be a non-profit organization structured so that it could receive federal funding under the Health Centers Consolidation Act of 1996 as amended by section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. The clinic would provide comprehensive primary care services to all individuals within the center's service regardless of ability to pay. Specific services that the center would provide either directly, through contract, or by formal referral arrangements would include: · Pdmary health care services by physicians and, where appropriate, allied health professionals · Diagnostic laboratory services · Diagnostic x-ray services · Preventive health services · Patient case management · Pharmacy services needed to complete treatment · Preventive dental services Emergency services · Transportation for patients who would otherwise lack access to services. Dubuque is the only major metropolitan area in Iowa without a community health center. The Dubuque community is now coming together in an effort to create a community health center, which will meet the identified health needs of our citizens. In February of 2003, the City was informed of a planning grant of $50,000 to Clarke College from the FY 03 appropriations bill. We are grateful to the Congressional delegation for the support. 11