New Parking Ramp Construction LocationTHE CITY OF Dubuque
~T T~ ~ All-America City
~.J
Masterpiece an the Mississippi
n
zoos
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: New Parking Ramp Construction Location
DATE: December 3, 2009
The City had embarked on a strategy to add parking to the downtown by first building a
parking ramp at 5t" & Bluff Street, and when funding became available, build a parking
ramp behind Fire Headquarters at 11 West 9t" Street.
Parking System Supervisor Tim Horsfield is recommending switching the priority order
of these two ramps and first build the ramp behind Fire Headquarters. Project funding
is available to build a 7-story ramp with 475 spaces, which is a net gain of 352 vehicles.
This discussion was partially driven by the fact that the City has learned that instead of
receiving between $5 million and $7 million for the project from the U.S. Economic
Development Administration, the City will receive $1.5 million.
Also influencing this decision is the fact that the ramp in this new location provides
greater versatility, in that while serving the Town Clock Plaza area and the Roshek
Building, it will also serve Upper Main Street and any employees of the Millwork District
or those attending entertainment activities in the Millwork District. This site also
provides greater opportunity for future expansion.
concur with.the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Dave Heiar, Economic Development Director
Tim Horsfield, Parking System Supervisor
Parking Division pupuqus
830 Bluff Street
Dubuque, IA 52001 ~ ~"'~~~~ l
Phone: 563-589-4267 ~~
Fax: 563-690-6675
zco7
November 30, 2009
To: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
From: Tim Horsfield, Parking System Supervisor
Subject: New Parking Ramp Construction Location
THE CLTY ON
DUB E
~~,,~~
Introduction
This memo is intended to provide you with information regarding the site
selection for the new downtown parking ramp.
Background
As you know, for the past several months, we have been evaluating the need
and placement of additional parking facilities in the down town area. Initially, with
the assistance of Desman Associates, we completed a site selection process.
During that process, evaluation of demand generators, project cost, the projected
amount of an Economic Development Grant award, environmental impact and
the projects potential for generating sufficient revenue to offset the debt service
and operating expenses.
At the completion of this study, a work session was held with the City Council
presenting the findings of the report and the subsequent site selections. At a
later City Council meeting, the City Council approved the recommendation of the
report to construct two ramps; one located at 5t" and Bluff and the second one at
10t" and Central. Following this decision, a contract to design the two ramps was
awarded to Desman following a formal bidding process in the amount of
$ 950,000 on June 15, 2009.
There were several strategic planning sessions held in preparation for designing
the two facilities. There was consideration in designing and building both sites at
the same time or whether to build one site prior to the second site. It was
decided at that time, that we would first develop the plans and specifications and
award the construction of the ramp at 5t" and Bluff.
Discussion
As we continued on this path, a couple of major developments happened. First
of all, the projected amount of the EDA Grant is substantially lower that we were
initially led to believe. We had initially projected the award to be in the $5 to $7
million dollar range.
New Parking Ramp Construction Location
November 30, 2009
Page II
Within the past couple of weeks, we have learned that the actual award will be
approximately $1.5 million. Secondly, as time has passed, the Millwork District
development has accelerated and the developers have expressed their concern
over the need for parking in that area.
As a result of those factors, we met with stakeholders on November 18t" to
discuss the location of the ramp. Attending this meeting was Tim McNamara,
John and Mary Gronen, Bob Johnson, Rick Dickinson, Steve Rebora, President
of Desman Associates, Jeff Henriksen, Desman Associates, Dave Heiar, Aaron
DeJong, along with you and me.
At the end of a very productive meeting, it was felt by everyone that the best
location for the ramp at this time was the 10t" and Central site to the north of Fire
Headquarters. The current design is providing for a ramp seven levels high with
a capacity of 475 cars with a net gain of 352 vehicles. The ramp is not designed
for vertical expansion, but will be designed for horizontal expansion should the
fire headquarters ever relocate. On this site, we will also as part of this project,
add three double bays to the current Fire Headquarters as rear access to the
current building will be lost due to the ramp. It was felt that this site would
accommodate the downtown demand generators and also benefit the Millwork
District in providing parking for social/retail events held in that area in the
evenings and on weekends.
In light of the anticipated absence of additional funding in the near future, I also
think that it is reasonable to believe we will only have the financial ability to build
one ramp for the time being until either a portion of the current debt service is
retired or additional unexpected funding becomes available. Due to this,
believe it was prudent and very productive to have this group meet and make the
subsequent recommendation to you to adjust the site selection.
We have approximately $200,000 invested in the design and geological testing
for the site at 5t" and Bluff. I believe that this remains a viable site for future
expansion so we will retain the plans and specifications that have been
completed for this site for future growth of the parking system.
In conversations I have had with Desman Associates, they are projecting a work
schedule that indicates a completion time of late March of 2011. As part of this
adjustment, we have a substantial amount of utility relocation that has to be
completed. We will coordinate all of these moves and work with Alliant,
Mediacom, Black Hills Energy and City departments. There is a large water main
located in the alley that will have to be relocated.
New Parking Ramp Construction Location
November 30, 2009
Page I I I
So, some of our forward movement on this project will be dependent on
scheduling from those agencies and departments.
At the current time, we have sold bonds for the project and have $9.2 million in
hand for the project and as indicated, we are anticipating approximately $1.5
million from the EDA grant and utility funds related to relocation. At the current
time, with very few amenities except public restrooms, there should be sufficient
funding for this site.
Requested Action
am requesting your approval or direction on how to proceed with the
construction of the proposed parking structure.
I would be happy to, answer any questions or provide any additional information
you need.
cc: Dave Heiar, Economic Development Director