Federal Legislative Priorities 2010THE CITY OF Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: 2010 Federal Legislative Priorities
DATE: December 17, 2009
Assistant City Manager Teri Goodmann has worked with the Department Managers to
develop a set of recommended 2010 Federal Legislative Priorities.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully recommend Mayor and City Council
adoption of the 2010 Federal Legislative Priorities.
t
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
THE CITY OF
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2010 Federal Legislative Priorities
1. TRANSPORTATION
Southwest Arterial Project
The Dubuque City Council, the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors, the Dubuque
Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (DMATS), the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
and the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation have all identified the completion of the
Southwest Arterial project as the No. 1 surface transportation priority in the Dubuque area.
The proposed Southwest Arterial project will be a 6.1-mile four-lane divided freeway with
priority 1-access control between Highway 61/151 and Highway 20.
Based on future traffic demand projections, as outlined in the Dubuque Metropolitan Area
Transportation Study (DMATS) Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Central Avenue
(Hwy 52/3), South Grandview Avenue and Kelly Lane are forecasted to be over capacity by
2012. The Southwest Arterial will provide an alternate, direct and efficient route for traffic
through southwestern Dubuque, thereby reducing traffic congestion on the local street
system, including Central Avenue (Hwy 52/3) through the downtown and Kelly Lane that is
through a residential neighborhood. The Southwest Arterial project will also relieve
congestion and improve safety on Highway 61/151 and Highway 20 through Dubuque.
Traffic Congestion on Local Street Network
Economic Development
The Southwest Arterial project will provide a significant national and regional economic
benefit in providing a direct connection between the new Dubuque Technology Park on
Highway 61/151 with the new Dubuque Industrial Center West, and the existing
Dubuque Industrial Center near Highway 20. The highway then extends north to John
Deere Dubuque Works via the Iowa Highway 32 (Northwest Arterial).
Southwest Arterial
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Dubuque City Limits
Southwest Arterial Roadway Alignment
Since October 2001, 16 companies have made expansion decisions at the Dubuque
Industrial Center West, based upon assurances that the proposed Southwest Arterial
was in the engineering design phase and that the project would be in the Iowa
Department of Transportation five-year plan. The largest of the companies, McGraw-
Hill Publishing Company, made a decision to locate a new 330,000-square-foot
distribution center in the Dubuque Industrial Center West. The completion of Southwest
Arterial is vital to other expansion announcements: Alliant Energy, Adams Company,
Art's Way Manufacturing, American Tank & Fabrication, Giese Manufacturing, Tri-State
Industries, Kendall/Hunt Publishing, Oral Arts Laboratories, Dubuque Screw Products,
Theisen's Supply, Medline Industries, Vanguard Countertops, Hormel Food Corp, and
ITC Holding Corp. Other nationally recognized local companies asking for a connection
between Highway 20 and Highway 61/151 include John Deere Dubuque Works,
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Nordstrom Distribution Center, A.Y. McDonald Manufacturing, Swiss Valley Farms,
Flexsteel Industries, and Dubuque Stamping and Manufacturing.
Dubuque is the regional economic center for the Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin tri-state
area. With local international companies such as the John Deere Dubuque Works,
Nordstrom Distribution Center, McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, A.Y. McDonald
Manufacturing, Flexsteel Industries, Kendall/Hunt Publishing, and the Hormel Food
Corporation, it is critical to construct the Southwest Arterial as an alternate, direct route
for commercial traffic through southwestern Dubuque. The Southwest Arterial project
will significantly improve the efficiency and safety of the regional highway transportation
network that is vital for the statewide, national and global distribution of local commerce
and the continued growth and sustainability of the strong regional economy.
Mobility Benefits
The Southwest Arterial project will connect two growing sections of the community
together and will support future anticipated expansion growth to the southwest of the
City toward the Dubuque Regional Airport. The Southwest Arterial will also provide an
efficient bypass around the City thereby reducing travel times and minimizing delay by
reducing traffic volumes and congestion on the local street system, including Central
Avenue (Hwy 52/3), Rockdale Road, Kelly Lane, Fremont, Cedar Cross Road, Starlight
and Crescent Ridge. Traffic wishing to travel beyond Dubuque will be able to take the
Southwest Arterial bypass around the City which will provide significant travel time
savings by avoiding the numerous signalized intersections on Highway 61/151, Highway
20 and Central Avenue (Hwy 52/3) through Dubuque.
Environmental Benefits
The Southwest Arterial project will provide an alternate, direct and efficient route for
traffic through southwestern Dubuque, which will provide significant travel time savings
by avoiding the numerous signalized intersections on Highway 61/151, Highway 20 and
Central Avenue (Hwy 52/3) through Dubuque, thereby providing fuel energy savings,
reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality. The Southwest Arterial project will
be designed and constructed with forward thinking sustainability initiative incorporated,
which will include an environmentally and resource sensitive highway corridor, an
integrated bike/pedestrian trail with amenities, and Intelligent Transportation System
(ITS) technology.
Project Development -Current Status
The preliminary engineering design phase was completed in March, 2008 by Earth
Tech, Inc. and now the Southwest Arterial project is now proceeding with the final
engineering design phase, right-of-way property acquisition and archaeological and
cultural resource phase III mitigation work.
Property Acquisition
The City has entered into a joint partnership agreement between the City and the Iowa
DOT to perform right-of-way property acquisition services for the Southwest Arterial
Project.
On April 17, 2009, the City officially requested Iowa DOT and FHWA approval and
authorization to proceed with right-of-way property acquisition for the development of
the Southwest Arterial Project. On September 10, 2009, the City received official Iowa
DOT notification that the FHWA has given approval and authorization to proceed with
right-of-way property acquisition.
The Iowa DOT property acquisition staff began contacting property owners to begin
acquisition negotiations. As of December, 2009, the City has obtaining signed purchase
contracts from 12 property owners and acquisition negotiations are ongoing with
numerous other property owners.
Both the City and the Iowa DOT have committed to fully expend all ARRA funding first
to acquire available properties and the remainder of the acquisitions will be funded
using the federal SAFETEA-LU appropriations. Based on the projected schedule and
the time required for acquisition per property, the City is optimistic that all ARRA funding
could be requisitioned by the spring of 2010.
Final Engineering Design
On March 2, 2009, the City approved the selection of AECOM to complete the final
engineering design phase. On August 27th, 2009, the City received official Iowa DOT
notification that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has given approval for the
AECOM Consultant Professional Services Agreement and authorization to proceed with
Final Design phase. AECOM has agreed to commit and allocate the necessary
resources to "fast track" the final design phases of the project and complete the interim
two-lane highway design in 12 months.
Archaeological and Cultural Resource Mitigation
The City will also begin the archaeological and cultural resource mitigation phase of the
project. As properties are acquired, mitigation work will be completed prior to the start of
construction.
Project Fast Track
In an attempt to accelerate the right-of-way acquisition and the final design process, the
City is evaluating several options to potentially "fast track" the next phases of the project
so that the Southwest Arterial project is favorably positioned to potentially take
advantage of any future state or federal economic stimulus funding packages; or to be
included in Iowa's Five-Year Highway Transportation Improvement Program; or the new
Federal Transportation Bill.
Federal Funding
As a result of hard work from Dubuque's congressional delegation, the Federal
Transportation Bill (SAFETEA-LU) presented a new opportunity for funding.
Congressman Nussle included into the House version of the bill $20 million. In
Conference Committee, the appropriation amount was reduced to $15 million and then
U.S. Senator Grassley was able to get the amount increased to $26.18 million. The
approved SAFETEA-LU Bill includes funding for the Southwest Arterial in the amount of
$26.18 million. The City extends its sincere appreciation to Congressman Nussle, and
U.S. Senators Grassley and Harkin for targeting this project with federal appropriation
authorization, which will play a critical role in moving forward with this project.
The Technical Corrections Bill was passed which authorized $5.5 million in unused
SAFETEA-LU grant funding for the U.S. 20 Bridge to be transferred of the Southwest
Arterial project.
Through the support and partnership of U.S. Senator Harkin, U.S. Senator Grassley and
Congressman Braley, the City was awarded a $950,000 appropriation as part of the
Omnibus Bill.
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the City and County
have committed all of the local transportation funding, $2.9 million, for the completion of
the Southwest Arterial. On April 6, 2009, the City of Dubuque officially informed the
Iowa DOT of the City's intention to appropriate all of the local transportation funding
distribution as part of the ARRA funding for the acquisition of right-of-way property for
the Southwest Arterial project.
The following table summarizes the appropriated federal funding to-date for the Iowa
Highway 32 (Southwest Arterial) project.
Status Amount
SAFETEA - LU ($26,180,000 Appropriation)
Committed $ 23,582,825
Technical Corrections Bill - US20 Mississippi Bridge
SAFETEA-LU $5,500,000 transferred to SW Arterial
FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
Total Federal Funding:
* After SAFETEA-LU obligation limitations applied
Committed $ 4,973,375
Committed $ 950,000
Committed $ 2,909,534
$ 32,415,734
The City of Dubuque and Dubuque County in partnership with U.S. Senator Harkin, U.S.
Senator Grassley and Congressman Braley have submitted an FY2010 Transportation
Appropriation Request in the amount of $2 million which will be used to complete the
final engineering design phase, complete the property acquisition process, and to
complete the archaeological and cultural resource phase III mitigation work. Future
requested funds will be used for construction of the project.
State of Iowa Funding
At the June 9, 2009 Iowa Department of Transportation Commission Meeting, the
Commission approved the upcoming Iowa 5-Year Highway Transportation Improvement
Program which included $17.76 Million in funding programmed for the Southwest
Arterial Interchange at US Highway 20 and Seippel Road.
5-Year Highway Transportation Improvement Program Committed $ 17,760,000
Total State Funding:
$ 17,760,000
Local Funding
The Iowa DOT Commission has challenged both the City and County to provide a local
financial commitment and seek local funding for this project and pursue all viable
options to fund the shortfall. The City and County have met the challenge and have
identified $15.8 million in local funds that could be used as matching cost for current
and future federal funding appropriations. The Southwest Arterial project continues to
be a top priority; therefore, other funding strategies are being evaluated to ensure that
this project moves forward.
The Southwest Arterial project has been part of the State TIP for the past ten years and
continues to be because the local Metropolitan Planning Organization, DMATS, has
committed $5.4 million in Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds and dedicated
local Enhancement funds of approximately $550,000 through 2013 for the project.
The City has allocated the use of DMATS STP funding on eligible City street
construction and traffic capacity /safety related improvement projects that will allow
local funds to be transferred to the Southwest Arterial Project and used as matching
cost for the federal funds. Staff has identified approximately $4.6 million in local project
funds that could be shifted using DMATS STP funds that would allow the leveraging of
approximately $18.4 million in federal dollars.
With the passage of a funding mechanism for TIME-21, the City and the County have
agreed to dedicate their revenues as local matching dollars to leverage the expenditure
of Federal funds. Based on preliminary projections, the City and County could receive
approximately $4.9 million over the next six years, which would allow the leveraging of
approximately $19.6 million in federal dollars.
On May 14, 2009, Governor Chet Culver signed the $715 million Iowa Jobs (I-JOBS)
Program into law. Based on the funding distribution, the City will receive an
appropriation in the amount of $558,967. On May 18, 2009, the City Council approved
the commitment of all I-JOBS funding to the Southwest Arterial project.
The following table summarizes the local funding appropriated to-date for the Southwest
Arterial project.
Local Funding
Status Amount
DMATS STP Funds
DMATS Enhancement Funds
City -Capital Improvement Funding (2009 - 20~4~
TIME-21 Funding (City /County Allocation)
I-JOBS Funding (City Allocation)
Total Local Funding:
Committed
Committed
$ 5,400,000
$ 550,000
Committed $ 4,600,0001
Committed
$ 4,700,0001
Committed $ 558,9671
$ 15,808,967
Project Cost
Due to project funding constraints, the Project Technical Committee has been preparing
cost scenarios and evaluating construction alternatives for completing components of
the project with currently available federal, state and local funding.
Total Funding Projection Summary
Total Federal Funds
Total State Funds
1 Total Local Funds
Status Amount
Committed $ 32,415,734 1
Committed $ 17,760,0001
Committed $ 15,808,9671
Total Federal /State /Local Funding:
$ 65,984,701
An alternate interim phase under consideration would include the acquisition of all right-
of-way required for the complete four-lane project, complete the archaeological and
cultural resource mitigation phases, complete final engineering design which would
provide for the grading of four-lanes between Highway 151/61 to Highway 20, pave two-
lane highway between Highway 151/61 to Highway 20, partial interchanges at Highway
151/61 and at Highway 20, and a temporary at-grade intersection at North Cascade
Road. The preliminary cost projection for the interim two-lane highway is $98,300,000.
Interim Build, Grade 4-Lane, Pave 2-Lane, Highway 20 to 61/151 $ 98,300,000
Total Federal /State /Local Funding: $ 65,984,701
Interim Project, 2-Lane Highway -Funding Gap: - $ 32,315,299
At current funding levels, there is a $32.3 million funding shortfall for the Southwest
Arterial to complete the interim two-lane highway between Highway 20 and Highway
61/151.
The interim two-lane highway would function until future additional funding is available
to complete the remaining two-lanes and construct full interchanges which would fully
complete the four-lane divided freeway and should provide a reasonable level of traffic
service through the year 2015. The preliminary cost projection for the complete four-
lane freeway project is $125,000,000.
Complete Project, 4-Lane Freeway, Highway 20 to 61/151 $ 125,000,000
Total Federal /State /Local Funding: $ 65,984,701
Complete Project, 4-Lane Freeway -Funding Gap: - $ 59,015,299
At current funding levels, there is a $59 million funding shortfall for the Southwest
Arterial to complete the full build four-lane freeway project between Hwy 20 and Hwy
61/151. This project continues to be a top priority; therefore, other strategies are being
evaluated to insure that this project moves forward.
Future Funding Initiatives
The City requests any additional financial assistance that can be provided on the federal
level, as well as supporting of transferring the remaining unused Federal appropriated
SAFETEA-LU funds ($20 million) from the U.S. Highway 20 / Julien Dubuque Bridge
project to the Southwest Arterial.
Capacity Improvements - U.S. Highway 20
The U.S. Hwy 20/Julien Dubuque Bridge spans the Mississippi River and provides one
eastbound and one westbound lane of traffic. On either side of the river, the highway
immediately expands to four or more lanes. The result is a bottleneck in traffic on both
sides of the bridge. This link is part of an east-west connection between Dubuque and
other communities. To the east: Galena, III.; Rockford, III.; and Chicago. To the west:
Waterloo, Iowa and the I-35 interchange. The U.S. Hwy 20 Project has been a very
high priority with the City Council and the Metropolitan Planning Organization, DMATS.
The City of Dubuque truly appreciates the $35 million federal commitment obtained by
Congressman Nussle in 1998, which has allowed the Mississippi River Bridge
component of this project to complete Environmental Assessment, Location Alignment,
Preliminary & Final Design and R.O.W Acquisition. Right-of-way acquisition is complete
on the Iowa side ($6.5 Million). Right-of-way acquisition is ongoing on the Illinois side
($5 Million Est.).
The Iowa Department of Transportation selected the firm of Parsons of Chicago, Illinois,
in conjunction with WHKS of Dubuque, to complete the preliminary and final design of
the bridge crossing, roadway approaches, and landscape improvements.
Realizing that the State of Illinois has no commitment with the next ten years to the
Mississippi River Bridge expansion part of this project, the Technical Corrections Bill
was passed which authorized $5.5 million in unused SAFETEA-LU grant funding for the
U.S. Hwy 20/Julien Dubuque Bridge to be transferred of the Iowa Highway 32
(Southwest Arterial) project. The City extends its sincere appreciation for all the hard
work and support in getting the Technical Corrections Bill approved.
The Iowa Department of Transportation has informed the City that they anticipate there
will be a $20 million surplus in the SAFETEA-LU grant funding for the U.S. Hwy
20/Julien Dubuque Bridge and as a result the City requests the support of our federal
partners in the transfer of unused SAFETEA-LU funding to the Southwest Arterial
project.
The City supports the 4-laning of Highway 20 to Chicago.
Dubuaue Reaional Airport
Our primary objective is to get a multiyear AIP funding Bill in place. The House and
Senate both need to take action to develop a bill that focuses on airports, air traffic
control services, and modernization in order for airports and the FAA to properly
implement their capital projects.
The Airport Commission and Dubuque City Council adopted a new Master Plan in 2005
which identified $74,644,846 in near and long term improvement needs. Our immediate
attention is focused on a new terminal facility. We estimate that $34,000,000 will be
required to design the facility, construct the building and the ancillary taxiways, roadway
access, and vehicle parking lots. We plan to utilize all available funds to finance this
project. The single largest source of project funding is AIP entitlement and discretionary
grants from the Federal Aviation Administration. Every year we delay this project adds
$750,000 to $1 million to our total project cost.
With the expiration of VISION 100 at the end of fiscal year 2007, aviation programs
which set spending levels for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), Essential Air
Service, Small Community Development Grants, Facilities and Equipment, and other
programs that develop and maintain facilities at airports around the country are
attempting to function on continuing resolutions. Also expired is the funding mechanism
for the Airway and Airport Trust Fund, so reauthorization discussions must include
debate over funding mechanisms for the trust fund.
Vision 100, had provided the needed federal aviation funding for the years 2004-2007
and had worked well for the Dubuque Regional Airport. We would like to see the
following components and modifications of that program remain in place:
The AIP program has played a significant role in maintaining and enhancing the safety
and growth of the air transportation system through funding a wide range of airside
projects at airports. The Dubuque Regional Airport supports full funding of the AIP
program at $3.8 billion, increasing each year by $100 million.
Other key issues under discussion will include the length of reauthorization, local match
requirements, the level of general fund contributions to cover FAA operations, and the
long-needed modernization of the national airspace system.
At a minimum, federal reauthorization of aviation programs should include:
1. A five year reauthorization period.
2. Full funding of Airport Improvement Program (AIP) starting at $3.8B annually with
$100M increases every year throughout the reauthorization period.
3. Maintaining primary entitlements within the AIP program at 95%.
4. Maintaining the current fuel and ticket tax structure.
5. Full funding of the Small Community Air Service Grant program.
6. Fund the Contract Tower Program.
7. Authorize AIP funds to be used to develop revenue generating facilities at non-
hub airports.
8. Increase the Passenger Facility collection level to $7.50 and index it to inflation.
Contract Tower Funding:
Following the 1981 PATCO strike, the Reagan Administration implemented a gradual
privatization of Air Traffic Control Towers. This has been rather successful. The
Dubuque tower is operated by a private firm on contract with the Federal Aviation
Administration. Continued funding is always in question. Dubuque has the 3rd busiest
airport in Iowa. Safety and common sense dictates continued funding of the contract
tower program or restoration of FAA staffing. If the community had to fund the tower,
the costs are estimated in excess of $650,000 annually.
Passenger Facility Charges:
The current collection amount of $4.50 per enplaned passenger is not indexed to
inflation and restricts the amount of money collected for large capital projects.
Increasing the PFC to $7.50 and indexing it to inflation would ensure long term funding
viability for even the smallest of commercial service airports. Allowing these funds to be
used for revenue generating items like parking lots, airline offices, etc. would
significantly reduce the impact on smaller airports and their sponsors.
Air Service Development Proaram:
The Department of Transportation manages the Small Community Air Service
Development Program Grant. This grant helps small and non-hub airports with
monetary support of airline recruitment endeavors. The Department of Transportation's
grant application has very restrictive guidelines, which limit airport participation to one-
time projects. If those methods work to attract one carrier, you may not seek a grant to
offer the same incentives to another carrier. Eliminating that restriction would allow
communities to implement previously viable methods for recruiting new/expanded air
service.
We will continue to submit grant applications for funding of air service initiatives to our
community. In 2009, our focus is to stabilize our air service with increased marketing
and local emphasis on our existing air carrier.
Terminal Facility:
The existing terminal building is significantly undersized to meet future passenger
demands. With the added requirements of security, the existing space is not large
enough to efficiently handle current peak passenger loads.
The Master Plan identified a new location for a modern Airline Terminal. This facility will
be centrally located between the two primary runways separate from general aviation
activities. New parking lots (currently excluded from funding), and entry roads will be
needed as well as ancillary taxiways and aircraft ramp space will be constructed. The
land for this expansion was acquired in 2009.
Now that the land acquisition, has been completed the preliminary design phase has
begin. The $25, 000,000 of funding for this project will come from the Federal Aviation
Administration via Airport Improvement Program (AIP) entitlement and discretionary
grants.
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Bike/Hike Trail Svstem in the City of Dubuque, Iowa
The City of Dubuque is an active participant in long range planning for a comprehensive
bike/hike trail system that will provide multi-modal transportation for the Dubuque metro
area. The plan calls for abike/hike network to encourage recreation and wellness,
provide safe routes to school, and promote alternative modes of transportation to help
reduce air pollution and roadway congestion. The intent is to develop safe, paved trails,
with a corresponding website and maps, plus restrooms, benches and bike racks.
Completion of the bike/hike trail system will add to the region's reputation as a tourist
destination for both the State of Iowa and the tri-state area.
The City's initial investment in the citywide bike/hike network has created a 10.5-mile
on-street Heritage Trail RiverFront System through many of the community's targeted
neighborhoods and the central business district. These areas have a higher than
average concentration of racial and ethnic minorities, low and moderate income
households, rental units, single-parent households, and elderly persons than the city at
large.
The Dubuque County Heritage Trail and the City of Dubuque's Heritage Trail Extension
are part of the backbone system of the State Recreational Trail Plan. The City's
Heritage Trail system is part of the designated route for the Mississippi River Trail
(MRT) through Iowa. The MRT is a 2,000-mile bike trail system being developed
through the river cities and river landscapes in the ten states along the Mississippi River
from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico.
The City has along-standing commitment to a citywide bike/hike network that is
accessible to all segments of the general population, including minorities, the elderly,
and persons with disabilities. All City bike/hike trail projects comply with ADA and
AASHTO guidelines for recreational trail facilities. All City bike/hike trails are open to
the public free of charge.
Since 1995, the City has has a successful funding partnership with the Iowa Department
of Transportation (IDOT) for the planning, design, engineering, and construction of on-
street and off-road bike/hike trails in Dubuque. The City also has successfully partnered
with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for land acquisition, design,
engineering, and construction of off-road trails.
Since 2005, the City of Dubuque has been an active participant in the Envision 2010
grass roots effort to create an integrated walking, biking, hiking trail system for the tri-
state area. In August 2008, the DMATS Policy Committee adopted the Tri-State Area
Integrated Walking, Biking, Hiking Network Plan. The Plan includes the urbanized
areas of Dubuque County. The City of East Dubuque and Jo Daviess County in Illinois
and Grant County in Wisconsin are served by DMATS. In May, 2009, the City of
Dubuque also adopted the Tri-State Trail Plan.
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FEMA Reauest to chance preliminary DFIRM (Diaital Flood Insurance Rate Map)
Introduction
The City of Dubuque is requesting that the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) remove new flood areas from the preliminary DFIRM (Digital Flood Insurance
Rate Map). Without the use of standard engineering computer model. FEMA has
proposed a DFIRM that would significantly expand the number of properties in
the city designated as being in a regulated flood plain from 70 structures to over
1,700 structures! Adoption of the proposed DFIRM would place a heavy financial
burden on approximately 1,400 low to moderate income households resulting in
neighborhood disinvestment and decline.
Background
On July 15, 2009, the City of Dubuque received the preliminary DFIRM and the FIS
(Flood Insurance Study) Report as part of FEMA's Flood Map Modernization Program.
The program is designed to update on a nationwide basis the flood insurance rate maps
of member communities and counties in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
The City of Dubuque was the first community in Iowa to join the NFIP on April 2, 1971.
The City's current flood insurance rate map is from 1989. The City has regulated
floodplain development since 1990. The City of Dubuque has been very conscientious
in its application of the NFIP requirements. The City has never approved a variance
from the NFIP requirements. The City has not allowed a single new residential structure
to be built in any flood hazard area. The only new structures built in flood hazard areas
have been commercial structures elevated and/or flood proofed in compliance with the
NFIP requirements.
Discussion
Enclosed is a map that indicates new flood zones for Zone A (no base flood elevations
determined) and Zone AE (base flood elevations determined) proposed by FEMA.
These zones mark the 100-year flood plain. In addition, this map shows the 500-year
flood plain and Zone X. Zone X is areas outside the 500-year flood plain and areas
protected by the City's floodwall.
General Impact on Properties
The most significant impact of having a property in a flood plain is that new construction,
new additions and even the existing structures may have to be elevated or flood proofed
as part of any substantial improvement to a property. In Zone A, base flood elevations
(BFEs) haven't been determined, so the property owner first must hire an engineer to
determine the BFEs in order to determine how high an addition or a new structure must
be elevated.
Flood insurance will be required by a commercial lender if the property owner
refinances an existing structure or buys a structure in a flood plain. Flood insurance for
properties in a flood plain is higher than flood insurance for properties outside a flood
plain. For example, flood insurance for a single family home with a value of $75,000
and contents valued at $30,000 would cost about $260 annually outside a flood area.
This insurance rises to about $844 annually for the same home in a designated flood
area -and this assumes a $2,000 deductible for both home and contents!
Concerns with New North End Flood Zones
We are concerned with all of the new Zone A areas on the DFIRM. We are particularly
concerned about the new Zone A in the North End. The North End includes some of
the city's oldest housing (dating from the late 1800's) and long-standing businesses and
industries. These neighborhoods have a higher percentage of low to moderate
households and racial and ethnic minorities than the city as a whole.
The City has focused reinvestment efforts in these neighborhoods, and installed
upstream storm water management facilities to alleviate problems with the storm water
system. Delineation of these neighborhoods as a Zone A flood hazard area will reverse
the progress we've made. The Zone A designation will result in neighborhood
disinvestment and blighting conditions.
Placing this burden on 1,400 property owners in the new Zone A areas is
unacceptable.
Inadequate Studv
The large Zone A for the North End reflects the City's Drainage Basin Master Plan
findings on flooding related to the Bee Branch storm sewer. The City's Drainage Basin
Master Plan was intended to address storm sewer conveyance problems -not flooding
associated with a creek or river. These types of urban storm water problems are
common throughout the U.S. The history of localized street flooding and basement
flooding experienced in the North End does not rise to the level of being designated as
a regulatory flood plain.
The City's Drainage Basin Master Plan is a planning study; it did not detail precisely
which structures would be impacted. It identifies a generalized area that appears to be
at risk from storm sewer backups or overflows. We believe that FEMA is identifying a
storm sewer problem rather than a flooding issue connected with a flood plain along a
stream or river.
City staff provided FEMA with data and information on planned drainage basin
improvements like the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project as well as storm water
improvements such as the Carter Road dam and 32"d Street detention areas that
address existing storm water issues.
City staff held a conference call with FEMA staff and their engineering consultants on
October 22, 2009. FEMA staff acknowledged they did not use a standard model for the
new Zone A areas. They discussed that FEMA was using new modeling, and it was not
done to an engineering standard that would enable BFEs to be published. FEMA has
limited funding to do an engineering study that would determine BFEs.
We hoped this information would help remove properties from the flood plain proposed
for the North End. Unfortunately, it appears that FEMA will map the North End without
adequate study.
If FEMA does not have the funding to do an engineering study correctly, using
sufficiently sophisticated models to produce BFEs, then no new flood areas should be
mapped. The burden of determining the base flood elevations (BFEs) must rest
with FEMA, not the citizens of Dubuque. The City of Dubuque requests that FEMA
show all new Zone A areas with BFEs determined, so that they are converted to Zone
AE areas on the DFIRM - if in fact these even are special flood hazard areas.
The shallow flooding experienced in the new Zone A areas on the preliminary DFIRM is
due to local drainage problems with the capacity of the City's storm sewer system.
These areas do not rise to the level of a regulatory flood plain, and should not be
mapped as Zone A by FEMA. Increasing Dubuque's inventory of structures in the
flood plain from 70 to over 1,700 through non-standard mapping would be a
mistake as it would place a heavy financial burden on approximately 1,400 low to
moderate income households resulting in neighborhood disinvestment and
decline.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Laura Carstens,
Community Flood Plain Administrator at 563.589.4210 or Icarsten(a~citvofdubuaue.orq.
A - No Base Flood Elevations Determined
AE -Base Flood Elevations Determined
500 Year Flood Plain
X -Outside of 500 Year Flood Plain
Amtrak Funding
Vision
To return commuter rail service between the City of Dubuque and the Chicago area.
History
In 2005, under the leadership of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque,
discussion began on how to engage tri-state area citizens in a community visioning
process. A Selection Committee was formed to coordinate this community-wide effort in
developing a variety of ideas for the future of greater Dubuque and facilitate Envision
2010: Ten Community Projects by 2010. Although Dubuque is relatively
homogeneous, every effort was made to achieve diversity on the Selection Committee
by age, gender, race, ability, and disability. After the Selection Committee chose 100
ideas, the community came together again to participate in a town meeting where
citizens voted for their preferred choices and narrowed the list to 30 ideas. The
Selection Committee then narrowed the list to 10high-impact ideas for greater
Dubuque. Having commuter rail service between Dubuque and Chicago is one of
the top ten final ideas from the Envision 2010. Because it is one of the top ten Envision
ideas, a Passenger Rail committee has been created to ensure this vision becomes a
reality.
In 2006, the Envision 2010 Passenger Rail committee in Dubuque, IA, joined the
Blackhawk Area Rail Coalition (BARC) in their endeavor to re-establish passenger rail
service from Chicago, Illinois to the city of Dubuque. BARC is an Illinois coalition
focused on getting rail service between Chicago, Galena and East Dubuque and is
working as a citizen's committee under the leadership of the Midwest High Speed Rail
Association. With the Association's guidance and directive, BARC has captured the
attention of the Illinois legislature and Amtrak in a positive manner.
Current Status
Commuter rail service ended in the Dubuque area in 1981. The Envision 2010 Rail
Committee views returning passenger rail to Dubuque from Chicago as an alternate
form of transportation and a major influence on the continued economic and tourism
growth of the Dubuque and surrounding area. With the assistance from the State of
Illinois, a feasibility study conducted by Amtrak was recently completed with the study
focusing on the city of Dubuque as the final destination from Chicago. Amtrak has
expressed interest in Dubuque as a final destination point because of the riverfront
developments in the City. Dubuque would provide Amtrak a port of entry to Eastern and
central Iowa.
The Feasibility study outlines capital cost and infrastructure costs that include track,
station, platform and equipment for Amtrak service to Dubuque. The study also
provides ridership estimation, revenues and operating costs for the service.
The City of Dubuque, along with several other Iowa Communities, and the Iowa
Department of Transportation have established a working group to promote State
(IDOT) funding for Passenger rail service. The City anticipates hiring consultant to
evaluate potential rail station sites in the Port of Dubuque and to prepare cost estimates
for the needed improvements.
Challenges
The City and Dubuque Metropolitan Transportation Study (DMATS) continue to support
the return of Amtrak to Dubuque from Chicago. However, funding challenges exist for
providing a station and platform for the train. Amtrak requires that the local community
commit to funding those costs. The consultant estimated the initial capital costs at
$900,000.
The return of Amtrak to Dubuque could partner well with another of the City of
Dubuque's priorities, the planned intermodal facility in the port of Dubuque. Amtrak
looks favorably on intermodal facilities for train stations; however, as stated earlier, it is
up to the local community to commit to those costs.
We request the delegation's support in assisting with the return of Amtrak rail service to
Dubuque from Chicago by providing funding to assist with the infrastructure
improvements such as the train station.
Canadian Pacific Railwav Companv -Control - DM&E Railroad
On September 30, 2008, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) approved the
acquisition of the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) by the Canadian
Pacific Railway (CP). The requirement of conducting environmental impact studies and
providing any necessary mitigation prior to building in to the Wyoming Powder River
Basin (PRB) was passed from the DM&E to the CP.
Overpasses Required for City as a Result of Increased Rail Traffic
The City is concerned that if the CP decides to build into the PRB rail traffic will
increase exponentially. The existing at-grade railroad crossings will be blocked
more often and for longer periods of time, thus reducing public safety by
eliminating uninterrupted emergency response routes. The City's east -west
vehicular traffic corridors will be essentially crippled. As a result, the City
requests that the impacts be mitigated by mandating that the CP be required to
construct elevated structure overpasses at 16th Street, to provide access to the
Kerper Industrial Park, and at Charter Street, to provide access to the Port of
Dubuque developed area. Based on the findings of the mandated Environmental
Impact Study, other elevated structure overpasses may also be required within
the City.
Transit Suaport
The City of Dubuque supports Congressional control of funding allocations from the
Discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities Program (5309) to maintain and improve the area
public transit service, and asks for your support of the $7 million allocated to Iowa buses
statewide as presented in the Senate version of the FY 2009 Transportation, Housing
and Urban Development Appropriations bill.
2. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE - SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The City of Dubuque identified Sustainable City designation as one of its top priorities in
2006. Since then, multiple strategies and practices have been implemented to make
Dubuque a more sustainable community. The City is a member of Climate
Communities, and joins all of its members in supporting local government action on
climate change as essential for America to achieve energy independence, renew
economic prosperity and preserve biodiversity Federal policies must empower local
governments with the tools and resources to respond to the climate challenge. We
request your support in achieving the following goals of the Climate Action Blueprint.
Enact an economic recovery policy that creates green jobs by:
• • Providing $18 billion for local transit infrastructure projects.
Enact a national climate policy that:
• Invests the proceeds from carbon trading into local government actions that reduce
emissions through green buildings; transit, smart growth complete streets and other
VMT reduction strategies; green local fleets and fuels; renewable energy; including
anaerobic digestion green infrastructure; andresuse, recycling and composting
green jobs and businesses.
Implement clean energy policies that:
• Reduce building energy use by 30 percent by 2025 by establishing national building
efficiency targets and providing annual funding to help local governments meet or
exceed the national targets; and
• Produce 25 percent of the nation's power from renewable energy by 2025 through
renewable portfolio standards, and measures to overcome interconnection and rate
barriers to community-scale renewables.
Invest in local climate capacity through annual federal appropriations that:
• Fully fund the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants at $2 billion annually;
• Provide $250 million annually for EPA Local Climate Demonstration Grants;
• Provide $400 million annually for the DOE Clean Cities program to support low
emission vehicles and cleaner fuels including alternative fuels infrastructure and plug-
in hybrid vehicles; and
• Provide $100 million annually for the Forest Service's Urban and Community
Forestry program.
Transform the nation's transportation strategy by:
• Substantially increasing federal resources for public transit;
• Supporting local initiatives to reduce vehicle-dependence and use including resources
for smart growth and transit-oriented development, VMT reduction planning and
implementation, walkability programs, bikeways and greenways, infill and brownfields
revitalization, and reuse of historic and existing buildings; and
• Funding low-emission busses, clean local fleets, and local alternative fuels
infrastructure.
Create American green jobs and green businesses by:
• Creating a $500 million "Climate Prosperity" demonstration grant program that directs
Economic Development Administration, HUD, Small Business Administration, and
USDA Rural Development funding to support local economic development strategies
that produce green businesses and green jobs; especially by converting currently
wasted materials being land filled to beneficial use through recycling composting and
anaerobic digestion.
• Fully funding the Green Jobs Act of 2007 at $125 million annually to support worker
training in emerging manufacturing and hi-tech sectors; and
• Creating an "Energy Conservation Corps" service program to empower young
Americans to be part of new clean energy solutions.
Build self-reliant communities that are prepared for climate impacts by:
• Creating a federal interagency task force on Climate Resiliency and Community
Preparedness to produce a federal action plan for (a) national research and
development; (b) local technical assistance; and (c) new protocols for
intergovernmental collaboration at local, state, regional and federal levels;
• Expanding the FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation program to $500 million annually to
support local government initiatives to address climate impacts;
• Expanding NOAA's Coastal Zone Management Act and climate programs to directly
support local climate adaptation planning and implementation; and
• Fostering and funding local efforts to support families and populations most vulnerable
to climate impacts. Including infrastructure improvements for local food production
processing and marketing
HUD Energy Action Plan
The City of Dubuque Housing & Community Development Department Energy Program
can help stretch the value of HUD and other funds by encouraging energy efficiency
during renovation projects. Ensuring energy efficiency will maximize the value of
CDBG, HOME, HOPE, and other HUD funds. This is especially important to the
Dubuque community as there is a higher percentage of older, energy-inefficient housing
stock.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working with the Department of Energy
(DOE) in this Partnership to expand efforts to promote ENERGY STAR products and
appliances. ENERGY STAR is agovernment-backed program that helps businesses
and individuals identify energy efficient products, appliances, and homes to protect the
environment and save energy. As a key part of this initiative, HUD, DOE, and EPA are
teaming up to grow Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, a whole house retrofit
program to provides technical assistance to local programs that promote wise home
energy use; in turn reducing the community's energy intensity and decrease
greenhouse gas emissions.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) developed the HUD
Department-Wide Energy Action Plan, which was approved in April 2002. The HUD
Energy Action Plan implementation is aimed at reducing HUD's $4 billion "energy bill"
by promoting energy efficiency in approximately five million units assisted, insured, or
financed by HUD. The Energy Action Plan includes 21 measures aimed at upgrading
the energy efficiency of existing and new housing, using an established inventory of
proven energy-efficient products and appliances that can be put to work immediately
through existing programs.
3. HISTORIC MILLWORK DISTRICT
Dubuque's Historic Millwork District is a major community revitalization effort to create
an urban mixed-use neighborhood in a 17-block area adjacent to downtown Dubuque.
The area has 28 historic buildings that were constructed prior to 1935 and were once
part of two major millworking businesses that made Dubuque the largest millworking
operation in the United States during the 1920's. Most of the millworking industry has
left the area leaving approximately one million square feet of underutilized space.
The revitalization of the Historic Millwork District has become a top priority for the
Dubuque City Council as it is being designed to address the issues of sustainability,
workforce and economic development, historic preservation, and arts and culture. The
revitalization of this District will also help the City address the critical shortage of rental
residential units. The following is a discussion of how the Historic Millwork District
revitalization will become a model to address these issues.
Sustainabilitv. A paradigm shift is occurring where the environment is becoming a more
significant consideration in community development. The City of Dubuque has adopted
a sustainability policy focusing on the three elements of sustainability; Environmental
and Ecological Integrity, Economic Prosperity, and Social and Cultural Vibrancy. The
City believes that development in Dubuque should achieve all three elements to ensure
that the future of Dubuque is viable, livable, and equitable for all.
This project will be utilizing the existing built infrastructure (i.e. the buildings and non-
obsolete utilities) as opposed to building new buildings on the outskirts of town or
tearing down these functionally obsolete buildings and dumping the materials in the
landfill. The Historic Millwork District buildings have great value in their embodied
energy, or the energy invested in the construction materials and that energy should be
conserved. These buildings have historical character, have years of useful life and
should be redeveloped to provide a place for Dubuque to grow without sprawling into
our agricultural resources. These buildings also have access to existing utilities and
public infrastructure decreasing the negative impact on the City's services.
Several components of the Historic Millwork District revitalization will positively address
environmental impact this area will have. The district is being designed to take
innovative resource management approaches to water including; green roofs,
permeable paving on city streets, rain gardens to encourage infiltration, and grey water
systems for the landscape watering and other non potable water uses (i.e. toilets).
The City is also researching the utilization of district heating, cooling, and power
systems to increase energy efficiency and renewable resource utilization. An analysis
will begin soon to evaluate different power sources (geothermal, biomass, power-plant
cogeneration, solar, and wind) to determine the effectiveness and the applicability of the
technologies for the district.
Workforce and Economic Development. Iowa and particularly Dubuque, has
experienced a "brain drain" of human talent leaving the state. One major reason for this
is the lack of an urban sense of place that young professionals seek early in their lives.
The Historic Millwork District will be an urban lifestyle center where a person can live,
work, and recreate all within a relatively close proximity. This District will provide a
great marketing tool to recruit and retain young professionals.
Urban unique neighborhoods attract creative industries promoting economic
development and this is already being seen in the Historic Millwork District. A marketing
firm and several technology companies have committed to the area and more will do the
same when the infrastructure and environmental issues are addressed. The U.S.
economy will continue to be the location for these creative industries and it is important
to create an atmosphere where they can thrive and grow.
In January 2009, IBM announced the creation of 1,300 new I.T. jobs in downtown
Dubuque. This announcement has caused a significant demand for downtown living
options from new residents preferring to live near work and entertainment opportunities.
A recent economic study of housing in the City of Dubuque has shown unmet demand
for this housing type.
Historic Preservation. There are 28 buildings in the District. The core of the Historic
Millwork District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The City and its
partners believe it is important to save these historic buildings that tell the development
history of Dubuque. As a part of the redevelopment, we intend to create a "living
museum" in the district so when people are walking and enjoying this unique,
sustainable, and creative place, they will also be exposed to the history of the area.
This will be accomplished by utilizing complete streets" concepts and installing
information stations that tell the story of the buildings; who owned these buildings, what
they were used for, and how the products that were created here were produced.
Arts & Culture. The Arts and Culture community has embraced this area and want to
create an environment where the arts are created and celebrated. Several art shows
already utilize the space and anon-profit art center has moved to the area providing
opportunities for disadvantaged children to be exposed to creating art. The arts play a
large role in creating an inviting atmosphere for residents and businesses to thrive.
In partnership with the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), the major
building owners, the City, and other community organizations, a Master Plan for the
District was adopted in February 2009. It provides specifics to achieve above issues
within the District.
The revitalization effort is estimated to be a $200 million project broken into three
phases. The $200 million consists of improvements relating to the buildings,
infrastructure, and streetscape within the Historic Millwork District.
4. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCE TOOLS
Ongoing economic development initiatives in the City of Dubuque, specifically
restoration and adaptive reuse of the constellation of buildings in the Historic Millwork
District (warehouse district) and other downtown buildings including the Dubuque
building, benefit from federal financing programs. Two in particular merit support from
our Federal representatives.
New Market Tax Credit Program
The New Market Tax Credit program provides a potential financing tool for major
economic development projects in Dubuque including the Historic Millwork District
restoration and revitalization, the Dubuque Pack site redevelopment and the Briggs
project on the Fourth Street peninsula. Unfortunately, the program has not benefited
rural states and communities in the same manner it has benefited larger metro centers.
Expanding the program and helping to ensure it is accessible to smaller communities in
rural states would benefit the City of Dubuque and its partners in the private sector.
National Historic Tax Credits
Historic Tax Credits at the state and federal level provide valuable financing tools for
expanded economic development in Dubuque. At the federal level of government we
support passage of the Community Restoration and Revitalization Act. This legislation
is a package of amendments which would further the ability of tax incentives to enhance
investment in main street neighborhoods and older urban neighborhood reinvestment.
The federal rehabilitation tax credit is the nation's largest federal incentive promoting
urban and rural revitalization through private investment in reusing historic buildings.
The credit encourages reinvestment in downtowns, generates jobs, and is instrumental
in preserving the historic places that give cities, towns and rural areas their unique
character. The Community Restoration and Revitalization Act would make beneficial
changes to the federal rehabilitation tax credit and provide a greater incentive for the
reuse of older and historic buildings. The proposal encourages substantial energy
savings in historic buildings while spurring greater investment in commercial projects
particularly with smaller businesses located in older neighborhoods where there is a
critical need for revitalization.
Although the rehab credit is currently the nation's largest federal incentive for promoting
sustainable development through private investment, a greater potential for revitalizing
communities could be realized with the proposed amendments.
Additionally, we support increasing federal tax credits from 20% to 40% for the first $5
million in expenditures for a project and to 26% for the remaining portion of a project.
5. HOME DESIGNATION
Dubuque is the largest city in Iowa that is not a Participating Jurisdiction (PJ) for the
HOME program. In order to receive PJ status, Dubuque has to meet a $500,000
Congressional appropriations threshold. According to the HOME Program allocation
formula, Dubuque would have received $257,551 in 2008 as a PJ, leaving it $242,449
short of the $500,000. The City is requesting cone-time Congressional appropriation of
$242,449, to meet the $500,000 threshold.
After this and an IDED one-time appropriation, Dubuque would receive an annual
$250,000+ HOME grant, justifying the one-time additional public investment. The
HOME funds would essentially restore the shortfall created by a reduction in CDBG
funding, and allow us to deliver needed services and resources to our community and
economic development programs.
6. YOUTHBUILD
An important component of Dubuque's sustainability initiative emphasizes restoring
people. The well-established HEART program helps us to meet this goal, and is a vital
component of our workforce development initiatives and dedication to youth identified
through the community's Every Child, Every Promise initiative. HEART is changing the
lives of our community's youth by providing vocational construction training and
education through the complete rehabilitation of blighted properties in Dubuque. The
program teaches self-reliance and instills a strong sense of accomplishment, and
provides support for a segment of our population that would otherwise slip through the
cracks.
The City and its partners have applied for a Department of Labor grant in order to
expand HEART to become a YouthBuild program. This expansion would allow us to
serve a larger number of at-risk youth and greatly expand the number of services
offered to participants. The growth would also allow the program to revitalize more of
Dubuque's historic homes and fill a gap in affordable home ownership needs for
families. We appreciate the federal staff's support of the HEART program to date and
request your support of the YouthBuild application.
7. BEE BRANCH WATERSHED FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT
Purpose: To limit flooding in low/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
July23, 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.
Dubuque's solution for solving the Bee Branch watershed stormwater problems consists
of three projects -two detention basins and a mile long open waterway. The City
completed the $1,100,000 Carter Road Detention Basin in 2003.and the $4,000,000 W.
32nd Street Detention Basin in 2009.
The Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project is the reconstruction, day lighting and
restoration of over 4,500 feet of buried creek. It will re-introduce the confined Bee
Branch Creek to the North
End Neighborhood. Once
it is complete, 1,000 homes
will benefit from flood
protection that meets
today's design standards
for stormwater
management.
The City understands that
many citizens in Dubuque
and across the country
must deal with flooded
basements. And in some
cases, citizens must deal
with stormwater stretching
across the street from curb
to curb. But nowhere else
in our community does rain
strand motorists in their
cars - in the middle of the street. Nowhere else does basement flooding reach the
rafters, inundating furnaces, water heaters, and electrical boxes. Nowhere else does
basement flooding endanger the lives of our fellow citizens. That is why the Bee Branch
Creek Restoration Project is one of the City Council's top priorities.
The project will be done in two phases. Construction of the first phase. At an estimated
cost of $11.400,000, construction of the first phase, or Lower Bee Branch Creek
Restoration project, is scheduled to start in the spring of 2010. Construction of the
second phase, or Upper Bee Branch Creek Restoration project is scheduled to start in
the fall of 2011 at an estimated cost of $29,600,000. The City has established a storm
water utility, and therefore the local match is available for this project.
Shown below is the City's vision for the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project.
8. AMERICA'S R/VER AT THE PORT OF DUBUQUE
Intermodal Facility
The City of Dubuque seeks funding in order to construct a Downtown Transportation
Center Intermodal Facility at the Port of Dubuque. The project cost estimate is in the
range of $15-$20 million. Similar projects in Iowa have been funded for the Near
Southside Transportation Center Intermodal Facility in Iowa City, Iowa and for the UNI
Multi-modal project in Waterloo.
The downtown and Port of Dubuque area has supported tremendous commercial
growth over the last decade including grand tourist attractions and festivals in the
revitalized Port area: new local, regional, and national businesses in downtown; and the
restoration and revitalization of previously dormant historic buildings. The net result is
the generation of an active multifaceted district for working, living and playing. The area
has evolved from the traditional nine-to-five central business district into a vibrant and
lively activity center. This rapid evolution has created public concerns about
transportation and parking capacity. Construction of an Intermodal facility would be a
strategic use of the limited acreage available at the Port of Dubuque that would
incorporate smart growth principles to limit the number of parking surfaces at the Port
and preserve as much land as possible for strategic urban development consistent with
the rest of the downtown area.
The project will include a parking and transit component and would integrate a concrete
parking structure containing approximately 750 parking stalls with the bus terminal
housed integrally within the structure at ground level. The proposed facility will be
located adjacent to a rail spur in the Port of Dubuque that may serve as a connecting
tourist commuter train line along the Mississippi River. The City is working with the
Iowa DOT, the Illinois DOT, and Amtrak to secure daily passenger service from Chicago
to Dubuque. A recent study indicates that this area would provide the best site in the
Port of Dubuque for Amtrak services. The River's Edge Plaza in the Port of Dubuque
serves as a docking station for the Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen and other local and
regional riverboat cruise services who rely on private and public bus service during their
stay in Dubuque. The parking facility will accommodate park-and-ride and general
parking users through hourly, daily and monthly revenues. The bus operation provides
pick-up and drop-off of public and private bus service including a recently deployed
trolley shuttle service between the downtown and the Port of Dubuque, KeyLine fixed
route service, RTA, interstate charters and local taxi cab and tour operators.
The Port of Dubuque Master Plan includes construction of a transit station and the project
is part of the metropolitan area long-range transportation plan. Phase I and Phase II
environmental assessments have been completed and the City has received comfort
letters from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The City is moving forward with a feasibility study and preliminary design. This work will
be funded by state and federal funds that have been set aside for this purpose.
This project is eligible for 80% (in the range of $12 million) federal funding and the City of
Dubuque is seeking support of the Congressional delegation in securing those funds.
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Expansion and Research Center
The City Council supports the efforts of the Dubuque County Historical Society in the
next phase of the development of the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium to
build the Great Rivers Center. The Museum & Aquarium is the leading tourism
attraction in Dubuque and the surrounding area and it has a significant effect on the
economy of the region. Not only does it draw over 200,000 people a year, but it is often
used by economic development officials to show quality of life to prospective companies
who want to ensure that they can attract and retain employees in Dubuque.
The Museum's new Great Rivers Center will create 45 jobs during the construction
phase and 76 jobs annually once it is completed, both on site and in the community.
It will continue to draw investment to Dubuque and the Port of Dubuque and will
enhance Iowa's role as having the leading educational institution in the nation to learn
about the Mississippi River.
The new center will be a green building, LEED certified, and an important teaching
example of energy and water conservation. The research center will conserve several
important species and will explore the Mississippi River's relationship to the Gulf of
Mexico with nationally important issues such as hypoxia and the dead zone, flood
control, and captive breeding and propagation of endangered species.
This expansion of the award-winning National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
will double the size and impact of the current museum and enhance even further Iowa's
role as a national and international leader in environmental education.
Current Status:
The total budget for the Museum expansion is $70 million with $64.9 million committed
to date. Over $29 million has been committed by the City of Dubuque for parking and
infrastructure. The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium has been awarded
an $8 million grant from Vision Iowa, a $5 million grant from the National Scenic Byway
Program, as well as significant support from Dubuque County. The Museum &
Aquarium has also already raised $6.2 million in gifts of leased land and building and
$9.55 million in private donations from local and national donors. The Museum &
Aquarium will raise the remaining $2.45 million in private giving, bringing the total for
private giving to $18.2 million.
The request for future federal support in coming years is $3 million which will be
matched several times over and will be important to create jobs and as leverage for
continued private giving as well as possible state or other governmental support.
A. National River Research and Conservation Center
The Museum & Aquarium will build and staff a major research center for rivers. This
will be a research center that addresses the need to reduce nutrient loading,
understand sediment flow, increase understanding of habitat preservation, and
address other nationally significant issues. With the strong support of Governor
Vilsack and now the Iowa Department of Natural Resources under Governor Culver,
the new Research Center will collaborate with federal and state agencies, Iowa
State University, University of Iowa and other land-grant universities, and local and
national academic institutions. The Museum will also continue to work with
threatened and endangered species such as mussels, mud puppies, salamanders,
frogs and other species, which will be conserved to increase their populations. What
separates this from many other institutions is that exhibits will be created to let the
public know the research that is underway at the Museum and at related sites.
Language authorizing the establishment of the research center at Dubuque is
included in the Water Resource and Development Act, which has been passed by
Congress. With passage of this legislation in 2007, funding can now be
appropriated by Congress.
B. RiverMax Digital Theater
A large screen theater will be constructed and films will be created to tell the story of
the rivers of America and how those rivers and the people of those rivers have
shaped America. It will be a powerful and compelling tribute to the accomplishments
of the people of America's rivers with environmental emphasis. This theater would
use digital technology and be equipped for 3-D films as well. A rotating schedule of
other films will be programmed during evenings and as a second film offering each
day.
C. RiverWORKS Splash Zone Family Museum
Interactive play exhibits with educational emphasis will provide ahands-on children's
museum with a water theme. These children's exhibits will provide a place for
children to interact with each other and with their families.
D. RiverWAYS and Rivers to the Sea Galleries
Exhibit space in a newly donated building comprising 52,000 square feet will tell the
dramatic story of our nation's rivers with designs by the award winning Chadbourne
and Associates, designers of exhibits at the Smithsonian Museum of American
History and the new George Washington-Mount Vernon Exhibit and Education
Center. Exhibits will teach people about watersheds, cultural and ecological stories,
the people, and their connection to the sea. Guests will explore artifacts, inter-
actives, images, live animals, flow tables, touch screens, models, mini theaters, and
other exhibits. The National Rivers Hall of Fame exhibits will provide more
information about the significant people in American river history who made their
history on our rivers.
The Museum & Aquarium is working with NOAA, the Smithsonian, EPA, and
Department of Interior at the national level to develop these concepts for exhibit and
outreach, not only in Iowa, but also across the nation, including the Shedd Aquarium
in Chicago, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, and the Aquarium of the Pacific in
Long Beach. Museum staff working with our federal partners will seek funding
support for these America's River Phase II exhibits from competitive and other grant
programs such as Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Science
Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities and others.
E. Jobs
The Museum's Great Rivers Center will create 45 jobs during the construction phase
and 76 jobs once it is open. The Museum's expansion will create and retain 26 jobs
on site and also create economic activity and tax revenues to support an additional
50 full time equivalents.
F. Timeframe
The Museum & Aquarium plans to open this companion Great River Center in
summer of 2010. Federal funding at the $5 million level in calendar year 2009 would
enable the Museum & Aquarium to meet the Vision Iowa deadline. Additional
federal funding of $3 million in future years would enable the Museum & Aquarium to
develop the Research, Outreach and Conservation Center to its full national
potential.
9. COMMUNICATIONS
As a member of the National League of Cities (NLC), the United States Conference of
Mayors, and the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors
(NATOA), the City of Dubuque joins these organizations in acknowledging that the
historic transformation of our communications infrastructure is essential to the economic
competitiveness of the local governments, states and the nation.
Our public safety officials need E-911, Communications Assistance for Law
Enforcement Act (CALEA) capabilities, and spectrum for wireless communications to
protect the public. Consumers deserve a broadband marketplace that includes
competition for both price and service quality. Neither economic status nor location
should be a barrier for citizens to broadband networks. Local businesses require
access to networks in order to compete and local governments require the ability to
manage our resources and tax base in order to best serve our constituents.
• Preserve local authority to manage public rights of way for the benefit of
everyone. Cable television and video franchise agreements are an essential part of
managing the rights of way and ensuring appropriate compensation for the benefit of
the public. These benefits include not only monetary payments, but also franchise
terms such as support for public, educational and governmental (PEG) access,
including institutional networks (I-Nets).
• Protect local authority to establish taxes that are consistent with local needs
and maintain adequate revenue. Local governments recognize and support efforts to
modernize the collection and administration of local communications taxes, but in a
manner that preserves the ability of local government to impose and collect taxes to
fund vital services for its citizens consistent with local values.
• Protect and enhance local ability to provide for homeland and hometown
security. Local government's first responders need fully deployed E911, access to
spectrum and funding for interoperable communications to protect the public.
• Recognize local roles in promoting nondiscriminatory access to the full range of
communications services. Municipalities are helping to bring advanced services to
individuals and small businesses. Cities must have the autonomy necessary to
encourage competition and infrastructure deployment that will lower prices and improve
service quality for their citizens.
Request of Congress
• Do not nationalize cable and video franchising.
• Protect local governments' ability to facilitate or offer advanced communications
services to their citizens
® Any changes to the collection and administration of communications taxes,
including extensions or modifications of the Internet Tax Freedom Act, must
preserve local authority to collect revenue consistent with local needs.
• Do not undermine or eliminate support for PEG access and I-Nets.
Local Government Principles for
Communications Policy Modernization
We believe that Congress and state and local governments can achieve these
goals by embracing the following principles:
• State and Local Authority
The City supports a balanced federalist approach that encourages new innovation and
technology while preserving appropriate authority for state and local governments to
protect their citizens -particularly in relation to public safety and homeland security,
promoting local competition, promoting economic development, taxation, expansion of
access to advanced networks, rights-of-way management, and consumer protection.
• Public Safety
State and local public safety agencies rely heavily on communications services and
systems to protect public safety. In order for states and localities to carry out this
mission, it is essential that important obligations, such as E911 and CALEA, be applied
to all relevant communications platforms, regardless of technology. States and
localities must also have sufficient spectrum and funding to obtain interference-free,
interoperable emergency communications. In addition, it is important to preserve and
strengthen the ability of state and local government to protect and warn the public
through emergency alert systems.
• Competition
States and localities benefit from, and support, competition and innovation and
technology neutrality. When a fully competitive market does not exist, states and
localities must retain the authority to ensure nondiscriminatory access to essential
facilities, to prevent incumbents from using market power to stifle competition and
innovation, and to maintain consumer safeguards when market forces fail.
• Use of public property and right=of-way
State and local governments are the trustees of public property and must retain the
power to manage those assets for the benefit and safety of the community.
• Municipal Broadband
State and local governments can play an important role in making advanced services,
including broadband services, available to their citizens, based on specific local needs
and conditions. Federal policy should promote the rights of local governments that
choose to offer those services directly to their citizens.
• Video Franchising
The federal government should not preempt or restrict local authority to negotiate
mutually beneficial agreements and grant franchises to video providers. Public,
educational, and governmental channels are important tools citizens use to participate
I would recommend that the City of Dubuque support the following:
CAP Act of 2009 (H.R. 3745). The CAP (Community Access Preservation) Act of 2009
introduced by Wisconsin Rep Tammy Baldwin recognizes the important role that Public,
Educational, and Governmental (PEG) access channels play in local communities and
addresses some of the concerns facing these channels.
Legislation that establishes national standards for interoperable public safety standards
for first responders.
Legislation that preserves and extends municipal government authority to provide
communications services to their constituents.
Legislation that overturns the FCC cable franchise order and returns to the local
franchising scheme set out in the 1984 Cable Act.
I would recommend that the City of Dubuque oppose a wireless tax moratorium.
In local democracy. Ensuring expanded access to multichannel video programming is
an important role of local government.
• Expanded Access
States and localities support policies and programs that advance access to
communications services and ubiquitous broadband deployment in all areas of the
country. Current initiatives that promote universal and affordable access to
communications services include the federal and state universal service funds, the
E-Rate program, Lifeline and Linkup, urban and rural infrastructure support
mechanisms, and obligations ensuring equitable cable and broadband deployment.
• Taxation
States and localities should retain full flexibility, as does the federal government, to
structure their tax policies in ways that best serves their citizens.
• Consumer Protection
States and localities are best positioned to respond effectively to a wide variety of
consumer concerns, including but not limited to complaints related to service quality and
affordability, reliability, deceptive practices, billing practices, privacy, and criminal
activity.
• Wireless Zoning and Siting
It is essential for local communities to be able to address the expansion of wireless
facilities so as to promote the deployment of advanced communications while also
protecting the interests of citizens in safety, sound planning, and aesthetic concerns.
Cellular carriers have petitioned the FCC to create new, onerous regulations that would
make it more difficult for local governments to carry out their responsibilities in this area.
The Communications Act prohibits such FCC regulation. Congress should ensure that
the balance struck in federal law is not overturned by agency action.
Local government strongly endorses promoting competition for all consumers and
treating like services alike. The elected leaders of our nation's cities and counties stand
ready and willing to welcome video competition in their communities. Centralizing
franchising at the federal or state level, however, limits the benefits of head-to-head
video competition to a chosen few, and deprives consumers of important protections.
• The FCC
Recent FCC actions to regulate local franchising have compromised local governments'
ability to act in the best interests of their citizens. Congress should act to prevent the
FCC from overstepping its authority and altering the balance of federal, state, and local
authority that Congress established in the Cable Act. The FCC's recent orders fly in the
face of the law and threaten to disrupt long-standing cable television franchise
agreements.
Before Congress acts, it should consider:
• States where statewide orstate-controlled franchising is currently in place do not
see greater or faster video competition deployment than states where it is not.
• Franchises do not just provide permission to offer video services. They are the
core tools local government uses to manage streets and sidewalks, provide for
public safety, enhance competition, and collect compensation for private use of
public land. Eliminating local franchises deprives local government of the power to
perform basic functions.
• Competition is for everyone. Current national policy implemented through
franchises encourages competition throughout the country, not just in urban or
suburban areas and not just for the wealthy. In less than ten years, under the
current system, broadband service has been made available to 91 % of all homes
passed by cable.
• Neither Congress nor the FCC should try to manage local streets and sidewalks
from Washington. National franchising would abrogate a basic tenet of federalism
by granting companies access to locally owned property on federally defined terms.
• Market factors, not local governments, control the pace of new broadband
deployment. Telephone companies have not yet seriously dedicated resources to
negotiate franchises in many markets. Potential video competitors require
relatively few franchises to implement their announced business plans (for AT&T
1,500-2,000 franchises, for Verizon 100-200 franchises).
10. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDING
The City of Dubuque relies on CDBG money to fund many of its vital programs.
Projects that are at least partially funded by CDBG include rehabilitation of rental and
owner-occupied housing, homeowner education classes, lead paint hazard abatement,
commercial and industrial building rehabilitation and economic development, childcare
referral services, dispute resolutions services, to support operations of several non-
profits providing direct services to income-eligible individuals and families, as part of the
community development/neighborhood strategy program..
In the last seven years, federal CDBG funding has been cut by 18.8%, or $279,573.
This severe cut has hurt local communities -local economies, local projects, and, most
importantly, the low- and moderate-income households that reside in these communities
and need the assistance.
The CDBG formula funding has never been adjusted for inflation (since the inception of
the program in 1974), even though construction costs, wages, and other program costs
have escalated sharply in the past three decades. By continuing to level-fund the
formula portion of the program - at $3.71 billion over the past three years -the impact
and purchasing power of CDBG continues to shrink because of increasing inflation.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Community Development Association
are calling for a doubling of CDBG funding, to $8 billion, over the next several years.
The City of Dubuque requests that our congressional members support the CDBG
program during the FY09 budget and appropriation process, seeking support of $4.1
billion in formula funding in FY09.
11. INDIAN GAMING REGULATIONS
The City is concerned about the uncontrolled growth of Indian Casinos on off premises
(reservation) lands. There are several pieces of legislation which would place controls
on this growth, including HR 4893 (The Right Act) and S.2078 (Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act Amendments of 2006). The City supports legislation that places
safeguards on the growth of Indian casinos. Specifically, the City encourages
legislation to:
• Rewrite Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which
authorizes reservation shopping. This means that under no circumstances can a
tribe that already has land in trust acquire more land that is not contiguous to its
reservation, and use it for gaming. This will put a permanent end to reservation
shopping.
• Give local communities a seat at the table during the process to mitigate impacts
of casinos proposed by newly recognized or restored tribes. This means the
tribe and local community must enter into a memorandum of understanding
where the tribe must pay the community for mitigation of direct effects of the
casino on infrastructure and services like transportation and public safety.
• Ban any attempts to establish off-reservation casinos outside of the state where
the tribe presently resides.
12. CRESCENT COMMUNTY HEALTH CENTER
Crescent Community Health Center (CCHC) achieved Federally Qualified Health Center
(FQHC) status on September 1, 2007. The Dubuque community is extremely thankful
to the Congressional delegation that assisted in obtaining this community priority.
Crescent is now planning for electronic health records (EHR) implementation through a
Congressional directed funding appropriation and ARRA monies. As the EHR
implementation process moves forward, additional funds will be needed for staff
training, equipment and implementation. An Increased Demand for Service (IDS) grant
for two years allowed the hiring of an additional dentist and dental hygienist, along with
increased payments for Medicaid and uninsured patients seen. However with the
expected State Medicaid cutbacks due to budget shortfall, Crescent anticipates seeing
an increased number of uninsured clients. Therefore, extending the Increased Demand
for Service monies is a need.
Through a 2008 Congressionally directed funding allocation, along with a National
Association Community Health Center Grant and a private donation, the expansion
space of Crescent was completed, which allowed for a meeting room, administrative
offices, an additional dental suite and two additional medical exam rooms. The Federal
2009 ARRA money will provide for remodeling of the lower level of Crescent for storage
and a community training and education room. This will allow Crescent to provide
educational opportunities for staff and clients, along with additional preventative and
wellness services for patients and citizens of the Washington Neighborhood.
13. Tri-State Information Technology Initiative
The City in partnership with other area organizations including NICC, Iowa Workforce
Development and GDDC request support for the Tri-State Information Technology
Initiative grant request. This grant application was being submitted in response to the
Community Based Job Training Solicitation for training options for underutilized workers
in order to continue our efforts in workforce development.