Port of Dbq Sign, Landscaping eMEMORANDUM
April 15, 2003
TO:The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT:Port of Dubuque Sign and Landscaping and Recognition Wall
Administrative Services Manager Pauline Joyce has provided the preliminary design
and cost estimate for landscaping and signage for the parking lot green space at the
intersection of Bell and 3rd Street. Also being presented is a preliminary design and
cost estimates for the recognition wall along the landside of the floodwall outside of the
American Trust River's Edge Plaza.
The Design Review Committee requests City Council review and comments on the
preliminary design concepts and approval to proceed with preparation of bid documents
for the Port of Dubuque entry sign and the recognition wall.
I respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval of the recommended concept for
the Port of Dubuque gateway area at 3rd and Bell Street and the recognition and
dedication plaques on the floodwall using the stainless steel and limestone design.
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager
MEMORANDUM
March 20, 2003
TO:Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM:Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager
SUBJECT:Port of Dubuque Sign and Landscaping and Recognition Wall
The purpose of this memorandum is to forward a preliminary design and cost estimate
for landscaping and signage for the parking lot green space at the intersection of Bell
and 3rd Street.
Also being presented in this memo is a preliminary design and cost estimates for the
recognition wall along the landside of the floodwall outside of the American Trust River's
Edge Plaza. Following is a discussion regarding each design and a summary of the
estimated costs and soume of funding. These preliminary designs have been reviewed
by the Design Review Committee who felt they were consistent with appropriate design
standards and with the Master Site Plan for the Port of Dubuque.
Landscaping and signage at Bell and 3rd Street
When arriving in the Port of Dubuque via the 3rd Street Overpass, the first view for
visitors and City residents will be a sea of parking lots. The Master Site Plan for the
Port of Dubuque showed, in the long term, a potential building on the existing Welcome
Center parking lot. This is and will continue to be a parking lot for the foreseeable
future. Steve Ulsted, from Ulsted Architects, was hired to develop landscaping plans for
the City's existing parking lots in the Port of Dubuque and to develop an entry sign for
the 3rd and Bell Street area.
The proposed landscaping plans include a large variety of plantings to provide color
throughout the year. These plants are used in various combinations throughout the
planting islands and are then repeated in all new and existing City owned parking lots.
Diamond Jo staff has indicated that they will also use those same planting types to
continue the color themes throughout their parking lots.
The proposed Port of Dubuque sign for the 3rd and Bell Street intersection sits between
the signage monuments designed by URS-BRW and let as part of the 5th and Bell
Street STP project (see attachment A). The design elements for the sign include the
same materials as the signage monuments, stainless steel and limestone. The
proposed landscaping and lighting is planned for the area between the sidewalk and
sign, with landscaping continuing on the parking lot side of the sign.
The estimated cost for the sign is $47,200 and the cost of landscaping $36,800, for a
total of $84,000. The budget for signage and landscaping was included in the Vision
Iowa budget and the City's CIP under Amenities for $78,750. The overage of $5,250
would come from the Wail Street Access budget of $82,688, which is no longer required
due to the final location of the Hotel/Water Park and the extension of 5th Street versus
creating a Wall St cul-de-sac.
Recognition Wall Outside Amedcan Trust River's Edge Plaza
The FY 2003 budget included an anticipated amount of $100,000 for creation of donor
and partner recognition walls on the landside of the floodwall that would be used to
designate those who have provided funding for the America's River Projects and a
project dedication wall that would recognize all the project partners. Initially the thought
was to apply a concrete slurry seal to the floodwall and etch the names into the wall.
This method had the advantage of being less expensive, however, it wasn't a very
aesthetically pleasing recognition format. After reviewing the designs by Steve Ulsted
for the 3® and Bell Street intersection, Steve was asked for ideas regarding a method
for creating a recognition wall by or as part of the floodwall. Steve investigated vadous
materials and techniques and presented several design variations to the Design Review
Committee and the Recognition Committee for their review and comment. Modifications
were made based on this input and the attached designs are now being recommended
for City Council consideration.
The design ideas were also presented to the Corp of Engineers to determine what type
of concerns and requirements they would have. They were very supportive of the
design concept and were told that the only documentation the Corp would require is a
statement from a structural engineer stating that the design would not have any
structural impact on the floodwall. IIW is preparing the required analysis and will have a
report for us to submit to the Corp of Engineers by next week.
Again, the materials used in the design (attachment B) include stainless steel and
limestone, with a river scene imprinted on the stainless steel. The names on the donor
and partner recognition walls would be etched in the stainless steel. From a distance
people will see the river view. As you get closer to the wall, the names will become
more visible and catch your eye. The Riverwalk follows along this section of the
floodwall, and will be viewed by those going to the American Trust River's Edge Plaza
as well as by those using the ramp that gradually rises on the landside of the floodwall
until it joins the Riverwalk on top of the floodwall.
The cost estimate for donor and partner recognition walls is $116,248. This source of
funding for the improvements would be the $100,000 budgeted for the floodwall
recognition wall and $16,248 from the balance of the Wall Street funds of $77,438.
The action step is to request City Council review and comments on the preliminary
design concepts and approval to proceed with preparation of bid documents for the Port
of Dubuque entry sign and the donor and partner recognition walls. Staff would then
proceed with preparing the bid documents for a construction to begin as soon as
possible. The tentative date for the Riverwalk dedication is June 12. Construction of
the entry sign and recognition wall will not be completed by that date, however, we will
try to schedule construction for early summer completion.