Historic Pres Com Hist ImprovemMEMORANDUM
July 17, 2003
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Historic Preservation Commission-
Historic District Public Improvement Program
I respectfully request that this item be tabled.
If, at public hearing, the Franchise Fee is not adopted, I would recommend that this
funding be denied so the available funds can be used to fund the FY 2004 cuts and fare
increases that had been proposed to solve the current budget shortfall.
Should the Franchise Fee be approved, I would ask that this item stay tabled until after
the Iowa Supreme Court decision on gaming taxes to see if there is any money to fund
these projects.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Planning Services Department
City Hail
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 520014864
(563) 5894210 office
(563) 5894221 fax
(563) 690-6678 TDD
plannLng@cityof dubuque.org
July 9, 2003
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
City of Dubuque
City Hall-50 W. 13~ Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
RE: Historic Distdct Public Improvement Program
Applicant: City of Dubuque-Historic Preservation Commission
Location: Public Right-of-Way in the Historic Districts
Description:Request for funding to install' historic distdct entry street signs
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
The City of Dubuque Historic Preservation Commission has reviewed the above-cited
request. The application, staff report and related materials are attached for your review.
Discussion
Staff Member Laura Carstens reviewed the proposal, which was initiated by the Historic
Preservation Commission last year. She noted that the City Council authorized graphic
design services for these signs to be provided by the budget for the Wayflnding Sign
Program. She added that the cost of production and installation would be funded by the
Histodc Distdct Public Improvement Program, noting its linkage to the Wayfinding Sign
Project.
There were n° public comments.
The Commission discussed possible sign designs, colors, icons and locations.
The Historic Preservation Commission discussed the request noting that the project
meets the requirements of the Histodc Distdct Public Improvement Program.
Recommendation
By a vote of 6 to 0, the Historic Preservation Commission recommends that the City
Council approve $19,500 from the Historic Distdct Public Improvement Program to
install historic district street entry signs in the public right-of-way.
By a vote of 6 to 0, the Historic Preservation Commission recommends that the City
Council allocate $4,345.77 from the HDPIP to provide for Engineering Department costs
associated with the program.
7-t
Service People Intel~ity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
The Honorable Mayor And City Council Members
July 9, 2003
Page 2
A simply majority vote is needed for the City Council to approve the request.
Respectfully submitted,
Christopher Wand, Chairperson
Historic Preservation Commission
CC:
Jerelyn O'Connor, Neighborhood Development Specialist
Mike Koch, Public Works Director
Bill Schlickman, Traffic Engineering Assistant
MEMORANDUM
June 13,2003
To:
From:
Subject:
Historic Preservation Commission
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager~,~---~
Historic District Entry Signs Project
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum transmits an application for the Historic Distdct Public Improvement
Program to design, produce and install entry signs for all five historic districts as a
Neighborhood Pilot Project. As you will note on the enclosed policy brochure for the
program, a Neighborhood Pilot Project of the Histodc Preservation Commission is one
of the priorities of the program.
The Histodc District Entry Signs Project is being developed in connection with the City's
Wayfinding Sign Program.
BACKGROUND
The City Council approved the Wayfinding Sign Program in January 2002. The
Wayflnding Sign Program is a directional sign system to help visitors find their way
through out the community. The intent of this sign system is to enhance the visitor
experience and to compliment the existing highway and street signs throughout the
community.
The Wayfinding Sign Program consists of two systems: a highway sign'system and a
tourism district sign system. The Wayfinding Sign. Program divides the community into
the six tourism districts: Downtown, Eagle Point, College Grandview, Port of Dubuque,
South End, and West End.
Last fall, the City of Dubuque contracted with graphic design consultant Gary Olsen to
design the wayfinding signs for the community. Enclosed for the Commission's review
are the designs approved by the City Council for the highway sign system and the six
tourism districts, as well as an example of a tourism distdct sign in context with the
streetscape.
Wayfinding Sign Program
Page 2 of 2
DISCUSSION
In 2002, the Histodc Preservation Commission requested that the City redesign the
existing entry signs for the historic districts in connection with the Wayfinding Sign
Program. Due to the competitiveness of his bid, the City retained Gary Olsen to
develop a new design for the histodc distdct entry signs. The contract is for Mr. Olsen
to develop three alternative designs for a sign style and an icon to identify all historic
districts. The text on the selected icon and sign design will reflect the name of the
particular histodc district where the sign marks the vehicular and/or pedestden entry to
that district. The design process for this project is as follows:
Review Histodc Distdct Design Guidelines and Wayfinding Signs with HPC for
general expectations of size, shape, colors, icons, wording and layout
Develop three (3) alternative designs for district signs
Coordinate with HPC on icon, wording and layout for recommended distdct signs
Review recommended design with HPC
Submit recommended and alternative designs for City Council review & approval
Prepare production specifications for recommended district signs for bidding
Coordinate design and production of distdct signs as needed
BUDGET
As presented to the City Council last fall, the graphic design services of $1,300 will be
funded through the Waytinding Sign Program's design budget. The production and
installation of the entry signs will be funded by the Historic District Public Improvement
Program.
The histodc district entry signs will be installed on decorative sign posts with finials and
decorative bases by City Operation and Maintenance staff with locations coordinated by
the City Engineering Division. If an entry sign is placed at each of the vehicular and/or
pedestrian entries to each historic district, the total number of signs is estimated to be
65. The estimated production and installation cost of the histodc district entry signs is
$300 each. This is a total estimated production cost of $19,500 for65 signs.
REQUESTED ACTION
The requested action is for the Histodc Preservation Commission to review Histodc
Distdct Design Guidelines and Wayfinding Signs to provide staff and the consultant with
the following input for the Histodc Distdct Entry Signs Project:
1. The Commission's general expectations of size, shape, colors, icons, wording
and layout of the sign design, which will enable the consultant to develop three
alternative designs for a sign style and an icon to identify all historic districts.
2. The Commission's general expectations for locations of the signs, which will
enable City staff to prepare a location map for each sign for installation.
Attachments
HISTORIC DISTRICT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Organization
Downtown Neighborhood
Council
Downtown Neighborhood
Council
Historic Bluffs Neighborhood
Association
Langworthy Neighborhood
Association
City of Dubuque - HPC
Project
Install Planters, Benches,
Trash Receptacles, Trees
Install Brick Paver Sidewalks
Install Historic Street Lighting
Install Planters
Historic Distdct Entry Signs
Grant Amount
Requested
$15,905.80
$12,155.03
$86,032.50
$5,930.4O
$19,500.00
Total $'139,523.73
Histodc District Public Improvement Fund Current Balance
Remaining Funds Available If Projects Approved
$143,869.50
$ 4,345.77
City of Dubuque, Iowa
Historic District Public Improvement Program
Program Guidelines
The Historic District Public Improvement Program (HDPIP) provides 3:1 matching
grants on a competitive basis to neighborhood associations and neighborhood
groups for streetscape improvements in the City's five historic districts. The
program is intended to enhance the public places and streetscapes in the historic
districts to retain and augment their sense of place.
Program Limits
The program is limited to the boundaries of the CathedraJ, Jackson Park,
Langworthy, Old Main, and West .11th Street Histodc Districts. Funding will be
distributed among the five historic districts based on the projects selected and
completed. The maximum allocation of program funds per year per historic
district is $100,000.
The minimum grant amount is $3,000. The maximum grant amount is $100,000.
Who can Apply?.
Neighborhood Association recognized by the City of Dubuque.
Neighborhood Group (definition: all property owners on both sides of a street).
Individual property owners are not eligible to apply.
Eligible Projects: What is Funded
· Purchase and installation of permanent exterior improvements installed in
public right-of-way or public places, such as parks, in an historic district.
· Architectural and engineering fees associated with the project.
· Streetscape amenities consistent with the City's Streetscape and Landscape
Guidelines for Histodc Districts, including: decorative paving (such as pavers,
stamped and/or colored concrete), historic street lights, ornamental benches,
decorative railing or fences, tree grates, planters, signs, and landscaping.
What is Not Funded
· Installation of streetscape elements and amenities on private property.
· Costs of work performed prior to signed agreement with the City.
C
Histodc District Public Improvement Program
Page 2
Priority
Priority will be given to projects developed in coordination with the City's public
street improvement program, and similar public improvements in histodc districts.
Coordination with the City's project allows the streetscape amenities to be
installed concurrent with the street improvement or other public improvement
project. Accommodations can be made for installation of amenities subsequent
to the street improvement project through the installation of supportive
infrastructure, such as conduit for historic street lights. In general, the pdority for
allocation of funds through this program will be as follows:
1. Street Reconstruction/Improvement Projects
2. Sidewalk Inspection Program
3. Major Infrastructure Repairs/Maintenance
4. Neighborhood Association/Neighborhood Group Proposal
5. Histodc Preservation Commission - Neighborhood Pilot Project
Evaluation Criteria
The Histodc Preservation Commission will review the application, and then
provide a recommendation to the City Council based on the following criteria:
· High visual impact and quality of life improvement for the neighborhood:
Does the project encourage people to walk in the neighborhood? Visit the
neighborhood? Enjoy the neighborhood?
· High community and neighborhood visibility of streetscape improvements.
· Amount of pdvate leverage: ratio of public funds to pdvate funds.
· Continuity with previous/planned public and/or pdvate improvements.
· Percentage of neighborhood/property owner support: minimum 25%, with a
higher rating given for greater neighborhood match.
· Conformance with the City's adopted Streetscape and Landscape Design
Guidelines for the histodc districts, and any special urban design plans or
guidelines adopted for the project area.
· Link with Housing Rehabilitation special programs or with Historic
Preservation Homeowner Grant or Revolving Loan Programs.
· Previous assistance from the HDPIP (a higher rating will be given to first-time
applicants over previous recipients).
Public/Private Match
The program covers up to 75% of project costs. Neighborhood associations and
groups are required to provide a 25% match. For example, if applying for a
$75,000 grant, the budget must descdbe at least $100,000 in eligible costs and
at least $25,000 in private match.
Historic Distdct Public Improvement Program
Page 3
The private match may be obtained from assessments of property owners in the
project area; private fundraising; private donations; in-kind services, or private,
state or federal grants. The entire 25% private match may be in-kind donations.
With the exception of CDBG funds (see description below of CDBG Program),
City funds may not be used as matching share. All matching funds must be cash
expended or in-kind services donated dudng the grant period, which begins when
the grant agreement is signed by both the applicant and the City of Dubuque.
Architectural and engineering fees associated with the project, up to $10,000 or
10% of total project costs, are eligible grant expenses.
The minimum grant amount is $3,000. The maximum grant amount is $100,000.
Assessments for Streetscape Projects
For historic streetscepe projects involving assessments, such as a street
reconstruction project, the neighborhood association or neighborhood group
would be responsible for 25% of the cost of any added assessable cost for
streetscepe enhancements.
Property owners would be assessed for a percentage of the costs of public
improvements using the formulas applied to the City's street and sidewalk
programs. For example, the property owners in the project area would pay 1'00%
of the estimated cost of a standard plain concrete sidewalk as they would with
any assessable project. The HDPIP grant would provide 75% of the additional
costs for the historic streetscepe treatments.
Example of Public/Private Cost Share for a Street Assessment Proiect
Estimated cost per lot for standard grey concrete sidewalk $1,000
Estimated cost per lot for bdck sidewalk $2,000
Increase in cost for streetscape improvement
$1,000
Amount eligible for HDPIP program
Private match required
$ 75O
$ 250
Total assessment cost per lot
$1,250
Non-Assessment Streetscape Projects
For some components of streetscepe projects, such as an asphalt resurfacing
street project, the City typically would not assess the property owners. For these
non-assessment projects, the neighborhood association or neighborhood group
Historic District Public Improvement Program
Page 4
must provide a pdvate match of 25% of the project costs.
Example of Public/Private Cost Share for a Non-Assessment Proiect
Estimated cost per historic street light
Amount eligible for HDPIP program
Private match required
$5,000
$3,750
$1,250
Application Process
Applications will be accepted dudng regular business hours by the Planning
Services Department, City Hall, 50 W. 13~ Street, Dubuque. Applicants are
encouraged to review these Guidelines carefully before completing the
application. Applicants are encouraged to schedule a pre-application conference
with the Planning Services Department.
Applications must include all the required information when submitted.
Applications will be reviewed initially by City staff, who will check for submittal of
required information, coordination with public improvement projects, compliance
with City codes, and consistency with the Streetscape/Landscape Guidelines.
Applications then will be presented to the Historic Preservation Commission for
review and evaluation. After review of the applications, the Commission will
provide a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council will select the
projects to be funded.
Neighborhood representatives are expected to attend both the Commission and
Council meetings to present their projects and to answer questions.
CDBG Program
Through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG, the City provides
financial assistance to tow and moderate income households. The City provides
a Neighborhood Infrastructure Program and Neighborhood Grants to
neighborhood associations and neighborhood groups in CDBG target areas,
where a majority of households are Iow and moderate income. These programs
compliment the Historic Distdct Public Improvement Program, and are
coordinated by the Neighborhood Development Specialist.
The Neighborhood Infrastructure Program can be used to pay the special
assessments for tow and moderate income households within the project area.
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