Loading...
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. lllllllllll~