Sustainable Cities Institute Pilot Community ApplicationMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Approval of Sustainable Cities Institute Pilot Community Application
DATE: June 16, 2010
Dubuque
katil
AlbAmedcaCily
1
2007
The City of Dubuque, in partnership with Four Mounds Foundation, has submitted a
grant application as a semi - finalist to become a Sustainable Cities Institute pilot
community. Designation as a pilot community would be accompanied by a two -year
grant for $500,000.
The Sustainable Cities Institute is an initiative sponsored by the Home Depot
Foundation. Dubuque was one of 75 communities invited to submit a Letter of Intent to
become one of two pilot communities that would be recognized for their sustainability
efforts and awarded a grant of $500,000. Proposed programs must address affordable
housing and sustainability issues, and partnership with a non - profit is required. The City
has a strong existing partnership with Four Mounds Foundation, specifically as it relates
to the HEART YouthBuild program, and has recently explored expanding that
partnership to support the establishment of a Reuse store that would collect and sell
salvaged building materials.
After submitting a Letter of Intent, Dubuque was one of eight communities invited to
submit a full application. From the applications submitted, four communities will be
chosen for site visits before two are ultimately named Sustainable Cities Institute pilot
communities.
Two projects are proposed in the application, both of which would be managed by Four
Mounds. The first involves the establishment of a Revolving Loan Fund to purchase
homes and operational support of the HEART program. The second would provide
funds to establish the Green Yard, a Reuse store to capture building materials collected
from deconstruction and rehabilitation of homes and sell to the local market. $480,000
is identified to fund these two programs over the next two years. The remaining
$20,000 would be used towards the Sustainable Community Coordinator's salary.
Sustainable Community Coordinator Cori Burbach recommends City Council approval
of the Sustainable Cities Institute award application in the amount of $500,000.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: John Gronen, Four Mounds Foundation
Justin Thiltgen, Dubuque 2 Program Coordinator
Molly Grover, President & CEO, Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
Nancy Van Milligen, President & CEO, Community Foundation of Greater
Dubuque
Kelley Deutmeyer, Executive Director, ECIA
Rick Dickinson, Executive Director and COO, Greater Dubuque Development
Corporation
Wendy Wheelock, Executive Director, Northeast Iowa Community College
Dan LoBianco, Executive Director, Dubuque Main Street
Angela Petsche, Executive Director, Washington Neighborhood Development
Corporation
Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Don Vogt, Public Works Director
David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department Director
David Lyons, Project Manager
Chuck Goddard, Solid Waste Agency Administrator
Will Hoyer, Stimulus Coordinator
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator
INTRODUCTION
SUBJECT: Approval of Sustainable Cities Institute Pilot Community Application
DATE: June 16, 2010
Dubuque
hitd
All-America City
2007
The purpose of this memorandum is to bring to your attention that the City of Dubuque,
in partnership with Four Mounds Foundation, has submitted an award application as a
semi - finalist to become a Sustainable Cities Institute pilot community. Designation as a
pilot community would be accompanied by a two -year grant for $500,000.
BACKGROUND
The Sustainable Cities Institute is an initiative sponsored by the Home Depot
Foundation. Dubuque was one of 75 communities invited to submit a Letter of Intent to
become one of two pilot communities that would be recognized for their sustainability
efforts and awarded a grant of $500,000. Proposed programs must address affordable
housing and sustainability issues, and partnership with a non - profit is required. The City
has a strong existing partnership with Four Mounds Foundation, specifically as it relates
to the HEART YouthBuild program, and has recently explored expanding that
partnership to support the establishment of a Reuse store which would collect and sell
salvaged building materials.
DISCUSSION
After submitting a Letter of Intent, Dubuque was one of eight communities invited to
submit a full application. From the applications submitted, four communities will be
chosen for site visits before two are ultimately named SCI pilot communities.
The City partnered with Four Mounds to address the two award focuses of affordable
housing and sustainability. There were three components to the award application:
1. Review of community's sustainability plan and activities to implement said plan. See
attached application for further details.
2. Identification of initiative. Dubuque's application focuses on three of the 11
sustainability principles: achievement of a Regional Economy through Smart Resource
Management and Green Buildings. The City would receive $20,000 over two years
from this award which would be used towards the Sustainable Community Coordinator's
salary.
3. Project. Two projects are proposed in the application, both of which would be
managed by Four Mounds. The first involves the establishment of a Revolving Loan
Fund (RFL) to purchase homes and operational support of the HEART program. The
second would provide funds to establish the Green Yard, a Reuse store to capture
building materials collected from deconstruction and rehabilitation of homes and sell to
the local market. $480,000 is identified to fund these two programs over the next two
years.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff requests Council approval of the SCI award application in the amount of $500,000,
$20,000 of which would be awarded to the City.
cc: Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Will Hoyer, Stimulus Coordinator
Chuck Goddard, DMASWA Director
Jenny Larson, Budget Director
Sustainable Cities Institute Pilot Cities Program - Full Application Page 1 of 27
Sustainable Cities Institute Pilot Cities Program - Full Application
Overview
Deadline for Submission is: June 15, 2010, 12 Midnight EST
Dear Sustainability Director /City Manager /Mayor,
The Home Depot Foundation (Foundation) has identified your community as one
among a select group under consideration for inclusion in the Sustainable Cities
Institute (SCI) Pilot Cities program.
The mission of the Sustainable Cities Institute is to be a valuable, trusted resource for
local governments working to create lasting, meaningful change toward sustainability
by providing web -based information, technical support, and facilitation of
collaborative sustainability planning and implementation projects that enhance the
long -term health, efficiency, affordability and livability of their communities.
In November 2009, the Foundation launched SCI, a website dedicated to providing
best practices and tools www .sustainablecitiesinstitute.org to municipalities across
the US.
Non - Profit Partner
Through the LOI process, it is necessary to demonstrate commitment from all local
government departments directly influenced by the Pilot Cities program. All cities will
be required to have a non - profit organizational partner (501c -3) to meet the
program's goals of community -based involvement and leveraged support. The non-
profit organization will receive a portion of the direct financial support to expand its
capacity for this initiative.
Both the city and the selected non - profit partner, which is defined in the attached
Program Description, will need to provide a letter of support which should be
submitted along with the full application.
All supporting materials associated with this Full Application should be sent to:
• Andrea Pinabell, LEED AP
• Program Manager, Sustainable Community Development
• The Home Depot Foundation
• 2455 Paces Ferry Road, C -17
• Atlanta, GA 30339
• Andrea_Pinabell @homedepot.com
• Electronic submission is highly encouraged.
TIPS ON SAVING AND SUBMITTING YOUR FULL APPLICATION
Please make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and click "save and
finish later" to save your entered information. Then when you are ready to submit the
application click "save and submit ".
Applicants that save their applications and return to complete it, will see a page
listing this application and any other applications they may have submitted in the past
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Sustainable Cities Institute Pilot Cities Program - Full Application Page 2 of 27
after they log -in. Just click on the 2010 SCI Pilot City Full Application and it will
reopen.
Applicants that do not save their Full Application after entering information will be
taken back to a blank application.
Name of City
(Ex. City of )
Dubuque
Address
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
City
Dubuque
State
IA
Federal Tax ID
42- 6004596
Phone #:
( # # #) # # # - # # ##
(563) 589-4110
E -mail Address
cburbach@cityofdubuque.org
Fax #:
( # # #) # # # - # # ##
(563) 589-4149
Website Address
http: / /www.cityofdubuque.org
Primary Contact First Name
Cori
Primary Contact Last Name
Contact Information
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Sustainable Cities Institute Pilot Cities Program - Full Application Page 3 of 27
Burbach
Primary Contact Title
Sustainable Community Coordinator
Primary Contact E -mail Address
cburbach @cityofdubuque.org
Partner Non - Profit Co- Applicant Information
Organization Information
(Please list the organization name, address, Tax ID #, Phone #, Fax #, Email Address, Website, Primary Contact name, title
and email address)
Four Mounds Foundation
4900 Peru Road
Dubuque, IA 52001
Tax ID: 42- 1265303
Phone: 563-557-7292
Website: http: / /fourmounds.org/
Christine Happ Olson, Executive Director
email: chris @fourmounds.org
Part I. Baseline Information
A. Overall SCI Project or Initiative Understanding
Have you read and do you understand the SCI Pilot Program Overview? (yes /no)
Yes
Please indicate your city's population within its borders and the regional population if you are
part of a larger metropolitan region.
City population: 57,250 (2008 est)
Regional population: 250,000
Does the city have a green jobs and green business development program or a green business
center?
The City of Dubuque and Its partners have made growing green jobs in the area a priority. Currently there are several
significant green jobs initiatives in the area. The largest Is the Green Industries Training Initiative (GITI), which Is a partnership
between Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), the East Central Intergovernmental Association (ECIA), Four Mounds
Foundation, the City of Dubuque and others. Funded through a $2 million Department of Labor grant, the GITI offers four job
training tracks: a wind turbine repair technician program, an energy auditor certification programs (RESNET and BPI), a
deconstruction certificate program through the ReUse People and a Green Building Professional certification program through
the Iowa Center on Sustainable Communities. Additionally, the Small Business Development Center provides entrepreneurial
training and small business loans for businesses creating green jobs opportunities.
With the arrival of IBM and the designation of Dubuque as North America's first "Smarter City" there are tremendous
opportunities to take advantage of the cutting edge projects that IBM brings to the community related to metering and analysis
of water, electricity, and natural gas consumption as well as transportation. To help local businesses take advantage of this, a
sustainable business innovation consortium of local employers have been meeting regularly with the Smarter City project
manager to remain connected to the project and understand needs and opportunities related to the project. Dubuque is
committed to being a "living laboratory" where new technologies and ideas that save energy or create jobs, for instance, can
be unveiled and tested. This concept of a living laboratory is possible because of the strong and unique public /private
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partnerships, relationships and trust that have been developed on projects, large and small, between the city and the private
sector.
Four Mounds Foundation has been an important partner in these projects with the creation of the energy program, assisting
newly trained workers graduating from the Green Industries Training Initiative, and helping to facilitate the roll out of the
Smarter City pilot project.
Other local green business developments include ECIA's Buyer Supplier program which focuses on developing a regional
economy and the newly created Petal Project, a green business certification and education program. Dubuque 2.0 is the
community's initiative, led by the City of Dubuque, the Community Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce, charged with
inspiring sustainability through and educational and engagement campaign.
Please describe your city's affordable housing initiatives.
Many public policies have been adopted by the City that assists affordable housing. The City of Dubuque adopted a Sustainable
Unified Development Code (UDC) in October, 2009 which combines the City's previous Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision
Regulations, Historic Preservation Ordinance, and portions of the Building Code into one document. The UDC eliminated
contradictory and redundant regulations while updating City Codes to reflect new approaches in land use regulation and city
initiative for sustainability. The new code was developed after much public input and will assist in the development of
affordable housing.
The City of Dubuque has established large areas of downtown as both historic districts and urban revitalization districts. These
designations assist owners with costs of rehabilitation and maintenance of older properties, through eligibility for special grants
and tax abatements. The Urban Revitalization Program allows owners who upgrade their residential properties to receive a ten -
year exemption from the property tax increase that would normally accompany property improvements. An urban renewal
district has also been established in the downtown, offering a tax increment financing capitalized low- Interest loan pool for
residential rehabilitation projects.
The City will continue to assist developers in obtaining Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Iowa Finance Authority and
other existing tax credit programs for assistance to affordable housing projects. These include State of Iowa Enterprise Zone
credits, and the State of Iowa and federal historic rehabilitation credits. The City will continue to work In collaboration with
other organizations to create housing opportunities that provide assistance to low and moderate income persons.
IBM's arrival in 2009 hastened the need for market rate, but reasonably affordable, rental housing. With the addition of 1,300
new jobs, most of which fall in a moderate income level at around $42,000, the City quickly responded and dedicated $2.5
million toward the development of moderately priced rental units, allowing income levels of 60% of the median income and up.
In addition to IBM, it serves the public service workforce such as policemen and teachers. Without incentives (like there is for
low income housing) developers found there was a financial gap to be able to complete units priced for this workforce. The
program provides up to $10,000 per unit and has been seen as a necessary component for the urgent housing need.
Please describe your city's transportation plan.
Three of the City of Dubuque's five year goals relate to transportation. They include Sustainable City, Planned and Managed
Growth and Improved Connectivity. In addition, one of the top ten priorities for the City in 2010 is an Improved Public
Transportation Model and one of our 11 sustainability principles Is reasonable mobility. The City has developed a Passenger
Transportation Plan (PTP) with to encourage a variety of transportation options for our community. Please see attached link for
a copy of the plan.
Dubuque is a community that prides itself on Its sustainability initiatives and acknowledges the importance of a viable transit
system as vital to its continued success. The following objectives were outlined in order to improve the perception, increase
ridership, and integrate technology Into the existing system: development of a new identity /brand for Dubuque transit services,
creation of an integrated user - friendly system, increased community awareness of transit, increased ridership specifically
targeting employers, commuters and college students, use of new branding to produce marketing materials in dual language
formats for multiple platforms: web, print, etc.
In addition, Dubuque has engaged in numerous initiatives including Transportation Corridor studies to address circulation
through our city, adopting policies to promote transit oriented development to reduce congestion on our street and adopting a
Comprehensive Plan that promotes Smart Growth.
The City is currently working on a complete streets initiative in our Historic Millwork District. This Initiative, now underway will
showcase how communities can take deteriorated streets in our urban core and turn them into streets that accommodate
several modes of transportation from walking, biking, rail, scooters to vehicles. The design Includes "Sharrows" driving lanes
designed to accommodate cyclists and cars. This project will also showcase other sustainability practices of stormwater
management, energy efficiency, historic preservation and artistic amenities.
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Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a national effort to Improve childhood health by increasing walking and bicycling to school
through engineering, education, enforcement encouragement, and evaluation. City officials and ECIA have collaborated with
schools to develop a SRTS plan for every school In Dubuque. Each SRTS plan identifies the barriers to walking to school, and
presents a list of strategies aimed at removing these barriers. Once Implemented, SRTS strategies will provide a solution to an
array of concerns including traffic safety, traffic congestion, transportation costs, air pollution, and lack of physical activity.
The City has adopted a Tri -State Trail Plan that when finished will provides hundreds of miles of alternative trail for walkers and
cyclists. The plan can be found in the attached materials.
Rack and Ride provides bike racks on city buses to encourage people to bike to work and other activities.
Dubuque is home to Clarke College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Northeast Iowa Community College, Wartburg
Seminary, and Emmaus Bible College with a total student population of approximately 7,000. Students within the Dubuque
area may or may not have access to a personal vehicle and generally have limited knowledge of the layout of the community.
Public transit can serve this market best by providing a stop on or very near campus, providing transportation to and from
shopping centers and employment opportunities, and providing access to carpool matching encouraging students to carpool
with each other or others in the community to return home during breaks.
Please describe your city's comprehensive land use plan.
Comprehensive planning reflects a consensus of community values in a series of goals which set the direction for the future of
the city and for improving the quality of life in Dubuque.
Dubuque's Comprehensive Plan is the community's guide to future development, public policies, and decision - making. It
examines the past and present conditions of the community to determine the direction for future growth and development.
Planning Dubuque's future will help make sure the roads, sewers and other public services will be more efficient and thus public
money better spent.
Starting with creation of a Long -Range Planning Commission In 1990, and then adoption of a Comprehensive Plan in 1994-
1995, the City of Dubuque has planned and managed the community's growth and development for years before smart growth
became a national buzzword.
The Dubuque Comprehensive Plan looks at the city as a whole and the surrounding region, with goals and objectives
established for physical, economic, and social elements of the community. As a result, Dubuque's Comprehensive Plan has
reflected the three principles of sustainability -- environmental, economic, and
social equity needs -- for more than 10 years.
Similar to the 2000 -2002 update, the public provided Input during the 2006 -2007 update of the Comprehensive Plan through
public comment sessions, focus group meetings, open houses, displays, and public hearings conducted by the Long -Range
Planning Advisory Commission.
Goals and Objectives
1) Dubuque's Comprehensive Plan consists of 14 elements in three categories:
Physical Environment -- Land Use and Urban Design, Transportation, Infrastructure, and Environmental Quality.
2) Economic Environment -- City Fiscal and Economic Development.
3) Social Environment -- Health, Housing, Human Services, Education, Arts, Recreation, Public Safety, and Diversity.
Each of the 14 elements of the Comprehensive Plan includes an opening policy statement, followed by goals, and then
objectives for each goal. The goals and objectives are broad in scope; specific programs, sites or projects generally are not
included in the Plan. Goals are not numbered in order of priority.
The policy statements, goals and objectives of the elements explain the direction, Ideals and desires which the Comprehensive
Plan Is Intended to satisfy. They also serve as the justification for many of the planning and budget decisions and ordinances
and regulations which the City Council adopts.
Please describe your city's community engagement policy.
The citizens of Dubuque are accustomed to providing citizen Input in decision making at all levels. The city has over 28 boards
and commissions where over 175 volunteer citizens provide policy Input to the City Council. Dubuque is fortunate to have
strong, non - profit agencies that influence community decision making. Over 571 non - profit organizations from the Dubuque
area represent the following areas:
• Education
• Arts, Culture and Recreation
• Civil and Community Development
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• Emergency Services
• Animal Welfare
Together these non - profits help address the social, physical, spiritual and educational well -being of our citizens. So strong is
the impact that these non - profits have had in our city, that the leadership of these non - profits is sought after to serve on the
boards of for - profit entities.
The Dubuque Comprehensive Plan is Dubuque's principle tool to guide its future development, public policies and decision
making. It was adopted in 1994 -1995, and then updated in 2000 - 2002 and again in 2006 - 2007. In each case, the City
received Input from hundreds of people at public meetings and open houses. The recently adopted Sustainable Unified
Development Code was designed using a similar engagement process where a volunteer board of citizens guided a two -year
process of public engagement from the citizenry and development community addressed issues such as smart growth, green
subdivision development and signage. The process engaged boards, departments and commissions such as historic
preservation, engineering, building and zoning.
The success of today's Dubuque did not come without challenges and hard work. The malaise which struck many similar cities
in the second half of the 20th Century hit Dubuque hard. An economic crisis of the 1980s bringing an unemployment rate of
24% was a harsh wake up call. After major employers closed their doors, a billboard in the city was erected that said, "Last
one to leave Dubuque please turn off the lights." The City, its business community, non - profit sector and its citizens are
credited with turning Dubuque around. What resulted over the 1990s and 2000s was a phoenix from the flames of the 1980s.
Dubuque is a community where partnership is king and we understand and value the creative spirit of its people. Dubuque is a
smaller, livable city with a unique combination of environmental beauty and an unusually intact collection of historic features
and neighborhoods. The community is seated on the banks and bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Traditionally, Its
industry was focused along the riverfront and one of the changes during the visioning process was to envision the riverfront as
a front door and showcase for the community.
Beginning in the 1990s, the citizens actively participated in a community visioning process, called Vision 2000. Over 5,000 area
citizens participated in the community planning process in early in the decade. The product, a shared vision statement for the
tri -state area, served as a guide to community decision making and long -range planning. The City of Dubuque Comprehensive
Plan built on Vision 2000 with policies, goals and objectives for physical, economic and social aspects of the community. The
most obvious success story was transforming the old industrial riverfront into a vibrant and exciting area for tourism and
conventions. The America's River project was, in Its first phase a $188 million project that transformed 90 acres of brownfield
property at the Port of Dubuque into a destination that captures the historical, environmental, educational and recreational
majesty of the Mississippi River.
Dubuque also completed a downtown visioning process which involved over 2,000 individuals in community meetings, a citizen
questionnaire and validation survey. In 2004, the City Council approved the Downtown Dubuque Master Plan.
In 2005, the citizens of Dubuque began to ask "What's next ?" and the community responded with Envision 2010 -- 10
community projects by 2010. Envision 2010 generated over 2,000 ideas through focus groups and town meetings attended by
thousands. The final 10 ideas were unveiled on January 5, 2006 and were "Big ideas with broad acceptance that will have a
long -term, positive impact on the growth and quality of life of the greater Dubuque community." The Top 10 ideas included:
• America's River Phase II
• Bilingual Education Curriculum
• Community -wide Wireless
• Community Health Center
• Indoor /Outdoor Performing Arts Center
• Integrated Walking /Biking /Hiking Trail System
• Library Services Expansion
• Mental Health And Substance Abuse Services
• Passenger Train Service
• Warehouse District Revitalization
Today five of the projects are completed and the remaining in some phase of implementation. Currently there are over 150
active volunteers involved to help make these projects a reality.
Our most recent collaboration involves Sustainable Dubuque and Dubuque 2.0. The Sustainable Dubuque Task Force is
community engagement processed initiated by the City of Dubuque and involving a 45- member citizen task force. The work of
the task force grew to include the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque.
The task force designed a process wherein thousands of citizens participated through surveys, presentations and other process
to present to the Dubuque City Council a three -part model of Sustainability, a vision statement and 11 sustainability principles,
which they adopted. Sustainable Dubuque is a holistic approach to making our community sustainable. Our model involves a
three -part approach that addresses:
• Environmental and Ecological Integrity
• Economic Prosperity
• Social and Cultural Vibrancy
Our vision statement is as follows:
"Dubuque is viable, livable, and equitable community. We embrace economic prosperity, social /cultural vibrancy and
environmental integrity to create a sustainable legacy for generations to come. "
The 11 sustainability principles are: Regional economy, Smart Energy Use, Smart Resource Use, Community Design, Green
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Buildings, Healthy Local Food, Community Knowledge, Reasonable Mobility, Healthy Air, Clean Water and Native Plants and
Animals.
Please describe your city's green infrastructure planning efforts.
The city of Dubuque has a comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan with over 500 community capital projects ranging from
stormwater management to park improvements to building renovation. Each year, as part of the city's budgeting process
Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) are reviewed and recommended for funding based upon need and their relationship to
achieving the City Council priorities. Each Capital Improvement project includes a justification section that links the project to
the City's comprehensive plan and one of the 11 Sustainability principles. A sample copy of a CIP is attached and the project is
outlined below.
The Bee Branch project is one example of a planned CIP budget item. In 2001 an engineering study determined that
approximately 1,150 homes and businesses were at risk of flood damage during heavy rains. This risk has become a reality to
many of these property owners as on three occasions since 1999, flood damage has prompted a presidential disaster
declaration. The flood study determined that the sustainable solution to solve the flooding problem and Improve the health of
the watershed was to replace 2.2 miles of the buried Bee Branch storm sewer with an open waterway, restoring the Bee
Branch Creek that once flowed through the neighborhoods. The Bee Branch project is viable in that it will prevent flood
damage. The Bee Branch project will prevent over a 1,000 homes from flooding making them more livable. The Bee Branch
project requires that the entire Dubuque community equitably help pay their fair share of the $42 million project cost to benefit
a neighborhood characterized by urban blight where housing values have fallen; opportunities for employment and services
have become less accessible; and the transient, minority, and poverty rates for the area have Increased significantly in recent
years.
Since 2001, citizen input has helped shape the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project. A citizen advisory committee helped
establish the alignment which requires the acquisition and removal of 65 residential homes and 15 non - residential buildings.
The City has acquired the residential homes and is in the process of acquiring the non - residential properties. Instead of
demolishing the buildings to make way for the storm water management project, the City will follow Its sustainable principals
and deconstruct the buildings with the goal of reusing and recycling as much of the buildings as possible. What will be replaced
is a community- centered waterway with walking paths and resting spots. For a neighborhood that is in dire need of green
space, this will be a benefit for the value of the homes surrounding it (both as an amenity and mitigating flooding) and for the
residents who will use the open green space for relaxation and recreation.
Has your city executed a greenhouse gas inventory? If so please attach a Zink.
Yes, an Inventory has been completed and a final report will soon be submitted for formal approval by the City Council. A copy
of our draft inventory is attached.
Please indicate which of the following material management programs your city
currently implements and describe the program (Curbside, Permanent facility,
Temporary facility, Special event, etc) and any market incentives for the materials
recycled.
a) Consumer Recycling Program: (yes /no; describe the program & incentives)
Yes. The City of Dubuque currently has voluntary "pay as you throw" curbside recycling and curbside food scrap collection
programs. Recycling bins are provided to residents at no charge and collected once each week. The City accepts plastics coded
#1 - #5 and #7 as well as clean metal such as: pots, pans, stainless steel, copper, brass, and aluminum. Common plastic
materials that can now be recycled Include yogurt cups, microwave trays, and plastic ( #2 or #5) flower pots. For $0.50 per
month residents are provided with a separate cart for food scraps that are collected and composted through the State of Iowa's
first curbside food scrap recycling program. Larger institutions can also participate. These food scraps are then composted and
used for gardens and landscaping at a reduced cost to consumers.
b) Construction and Demolition Program: (yes /no; describe the program & incentives)
Yes. Dubuque Metropolitan Solid Waste Agency's (DMASWA) Green Vision Buildings (GVB) Program provides free assistance
and recognition to owners, architects, contractors, haulers, and processors who recycle, minimize waste, and use recycled
content building materials. Since 2003, the Agency has tracked 41 projects that have diverted more than 167,035 tons of
material from being buried at the landfill, saving more than $5,364,048 in avoided disposal fees.
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DMASWA offers an Enviro -Stars Honor Roll for companies that reuse or recycle at least 70% of materials that would normally
go to a landfill. Enviro -Star businesses get a certificate, press release, and recognition on DMASWA print materials and website.
The City of Dubuque, Four Mounds and the HEART program are all awardees of Enviro- Stars.
c) Electronics and Appliances Recycling Program: (yes /no; describe the program)
Yes. DMASWA offers an electronic recycling drop off program at the Dubuque Metro landfill for Dubuque and Delaware County
residents and businesses. For a small fee electronics are then taken to Scott County Electronics Demanufacturing Facility south
of Dubuque for processing and deconstruction. Several other area businesses also accept electronics for recycling or reuse.
Appliances are accepted for a $9 per appliance fee at the Dubuque Metro landfill. Appliances are then taken to a local recycling
company for processing and certified hazardous component recovery. Appliances are removed from the landfill site before any
removal of Freon, PCBs, and metal recovery.
d) Household Hazardous Waste Program: (yes /no; describe the program)
Yes. DMASWA has a Regional Collection Center for Household Hazardous Waste. There is no charge for Dubuque and Delaware
County residents. DMASWA also has a mobile RCC that can be used for local collection events and has an education campaign
to raise community awareness for these collections and disposal.
Part II. Sustainability Plan
Explain your city's current philosophy on sustainable community development.
(Maximum 750 words)
The comprehensive and holistic nature of Dubuque's sustainability plan, formally adopted by the City Council, gives us a strong
lens through which to view community development. The City's mission statement states, in part, that The City's mission is to
deliver excellent municipal services that support urban living, and contribute to a sustainable city. The City plans for the
community's future, and facilitates access to critical human services." The three -part model we use ensures that our
community development is economically viable, has positive effects on the environment around us, and pays special attention
to the quality of life for our residents and social vibrancy of our community. We balance historic preservation with new
development, limiting sprawl and completing infill development whenever possible. Projects that make our community more
sustainable are included in the Mayor and City Council's annual goal- setting process; 2009 -2011 priorities and management
agenda items Include the creation of affordable and market -rate housing; improving the public transit system; supporting the
Washington Neighborhood revitalization; and creating a Smarter, Sustainable Dubuque where residents have access to
information to save energy and, as a result, money, and decrease their carbon emissions.
Two important documents that directly guide development policy in Dubuque are our Comprehensive Plan and the Sustainable
Unified Development Code.
The Comprehensive Plan, updated by the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission with public input, is the community's
guide to future development, public policies, and decision- making. The plan consists of 14 elements that have been formatted
to address Dubuque's three pillars of sustainability: physical, economic, and social environment. The elements explain the
direction, Ideals and desires which the Comprehensive Plan is intended to satisfy. They also serve as the justification for many
of the planning and budget decisions and ordinances and regulations which the City Council adopts. The Comprehensive plan
ensures that community -wide and long -term implications are considered when reviewing all development plans within
Dubuque.
The Sustainable Unified Development Code was adopted by the City Council in October 2009. The documents combines the
City's previous Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, Historic Preservation Ordinance, and portions of the Building Code
into one document. Also incorporated into the UDC were some of the recommendations from the Sustainable Design
Assessment Team (SDAT) report.
Objectives for the UDC are to: conform to local, state, and federal codes; be relevant for Dubuque; be user - friendly; and
streamline the process. Much work and care went Into making the UDC a policy document that reduces obstacles and
incorporates sustainable design provisions as well as relates to the City's Comprehensive Plan.
Finally, ECIA, the local Council of Governments, has incorporated Dubuque's sustainability plan into the regional Long Range
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Transportation Plan and Comprehensive Economic Development Plan. Each of these plans guide regional development as it
relates to housing, transportation, economic development, and environmental impact. Please see the provided links to these
documents for more information.
Please explain what measures, goals, metrics and indicators of success are outlined in your
sustainability plan. How were they developed and vetted?
(Maximum 750 words)
Each of the 11 sustainability principles in Dubuque's sustainability plan is presented in a clear, concise vision. Those visions
were developed and vetted by the Sustainable Dubuque Task Force after several rounds of community involvement and
revision. These goals are designed to be concrete and attainable while at the same time broad enough to stand the test of time
and continually challenge the community to do more. To support each principle the Task Force identified a series of action
steps that would support the principles. In order to keep the sustainability plan timeless, these specific action steps were not
formally adopted by the City Council and instead are viewed as a representative samplings of how the principles can be
achieved. Council has chosen to address municipal sustainability programs and projects on an annual basis through their goal -
setting session, where policy and management priorities are set for the following year.
However, we believe that, "you can't manage what you can't measure." By taking advantage of existing measurement systems
and creating some new ones, City staff and our partners will periodically and systematically measure success. Metrics for
success Include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Greenhouse gas emission. Targets are set and reductions are set through Dubuque's greenhouse gas inventory and soon -to-
be adopted Climate Action Plan.
• Energy savings. In Dubuque, we understand that water, natural gas, electricity, waste, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) are
all versions of energy use. The Smarter City project in addition to municipal targets for energy conservation will help us
measure and manage our use.
• Economic impact. Dollars saved through sustainable activity as well as growth in business due to sustainability are tracked by
local economic development agencies.
• Green jobs created. Employment trends are tracked by our local Workforce Development office and economic development
partners.
• Environmental quality indicators. Indicators including air and water quality are tracked, In partnership with local, state and
federal agencies, by the Air Quality Task Force and Dubuque County Soil & Water Conservation District, respectively.
Each of these indicators and metrics has been developed through input of the community and experts and examination of local
and national best practices.
What year did your city develop and implement its Sustainability plan? If you have a
comprehensive plan, please explain that in the answer?
(Maximum 750 words)
In 2006 the Mayor signed on to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Action Agreement In support of the Kyoto Protocol. In
each year since the City Council has made sustainability one of the top priorities. In 2008 a sustainability task force consisting
of over 40 representatives from a diverse cross section of the community was tasked with developing a sustainability plan. This
plan was approved by the City Council In early 2010 and focuses on 11 sustainability principles. Official implementation of the
plan began immediately.
Sustainability has been incorporated into City plans long before the official approval of the sustainability plan. A primary
example is the City's Comprehensive Plan, which was most recently updated in 2007, and includes many goals in each section
that would move the City toward sustainability. Among these goals are:
• to encourage the concept of mixed -use development to create diverse and self - sufficient development
• to encourage an efficient, affordable and accessible transit system in the city for the transit- dependent population and as an
alternative means of transportation
• to protect and preserve existing water supplies and air quality and ensure that future water and air quality is safeguarded
• to promote the creation and maintenance of an adequate supply of sound, affordable housing Integrated throughout the
community.
Sustainability has also been built into the region's Long Range Transportation Plan and the regional Community Economic
Development Strategy In much the same fashion. City policy dictates that sustainability be at the heart of all the City's plans
and Dubuque is working to ensure that it does indeed underlie all of the City's efforts.
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How does the sustainability plan provide a framework for evaluation in determining progress
and success against goals and metrics?
(Maximum 750 words)
A primary goal of the City Council when they identified the community's desire to become more sustainable was to empower
businesses, individuals, and non - profits to be active participants in the process. Therefore, the most important indicator of
progress is the activity happening in the community. Today, community- driven committees have formed to address the
sustainability principles of Healthy Local Foods, Green Buildings, and Healthy Air. These committees meet regularly to identify
timely, specific metrics that the committees then work towards and track to determine success. These topic - specific
committees are operating in partnership with Dubuque 2.0, who is guiding the establishment of community-wide metrics to
measure success. One of many frameworks to evaluate community success is the creation of a "Carbon Diet Challenge," in
which residents will learn about ways to reduce their carbon footprint and then self -enter data to compete against their
neighbors in lowering their impact on the environment.
This example of a community forum that allows for self- reporting supports more formal evaluation systems that exist Including
the tracking of Dubuque's greenhouse gas reduction targets, environmental quality metrics, and other statistics. These metrics
are tracked through a variety of partnerships including ones with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Alliant Energy
(electricity provider), and Black Hills (natural gas provider) and aggregated by the City's Sustainability Office and Dubuque 2.0.
The Smarter City pilot project will allow the City, in partnership with IBM, to create a framework that allows individuals to track
their own progress and the City as an organization to track community successes. Please see the attached materials for further
innovation on this first -of- its -kind project.
How does the sustainability plan foster interdepartmental and private sector cooperation on
sustainability initiatives? Please explain.
(Maximum 750 words)
Sustainability, by its very nature, must cut across departments and engage both the public and private sectors. If it fails to do
any of these it will not be successful. The Dubuque sustainability plan recognizes this and seeks to ensure that the right
organizations, businesses and individuals are actively engaged where appropriate. The City recognizes that it must play a lead
role in some areas, but it may not have the expertise or resources to lead in others. Similarly the long term strength of, and
public support for, specific initiatives related to the 11 principles is directly related to the quality of community engagement and
cooperation.
Given this, the sustainability plan has been left intentionally general to allow community organizations, businesses and the City
itself the freedom and flexibility to take a leadership role where it makes sense. The City has intended for the sustainability
plan to be a dynamic, changing document and tried to ensure that it would allow for the bottom -up initiatives rather than rely
on top -down ordinances.
How does the sustainability plan demonstrate a clear understanding of the top three needs of
your community? What are the top three needs of your community?
(Maximum 750 words)
Each year the City Council conducts a two -day goal setting session and establishes the city priorities for the upcoming year.
The City has a total of 10 priorities, all of which tie to our sustainability model in multiple ways. The top ten priorities are:
Top Priority
Sustainability Plan
Historic Millwork District
Sanitary Sewer /Water Pollution Control Plant
Neighborhood Crime and Gangs: Comprehensive Evaluation and Strategy
Carnegie -Stout Public Library Staffing
High Priority
"Smarter" City
Market -Rate Housing
Arts and Cultural Affairs Funding
Public Transportation Model
Every Child 1 Every Promise
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The proposed project ties directly to a number of the City Councils priorities. Specifically, our sustainability plan is about
undertaking initiatives that restore the environment, restore people and restore economic conditions. Converting abandoned or
dilapidated housing in our older neighborhoods and creating an education work site for at -risk students helps to restore
purpose In the individual and stabilize the neighborhood, strengthening o the economic tax base. Creating a venue where
materials from the job site can be diverted from the landfill into a store where others engaging in restoration work can access
hard to find materials is a smart economic and environmental practice. These materials are not abandoned at the landfill, but
rather create an opportunity for students to learn yet another important skill: how to manage demand and supply In a capital
market - place.
This project also helps to address City Council priorities of "Smarter City," Affordable Housing and Public Transit by focusing on
residential sites that are located in our city core and rest along transit routes. This helps support sustainability initiatives of
promoting transit oriented development where workers live in neighborhoods adjacent to employment and access to
employment is within walking /biking distance or on a public transit route.
How does the sustainability plan build local capacity for on -going work towards realizing city
sustainability goals?
(Maximum 750 words)
Because the development of the plan was community -led, original task force members as well as a variety of other individuals,
organizations and businesses have championed specific recommendations that were arrived at through the planning process
and have, in many cases, identified new and creative opportunities for community growth. In some cases, these individuals
have joined committees meeting around a particular principle; In others, they act independently or in partnership with others
to achieve their goals.
Dubuque 2.0 embraced the Sustainable Dubuque vision and principles and has largely become the community facilitator to
ensure that on -going work continues, whether that on -going work in one family subscribing to the City's food scrap collection
program or the establishment of a multi - discipline Green Job training program. As we have seen time and again, Dubuquers
are determined individuals willing to work to achieve the vision they established for themselves. For instance, in 2009 the
Sustainability Innovation Consortium was launched by Greater Dubuque Development Corporation and the City of Dubuque.
The Consortium, a forward- thinking group of 20 diverse businesses, meets on a regular basis to define economic development
opportunities related to sustainability.
How does the plan provide flexibility in adjusting to changing community needs?
(Maximum 750 words)
Dubuque's plan specifically defines the 11 principles that we believe make up a sustainable community. Each principle is further
defined a Key Concepts that help define and guide work occurring under that principle. Beyond this definition, the task force
and City Council agreed that in order to ensure flexibility that could meet changes in community need, technology, and
community development, specific tasks are not included in the formally- adopted plan. As is the case with every other
grassroots initiative the City supports, the sustainability plan Is able to respond to the changing needs of the community.
City Council and staff now use the plan to guide their policy decisions, budgeting, and daily activity. As is referenced
throughout this application, this year's Council Goals and Priorities address the most pressing sustainability needs of our
community in 2010, Including transportation, affordable housing, and the Washington Neighborhood. On a daily basis, staff are
also using the sustainability framework to make budget decisions and address the long -term needs of the community.
This high degree of flexibility also ensures that every citizen can participate in the initiative in whatever way is right for them.
Examples of current programs that happened because of the flexibility of the sustainability plan include:
• Delivery of 300 rain barrels to residents through a non - profit partnership led by Dubuque Main Street;
• Certification of 11 Green Vision Schools through the Dubuque Metropolitan Solid Waste Agency;
• The launch of the Doors to Sustainability art exhibit by the Dubuque Art Center;
• Identification of Dubuque as the first Smarter City in North America, in partnership with IBM;
• Outfitting every City bus with a bike rack to encourage biking to work; and
• FloorShow, a local furniture and carpet company, implemented the first carpet recycling program in Dubuque.
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What mechanisms are included in the plan to ensure its continuance through city leadership
changes?
(Maximum 750 words)
Dubuque's sustainability plan was created by the citizens of Dubuque, formally adopted as policy by the City Council, and is
managed by a professional staff that includes the Sustainable Community Coordinator. While Dubuque's governing leadership
is stable and progressive, the community buy -in that created the plan and professional management of it ensure continuance
during political leadership change.
Additionally, the Dubuque 2024 Vision Statement incorporates sustainability into the long -term vision for the community: "the
City of Dubuque is a progressive, sustainable city with a strong diversified economy and expanding global connections; the
Dubuque community is an Inclusive community celebrating culture and heritage and has actively preserved our Masterpiece on
the Mississippi; Dubuque citizens experience healthy living and active retirement through quality, livable neighborhoods and an
abundance of fun things to do and they are engaged in the community, achieving goals through parternships; and Dubuque
City government is financially sound and providing services with citizens getting value for their tax dollars."
What process did the city go through in developing the sustainability plan that provided for
broad stakeholder input?
(Maximum 750 words)
In 2007, the City budgeted to hire a consultant to facilitate the development of a sustainability plan. Working closely with the
City Manager's Office, the consultant facilitated a 1.5 year process in which a 45 person community task force defined what
sustainability means in Dubuque. The task force met on a regular basis to educate themselves and define the comprehensive
vision. Members also collected over 1,000 surveys via the web and hard copy and made over 25 presentations to community
organizations, clubs, and neighborhood associations. By engaging the diverse task force, representing utility providers, schools,
neighborhood associations, the religions community, small and large businesses, government officials, environmental groups
and others in gathering input from the communities they belong to, we ensured that broad stakeholder input and buy -in was
achieved.
How often will results, metrics or indicators be measured against the plan? How will the results
(positive & negative) disseminated /communicated to all of the stakeholders?
(Maximum 750 words)
Short-term, long -term, and ongoing goals will be measured periodically and on a continuous basis. Examples of measurement
include daily interactions with an energy- tracking dashboard for Smarter City participants, monthly departmental reports,
quarterly reports to City Council regarding their annual priority list, annual reports outlining greenhouse gas emissions and
reports tracking progress in achieving our goals over the upcoming decades.
Both positive and negative results will be communicated with the public in a timely way through a variety of media that meet
communications styles of all individuals, regardless of age or culture, in Dubuque. This list includes but is not limited to: online
resources and updates, the City's annual report, quarterly utility bills, public presentations, the annual Growing Sustainable
Community Conference, public access programming, and In partnership with Dubuque 2.0 and other organizations, through the
written and visual media outlets, at community forum events, and via a variety of web media. We will also continue the
tradition of sharing our progress with our state and national partners.
What obstacles, if any, did the city encounter while developing the Sustainability Plan? How did
the city overcome these obstacles?
(Maximum 750 words)
Though some would view the inclusion of such a large, diverse task force as an obstacle, this diversity proved to be an
incredible asset to Dubuque. The dedication of the group to address conflicting viewpoints and come together to create a vision
that was truly unique and customized to Dubuque, in the end, is the reason that the plan will be successful. Individuals,
businesses, and special interest groups feel like their views were represented in the discussion.
While also a positive "problem" to have, Dubuque got ahead of Itself in some ways. As the community entered the conversation
and became energized by sustainability opportunities, they began to act. This action has snowballed so the Office of
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Sustainability continues to be brought up to speed on programs and projects that have been initiated by the community. As
with any long -term project, it is important to remember that sustainability is a marathon, not a sprint. While we
enthusiastically work on innovative and fast - moving projects as a community, we are continually challenged to always be
strategic in our efforts, consider the long -term Implications of our actions, address expansive projects that do not have quick
returns because they provide larger positive Impacts in our community, and meaningful performance measurement systems to
track our progress.
Within city government, what public policies and /or operational procedures were required
and /or developed to ensure the goals of the plan could /would be accomplished?
(Maximum 750 words)
City Council has formally adopted the sustainability plan and will soon adopt the greenhouse gas inventory and climate action
plan in a similar manner. This adoption incorporates these documents into the collection of public policies that guide their
decisions, along with the Comprehensive Plan and other guidelines for development. Operationally, City staff have Incorporated
the goals of the plan Into the budget and performance measurement process and address elements of sustainability through
the City's Administrative Policies.
Who is responsible for tracking and measuring progress towards goals? (i.e. Sustainability
Director)
(Maximum 750 words)
The Sustainable Community Coordinator Is the lead staff person responsible for tracking and measuring progress; the
Coordinator reports directly to the City Manager and ultimately to the City Council. A six - person "Kitchen Cabinet," comprised
of the Coordinator, two Assistant City Managers, Resource Management Coordinator, Planning Services Director, and
Engineering Project Manager meet on a regular basis to track progress, and an Internal Green Team will begin meeting In July
to track interdepartmental progress.
Who and what are the titles of the city staff in charge of managing and implementing the
sustainability plan and how are their positions funded?
(Maximum 750 words)
While implementing the sustainability plan Is the responsibility of every City staff person from City Manager to Parking Meter
Attendant, the primary staff responsible for the Implementation of the plan include:
Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator (EECBG & General Fund)
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager (General Fund)
Paul Schultz (Solid Waste Enterprise Funds)
Where are these staff located within City government? (i.e. The Office of the Mayor)
The Assistant City Manager and Sustainable Community Coordinator are located in the City Manager's Office. The Resource
Management Coordinator reports to both the Public Works Department and City Manager's Office.
Are there dedicated sources of funding (public and /or private) for the implementation of the
sustainability plan?
(Maximum 750 words)
Dubuque was the first city in Iowa and one of the few cities in the country to establish an Office of Sustainability. Established in
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2008, this office Is budgeted as $117,829 and includes funding for a full -time sustainability coordinator as well as funding for
community education and our annual Growing Sustainable Communities conference. In addition, the City has budgeted
$574,000 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Funds to implement initiatives such as residential, commercial and
municipal building energy audits, residential and commercial energy improvements, municipal building revolving loan fund for
improvements, community education and marketing. Four Mounds is a partner in helping to roll out EECBG funds and engage
homeowners in actively controlling their home's energy use.
In other departments the City has millions of dollars of funding budgeted to Implement sustainability initiatives including a $42
million Bee Branch Creek Stormwater Management improvement that involves the sensitive deconstruction of nearly 60
properties, a $66 million Waste Water Treatment plan conversion from Incineration to Anaerobic Digestion, and numerous
housing rehabilitation programs to promote homeownership. Dubuque is the first city in Iowa and one of only 50 cities in the
United States that provides curb side collection of residential foodscraps to promote composting of organic material. In turn,
the City makes the rich compost available for only $3 per bucket from a front -end loader. The project is highly successful and
expanding.
Lastly, our community partners the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
have budgeted over $350,000 for a community engagement and education campaign centered around promoting the best
sustainability practices of Dubuque's citizens and businesses -- Dubuque 2.0.
If implementation has begun, has the city demonstrated success of achieving or exceeding the
goals and objectives of the sustainability plan? Please explain and provide examples.
(Maximum 750 words)
The City has generated a long list of successes related to the goals of the sustainability plan. These include such things as
becoming the first city in Iowa with a sustainability office, opening a year -round farmers market, implementing complete
streets concepts in our Historic Millwork District and incorporating them Into transportation plans, conducting community -wide
green asset mapping and hosting three very successful Growing Sustainable Communities conferences with nationally
recognized speakers. Many other community successes are also listed on our website at:
http:// www. cityofdubuque .org /DocumentView.aspx ?DID =1208
While there have been many successes Dubuque has been focused on laying a strong groundwork to ensure the long term
success of its sustainability plan. The pace of implementation will continue to increase. For example, now that a greenhouse
gas inventory is complete the City will be able to measure its success in reducing GHG emissions against past figures and
develop a GHG reduction strategy. Likewise, a group focused on local food systems -- Dubuque Eats Well - Is working to
develop the baseline metrics related to local food systems In the region in order to measure future improvements.
What ongoing operational procedures are in place to ensure the collaboration and cooperation of
city departments in order to accomplish the goals of the plan?
(Maximum 750 words)
The City believes it must lead by example when it comes to sustainability and is committed to greening city operations and
ensuring that all departments are involved in accomplishing the goals of the plan. The City has established an internal Green
Team to focus on Improving the sustainability of departmental operations. This team include a diverse cross section of each
department. All budget documents and plans are reviewed to ensure that there is a tie to the goals of the sustainability plan.
Monthly management team meetings, which include managers from each department, have been devoted to educating
managers about aspects of the plan, with discussions about how to improve sustainability in each department. Several
departments, including Engineering, Health, Planning, and Housing have allocated discretionary department money for staff to
travel to sustainability education meetings and conferences.
What ongoing role will the community (NGOs, general public /other stakeholders) play with the
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the sustainability plan? (i.e. task forces or
committees)
(Maximum 750 words)
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The community and non - governmental organizations will have primary responsibility for much of the plan -- for prioritizing,
adding details, Implementing, monitoring and evaluating the plan. One of the unique aspects of Dubuque's plan is the role of
Dubuque 2.0, a not - for - profit partnership between the Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation of Greater
Dubuque. Dubuque 2.0's goal Is to 'inspire sustainability,' and it serves as a venue for the discussion of new Ideas and solutions
and connects people with solutions to yet -to -be solved problems. By connecting problems with organizations and individuals
that have a passion for these same Issues we expect that ultimately there will be greater awareness, individual knowledge and
personal conviction surrounding certain aspects of sustainability and that this will lead to better, longer - lasting solutions.
Two examples of non - profit organizations and the community stepping up to play lead roles in implementing pieces of
Dubuque's sustainability Initiative are ECIA's Petal Project and the Green Vision Education program. The Petal Project seeks to
certify green businesses by ensuring compliance with a rigorous list of criteria and the Green Vision Education (GVE) program
awards schools that meet certain criteria with a flag that schools are able to fly outside their school. The GVE program is a
partnership of businesses, schools and non - profit organizations and has been successful, with 11 schools having received some
degree of award.
What influence has the nonprofit sector had on the City's commitment to sustainable community
planning & development?
The nonprofit sector has had an active role in the City's sustainability planning. From the start groups like Keep Dubuque
County Clean & Green, Sierra Club, Audubon Society, Four Mounds and Green Dubuque have been pushing the City to become
more sustainable. All were active participants in the Sustainable Community Task Force and all have remained engaged since
the Task Force wrapped up their work. Dubuque 2.0 has also been actively engaging and working to "inspire sustainability" in
residents' daily lives, which translates to pushing the City to continue to improve and remain committed to sustainability.
A. Description of the Initiative
Part III. The Initiative
Initiative Title
Building a Regional Economy Through Resource Management and Green Buildings
If the Foundation were to provide funding to your municipality under the Pilot City Program,
please provide a detailed description of the initiative that is intended for the funding.
(Maximum 750 words)
Supporting a Regional Economy, smart Resource Management, and the preservation and building of Green Buildings are three
of Dubuque's 11 sustainability principles and strongly Interrelated. The community -led Sustainable Dubuque Task Force defined
their vision for those principles in the following way:
Dubuque is a community that values a diversified regional economy with opportunities for new and green markets, jobs,
products and services.
Dubuque is also a community that values the benefits of reducing, reusing and recycling resources.
Finally, Dubuque is a community that values a productive and healthy built environment.
The City has a strong history of preserving its historic structures both to capitalize on their embodied energy and to preserve
the story of our community that lives in those buildings. Existing Code and financial incentives foster historic preservation and
compliment our Sustainable Unified Development Code and aggressive Energy Code, which govern new development.
Using the work of the HEART program and the development of the Green Yard as shining examples in our community, the City
will evaluate best practices in other communities to Identify further policy revisions and additions and review our financial
incentives to ensure that we are supporting the development of quality, affordable housing whether new or old. We will
continue to support development that uses resources in smart ways to build healthy, affordable homes for all residents of
Dubuque, believing that whenever possible it is better to educate and incent developers to act sustainably than to mandate
actions. By providing affordable homes and economic opportunities through the Green Yard for regional developers and
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homeowners, the City and Four Mounds will help to foster a vibrant regional economy.
Why did the City choose this particular initiative? How does this initiative relate to the more
comprehensive sustainability plan?
(Maximum 750 words)
Exciting activity is occurring in each of the areas identified in Dubuque's sustainability plan. In many cases, the non - profit and
private sector and individual residents have championed an initiative or project. The City believes it has significant
responsibility in guiding policy In this area. As the center of micropolitan area with over 500,000 people, Dubuque Is also in a
unique position to build and grow a stable regional economy.
Additionally, a unique opportunity exists as Dubuque begins to deconstruct 60 homes to make way for the daylighting of the
Bee Branch Creek this summer. These deconstructions will make way for the $42 million restoration of the Bee Branch Creek
which runs through the Washington Neighborhood and regularly threatens over 1,000 properties in Dubuque's north end with
flooding. In the next year alone, the careful deconstruction of these houses will mean over 3,000 tons of building materials will
be kept out of the landfill. The Green Yard intends to capture a minimum of 10% of these materials for re -sale at low cost to
fund the HEART program. Repurposing of this material will save homeowners money, reduce the need for harvesting resources,
and limit greenhouse gas emissions through reductions in the manufacturing and transportation of new building material. Since
2003, the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA) has tracked 41 projects that have diverted more than
167,035 tons of material from being buried at the landfill, saving more than $5.3 million in avoided disposal fees. DMASWA Is
partnering in development of the Green Yard as a method for diverting this material for beneficial reuse.
Both the Regional Economy and Resource Management principles are part of the Economic Prosperity pillar of Dubuque's
sustainability model. Sustainability cannot be found In a project or program that continues to require government subsidies or
incentives to operate. Rather, it must be economically viable. In Dubuque, we believe that sustainability is a strong economic
development tool that creates new jobs and opens new markets.
The Green Buildings principle can be found under the Social /Cultural Vibrancy pillar. Not only does rehabilitating historic homes
capture the embodied energy of the buildings, which along with transportation are the highest consumers of energy in this
country, but saving historic homes and providing pathways for first -time homeowners to purchase them speaks to the piece of
sustainability that makes people whole. Encouraging the restoration of ownership of this homes not only gives families and
Individuals a safe, healthy home, but restores and preserves the unique neighborhoods around them for generations to come,
creating a more viable, livable and equitable community.
What measures are in place to secure the long -term success of the initiative? For example, did
the initiative develop a creative way to secure long -term funding? Please explain.
The City is committed to using a variety of funding sources, Including General and Enterprise Funds and grants as available, to
secure the long -term success of the initiative and the many projects that will need to occur as part of it.
A. Description of the project /initiative
What is the title of the project?
Building HEART though the Green Yard
Part IV. The Project
If the Foundation were to provide funding to your municipality under the Pilot City Program,
please provide a detailed description of the project that is intended for the funding.
(Maximum 750 words)
The City of Dubuque and Four Mounds Foundation propose a project that addresses affordable housing in downtown Dubuque
and reduces both carbon emissions and waste sent to sanitary landfills. This project expands the successful HEART YouthBuild
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program (a joint partnership of the City and Four Mounds) through the development of a building material reuse store, the
Green Yard. The project creates new opportunities for the homeowners and businesses of Dubuque to repurpose out -of -use
building material and develops new career pathways for youth through HEART. We request support of HEART as it continues to
expand, develops a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF), and opens the Green Yard as a training facility and community resource. This
project incorporates all three parts of Dubuque's sustainability framework; it promotes economic vitality, social /cultural
vibrancy and environmental Integrity. Specifically, the project will help to complete the community- defined vision for three of
the eleven sustainability principles: Green Building, a Regional Economy and Smart Resource Management.
Funding would support HEART expansion with new training opportunities through the Green Yard and the development of an
RLF to allow HEART to purchase dilapidated properties for sustainable redevelopment. A $150,000 fund will allow sufficient
dollars to take on two to three properties at time, leveraging locally available zero- interest, low- interest and forgivable rehab
loans through the City's housing department. Support of this aspect of HEART increases opportunities for creating sustainably-
planned green affordable housing where our community needs it most, in the 60+ block low- income Washington Neighborhood.
Training opportunities for youth involved would expand, training all participants in green resource handling and two graduates
per year in operations at the Green Yard. Those graduates would be placed in a service term through AmeriCorps.
Over half the grant funding would be dedicated toward the development, operation, and staffing of the Green Yard, a material
reuse store focusing on diverting formerly obsolete building material from construction, renovation and deconstruction projects
away from our regional landfill, making it affordably available for local renovation and construction projects. The Green Yard
would be a retail operation In the heart of the Washington Neighborhood providing low -cost building materials for new
construction and renovation. It will serve as a resource for remodelers, contractors, businesses and institutions taking on
different levels of construction, from kitchen remodeling to full deconstuction. We have identified and are currently
Investigating the lease and purchase of a 10,000 SF open floor plan building and exterior yard within two blocks of the
neighborhood center, a size that is more than reasonable for a community of our size, as per our experience partners The
ReUse People.
HEART stands for Housing Education and Rehabilitation Training. HEART is a YouthBuild program focused on rehabilitation of
dilapidated, existing properties, helping to reuse embodied energy of existing buildings and revitalize traditional, urban,
walkable neighborhoods that have suffered disinvestment and blight. This highly successful program is transforming the lives of
young people who were at risk of not graduating from high school, opening doors to higher education, specialized training, and
career pathways. Youth develop green - collar job skills while revitalizing the Washington Neighborhood, the most diverse,
lowest Income and highest rental rate neighborhood in the city. Their projects are retrofitted into affordable, energy efficient,
quality homes for working families, helping to restore a sense of place, safety, pride and sustainability for neighborhood
residents.
HEART YouthBuild Is a homegrown program that is locally funded. Last year we became a YouthBuild affiliate, using the
YouthBuild model to improve our work changing the lives of young people while revitalizing our community with quality,
efficient, affordable housing. HEART does not receive funding from the Department of Labor YouthBuild program, but HEART is
working toward accessing that funding to expand this program to the most vulnerable dropped -out population of older youth.
Expansion through use of DOL YouthBuild funding will include increasing the population we serve, outreach, job placement
services, and the impact our young people are making in the Washington Neighborhood.
In seven years, 44 full -time and 136 summer participants have converted 18 sub - standard rental units into 11 owner - occupied
homes throughout downtown Dubuque. These students are now achieving a 90% graduation rate (as of June 2010). HEART
YouthBuild continues to expand each year and now the partnership is being called on to assist Iowa Workforce Development
and the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service to help replicate Its AmeriCorps partnership model to other YouthBuild
programs statewide.
How does this project promote affordability in housing and community?
(Maximum 750 words)
Only 30% of Washington Neighborhood homes are owner - occupied, whereas homes in the city as a whole are 70% owner -
occupied. This has challenged the community to create opportunities for working families to affordably purchase green, quality
homes. The neighborhood's century old homes and disinvestment history require a creative approach to financing the
revitalization of dilapidated properties, which typically can be purchased by HEART for $35- 45,000. A RLF for HEART YouthBuild
will help make annual rehabilitations financially feasible and secures a stable source of funding In perpetuity. Support of a
Green Yard manager will provide a means for developing sustainability plans for the student's rehabilitation projects and for
sourcing materials that can be repurposed by inclusion in the HEART home rehabilitations. Further support from the City with
forgivable loans, zero- and low- interest financing, the Section 8 voucher homeownership program, and homeowner training
opportunities like "Getting Ahead in a Just Getting by World" and "Bridges Out of Poverty" are helping support HEART
YouthBuild as they turn over properties for new low- moderate income homeowners. By focusing on downtown properties within
walking distance of schools, grocery stores, public transportation and services, were making better use of Infrastructure by
reducing the need for use of private vehicles.
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How does this project relate to the initiative and the more comprehensive sustainability plan?
(Maximum 750 words)
This project takes on three of the eleven sustainability principals in our community's plan: green building, a regional economy,
and smart resource management.
On the north and east edge of the Washington Neighborhood, over 60 buildings are slated for deconstruction, beginning this
summer. These deconstructions will make way for the $42 million restoration of the Bee Branch Creek which runs through the
Washington Neighborhood. The creek's current configuration regularly threatens over 1,000 properties in Dubuque's north end
with flooding. In the next year alone, the careful deconstruction of these buildings will mean approximately 3000 tons of
building materials will be kept out of the landfill. Without a resource for diverting material for practical reuse, deconstruction is
not a feasible option for a contractor. Through the Green Yard, we can recapture estimated minimum of 10% of the most
difficult materials to manage. Windows, insulation, siding, doors, flooring, framing, bathtubs, cabinets, appliances and even
furnaces can sourced to the Green Yard. Doing this provides the deconstructor with a charitable donation (that the Green Yard
grants for keeping It from the landfill) and helps meet the requirements for landfill diversion, making deconstruction a feasible
option.
A portion of this material will be made available at no cost to the HEART program to support development of green, affordable
housing and much of this can be re -sold at low cost through the Green Yard. The sale of material will:
• save homeowners money (nationally, re -use stores typically sell material at $.25 on the dollar),
• reduce the need for harvesting resources,
• limit greenhouse gas emissions through reductions in the manufacturing and transportation of new building material.
Since 2003, the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA) has tracked 41 projects that have diverted more
than 167,035 tons of material from being buried at the landfill, saving more than $5.3 million in avoided disposal fees.
DMASWA is partnering in development of the Green Yard as a method for diverting this material for beneficial reuse.
Dubuque's aging housing stock, need to reinvest in existing neighborhoods downtown, and current lack of a marketplace for
reselling reclaimed material can all be addressed through this initiative. Dubuque needs an organization experienced with
diversion, restoration, rehabilitation, and repurposing material to take the Green Yard on as a community initiative. HEART
YouthBuild is positioned to make the most of the opportunity by using the business model as a new career path for its students
as they transition toward the workplace and healthy adulthood. By developing the Green Yard, we're helping to make
repurposing material a financially and physically feasible option for HEART YouthBuild students and the residents of the
Washington Neighborhood and surrounding community. The Green Yard develops a business model around the ultimate
recycling opportunity and future plans include moving HEART's restoration woodshop to the Green Yard to develop value -added
opportunities for material repurposing.
Project Start Date
09/01/2010
List and describe the goals and objectives of the project.
Green Yard Goals:
1) The diversion and reuse of over 500 tons of reclaimed material by the end of Year Two.
2) Reduction of fuel usage for transporting materials from markets outside of our region and transporting material to the
landfill (outside of Dubuque).
3) Provide a reasonable resource for residents /businesses to deliver and acquire reusable building materials.
4) Prepare Green Yard sharing models for other replication in other communities, including: training, lessons learned, checklists
for warehouse and acquisition, operations, personnel hiring and marketing.
5) Educate the community about alternative sources to traditional demolition.
HEART Expansion Goals:
1) Train 24 HEART students at the Green Yard retail store in resource handling.
2) Train 4 HEART graduates at the Green Yard retail store as team members.
3) Employ same 4 HEART graduates at the Green Yard retail store as AmeriCorps members.
4) Develop sustainability model for all rehabilitation projects taken on by HEART YouthBuild and develop and Individual
sustainability plan using the Green Communities Checklist for each project.
5) Establish and utilize a Revolving Loan Fund to support purchase and sustainable rehabilitation of HEART rehabilitation
projects.
Describe the vetting process that was utilized to determine what project(s) are /were to be to be
implemented with this funding.
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The City has had a long history of partnership, preservation and the promotion of homeownership. Our track record of working
with private sector and non - profit entitles such as the HEART program has helped us convert vacant or dilapidated rental
housing in our lowest Income neighborhoods into vibrant, sensitively restored owner - occupied housing. This kind of effort
restores property, restores neighborhoods and, when done as part of the HEART program, restores individuals. The city also
worked with the HEART program in 2009 to perform a sensitive restoration of a historic pavilion in our acclaimed Eagle Point
Park. In 2009, the city of Dubuque began construction on the $42 million Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project.
This project would involve the deconstruction of approximately 60 properties, most of which are residential. In gearing up for
this project, the City and DMASWA partnered with Four Mounds Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater
Dubuque to determine what it would take for our community transform from one that demolishes and wastes material in the
process to one that deconstructs and reuses locally. This included multi -day planning sessions with the Institute for Local Self
Reliance, deconstruction trainings held by the ReUse People, and development of a Waste Diversion Options Study. The results
include the community initiative build capacity locally to allow for diverting Construction/ Demolition/ Deconstruction/
Renovation (CDDR) waste.
Since 2005, Four Mounds & the HEART program have taken on the deconstruction or whole house moves of 16 buildings,
ranging from a City -owned canoe shed to a large timber framed barn. The City has called on HEART to strip a number of
projects In preparation for remodeling as well. The homes outlined for deconstruction in the Washington Neighborhood will be
deconstructed by four different entities, including the HEART Program. Most homes date from 1890 -1925, are modest frame
structures with desirable, reusable materials.
Since 2003, HEART has taken on over 30 community projects including the conversion of 18 substandard rental units In and
around the Washington Neighborhood Into 11 owner occupied homes, the majority of which were made available to low -
income, first -time homeowners. It has had a 100% success rate for completion and Is helping to reverse the neighborhood
trend of high rentals (70 %) and low homeownership (30 %) toward the at -large city ratio, which is the reverse of the
Washington Neighborhood.
Recognizing the City Council priorities on Sustainability and Partnership, the city looked naturally to the HEART program as a
partner in deconstruction. Our vision was to find a place for the valuable materials from these homes other than the landfill and
to provide access to the general public for the affordable reuse the materials on future renovation projects.
Please list all project partners and stakeholders.
PROJECT PARTNERS AND ROLES
Four Mounds Foundation - HEART YouthBuild, Green Yard
City of Dubuque - Project Support
The Reuse People - Deconstruction Training, Model Sharing
Dubuque 2.0 - Marketing, outreach, education, engagement
DMASWA - Marketing, outreach, education, resource tracking
ECIA - Buyer Supplier Network, marketing and outreach
HEART PARTNERS (in addition to FOUR MOUNDS and the CITY)Iowa Workforce Development & AmeriCorps
YouthBuild USA
Dubuque Community Schools & Four Oaks of Iowa
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque (Project HOPE and Every Child Every Promise)
Juvenile Court Services
Gronen Properties /Gronen Restoration
Northeast Iowa Community College
STAKEHOLDERS
Northeast Iowa Community College- The Green Jobs Training Initiative
Homeowners, contractors, institutions - Seeking reclaimed materials
First time, low- income homeowners - Moving into renovated homes
HEART students - New training opportunities
Business /Construction industry - Material resource /Repository
Institutions (school district, colleges, etc) - During expansion /remodeling
Community - reduced landfill /emissions
Dubuque Main Street - 90 block area with business focus
Dubuque County Clean & Green - Focus on clean, livable community
Washington Neighborhood Development Assoc. - 60 block area with residential focus
DMASWA - Green Vision Education Program
Please explain who is involved with the Tong -term management and maintenance of the project?
Four Mounds is ultimately responsible for the HEART Program, the development of the HEART housing rehabilitation projects,
and the success of the Green Yard, but the success of those programs lies in the partnership it has formed with the City of
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Dubuque and other organizations. The HEART Program has an advisory board made up of partner representatives with policy
input from our Youth Policy Committee. Four Mounds has one city- appointed member on its board of directors, typically held by
a City Councilperson.
B. Project as a Reflection of the City's Sustainability Plan
Provide the list of quantifiable evidence (i.e. metrics) that will indicates that the project will
positively impact the livability and economic viability of the community.
Please see attached spreadsheet for metrics details.
How will the project enhance walk - ability, mass transit access, green infrastructure and /or other
"location efficiency" goals for the community?
Dubuque's focus on redevelopment of the existing downtown came after years of watching the downtown and local economy
decline as the city sprawled westward in the 1970s but dropped In population. The City of Dubuque's urban population of
57,686 is contrasted with the rural tri- county population of only 163,509. We are more than 90 miles away from any city
nearing our size and located at the heart of the three -county tri -state area. Following the worst economic crisis in our history
where unemployment levels hit 24% In the 1980s, Dubuque has worked hard to pull itself up by its bootstraps and redevelop
Its historic but aging, and nearly abandoned, downtown areas. After the turn of the millennium, Dubuque made the
redevelopment of the surrounding residential neighborhoods a priority, with a focus on the Washington Neighborhood. The goal
was to revitalize this once livable, walkable community. The HEART program has been a leader, with the City as a partner, in
revitalizing the modest historic homes that make up this neighborhood. By focusing on existing neighborhoods that have been
neglected over the past decades, we are reusing and revitalizing existing, aging and necessary infrastructure. Redevelopment
of the Washington Neighborhood makes sense, as it is a traditional, transit oriented development close to downtown, schools,
retail, public transportation and services.
The Green Yard expands the goals of revitalizing infrastructure by building an economy around reuse and diversion. By locating
the building in the heart of the Washington Neighborhood, we make the Green Yard accessible to homeowners and contractors.
The Green Yard reduces the needs for harvesting raw materials and manufacturing building materials outside of our
community. It reduces transportation and energy involved in the processing and shipping of these materials from their source,
to the factory, the warehouse and then to the store where they are sold. Currently, the majority of these transactions take
place in an economy outside of Iowa, facilitated by corporate owned big box stores located outside of town. By focusing on
locally "harvested" material from deconstructions, we reduce the pressure on transportation, energy and raw materials. As
well, for those deconstructing, the Green Yard is centrally located, reducing the need to haul materials to the landfill outside
the City limits. The development of the Green Yard supports our regional economy, focusing more on jobs (deconstructed
materials needs local labor for deconstruction and preparation for use) instead of the purchasing of new materials and disposal
of wasted materials.
How will the project serve as a source of ongoing outreach, community - building and education?
HEART will partner with DMASWA (regional), ECIA's Buyer Supplier program (regional) and Dubuque 2.0 to market the Green
Yard and educate the community about alternative ways to take on traditional demolition, renovation and construction
projects. Education will take place through a comprehensive marketing campaign as well as grass roots education with
presentations to service organizations like Dubuque Rotary or trade organizations like the HomeBuilder's Association. PSAs on
our local cable channel will also provide the work for longer educational pieces for the public. The Green Yard Steering
Committee will lead the development of a marketing strategy.
The Northeast Iowa Community College and Green Jobs Training Institute will be assisted by HEART's partner The ReUse
People to develop a training certificate program for deconstruction, already slated to train 35 individuals. The project changes
the regional economy by providing a resource for diversion and options for reusing those diverted materials.
The Green Yard will develop and train all HEART participants in resource handling and a minimum of two graduates per year in
Green Yard operations, following up with a AmeriCorps service memberships in which they can be employed through the Green
Yard.
Please provide a detailed budget of the complete project & initiative and how the Foundation's
funding would be utilized.
(Maximum 750 words)
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Please see attached spreadsheet for detailed budget.
Budget Narrative:
HEART YouthBuild Operational Support: Support of HEART YouthBuild as we expand to further train our participants in proper
deconstruction techniques (a skill used in any rehabilitation project) and resource handling.
Revolving Loan Fund: Funds deposited to create a revolving loan fund for green HEART projects.
Green Yard Manager/ Project Liaison: This full -time position is responsible for ensuring that that project is carried out, including
training of HEART participants and the operation and start up of the Green Yard.
Green Yard operational support: costs for the operations of the Green Yard in years one & two, including lease, utilities, supply,
etc.
Green Yard Equipment and Warehousing: equipment necessary for start-up including shelving, inventory systems, security,
forklift, truck, trailer, etc.
Green Yard educational & marketing campaign: a combination of broad based marketing, educational outreach to service and
trade organizations, and workshops, in partnership with the City of Dubuque, Dubuque 2.0, ECIA Buyer Supplier, and
DMASWA.
City of Dubuque Project Support: Dedication of staff time and other costs associated with supporting this project, through the
City Manager's Office and the Office of Sustainability.
A. Local Government Participation
Part V. Pilot City Organization
Explain the involvement and impact the leadership of the mayor, elected officials and /or city
staff will have in the success of this pilot city program.
Support from the Mayor, City Council and other city staff will be important for the success of this program. Roy Buol, Mayor of
the City of Dubuque, has been a tireless champion of sustainability in Dubuque as have City Council members. They will
continue to support sustainability and programs such as the HEART program and The Green Yard, but ultimately those
programs are intended to be able to stand on their own. Currently the City provides projects for HEART participants but with
the creation of a revolving loan fund and the additional revenue generated from the Green Yard the HEART program will be
substantially self- sufficient.
The City has a close working relationship with the board and staff of Four Mounds on a variety of issues and programs,
including affordable housing, historic preservation, resource management, deconstruction, the HEART Program (of which the
City is a partner), Green Jobs Training Initiative, the Energy Program, local foods and community planning. Four Mounds has
written in its bylaws that the City have a representative on Its board of directors, traditionally served by a City Councilperson.
Chuck Goddard, Solid Waste Agency Administrator, is an expert in deconstruction and material reuse and will be assisting in
the set up of the Green Yard through his state and national connections and through the network of contractors and businesses
that have worked on and received Green Vision certification from DMASWA.
Deron Muehring, Project Manager of the Bee Branch reconstruction project, has worked very closely with property owners and
contractors who are participating in the deconstruction of homes along the Bee Branch. Deconstruction of these homes will
provide much of the initial material for the Green Yard.
Please explain how the $50K /$100K match will be obtained and how that money will be
earmarked for this pilot city program?
Please see attached spreadsheet document for match details.
If additional city funds are being utilized, please explain how city funds will be used to
implement and promote this pilot city program.
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The City is committed to quality housing, in particular quality affordable, workforce housing. The City has a Healthy Homes
initiative and funds numerous programs to promote housing renovation, the safe removal of lead paint from homes and well as
home ownership. The HEART program has been an active partner in achieving this goal. Each year the City looks to the HEART
program to assist in the renovation of a home as well as providing critical technical knowledge on writing the specifications for
a renovation project.
In addition, the City has targeted the Washington Neighborhood, one of our lowest income neighborhoods with the oldest
housing stock in the city, for home renovation and home owner funds. The City has helped establish the Washington
Neighborhood Development Council, whose primary mission is to help Increase the percentage of homeownership in this
neighborhood from 30% homeownership and 70% rental to resemble the homeownership ratio for the rest of our city which is
70% homeownership, 30% rental. To aid us in this effort the city has budgeted $2.9 million in Lead Paint Grant funding to
remove lead paint from this homes; $1.13 million in years 2008 -2010 to fund homeowner rehabilitation projects and Includes
$1.276 million in funding in years 2009- 2015 to promote homeownership and residential renovation in the Washington
Neighborhood.
As this money is spent on homeowner and renovation, there will be an Increase opportunity for the Green Yard to salvage
material from these projects as well as be a resource for homeowners looking for salvage material to complete a project. In
addition, these project will present an opportunity for employment for students graduating from the HEART program as
homeowner look for contractors to bid their projects. These funds will help sustain the supply and demand for the Green Yard
as well as promote green jobs in our community.
Does the initiative and project(s) listed above demonstrate partnership and alignment between
multiple government agencies or departments in support of sustainable community
development?
If yes, please explain.
This project will demonstrate the partnerships that Dubuque for which Dubuque is well known. City departments including
Housing, Engineering, Economic Development and the City Manager's Office will be working together to ensure the success of
this program. DMASWA, which itself is a partnership between the city and county will also play a key role. DMASWA is taking a
lead role in reducing construction and demolition waste and is working closely with the Engineering department to coordinate
deconstruction during the Bee Branch project. The Housing department has worked very closely with the HEART program and
Four Mounds in the past and administers the Section 8 funds that can be used to subsidize mortgage payments for low- income
home buyers. Economic Development will be involved through the creation of the Green Yard and the business opportunities
and jobs created. The overall point person in the city for this project will be the City's Sustainable Community Coordinator who
is directly overseen by the City Manager's Office, and whose job is to support sustainability across the community. Cooperation
amongst all of these agencies and departments in this project is an important ingredient for its success.
DMASWA contracted for a Waste Diversion Options Study from Huls Environmental Management, LLC in 2009. The expansion
of HEART through the development of a supporting Green Yard would help our community move toward the five of the
recommendations outlined in the study: including 1) Reduce, 2) Reuse, and 3) Construction Deconstruction, Demolition,
Renovation (CDDR) Recovery, 4) Outreach, Education & Training and 5) Ordinances and Policies. Working toward
recommendations 1. thru 3. are straightforward through the development of a Green Yard. Through a marketing and education
campaign (as well as educating the HEART students) it reaches another recommendation, Outreach, Education & Training. The
last recommendation Is Ordinances and Policies, and increasingly policy changes are being made at institutional levels in
Dubuque that are supporting deconstruction, including the Dubuque Community School System's requirement that contractors
utilize resource recovery during deconstruction projects and the City's changing policy to incent contractors to divert material
during city- funded projects. The policies have been growing over the past five years, but the Green Yard would provide a
resource for contractors following the policies.
Stakeholders on the supply side of the Green Yard are growing in Dubuque. Expanding institutions, new & existing businesses,
contractors and even homeowners can avoid waste by deconstructing during remodeling or building removal. For instance, the
school system is now specifying deconstruction vs. demolition and in a recent project, was able to diver over 87% of material
from a project site resulting in 19,832 tons of diverted waste and over a half million dollars In saved landfill fees. In 2006, Four
Mounds helped move and deconstruct 10 buildings partnering with a hospital during expansion, diverting over 85% of the
building material from the local landfill. In order to make a new home for IBM, Dubuque Initiatives diverted 1933 tons of
material during the renovation of the 7 story Roshek Building this year during renovation. These developments are all
supported by changing incentives and policies by the government, institutions and businesses as they move toward
sustainability However, achieving these diversion take hard work if there isn't a source for accepting materials. The creation of
the Green Yard makes it financially feasible for companies and institutions to consider deconstruction compared to demolition.
From the perspective of the city, please explain how your nonprofit partners will be key to the
success of this pilot city program.
The City's mission is to deliver excellent municipal services that support urban living, and contribute to a sustainable city. The
City plans for the community's future, and facilitates access to critical human services. The result is a financially sound city
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government and citizens getting services and value for their tax dollar. Key to the successful implementation of this mission is
partnership. Each year the City Council updates its Five -year goals for the community and every year for the past 15+ years,
Partnering for a Better Dubuque, has been one of our top five goals. Sustainability has also been at the top as a key policy
priority for the past several years. This project combines two of the most significant policy directives for the City of Dubuque
(partnership and sustainability) and could not be done without the private sector. The City of Dubuque will work closely with
the Four Mounds Foundation, DMASWA, HEART Youthbuild /Green Yard and Gronen Restroration/ Gronen Properties on the
sensitive deconstruction and removal of the residential units that are impacted by the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project.
This coordinated effort will help the city of Dubuque meet an aggressive schedule to implement a stormwater management
project that will ultimately remove the remaining 1,150 homes and businesses from flooding. This meets our sustainability
initiative of environmental integrity. This project will also reduce the burden to our landfill by diverting material from the landfill
into a Green Yard, thus helping us keep demolition and landfill costs in check. It also makes salvaged material available at an
affordable price for low- income families wishing to make home Improvements. This component of the project helps meet our
sustainability initiative of economic prosperity. Lastly and as Important, this project will help students who up to now have
considered themselves failures by providing them critical green jobs training. Job training that they will put to use in renovating
moderate homes for purchase by low- income family who might otherwise not have an opportunity to own a home. This meets
our sustainability initiative of social /cultural vibrancy. Ultimately this public private partnership helps us with our sustainability
model to create a viable, livable and equitable community.
If applicable, please explain how this program (the initiative and project) will be utilized as a
demonstration pilot program by other local governments and /or for other organizations?
The City of Dubuque has long been recognized as a leader, particularly a leader in sustainability. Our historic preservation
ordinance and conservation district ordinance language has been used as a model across Iowa. We have been recognized at
the State and National level for our lead paint removal program which has focused on the renovation of older residential units
The Dubuque program Is considered a leader In Iowa because of Its close partnership between the health and housing
departments, and was In fact the first program in Iowa to form such a joint working relationship addressing the health and
environmental aspects of lead poisoning. Rates of childhood lead poisoning in Dubuque have decreased from over 14% of
children tested in 1994 to 3.6% of the children tested currently. Dubuque also has a significant amount of pre -1950 housing
with data showing that 38.9% of its housing stock dates from before 1950 compared to a national average of 22.3 %.
Dubuque has also been a leader in the area of solid waste management particularly in the area of landfill diversion. Our policies
regarding landfill diversion are being modeled in places Milwaukee, WI and the State of Minnesota and will be highlighted on a
national webinar being hosted by the Building Material Deconstruction Association.
The City of Dubuque believes strongly in collaboration and is called upon at the State and Federal level to share best practices.
In the past year we have hosted numerous sites visits from other communities across the U. S. and Federal Agencies on our
sustainability Initiatives. The City hosts an annual Growing Sustainable Communities conference and a Low Impact
Development Conference to share best management practices with businesses and policy decision makers in the region.
Lastly, City staff that serve on state and national organizations providing valuable input on policy direction for cities across the
county. Our Resource Management Coordinator served on the Governors Comprehensive Recycling Task Force for the State of
Iowa; the Solid Waste Coordinator serves on the Iowa Recycling Association Board; our Street /Sewer Maintenance Supervisor
serves on the Iowa Chapter of the American Public Works Board; the Sustainability Coordinator serves on the Urban
Sustainability Directors Network; our part-time Assistant City Manager Is a Trustee for the Nature Conservancy of Iowa and
serves on their five -state Upper Mississippi River Board as well as serves on the national advisory committee of Coalition to
Restore Coastal Louisiana and is a trustee of the National Waterways Foundation Board; our full -time Assistant City Manager
serves on the Technical Advisory Committee for ICLEI, a national advisory board to develop sustainability criteria for the ICLEI
STAR Community Index program and is also a member of the Iowa City /County Management Association and serves 'on the
Summer Conference program committee and the Iowa Municipal Managers Institute (IMMI) program committee. The City of
Dubuque is a founding member of Climate Communities and Mayor Buol Is an active member of the US Conference of Mayors
and one of the original signators to the US Conference of Mayors document to support the Kyoto Protocol.
Because of Dubuque's proactive measures on sustainability and climate change, we are creating a legacy for our citizens and a
model for other communities. We are actively engaged in sharing our model for success and as previously mentioned, in the
past year we have hosted numerous sites visits from other communities across the U. S. and Federal Agencies on our
sustainability initiatives. Our Mayor, city staff and our partners have also been sought out to present our model for success and
best practices at Regional and National Conferences. Our efforts have garnered Important National Recognition including 2007
All- America City; 2007 and 2008 One of 100 Best Communities for Youth; the 2008 Most Livable City by the US Conference of
Mayors; 2009 EDA Excellence in Economic Development Award for Excellence in Historic - Preservation Led Strategies; and a
2009 America's Crown Community Award.
If you are chosen to be one of the four finalist cities (through the mini -scan assessment report)
or two Pilot Cities, do you agree to share your experiences with other cities through the
Sustainable Cities Institute? (Yes /No)
If no, please explain.
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Yes.
B. Nonprofit and Community Participation
How is the initiative and project(s) reflective of the partner nonprofit's mission?
Four Mounds Foundation's mission is to PRESERVE, EDUCATE and SERVE.
PRESERVATION: This project supports the HEART program with an opportunity to expand its preservation mission by
strengthening our community's ability to reuse existing housing infrastructure in our downtown neighborhoods (inhibiting
sprawl) and preserving affordable housing by making it sustainable. This project supports Four Mounds Green Yard with
opportunities to reduce demand for new building material (and the energy it takes to produce and transport the material) by
offering affordable, locally available, green alternatives, as well as keeping building waste out of our landfill. By focusing on
redeveloping existing housing stock in Dubuque, development pressures are removed from the outskirts, helping to maintain
healthy boundaries, maintaining green space and reducing the pressure for transportion caused by sprawl.
EDUCATION: This project supports the HEART program, teaching students smart, green ways to rebuild homes, dedicating the
Green Yard manager's time to planning green HEART projects. This ensures that reused materials are available for the HEART
rehabilitation projects and that students are engaged in planning sustainable housing projects. The proposed project supports
our community (homeowners, business owners, the construction Industry, Institutions and public entities) with educational and
practical opportunities to divert waste from our landfill on a large scale, through the donation of materials to the Green Yard for
resale or to HEART for repurposing. On the other hand, the Green Yard provides the community with affordable alternatives to
buying new building material which in turn reduces pressure on manufacturing, natural resources, and transportation.
Education of the community (business, residents, institutions) and our workforce (through the training of young people) is a
critical component to ensuring the success and practical use of the Green Yard.
SERVICE: A material repurposing retail operation like the Green Yard has been identified by our community as a need both on
the supply side (as currently there are policies and incentives to divert CDDR waste, but no coordinated markets to accept
them) and on the demand side, as Dubuque hosts a large number of historic and older properties, where the average age of a
home is 1953. All surrounding downtown neighborhoods where the Green Yard will exist are identified through the US Census
as low- income. The Green Yard will provide material at no cost to the HEART program, helping to make the projects green and
affordable, and will sell material for an estimated $.25 on the dollar (estimated from The Reuse People partnering stores). That
means a ready to install double door and frame that would normally cost $200 new in a building store would likely resell for
$50 at the Green Yard. That ensures affordability to all residents.
Please describe the city's previous experience working in partnership with the lead nonprofit.
Was it a successful or unsuccessful partnership? Why?
(Maximum 750 words)
The City of Dubuque has a close working relationship with the board and staff of Four Mounds on a variety of issues and
programs, including affordable housing, historic preservation, resource management, deconstruction, the HEART Program (of
which the City is a partner), Green Jobs Training Initiative, the Energy Program, local foods and community planning. Four
Mounds has written in Its bylaws that the City have a representative on its board of directors, traditionally served by a City
Councilperson. The HEART Partnership has earned numerous national, state and local awards for partnership, building
preservation, deconstruction and use of CDBG funding. The City and FOUR MOUNDS regularly partner on grants, projects,
initiatives and planning. The two entities began their partnership in 1987, when the City was facing the worst economic crisis in
its history and struggling with management of a large gift of real estate housing 17 dilapidated, but historic buildings. The Four
Mounds Foundation founded as a means to remove the burden of this property from the City shoulders, taking on full financial
and operational responsibility but allowing the City to retain ownership. Four Mounds used the opportunity to restore and
rehabilitate the buildings as a means for teaching young people job skills through restoration, property management and land
stewardship. From there, the HEART program grew into what it is today. The partnership is unique in Dubuque and seen by
Four Mounds, the City, and the community as highly successful.
How will this pilot city program help build or extend the capacity of the partner nonprofit?
Please explain.
The HEART program has grown significantly since its creation In 2003, expanding Its partnership to make a greater impact in
Dubuque's neighborhoods, and expanding services to better support young people in service and better prepare them for
healthy adulthood with relevant credentials, trainings, and educational opportunities following graduation. The City has assisted
Four Mounds since day one with creative financing and projects that have provided students with unique opportunities for skill
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building. This proposed project helps HEART in a number of ways: 1) it dedicates staff to leading student rehabilitation project
planning with green goals, 2) it provides someone to scout out available material that can be repurposed at the HEART homes,
3) it develops for the first time a revolving loan fund to support the purchasing and rehabilitation of properties for the HEART
program, 4) provides a resource for the students (and the community) for landfill diversion, and 5) provides training
opportunities to students in the Green Yard retail operation.
The development of the Revolving Loan Fund, focusing on a green approach to rehabilitation, will provide HEART with a stable
source of funding with which we can partner with the City to purchase and rehabilitate homes. As the HEART looks to expand
to a new dropped out population (seeking YouthBuild funds from the Department of Labor) we'll need more capacity to take on
more projects at once.
By developing the Green Yard and a comprehensive marketing campaign, Four Mounds helps to educate community members
about alternative resources for landfill diversion, using one of the largest impact approaches: support of the reuse of existing
buildings through affordable, green rehabilitation and support of the reuse of materials gained from deconstruction.
This project also supports The Reuse People in their mission is to promote deconstruction as an alternative to traditional
demolition. TRP is actively engaged In empowering communities across the United States to develop industry and economies
that support deconstruction and the repurposing of reclaimed materials. TRP will also assist with promoting deconstruction in
the area with local contractors which will help sustain the store's inventory. TRP Is actively engaged with the Green Jobs
Training Initiative in Dubuque (of which the City and Four Mounds are partners) In training and certifying deconstruction
workers.
What are the specific ways this initiative and partnership will enhance and strengthen the
community? Please describe the community outreach that will occur with this pilot city
program?
In partnership with the NICC Green Jobs training program, Four Mounds Foundation and the City will provide training to equip
a cross - section of our community (at -risk youth, unemployed adults, and incumbent workers in need of new skills) with the
knowledge and skills they will need to remain competitive in a new green economy through 1) resource handling, 2)
deconstruction, and 3) Green Yard operation trainings.
Through City policy, the HEART program, and the development of the Green Yard, Dubuque residents and businesses will learn
about the value of preserving and reusing materials. On average, revitalization of an existing building keeps 60% of the costs
devoted to local labor while 40% is used to purchase materials. New construction statistics are approximately the reverse of
this. These programs are keeping dollars in the local economy. Deconstruction and rehabilitation of existing housing also
reduces emissions, resulting in healthier air, water, and overall environment for our citizens.
The rehabilitation of homes in the historic Washington Neighborhood is vital to the continued health of our downtown
neighborhoods. With a renter - occupied to owner - occupied ratio of 7:3, the Washington Neighborhood's homeownership rate is
the reverse of the community at- large. The HEART program has helped In convert 18 substandard rental units into 11 owner -
occupied homes. Increased homeownership in walkable, livable neighborhood has a correlation to reduction crime. Those
homeowners develop a stake in the neighborhood and typically become contributing members to a vibrant community.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH The HEART partnership is one that relies on its strong public - private partnerships to conduct
community outreach and identify young adults who are candidates for the program. This outreach includes working with
Northeast Iowa Community College, the Dubuque Community School District, Department of Corrections, and additional
partners to identify and recruit youth.
Four Mounds has identified funding in their proposed budget for the education of contractors, developers, and homeowners
regarding deconstruction best management practices. Four Mounds will also work with the City Building, Engineering, Housing
and Community Development, and Planning departments to market the existence of the Green Yard and complete training as
necessary to develop the market for this business.
The promotion of the HEART program and Green Yard, as well as the greater sustainability plan developed in Dubuque, will also
be coordinated by Dubuque 2.0, a non - profit Initiative led by the community and facilitated by the Community Foundation of
Greater Dubuque and Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce. Since the completion of the Sustainable Dubuque Task Force's
work, Dubuque 2.0 has been launched to lead and coordinate the community's achievement of the sustainability plan.
Dubuque 2.0 is a community engagement initiative designed to inspire sustainability. By engaging neighborhoods, schools,
businesses and non - profits Dubuque 2.0 will reach all citizens of Dubuque where they live work and play and identify
opportunities for each of them to act more sustainably. Dubuque 2.0 is comprised of leaders and representatives of these
sectors and is guided by an 18- organization Steering Committee. Through community forums, an interactive website that
serves as a one stop shop for local sustainability resources, guerrilla marketing, newsletters, and partnerships with
organizations completing training, curriculum development, and programming, Dubuque 2.0 Is educating the community about
opportunities to achieve the sustainability plan and engaging them in changing their behavior. Dubuque 2.0 will be a key
partner in the marketing of the City and Four Mound's activities and will ensure that the sustainability movement in Dubuque
continues to move forward.
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What are the particular roles of each participating nonprofit partner in achieving the project's
goals and objectives?
Four Mounds Foundation: Program and Project Leader for the Green Yard, the HEART Program, and the HEART housing
projects. Employer of the Project Coordinator and Host Site and Supervisor for the AmeriCorps members. In partnership with
Dubuque 2.0, leading community (and student) education campaign to increase reuse of formerly obsolescent building
materials through repository at the Green Yard.
Dubuque 2.0: Project support for outreach and marketing to engage community, businesses and the construction industry in
deconstruction and repurposing through the use of the Green Yard.
The Reuse People (TRP): Non - profit 501c3 partner sharing business models, work plans, policies and procedures, market
analysis, successful grant applications, statistics and other relevant knowledge and training for the deconstruction and the
development of the Green Yard. TRP is also helping to set up relationships with other reuse stores in the Midwest (Chicago &
Kansas City) that can cooperate for managing overstock created during the initial Bee Branch deconstruction project.
DMASWA is supporting this project through information and model sharing, collection of data, incentives, education and awards
programs to promote deconstruction, grant writing for the Green Yard.
ECIA -- Buyer Supplier Network is supporting this program by marketing to local businesses options for building material
diversion and reuse.
If additional city funds are being utilized, please explain how city funds will be used to
implement and promote this pilot city program.
The City of Dubuque is committed to quality housing, in particular quality affordable, workforce housing. The city of Dubuque
has a Healthy Homes initiative and funds numerous programs to promote housing renovation, the safe removal of Lead paint
from homes and well as home ownership. In the past the HEART program has been an active partner in achieving this goal.
Each year the city looks to the HEART program to assist in the renovation of a home as well as providing critical technical
knowledge on writing the specifications for a renovation project.
In addition, the City has targeted the Washington Neighborhood, one of our lowest income neighborhoods with the oldest
housing stock in the city, for home renovation and home owner funds. The city has helped establish the Washington
Neighborhood Development Council, whose primary mission is to help increase the percentage of homeownership in this
neighborhood from 30% homeownership and 70% rental to resemble the homeownership ratio for the rest of our city which is
70% homeownership, 30% rental. To aid us In this effort the city has budgeted $2.9 million in Lead Paint Grant funding to
remove lead paint from this homes; $1.13 million in years 2008 -2010 to fund homeowner rehabilitation projects and includes
$1.276 million in funding in years 2009- 2015 to promote homeownership and residential renovation In the Washington
Neighborhood.
As this money is spent on homeowner and renovation, there will be an increase opportunity for the Green Yard to salvage
material from these projects as well as be a resource for homeowners looking for salvage material to complete a project. In
addition, these project will present an opportunity for employment for students graduating from the HEART program as
homeowner look for contractors to bid their projects. These funds will help sustain the supply and demand for the Green Yard
as well as promote Green jobs in our community.
Are there ongoing community (multi - generational and multi - cultural) outreach methods in place
to promote successes of the pilot city program and continue to promote the importance of
sustainable community development?
Dubuque 2.0 is engaging every resident in Dubuque in the sustainability conversation in a way that is comfortable and
meaningful to that individual. Dubuque 2.0 is the second initiative the Chamber of Commerce and Community Foundation have
undertaken together; in 2000, the two organizations led a successful community conversation to identify the priorities for the
community in the next decade. Through the Envision 2010 process, 2,300 ideas for the community were Identified by 12,000
tri -state area residents. The Top 10 were identified and today, In 2010, every one has been completed or is in the process of
completed.
Members of the 18- organization Dubuque 2.0 Steering Committee include the Multicultural Family Center, Dubuque Community
School District, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, Dubuque Main Street, and the Telegraph Herald (local newspaper).
The diverse group of stakeholders, in addition to the local utility companies, solid waste agency, City, and others, ensure that
all generations and cultures will be reached in our efforts to promote and incent sustainable community development and
behavior. Indeed, this diverse group is particularly focused on ensuring that the social /culture vibrancy pillar of our
sustainability model is focused on and achieved.
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Dubuque 2.0 is a key partner in the City of Dubuque's annual Growing Sustainable Communities Conference. Each year, in
addition to on -going outreach, the City hosts a conference to educate and engage community leaders on the importance of
sustainable community development and highlight best practices both in Dubuque and across the country. Earlier this year, the
3rd annual conference was held with a theme of Sustainability as a Community and Economic Development Tool. The day -long
event focused on four of the sustainability principles: Green Buildings, Regional Economy, Community Knowledge and Healthy
Local Foods. The conference highlighted over 40 guest speakers, including keynote speaker former U.S. Representative Richard
Swett and attracted 325 participants from 22 communities. Plans are already underway for the 4th annual conference and
would highlight the initiative and programs proposed in this grant application.
Additonal Key Stakeholders
List additional key stakeholders and partners necessary for the success of the Pilot City project.
These can include, for example, local government departments and agencies, non - profits and
community -based organizations, neighborhood associations, government entities, and business
groups. Evidence of financial and /or institutional commitment and stability will be required if
you are selected to apply for the Pilot Cities program.
The City of Dubuque Planning, Engineering, Housing and Community Development, City Manager's Office and Building
Departments will all play lead roles in the achievement of these initiative and programs. Their roles will include policy review,
permit issuance and code enforcement, community outreach, and funding.
The Green Jobs Executive Committee will be responsible for working with Four Mounds Foundation to identify education needs,
develop curriculum as needed, and conduct training.
The Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation will be a key partner In community education, resident outreach and
assistance and will serve as a liaison and facilitator for community conversations.
The Buyer Supplier Network, a program of ECIA, the local Council of Governments, will play a key role in advertising the Green
Yard to tri -state area businesses. $6.5 billion are spent on goods and services from vendors located outside of Eastern Iowa
that could be purchased in the region; Buyer - Supplier Is a web based program for businesses that connects both buyers and
sellers in Eastern Iowa to promote and facilitate regional purchasing. The Network plays a key role in building a resilient
regional economy.
Additional Materials
Please submit any previously prepared supplementary materials that further describe
your city's sustainability efforts (post web links below).
PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO SEND ELECTRONICALLY THE SUBLEMENTAL MATERIALS
AND LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM BOTH FROM THE CITY AND THE PARTNER NON - PROFIT
TO ANDREA_PINABELL@HOMEDEPOT.COM BY THE JUNE 15, 2010 DEADLINE. 12
Midnight Eastern Standard Time
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Requested Funds/ Budget
HEART YouthBuild Operational Support
Project Revolving Loan Fund
Green Yard Manager/ Project Liaison
Green Yard operational support
Green Yard equipment and warehousing
Green Yard educational & marketing campaign
City of Dubuque project support
HEART figures based on actual costs
Green Yard figures based on projected costs gathered from operating regional Reuse stores
Matching Funds
Four Mounds Exec. Dir. (portion of time)
Four Mounds Bookkeeper (portion of time)
Four Mounds HEART YouthBuild Site Supervisor
City of Dubuque Sustainability office
NICC (DOL Green Jobs- deconstruction training)
EMS Grant / City Match (equipment)
AmeriCorps / Project Support
IA DNR SWAP Program (equipment)
List of Quantifiable Evidence- i.e. Metrics
Description
Trainees: resource handling
Trainees: Green Yard team
Placement: Green Yard team
Trainees: Deconstruction
Diversion rates thru Green Yard
Green house gas emmissions
Green, affordable homebuilding
Purchase of afforable homes via HEART
HEART Service projects
Dedicated
Dedicated
Dedicated
Dedicated
In hand
In hand
Anticipated
Anticipated
Measure
HEART Participants trained
HEART Participants trained
HEART Graduates placed
NICC trained through TRP
estimated tons of material
tons of carbon dioxide mitigated
HEART renovation projects
# of low- income families
# projects completed
Year 1 Year 2 Total
$ 25,000 $ 25,000 $ 50,000
$ 150,000 $ - $ 150,000
$ 45,000 $ 47,000 $ 92,000
$ 54,000 $ 54,000 $ 108,000
$ 50,000 $ 5,000 $ 55,000
$ 16,000 $ 9,000 $ 25,000
$ 10,000 $ 10,000 $ 20,000
$ 350,000 $ 150,000 $ 500,000
Year 1
25,000
9,000
44,000
10,000
20,000
5,625
12,000
20,000
145,625
Year 2
17,500
7,500
44,000
10,000
15,000
12,000
106,000
Total
42,500
16,500
88,000
20,000
35,000
5,625
24,000
20,000
251,625
Goal
24
4
4
35
500
1230
2
2
8
Office of the Mayor
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001 -4864
www.cityofdubuque.org
June 15, 2010
Dear Ms. Pinabell,
It is with great pleasure that I write this letter supporting the City of Dubuque's full
application to become a Sustainable Cities Institute Pilot Community. The entire
Dubuque community has embraced sustainability whole - heartedly, and I believe that
recognition of Dubuque as a Pilot Community will not only reward citizens and
businesses for their visionary leadership but provide a model that all communities across
the country can learn from.
Our plan to partner with Four Mounds and its wonderful HEART program to rehabilitate
existing houses into energy efficient, affordable homes and divert thousands of tons of
deconstruction materials away from landfills and to other uses through the creation of a
building material reuse store gets at the core of Dubuque's definition of sustainability. It
addresses environmental integrity by keeping usable materials out of landfills, reducing
greenhouse gases by capturing the embodied energy in existing buildings rather than
creating new, and creating better housing in a dense, urban environment rather than on
the fringes of the city. It addresses economic prosperity by giving at -risk students an
avenue to learn important green job and business skills and giving families the
opportunity to escape poverty through affordable home - ownership. Finally it addresses
social /cultural vibrancy by helping develop a community in an older, densely built urban
neighborhood that borders Dubuque's thriving downtown.
Dubuque is committed to helping make the SCI pilot program a successful one and will
do what it takes to support smart, innovative sustainability efforts like those of the Home
Depot Foundation. We were honored to be invited to submit a full proposal and look
forward to opening our doors to welcome the SCI to see all that we have done, are doing
and plan to do to advance sustainability in our community, the tri -state region and this
nation.
Sincerely,
Roy Buol
Mayor, City of Dubuque
Service
THE CITY OF
JBUQUE
People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
AFOUR MOUNDS
June 11, 2010
Dear Ms. Pinabell,
HEART
YouthBuiId
I I 14
1
Du.buyuc. tutre
It is with excitement that we invite the Sustainable Cities Institute to partner with Four Mounds
Foundation, the City of Dubuque and the HEART YouthBuild Program with our partners, to
make our community more sustainable for generations to come.
Four Mounds is ready to increase Dubuque's capacity to serve at -risk youth with new, relevant
career pathways and develop the Green Yard as a means for positively changing the way that
Dubuque and the region approach redevelopment of its neighborhoods and building stock.
Moving forward with this project will help our community as we work to divert approximately
3000 tons of building material, either for resale, repurposing, or recycling, just in the next year
alone with the development of the Bee Branch Project.
With your assistance, the Four Mounds HEART YouthBuild program will commit to:
• Develop, open and operate the Green Yard, with new training opportunities for program
participants
• Establish a sustainable revolving loan fund (RLF) to secure HEART YouthBuild projects
in order to continue green rehabilitations in the targeted Washington Neighborhood /
downtown area, re -using material captured from deconstructions through the Green Yard
• Hire a Green Yard manager to facilitate the development of the Green Yard, incorporate
new career pathways for HEART YouthBuild in the business design, and work with
HEART YouthBuild participants to use a sustainable design and materials in each
rehabilitation project
• Partner with the City, Dubuque 2.0, the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency
and The Reuse People to ensure we build capacity and opportunities for businesses,
institutions, and residents to become involved salvaging and reusing out -of -use building
material in a fiscally reasonable and responsible way.
For more on the HEART Program, click on the HEART video link or look at the HEART
Booklet on our HEART YouthBuild webpage.
On behalf of our board of directors and those we serve, we appreciate the invitation to make a
full application to the Home Depot Foundation / Sustainable Cities Institute.
Sincerely,
Christine Happ Olson
Executive Director,
Four Mounds Foundation
and HEART YouthBuild
4900 Peru Road, Dubuque, IA 52001 563 - 557 -7292 www.fourmounds.org