Sustainable Dubuque VISTA Position_One-Year ExtensionMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: One Year Extension of Sustainable Dubuque VISTA Position
DATE: November 8, 2010
Dubuque
Intri
Au- amdicacipr
I
2007
Sustainability Coordinator Cori Burbach recommends City Council approval to extend
the contract with the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Services to extend the one -year
Sustainable Dubuque AmeriCorps VISTA position to a second year. This City would be
responsible for providing a $5,500 match to fund the position's salary. The current
Sustainable Dubuque AmeriCorps VISTA, Michelle Balek, has committed to staying on
with the City for a second year if the City Council approves the extension. A source of
funds has been identified.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Sustainability Coordinator
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Cori Burbach, Sustainability Coordinator
SUBJECT: One Year Extension of Sustainable Dubuque VISTA Position
DATE: October 28, 2010
BUDGET IMPACT
Dubuque
Iteril
AI- America City
11111 I
2007
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request your approval of extending the contract with the
Iowa Commission on Volunteer Services (ICVS) to extend the one -year Sustainable
Dubuque Americorps VISTA position to a second year.
BACKGROUND
In October 2009, Dubuque secured a one -year Americorps VISTA position through
ICVS to assist in the efforts of the Sustainability Office. The City provided $3,333 in
funding to match salary funds contributed by ICVS and the Iowa Power Fund.
Michelle Balek was hired to fulfill this one -year term. Michelle has her Masters in
Sustainable Development and has been an incredible asset to the Sustainable Dubuque
efforts. Among other things, she has assisted in planning the Growing Sustainable
Communities conference, managing a team of Americorps members who completed a
three -week weatherization blitz in Dubuque, linking sustainability principles to the City's
Capital Improvements Plan, creating the Dubuque Green Asset Map, and creating a
variety of public education materials.
DISCUSSION
ICVS has offered to extend the Americorps VISTA position by one year. The City would
be responsible for providing a $5,500 match to fund the position's salary. Michelle has
committed to staying on with the City for a second year.
Primary projects the VISTA would be involved in in the coming year include planning of
the 4 annual Growing Sustainable Communities Conference, coordinating Americorps
outreach efforts for the Smarter Sustainable Dubuque project, providing staff support for
the internal City Green Team, and continuing to develop public education materials.
Budget Director Jenny Larson has identified general fund debt service for the fire station
relocation /expansion that won't be needed in FY11 as the source of the required $5,500
match for the VISTA position.
REQUESTED ACTION
Your approval of a one -year extension of contract with ICVS for the Sustainable
Dubuque VISTA position is requested.
Thank you.
cc: Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Jenny Larson, Budget Director
Randy Peck, Personnel Director