Minutes Historic Pres 10 23 03MINUTES
SPECIAL SESSION
Thursday, October 23, 2003
12:00 Noon
Conference Room B, City Hall
50 W. 13th Street, Dubuque, Iowa
DP FT
PRESENT:
Chairperson Chds Wand; Commission Members Terry Mozena, Chris Olson,
Mary Loney Bichell, John VVhalen (via conference call) and Mike Coty (via
conference call); Staff Member Wally Wernimont. Also present were staff
members Mike Koch and Mike Felderman.
ABSENT: None.
AFFIDAVIT OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance verifying the meeting
was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Wand at 12:07 p.m.
DESIGN REVIEW: Application of Berry Henkle for a Certificate of Appropriateness/Historic
Preservation Homeowner Grant to replace roof on irish Shanty located at 480/482 Emmett
Street in the Cathedral Historic Preservation District.
The Commission reviewed the discussion of this project at the previous Historic Preservation
Commission meeting held on October 16, 2003 regarding roof replacement on the Irish
Shanty.
Berry Henkle stated that he had nothing to add since the previous meeting.
Staff Member Wernimont presented the staff report, noting that th& Giant Review Committee
has reviewed the application and noted that the applicant meets the income eligibility
requirements and the requirements of the Historic Preservation Homeowner Grant. He
indicated that since Mr. Henkle does not own the property at the present time, that if the
Commission approves the Historic Homeowner Grant, they should make it contingent upon
pumhase of the property.
Motion by Mozena, seconded by Loney Bichell, to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness
and a $5,000 Historic Preservation Homeowner Grant, contingent on purchase of the
property. Motion was approved by the following vote: Aye - VVhalen, Olson, Mozena, Coty,
Loney Bichell and Wand; Nay - None.
ADVISORY REVIEW: Application of the City of Dubuque/Engineering Department for the
reconstruction of Chestnut Street.
City of Dubuque Public Works Director Mike Koch and Civil Engineer Mike Felderman were in
attendance to discuss the Chestnut Street reconstruction project. Chairperson Wand noted
that at the October 20th City Council meeting, the City Council made the decision to table the
awarding of the project until the Historic Preservation Commission had a chance to review
Minutes - Histodc Preservation Commission
October 23, 2003
Page 2
and provide comments regarding the street reconstruction project. Chairperson Wand noted
that the Commission asked the City Engineering Department to revise the estimates to include
some of the Streetscape and Landscape Guidelines.
Mike Koch addressed the Commission and apologized for the project going to the City Council
prior to having Historic Preservation Commission review. Mike Felderman referred to articles
that were submitted along with the packet for the October 16th meeting as well as the October
23"~ meeting. He indicated he contacted Mr. Behr, owner of Royce's Restoration, which was
referred in the article with reference to restoration of brick streets in Wilmette. He noted that
the cost for a brick street to be installed for Chestnut Street would be $365,000 over and
above the existing estimate of $80,000 for a concrete street. He indicated that one of the
major factors in the cost was not only the use of brick but the slope of the street. He indicated
that because the street is sloped that sometimes the sand bed is washed downhill and causes
deterioration of the street. Mr. Felderman noted that sometimes you can use a concrete
mixture to help stabilize the sand bed.
Chairperson Wand noted that he contacted the City Engineering Department in Rock Island,
and that they use 12" base stone only for repairing brick streets. He indicated that Rock
Island also uses 6" of concrete for a base along with a bed of sand and installation of the brick
pavers for reconstruction only. Mr. Felderman also discussed that initially he brought the
possibility of using colored concrete or bdcks at the crosswalks located at Highland Place,
Walnut and Prairie Streets to the Histodc Bluffs Neighborhood Association. He noted that the
cost estimates would add $13,500 for brick sidewalks or $8,500 for a colored concrete
crosswalk.
Mr. Felderman referred to the discussion of the installation of limestone curbs along Prairie
Street. He noted that he has contacted Becker Stone Quarry to receive estimates for the cost
of limestone for a curb. He noted that it would be $18,000 to purchase and install limestone
on one side of Chestnut Street between Prairie and Walnut Streets. He also noted that the
existing limestone usually is not salvageable because of deterioration ,and sometimes it is just
more cost effective to install new rather than salvaging, transporting, cutting and maintaining
the used. Mr. Koch noted that the width of the stone varies due to deterioration.
Commissioner Olson noted that they should look at preserving the existing character of the
neighborhood. She indicated that street trees are as important as the existing limestone
curbs. Mr. Felderman discussed that City Forester Steve Pregler has reviewed the existing
trees. He noted that he has also checked with the Legal Department about the possibility of a
second opinion and having the property owner assume responsibility of the tree. He noted
that the Legal Department stated they would have to sign an agreement with the property
owner that stated that they would hold the City harmless for any damage from the tree. Mr.
Koch discussed that the trees are dying and they really need to be removed regardless of
whether the street is reconstructed. Commissioner Whalen discussed the tree removal on
Arlington Street. Mr. Felderman noted that the trees on Arlington Street were removed due to
the power company cutting out the trees in order to remove the obstructions from the power
lines. He noted that when this happens, it causes water to sit in a tree where it was notched,
and then the tree deteriorates and rots. Mr. Felderman and Mr. Koch noted that the City
Forester is a very tree-conscious person, and would be the last person who would want a tree
removed.
Minutes - Historic Preservation Commission
October 23, 2003
Page 3
The Commission discussed possible funding solutions to help offset the increased valuation.
Mr. Felderman noted that if they use Community Development Block Grant money that Davis-
Bacon prevailing wages would need to be taken into consideration, which would increase the
cost of the street significantly. The Commissioners requested clarification of the discussion
for the savings of 20% over 80 years on a brick street. Commissioner Olson discussed if the
proposed street with 6' of concrete would be considered "over engineering' for such a small
residential street. Chairperson Wand noted that from the information submitted, that the cities
typically use 6" of concrete and 1-2' of a sand bed for the installation of brick pavers. Mr.
Felderman referred to his work on 13th Street and 4th Street when dealing with brick streets.
He indicated both of those streets had somewhat of a concrete base underneath the sand
bed and bdcks. Commission Mozena discussed the possibility of trying to salvage the
existing brick streets and how to repair them instead of patching them with asphalt or covering
them with asphalt. Mr. Felderman referred to the possibility of repairing 24th Street and later
down the road the possibility of repairing 15t~ Street.
Commissioner Coty discussed the property values of the properties along brick streets and
the historic nature of the neighborhood. He also discussed that if it was possible to develop a
program in order to restore these brick streets that would allow cost savings because of
ordering supplies in bulk. The Commission also discussed that anything over a base price
that the property owners will probably not be willing to absorb the major cost difference.
Mr. Felderman distributed photos of colored concrete curbs. He indicated that in order to
install a color concrete curb, it would add an additional $40,000 to the cost of the project. The
Commission discussed the possibility of installing a squared-off top curb instead of the curbed
curb. Mr. Felderman noted that most of the companies that are selected to do the curb work
do not have machines that are equipped to do the squarad-off curbs. Mr. Koch discussed
that the bids typically would not change because you will only be adding dye to the concrete,
which does not change the methods of installation, and therefore they would not need to
receive new bids for the work.
The Commission discussed the future of the limestone curbs and bricl~ streets and
recommended that more reseamh be done by the City Engineering Department. The
Commission noted that they would like to see brick crosswalks installed in the streets along
Chestnut.
The Commission discussed making a recommendation to the City Council regarding honoring
an agreement between the City and property owner regarding assuming responsibility for the
existing street trees, and the possibility that if the property owner along Prairie Street would
like to pay for the purchase and installation of the limestone curb that that they be allowed to
do so.
Motion by Wand, seconded by Olson, the Historic Preservation Commission recommends that
the City Council award the contract, allow property owners the opportunity to enter into a legal
agreement with the City about liability for street trees, allow property owners along Prairie
Street to pay for purchase and installation of limestone curbs, and increase the cost of the
project to include the installation of brick crosswalks at Highland Place, Walnut, and Prairie
Streets. Motion was approved by the following vote: Aye - Olson, Mozena, Coty, Loney-
Bichell, VVhalen and Wand; Nay - None.
Minutes - Historic Preservation Commission
October 23, 2003
Page 4
NOTE: Commissioner Whalen left at 1:00 p.m.
The Commission also discussed the possibility of working with the Engineering Department
and coming back to the issue of bdck streets after six months.
Motion by OIson, seconded by Wand, to have the Historic Preservation Commission and the
City Engineering Department work together to develop guidelines and standards to help save
limestone curbs, brick streets and bdck sidewalks, and to have a meeting in six months.
Motion was approved by the following vote: Aye - OIson, Mozena, Coty, Loney Bichell and
Wand; Nay - None.
Motion by Wand, seconded by Olson to recommend the City Engineering Department work
with the City Planning office on-going basis for any City public works project located in the
public right-of-way in any City historic district. Aye - OIson, Mozena, Coty, Loney Bichell and
Wand; Nay - None
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION:
Establishment of Warehouse Demolition District: Chairperson Wand discussed the City Council's
tabling of the Warehouse Demolition Districts. The Commission discussed the possibility of
sending a letter to the City Council asking them what they would like the Commission specifically
to do or submit in order for the Council to make an informed decision.
Motion by Mozena, seconded by Wand, to send a letter to the City Council asking them what they
would like the Histodc Preservation Commission to do or submit in order for them to make an
informed decision on the Warehouse Demolition District. Motion was approved by the following
vote: Aye - Olson, Mozena, Coty, Loney Bichell and Wand; Nay - None.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Wally Wernimont, Assistant Planner Adopted