2003 Urban Revit Program AppsMEMORANDUM
February 10, 2004
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Calendar Year 2003 Urban Revitalization Program Applications
Housing and Community Development Department Director David Harris recommends
City Council approval of seven applications for residential property tax exemption filed in
accordance with the Urban Revitalization ordinance, and recommends the applications
be forwarded to the City Assessor for final review and determination of the amount of
property tax exemption.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager c~
David Harris, Housing and Community Development Department Direct~. --~
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
February 5, 2004
Mich~C. Van Milligen, City Manager
David I-~arris, Housing and Community Development Department
Calendar year 2003 Urban Revitalization Program Applications
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum presents for City Council consideration the following resolution
related to the 2003 applications for residential property tax exemption. The resolution
approves the timely residential property tax exemption applications filed in accordance
with the Urban Revitalization ordinance and directs that the approved applications be
forwarded to the City Assessor.
BACKGROUND
In 1980, the City Council established, under the guidelines set forth in Chapter 404 of
the Code of Iowa, Dubuque's first two Urban Revitalization Areas - Jackson Park Urban
Revitalization Area and West 11th Street Urban Revitalization Area. In 1981, the City
designated the Washington Street Urban Revitalization Area and in 1995, designated
the Upper Main Urban Revitalization Area. The Garfield Place Urban Revitalization
Area was designated as an Urban Revitalization Area in 2000, amended in June 2002
and currently is under consideration for amendment. The Stout Place (Iowa Inn) area
was designated in 1998, and amended by the Council on March 5, 2001 to extend the
duration of this Urban Revitalization area. In December 2002 the Langworthy, Old Main
and Cathedral Urban Revitalization areas were designated. Additionally, a number of
other smell areas have been designated over the years, but these designations have
expired.
The purpose of the Urban Revitalization legislation is to attract development to specific
areas, which might otherwise continue to deteriorate, thereby stabilizing and eventually
increasing the tax base within those areas. The exemptions are intended to stimulate
private investment by reducing the tax increases that would normally result from making
improvements to residential property.
Process
Applications for tax exemption are accepted until February 1 of each year. The
Housing and Community Development Department reviews applications to ensure
properties are located in a designated area. Staff from Building Services and Housing
and Community Development complete an inspection of the property to determine if the
improvements have been completed and are in general conformance with the area plan
and building permits have been obtained, if necessary. Applications are presented to
the City Council for consideration. If the City Council finds them to be in compliance
with the appropriate urban revitalization plan, they are forwarded to the City Assessor
who inspects the properties, determines the assessable value of the new improvements
and transmits this information to the County Auditor. The City Assessor must receive
applications by Mamh 1 to receive the tax abatement.
The tax exemption is for a pedod of 10 years and represents 100% of the assessed
valuation added by the qualifying improvements.
DISCUSSION
A total of 7 timely applications were received for calendar year 2003. The following
applications were reviewed and approved:
West 1 l~h Street Urban Revitalization Area
1358 Locust- Schroeder Investment (exclude decks)
1135 Center Place - Doreen Jecklin
1323 Bluff- Susan Kearns/David Luchsinger
1106 Grove Terrace - Mary and Ken Bichell
Cathedral Urban Revitalization Area
653-655 Bluff- Francian Co. LLC
Lan,qworthy Urban Revitalization Area
1025 Melrose Terrace - Jean Schmitz
Upper Main Urban Revitalization Area
1395 Iowa - Kluck Development
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend that all eligible applications included in the attached resolution be
approved and forwarded to the City Assessor for final review and determination of the
amount of property tax exemption. The decks at 1358 Locust will be excluded from
eligibility at this time since they do not meet code and are in the process of being
redone.
ACTION STEP
The Action Step is for the City Council to receive and file eligible tax exemption
applications and this staff report and adopt the attached resolution.
Prepared by Aggie Tauke, Community Development Specialist
F:~,USERS',AKRAMER~Urban Revite~ur app memo.doc
RESOLUTION NO. 69-04
RESOLUTION APPROVING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY PROPERTY OWNERS IN RECOGNIZED
URBAN REVITALIZATION AREAS AND AUTHORIZING THE TRANSMITTAL
OF THE APPROVED APPLICATIONS TO THE CITY TAX ASSESSOR
Whereas, Chapter 404 of the Code of Iowa, the Urban Revitalization Act, permits
cities to exempt property taxes for improvements made to properties in designated
revitalization areas; and
Whereas, the Urban Revitalization Act requires property owners to submit a written
application for exemption by February 1 of the assessment year for which the exemption is
first claimed, and further requires the City Council to approve all applications that meet the
requirements of the adopted Urban Revitalization Plan and forward the approved
applications to the City Assessor for review by March 1 of each year; and
Whereas, pursuant to the requirements of said Urban Revitalization Act, the following
Urban Revitalization Areas were established: Washington Street, Jackson Park, West 11t~
Street, Upper Main Street, Garfield Place, Langworthy, Cathedral and Old Main; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque, as of February 1, 2004, received tax exemption
applications from the following property owners in the aforementioned urban revitalization
district.
West 11th Street Urban Revitalization Area
1358 Locust - Schroeder Investment (exclude decks)
1135 Center Place - Doreen Jecklin
1323 Bluff- Susan Kearns/David Luchsinger
1106 Grove Terrace - Mary and Ken Bichell
Cathedral Urban Revitalization Area
853-655 Bluff - Francian Co. LLC
LanRworthv Urban Revitalization Area
1025 Melrose Terrace - Jean :schmitz
Upper Main Urban Revitalization Area
1395 Iowa - Kluck Development
Whereas, the Housing and Community Development Department and Building
Services have reviewed the above-oescribed applications and inspected the properties, and
have determined that the applications and the improvements conform to all requirements of
the City of Dubuque's Urban Revitalization Plan contingent upon obtaining all required
building permits with the exception that the decks at 1358 Locust, which should be excluded
since they do not comply with building codes.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the above-described tax exemption applications meet the
requirements of the City of Dubuque's Urban Revitalization Plan.
Section 2. That the above-described tax exemption applications are hereby approved
by the City Council, subject to obtaining all necessary building permits and subject to the
review and approval of the City Assessor.
Section 3. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to forward the above-
described tax exemption applications to the City Assessor.
Passed, approved and adopted this ]6thday of February 2004. ~, .~
Terrance M. Duggan, Mayor
Attest:
Jeanne F. Schneider, City Clerk
F:\U sers~ATAU KE~U rban Revite~Annual Apps~U rban Re~itRes.doc