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MEMOR.ANDUM
February 23, 2004
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution of Necessity to Create a Greater Downtown Urban Renewal
District
The City has attempted to 'link' the downtown with the riverfront through planning and
design initiatives. The 'greater' downtown is evidenced by the inclusion of the Port of
Dubuque in the new Downtown Dubuque Master Plan area. The City has purposefully
urged the merger of downtown and riverfront as a unified whole that functions through
interdependent physical, social and economic relationships. A new Greater Downtown
Urban Renewal District will create a greater whole.
The City Council has previously created and amended urban renewal plans for the
Downtown Dubuque Urban Renewal District, originally in 1967 and most recently in
2002, and the Ice Harbor Urban Renewal District, originally in 1989 and most recently in
2002. Both existing districts are designated as 'blighted' areas. The Resolution of
Necessity finds that the combined district is also a blighted area and that the
rehabilitation and redevelopment of the combined district is necessary and appropriate
to further the public interest. By combining the two districts, both public and private
development efforts will benefit from greater flexibility in the use of tax increment
financing in the larger district.
Economic Development Director Bill Baum recommends the City Council adopt a
Resolution of Necessity that begins the process of creating a new Greater Downtown
Urban Renewal Plan, combining the existing Downtown Dubuque and Ice Harbor Urban
Renewal Districts, and setting a public hearing for April 19, 2004 to consider the new
plan.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
William Baum, Economic Development Director
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
February 20, 2004
TO:
FROM:
Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
William Baum, Economic Development Director ~
Resolution of Necessity to Create a Greater Downtown Urban
Renewal District
SUBJECT:
Introduction
This memorandum presents for City Council consideration a Resolution of Necessity
that begins the process of creating an Urban Renewal Plan for the Greater Downtown
Urban Renewal District which combine two existing urban renewal districts: the
Downtown Dubuque and the Ice Harbor Urban Renewal Districts. The attached
Resolution sets a public hearing to consider the new plan for April 19, 2004.
Background
The City Council has previously created and amended urban renewal plans for the
Downtown Dubuque Urban Renewal District, originally in 1967 and most recently in
2002, and the Ice Harbor Urban Renewal District, originally in 1989 and most recently in
2002. Both existing districts are designated as 'blighted' areas. The Resolution of
Necessity finds that the combined district is also a blighted area and that the
rehabilitation and redevelopment of the combined district is necessary and appropriate
to further the public interest. By combining the two districts, both public and private
development efforts will benefit from greater flexibility in the use of tax increment
financing in the larger district.
Discussion
The City has attempted to 'link' the downtown with the riverfront through planning and
design initiatives. The 'greater' downtown is evidenced by the inclusion of the Port of
Dubuque in the new Downtown Dubuque Master Plan area. The City has purposefully
urged the merger of downtown and riverfront as a unified whole that functions through
interdependent physical, social and economic relationships. A new Greater Downtown
Urban Renewal District will create a greater whole.
The attached Resolution directs staff to prepare a Greater Downtown Urban Renewal
Plan and to forward the proposed plan to the Long Range Planning Advisory
Commission for their review and comment. This is required by Chapter 403 of the Iowa
Code along with a consultation process that involves all affected taxing entities. Those
taxing entities, the County, School Board and community college, have an opportunity
to comment on the proposed plan prior to the required public hearing, but they cannot
block adoption of the plan.
City Council public hearing on the proposed Greater Downtown Urban Renewal Plan
will be scheduled for April 19, 2004. The Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
will review the amendment at their March meeting, and staff will conduct the
consultation with the taxing entities during that same time period.
Recommendation
I recommend the City Council adopt the attached Resolution of Necessity that begins
the process of creating a new Greater Downtown Urban Renewal Plan combining the
existing Downtown Dubuque and Ice Harbor Urban Renewal Districts. Benefits will
accrue to both the City and the private sector with this action.
Action Step
The action step for the City Council is to adopt the Resolution of Necessity attached to
this memorandum. - . .
attachment
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..
RESOLUTION NO. 86-04
A RESOLUTION OF NECESSITY FINDING THAT THE AREA INCLUDED IN
THE GREATER DOWNTOWN URBAN RENEWAL DISTRICT IS A BLIGHTED
AREA AND THAT THE REHABILITATION AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE
DISTRICT IS NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE IN THE INTEREST OF THE
RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.
Whereas, the City Council of the City of Dubuque adopted Amended and Restated
Urban Renewal Plans for the Downtown Dubuque Urban Renewal District on April 1, 2002,
by Resolution 187-02, and for the Ice Harbor Urban Renewal District on March 4, 2002, by
Resolution 114-02, to stimulate and guide public and private investment within the Districts;
and
Whereas, the City Council of the City of Dubuque has determined that a new
Urban Renewal Plan for the Greater Downtown Urban Renewal District, combining the
existing Downtown Dubuque and Ice Harbor Urban Renewal Districts, will provide
redevelopment opportunities for the greater downtown and riverfront area; and
Whereas, Chapter 403 of the Iowa Code requires that before an urban renewal
plan may be adopted, the City Council must adopt a resolution of necessity and provide
for a process of review and consultation prior to adoption of the urban renewal plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the combination of the existing Downtown Dubuque and Ice
Harbor Urban Renewal Districts under a single, comprehensive Urban Renewal Plan for
the Greater Downtown Urban RenewalDistrict is necessary and appropriate to facilitate
the proper growth and development of the community in accordance with sound
planning and local community objectives.
Section 2. That the combined area included in the Greater Downtown Urban
Renewal District is a blighted area within the meaning of Chapter 403 of the Iowa Code
and that the rehabilitation, conservation, redevelopment, development, or a
combination thereof, of the area is necessary in the interest of the public health, safety,
or welfare of the residents of the municipality.
Section 3. That the City Manager is authorized and directed to prepare an Urban
Renewal Plan for the Greater Downtown Urban Renewal District, which will combine the
existing Downtown Dubuque and Ice Harbor Urban Renewal Districts, to forward said
Plan to the City's Long Range Planning Advisory Commission for review and comment
and to begin the consultation process required by law with affected taxing entities.
Section 4. That the City Clerk is directed to publish notice of a public hearing on
the adoption of an Urban Renewal Plan for the Greater Downtown Urban Renewal
District to be held on April 19, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. in the Carnegie-Stout Public Library
Auditorium, 360 W. 11th Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001 and that said notice shall
generally identify the area covered by the Urban Renewal Plan and the general scope
of the amendment.
Section 5. That the City Clerk is further directed to send by ordinary mail a copy
of said notice of public hearing to the Dubuque Community School District, the County
Board of Supervisors and the Northeast Iowa Community College, as the affected
taxing entities.
Passed, approved and adopted this 1st day of March 2004.
Terrance M. Duggan, Mayor
Attest:
Jeanne F. Schneider, City Clerk
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