Minutes_Long Range Planning Advisory Commission 2 16 11Dubuque
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MINUTES
LONG RANGE PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION
REGULAR SESSION
5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
City Council Chamber, Historic Federal Building
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Commissioners Present: Chairperson Jim Prochaska; Commissioners Richard Van
Iten, John Pregler, Chad Darter, and Charles Winterwood.
Commissioners Excused: Commissioner Alan Vincent.
Staff Members Present: Laura Carstens, David Johnson and Aaron DeJong.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Prochaska at 5:30
p.m.
CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance verifying
that the meeting was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law.
MINUTES: Motion by Van Iten, seconded by Winterwood, to approve the minutes of
January 27, 2011, as submitted. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Prochaska,
Van Iten, Pregler, Darter, and Winterwood; Nay — None.
Chairperson Prochaska asked for a moment of silence out of respect for City Council
Liaison Dirk Voetberg. Commissioners shared their thoughts on his contributions to the
City and planning. Consensus was to convey these thoughts to the City Council and ask
for appointment of a liaison.
ACTION ITEMS
Greater Downtown Urban Renewal District Amendment: Assistant Economic Development
Director Aaron DeJong presented the request. He explained the proposed amendment
would expand the Greater Downtown Urban Renewal district to include a new South Bluff
Street area. He explained the amendment will provide incentives for the redevelopment of
the former Central Alternative High School now known as Franklin School. He noted Tax
Increment Financing, the Downtown Rehabilitation Loan Program, and facade grants will
be available to ensure quality design and redevelopment of the building.
The Commission questioned the zoning of the property. Staff Member Johnson noted the
property is zoned R -3 and the property owners are requesting an Office Residential zoning
district. Staff Member Carstens explained the current zoning limits the number of units.
Staff Member DeJong noted the property owners are proposing 21 residential units and
opportunities for retail space which the office Residential District will accommodate.
Minutes — Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
February 16, 2011
Page 2
The Commission and staff discussed repurposing former public and private schools. Staff
Member Carstens stated the role of the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission is to
determine whether the proposed amendment is consistent with the City of Dubuque
Comprehensive Plan and forward a recommendation to City Council. She noted the
proposal's consistency with several elements of the Comprehensive Plan.
Staff Member Carstens reviewed the character of the South Bluff Street subarea.
Motion by Winterwood, seconded by Darter, to approve the Greater Downtown Urban
Renewal District amendment to include the South Bluff Street area, noting that it is
consistent with the City of Dubuque Comprehensive Plan. Motion carried by the following
vote: Aye — Prochaska, Van Iten, Pregler, Darter, and Winterwood; Nay — None.
Dubuque Industrial Center West Urban Renewal District Amendment: Staff Member
DeJong reviewed the addition of the South Siegert Farm property to the Dubuque Industrial
Center Economic Development District. He noted the amendment to the District would add
the area known as the South Siegert Farm into a new subarea E of the Dubuque Industrial
Center Economic Development District. He noted on January 18, 2011, the City Council
approved a resolution finding that the proposed expansion area was an economic
development area appropriate for Urban Renewal activities. He noted North Siegert Farm
was previously included in the Dubuque Industrial Center Economic Development District,
and that area is now open to industrial development. He noted IWI will be relocating and
expanding at the North Siegert Farm location and leaving a remnant 60 -acres for industrial
recruitment. He explained the amendment to the district would provide the area access to
financial incentives available to urban renewal district properties, such as tax increment
financing.
Staff Member Carstens noted future land use planning that had been done for this area
and the proposal's consistency with several elements of the Comprehensive Plan.
Motion by Van Iten, seconded by Pregler, to approve the amendment to the Amended and
Restated Urban Renewal Plan for the Dubuque Industrial Center Economic Development
District to include the new subarea E as it is consistent with the City of Dubuque
Comprehensive Plan. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Prochaska, Van Iten,
Pregler, Darter, and Winterwood; Nay — None.
Review and discussion of proposed FY 2012 -2016 Capital Improvement Budget: Staff
presented the Capital Improvement Program budget and asked if there were any questions
regarding the process or specific projects. Commissioner Van Iten questioned how much
requested funding has already been cut from the proposed Capital Improvement Program
budget. Staff Member Carstens noted this information is available in the City Manager's
Budget Message. Chairperson Prochaska asked what the projected DRA revenue is, and
what percentage of DRA funding is used in the entire City CIP budget. Staff Member
Carstens noted that information is also contained in the City Manager's Budget Message.
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Minutes — Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
February 16, 2011
Page 3
Staff Member Carstens stated she would forward the City Manager's budget message to
Commissioners.
Commissioner Van Iten questioned how the CIP relates to the Comprehensive Plan. Staff
Members Carstens and Johnson explained when City departments develop their CIPs, the
City of Dubuque Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives which support the project, are
identified on the CIP. Staff Member Johnson explained departments are also identifying
relationships to the City's sustainability principles for projects. Commissioner Winterwood
noted there is a CIP for tree replacement, and recommended funding for new trees as well.
Commissioner Winterwood commended the City for including the Catfish Creek Watershed
funding, LED street lights, the Lead Based Paint Program, and ecological restoration
training for City employees to assist in maintaining prairies and other environmentally -
sensitive areas, the protection of drinking water and providing more liter receptacles on
public streets.
Motion by Darter, seconded by Winterwood, to recommend approval of the proposed
Fiscal Year 2012 -16 Recommended CIP as it is consistent with the City of Dubuque
Comprehensive Plan. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Prochaska, Van Iten,
Pregler, Darter, and Winterwood; Nay — None.
Smart Planning Consortium: Staff Member Carstens reviewed the recent activities of the
Smart Planning Consortium and noted it will be an action item on future agendas of the
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission. She reviewed the minutes of the February 9,
2011 Smart Planning Consortium meeting. She discussed the importance new census
information will have in development of a regional plan. She noted the census data will
also be valuable in updating the City of Dubuque Comprehensive Plan.
The Commission questioned when the City anticipates beginning the update process to the
City of Dubuque Comprehensive Plan. Staff Member Carstens noted that process is
estimated to begin in 2012, with data collection already underway.
Staff Member Carstens reviewed opportunities for joint planning efforts in fringe areas.
She explained the Smart Planning Consortium has supported an EPA application to
provide technical assistance for smart planning. She noted the assistance will be offered
to 20 communities to help implement sustainable community development. She noted the
Smart Planning Consortium agreed to apply for assistance on smart growth zoning codes
for small cities and rural areas.
Staff Member Carstens reviewed the proposed structure of the regional plan, noting it will
address Iowa's 13 Smart Planning elements. The goal will be to address each element
individually and each element will have county and city goals and objectives. She noted
the Smart Planning Consortium will be meeting on the 2nd Wednesday of every month.
Chairperson Prochaska noted he has a conflict on Wednesdays which will not allow him to
attend future meetings. Chairperson Prochaska requested another Commissioner attend
Minutes — Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
February 16, 2011
Page 4
ITEMS FROM STAFF:
in his place. Staff Member Carstens noted any commissioner would be able to attend and
participate in these meetings.
The Commission discussed new opportunities to increase public participation in the
regional planning and City of Dubuque processes. The Commission commended the
regional planning effort, noting the importance regional issues in the planning and
development of local areas. Staff Member Carstens noted the item will be placed on a
future Commission agenda. Commissioner Van Iten explained the regional planning
approach will be effective. He suggested a rotating spokesperson for the consortium so
local citizens know who to approach with questions or concerns. Commissioner Van Iten
emphasized the importance of educating citizens on how local and regional planning efforts
affect people in their immediate and daily lives. He explained there is a moral dimension to
the active participation of citizens and how sacrifices today will pay off for future
generations. Staff Member Carstens noted the Smart Planning Consortium is looking to
Dubuque as an example as the regional planning effort moves forward, and Dubuque is
playing a leadership role in this process.
Commissioner Winterwood noted the importance of using Facebook and other social
media in informing and attracting young people to participate in the planning process. He
suggested providing food at public meetings that may conflict with meal times. He noted
the positive fiscal impact regional planning will have, explaining the effort will hopefully limit
the amount of money required to budget to litigate annexation issues.
The Commission noted they would like to see the Smart Planning Consortium's efforts
publicized in the Telegraph Herald. Staff Member Carstens noted it is a regional effort, and
there are a number of other newspapers in the area that could also promote the regional
planning effort. The Commission noted the importance of providing citizens actual
examples of how regional issues affect specific communities.
Motion by Van Iten, seconded by Winterwood, to express their wholehearted enthusiasm
for the creation of the Smart Planning Consortium and its implications for revitalizing
regionalism in the area, and to share their suggestions. Motion carried by the following
vote: Aye — Prochaska, Van Iten, Pregler, Darter, and Winterwood; Nay — None.
LIAISON /SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Enterprise Zone Commission: No report.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION: By consensus, the Commission requested that Dubuque
Soil and Water Conservation District Watershed Coordinator Eric Schmechel be asked to
present the Upper Catfish Creek Watershed Plan at a future meeting. By consensus, the
Commission also requested a representative from Dubuque 2.0 be asked to present the
Dubuque 2.0 Initiative.
Minutes — Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
February 16, 2011
Page 5
Approval of By -Laws: Staff Member Johnson noted the by -laws are being presented as a
follow -up from the January meeting. He reviewed the recommended changes, noting the
change to the lead time required in updating the by -laws.
Motion by Van Iten, seconded by Pregler, to approve the proposed revisions to the by -laws
as submitted. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Prochaska, Van Iten, Pregler,
Darter, and Winterwood; Nay — None.
Complete Streets Policy: Staff Member Carstens explained the draft Complete Streets
Policy is being forwarded to the Commission for their review and recommendation on
whether it is consistent with the 2008 Dubuque Comprehensive Plan. She noted the item
is a follow -up from the presentation given to the Commission at the January meeting. She
reviewed the draft Complete Streets Policy and requested the Commission's support. She
noted the policy will most likely go to the March 7 or 21 City Council meeting.
Commissioner Winterwood stated he believed the Complete Streets Policy should be
considered when the City undertakes street overlay projects. He explained bike lanes and
sharrows could possibly be introduced in overlay projects. Staff Member Carstens noted
street overlay and maintenance projects are not assessed because there are no changes
to the width or capacities of the road.
The Commission discussed incorporating Complete Streets Policies into overlay projects
only. The Commission noted painted bike lanes and sharrows could be reasonably
introduced with overlay projects.
Motion by Van Iten, seconded by Darter, to recommend adopting the draft Complete
Streets Policy as proposed with the recommendation that Section 1, Item 4 of the proposed
resolution be amended to incorporate the Complete Streets Policy into overlay projects.
Motion carried by the following vote: Aye — Prochaska, Van Iten, Pregler, Darter, and
Winterwood; Nay — None.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager Adopted