Other Documents
RECr=IVED
FRIENDS of the MINES of SPAIN
8999 Bellevue Hts.
Dubuque, IA 52003-9214-
(319) 556-0620
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2 January 2001
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members:
The "Friends of the Mines of Spain" is a non-profit, incorporated support group of
Dubuqueland citizens on behalf of the E. B. Lyons / Mines of Spain complex
administrated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The Board of Directors
of the Friends group would like at this time to briefly review our past concerns and
shared successes over area environmental issues and express our current objections to
the Arco barge fleeting issue.
The Friends of the Mines of Spain in conjunction with the Catfish Creek Coalition
alerted the people of the Dubuqueland to the threat of a junk car smashing operation in
the valley adjacent to the burial site of our city's founder and fronting on our most
valuable natural asset, the Mississippi River.
Thousands of citizens responded and thanks to the unanimous support of the City
Council, the junk yard effort failed; the illegal construction repaired and the then zoned
heavy industry status changed to residential/park / recreation usage.
The "Friends," the "Catfish Coalition," the Sisters ofCharity-Mt.Carmel and
thousands of Dubuque land citizens organized as the "Rip-Row Coalition" to fund with
private donations and negotiate the purchase of the threatened land for presentation to
city ownership and administration.
This goal was accomplished in June of2000 by the citizen groups providing a 50%
down payment--the balance to be due three years hence and the remainder being
guaranteed to the city by a group of dedicated Dubuque citizens.
The City Council wisely agreed to lease the adjacent riverfront acreage (site of
previous sewerage plant) to the Iowa DNR for their development and administration
as park / picnic / prairie purposes including a trail up to the adjacent Julien Dubuque
burial monument.
Adjacent to and west of the DNR park area is the newly purchased acreage
dedicated by the city for development by the Women's Recreational group to be three
state of the art lighted baseball fields, batting cages, parking, refreshment stand,
storage facilities and bounded by tree plantings, burns, and prairie management.
Funding and citizen in-kind involvement is well underway by the women's group.
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We collectively believe that the picnic / park natural riverfront area would be
negated and perhaps null and void by the obstruction of the valuable riverfront by
possible eyelevel barge fleeting operations here. Use of the river front would destroy
not only our vision for the area but would be contrary to the city's newly realized
appreciation of our community asset of our location on the banks of one of the world's
natural wonders.
We believe that the present fleeting of scores of barges in Dove Harbor is adequate
for immediate shipping purposes and that additional barge fleeting in not necessary or
desirable within the city limits.
We therefore respectfully urge you to deny the Arco request for barge fleeting at
Rip row Valley. We further ask that no additional barge fleeting be allowed in the City
of Dubuque limits.
Thank you for your support and studied consideration on this and many other
important matters relating to our community's well being.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors of The Friends of the Mines of Spain
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Douglas G. Olk, M.D. Charles L. Winterwood, M.D.
President Vice President
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Ann Ernst, Ph.D.
Secretary
Joan Higley
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Board Member
Board Member
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Harold Edebohl
Board Member
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Wayne Buchholtz
Board Member
DNR Representative
Shannon Ault
Board Member
DNR Representative
TELEPHONE 608/725-2311
FAX 608/725-5044
ARTCO FLEETING SERVICES
P.O. BOX 585. CASSVILLE. WI 53806
December 15, 2000
City of Dubuque
Jeanne Schneider, City Clerk
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dear Ms. Schneider,
In reference to our conversation earlier today, Artco Fleeting Services would like the City
of Dubuque to remove all of our proposals for barge fleeting within the City of Dubuque
from the record. Artco Fleeting wishes that the proposals be destroyed.
If you have any questions, please give me a call at the above number.
Sincerely,
~~
Brent Nissen
Manager
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CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
December 18, 2000
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Vision Iowa
The Mayor and City Council have dedicated a great deal of time, energy and City resources to
the redevelopment of the riverfront, and specifically, America's River Project in the 4th Street
Peninsula area. Riverfront development has routinely made the 5-year goals and annual priority
list established each year by the Mayor and City Council, and this year this project has reached a
crucial period. The City will be participating with our partners, the Dubuque County Historical
Society and the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, in a $58 million application to the State
ofIowa Vision Iowa Board to help make the $188 million America's River Project a reality. As
part of this application the City is being asked to reaffirm its commitment to invest over $31
million to the success of this project.
This $31 million includes land acquisition, creation of parking, cleaning up of gateways, storage
tank removal and other items.
However, over the years, riverfront development has not been the only City priority and a strong
commitment to the America's River Project has been maintained while continuing to support
these other priorities.
In the area of economic development, $23 million has been invested to acquire and develop 900
acres of property to create five new industrial parks. The sewer and water extensions related to
these developments have opened up thousands of acres of private land for development. Since
1995, the City has annexed almost 2,500 acres of property
Improving the City's transportation network was identified years ago as a concern, as Dubuque
had no four-lane highway connections to other cities. A four-lane connection to the Quad Cities
was established in 1999, and connections to Madison, Wisconsin; Ames, and Cedar Rapids will
be completed within the next five years. The City of Dubuque has a commitment from the Iowa
Department of Transportation to complete the Southwest Arterial within the next six years. This
road would create a bypass and move traffic around the City quickly and efficiently. Air service
to Dubuque has improved as a result of the airport runway expansion project and a $15 million
investment, and jet service returned to the Dubuque Regional Airport in November.
The City has created over 700 new downtown parking spaces, invested in a loan pool to get
buildings rehabilitated and budgeted to remodel or remove the Town Clock Plaza.
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Thirteen new parks with over 60 acres have been created and equipment in the existing 800 acres
of City parks has been replaced. This investment in neighborhood recreation involved over $7
million in expenditures.
The addition of 13 Police Officer positions and the establishment of Community-Oriented
Policing has worked to keep Dubuque one of the safest places to live in the Midwest, which is
the safest place to live in the country.
The commitment to the street program has been significant. The average annual expenditure on
the street program prior to 1995 was $2.1 million. The average annual expenditure on the street
program has increased to almost $6.5 million. Over an II-year period over 50% of the streets
will be either reconstructed or resurfaced.
All of these commitments have been made while being fiscally responsible. In the last seven
years City property taxes for the average homeowner have not increased, in fact, in four of these
seven years, property taxes actually decreased. If you were to compare the cost of City services
including property tax, refuse fees, water and sewer bills, a homeowner would pay $9 less in
2001 than they paid in 1995.
The $188 million America's River Project has a value in excess of 10% of our community's
assessed valuation. It is a project that will meet the elements of the Vision statement created
through the City Council goal setting process.
. "As a hometown for our families, Dubuque is a place
. Where we can raise a healthy family
. Where all generations of families can live and play together
. Where there are abundant job opportunities that support family wages
. Where families can visit and be the guests of our community."
I respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval of a Resolution reaffirming the City of
Dubuque's commitment to America's River Project.
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager
Jerry Enzler, Executive Director, Dubuque County Historical Society (via FAX)
Steve Horman, President & CEO, Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce (via FAX)
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RESOLUTION NO. 589-00
RESOLUTION OF CITY OF DUBUQUE SUPPORT FOR THE VISION IOWA
APPLICATION FOR FUNDS FOR AMERICA'S RIVER FOR THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER EDUCATION AND CONFERENCE CENTER AND THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER DISCOVERY CENTER AND AQUARIUM AT THE PORT OF DUBUQUE.
Whereas, the citizens of Dubuque have been working together since 1992 on
plans to reclaim the riverfront for the enjoyment of the community and its many
visitors; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque, the Dubuque County Historical Society, and
the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce have formed a strong partnership to lead
the community in efforts to develop Dubuque's riverfront into a world-class
attraction; and
Whereas, there as been extraordinary levels of private participation in the
fund raising for the riverfront development efforts from individuals, corporations, and
government agencies; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque is committing to construction of a riverwalk
and other infrastructure improvements on the riverfront and in the adjacent
downtown area; and
Whereas, the private sector has made significant financial commitments,
which will leverage the public investment and increase the level of interest in the
Dubuque Riverfront; and
Whereas, the construction of the Mississippi River Education and Conference
Center on the Port of Dubuque will provide the venue to host groups and individuals
from around the world and make Dubuque and Iowa the center for learning about
the Mississippi River and the State of Iowa; and
Whereas, the plans for the development of Dubuque's riverfront meet the
goals of the Vision Iowa program by providing Iowa with this world-class attraction;
and
Whereas, the planning for the development of Dubuque's riverfront is at the
stage where the community is ready to begin the construction phase for the major
infrastructure improvements of the project.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
. OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1: The City of Dubuque hereby lends it continued support to the
efforts of the community for the development of the riverfront of the Mississippi
River.
Section 2: The City of Dubuque together with its partners, the Dubuque
County Historical Society and the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, commits
over $31 million in City funds, over $21 million in private participation, over $7
million in federal grants, and over $19 million in private fund raising and land
donations to match over $58 million in Vision Iowa funds toward construction of the
America's River project in the Port of Dubuque.
Passed, approved and adopted this
day of
,2000.
Terrance M. Duggan
Mayor
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Attest:
Jeanne F. Schneider
City Clerk
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