Federal appropriations - City requests & priorities
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MEMORANDUM
December 13, 2005
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: City Priorities and Issues: Washington, D.C.
Economic Development Director David Heiar is recommending City Council approval of
the "City of Dubuque Priorities and Requests for Federal Appropriations."
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
nJ ~~ ili1vC-
MIchael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
David J. Heiar, Economic Development Director
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CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
December 14, 2005
TO:
FROM:
Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
David J. Heiar, Economic Development Director..:::.\~~
,
SUBJECT: City Priorities and Issues: Washington, D.C.
INTRODUCTION AND DISCUSSION
On February 1-3, 2006 City representatives will be in Washington D.C., participating in
the annual information sharing discussion with the Iowa Congressional Delegation.
In preparation for the meeting Congressional staff are requesting information on the
priorities or issues of the City. In reviewing the City Council goals for 2005, as well as
the information provided to the staff in the past, I have developed the attached report
entitled "City of Dubuque Priorities and Requests for Federal Appropriations."
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend the City Council approval of the "City of Dubuque Priorities and
Requests for Federal Appropriations."
F:\USERS\Dheiar\Federallnitiatives\Memo to Mike 2005 priorities. doc
December 2005 Amended
CITY OF DUBUQUE
FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
1. Transportation
Iowa Hiahwav 32 (Southwest Arterial):
The Dubuque City Council, the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors, and DUbuque
Metropolitan Planning Organization (DMA TS) has identified the completion of the Iowa Highway
32 (Southwest Arterial) project as the No.1 surface transportation priority in the Dubuque area.
The proposed Iowa Highway 32 project will be a 6.1-mile four-lane divided freeway with priority
1-access control as an alternative route for traffic through southwestern Dubuque and will
connect the new Dubuque Technology Park on U.S. Hwy 61/151 with the new Dubuque
Industrial Center West, and the existing Dubuque Industrial Center near U.S. Hwy 20. The
highway then extends north to John Deere Dubuque Works.
Since October 2001, five companies have made expansion decisions at the Dubuque Industrial
Center West, based upon assurances that the proposed Iowa Highway 32 was in the
engineering design phase and that the project would be in the Iowa Department of
Transportation five-year plan. The largest of the companies, McGraw Hill Publishing Company
made a decision to locate a new 330,000-square-foot distribution center in the Dubuque
Industrial Center West. The completion of Iowa Highway 32 is vital to other expansion
announcements: Adams Company, Art's Way - Vessel Systems, Giese Manufacturing, and Tri-
State Industries. Other companies asking for a connection between U.S. Hwy 20 and U.S. Hwy
61/151 include John Deere, Nordstrom Distribution Center, A.Y. McDonald, Swiss Valley Farms,
Flexsteel, and Dubuque Stamping and Manufacturing.
Preliminary project cost estimates, which includes engineering design, the acquisition of all
right-of-way required for the ultimate build-out of the full four-lane project, resource mitigation
and the construction of the interim two-lane highway is $71,000,000. The Metropolitan Planning
Organization, DMATS, has committed $10 million in Surface Transportation Program funds for
the facility. The City is also seeking financial assistance through the State of Iowa Department
of Transportation Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy (RISE) program. In February 2003, Senator
Tom Harkin announced federal budget approval of $1,900,000 to complete the preliminary
engineering design phase.
The City has agreed to manage the next phase of the project, and in January of 2005 the City
and the Iowa DOT executed the Consultant Professional Services Agreement for Earth Tech,
Inc. to complete Preliminary Engineering Design Services for the Improvement of Iowa Highway
32 (Southwest Arterial). The preliminary design phase is anticipated to be complete in the spring
of 2007. In February of 2005, the City received the issuance of Environmental Concurrence and
the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) from the various regulatory agencies and has
completed the Environmental Assessment phase of the project.
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As a result of hard work from Dubuque's Congressional delegation. The Federal Transportation
Bill presented a new opportunity for funding. Congressman Nussle was able to have inserted
into the House version of the bill $20 million. In Conference Committee that was first reduced to
$15 million. Senator Grassley was then able to get the number increased to $26.18 million. The
approved Federal Transportation Bill includes funding for the Iowa Highway 32, Southwest
Arterial in the amount of $ 26.18 million. The City extends its sincere appreciation to
Congressman Nussle, and Senators Grassley and Harkin for targeting this project with federal
earmark authorization, which will playa critical role in moving forward with this project.
Due to Project funding constraints, it was decided that the Project would need to be developed
in three (3) stages. The initial stage (Phase I) would include the preliminary design and
development of plans for the four-lane freeway, establish the full build-out right-of-way corridor
boundary and develop preliminary plans for an interim two-lane highway. Phase I will provide a
current cost opinion for all right-of-way acquisitions required and both the four-lane and two-lane
facilities.
Phase II will include the acquisition of all right-of-way required for the ultimate build-out of the
full four-lane Project. Right-of-way acquisition could begin in 2006.
Phase III will provide for the completion of preliminary and final plans for construction of the
interim two-lane highway. The only access to this interim facility would be via at-grade
intersections. The interchanges would be constructed with the future development of the
ultimate four-lane freeway. The interim two-lane highway would function until additional funding
is available to construct the ultimate lanes and interchanges and should provide a reasonable
level of traffic service through the year 2015.
Current Status:
The Iowa Department of Transportation has not included funding for the Iowa Highway 32
(Southwest Arterial) project in their Five-Year Transportation Plan. The City has submitted a
revised application for RISE funding that could be used as the 20% match to allow access to the
$36.18 million in federal funds now available and has met with key staff members to emphasize
the importance of the Iowa Highway 32 (Southwest Arterial) project to the State and to the
Dubuque area. This project continues to be a top priority.
The City requests any additional financial assistance that can be provided on the federal level,
as well as any assistance that can be provided to help convince the Iowa Department of
Transportation Commission to commit funding toward this vital project.
Capacity Improvements - U.S. Highwav 20 I Mississippi River Bridae Proiect
The U.S. Hwy 20/Julien Dubuque Bridge spans the Mississippi River and provides one
eastbound and one westbound lane of traffic. On either side of the river, the highway
immediately expands to four or more lanes. The result is a bottleneck in traffic on both sides of
the bridge. This link is important for an east-west connection between Dubuque and other
communities. To the west: Galena, III.; Rockford, III.; and Chicago. To the east: Waterloo, Iowa
and the 1-35 interchange. The U.S. Hwy 20 Mississippi River Bridge Project is a very high
priority with the City Council and the Metropolitan Planning Organization, DMATS.
The City of Dubuque truly appreciates the $35 million federal commitment obtained by
Congressman Nussle in 1998, which has allowed the project to complete Environmental
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Assessment, Location Alignment, Preliminary & Final Design and R.O.W Acquisition. Right-of-
way acquisition is complete on the Iowa side ($6.5 Million). Right-of-way acquisition is on going
on the Illinois side ($5 Million Est.).
The Iowa Department of Transportation has selected the firm of Parsons of Chicago, Illinois, in
conjunction with WHKS of Dubuque, to complete the preliminary and final design of the bridge
crossing, roadway approaches, and landscape improvements, which are expected to be
complete in the spring of 2006.
Congressman Nussle was able to obtain an additional $25.5 million in the new
transportation bill. The City extends its sincere appreciation for the hard work of
Dubuque's Congressional delegation and the extraordinary efforts by Congressman
Nussle, Senator Grassley, and Senator Harkin, in support of this project.
Current Status:
The Iowa Department of Transportation has not included funding for the U.S. Hwy 20
Mississippi River Bridge Project in their Five-Year Transportation Plan.
Based on a total project cost of $165 million (2004 dollars), and considering the current $35
million and the $25.5 million - Federal Transportation Bill appropriation, a $104.5 million deficit
exists to complete construction. In addition, the City is in need of $3 million in federal funds to
relocate municipal utilities for this project.
DubUQue Reaional Airport
The Airport Commission completed an Airport Terminal Study in 2003, which has been
accepted by the FAA. The study identified the following needs:
Terminal Buildina
The Benefit Cost Analysis for the Dubuque Regional Airport's new commercial service terminal
has been completed and accepted by the Federal Aviation Administration. This makes the new
terminal project eligible for federal funding currently programmed to begin in Federal fiscal year
2006. The Environmental Assessment is complete and the FAA recently approved the
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The next step is land acquisition, which is
scheduled for Federal fiscal year 2007. The airport will use their entitlement and will request
discretionary funding for $330,000 in 2007 to accomplish land acquisition.
Control Tower Radar
The Dubuque Regional Airport is currently third busiest airport in operations for the State of
Iowa. Our objective is to increase control tower coverage in the evening by two hours. With
continued increase in corporate and general aviation activity, radar is a needed safety
enhancement for the airport.
A major contributor to our operational growth is the University of Dubuque, which in the past five
years has increased its aviation flight students from 91 to 225 and aircraft on the field from 13 to
25.
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Currently the Airport is not eligible for the FAA D-Brite program due to regulatory
secondary radar limitations, but the Airport has been advised that it has been placed on
a list for a category of radar currently not funded. The Airport is currently working with
the FAA to utilize Entitlement funding to install an Arts1E secondary radar system. A
new cost for this system is an estimated $190,000. It is highly unlikely that FAA
Facilities and Equipment would pay for this system due to their major budget
constraints. Therefore, it is the Airport's intent to install the system with their FAA AlP
Entitlement funds and request the FAA to maintain the system.
2. Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitiaation Proiect
Purpose: To limit flooding in low/moderate income neighborhoods.
In 1999, an unusually intense spring storm deluged Dubuque with rainfall. The storm
produced in excess of four feet of stormwater in city streets and five feet of stormwater
in basements, and resulted in a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Dubuque County.
Flood damage devastated hundreds of homes in the City of Dubuque. At the time of the
flood, the City was in the process of adopting a Stormwater Management Plan. On July
23, 2001, HDR Engineering, of Omaha, Neb., the consulting firm hired by the City to
produce the Stormwater Management Plan, presented its findings to City Council.
One solution is an open waterway proposal for solving the Bee Branch Stormwater
problems. This solution has been controversial, and is therefore, under continuing
study. However, an important segment of the project, not involvina the ooen waterway
conceot is not controversial, and will assist greatly in mitigating the problems with the
Bee Branch:
The expansion of the 32nd Street detention basin, at a cost of $4,000,000 would double
the size of the existing basin.
When completed, the basin would reduce peak runoff flows from the 100-year rainstorm
by 69%. This significant reduction will lesson the threat of flood damage to the
neighborhood, and assist greatly in solving the problems in the Bee Branch.
The City is requesting an FY06 earmark through EPA's State and Tribal Grant program
"STAG." Any reasonable amount of funding for this project would be appreciated.
The City has approved the establishment of a storm water utility, and therefore the local
match is available for this project.
3. AMERICA'S RIVER AT THE PORT OF DUBUQUE
Intennodal Facility
The City of Dubuque wishes to prepare a study to explore needs and justification for a
Downtown Transportation Center Intermodal Facility for the Port of Dubuque. The type of study
will include a parking and transit component and will be used to determine the location and
composition of a facility, establish a parking and transit plan, and operating revenue. The cost of
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the study is estimated to be $130,000 with a total project cost estimate of $12 million. Similar
projects in Iowa have been funded between a range of $7.5 million for the Near Southside
Transportation Center Intermodal Facility in Iowa City, Iowa to $10 million for the UNI Multi-
modal project in Waterloo.
The downtown and Port of Dubuque area has supported tremendous commercial
growth over the last decade including grand tourist attractions and festivals in the
revitalized Port area: new local, regional, and national businesses in downtown; and the
restoration and revitalization of previously dormant historic buildings. The net result is
the generation of an active multifaceted district for working, living and playing. The area
has evolved from the traditional nine-to-five central business district into a vibrant and
lively activity center. This rapid evolution has created public concerns about
transportation and parking capacity. Construction of an Intermodal facility would be a
strategic use of the limited acreage available at the Port of Dubuque that would
incorporate smart growth principles to limit the number of parking surfaces at the Port
and preserve as much land as possible for strategic urban development consistent with
the rest of the downtown area.
The project will include a parking and transit component and would integrate a concrete
parking structure containing approximately 750 parking stalls with the bus terminal
housed integrally within the structure at ground level and will be located adjacent to a
rail spur in the Port of Dubuque that may serve as a connecting tourist commuter train
line along the Mississippi River. The River's Edge Plaza in the Port of Dubuque serves
as a docking station for the Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen and other local and
regional riverboat cruise services who rely on private and public bus service during their
stay in Dubuque. The parking facility will accommodate park-and-ride and general
parking users through hourly, daily and monthly revenues. The bus operation provides
pick-up and drop-off of public and private bus service including a recently deployed
trolley shuttle service between the downtown and the Port of Dubuque fixed route
service, interstate charters and local taxi cab and tour operators.
The Port of Dubuque Master Plan includes construction of a transit station and the project
is part of the metropolitan area long-range transportation plan. The project is part of the
Iowa Public Transit Association's legislative priorities agenda. Phase I and Phase II
environmental assessments have been completed and the City is in the process of
obtaining environmental clearance from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium - Rivers to the Sea
The City Council supports the efforts of the Dubuque County Historical Society in the
next phase of the development of the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium to
explore the Mississippi River's relationship to the Gulf of Mexico. This will be
construction of a major expansion to the award-winning National Mississippi River
Museum & Aquarium, with the opportunity to double the size and impact of the current
museum and enhance even further Iowa's role as a national and international leader in
Environmental Education.i
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A. National River Research and Conservation Center
This will be a research center that addresses the need to reduce nutrient loading,
understand sediment flow, increase understanding of habitat preservation, and address
other nationally significant issues. With the strong support of Governor Vilsack, and
collaborating with federal and state agencies, Iowa State University, and other land-
grant universities, and local and national academic institutions, the Museum will build
and staff a major research center for rivers. The Museum will also continue to work with
threatened and endangered animals such as mussels, mud puppies, salamanders,
frogs and other species which will be conserved to increase their populations. What
separates this from many other institutions is that exhibits will be created to let the
public know the research that is underway at the Museum and at related sites
B. RiverMax Theater
A large screen theater building will be constructed and films will be created to tell the
story of the rivers of America and how those rivers and the people of those rivers have
shaped America. It will be a powerful and compelling tribute to the accomplishments of
the people of America's rivers with environmental emphasis as well. Current plans are
that this theater would use digital technology and be equipped for 3-D films as well. A
rotating schedule of other films will be programmed during evenings or as a second
showing each day. Seating capacity - 150 - 250 people
C. Children's Splash Zone Museum
Interactive play exhibits with educational emphasis will provide a hands-on children's
museum with a water theme. These children's exhibits will provide a place for children
to interact with each other and with their families.
D. Rivers to the Sea Galleries
Exhibit space can accommodate 3 or 4 different exhibits that are changeable on a
rotating basis: The Rivers of America, their watersheds, their cultural and ecological
stories, the people, and their connection to the sea. Guests will explore artifacts, inter-
actives, images, live animals, flow tables, touch screens, models, mini theaters, and
other exhibits. The National Rivers Hall of Fame exhibits will provide more information
about the significant people in American river history who made their history on our
rivers.
4. Homeland Securitv
Regional Emergency Responder Training Facility
PROJECT SUMMARY
The Dubuque Fire Department is part of the group developing the training facility as a joint
venture with all emergency response agencies in Dubuque County.
OUR VISION: To develop an emergency responder training facility including training tower, an
indoor/outdoor evolution lab and classroom to enable firefighters, law enforcement officers,
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EMS personnel, and safety workers in local manufacturing/commercial industry to safely train in
real-life emergency situations.
Firefighters, law enforcement officers, and EMS workers will now be able to participate in joint
training exercises, enabling:
-Preparation for multiple disaster scenarios
-The sharing of ideas and training techniques
-Introduction to and training with new and more efficient equipment
-Team building between departments and communities
FUNDING CHALLENGES: Private/public partnerships have been established to assist
with funding this project. The State of Iowa legislature last year contributed $300,000,
the City of Dubuque $365,000, and Dubuque County $200,000. In addition, over $1.1
million in private contributions have been received leaving a target of $600,000 to finish
the project. Since much of the training will be related to Homeland Security disasters,
and this facility will service the Tri-State area we are hopeful that the funding of the
remaining $600,000 can be made by the federal government. Application was made for
Homeland Security funds but was denied without explanation. The total cost of the
facility is $2,600,000.
5. Federallv Qualified Community Health Center for Dubuaue
Access to primary health and dental care has been identified as a critical need for the citizens of
DUbuque County, particularly low-income children and families. In addressing this crucial issue,
many organizations and agencies have together to develop a community health center for
Dubuque and the Tri-State area:
. Mercy Medical Center - Dubuque
. Finley HospitalNNA
. Medical Associates Clinic & Health Plan
. Dubuque Intemal Medicine
. Dubuque OB-GYN
. Tri-States Independent Physician's Association
. Gannon Center for Community Mental Health
. Dubuque County Health Department
· Iowa Department of Public Health
. Iowa Department of Human Services
. Hillcrest Family Services
. Sisters of SI. Francis
. Clarke College
· Northeast Iowa Community College
. Dubuque Community Schools
. City of Dubuque
The health center envisioned by this community group would be a non-profit organization
structured so that it could receive federal funding under the Health Centers Consolidation Act of
1996 as amended by section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. The clinic would provide
comprehensive primary care services to all individuals within the center's service regardless of
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ability to pay. Specific services that the center would provide directly, through contract, or by
formal referral arrangements would include:
. Primary health care services by physicians and, where appropriate, allied health
professionals
. Diagnostic laboratory services
. Diagnostic x-ray services
. Preventive health services
. Patient case management
. Pharmacy services needed to complete treatment
. Preventive dental services
. Emergency services
. Transportation for patients who would otherwise lack access to services.
Dubuque is the only major metropolitan area in Iowa without a community health center.
The Dubuque community is now coming together in an effort to create a community health
center, which will meet the identified health needs of our citizens. In February of 2003, the
Tri-State Community Health Center (TSCHC) was granted $50,000 from the FY 03
appropriations bill for planning. This fall, we received an additional $29,462 for
planning. We are grateful to the Congressional delegation for their support. A third
FQHC grant application was denied in 2004; application will be resubmitted for
$650,000 during the next funding round. In the meantime, the Iowa Department of
Public Health (IDPH) has awarded TSCHC $650,000 in CHC "incubator funds" to be
used for startup of the clinic. Federal Look-A-Like status will then be applied for
when the clinic opens during the summer of 2006. The incubator funds are not
ongoing and only a portion of these funds can be used for capital expenses.
Consequently, federal funds will be necessary for ongoing operations and financial
viability of TSCHC.
6. Support Clean Coal TechnoloQV
The City Council supports the efforts of Rentech, Inc (Royster-Clark Nitrogen) owner of a
830 ton per day natural gas-fed nitrogen fertilizer production plant in East Dubuque, Illinois
to convert the plant into a coal fed gasification plant using Illinois Coal instead of expensive
natural gas. The new and expanded gasification process will generate the synthesis gas
necessary to produce nitrogen fertilizer, Fischer- Tropsch (FTO) ultra-clean fuels and surplus
electricity.
The company currently employs 110 high paying quality jobs at the facility. During the
conversion, 1000 construction workers will be on the site. If the conversion to a coal fed
gasification plant is successful, the company will add 100 new positions to the workforce.
This project would provide economic benefits to the entire Dubuque Urban Area.
The City supports this effort and encourages the delegation to work with the
company to provide tax credits for clean coal technology in the next national energy
bill.
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