Minutes Long Range Plann 12 21 05
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MINUTES -
LONG RANGE PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION-
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
7:00 P,M.
Auditorium, Carnegie Stout Library
360 W, 11 th Street, Dubuque, Iowa
PRESENT: Vice-Chairperson Charles Winterwood; Commissioners Lou Oswald, Jim
Prochaska, Shannon Lundgren, Patricia Cline, and Mary Lynn Neumeister;
Staff Members Laura Carstens and David Johnson.
ABSENT: Commissioner Rick Stein,
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:05 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,
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
The Commission introduced and welcomed new Commission Members Oswald and
Lundgren,
MINUTES:
March 16. 2005 and November 16.2005
Commissioner Cline took issue with the minutes of November 16, 2005, She explained
she felt the Kelly's Bluff PUD rezoning is not under the influence of the Long Range
Planning Advisory Commission, She stated the proposed rezoning was not something that
would have typically been voted on by the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission,
She explained she was unaware that the Commission's findings on the proposed Kelly's
Bluff PUD would be forwarded to the City Council for their consideration, She stated with
that knowledge, she would have voted no. Commission Member Cline requested all
materials forwarded to the City Council from the Long Range Planning Advisory
Commission be reviewed by the Commission.
The Commission discussed the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission's authority to
review and make recommendations on specific development proposals, including
rezonings, Staff Member Carstens stated the Kelly's Bluff PUD is the first rezoning case
that the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission has ever commented on, and in the
past the Commission has refused to comment on rezonings.
Motion by Cline, seconded by Lundgren, to reconsider whether the Kelly's Bluff PUD is
consistent with the 2002 Dubuque Comprehensive Plan, Motion carried by a vote of 4-2-0
as follows: Ayes- Prochaska, Lundgren, Cline, and Winterwood; Nays - Oswald and
Neumeister; Abstain - none.
Minutes - Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
December 21, 2005
Page 2
Motion by Neumeister, seconded by Prochaska, that the Kelly's Bluff PUD is consistent
with the 2002 Dubuque Comprehensive Plan. Motion failed by a vote of 0-4-2 as follows:
Ayes - none; Nays - Oswald, Prochaska, Neumeister and Winterwood; Abstain - Cline
and Lundgren.
Motion by Neumeister, seconded by Prochaska, that the Kelly's Bluff PUD is not consistent
with the 2002 Dubuque Comprehensive Plan. Motion carried by a vote of 4-0-2 as follows:
Ayes -Oswald, Prochaska, Neumeister and Winterwood; Nays - none; Abstain - Cline and
Lundgren.
Motion by Prochaska, seconded by Neumeister to approve the minutes of November 16,
2005 as written. Motion carried by a vote of 6-0. .
Motion by Prochaska, seconded by Neumeister to approve the minutes of March 16,2005
as written. Motion carried by a vote of 6-0.
ACTION ITEMS
Garfield Place Urban Revitalization District Expansion
Staff Member Aggie Tauke, on behalf of the Housing and Community Development
Department, requested expansion of the Garfield Place Urban Revitalization District. She
explained the amended district will add two adjoining lots to allow property tax exemptions
for a proposed 12 room single-room-occupancy facility at 601 Garfield Avenue and extend
the duration of the plan. She stated the City Council approved the Garfield Place Urban
Revitalization Plan on October 20, 2000. The plan provided for urban revitalization tax
credits for the construction of a 19-unit single-room-occupancy building at 511 Garfield
Avenue. The plan was amended in 2002 and 2004 to allow construction of additional
single-room-occupancy units at 513,515 and 521 Garfield.
Staff Member Tauke explained the amended plan would add 525, 527 and 601 Garfield
into the Garfield Place Urban Revitalization Area and extend the duration of the plan for an
additional three years. She stated 525 and 527 Garfield contains a mixed
residential/commercial building which will remain and no tax exemption will be provided.
601 Garfield has been vacant for two years, and the building will be demolished and
reconstructed.
Scott Potter, owner of the building located at 601 Garfield, stated the structure is in
disrepair and is not salvageable. He indicated the new structure will be located further
from the streets and property lines than what exists currently.
Minutes - Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
December 21, 2005
Page 3
The Commission was in agreement that the improvements made within the Garfield Place
Urban Revitalization District have been a great improvement to the neighborhood and
community. The Commission felt the expansion of the Garfield Place Urban Revitalization
District would be consistent with the goals of the Dubuque Comprehensive Plan.
Motion by Neumeister, seconded by Prochaska, to recommend approval of the Garfield
Place Urban Revitalization District expansion and that the expansion would be consistent
with the 2002 Dubuque Comprehensive Plan. Motion carried by a vote of 5-0-1 as follows:
Ayes - Oswald, Prochaska, Neumeister, Lundgren, and Winterwood; Nays - none; Abstain
-Cline.
Comprehensive Plan Update - Stakeholders
Staff Member Carstens presented the draft list of community stakeholders. She explained
the list is based on key stakeholders utilized in previous plan updates. The Commission
discussed the list of stakeholders. Vice-Chairperson Winterwood requested "Friends of
the Community" Stakeholders be more inclusive, and to include environmental groups. He
specifically suggested the Dubuque Audubon Society, White Pine Group of Sierra Club,
Dubuque County Conservation Society, and Preserve our Bluffs. Commissioner Lundgren
requested the Fair Association be placed on the list. In response to a question by
Commissioner Oswald, Commissioner Neumeister stated the process is not exclusive to
those listed as community stakeholders. She explained the process allows all individuals
interested in participating to participate.
The Commission requested a comprehensive list of community service organizations.
Commissioner Lundgren stated she currently has a list of these organizations and will
email it to Staff Member Carstens.
Comprehensive Plan Update - Communitv Indicators
Staff Member Johnson presented the updated list of Community Indicators. He explained
some of the difficulty in obtaining updated information. He stated some of the past
Community Indicator data was based off of the 2000 Census. He stated much of that
information will not be able to be updated until 2010. He explained the U.S. Census
Bureau does track census data annually as part of the American Community Survey
program, but the program does not collect information for Dubuque since its population
does not qualify it. Staff Member Johnson explained the U.S. Census Bureau does
anticipate expanding the American Community Survey program to communities in excess
of 20,000 people within the next three years.
Staff Member Carstens explained some indicator data had not been available in the past
and continues to not be available. She asked the Commission to consider the validity of
Indicators for which information is not available.
Minutes - Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
December 21, 2005
Page 4
Commissioner Oswald questioned Indicator data on median household income and
average household size, and felt it was being "sugar coated" with respect to actual poverty
levels. Staff Member Carstens said census data is reported by staff from the U.S. Census
Bureau website, and that it is not always possible to compare medians and averages of
different data due to Census Bureau methodology.
The Commission requested the Community Indicators reflect the total number of possible
City Boards and Commissions. The Commission also requested parochial school data be
collected and added to Education Indicators. Staff Member Johnson explained if the data
is available, it should be considered separately so it does not skew previous year's
education data. The education data will then remain a true reflection of the health of the
education community. Commissioners agreed.
The Commission expressed concern that Cultural Arts data was not available in past plan
updates and is not available for the current update. The Commission felt it was an
important criterion to consider in developing a Comprehensive Plan Update.
Motion by Cline, seconded by Neumeister, to forward a letter to the Arts and Culture
Commission formally requesting the Commission track and collect data pertaining to the
Cultural Arts Community Indicators, either using the adopted Indicators or recommending
new Indicators for which data is available. Motion carried by a vote of 6-0.
Comprehensive Plan Update - Process
The Commission discussed the Comprehensive Plan Update Process. Staff Member
Carstens explained the process is a shortened version of what was used in the past. She
stated the process is shorter because much of the information has been collected already.
The Commission stated they want the updated Community Indicators to be available for
the stakeholder meeting. The Commission explained they envisioned using the
Community Indicators in the formation of the goals and objectives. The indicators would
be divided up into groups. The Commission felt the schedule was appropriate and agreed
to finalize it at the January 2006 meeting.
Comprehensive Plan Update - Other
Staff Member Carstens submitted the requested Envision 2010 Information. The
information specifically addressed the Envision 2010 mission statement, timeline, top 100
project ideas and top 30 project ideas.
LIAISON/SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Enterprise Zone Commission: No report.
Minutes - Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
December 21, 2005
Page 5
ITEMS FROM STAFF:
Visual Preference / Communitv Imace Survey
The Long Range Planning Advisory Commission participated In the Visual
Preference/Community Image Survey.
Updated By-Laws
Staff Member Carstens stated the By-Laws have not been updated since they were
adopted in 1990. She explained updated By-Laws have been revised to reflect changes in
the name and composition of the Commission made by City Council and changes in the
meeting place and the way the Commission conducts its meetings to reflect actual
practice.
Commissioner Prochaska suggested the phrasing "except for the first Commissioners" be
remoyed from Article III, Section 2. He also suggested that the month July be changed to
January under Article IV, Section 1 of the By-Laws. The Commission requested that
Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson Elections be placed on the January 2006 Commission
agenda.
The Commission accepted the updated By-Laws as submitted by consensus. The
Commission asked that the updated By-Laws and suggested additional changes be voted
on at the January 2006 Commission Meeting.
2006 Meetinc Schedule
The Commission discussed the meeting dates and times as proposed on the 2006 meeting
schedule, and accepted the 2006 Meeting Schedule as submitted by consensus.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION:
Local Commons Survey Proiect
Vice-Chairperson Winterwood explained the Local Commons Survey Project had recently
been brought to his attention. He indicated the project accounts for quality of life
indicators that often times go unnoticed. The Local Commons Survey Project considers
Common Wealth, or shared creations such as parks public spaces, community culture and
nature as health indicators of a community. Vice-Chairperson Winterwood stated the
project is being conducted by the Tomales Bay Institute. He explained the institute is
seeking pilot communities to partake in a Local Commons Survey which would identify
Common Wealth within a community. He asked the Commission whether they felt the
study would benefit the City of Dubuque and the Comprehensive Plan Update.
Commissioners asked about the control of information associated with the study as well as
the lack of specific information provided by the institute. Vice-Chairperson Winterwood
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December 21, 2005
Page 6
stated he would try to obtain more specific information from the institute and report back to
the Commission.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
David Johnson, Assistant Planner
Adopted
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