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Legislative Correspondence April 12, 2006 VIA Email and 1st Class Mail <<Email>> <<CompleteOFFICIALName _Address>> Re: HF 2351 - Eminent Domain Dear <<Title>> <<Last>>, I am writing to encourage you to oppose HF 2321 regarding the use of eminent domain by a municipality. Even with the proposed amendments, this bill would severely diminishes a city's ability to 1) redevelop older areas of town such as downtowns or 2) expand for large-scale economic development opportunities that provide benefit to the entire community. In order to spur redevelopment of our downtown, the city of Dubuque has had to use eminent domain on only one occasion, at the bequest of the parties involved in order to resolve a complicated property ownership issue that needed a legal process to rectify. However, the city has been able in the past, to raise the issue of eminent domain as a tool to bring previously uninterested parties to the table to negotiate. The results have meant successfully negotiated agreements for all parties involved as well as a tremendous economic investment in our downtown and the Port of Dubuque. Specifically, the Port of Dubuque area (formerly know as the Ice Harbor) was an old industrial area that at one time had a cold-storage operation, storage of logs and an oil operation all surrounded by a concrete floodwall. In addition there were property owners who showed no interest in making improvements to their property and no interest in negotiating with the City of Dubuque or private developers to sell their property and create a revitalized area. Today this thriving area is home to the $188 million America's River Project and is a gateway for downtown and our community. Please vote no to HF 2351 and let us continue our successful economic development efforts. However, should you decide to support HF 2351 I would encourage you to agree to amendments S-5166, S-5168, S-5189, S-5196 and in particular S-5194 which would reduce the slum and blight requirement from 75% to 51 %. Thank you for your continued efforts on behalf of cities. Sincerely, Michael C. Van Milligen City Manager MCVM:cs Cc: Mayor Roy D. Buol Dubuque City Council Susan Judkins, Director of Governmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities Bill Baum, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation Steward Sandstrom, Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce Dan LoBianco, Dubuque Main Street Ltd. Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Dave Heiar, Economic Development Director The Honorable Mike Connolly Senate Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Pam Jochum House Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Steve Lukan House Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Tom Hancock Senate Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Pat Murphy House Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Ray Zirkelbach House Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Roger Stewart Senate Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Thomas Schueller House Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 April 12, 2006 VIA Email and 15t Class Mail <<Email>> <<CompleteOFF I CIALName _Add ress>> Re: HF 2794 - Annexation Dear <<Title>)(<Las!>>, I am writing to encourage you to oppose HF 2794, a department of Revenue bill that includes language regarding annexation. Specifically Sections 5 and 6 of this bill allow for a transition for the imposition of city taxes against a property owner located within an annexation area. The language further states that an alternative schedule shall allow an exemption that is equivalent to or greater that the schedule outlined in the bill. This language requires that cities offer the highest level of abatement possible under the annexation law to any property owner that is annexed involuntarily. Such a law would create a disincentive for property owners to voluntarily annex. Furthermore, this language would override any efforts of cities to negotiate voluntary annexation and invite litigation that would take years to resolve. I urge you to oppose HF 2794. Thank you for your continued efforts on behalf of cities. Sincerely, Michael C. Van Milligen City Manager MCVM:cs Cc: Mayor Roy D. Buol Dubuque City Council Susan Judkins, Director of Governmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities Bill Baum, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation Steward Sandstrom, Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager The Honorable Mike Connolly Senate Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Pam Jochum House Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Steve Lukan House Chamber Iowa Capito.! Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Tom Hancock Senate Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Pat Murphy House Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Ray Zirkelbach House Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Roger Stewart Senate Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319 The Honorable Thomas Schueller House Chamber Iowa Capitol Building Des Moines, IA 50319