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