Legislative Correspondence
City Manager's Office
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4110 office
(563) 589-4149 fax
(563) 690-6678 TDD
ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org
DU~
~ck~
June 1, 2006
VIA Email and
1st Class Mail
www.qovernor.state.ia.us
Governor Tom Vilsack
Governor's Office
State Capitol
East 12th & Grand
Des Moines, IA 50319
Re: Eminent Domain
Dear Governor Vilsack,
I am writing to encourage you to Veto the eminent domain legislation pass by the
Iowa Legislature. 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.
Service
People
Integrity
Responsibility
Innovation
Teamwork
Please veto the eminent domain legislation and let us continue our successful
economic development efforts.
Thank you for your continued efforts on behalf of cities.
Sincerely,
fYA~4~/Jt!~
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
City Manager's Office
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4110 office
(563) 589-4149 fax
(563) 690-6678 TOO
ctyrngr@cityofdubuque.org
TDILrB0t;t3}~
~ck~
June 9, 2006
VIA Email and
1st Class Mail
www.qovernor.state.ia.us
Governor Tom Vii sack
Governor's Office
State Capitol
Des Moines, IA 50319
Re: Eminent Domain
Dear Governor Vilsack,
I am writing to thank you for your Veto of House File 2351, the eminent domain
legislation passed by the Iowa Legislature. This bill would have been a serious
impediment to the removal of blighted areas in cities and would have significantly
hurt economic development opportunities and revitalization efforts.
As you know, the City of Dubuque has seen significant development in downtown
Dubuque and at the Port of Dubuque. Since 2000 downtown Dubuque has been
experiencing a true renaissance with over $34 million invested in public
improvements, $75 million in building rehabilitations, nearly $119 million in new
construction and 1,849 new jobs. This is in addition to the $188 million America's
River Project, which has attracted over 1.5 million annual visitors to our
community, creating a new energy and vitality for Dubuque and the State of
Iowa.
Throughout the development in downtown and at the Port of Dubuque, the city
has only had to use eminent domain on 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.
Service
People
Integrity
Responsibility
Innovatiun
Teamwork
.
By your veto action, you have given cities the tools we need to create economic
opportunities.
Thank you for your continued efforts on behalf of cities.
S;"oef;ok~,,,
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
June 9, 2006
VIA Email and
1st Class Mail
<<Email>>
<<CompleteOFFICIALName _Add ress>>
Re: HF 2351 - Eminent Domain
Dear <<Title>> <<Last>>,
I am writing to encourage you to oppose efforts to override Governor Vilsack's
veto of House File 2351, the Eminent Domain Bill. This bill would be a serious
impediment to the removal of blighted areas in cities and would significantly hurt
economic development opportunities and revitalization efforts.
As you know, the city of Dubuque has seen significant development in downtown
Dubuque and at the Port of Dubuque. Since 2000 downtown Dubuque has been
experiencing a true renaissance with over $34 million invested in public
improvements, $75 million in building rehabilitations, nearly $119 million in new
construction and 1,849 new jobs. This is in addition to the $188 million America's
River Project, which has attracted over 1.5 million annual visitors to our
community, creating a new energy and vitality for Dubuque and the State of
Iowa.
Throughout the development in downtown and at the Port of Dubuque, the city
has only had to use eminent domain on 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.
Based upon the above information, I encourage you to support Governor
Vilsack's veto of HF 2351 and oppose any efforts of a veto override.
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
June 9, 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 efforts to override Governor Vilsack's
veto of House File 2351, the Eminent Domain Bill. This bill would be a serious
impediment to the removal of blighted areas in cities and would significantly hurt
economic development opportunities and revitalization efforts.
As you know, the city of Dubuque has seen significant development in downtown
Dubuque and at the Port of Dubuque. Since 2000 downtown Dubuque has been
experiencing a true renaissance with over $34 million invested in public
improvements, $75 million in building rehabilitations, nearly $119 million in new
construction and 1,849 new jobs. This is in addition to the $188 million America's
River Project, which has attracted over 1.5 million annual visitors to our
community, creating a new energy and vitality for Dubuque and the State of
Iowa.
Throughout the development in downtown and at the Port of Dubuque, the city
has only had to use eminent domain on 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.
Based upon the above information, I encourage you to support Governor
Vilsack's veto of HF 2351 and oppose any efforts of a veto override.
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
City Manager's Office
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4110 office
(563) 589-4149 fax
(563) 690-6678 TDD
ctymgr@cityofdubuque.org
THEClTYOF <'.~
DrJwQuI
~~~
June 8, 2006
Via 1st Class Mail and
e-mail www.nussle.house.gov
Congressman Jim Nussle
303 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-1502
Dear Congressman Nussle:
Thank you for your response to our recent communication regarding the
Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act (COPE) of
2006. As the House takes up consideration of this bill, I would like to take this
opportunity to re-affirm our opposition to this bill and urge you to vote NO.
We welcome competition in our community but we must have a level playing field
for all competitors, which this bill does not provide. The COPE Act would strip
local governments of their authority to franchise their public rights-of-way for
video/cable services and impose a national franchising scheme. The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) would oversee and second-guess all local
rights-of-way management practices and customer service issues. It would allow
new market entrants to pick and choose the neighborhoods they want to serve
while bypassing all others completely. Additionally, amendments like the one
sponsored by Representative Jackson-Lee of Texas (Amendment #19) will
further reduce funding for Public, Educational and Government (PEG) access
channels and Institutional Networks (I-Nets).
This bill would be disastrous for communities in the First District as well as
across Iowa. Passage of this bill and the elimination of local franchises will
require Dubuque and other communities to reduce or eliminate vital services to
our citizens or find alternate ways to raise funds to maintain the current level of
service.
Service
People
Integrity
Responsibility
Innovation
Teamwork
I respectfully request that you vote no to this bill.
MCVM:rg
Cc: Mayor Roy Buol
Dubuque City Council Member
Susan Judkins, Iowa League of Cities
Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Asst. City Manager
Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer
Craig Nowack, Cable TV Coordinator
Sincer~
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager