Sustainable Dubuque Monthly Project Status Report March 2013THE CITY OF
Dui
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Sustainable Dubuque Monthly Report
DATE: April 10, 2013
Dubuque
kital
All- America City
II 111!
2012
Sustainability Coordinator Cori Burbach is transmitting the March Sustainable Dubuque
Project Status update.
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Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Sustainability Coordinator
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Cori Burbach, Sustainability Coordinator
SUBJECT: March Sustainable Dubuque Project Status Update
DATE: April 10, 2013
Dubuque
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All-America City
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Attached please find the monthly Sustainable Dubuque project status update for March.
No action is requested; this document is provided for your information only.
City of Dubuque
Sustainable Dubuque
Project Status Report — March 2013
*Please note: in order to manage the length of this report, some historical, non - timely
information has been removed from the current report.
COMPREHENSIVE PROJECTS
University of Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (Management Agenda): City
Council approved a partnership with the University of Iowa Initiative for Sustainable
Communities (IISC). During the 2011 -12 and 2012 -13 academic years, graduate students from
the University's Masters in Urban Planning program will assist Dubuque leaders in sustainability
planning and analysis for several different areas. The University's desire is to be able to have
five projects for the 2011 -2012 academic year and a similar number in 2012 -2013, with
coordination through the City and Dubuque 2.0. The 2011 -12 University of Iowa Sustainability
Indicators Field Problems project has won the 2013 AICP Student Project Award for the
Contribution of Planning to a Contemporary Issue.
University of Iowa staff met with local partners to define a set of five projects for the 2012 -13
academic year. Projects identified for 2012 -2013 completion include the following:
• Dubuque County Smarter Planning Indicators: expanding the 2011 -2012 Indicators
project to the Dubuque County Smart Planning Consortium. (Project partners: Anna
O'Shea (Dubuque County), Dan Fox (ECIA))
• Accelerating sustainable transportation planning through the use of smart data (Project
partner: Chandra Ravada (ECIA), Cori Burbach (City))
• Determination of community real housing need with special attention to Washington
Neighborhood (Project partners: Alvin Nash (City), Shannon Gaherty (GDDC), Angela
Petsche (WNDC))
• Successful neighborhood school strategies (Project partner: Stan Rheingans, DCSD)
• Redevelopment of South Port area (Project partners Laura Carstens and Phil Wagner
(City)) A public input session was held on Oct 25, where property owners in the Port as
well as general community members shared visions and concerns about the future of the
Port.
The University has received funding to expand the IISC to include colleges and programs
beyond the Masters in Urban Planning program. City and Community Foundation staff have
suggested potential additional partners and projects and will facilitate conversations between UI
staff and local partners in the coming months. The students provided their fall semester final
reports to their peers and local partners on November 30. The reports will be reviewed in order
to adjust work plans as needed for the spring semester.
Two additional projects have been added to the IISC- Dubuque partnership to build upon the
expansion beyond the Urban Planning program. They are as follows:
1. Catfish Creek Watershed Management Authority Stream Monitoring (Project
Partner: Dean Mattoon, City)
Description: The purpose of this project will be to install a stream monitoring station
along the Catfish Creek. Dean will be working with a Geoscience Field Study class from
UI. The students will take two trips to Dubuque, when they will install a water quality
monitoring station. The station is meant to engage the public, as citizens will be able to
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text the stream quality readings to a data collection system that will record the data.
Dean will then work with the UI students as well as students from the University of
Dubuque science program to analyze the water quality data.
2. Cultural Vibrancy Indicators (Project Partner: Jordan DeGree, Matter)
While last year's Sustainable Dubuque Indicators project identifies indicators for all of our
sustainability principles, we have recognized a gap in the quality of indicators that
measure the cultural vibrancy of a community. Based on research of best practices, this
seems to be a gap that exists nationally. Jordan will be working with UI Masters in Fine
Arts and Urban Planning students to develop a set of cultural vibrancy indicators as well
as associated best practices. Because it is anticipated that much of the data for these
indicators is not readily available through a traditional source such as the US Census or
existing City databases, the project leaders will reach out to local college professors to
assist in "boots on the ground" data collection such as focus groups, walking surveys of
neighborhoods, etc.
Students are more than half way complete with the first five projects. They have provided an
updated to project partners at the beginning of the spring semester and continue to complete
research and hold public meetings. The additional projects are ramping in the first and second
quarter of 2013.
Sustainable Dubuque Performance Metrics:
The final report to the Council, including 60 performance indicators, was presented to Council at
the May 8 work session. Staff and the Sustainable Dubuque Collaboration will now review the
report and determine an action plan to 1) share the information with the public and partners in a
digestible way and 2) begin to set targets and take actions based on the results of the report.
Cori Burbach and UI student Medora Keally presented the Sustainable Dubuque Indicators
project on a Sustainable City Network, Inc. webinar in July. Almost 1,200 individuals registered
for the webinar, doubling the attendance of any of SCN's previous webinar. Following the
webinar, Cori and Medora have received over 50 requests from other communities to provide
follow -up on this nationally- recognized project.
A working group of the Sustainable Dubuque Collaboration is in the process of reviewing the 60
indicators to determine the most effective way to communicate results with the public as they
begin to plan for an annual update to the report, which would take place in spring 2013. Based
on best practices from other communities, the Collaboration is exploring a set of 10 -15
indicators that best represent the community -wide sustainability picture. All 60 indicators would
still be tracked, but some of those are of higher priority to specific organizations or initiatives
and would support the 10 -15 primary indicators. The group plans to work with local technical
experts to release an annual community executive summary and full report in May -June 2013.
City staff are also in the process of reviewing the STAR Community Index, a set of national
indicators that has been in the development stage since 2007, to determine if it would be wise
to participate in this system in order to benchmark ourselves against other communities.
Municipal Climate Action Plan: In July 2010, the Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventory was
presented to City Council. A baseline for all municipal operations was established for 2003 and
2007 as part of the ICLEI Five Milestone Process. The Milestone Process is as follows:
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1. Conduct baseline emissions inventories and forecasts.
2. Adopt an emissions reduction target.
3. Develop a local climate action plan.
4. Implement policies and measures.
5. Monitor and verify results.
A second Council work session was held in November 2010 to present to Council potential
emission reduction targets. Council was presented initial information on what 65% emission
reduction targets by 2015, 85% reductions by 2030, and 95% target reductions by 2050 might
look like; additional analysis will be done by staff to determine what actions will be needed to
meet those targets. $5,000 has been proposed in the FY 2012 budget to allow City staff to
complete a 2010 update of municipal emissions and work with the City Green Team to identify
opportunities for emission reduction. Staff will continue to work with ICLEI staff and other
experts to analyze the implications of various targets in 2011 and seek additional input from
Council before recommending a Climate Reduction targets and an Action Plan.
A 2011 update to the 2003 and 2007 baseline will be completed at the same time the
Community Climate Action Planning process is completed, and will be completed by the fall of
2012. Staff is currently working with Green Dubuque and other partners in the data collection
phase of the Municipal Operations Inventory. Analysis of available data will begin in late
September early October. Data from Black Hills Energy and Alliant Energy has been received
for municipal accounts.
Green Team — (Management Agenda): The Green Team comprised of close to 30
representatives from a cross section of City departments met for the first time in August 2010
and meets regularly. The (draft) Mission Statement developed by the team is:
"The mission of the City of Dubuque Green Team is to lead in educating, communicating and
implementing practices and technologies to achieve the Sustainable Dubuque vision, to work in
each of the 11 areas of sustainability identified in that vision, to promote these practices among
staff and departments; and to serve as an example for other organizations, groups, businesses
and the broader community."
Subcommittees are being formed to work across departments especially in the areas of
education, environmentally preferred purchasing, building energy management, and developing
a survey to obtain baseline information from departments and input into a departmental action
plan template. This baseline information will be used to track measureable outcomes in the 11
sustainability principles.
In May a sustainability educational knowledge survey was distributed to all city staff. The
purpose of the survey was to gauge city employee knowledge on sustainability issues. A total of
26 departments or divisions participated in the survey with a total of 337 employees completing
the survey. This information will be used to drive individual education needs on sustainability for
employees. Directions coming from initial analysis indicate that understanding and awareness
of sustainability vary from department to department and person to person. Educational needs
that surfaced are around recycling and signage needed to help remind people to do what they
WANT to do (turn off lights, etc.). A few employees feel they need education on the basics of
sustainability, what the 11 principles mean, and how they relate to their work situation.
Educational flyers, posters and prompts are in production. Signage and messaging regarding
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deskside recycling and using natural light instead of electricity at optimal times of day have
been implemented.
The Police Department has donated a bicycle to City Hall. City Hall, Annex, and Multicultural
Family Center staff can check out the bike to travel to appointments.
Green Team members also supported a Girl Scout troop from Carver Elementary School that
was participating in the Nike Reuse -A -Shoe Campaign. City staff donated used tennis shoes to
help the troop meet their goal of collection 1,000 pairs of shoes which will be ground and turned
into athletic field and playground turf.
The Sustainable Purchasing Policy, Employee Education, and Buildings & Energy Management
subcommittees met to identify priorities for 2012. The Education subcommittee has developed
a plan to provide all employees with regular sustainability information via Spirit Times and other
media.
The Green Team conducted a waste and recycling assessment for those buildings that had the
highest concentrations of City employees. Of the buildings assessed, 11% of the materials
considered "trash" could have been recycled in yellow bins. Cross - contamination of recyclables
with non - recyclables was extremely small and non - hazardous. The Library had the best
diversion rate of 78.5% of materials being recycled. The overall results exceeded expectations,
with a recycling rate of 48 %. Larger items which are often diverted by departments for
beneficial use (e.g. recycling carpet) were not included in this analysis. The Green Team will
now work on tips based on these results to improve smart Resource Management.
Staff in the Municipal Services Center and City Hall have begun working towards Petal Project
certification. Each building will have its own committee to work towards the criteria and track
progress. The two buildings going through the process together will allow for team learning and
be an example for other city facilities. Staff at the Carnegie -Stout Public Library have also
begun working towards Petal certification.
Monthly Spirit Times tips continue to be written by Green Team members and distributed to all
employees.
Employees are given the option to receive paperless checks and Spirit Times newsletters. It is
estimated that this reduction in paper and printing costs will save the City approximately $2,500
per year. Paperless check and Spirit Times newsletters have been implemented for those
employees choosing to opt in. Just over 350 employees chose to participate, creating an
annual printing and paper savings of approximately $1,000.
In January, Green Team members implemented a rechargeable battery recycling program in
several City facilities. Employees are able to drop off rechargeable batteries at several stations,
and Green Team members arrange for shipment to a third -party company for recycling.
Several of these stations are also available for public use.
Smarter Sustainable Dubuque Partnership wl IBM:
Smarter Water:
The City of Dubuque has completed its community -wide water meter replacement and
unmeasured -flow reducer (UFR) installation project at an estimated $1,352,415 or 15.6 percent
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below the projected budgeted amount.
The Dubuque City Council accepted completion of the project at their June 4, 2012, meeting
and authorized payment of the final contract amount of $7,324,285 to the project contractor,
Northern Water Works Supply. The original total projected project cost estimate was
$8,676,700. Including the unanticipated $1 million forgivable loan the City received for the
project through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the project was $2,352,415 or
27.1 percent under expected City funded costs. Additional funding was provided by a State
Revolving Fund (SRF) loan.
In conjunction with the water meter replacement project, the City successfully completed a 12-
month Smarter Water Pilot Study through which more than 300 Dubuque households had
access to a portal /website developed by IBM Research which provided detailed, customer
specific information on their water usage. Among participants in the study, water utilization was
reduced by 6.6 percent and leak detection and response increased eight -fold. The Smarter
Water Portal is now available to Dubuque residents and many small businesses to help them
make more informed decisions about how they use water and track the associated costs. The
portal provides a customer - specific, integrated view of water usage with data displayed in
gallons, cost, or by carbon footprint. The portal also provides leak detection and notification,
historical usage data, and comparative data.
Expansion is underway to add 4,000 units (3,000 households /1,000 businesses or multi -unit
facilities). The 4,000 expansion slots will be prioritized as follows: 300 to existing volunteer
households; 1,000 to small businesses and landlords to participate; and 2,000 to use with
households targeted for recruitment due to R450 leak data. The remainder will be available on
a first -come first - served basis.
This new system is an example of the City's ongoing sustainability initiative and allows water
customers to identify waste and consider corrective measures which will translate into "Smarter"
water use and increased energy savings. More efficient water use will also reduce the use of
both energy and chemicals in the treating and delivering water.
• Leak Detection Feature A leak detection feature was provided as part of Neptune's
software package. This feature provides information on individual account consumption
use. The following information provides the number of users with potential leaks.
Type Usage Number of Accounts
Continuous 1,818
Intermittent 2,873
Total Potential Leaks 4,691
Approximately 18% of our system users could potentially have leaks. According to national
research, an estimated 30% of households have water leaks. As you can see, we are below
the national average.
• Grant Leak Program As part of this project, a Grant Leak Program was created as an
incentive to our users who qualify, to repair their leaks. To date, there have been 645 users
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who have applied and 576 have been reimbursed. A total of $26,464.92 in refunds have
been paid to date.
• Water Loss:
FY2011
FY2012
Water Loss Reduction:
29.02%
21.83%
7.19%
The reduction in water loss can be attributed to:
• the new meters being more accurate
• repairs done on the distribution system due to a leak survey being performed
• the new meters detecting minor leaks causing users to have repairs performed
• users becoming more aware of their water use and choosing to use less water
• Water Plant Pumpage The average annual production of water in Dubuque for FY12 was
2.6 billion gallons. The city has experienced a downward trend in pumpage at the water
treatment plant. The annual reduction in pumpage is as follows:
• FY10 2.80 million gallons
• FY11 2.79 million gallons
• FY12 2.64 million gallons
Smarter Electricity
• The Smarter Electricity pilot was concluded in the first quarter 2012 and the final research
report has been provided. The system is still active, and volunteers are able to continue
to use their Smarter Electricity portal through July of 2013.
• Results include an average monthly reduction in energy utilization from 4% to 11%. IBM
and Alliant researchers are jointly analyzing these early results.
• City and IBM are pursuing the DOE (Department of Energy) Data Access Grant, which
appears to be a particularly good candidate for extending and expanding Smarter
Electricity. Since the grant calls for expansion in the number of households under study,
and Alliant Energy is not interested in expanding the number in Dubuque, we have
proposed partnering with the communities of Algona and Cedar Falls in the grant (as
their municipal electric systems have or will be installing smart meters). Dubuque has
been informed that its application is one of less than 10 approved and the City has been
invited to negotiate a grant agreement with the DOE up to $500,000. The City is making
arrangements needed to support the grant, as well as working with the Iowa Association
of Municipal Utilities and IBM on potential grant preparations. The grant work is
expected to begin in late summer of 2012.
City staff and Dubuque partners held a kickoff meeting with Algona and Cedar Falls staff
to begin discussing technical and community engagement issues related to the
expansion of the Smarter Electricity program. Pending final DOE approval, recruitment
in those two communities will begin in September 2012 with engagement of pilot
households in all three communities beginning November - December 2012.
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At the beginning of November, Dubuque was notified that Algona has experienced
significant delays in their implementation schedule, and that their new smart meters
would not be operational until the third quarter of 2012. Because Algona's commitment
to the Smarter Electricity project was the recruitment of 500 homes, because we do not
have the option to expand to additional homes in Dubuque, and because no grant funds
have been spent to date, staff recommendation is to decline the grant while continuing to
seek opportunities to expand the Smarter Sustainable Dubuque initiative in the future.
Smarter Travel (Management Agenda)
• Update on Equipment & Technology (devices & data receivers): Between June 2011 and
November 2012 Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers were used on the 12 new
Medium Duty buses. Of the 500 RFID tags distributed by July 2011, an average of 292
per month were in regular use for the duration of the project. The RFID tags acted like a
proximity card and allowed for the anonymous tracking of the user's boarding and de-
boarding pattern along the different bus routes. The data from the RFID readers went to
IBM for processing and number crunching. As of November 30, 2012 over 86,422
passengers used their RFID tag to ride The Jule's fixed route buses. The RFID portion of
the Smarter Travel project was completed effective December 10, 2012
• Led by ECIA and GDDC, an aggressive smartphone recruitment campaign was launched
in late 2011 /early 2012, with a goal of 1,000 active smart phones with the new technology
installed, and as of June 30, 2012, over 1,000 successful installations were completed.
The data collected through the smartphone applications will be used along with the RFID
data gathered by IBM towards in the re- design of The Jule's fixed route structure.
• Update on Pilot Households /Dashboard: Originally we had hoped that there would be, like
that available to participants in the Smarter Water and Electricity programs, a dashboard
for Smarter Travel participants so they could see how their choices impact their
environment and their lives. However, Smarter Travel has proven itself to be a "moving
target" in that there are many more challenges in bringing this information into the smart
phone application that was anticipated. Marketing of recruitment of volunteer participation
in the Smarter Travel was targeted towards the altruistic nature of the project volunteers,
reminding them that their participation will help improve transportation for all Dubuquers
(not just those riding public transit). The dashboard -like feature will become available to
participants with the deployment of the CAD /AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) system
which will be installed on the fixed route buses and connected to Mentor Engineering's
MyRide software by mid -July 2013. Once connected, passengers will have the ability to
set up a dashboard experience on their home computers and /or smartphones through a
link with Mentor's My Ride software. This connectivity will help make the fixed route
system more "user- friendly" by allowing waiting passengers to know when they can
expect their bus to arrive to a particular stop. Another benefit of the Smarter Travel
project is Transit will be better able to gather information that can be used to help guide
significant changes in the transit system. What we anticipate seeing, especially with
passengers using the MyRide dashboard, is increased awareness of how much they rely
on the use of their personal vehicle when an alternative form of transportation, e.g. bus,
bicycle or walking, might be used instead. The MyRide portion of The Jule's Intelligent
Transportation System (ITS) deployment should be up and fully functional by July 2013.
• In late 2011 the City received notice that an Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP)
grant was awarded to the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Vehicle Miles
Traveled project (aka Smarter Travel). The ICAAP grant is being used to help pay for the
operating costs of two new pilot routes, the Nightrider and the MidTown Loop /Feeder.
The year -2 (and year -3) grant application will be submitted March 2013 and if awarded,
will help fund another year of both pilot routes and the re- design of the fixed route public
transit system. The Nightrider route began providing service on Friday and Saturday
nights from 6pm until 2:40AM on September 28, 2012, and the MidTown Loop & Feeder
route will start as soon as the grant funding and route design becomes available
(hopefully within this fiscal year). In the first year of the ICAAP grant (Oct. 31, 2012
through Sept. 30, 2013) the grant would fund the two pilot routes, allowing them to
operate in conjunction with the existing routes (Red, Green and Grey Lines, Medical Loop
and Shopping Circulator) and in their current configurations. Data generated with the two
pilot routes, along the existing routes and the Smartphone application and the RFID data,
will be combined and processed by IBM, and then used in year -2 /year -3 of the grant to
help to guide the changes made to the fixed route system in order to improve its overall
function and increase its route service, efficiency and effectiveness. These major
changes will be implemented across the structure of the fixed route system at the end of
year -2 /beginning of year -3.
• Participant's demographic information, when compared to the 2000 and 2010 Census
information, can be inferred based on point of origin (e.g. north end of town) and
destination information (e.g. west end industrial center). The trip purpose(s) can also be
inferred based on point of origin (e.g. residential area) and destination (e.g. a school or
business site). The RFID and Smartphone data provides the number of trips per day and
time of trips, as well as points of origin and destination. In the later part of 2012, IBM has
secured a contract with one of Dubuque's largest cellular companies which gave them
access to the cellular data of over 20,000 cell phones (GPS- location only) here in
Dubuque. This data is being added to that provided by the RFID and Smartphone
projects, providing a data -rich platform that shows travel patterns throughout Dubuque.
All the data gathered from the RFIDs, the smartphone application and the cell towers will
be compared to data gathered from the travel patterns of the buses themselves, which
are tracked using GPS (and through the RFIDs).
• Community Engagement & Education: Volunteers in the RFID portion of the VMT project
were allowed to ride the bus (all routes) for free for the duration of the project. To do this,
the participant would show the RFID (in its holder) to the bus driver, who would then
count it (for the purpose of ridership and monthly statistics) as a "monthly pass ". As of
November 30, 2012 over 86,422 free rides were provided to passengers who were using
RFID tags. The RFID project ended December 10, 2012.
• State of Good Repair Grant: All of the new buses have been purchased and are in use. A
contract for the purchase, installation and deployment of Intelligent Transportation System
(ITS) technology /electronic equipment (e.g. Automatic Vehicle Location or "AVL ", a
Security Camera System, Electronic Fare Collection, etc.) was signed in mid -2012. The
first phase of the ITS project was completed in early December with the installation of
Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs or Mentor -brand "Rangers ") in the mini -bus fleet and the
training of the Bus Operators and Dispatchers on their proper use. The MDTs are
connected to the scheduling software used for mini -bus services, and are all fully
operational. The purchase, installation and deployment of the ITS equipment for fixed
route service will begin in February 2013, and includes: CAD Automatic Vehicle Location
(AVL) system, Automatic Voice Announcement (AVA) system, Automatic Passenger
Counter (APC) system, Electronic Fare Collection equipment, etc. We anticipate that the
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new ITS equipment will be fully operational by July 2013.
• First of A Kind (FORK) Volunteer recruitment for the RFID portion was completed in June
2011 and the recruitment of the Smartphone application completed in June 2012. The
Iowa Department of Transportation (IA DOT) and several federal entities continue to
express interest in the Smartphone applications for possible use in their transportation
planning processes (e.g. road use, vehicle travel patterns, etc.). The City has been
awarded an one year ICAAP grant through the Federal Highway Administration, and will
apply for year -two funding when it becomes available: we anticipate the application for
round two funding to be released shortly after the start of the new year (January 2013).
• ECIA and IBM continue to discuss with IA DOT management the potential expansion of
the Iowa opportunity to include a major IA DOT "cloud" service for transportation data in
Iowa
• The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in collaboration with IBM and The Jule
submitted a report to the Transportation Research Board (TRB) about the Smarter Travel
project. The research paper highlights the use of smartphone applications, anonymous
cell tower (and RFID) data in the re- design of fixed route public transit system routes.
The paper has been accepted by the TRB and was presented by the MPO during the
Board's national meeting in January 2013.
Smarter Materials/Waste Management:
Preliminary work is underway to outline a potential Smarter Sustainable Dubuque research and
demonstration project on the concept of materials and waste management. Paul Schultz and
David Lyons continue to work with an IBM team, which is led by Heather Achilles, to explore a
research protocol involving:
- RFID and other new point of service technologies
- Alternative service models to offer Dubuque households (including every other week
recycling, a specialized subscription service and special support and tracking
programming such as food scrapes and yard debris.
- Testing of alternative incentives /recognition programs with participating households
It is hoped that a draft proposal can be developed by Mid - August and that the concept can be
included on the next SSD quarterly update to the City Council.
Smarter Health & Wellness:
Council approved a JDA with IBM to expand SSD to include a Smarter Health & Wellness silo,
in partnership with the University of Iowa College of Public Health. The objective of the project
is to design, enable and conduct a wellness pilot, in which IBM will provide access to an
aggregate "CityView" Community Engagement Platform (CEP) and make available mobility and
individual engagement /data collection mobile applications for Android smartphones. The City
will recruit 75 -200 community volunteers to download the new app and engage in the pilot.
Through the platform, the volunteers will be able to track their activities and compare them with
their goals and with the results of the aggregate group of volunteers.
Community Climate Action Plan:
The Plan: The GHG Reduction Plan was written to provide a realistic path to achieving 50%
GHG reduction by 2030 in Dubuque. The recommendations discussed in the plan are tailored
to Dubuque's specific needs and capabilities. The costs, benefits, and GHG reductions are
then calculated for each action, which allows us to prioritize recommendations based on GHG
reductions achieved, effort required, and the side benefits each action brings to Dubuque
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(notably, those "side benefits" often far outweigh the GHG impact). Every recommendation in
this plan is designed to benefit Dubuque's health, transportation, and economic prosperity,
reaching well beyond GHG reduction.
The Initiative: In March of 2010, the Dubuque Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction Task
Force was assembled by Green Dubuque in response to the completion of the 2003 and 2007
community greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories. The GHG Reduction Task Force is a
partnership of local environmental nonprofits, faith based organizations, private sector green
business, and individual activists with the designated purpose of recommending a GHG
reduction target and feasible implementation strategy to the Dubuque City Council. Members of
the Task Force include:
• Chad Oberdoester - Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission
• Pat Hayes, President - Dubuque County Conservation Society
• Charles Winterwood M.D. - Chairman, White Pine Group, Sierra Club
• Jason Schatz - President, Green Dubuque Inc.
• Theothoros Giannakouros - Vice President, Green Dubuque Inc.
• Will Hoyer - Green Dubuque Inc.
• Mark Henning - 7th Power Sustainable LLC.
• Sr. Joy Peterson - Sisters of the PBVM
• Paul Schultz - Sustainable Dubuque
The work of the Task Force will be followed up by the GHG Reduction Plan, community
engagement initiative, facilitated by Green Dubuque. The GHG Reduction Plan initiative, which
will launch in late March will include an informational website (dubuqueghgplan.org) where
citizens and business owners can download the plan and demonstrate their support, a series of
interactive speaker events, television advertisements and other media releases, a $1,000
scholarship from the Virgil J. and Norma M. Denlinger Family Foundation for college student
participation, a public input meeting, and an envision style community workshop. The ultimate
goal is to demonstrate and build community support for the recommended GHG reduction
target of 50% by 2030.
In March, Green Dubuque launched its "50% by 2030" greenhouse gas reduction campaign.
"50% by 2030" is a grassroots effort for a community wide greenhouse gas reduction target of
50% by the year 2030 below 2003 levels based on the recommendation of the Dubuque
Community Greenhouse Gas Reduction Task Force. Green Dubuque launched this campaign
with the presentation, "Preventing Climate Disasters: It's Time for Action," by State Senator Rob
Hogg.
As a wrap up to the 50 by 2030 campaign, Green Dubuque hosted the Dubuque Community
GHG Reduction Workshop on Thursday, June 2 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm in the Multicultural Family
Center. Participants at the workshop will be presented with the Draft Dubuque Community
GHG Reduction Plan and then break up into subgroups to give feedback and make additional
recommendations. The Plan will be presented and discussed the Dubuque City Council in a
work session on July 5, 2011. The goal is to work toward establishing community targets within
the frame work of a Dubuque Community GHG Reduction Plan. For more information visit:
www.dubuqueGHGplan.org
Green Dubuque held a City Council work session on July 5 to present the 50% by 2030 plan.
The Council approved the 50 %Reduction Target by 2030 at its August 15, 2011 meeting.
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At their February 6 meeting, City Council approved a partnership with Green Dubuque to
develop a community Climate Action. The new report will provide a format that gives quick
access to information and highlights co- benefits to the other principles of Sustainable Dubuque.
The report will also attempt to learn from existing private sector innovation and leadership while
assessing the motivations /boundaries to implementing and replicating these best practices that
have financially benefited Dubuque businesses while making them more efficient in their
utilization of resources.
Green Dubuque is currently working with the City of Dubuque and other partners to redefine the
operational boundaries of our community to best represent the Dubuque Community, where we
work, live and play and what emissions are associated with these activities.
Green Dubuque, City of Dubuque, and Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, along with
Petal Project support staff, have begun a business outreach initiative and intend to work
through September to collect input about existing programs, opportunities, and barriers to their
implementation of sustainable practices.
Community outreach completed during September and October include a focus group held as
part of the Clarke University Student Orientation (late August), Saturday Farmers Market
outreach (October), a Collective Social Learning Workshop lead by Greg Bruce (October), a
Green Drinks focus group (October), an online business survey and one -on -one business
interviews (September- October).
Sustainable Dubuque Collaboration: In fall 2011, Community Foundation of Greater
Dubuque staff informed the City and other Dubuque 2.0 steering committee members that they
would refocus their community engagement efforts around issues other than sustainability.
Since that time, we have met with Foundation staff, 2.0 steering committee members, and other
key stakeholders to determine a path forward to accomplish community engagement and
education around sustainability. The ultimate goals are that these activities continue, and that
the entire community feels that Sustainable Dubuque is an initiative that was created by, and
continues to be led by, the community.
The Sustainable Dubuque Collaboration (SDC) concept has evolved after discussion with
partners as a way to continue community awareness and education efforts, foster collaboration
from all sectors to meet the Sustainable Dubuque goals, and measure our progress towards our
goals. SDC, modeled after DubuqueWorks, is structured in a way that requires commitments to
action from its core members and invites all Dubuque residents, businesses and organizations
to participate.
All members of the Sustainable Dubuque Core and Advisory Networks will be asked to actively
support the goals of community engagement and education. They will continue to operate their
own programs (e.g. Petal Project, Green Vision Schools) and will collaborate as necessary to
achieve these goals. The group will work to assist each other, identify gaps, avoid duplication,
and attract additional funding and resources. The Core and Advisory Networks will meet in the
coming months to solidify responsibilities, goals, objectives, and a working plan for 2012.
The Core Network has conducted two strategic planning sessions. Overall, the group is
focused on creating an independent, collaborative, community - supported organization with
11
broad demographic participation in order to gain acceptance of the Sustainable Dubuque vision,
increase community education and partnerships around sustainability, and engage citizens and
organizations so that they change individual, collective and institutional behaviors and culture
resulting in successful outcomes. The group continues to work on planning and is focused on
two areas in the near -term future: organizational development and engaging the community in
setting actionable priorities based on the Sustainable Dubuque indicators.
In September, Greg and Candia Bruce facilitated a Sustainable Dubuque visioning workshop to
gather public input about sustainability priorities for the next five years. The goal was to collect
ideas from the group that needed Collaboration and partner guidance in order to achieve as
well as empower residents and businesses to participate in the Sustainable Dubuque initiative
in whatever way they felt the desire to do so. Approximately 40 members of the public attended
the evening meeting and contributed hundreds of ideas. In addition to following up on several
of the suggested themes, the Collaboration is exploring holding similar events with targeted
focus groups in the future.
Additionally, Collaboration members continue to work on the new community Sustainable
Dubuque website with a targeted "go live" date of May 2013. In November, two working groups
of the Collaboration met. The first included a small number of individuals who will lead the
update of the 2013 Sustainable Dubuque Indicators report. These members will reach out to
local technical experts as they collect data for the new report as well as more qualitative stories
about how sustainability impacts Dubuque residents and businesses.
A second working group met to begin developing Sustainable Dubuque Community Grants, an
item budgeted for by the City Council in FY 2013. A community review team will be identified,
who will assist in creating the grant application and reviewing requests for funding. The
Community Grant program was approved by City Council. Grants up to a maximum of $2,500
are available to organizations and groups interested in participating in community education
and engagement around sustainability. A citizen committee will review the grants quarterly,
with the first round due May 1.
Additionally, the Sustainable Community Coordinator met with potential members of the
expanded Collaboration, or "Investors group" to define what in what way they can best be
engaged in the future of Sustainable Dubuque community education, engagement, and
performance measurement.
REGIONAL ECONOMY
Government:
Petal Project: The Petal Project is a regional green business certification program designed to
encourage organizations in the Dubuque area to adopt more environmentally friendly business
practices. Businesses receive Petal Project staff assistance and a simple framework for saving
money and resources. The program also establishes a community -wide definition of a green
business for consumers wishing to shop based on their values.
The Petal Project is divided into five categories. Within each category a business must
complete all of the mandatory and a specified number of option criteria to earn that petal. Once
a business has earned all five petals, it is "Petal Certified ".
There are currently 19 businesses participating in the program. Seven businesses are now
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certified including Finley Hospital (2010), Loras College (2011), DB &T (2012), Premier Bank
(2012), Premier Tooling & Manufacturing (2012), River Lights Bookstore (2012), and Dubuque
Data Services (2012).
Greater Dubuque Development Corporation is hosted an event for the Petal Project to help
spread the word about the successes businesses have seen with the program. Rick Dickinson
(GDDC), Candace Eudaley (ECIA), Doug Horstmann (DB &T), and Jan Scott (Unison Solutions)
presented during the dinner event on March 28th to an audience of over 90 business leaders.
Buyer Supplier Network: Buyer - Supplier is a web based program for businesses that
connects both buyers and sellers in Eastern Iowa to promote and facilitate regional purchasing.
Over $6.5 billion are being spent on goods and services from vendors located outside of
eastern Iowa that could be spent in the region. The goal of Buyer Supplier is to encourage
businesses to purchase from regional providers, shifting dollars back into the regional economy.
Businesses of all types and sizes are encouraged to take part in the program; from small
organic produce farmers, to large corporations. There are currently over 1,400 businesses with
profiles on the system. Program partners include: ECIA, Prosperity Eastern Iowa, Northeast
Iowa Business Network, and Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission
Waste Diversion Options Study: The Resource Management program facilitated the 2009
Waste Diversion Options Study for DMASWA. The scope of work for this study was to identify
options and impacts if the tonnage disposed in the DMASWA landfill were to be reduced by
50% from current tonnage within 5 to 10 years. This study identified economic opportunities in
a developing local materials economy from the estimated market value of the $4M in Iandfilled
materials. This also translated to creating a significant number of Tong -term green jobs.
Workforce Development:
Recruitment and retention: The Training and Workforce Development Coordinator works with
hiring managers to review job descriptions for open positions to the description reflects the
reality of the job expectations and assists in recruiting more broadly for open positions.
Interview processes with the PD and other positions involving high levels of public contact
include a diverse group of community members in the process. An internship program has
been implemented in the police department as a feeder program to full time positions. In terms
of police retention, two police officers trained in intercultural competence have created a
communications course for field training officers and new recruits that we anticipate will assist
with retention by building the necessary communication and intercultural skills.
Applicant Statistics
Race /Ethnicity
2010 Census
2010 Applicants
2011 Applicants
2012
Applicants
White
91%
82.2%
88.2%
91.4%
Black /African-
American
5%
6.8%
7%
5%
Hispanic /Latino
2%
2.5%
2%
1.5%
Asian
1%
1.4%
1.1%
.7%
American Indian
.7%
1.7%
.3%
.4%
New Hire Statistics
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Race /Ethnicity
2010 Census
2010 to date Full
time
2010 to date Part
time
2010 to date
seasonal
White
91%
95%
(63 people)
84%
(46 people)
92%
(121 people)
Black /African-
American
5%
4%
(3 people)
11%
(6 people)
4%
(5 people)
Hispanic /Latino
2%
1%
(1 person)
5%
(3 people)
2%
(2 people)
Asian
1%
0%
0%
2%
(2 people)
American Indian
.7%
0%
0%
0%
Training & Career Development: This year we have reached over 1200 people with
foundational skills in intercultural communication - intercultural communication simply means
developing the ability to communicate more effectively across cultural differences so we can
understand each others' needs and adapt to one another. We offered 10.5 hours of
foundational training for city staff hired in the past year. In addition, we offered two sessions of
a 32 hour intercultural leadership workshop, and we worked with four organizations monthly for
a year to develop intercultural teams within their organizations. Leaders who attended the I LW
or year long team development are part of ICC Ambassador group that meets quarterly -
Institutions represented on the ambassador group in addition to the City are: UD, Loras, Senior
and Hempstead H.S., Goodwill, Hillcrest, Riverview, Hills and Dales, Body and Soul Wellness
Center, CFGD, GDDC, and Progressive Processing.
Impact: The objectives of this work are having a workforce prepared for 21St century jobs and
embracing a diverse population that supports a multicultural workforce. The outcomes will be a
city workforce reflecting the diversity of the community; city services that are available for all
and delivered in an equitable and fair manner; and a community where everyone is welcome.
2011 IDNR/DMASWA LANDFILL WASTE STREAM STUDY: The Dubuque Metropolitan Area
Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA), its support staff from the Public Works Department, the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources, and the expert firm of Foth Infrastructure and Environment
conducted a waste composition analysis of materials brought to the DMASWA Landfill and
eleven other Iowa landfills in June of 2011. The purpose of the study was to identify the various
solid waste streams currently being landfilled in Iowa by type, volume and weight. In turn, when
the Agency receives proposals in the future for diverting and reusing currently - landfilled
materials, it will be able to provide proposers and advisors up -to -date and accurate information
from the noted study regarding Iowa's currently - landfilled waste stream. Current market values
for those materials can then be compared with anticipated recovery and reuse program costs to
help interested developers determine whether their proposed programs are economically
viable. As of March 26, 2013, no proposals have been received by the Agency for the possible
diversion /reclamation and reuse of the materials the Agency is currently landfilling.
Business:
Dubuque Works:
AccessDubuqueJobs.com
• 3 Additional AccessDubuqueJobs.com investors added in 2013 YTD.
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• 266 average new resumes posted per month in 2013, currently exceeding goal of 100
per month.
• Site currently averaging 94,245 visitors per month
• 1,433 facebook likes on AccessDubuqueJobs.com facebook page
• Internships posted on AccessDubuqueJobs.com increased from 36 to 82 FYTD
• 3,027 additional visitors to the internship home page for a total of 6,272 FYTD
Opportunity Dubuque
• 36 Trained in Intro to Modern Manufacturing, one went into employment after class the
other 35 are in CNC or Welding
• Group 1 CNC- Graduated 19 in CNC, currently employed 14, 2 continuing their
education and 3 unable to contact
• Group 2 CNC- 20 graduated 2.14.2013, 15 employed 5 looking for work
• Group 3 CNC- 20 in CNC currently in training
• Group 4 CNC - Orientation held on March 20, 2013 70 attended, 48 completed math and
reading assessment, interviews scheduled for April 11 and 12
• Group 2 Welding- Graduated October 2012, 9 employed, 9 graduated
• Group 3 Welding -15 started welding, 11 graduated March 6, 2013, 8 are employed, 3
looking for work
• Group 4 Welding- Orientation held on March 20, 2013 70 attended, 48 completed math
and reading assessment, interviews scheduled for April 11 and 12, 2013.
Skilled Trades
• 8th Grade Career Exploration Fair held at Roosevelt Middle School and Beckman on
March 25th
• 18 speakers presented on careers in information technology, healthcare, advanced
manufacturing, construction, social services, law enforcement and others. Approximately
450 8th grade students attended the fair and learn about five different careers.
• Partnered with YAPPERS from the Community Foundation to increase the number of
"likes" on the AccessMyFuture.com facebook page. Currently 50 more likes have been
received on the page.
• A new event "Introduce a Girl to Engineering" was held for 7th grade girls from
Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Mazzuchelli, and Drexler at John Deere Dubuque
Works on March 14th. 40 girls attended for the day. The girls spent time in virtual reality
and other team activities.
• Attended a College and Career Fair at Western Dubuque High School on January 22nd
Spoke with sophomores and juniors about careers in high demand.
• 20 students form the Jo Carroll Vocation Center toured John Deere Dubuque Works on
January 23rd. These students are all interested in a career in the skilled trades.
• 12 middle school students attended an after school program at Hempstead High School
to learn more about the industrial technology classes that are offered at the school. They
all participated in four different hands -on activities over the course of four days.
• Industrial Technology teachers from Hempstead and Senior High Schools toured Berry
Plastics and Premier Tool on February 18th, 2013.
Dubuque Sustainability Innovation Consortium (support of GDDC: Top Priority): Formed
in late 2009, the Dubuque Sustainability Innovation Consortium is an informal group comprised
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of manufacturing, technology, service, wholesale and other industry sectors. The consortium is
staff - supported, in part, by Greater Dubuque Development in partnership with the City of
Dubuque. Overseeing the strategic efforts is David Lyons.
The consortium includes 18 private- sector businesses that represent 1,228 employees.
Although the consortium is informal and a work in progress, members of the group have already
identified new leads and secured actual sales due to connections from the group. Additionally,
introductions have been secured with key industry players.
In 2010, the group met on a quarterly basis to discuss ideas and tangible market opportunities.
During some of these meetings, high - profile visitors and industry experts were in attendance.
The simplicity of Dubuque's idea for such a consortium was featured during a formal
presentation in Washington D.C. Then, in December 2010, the concept received the top award
for business retention and expansion efforts from the Midwest Area Economic Development
Council in Chicago.
In 2011, the group decided to focus on easy, low -cost, and immediate ways to save money
through lighting. Some 110+ business professionals attended events to see Crescent Electric's
case studies of area businesses that have changed lighting and saved money. The idea was
for these various professionals to share the information with their customers, especially
small /medium sized businesses in Dubuque.
In 2012, ground- breaking work was completed with the University of Iowa (Alternative Energy
Asset Map). Additionally, the group met to explore programming ideas for the future (including
possible initiatives /promotions to save money and energy related to materials recycling /reuse,
building /maintenance, etc.). Because the City of Dubuque has made the necessary technical
and financial investments, the Alternative Energy Asset Map will be fully - operational and
available to all private citizens and businesses in early 2013.
Although the mission will remain the same (leverage sustainable practices /products to create
new sales opportunities for Dubuque area businesses), new initiatives are planned for the
coming year. Specifically, events are in the works for February/March /April to educate the
private- sector.
On March 28, 2013, approximately 90 business executives attended an event hosted by
Greater Dubuque Development /Innovation Consortium to highlight the award - winning Petal
Project. Administered by ECIA, the Petal Project is a multi - faceted program to coach and
actively assist businesses in efforts to reduce energy consumption and save money.
On April 24th, the Innovation Consortium will host a program /dinner at the Diamond Jo Casino,
highlighting Eagle Point Solar. The event will provide specific ideas and cost - saving estimates
for businesses that may be considering a solar panel array /application on their respective
facilities /offices.
Additional events will be held in mid /late 2013, including a possible program targeted at
companies with fleets to consider a switch to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Non - Profit:
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University Extension Community Development Collaborative (flkla Dubuque Institute for
Sustainable Communities and Economic Development): The Dubuque Institute for
Sustainable Communities and Economic Development is a first of its kind collaboration between
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, University of Wisconsin- Extension and the City
of Dubuque. The institute will focus on issues important to the greater Dubuque regional
economy and successful strategies that can be replicated in other communities across both
states. The institute staff will work with regional universities, colleges and other academic
institutions in both states, as well as extension and colleges within the two universities. Faculty
and staff will look for other regional, national or international institutions to conduct research
within Dubuque and support collaboration with private sector businesses and organizations in
the community.
The Institute's offices have been completed on the second floor of the Roshek Building and are
ready for operations. The Universities have hired the jointly tenured professor to lead the
Institute. She is Professor Deborah Tootle, who was most recently with the University of
Arkansas teaching and working in Community and Economic Development. Her doctorate was
from the University of Georgia and she has spent time working with the United States
Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service and Louisiana State University (as
Program Leader for Community Rural Development). She has specialized in several areas that
will be of interest in her work at the Institute, including Community Stakeholder Engagement
and Community Disaster Recovery.
The Universities have also narrowed the candidates down to three for final interviews for the
next position at the Institute (Economic Development Specialist). They hope to hold the final
interviews in Dubuque the second week of January.
Tim Borich (lead from ISU) reports that they feel the Institute will be fully operational by
February 1st, and would hope to hold the first Community Advisory Group meeting (local
leaders that will advise and help direct the efforts of the Institute) in early February.
The Collaborative hosted a community advisory meeting on April 5 to introduce local leaders to
new staff Deborah Tootle and Brian Perry.
Project HOPE:
• History
o In 2008, the City identified the need to address economic security of under -
resourced community members. To address this issue, the City of Dubuque
partnered with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque to activate Project
HOPE (Help Our People Excel).
o Project HOPE is an economic development initiative designed to convene
community organizations and stakeholders around issues that relate to
disengaged people (those in poverty, unemployed and disengaged youth),
researching and developing best practices to share among local providers and
ensuring action steps are being taken to address identified strategies for
improvement and hosting meetings to encourage communication, data sharing,
and improved outcomes.
• Project HOPE Objectives for 2012 -13
17
o Project HOPE works to improve inter - agency collaboration and reduce
policy /program barriers to service- or simply, makes systems easier to access and
navigate- in order to connect disengaged youth and adults to education and
employment opportunities.
• Program /activity goals are;
o Objective 1: Improve coordination among providers — implement a collective
impact model- common agenda, shared measurement, mutually reinforcing
activities, continuous coordination, and a support organization to better
understand the needs of disengaged community members and coordinate system
improvements to serve them. Action: convene a stakeholders group which will
meet regularly to share best practices, ideas for improvement and to coordinate
resources.
• The Community Foundation continues to convene a core committee on a
monthly basis to move the work of the Project HOPE programs forward.
• The CFGD produces a quarterly e- newsletter, that is shared with partners,
providers and citizens, that highlights Project HOPE programs. The most
recent issue was sent out on March 14.
o Objective 2: Connect unemployed people to education /skills training — coordinate
clear paths to education /skills training that connect to employment and education
achievement. Action: support the development of a re- engagement center to
reconnect people to education opportunities.
• Connecting People to Education /Training In Aug 2012 Project HOPE
announced the opening of Dubuque's Re- engagement Center. The Center
is funded by a partnership between the Dubuque Community Schools and
NICC. The re- engagement center is a physical, staffed location and
program that connects high school drop -outs back into education and
training opportunities. Tom Kershner was hired as the Re- engagement
Center Specialist and is at work today, connecting young people to
Education and Training opportunities that lead to employment and self -
sufficiency. Since the launch on August 6, 2012, there have been:
• Total contacted: 75; Total Reengaged: 60
o 15 working toward Diploma: 2 completed
o 45 working toward GED: 13 completed
• To show the progress since last month (above statistics), there are
now 88 contacted and 68 are re- engaged.
o 18 are working toward a Diploma: 4 completed
o 50 are working toward GED: 14 completed
• Post -GED (that is known): 1 enrolled in NICC; 5 plan to enroll in the
Fall 2013; 1 is employed
• Post - Diploma (that is known): 1 enrolled in NICC's CNA program; 1
plans to enroll at NICC in the Fall 2013
• The Reengagement Center partners are also actively participating in
a Community of Practice to share and learn best practices from
programs across the country.
• A luncheon was held on March 22 for various municipal, community
and business leaders to give an update on the progress to date.
18
o Objective 3: Improve the pipeline to employment —match available jobs to
education and skill levels of the workforce to improve success rate of placement.
Action: development of scholarships and certificate training opportunities for
underserved individuals including possible development of an employment
support specialist position to support people transitioning into working lifestyles.
• Improve pipeline to employment:
Opportunity Dubuque is an initiative that meets the needs of local
employers and unemployed /underemployed workers through an innovative
collaboration of local partners and employers who developed a clear
pathway to employment. The second round resulted in 17 completing the
Intro to Advanced Manufacturing; 12 graduating from the Welding course;
and 20 currently enrolled in the CNC certificate training. Most recently a
third round began with an orientation event in October.
• 125 registered for and 83 attended the Orientation
• 53 took assessment tests and submitted applications
• 51 were interviewed (2 no- shows) with those not accepted into the
program referred into appropriate remedial or for - credit programs
• 40 were accepted into the program
o Intro to Modern Manufacturing — now a prerequisite
• 2 classes of 20 each, beginning November 19 and 26
o 16 will go into Welding certificate class (January)
o 20 will go into CNC certificate class (January)
o 4 will acquire the Basic Intro certificate
• Graduation for round two was held on February 15 with 21
graduates, one of which was a Circle Leader from the Circles
Initiative.
• The Orientation for Group Four was held on March 20th.
o This was attended by about 70 individuals
o Assessments were conducted the last week in March.
o Interviews will be conducted in early April.
• Opportunity Dubuque was nominated and selected as a 365 Impact
Award recipient for making a positive impact in the area of Economic
Development. The awards ceremony was held on February 26.
• The table below shows the PRELIMINARY data for Opportunity Dubuque. Please note
that only Group One (column highlighted in yellow) has completed all their courses.
Groups two and three are still in progress and final data won't be available until later.
Note also that Welding and Intro to Manufacturing were only introduced in the second
round.
Data Tracking and Outcomes for Opportunity Dubuque
Update: 2-22-2012 RS
Complete
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Totals
Orientation
1- Jan -12
30- May -12
24- Oct -12
Total
Number Attended
50
65
81
196
Number Completed Math Assessment
37
36
53
126
Number Interviewed
31
36
55
122
19
Referred to DUC for Basic Services
6
8
12
26
Program Acceptance
0
Number Just Intro to Manufacturing
na
4
0
4
Number Placed in Welding
na
10
17
27
Number Placed in CNC
20
22
20
62
Total
20
36
37
93
Graduates
Welding
0
9
9
Intro to Manufacturing Only
0
4
0
4
CNC
19
21
0
40
Completed Program
19
34
53
Drop out
1
2
4
7
% Graduated
95%
94%
CNC Employed
CNC
CNC
CNC
CNC
Employed within 6 Months of graduation
15
Entered Credit Program
1
Unemployed
6
Unable to Verify
3
9
% Employed
79%
31%
Overall Totals
Employed
15
15
Entered Credit Program
1
1
Unemployed
7
Other Education
1
Unable to Verify
3
10
% Employed
79%
44%
o Objective 4: Support needs of working families — improve access to child care
opportunities within the community to ensure this is not a road block to
employment. Action; develop a childcare service mapping project and website for
working families to connect to child care.
• Childcare Resources- To improve access to childcare within the
community, Project HOPE partnered with Resources Unite to develop a
child care service mapping project and website that helps working families
and employers connect to child care. Results include: the launch of the
site in May 2012 that features a searchable directory of child care providers
and information to support working parents. Currently, CFGD staff is
connecting with local providers in November and December to ensure
updated information is posted through the Resources Unite website.
20
o Objective 5: Help families build financial assets—Help families Earn it, Keep it,
Grow it by connecting them to Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), BankOn, and
other financial supportAiteracy programs.
• Earned Income Tax Credit- Project HOPE supported the Earned Income
Tax Credit program facilitated by Operation New View. The project helped
low- income people in Dubuque receive $223,961 in federal income tax
refunds.
• The local task force has been meeting monthly, and is currently
preparing to start the annual outreach to the community about this
program and to recruit volunteers to staff the VITA sites this coming
tax season.
• Bank On- The program offers low- and moderate - income residents free or
low -cost checking accounts and access to financial education. Access to a
bank or credit union account can help residents avoid costly alternative
financial services (check cashers, payday lenders, pawn shops and rent -to-
own stores) and enable families to build and protect their assets. For
calendar year 2012, Bank On has:
• established new accounts for families bringing the total of active
accounts to 51
• 22 individuals completed financial literacy classes
• hosted 2 Lunch 'n' Learns about the program for local non - profits
serving the low- and moderate - income population
On February 13, 2013 the Bank On committee met with Kevin Shields from
FDIC. Many ideas surfaced for broadening our outreach to youth and other
segments of the community that the committee will take forward.
• Opportunity Passport: provides matched Individual Development
Accounts and financial literacy training to youth aging out of foster care,
through a partnership with Dupaco Community Credit Union and Four
Oaks. Since the program began in 2008, it has served nearly 40 youth, with
classes usually held twice a year. The goals for OP participants are to:
become financially literate; gain experience with the banking system;
amass assets for education, housing and other approved assets; and gain
streamlined entry to educational, training and vocational opportunities.
Since January 2012:
• 8 new youth have successfully completed the financial literacy
training and enrolled in the program
• Two reunions were held for all participants to refresh financial
concepts and skills
• Nearly $3,000.00 in matches have been made for the following
approved assets:
o 2 vehicles
o 2 laptops
o 2 tests needed for college entrance
21
o Deposit for an apartment
• Since its beginning On 2008) the program has served a total of 39
youth and has made 22 matches for a total of $13,022.89, meaning
the youth have saved that much in order to make the match.
• There are currently 21 youth on the waiting list for the next round of
financial literacy classes to be held in April. The Opportunity Passport
team is enlisting the help of the YAPPERS, youth philanthropists, to solicit
Door Openers (discounts for products and services) for the program's
participants. This is one way that we are engaging youth to help their
peers.
o Objective 6: Support the Circles Initiative — support strong data collection and
connections to community resources for Getting Ahead /Circles program and
participants.
• We are building the capacity of the Guiding Coalition, strengthening its
committees, especially the Recruitment and Resources Committees.
• The Project HOPE Core Committee will be spending significant time in
2013 focusing on this program and will be instrumental in helping create
strategic connections with the Dubuque community.
• The Resource Committee is providing oversight in developing strong data
collection
• Overall connections to the broader community and its services and
providers are being made:
• The Recruitment Committee has increased its efforts to reach out to
the community in actively engaging volunteers in the Circles
programs and activities
• One Circle Leader was among the graduates of the latest
Opportunity Dubuque CNC class. Others are showing some interest,
and this may increase as Opportunity Dubuque expands to include
other business sectors, such as the health care field.
• The Circles Initiative had a booth at the CFGD's Block Party on
February ft and was voted one of the favorite booths by attendees
that night. In addition to the $2,000 prize, this garnered a lot of good
publicity and connections with the community.
Schools:
NICC Green Jobs Program: The Northeast Iowa Community College Green Jobs program is
funded through an ARRA grant administered in partnership by ECIA and NICC. The program is
providing unemployed and incumbent workers with skills training in energy auditing,
deconstruction, wind turbine maintenance, and green residential and commercial construction.
New courses recently added are: Solar PV, Worm Composting and Biodiesel. The Wind
Turbine Repair Technician Program has purchased a Wind Turbine Climb Tower and students
will all be trained by December 2011.
Total students to train: 392
Training Programs /Industry Enrollment:
• Green Industry Sector: Energy Efficient Building , Construction
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o Sustainable Deconstruction, COSC, HEARTYouthbuild, HVAC NCI
• Green Industry Sector: Energy Efficient Assessment, Professional, Scientific, and
Technical Services
o RESNET HERS, BPI Building Analyst, Envelope — Shell, Heating, AC, Heat Pump
• Green Industry Sector: Renewable Electric Power, Utilities
o Wind Turbine Repair Technician
o Solar, Wind, Hydro, Geothermal
o Intro to Wind Technology
o Solar Thermal Installation
o Intro to Solar Thermal
Sustainability of Programs: NICC will continue to offer Green Industry training courses after the
grant period is up, specifically in the solar and wind alternative energy fields. A couple courses
are being submitted for credit approval so students have transferrable credits upon completion
of the course.
NICC is also exploring state approval for wind and solar courses for both plumbing and
electrical update classes that can be applied to licensing. HVAC NCI curriculum is also being
incorporated into the HVAC program at NICC. As the "green" industries continue to grow so will
the programs at NICC, Geothermal and Solar PV will also be offered in the future.
The ARRA- funded Green Jobs training program has been completed. NICC continues to
partner with businesses and other in Dubuque to identify upcoming workforce training needs
and develop programs to meet those needs.
People & Neighborhoods:
SMART ENERGY USE
Government:
EECBG: The City of Dubuque was the recipient of $574,700 in ARRA funding through the
Energy Efficiency Conservation & Block Grant program. The following funds have been spent
or obligated to date:
$75,000.00 Sustainability Coordinator Salary. Grant administration and community
engagement.
$100,000.00 First of a Kind (FOAK) agreement with IBM Watson Research Center to
fund part of the Smarter Travel pilot in the Smarter Sustainable Dubuque project.
$50,347.00 Residential certified energy audits and energy efficient retrofits. To date,
this program has funded 54 certified energy audits and assisted 123 Dubuque
residents in installing high - efficiency furnaces, insulation, new windows, and
completing basic retrofits including caulking around windows, weather - stripping, etc.
The program has been closed.
$100,214.00 Replacement of City Hall HVAC system. Tricon Construction has been
selected as the general contractor for the HVAC system upgrade. The project is
complete. Water savings of 90 +% have been documented.
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$200,000.00 Commercial /Non - profit Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund
(Management Agenda) The first RLF was issued to Miracle Car Wash in November to
finance a lighting retrofit project. In an effort to comply with DOE regulations and
spend the funds by September 20, which is the end of grant period, the maximum loan
has been increased from $10,000 to $50,000 and the loan has been made 20%
forgivable. Targeted outreach is being completed in hopes of spending the funds in the
required time frame. Two additional loans were processed in August, one for Gronen
Restoration and one for the Dubuque Food Co -op, each for $50,000. Any funds
remaining in this category at the end of August will be transferred to pre- approved
projects in City Hall (HVAC system) and Five Flags Center (updated lighting). Because
of delay in anticipated opening date, the Dubuque Food Co -op has decided not to use
these funds. Two commercial loan applications were received in November. Pending
certification of energy savings, these loans will be issued in December. Two loans
were approved in December: a loan for approximately $6,000 to Courtside to replace
lighting fixtures and a second for $50,000 to Cartegraph for the installation of a solar
array on their facility. Cartegraph's solar project is a qualifying project because they
meet DOE qualifications that say that all feasible energy efficiency improvements have
already been completed in the facility.
$5,600.00 Weatherization & outreach supplies purchased primarily for Green Iowa
Americorps members.
Additional funds remain in the categories of community education and commercial building
retrofits. In order to address to ongoing ARRA reporting requirements, the DOE has required
the City to file a six -month extension request, making the new closing date for this grant March
2013. With this new opportunity, the City continues to work with ECIA to attempt to disperse
funds through the RLF and use any remaining dollars for City facility updates with quick ROls.
City Facilities Lighting Retrofits: Building Services staff have conducted a lighting audit of
City Hall and are now in the process of removing lamps and retrofitting fixtures to more
appropriately meet the lighting demands of the employees and customers that use the building.
To date, 66 fixtures have been re- ballasted, 102 lamps removed and 147 lamps replaced by
smaller wattage lamps in the efforts to reduce electrical usage. This project is on- going, and
energy use trends are being tracked in EPA Portfolio Manager. The project has been
completed. A final report on electrical savings will be presented shortly.
Approximately 20 City facilities, including City Hall, City Hall Annex, the Municipal Services
Center, Historic Federal Building, fire stations, and several parks and recreation facilities will
have lighting audits completed by Crescent Electric. Crescent will make energy- saving
recommendations that will be included in existing operating budgets and future CIP requests.
Parking Ramp Lighting Project: The 5th Street, Iowa Street and Locust Street Parking
Ramps have recently been updated with new fluorescent lighting. In addition, the recently
constructed Central Avenue Ramp has the same lighting system. The system has been
provided by a firm from Holland, MI, TwistHDM. The system is fully programmable, providing
the maximum in daylight harvesting, occupancy sensing and provides a safety factor in that e-
mails are sent to maintenance staff any time a light is burned out or not functioning for any
reason. Each fixture has its own IP address allowing for state of the industry programming to
reduce energy usage. In the first months of operation, this system has led to a 68% reduction
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in lighting costs, or 35% reduction in total electricity consumption in the ramp.
Public Works Department:
• Hybrid- Powered Vehicle: One of the very first DMASWA Smart Energy Use initiatives
was its purchase of a hybrid - powered vehicle in the summer of 2005. This purchase was
made not only to reduce the amount of fuel used by Agency - employed staff and reduce
the DMASWA's vehicle - related carbon footprint, but also as an education tool by the
Agency's Education and Communication Coordinator. Now seven and a half years old
and with over 87,000 miles on its odometer, the vehicle has performed faultlessly and
has averaged 28 miles per gallon in the city. The DMASWA intends to retain it until
calendar 2015, when it should have well over 110,000 miles on its odometer.
• CNG- Powered Vehicle: Just as the DMASWA was the first local governmental entity to
purchase and use a hybrid - powered vehicle, it was also the first local governmental
entity to purchase and use a vehicle using compressed natural gas (CNG) as its primary
fuel. This Smart Energy Use initiative not only further reduces the Agency's vehicle -
related carbon footprint, but is also an indicator of the Agency's commitment to using
domestically - produced /sourced fuels in all of its equipment in future years.
• Landfill Methane Reuse: A third DMASWA Smart Energy Use initiative is its commitment
to beneficially reuse the methane it collects and flares from its closed landfill cells. To
that end, it retained the services of an expert and highly- regarded environmental
engineering firm in September of 2011 to evaluate proposals from local industries and
utilities. After intense negotiations with a local employer and electrical power provider
through the end of 2011, a final agreement could not be reached after the power provider
withdrew from the tentative partnership. The DMASWA's engineering firm was then
authorized by the DMASWA's Board of Directors to begin negotiations with the other
electrical power provider in Dubuque county. At this time those negotiations for a
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility at the DMASWA Landfill are nearing
completion. At the present time, plans call for an Agency owned and operated "green
electricity" generating facility that would sell electricity to the power provider and use the
heat emanating from the Agency's generators to heat its three buildings. The DMASWA
Board of Directors now anticipates making a decision regarding this tentative project in
the first half of calendar 2013.
Biomass Energy Development: The Resource Management program has been an internal
partner in researching sustainable new energy sources from discarded materials processed or
which could be processed at the WWTP and the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste
Agency landfill. The methane produced at both facilities could be developed as a renewable
energy source and net revenue producer with Combined Heat and Power (CHP) applications.
Recovered clean untreated wood is also a local energy fuel option.
Library Kill -A -Watt Meter Checkout Program: In partnership with ISU Extension and the
City's Office of Sustainability, Kill -A -Watt Meters are available for resident check out. These
meters allow residents to measure the energy demand of appliances in their homes, and is
particularly helpful in identifying "phantom energy loads" that occur when appliances and
chargers are plugged in but not in use.
Leisure Services Department:
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• LED lights installed as a part of North End Neighborhood trail lighting project.
• Signed up with Crescent Electric for lighting study to review all facilities throughout
Leisure Services Department.
• Received an Alliant Energy sponsored energy audit for Grand River Center.
• Ongoing participation in the Alliant Energy Interrupt Program during peak energy usage
times
• Received an Alliant Energy Level II Energy Audit for Five Flags and used it in the budget
request process.
• Working with the Building Services Department on Smart Metering project for Grand
River Center.
Business:
Non - Profit:
Driftless Area Initiative Midwest Biomass Conference: The Third Annual Midwest Biomass
Conference was held at the Grand River Center November 2nd and 3rd in partnership with the
US Department of Energy, John Deere, Jo- Carroll Energy and others. Three keynotes and
twenty four breakout sessions were held in three tracks: Economics /Utilization,
Production /Processing and Technology /Case Studies. The topics covered a full spectrum from
combined heat and power, pollution prevention technologies, district energy systems, cooling
technologies, energy crops and feedstock supply chains.
Schools:
People & Neighborhoods:
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Government:
Public Works Department: The Green Vision Building Materials Management and Waste
Minimization Program is a high priority of the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste
Agency. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has designated construction and
demolition materials (C &D) as targeted materials for diverting from Iowa landfills, noting that
they accounted for 13.5% of all materials landfilled in Iowa in calendar 2011. Building and
demolition professionals can play an important role in assisting the Agency and IDNR in
meeting their goals of diverting reusable and recyclable materials from land filling. Rethinking,
reducing, reusing and recycling - the "Four R's" - focus on resource efficiency. Typically, these
practices can save money and control costs by decreasing the amount of new materials needed
for building and reducing waste disposal costs. Equally important, the program helps reduce
the amount of materials being buried at the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency
(DMASWA) Landfill.
Retail Plastic Bag Reduction Strategy: The City Council approved a strategy to reduce the
use of plastic bags in retail stores 90% by 2017. The approved plan begins by targeting retailers
over 40,000 square feet and focuses on tracking reduction and recycling of checkout plastic
bags, incentives and education, not enforcement or a "ban." Staff will be working with retailers
and other partners to implement the plan, including creating reporting system and time table, an
implementation toolkit for local retailers as well as a City consumer education campaign. City
staff proposed an ordinance requiring reporting of plastic bag consumption at the March 19
meeting. The ordinance passed the first reading. After gathering additional public input, an
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updated memo from City staff recommended a voluntary reporting of plastic bag use and cross -
sector task force led by private sector businesses to address barriers and opportunities to
reducing plastic bag use at the May 7 Council meeting.
The DMASWA Education Office continues to sponsor showings of the "Bag It" movie:
More showings are being scheduled. This film reviews the effects of plastics on human and
environmental health and supports the City of Dubuque's plastic bag reduction strategy.
"BYOBag" window clings in multiple sizes have been developed for personal and business use
as a reminder to bring your own bags and will be distributed through various events as part of
the community education campaign.
A BYOB episode of the Sustainability Today cable tv series has been completed. City and
DMASWA staff continue to support private sector reduction efforts, most notably led by Hy -Vee,
Theisen's, and Dittmer Recycling staff who lead the plastic bag working group.
Airport:
• The Dubuque Jet Center is a drop -off for recycling used cell phones, batteries, etc.
City Clerk's Office
• One year of using Novus Agenda Manager has resulted in the retention of one half of the
non - essential agenda documents that the office once retained. Two years' worth of non-
essential agenda records can now be stored in one file drawer originally reserved for a
whole year of documents. This has resulted in an annual paper cost savings of $1200.
• The City Clerk's Office has met with Sustainability Coordinator Vista volunteer regarding
a building -wide Petal Project certification for City Hall.
• The City Clerk's Office is working with the Green Team to possibly establish a "trading
post" area where surplus supplies can be offered to other departments or for donation
before throwing items out or recycling.
• The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division has granted approval for local authorities to send
renewal notices to license holders by e-mail. The State informs the local authority via its
on -line notification system but previously required local authorities to send hard copy
reminders to license holders. The new all- electronic system will eliminate paper and
expedite the license renewal process.
• The City Clerk's Office has additional resources on its web page to aid organizers of
special events for planning a safe and sustainable event at the same time they complete
the event application.
Leisure Services Department:
• Bunker Hill Golf Course irrigation system upgrade electrical & water 2010 -11.
Computerized controllers include a weather station that detects precipitation and shuts
off system if it meets the preset threshold of moisture. Variable speed pump also
reduces electrical consumption of pump motor. Anticipate a 25% reduction in electrical
demand with new motor. Anticipate 20% reduction in water use when complete.
• Five Flags had carpet rolls that had not been used in over fifteen years. Match program
found an American Legion in another community that took carpet and reused.
• Rock removed from roof of Fire Department during re -roof project (68 tons of rock) is
being stored and will be recycled in future landscaping projects for the City.
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• Renovation of Flat Iron park on South Main, recycled street bricks were used for internal
park walks and picnic area seating
• Recycled limestone rocks from the Bee Branch project were used in the construction of
two rain gardens in Flora park and other park projects in the city
• Removed city trees are recycled into rough cut lumber that is processed by park
employees for the use in repairing and constructing new picnic tables for all city parks
• Old carpet from Grand River Center Exhibit Hall carpet replacement was recycled.
• Leisure service sport leagues are offering E- reciepts for all league enrollments to reduce
paper use and stamp costs.
Public Works Department:
• Tire Recycling Program Initiated by the DMASWA in the 1990's as a result of
regulations prohibiting the burial of whole tires in landfills, the DMASWA took the extra
step of banning the burial of tires in any shape or form in its landfill. Current federal and
State regulations still allow the burial of shredded, chopped or halved tires. Tires
brought to the DMASWA Landfill are set aside for subsequent collection and processing
by a tire recycling firm. The cost of the tire recycling service is passed along to the
DMASWA's customers. The tires are currently being processed into fuel pellets,
playground equipment fall protection pads, pads protecting concrete floors from heavy
equipment tracks, and sundry items such as park benches and parking lot tire stops.
Community impacts of the DMASWA's Tire Recycling Program have included saved
landfill space /life and reuse of a valuable fossil fuel- derived product.
• Appliance and Metals Recycling Program Similar to the DMASWA's Tire Recycling
Program, and also initiated in the 1990's, the Agency's Appliance and Metals Recycling
Program also exceeds federal and State standards. While the USEPA and Iowa
regulations allow the landfill burial of metal household appliances that do not contain
freon or mercury, the DMASWA bans the landfilling of any appliances at its facility.
Appliances are accepted, however, for a fee to cover the cost of subsequent recycling by
a local firm. Also, the DMASWA provides a free drop -off container just inside its gate
where clean metal items may be dropped off without charge for subsequent recycling.
Finally, DMASWA - employed workers recover any metal items encountered in the landfill
cells and take them to the metals drop -off container. A main community impact derived
from this program is saved landfill space /life. A secondary community impact is the
recovery and reuse of recyclable metal. A third community impact is the reduction of
"upstream" pollution and GHG emissions.
• Recycling Drop -off Stations Program Beginning with a sole recyclables drop -off facility
on Dubuque's west side in the 1990's, the program has expanded to nine (9) such
facilities at the current time. In addition to the noted original facility on Radford Road,
there now are facilities in Cascade, unincorporated Key West, at the Heritage Trail
parking lot in Durango, Farley, Epworth, in the Flexsteel Industries parking lot at East
32nd Street and Peru Road in Dubuque, along U.S. Highway 52 just north of
unincorporated St. Catherine, and at the DMASWA Landfill. At these facilities, residents
are allowed to drop off unlimited quantities of clean metal, aluminum beverage
containers, tin cans, paper, cardboard, and #1 - #5 plastics. Glass containers are
accepted only at the Radford Road and DMASWA Landfill drop -off facilities. The
materials are collected by Agency workers and transported to the Dittmer Recycling
facility in Dubuque for processing and subsequent shipment to regional manufacturers or
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exporters. The most relevant measurable outcomes for this program would be pounds of
materials received and recycled annually through the noted drop -off facilities.
• Asphalt Shingle Recycling Program Soon after a major hail storm struck the central
portion of the city of Dubuque in April of 2011, the DMASWA's Board of Directors
authorized the establishment of an asphalt shingle recycling program. Initially staffed by
temporary workers, the program was revamped in early 2012 and is now contracted to a
regional Iowa firm. Since the initiation of the program, over 1,000 tons of asphalt
shingles have been diverted from landfill burial and recycled /incorporated into asphalt
road pavement.
• Pay As You Throw (PAYT) is a sustainable model for the City's Refuse Collection and
Large Item Collection programs. It places an added cost to extra trash generation which
encourages source reduction, reuse through donations, recycling and composting. The
average customer only sends 20 pounds per week to the landfill which is among the
lowest of the ten largest cities in Iowa. Appropriately -sized City -owned tipper carts have
been supplied to many alley - collection customers to improve sanitation and aesthetics in
areas of high rental density.
• Curbside Food Scrap Collection and Composting The Public Works Department
provides administrative and operating staff support to the Dubuque Metropolitan Area
Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA), a 28E partnership of the County and City of Dubuque.
In 1990, the DMASWA constructed its first yard waste composting facility at its Landfill
site on Dubuque's west side along U.S. Highway 20. The facility and yard waste
composting program were mandated by a then -new Iowa law banning yard waste from
being landfilled as of the beginning of FY91. The yard waste composting facility was
later displaced by the construction of landfill cells #5 and #6 and was replaced by the
current facility in 1998. The second - generation composting facility consists of a large
asphalt -paved area where yard waste is stored and then periodically shredded. The
shredded yard waste is then windrowed in an adjoining area lined with shale, where the
actual composting process takes place.
The City initiated a pilot program for the curbside co- collection (with yard waste) of food
scraps in April of 2006. The City program has reached its maximum allowed diversion
under the two ton per week cap placed upon the DMASWA composting facility by IDNR
regulations. This project is in partnership with the DMASWA and involves 230
subscribers and some schools, institutions and commercial subscribers, who for a very
small fee, diverted approximately 80 tons of food scraps last year from regular refuse
collection and processed them into 40 tons of compost. This also reduced potential
fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from the DMASWA Landfill by approximately 500,000
pounds per year.
In 2009 and again in 2010, the DMASWA applied to the State for permission to expand
its food scrap composting program. The State denied both requests, insisting that
further infrastructure improvements be made. Those improvements were estimated to
cost more than $300,000. As a result of those prohibitive additional costs, the
DMASWA's Board of Directors decided to table expansion of its food scrap composting
program until the State of Iowa adopts guidelines similar to those allowed by the USEPA
and already implemented in surrounding states. In November of 2012, with the intent of
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facilitating the expansion of food scrap composting in Dubuque county without further
delay due to the State of Iowa's reticence, the Agency's Board of Directors authorized
the reduced -cost sale of half - processed yard and food scrap grindings to Full Circle
Organics (FCO). FCO has built a large scale composting facility along U.S. Highway 20
between Farley and Epworth and needed the grindings as a starter base material for its
operations. This new facility is designed to compost all of the food scraps generated in
the DMASWA's service area. Community impacts of the DMASWA's Composting
Program to date include saving an estimated half year of landfill life /capacity over the last
twenty years, plus the generation and reuse of a valued byproduct — high quality
compost.
• Curbside Recycling The Recycling Collection Activity has maintained over the last five
years the lowest average curbside collection fees in the state while having some of the
highest diverted tonnage to recycling at 4,300 tons per year (approximately 40 %).
Recycling tonnage has been declining in Dubuque and nationally recently due partially to
the shift from print media and advertising (newspaper / magazine pages and junk mail) to
electronic media. The participation rate of customers setting out recycling bins at least
once a month is estimated to be over 90 %. The partnership of the DMASWA in a
processing contract with Dittmer Recycling has brought shared revenue to the City even
during the current economic recession. Additional curbside acceptable materials have
been approved: empty aerosol cans, new, clean empty latex paint cans, obsolete
hardback books, and crosscut shredded paper. The Resource Management Coordinator
facilitated the Sustainable 2010 Glass Management Options Study and researched local
costs and impacts. This research indicated that the curbside collection of glass for
recycling was no longer a sustainable activity and should be terminated; thereby cutting
significant costs and generating increased revenue. The City Council on April 18, 2011
supported the recommendation to end the curbside collection of glass food and
beverage containers on July 2, 2011. More energy had been expended recycling glass
from curbside collection through bottle manufacturing than was conserved by using
recycled cutlet. The small net environmental benefits were not worth the $325.00 per ton
it cost to collect glass curbside for recycling, which had yielded a —minus $16.00 per ton
value after it had been delivered to the nearest and best market. No longer separating
300 tons per year of glass at curbside by hand sorting will reduce future repetitive motion
workers compensation claims. This decision was perceived by the community as a re-
education challenge to change an obsolete recycling habit. Beneficial -use options for
glass still collected at the DMASWA /Dittmer Recycling drop -off in the city are being
developed and promoted. Approximately 99% of the glass previously set out for
recycling has been seamlessly diverted through other programs. The City Council
approved a $0.37 reduction in the FY12 solid waste collection monthly fee due to the
savings resulting from eliminating glass from curbside recycling collection.
• Electronics Recycling All electronics brought to the DMASWA facility are recycled —
landitll burial is not an option. The Agency's Electronics Recycling Program provides an
environmentally -sound and economically - feasible disposal option for old, unwanted
electronics. Electronics are defined as anything containing a circuit board and /or cathode
ray tube (CRT or "picture tube "). Examples include: computer monitors and CPUs, cell
phones, televisions, printers, DVD players and VCRs. All recycled electronics are broken
down into salvageable components at a secure electronics recycling facility in
Davenport, which is the only R2- certified facility in the state of Iowa. To ensure data
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security, computers are not refurbished or reused. The DMASWA's electronics disposal
program not only saves space that used electronics would take up if buried in the
Dubuque Metro Landfill, but also keeps the hazardous materials contained in the
electronics - lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, chromium, lithium, and PCBs, among
others, out of the landfill. Electronics also contain many materials made from natural
resources, some of which are not renewable and will be depleted over time. By recycling
electronics, those valuable natural resources are used again to make new products,
water pollution is prevented, and energy is saved in the extraction and manufacturing
processes.
• Dubuque Area Task Force Addressing Illegal Dumping & Illegal Littering The
Resource Management program has provided staff support to the Dubuque Area Task
Force On Illegal Dumping and Illegal Littering (DATFOIDIL) which was initiated in 2010
by the DMASWA. The City Resource Management office has hosted an Illegal Dumping
Hotline (589 -4345) since 2000, averaging approximately ten illegal dumping report
investigations per month - cleaning up as appropriate and sending warning letters to
identified households. DMASWA is working with the Dubuque County Conservation
Board to support an Illegal Dumping Enforcement Officer that monitors problem areas in
urban and rural Dubuque County. Citations have been issued and monitoring continues.
Some investigations have led to information and citations related to burglaries and drug
arrests.
• Dubuque Area Event Recycling and Zero Waste Programs The Resource
Management program first initiated and since 2006 has provided staff and logistic
support to Dubuque Area Event Recycling and Zero Waste Programs in partnership with
the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA). Since 2006, 257 civic
and social events have utilized the DMASWA's Clear Stream event recycling units with
4,363 unit usages. Recycling is required by the City at stationary events requiring a City
permit. Recyclable cups numbered 1 through 5 are required to increase recycling.
Events now typically divert over 50% by volume to recycling and also significantly reduce
litter. There have been a growing number of zero waste events where event food
discards and compostable paper products get processed for beneficial use. This
program provides appropriate containers, signage and removes the captured materials
to be composted. Further information and instructional flyers are available on managing
zero waste events. There is normally no charge for specialized container usage,
signage and collection of the event recyclables and clean source - separated
compostables when scheduled. As part of the updated special events permit process,
an informational meeting was held with all special event organizers in which barriers to
zero waste and correct resource management were discussed.
• DMASWA Environmental Management System The DMASWA was selected as one
of the six solid waste management planning areas in Iowa to participate as a pilot in the
Environmental Management System (EMS) program to expand the scope of their waste
management systems. The EMS was established by the 2008 Iowa Legislature and the
pilot planning areas concentrate on services they provide to improve their overall
performance, including yard waste management, hazardous household waste collection,
water quality improvement, greenhouse gas reduction, recycling services, and
environmental education. Under the EMS Designation Program, the DMASWA is
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evaluated by the continuous improvement of its services, and focuses expanded
opportunities for environmental resource management.
The foundation of the DMASWA's EMS is its Environmental Policy that expresses the
Agency's commitment to improving environmental performance, and sets out goals for
pollution prevention, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement. Objectives
and targets guide continuous improvement toward Agency goals.
Green Iowa AmeriCorps: The City is hosting a team of GreenCorps members who began
their term in September 2012; the team completed four energy audits during their first week of
service and audited approximately 20 homes involved in Make A Difference Day in order to
provide more complete weatherization services than were available through this event in the
past. Make A Difference Day was a rousing success, and the GreenCorps members followed
this up with a string of weatherizations around the community. They've also worked closely
with the Girl Scouts, hosting a series of events to teach energy conservation and recycling to
younger troop members in the Dubuque area. On the 21 st of January, the Green Iowa group
worked with Hills and Dales to produce green cleaning supplies as a volunteer project in honor
of MLK day. They're looking forward to the City Expo, and are working with the Veterans'
Freedom Center to bring weatherizations to some of our local vets. In addition, GreenCorps
Members have planned several events for the month of April. Look for us at the Mount
Pleasant tree planting event, and be sure to check out Eco -Movie Nights, which Greencorps
members will be hosting at MindFrame Theaters, on the 24th and 28t of April. The free movie
event will be the first in a series of monthly sustainability- focused movies. GreenCorps
members
Library: Waste stream audit conducted in June, 2011. One week in the study showed and
80% landfill diversion and the second week showed a 91 % landfill diversion. Since this time
food scrap recycling has been introduced and increased employee awareness about recycling.
The waste stream audit will be conducted again in the second quarter of FY2012 to measure
improvement.
Children's program in July, 2011 included a craft where youth made musical instruments from
toilet paper rolls.
Damaged CD disks and DVD disks are cleaned and polished to extend life rather than replacing
them. The library restores an average of 175 disks each week. (Jan. 2012)
When a local bookstore went out of business (Blue Cat Books) (early 2012) the inventory was
going to be discarded. The library took the inventory of approximately 2,200 titles and they
went to the Friends of the Library that will sell them, or donate them to Better World Books for
emerging literacy programs in third world countries.
The gathering of daily statistics at public service desks has now moved online (early 2012) and
this saves 3.5 reams of paper a month; 42 reams of paper each year.
The Library hosted a program on June 28, 2012, which is a workshop on how to repurpose
books into a new item using craft skills. Twenty -four craft items were created using books that
were tagged for recycling.
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The Youth Services used left over supplies from the 2011 Summer Reading Program (SRP)
and repurposed them into bags for the 2,500+ children who signed up for the SRP in 2012. The
Teens attended a SRP that used recycled t- shirts to make fashion scarves.
Self -check machines in the library are now set to offer a printed receipt on request, or provides
the option to decline a receipt.
Ongoing efforts to reduce paper continue and have resulted in the resizing of internal
instructions, which allows for two copies for each piece of paper. Incoming newspapers and
magazines, previously recorded on paper, are now managed through a database.
Multi -media titles are no longer contained in plastic hanging bags. The bags have been
eliminated and the materials are now shelved with other items available for check out.
The Library held a program in January, 2013 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day that was a craft
project for youth that used old CDs.
The Friends of the Library had a book sale in December, 2012 and sold discarded library
books.
A LEED tour and presentation was given to a group of University of Wisconsin- Platteville
students who are studying sustainability.
The library offers digital audio and e-books to download leaving no physical footprint.
The library now has a collection box for used batteries.
Finance:
1. The Utility Billing area serves as a collection for CFL light bulbs for employees and citizens.
This process began approximately one year ago. The City provides multiple collection sites.
Public Works employees pick up the recycled CFL light bulbs.
2. Laserfiche was implemented for storing supporting documentation for accounts payable and
accounts receivable activities such as purchase orders /direct pays, purchase order
adjustments, journal entries and receipts. This procedure eliminates the need for departments
to make a copy of documents for their files as documents are viewed through Laserfiche.
3. Accepting electronic payments for Utility Billing, parking tickets, (Leisure Services).
Customer initiates EFT via website and City ACH initiated. Utility Billing saves paper by not
including a return payment envelope for customers who have their payment automatically
deducted from their bank account (currently 21.9 %). Citizens save postage and post office
saves labor /energy.
4. Implemented electronic billing for utility bills, with approximately 717 customers signed up to
date.
5. Accounts payable direct deposit of employee expense reimbursement and vendor payments.
Full implementation will be available. Saves City cost of printing and mailing checks. Saves
paper and energy.
Police:
GoTo Meetings: Shane O'Brien (DARE coordinator) held a statewide DARE meeting via GoTo
meetings instead of having everyone drive to Ankeny, Iowa. It saved the City of Dubuque
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alone over 300 miles in travel expenses, fuel and waste. It was positively received by the
members in attendance and will be expanded for future meetings.
Idleright Fuel Management System: The DPD installed a new "fuel management system" to test
called Idleright in vehicle 1843. This system enables an officer to turn the ignition off and leave
all emergency lighting on. The system monitors the voltage in the battery system and when it
reaches a certain level, restarts the car - charging the system. When fully charged the system
shuts off the car again saving fuel. Without this system a police car could idle for hours at an
accident scene where lighting is needed.
Business:
Full Circle Organics: Full Circle Organics, a private- sector composting facility, has received
state and county approvals and has opened its facility between Epworth and Farley in Dubuque
County. This operation may open up new opportunities for both residential and commercial
composting within the City. The DMASWA has indicated its willingness to equally explore
partnership opportunities with Full Circle Organics, GreenRU, T &W Grinding Inc, and other
interested regional composting service providers.
Non - Profit:
Keep Dubuque County Clean & Green — serves as the local affiliate for Keep Iowa Beautiful.
Members include representatives from Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency, the
Dubuque County Conservation Board, the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, and
interested individuals. The group works with the Illegal Dumping and Littering task force and
other community groups to educate the public on the effects of littering and illegal dumping.
Four Mounds /HEART Program - Four Mounds has hurdled multiple challenges to start the
redevelopment of a threatened, historic property 400 E. 22nd Street (Weis Grocery) along the
Bee Branch, Heritage Trail and in the Washington Neighborhood and its historic district. Without
this concentrated effort, the property would have remained vacant until it was declared
hazardous and torn down, due to lack of strategy, vision or plan. Four Mounds has removed the
property from a 2 year ownership limbo and is foreclosing. HEART students are in the process
of removing the hazardous interior furnishings /building material. Doing so, it is now ready for a
structural plan, programmatic plan, and Four Mounds with the City has removed debilitating
federal funding hurdles by getting the state to declare it exempt from flood plain funding
restrictions. Four Mounds is working with the City and multiple community partners to develop a
plan that includes a full exterior and interior first floor restoration /recreation, promoting positive
traffic through this iconic, historic storefront. DMASWA and the Community Foundation are
financially supporting the predevelopment stage, with a goal to keep this structure out of the
landfill and bring it back to good use for the neighborhood.
Schools:
The Hempstead Green Team has chosen the sale of reusable bags as their annual fundraiser,
and distributes the BYOB reminders with every bag sold in addition to completing other public
education about the use of plastic bags.
People & Neighborhoods:
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COMMUNITY DESIGN
Government:
Unified Development Code: In 2009, the City of Dubuque's new Unified Development Code
went into effect. The UDC updates and consolidates zoning, subdivision, site development,
historic preservation, and sign regulations into a single city code. The UDC incorporates text,
photographs, drawings, charts and diagrams for ease of use in an online illustrated version.
The four -year process for developing the Dubuque UDC incorporated three citizen advisory
committees and an interdisciplinary task force of City staff working with JEO Consulting. The
last 12 months of the process were devoted to seeking and responding to input on the draft
UDC from developers, engineers, architects, neighborhood and business associations, sign
contractors, City Boards and Commissions, and the general public prior to City Council work
sessions and public hearings.
The UDC incorporates sustainable design while meeting smart growth objectives. Sustainable
design is the expectation. While traditional development is still allowed, it is now the exception.
The UDC received strong support from City officials and citizens alike. This acceptance of
sustainable design has continued through implementation.
Subdivision and site development regulations were extensively revised to promote sustainable
design, such as conservation design, solar access, and low- impact development measures.
Access for pedestrians, bicycles, and public transit as well as design guidelines for historic
districts, the downtown, and older neighborhoods also are now part of the UDC.
The intent of the UDC is to guide the physical, economic and social development,
redevelopment and conservation of the community. The UDC protects and enhances the
historic, cultural and aesthetic resources that make Dubuque a unique, identifiable and vital
community.
Complete Streets Policy: Adopted in 2011, the City of Dubuque's Complete Streets Policy
was created with input from a variety of community stakeholders. The Complete Streets Policy
provides an integrated multimodal approach to roadway planning and design. The Policy
establishes that development of as many street projects as possible will be done in an
affordable, balanced, responsible, and equitable way that accommodates and encourages
travel by motorists, bicyclists, public transit vehicles and their passengers, and pedestrians of
all ages and abilities. The Complete Streets Policy also ensures that future demand and context
sensitivity is integrated into new facilities, recognizing that topography, cost, and right -of -way
constraints are among the limiting factors and that not every project is a candidate for this
desired outcome. The Policy also includes language regarding the review of street projects for
consistency with the Tri -State Trail Plan, posting annual street projects for public input, and
documentation of project - specific exemptions. The Complete Streets policy allows for project -
specific exemptions to be approved by the City Council, or the City Manager where a project
does not come before the City Council.
Green Alley Pilot Project: This project involved the reconstruction of existing asphalt alleys
from 11th Street to 13th Street between White Street and Jackson Street and the alley from 15th
and 16th between Elm and Washington Streets. The project reconstructed the alleys with
pervious pavement surfaces to assist in evaluating suitable pavement types for future alley
reconstruction projects. The pavement surfaces allow rainfall from low- intensity storms to pass
35
through the pavement structure. This, in turn, will recharge the water table and minimize storm
water runoff. Completed in summer 2010
McDermott Excavating, Inc completed the reconstruction of the alley between Jackson and
Washington from 17th to 18th Street. The alley between Jackson and White from 9th to 10th was
constructed by Portzen Construction in the fall of 2011.
Drew Cook & Sons Excavating have started construction of the alley between Jackson and
Washington from 16t" to 17t" and the alley between White and Jackson from 17th to 18th.
Completion of these two alleys is slated for May 30, 2013. An additional alley between
Arlington & Loras from Dell to Prairie has been awarded to Portzen Construction. This alley will
be completed by early summer 2013.
The alleys above are part of the SEP (Supplemental Engineering Project) required by EPA as
part of the consent decree issued to the City. Originally the Alley between Washington and Elm
from 25th to 26th was part of the SEP list proposed. Due to the size of that alley, it was
determined a better approach is to use City Green Alley funds in the next couple of years to
address that alley.
Engineering is also working with EPA and IDNR on a project to use SRF funds for
reconstructing approximately $9.4 million dollars in alleys over the next three years. The
project includes the reconstruction of 73 alleys into Green Alleys. These alleys would be
reconstructed with permeable pavers, similar to other recently constructed alleys.
Washington Neighborhood Initiative: Comprehensive effort designed to address many
housing and social challenges in this 55 square block neighborhood. An ambitious "visioning"
project for the Washington Neighborhood was concluded in 2008 and the Washington
Neighborhood Strategic Plan was presented to the City Council in April 2009. Homes have now
been purchased and rehabbed by 50 first -time owner families throughout the neighborhood.
Previous rental dwellings and vacant structures have been historically restored for owner
occupancy. Since late 2005, the Housing Department has loaned $5.3 million and a total of
$8.1 million has been reinvested in housing in the Washington Neighborhood.
With receipt of a $240 000 I -JOBS grant from IFA, the Historic Washington Row Houses project
commenced construction in November 2010. New individual sanitary sewer and water services
have been installed, lead paint removed from the interior of the buildings, asbestos removed
from the roofing structure and all new membrane roofs installed, and installation of all new
wooden windows and doors completed. Finalization is being completed on all units to prepare
for sale. An Open House was held on Saturday, April 14, 2012. All units will be sold as owner -
occupied town homes to low- moderate income households. Four units have been sold to date.
The City reconstructed the alley behind the row houses as a "Green Alley" in the summer of
2012.
Several other houses acquired by the Housing Department, using our Neighborhood
Stabilization Program (NSP) grant, continue under rehab. As the completed homes are re -sold,
NSP funds are used to buy other foreclosed or vacated houses. The HEART Program
completed the rehab of 2234 Washington Street. 2320 Washington will be closing by the end of
March, 2013 and 2513 -15 White Street has been sold. The Housing and Community
Development Department purchased 1318 Jackson with NSP funds to rehab and resell, with a
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completion date tentatively scheduled for April 30, 2013.
An exterior inspection program providing 'advisory inspections' for all Washington
Neighborhood homeowners commenced in November. All of the 200 homes have been
inspected with70 having exterior violations. Housing staff coordinated with church volunteer
groups and WNDC during the April Community Days of Caring event to provide 11 homes with
needed repairs. 7 interior healthy home assessments requested by homeowners were
completed to check for safety, energy and code violations.
Planning continues for a major rehab project in the 2200 -2400 block of Washington Street.
Houses acquired for the Bee Branch Project and no longer needed for the right -of -way will be
rehabbed and re -sold to owner occupant families. Two city- acquired homes were moved to this
block in June 2011 and have been sold to Habitat for Humanity. The HEART crews continue to
work on one house. The City acquired a tenth home in August 2010. All are currently being
rehabbed. Lead has been abated from all the City -owned properties and rehabilitation
continues. 2302, 2312 and 2290 Washington have been sold and 2268 Washington has an
offer pending financing. An appraisal has been completed on 317 -319 E. 22nd Street and will
be listed with a realtor by the end of March 2013.
Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation (WNDC): a new non - profit
corporation was formed to promote revitalization efforts in the Washington Neighborhood. The
WNDC board of directors was recruited to represent the interests of stakeholders, including
residents, landlords, businesses and lenders, and city government. The corporation promotes
activities to improve the neighborhood in a variety of ways. Key objectives include increasing
homeowner occupancies, refurbishing older buildings, improving the appearance of the area
and greater resident involvement.
Partnering with the following neighborhood initiatives: Harkin Wellness Grant, Community
Garden, Energy Center staff, Small Business Works, Iowa 21st Century Community Learning
Center Grant, Crime Study Report, Dubuque Board of Realtors, Gateway to Homes.
Additional activities of WNDC:
o The Washington Neighborhood Directory was updated as of July 30, 2012. There are
150 businesses. Since April, 2011, 27 businesses have left or closed and 22 new
businesses have started. New businesses include; Hot Diggity Dog on Elm Street (pet
care services), D's Pretty Things on Jackson Street (purses, jewelry and accessories)
and Momma Moya's Tortilla's on Central Avenue.
o We continue to collaborate and assist with the Small Business Works initiative to assist
new and existing business owners.
o Building relationships with Dubuque Board of Realtors to promote Washington
Neighborhood and educate realtors about the assets and resources within the
neighborhood.
o WNDC is partnering with Community Housing Initiatives with a grant received by
NeighborWorks America to help market the Washington Neighborhood.
o A Washington Neighborhood Grant Facade Application and Program Guideline
document was created with collaboration from the City of Dubuque's Planning and
Economic Development Departments, Dubuque Main Street and the WNDC Board of
Directors and Executive Director. Commercial property owners along the Central Avenue
Corridor have been identified and will receive mailings, phone calls and face to face
37
meetings by the Director to help assist with the facade grant program.
o Continued collaboration with Dubuque Downtown Christian Outreach, Multicultural
Family Center, Four Mounds, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Crescent
Community Health Center, Project Concern and Orange Park Residents (neighborhood
association).
Historic Millwork District (Top Priority):
The Historic Millwork District Complete Streets Project provided for the reconstruction and
streetscaping of streets into complete streets. These streets included the following:
Street
10th Street
Washington Street
Jackson Street
Jackson Street Trail
10th Street
11th Street
Limits
Jackson to Elm Street
9th to 10th Street
7th to 11th Street
5m to 7cn Street
Main to Jackson Street
Jackson to Elm Street
Additionally, 3 alternates were selected and they include:
Alternate Street Limits
1 Washington Street 10th to 11th Street
2 9th Street Washington to White Street
3 9th Street Main to White Street
Construction Type
Reconstruction
Reconstruction
Reconstruction
Hike /Bike Trail
Streetscaping
Water Reconstruction
Construction Type
Reconstruction
Streetscaping
Streetscaping
The project is 100% complete. A ribbon cutting was held May 18, 2012 and was attended by
regional transportation leaders. Special guest Ray LaHood, Secretary of U.S. Department of
Transportation provided the keynote address. Mayor Roy Buol also shared his remarks on this
important project.
A future Intermodal Transportation Center will be located in the Historic Millwork District along
Elm Street between 9th and 11th Streets. In October 2011 the city received a State of Good
Repairs (SOGR) grant award of $8 million dollars, to be used for the final design and
construction of the Intermodal Center. The Intermodal Transportation Center, which will consist
of a passenger terminal and a parking structure, will accommodate transit passengers (both
public transit and Intercity bus), bicyclists, pedestrians, Park -N -Ride, etc. Final design is being
performed by Neumann Monson Architects out of Iowa City, IA, and construction is slated to
start in the summer of 2013 and finish in 2014.
The Alamo Block purchase agreement was approved by the City Council on October 4, 2010.
Deconstruction of the non - historic buildings is completed which is ahead of the March 31, 2011
schedule. City staff closed on the purchase of the Alamo real estate on April 26, 2011.
Financing for the $30 million Caradco project is complete. Construction bids were received in
late May, and Gronen Properties has begun rehabilitation work at the Caradco building. City
staff worked with Gronen to determine collateral for the $4.5 million IFA loan. The
recommended collateral was presented and approved by the City Council at their July 18th,
2011 meeting. Closing on the financial package took place on August 26, 2011. The City has
received a release of funds and environmental clearance for the $8.9 CDBG funding.
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Staff prepared a Development Agreement for the CARADCO project with Gronen Properties
and a public hearing was held on March 21, 2011. The City Council approved the Development
Agreement following the public hearing.
The CARADCO building received two awards of $3 million and $5.9 million in CDBG disaster
assistance funds to develop income - restricted (80% of Median Income) apartments. As of
October 10, 2012, the City has drawn down the total $8,900,000 in grant funds for the project.
The Caradco project began to lease residential units on the 3rd floor on September 1, 2012. A
ribbon cutting ceremony for Caradco was September 14, 2012. The Caradco project received a
Certificate of Occupancy for the residential units on 2nd floor on September 26, 2012.
On February 4, 2013, the City Council approved amendment number 3 to the CDBG contract
asking for increased funding of $1,299,000 to cover extra compliance issues related to the
Davis Bacon prevailing wage requirements. The Council approved a $4.5 million loan
agreement with the Iowa Finance Authority to provide low- interest financing for Millwork District
projects. As of December 14, 2011, the City has drawn down the $4.5 million of the $4.5 million
loan.
Construction of the Historic Millwork District Complete Streets Project began on March 14,
2011. A ground breaking occurred on for March 23, 2011. Assistant Director of FHWA Gary
Nadeau attended from Washington, DC and along with Mayor Buol had some nice remarks
about the project and the City. A ribbon cutting for the complete streets project was held on
May 18, 2012. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood participated in this ceremony.
Two other major Millwork District property owners (Johnson /McNamara) are working diligently
on plans and funding for the adaptive reuse of their buildings.
On February 18, 2013 the City Council approved an application for State CDBG funds from the
New Production Round 5 allocation to assist in the adaptive reuse of Linseed Oil Paintworks
Building at 151 East 9th. If funded, this project would create 16 new residential units in the
Millwork District. The Council held a public hearing on a Development Agreement for this
project on March 18, 2013.
Workforce Housing Additional Info. The Council approved a 2nd application for the NP5
program located at 2811 Jackson (former site of River Valley Nursery). The project would
remove a dilapidated greenhouse and construct 12 town house units.
In March, City Staff co- presented information on the Millwork District to Iowa Business Growth
Board of Directors in an effort to secure new market tax credits for the Novelty Iron Works
building located at 1079 Elm Street. Following the presentation the IBG Board authorized their
staff to negotiate a contract for $18 million of NMTC's to assist in this project. City Staff is
preparing a Development Agreement to provide local incentives for this project. Unlike the
Caradco project, it is anticipated that the local incentives will come into the project upon
completion.
Old House Enthusiasts 27th Annual Tour will take place in the Millwork District over May 18 &
19th 2013, touring the historic quad and featuring a number of related special events. The tour
will highlight the history, current development and the future of this district, expecting to attract
39
over 800 visitors and volunteers throughout the event.
Smart Planning Grant (Management Agenda): In late 2010, Dubuque County and the cities
of Dubuque, Asbury, Cascade, Dyersville, Epworth, Farley, and Peosta came together to form
the Dubuque Smart Planning Consortium. The consortium's goals are to develop a regional
sustainability plan that includes the State of Iowa's Smart Planning principles, the City of
Dubuque's sustainability principles, and watershed planning, and then incorporates the smart
planning elements of the regional plan into local comprehensive plans. This consortium is a
two -year process. The consortium is meeting monthly. The Consortium has developed a public
participation plan and a 2011 meeting schedule. Consortium members and local elected and
appointed officials attended public participation workshops sponsored by the Iowa Economic
Development Authority (IEDA) on April 6, 2011 in Dubuque. The annual report was sent to the
Dubuque City Council in February, 2012. The Dubuque County Smart Planning Consortium,
consisting of Dubuque County, Dubuque Soil and Water Conservation District, and the cities of
Asbury, Cascade, Dubuque, Dyersville, Epworth, Farley and Peosta, held a series of public
meetings in November and December 2011 to gather input on the first four draft chapters of the
Dubuque County Smart Plan -- Community Facilities, Land Use, Transportation, and Watershed
Planning -- as well as on the Future Land Use Map.
The Smart Planning Consortium held two more series of public meetings in each city and the
county to gather input on the remaining eight chapters of the Smart Plan.
In August 2012, the Consortium solicited input on the Housing, Economic Development, Hazard
Mitigation, and Public Infrastructure & Utilities chapters. The City of Dubuque hosted a public
meeting on these four chapters during the Long Range Planning Advisory Commission's
regular meeting on August 15, 2012.
In September 2012, the Consortium solicited input on the Agriculture & Natural Resources,
Issues & Opportunities, Intergovernmental Collaboration, and Community Character chapters.
The City of Dubuque hosted a public meeting on these four chapters during the Long Range
Planning Advisory Commission's regular meeting on September 19, 2012.
Dubuque County hosted a final public input meeting to gather Implementation ideas for the
Smart Plan on October 10, 2012 at the Fire Training Center at 7:00 p.m.
The Consortium hosted a Main Street Training session by the IEDA's Main Street Iowa office on
June 7, 2012 in Epworth.
Dubuque County, on behalf of the Consortium, has received a CDBG ARRA grant from IEDA to
create a model rural smart code in 2012. The kick -off meeting was held on June 6, 2012.
Technical committee meetings were held on July 12 and August 2, 8 and 16, 2012. A public
input session was held on August 9, 2012.
Dubuque County, on behalf of the Consortium, has been awarded a Community Planning
Assistance Team (CPAT) by the American Planning Association (APA) to help prepare a plan
to upgrade the 26 -mile Heritage Trail to increase connectivity and accessibility of the trail,
promote its sustainability, and extend the recreational and economic development opportunities
to each city in the Consortium. A conference call with the CPAT leaders was held on June 7,
2012. CPAT leaders toured Heritage Trail and met with stakeholders on June 21 -22, 2012.
40
The full team was here from October 17 — 20, 2012. One hundred people attended the initial
public input session on October 17 in Dyersville. The Final CPAT Report on Heritage Trail was
presented on October 20 in Dubuque.
The Dubuque County Board of Supervisors reviewed the final draft of the Dubuque County
Smart Plan at a work session on December 17, 2012 and then adopted the plan at a public
hearing on January 14, 2013. The Dubuque City Council reviewed the final draft of the
Dubuque County Smart Plan at a work session on January 7, 2013, and then adopted the plan
at a public hearing on January 22, 2013. Other cities in the Smart Planning Consortium
reviewed and adopted the plan in January 2013 as well.
Public Works Department: The Public Works Department provides administrative and
operating staff support to the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA or
"Agency "). Since 1995, the Agency has employed a Loras College employee as its Education
and Communication Coordinator. This person is charged with educating the general public in
Dubuque and Delaware counties regarding best solid waste management practices. The
Coordinator develops public education programs, publicizes Agency services, manages its
website, presents programs to school and community groups, hosts facility tours, provides
education curriculum resources and assistance, coordinates the efforts and initiatives of the
Dubuque chapter of Keep Iowa Beautiful - Keep Dubuque County Clean and Green, manages
the Agency's Green Vision Education Program, and provides staff support to the Dubuque
County Illegal Dumping Task Force. The Coordinator also prepares and updates the Agency's
biannual Recycling and Reuse Guide, which is inserted in all Dubuque and Delaware county
daily and weekly newspapers.
Leisure Services Department: In accepting two new parks, Westbrook and Creek Wood, the
proposed park layouts included native open spaces, wetlands and woodland areas. Highly
maintained areas were limited in size. This limits the acreage of mowed, manicured spaces
with allowing preservation of open space — a much more sustainable practice.
Planning is in process for Creek Wood, Westbrook and Eagle Valley Parks. Concept plans
were shared at meetings in each neighborhood. Neighbors have been very interested and
involved. Sustainable practices are being considered as a part of development of each mini
park area.
Business:
Non - Profit:
Schools:
People & Neighborhoods:
HEART: Four Mounds has substantially completed the redevelopment of 2234 Washington
Street in partnership with the City of Dubuque. The property is marks the 30th unit of housing
that HEART has converted or helped rehabilitate and will result in the 21St home made available
for ownership to a first -time homeowner.
GREEN BUILDINGS
Government:
Building Services Department:
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• Solar Thermal The Solar Thermal Licensing and Solar Thermal Permits and Inspections
ordinances were created in 2011 after a local solar thermal contractor met with City staff to
determine what licenses and permits they would need to install solar thermal systems
within the corporate limits of Dubuque. The current regulations would require multiple
licenses and permits.
The adoption of the ordinances will allow for streamlined licensing and permitting
processes and support the development of green jobs in Dubuque. Information Services
has updated the Permits Plus system to have solar thermal licensing and permits
capability. A solar thermal license has been issued.
• City Building Efficiency Improvements The 18th St project will significantly upgrade the
energy efficiency of that building with new HVAC, lighting, etc. This project, now owned by
Dubuque Bank & Trust, is nearing completion.
On March 21, 2010, the City Council approved an upgrade to the HVAC system at City
Hall. Water cooled units will have their piping adjusted so that they are no longer dumping
the water into the sanitary sewer system, but into a cooling tower /tank, instead.
An RFP for design has been issued. Responses were due June 3, 2011. Shive - Hattery was
selected to complete this work. Shive - Hattery has submitted a preliminary design and
review of alternatives. City staff reviewed the submittal and agreed that a fluid cooler
system would be used. Staff also requested that quantitative information on expected
savings of water, electricity, etc be provided by Shive - Hattery.
The fluid cooler has been placed in the parking lot and ceilings, duct work and air handlers
have been removed. Piping from the fluid cooler has been run to the boiler room in the
basement of City Hall. The system is operational. Water savings of 90 +% have been
documented.
• Grand River Center Smart Electric Meters (Management Agenda) An RFP has been
issued for design of a smart electric metering of the Grand River Center. Responses were
due June 4, 2011.
The City of Dubuque, Iowa is soliciting competitive sealed proposals from qualified
professional consulting firms to complete a design of smart electric meter improvements to
the Grand River Center to incorporate smart electric meters in the Grand River Center. The
smart metering of some circuits and equipment at the Grand River Center will allow for the
management and staff to track electrical usage. The cost of electrical usage of special
events can also be tracked. The efficiency of HVAC equipment can be analyzed as well.
Responses to the design RFP were due June 24, 2011, with design completed in June,
2012. Installation would be complete by the end of 2012. One response was received from
KJWW of Rock Island. KJWW was hired and completed a design. Giese Electric has
installed the equipment. Training was completed in January, 2013. Plans and specs are
being developed for another phase of monitoring. This phase will dial in on circuits in the
exhibit hall. Bids are due for this phase on March 28, 2013.
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• 2009 International Energy Conservation Code We have adopted the 2009 Int'I Energy
Conservation Code and will continue to adopt the most - recent version. We will adopt the
2012 IECC with an effective date of July 1, 2013.
Renewable Energy Systems on Municipal Buildings: The City of Dubuque signed a contract
with a Dubuque firm, Eagle Point Solar, in August of 2011 providing for the installation of 425
solar panels on the roof of the Municipal Services Center. The panels were installed over the
ensuing months, connected to the local grid on November 22, 2011, and are now generating
200 kW of electrical power during optimum conditions — which equals approximately 1/3 of the
facility's electrical power needs. Examination of opportunities to install solar on other municipal
properties continues.
Workforce Housing: City staff has been working diligently with local developers to find new
revenue sources to fund the financial gaps in the rehabilitation of older buildings in the
downtown /millwork districts. In 2009, the Iowa Finance Authority conducted a study and based
on current market conditions and projected employment growth in Dubuque, their study
indicated a significant demand exists for additional rental housing in the local area. Given the
relatively low HUD Median Income and the estimated salary range of jobs, market rate rental
housing appears to have the most demand. Income restricted rental units, such as those with
Low Income Housing Tax Credits, would not alleviate future demands from household growth.
While some workers would prefer homeownership, affordable single family detached homes are
readily available in the market area with several new subdivisions under construction. The lack
of significant vacancies coupled with the lack of modern multi - family rental communities
indicates pent up demand for high quality market rate rental units. Based on the IFA demand
estimates, the Dubuque market area is in need of 300 to 400 additional rental units over the
next two to three years. Over 190 new residential units have been put into the downtown
market in the past 3 years. All are filled and there are waiting lists at each project site. The City
Council approved a Loan Agreement with the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) for $4,500,000 with
3% interest. The funding is available for creation of workforce housing unit creation in the
Historic Millwork District. Income guidelines exist for the units totaling 120% of Area Median
Income. At the same time, staff is pursuing changes to various tax credit programs on the
national level, to assist in rehabilitation of historic structures.
On September 7, 2011, the City's Economic Development Director was part of a panel
presentation at the Housing Conference sponsored by IFA. The presentation focused on the
local need for workforce housing.
The City Council approved a Loan Agreement with the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) for
$4,500,000 with 3% interest. The funding is available for creation of workforce housing unit
creation in the Historic Millwork District. Income guidelines exist for the units totaling 120% of
Area Median Income. At the same time, staff is pursuing changes to various tax credit
programs on the national level, to assist in rehabilitation of historic structures.
The loan with Caradco Landlord, LLC was closed on August 26, and the total loan of $4.5
million has been drawn down. Caradco has also drawn down $8,900,000 of CDBG funds for
this project. On February 4, 2013 the City Council approved amendment number 3 to the
CDBG contract asking for increased funding of $1,299,000 to cover extra compliance issues
related to David Bacon prevailing wage requirements. City staff has been working diligently
43
with local developers to find new revenue sources to fund the financial gaps in the rehabilitation
of older buildings in the downtown /millwork districts.
At the same time, staff is pursuing changes to various tax credit programs on the national level,
to assist in rehabilitation of historic structures. The Greater Downtown Urban Renewal District
was expanded by the City Council on May 2, 2011 which provides additional tools to encourage
reinvestment and redevelopment activities throughout the expanded District to support the
revitalization of the area.
On September 6, 2012, the City's Economic Development Director was part of a panel
presentation at the Housing Conference sponsored by IFA. The presentation focused on the
Caradco project.
Housing Incentives: The City Council created a $2.5 million pool of funds to encourage
downtown market -rate apartments. The City provides a CIP for the Downtown Rehabilitation
Loan, Planning and Design Grant, Facade Grant, and Financial Consultant Grant Programs
which are designed to further the goals and objectives of the Greater Downtown Urban
Renewal Plan by creating the financial incentives needed to eliminate conditions of blight,
encourage revitalization efforts and to retain or create employment opportunities and /or new
housing units within the district.
To date, the Council has approved 199 units for the Downtown Housing Program. Of those,
191 units will be developed. 159 units have been completed and 32 are currently under
construction. As of October 17, 2012, the City has paid $1,523,000 in downtown housing
incentives.
To meet the demand of this program, a recommendation was made to the City Council to
recapitalize this pool of funds. This program has done a tremendous job of helping promote
and redevelop the downtown housing options. In FY 2013, the City has approved an additional
$327,540 in grant funds for the Greater Downtown Urban Renewal District, an additional
$670,000 restricted to the Historic Millwork District and $1,500,000 restricted to the Washington
Neighborhood Subarea (includes Bluff/West Locust). Staff is updating the guidelines for these
programs.
On November 5, 2012, the City Council approved staff recommended changes to the
Downtown Housing Incentive Program. City Staff is working on several projects that anticipate
the use of the funds to fill financial gaps.
On February 4, 2013, the City Council approved a Development agreement with Gary Stelpflug
for the rehabilitation of the vacant duplex located at 407 -409 Loras Blvd. This historic
rehabilitation will create 4 new residential units.
On September 28, 2012, City Staff along with ECIA staff are holding a New Production 5 Grant
application training meeting for developers who may be interested in submitting a NP5 Grant
application.
The guidelines for NP5 were released in mid - October 2012. Applications were due on March 1,
2013. Only 2 applications will be allowed per community. To date nine local developers have
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expressed interest in this project. The City will seek short project descriptions from each
developer in an effort to narrow the field down to two applications.
On February 18, 2013 the City Council approved an application for State CDBG funds from the
New Production Round 5 allocation to assist in the adaptive reuse of Linseed Oil Paintworks
Building at 151 East 9th
The Council approved a 2nd application for the NP5 program located at 2811 Jackson (former
site of River Valley Nursery). The project would remove a dilapidated greenhouse and
construct 12 town house units.
The City Council held a public hearing approving a Development Agreement for the Linseed Oil
Paintworks Building located at 901 Jackson Street on March 18th. This agreement which was
approved by the council will provide financial incentives for the creation of 16 residential units in
the Millwork District.
On April 1, 2013, the City will hold a public hearing on a Development Agreement with Gary
Stelpflug for the rehabilitation of a vacant building at 324 -326 W Locust. This rehabilitation will
create 4 new residential units.
Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (Management Agenda): Working collaboratively across
jurisdictions and silos of funding to identify and remove barriers to holistic, household centric
approaches to improving health, safety, livability and affordability of housing in Dubuque. The
Initiative will identify the hazards in the participating client residences, identify funding sources
to maximize services to the clients to remediate these hazards, and follow up with the clients to
assist them in maintaining and sustaining the improvements." Key partners are the Housing and
Community Development Department, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Health
Department, Operation New View, Visiting Nurse Association, Northeast Iowa Community
College, Lead Hazard Control Grant, Healthy Homes Production Grant Smarter City Project
Manager
The Dubuque GHH Collaborative continues forward positively. In June 2011 all partners
received LEAN - principled training. It was supported by two professional LEAN trainers
provided through NICC. Process mapping of the first phase of coordinated activity
(identification, qualification, intake, assessment, funding, planning) occurred and an approach
to testing the new process with volunteer Pilot GHH Homes will be developed. The Home
Advocate concept being pioneered in Dubuque was introduced and six Pilot Homes have now
been identified. Meetings are held weekly to consolidate activities and reduce duplication.
Dubuque has been contacted by several state and federal agencies /entities expressing interest
in the innovative effort, and seeking to discuss additional potential partnerships. City and
Community Foundation staff represented Dubuque at the National Healthy Homes Conference
in Denver in June. They gave a presentation to Congressional staff during their visit to Dubuque
in August and presented at the local Sustainability Conference in October. City Staff also
represented Dubuque at the Department of Energy Regional Weatherization Plus Health
Initiative in October.
The State of Iowa held an Advisory Meeting in Des Moines on November 15, 2011 with
participants coming from various agencies and programs statewide to discuss a common
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collaborative similar to the GHHI model happening on the state level. This pioneer meeting was
the first step to common ground being formed at a level higher than our City initiative. Staff
from the Lead Hazard Control Program and the Healthy Homes Production Program
represented the City of Dubuque in the statewide initiative.
The City's Healthy Homes Program has completed 59 units with 13 currently in progress. The
Lead Hazard Control Program has completed 85 units with 44 in progress. GHHI, which works
with one or both of these programs and with Operation New View's Weatherization Program,
has completed 78 projects, which include some Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control
Projects. In addition the Home Advocate has helped the families of these homes access GHHI
Services and other resources such as counseling, mental health support, health care, food
stamps and a variety of other services- the Home Advocate is funded by the Community
Foundation and the City of Dubuque. A shared data platform called ETO has been
implemented among the partners in order to better understand the outcomes from the initiative.
Follow up visits to homes completed in 2012 will take place in 2013 to ensure the interventions
are sustainable and to measure the impact of the initiative. In addition, families will receive
follow up support from the Home Advocate.
Multicultural Family Center: Completed in FY 2010 to empower diverse neighbors, families
and individuals through personal growth and participation in community activities in the $ 1.2
million rehabilitation of a City building to expand the Center. The Center's programs include
cross - cultural educational and family activities. The City hired a full -time director, half time
assistant director and twenty hours of site coordinators per week to staff the Center.
Washington Row Houses - City and DB &T Community Corp purchased 'row houses' on
Washington Street from six private owners. The units are now completed and four have been
sold. The two remaining properties continue to be marketed for sale to income qualifying
homebuyers. Recycled city street pavers were used to create a courtyard in the back.
Urban Revitalization Program: The purpose of the program is to attract development to
specific areas, which might otherwise continue to deteriorate, thereby stabilizing and eventually
increasing the tax base within those areas. The abatements are intended to stimulate private
investment by reducing the tax increases that would normally result from making improvements
to residential property.
The program focuses on revitalization of properties in the community's older neighborhoods
and offers a property tax exemption for new improvements made to qualified residential
properties and limited commercial properties. Owners who upgrade their residential properties
located within a designated urban revitalization area are eligible to apply for a ten -year property
tax exemption. Owners of commercial property in the Washington Neighborhood UR district are
eligible for a three -year exemption. To qualify, improvements must increase the assessed value
of the building by at least ten percent or greater depending on the specific district, and applies
to those neighborhoods which have been designated as urban revitalization areas by the City
Council. $727,170 is the current value of properties in tax abatement as of the 2012.
Lead Hazard Reduction Program: To reduce lead paint poisoning in Dubuque's young
children, begun in 1997 and refunded in FY2008 with a $2.9 million grant. 417 applications
were received with 325 inspections and risk assessments of housing units being completed
since the grant activities began in January 2008. 232 units have been completed. 61 training
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and certification classes were held providing training to 342 contractors, workers, and property
owners, totaling 1,168 hours of both classroom and on -site training by Department inspection
staff. The grant was completed in FY 2011.
Lead Hazard Control grant: $3.1 million grant awarded in January 2011 to fund several lead
control initiatives including inspection and lead -based paint hazard reduction in 185 Dubuque
housing units. One hundred of those units will receive $740 in additional funding for a more
comprehensive Healthy Homes approach. It will provide a comprehensive public education
campaign aimed at teaching property owners, tenants, and maintenance and remodeling
contractors how to provide and maintain lead -safe dwellings. Additionally, area contractors will
be certified, trained and provided economic incentives to grow their businesses and improve
skills in lead hazard reduction. Through February 28, 2013, 359 applicants enrolled, 180 units
received a lead hazard evaluation, and 97 units were completed. Thirteen projects are currently
signed and in progress for the quarter ending 3/31/2013. The Program achieved a 100% rating
from the quarterly report review from the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD).
Healthy Homes Production Program: $1 million grant awarded in January 2011. Provides
funds to identify and remediate housing - related health and safety hazards in 100 housing units
throughout Dubuque. This program will be used in conjunction with the Green and Healthy
Homes Initiative to address the conditions in the physical environment in the home as well as
issues in the lives of the dwelling's occupants. Through February 28, 2013, 195 applicants
enrolled, 117 units received a comprehensive healthy home assessment, and 70 units have
been completed. Seven projects are signed and in progress for the quarter ending 3/31/2013.
The Program achieved a 90% rating from the quarterly report review from HUD.
The Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program working together performed a
significant amount of outreach and education to the community and city and state government
leaders. The two programs participated in the Kids Expo. This community wide outreach event
had approximately 2,000 adults and children in attendance, with the focus on engaging families
with children and highlighting available services.
Another significant outreach and education event was the presentation to the Dubuque
Community School District nursing staff. City staff spoke about the available programs designed
to improve the health and safety conditions in the physical environment of the home and the
impact on families with unhealthy children. They noted the anticipated outcome is reduced
missed days of schools for the children and reduced missed days of work in the parents.
Previously members of the Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Program staff attended
and became certified as Healthy Homes Specialists through a Healthy Homes Practitioner
Course held in the City Housing Department. Also included in the training were the City's
general housing supervisor and inspectors, Section 8 inspectors, and members of the City's
Health Department, and the local Operation: New View Community Action Agency
Weatherization inspectors. This is continuing the goal of having City departments and related
outside partner's cross - trained and sharing job duties whenever possible, as well as
contributing to the GHHI goal to streamline and reduce duplication in the assessment process.
Neighborhood Stabilization Program: $444,328 from the Iowa Department of Economic
Development received in April 2009. The grant provides funding to purchase foreclosed or
abandoned homes and to rehabilitate, resell or redevelop these homes in order to stabilize
47
neighborhoods and deter decline in valuation of neighboring homes. To date, the City has
funded nine projects for acquisition and /or rehabilitation with NSP funds. Four projects have
been sold to 1st time homebuyers, one will be closing by the end of March 2013 and the others
are currently being rehabbed.
Rental Assistance Program: The City's primary means of directly providing affordable rental
housing is through the federal HUD Section 8 Program. This program offers rental assistance to
lower- income families for approximately $4 million annually with HUD funds paid to area
landlords. This program has been operational in Dubuque since 1976.
Carnegie -Stout Public Library Renovation: We set a goal of diverting deconstruction
materials from the landfill; though final numbers are not available, we have reached 63 %. Our
carpeting was sent to be recycled and the carpet we installed was made from recycled
carpeting. Our insulation is blue jeans - reduced to the kind of fluff you see in a dryer basket.
We have several counter tops made of sunflowers. Our lights are designed so that they do not
contribute to "light pollution;" the fixtures inside the building are not directed so that they can
shine out. Materials used, including paint, varnish, and adhesives were LEED certified. The
plantings around the library will require very little maintenance. The greatest impact of LEED,
however, will come in the many policies we will be adopting that will regulate the percentage of
"Green" cleaning products we use, measure our trash to reduce it and increase recycling, etc.
Studies show improved air quality will result in increased work productivity, fewer sick days, and
fewer health bills as compared to prior to the renovation.
Individual recycling baskets placed at every work station to facilitate ease of use to increase the
materials recycled in an effort to divert waste going to the landfill.
A meeting was held with the Library Maintenance Department to discuss current inventory of
cleaning agents and to plan for replacements of various types of cleansers to be green. This
has resulted in a new cleaning system in which only green cleaning agents are used.
The performance period for the LEED certification has ended. The Library submitted all
documentation for LEED certification in the Existing Building category at the Silver level on
February 15, 2012. The first communique from the U.S. Green Building Council was received
in April, 2012 regarding LEED certification. Some credits required clarification and the next
deadline is now May, 30, 2012. The Library was awarded LEED -EB certification at the Silver
level in October, 2012. The library is the first city -owned building to earn LEED certification and
is the first public library in this category to earn certification while also maintaining a listing on
the National Register of Historic Places.
Leisure Services Department:
• New windows were installed in golf maintenance building.
• Department incandescent light fixture replacement to CFL 2007 - 11
• Eagle Point park Bridge Complex Renovation - Replace all lights with LED fixtures
• Bunker Hill boiler replacement-"right sized" smaller high efficiency fuel efficient
completed in 2011. The existing boiler was over 30 years old and has experienced
issues with poor distribution of heat in various segments of the building. It was sized for
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the Bunker Hill building when it also heated the Bunker Hill Golf Course clubhouse. The
2001 clubhouse remodeling included new HVAC units and therefore the current boiler
was oversized for the office area.
• Department completed replacement of windows and doors in the Allison- Henderson
Building with energy efficient ones.
• More insulation and insulated doors were added to mower repair building.
• LED lighting was added to five pole sheds.
• Lighting fixture upgrades were completed at Sutton pool saving an estimated cost of
$373.00 in electrical costs annually.
Business:
The following are private and public LEED - certified buildings in Dubuque. Several additional
buildings have been built to LEED standards, but have chosen not to complete the certification
work.
Certification
Date
Development
LEED Status
2007
Durrant Architects
Platinum
2007
Medline Industries
Silver
2008
Hormel Foods
Gold
2009
IBM /Roshek Bldg
Platinum
2009
Kohl's
Certified
2009
McGraw Hill Regional HQ
Gold
2010
Kwik Star 495 (2685 Dodge St)
Silver
2011
EB Lyons Interpretive Center Expansion
Silver
2009
Carnegie Stout Public Library
Silver
2012
Finley Hospital Private Patient Room Addition
Certified
Non - Profit:
Schools:
People & Neighborhoods:
HEALTHY LOCAL FOOD
Government:
Dubuque Eats Well: Dubuque Eats Well (DEW) is a strategic partnership within the Dubuque
tri -state community that values sustainable Healthy Local Food (HLF) systems for the benefit of
all. DEW is a participant in our regional food system network as it relates to the comprehensive
social policy, economics and legislative issues. DEW values systematic resilience within the six
local food chain interlinks: production, distribution /marketing, processing,
purchasing /consumption, preparation and waste minimization. DEW works to influence the
Dubuque community's evolving food culture and food shed to support "well- being" related to:
healthy eaters, access to HLF, food safety and security, thriving local economies, rejuvenated
neighborhoods, local and ethnic cuisine, profitable producers, farmer laborers receiving a living
wage, "fair trade" support, vibrant biodiversity, lighter carbon and water footprints, eco- literate
food tourism and zero waste composting.
Dubuque County ISU Extension is currently recruiting for a grant- funded, temporary regional
foods coordinator to implement the recommendations of the University of Iowa local foods final
report. A Regional Foods Coordinator was hired in August to implement the Ul
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recommendations as well as the deliverables included a grant received through Limestone
Bluffs RC &D. Brittany Bethel began work in early September.
Community Garden Collaboration: Community gardens include the Dubuque Jaycees
Community Gardens at Veterans Memorial Park, 2700 Northview Dr, St. Luke's United
Methodist Wading Pool gardens, the Mercy Gardens at the Holy Ghost field, the Four Mounds
community garden located at 4392 Peru Road, the Crescent Health Community Garden at 21 st
Street between Elm and Kniest Streets and the Garden Organic program which is filmed at
Barrington Lakes garden (private property) and Steve's Ace Hardware. More information about
these gardens can be found at www. cityofdubuque .org /communitygardens.
The City of Dubuque has partnered with the Dubuque Jaycees to create a community garden at
Veterans Memorial Park. These plots will be available to all area residents for a fee of $30 for
an in- ground bend and $40 for a raised bed, plus a $25 deposit which will be returned after
harvest if the plot is cleared. Income -based fee waivers are also available to those who qualify.
Under this agreement, the City will provide the land for the garden plots and the Jaycees will
maintain responsibility for all aspects of managing the garden.
For the second year, the St. Luke's Wading Pool Garden project will provided gardens to
individuals who do not have the ability to plant a garden in their own yard or have access to a
larger community garden. Each participating individual or family will be paired with a "garden
guide" who will serve as a source of information and encouragement throughout the growing
season. The container gardens are easier to maintain than in- ground gardens and can provide
an abundance of healthy local food in a small space. Funding for this project is provided by the
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and the Norma Denlinger Fund.
For the second year, Four Mounds is partnering with Hillcrest Family Services to provide free
gardens at the 4392 Peru Road for use by the youth of their residential facilities. Led by staff,
the gardens and beekeeping operations provide produce for use at the Hillcrest Residential
facilities. All 80 youth are engaged in the process throughout the spring, summer and fall.
Additional produce is made available to Hillcrest Staff through a CSA process. This year Four
Mounds is working with Green Iowa AmeriCorps to utilize hoophouses and composting to
improve this operation.
A group of community garden leader meeting was held with the intention of finding ways to
collaborate on gardening efforts, identify gaps in community gardening need, and share
volunteers and resources. Additional meetings are planned for the non - growing season. A
community garden planning meeting was held in December, with approximately 25 community
garden organizers, gardeners, and volunteers attending or providing input via email. Their input
will be collected and used to plan for the upcoming growing season. The group was particularly
interested in forming a Community Garden Coalition, in which gardeners and garden organizers
could meet to collaborate, share resources, and identify gaps in community service and /or
opportunities for new gardens. The group would be supported by the ISU Extension Regional
Foods Coordinator and City Sustainable Community Coordinator for the short -term future.
The City of Dubuque, in partnership with the Dubuque Rescue Mission, Dubuque County
Conservation Board, and Multicultural Family Center, submitted a US Conference of Mayors
grant application which, if awarded, would fund the construction of a greenhouse on the DRM
garden site to expand growing opportunities to year- round. City staff from the Sustainability
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Office and Water, Legal and Planning Departments met with DRM and DCCB staff to review
proposed plans for a greenhouse on the garden site and identify information and actions
needed should the greenhouse plans move forward in 2013.
Leisure Services Department:
• Growing in Garden & Outdoor Fun 2009
• From Garden to your Table class 2010
• From your Garden to your Tummy class 2010
• Organic Garden 101 class 2011
• Fall Landscaping Workshop 2011
• Frontier Living 2012
• Dirt, Worms and Food 2012
• Snack Attack 2012
Business:
Dubuque Food Co -op: The Dubuque Food Co -op has announced its Board of Directors and is
currently completing a nation -wide search for a store manager and a marketing campaign to
secure 1,000 members. The Co -op is slated to open in spring 2013 in the Historic Millwork
District.
City Staff is working with the Board to provide a forgivable loan for the Co -op utilizing CDBG
funding. This proposal will be submitted to the City Council in December 2012.
Non - Profit:
18th St CCHC /ONV Facility: In Partnership with the Crescent Community Health Center and
Operation New View's Head Start Program, the former Housing and Community Development
Department Building at 18th Street is being converted to a Health Promotion site and Headstart
classrooms. CCHC will utilize primarily the second floor for diabetics /obesity education classes,
stress reduction, fitness and other health promotion and disease prevention activities and
classes for their patients. The multi - purpose space will also provide a venue for staff education
and development. Headstart will house two classrooms on the first floor. A kitchen will be
shared by both organizations.
Dubuque Farmers' Market: In this 167th year of market, there are 104 seasonal and 1
occasional vendors that rent a total of 121 stalls (as of 7/16/12). This represents 20 first -year
vendors. Vendors offer a huge variety of home -grown and made -made products and services
that fall into one or more of these broad categories: Produce (45), Baked goods (33), Eggs (9),
Meats (7), Plants (30), Wines (5), Crafts (39), Food prepared on -site (8), and Others (25). The
Dubuque Farmers' Market is administered by Dubuque Main Street on behalf of the City of
Dubuque.
Dubuque Farmers' Market has been involved with the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program for
Seniors and for Women, Infants, & Children for numerous years. Vendors (24) who meet the
criteria for selling produce apply through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship to be a certified vendor. Customers redeem their benefits in the form of a check or
voucher. Vendors deposit the checks and /or vouchers at area financial institutions for
reimbursement. There are no fees involved for vendors.
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In addition, vendors are encouraged to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) (formerly known as food stamps), which is administered through USDA's
Food and Nutrition Services. Dubuque Farmers' Market vendors are challenged to participate in
SNAP due to limited access to electricity for land -line based technology. The vendors (6) who
do accept SNAP's electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards have to purchase or lease wireless
equipment to accept the cards, as well as pay transaction fees on each purchase.
New 'smart' phone technology allows vendors (crafts and food) to accept debit and credit cards
at market without the use of separate equipment, but there is a transaction fee on each
purchase.
On May 5, 2012, a customer count was conducted at market. On May 5, more than 3,100
stickers were distributed, which equals more than 3,100 customers. On July 2, 2011, there
were 3,682 customers (this date was selected because it fell before the availability of sweet
corn). On October 1, 2011, there were 2,813 customers. Dubuque Main Street conducted their
first customer count in July 2010, which was 3,800 customers and was the first day sweet corn
was available at the market.
2012 -13 Winter Farmers' Markets: From November to April, the market opens every Saturday
morning from 9 am — 12 noon at the downtown Colts building. This volunteer run market
extends Dubuque's focus on local healthy foods sold year- round. Approximately 40 regular
vendors participate. Over 400 customers per week visit the market, which is run under the
umbrella of Four Mounds Foundation. Many new vendors this year have provided value -added
products for sale including fruit, potted plants, eggs, fresh & cured meat, honey, vegetables,
casseroles, baked goods, Belgain Waffles, and many other items.
Schools:
Farm to School Initiatives: The Sustainable Community Coordinator and ISU Extension
Regional Foods Coordinator met with the Food Services Directors for both the Dubuque
Community School District and Holy Family Schools. The group is exploring opportunities to
directly purchase local produce from tri -state area farms in the near future.
People & Neighborhoods:
Community garden organizers and participants continue to meet as spring approaches to share
resources and coordinate marketing and volunteer recruitment efforts. The St. Luke's Wading
Pool Garden is currently accepting applications for gardens as well as seeking garden guides.
COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE
Government:
• Mayor & Council Sustainability Pledge: The original Mayor's sustainability pledge was
launched in 2007, and thousands of copies have been distributed to schools, businesses,
and residents in Dubuque, giving them concrete ways they can implement each of the 11
Sustainable Dubuque principles. In October 2012, a new Mayor & City Council pledge was
created to challenge residents to consider new actions. For each principle three actions are
suggested -a "beginner, intermediate, and advanced" approach to implementing each
principle in daily life.
• CityChannel Dubuque programming
o EPA Programs that deal with stormwater infiltration and stormwater pollution
o City Journal & Sustainability Today interview programs
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• Sustainable Dubuque Initiative
• Smarter Sustainable Dubuque
• Green Alley Pilot Project
• Pay As You Throw
• Dubuque Recycling
• Waste to Wealth
• Bee Branch Project (three separate shows)
• Sustainable Design Assessment
• Winter Farmers Market
• Southwest Arterial (2011)
• Every Child 1 Every Promise
• Water Meter Replacement Project
• Landfill Diversion
• Water Pollution Control Plant Project
• Historic Millwork District Complete Streets Project
• University of Iowa, Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities partnership
• Community gardens
• Sustainability Down Under
• Sustainability in China
• Sustainability Exchange: Australia
• Green Iowa Americorps
• BYOB (Bring Your Own Bags)
• Growing Sustainable Communities Conference keynotes and interviews
• Methane Capture: DMASWA and Water & Resource Recovery Center projects
o IBM /Dubuque Smarter Cities project
o EPA educational videos focusing on stormwater and infiltration
• Reduce Runoff: Slow it Down, Spread it Out, Soak it In!
• After the Storm
o Sustainable Communities Tour
o Catfish Creek Watershed Management Authority Board
o Sustainability 101
o Keyline Rack & Ride promotional spot
o Plastic bags educational spot
o Winter Yard Waste /Food Scrap Pickup
o City Expo live telecasts
o City Council work sessions on Sustainable Dubuque
o Reinforcement of Sustainable Dubuque initiative by station identification spots,
placing appropriate Green Pledge icons on programming, CityChannel 8 graphics
Growing Sustainable Communities Conference: In early 2008, Dubuque hosted its first
Growing Sustainable Communities Conference entitled "Leading the Way to Global Climate
Solutions" at the Grand River Center in the Port of Dubuque. It was a regional event that was
attended by over 600 elected officials, business and community leaders, and college students
from the tri -state area. This inaugural event was designed to provide community leaders with
the knowledge of experts about the science of climate and how to incorporate sustainability into
their own communities.
The City has established a partnership with Sustainable City Network Inc. to host this year's
conference in an effort to market to a larger audience and establish the Growing Sustainable
53
Communities Conference as a premiere sustainability conference in the Midwest. The theme of
this year's conference will be "Economy, Engagement, Eco- Efficiencies," and the workshop
tracks will focus on the Sustainable Dubuque principles of Resource Management, Smart
Energy Use, Reasonable Mobility and Community Knowledge. A sustainable foods luncheon is
planned with food items produced by local agriculturalists.
The 4th Annual Growing Sustainable Communities Conference hosted 350 attendees from
across the country. The event included a networking reception at the National Mississippi River
Museum and Aquarium, three pre- conference half -day workshops, 21 workshops, and three
nationally- recognized keynote speakers. The audience demographics expanded to reach a
larger geographic area and included a more diverse mix of municipal representatives, business
leaders, and local students.
The 5th Annual Growing Sustainable Communities Conference was held on October 2 -3, 2012.
Approximately 460 individuals attended, up 32% from last year's attendance numbers. Of that
number, 59% were from government, with 19% representing businesses, 10% non - profits, and
4% the education sector. Attendees came from 92 different cities across 21 states; the majority
were from Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The 2013 Conference has been set for September 24-
25. Staff have begun meeting with the Iowa League of Cities, who will hold their annual
conference September 25 -27, to collaborate on programming and expand the audience of both
conferences to new municipal leaders from across Iowa in order to achieve the vision of
creating more leaders invested in the sustainability of their communities and promote regional
collaboration.
Leisure Services: Volunteer Development
• AmeriCorps VISTA position hired as Volunteer Coordinator.
• Networking completed with city departments and non - profit organizations about volunteer
needs and issues.
• High Impact Service Plan developed.
• Engaged in Make A Difference Day, MLK Jr. Service Day, Multicultural Family Center Taste
of the World, Earth Week, Green Iowa AmeriCorps Individual Projects, Days of Caring, Big
Day of Service — all volunteer engagement efforts.
• Love Your Block Initiative was developed and implemented for projects in neighborhoods
across the City. $5,000 from an AARP
Human Rights: Volunteer Development
• $48,000 grant obtained for collaborative effort with community partners to create a
volunteer center
• 15 model centers researched
• Vision, mission, service categories created
• Three potential implementation plans being created and reviewed
• Next steps involve planning and engaging with stakeholders around funding, location,
staffing
• VISTA volunteer coordinator continues her efforts
• 11 agencies trained on Volunteer Solutions
• 9 agencies offered capacity building services and have implemented three or more
effective volunteer management practices
• 9/11 Day of Service involved 300 letters written to troops
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• $1500 grant obtained for Make a Difference Day with volunteers engaging in yard clean
up, painting, insulation, caulking, weatherization
• Since September 2012, 1089 volunteers recruited, 74 disadvantaged youth, 196 college
students, 75 baby boomers, 729 worked on Days of Service, 3,286 hours logged.
Impact: At a rate of $17.22 per hour based on Independent Sector, the dollar value of volunteer
hours over past six months totals $56,585. Using volunteering strategically to meet human
services needs and the needs of underserved; increasing resident interaction; continuing to
become inclusive community where all people contribute. The outcomes will be more
ownership in community solutions as people see selves as part of solution; a sense of inclusion
will increase as people are welcomed to contribute their skills and develop a sense of
belonging.
Multicultural Family Center
• The MFC hosted Native Spirit Dancer to a capacity crowd (700 +) at the Five Flags Theater.
• The MFC hosted Dia De Las Americas on Saturday, October 8th from 4:30- 11:OOpm. Over
400 people attended this cultural celebration for Hispanic Heritage month. Event included
cultural displays representing 12 countries, dance performances, two live bands and an
authentic meal with foods from throughout the Americas.
• The MFC also offered a one -man show about the life of Satchel Paige on Tuesday, October
25th at Five Flags. Around 175 community members attended this 90 minute performance.
• Taste of the World was held at the Five Flags Arena on Saturday, March 31, 2012. The
event featured display booths and food samples from over 20 cultures represented in the
Dubuque community. Booths were hosted by community volunteers. Additionally, there were
7 performances representing 5 different cultures. Over 1,000 people attended the event to
enjoy the food samples, entertainment, and children's activities. This event is a great
opportunity for all community members to come together to celebrate our diversity, and work
together to create understanding and build bridges across cultures.
• Cinco de Mayo was held in Washington Park on May 4, 2012. Over 400 community
members came together to celebrate with kids activities, music, dancing, and food donated
from local Mexican restaurants. This event was planned by a core group of Hispanic
community members with the support of the Multicultural Family Center and Human Rights
Department.
• Juneteenth was held in Comiskey Park on Saturday, June 16, 2012 to celebrate the day the
last slaves were freed. Attracting over 300 community members, Juneteenth featured
children's activities, music, food, an Abraham Lincoln impersonator, free haircuts from Body
& Soul, and information booths from local community organizations.
Library: The library hosted a children's program using cardboard tubes from paper towels,
wrapping paper, and toilet tissue to create a race track for toy cars in February, 2012. During
Money Smart Week, 2012, children will create banks using Pringle's chip cans. Plans have
been made for a summer reading program craft to make scarves out of old t- shirts.
During Earth Week, 2012, the library hosted a book exchange, bring one in -take one. A blog
posting was also done in celebration of Earth Day, 2012.
httplicarnegiestout.blogspot.com/2012/04/earth-day-reads.html
A book display promoted recycling, sustainability, and "being green" in the Children's
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department. Storytime programs during Earth Week 2012 featured stories on the topic of
sustainability. A program was held called Pennies, Nickels, and Dimes, Oh My! for youth and it
involved making banks out of recycled Pringles chip containers.
The library hosted a Volunteer recognition dinner and the theme was sustainability. Extra
coffee mugs that people donated from their cupboards were donated to the library. They were
filled with potting soil and either flowers or herbs as a gift for attendees with a stick sign in them
reading, "Volunteers: Our Greatest Natural Resource."
Safe Community Initiative (High Priority):
The Task Force has achieved the following since its inception. First, this diverse group with
very different opinions and perspectives had open and difficult conversations so that they could
begin to reach some common understanding of the breadth of issues that needed to be
addressed and the difficulty of the task. Second, they agreed on two primary goals:
1. Identifying and acting upon things that most effectively reduce crime and that most effectively
reduce the perception of crime.
2. Recognizing that people want to feel safe and identifying ways to provide that feeling of
safety for people.
Third, they gathered ideas from subcommittee members, brought those ideas to a series of
Task Force meetings, discussed them and ultimately forwarded 9 recommendations to Council
on 2/1/10 and 33 additional recommendations to Council on 7/19/10.
Impact: This type of resident engagement, while challenging and less than perfect, is a
fundamental necessity in order for a democratic community to be sustainable.
On October 4, 2010, the City Council approved, upon recommendation from the Task Force,
the creation of a Safe Community Advisory Committee whose role is to oversee the
implementation progress of the Task Force recommendations for a one year period. The
members were appointed in December and they held their first meeting on March 2, 2011 and
their second meeting on April 13, 2011. Throughout 2011, they met on the second Wednesday
of every month at alternate meeting locations throughout the community to encourage broader
community participation. The Council extended the committee through 2012, during which they
met quarterly, and the Council has extended the committee through 2013 as well.
Impact: Having residents engaged in implementation oversight educates, empowers, and
engages residents by building resident awareness of the scope of the issues, by supporting
government accountability, and by building public trust.
Based on a Task Force recommendation, the City Council approved a contract with Northern
Illinois University Center for Governmental Studies to conduct a detailed study on crime and
poverty in Dubuque. NIU delivered the final study results to the Task Force in January 2011,
the Task Force met on February 5 and February 8 and formulated 18 recommendations in
response to the study, which were presented to the City Council at a worksession on February
28, 2011 and later accepted by the Council.
Impact: The study provides detailed factual information, as well as information on what
scientific studies indicate are more or less effective in the areas of reducing crime and the
perception of crime and creating safety. The study results will assist with educating and
empowering both City staff and the general public in making wise decisions.
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The Task Force recommended that its members be allowed to act as a conduit for accurate
information to the public. Task Force members were provided a broad range of information as
a result of participating on the Task Force and they have since participated in a variety of
speaking engagements. Most recently, City staff and the past chair of the Safe Community
Advisory Committee participated in a panel discussion at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Impact: Having community members hold discussions with the general public takes advantage
of their experiences as a member of the public reviewing information and participating on a
resident advisory group, and also allows for more effective distribution of information so staff
can focus on handling those aspects of daily governmental operations that require staff
expertise.
The Task Force recommended that property owners not be provided government funding
unless their properties are in compliance or they are working towards compliance. In August,
the Economic Development Department began using a certification form and cross - checking
compliance with code enforcement departments. The Housing Department also began
requiring code compliance for all rental property owners seeking Rehab funds. Inspections and
code compliance already are required for property owners seeking to rent to those receiving
Section 8 rental assistance.
Impact: These steps will result in safe buildings and will improve livability and equity for
residents in rental units.
The Task Force recommended encouraging people to improve lighting around their properties.
The City has expanded the Washington Neighborhood Yard Lighting initiative to include
neighborhoods east of the Bluffs and all low- moderate income neighborhoods. Property
owners are eligible for a rebate of up to $250 for front yard lighting that meets certain
requirements, and up to $100 for back yard lighting. 10 households have utilized the incentive
programs. The City also installed new street lights at all 38 possible alley locations from 12th to
20th streets in the Washington Neighborhood.
Impact: Extra lighting will enhance neighborhood safety.
The Task Force recommended reducing the time allotted for correcting property violations from
the current two years. In April 2010, the City Council amended the Housing Code to reduce
inspections and the appeals board process to be completed in no more than 9 months.
Impact: This change will result in property violations being corrected more quickly.
The Task Force recommended that the Police Department enforce noise and traffic ordinances
more aggressively.
• This has been a police department priority since recommended
• 2010 saw a 50% increase in noise enforcement
• 2011's 638 noise enforcements were double 2010
• Through August 2012, noise enforcement was running 30% less than 2011's record year
but still far above 2010 and previous years
• Media release issued in March 2012 advising public of all noise ordinances
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• 2012 ordinance on vehicle noise amended to include additional language to better alert
motorists of what constitutes a violation
• Through August 2012 officers have taken enforcement on 8180 traffic violations
• 16 special enforcement traffic programs in addition to regularly scheduled traffic projects
funded under Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau.
• Automated Traffic Enforcement researched and first reading of ordinance passed in
summer of 2012; later tabled indefinitely.
The Task Force also recommended that the City require landlords to conduct mandatory
background checks.
• Background checks mandated as of July 2, 2011
• FY 2012 5,836 checks run at cost to City of $50,370
• Auditing for compliance being investigated
• Attendance at Crime Free Multihousing Training Program mandated for landlords
• 2010 -2012 six sessions offered with 376 landlords attending.
• Training manual updated and available on City website
• Curriculum expanded to include DVD on rental code enforcement
• Resources for landlords added including Landlord Association, Four Mounds Energy
Center, Multicultural Family Center, Utility Billing, Solid Waste, Housing, yard light
initiatives, historic preservation, neighborhood associations, Dubuque Dispute Resolution
Center, Green and Healthy Homes, and Greater Dubuque Development Corporation
newcomers program
Impact: Landlords will be aware of the criminal histories of their tenants when making rental
decisions, and also will be aware of the legal standards surrounding the operation of rental
housing and human resources available in the community.
The Task Force recommended that the City establish a threshold number of police complaints
that will result in the property being designated for City assistance to resolve problems at the
property.
• In January 2011, the Council adopted an ordinance change describing the types and
numbers of calls that will place the property in a priority category.
• As of May 19, 2011, 2,119 letters have been mailed notifying landlords of police calls to
their properties since the inception of the notification program in December 2009.
• Notifications are sent to registered landlords or property managers for police calls to
licensed rental properties that involve one or more of 72 different types of police call
natures.
• The Police Department averaged 40 notification letters per week in 2011.
• The Police Department also has hired two interns who are working to insure accuracy of
addresses in the database being used to send notification letters and to assist with
community policing efforts.
The Task Force recommended that the City intensify exterior code enforcement efforts.
• In August 2010, the Housing Department implemented a homeowner exterior inspection
process in the Washington Neighborhood, which involves a compliance checklist and
information on financial assistance available. By June 2011, all 200 owner - occupied
housing had been inspected.
• 800 rental properties inspected in Washington Neighborhood with 760 brought into
compliance.
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• Rental inspection cycle reduced from 7 to 5 years
• 29 vacant and abandoned buildings addressed; 25 remain on the list
• Regular meetings continue to examine problem property enforcement
• Cab screen interface devices have been installed in all solid waste trucks to report code
violations
• The Department also performed exterior -only code enforcement inspections of all 2,130
rental buildings in all downtown neighborhoods.
Impact: These efforts should significantly affect appearance of downtown properties.
The Task Force recommended efforts to increase public understanding of the Section 8
program.
Crime Free Multi Housing Training - 150+ people
3/12/2011 Assisted Housing Booth
10/13/2011 Assisted Housing Booth
11/19/2011 Assisted Housing Presentation & Booth
3/24/2012 Assisted Housing Presentation & Booth
4/12/2012 Assisted Housing Presentation & Booth
02/23/2013 Assisted Housing Presentation & Booth
Iowa Senate Human Resource Committee — 30 + people in attendance, presentation was
broadcast by HR committee on You Tube
1/19/2012 Assisted Housing, Family Self- Sufficiency & Bridges Initiative
City Expo
4/11/2011 Assisted Housing Booth
4/10/2012 Assisted Housing Booth
Dubuque Community School District Counselors — 15 people
1/18/2012 Assisted Housing & FSS
Dubuque Works Board — 15 people
5/17/2011 Circles® and FSS
Loras College Advanced Marketing Class — 18 people
9/9/2011 Assisted Housing
Dubuque City Council
11/21/2011 FSS and Circles® Presentation
Juneteenth — 20 + people to our booth
6/16/2012 Assisted Housing Booth
North End Neighborhood Resource Fair - 20+ people to our booth
9/20/2012 Assisted Housing Booth
United Methodists Women's Group — 17 people
10/4/2012 Assisted Housing and Poverty in Dubuque Presentation
Impact: The public will be educated about the facts surrounding Section 8 rental assistance.
The Task Force recommended that the City address community concerns about the real or
perceived impact of the Section 8 program on the community by decreasing the number of
Section 8 vouchers in the program to 900, and increasing the staff capacity of the Family Self -
Sufficiency (FSS) Program.
• Number of utilized vouchers decreased to 900 in January 2010
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• Preference points for elderly, disabled, veterans, supported community living and
homeless population implemented
• Third FSS coordinators added in FYE 2013
• Circles Initiative expanded and Circles Coach hired
• Federal regulations do not allow limiting voucher eligibility to Dubuque residents and was
not implemented
• Housing Choice Voucher program must be administered in manner consistent with HUD
regulations
• In 2010, 28 households or 3% of the Housing Choice Voucher program were enrolled in
FSS program
• By July 2012, 100 households or 12% of program participants were enrolled
• As of October 2012, 92 households or 11% of households enrolled.
• In FYE 2012 143 Households were enrolled in FSS program.
Impact: There will be fewer families receiving Section 8 rental assistance, with those living in
Dubuque and /or elderly or disabled receiving highest priority. There will be a corresponding
reduction in federal funding received for the program.
The Task Force recommended increasing participation of Section 8 participants in self -
sufficiency programs. As of FY 2012, the Getting Ahead program has graduated its 184th
participant. In addition, the Circles initiative has begun and the Circles coach has been hired.
The Resident Advisory Board also has become more engaged with regular meetings with
Housing Department staff. The Task Force also recommended encouraging community wide
support for initiatives that support self- sufficiency. The City has obtained an Urban Youth Corps
grant that will provide three youth who face barriers to employment with paid employment and
job skills training for the summer.
Impact: Participants in self- sufficiency programs and their allies will be empowered to make
responsible choices and to address systemic problems that interfere with success.
The Task Force recommended increased human relations efforts as a priority in the community,
as well as mandatory intercultural training for City staff and City Board and Commission
members. The Task Force also recommended that community members who attend training
serve as ambassadors for intercultural work in the community.
• In August 2010, the Human Rights Department reorganized to permit additional staff
time focused on conflict management, mediation, facilitated dialogue, training on cultural
differences and intercultural communication, and systemic change initiatives.
• The Department has established annual Board and Commission training on intercultural
competence skills that is offered in the Spring and the Fall of each year and is also made
available to the general public free of charge.
• The Department worked with four agencies to establish and develop intercultural teams
in each organization.
• The Department has offered two, 32 hour Intercultural Leadership Workshops
• Staff also established an Intercultural Ambassadors group that meets quarterly to
strategize about personal intercultural skill development, addressing intercultural issues
existing in member organizations, and addressing intercultural issues in the community.
Impact of education and skill building initiatives:
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• Institutions represented on ambassador group in addition to the City are: UD, Loras,
Senior and Hempstead H.S., Goodwill, Hillcrest, Riverview, Hills and Dales, Body and
Soul Wellness Center, CFGD, GDDC, Hormel, John Deere.
• Senior has asked us to offer skill building with staff next year
• UD has implemented intercultural skill building as part of the curriculum in the Teacher
Education Department
• Hillcrest has trained trainers and an intercultural team operating in their organization
• Police Department has created their own intercultural communication course for Field
Training Officers and new recruits
• Hempstead offers a respect retreat for all incoming ninth graders
The Task Force also recommended initiatives to promote mutual understanding, community
solidarity, and respect and understanding among residents.
• In addition to building individual skills, we also work on developing group /community
relationships so we can work together toward common goals and have a stronger
impact.
• One part of our work is related to a recognition that for some communities of people,
their views and values have not been made part of "the way we always do things" and
they may be left with a feeling they do not belong here in the community.
• One way to address this feeling is to sponsor cultural and educational events where
people can come together across their differences and learn about each other in
comfortable, social environments
• This year, the Human Rights Commission, MFC, HRC, f &v, Riverview Center, Chamber
of Commerce, NAACP, CFGD collaborated on Cinco de Mayo, Marshallese
Constitutional Day, Dr. King Tribute Days, Juneteenth, Taste of the World, the
Community Barbecue, Chamber Diversity Summit, Speak Your Peace, and the Better
Together Dubuque conference and social.
• The MFC has seen a steady increase in users from 1,671 in 2010 to 2,568 in 2011 to
3,241 in 2012; demographics are mixed:
o Adult users: 47 -49% white; 23 -26% black; 11 -13% Hispanic; 1 -2% Asian; 5 -7%
Pacific Islander; 7 -9% other
o Youth users: 40 -49% black; 26 -28% white; 11 -13% Hispanic; 1 -2% Asian; 5 -7%
Pacific Islander; 7 -9% other
o Programs bring people together of various backgrounds for family reading night,
family cooking class, family art class, moving in Comiskey park, music in Jackson
park, and variety of field trips.
o Mixed race /ethnicity group of youth ages 13 -18 participating in Future Talk each
summer — meaningful work for a stipend plus educational and service
components
Impact of Cultural and educational events: Cultural events further the objective of embracing
diverse populations that support multicultural workforce and continuing to become more
inclusive. Outcome is opportunities to experience arts and culture; young professionals want to
live here and return to raise families.
The Task Force made several recommendations related to working with resident to build a
stronger sense of connection to each other and to the community across differences, increasing
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resident participation in community activities, and raising awareness and support for programs
to foster self- sufficiency:
• The City Council approved the creation of the position of Community Engagement
Coordinator and the transfer of the volunteer coordinator VISTA member to the
Department in the 2013 budget.
• We have convened three community resources groups - these are cultural minority
groups in the community who come together to contribute to the community. This past
year, Hispanic group hosted Cinco de Mayo in Washington Park, the LGBTQ Youth
Network participated in Art Gumbo, and the BMC mentored high school youth.
• Volunteers in the Human Rights Speakers' Bureau and the Presentation Lantern
Center's International Speakers' Bureau offered 31 presentations reaching over 800
people on topics of race, national origin, and sexual orientation.
• The Hispanic community group met with various organizations to discuss ways in which
services could be improved to better meet community member needs.
• The Community Engagement Coordinator has worked with staff and Washington
Neighborhood residents to assist with design, process, barriers, objections, and needs in
order to build capacity for neighborhood leadership. Outcomes to date include a
neighborhood resident agreeing to serve as point of contact, volunteers who are creating
a neighborhood newsletter and passing out fliers door to door to engage with other
residents; residents who have volunteered space and have offered to prepare food for a
social as part of the next resident meeting.
• We are developing a Citizen Academy to bring residents together across differences to
become more involved with government, to have access to information, and to be
informed and active citizens
• The objective is to increase resident participation in governance process; outcome is
more ownership of end products — people involved and support outcomes; how to get
involved, where help is needed; be informed citizen; skills to handle conflicts that come
up with differences of opinion and belief so can be comfortable being active and
involved;
Impact: Community Resource Groups, speakers' bureau, neighborhood leadership
development, and the Citizen Academy all further the objectives of increasing resident
interaction and continuing to become inclusive community; and partnering to meet needs of
underserved; Long term outcomes will be a community where everyone welcome, people live
without fear or threat; there is better access and use of facilities; and services are available and
delivered in fair and equitable manner
To catalyze increased resident participation in volunteer and service activities, the Community
Engagement Coordinator and AmeriCorps VISTA member are working with partners to
establish a collaborative approach to volunteering and have accomplished the following:
• $48,000 grant obtained for collaborative effort with community partners to create a
volunteer center
• 15 model centers researched
• Vision, mission, service categories created
• Three potential implementation plans being created and reviewed
• Next steps involve planning and engaging with stakeholders around funding, location,
staffing
• VISTA volunteer coordinator continues her efforts
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• 11 agencies trained on Volunteer Solutions
• 9 agencies offered capacity building services and have implemented three or more
effective volunteer management practices
• 9/11 Day of Service involved 300 letters written to troops
• $1500 grant obtained for Make a Difference Day with volunteers engaging in yard clean
up, painting, insulation, caulking, weatherization
• Since September 2012, 1089 volunteers recruited, 74 disadvantaged youth, 196 college
students, 75 baby boomers, 729 worked on Days of Service, 3,286 hours logged.
Impact: At a rate of $17.22 per hour based on Independent Sector, the dollar value of volunteer
hours over past six months totals $56,585. Using volunteering strategically to meet human
services needs and the needs of underserved; increasing resident interaction; continuing to
become inclusive community where all people contribute. The outcomes will be more
ownership in community solutions as people see selves as part of solution; a sense of inclusion
will increase as people are welcomed to contribute their skills and develop a sense of
belonging.
The Task Force recommended a parental responsibility ordinance modeled after a successful
program that includes engaging parents and teens in prevention. On March 22, 2011, the City
Council passed an ordinance.
Impact: The ordinance will hold parents accountable for the criminal behavior of their children
and includes referrals for parenting classes.
The Task Force recommended engagement of volunteers across race and income levels as
part of a monthly Community Days of Caring and also recommended use of volunteers to
address exterior code violations. The annual city -wide Community Days of Caring occurred
April 29 and 30, 2011. The Human Rights Department, Neighborhood Development Specialist,
Housing Department, and Washington Neighborhood Development Corporation collaborated to
bring a mixed group of more than 50 volunteers together to work on improving the exterior
appearance of a few small businesses along the Central Avenue corridor and homes that were
identified as having exterior code violations through the City's inspection program. In addition,
the City's Department Managers and Management Team members are engaged in ongoing
discussions regarding how best to support and bring community resources to bear on projects
designed to build bridging social capital in the community. The AmeriCorps VISTA member has
been working over the past several months on the High Impact Service plan designed to
engage volunteers strategically in meeting pressing neighborhood and community needs. In
April and May 2012, more than 1,000 volunteers were engaged in two large community
volunteering events.
Impact: These initiatives will lead to an improved ability to create an inclusive environment, to
build bridging social capital, and to negotiate conflict across cultural differences as people work
toward common goals.
The Task Force recommended that parents and youth be encouraged and engaged in out -of-
school -time programs and parenting classes designed to matter to the participants. In
response to a discussion with the Safe Community Advisory Committee at its first meeting, the
City submitted a letter to the Dubuque Community School District expressing support for the
District's Iowa 21 st Century Community Learning Center Grant Application. On April 7, 2011,
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the District was notified that the community will receive $850,000 in state funding to increase
out of school time activities for junior high school students.
Impact: This collaborative effort will provide funding expanded after school program options,
including components to assist parents with literacy and adolescent development. Research
has indicated that engagement in after school programming improves motivation and student
achievement.
The Task Force recommended additional neighborhood clean -ups and educating the
community on City waste disposal policies in an effort to clarify the purpose of the clean -up
programs. The following clean -ups occurred in 2011, and each of them included a social /get to
know your neighbor component:
Downtown Neighborhood Clean -up April 30
Orange ParkM/ashington Clean up May 7
Historic Bluffs Neighborhood May 7
Hilltop -Ivy League Neighborhood May 13
Langworthy Neighborhood May ?
Valley View Neighborhood May 21
North End Neighborhood fall -- date to be determined
The City has also funded a number of neighborhood beautification efforts initiated by
neighborhood groups including landscaping improvements in the Washington Street traffic
diverters, flower planting /landscaping at Grant Park, Jackson Park, Avon Park, 11th Street
gateway and the 2nd Street Island across from the Cathedral.
Impact: These clean -ups both improve neighborhood appearance and provide an opportunity
to engage neighbors in meeting one another and working together to care for their
neighborhood.
The Task Force encouraged community -wide support of initiatives that support self- sufficiency,
with a particular focus on existing programs: Circles, Project HOPE, Intercultural Competency
Training, Every Child /Every Promise. In May 2011, the City Council approved a grant
agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for the Urban Youth Corps Program
which allowed the City to create a three person work crew to use with maintenance projects
from May through September this year. The Iowa DOT Urban Youth Corps Program objective
is to provide transportation- related employment and training opportunities to youth between the
ages of 16 and 21 who face barriers to employment. The crew is assisting Leisure Services
Department in maintaining and improving the aesthetics of our community by working on two
major projects plus a number of high profile areas throughout the city. The Urban Youth Corps
Grant has been continued for the summer of 2012.
Impact: Although temporary in nature, these three summer positions are new hires that could
lead to newly created opportunities for each of the three crew members who face barriers to
employment.
The Task Force recommended that all departments in the City be challenged to develop and
maintain a model Section 8 program for a city of this size, meeting the needs of the elderly and
disabled and also developing self - sufficiency for families. In addition to tripling the number of
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FSS Program enrollees, graduating more than 184 Getting Ahead Program participants and
implementing the Circles Program, the Housing Department has continued to improve Section 8
in other ways. The COP corporal assigned to the Program has opened more than 1500
investigations, resulting in termination of benefits for 306 households. The National Association
for Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) recognized the Bridges Initiative with an
Award of Merit for the Bridges Initiative. The Bridges out of Poverty Workshops have now been
conducted for more than 2500 persons. Our most recent Section Eight Management
Assessment Program (SEMAP) score, a HUD assessment conducted annually, was 85% due
to the number of reduced vouchers. A new tenant and financial management software system
has been approved and purchased from the national Emphasys firm. The Elite software has
been installed at Housing. This will allow enhanced communication between all activities at the
Department, including code enforcement and the Finance Department, as well as getting us
closer to the goal of a paperless Section 8 program. The Resident Advisory Board has helped
to revise and streamline the application process by developing new application materials. An
on -line survey for Section 8 landlords has been posted and has generated a constructive
discussion. Now in planning is a series of 2 -3 dialogues with landlords to gain more ideas for
improving Program administration and the inspections process.
The Task Force recommended the creation of an ordinance prohibiting the boarding of windows
and doors facing streets. An ordinance is in place that applies to any windows or doors
boarded up after March 1, 2011.
The Task Force recommended implementation of an exception rent program to avoid
concentrated pockets of poverty. The exception rent program was implemented in October
2010. Currently, approximately 20% of voucher holders are residing in the west side census
tract exception areas.
Impact: Greater housing choice for voucher holders and deconcentration of poverty.
The Task Force recommended the installation of street lights in the middle of the block to
brighten up the streets at night and increase visibility for residents. New street lights at all
possible alley- street locations from 12th to 20th in the Washington Neighborhood have been
installed. Existing street lights in the Washington Neighborhood have been upgraded to use
brighter bulbs. The receptacles have been purchased and will be installed in April and May of
2013.
Impact: Improved nighttime visibility in the neighborhood.
The Task Force recommended an increase in the number of trash receptacles in the street. In
October 2010, the Public Works Department submitted a budget request for $30,000 for FYI 2
for the purchase and installation of litter and recyclables receptacles in the downtown area and
surrounding neighborhoods. The Council approved this budget request in March 2011. The
Public Works Department is now making recommendations to the City Manager regarding
receptacle placements.
Impact: Residents can easily assist in keeping neighborhoods clean and clear of trash.
The Task Force recommended that the City develop and enforce policies that are consistent
with the "preservation briefs" to maintain historic properties. City staff has indicated to the City
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Council that the City has used the preservation briefs as a matter of City policy in local Historic
Districts and federally- funded rehabilitation projects for many years. Staff recommended that
the City should continue to utilize these technical publications as a reference and guide, with
the exception of preservation brief #31, which is contrary to another Task Force
recommendation regarding boarded doors and windows.
Family Self- Sufficiency (FSS) Program: The FSS Program prepares participants for financial
independence and possible home ownership. The FSS program provides access to child care,
transportation, education, job development, household skills training, affirmatively furthering
fair housing and financial literacy training. In Fiscal Year 2011, another FSS staff position was
approved by the City Council for expansion of the program from 45 to 75 -90 families. As of
December 1, 2012, the FSS program is serving 93 households. Participation has increased
from 2% of voucher holders participating in 2009 to 11.5% of voucher holders currently
enrolled in FSS. In FYE 2012 143 households were involved in FSS with five FSS participants
have successfully completing the FSS program. In April 2012, the Habitat for Humanity Board
accepted a Family Self- Sufficiency member to participate in the Habitat for Humanity program.
The FSS family worked to rehabilitate one of the homes relocated from the Bee Branch Creek
Restoration area. A dedication ceremony was held on November 21, 2012 at the Washington
Street home. The FSS family is expected to close on the home in December 2012.
Circles® Initiative (Management Agenda): Family and Assisted Housing staff also are
instrumental in "Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin'- By World (Getting AheadTM, "a program for
people in poverty to help them understand the hidden rules of the middle class as well as
communication skills, value systems, and expectations used in order to bridge the gap from
poverty. Participants are exposed to the Bridges out of Poverty concept based on Philip DeVol
and Dr. Ruby Payne's research on poverty, which offers a framework for understanding the
culture of poverty. As of September 1, 2012, 184 individuals have graduated from Getting
Ahead. We are currently running a group with 11 participants that will graduate in June of
2013.
"Getting Ahead" graduates can now become leaders in the Circles® Campaign. Circles®
matches Getting Ahead graduates with community members willing to support their journey to
self - sufficiency. Circles® has been active since September 2010 and has matched 13 getting
ahead graduates in 11 circles. Six of these circles have completed their commitments and
obtained the goals they set for themselves. Upon completion of their commitments, the Circle
Leaders more than doubled the hours they worked each week and the total household income
nearly quadrupled. There are currently 5 Circle Leaders matched and working on goals and
Getting Ahead graduates waiting to be matched. Our goal is to have 20 matched circles by the
end of the year.
Circles meets weekly on Tuesday nights at Prescott School and averages 65 community
members in attendance. The Circles Initiative received the Faces and Voices, CommUNITY
Award for Diversity Initiatives of 2013 and was recognized at the Community Foundation of
Greater Dubuque's Block Party event as favorite non - profit initiative through a community vote.
The Circles® Coach continues to offer Bridges Out of Poverty Workshops to members and
partners of the Circles® community. To date, we have trained over 2500 people in Dubuque
and the surrounding area. A full day training will be offered to 100 community members in April
of 2013.
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Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re- Housing Program (HPRP): $502,294 ARRA Grant
received in 2009 provides financial and other assistance to prevent individuals and families
from becoming homeless and helps those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-
housed and stabilized. The funds target individuals and families who would be homeless if not
for this assistance.
The HPRP grant has assisted 195 families (479 persons) since the inception of the program in
September 2009. Homelessness prevention, which assisted families and individuals at risk of
becoming homeless, provided financial services to 127 households (361 persons) in the form of
rental assistance, security and utility deposits, utility payments, moving cost assistance and
motel /hotel vouchers. Case management and outreach were provided to 134 households (375
persons). Homeless assistance provided financial assistance, to 59 households (101 persons)
and case management and outreach to 62 households (105 persons). As of the end of June
2012, all funds have been expended. The grant ended on July 14, 2012.
Road to Success, a job readiness fair designed to prepare low- income individuals for
employment was held on June 12, 2012. Over 30 community volunteers came together to
provide 25 participants an opportunity to experience a variety of learning tracks including:
"Navigating networking "; "Prepare for a Successful Interview "; "Mock Interviews "; "The Interview
is Over- Now What "; "Dress to Impress "; "Creating a Resume that Gets You Noticed ";
"Resume & Cover Letter Critiques "; and "Plan for a Job that's Right for You." The event was
sponsored by American Trust & Savings Bank. Each participant received a flash drive fully
loaded with resources designed to support job seekers in their continued search for
employment plus one -on -one attention from professionals who volunteered during the event.
Participants included members of the Family Self- Sufficiency Program, Getting Ahead and
Circles, residents of community shelters and individuals referred by our many community
agency partners.
Shelter Plus Care Program: The $536 000 grant commenced in FY 2008 for the five -year
program to provide rental assistance to homeless persons with disabilities. The five year grant
ended as of June 10, 2012. We have received an additional one year grant allowing us to
continue providing permanent housing along with supportive services for 18 homeless
individuals /families. The Housing and Community Development Department administers the
funds and provides them to Project Concern, who contracts with private landlords to provide
needed housing.
Arts and Culture (Top Priority): The City of Dubuque participated in national studies of arts,
culture, heritage and preservation. Two highly acclaimed studies were completed that pertain to
the art, cultural, heritage and historical preservation aspects of the Dubuque area. The Arts and
Economic Prosperity IV, an economic impact study conducted with the non - profit sector in the
city of Dubuque, evaluates the impact spending by nonprofit arts organizations and their
audiences have on their local economies. During 2011, the City of Dubuque collected surveys
from over 800 Dubuque arts and culture event attendees and organization expenditure surveys
from 44 arts nonprofits. The most comprehensive economic impact study of the nonprofit arts
and culture industry ever conducted in the United States, Arts & Economic Prosperity IV was
conducted by Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing
the arts and arts education. The City of Dubuque was one of 182 study regions that participated
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in the study.
National and local Arts and Economic Prosperity IV study results were released at an Arts
Mean Business launch event held on July 23, 2012. The nonprofit arts and culture industry in
Dubuque generates $47.2 million in annual economic activity, supporting 1,530 full -time
equivalent jobs and generates $5 million in local and state government revenues and $36.7
million in household income to local residents.
According to the study, nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Dubuque spent $17.6 million
during fiscal year 2010. This spending is far - reaching: organizations pay employees, purchase
supplies, contract for services and acquire assets within their community. Those dollars, in turn,
supported 577 jobs, generated $15.6 million in household income for local residents and $1.3
million in local and state government revenues. In addition to spending by organizations, the
nonprofit arts and culture industry in Dubuque leverages $29.6 million in event - related spending
by its audiences. As a result of attending a cultural event, attendees often eat dinner in local
restaurants, pay for parking, buy gifts and souvenirs, and pay a babysitter. What's more,
attendees from out of town often stay overnight in a local hotel. In Dubuque, these dollars
support 953 full -time equivalent jobs, generated $21.1 million in household income for local
residents and $3.7 million in local and state government revenues.
The formulation of a comprehensive marketing plan for the economic impact data is in
development, to be completed by October. Strategies have already been implemented to raise
awareness that the arts are an industry that has a large impact on the local economy. In
October 2012, area non - profits were instructed on how, based on the Dubuque data, to figure
their own economic impact numbers to use in fundraising and grant making. In November 2012,
a publication was produced showing the results and the City's investment in the arts to be
distributed to members of the business, civic and governmental organizations to encourage
their investment in the arts. While a limited number of brochures were printed, the online
version will be widely promoted. Complete study results are available at
www. cityofdubuque .org /artsmeanbusiness.
Also in conjunction with Americans for the Arts, The Local Arts Index (LAI) was conducted with
both the non - profit and for - profit sectors throughout Dubuque County. Dubuque was selected
to be one of only 100 communities to participate in the inaugural LAI. Dubuque was the only
county in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota that participated in the study, a 24 -month research
initiative that serves as a complement to the National Arts Index. Some of the findings from the
LAI were reported in August 2012 and are now under review. Other data will be released
throughout 2012. The index provides an evidence- based look at key issues such as the
growing number of artists and art organizations, changing audience demands, the impact of
technology, personal participation, and the relationship to the arts and economy.
This information will provide the possibility for greater partnerships, cooperation, improved
access, and increased funding for the arts. The entire community can use this broad and
detailed hard data in grant making, advocacy, economic development, tourism and attracting
people and business to Dubuque, important elements in contributing to our social and cultural
vibrancy. This knowledge about arts, culture and heritage in Dubuque County has never before
been collected in one source.
The Local Arts Index is the first county -level study ever designed to measure the health and
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vitality of the arts industries throughout the United States. It will use a single methodology with
information gathered from research produced by the federal government and private research
organizations and covering multiple industries, including non - profit groups, for - profit arts
businesses, employment figures, and more. When these quantitative measures are taken
together, the Local Arts Index will provide a year -by -year and community -by- community
comparison of the nation's arts sector. The Index is being developed so that it can be replicated
in communities across the country. Through the Local Arts Index, the character of Dubuque
County's art culture will be explored to determine: what makes the county unique from other
areas in the nation; the vitality of the arts and how much exists, and; how we compare to other
counties. The main areas of study are:
• Performing arts venues
• Local ownership of cultural resources
• The local literary scene
• Festivals
• K -12 arts education
• Performance and presentation opportunities for young artists
• Tourism draw of local arts and culture
• Nightlife and the arts
• Tourism marketing of the arts
• Ethnic groups in the cultural life of the community
• Public Art
• Exhibition Spaces
In gathering information for these two studies, contact was made with new arts organizations,
artists and art advocates who had not previously been in the City's communication loop. Better
cooperation among groups and individuals has begun and awareness has been built to
establish a better network for art planning and advocacy.
In November 2010, this network was used to attract participation from the arts community in a
visit from National Endowment for the Arts chair Rocco Landesman for a site visit to Dubuque
for the Our Town grant received by the City of Dubuque and Dubuque Main Street. It was also
very successively used in master arts planning for the Historic Millwork District in February
2012. This network will be used to promote the Arts Means Business Campaign.
Arts Funding: The City of Dubuque has provided over $2 million dollars in funding for the arts
since the establishment of the City's Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory commission in 2004. The
City has invested $2,070,000 through three programs established by the Dubuque City Council.
In all, $1,610,000 has been awarded to area arts and cultural organizations through the
Operating Support Grant Program and $310,000 through the Special Projects Grant Program,
which has also leveraged another $710,992 in community support. An additional $175,000 has
funded Art on the River, a temporary sculpture exhibition along the Mississippi RiverWalk in the
Port of Dubuque.
Operating support is provided to established 501(c)(3) arts and culture organizations located in
the City of Dubuque that primarily serve Dubuque residents with year -round arts and culture
events, programs and services, and that can demonstrate a record of programmatic and
administrative stability. Funding is based upon a percentage of an organization's operating
expenses. In May, the Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission reviewed ten funding
requests from Dubuque arts and culture organizations requesting $247,371 in funds from the
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FY 2013 Arts and Culture Funding Program for Operating Support with a budget of $210,000.
The maximum funding levels initially established for the program are 6% of organization's
previous year's operating expenses or $50,000, whichever is less. Total funding available in the
FY 2014 budget is $210,000. Fiscal year 2014 Operating Support funding applications are
available after February 2013.
The Special Projects Arts and Culture Grant program has provided funding to 50 separate
projects which have expanded arts and cultural opportunities in our community, significantly
contributing to our community's social and cultural vibrancy. The Arts and Cultural Affairs
Advisory Commission has reviewed a record 14 grant applications from Dubuque organizations
requesting $91,286 in funds from the FY 2013 Arts and Culture Grant Program for Special
Projects. The FY 2013Special Program grants funded six grants that also leveraged another
$54,776 in community investment for these projects. The FY 2014 budget for Special Project
Grants is $35,000 available after February 2013.
The City Council approved the creation of the Art on the River outdoor sculpture project in
November 2005, and approved a budget of $300,000 over the next 10 years for this innovative
initiative. Working in conjunction with the Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission, the
Dubuque Museum of Art and a volunteer committee made up of artists, educators and city staff,
the City has identified highly visible locations at the Port of Dubuque to display selected
artwork. The Port of Dubuque is a 90 -acre riverfront campus which features the National
Mississippi River Museum and Aquariums, Grand River Center conference center, Grand
Harbor Resort and WaterPark, Diamond Jo Casino, historic Dubuque Star Brewery, and
Dubuque Shot Tower. In 2012, the temporary public art exhibit drew a record number of 118
entries from 66 artists in 20 different states and has been recognized as one of the premier
temporary art exhibits in the country. Now in its seventh year, the exhibit has brought nearly 70
works to the City that have been viewed by thousands of citizens and visitors. The application
period for the 2013 exhibit will open January 2013.
Intercultural Competency Initiative (Management Agenda):
FY2012
• 10.5 hours of Foundations of Intercultural Competence and Intercultural Conflict Styles
training to new City staff
• Mini -tip sessions related to religious pluralism and prevention of harassment and bullying
were offered to staff
• 5 hours of foundational intercultural competence training offered semi - annually to City
Board and Commission members and general public.
• Staff collected data for a five year progress report, including administering the
Intercultural Development Inventory to leadership and reporting out the results,
facilitating community and employee focus groups, and gathering feedback from
management team.
• IDI administrators provided one -on -one development feedback of IDI results to
employees.
• New members were recruited, oriented and trained
• Regular intercultural tips provided at management team and in the employee newsletter
• New trainers from the Police Department created a communications course for new
recruits integrating intercultural skills.
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• Front line staff was trained on use of the Language Line and a community member was
sponsored to attend the Interpretation and Translation Certificate Program in Des Moines
in order to have a local resident on the State roster for Spanish interpreters.
• 1200 people provided foundational skills in intercultural communication
• Two sessions of a 32 hour intercultural leadership workshop offered
• Four organizations met monthly for a year to develop intercultural teams within their
organizations.
• Leaders who attended the intercultural leadership workshop or year -long team
development are part of ICC Ambassador group that meets quarterly - Institutions
represented on the ambassador group in addition to the City are: UD, Loras, Senior and
Hempstead H.S., Goodwill, Hillcrest, Riverview, Hills and Dales, Body and Soul Wellness
Center, CFGD, GDDC, and Progressive Processing.
Impact: The objectives of this work are having a workforce prepared for 21St century jobs and
embracing a diverse population that supports a multicultural workforce. The outcomes will be a
city workforce reflecting the diversity of the community; city services that are available for all
and delivered in an equitable and fair manner; and a community where everyone is welcome.
Business:
Non - Profit:
Every Child, Every Promise (Top Priority): Current priorities include:
• Evaluating LEAP at Washington and Jefferson Middle schools. The goal is to adjust the
program in year 3 to be sustainable and achieve more best practice benchmarks.
• LEAP is funded through a collaboration of ECIEP, the Dubuque Community School
District and key OST providers the community has received an $850,000 grant in April
2011 to start a coordinated, collaborative OST program for Middle School Students at
Jefferson and Washington schools.
There has been an overwhelming response of 300 students per school who have signed
up for activities, a huge increase in involvement in after school programs. The program
is getting ready for the second semester registration with over 20 programs to offer
students.
• 3rd Grade Reading- an effort to build a coordinated approach between City, Schools,
CBO's, parents, students and others, to improve 3rd Grade Reading Achievement has
been identified as an important strategy. ECEP will facilitate an initiative to increase
achievement by improving outcomes in school attendance, school readiness and
summer learning. A coalition has been formed made up of leaders from the City,
Schools (public /private), CBO's, parents, and the Community Foundation to write a
Community Solutions Action Plan which was submitted to the AII- America City Awards
on March 12th. In July, the City of Dubuque was recognized as an AII- American City for
their collaboration on the 3rd grade reading initiative. Progress continues in each of three
focus areas:
o School Readiness- Bridge to Reading Dubuque Picture Book Award in
conjunction with Carnegie Stout Public Library will end voting on April 30th.
Dubuque Community Schools are working with Higher -ed partners to create a
career pathway for students interested in pursuing Early Childhood education as a
future career goal.
o Attendance- The Early Bird Attendance program is currently being implemented at
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Fulton Elementary. This intervention targets families currently struggling with
attendance issues. This program is identifying promising strategies to increase
daily attendance.
o Summer Learning- Partners implemented a needs assessment involving both
before and after school and summer out of school time. The Summer Learning
committee is working to build a summer pilot program named `Summer Academy',
focused on preventing summer slide and increasing reading proficiency in K -3rd
grade. This pilot will be launched summer 2013. This program will be a
coordinated program using research -based best practices.
• In addition, the community has been chosen as a Pacesetter in the area of School
Readiness. A campaign celebration will be held on April 26th, 2013.
• Data- A committee of business and provider leaders is developing a web -based Youth
Indicators Report to provide key indicator data to the community regarding our young
people age 0 -20. The Data committee has identified 36 key indicators with 5 years of
supporting data to identify our community's strengths and opportunities for providing the
five promises to our young people. The Youth Indicator report is updated on an ongoing
basis and available at www.everychild- everypromise.org.
o The 3rd grade reading coalition is currently working on adding an additional page
to the youth indicator website to track matrix for the reading initiative.
• In collaboration with the Jule and a group of providers, promotion for the Free Way to
Fun City will begin soon. This program provides free transportation for young - people all
summer, since May 2011. Free Way to Fun City is a summer program that offers free
rides on the Jule to all school age children. To date, this program has helped over 2000
kids get to summer activities at parks, pools, and libraries in Dubuque.
• Dubuque has been named to the 100 Best Communities for Young People for the 5th
time by The Americas Promise Alliance.
• Every Child /Every Promise and the Children's Trust have partnered to create a childcare
map and directory through Resources Unite! The goal is to be able to assist working
families in finding quality childcare in Dubuque, and more easily identify gaps in both
quality and quantity.
• The website is currently live, and provides listings for almost 40 providers.
This site is updated directly by the providers making accurate information
available to the community.
America's Promise Alliance uses the Five Promises framework to guide their efforts and
improve the odds for youth:
1) Caring Adults
2) Safe Places
3) Healthy Start
4) Effective Education
5) Opportunities to Help Others
Continuum of Care: A working network of homeless shelter and service providers created in
2001 to respond to the needs of the City's homeless population. The successful development
of the Maria House, the four Davis Place SROs and Hillcrest's transitional housing facility has
provided significant new shelter opportunities. The Teresa Shelter for homeless women and
children was opened during FY 2006. Manasseh House, a 19 room single room occupancy
(SRO) facility for 19 single women was completed in FY 2007. The Salvia House SRO opened
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in 2010.
The City partners with Project Concern, Maria House, Hillcrest Family Services, and Manasseh
House for the annual allocation of Continuum of Care funds. This grant, under the "Supported
Housing Program" category, provides funding for support services for homeless persons and
families. These activities include outreach services, counseling, a "homeless hotline," and
staffing for transitional housing and the Manasseh House SRO for women.
Green Dubuque: Green Dubuque is a registered 501(c) 3 non - profit organization committed to
improving and beautifying Dubuque by reducing the city's greenhouse gas emissions,
promoting smart development and urban green space, and protecting the health and integrity of
local ecosystems.
The group works to unite local organizations and individuals who are already doing so much to
make our city a healthy and pleasant place to live. They provide resources for those who wish
to stay informed about global environmental issues as well as opportunities for responsible
citizens to get involved in local environmental and city improvement projects.
Since 2006, Green Dubuque has led or been involved in numerous projects to support the
Sustainable Dubuque vision, including organizing grassroots events, research and reporting on
a variety of sustainability and climate change - related topics, lobbying for local and state
government activity, community education and supporting local foods initiatives in a variety of
ways. Specific projects of significance that they have been key partners in include the
following:
2012 by 2012: The 2,012 by 2012 program is an effort to reduce Dubuque's greenhouse gas
emissions by the amount that 2,012 cars would produce annually by 2012. Green Dubuque is
working with partners to distribute free CFLs and sign residents up for Alliant's Second Nature
renewable energy purchasing program to achieve these goals.
CARE Bombs: CARE stands for Citizens Applauding Responsible Enterprise. Green Dubuque
organizes CARE Bombs, where members and other community members make an effort to get
a large group of people to shop at a local store on the same day, purchasing as much as
possible from a locally -owned business.
Green Drinks: The local chapter of an international movement meets monthly to network and
discuss sustainability topics.
Complete Streets: Green Dubuque members have taken a leadership role in advocating for
both a local and state policy on complete streets, providing analysis on economic impact,
education to staff and elected officials, and advocacy support.
Dubuque Community GHG Reduction Task Force: See "Community Climate Action Plan" for
additional detail and update.
Green Dubuque members and other invested residents are working together to resurrect the
Dubuque Area Recycling Network (DARN) and establish an energy district in Dubuque.
HEART:
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The Housing Education and Rehabilitation Training Program, or HEART, with its broad
partnership and deep community impact, is re- engaging disconnected youth and building strong
connections to community through education, service and job training. Transforming the
Washington and downtown neighborhoods, students in our program have participated in almost
40 community projects since 2004, including turning over 30 substandard rentals into 21 owner
occupied homes. Since 2003, the HEART program has met the needs of 63 individual young
people on a full -time basis, as they work to attain their high school diploma. Our students come
to us at -risk of dropping out, but they make a commitment to hard work until they graduate,
splitting their days on the worksite and classroom. Since 2003, HEART students are achieving
a 92% high school graduation rate, with 100% of this year's senior students graduating.
Four Mounds mission of preservation, service and education aligns with the three focus areas
of the Sustainable Dubuque model. We reclaim threatened, historic structures and find new
relevant uses for the community, using the opportunity to train youth and prepare them for
healthy adulthood. The illustration below shows how the HEART program is helping to meet the
principles set forth in the Sustainable Dubuque model.
Environmental /Ecological
Integrity
Economic Equitable Social /Cultural
Prosperity Vibrancy
Connection to
green collar jobs
Arming young
people with skills
& education
Youth connected to
history & community
Schools:
Green Vision Education Program (Management Agenda): This program is sponsored by the
Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency and began in 2005. Since that date, ten
schools are currently Green Vision Schools and several more are working towards achieving
the status during this calendar year.
Current Green Vision Education schools are:
• Resurrection Catholic Elementary School
• Table Mound Elementary School
• Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
• St. Columbkille's Catholic Elementary School
• Dubuque Montessori School
• Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School
• Holy Ghost Catholic Elementary School
• St. Anthony's /Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Elementary School
• Sageville Elementary School
• Wahlert Catholic High School
• Hempstead High School
Through these schools, over 600 staff members, 3800 students, and 2600 families are
participating in the Green Vision Education Program. The program recognizes student and staff
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efforts to reduce waste in their schools, as well as the schools' recently implemented energy -
saving practices. Green Vision schools receive flags to hang outside their buildings and
banners to display in their hallways or gyms. Some of the practices that have been
implemented by the schools include food scrap composting, worm bin composting, increased
paper and container recycling, and reduction in the use of disposable products.
Green Vision evaluation and support partners include the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid
Waste Agency, the Dubuque Community School District, the Holy Family Catholic Schools,
FEH Inc., the Dubuque County Conservation Board, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Mines of Spain, the Catfish Creek Watershed Project - Dubuque County Soil and Water
District, the Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative, Keep Dubuque County Clean & Green, the
City of Dubuque, ISU Extension, and Green Dubuque.
Six schools earned additional patches during 2011 -2012 school year.
A Green Vision Schools City Council work session was held in September 2011. City staff has
developed a Sustainable Dubuque program /patch that focuses on social /cultural vibrancy and
community knowledge concepts. Two schools (St. Columbkille's and Holy Ghost) have met
with staff to begin working on this Community Knowledge patch during the 2012 -13 school year.
Sustainable Loras: Many organizations and individuals are working hard to be green.
Loras is taking an active approach to sharply reduce and eventually eliminate all of the
College's global warming emissions. A Sustainability Committee was formed to evaluate ways
in which the College can conserve, preserve and protect Earth's resources. Many initiatives
have already been implemented, demonstrating Loras' commitment:
• Loras participates year -round in the food scrap recycling program with the City of
Dubuque.
• A print - release system requires students to enter an ID number at printers on campus
before their documents are actually printed. This has reduced unnecessary printing and
the number of printed documents not retrieved.
• The student senate has purchased recycling bins for each individual residence hall
room, classroom and outdoor space across campus.
• The cafeteria at Loras has eliminated trays, thus conserving water and energy from the
cleaning of the trays. It has also increased social awareness of food waste.
• Alliant Energy presented Loras College with $327,000 in energy efficiency rebates for
the green building practices used in the construction of the Athletic and Wellness
Center.
• Faculty and students use eLearn as a way to electronically share documents and take
tests, cutting back on the amount of paper handouts in the classroom.
• Loras has participated in RecycleMania which last year collected 13 pounds of
recyclables per person in a 8 week period.
"These efforts build on Loras' ongoing commitment to sustainability, which as a natural
outgrowth of its Catholic identity will bear witness to careful, thorough, lasting and sustainable
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stewardship of all creation for the sake of present and future generations and for the common
good," notes Collins.
Loras College has taken great strides toward becoming a sustainable campus. Loras is also
proud to have signed on as a partner with the City of Dubuque in support of the economic,
environmental and social aspects of sustainability, which are the cornerstones of the City's 11-
point plan to address sustainability issues long term. Loras is a sponsor for the 2012 Growing
Sustainable Communities Conference.
Loras College hosted a presentation on campus sustainability efforts at Luther College. About
50 people were in attendance including students, staff, and faculty from Loras, Clarke, and the
University of Dubuque, as well as community members.
As part of the Loras College commitment to sustainability, the College received a grant from the
State of Iowa Office of Energy Independence to place water, electricity, and steam meters on
the four residence halls previously without them. This semester all seven residence halls will
compete in the "Use Less — Win More" sustainability challenge with each other to reduce
energy consumption on campus. In addition, the College is also participating in
Recyclemania, a national competition that pits colleges across the nation against each other to
see who can recycle the most. Residents of halls that most lower their consumption of water,
steam, and electricity, and that recycle the largest amount can win prizes.
To stimulate campus interest in the "Use Less — Win More" challenge and sustainability in
general, Loras hosted a Sustainability Expo on March 23, 2011. Local businesses and
organizations that focus on sustainability and environmental efforts participated in this
interactive educational event. In addition, Eric Schmechel spoke about the impacts of improper
storm water runoff practices and the effects they have on flooding.
On December 7, 2011, Loras College became Petal Certified with the ECIA Petal Project,
achieving all five categories. Loras is also participating in the upcoming Petal Project
promotional series.
Clarke College: A percentage of one staff person's time has formally been devoted to
sustainability initiatives. This staff support coordinates the many volunteer projects and hours
devoted to sustainability on Clarke's campus.
People & Neighborhoods:
Make A Difference Day: Make a Difference Day was held Oct 27, 2012 led by co- chairs Laura
Roussel) (Black Hills), Tom Stovall (Operation New View), and Cori Burbach (City of Dubuque)
and a steering committee comprised of many new members, including the Dubuque National
Service Partnership. This year's event partnered with the organizers of the Andrew Connelly
Day of Service. Approximately 60 homes were served, and volunteers completed additional
work for several non - profit agencies. The group has already started planning for next year's
event, which will take place Oct 26.
Dubuque Community Days of Caring: The 5th annual Days of Caring was held April 27 -28,
2012, growing in partnership with the Dubuque Area Chamber's Young Professionals group this
year. A record approximately 780 volunteered in Dubuque over the weekend. The 6th annual
Days of Caring is scheduled for April 26 -27, 2013.
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REASONABLE MOBILITY
Government:
SW Arterial (Top Priority):
The Southwest Arterial project is the No. 1 surface transportation priority in the Dubuque area
and will provide for a 6.1 -mile four -lane divided freeway with priority 1- access control between
Highway 61/151 and Highway 20.
Mobility Benefits: The Southwest Arterial project will connect two growing sections of the
community together and will support future anticipated expansion growth to the southwest of
the City toward the Dubuque Regional Airport. The Southwest Arterial will also provide an
efficient bypass around the City thereby reducing travel times and minimizing delay by reducing
traffic volumes and congestion on the local street system.
Environmental Benefits: The Southwest Arterial project will provide an alternate, direct and
efficient route for traffic through southwestern Dubuque, which will provide significant travel time
savings by avoiding the numerous signalized intersections on Highway 61/151, Highway 20 and
Central Avenue (Hwy 52/3) through Dubuque, thereby providing fuel energy savings, reducing
vehicle emissions and improving air quality. The Southwest Arterial project will be designed and
constructed with forward thinking sustainability initiative incorporated, which will include an
environmentally and resource sensitive highway corridor, an integrated bike / pedestrian trail
with amenities, and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technology.
Passenger Rail: The proposed project, which was identified as an Envision 2010 goal, will
reestablish passenger rail transportation to the Chicago — Dubuque Corridor and improve
freight rail transportation by upgrading the railroad infrastructure. The overall project area lies
along the 300 - kilometer (180 -mile) Chicago — Dubuque rail corridor, which extends in a
northwest direction across the state of Illinois between Chicago, Illinois, and Dubuque, Iowa.
The improvements proposed lie primarily within existing railroad rights -of -way with minimal work
adjacent to the track. The Chicago- Rockford - Dubuque corridor project will rehabilitate existing
rail infrastructure to current maximum operating speeds of up to 60 mph to restore previous
intercity passenger rail service. This project is the first step in achieving a more balanced modal
use of the transportation network by leveraging the existing railroad infrastructure to restore
intercity passenger train service that was discontinued in 1981. The need for the project stems
from the lack of modal options in the corridor. Highway -based modes, including automobiles
and bus service, face growing traffic congestion that cause travel delays and unreliable
schedules, inherent safety risks, and air quality impacts. This project is the first step in
achieving modal balance in the transportation system between these two cities with an
environmentally friendly, reliable and convenient travel option.
Highway -based modes, including automobiles and bus service, face growing traffic congestion
that cause travel delays and unreliable schedules, inherent safety risks, and air quality impacts.
This project is the first step in achieving modal balance in the transportation system between
these two cities with an environmentally friendly, reliable and convenient travel option.
The State of Illinois has budgeted $60 million to rebuild the railroad tracks. To move ahead with
this project, the State of Iowa must commit to providing $550,000, a share of the annual
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operating subsidy, beginning in Fiscal Year 2014. The State of Iowa has challenged local
governments to provide 50% of the annual subsidy. On March 9, 2011, the City Council
approved to commit 25% of the subsidy ($137,500) beginning in Fiscal Year 2014. Dubuque
County and other area cities are considering the other portion of the local match that is
required.
On August 23 and 24, 2011, T.Y. Lin was in Dubuque to meet with CN, CP, and Amtrak and
IDOT officials about passenger rail options.
On September 20, 2011, T.Y. Lin met with Amtrak representatives to discuss the platform
needs in Dubuque.
City staff along with ECIA staff are searching for funding opportunities. The IDOT is not willing
to pursue Federal funding for rail improvements along this corridor based on recent decisions
made by the State Legislature.
On May 17, 2012, ECIA and City staff met with representatives of the ILDOT, IADOT, Amtrak,
CN, CP and TY Lin to discuss the opportunity for a temporary platform site for passenger rail
service, which is expected to arrive in Dubuque late in 2014 or early 2015.
Based on the walking tour and input from the various groups, TY Lin will prepare cost estimates
for review and continued discussion with other City staff. A meeting has been scheduled with
City staff for June 18 to review the information.
The City will pursue a temporary platform site to accommodate the 2014 anticipated arrival date
of passenger rail service. This site will be on the existing spur track area adjacent to the 3rd
Street overpass in the Port of Dubuque. Staff has been in contact with the Iowa DOT to discuss
the use of state enhancement funds to assist with this project.
Staff has also met with representatives of the National Mississippi River Museum, the Diamond
Jo, the major property owners in the Millwork District and Passenger Rail Committee to make
them aware of these recent developments.
City Staff is working with staff at ECIA to make applications for funding to assist with the capital
costs associated with the passenger rail platform. The IA DOT has encouraged the City to
submit an ICAAP application for the platform improvements. This application requires a 20%
local match and is due by March 1, 2013. ECIA has begun the application.
The ICAAP application was submitted on February 26, 2013 requesting $2,618,071 of State
funding and provided assurance of $654,518 of local match for the passenger rail platform at 3rd
Street in the Port of Dubuque. Letters of support were provided by the Diamond Jo Casino and
the National Mississippi River Museum.
Intermodal Center: The City of Dubuque has been planning for the construction of an
Intermodal Transportation Center in Dubuque for several years. Components of the project will
include: construction of an elevated parking structure with a capacity for approximately 292
vehicles (in Phase 1), a IP addressable video camera system, ticket booths at vehicle access
points supporting the operation of a paid parking structure with the potential inclusion an
automated traffic counter system, a terminal facility that would serve as a hub for local public
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transit (The Jule and RTA), intercity bus and taxi services and that would provide indoor
passenger waiting area. The Intermodal Transportation Center would contain pedestrian and
bicycle - friendly elements, and public restrooms. The Intermodal Center will also contain
architectural aspects that enhance the overall esthetics of the site and further contribute to the
overall vitality of the area. A key measurement for the success of the project will be the
resulting smooth traffic flow in and out of the facility including convenient driveway connections
to roadways that access other adjacent areas.
The consultants identified 11 potential sites for consideration. The review committee narrowed
these options down to 2 sites through a ranking system established in conjunction with the
Federal Transportation Authority (FTA). One site is in the Port of Dubuque and one in the
Historic Millwork District. After weighing the pros and cons of each site, the review committee
unanimously recommended the Historic Millwork District for the Intermodal Transportation
Center. On March 7, 2011, the City Council concurred with the recommendation to pursue the
Historic Millwork District for a future Intermodal Transportation Center.
The Phase I feasibility study and site selection process of the Intermodal Center is complete.
The recommendation to pursue the Historic Millwork District site was approved by City Council
on March 7, 2011. A contract for the Phase I schematic design work was awarded to Neumann
Monson in mid -2011 and the work was completed December 31, 2011.
City staff worked with ECIA to submit applications for grants to fund construction of an
Intermodal facility. On October 12, 2011, an $8 million State of Good Repair (SOGR) grant was
awarded to the City which will be used to fund the final design and construction of the
intermodal Center.
On August 31, 2011, City staff along with Neumann Monson Architects held multiple input
sessions with special interest groups and a public session to get input on what the specific
needs of the facility should be for the City of Dubuque. A work session with the City Council
was held on November 21. The Council provided input which the consultants incorporated into
the design of the Center. Neumann Monson Architects has completed the schematic design
phase of the Intermodal Center. An RFQ was prepared to hire a consultant to do the Final
Design Development, Construction Documents, and Construction oversight for the first phase of
the Intermodal Center. On March 19, 2012, the City Council approved the release of the RFQ
for Design Development, Construction Documents and Construction oversight. Proposals were
due April 17, 2012. Staff received four Intermodal RFQ proposals. The Intermodal Interview
Committee is currently interviewing three of the four firms. On June 4, 2012, City Council
authorized City staff to negotiate an agreement with Neumann Monson for Design
Development, Construction Documents and Construction oversight of the Intermodal Center,
and on September 4th, a contract for the work was awarded. City staff is currently working
through issues such as property acquisition from IDOT and updating all documents required by
the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
On June 4, 2012, City Council authorized the release of another Request For Qualifications
(RFQ), this one for a Bus Storage and Maintenance Facility (BSMF) Site Selection Study and
Environmental Analysis. The proposals were due July 6, 2012. Staff received six Bus Storage
and Maintenance Facility Site Selection RFQ proposals. The selection committee met on
August 15, 2012 to review the proposals. Interviews with three of the companies that
responded to the RFQ are scheduled for mid - September. The City Council approved the
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selection committee recommendation to enter contract negotiations with IIW for the Site
Selection study and Environmental Analysis. A recommendation for contract award to IIW was
approved by City Council at the November 5, 2012, meeting and a contract was signed early
December 2012. IIW has begun the work for the project with the goal of having it completed by
early spring. The completed Site Selection and Environmental Analysis will be submitted to the
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) (Region VII) for review, with the hope that as new grant
applications and opportunities appear that Dubuque will be well- situated to pursue funding for a
new bus storage and maintenance facility.
Staff continues to work with the FTA to finalize the grant contract and release of funds for the
State of Good Repair (SOGR) grant for the Intermodal Center. In early April 2012 we received
FTA approval on the NEPA, SHPO and documented Categorical Exclusion for the amended
Phase !site in the Historic Millwork District. The FTA has given the City the pre -award authority
to incur costs on the project, and preliminary work has begun.
The final design of the Intermodal Center will contain architectural aspects that enhance the
overall esthetics of the site and further contribute to the overall vitality of the area. A key
measurement for the success of the project will be the resulting smooth traffic flow in and out of
the facility including convenient driveway connections to roadways that access other adjacent
areas.
The vision for the Intermodal Transportation Center is that it will support transit connections,
vehicular parking, electric vehicle charging, bicycle parking, intercity bus, a passenger waiting
area, taxicab stands, public restrooms and ticketing offices for public transit and intercity bus.
In late October 2011 public meetings were held with Millwork property owners, City staff and
other stake holders for review of alternative site layout proposals and a work session with City
Council was held December 5th, during which the site plan and building proposals for the
center were presented for review and approval.
The City continues to work with ECIA in preparing grant applications for funding sources; it is
anticipated that new grants will be released before the end of this federal fiscal year (or by
February 2013), at which point the determination will be made whether or not to apply for Phase
II funding of the Intermodal Transportation Center.
We anticipate that after this year's election cycle in November that a new round of competitive
grants will be released in late winter /early spring 2013 that could fund a new bus maintenance
and storage facility. This new facility would replace the 130 year -old transit facility currently in
use by The Jule. Funding will also be pursued for a passenger rail platform and the rail
improvements that will be needed in order to bring passenger rail service into Dubuque.
The contract for final design of the facility has been awarded to Neumann Monson Architects.
The City is currently working on access points for the facility and property acquisition with the
Iowa Department of Transportation. Following ongoing discussions with the railroads and the
City's consultants, the rail transfer will no longer be a part of the intermodal center and will be
located at an alternate location. It remains the City's intent to have the project bid for
construction in early spring of 2013 pending respond from IDOT on pending issues. The City is
now anticipating that bidding of the project for construction will be midsummer. We are
experiencing some delays in property acquisition as the City is currently performing a survey to
provide to IDOT for review.
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The Jule:
• Medical Loop: The new Medical Loop, which was funded by a state grant and began in
December 2010, replaced the old Orange Line. The Medical Loop proves increased
service to the medical centers and clinics in Dubuque (e.g. Mercy and Finley Hospitals,
Dubuque Internal Medicine, Medical Associates East, etc.), the colleges and universities,
and regular service to S. Locust Hy -Vee and the S. Grandview area, this fixed route also
proves deviated route ( "upon demand ") service to the Key West area (e.g. Dept. of Motor
Vehicles and businesses in the immediate area), Mount Carmel, the YMCA, Mystique
Casino, etc. The Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP) grant, which was a two -
year grant; this grant ended October 2012.
• ARC Transfer Center: A state grant was awarded for the Phase I building of a Transfer
Center at Area Residential Care's (ARC) new facility. Phase I will be a canopy large
enough for three fixed route buses to pull underneath. Phase 11 if funded (application will
be filed in May 2014) will allow for the building of an enclosed waiting area with public
bathroom facilities at the JFK Circle (the old Econo Foods store). An Easement
Agreement between ARC and the City was approved by City Council at the May 7, 2012,
meeting. A Request for Bid (RFB) was released for public bid in July 2012, but because
the responses came in over budget a new RFB was released in mid October. A second
bid was released and contract awarded by City Council to Murphy Construction Group at
the December 3, 2012 meeting. The canopy is in place and final construction is
scheduled to be completed on or /before May 15, 2013, and a "grand opening" will be
held early June 2013.
• Shopping Circulator: The Shopping Circulator, which began November 21, 2011, and
is also funded with a (two -year) ICAAP grant. The Shopping Circulator route links the
major shopping centers located on the west end of Dubuque and operates on an hourly
basis, with transfers between the Shopping Circulator and the Red, Green and /or Grey
Lines occurring at the JFK Circle. This grant is scheduled to end on /around October
2013. Because this route has turned out to be a viable and vital piece of the VMT project
a third year ICAAP grant application has been submitted to IA DOT. If awarded the
additional year of funding would carry the route through and into the re- design of the
fixed route system. We will know the status of the grant application sometime in May
2013.
• Nightrider: In mid -year 2011 members of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and
Iowa Department of Transportation (IA DOT) met with City of Dubuque staff and other
partners who have been involved in the Smarter, Sustainable Dubuque initiative. The
FTA and IA DOT staff recognized the collaborative work that has occurred between the
City of Dubuque and IBM on the Sustainability projects which include the Smarter Travel
VMT Study. The IA DOT and FTA are particularly interested in the smartphone
application developed by IBM for use on the Smarter Travel (aka Vehicle Miles Traveled
or "VMT ") project that allows for the tracking of travel patterns that include but are not
limited to: public transit, personal vehicles, trucks, pedestrian travel, and bicycles. Stu
Anderson, the Assistant Director of the IA DOT, recognizing the potential for broader use
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of the smartphone application outside of public transit and other State planning
organizations, and suggested that an ICAAP application be submitted.
In late October 2011 an ICAAP grant application was submitted to the State by the Metropolitan
Planning Organization (MPO). An ICAAP grant requires a 20% local match and is normally
awarded for a two -year period (e.g. October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2014). The grant
requested $2,164,000 over a two -year period, $1,050,000 of which will be used in the first year
by IBM for implementation the VMT Study using the pilot routes. Because of the large amount
of funding requested, IA DOT staff has informed us that if the grant application is approved it
will only be for one (1) year of funding, and that the MPO (DMATS) would need to apply for a
second ICAAP grant for year -2 funding. IA DOT is aware of the importance of the second year
of the project as that is when the functionality of data gathered during the first year is
demonstrated, and as such, they have given some assurances that the second year of funding
would not necessarily be a problem. If year -two funding is approved this grant will end
on /around October 2014.
The IBM Smarter Travel project development is designed for implementation over 2 -3 years. A
key element and critical factor in this project and the overall success of the ICAAP grant is a
working smartphone application, which will enable a successful recruitment of 1,000 volunteers
who will be using the smartphone application to track their travel patterns within the city. The
first year is the data - gathering period, the second is when the data is processed and changes to
the transit system are implemented, and the third year is when the "fine tuning" of the route
changes occurs. The ICAAP grant application has the majority of the requested funds being
expended in the first year with $557,000 going towards the implementation of the pilot routes:
the Nightrider, and the MidTown Loop & Feeder. The ICAAP grant will allow for the
demonstration the IBM smartphone application's effectiveness in gathering transportation data
from smartphone users and specifically those using the pilot routes. Data from the pilot routes,
which during the first year would overlay and operate in addition to the existing routes, would be
gathered and processed over a 6 -month period by IBM, who would in turn produce a template
that would be used to determine how the pilot routes would operate. It is in the second year of
the project that it all comes together, as IBM would use the transit and transportation
information to make real -time data - driven recommendations as to what changes could be made
to the transit system that would increase its overall efficiency and effectiveness. These changes
would be made while keeping three goals in mind: 1) the changes must make the transit system
more efficient and effective, 2) transit services would need to cover as much area as is practical
and affordable and should include areas not currently served, 3) increases in operational costs
would need to be kept as minimal as is feasible. During the first year of this project the pilot
routes will overlay and operate in conjunction with existing route, allowing for minimal disruption
of service to the transit - dependent passengers. The pilot routes will offer alternative methods
for passengers and help encourage new users of the transit system as it will reduce travel time
between the downtown and west end areas. It is in the second year when the transition and re-
structuring of the entire transit system begins.
The Nightrider route began providing service on September 28, 2012, operating on Friday and
Saturday nights from 6 pm until @ 2:40 am. The Nightrider is a route that initially was
developed through on -going conversations and surveys held with students attending three of
the local colleges and universities (Clarke, UD and Loras), with the intent of providing new night
time service on Friday and Saturdays between downtown entertainment venues, areas around
the colleges and universities, and shopping centers and entertainment venues located on the
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west end of Dubuque. As of March 16, 2013, the Nightrider has had a total of 5,724
passengers: 2,162 college students (Clarke, UD and Loras) and 3,562 members of the general
public. The MidTown Loop & Feeder, which was a route identified in the 2009 LSC Study as
having the potential of reducing travel time between downtown and midtown location, is
scheduled to begin service in February 2013 and will help improve connectivity between
downtown and west end location. The MidTown Loop & Feeder will operate Monday through
Saturday during regular hours of operation. The MidTown Loop will operate in areas between
JFK Drive and Grandview with transfers to /from other routes at Delhi and the JFK Circle.
Passengers would use the MidTown Feeder to travel to /from downtown to connect with the
MidTown Loop at the Delhi transfer station.
The ICAAP application was submitted with a two -year timeline because IBM and The Jule need
to collaborate, identify and implement the routes in year 1 and modify routes and transition
riders to the new /re- designed routes at the end of year 2. Although IA DOT has given
assurances of year 2 funding with the changes brought about by MAP -21 (the new
transportation bill) and the future of state and federal levels, there is not absolute guarantee of
year -2 ICAAP funding for this project. Year 2 if funded, the ICAAP grant would end on /around
October 2014.
Annual Asphalt Overlay Paving Program: The Public Works Department's annual Asphalt
Overlay Program, which began in 1993, has paved 179.90 centerline miles of city streets
through calendar 2012. While asphalt is an oil -based paving material, since 2007 the program
has been reclaiming and reusing old asphalt milled from the streets to be paved. With up to
20% of the "new" asphalt actually containing old, reclaimed asphalt from the city's streets, this
program now has a significantly smaller resource, fossil fuel, and carbon footprint. Community
impacts include reduced program cost, along with the noted reduced resource, fossil fuel, and
carbon footprints.
Bicycle /Pedestrian Network:
Most recently, the City partnered with the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs to create bilingual
trail signs, map kiosks, and a bilingual trail map brochure that identifies trailheads, which
include map kiosks, parking and other amenities, and trail map kiosk locations. The major
ongoing new trail project in Dubuque is the continued extension of the Iowa 32 Bike /Hike Trail
along the Northwest Arterial. This trail provides an important and safe connection for bike and
pedestrian traffic between the Heritage Trail and the City's trail system, and the west side of
Dubuque -- the city's fastest growing shopping, employment and residential area.
Approximately 2 miles are built with another 2 -mile segment now complete to Holiday.
In May the city partnered with the Tri -State Trail vision committee to submit a Bicycle Friendly
Community application to the League of American Bicyclists. The City of Dubuque received an
Honorable Mention ranking.
Engineering is currently working on a Safe Routes to School project that will provide for
enhanced cross -walks at four school locations. These locations include Marshall School,
Eisenhower School, Ressurection School and Roosevelt Middle School. The enhancements
include new painted cross -walks and flashing beacons to warn drivers of the crossings. The
project is currently out for bid. Completion is anticipated by late May 2013.
Business:
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Non - Profit:
Schools:
People & Neighborhoods:
Dubuque Bike Coop /Library: A group of interested citizens, including bike enthusiasts, bike
shop owners, City staff, and representatives from the Dubuque Rescue Mission began meeting
to develop a community bike library which would offer bikes for long -term rental to residents as
well as a variety of community education opportunities including classes on bike maintenance
and safety. The group has already received several bike, tool and part donations and is
seeking additional storage space. Additionally, mechanics' nights have started in order to
prepare the bikes for community rental.
CLEAN WATER
Government:
Low Impact Development Conference: The 6th annual LID conference was held February 20
and 21, 2013. The conference featured a free to the public event on the night of the 20th, in
which the Senior High Jazz Band played as a tie in to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band playing
for the Iowa Flood Centers tour of Iowa. The Flood Center presented both days of the
conference and spoke on climate change, precipitation patterns and what it means to Iowans,
as well as the Iowa Flood Center itself and its mission. Day two featured many speakers on
case studies for low impact development, and Jeffrey Bruce as the keynote speaker, who spoke
on water reclamation for use with green roofs.
Construction Workshop: This year the City of Dubuque held its 6th annual Construction site
workshop. Normally held in conjunction with the Low Impact Development conference, this year
the workshop was separated in order to focus more upon construction site regulations and to
focus upon local construction contractors. 38 were in attendance at this one day workshop.
The event was co- sponsored by Stetson Building Products. Speakers included representatives
from Stetson who spoke about erosion and sediment control products, Wayne Petersen from
IDALS, Joe Griffen, head of the Iowa Stormwater Program for the IDNR, Eric Schmechel from
the DSWCD, and Dean Mattoon from the City of Dubuque Engineering Department who spoke
on local regulations.
Permeable Pavement /Green Alley: The City of Dubuque began in fiscal year 2011 an annual
program for reconstructing Dubuque alleys using permeable pavement. The City currently has
five green alleys that utilize either porous asphalt pavement or interlocking concrete pavers
which allow storm water to pass through the pavement. These alleys help reduce storm water
runoff by infiltrating and cleaning the water before it reaches the City's aquifers. Currently two
additional alleys are being constructed in the fall of 2012. These alleys are located between
Jackson and White from 17th to 18th streets and between Jackson and Washington from 16th to
16th streets. These two alleys will be completed by May 30, 2013. In the spring of 2013 another
alley will be reconstructed using interlocking concrete pavers. Portzen Construction will
reconstruct the alley between Loras and Arlington Streets from Dell to Prairie street. This alley
will be completed by the end of June 2013.
These three alleys are being reconstructed as part of the EPA consent decree. These
supplemental engineering project (SEP) alleys will be reconstructed using interlocking concrete
pavers. This is similar to what was used on recent green alleys and used in the Historic Millwork
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District Complete Streets Project.
The City is also working with the Iowa DNR on a project to reconstruct 73 alleys over the next
three years. This $9.4 million project will be funded using SRF monies. The project is the first in
the state of Iowa to use SRF funds for water quality enhancements. The City is able to use the
SRF proceeds from the Water Resource and Recovery Center project. This project is currently
under design and is scheduled to start summer of 2013.
Bee Branch: Project involves the day lighting of 4,500 feet of the buried Bee Branch storm
sewer. Episodic damage to public and private property due to flooding results in recurring
expenditures related to repairing damages. Moreover, it leads to a reluctance to improve
property or even maintain property.
• Update on Property Acquisitions
o The City has acquired 98 of the 100 properties required for the project. Of the two
remaining, the City has a signed purchase agreement with one and the second is
the property owned by Canadian Pacific railroad. The City expects to acquire the
necessary easements through CP property in the next few months.
• Update on Design:
o Design of the first phase of the project, the Lower Bee Branch Creek Restoration
Project is complete.
o The design of the second phase of the project, the culvert system through the
railroad property is to be sent to Canadian Pacific for review in April. And a
meeting is scheduled for April 29, 2013 for the City and CP to meet and discuss
the culvert system.
o Final design is on schedule to be complete and ready for bidding in late 2013.
o The design of the Upper Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project, everything north
of Garfield Avenue, is 90% complete. Final design is on schedule to be complete
and ready for bidding in late 2013.
• Update on Construction:
o Construction of the Lower Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project started in the
fall of 2010 and was completed in November of 2011.
o Construction of the Bee Branch Creek Railroad Culvert System Project is
scheduled to start in early 2014 and be complete by the end of 2014.
o Construction of the final phase(s) of the project will begin in early 2014 and be
completed by the fall of 2015.
Water & Resource Recovery Center Upgrade (Major Project): At the very outset of the
project sustainability has been in the forefront of the process, from the selection of the design
professionals to the selection of the anaerobic digestion process for bio- solids management. In
addition to these the following items have a significant sustainability component;
1. The use of low mow and native grasses for landscaping
2. Incorporation of rain gardens for storm -water management
3. Using plant effluent as a heating /cooling source for the Admin /Lab building
4. Pursue Energy Star Rating for the entire plant
5. Combined Heat and Power utilizing digester gas
6. Elimination of the use of Chlorine gas for disinfection
7. Reuse of existing structures for new purposes
8. Researching utilizing available digester space for high strength organics and food residuals
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for addition energy production.
9. 99.8% Construction materials diversion rate from the landfill
The W &RRC construction project has caught up with the damage caused by the July 11, 2011
wind storm and the July 27/28, 2011 major rain event. Digesters #1 and #3 tall walls are
completed and work progresses on the short walls for all digesters and concrete work on all
aspects of the digester complex. Clarifier #1 (an existing clarifier) is 80% complete and should
be able to be returned to service within two months. The start up of clarifier #1 will allow the
contractor to move on to the reconstruction of #2. The base work for the additional primary
clarifier is ongoing with a pour scheduled for the week of September 26, 2011. After the base is
completed the walls of the clarifier will be constructed at which point the mechanisms will be
installed.
The City of Dubuque Builders Risk provider has agreed that the complete replacement of all of
the flooded modules in the UV Disinfection System is warranted. These modules have been
ordered and will be installed upon arrival in approximately six to eight weeks. The UV system is
however functioning as required to provide disinfection for the plant effluent.
Work continues on all aspects of the project and plant staff and contractor personnel are
beginning the preparation for operations and construction to continue as the winter approaches.
Negotiations took place with the W &RRC neighbor Inland Protein for the use of part of their
property to facilitate construction of the digester covers. The availability of this land provide for
much needed storage space and an area any from construction traffic for the assembly of the
covers. The City had estimated a project delay of approximately three to four months beyond
the final completion date given of October 1, 2013. The City has since granted a 120 working
day extension to the two major milestones of digester startup and sludge processing startup.
The City and its general contractor are working out details of a revised project completion
schedule required by the weather related delays. Factoring in the delays, the City will still meet
the startup deadline (April 26, 2014) as prescribed in the Consent Decree barring any further
major uncontrollable delays.
Through February 29, 2012, the project is in its 18th month of construction and work has been
started on all aspects of the project. At this point, City staff estimates the project is close to
50% complete with an expenditure of approximately $31,000,000 to date. The ultraviolet
disinfection system was started in March 2011 and continues to be operational. Work
continues on the digesters and sludge processing complex. The construction of the fourth
primary clarifier concrete work is completed with the mechanisms beginning to be installed.
The digesters were put online the third week of August and were in full production by the end of
October 2012. Digester #1 is up to the full Thermophilic temperature of 131 degrees F and #2
digester will be going thermophilic starting the week of December 17th. The Sludge Processing
portion of the plant is being completely renovated to meet the needs of the new process. The
sludge handling section will be operational by February 2013. Work has begun on the
renovation of the final clarifiers, one clarifier at a time is taken done for construction leaving
three online at all times. The reconstruction of primary clarifier number 1 is complete and
started up with #2 ready for drive installation. When #2 is started we will move #3 and then #4.
When this clarifier is on -line, work will begin on the reconstruction of the remaining clarifiers. A
minimum of three clarifiers will remain in service during construction. In addition to the digester
structures, work has been completed on pumps and piping associated with the digester
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operation along with the installation of the many pumps and motors required for the process. A
bio- solids handling contract has been negotiated and signed with Nutri -Ject Systems of
Hudson, Iowa on the March 19, 2012 council agenda.
The laboratory addition of the Administration /Laboratory Building is now complete and has been
put into service as of June 13th, 2012. The former lab and the remaining portion of the
Administration building will gutted and remodeled to provide for a conference /training area,
men's and women's lockers, parts storage, SCADA room and Administration offices. The
Administration /Laboratory Building will be a highly energy efficient building using plant effluent
to meet heating and cooling needs. The entire structure is highly insulated and will use a
minimum of energy for lighting, heating and cooling.
Please refer to the Water & Resource Recovery Center for detailed information on the
Sustainable ROI of this project.
Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Program (Management Agenda):
The City of Dubuque is conducting an Inflow and Infiltration (I &I) Reduction Program to
significantly reduce storm water inflow and groundwater infiltration into Dubuque's sanitary
sewer collector system. Excessive I &I can cause sanitary sewer back -ups into basements,
overflows into creeks and wetlands, and increased operating costs to process the water at the
Dubuque Water Pollution Control Plant.
Five neighborhoods have been identified as sources of high sanitary sewer flows during rainfall
events, which indicates excessive I &I. To address this issue, the City will conduct private
property inspections, smoke testing, and dye testing, and televise sanitary sewer pipes to
determine the major defects in the five areas with excessive I &I between 2011 and 2016.
➢ The City has notified 4,489 property owners that their neighborhood has been identified
as a source of high sanitary sewer flows during rainfall events, which indicates excessive
I &I. The property owners were asked to schedule an appointment for City inspectors to
enter the yard and basement of each home to observe and record the property's
drainage facilities.
➢ Of the 3,420 properties, City staff has inspected 3,577. This is a response rate of
approximately 80 %. Approximately 5% of the inspected properties have improper
connections to the sanitary sewer system (failed inspection).
➢ Engineering staff continues to work with property owners to correct improper connections
to the sanitary sewer identified by smoke testing or private property inspections.
➢ The Engineering Department found approximately 500 improper connections during I &I
inspections during the mid- to late- 1990's. Current Engineering staff is revisiting these
properties to conduct "historic inspections." Staff has found that approximately 17% of
the historic inspections continue to have improper connections (compared to 5% as
stated above).
➢ The Engineering Department conducted smoke testing of Sewershed 7 and 5 during July
and August 2012. Smoke testing has been conducted within nearly 70 miles of the City's
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sanitary sewer collection system since the beginning of 2011. This has identified over 450
defects beyond those identified in the private property inspections.
➢ Engineering staff has inspected all brick manholes in Sewersheds 5, 7 and 12 during
2012. These inspections will provide information to determine which manholes are in
need of repair or replacement in the coming years.
Catfish Creek Watershed Management Authority
In December 2011, the City of Dubuque submitted a grant application for the creation of a
Watershed Management Authority Board (WMAB). The City was subsequently awarded a
grant in the amount of $24,500 to develop a 28E agreement among
stakeholders within the watershed (Dubuque County, City of Asbury, City of Peosta, Dubuque
County Conservation Board, and City of Centralia) to establish a Watershed Management
Authority Board. Upon establishment of the Board, the City will be able to compete for an
additional $200,000 in grant funding for watershed improvements.
➢ The 28E agreement for the Catfish Creek Watershed Management Authority (CCWMA)
was executed by the City during late June 2012.
➢ The website www.catfishcreekwatershed.orq was developed to promote the Catfish
Creek WMA and inform watershed residents.
➢ The City of Dubuque and other CCWMA members are working on a grant application to
the Iowa DNR. The grant will provide funds to submit develop a watershed management
plan for the Catfish Creek Watershed.
Rain Garden Program: The City of Dubuque continually offers a cost share program for the
construction of rain gardens for citizens. The City will pay for up to $500 of materials provided
that an equal or greater amount be spent on equipment rental / labor by the citizen.
Streambank Stabilization Program: The City of Dubuque continually offers a cost share
program for the stabilization of ditches and creek on private property (residential only). The City
will pay for up to $500 of materials provided that an equal or greater amount be spent on
equipment rental / labor by the citizen.
Public Works Department:
• Household Hazardous Materials Regional Collection Center (HHMRCC) The Public
Works Department provides administrative and operating staff support to the Dubuque
Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA or "Agency "). An Agency program dating
back to the mid- 1990's is its Household Hazardous Materials Regional Collection Center
(HHMRCC). Initially a once - per -year special event staged at the Dubuque County
fairgrounds, the program is focused on keeping hazardous materials out of the DMASWA
Landfill. Based on the premise that landfills are not perfect and that they all eventually leak,
the intent of the program is to reduce hazardous chemicals in that leachate. By 1998, the
Agency funded and established a permanent collection and storage facility at its Landfill.
Citizens are encouraged to take their paint, solvents, automotive chemicals, cleaning fluids,
etc. to the Agency's RCC for reuse or incineration at no cost to them. A small fee is charged
small businesses and governmental entities to cover the cost of the service provider. The
HHMRCC Program also provides staff and equipment support for special, one day collection
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events at locations throughout the Agency's two - county service area. The measureable
outcomes include pounds /tons of hazardous materials collected and managed annually.
• E -Scrap Recycling Program. Established in 2006, the Agency's E -Scrap Recycling
Program initially educated and encouraged its customers to recycle, versus landfill, their old
television sets, VCRs, cell phones, computers, and other electronic entertainment and
communication devices. While such household items are allowed to be landfilled by federal
and Iowa regulations, the Agency provided a recycling alternative for a fee. The fee, while
more than what was charged for landfilling, is needed to cover the cost charged by the
Agency's recycling service provider. Given the declining quantity and weight of the e-scrap
brought to the Agency for recycling in recent years, and the generally - acknowledged toxicity
of some e-scrap components, the Agency adopted an e-scrap landfill ban, which went into
effect July 1, 2011. As a result, the DMASWA no longer buries electronics in its landfill. The
most significant measurable outcomes for this program are the number and /or weight of e-
scrap items recycled.
• Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulb Recycling Program - Begun in 2009 due to the
national perception regarding the mercury contained in CFLs and the increasing number of
old CFLs being sent to landfills for disposal, the DMASWA established a free drop -off
program for Dubuque and Delaware county residents. Through the Agency's website, its
biannual Recycling and Reuse Guide, its advertisements, and presentations by its
Education and Communication Coordinator, the Agency makes its customers aware of the
twenty -one (21) locations throughout Dubuque and Delaware counties where the CFLs can
be dropped off for recycling. The most significant measurable outcome is the number of
pounds of CFLs diverted and recycled by this program annually. The primary community
impact in future years is cleaner leachate and groundwater at the DMASWA Landfill.
Leisure Services Department:
• Rain gardens have been constructed in Flora park and Eagle Point park to reduce and clean
water runoff to the city storm water system
• New city hanging baskets in the Historic Millwork District and on the Bee Branch trail contain
a water reservoir for rain collection and better management of water use
Information Services :
• The Information Services computer room air conditioning unit at the City Hall annex was out
of capacity. A new air conditioning unit was installed at the beginning of February 2013.
After the new unit was installed, the water usage went from over 4,000 gallons per day to
110 gallons per day.
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Sustainable Dubuque Watershed Network The University of Iowa College of Engineering
and Environmental Science, in collaboration with the City, will provide funding and support for
the Sustainable Dubuque Watershed Network. The research would be intended to coordinate
with existing University watershed research, but take it a step further by incorporating advanced
measuring devices and analysis into an urban watershed, the North Fork — Catfish Creek. It is
intended that the outcome help inform and analyze future infrastructure design and renovation
and low- impact development options for the community and its stakeholders. Specific research
will be sought for analysis of infrastructure design and renovation and low- impact development
options for stakeholders such as rain gardens, bioswales, bioretention areas, green roofs and
other policy options within a watershed. Handling watershed issues before they become Water
and Resource Recovery Center issues will be an economic and environmental benefit to the
community.
Business:
Non - Profit:
Schools:
People & Neighborhoods:
Living With Floods: A group of local partners including the City, Dubuque County Soil &
Water Conservation District, National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Convention &
Visitors Bureau, DMASWA, Dubuque Community Schools, Dubuque Area Labor Management
Council, and others are collaborating with the University of Iowa to participate in a statewide
Living With Floods year -long event to commemorate the 2008 floods that impacted much of the
state and also educate residents on the importance of water quality and flood management. In
Dubuque, planned events and initiatives include coordinated educational activities within the
schools, adult education and awareness events including the 2013 Low Impact Development
Conference, a summer Preservation Jazz Hall Band performance, and a spring STEM (science,
technology, engineering and mathematics) career fair.
HEALTHY AIR
Government:
Clean Air Attainment StrategylAir Quality Task Force: In November 2009, the DMATS
Board facilitated a meeting with the Iowa DNR to discuss air quality data in Dubuque and the
surrounding area. From this meeting, city and ECIA staff recommended forming a public /private
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partnership to study the data and work on improving air quality. Greater Dubuque Development
Corporation was approached and agreed to facilitate an Air Quality Task Force, which would
consist of local government and business representatives. Greater Dubuque Development
engaged businesses who had a stake in local air quality. After several meetings, the Task
Force agreed that further analysis of the current data showed prevailing winds from south and
peaks and valleys of particulates throughout the year, it is still not conclusive as to the cause(s)
of non - attainment.
Greater Dubuque Development commissioned and financed a study through the University of
Northern Iowa. The detailed information, although proprietary and confidential, was shared and
discussed with key officials from both the public and private sectors. Greater Dubuque
Development, along with staff support from ECIA, also initiated a series of proactive
meetings /discussions with the Iowa DNR. During the past 2 years, through ECIA and City of
Dubuque staff, possible policy /rule changes have been actively monitored.
Most recently (March 18, 2013) the teams from ECIA, City of Dubuque, and Greater Dubuque
Development initiated a conference call with industry regulators to begin formulating a forward -
thinking, proactive plan to position Dubuque with superior livability, quality of life, and air quality.
The discussion centered on the EPA's newly announced PM Advance program - -The program is
designed to recognize areas that are in attainment and desire to be proactive with implementing
voluntary emission reduction strategies.
Transit Fleet Replacement: In 2010 two large federal grants were awarded to The Jule
(formerly known as Keyline Transit): State of Good Repairs at $2.3 million dollars and Clean
Fuels at $1.5 million dollars. These two grants, coupled with vehicle replacement money from
the State, allowed for the replacement of the entire transit fleet (both fixed route and mini bus).
All new buses are equipped with Clean Diesel engines, a proven technology that allows for
increased fuel efficiency and lower engine emissions, and were placed into service by August
31, 2011. The State of Good Repairs grant is also allowing for the purchase of ITS equipment
for both fixed route and mini bus service. The ITS equipment purchased with the grant will help
increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the transit service and includes, but is not limited to:
a CAD /Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system along with web -based software will allow
passengers to see when the next bus will arrive to a particular bus stop; LED display boards
that will be placed a key transfer points to display pending arrival time(s) of the next bus, as well
as (e.g.) public service announcements; an Automatic Voice Announcement (AVA) system that
will announce the approach of (e.g.) major intersections and points of interest for passengers
that have a visual impairment (or who are otherwise not familiar with the area); an electronic
fare collection system that will broaden the choice and type of bus passes, as well as allow for
better ridership data collection; Mobile Data Terminals (MDT) that will allow for real -time
dispatching in mini bus service; new scheduling software for mini bus service to work in
conjunction with the MDTs; camera (security) systems on both fixed route and mini bus; etc. A
contract for the purchase, installation and deployment of the ITS equipment and systems went
City Council for approval at the June 18, 2012, meeting, with an amended contract start date of
August 6, 2012. The start of the ITS project began mid November 2012, with the installation of
the Mobile Data Terminals (MDT) into the Light Duty buses used for Mini -bus service, and
connection of the MDTs to the RouteMatch scheduling software, which is the software system
used to schedule passengers and generate reports of the provision of mini -bus services. Work
on the fixed route service began December 17, 2012, installation of equipment on the pilot (aka
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test) buses began late March 2013, and a project completion date is set for on /around July
2013.
Public Works Department:
• Landfill Methane Collection System Project - The Public Works Department provides
administrative and operating staff support to the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste
Agency (DMASWA or "Agency "). One of the Agency's recent initiatives relevant to the
Healthy Air principle is its Landfill Methane Collection System Project. Initiated in FY10 and
completed in FY11, the first phase of the methane collection system was installed in the
Agency's oldest "closed" landfill cells ( #1 and #2). Since project completion in September of
2010, the methane is being measured for quality and quantity as it is flared off. By flaring
the methane, the Agency is significantly reducing a very potent greenhouse gas previously
emitted by its landfill facility. The Agency's Board of Directors is currently considering a
proposal from a regional electrical power producer for its methane and has retained an
industry expert to evaluate the proposed project. The Directors have indicated that they
anticipate making a decision regarding the proposal in calendar 2013. Anticipated future
measurable outcomes include amount of usable methane produced annually and revenue
garnered and/or costs avoided.
• Clean Diesel & Biofuels Technology - The Public Works Department is spearheading the
City's conversion of its diesel- engine truck and heavy equipment fleet to the use of "clean
diesel" technology. To date, twenty -seven (27) diesel - engined trucks and eight (8) heavy
equipment machines have been replaced with units equipped with clean diesel engines.
Clean diesel engines produce fewer airborne particulates and harmful emissions. The most
measurable outcome for this conversion program is the number of "dirty diesel" versus
"clean diesel" units in the department's fleet at any given time.
The Public Works Department has also spearheaded the City's use of biofuels in its many
trucks and heavy equipment. Its diesel- engine trucks and heavy equipment use 20%
biodiesel during warm weather months and 5% biodiesel during the coldest months. The
department's light vehicles use 85% ethanol in their gasoline engines year- round. The most
likely measurable outcome is total departmental fuel usage by type annually.
• Climate Disruption, Mitigation and Adaptation - The Resource Management program
has provided staff support and intern supervision as part of the city's commitment to the
ICLEI Climate Change 5 Milestone Process related to assessment, draft targets and
potential action steps in government operations community practices for GHG reduction.
The RMC has also acted as the liaison with the community group drafting the "Dubuque
Community GHG "50 by 2030" Initiative ".
Business:
Non - Profit:
Schools:
People & Neighborhoods:
NATIVE PLANTS & ANIMALS
Government:
Planning Services Department:
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• Sustainable Development Tools: The City's 2009 Unified Development Code (UDC)
requires that new major subdivisions achieve a minimum score of 40 points by utilizing
approved sustainable subdivision development tools. Subdivision and site development
regulations were extensively revised to promote sustainable design and low- impact
development (LID) measures. These tools include Conservation Subdivision design, in
which development is clustered to optimize open space, preserve natural features, protect
environmentally sensitive areas, and minimize infrastructure demands. The UDC has a
residential density bonus for conservation subdivisions. These tools also include the
provision that native and regionally appropriate trees and vegetation are preserved or
planted, which limits turf grass, limits water demand, improves infiltration or filtration, and
enhances the natural environment. Such vegetation is to be phased so denuded areas are
quickly vegetated. Turf grass should not exceed 30% of the landscaped area.
As noted above, new major residential subdivisions currently must score a minimum of 40
points by utilizing sustainable subdivision tools approved by the City Council. A major
subdivision involves public improvements (street, water, sanitary sewer, etc.) In March 2011,
the City Council adopted a standard for sustainable development incentives for residential
subdivisions. The City Council established an 80 -point standard be used for a new
residential subdivision to qualify for sustainable development incentives from the City of
Dubuque.
• Mines of Spain /E.B. Lyons: The 1,387 -acre Mines of Spain State Recreation Area near
Dubuque has served as a focal point for environmental and cultural educational programs
and interpretive activities for the tri -state area of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin for many
years. Burgeoning interest in the rich history of the tri -state area and growing awareness of
the significance of the Mississippi River and its watershed created greater demands for
exhibits and educational programming. Demand for more programs and services increased
over time. Continued success and growth in visitation, interpretation and education were
inhibited by space limitations.
More space was needed at the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center at the State Recreation Area.
In response, the Friends of the Mines of Spain (FOMOS) planned and coordinated an
expansion that updated and more than doubled the original space for educational purposes.
The FOMOS raised private, local, state and federal funds for the expansion and education
project. They raised $1,575,569 -- $98,575 over the cost estimate of $1,476,994 for the
expansion. Construction began in September 2009, and was completed a year later.
The Friends also raised an additional $325,000 for enhanced exhibits and educational
programming. Thanks to excellence in interpretive support by the FOMOS, the Interpretive
Center now welcomes visitors to one of the region's best - conserved natural and cultural
resources, where people can explore the history and natural riches of the park. The updated
exhibits at the Interpretive Center invite visitors to discover the history, geology, and ecology
of the park and region, and prepare the visitor for forays onto the many trails and interpretive
sites throughout the Mines of Spain. The Interpretive Center has displays on the park's
historic farm site, archeology, prairies, woodlands, wetlands, lead mining, Native Americans,
and wildlife of the park on both the upper and lower levels.
• Land Acquisition for Mines of Spain: The City of Dubuque, in conjunction with the Friends
of the Mines of Spain, has been working with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF)
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on the acquisition of the Bottoms Farm, 9097 Bellevue Heights Road, Dubuque, Iowa to
expand the land area of the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and the E.B. Lyons
Interpretive Center. The 52.19 acre property abuts the Mines of Spain on the north, and the
30 -acre Interpretive Center site on the east. The INHF acquired the land at auction in
August 2011. The City of Dubuque has a purchase agreement with the INHF for the
property. Cost estimates are being finalized for removal of the farmstead, barns and other
structures, and capping the well on site. There will be a future amendment to the original
agreement to add these costs and some carrying costs.
The Iowa DNR's Natural Resources Commission approved the City of Dubuque's 2011
Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Grant of $200,000 toward the acquisition of
the Bottoms Farm in October 2011. The City Council approved the REAP grant agreement
with the IDNR in November 2011. The City will apply for additional grants to cover the
acquisition costs, plus whatever the FOMOS and IDNR would contribute. A $500,000
National Scenic Byways grant application submitted in December, 2011 for additional land
acquisition was not funded. A $175,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant
application for acquisition and development submitted in March 2012 was awarded. A
$200,000 REAP grant application for development was approved in October 2012. A
$170,500 State Recreational Trails grant was approved in October 2012.
The acquisition of this land is extremely important to the Mines of Spain and the Interpretive
Center. The land acquisition would allow: the creation of a buffer for the State Park and the
Interpretive Center from encroaching development; protection of the historical,
archeological, cultural, and natural resources we anticipate are on the property; restoration
of native landscape to improve and expand wildlife habitat and storm water management;
and opportunities to expand parking, interpretive signage, and other park amenities that will
improve the visitor experience.
The plan for future management of the project area is to leave the archeological sites
undisturbed, unless the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) authorizes development
for the additional parking. The objectives of reestablishing vegetation on the farm's cropland
are to reduce erosion, create wildlife habitat and reconstruct examples of original native
vegetation. The current management plan for the Mines of Spain has been to replace most
of the current croplands and restore them to native prairie to create a landscape that dates
back to the 1700's.
The IDNR undertook the Mines of Spain master plan process for the 52 -acre Bottoms
property in February and March, 2012 with a multi - disciplinary planning task force IDNR,
City, INHF, and FOMOS representatives and a public survey. The goal is to develop a plan
for the future management and appropriate development of this additional land, to preserve
its natural and cultural resources, as well as expand and enhance the programs and
recreational offerings of the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center and the Mines of Spain. The
draft master plan and public survey results were provided to the City Council in March 2012.
The SHPO recommended an archaeological survey of the Bottoms property and an
intensive level survey /evaluation of the farmstead buildings in November 2012 prior to
development activities. The IDNR contracted for a Phase 1 archaeological survey in
December, 2012. The Office of the State Archeologist (OSA) survey identified one new site,
but it was not eligible for listing in the NRHP. The OSA recommended no additional
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archaeological investigation were necessary prior to the proposed construction.
Leisure Services Department:
• An expansion project for native plantings in Dubuque Industrial Center West is in the
works for an 18 to 20 acre addition.
• Organic Gardening 101 class 2011
• Fall Landscaping Workshop
• Dirt, Worms and Food 2012
• Frontier Living 2012
Multicultural Family Center: Future Talk program cleared invasive plant species and dead
trees from several acres of land at Mines of Spain, Swiss Valley, and Kaufmann Prairie in order
to sustain native species. Crew members also learn about the environment during the program.
GIS: Assisted Parks Division in GPSing and identifying locations of native plantings near
Bergfeld Recreation Area and new recreational trail, as well as Eagle Point Park.
Library: Hosted seven Nature Days and one Flower Power public event from 2006 - present.
Hosted a "Garden" story time in April, 2011 with 20 attendees.
Bee Branch: The City, in partnership with Black Hills Energy and other community partners,
has obtained a Trees Forever grant to plant 1,000 trees in Phase I of the Bee Branch project,
valued at over $6,000. Volunteers from the neighborhood will be engaged in the planting of the
trees.
Business:
Non - Profit:
See Land Acquisition for Mines of Spain above.
Stewards of the Beautiful In partnership with City staff, Dubuque County Soil & Water
Conservation District, Swiss Valley Nature Center, and others, Trees Forever hosted a series of
free classes focused on native plantings in urban and rural environments in summer 2012.
Classes focused on rain gardens and bioswales, plant identification prairies, etc.
Schools:
People & Neighborhoods:
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