Minutes Long Range Planning Commisssion 12 20 06
MINUTES
LONG RANGE PLANNING ADVISORY COMMISSION
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
7:00 P.M.
Auditorium, Carnegie Stout Library
360 W. 11th Street, Dubuque, Iowa
PRESENT: Chairperson Charles Winterwood; Commissioners Jim Prochaska, Lou
Oswald, Otto Krueger, Rick Stein, and Mary Lynn Neumeister; Staff
Members Laura Carstens, Rich Russell, Aggie Tauke and David Johnson.
PUBLIC: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner Patricia Cline.
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 7:08 p.m
CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE: Staff presented an Affidavit of Compliance verifying
that the meeting was being held in compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Law.
MINUTES: Motion by Neumeister, seconded by Stein, to approve the minutes of
November 15, 2006, as submitted. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Oswald,
Prochaska, Krueger, Stein, Neumeister, and Winterwood; Nay -None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Review aoals and objectives for Public Safety Element: Chairperson Winterwood opened
the public hearing and asked for public comments on the Public Safety Element. There
were no public comments.
The following discussion/changes to the Public Safety Element were made:
Goal 1: Chairperson Winterwood felt that the last sentence of the Public Safety Policy
Statement should be removed and placed back as Objective 1.5. Objective 1.5 should
read, "Strive to foster partnerships between public safety agencies, community groups and
agencies that share similar goals."
No other changes were recommended for Goal 1.
Goal 2: After discussion, the Commission agreed Objective 2.2 should be changed to
read, "Provide safe and efficient buildings, facilities, vehicles, and equipment to support
efforts of public safety agencies, while striving for state-of-the art technology."
Goal 3: After discussion, the Commission agreed Goal 3 should be amended to read, "To
prevent, control and investigate volatile, at-risk situations, and criminal behavior."
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December 20, 2006
Page 2
Objective 3.3: The Commission felt Objective 3.3 should be changed to read, "Identify
criminal activity and volatile, at-risk situations, and take appropriate action."
Goal 4: The Commission decided Goal 4 should be changed to read, "To create a safe
community environment through increased awareness and education in order to eliminate
violent crime, gang activity, drug use, juvenile crime and domestic violence."
Objective 4.1: The Commission felt the proposed deleted Objective 4.1 should remain as
Objective 4.1, but be changed to read, "Inform and cooperate with community crime
prevention groups and agencies."
Goal 5:
Objective 5.2: The Commission agreed Objective 5.2 should be changed to read, "Protect
the lives and property of Dubuque citizens through the use of trained personnel, ongoing
education, and appropriate equipment, while striving for state-of-the-art technology."
Objective 5.6: The Commission felt Objective 5.6 needed to be more specific in the types
of cooperative agreements to be formed in the future. The Commission felt Objective 5.6
should be renumbered to 5.4, and should be changed to read, "Continue to use and
expand the use of cooperative mutual aid agreements in the future due to growth and
development."
Goal 6:
Objective 6.3: Commissioners Stein and Oswald felt Objective 6.3 should strive for higher
levels of disaster preparedness and surpass state and federal requirements, if possible.
The Commission agreed and felt that Objective 6.3 should be changed to read, "Maintain a
high level of disaster preparedness, to meet or exceed state and federal requirements."
The Commission agreed Objectives 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5 should be renumbered to 6.2, 6.3 and
6.4.
Goal 7:
Objective 7.1: The Commission felt it was important to identify adequate staff levels as an
important part of assuring good response times to medical emergencies. The Commission
felt Objective 7.1 should be changed to read, "Assure the provision of first responders to
provide medical aid for emergency medical calls and accidents, including adequate staff
levels."
Goal 8: No changes were made.
Goal 9: No changes were made.
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December 20, 2006
Page 3
Chairperson Winterwood closed the pubic hearing
Motion by Stein, seconded by Prochaska, to approve the Public Safety Element as
amended. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Oswald, Prochaska, Krueger, Stein,
Neumeister, and Winterwood; Nay -None.
Review coals and objectives for the Diversity Element:
Chairperson Winterwood opened the public hearing and asked for public comments on the
Diversity Element. There were no public comments. Staff Member Carstens noted input
had been received from the City's Human Rights Commission.
The following discussion/changes to the Diversity Element were made:
The Commission discussed the Diversity Element Policy Statement. The Commission
explained they were uncomfortable with the language in the 3rd sentence of the Policy
Statement and recommended this sentence be amended to read, "Our diversity can be our
strength as we develop new friendships." No other changes were recommended for the
Diversity Element Policy Statement.
Goal 1:
Objective 1.1: The Commission recommended Objective 1.1 be changed to read, "Identify
and clarify the more complex provisions of the City's Human Relations Ordinance."
Goal 2: There were no changes made.
Goal 3:
Objective 3.3: The Commission felt Objective 3.3 should be more specific regarding the
types of problems to be identified in the community. The Commission felt Objective 3.3
should be changed to read, "Identify diversity problems in the community, and attempt to
coordinate efforts to lessen the tension resulting from those problems."
Goal 4:
Objective 4.5: The Commission felt that it is important to specifically identify poverty
awareness as part of educating the community about diversity. The Commission felt
Objective 4.5 should be changed to read, "Increase awareness of socioeconomic
differences to foster understanding, such as offering poverty awareness training throughout
the community."
Goal 5: No changes were made
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December 20, 2006
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Goal 6: No changes were made.
Chairperson Winterwood closed the public hearing.
Motion by Krueger, seconded by Neumeister, to approve the goals and objectives for the
Diversity Element as amended. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Oswald,
Prochaska, Krueger, Stein, Neumeister, and Winterwood; Nay -None.
ACTION ITEM:
Washinaton Street Neighborhood Urban Revitalization District: Aggie Tauke from the
Housing and Community Development Department was present to address the
Commission. She referenced the memorandum and enclosed maps that were included in
the Commission's packets. She explained she is seeking the support of the Long Range
Planning Advisory Commission for the expansion of the Washington Neighborhood Urban
Revitalization District. She explained the revised Washington Neighborhood Urban
Revitalization area will expand the boundaries to include the area of the Washington
Neighborhood Association. Thedplan would also delete the last amended block and
expand the district from 11 `" to 22" Street, Central Avenue to Elm Street, and also include
the property from Elm Street Kniest Street from 20`h to 22"d Street. She explained the plan
provides for 10-year residential abatement of eligible improvements and will also allow a
three-year abatement for commercial buildings in the district, provided commercial uses in
the building are accessory to residential uses and do not constitute more than 25% of the
total use of the building. She explained non-residential commercial abatement is not
currently allowed in other urban revitalization areas in the city, but has been proposed to
provide an incentive for commercial uses to remain in the neighborhood and service the
needs of the area.
The Commission discussed the merits of the Washington Neighborhood Urban
Revitalization District expansion. The Commission felt the expansion would significantly
improve personal and business investments in the area. The Commission felt the tax
abatement program was an excellent program in means of revitalizing the Washington
Neighborhood area. The Commission felt the proposed Washington Neighborhood Urban
Revitalization District expansion was consistent with the Dubuque Comprehensive Plan.
Motion by Oswald, seconded by Prochaska, to recommend approval of the Washington
Neighborhood Urban Revitalization District Expansion to the City Council and that the
district and district expansion is consistent with the Dubuque Comprehensive Plan. Motion
carried by the following vote: Aye -Oswald, Prochaska, Krueger, Stein, Neumeister, and
Winterwood; Nay -None.
ACTION ITEM: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
Review Goals and Objectives for Recreation Element:
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December 20, 2006
Page 5
Motion by Prochaska, seconded by Stein, to approve the goals and objectives for the
Recreation Element. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Oswald, Prochaska,
Krueger, Stein, Neumeister, and Winterwood; Nay -None.
Review Goals and Objectives for Cultural Arts Element: The Commission identified a
typing error under Objective 3.3. The Commission and staff agreed that Objective 3.3
should read, "Continue to expand the role of the Five Flags Center and other venues as
centers for cultural events and arts experiences."
Motion by Prochaska, seconded by Stein, to approve the goals and objectives for the
Cultural Arts Element as amended. Motion carried by the following vote: Aye -Oswald,
Prochaska, Krueger, Stein, Neumeister, and Winterwood; Nay -None.
LIAISON SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS:
Enterprise Zone Commission: Commissioner Stein reported the Enterprise Zone
Commission approved the Durrant Group application for the Enterprise Zone Program to
remodel the Adams Company building in the Port of Dubuque. Commissioner Stein
explained that the Durrant Group is considering moving their national headquarters to the
Adams Company building in the Port of Dubuque. He stated the Adams Company building
remodel is the first phase of a larger project in the Port of Dubuque. Commissioner Stein
requested the artist's rendering for the Adams Company building be provided in the
Commission's next agenda packet.
ITEMS FROM PUBLIC: There were no public present.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSION: There were no items from the Commission.
ITEMS FROM STAFF: Staff Member Carstens reminded the Commission of the upcoming
January schedule for the Dubuque Comprehensive Plan update process.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
David Johnson, Assistant Planner.
Adopted