IMAGINE DUBUQUE

IMAGINE DUBUQUE. In August, 2016 City of Dubuque officials launched the “Imagine Dubuque” campaign to develop a new Comprehensive Plan for Dubuque (See: VISION 2000) and define the community’s future. The 14-month process would include many opportunities for community participation. (1) The last time the city overhauled its plan was in 1995. It was updated in 2002, 2008, and 2012. (2)

Imagine Dubuque was designed to further the momentum of Dubuque’s past successes; cultivate a creative, highly engaging and considered long-range plan; and make certain future projects speak to the needs and desires of Dubuque residents and stakeholders. The plan aimed to be informed by the past and led by the future. (3)

The community was invited to share their ideas for the plan at a booth in front of NICC’s Town Clock Center from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2016 during Dubuque…And All That Jazz. Another opportunity to share fresh ideas and local recommendations was held from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday, August 20th at a FARMERS' MARKET booth located at 12th and Iowa streets. Future opportunities to share ideas and comments in person were to be announced and listed on the “Events” page of the project website, www.ImagineDubuque.com. (4)

Imagine Dubuque was scheduled to offer multiple opportunities for community members to share their ideas and vision for the future. Workshops and community events were planned and engagement kits, postcards, and other channels for communication were to be available at locations throughout the community in the near future. Residents could also participate immediately by visiting the Imagine Dubuque website at ImagineDubuque.com. The website provided information and opportunities to share ideas, share photos, participate in quick polls, and stay informed on the process and upcoming events. (5)

Residents and stakeholders could also download the Imagine Dubuque App on their mobile device. The app provided the same features as the website, but allowed residents to engage on-the-go. (6)

The new Comprehensive Plan was expected to be completed by next October, 2017. Materials related to the Imagine Dubuque Comprehensive Plan were be maintained and available to all through the project website, www.ImagineDubuque.com. (7)

More than 6,000 local residents participated in the project, on-line or in-person. On August 16, 2017 a "Treat + Greet" event was held in WASHINGTON PARK for citizens to receive a status report on the city's comprehensive plan. (8) City staff and consultant Teska Associates reviewed over 12,500 suggestions made during the yearlong process. Among the draft plan's nearly 100 recommendations: (9)

                1. Continue ongoing efforts to diversify Dubuque's economy and strengthen startup
                   businesses and entrepreneurial programming.

                2. Continue to implement the city's 2030 Climate Action Resiliency Plan by focusing
                   on waste reduction, transportation improvements and energy efficiency of homes
                   and businesses to reduce greenhouse gas.

                3. Evaluate community-based options for supporting mental health, such as support
                   groups, and explore the potential to provide training and financial resources
                   for the police department and community organizations around managing mental
                   health issues in the context of public safety.

                4. Explore the possibility of adding a police substation to further community
                   policing efforts and potential future sites for an addition or relocated fire
                   station with access to the Southwest Arterial.

                5. Promote mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly development both downtown, within the
                   Kennedy Road corridor and key intersections along the Southwest Arterial that
                   provide a variety of housing options and access to parks and schools, while
                   offering goods and services within walking distance.

The first of several "kick-off" events were held on June 13, 2019 with others scheduled through the weekend. At the first meeting organizations were presented which were helping to start progress on some of the plan's identified goals. DUPACO COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION was cited for its return to the Millwork District and redevelopment of the Voices building. The executive director of the DUBUQUE DREAM CENTER described the organization's success helping underprivileged youth. Co-owners of CONVIVIUM URBAN FARMSTEAD told of their story providing local food and nutrition programs in the North End. (10)

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Source:

1. Announcements. https://admiralcrestonaurora.nextdoor.com/news_feed/?lc=197&toc_section=posts&is=de&mobile_deeplink_data=action%3Dview_post%26post%3D30886710&s=de&link_source_user_id=1056756&toc=1&post=30886710&ct=f_h6os008URCJ_GNAn5dqPlPqakAl5Mw60xOGJRANPijt_YtGQ74HNiFJcrBPtgC

2. Barton, Thomas A. " 'A Pretty Good Course' for Dubuque," Telegraph Herald, August 24, 2017, p. 3A

3. Announcements

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8. "Imagine Dubuque: How Sweet!," Telegraph Herald (editorial), August 16, 2017, p. 4A

9. Barton

10. Fisher, Benjamin, "Imagine Dubuque Partners Up," Telegraph Herald, June 14, 2019, p. 3A