Ian Frink, Alderman At Large

Interesting Article on Davenport Flood

2008-05-03T12:27:00.002-05:00

I wanted to pass along an interesting article that ran in the Wall Street Journal this week:

Davenport Resists Flood Wall as River Swells
Iowa City Leaders
Stand By Decision
For Levee-Free Town

By JOE BARRETT
April 29, 2008; Page A8

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- The rain-swollen Mississippi River is rising out of its banks here once again -- flooding a city park with debris-filled water, shutting down a busy freight-rail line, and lapping against a 4-foot-high temporary berm built down the middle of River Drive.

For city leaders, the mess and disruption is worth it. Davenport is one of the biggest towns on the river to resist building a flood wall, a decision city leaders stand by. "We're trying to work with the river and not trying to tame it," said Bill Gluba, mayor of the town of about 100,000, which had been dealing with a minor flood that turned major after storms dumped as much as five inches of rain in 24 hours in eastern Iowa last week.

For years, federal officials and the media have pilloried Davenport for failing to shut out the river with a permanent flood wall. Residents were long reluctant -- and often short of the required cash -- to build a wall that would keep the river out of the town but would isolate the town from the river.

Davenport is betting that walling off the town from the river would cause more damage than the occasional flood. Cities up and down the Mississippi are increasingly moving structures out of the flood plain and limiting new construction, rather than building physical barriers. And some with flood walls are trying to get back some of the gains -- including economic ones -- of an open waterfront.

State and federal officials increasingly are pushing the idea that levees aren't the answer to every river town's problems. Walls can protect towns against many floods. But as Katrina and other disasters have shown, they also can break with catastrophic consequences.

"We have two kinds of levees -- those that have failed and those that will," said Paul Osman, head of the flood-plain management program for the state of Illinois.

In the wake of the devastating floods of 1993, some towns moved whole neighborhoods to higher ground. Grafton, Ill., at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, lost hundreds of houses to the flood.

Rather than rebuilding in the flood plain, the town used federal money to buy out many homeowners and help construct a subdivision on a bluff, out of danger. Now, most of the riverfront has been turned into parkland and the city has made an economic comeback through tourism.

Last week, the river was at flood stage but was causing little harm in Grafton. "Before the '93 flood, you would have impacted 50 houses," said Richard Mosby, a local cabinet maker who serves as the town mayor. "Now, it won't get on anybody's floor." The river is now projected to rise three more feet. When that happens, "it'll get interesting," he said Monday.

In other places damaged by the floods of 1993, walls were repaired and damaged properties were rebuilt -- to the disappointment of some experts.

"We've been building levees for a hundred years," said George Riedel, deputy executive director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers. "We're not going to change this in five to 10 years. It's going to take longer than that but we have to start some place."

Davenport was hit by the 1993 flood, too. Another socked the area in 1997. A third hit in 2001. As the city assessed the damage from the 2001 flood, city leaders sparred with top officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency over whether Davenport deserved federal dollars because it had left itself vulnerable to a flood.

Davenport had been weighing whether to build a wall as far back as the 1960s. Congress authorized a wall in 1970. The Army Corps of Engineers first did a comprehensive study in 1982, setting the cost of a levee at $34 million. The city, which had fallen on hard economic times, balked. Some were against a wall on economic grounds. Others didn't want to destroy the views of the water from the downtown area.

Meantime, the city bought out many low-lying homes and businesses and others relocated away from the water.

By 2002, the last time the Corps looked at the issue, a levee no longer made sense. The cost of building a wall had risen to $55 million with few buildings to protect, said Ron Fournier, a spokesman for the Corps of engineers.

Today, Davenport's waterfront features a downtown park with a historic bandshell and a minor league ballpark protected by its own floodwall. A new skateboard park is vulnerable to floods but easy to clean up. A large art museum was built in the last few years atop a flood-ready parking garage.

Under a plan called RiverVision, Davenport and Rock Island, Ill., right across the river, are making other river-friendly changes. Davenport is seeking $10 million in federal funds to develop another stretch of riverfront with special landscaping and materials that will allow the water to come in and make cleanups even easier. The hope is that all the attractive green space will draw residences and more businesses downtown.

Rock Island, long protected by its 1960s-era flood wall, has lost some of its connection to the river, city officials said. It is building a city park with raised elevations so the river is more visible. A riverboat casino is being moved, to make way for more riverfront access.

On days like Monday with the river still rising, Al Kump, owner of Credit Island Bait Shop, just west of downtown Davenport, wouldn't mind having a floodwall. He had been sandbagging all morning. The river only reaches his business every seven or eight years, he said, and the occasional flood brings people together.

"It's a lot of work, but you get everybody laughing and joking," Mr. Kump said. "A lot of good comes out of it too."

Flood fighting efforts

2008-04-27T21:29:00.003-05:00

The city has posted information on-line regarding efforts with our current flood, click here to read/view the information.

Our city employees are working hard to prevent any serious damage and it is appreciated. I spoke to a crew on Iowa St./River Dr. today and they had been putting in long hours over the weekend to implement the plan. Hopefully, we will work through this one and dry out for the remainder of the spring.

Ward Meeting Set for April 30th

2008-04-23T21:30:00.002-05:00

I will co-host a ward meeting, open to citizens from throughout the community, with Ald. Justin and Ald. Meeker at 6 pm, Wed. April 30th, at the Duck Creek Lodge (Marlo and E. Locust). The topics of discussion will include neighborhood public safety, as well as items currently before the city council and other topics. Feel free to send along any suggested topics in advance through this blog or by sending an e-mail to myself or the other aldermen. Thanks, Ian

E-mail addresses:
jjustin@ci.davenport.com
gmeeker@ci.davenport.com
ifrink@ci.davenport.com

New websites showcase downtown ammenities

2008-03-26T22:05:00.011-05:00

I wanted to take a moment to highlight two new websites, which highlight downtown ammenities.

The QC River Bandits have launched a new website promoting the team and the upcoming 2008 season. The Bandits open the season at 7 pm, April 3rd with a four-game homestand. To visit the site: click here.

The Capitol Theatre has a new website as well. The site lists upcoming performances and has some great photos of the venue. The next show is at 8 pm, April 3rd when Spoon comes to town in a concert sponsored by daytrotter.com - to visit the Captiol's site: click here.

Zoo Review

2008-03-11T21:08:00.005-05:00

The city council will be hosting public meetings through a task force to review the FY-09 budget allocation for the Fejervary Zoo. The decision at hand concerns staffing and the animals to be exhibited at the facility. If you are interested in sharing comments please feel free to do so on this site or contact me at: ifrink@ci.davenport.ia.us or 563-508-2842.

Also, let me know if you would like to be placed on our contact list for these meetings. Thanks, Ian

Update: The first meeting is scheduled for 6 pm, Thur. 3/27, at the Parks Office (next to the IMAX and Zoo, off of Division)

Budget Presentation at COW Meeting

2008-03-06T20:50:00.001-06:00

Click here to review the FY09 Budget Presentation/Power-Point from last night's Committee of the Whole meeting.

Budget Schedule

2008-02-21T19:13:00.005-06:00

The city has announced the following schedule to review the upcoming budget process. The budget will be reviewed in the coming weeks, with a final certification March 15. The new fiscal year begins 7/1/08.

Please let me know of any questions or concerns, thanks. Ian

SCHEDULE (All meetings in Council Chambers)

Sat., 2/23, 9 am, Work Session
Mon., 2/25, 5:30 pm, Work Session
Sat., 3/1, 9 am, Work Session
Mon., 3/3, 5:30 pm, Work Session
Wed., 3/5, 5:30 pm, COW (Agenda Item, Public Hearing)
Sat., 3/8, 1 pm, Work Session
Wed., 3/12, 5:30 pm, Council Meeting (Agenda Item)

* Work Session schedule may be subject to change, depending on overall progress in the sessions.

Budget Presentation/Ward Meeting

2008-01-28T21:15:00.000-06:00

City staff will be presenting the budget during a meeting at 6 pm, Thur. Feb. 7th, at the Heart Center (Genesis East Campus). Ald. Lynn, Justin, Meeker, and myself will be in attendance. The budget overview will be followed by Q & A. The aldermen will be available for any other requests, following the presentation.

The city has a listing of upcoming ward meetings: click here.

Planning documents on-line

2008-01-17T23:34:00.000-06:00

The next city council planning session is slated for Sunday. The working documents, thus far, have been placed on the city's site. To review, click here. I welcome any comments or suggestions on this blog or contact me at: ifrink@ci.davenport.ia.us or 508-2842. Thanks, Ian

Commercial Corridor Presentation

2008-01-13T20:54:00.000-06:00

RDG presented findings on the Brady/Harrison commercial corridor this month. This is one of a number of a number of existing corridors RDG is set to review. I have linked the presentation (as a PDF) on my website, to download - click here.

The file is rather large and might take some time to download, depending on your internet connection. Let me know your thoughts/concerns on this blog or email me at: ifrink@ci.davenport.ia.us.

Upcoming Events

2008-01-10T19:53:00.000-06:00

I wanted to pass along information on some upcoming events:

SAT., JAN. 12TH, 10 AM
Nathan Brown, Ward Meeting, at Roosevelt Center
More info, click here

MON., JAN. 14TH, 6 PM
Police Chief Candidate Public Reception, at Redstone Room/RME (six candidates remain)

THUR., JAN. 24TH, 6 PM
QC TAG - Alternative Transportation/Biking Meeting, "Complete Streets", at Figge
More info, click here

Council Planning Sessions

2008-01-03T00:03:00.000-06:00

The 2008-09 city council will hold planning sessions from Jan. 6-8. The sessions will give the new council an opportunity to set goals and priorities for the new term. Obviously, we will need to build off of what has been accomplished and focus on some key issues (i.e. increasing jobs, reducing crime, holding the line on taxes and spending, building better neighborhoods, and so forth). I am looking for your thoughts and priorities, also any new ideas you might have that are worthy of discussing. Feel free to post them here (or call/email). Thanks, Ian

(Side note, Nathan Brown has a new blog, I posted a link from this site)

City Hall Open House Follows First Meeting

2008-01-01T13:16:00.000-06:00

The new city council will host an open house following the first council meeting at 7 pm Wednesday at City Hall. The public is invited to attend! More info, click here.

Bike Planning, Neighborhood Planning

2007-11-21T21:38:00.000-06:00

BIKE PLANNING MEETING LAST NIGHT
I attend the QC-TAG (Transportation Advocacy Group) meeting last night at the RI Public Library. The meeting focused on looking at viable alternatives for connecting our bike paths and road sharing throughout the Quad Cities. It was well organized and some good ideas were brought forth. The meeting was a preliminary gathering for a more formal set of meetings in January. The QC-TAG website has more info, including links to today's articles in the Times and Dispatch/Argus. Click here to visit the QC-TAG website.

NEIGHBORHOOD INFILL PLANNING MEETING NEXT WEEK
WED. 11/28, 5:30 PM, Design Center (2nd/Brady)
From city website:

Infill development refers to new construction of residential buildings in established neighborhoods. In response to community concerns about the quality and design compatibility of infill development in Davenport, the Staff of the Planning/Land Use and Design Center of the Community and Economic Development Department has been researching alternatives on addressing the issue.

Staff has developed a preliminary set of standards and has ideas on how they might be applied. The challenge remains establishing a set of criteria and approval process that protects the character of established neighborhoods while promoting infill development at the same time. Questions also remain concerning the level of detail and how the review and approval process might work.

Click here for the link.

East Bluff recommended for 100 Homes program

2007-10-11T22:55:00.000-05:00

I wanted to take a moment and update progress on the 100 Homes program. The design committee has recommended the East Bluff neighborhood as the area for our first year. The neighborhood designated the area from Locust South to 14th and from Perry East to Carey. A number of criteria were reviewed for the recommendation. The selection is before the council for final approval next week.

The 100 Homes program offers forgivable loans ($15,000) to persons from any income bracket for home improvements on new purchases in the selected area. I hope all goes well in the first year and we can move forward with a solid effort with existing projects in this area and with the neighborhood association. To learn more: click here and go to pages 3-4 of the PDF.

I would like to thank the lending institutions that helped to provide funding, the committee volunteers, and my colleagues for their support of this new project. I hope this will be one component that helps us build better neighborhoods in the future.

Miscellaneous Items

2007-10-02T22:37:00.000-05:00

OKTOBERFEST IN THE EAST VILLAGE
The annual Oktoberfest Celebration is set for this weekend (Sat. and Sun.) in the East Village. Additional information: click here.

ABANDON HOUSE REHABILITATION OPPORTUNITY
The city has posted a listing of properties that are slated for demolition and are available for rehabilitation if interest exists. The goal is to make the public aware of buildings that are being considered for demolition by the Community Service Division in an effort to locate interested investors that are willing to rehab the buildings and return them to code compliant condition and as active, tax producing properties. Additional information: click here.

ANNUAL HALOWEEN EVENTS
The city has announced plans for this year's Halloween Parade. This year's event is set for 7 pm, Wed., Oct. 31st, in the downtown. Trick/Treat is set for 5-8 pm, Tues., Oct. 30th. Additional information: click here.

AT LARGE CANDIDATE MEET AND GREETS THIS WEEKEND
Two city council candidate meet and greets are scheduled for this weekend and are open to all candidates. The first event is from 1-3 pm, Sat., Oct. 6th, at Goose Creek Heights Park. The second is from 1-3 pm, Sun., Oct. 7th, at Turner Hall in the East Village - held in conjunction with Oktoberfest (see above information).

Inspection statistics, ordinance change information

2007-08-31T19:10:00.000-05:00

I have been asked by a number of folks to provide the updated environmental inspection and rental housing code statistics.

HOUSING INSPECTION STATISTICS
In the most recent fiscal year (ending 6-30-07) - Four inspectors completed 2472 total housing inspections in 4700 units. The rental inspections added up to 779 inspections in 2216 units. The weed inspections were 2578.

In the prior fiscal year (7-1-05 through 6-30-06) - 14 inspectors completed 4754 total housing inspections in 9823 units. The rental inspections added up to 1738 inspections in 5136 units. The weed inspections were 2125.

Moving forward, eight inspectors will be doing this work.

ENVIRONMENTAL INSPECTION STATISTICS
In the most recent fiscal year (ending 6-30-07) - Public Works staff sent 5244 environmental notice letters and performed 1376 clean ups.

In the prior fiscal year, the numbers totaled 1914 environmental notice letters and 800 clean ups.

Additional info on the Environmental Inspections - click here.

::::::

I have also been asked to post the ordinance change, re: the rental dwelling definition, to review - click here.

To summarize, the before and after for this change, I have outlined a few bullet points:

* Prior to this ordinance passing, no contract sales were subject to regular rental inspection cycles
* Now, when less than 3% is put down - they are subject to regular rental inspection cycles
* Prior to the ordinance passing, all "rent to owns" were inspected
* This ordinance does take the "rent to owns" out of inspection, when the occupant places 3% down
* All of these properties are still subject to: housing code enforcement (all complaints will be inspected)
* All of these properties are still subject to: nuisance abatement ordinances
* This ordinance, in theory, will place more focus on the "rent to owns" where the least amount of money is being placed down by the occupant

Obviously, at the very least, we need to monitor this program closely and work with the DFD. We should evaluate the pros/cons for the time being and move forward from there. Let me know of any other questions and concerns.

A few items of note ....

2007-08-19T13:36:00.000-05:00

The NCRC (National Community Reinvestment Coalition) Regional Conference is Tues. (8/21) and Wed. (8/22), in Davenport, at the Radisson, Figge, and JOD. More information, click here.

The Urban Deer Hunt information is now on the city's website. The hunt season starts Sept. 15th. To learn more about rules/registration: click here.

A Downtown Living Strategy meeting is tomorrow (8/20) at 6 pm (RME/2nd Flr.). Click here to learn more.

The application process, for neighborhoods interested in participating in the 100-Homes program has begun. I have saved the new application form, brochure, and information on my website, to review - click here. The new information took into consideration feedback from citizens and the council, including an expanded target area (now 36-sq. blocks).

IOC Meeting Schedule

2007-08-07T12:00:00.000-05:00

A series of meetings to review challenges and opportunities related to the potential move of the casino operation off of the riverfront begins tonight.

The schedule follows:

Meeting 1: Tues., 8/7, 5:30 pm @ River-Center
Meeting 2: Thurs., 8/16, 5:30 pm @ River-Center
Meeting 3: Tues., 8/28, 5:30 pm @ River-Center
Meeting 4: Thurs., 8/30, Noon @ River-Center

Details/additional info - click here

Frink seeks re-election bid as at-large alderman

2007-07-26T21:59:00.000-05:00

I have announced intentions to seek a second term on the Davenport City Council this fall. I have been privileged to have the opportunity to serve the citizens of Davenport. It is my hope that the council is able to build on the progress that has been made and is able to achieve our goals of building a better Davenport.

To read the press release: click here

I will keep future campaign information on my main website (www.ianfrink.com). I'll continue to use this blog for issues that are before the council/other current issues and topics.

Infill in RI Historic Area

2007-07-16T21:41:00.001-05:00

I found this article to be interesting in the RI News. It is in regard to two new homes constructed in the Broadway area (see above). It would be nice to see more of these structures around town in our historic areas. The article states that one of the homes will be for a family/children's center, I assume the other is single family. Either way, the design blends well into the neighborhood.

Here's the link:
http://therockislandnews.com/news/doc46979321c762c813568861.txt

100 Homes Program Meeting Set for July 19th

2007-07-10T23:50:00.001-05:00

A public meeting for the 100 Homes Program will be held at 7 pm, July 19th, at United Neighbors. The program is modeled after the Neighborhood Finance Corporation in Des Moines. The program offers financing through forgivable loans for individuals, from any income bracket, looking to purchase homes in neighborhoods. Of course, stipulations will be in place to ensure those dollars are used for re-hab purposes. The goal of 100 Homes is to encourage re-investments in neighborhoods and to encourage economic diversity in our older neighborhoods.

The DM program, over 16 years, has led to 2,600 housing unit re-habs and $148-million of investments in 27 neighborhoods.

Let me know your thoughts or stop by the meeting on the 19th.

Information from the city website:

In November 2006, the City held an informal meeting at United Neighbors to talk about a new idea for a housing finance program. Those who attended learned about how the goal of the program is to encourage economic diversity in one or more low income neighborhoods by providing homebuyer assistance. The concept involved inviting neighborhoods to apply for the program. Then, qualifying buyers who purchase homes in the selected neighborhood(s) would be eligible for down payment and rehabilitation assistance.

Since then, the City Council has allocated $300,000 to this program, now called the 100 Homes Program. The name comes from the goal of providing assistance to 100 home buyers in one or more small neighborhoods over a several year period. Further, 11 lenders have committed funding to the program. The City has formed a Design Committee, which has drafted details about the program, including a draft neighborhood application form and draft program flyer.

More information, click here.

A few items ...

2007-07-05T21:38:00.000-05:00

A few items I wanted to pass along:

- I have been asked by a few folks about street sweeping, a map/schedule is on-line: click here.

- Youth Fest is set for July 11th at Fejervary Park, the free event has a great deal of activites scheduled. To learn more, click here.

- Urbanist Jeff Speck will be in town for a speaking engagement at the Figge July 9th. To learn more, click here.

- QC Bicylce Club's Bike to the Ballpark is set for July 8th, 1 pm, Swing game.

Details:
Want to spend an afternoon in one of the Midwest's most beautiful ball parks? Want to get there at a relaxed pace, following a scenic trail along the Mighty Mississippi? Join us for Bike to the Ball Park! We've been offered a discount and a secure area to place our bikes inside the park. $6 for general admission; $12 for admission, hot dog, and a soft drink. Free in stadium bike parking.

Call in or e-mail your reservation and roll your bike in through the southwest gate between Noon and 1 pm.(563)328-2000- ticket office; www.swingbaseball.com.

- The city is seeking input from downtown residents on the new downtown living strategy. To learn more and to take the survey, click here.

Davenport, RI win national award for livability

2007-06-24T22:32:00.000-05:00

From City/Davenport website:
2007 Most Livable Small City in the Country

The Cities of Davenport and Rock Island are being recognized at the U.S. Conference of Mayors for the visionary waterfront development plan, RiverVision.

On Monday, June 25, 2007 the cities of Davenport and Rock Island will be receiving the First Place City Livability award for cities smaller than 100,000 in population in the 2007 City Livability Awards Program. The award is sponsored by The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Waste Management, Inc.

Click here to learn more from City website.

Click here to read the press release from the US Conf./Mayors.

June all-wards meeting set

2007-06-12T23:58:00.001-05:00

I will be hosting an all-wards meeting at 5 pm, Wed. June 27th, in the 2nd Flr. performance hall of the River Music Experience (2nd & Main). The meeting will center on current issues before the council, as well as recent developments pertaining to the downtown and riverfront. Other topic ideas may be submitted through this blog, via email (ian@ianfrink.com), or by calling 508-2842. Additional information/map: click here.

Neighborhood Partnership Program Information

2007-06-10T22:37:00.000-05:00

City staff has drafted additional information on the City's new neighborhood matching program. The program will provide financial assistance to groups representing residential neighborhoods and business districts.

The objective is to make available City funding for improvement projects in the public right-of-way or on other public property - with the City's funding to be matched by contributions from the partnering organizations. Funding for this program was included in the budget for the City for the period beginning July 1, 2007.

This program is one of the neighborhood initiatives passed by the council in March. All of the programs will be funded, beginning July 1. The new initiatives include: Neighborhood Partnership, the "100 Homes" neighborhood financing program, the new neighborhood liaison/specialist, and additional NETS police officers.

A meeting is set for June 25th at 5:30 pm in the Design Center (corner of 2nd/Brady) to seek additional input on the matching program.

To learn more about the proposal, see below:

Click here for a program memo
Click here for a propsoed design of the program

Tree Limb Collection Information

2007-06-08T11:58:00.001-05:00

Public Works has announced special collection of tree limbs for the week of 6/11. Click here for information.

2007 Park Guide now on-line

2007-05-23T23:29:00.001-05:00

The city's 2007 Park/Recreation guide is now on-line. The 32-page guide outlines activities in our 48 parks and other facilities. Programs range from skateboard clinics, to swim lessons, to zoo activities, to ballroom dancing, to gymnastics, to track/field, to tennis, to BMX, to camping, to gardening, to live music, to wild exploration, to volleyball, and more! Our parks are a great asset to the community and just about something for everyone is offered. To read more, click here.

VIPS accepting applications for new members

2007-05-23T23:15:00.000-05:00

Davenport's Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) are accepting applications for new members. The VIPS team operates within the Davenport Police Department.

The Davenport Police Department is committed to operating under a philosophy of Community Oriented Policing with the goal of identifying and solving problems. In an effort to further Community Policing efforts and work in partnership with community members, the Volunteers In Police Service program was developed and launched in 2005.

The proactive efforts have recorded an average of 4000 hours of work per year or the equivalent of two full-time employees. To learn more click here.

Sunderbruch to open Sat.

2007-05-16T22:38:00.000-05:00

Sunderbruch Park will open to the public at 1 pm Saturday. The park is located at 4500 Telegraph Rd. Sunderbruch has 5-miles of trail and plenty of wooded parkland. The park is different than any other city park in Davenport. It is more similar to Blackhawk State Park in Rock Island. Sunderbruch will offer trails for hiking, off road biking, running, and horse riding. The park is also a great location for viewing of wildlife and natural landscapes. From the parking area a blacktop path takes visitors to a bluff area with some great views of this hilly area of town, from here trailheads exist to take folks back into the wooded sections of the park. I believe this will truly be a great asset for the city and am excited to see this project come to fruition.

Directions:

From W Locust - go S on Wisconsin, turn L on Telegraph, go aprox. 1/4-mile.
From W River - go N on Utah, turn R on Telegraph, go aprox. 1-mile.

Additional info on Saturday's event, click here.

DPD station LEED certified

2007-04-30T21:56:00.000-05:00

The new DPD station is the first in Iowa to be receive LEED certification. It will open late summer. To view pictures and to learn more: click here.

Wilco to play Adler

2007-04-30T21:49:00.000-05:00

If you haven't been to the newly renovated Adler Theatre, a good opportunity will be June 13th when Wilco comes in for a Wednesday night show. Tickets are on sale now. Wilco won a 2005 Grammy for best alternative album. To view upcoming events at the Adler: click here. To learn more about the band: click here.

QC Bike Event Saturday at Botanical Center

2007-04-25T21:24:00.000-05:00

I received the following email today, thought I would share for anyone who might be interested:

Saturday, April 28th

Head your bike to Rock Island’s Botanical Center for a news conference/bike event that you won’t want to miss. We’ll meet in the Center’s north parking lot at 11:00 a.m. where the following activities will take place:

1. The official presentation of the Quad City Metro Bicycle Map to the public. The Quad City mayors and bike shops have been invited to participate and receive a ceremonial copy of the map. All those in attendance will also receive one of the new maps.
2. Also the new edition of River Action’s Trail Brochure will be presented. The brochure has been redesigned and configured to better show the splendor of our trails.
3. The kick-off for the Quad City celebration of Bike to Work Week, which will be held from Monday, May 14 to Friday, May 18. Posters, flyers, and promotions for this week will be presented at the news conference so that people will have ample time to plan their riding to work.
4. Further information about the Ride of Silence to be held on Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m., starting at the same place as the news conference.
5. QC Transit systems will be on hand to demonstrate how easy it is to use the bike racks on most busses.
6. A short Metro Map bike ride will take place right after the conference/event. Cyclists will tour some of the Metro Map's preferred routes in Rock Island, Moline, and Davenport.

- From River Action

All Wards meeting follow up from Sat.

2007-04-24T19:17:00.000-05:00

Follow-up on the items requested at Saturday's meeting - thanks to staff for the quick follow up:

1) Having the city bus routes start earlier in the morning (5:00 a.m.) and later at night to accommodate second and third shift workers.

A) It is a goal to start service earlier, such as 5:00AM, and more importantly evening service. To accomplish this, the funding needs to be established via federal and state grants for operational costs, which are available through a competitive process. This is phase three of our improvements of our transit system. Phase one being restructuring our routes to go with our citys growth. Phase two is to improve our transit amenities, such as bus shelters and bus stop signage.

2) Is bus hub going to be built by St. Ambrose and then move all buses out to public works?

A) The St.Ambrose (Midtown) hub will be permanent. The proposed public works facility will be for maintenance and administration offices for transit.

3) Graffiti at 11th and 12th on Mound in alleyway.

A) Turned into DPD.

4) Graffiti north of 12th street, looking west whole back of garage is covered.

A) Turned into DPD.

5) Curbs on both sides of street this time on 11th between Mississippi and Spring St. Is this in CIP?

A) Curb replacement is a shared cost with the property owner. The program is funded at a 50-50 sharing. The property owner requests repair by using the action center or calling engineering at 326-7729.

6) Check on house on Jersey Ridge that has been under construction N of Elm.

A) CED Dept. is reviewing and in contact with owner.

7) What is happening to the Forest Block building?

A) The City has conditionally awarded Highland Investments $200,000 to assist in the redevelopment of the façade of the building through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Downtown Redevelopment Program. This program is for the removal of slum and blighted conditions in targeted downtown commercial buildings. Because the program is federally funded, we had to conduct an environmental assessment on the building. That environmental assessment has been completed and final clearance was received by the federal government approximately ten days ago. A commitment letter from the City to the company will go out later this week. The CDBG award will be contingent upon the company securing all financing for the project, which I understand the company is in the process of finalizing.

8) The old Ramada Inn at 67th and Brady near the old cinemas – is an eyesore, what is happening here?

A) The property is a focal point for the Brady/Harrison corridor planning. Plans for redevelopment are being considered. The corridor planning consultants have suggested that property plus the cinema should make for an attractive redevelopment parcel with a variety of possible uses.

9) Ref. the Linden apartments fire – did the city receive $80,000 from owner?

A) In December the FD billed it, we waited the 30 days to see if the bill was paid. I requested a copy of the file from the FD in January. Legal drafted the lawsuit and filed it in March. An appearance has been filed by their attorney but no answer to the petition has been filed. Legal will proceed through the discovery phase of litigation.

10) Need extra patrols in area of 3538 Bridge.

A) Sent to patrol division of DPD.

11) Tree limbs blocking sidewalk behind Star Medical.

A) Forestry dept. has taken care of this (4/26)

12) Walk signal at Kimberly and Eastern not long enough.

A) Traffic engineer to review.

13) Concern on money - re: class action lawsuit for cameras.

A) Click here

LeClaire Park Meetings This Week

2007-04-22T21:52:00.000-05:00

** Concept sketch: click here; Comment: click here

City staff will share feedback and ideas received from citizens regarding LeClaire Park at two meetings this week, open to the public. The meetings will center on re-claiming a fair amount of surface parking, around 5 acres, (see above from Absolute DSM) and transforming these areas to green space and amenities that tie into the existing park space.

The schedule:
Meeting #1
Mon., April 23, 6:30 pm
River Music Experience, 2nd floor
Corner of Main and 2nd - Downtown

Meeting #2
Fri., April 27, Noon
City's Design Center
Corner of Brady and 2nd - Downtown

Additional info: click here

All Wards Meeting Reminder, Sat. at 10 am

2007-04-17T01:06:00.000-05:00

I wanted to send off a quick reminder for my all wards meeting from 10 am - Noon, Saturday, at the Genesis Heart Center's Adler Room in the 1200 block of E. Rusholme. The agenda will include a report from DPD, a review of our city's new Green Program, a review of our UCR crime stats released this week, and any other items folks wish to discuss. For additional information/map: click here.

Related - UCR w/one page summary: click here
Related - Green Program: click here

*** MEETING FOLLOW UP -
HERE'S A LIST OF ITEMS/COMMENTS RECEIVED:

(I'll post responses on these later in the week, thanks to those who attended and thanks for assistance from Cindy Webb and Capt. Murphy from PD)

Here are tasks from Saturday’s meeting:

1) Having the city bus routes start earlier in the morning (5:00 a.m.) and later at night to accommodate second and third shift workers;

2) Is bus hub going to be built by St. Ambrose and then move all buses out to public works?

3) Graffiti at 11th and 12th on Moundin alleyway.

4) Graffiti north of 12th street, looking west whole back of garage is covered.

5) Curbs on both sides of street this time on 11th between Mississippi and Spring St. Is this in CIP?

6) Check on house on Jersey Ridge that has been under construction N of Elm.

7) What is happening to the Forest Block building?

8) The old Ramada Inn at 67th and Brady near the old cinemas – is an eyesore, what is happening here?

9) Ref. the Linden apartments fire – did the city receive $80,000 from owner?

10) Need extra patrols in area of 3538 Bridge.

11) Tree limbs blocking sidewalk behind Star Medical.

12) Walk signal at Kimberly and Eastern not long enough.

13) Concern on money - re: class action lawsuit for cameras.

Proposed Green City Program, Earth Week Activities

2007-04-12T17:31:00.000-05:00

:::
Detailed info - all links, click here
:::

The city will be reviewing a proposed Green City Program next week, while concurrently moving forward with daily Earth Week activities from April 16th-22nd.

The Davenport Green City Program addresses each of the four components made up of the National Cool Cities Pledge. The pledge has been signed by over 400 mayors from throughout the country and dedicates efforts toward: reducing air pollution, improving air quality, restoring urban forest, greening the environment, improving water quality, creating healthy livable urban centers, and building sustainable practices.

I believe it is important for us to celebrate what we have accomplished, set new goals and initiatives, and raise awareness throughout the community. I believe the new Green City program does this (click here).

As for Earth Week (click here for full schedule/details), activities include:
Monday, 4/16, 1 pm, Vander Veer Park Rose Garden
Mayor Winborn Press Conference, RE: Cool Cities Program
Tuesday, 4/17, 9 am, Public Works Facility (Start) - 1200 E. 46th
Green Fleet Jazz Parade - 53rd Clean Up
Tuesday, 4/17, Noon, Training Center
Presentation on Alternative Energy, Sustainable Living
Wednesday, 4/18, 5 pm, New DPD Station
City council tour of LEEDS building
Thursday, 4/19, 11 am - 2 pm, Design Center (Brady/2nd)
Healthy, Active, and Green Open House
Friday, 4/20, 1 pm, Skybridge
LeClaire Park Planning Overview
Saturday, 4/21, 10 am - 4 pm, QCCA Expo Center in Rock Island
Earth Week Fair
Sunday, 4/22, 10 am - 5 pm, Fejevary Park Zoo
Kids spring gardening
Sunday, 4/22, Noon - 2 pm, Vander Veer Park
Tree, shrub give away

Hopefully folks will be able to take part in Earth Week events and will support the Green City Program.

Also, thanks to the department heads and staff members that put in so much time to outline this green program and to plan next week's activities. The dedicated efforts are appreciated.

Related article: click here

All Wards Meeting Set for April 21st

2007-04-11T19:23:00.000-05:00

I will host an all-wards meeting from 10 am until Noon, Sat. April 21st, at the Genesis (East) Heart Center's Adler Room, 1236 E. Rusholme. The meeting will be my second gathering in the 5th Ward since taking office. I welcome any agenda ideas or topics through this blog, email (ian@ianfrink.com), or phone (508-2842). For additional information, map/directions: click here. Parking is available in the ramp on the North side of Rusholme.

All Wards Meeting Follow Up

2007-03-31T19:30:00.000-05:00

I wanted to take a moment to follow up on a few items from the recent All-Wards Meeting at the Roosevelt Center. Thanks to staff for the responses.

SILT IN BLACKHAWK CREEK (Public Works Review)
The area between River Dr. & the Railroad Bridge was reviewed on Blackhawk Creek and the opinion is; that it will not do any good to clean this area because the harbor side is silted to the same level. Sewer Division does clean the concrete channel regularly.

CONCRETE PILLARS NEAR ALLEYWAY BEHIND 100 W LOCUST (Public Works Review)
The pillars belong to the property owners (Kidney Center) and are not in the actual alleyway.

LOUD PIPES IN ROCKINGHAM/SOUTH CONCORD AREA (P.D. Review)
The area of Rockingham and S. Concord has been tasked as an enforcement area and our personnel have been doing traffic enforcement in the area and will continue to keep it in our Traffic Bureau’s enforcement rotation schedule. Also, just for the record, we have written 39 loud noise tickets to date this year, though the system doesn’t allow us to sort out the cars from the motorcycles.

GREENSPACE AREA IN FLOOD ZONE/PANSY PROPERTY DISCUSSION (C.E.D. Review)
We have secured federal funds for certain of the prior specific parcels in that area. With each of those, we are obligated to own them and keep them open space.

RISK MGMT. FUND (Legal Review)
The balance and use of this fund has been requested - I will post as soon as I learn more, Ian.

Upcoming Meetings: More LeClaire Park, Garden Growers Community Garden Plan

2007-03-27T19:46:00.000-05:00

I thought I would pass along a few more dates/times for upcoming meetings:

LECLAIRE PARK PLANNING - PUBLIC INPUT AT RIVER MUSIC EXPERIENCE (2ND & MAIN)
Sat., Mar. 30th @ Noon, or, Tues., Apr. 3rd @ 6:30 pm - click here to take an on-line survey pertaining to this topic

::::

COMMUNITY GARDEN PLANS FOR VAN BUREN PARK AT ST. MARK LUTHERAN (2363 W 3RD)
Mon. Apr. 2nd @ 6:30 pm - info and flyer, click here

LeClaire Park Meeting Set for Monday

2007-03-24T17:12:00.000-05:00

The city's Design Center will host a meeting to discuss LeClaire Park at 6:30 pm, Monday, at the River Music Experience (2nd & Main - downtown). The city will be re-claiming the surface parking lots (above photo/at right) from the casino and has an opportunity to expand 5-acres of greenspace in the park. To learn more or to take a survey on the project - click here.

(photo, Absolute DSM)

All-Wards Mtg. Reminder

2007-03-19T23:22:00.000-05:00

I will host an all-wards meeting from 6:30-8:30 pm, Thur. Mar. 22, at the Roosevelt Center (1220 Minnie) in the first ward. Info/map - click here.

D.C. Review

2007-03-16T21:59:00.000-05:00

I participated in the D.C. lobbying trip Thursday and Friday with the QC Development Group. The trip included 75 or so folks from the Quad Cities and surrounding communities. Meetings were set with staff and our local representatives and senators. The meetings were an opportunity for QCA folks to make our partners at the federal level aware of funding needs for a number of projects. Senators Harkin, Grassley, Durbin, and Obama participated; as did Representatives Braley and Hare. The Davenport group numbered around 10 and we lobbied on six key projects for the city. The projects were ranked in order of importance for the city. A quick review of our top-six, for FY-08, follows:

#1 - WESTSIDE DIVERSION TUNNEL: The city is seeking $5.528-M of federal funding to bid the first phase. The tunnel is required to allow for development across more than 20-sq. miles of the city.
#2 - FLOODPLAIN DEMONSTRATION/CENTENNIAL PARK - request $12-M.
#3 - TRANSIT GARAGE - request $5.1-M.
#4 - FARMERS MARKET - request $250,000.
#5 - BI-STATE WATER TAXI & PIERS FOR RI AND DAV.: $3.5-M.
#6 - AIRPORT TERMINAL - request $1.1-M.

Of these six, I thought the most important (as of right now) for our city was the Diversion Tunnel and Transit Garage. The reason being both of these need the most immediate attention. The city has a very limited amount of space available for any sort of development right now. The sewer tunnel would open a huge opportunity for us in NW Davenport and would take pressure off of our older lines, namely the Jersey Ridge line. The transit garage is also important. Our contract with Metrolink expires in 2010. We should move our garage to our side of the river (it currently sits in RI) - we could save $200,000 per year by bringing this operation "in house." Plus this will give us greater control of expanding our CitiBus services throughout the city. I was glad to see the diversion tunnel ranked first. We need it and we need help due the overall price tag of $45-M.

I thought the meetings went well, but a number of our representatives stated they were somewhat handcuffed do to the fact we are spending $8-B a month in Iraq. Pretty amazing.

The Arsenal was another focal point for the region. We were dealt a blow with the losses from BRAC, but the silver lining is the 1st Army's proposed move to the island. With that will come 300 more uniformed personnel, many of which are officers in our military. I was told the impact of the 1st Army is similar to having a Fortune-100 company in our community. I'll be happy when this comes to fruition, but until then I do have some concerns due to the fact that our government seems to change course with its' military assignments pretty regularly.

Overall a good exercise - all of the elected officials stated that it is important to have the lobbying efforts and as "one Quad City." It was my first trip with the development group and it seemed to go well.

Let me know of any questions, thanks.

- Ian

Related article, click here

Connecting Bike Paths, Duck Creek and Riverfront

2007-03-08T20:53:00.000-06:00

Our bike paths are true assets for our community. The Duck Creek Path runs from Emeis Park to Duck Creek Park (and on to Bettendorf's Devils Glen Park). Our riverfront path now runs from Credit Island through East Davenport (and on to Bettendorf's Isle/Casino). To better utilize these assets it would be great to see a connection.

I had a preliminary meeting today at the Design Center with staff to look at alternatives. The QC Greenway Plan (by Bi-State a few years back) showed a number of potential connections: through Nahant Marsh, up to the new Sunderbruch Park, and along roads to Emeis; along Main through Vander Veer and through the neighborhood N of V.V.; along the RR line out of the Village; and in two other Bettendorf locations. The one I thought that might hold the most promise, in the short term, is the link on Main through Vander Veer.

This potential route would provide riders a link to our city's "central park", our "education corridor", downtown, and the riverfront. The most economical step might be to incorporate routes along the street and utilize "sharrows" (photo above) painted on the roadway. Rock Island has incorporated similar markings on 17th St. and 7th Ave. recently. We would also need to introduce some "high visibility" crossings at Central Park, Lombard, Locust, and downtown to the Dillon Fountain. Signage would need to be incorporated as well, to make drivers aware of the bike traffic. Signage could also be added on Duck Creek and on the Riverfront to alert riders of the connection.

In Iowa, bike friendly laws are on the books that recognize bikers as equals on the roadway. It certainly wouldn't be as safe to do this along Brady and Harrison, but Main (with much lower traffic counts) might be plausible - although I still have some safety concerns. The link would connect Duck Creek to a multitude of trails on both sides of the river (the IL trails go from Rock Island to Cordova).

The costs shouldn't be all that high and could be a worthwhile investment. I listed this on a question in my Jan. survey and a majority seemed to support although safety was a concern (results, click here, go to pg. 8).

A good riverfront trail map and other trails of interest are available on Bi-State's site, click here.

Let me know your thoughts, thanks - Ian.

*** Update, 3/10, click here to learn about Bike Blvds. - similar to sharrows, sent by the IA Bike Coalition.

Next All-Wards Meeting Mar. 22nd

2007-03-06T19:40:00.000-06:00

I will be hosting an All-Wards meeting from 6:30-8:30 pm, Thur. Mar. 22nd, at the Roosevelt Center (1220 Minnie Av.) in the 1st Ward. The meeting is open to individuals from throughout the city. Items for discussion may be submitted through this blog, via email (ian@ianfrink.com), or by phone at 508-2842. Directions: from W. River, go N on Concord for five blocks, to Minnie. The center is located at Minnie & Concord.

Final Budget Summary On-Line

2007-03-01T22:45:00.000-06:00

The city's recommended FY-08, $161-million, budget presentation and overview has been placed on-line, to review click here. Please let me know of any questions/concerns. Thanks - Ian

Proposed Council Mtg. Re-structuring

2007-02-27T22:37:00.001-06:00

I have received a few questions on the proposed council meeting re-structuring on this cycle's agenda. I genuinely believe the new proposed format will allow for more effective and efficient processes for citizens, our council, and staff. I realize change is always difficult. I have outlined my position in a one-page summary, to read click here. To view the detailed six-page overview, click here and go to pgs. 8-14 of the PDF. I truly believe this new direction will free up some time for staff and the council to work on more long-term initiatives for the city, 57% of respondents to my January survey (on this blog) agreed. At COW, citizens will be able to have dialogue with aldermen on agenda items (which will all be "discussion" not "consent" items) and will have an opportunity to comment in the Open Comment section of the agenda. At CC, the meeting will function in the same format as present. Please let me know of any questions and I'll do my best to address them here. Thanks, Ian

*** Added 3/1: Related link (Sample COW Agenda, proposed version) - click here

Daytrotter

2007-02-27T22:27:00.000-06:00

Davenport's Sean Moeller has been putting the QC's on the map with his recording studio that attracts bands from across the country. If you are interested in discovering bands that you may not, otherwise, be exposed to check out his site, click here. The site features reviews, music downloads, and illustrations of the artists.

A Preserve America Community

2007-02-24T23:10:00.000-06:00

Davenport is a Preserve America Community. I went on-line to read the city overview and learn more about this program. Davenport is one of seven Iowa cities to receive this designation, others include: Dubuque, Fort Madison, Mason City, Oskaloosa, Sioux City, and Waterloo. Rock Island is the only other city in the QCA and is one of two in Illinois. Davenport has the most Iowa Historic properties in the state. All the more reason to preserve and protect our historic neighborhoods.

The program overview follows:

This program recognizes and designates communities that protect and celebrate their heritage, use their historic assets for economic development and community revitalization, and encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage tourism programs. In July 2005, Mrs. Bush announced that applications for designation would also be accepted from historic neighborhoods in cities larger than 200,000. Since the program began, Mrs. Bush has designated 427 communities (including seven neighborhoods) as Preserve America Communities.

Benefits of designation include White House recognition; eligibility to apply for Preserve America grants; a certificate of recognition; a Preserve America Community road sign; authorization to use the Preserve America logo on signs, flags, banners, and promotional materials; listing in a Web-based Preserve America Community directory; inclusion in national and regional press releases; official notification of designation to State tourism offices and visitor bureaus; and enhanced community visibility and pride.

The Davenport Overview follows:

Davenport (population 98,359) was founded shortly after an 1832 treaty with the Black Hawk Indians opened the Iowa bank of the Mississippi River to American settlement. The home of the city's founder, Antoine LeClaire, is owned by the city and is undergoing restoration.
Most of Davenport's early settlers were native-born Americans, but many Germans also immigrated to the area. Their story is told at the German American Heritage Center, which is housed in the rehabilitated Germania Haus/Miller Hotel (1868). The community's strategic location made it an important center for retail and wholesale commercial trade. Today, Davenport serves as the premier city of the Iowa-Illinois Quad Cities.

Davenport has the largest number of Iowa historic properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Approximately 1,600 properties are listed, either individually or as part of 14 historic districts.

Historic places are playing an important role in the city's efforts to revitalize its downtown and riverfront through its River Renaissance redevelopment initiative. A major project was rehabilitation of the historic Redstone Building (formerly a department store) to house the River Music Experience. This museum celebrates the music and music heritage of the Mississippi River through exhibits, performances, and educational programs.

Nearby, the city has also renovated its historic riverfront baseball stadium, the John O'Donnell Stadium (1931), in time for opening day 2004. The importance of the stadium project to the city's economic vitality and livability was referenced by Davenport's mayor in his proclamation of National Historic Preservation Week the following week.

To learn more, click here.

Brady, Harrison Meeting Tuesday at 7 pm

2007-02-18T22:29:00.000-06:00

The City's Design Center will host a public meeting at 7 pm Tuesday, regarding study of the Brady/Harrison corridor. The Design Center is located at 102 East Second at the corner of East Second and Brady. This corridor is, obviously, a key for our city. A number of strong anchors presently exists: our riverfront, downtown, SAU, Palmer, City Schools, Vanderveer Park, Northpark, I-80, and some strong residential neighborhoods. The key will be filling the voids that exist along this stretch. In my January survey, on this blog, this corridor ranked first for importance, with regard to revitalization (57%). To read the press release/invitation: click here. If you are unable to attend and wish to share comments, feel free to post on this blog or email me at ian@ianfrink.com and I'll be happy to share the comments with the study group.

Budget Information

2007-01-31T21:18:00.000-06:00

I wanted to take a moment to post a link off of the city's website for the upcoming budget process. The budget will continue to be reviewed in coming weeks and will be certified by Mar. 15th. Please feel free to post any questions, comments, or concerns. Or, as always, shoot me an email or give a call.

Here is the link: click here.

January Survey Results

2007-01-19T22:44:00.000-06:00

Thanks to all who participated in my informal survey this month. I have compiled the results in a PDF. We had a total of 28 participants.

Thanks, Ian

To view survey results:

Click here

Next All-Wards Meeting Set

2007-01-18T21:24:00.000-06:00

I will be hosting an all-wards meeting from 6:30-pm until 8-pm on Tues., Jan. 30th, at the Fairmount Library (3000 N. Fairmount St., just S of Kimberly Rd.) in the 2nd Ward. Ald. Hamerlinck will join me, among others. The agenda will include: police update, budget update, and NEO. Any other discussion topics or questions may be submitted in advance through this blog or via email (ian@ianfrink.com) or phone (508-2842). Thanks, Ian

Additional info: click here

Looking back at 2006, looking ahead for 2007

2007-01-02T21:05:00.000-06:00

The New Year is always a time to reflect upon the past 12 months and look ahead for the coming year. Here are a few "positive highlights", which I am supportive of. Hopefully this will lead to more success in 2007.

- The city lowered the operating budget in 2006 and is continuing to look at ways to become more efficient and effective.
- We are positioned for a better round during the budget process this spring, with revenue increased and departments coming in under budget.
- Our city received another AA bond rating for its' financial standing and fiscal responsibility, only a few cities in the state own a higher rating.
- Our neighborhoods are turning a corner in a number of areas of town, thanks to citizen involvement. The DAI has helped us look at the big picture, while strides have been made with a re-energized effort in Goose Creek Hts., continued progress in the Gold Coast, and with the re-invention of the Roosevelt Center - now home to a new Boy's and Girl's Club.
- We have hired a firm to help us with planning on existing commercial corridors, including Brady-Harrison, West Locust, and Rockingham.
- Final steps are being made on a new ownership deal with the Swing, which should breathe more life into JOD.
- We are moving towards a Consolidated Dispatch Center for Davenport and Scott County, this should save dollars and make emergency response more effective and efficient.
- Our NETS program is making neighborhoods safer, while our volunteer policing program (VIPS) is accounting for over 4000 hours of support for the department on an annual basis. Also, the new DPD station will streamline processes and incorporates a "green design."
- Our police department achieved national accreditation for the second time, while public works and the fire department are moving towards their first national accreditations.
- The East Village Business Association is looking at ways to improve streetscapes and re-market the area as a newly designated historic commercial area. Already, plans are in the works for a new meat market and cigar shop.
- We have been working on a Neighborhood Financing Program to improve economic diversity in older historic areas of town. The program would be open to all income levels and operate as a 501 (c) 3 ; the county and local lending institutions are being invited to assist with the forgivable loans.
- River Vision is still on the front burner and plans are in place to re-claim five acres of green-space in LeCalire Park. This effort is coupled with the opening of our popular new skate park.
- Our new amenities are holding their own. The Figge hosts thousands every month, the Redstone Room has had success, and the newly renovated Adler Theatre is now equipped to host more Broadway shows - plus other events.
- Task forces are reviewing the Blackhawk Hotel and River Center. Three developers have expressed interest in helping renovate the Blackhawk.
- We are continually looking at attracting jobs and businesses to the city. Many successes have been realized in 2006, including new developments in the Eastern Iowa Industrial Park and the new Cingular announcement.
- I have met with Davenport One's small business council to form initial plans to make the city more business friendly and to promote more organic growth.
- Uses for a re-invented Freight House are being explored and a new project is currently being reviewed for the space.
- More people are living downtown, especially in lofts around 4th and Iowa.
- Prairie Hts. is moving forward with new home construction, as well as a new park and library. It is my hope that a commercial use and school is formally added to the mix as well.
- The Westside Sewer Tunnel project is moving along with initial funding. A task force is meeting through Davenport One to continue looking at options and to assist with the securing of assistance for funding.
- Some strides have been made to market the QC's as a whole, but we must continue to be persistent on this front to achieve significant results.

Cingular Wireless Announcement

2006-12-20T21:51:00.000-06:00

I am excited to welcome Cingular Wireless to Davenport and the Quad Cities. The company plans to build a call center in Davenport, creating just over 500 jobs. Cingular is the largest wireless company in the USA and has just fewer than 40 call centers in the country. The Davenport facility will serve "Western states." Dan Kramer, of Cingular, made the announcement today.

The day Cingular opens its' doors it will become one of the QCA's top-20 largest employers. The 74,000-sq. ft. facility will be a $19-million construction project. The project ads $13.5-million to the tax base and an $11-million payroll.

The incentives proposed are in line with similar projects in other cities. I was encouraged to see Davenport emerge from a group of others as Cingular's top choice. It is very difficult to compete for these economic development projects and I was pleased to see some proactive efforts by Thom Hart, the city staff, and administration. Cities cannot sit on the sidelines and hope opportunities will come our way, we need to "close deals" when opportunities arise. I was pleased to see the TIF package/resolution pass on a unanimous vote by our council tonight.

Here's the press release from this afternoon: click here.

A neighborhood preservation district?

2006-12-19T19:09:00.000-06:00

The Gold Coast, and other neighborhoods in our city, are some of the most historic in the state. These neighborhoods are rich in tradition and character and are true assets to our community. The challenge with these neighborhoods often center on uses that are not geared towards the intent of the designations some have come to hold (i.e. National Historic Registry, etc ..). This coupled with crime and other challenges make it difficult to revitalize and encourage re-investment in older areas of town.

The problem is not unique to Davenport. Many residential historical districts in the country face similar challenges. It has been addressed by some cities with preservation districts and special ordinance language to preserve the true intent of these areas: restoration of homes, smart residential in fill that fits the character of the neighborhood, and so forth. These districts specifically stipulate what can and cannot be done in these districts.

I have discussed with staff the possibility of implementing such a status on the Gold Coast. I would assume you would need to grandfather in what is in the area as of now, but limit - moving forward what happens in these districts. The East Village now has a special historic designation status on the commercial side.

What are your thoughts? What might be a good track to head down, perhaps starting with the Gold Coast and looking at other areas? Pros? Cons?

Perhaps a neighborhood preservation district could tie into our historic preservation board?

Here are some examples I found:

Madison, WI click here
Gastonia, NC click here
Chapel Hill, NC click here

Let me know your thoughts, thanks - Ian

All Wards Meeting Review: Notes, Comments

2006-12-16T14:42:00.000-06:00

Thanks to all who attended the "All Wards" Meeting Tuesday at St. Ambrose University. I have posted a review with notes and comments on my website. To view: click here.

Orozco settlement $5,000 not $500,000

2006-12-16T10:44:00.000-06:00

The newspaper article this morning stated that the city settled with Robert Orozco for $500,000, the correct number is $5,000. I understand a correction will run in tomorrow's QCT.

"All-Wards" Meeting Set for Dec. 12th

2006-12-05T23:14:00.000-06:00

I will be having an "All Wards" Meeting from 6-8 pm, Tues., Dec. 12th, at the Rogalski Center on the campus of St. Ambrose University in the 5th Ward. The meeting is open to citizens from throughout the community. The agenda will include current topics before the council and any other subjects folks would like to discuss. Additional information, including a campus map, are located on my website, click here. If you wish to e-mail a topic to me in advance, send a message to ian@ianfrink.com or feel free to post a comment on the blog. Thanks, Ian

A model for our Freight House?

2006-11-28T21:57:00.000-06:00

A lot of discussion and study has recently taken place on the Freight House. It has the potential to be an anchor for the west side of downtown and for our riverfront, most agree with this. How the dilapidated building would transform to a useful entity is the big question. I agree with comments that to move from Point A to Point B should require limited involvement from the city and should focus on private investment. One community that is achieving this goal with a similar structure is Charleston, WV (Capitol Market). I visited Charleston on a work trip this year - an industrial mid-sized city, not all that different from the Quad Cities.

To incorporate a similar plan, modeled after Charleston, would require the following:

- Keep farmer's market vendors outside in the parking lot areas; this is what they have done in Charleston. The vendors set up camp underneath a metal roof, outside, in what used to be a parking lot. This could be accommodated in the parking lot S of the Freight House, with any spill over moving into the JOD lots to the W. The Capitol Market also transforms this area to seasonal markets that feature: pumpkins, Christmas trees, etc.

- Set up 10 or so areas inside the market (along the N and S walls), with a walkway through the middle. The specialty shops in Charleston included: a meat market, a wine/cheese vendor, an organic foods vendor with fresh produce, a confectionary type vendor, a coffee type vendor, a restaurant with bar, a book vendor, and a seafood vendor.

The kicker was - each of these shops already had a presence in the city. So these businesses were well-established and promoted local business owners and kept the money local. Some potential vendors from the QC, would be similar to: Goolick's Meat Market, Midwest Seafood, Centro, Greatest Grains, Gendler's, Lagomarcino's, Java Station, etc.

I was there on a Tuesday at Noon and the place was packed. People picking up fresh flowers, doing their grocery shopping with carts going from one vendor to the next, eating lunch, and so forth.

I don't have a magic solution to this challenge, but perhaps this model could be worth exploring.

To visit the Capitol Market in Charleston - click here.

Chicago Trip, Horizon Homes, Neighborhood Financing

2006-11-09T19:20:00.000-06:00

THREE ITEMS OF NOTE, FOR THIS WEEK:

CHICAGO TRIP
Community leaders, staff, and aldermen made a quick trip Tuesday to Chicago. The trip gave Davenporters an opportunity to receive a behind the scenes look at public/private partnerships and the economic impact of Millennium Park, a presentation on land use by City of Chicago staffers, along with a short tour of City Hall.

Chicago had success by partnering up with corporations to help fund amenities in their park. Three examples included: Exelon Energy's welcome centers, the McDonald's bike/recreation facility, a pedestrian bridge sponsored by BP. The bike/recreation facility was very interesting, a company leased space and rented bikes, provided bike repair, and had parking for bikers. The facility also had lockers, restrooms, and locker-room facilities. A public/private partnership, similar to this, might have use in our Centennial Park - with skateboard, BMX bike rentals, and rentals of more traditional road bikes. It wouldn't need to be fancy, but could serve a purpose - just something that came to mind. Overall, it was interesting to see how the funding was generated to assist with the processes. I realize Centennial Park and Davenport are much smaller, but components might have potential here.

It will be interesting to see how River Vision discussions play out. We need to take small steps and look at some natural fits that benefit the most citizens. I think the proposed basketball courts; greening of the surface parking in LeClaire Park, and the simple fishing/boat piers might be nice additions.

HORIZON HOMES
Ald. Hamerlinck has done a good job working with the developers for Horizon Homes. He had a nice meeting last night and today introduced some good amendments for the project. Many of the ideas are modeled after what has worked at the Castlewood facility. The initiatives focus on joint accountability for landlords and tenants at the property. The vote on the revised resolution comes forward next week.

NEIGHBORHOOD FINANCE CONCEPT
I would like to thank all who attended the Neighborhood Finance Program conceptual meeting last night. Thanks, especially, to Bruce Berger and Ald. Howard for their assistance. The new ideas included: looking at re-hab. financing options for existing residents, looking at structural process to ensure that the loans are given to equal numbers of individuals in all income brackets (high, middle, low), looking at more grant versus loan dollars from lending institutions, and looking at new construction for in-fill areas (i.e. vacant lots). A follow-up meeting and a potential road trip to Des Moines are next on the agenda. To view links on the program: click here.

A few items of note ....

2006-11-01T22:21:00.000-06:00

ADLER RE-OPENING NOV. 2ND
The Adler Theatre will re-open tomorrow (Nov. 2nd) with a free public open house from 5-7 pm. The event coincides with the 75th Anniversary of the venue. The mayor will speak, along with performances by QC Ballet, QC Opera, and the QC Symphony. The Broadway season opens Sat. (Nov. 4) with Joseph. Additional info: call 326-8500 or visit the website at www.adlertheatre.com. A press release on the opening event: click here.

NEIGHBORHOOD FINANCE MEETING
A meeting, open to the public, to discuss the neighborhood finance proposal is set for 7 pm, Nov. 8th, at United Neighbors. Bruce Berger, Paul Fessler, Ald. Howard, and others will join me at the meeting. If you are unable to attend and wish to discuss this issue, feel free to call me at 508-2842 or send email to ian@ianfrink.com. More info on the program: click here.

LIBRARY PRESENTS CHECK
Thanks to the Friends of the Davenport Public Library and to the Library Board for their check of $941k. The check covers the commitment to help fund the Fairmount Library. The two entities have pledged to offer similar funding for the Eastern Avenue Library.

COMMERCIAL LAND AT PRAIRIE HTS.
Position statement: click here.

GOOSE CREEK HTS. NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP
Thanks to the Goose Creek Heights Neighborhood Association and the other volunteers that came out, on Nov. 4th, for the fall clean up. I would estimate 30 or some participants; special thanks to Public Works and NETS officers for their assistance. This is a neighborhood that is turning a corner, thanks to an active neighborhood association, a reduction in crime, and due to an effort to re-market itself. It is great to see; hopefully we can have similar efforts in other areas of town.

Thanks

2006-10-25T00:25:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all who attended the "all wards meeting" Tuesday at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in the 4th Ward. We had good levels of participation. The meeting focused on the upcoming city budget, the city survey, as well as neighborhoods and a discussion with DPD. I will post notes/summary in the coming days. Special thanks to Ald. Ambrose, Alan Guard, Cyndi Webb, Dee Breummer, Chief Frese, Capt. Murphy, and Dan Sherman for their assistance and participation as well.

New Neighborhood Finance Program Introduced

2006-10-19T22:24:00.000-05:00

A potential neighborhood-financing program was introduced at a city council work session last week. The session provided council members an opportunity to hold a preliminary discussion on a program that would spark re-investment in Davenport neighborhoods.

The financing program would be open to individuals of all income brackets and would offer forgivable loans for renovation work at properties. The program could create sustainable economic diversity by increasing homeownership in neighborhoods. The method would support home purchase and rehabilitation in selected areas of the city. A number of action items were proposed for the initial review.

The main idea is to save our older central city neighborhoods. Davenport's older neighborhoods have a great deal of character and are some of the most significant historic areas in the state. These neighborhoods are at a crossroads.

We can take action and save a decaying asset, where infrastructure is already in place or we can stand on the sidelines and hope for the best. I prefer a proactive approach. The program is similar to the NFC in Des Moines. The NFC features a partnership with local lending institutions, Polk County, and the City of DM.

I initially began researching this idea following a visit to the Neighborhoods USA Conference in May. In the ensuing months I have recruited staff to help introduce this idea to neighborhood leaders, the NHS, the Scott Co. Housing Board, local banks, and the county. It is my hope that the council moves forward with this program and that the bankers and county comes along with the concept.

In Des Moines over $120-million has been invested and over 2000 homes have benefited from some much needed renovation since the early 1990's. The entities in DM each commit $1-million per year. DM bonds this out on an annual basis. The NFC is a 501(c)3 and features a board made up of lenders, housing officials, neighborhood leaders, and city/county staff.

In Davenport, a smaller city, an amount around $500,000 each should come close to having a similar impact. It is my belief that people belong to their neighborhoods first, before they belong to their city/state, etc. With a little extra support, maybe we can turn a corner and make some significant change.

Of course, the obvious question is the crime in our city. In order to truly make this program work, we would need to turn the tide on crime concurrently. Adding more NETS officers (a proactive approach to community policing that is working) would be key. Chief Bladel's new juvenile program would help as well. It is early in the process and I welcome any comments, ideas, or suggestions.

I have more information on my website with links to staff documents and the DM program: click here.

Thanks to Bruce Berger, Clayton Lloyd, and Craig Malin for their initial assistance and for others in the community for considering support for this proposal.

Ian

National Conference Comes to Town

2006-10-12T23:08:00.000-05:00

Davenport, and the Quad Cities, will welcome the 18th National Trails Symposium next week. It is nice to see the national recognition for our recreational trail systems. The past two conferences were held in Austin and Orlando, so this is a significant event landed by the QC Convention and Visitor's Bureau. It is nice to see the tourism dollars generated by hotel/motel tax revenues and in our community in general. It will also be nice to see these folks in the River Center for their workshops.

Our trails have come a long ways since the 1980's. The Duck Creek path is 10 miles long, spanning from West Davenport to the East Bettendorf. Our riverfront path now connects from the Isle/Capri to Credit Island, a solid six mile stretch. On the Illinois side one can travel from Sunset Park in Rock Island, 90 miles up river. This coupled with off road trails at Scott County Park, Blackhawk Park, Wildcat Den, and soon at Sunderbruch Park -- truly give us some great "quality of life" amenities for all to enjoy.

Click here to read more.

All Wards Meeting Set at Fairgrounds on 24th

2006-10-09T22:38:00.000-05:00

I will co-host an All Wards Meeting, with Ald. Ambrose in the 4th Ward, from 6-8 pm, Oct. 24th, at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in the 4-H Building. Topics will include the recent city survey and the city budget, as well as any other topic citizens wish to discuss. The meeting is open to citizens from throughout the community. This will be my sixth city meeting of the year in the sixth different ward. I will host meetings in the 2nd and 5th Wards before year end. Additional info: click here.

Four meetings, one common goal

2006-10-03T22:33:00.000-05:00

I have been fortunate to attend four community meetings within the past week. Four meetings, four parts of town, and one common goal: making their areas of town better.

Here's a review of what transpired. I doubt any of this will grab front-page headlines, but it certainly is refreshing to see so much active community participation.

OCTOBER 3RD
HILLTOP AREA MEETING, AT PALMER COLLEGE
Palmer officials hosted a small meeting tonight to discuss their interest in cleaning up the area around their campus. The college invited neighboring churches, a representative from D-One, and representatives from Central High School. All were concerned about the crime in the surrounding areas and the aesthetics. Palmer is doing their part for sure, leading the charge for the neighborhood. The college is putting the finishing touches on a new state-of-the-art multi-million dollar building and is continuing to purchase and fix up a number of properties. Streetscape ideas were touched on and a desire for a NETS officer assigned to the area was discussed. The college has an enrollment of 1500 students, 1200 of which live in the city and inject a lot of dollars into the economy. The meeting was a positive first step in identifying the desire to move forward in revitalizing the area and tying into the downtown successes.

OCTOBER 3RD
ROOSEVELT COMMUNITY CENTER MEETING IN FIRST WARD
The RCC is moving forward as well. The Boy's and Girl's Club is in full operation. The RCC also is looking to continue building off of the success of West Little League and the adjacent park. Discussions included a kitchen renovation, new landscaping, and an improved parking area. Ald. Van Fossen also received praise for his significant contribution of beautification funds to the RCC.

SEPT. 28TH
GOOSE CREEK HEIGHTS MEETING, IN EIGHTH WARD
The GCH neighbors had 20 members in attendance for a meeting last week. The group is planning to re-market the area to potential residents. The NETS officers have done a great job of eradicating crime in the area. Now the GCH neighbors are looking to promote the area and seek improvements. Ideas include more clean ups, signage, safer traffic patterns, and a network for communication among residents.

SEPT. 27TH
SOUTHWEST INDUSTRIAL AREA, MEETING AT CREDIT ISLAND
I already posted a report on this meeting (see below). Basically, the group would like to improve gateways, utilize URTE and Brownfield programs, and look for growth within existing businesses and from new businesses. Thousands work along this five-mile stretch and millions are generated into our economy. These businesses are major players in our local and regional economy and are banding together.

URTE, Brownfield Assessments, SSMID Discussed

2006-09-27T19:54:00.000-05:00

Today's Southwest Business & Industry Meeting featured discussions on a wide variety of subjects, but most importantly it showed that stakeholders in this corridor are interested in growing their businesses and in continuing the clean up of this five-mile area along West River Dr.

Just like older residential neighborhoods in the city, the Southwest Industrial areas already feature existing infrastructure and easy access to major roadways (plus rail). Thousands work along this stretch of riverfront and major employers pump millions into our economy: SJ Smith, Sears Manufacturing, Nestle Purina, Kraft Foods, Nichols Aluminum, and numerous others are strong anchors for our city.

City staff discussed two programs that have been implemented to assist this area: the expanded URTE (Urban Revitalization Tax Exemption) Zone encompasses this area (including Rockingham, West River Dr., Concord and surrounding areas), as does the West Davenport Brownfields Assessment Project.

The URTE is an incentive that helps soften the burden of higher property taxes that might come from improving a given property, while the Brownfields Assessment Project is an EPA funded program that assists with environmental assessments for properties, which have significant implications for future re-development efforts in a given area.

Some concerns brought forward included the need for mowing in certain areas, including some city right-of-ways, as well as an assessment for truck routes along the older city streets. A desire to improve the out-dated gateway sign was also discussed.

Some talk also was brought forward regarding a SSMID self-taxing district for these folks; about half in attendance seemed to have interest. Other SSMID's in the city included: East Village, Downtown, and Hilltop. SSMID's generally fund improvements to a given area (i.e. flower baskets in downtown are paid with SSMID money).

Overall a good meeting, it was nice to see a fair number of business leaders in attendance. Also it was good to see representatives from city staff, DavenportOne, and Ald. Van Fossen participating as well. The meeting was one of a regular series of gatherings, organized by D-One, at various locations in the city.

Items of Note

2006-09-12T21:01:00.000-05:00

NEW CITY WEBSITE

The new Davenport city website is almost complete. I am told it will, most likely, launch by the end of the week or first of next week. The site will feature city documents, images, calendars, request forms/action center, staff contact info, payment center, videos of meetings, and much more! From what I have been told and previewed it looks like a great effort by the committee. I believe this will be a new tool that will help bridge the gap between city hall and the constituents. It should also make doing business with the city more effective and efficient. Hopefully (and I think it will be) this is one of many major steps by the IT Department to turn the tide for us on the technology front. The url will remain: www.cityofdavenportiowa.com, after the launch.

OPEN HOUSE AT ROOSEVELT COMMUNITY CENTER

The Boy's and Girl's Club will have an open house and ribbon cutting at 3:30-pm Friday (Sept. 15th) at the Roosevelt Community Center. The RCC is a great anchor for the Garden Addition neighborhood and plays host to numerous community meetings and classes. Also, the RCC is next door to some of the best ball fields in town. The B/G Club is a great fit and we are fortunate to be forming this partnership.

GREAT WEEKEND EVENTS COMING UP

RIVER-WAY 2006 is set for this upcoming weekend and River Roots Live is scheduled for Sept. 22-23. Hopefully these events will bring along some tourists and inject dollars in the hotel/motel tax coffers. RIVER-WAY will celebrate the 150-year anniversary of the first rail crossing over the Mississippi. RRL is a two-day music fest in LeClaire Park with a variety of acts, headlined by the Black Crowes.

More info on RIVER-WAY, click here.
More info on RRL FEST, click here.

Thanks

2006-08-29T23:31:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all who attended tonight's Open/City Meeting in the 3rd Ward at the Friendly House. We had good levels participation from a number of folks. Thanks to city staff Tom Warner (legal), Cindy Webb (admin. support), Craig Malin (administrator), Chief Bladel and DPD. Also, thanks to Ald. Meyer and Ald. Hammerlinck for their assistance.

Notes/comments from the meeting: click here - sorry for the delay.

Ian

Reminder - Frink/City Meeting Tuesday at 6:30 pm

2006-08-26T18:07:00.000-05:00

I wanted to post a quick reminder for the Open/City Meeting I will be hosting at 6:30 pm, Tuesday, at the Friendly House (1221 Myrtle). The meeting will be open to citizens from throughout the community and will center on current issues or any other topics citizens wish to discuss. I will be joined by representatives from the DPD and City Legal, as well as a couple other aldermen. If you have a particular request for an "agenda item" feel free to let me know and I'll be sure it is covered.

At Large Issue

2006-08-22T13:18:00.000-05:00

I first learned of a petition drive to eliminate the at-large positions, from the city council yesterday, during a phone conversation with the QC Times. I will never stand in the way of a group of citizens that is seeking to place an issue on the ballot and if the required number of signatures are obtained, then it should be left for the voters to decide if they choose to have eight ward aldermen and two at-large or strictly the ward representatives.

That said, at the end of the day what really matters is that the council strives to work together to build a better Davenport.

At a time when our council needs to focus on increased home ownership in the central city, joint tenant-landlord accountability, a reduction in crime, improved commercial corridors, more business in our industrial parks, a more vibrant and business friendly downtown, higher levels of city service, more efficient and effective government, and attraction/retention of a workforce; we are facing another distraction. We are not forming bonds across the city, but taking another step toward division.

Survey Results

2006-08-18T21:42:00.000-05:00

In July, Citizens for Smart Governance, mailed a survey to 6000 Davenport households. The committee received 1200 responses to five questions, concerning various issues related to the city. The results are, by no means a scientific sample, but are interesting nonetheless. I thought I would share with you all; feel free to comment as well. (For the sake of brevity - I have summarized the questions a bit)

1. Do the city's speed cameras help make our streets safer and we should add more, or do you believe the cameras infringe on our rights and should be removed?

49%, remove cameras
35%, add additional cameras
12.5%, no opinion
3.5%, keep, but do not add more

2. Support or oppose 4-yr. terms?

54%, oppose 4-yr. term
41%, support 4-yr. term
5%, undecided

3. Automated garbage collection?

48%, right decision
29%, wrong decision
23%, undecided

4. Recently city taxes were raised $.50 per $1000 of assessed value for a new police station. Now, some have suggested using local option sales tax (presently used for street construction and property tax relief) to hire more police officers instead. Would you support shifting tax dollars away from streets and property taxes to public safety?

66%, keep dollars devoted to streets/tax relief
22%, support moving to public safety
12%, undecided

5. The council has discussed some new ideas on property tax relief. One idea is to freeze the city portions of property tax levels for homeowners who make less than $25k per year. Do you support/oppose this concept of freezing these dollars and making up the difference someplace else in the budget?

54%, support freeze
32%, oppose freeze
14%, undecided

Open City Meeting, Aug. 29th, Friendly House

2006-08-15T20:30:00.000-05:00

I will be hosting an Open/City Meeting at 6:30 pm, Tues. Aug. 29th, at The Friendly House in the 3rd Ward. The meeting will be open to citizens from throughout the community and will center on current city topics and any ideas or suggestions individuals might want to share. I will be joined by a representative from the DPD and City Legal, as well as a couple other aldermen.

The Friendly House is located at 1221 Myrtle St., one block East of Marquette - just North of 12th. This will be the fifth meeting I have hosted, or co-hosted this year, I hope to make it to each ward before year-end (so far/the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th). Questions: 508-2842 or ian@ianfrink.com.

Click here for more information.

City Administrator's Contract Issue

2006-08-10T20:15:00.000-05:00

Legally I do not believe Mr. Malin has done anything wrong. This whole issue relates to the interpretation of contract language. With city administrator contracts, it is important to note, the difference between merit based increases to base salary and cost of living adjustments (COLA).

COLA is not specifically addressed in this contract. Therefore, often times, it is considered a Benefit in contracts of this nature and is routinely implemented, just as other benefits are implemented (dental, health care, etc.). Merit based increases are to come before the council, rightfully so, on a regular basis in conjunction with performance reviews.

In his contract, Benefits are clearly articulated: he is entitled to these and authorized to give these Benefits, just as he would to department heads. This is what he has done in this situation. This is, historically, what has happened in the City of Davenport.

Differing opinions are viewed as contract language disputes and will need to be resolved through available remedies.

As an elected official, I am charged with the responsibility of doing what is in the best interests of our city. A vote for "breach of contract", in my opinion, is not in our overall best interests given the circumstances that have been laid out before us.

That said: this issue could have been addressed easily and professionally. Some
of the council members knowingly and purposefully disgraced a public
servant in a blatant power move.

It is my hope that the council will operate in a less dysfunctional manner in the future.

Riding Along with the DPD

2006-07-23T22:11:00.000-05:00

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to ride along with a DPD patrol from 6-11 pm Saturday. I would like to thank Chief Bladel for extending the invitation and I would like to thank Officer Harris for allowing me to ride along in his squad car.

The patrol beat, last night, had nine cars in the city; eight on assigned beats and one that had more of a "roaming capacity." Officer Harris had the roaming assignment. According to those I spoke with last night was relatively quite (for a July Saturday night), probably due to the storms that passed through and the unseasonably cool weather we had. Nevertheless the officers were busy in all corners of the city.

Most of what we encountered was fairly routine: disorderly folks at a convenience store, a false 911 call, fender bender, a couple neighborhood disturbances, trespassing in a announcer's box at a ball field, and a search for a man that has a warrant for his arrest (stayed in the car for that one). All accounts were handled professionally and efficiently once on the scene. Obviously there is a reason the department is accredited (the Quad Cities’ first and Iowa’s largest law enforcement agency to become accredited) -- they do a great job with what they have to work with.

It is interesting to note, although not surprising, that the majority (well over 50%) of the calls seem to be associated with rental properties; despite the fact that they only make up less than 1/4 of our cumulative population.

It is easy to see how they can become spread thin at times. The search for the warranted individual required three cars and another time (we did not respond to this), during the night, three or so cars responded to a foot chase on Elmore for a shoplifting suspect. Once these situations occur, far fewer cars are on patrol and response times can slow. I know when we started out at 6 pm, Officer Harris had three calls to attend to (all lower priorities), but it is hard to be three places at once and it takes time.

The technology with the computers in the cars is impressive, from the video/audio taping capabilities, to the beat breakdown and instant messaging systems in the computer -- great tools for the officers. The new police station will help make things more efficient and effective and new patrols cars are slated for FY-07.

I do know we have come and will continue to come to crossroads with our budgeting processes. Funding for public safety is expensive and to deliver these high levels of service costs a lot of money. We can take steps (i.e. consolidated dispatch) to free up more dollars and become more efficient, but to put more officers on the street we will have to work hard to make this come into place. It is a delicate balance offering high levels of city services and reasonable tax structures. Hopefully, in future budgets we will be able to help bring more folks on board -- perhaps keying in on NETS, which helps take care of problems more at the ground level in a proactive manner.

I guess I wasn't surprised at the outcome of my ride along, it lined up pretty well with what I have heard from our Chief and Union Board. But, it was nice to see things first hand. Thanks again to DPD.

To learn more about DPD click here.

Open Thread

2006-07-11T23:50:00.000-05:00

Feel free to log in on any topic through this open thread. The following topics seem to be some of the key issues, as of late:

- PEDCOR
- ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS
- GARBAGE COLLECTION
- NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING
- THE BLACKHAWK/RIVER-CENTER
- 1-CENT SALES TAX
- CONSOLIDATED DISPATCH
- BRADY/HARRISON
- WESTSIDE SEWER PLANS
- FOUR YR./TWO YR. TERM VOTE
- UNION STATION PLANS
- PUBLIC SAFETY
- PIER & RIVER-VISION
- 65TH/67TH ST.
- KAPHEIM MEMORIAL
- RENTAL PROPERTY
- CONDO/DEVELOPMENT ON E. RIVER DR.
- OR ANYTHING ELSE ON YOUR MIND

65th/67th St. Expansion

2006-07-05T23:25:00.000-05:00

Discussions have been in the works and proposals have been brought forward for the Eastward expansion of 65th/67th St. during the past few months.

The idea is to expand 65th/67th St. from Brady, North of Prairie Hts., Past Jersey Ridge, Past Elmore, over I-74, to Utica Ridge, and onto a connection with Forest Grove at the Davenport/Bettendorf city limit.

The main three proposals, by the development company, take Northern routes through some farms (North of Crow Valley neighborhoods) and over to Bettendorf. A fourth option would be to connect to Utica Ridge (following the current road configuration) and not to connect to Forest Grove. A fifth option would be to do nothing.

I think it is important to spur development on North Brady by expanding eastward. I am undecided about the final leg: terminate 65th/67th at the Utica Ridge connection or take one of the Northern routes to Forest Grove. I am afraid of creating an "expressway" out of town and creating more sprawl versus an enhanced road with primary use for Davenporters. Both could spur residential and commercial development. The "expressway" route might lead to larger commercial developments, while the other might cater more toward smaller developments.

What are your thoughts? Pros/cons? Feel free to log in, thanks - Ian

Open City Meeting Review, Duck Creek Lodge, 6/27

2006-07-01T13:21:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank all who attended the Open/City Meeting I hosted at the Duck Creek Lodge June 27th. We had a productive meeting with good levels of participation, some great comments, and some great suggestions. Open lines of communication strengthen the bond between elected officials and citizens. I hope to continue hosting and/or participating in meetings such as this.

I would also like to thank some folks from the City who attended: Craig Malin, City Administrator; Cindy Webb, City Council Assistant; Jamie Howard, At Large Alderman; and Barney Barnhill, 7th Ward Alderman; along with Officer Jacobsen and Sgt. Goodin from the Davenport Police Department.

Complete Notes from Meeting:
http://www.ianfrink.com/DCmtg.html

Consolidated Dispatch

2006-06-22T22:47:00.000-05:00

A multitude of factors go into analyzing the Consolidated Dispatch issue in Scott County. It is tough to summarize in a blog format, but I believe the long-term benefits of a merger is in the best interests for all Scott County residents.

A public meeting was held tonight to review options and this will be coming before city councils and the county board in the near future.

New NFPA regulations and federal mandates are just around the corner for dispatch centers. All centers will need to upgrade. Issues like proximately to hazardous cargo (i.e. downtown train tracks) come into play. The County, Davenport, and Bettendorf all have current centers near tracks that transport "potentially" dangerous cargo. New radios and frequencies will have to be utilized in the coming years and you can bet as technology continues to rapidly evolve this cycle will continue.

This study began because it didn't make sense to buy into these upgrades and build new centers (or upgrade centers) three times: in the city of Davenport, in the city of Bettendorf, and in the County. One central center could do the trick. This has been done in many areas and has worked by improving efficiencies and effectiveness.

The three entities have a window of opportunity, BEFORE the new regulations take place. We are definitely coming to a crossroads. Davenport is scheduled to build a new center at this juncture, most likely in the North-Central part of town. Davenport has already approved dollars in the budget for a new center.

If we pool our resources the taxpayers will be better off in the long run. The study factored in the preservation of all current dispatch jobs. I would assume a new union might form for a consolidated group; also a governing board would (most likely) be implemented.

The major concerns brought up tonight included:

1. A fear for a lowering of the levels of service in certain areas.

My thought is if we have the same amount of folks on the job at the dispatch end of things we should run about the same. The challenge remains after the call is dispatched - then each city or the county is on the hook to provide levels of service (which is an unrelated issue).

2. The compensation/benefits for the dispatchers.

All have been guaranteed same levels of pay. A new union would then work out the benefit details and the union members would need to communicate their goals and objectives.

3. The costs.

All cities are mandated to improve services, with that comes costs. I believe it is better to share the costs versus replicating the costs multiple times.

4. The high number of calls in Davenport versus other areas.

The report showed that Davenport had over one call per resident, while other areas averaged a number under 0.5 per resident. This is a true statistic, but one needs to take this with a grain of salt. Davenport is the hub of the Quad Cities for: shopping, entertainment, restaurants/bars, traffic, and downtown business. Solely Davenport residents don’t make the 100,000+ calls. Folks, that reside in, Eldridge, LeClaire, Bettendorf, Illinois Quad Cities, and every place in between are making these calls as well. People come to Davenport from outside the city limits on a regular basis. These folks have fender benders, shoplift, create situations at bars, and can become unruly at festivals. All of this falls on the backs of the city. I would have preferred that this statistic would have had a disclaimer.

I know all elected officials are interested in looking out for the best interests of those they represent. I truly believe a partnership could be a win/win for all involved. Sometimes, in the QC's, we have "turf issues" there is no question of that. But, we have had some success in working with Rock Island. Moline and Rock Island have partnered on some initiatives. The Illinois chambers have merged, Bi-State's regional commission has grown in effectiveness, and the QC Development Group has formed consensus. All of these models have improved our efforts to partner and work together. Consolidated Dispatch could be the next step in this direction. It is my hope that we are able to turn this idea into a reality.

Open City Meeting/Idea Session, June 27th, 7 pm

2006-06-18T23:36:00.000-05:00

I will be hosting an Open City Meeting - Idea Session in the 6th Ward, from 7-9 pm, Tues., June 27th, at the Duck Creek Park Lodge (Intersection of East Locust and Marlo). The lodge is the brick structure located just N of the main entrance into Duck Creek Park, a couple hundred yards N of East Locust.

The meeting will be split between current topics before the city and an Idea Session to generate your thoughts or ideas to strive for a better Davenport. I hope to have some city staff folks on hand, as well as another alderman or two. The meeting is open to individuals from throughout our community. Questions may be directed to me via email at ian@ianfrink.com or by calling 508-2842.

Tourism in our Own Backyard

2006-06-14T22:30:00.000-05:00

Anytime a community can bring dollars in from beyond its' borders it is a benefit to the local economy. This can come in many forms: new developments, re-investments in existing properties, or through visitors to a given city. Cities that are able to rake in the dollars on all three fronts reap the most substantial benefits. Davenport has welcomed a number of new developments during the past 10 years and re-investments are gaining momentum. However, one might argue one of the fastest routes is through the promotion of tourism.

The topic merits discussion, I noticed this topic on a couple of blogs recently and after all, it is "the season."

Our tourism numbers are on the rise, according to the QC Convention and Visitors Bureau. Just last year, 300,000, overnight reservations were booked in Davenport hotels. This generated $1.2-million in hotel/motel tax. These visitors inject millions into the local economy, spending dollars in our city that would have been spent someplace else.

The peak tourism season is just around the corner. Events like Sturgis on the River and the Midwest League All Star Game are due up in the next few days. Red, White, and Boom, the Blues Fest, street festivals, the Farmer's Market, the Bix Run and Bix Fest, the Mississippi Valley Fair, the Rib Fest, and the River Roots Live Festival are all additional examples of coming attractions. Some fly into town, others drive many hours, and still others come from surrounding counties to spend money in Davenport. The Fair, alone, averages over 30,000 visitors a day during "Fair Week."

In addition to this, conferences and conventions do come to town and use our facilities. The National Trials Symposium is an example of this and will be coming to Davenport this fall.

We have new attractions that we, as a city, should use as assets to promote our town: the IMAX, John O'Donnell, the Figge, the Bucktown Arts Building, the RME, the Skybridge, the Rhythm City Casino, revitalized parks, and an excellent trail system. Word is getting out that Davenport has more to offer, earlier this spring the Figge, which had 60,000 visitors during its' first six months, was featured on the cover of the 2006 Iowa Tourism Guide. The RME has shown recent signs of success with a half dozen sold out shows in the new Redstone Room.

Despite this success, I know many in the community believe we could do better. Some have mentioned marketing Davenport as "Iowa's Front Porch", still others believe River Vision holds the key to additional success, and others have told me the city should do more to strive towards hosting sporting events (i.e. ASA Softball).

Of course, a happy medium exists. Cities are challenged with providing numerous services in addition to amenities, while maintaining low tax/fee structures. A beautiful downtown is one thing, but you have to strive towards re-establishing neighborhoods as well. Citizens, obviously, count on police, fire, public works, and other services as well.

Heated debates have ensued on many of these topics. But, we do have options that cost little money. For example, providing a cleaner city that is friendly and welcoming, a more professional and efficient government and city workers. All of this adds up in the long run. If we are able to accomplish some of these goals, success for amenities will grow, and word will continue to spread about Davenport being a fun place to visit.

What are your thoughts on tourism? What events do you think Davenport could attract? Do you have a favorite amenity? How do you perceive tourism in Davenport? Please feel free to log in, thanks!

"A VERY good thing" for Davenport ....

2006-06-09T22:41:00.000-05:00

The Roosevelt Community Center, and park, is a simple concept and a VERY good thing for Davenport.

Everything about the RCC centers on building a neighborhood and a community in the 1st Ward. The center, and surrounding park area (Harbor Road Park), exudes life day in and day out. Children play on the playground equipment, kids are hooping it up on the basketball court, and hundreds of children play on some of the best baseball and softball fields in town. And this all occurs outside the RCC.

Step inside to the former elementary school and you have a re-use at its' finest. The school has transformed into a community center with no shortage of activities: tumbling, martial arts, dance, after school programs, an egg hunt, bike safety programs, arts and crafts, cheerleading classes, and camps are all offered. In addition to this, the center hosts community meetings. The RCC is a flurry of activity to say the least. The Boys/Girls Club is also considering a move into the facility.

The RCC is an anchor within the Garden Addition; a proud neighborhood that has dedicated efforts to spruce up this corner of West Davenport. The people are friendly and have strong work ethics. This is evident by the stronger bonds forming with parents and the children. It might not be picture perfect, every neighborhood has its' challenges, but this neighborhood is doing things the right way. Pro-active efforts to reach out to the community and do the right things are quite evident.

Now the RCC is forming a committee to oversee and direct operations. The committee has an exciting vision that looks at the big picture and strives for the next level. Robbin and Rick Dunn are two of the leaders in the Garden Addition and have helped make sure the RCC continues down a path of success. With assistance from the Parks & Recreation Department and former alderperson Roxanna Moritz a foundation has been laid.

The RCC, and park, can be a model for other areas of the city. It is my hope that more centers, such as this, emerge and reach our children at the pivotal age to help them turn a corner and understand a true sense of community at a young age. I attended a meeting, earlier in the week, the RCC is looking to add landscaping, develop a community garden, and expand parking. These efforts are something I will support to the best of my abilities.

I am pleased to say this group is well on its' way to setting the standard for other neighborhoods and I genuinely thank them for their efforts!

More info:
http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/leisure/parks/rcc/index.htm

Location:
1220 Minnie Avenue
Intersection of Minnie Avenue and South Concord St.
(Between Rockingham and West River)

The "Historic Shopping District" in the Village

2006-06-05T22:41:00.000-05:00

Seeing the "Historic Shopping District" designation move toward official council approval has been satisfying throughout the course of the past week. I am hopeful this will pass through the final stages of our voting and come to fruition. The purpose is to "preserve and enhance the small scale or historic character of certain older commercial neighborhoods." The initial target has been the East Village, but the HSD designation could be implemented anywhere throughout the city. City staff has worked hard over the past few months with Village businesses, and ward alderman Bill Lynn (5th) and Charlie Brooke (6th) for a total team effort.

The Village is alive and well. This designation could help build the next layer upon its' foundation. Just Monday night, I walked through the park and noticed - about 75 folks at the softball field, 20 on the basketball courts, cars parked all up and down 11th St., and some busy staffers at a campaign office. I'd guess, at least, 200 people enjoying the Village on a Monday night. All the ingredients for success are here: a beautiful park (Lindsay), scenic views of the Mississippi, and a collection of buildings dating back to the late 1800's. The business offer a wide variety of options: from day spas, bars/restaurants, art galleries, a candy/ice cream parlor, professional offices, a coffee shop, a financial services office, bank, dance studio, a water taxi stop, and more. Over 90 businesses call the Village home. The Village also plays host to art fairs, car/tractor shows, Civil War re-enactments, and a Christmas festival.

Granted the HSD designation did grow out of controversial new use to Turner Hall, but, in my opinion, this is the right direction to head for the long term stability of this neighborhood - one of the unique historic shopping neighborhoods left in the city. Perhaps this will open the door to new small and historic districts in other corners of our city.

The protest rate for the re-zoning and designation was a mere 0.6%. Obviously, this is something the folks in the surrounding residential neighborhoods support.

The Village was founded in 1851 as a pre Civil War logging town. Five years later the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi was built just south of here. The Village was the site of Camp McClellan in the 1860's, holding training grounds and prisoners from numerous conflicts. Over time the commercial businesses became established and residential areas grew around the area in the early 1900's. Businesses have come and gone, but the buildings have been preserved and in 1980, the Village was named to the National Registry of Historic Places.

The area has a great deal of potential to take the next step. Many businesses have started by re-modeling and preserving the historic nature of the area. The city has moved forward with improvements on the Eastern Gateway of River Drive.

This is a true part of our history. I'm supportive of new developments in other areas of Davenport, but the Village is unique and is a special place for many. My only wish is that this would have been done sooner, before some of the mass demolitions we had in years prior in other parts of town.

Galena has done well to establish their older parts of town; perhaps we will be able to ramp up closer to what they have to offer in the Village. After living out East for a number of years, I was impressed by the extra emphasis to preserve history. Areas like the Village have character and charm. This is a step in the right direction; hopefully we will be able to identify more HSD's in Davenport as time moves forward.

What are your thoughts for other potential HSD's in the city or improvements to the Village or Lindsay Park? Do you have any pros or cons for the new HSD designation?

More info, on the Village, is online at: http://www.villageofeastdavenport.com.

Out and About/5th & 7th Wards

2006-06-03T00:04:00.000-05:00

I spent my Thursday evening and Saturday morning out and about in the 5th and 7th Wards. I am supporting the petition drive to place the 4-year staggered term issue, for mayor and city council, on the ballot. My position has not changed since I completed a QC Times survey during last year's campaign. In that survey I stated:

"I support four-year terms. A reduction in turnover allows plans to be implemented with fewer interruptions. Most cities have four-year terms. We are definitely in the minority. I believe we would be better off on a multitude of fronts with this direction. I would support staggered terms for the aldermen. This would allow for smoother transitions for new councilpersons and for some mentoring to ease the learning curve. "

I believe the pros out-weigh the cons, with regard to this issue. I do respect the opposing position for holding elected officials to higher levels of accountability with the two-year cycle. It has merit. However, in the long run I think more continuity might exist and stronger binds could be tied with constituents in the 4-year cycle.

Door knocking and visiting with citizens is always informative. I target high-frequency city voter lists, provided by the county, so I am not going to every household on my rounds. This allows for interaction with more people that are likely to vote and with folks that may have stronger opinions for what is going on within their community. I went out in the neighborhoods surrounding Van DeVeer Park in the 5th and 7th Wards.

I spent half of my time discussing the 4-year term issue and the remainder of my discussions centered on current issues within Davenport.

The majority of folks, in these neighborhoods, seemed to think 4-year terms were a good idea, some were opposed and others undecided. It is tough to get a real feel for things with such a small sampling.

The "current issue" conversations included a mix of genuine concern and praise. Some are looking for a more professional council; others are concerned with spending, while still others believe the city is on the right track with services, development and new amenities.

I enjoyed meeting with folks and thanked them for their time. We have good people in Davenport and I enjoy visiting with them. Citizens care and want a better Davenport. I think this is what we all want in the long run. I am fairly certain the required signatures will be collected and this will be for the voters to decide. Regardless of the outcome, it will be up to the council to continue building relationships with citizens and to strive for that better Davenport.

Brady/Harrison Corridor

2006-05-30T20:57:00.000-05:00

Many of us, on the council, labeled the Brady/Harrison (Hwy. 61) corridor as a key focal point for economic re-investment in the city.

This council voted for the North URTE (http://www.ci.davenport.ia.us/images/latest/urte.htm) Zone this spring. Now DavenportOne is forming a task force, of business owners along the corridor, to form a long-term strategy for revitalization of this area. It is a key gateway and transportation route for our city.

Over 30,000 travel the 5-mile Brady/Harrison stretch daily, which ranks third for traffic count, behind the Kimberly and 53rd St. corridors. Incentives can be found from the Riverfront to I-80, now it is the hope of many that the final components come into place.

A solid list of anchors exist: a major interstate, a hospitality corridor, a major mall, an office tower, a large auto dealer, one of the QC's best parks, a university, a junior and senior high school, a chiropractic college, and a new downtown amenity base. These anchors, coupled with a new 65th/67th St. connection, are positives. Filling the voids, between these areas, is the challenge.

Some new businesses have recently popped up on the corridor (restaurants, sports complex) and some existing folks have or are expanding (Running Wild, Lujack's, St. Paul's Church, St. John's Church, plus others).

So what are the next steps? Elimination of one-ways has been proposed, but is rather costly. Additional bike lanes (perhaps a connection from Duck Creek - through Vanderveer - to the Riverfront) might help tie things together (utilizing Main).

I, personally, would like to see a focus on smaller/neighborhood business redevelopment South of Kimberly and more opportunities for larger "box store" developments closer to I-80. Perhaps some additional funding or grants might be available. Better neighborhoods and a reduction of crime, obviously, will help in certain areas.

Bottom line: if, through zoning and incentives, we are able to focus on this corridor and successfully revitalize it, then the areas surrounding the corridor will be better for it.

It is dangerous to have a decaying spine in the center of our city. The anchors are in place, the focus is coming, let's all hope sound initiatives are implemented and a rejuvenated corridor follows.

What are your thoughts? Any ideas for Brady/Harrison?

Neighborhoods USA Conference, Summary

2006-05-27T19:02:00.000-05:00

The 31st Annual Neighborhood USA Conference took place May 25-26 in Kansas City, MO. I, along with a number of other Davenporters, took part in the conference to learn of other "best practices" that are working in various cities, with regard to neighborhood revitalization. Thanks to City Administrator Craig Malin and Bruce Berger, of CED, for making the trip and for their participation as well.

Nearly 900 attendees, from across the country, gathered at the KC Convention Center. Sixty workshops were offered, along with a few keynote addresses, and neighborhood tours.

I attended four workshops, a keynote address, and a forum during the two days.

Of the sessions I attended, I noted a "Top-3" that might have some direct impact if components were implemented within Davenport. The top-3 included Hollywood, Florida's Youth Coalition Program, Des Moines, Iowa's Neighborhood Finance Corporation, and Kansas City, Missouri's Good Hammer Program.

The Youth Coalition Program reaches out to children (ages 9-17) with monthly projects that are covered by local media. It partners with local PTA's, and introduces police officers to kids at young ages through sports and other activities. The program also identifies negative leaders in the children's circles and turns them into positive role models.

The Neighborhood Finance Program is a 501(c)3 that includes partners from: Polk County, the City of DM, Neighborhood Associations, Banks/Lending Institutions, and other businesses. The program has a board of directors that approves various neighborhoods for eligibility in the program. Since 1991, $137-million has been re-invested in DM neighborhoods. On-line at: http://www.neighborhoodfinance.org

The Good Hammer Program provides access to high quality, minor home repairs and financing for senior citizens who are at-risk of losing their homes to predatory lenders, in one or more target neighborhoods.

Davenporters did lead two workshops - Barbara Metz presented "Organizing Neighborhood Associations from the Beginning", while Pat Egly and Jannette Higginson presented "Community Politics."

Complete Notes and Additional Details at Ian's website:
http://www.ianfrink.com/NUSA.html

Neighborhoods USA Conference

2006-05-23T00:26:00.000-05:00

I will be attending the Neighborhoods USA Conference this week (Thursday/Friday) in Kansas City. I hope to learn of some "best practices" from other communities with regard to neighborhood revitalization. I will post a report upon return.

The conference website is located at the following link: http://www.kcmo.org/neigh.nsf/web/nusa

Open/City Meeting in 1st Ward, Review 5/9/06

2006-05-23T00:13:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank all who attended the Open/City Meeting I hosted at the Roosevelt Center. We had a productive meeting with good levels of participation, some great comments, and some great suggestions. Open lines of communication strengthen the bond between elected officials and citizens.

I hope to continue hosting and/or participating in meetings such as this. I would also like to thank some folks from the City who attended: Clayton Lloyd, Community Economic Development Director; Cindy Webb, City Council Assistant; Officer Lee, DPD; Keith Meyer, 3rd Ward Alderman; and Barney Barnhill, 7th Ward Alderman.

Feel free to add additional ideas/suggestions on the blog, thanks - Ian

(photo courtsey of QC - Images)

I have posted notes/comments from the meeting on my website at: http://www.ianfrink.com/RCmtg.html