HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-18 I01H Downtown Facade Improvement Program AmendmentAGENDA ITEM:
CITY OF WAUKEE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL MEETING COMMUNICATION
MEETING DATE: July 18, 2022
AGENDA ITEM:Consideration of approval of a resolution amending the Downtown Façade
Improvement Program
FORMAT:Consent
SYNOPSIS INCLUDING PRO & CON: The current Downtown Façade Improvement Program
does not include permanent art as an eligible improvement. Public art is
proven to be a unique way to increase pedestrian traffic and draw attention to
businesses while developing stronger connections to the community
Amending the program to include the eligibility permanent art is consistent
with the Façade Improvement Program’s goals and objectives. The proposed
resolution would approve the addition of public-facing, permanent art
including to the but sculptures and murals.
FISCAL IMPACT INCLUDING COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS:
COMMISSION/BOARD/COMMITTEE COMMENT:
STAFF REVIEW AND COMMENT:
RECOMMENDATION: Staff would recommend approval of the resolution.
ATTACHMENTS: I. Proposed Resolution (including revised Façade Improvement
Program)
PREPARED BY: Jennifer Brown, Director of Economic Development
REVIEWED BY:
PUBLIC NOTICE INFORMATION –
NAME OF PUBLICATION:
DATE OF PUBLICATION:
I1H
THE CITY OF WAUKEE, IOWA
RESOLUTION 2022-
RESOLUTION AMENDING THE DOWNTOWN FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM
IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF WAUKEE, IOWA
WHEREAS, the City of Waukee, Dallas County, State of Iowa, is a duly organized Municipal
Organization; AND,
WHEREAS, on May 4, 2009, the Waukee City Council approved a downtown master plan
(Resolution No. 09-113) as recommended by the 2008 Waukee Comprehensive Plan to further
expand the principles and concepts of the comprehensive plan (Resolution No. 08-200); AND,
WHEREAS, on October 24, 2011, the Waukee City Council approved the downtown design
guidelines (Resolution No. 11-202) as recommended by the downtown master plan; AND
WHEREAS, the City implemented the downtown facade improvement program on March 5,
2012 (Resolution No. 12-50) which encouraged businesses, organizations and property owners
located in downtown Waukee to preserve, maintain, and improve the physical appearance of
their properties thereby creating an environment that is aesthetically pleasing and assists in
facilitating an increase in pedestrian traffic in downtown Waukee as envisioned by the
downtown master plan and provided in the downtown design guidelines; AND
WHEREAS, public art is proven to be a unique way to increase pedestrian traffic and draw
attention to businesses while developing stronger connections to the community; AND
WHEREAS, the downtown façade improvement program eligible improvements should be
amended to include public-facing, permanent art including, but not limited to, sculptures and
murals.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Waukee City Council that the
downtown façade improvement program adopted in Resolution No. 12-50 should be and the
same is hereby amended and substituted with the program attached hereto as Exhibit A.
Passed by the City Council of the City of Waukee, Iowa, and approved this the 18th day of July,
2022.
____________________________
Courtney Clarke, Mayor
Attest:
___________________________________
Rebecca D. Schuett, City Clerk
RESULTS OF VOTE: AYE NAY ABSENT ABSTAIN
Anna Bergman Pierce
R. Charles Bottenberg
Chris Crone
Larry R. Lyon
Ben Sinclair
Economic Development Department
230 W. Hickman Road
Waukee, IA 50263
Phone: (515) 978-7410
Email: jbrown@waukee.org
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THE CITY OF WAUKEE
FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
The City of Waukee is committed to fostering an increase in investment and business opportunity in the
original downtown area of Waukee. The downtown area has provided an identifiable image of the City’s
past and serves as an opportunity to promote community identity into the future. To assist in the
continued development of a unified downtown image, the City of Waukee has created a Façade
Improvement Program to make financial assistance available to businesses, organizations, and property
owners within Downtown Waukee.
GOAL:
The goal of the Façade Improvement Program is to encourage businesses, organizations, and
property owners located in downtown Waukee to preserve, maintain, and improve the physical
appearances of their properties thereby creating an environment that is aesthetically pleasing and
facilitates an increase in pedestrian traffic in downtown Waukee.
OBJECTIVES:
1.Provide matching grants as incentives to facilitate façade improvements
2.Promote façade design that is consistent with the objectives identified in the Downtown
Design Guidelines.
3.Ensure that façade designs are sensitive to pedestrian movement, and that the designs
contribute and improve the aesthetics of the area.
4.Provide input and advice to help businesses, organizations, and property owners develop
design standards that maintain the design integrity of the districts established in the
Downtown Design Guidelines.
5.Coordinate the Façade Improvement Program with other economic and business
development programs to maximize the impact of improvement efforts.
Economic Development Department
230 W. Hickman Road
Waukee, IA 50263
Phone: (515) 978-7410
Email: jbrown@waukee.org
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FACADE Improvement Program Eligibility and Guidelines
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
1.Applicants must be owners of real property that is used for commercial businesses or mixed use
(commercial/residential) within the Downtown Area identified in the Downtown Design Guidelines
(see attached Downtown Design Guidelines for map).
2.Individual building tenants within the Façade Improvement Program boundaries may apply. Tenants
must have written approval from the property owner.
3.Property tax payments must be current.
4.The applicant or agent must possess and provide proof of ownership.
5.All building materials used in improvements to the façade must have a minimum certified life of 30
years.
6.Eligible repairs or improvements shall be to real property and include, but are not limited to:
a.Repair to windows, doors, roof, walls, foundation or appropriate architectural elements
b.Installation of new doors, windows and appropriate architectural elements.
c.Exterior painting
d.Removal of inappropriate façade treatment.
e.Awnings
f.Signage (as a portion of an overall façade improvement project)
g.Demolition of existing structures that do not meet the design criteria established in the
Downtown Design Guidelines that will lead to the construction of a new structure that
complies with the guidelines.
h.Permanent art including, but not limited to, sculptures and murals. Art installations should
be outdoor where the public can view it without requiring special access.
GUIDELINES:
1.The amount of Façade Improvement Program matching dollars will be reviewed on a case-by-case
basis.
2.If there are concurrent applications requesting grant awards in excess of the available funds,
projects will be ranked by City Staff in order of conformance to the Downtown Design Guidelines
and in terms of providing the most significant impact to the vision for downtown established in the
Downtown Master Plan.
3.All improvements must be consistent with the Downtown Design Guidelines (see attached).
Economic Development Department
230 W. Hickman Road
Waukee, IA 50263
Phone: (515) 978-7410
Email: jbrown@waukee.org
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TERMS:
1.In order to receive Façade Improvement Program funds, the application must present true and
accurate records of all actual bills paid for construction and installation related to the
improvements.
2.Annual grant fund contribution provided by the City of Waukee
3.Maximum grant award of $7,500 permitted per project annually.
4.The grant award shall not exceed 50% of the total cost of the improvement(s) to the façade(s).
5.The Waukee City Council, after a positive recommendation from City staff, may award separately at
its own discretion a maximum of $1,000 to a project as an additional fund to cover costs for design
services or streetscape improvements adjacent to a project.
6.Applicants are required to receive a minimum of 3 bids from separate licensed contractors related
to the work requesting use of grant funding. The applicant will also be required to accept the
lowest bid encompassing all required improvements proposed in the application.
7.Grant awards are provided as a reimbursement after all associated work on an application has been
completed and required documentation of costs has been reviewed.
8.For buildings with multiple tenants or land uses, one application may be made for each tenant or
land use of a building.
9.No portion of work started or materials purchased prior to an official notification of funding award
will qualify as matching funds toward a project.
10.Each grant recipient agrees to continued maintenance of the façade repair or improvement.
11.The City of Waukee assumes no liability for any work that is done pursuant to the Façade
Improvement Program. The applicant agrees to hold The City of Waukee harmless from all liability
for any claims.
PROCESSING GRANT REQUESTS:
Each grant application is reviewed by City staff prior to the application being presented to the City Council.
Applicants should expect grant applications will take at least one month prior to review by the Waukee
City Council. Final approval and disbursement of monies takes place after the project is complete.
1.Applicant obtains a Façade Improvement Program Grant application from the Economic
Development Department at Waukee City Hall, 230 W. Hickman Road, Waukee, Iowa 50263.
2.Applicant completes the application and returns it to the Economic Development Department for
initial review. The application is accompanied by a cost estimate, from a licensed contractor, related
to the façade improvement project. A general site plan indicating the location of improvements in
relation to surrounding properties and scaled elevation drawings of all proposed improvements
must also be submitted. Application must be accompanied by art proposal and/or images of
proposed art, if applicable.
Economic Development Department
230 W. Hickman Road
Waukee, IA 50263
Phone: (515) 978-7410
Email: jbrown@waukee.org
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3.Community Development staff performs an initial review of application. Staff notifies applicant of
initial review findings. If initial review is favorable, Economic Development staff notifies applicant of
proposed meeting at which City Council will take action.
4.The project is presented to the City Council and the Council decides whether to approve or reject
the proposal, based on City staff’s recommendation.
5.For projects receiving approval from the City Council, the applicant retains a licensed contractor
within 90 days who will complete the façade improvement project within 6 months of approval. If
before construction, or at the time of construction, any deviation from the plan presented to the
City Council is anticipated, the applicant must contact the Community Development Department
before work on the change is started. Also, it should not be assumed that if actual costs are higher
than estimated at the time of application that City Council will increase the amount of the grant.
6.Once the project is completed, it is the responsibility of the applicant to notify the Community
Development Department so that the final review process can begin. City staff will make a review of
the completed project to insure all aspects of the job are in compliance with the approved scope of
work. If all aspects of the job are in compliance, City staff will make a recommendation to the City
Council to release the funds awarded to the project and direct the Finance Department to begin
the disbursement process. The Finance Department will collect receipts from the applicant and will
arrange for disbursement.
7.In the case that City staff does not recommend release of funds upon its final review of the
application for disbursement, the matter may still be presented to the City Council who will make a
final determination regarding approval of the grant and the amount of funds to disburse, which
cannot exceed the amount awarded to the project. This decision will be considered final with no
option for appeal.
The City Council retains the right to give special consideration to applications that do not fit entirely within
the program guidelines. The City Council will not discriminate with respect to age, race, gender, religion,
creed, national origin or physical ability in its consideration of façade improvement grant applications.
Economic Development Department
230 W. Hickman Road
Waukee, IA 50263
Phone: (515) 978-7410
Email: jbrown@waukee.org
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WAUKEE FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM APPLICATION
Business Name: Date:
Applicant Name:
Mailing Address:
City/State/Zip:
Phone Number Work: mobile:
Property Address
City/State/Zip:
SITE INFORMATION
Present Use:
Proposed Use:
Legal Description:
Current Zoning:
PROJECT INFORMATION
Please describe the proposed improvements and timeframe.
Cost of Total Project Improvements: $
Grant Funds Requested:$
Provide the following documents as applicable with the completed application
☐ Site Plan/Building Plan Provided/Attached ☐ Art proposal/Images/Attached
☐ Elevations Provided/Attached ☐ Itemized Project Cost Estimate
NOTE: If leaseholder is authorized to act as the property owner’s agent in this grant application and to renovate the
property’s façade, property owner must provide an attached notarized letter of authorization on official letterhead
stating such authorization.
I hereby state that I have reviewed and consent to abide completely by the guidelines, terms and conditions of the City
of Waukee Façade Improvement Program.
Applicant Signature: Date:
Owner Signature: Date:
Economic Development Department
230 W. Hickman Road
Waukee, IA 50263
Phone: (515) 978-7410
Email: jbrown@waukee.org
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