Davenport presents library plans to Vision Iowa

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By Charlotte Eby | Wednesday, May 14, 2008 11:32 PM CDT | () comments

DES MOINES — Davenport officials laid out their proposal for a new $8.2 million library to members of the Vision Iowa board Wednesday, hoping to secure a $1.2 million grant to help pay for the project.

The new library would be constructed in the north-central part of the city, near new housing developments and a park that includes baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts and space for a new school.

The library’s environmentally friendly design would include such features as rain gardens and day lighting that leaders say would serve as an example of sustainable building for the community.

Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba said close to 340 people and their families are set to move to the area when First Army relocates to the Rock Island Arsenal. Gluba said they want to make Davenport more appealing with amenities like the new library.

“We want these families to look at Davenport,” Gluba said.

Gluba framed the issue in economic terms, saying if families decided to move to Iowa instead of Illinois, property and sales tax revenues would stay in the state.

“Your commission has helped grow Iowa, and we want to be part of continuing that growth,” Gluba told members of the board.

Vision Iowa Board Chairman Andy Anderson liked that the proposal includes an energy-efficient design, but said they’ll have to review the application before making any decision.

“Certainly, they’ve given a good presentation today, and it’s got a good chance like all the other applications,” Anderson said.

Alderman Gene Meeker, at-large, attended the meeting in Des Moines and despite driving several hours to testify for 10 minutes, felt it went well.

“I think it was well-received,” he said. “But we have a long way to go in the process.”

The Davenport project is one of 30 projects currently seeking $35.6 million in funding from the Community Attraction and Tourism, or CAT, program. CAT has $5.8 million available in the fiscal year that begins July 1. Another $11.7 million is available the next year, and $12 million in each of the following three years.

“Unfortunately, we have the difficult task of allocating limited resources to many projects,” Anderson said.

Vision Iowa officials turn attention to riverfront improvements

DES MOINES — After officials with the state’s Vision Iowa program handed out the last dollars Wednesday for major recreation and cultural attractions, they will now turn their attention to a new program meant to fund riverfront improvements.

The River Enhancement Community Attraction and Tourism program, or RECAT, is meant to help cities improve their rivers for recreational opportunities. Beginning July 1, the board will have $12 million to be used for riverfront improvements.

Grants could be used to pay for such amenities as rafting courses, amphitheaters and trails.

Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, who proposed the idea for RECAT, said it was intended for cities to redesign downtown riverfront areas.

“It’s important not only so we feel good about our rivers, but it’s also important to keep and recruit young professionals to Iowa,” Dotzler said.

Vision Iowa Board Chairman Andy Anderson said they’ll begin drafting rules for the program and consider how they’ll process applications, which they’ll likely start taking this summer.

He thinks the process will be similar to those for the current Community Attraction and Tourism grant program, or CAT.

“I know the Legislature and the governor have a lot of confidence in the way we’ve done CAT over the last seven years, and so we won’t depart too far from that,” Anderson said.

The board on Wednesday gave the remaining $1 million in Vision Iowa dollars for a planned sculpture garden in downtown Des Moines. They have handed out $228 million since 2001 for major recreation and cultural attractions.

Charlotte Eby can be contacted at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.