HomeMy WebLinkAboutEPA Brownfields Redevelopment Initiative - 12/12/2005 boa
PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL MEETING
We're Working for You!
City of Waterloo Brownfields Redevelopment Initiative
Thursday, December 8, 2005
5:00 P.M.
City Council Chambers
2"d Floor City Hall
715 Mulberry Street
Downtown Redevelopment EPA Brownfields Assessment Funding Opportunity
The City of Waterloo is preparing two EPA Brownfields Assessment Grants to
investigate properties that might be impacted by hazardous and/or petroleum
substances within the Downtown Redevelopment Project Area (area bounded by
Franklin Avenue, 18`h StreetNinton Street, Jefferson Street, and Mullan Avenue). The
Public Meeting is being held gather community input regarding the preparation of the
application, discuss project implementation in Waterloo's Downtown Redevelopment
Project and to inform the public about the Brownfield Assessment project and process.
Preliminary drafts of the applications will be available for review.
Brownfields are defined as "real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of
which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous
substance, pollutant or contaminant."
The Public Meeting will include a short presentation at 5:00 PM and offer opportunities
for those attending to ask questions and provide input in the preparation of the
applications. For those unable to attend, information and opportunities to provide input
is available at the Waterloo Planning Office, god Floor, 715 Mulberry Street, Waterloo,
Iowa. Any interested parties are encouraged to appear at the Public Meeting for the
purpose of seeking information or providing comment on the proposed EPA Brownfields
Assessment Applications.
For questions or additional information you may contact Donald Temeyer,
Community Planning & Development Director or Morgan Hoosman, Associate
Planner in the City of Waterloo Community Planning and Development
Department at 291-4366.
City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
Applicant Information
1 . Applicant Identification: City of Waterloo, Iowa
2. Funding Requested
a. Grant Type: Assessment
b. Amount: $200,000
c. Contamination: Petroleum
d. Community-wide
3. Location: City of Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa
Timothy J. Hurley, Mayor
Address: 715 Mulberry Street, Waterloo, IA 50703
Phone: (319) 291-4301 Fax: (319) 291-4286
Email: mayor@waterloo-ia.org
4. Contacts:
Donald J. Temeyer, Community Planning & Development Director
Address: 715 Mulberry Street, Waterloo, IA 50703
Phone: (319) 291-4366 Fax: (319) 291-4262
Email: don.temeyer@waterloo-ia.org
5. Date Submitted: December 14, 2005
6. Project Period: October 1, 2006 — September 30, 2009
7. Population: 68,747 (Census 2000)
8. Other: The City of Waterloo is a State-designated Enterprise Zone.
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
Threshold Criteria for Assessment Grants
A. Applicant Eligibility
The City of Waterloo, Iowa is a local unit of government as defined in Chapter 362 of
the Code of Iowa.
B. Community Notification
The community was notified by way of a community meeting on December 8, 2005 at
the City of Waterloo City Hall. The City Council adopted a resolution authorizing
submission of the grant application at their meeting held on December 12, 2005
(Attachment 1). The redevelopment of this area has been evolving over a long period
time, but the impetus came when Cedar Valley leaders submitted the Cedar Valley
River Renaissance Projects to the Vision Iowa Board for funding approval in November
2002.
The Applicant will use its Neighborhood Services office and Community Development
office to educate and engage the community in the planning and development process.
The City of Waterloo Neighborhood Services Department publishes a monthly
newsletter which is distributed to all recognized neighborhood associations and other
concerns citizens throughout the City. This newsletter will be used to inform and
education the residents within the project area and those surrounding the project area of
the development and process of the assessment activities and also address any issue
or concerns that arise during the project period. Notice of the grant application
submittals was published in the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier on Sunday, December 4,
2005. Notice of the public meeting to discuss the application submittals was also
broadcast on the public access channel from December 1st through the 8th, 2005.
Copies of these notices are located in Attachment 1. Letters were also sent to all
recognized neighborhood associations to notify them of the proposed grant submission
and to solicit their input and ideas (Attachment 1). The level of support and concern of
the residents and business owners of the area is evident in the attached letters of
support (Attachment 2).
C. Letter from the State or Tribal Environmental Authority
The City of Waterloo has received support from the State of Iowa Department of Natural
Resources for its ongoing EPA Brownfields initiatives and has received a letter of
support from the Iowa Brownfield Redevelopment Program Executive officer
acknowledging the City's intent to conduct brownfields assessment activities in the
Downtown Redevelopment Project Area (Attachment 3).
D. Site Eligibility and Property Ownership Eligibility
The City is submitting a Community-Wide Assessment Grant proposal thus o site
eligibility or property ownership eligibility criteria are non applicable.
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
Ranking Criteria for Assessment Grants
A. Assessment Grant Proposal Budget
The downtown area, much like those of similar cities, has had a long history of mixed
uses developed over the years. As zoning was adopted by the city and these uses
were ceased, little was done about those issues that were left behind. The project area
encompasses approximately 219 acres of land containing the Central Business District
in Downtown Waterloo. This area also encompasses a portion of the Rath Area
Neighborhood Brownfields Project, where great brownfields redevelopment strides have
already occurred, however, more assistance is needed to continue the momentum. The
project area is also being primed for redevelopment into a destination for entertainment.
Fifty-four EPA regulated facilities exist within the project area boundaries. These
facilities include former sites of auto service stations and body shops. These operations
typically used or stored significant amounts of petroleum materials on site. The City is
working with both the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Black Hawk
County Health Department to ensure public health issues are considered during the
investigation and redevelopment process.
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
I. Project Tasks
Budget Environmental Interagency Identify,Assess, Cleanup Community Program
Categories Site Coordination2 Monitor Risks to Planning4 Outreach5 Implemenation6
Assessments Sensitive
QA Planning' Po ulations3
Personnel $5,000 $5,000 $4,000 $7,000
Travel $3,000
Equipment
Supplies $1,000
Contractual $125,000 $5,000 $15,000 $20,000 $10,000
Other
II. Total* $125,000 $10,000 $20,000 1 $20,000 1 $15,000 $10,000
This task will include Phase I ESA investigations, the preparation of quality assurance
project plans, health and safety plans, site-specific sampling plans, and Phase II intrusive
investigation activity and reporting.
The City is budgeting time for consultant assistance to communication Phase I and
Phase II ESA results to the City, assist in presentations on the brownfields project and
results to state and federal partners, and to communicate with the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) Contaminated Sites Section regarding enrollment of any site(s)
into Iowa's land Recycling Program (LRP). This budget may also cover Iowa DNR's fees
for technical review and oversight under the LRP.
This task includes coordination with the County and State Health Departments to assess
social, psychological, and toxicological risks to sensitive populations within and adjacent
to the project area.
This task is necessary to determine appropriate cleanup actions and may include
working with the Iowa DNR regarding planning for petroleum cleanup, developing cost
estimates for product and tank removal developing cleanup alternatives and associated
costs estimates, developing reuse plans for the area of the site affected by petroleum
contamination such that the cleanup standards are appropriate to the future intended
use. This may include planning for engineering or institutional controls to mitigate risks
and development of appropriate enforcement mechanisms.
Based on the success of outreach on past projects, the City has allotted sufficient
budget to inform and engage the public throughout the process. This includes the
preparation of informative brochures and materials, notices of monthly meetings,
attendance and presentation at neighborhood meetings, and attendance and
_presentation at other requested meetings and events.
This task includes programmatic implementation activities associated with City staff time
to aid in the assessment process, coordinate and conduct stakeholder meetings, time to
review reports from consultants, and time to build local redevelopment objectives,
policies and guidance toward building the City's brownfields program as well as travel
costs not labor, 'ust direct costs to attend EPA events and other relevant training.
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
B. Community Need
1. The City of Waterloo has a population of 68,747 (US Census 2000). The population
of the Project Area exemplifies higher unemployment, higher minority, and lower
income. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, nearly 33% of the population surrounding
the Project Area is minority. The median income of those residents within and
surrounding the Project Area is approximately $20,270(Census 2000). Comparatively,
the median income in the city of Waterloo is $43,092 and in the State of Iowa is
$39,469. Iowa Workforce Development shows the unemployment as 4.7% in the
Community, whereas, unemployment in the State as a whole is 4.5%.
2. The assessment activities of the downtown project area will benefit the residents of
the City of Waterloo as a whole. The immediate residential neighborhoods will benefit
from the increased information gained with regard to potential human health and safety
risks. The adjacent neighborhoods will also benefit from the additional employment
opportunities that will exist once the perceptions are removed and the area is
redeveloped.
3. While upwards of 100 brownfield sites exist in several areas of the City of Waterloo,
the downtown project area represents a significant redevelopment challenge due to its
area and mixed-use history. Many of the petroleum brownfields sites that are located
within the downtown project boundary have the potential to inhibit the redevelopment
opportunities currently underway.
The IDNR databases indicate that 54 underground storage tanks (USTs) and 16 leaking
underground storage tanks (LUSTs) are located within one mile of the Downtown
Redevelopment Project Area and adjacent neighborhoods. Each of these sites
represents a potential brownfield site. Clearly, these sites have an adverse economic
impact on adjacent neighborhoods and pose potential health risks if exposed to
humans.
Once known as the "Factory City of Iowa" and after decades of growth, Waterloo has
been experiencing a declining population since the population peaked at 75,985 in
1980. The agricultural crisis in the 1980s significantly impacted the entire community
and schools. John Deere, Waterloo's largest employer, reacted to the economic trend
by downsizing its work force by 10,000. Rath Meat Packing Company, within the
project area, declared bankruptcy and closed in 1984, 5 years after obtaining a 4.5
million loan secure by the City. At its peak, Rath Packing Company employed over
3,000 persons. The former Construction Machinery Company and Chamberlain
Manufacturing Company, adjacent to the project area and cumulatively employing
roughly 1,500 residents, ceased operations during this same time period. The severe
economic stress caused disinvestment in downtown industrial and commercial facilities
and the City's housing stock. Much of the commercial and industrial buildings in the
Downtown Redevelopment Project Area still bear the scars of the significant decline in
agricultural and industrial manufacturing in Waterloo. Income levels in Waterloo have
never fully recovered as evidenced by the fact that a high percentage of the school
population is eligible for free and reduced lunches. A primary issue of concern in the
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
project area is not necessarily one of unemployment, but one of "underemployment".
That is, low-wage jobs are available but even with two income, families are struggling to
make an income above poverty level.
Other than the direct economic and negative perceptual impact of brownfields on our
community, brownfields have contributed to urban sprawl in our region. Industries are
purposely looking to locate in "greenfields" to avoid problems encountered by acquiring
formerly used and perceived contaminated sites. In Iowa, the greatest concern
stemming from this sprawl is the consumption of Prime and Unique farmland. For a
state with an economy that relies heavily on agricultural production, this concern cannot
be ignored.
The brownfields within the downtown, as well as throughout Waterloo, have contributed
to:
• declining population in Waterloo;
economic downturns including depressed property values;
• public health and ecological environmental concerns;
• minority populations and/or low-income populations bearing a disproportionate
amount of potential adverse health and environmental effects; and
• negative perceptions of this community by persons traveling through the area.
This proposal for environmental assessment of the downtown redevelopment project
area in unique to the Midwest. This proposal attempts to interlink sustainable growth
concepts, livability, and high-wage employment opportunities to make this project a
successful catalyst to similar assessment and redevelopment initiatives in other areas of
Waterloo.
C. Site Selection Process
1. With a clear vision established, the City of Waterloo has attacked their largest
brownfields redevelopment issues one at a time with a myriad of stakeholders' and
partners' assistance. The contamination issues associated with the Downtown
Redevelopment Project Area will be especially diverse and difficult due the number of
commercial and industrial operations that occurred within this project area. The City
will construct a prioritization matrix coupled with an environmental scan of the properties
within the project area to determine the highest priority properties for assessment based
on their environmental issues, location and size, and their future intended use based on
their relativity to the City's redevelopment plans.
2. The City has funded a limited amount of Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site
Assessments on sites strategic to the redevelopment goals of the downtown project
area.
3. The City of Waterloo has been very successful in obtaining signed access
agreements from the property owners for the Phase I and Phase II ESAs on past
assessment projects within the City. If, in an atypical case, the City is unsuccessful in
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
obtaining access to privately owned properties, assessment activities will be performed
from the city owned right-of-way and adjacent properties.
D. Sustainable Reuse of Brownfields
1. Beginning in the early 1990s, the City realized the need for commercial and industrial
redevelopment in the Rath Neighborhood and adjacent areas. However, the City soon
realized the redevelopment could be hampered by the perceived petroleum
contamination of properties within those areas. In 1990, the City adopted a resolution
(1990-579) dedicating efforts toward the Rath Neighborhood that stated, "The
rehabilitation, conservation, redevelopment, development, or a combination thereof, of
the area is necessary in the interest of public health, safety, or welfare of the residents
of Waterloo. Once the City became familiar with the value of the U.S. EPA's
brownfields programs, they quickly realized that these programs are part of the solution
to their brownfields problem throughout the City including those neighborhoods within
and surrounding the downtown. Future pollution will be prevented through the
encouragement of use of eco-industrial for development policies.
2. This project will stimulate economic development by providing reuse initiatives that
eliminate conflicting land uses and support the redevelopment of the downtown into an
area of activities and entertainment. This reuse and expansion by small and large
businesses alike will inherently create a variety of jobs ranging from general labor to
high tech. Removing the perception of contamination will allow prospective businesses
to obtain loans from financial institutions to capitalize new development as well as
improvements to existing usable facilities.
At other brownfield sites within the City, development has been encouraged through
street improvements, property acquisition, and the demolition of those structures that
are unable to be rehabilitated. The City will "pilot" these successes in the Downtown
Redevelopment Project Area and other potential brownfields throughout the City and
Black Hawk County. The City has already partnered with the Iowa Northland Regional
Council of Governments (INRCOG) pursuant to a 28E agreement to utilize Economic
Development Administration (EDA) funds to implement property acquisitions, demolition
and other Infrastructure improvements targeted in the Waterloo Brownfields Initiative.
The City will continue to collaborate with INRCOG to produce an inventory of possible
brownfield sites and, where necessary, pursue funds, jointly and severally, to assess
and remediate other brownfields for the purpose of promoting economic benefits.
3. Waterloo takes a holistic approach to improving and redeveloping its community, one
neighborhood at a time. The City's overall strategy for achieving its goals and
objectives for the area within the Downtown Redevelopment Project Area consists of
partnering with individuals and organizations that are committed to the redevelopment
of the area's brownfields. The City will also employ appropriate economic development
tools from its "tool box" to create incentives for redevelopment. The City's objectives for
realizing their vision for redevelopment on any affected brownfield throughout the City
includes the implementing the following strategic steps:
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
•Communicating with the community, private industry, and state and Federal
organizations for continued support and consent throughout the assessment process;
*Obtaining permission from property owners to access the property for the purpose of
identifying environmental impairments;
•Seeing that the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment process is completed by
qualified individuals and proceeding with Phase II ESAs on those properties where
warranted;
*Enrolling qualified sites into Iowa's Land Recycling Program (LRP) with the intent of
obtaining "certificates of no further action" from the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources (IDNR); and
•Developing a plan for additional characterization, remediation, and financing further
action as needed.
*Develop a brownfields inventory and prioritization matrix to remediate prospective
brownfield-c., promote infill development and reduce sprawl.
*Utilizing its Planning and Zoning Commission and staff, Neighborhood Services
Department's newsletter and radio spots, and COPC to further the process of
community involvement and stakeholder buy-in.
The investigation and redevelopment vision for the downtown will protect and restore
the quality of the natural environment by minimizing contaminants impacts to land and
water quality. The vision will improve the quality of life for the community by removing
the negative financial and psychological effects caused by brownfields. The City will
encourage project success by creating systemic and collaborative approaches to
brownfields drawing upon its pilot program's successes. Consequently, the prospect for
future generations to inhabit and make full use of these brownfields areas will be greatly
improved while reducing the consumption of prime and unique farmland on Waterloo's
urban fringes.
The redevelopment plan for the downtown area continues to be dependent on additional
public input through a more formalized planning process. The City recently adopted a
revised Master Plan, the future land use map of the City shows the downtown
designated as a commercial and entertainment area. The neighborhoods affected by
brownfields in the downtown area are already in the City's Consolidated Urban
Revitalization Area (CURA). The City will utilize CURA, Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
and enterprise zone designation(s),Community Economic Betterment Account (CERA),
historical tax credits, and State of Iowa Job Training Program, where appropriate, to
further its objectives of infill residential developmentfinvestment, and to promote a more
vibrant community. The City will draw upon existing land use plans and redevelopment
initiatives for guidance and direction in this proposed area.
4. The project will utilize existing infrastructure. A study is underway using Iowa
Department of Transportation funding to develop concepts for improving the existing
transportation infrastructure in the vicinity of Chamberlain. It is anticipated that this study
will not only address environmental justice issues, but will also indirectly address
barriers to economic development on the East Side. The site contains separate storm
and sanitary sewer lines that will be utilized. The existing electrical utilities to the site
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
have the capacity to support nearly any future use. The site formerly had a wastewater
treatment facility on location; City and prospective developers will explore its reuse.
5. In addition to the reuse of existing infrastructure within the Downtown
Redevelopment Project Area, the City is in the process of planning and developing
additional infrastructure within the project area. Additional greenspace development will
occur surrounding other proposed developments included in the Cedar Valley River
Renaissance Project.
6. The City of Waterloo has adopted zoning ordinances to prohibit the placement of
those businesses that have the potential to produce brownfield contaminants in areas
where those uses would be conflicting with the overall character of the area.
Additionally, the City will work with the local health department and building department
to ensure that future sites demonstrating brownfield property characteristics are
addressed prior to potential hazards of releases to the surrounding community. The
City has initiated a proactive reuse and redevelopment plan that seeks to address areas
not representing highest and best land use goals prior to those areas entering a state of
decline that disproportionately taxes existing City resources.
E. Creation and/or Preservation of Greenspace/Open Space or Nonprofit Purpose
The grant would facilitate the potential expansion of greenspace. A significant part of
existing plans for the downtown redevelopment include a recreational trail adjacent to
the Cedar River to connect with an already developed trail system through the
community. The Riverwalk Loop is a planned system of walking and recreational trails
along the Cedar River from the U.S. Highway 63 bridge (Mullan Avenue) to the 18th
Street bridge. The Riverwalk Loop will connect the east and west sides of downtown
Waterloo as well as link into the extension of the Cedar Valley regional trail system.
F. Community Involvement
The community was notified of the proposed application submittal by way of a public
meeting held at the City Hall on October 27, 2004. Letters were sent to all recognized
neighborhood associations, including Gates Park and Good Shepard Neighborhood
Associations that border the Chamberlain site to the west and north, respectively, with
notification of the proposed grant submittals, the invitation to the public meeting, and a
request for input regarding the grant applications. Notice of the public meeting was
also placed on the Community Access channel. In addition, City staff discussed the
proposal cn the Community Development radio show on KBBG 88.1 on October 25,
2004 at 2:00 p.m.
2. The City of Waterloo is attacking its brownfields issues from all directions. The
redevelopment of the Downtown Project Area integrates other efforts to improve and
redevelop Brownfields. A few of these efforts include the nearby U.S. Highway 63
neighborhood plan, expansion of the City's trail system to integrate core neighborhoods
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
with the Downtown and Cedar River corridor, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Planning
Assistance to States (PAS) efforts toward redevelopment planning along the Cedar
River, previous U.S. EPA and Economic Development Administration (EDA) activities in
the Rath Neighborhood, past U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) assistance programs targeted to
the adjoining neighborhood, recently awarded HUD Brownfields Economic Development
Initiative (BEDI) program grants targeted toward urban core redevelopment projects,
and the redevelopment of the Downtown Central Business District with a multi-million
dollar Vision Iowa grant.
To ensure appropriate and sustainable reuse of brownfields, the City of Waterloo has
garnished partners at all levels including the community-based organizations, non-profit
agencies, local businesses and economic development groups and numerous local,
county, state, Federal agencies. The City will continue to build upon their relationships
with these existing organizations and continuing look for others to assure the continued
success of brownfields redevelopment in Waterloo. The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance
and the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce have committed their resources to the
marketing and redevelopment of the site, also.
City will use its public access channel and programming, Neighborhood Services office,
and Community Development office to educate and engage the community in the
cleanup, planning, and development process. The City will continue to coordinate with
capital investment firms in an effort to bring outside private redevelopment capital to
proposed brownfields redevelopment projects. The level to which contaminated sites
within the project area will be cleaned up will be dependent on the community's final
plan for reuse for the site. The site will be cleaned up to the appropriate risk-based
standards for that use. The City will hold educational sessions with the public to help
them understand the meaning of these standards and their relevance to intended reuse.
3. The progress of the project will be communicated to citizens through reports given by
City personnel at monthly neighborhood association meetings. Additionally, community-
wide open houses will be held that report the progress of this assessment project as
well as other downtown revitalization efforts, and U.S. Highway 63 transportation
system improvements. Finally, the City will use its Neighborhood Services newsletter
and monthly radio broadcasts, as well as its public access television programming to
provide periodic updates.
4.
Or anization Contact Person Activities/Representation
Greater Cedar Valley Participate in the
Chamber of Commerce redevelopment planning
and marketing of the
downtown.
Main Street Waterloo Terry Poe Buschkamp, Participate in the
Executive Director redevelopment planning
319.291.2038 and marketing of the
downtown.
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
Greater Cedar Valley Lisa Rivera Skubal, Director Participate in the
Alliance of Marketing redevelopment planning
319.232.1156 and marketing of the
downtown.
G. Reduction of Threats to Human Health and the Environment
1. This grant will be utilized to conduct Phase I and Phase II Environemtnal Site
Assessments (ESAs) to determine whether perceived environemtnal imporaiment exist
and to what the degree the public is at risk. In addition, these fundins will be used to
hold public outreach meetings to informa the public of the results of the assessment
activities. Properties determined to require correction action will be entered into Iowa's
Land Recycling Program, the State's voluntary cleanup program. This proejc uiltized
Risk based Correction Action (RBCA) levels based on EPA's cumulative increased
cancer risk evaluations and requires public notiviation and a comment period for all
proposed correction actions.
2. The actions mentioned above will affect the environment in a positive manner by
providing data that the City can use to establish a redevelopment plan, a plan that
includes both cleanup alternatives and corresponding funding strategies. This vision will
protect and restore the quality of the natural environment by minimizing contaminants
impacts to land and water quality. The vision will improve the quality of life for the
community by removing the negative financial and psychological effects caused by
brownfields by creating systemic and collaborative approaches to brownfields drawing
upon it's pilot program's successes. Consequently, the prospect for future generations
to inhabit and make full use of these brownfields areas will be greatly improved while
reducing the consumption of prime and unique farmland on Waterloo's urban fringes.
The City is working with both the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Black
Hawk County Health Department to ensure public health issues are considered during
the redevelopment process.
H. Leveraging of Additional Resources
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
1. The exact financial needs of each phase of the project are not known at this time. On
November 8, 2002, leaders of the Cedar Valley community submitted the Cedar Valley
River Renaissance projects to the Vision Iowa Board for funding approval. A total of
$7.3 million was earmarked for the city of Waterloo's portion of the River Renaissance
projects, which include the Cedar River Plaza and Amphitheatre, Riverwalk Loop and
Cedar River IDam Improvements within the project area. Total project costs for these
projects are estimated at approximately $20 million.
The City of Waterloo will also utilize money refunded to the City from the Black hawk
County Solid Waste Management Commission and Section 108/ Brownfields Economic
Development Initiative funds for redevelopment costs in the project area.
The City of Waterloo has and will continue to donate staff time and funding to address
Brownfields throughout the community. In addition, the City will commit general
revenues as appropriate to leverage additional funding to address this prominent
Brownfields project area.
2. The City has an excellent reputation for securing and successfully managing federal
and state funding sources to address community needs including brownfields. The City
will seek out and commit available Economic Development Administration (EDA)
funding, Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) funding, U.S. Housing and
Urban Development Economic Development Initiative (HUD EDI) funding, Revitalize
Iowa Sound Economy (RISE) funding, as well as potential direct federal appropriations
to address funding gaps in the redevelopment process. Private development and
brownfield investment groups will also be pursued and committed. Waterloo has
successfully addressed similar funding gaps as part of its previous EPA Brownfields
projects and will utilize the lessons learned and knowledge of funding sources to assure
success with this project.
I. Ability to Manage Grants
1. The Applicant is a current and past recipient of EPA grants. The Applicant will seek
qualified professionals to perform the assessment activities in the proposed Downtown
Redevelopment Project Area.
2. In addition to EPA grants, the City of Waterloo has successfully managed grants
from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), Iowa Department of Economic
Development (IDED), Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT), and Housing and
Urban Development (HUD). The Applicant is also a HUD Community Development
Block Grant Fund (CDBG) recipient.
The Applicant has not received any adverse audit findings from an OMB Circular A-133
audit or an audit conducted by federal, state, tribal, or local government inspector
general.
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
3. The City of Waterloo works diligently to submit quarterly progress reports,
brownfields reports measures and annual financial status reports in accordance with the
cooperative agreements. Any additional requested reporting information is gathered
and submitted in a timely process.
4. The City of Waterloo is currently the recipient of two EPA Brownfield cooperative
agreements. The City of Waterloo was awarded a $50,000 Assessment Grant in
October 2005 to continue assessment activities at the Chamberlain Site, located to the
north of the proposed project area. Following the guidance of their EPA Project Officer,
this funding will be utilized for baseline groundwater monitoring at the Chamberlain site.
It is expected this assessment grant will be expended following the baseline
groundwater monitoring and reporting.
The City was also awarded a cooperative agreement for a $1 million Brownfields
Cleanup Revolving Fund (BCRLF). The City is aggressively working to utilize this
funding opportunity. To date, no BCRLF funds have been expended.
5. With the assistance of EPA, the City of Waterloo has successfully completed
assessment of 15 properties within the Rath Area Neighborhood and assessment
activities at the 23-acre Chamberlain site. The assessments enabled the City to
eliminate or confirm perceptions of contaminations on the sites and furthered the City's
plans for the redevelopment. EPA funds have also helped the city leverage additional
site assessments funded by other agencies (EDA, USACE, HUD, IDED) and the private
sector. Using the awards from the EPA, the City of Waterloo was able to leverage
additional infrastructure and planning-related funding through various federal and state
agencies to work to improve the quality of life for the residents.
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1: Community Involvement Data
Attachment 2: Citizen Support Letters
Attachment 3: Letter from State Environmental Authority
Attachment 4: Proposed Project Area Map
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
Attachment 1
Community Involvement Data
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
Attachment 2
Citizen Support Letters
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City of Waterloo, Iowa EPA Brownfields Petroleum Assessment Grant Proposal
Attachment 3
Letter from State Environmental Authority
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