Community Facilities includes a total of 13 recommendations across 3 sub-categories: Infrastructure, Public Safety, and Municipal. The bar chart below highlights the status of the 13 recommendations. Scroll down to the Recommendation Tracker for details. Status information reflects the community's work toward each recommendation.
Recommendation Highlight - Continued expansion of fiber optic access throughout the community. #E1e
Click the image to learn how the City of Dubuque used GIS to make the case for broadband funding.
- Data will be updated bi-annually to align with Council Reports -
Recommendation tracker
Community Facilities: 13 recommendations

• At Risk • Off Track • On Track • Achieved
RECOMMENDATIONS - AT A GLANCE
► Expand sanitary sewer system to meet needs - 5.1.1
► Address water system needs / address future growth - 5.1.2
► Integrate Vernon Township and Barrington Lakes water systems - 5.1.3
► Update the city-wide stormwater management ordinance - 5.1.4
► Expand fiber optic network access - 5.1.5
► Monitor progress toward environmental goals - 5.1.6
RECOMMENDATIONS - DETAILS & STATUS
Continue to expand the sanitary sewer collection system to meet growth needs, particularly in proximity to the Southwest Arterial, the West End, and the South Port. 5.1.1 - Coordinator: Todd Irwin, tirwin@cityofdubuque.org
► Status: On Track
- The City has begun to implement recommendations, from a recent study, to upgrade the existing catfish Creek Interceptor sewer. The planned will upgrades will upsize the gravity portion of the interceptor sewer and construct a new lift station and force main that will greatly improve the conveyance of the waste water flow directly to the Water Resource Recovery Center. (June 2022)
- Update the future land use map to reflect more intensive industrial use in Crossroads Industrial Center and the Southwest Arterial area, so sewers can be properly sized and planned for. (June 2022)
- The City is currently working, with a consultant, to plan and design improvements for high-strength liquid organic waste handling at the Water & Resource Recovery Center. The modification will help realize the full potential of the anaerobic process by stabilizing the digester feed rate. Since the digesters became operational, in 2013, the Center has received $1.8 million in tipping fees from the treatment of high-strength liquid organic waste. (June 2022)
- City Council Priority Alignment 2021-2023:
- Sewer System Infrastructure Upgrade (including Catfish Creek Sanitary Sewer System)
- City Council Priority Alignment 2022-2024:
- Catfish Creek Sanitary Sewer Project: Debt Policy Direction, Phasing, and Funding
Utilize the results of the water system dynamic model (currently under development) to identify current needs, as well as plan for future growth of the community. 5.1.2 - Coordinator: Chris Lester, clester@cityofdubuque.org
► Status: On Track
- The dynamic water model is in use, improving water pressure, providing balanced stability and fire suppression, and more effective use of water towers and tanks.
- By moving water more efficiently, there is less aging of water and improved quality. The model helps report back with water main break data, identifying breaks, material, age, elevation and whether there is a need for air release.
- See more how bringing water service to new neighborhoods, like along John F. Kennedy Road, helps protect residents' health and homes.
Continue the integration of the former Vernon Township and Barrington Lakes water systems into the overall City of Dubuque system. 5.1.3 - Coordinator: Chris Lester, clester@cityofdubuque.org
► Status: Achieved
- Project is completed and meeting expansion needs.
Update the city-wide stormwater management ordinance to guide future growth and development and to address onsite infiltration and sustainable development practices. 5.1.4 - Coordinator: Deron Muehring, dmuehrin@cityofdubuque.org
► Status: Off Track
- A plan to update the ordinance by Spring 2022 would include water quality best management practices are required as a part of new development when feasible.
- The City continues partnerships to create responsive approaches to watersheds throughout the community, to better manage runoff and reduce pollution.
- City Council Priority Alignment 2021-2023:
- Sewer System Infrastructure Upgrade (including Catfish Creek Sanitary Sewer System)
Continued expansion of fiber optic access throughout the community. 5.1.5 - Coordinator: Dave Lyons, davel@greaterdubuque.org
► Status: On Track
- Broadband Planning Team, led through Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, strives toward redundancy of service for business areas (at 100%) and the goal of 100% coverage at homes. Check their website for up to date provider lists and information.
- The continued laying of fiber increases access across the community and creates healthy competition, which lowers pricing and increases service for consumers and businesses.
- Redundancy is good, especially for fire and Emergency Management Services (EMS) which cannot afford to lose signal. Both private sector and City fiber are installed, and in some cases each may share with the other.
- Fiber optics have the opportunity to support all types of systems through Dubuque. For water service delivery, it's an improvement from the old radio system, helping with monitoring, breaks, towers, pump and lift stations. By helping to monitor, it prevents breaks and costs.
- All City assets will be linked via secure fiber access to increase speed and quality of services to public.
- A design is in process for a comprehensive broadband network across Dubuque. Learn more about the community's need for broadband and its work to utilize data to make the case for strengthening its broadband capacity through an article published by ESRI. (October 2021)
- City Council Priority Alignment 2021-2023:
- Community Broadband Expansion
Partner with Green Dubuque and other similar organizations to define metrics to monitor progress on environmental goals as outlined in the 50% by 2030 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan. 5.1.6 - Coordinator: Gina Bell, gbell@cityofdubuque.org
► Status: On Track
- More about the 50% by 2030 Plan is available here. Green Dubuque and community members were engaged to update the plan in 2019.
- The City's Sustainability Office will hire a Climate Action Coordinator in fiscal year 2023 and will participate in a Carbon Disclosure Project. (June 2022)
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory updates (June 2022):
- In fiscal year 2023, a GHG reduction inventory is scheduled.
- A 2019 update reported a 27% reduction in GHG emissions since 2003.
- A 2014 update reported an 11% reduction in GHG emissions since 2003.
- City Council Priority Alignment 2022-2024:
- Climate Action Plan Implementation
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