Ric's Story

Ric's Story:

Ric was elected in November, 2005 to his first term on the City Council after a distinguished thirty-one year career with the City of Dubuque Fire Department as a Firefighter, Medical Officer and Emergency Medical Services Supervisor. He was one of Iowa's first paramedics and, despite his retirement from active duty, he remains a leader in the field today.

Ric currently does expert consulting in the areas of public policy and emergency response, is the drummer and leader of the Upper Main Street Jazz Band, and drives a bus for Dubuque Community Schools.

Ric is a certified instructor in all areas of emergency care, with an emphasis on trauma and advanced life support. He serves on the EMS Advisory Committee for Northeast Iowa Community College. He has taught classes on emergency care all over the United States, including a stint for the United States Department of Defense training troops prior to their deployment for the first Gulf War.

Ric was recently inducted into the Dubuque County Fire Association's "Hall of Flame," an honor that humbles him. Honorees have served the association with many volunteer hours to improve the fire service in and around Dubuque County.

The 2005 campaign was a pretty gentle one. Ric has a great deal of respect for his friend and former opponent Dan Nicholson, who held the seat for 16 years. The campaign was a positive one, focusing on the future.

Ric was just elected to a second term by a huge margin. He looks forward to the challenges and opportunities that Dubuque will face over the next several years.

Whether at the Council Table or at the drums with his jazz band or one of the community theater groups Ric performs with, he has fun and knows what he is doing. Ric knows the importance of being prepared. In either case, people are counting on him!

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Left: Ric and Sue

Below: Their puppy, Fred

Ric also serves the following boards, commissions, committees, clubs and causes:

Vice Chairperson of the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency

Board Member of the Dubuque Racing Association

Board Member of the Dubuque Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau

Member of the Dubuque Chamber of Commerce

Member of the Chamber of Commerce Festivals Committee

Member of the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation Study Policy Board

Board Member of Operation New View Community Action Agency

Board Member and Past President of the Dubuque Downtown Kiwanis Club

Committee Member of Make A Will - A Tri-State Initiative

32nd Degree Member of Dubuque Lodge # 3, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons

President of the Dubuque Shrine Club

Noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine, El Kahir Temple

Member of the Masonic High Twelve Service Club

Member of the Dubuque County Conference Committee

Past President of the Board of Directors of Hills and Dales

Member of the Jamie Barwick Hills and Dales Foundation Board

Member of the Winter Games Committee for Special Olympics Iowa

Member, Past Board Member and Past Public Policy Chair of the Iowa Emergency Medical Services Association

Founding Member and Past President of the Dubuque County EMS Association

Member of the Iowa Firemens' Association

Member of the Dubuque Retired Fire Fighters Association

Member of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians

Member of the Administrative Board of St. Luke's United Methodist Church

Member of the American Civil Liberties Union

Member of Physicians for Social Responsibility

Member of American Mensa and Iowa-Illinois Mensa

Member of Amnesty International

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Downtown Parking: Even if IBM was not bringing 1,300 new employees downtown we have a parking problem. The Council recently voted to build an additional public parking structure at 10th and Central. It is our hope that some of the other current surface parking lots will become developed, once the new structures are open. There are also plans moving forward for an additional 750 car inter modal parking facility in the Port of Dubuque, and a parking garage in the Historic Millwork District.

IBM: IBM remains pleased with their choice of Dubuque. Dubuque is doing well with it also.

Work is well underway on renovations to the historic Roshek Building, also known as the Dubuque Building, for IBM's use. The 7th, 8th and 9th floors are occupied. The plywood just came off the ground floor exterior exposing the windows. IBM has signed a ten year lease on the facility. The City provided an incentive package that includes guaranteeing $25 million dollars in loans for the building renovation. This is a great thing for everyone in Dubuque!

Dubuque is about to become the first "Smarter City" in America in a new partnership with IBM to develop resource management applications that will support our sustainability programs and save money for utility customers.

Storm Water Management: The Bee branch creek restoration project is in the final design phase. Most of the needed property has been acquired. Upstream improvements at Carter Road and on West 32nd Street have significantly slowed the flow of storm water down the hill. We saw drawings of the possible landscape plans early this month. This will be a linear park and an amenity for the entire neighborhood. And no more flooded homes in the flats! Negotiations continue with the railroad to get under their tracks, and design work continues.

Sustainability: The City Council is working to make Dubuque a greener city. We will make every effort that we can afford to be successful at reducing the City's carbon footprint and improving the quality of life for all Dubuquers. We are using a few hybrid vehicles in the City fleet to determine if they are up to our vigorous tasks. The gasoline fleet is being migrated to E-85 use. The diesel fleet is currently using a soy diesel blend, with good results.

Public Safety: In 2008, we added four sworn police officers, one of whom is assigned to the Housing Department to investigate concerns of criminal behavior or mis-representation of eligibility in the subsidized housing programs. Additional officers will be added in the coming fiscal years. We have entered a purchase agreement for the site of the City's seventh fire station, near the Northwest Arterial and Chavenelle Drive.

The Council has assembled a task force to look at neighborhood crime and gang activity in response to some recent episodes of violence. We have every reason to believe that we can reduce some of the frustrations facing our downtown neighborhoods and improve some behaviors that result.

In reviewing the FBI Crime statistics for Dubuque during calendar year 2009, it is apparent that "Part 1 crimes" (the most serious offenses against persons and property) are, in fact, down and have been generally trending slightly downward. The perception of crime is worse than the reality. That said, we continue to work to trend it farther downward.

It is important to note that every single one of the higher profile crimes in Dubuque in 2009 has resulted in arrests.

Water Pollution Control: We are at a point where major renovation is required at our Water Pollution Control Plant. The Council held a public hearing on July 7, 2008, to approve the further design and build elements of the facility development plan using anaerobic digestion and land application. We have determined that the anaerobic digestion process is less costly over the life of the facility and is slightly less of an environmental threat. The capital costs at the front of the project are somewhat higher, but there is a recovery of those costs due to reduced operating expenses. There may be an opportunity to capture and use the by-product gases for electrical generation at the facility, or other energy replacement.

Chlorine gas is currently used to disinfect the liquid material before returning it to the ecosystem. There is an opportunity to remove chlorine from the equation by using ultraviolet light to disinfect the material instead of the chlorine. Chlorine is a dangerous chemical to transport, store and use. For more information, click on this link to the Water Pollution Control Facility website.

Additional capacity improvements are being made to the sanitary sewer system to eliminate the need to pump sewage into Catfish Creek during high rain events. Previously, because of inflow of rainwater to the sanitary system, it is overwhelmed in the Key Way area. If the overcharge is not released, backflows occurred into basements. The new sewer has eliminated that problem.

Streets: We were very pleased with the results of the "East-West Corridor Study," the implementation of which will put new round about intersections at University Avenue at Loras, Asbury and Pennsylvania, add some lanes in the University Corridor, especially between Loras and Pennsylvania, change some lane markings, add traffic control devices and some turn lanes to Asbury Road and other east west thoroughfares.

Please contact the Public Works Department with street repair concerns. Potholes are generally repaired as soon as possible, but only once they have been reported.

Snow Routes: The Council unanimously passed a modified snow route ordinance that primarily changes the notification process. The City will use the Code Red reverse 911 system to notify all addresses affected when a snow emergency is declared. Vehicles will not be allowed to park on the designated side of the street until the end of the declared emergency. There is a provision to have a first ticket dismissed if a valid phone number is provided for subsequent notifications.

Transient Boat Docks: We applied for and were awarded a $3 million grant to install docking facilities for transient boaters from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. With a one million dollar local match, the project is in the design and discussion phase. The original idea was to build these facilities in the main channel south of the railroad bridge. It now appears that the project cannot be done in the main channel with the funds that are available. The project could, however, be built inside the Ice Harbor. We have to come to terms with conflicts that this may create, we have the US Coast Guard Cutter Wyaconda, Dubuque River Rides, and Newt Marine Services all requiring docking and maneuvering space, as well as the museum's waterside facilities in the harbor.

There appears to be demand for this type of docking space. Large boats go past Dubuque en route to other destinations all summer long. The goal would be to get them to overnight, or at least dock and dine in Dubuque, providing more business for our local restaurants, hotels and attractions.

The grant initially required that 56 new slips be built. We asked asking if the total number of slips could be 56 by upgrading the 25 already in the harbor and building new ones to achieve that number. That seems to me to be more realistic. The Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed to allow the project to be downsized to a total of 68 slips. This should work out very well.

Section 8 Housing Assistance: Below is an article written by David Harris, the City of Dubuque's Housing and Community Development Department Manager.

Top 10 Myths about Dubuque's Section 8 Housing Program

Just over 1000 households in Dubuque receive federal HUD assistance to help with their rent. This is known as the Section 8 Program and has been operating in the city since 1976. We receive about $ 4 million annually paid to area landlords on behalf of families who qualify according to income.

Myth No. 1: The Housing Department recruits out-of-town families to come to Dubuque and receive assistance. We've all heard it: billboards in downtown Chicago advertising free housing in Dubuque. People really believe we do this.

Fact: The City of Dubuque does not recruit anyone from anywhere. Not from Chicago and not from Maquoketa. The only advertising we do is in Dubuque. It's a federal program and any US citizen is eligible to apply, but the City of Dubuque does not promote the program beyond our corporate boundaries in any way.

Myth No. 2: The Housing Department gives preference to African-Americans, disregards criminal records, and denies housing to local people.

Fact: The Housing Commission has established a system for assigning preferences to all applicants. Highest priority is for people currently living or working in the City of Dubuque. If you don't qualify for a local preference you're placed on a waiting list and can expect to wait for more than two years for a housing voucher. Every applicant is screened for criminal history. We check each state the family has lived in for the past three years working with state police offices. If an applicant has committed a crime involving physical violence or drugs during the past three years they are denied. If they have cooked meth they are banned for life. If they are registered as a sex offender they are banned for life. If they commit any of these crimes once they begin receiving our assistance they are terminated from the program.

Myth No. 3: Section 8 families are lazy and don't work.

Fact: Of the 1000 households on our program, 36% have at least one working adult. Average earned income in these working households is $ 7950.00. Participants receive less housing assistance as their earnings increase. Of all the households on the program about 400 are either elderly or disabled So this means that of the other 600 "able-bodied" (non-elderly and not disabled) Section 8 households 60 have at least one adult working.

Myth No. 4: It is easier to get Section 8 housing in Dubuque than other places.

Fact: The federal regulations which govern this program work the same way in every state. You have to qualify by income and criminal history the same in Dubuque as you do in Indianapolis or Council Bluffs. In addition housing agencies are allowed by HUD to set local policies for administration of their housing programs. Dubuque's Section 8 program actually has stricter eligibility standards than many other cities. Our Housing Commission approved tough criminal eligibility requirements years before HUD adopted similar ones. For instance in Dubuque a participant needs only to be charged with a crime to risk loss of eligibility. Conviction isn't necessary.

Myth No. 5: Once a family is on the program other family members and friends move in and nothing is done about it.

Fact: If our participants are breaking the rules, which includes having unauthorized guests, loss of housing assistance is the consequence. It is likely more difficult to remain a Section 8 participant in Dubuque than in most other cities. The City Council approved a Police Corporal to work in the Housing Department as a full-time investigator beginning in March, 2008. Corporal Mike Kane investigates all allegations of fraud or unauthorized occupants. He regularly visits families in assisted units and responds to all complaints about disturbances or illegal activities. Persons found in violation of the regulations have their assistance terminated.

Myth No. 6: After a year, Section 8 tenants just move back home and take our housing vouchers with them.

Fact: Some families do request to move after a year. In fiscal year 2008, 71 applied for assistance at other housing authorities, however Dubuque's housing vouchers remain here. When these families do move that means they have located another housing agency willing to give them assistance. We can then re-issue that housing voucher to the next applicant on our waiting list.

Myth No. 7: Section 8 housing is the worst maintained housing in the city.

Fact: The City has about 7600 rental units. About 13% (1000) are occupied by
Section 8 tenants. All rental housing in Dubuque is inspected according to our Housing Code. All units are held to the same standard. Section 8 housing is actually inspected more often than other rental units. This is because the federal rules require inspection of every Section 8 unit every year. In addition each time a new tenant moves in, the Section 8 unit must be inspected again. The city's other 6600 apartments are inspected only once every 5-7years. In June, 2008, the City Council approved an additional housing inspector position with the intent of reducing the inspection cycle time to under five years. In addition our inspectors usually can get Section 8 landlords to respond to code violation notices more quickly because if repairs are not made our housing payments to the owners are suspended. HUD requires us to have all units on the program in compliance with the Housing Code. With that leverage we get quicker results.

Myth No. 8: Landlords can't evict problem Section 8 tenants because they have special protections under the law.

Fact: Iowa Landlord-Tenant Law applies equally to all tenancies whether in Section 8 units or any other rental. Landlords have full authority under the law to require responsible behavior and to seek legal remedy against Section 8 tenants. In addition the Housing Department can assist owners with enforcement as our participants are required by program regulations to maintain standards of conduct. If a Section 8 household is abusing the property or disturbing neighbors we can move quickly to require compliance or terminate assistance. So in this sense program landlords actually have more leverage to compel good behavior than in non-assisted housing.

Myth No. 9: Dubuque is getting more housing vouchers in order to pay for more units for all the new families moving here from bigger cities.

Fact: We had just over 1000 vouchers in 1995 and that number remains the same today. HUD hasn't provided funding for new vouchers since that time.

Myth No. 10: Our local tax dollars are being wasted to pay for Section 8 housing.

Fact: 100% of the costs of the program are paid with the HUD federal funds. No local tax dollars are used. All costs of our administration of the program are also paid by the HUD funds. The 4 million received is sent directly to 370 area landlords who own rental properties in Dubuque. Those funds are used to pay mortgages to local lenders and for local property taxes.
One way of looking at this is considering it a form of economic development. The
$ 4 million we receive is reinvested in Dubuque - a return on the federal taxes we've sent to Washington.

So why does the city have a Section 8 Program? I mentioned that about 40% of the families currently receiving our rent payments are either elderly or disabled. Few could argue that these persons don't need the assistance. Generally, their tenure on the program is long term. There is no term limit for participation. For all households on the program, including the elderly, the average stay is just over four years. This suggests that most participants are using the assistance as intended: at a time of transition or crisis families need help with their rent, staying on the program until they can get their lives back together. Then they move on. The city and the federal government promote this program because we recognize that our most disadvantaged citizens sometimes need our help. Our goal is to deliver that assistance to all those who need it and who respect the rules that govern it.

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