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Dubuque approves $4.01 million plan to repair Iowa Street parking garage
Summary
The City Council voted 7-0 to approve plan specifications and an estimated $4,011,300 contract package for structural and systems repairs to the Iowa Street parking garage after a 2022 condition assessment flagged multiple needs.
The Dubuque City Council on May 5 approved plan specifications and an estimated $4,011,300 contract package for the 2025 repair and preventative maintenance of the Iowa Street parking garage, voting 7-0 to move the project toward bidding and construction.
The council adopted the resolution after staff summarized a 2022 ramp condition assessment by Desmond Inc. and described a scope that includes full- and partial-depth slab and beam repairs, waterproofing membrane replacement, stair tower repairs, new supplemental roof drains, electrical and plumbing upgrades, and related work. Project Manager Jim Bosley told the council staff "are recommending City Council approve the plan specifications form of contract and estimated cost of $4,011,300 for the 2025 repair and maintenance of the Iowa Street parking garage."
City officials said the work responds to corrosion and concrete deterioration identified in the assessment. Ryan Nucchi, director of transportation services, told the council the ramp dates to the 1960s — "That ramp is a 1964 or 1968 ramp" — and said the repairs are intended to extend the structure's service life. "The overall goal we're going for is 10 to 15 years on what these are gonna be," he said, adding that the structure's flat roof design concentrates water on the top level and has accelerated deterioration.
Staff said the bid documents will include alternate bid items so the city can evaluate options during procurement; if alternatives are not selected, the recommended award will be based on the base bid. Nucchi said adding a physical pitch to the roof was considered but would be significantly more expensive, so the selected approach installs a new membrane and follows a maintenance plan using special snowplow practices to protect the surface.
Council members asked about expected life span and whether replacement was under consideration. Nucchi said full replacement is not on the table at this time and described the repairs and new membrane as the preferred strategy. Mayor Brad M. Cavanaugh and other councilmembers framed the work as an investment to support downtown activity and cited future demand tied to projects such as the incoming medical school.
Motion to receive, file and adopt the resolution passed by roll call: Sprank, Jones, Roussell, Farber, Wethal, Cavanaugh and Resnick voted aye; motion passed 7-0.
