Meeting Public Comments

William Dikis [Architectural Strategies LLC]

I am current chair of the Capitol Planning Commission. The following is a copy of an email sent to bill sponsor Sen. Chapman on 2/10/21:I note with interest SF 227 bill sponsored by you regarding a monument for Private Martin Treptow who died in service during WW I. Of course, the Capitol Planning Commission will welcome an application for such a monument, regardless of whether the bill is passed. I note that the bill would require the approval of an application without any threshold cost and wonder if you feel a minimum cost should be included in the bill due to the mandatory language? Examples of the range of cost of recent monuments:The Mary Jane Coggeshall marker in 2020 cost $2,250 including the required 15% endowment. The marker is located south and adjacent to the bottom of the west Capitol steps at Finkbine.The next most recent monument was the Holocaust Memorial (2013). I believe the cost was $252,590 excluding the required 10% endowment.The Commission, through its Site Features Committee, reviews and recommends applications to the entire Commission for approval. A sponsor application and detailed policy adopted by the Commission guides the process of approval and is available at https://das.iowa.gov/generalservices/capitolplanningcommission/sitefeatures. Thank you, Bill