02 09 22 City Council Proceedings Official_Special1
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
OFFICIAL
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:30 p.m. on February 9, 2022, in the
second-floor Council Chambers of the Historic Federal Building, 350 W. 6 th Street.
Present: Mayor Cavanagh; Council Members Farber, Jones, Resnick, Roussell, Sprank; City
Manager Van Milligen, City Attorney Brumwell.
Vacancy: Ward 4
Mayor Cavanagh read the call and stated this is a special session of the City Council called
for the purpose of conducting such business that may properly come before the City Council.
WORK SESSION
FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER STUDIES REVIEW AND PRIOR ACTIONS
PRESENTATION
Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware made a presentation on the Five Flags Civic Center
studies review and prior actions. Responding to a question from the City Council on next steps,
Ms. Ware requested the City Council specify the additional information needed for council to
take formal action. Responding to a question on fundraising options, City Manager Van Milligen
stated that the city could establish a referendum of the full amount of the facility and see if
community organizations are willing to fundraise for the facility. Mr. Van Milligen and Ms. Ware
respectively confirmed that the city cannot advocate for the referendum, and that the city’s role
would solely consist of educating voters on referendum information. City Attorney Brumwell
referenced her November 2018 staff memo among the supporting documents, which confirms
permitted and restricted actions of city officials regarding a referendum. Ms. Brumwell stated
that there is a 46-day notification deadline to the Dubuque County Elections Office for the ballot
language. State code restricts the dates that referendums can occur, and the only 2023 dates
in which a referendum may occur are March 7, September 12, and November 7. Bill Krueger,
of CSL International, one of the consultants contracted to conduct the Five Flags Civic Center
Study, summarized the company’s process for publicizing data and recommendations. Mr.
Krueger also shared timelines and costs of recent arena expansions completed in other cities.
Mr. Krueger cautioned that differences in market demand across the country limit the ability to
predict market demand in Dubuque. Responding to a question from the City Council, Civic
Center Commission Chairperson and Vice President of Community Engagement for Travel
Dubuque Tyler Daugherty stated that Travel Dubuque would conduct a marketing campaign to
educate the public on the referendum. Responding to a question, Five Flags General Manager
HR Cook stated that the facility currently charges a $3 facility fee as part of event ticket prices,
and that the fee could increase to $4 to offset costs of the facility. Ms. Ware stated that Five
Flags will require capital investments to remain operational, and that operational costs will likely
increase due to economy-wide cost increases in building materials. The City Council agreed
that updated cost estimates are needed and determined that updated costs are only required
for scenario no. 4: a new 6,000-seat arena and renovated theater. Ms. Ware confirmed that
funds carried over from the previous fiscal year will be utilized to update the cost estimates.
Ms. Ware will obtain a proposal from CSL for updated cost estimates , which the City Manager
will authorize. The City Council discussed the potential timeline for a referendum and how the
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referendum results may impact the facility.
CLOSED SESSION
Motion by Jones to convene in closed session at 8:16 p.m. to discuss Purchase or Sale of
Real Estate – Chapter 21.5(1)(j) Code of Iowa. Seconded by Sprank. Mayor Cavanagh stated
for the record that the attorney who will consult with City Council on the issues to be discussed
in the closed session is City Attorney Brumwell. Motion carried 6-0.
The City Council reconvened in open session at 8:26 p.m. stating that staff had been given
proper direction.
There being no further business, Mayor Cavanagh declared the meeting adjourned at 8:26
p.m.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder
City Clerk