03 09 23 City Council Proceedings Official_Special
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
OFFICIAL
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:30 p.m. on March 9, 2023, in the
second-floor Council Chambers of the Historic Federal Building, 350 W. 6th Street.
Present: Mayor Cavanagh; Council Members Farber, Jones, Resnick, Roussell, Sprank,
Wethal; City Manager Van Milligen.
Mayor Cavanagh read the call and stated this is a special session of the City Council called
for the purpose of setting the public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 City Budget and conducting
public hearings on certain Fiscal Year 2024 Department Budgets.
ITEMS SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING
1. Set Public Hearing on Fiscal Year 2024 City Budget: Motion by Jones to receive and file
the documents and adopt Resolution No. 65-23 Setting the date for the public hearing on the
Fiscal Year 2024 Budget for the City of Dubuque; and Resolution No. 66 -23 Setting the date
for the public hearing on the Five -Year Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2024
through 2028 for the City of Dubuque. Seconded by Roussell. Motion carried 7-0.
Adoption of the resolutions sets a public hearing for a meeting to commence at 6:30 p.m. on
March 23, 2023, in the Historic Federal Building.
RESOLUTION NO. 65-23
SETTING THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET
FOR THE CITY OF DUBUQUE
Whereas, Iowa Code Section 384.16 provides that the City Council shall set a time and place
for a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 budget before the final budget certification date
and shall publish notice before the hearing as provided in Iowa Code Section 384.16.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the City Council shall conduct a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year
2024 budget for the City of Dubuque in the City Council Chambers and virtually on Thursday,
March 23, 2023, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Passed, approved, and adopted this 9th day of March 2023.
Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest :Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
RESOLUTION NO. 66-23
SETTING THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEARS 2024 THROUGH 2028 FOR THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE
Whereas, a proposed Five-Year Capital Improvement Program for the City of Dubuque for
Fiscal Years 2024 through 2028 has been prepared and submitted to the City Council; and
Whereas, the capital projects for the first year of the program are included in the Fiscal Year
2024 budget for the City of Dubuque; and
Whereas, it is deemed to be in the best interest of the City of Dubuque to conduct a public
hearing and adopt the five-year Capital Improvement Program simultaneously with the public
hearing and adoption of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget for the City of Dubuqu e.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the City Council shall conduct a public hearing on the five -year Capital
Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2024 through 2028 in the City Council Chambers and
virtually on Thursday, March 23, 2023, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Passed, approved, and adopted this 9th day of March 2023.
Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest: Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
PUBLIC HEARINGS
FISCAL YEAR 2024 DEPARTMENT BUDGETS
Fiscal Year 2024 City department budgets were presented by staff from the following
departments:
1. Emergency Management Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Presentation: Tom Berger, Emergency
Management Director.
2. Emergency Communications Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Presentation: Mark Murphy,
Emergency Communications Manager.
3. Police Department Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Presentation: Jeremy Jensen, Police Chief.
4. Fire Department Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Presentation: Amy Scheller, Fire Chief.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council following their respective presentation.
Following City Council discussion on the Police Department’s Improvement Package No. 2
on an automated license plate reader system, Mayor Cavanagh encourage d residents to
provide input on the recommendation prior to the March 23, 2023, final hearing to adopt the
Fiscal Year 2024 budget. Mayor Cavanagh also stated that input would be welcomed on the
city’s camera policy, which the City Council would discuss amending after the March 23, 2023,
final hearing.
Council Member Wethal recommended the City Council approve Improvement Package No.
2 for one additional full-time firefighter and made suggestions of how to fund the position from
both one-time and ongoing funding sources. City Manager Van Milligen advised that the City
Council avoid using one-time funding sources to fund recurring expenses. City Manager Van
Milligen also stated his reason for not recommending the position, stating that the position will
be dependent on what the City Council decides regarding future fire stations. Mayor Cavanagh
suggested an agenda item at the next budget hearing for City Council to discuss any proposed
changes to the budget. City Council Members also discussed that the March 23, 2023, final
hearing to adopt the budget provides the opportunity for budget amendments. Per a suggestion
from the City Council, Mayor Cavanagh stated that he would discuss the budget amendment
process with City Attorney Brumwell and City Manager Van Milligen to determine the
recommended approach for budget amendments. Mayor Cavanagh stated his intent to share
the recommended approach at the March 21, 2023, budget hearing. City Council Members also
agreed to a governance session in the future to discuss a recommended process for altering
the budget.
CLOSED SESSION
Motion by Jones to convene in closed session at 10:06 p.m. to discuss Pending Litigation –
Chapter 21.5(1)(c) 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 7-0.
The City Council reconvened in open session at 11:13 p.m. stating that staff had been given
proper direction.
There being no further business, Mayor Cavanagh declared the meeting adjourned at 11:14
p.m.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CMC, City Clerk