2 12 24 City Council MinutesCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:00 p.m. on February 12, 2024, 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, City Attorney Brumwell.
Mayor Cavanagh read the call and stated this is a special session of the City Council called
for the purpose of conducting a work session on the Chaplain Schmitt Island Redevelopment
Plan.
WORK SESSION
Chaplain Schmitt Island Redevelopment Plan
Economic Development Director Jill Connors introduced Dubuque Racing Association
(DRA) President and CEO Alex Dixon. Mr. Dixon presented the Redevelopment Plan for
Chaplain Schmitt Island with Ryan Peterson, Senior Partner of RDG Planning & Design, and
Chris Brewer, Vice President of Economics and Planning at AECOM. City Council Members
recommended potential partnerships with local universities and the Dubuque Audubon Society
regarding the islands’ conservation aspects. Regarding the City Council’s role in the island’s
redevelopment, Mr. Dixon stated that the City Council’s role is to provide direction on
redevelopment for the DRA to implement. Mr. Dixon further stated that timing of the
implementation will be based on funding. Mr. Dixon and Mr. Peterson responded to questions
regarding the floodplain, stating that considerations will be made on the areas that are
commercially viable to raise the floodplain. Responding to a question from the City Council,
Planning Services Director Wally Wernimont stated that the island’s Planned Unit Development
(PUD) must be amended to include residential to the list of permitted uses if the City Council
wanted to offer housing options on the island. This process would involve public hearings of
the Zoning Advisory Commission and the City Council. City Manager Van Milligen stated that
the intent of the work session was to present information to the City Council for consideration
in future discussions on the island’s redevelopment.
CLOSED SESSION
Motion by Jones to convene in closed session at 7:29 p.m. to discuss Purchase or Sale of
Real Estate – Chapter 21.5(1)(j) Code of Iowa. Seconded by Resnick. Mayor Cavanagh stated
for the record that the attorney who will consult with the 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 9:10 p.m. stating that staff had been given
proper direction.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Cavanagh declared the meeting adjourned at 9:10
p.m.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CMC
City Clerk