4 9 24 City Council MinutesCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:30 p.m. on April 9, 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.
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.
CONSENT ITEMS
1. Dubuque Racing Association – Financing Documents: Motion by Jones to receive and file
the documents involved in the Dubuque Racing Association's (DRA) financing of the
improvement projects planned for Chaplain Schmitt Island. Seconded by Sprank. Motion
carried 7-0.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Dubuque Racing Association Lease: Dubuque Racing Association Phase 2 Financing,
Amended Leasehold Mortgage: Motion by Jones to receive and file the documents and adopt
Resolution No. 80-24 Disposing of an interest in real property through an amendment to the
existing lease agreement with Dubuque Racing Association, LTD. and approving an
amendment to the leasehold mortgage between Dubuque Racing Association, LTD and
MidWestOne Bank. Seconded by Wethal. City Attorney Crenna Brumwell provided a brief
overview of the project. Alex Dixon, President and CEO of the Dubuque Racing Association,
also spoke about the project. Responding to a question from Council Member Farber about
recusal from the vote, City Attorney Brumwell advised that Ms. Farber may vote if there was no
personal financial gain from the project, but Ms. Farber must decide whether to vote. Ms. Farber
announced that she would recuse herself from the vote. Motion carried 6-0 with Farber
abstained.
Fiscal Year 2025 City department budgets were presented by staff from the following
departments:
2. Five Flags Center Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Presentation: Leisure Services Director Marie
Ware.
3. Grand River Center Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Presentation: Leisure Services Director
Marie Ware.
4. ImOn Ice Arena Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Presentation: Leisure Services Director Marie
Ware.
5. Transportation Services Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Presentation: Transportation Services
Director Ryan Knuckey.
Public input was provided by Greg Orwoll, Executive Director for DuRide Inc., who spoke
regarding services that DuRide offers the community and the services provided by the city.
6. Engineering Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Presentation: City Engineer Gus Psihoyos, Civil
Engineer II Maxwell O'Brien, Traffic Engineer Justine Hull, and Project Manager Steve
Sampson Brown.
Staff responded to questions from the City Council following their respective presentations.
CLOSED SESSION
Motion by Jones to convene in closed session at 10:18 p.m. to discuss Purchase or Sale of
Real Estate – Chapter 21.5(1),(j) Code of Iowa. Seconded by Wethal. 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 11:36 p.m. stating that staff had been given
proper direction.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Cavanagh declared the meeting adjourned at 11:37
p.m.
/s/Trish Gleason, Assistant City Clerk