Minutes_City Council Proceedings 04.28.25City of Dubuque
City Council
CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
Copyrighted
May 5, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of April 21, 22, 24, and 28 2025;
Historic Preservation Commission of February 20, 2025;
Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission of March 11,
2025; Transit Advisory Board of March 20, 2024; Zoning
Board of Adjustment from February 27, 2025; Proof of
Publication for City Council Proceedings of March 31 and
April 2, 3, and 7, 2025.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 4 21 25 City Council Minutes
2. 4 22 25 City Council Minutes
3. 4 24 25 City Council Minutes
4. 4 28 25 City Council Minutes
5. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
6. Park and Recreation Commission Minutes
7. Transit Advisory Board Minutes
8. Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes
9. Proof_3.31.25
10. Proof_4.3.25
11. Proof_4.7.25
12. Proof_4.2.25
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CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:30 p.m. on April 28, 2025 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 (attended virtually), City Attorney Brumwell (attended virtually).
Mayor Cavanagh read the call and stated this is a special session of the City Council called for the
purpose of adopting the Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Budget and Five -Year Capital Improvement Program.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Amended Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Recommendation: Motion by Jones to receive and file the
documents and adopt Resolution No. 144-25 Adopting The City Of Dubuque Fiscal Year 2026 Annual
Budget and Resolution No. 145-25 Adopting The City Of Dubuque Five Year Capital Improvement
Program. Seconded by Sprank. During her presentation, Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Larson shared
that the City had been issued a termination notice that day from the Federal Administration for a portion
of its federal AmeriCorps funding. However, due to limited information available currently, the potential
impact on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget remains unclear. She therefore recommended that the City
Council adopt the budget as presented. Clark Schloz, 2925 Burlington St., provided input on the city's
budgeting process and tax rate. City Clerk Breitfelder announced written input was received by Schloz,
along with John Klostermann, 1755 Bristol Dr.; Tammy Wehrspann, 1695 Avoca St.; Marc Onken, 2142
Seippel Rd.; Chris Miller, 2273 Southway Dr.; Emma Chambers, 940 Kelly Ln.; Jennifer Chambers,
940 Kelly Ln.; Heather Rath, 15350 Wood Vale Ct.; Natalie Nemmers, 1290 Arrowhead Dr.; Jennifer
Nielsen, 200 Fremont Ave.; Jeni Bormann, 1595 Kane; Blaine Nielsen, 200 Fremont Ave.; Kim Finn,
1490 Kaufmann Ave.; Jeff Ronek, 15618 White Oak Dr.; Kelly King, 11123 Hidden Springs Ct.; Kelly
Lemm, 2489 Hacidenda Dr.; Susan Kono, 82 Nevada St.; Amanda Saylor, 2450 University Ave.; Mark
Matel, 2059 Golden Eagle Dr.; and Jacob Mozena, 900 Jackson St. The amended Fiscal Year 2026
budget recommendation includes a recurring $10,000 allocation for additional Airport advertising. In
response to questions, Larson explained that the balance between operating and capital budgets varies
depending on the capital projects proposed, but this year's ratio of two-thirds operating and one-third
capital is about average for the City. City Council Members expressed appreciation to staff for their
efforts throughout the budget process, thanked residents for their input, and identified potential focus
areas for future goal -setting sessions. Council Members also voiced disappointment regarding cuts to
AmeriCorps funding. Mayor Cavanagh requested that funding be identified to enable the Director of
Strategic Partnerships position to be filled before the originally proposed date of January 1. Van Milligen
summarized the budgeting process and noted the city's consistent record of closing each fiscal year
with a surplus. If Fiscal Year 2025 also ends with a surplus, some of those funds could be used to
accelerate hiring for the Director of Strategic Partnerships position, enabling it to be filled before
January 1. The city currently contracts with Teri Goodmann, who previously held the position, for federal
relations. The new Director would collaborate with Goodmann while also developing state and local
partnerships. After discussion, Council Members agreed with Van Milligen's recommendation to adopt
the budget as proposed and to use any surplus funds from Fiscal Year 2025 to expedite filling the
position. Motion carried 7-0.
ACTION ITEMS
1. Establishing Water Utility Rates for Fiscal Year 2026: Motion by Jones to receive and file the
documents and that the requirement that a proposed ordinance be considered and voted on for
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passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be passed be suspended.
Seconded by Resnick. Motion carried 7-0.
Motion by Jones for final consideration and passage of Ordinance No. 10-25 Establishing City Of
Dubuque Code Of Ordinances Title 13 Public Utilities, Chapter 1 Water Use And Service, Article C
Rates, Section 13-1 C-1(A) Fixing Water Rates For Residential, Commercial, Industrial, And All Other
Uses and Ordinance No. 11-25 City Of Dubuque Code Of Ordinances Title 13 Public Utilities, Chapter
2 Sewers And Sewage Disposal, Article C Rates, Section 13-2C-3 Rates Established For Fiscal Year
2026. Seconded by Resnick. Motion carried 7-0.
2. Establishing Sanitary Sewer Utility Rates for Fiscal Year 2026: Motion by Roussell to receive and
file the documents and that the requirement that a proposed ordinance be considered and voted on for
passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be passed be suspended.
Seconded by Sprank. Motion carried 7-0.
Motion by Roussell for final consideration and passage of Ordinance No. 12-25 City Of Dubuque
Code Of Ordinances Title 13 Public Utilities, Chapter 2 Sewers And Sewage Disposal, Article C Rates,
Section 13-2C-3 Rates Established For Fiscal Year 2026. Seconded by Sprank. Motion carried 7-0.
3. Establishing Solid Waste Utility Rates for Fiscal Year 2026: Motion by Jones to receive and file
the documents and that the requirement that a proposed ordinance be considered and voted on for
passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be passed be suspended.
Seconded by Farber. Motion carried 7-0.
Motion by Jones for final consideration and passage of Ordinance No. 13-25 Amending City Of
Dubuque Code Of Ordinances Title 13 Public Utilities, Chapter 6 Solid Waste. Seconded by Sprank.
Motion carried 7-0.
4. Establishing Stormwater Management Utility Rates for Fiscal Year 2026: Motion by Roussell to
receive and file the documents and that the requirement that a proposed ordinance be considered and
voted on for passage at two Council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be passed be
suspended. Seconded by Wethal. Motion carried 7-0.
Motion by Roussell for final consideration and passage of Ordinance No. 14-25 Amending City Of
Dubuque Code Of Ordinances Section 13-4-5 (D) SFU Rate, Charges; Utility Revenues. Seconded by
Wethal. Motion carried 7-0.
5. Five -Year Street Construction Program for Fiscal Years 2026 — 2030: Motion by Wethal to receive
and file the documents and adopt Resolution No. 146-25 Adopting The Five -Year Street Construction
Program For Fiscal Years 2026 - 2030. Seconded by Sprank. Motion carried 7-0.
6. Planning Services Department Increased Fees for Fiscal Year 2026: Motion by Farber to receive
and file the documents and adopt Resolution No. 147-25 Rescinding No. 101-24, Establishing A
Schedule Of Development Services Fees, And Adopting In Lieu Thereof A New Schedule Of
Development Services Fees As Provided In Title 16 Of The City Of Dubuque Code Of Ordinances,
Unified Development Code. Seconded by Sprank. Motion carried 7-0.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Cavanagh declared the meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CIVIC
City Clerk
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