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July/August 2025 City News NewsletterCity of Dubuque City Council ACTION ITEMS # 10. Copyrighted June 16, 2025 ITEM TITLE: July/August 2025 City News Newsletter SUMMARY: City Manager providing a copy of the July/August 2025 issue of the City News newsletter, which will be mailed with utility bills from June 12 - July 2. It is also available online at www.cityofdubugue.org/citynews SUGGUESTED Receive and File DISPOSITION: ATTACHMENTS: 1. July - August 2025 City News Page 1034 of 1053 Inside This Issue 2 1 Art on the River Opening Reception on Aug. 1 Funding Available for Healthy Homes Program Door -to -Door Sales in Dubuque 31 A Message from the City Manager: Dubuque County Population Nearing 100,000 City Election Information Take Charge: Watt To Do With Batteries 41 New Faces & Retirements Events Calendar Building Bridges to Elevate Employment (B2E2) Project Age in Place Grant Program f O in Y1 O www.cityofdubuque.org Get news and info by email or text: Check out all the options at www.cityofdubuque.org/notifyme City News is produced by the City of Dubuque Public Information Office. Comments are welcome at publicinfo@cityofdubuque.org or 563-589-4151. E \ 1411 July/August 2025 - The Time Is Right For You To Fey DBQ Daily Early Morning Departure & Early Evening Return Flight There's never been a better time to fly Dubuque! The Dubuque Regional Airport and Denver Air Connection now offer a daily early morning departure and daily early evening return between Dubuque and O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. • The outbound Denver Air flight departs from Dubuque at'7:50 a.m., arriving at O'Hare at 8:45 a.m. • The return flight departs O'Hare at 5 p.m., arriving back in Dubuque at 5:55 p•m. Flight times are subject to adjustments. This schedule offers hundreds of connections both outbound and inbound with the United Airlines and American Airlines networks, as well as a full day to do business in the Chicago area. Passengers flying from Dubuque can book directly through Denver Air Connection, American, United, or their preferred online travel retailer, and connect to American and United's worldwide network of destinations without an additional ticket or security check at O'Hare. Comfortable Flying Experience Flights between DBQ and ORD are on one of DAC's 50-passenger jets with spacious leather seats for the feel of a "private jet" flying experience. Reliable Flights Since starting this service in November 2024, the Denver Air Connection flight between DBQ and ORD has a 97.4% flight completion rate. Future Expansion of Air Service High utilization of the connection to O'Hare will send a signal to other airlines and carriers that Dubuque is a market where additional air service is necessary and will be successful. DBQ Air, the non-profit organization formed to bolster air service in Dubuque, continues to meet weekly to pursue additional air service options. Book your flight today! FlyDBQ.com Page 1035 of 1053 on the River CVLV VV CIF' WF_'LLNFSS Eleven new sculptures have been selected for the City's 19th annual temporary public art exhibit, Art on the River. The 2025-2026 theme, "Flow of Wellness," invites visitors to explore how art can transform personal and community well-being, with a focus on health, healing, and wellness. Featured works will reflect how art nurtures the body, mind, and spirit; celebrates nature's restorative forces; the healing power of movement; and the soothing effects of light, sound, and color. A call for artists to submit pieces that speak to the theme was answered with 61 applications from 40 artists in 11 states, Germany, and India. An opening reception will be held on Friday, Aug.1, from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Grand River Center, 500 Bell St. The evening will commence with live music, light hors d'oeuvres, and a cash bar on the patio of the Grand River Center. The reception is free to attend, family -friendly, and open to the public. Funding Available! Healthy Homes Program The Healthy Homes Program takes a comprehensive approach by focusing on housing -related hazards in a coordinated fashion, rather than addressing a single hazard at a time. Hazards addressed include mold, water intrusion, lead paint, allergens, asthma, carbon monoxide, home safety, pesticides, and radon (a dangerous gas found mainly in basements). Program participants may qualify for up to $15,000 to create a healthier home OR up to $30,000 for lead remediation plus an additional $10,000 for other household hazards. The program is available to low- to moderate -income residents, both renters and homeowners. To qualify for up to $15,000 for home repairs, the household must: • be located within the Dubuque city limits AND • meet income guidelines established by HUD. AFTER To qualify for up to 40,000 for lead remediation and other household hazards, the property also must: • have been built before 1978 AND • have children under the age of 6 reside at or visit the home. Interested residents are invited to submit an interest form at cityofdubuque.org/healthyhomes or call 563-589-1724. • DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES IN DUBUQUE The City of Dubuque is reminding all residents that individuals or companies wishing to conduct door-to-door sales within city limits are required to obtain a solicitor's license from the City Clerk's Office. Non- profit organizations, churches, schools, and individuals selling their own artwork or handicrafts are exempt from this requirement. Solicitors must always carry a copy of their license while engaging in door-to-door activities. Residents have the right to view a solicitor's license before engaging with solicitors. Additionally, residents can view a list of currently approved solicitors on the Business Licenses page on the City's website. Please report any encounters of solicitors without a license to the City Clerk's Office and report any suspicious or criminal activity from solicitors to the Police Department. When reporting, please provide the solicitor's name, the company they represent, their contact information, and any other relevant details. j For questions, contact the City Clerk's Office at 563-589-4100. A Message from the CITY MANAGER Michael C. Van Milligen Dubuque County Population Approaching 100,000 According to the US Census Bureau's Vintage 2024 population estimates, for the first time in history, the population of Dubuque County is approaching 100,000. The city of Dubuque, home to nearly 60% of Dubuque County's total population and the location where most residents within 50 miles work, shop, and recreate, is a major driver and beneficiary of this milestone. According to the US Census Bureau, only 30 of the 99 counties in the state of Iowa grew in population from 2010-2020, and only eight of those grew by more than 5,000 people. Of those eight counties that grew by more than 5,000 people, only Dubuque County (city of Dubuque) and Scott County (city of Davenport) were outside the Polk County (city of Des Moines)/Story County (city of Ames) and Johnson County (city of Iowa City)/ Linn County (city of Cedar Rapids) corridors. According to the US Census Bureau's Vintage 2024 population estimates, only seven counties in the state of Iowa showed a population increase of more than 900 people from 2020-2024, and only Dubuque County (+934) was outside the Polk County/Story County and Johnson County/Linn County corridors. Since July 1, 2022, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation reports there has been over $805 million in new construction in Dubuque County with businesses creating approximately 1,000 jobs. I am sure that the fact that the state of Iowa is one of the safest places in the country and Dubuque is one of the safest places in the state of Iowa contributes to population growth in Dubuque County. Other differentiating qualities include the Mississippi River, the community's historic character, natural beauty bestowed by Mother Nature, access to recreation opportunities, high quality health care, quality K-12 education, and multiple institutions of higher learning. And, of course, the hard-working, caring, and welcoming residents that live here today make this a natural place to want to call home. Dubuque County's continued economic and population growth is a welcome contrast to most of the rest of the State of Iowa and to the 1980s when the Dubuque County lost nearly 10% of its population and unemployment soared, hitting 23% in 1983. In fact, Dubuque County's population declined from 1976 to 1990 before it began steadily increasing and finally recovered to its 1976 level in 2013. With more major projects in the works like the over $100 million Chaplain Schmitt Island Development Plan; the downtown location of the University of Dubuque's new John and Alice Butler College of Osteopathic Medicine and expansion of the University of Dubuque Airline Pilot program; the over $80 million Field of Dreams project; a new Dubuque Museum of Art; development of Wanderwood Childrens Gardens; a planned new Dubuque Community Y; numerous commercial, hotel, and housing projects under construction; investments in city infrastructure and streets; enhanced air service; and the upcoming results of the Envision 2030 process identifying 10 big things to be accomplished by 2030, 1 cannot wait for the 2030 Census results. VOTE CITY ELECTION INFORMATION This year's City of Dubuque election will take place on Nov. 4, 2025. The following positions will be on the ballot: Mayor, At - Large Council Member, Council Member for Ward One, and Council Member for Ward Three. For ward map information, visit cityofdubuque.org/councilinfo. Candidate filing occurs from Aug.11 through Aug. 28 at the City Clerk's Office. If more than two candidates file for any position, then a primary election will occur for that position on Oct. 7, 2025. You can visit the Dubuque County Election's office at 880 Central Ave. or go online to find your polling location and learn more about candidate filing at elections.dubuquecountyiowa.gov TAKEall CHARGE BATTERY RECYCLING Batteries, tablets, phones, and cords can by dropped off for recycling at the following locations: • City of Dubuque Municipal Services Center, 925 Kerper Ct. • Carnegie -Stout Public Library, 360 West llth St. • Dubuque County Library - Asbury Branch, 5290 Grand Meadow Dr. In addition, the Regional Collection Center located at the landfill accepts batteries and battery containing devices. Page 1037 of 1053 New Faces & Retirements New City Employees Nancy McCaul Finance Cody Kramer Parking Maddox Bries Airport Teri Douglas Transit Alex Riniker Police Reagan Bandy Airport Paige Portincaso Airport Shannon Soppe Finance Christopher Bousson Public Works Lillian Fifer Airport Carter Balentine Fire Alexander Potter Fire Dakota Scott Fire Luke Bradley Fire Alec Lynch Fire Logan Salow Fire Jennifer Hart Library Recent Retirees Greg Harris Sharon Goedken Calvin Motsche Jon Dienst Chris Kohlmann Calendar July 3 Airshow and Fireworks, A.Y. McDonald Park, 5:30 p.m. (Fireworks at dusk) 4 City offices closed for Independence Day (Trash and recycling collection on Saturday, July 5) 7 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. 21 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. August 1 Art on the River Exhibit Opening, Grand River Center Patio, 5 - 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. 4 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. 5 National Night Out, Comiskey Park, 6-8 p.m. 18 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at City Council Chambers, Historic Federal Building, 350 W. 6th St. The public has the option to view and participate in City Council meetings in person at City Council Chambers or virtually (see Fire agenda for details). Meetings are aired five on CityChannel Transit Dubuque (Mediacom cable channels 8 and 117.2 and ImOn channel Fire 5), streamed live and archived on the City's website at Engineering www.cityofdubuque.org/media, and streamed live on the City's Information Technology Facebooh page at www.facebook.com/cityofdubuque. New Board/Commission Members Keith Ahlvin Zoning Board of Adjustment to Elevate Employment The City is continuing the planning and design of the Building Bridges to Elevate Employment (B2E2) project, which is anticipated for construction beginning in 2027. The project team will be hosting a series of "pop-up" events in June within the Washington Neighborhood and is seeking public input on the design development. For more information, visit the project website at cityofdubuque.org/B2E2. MAP IqX9& iapkea GRANT PROGRAM The City of Dubuque is offering grants for low-income Dubuque residents, age 62 and older, to modify their homes so they can age at home safely rather than move to a nursing home or another assisted care facility. Grants are available for owner -occupied and rental properties. Examples of home modifications include: installing grab bars and handrails, replacing doorknobs with lever style handles, repairing flooring to remove trip hazards, and more. To find out if you, or an older adult in your life, is eligible for the Age in Place grant program, fill out an interest form at cityofdubuque.org/ageinplace or call 563-589-1724. July/August 2025 www.p6)gRf4o06CWe}oE0