4 9 25 City Council Proceedings Official SpecialCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
OFFICIAL
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:30 p.m. on April 9, 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 (at-
tended virtually), Sprank, Wethal; City Manager Van Milligen (attended virtually).
Mayor Cavanagh read the call and stated this is a special session of the City Council
called for the purpose of receiving presentations on certain Fiscal Year 2026 Department
Budgets.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Parks and Recreation Director Marie Ware made introductory remarks for the depart-
ment. City staff then presented Fiscal Year 2026 departmental budgets and responded
to City Council questions following each presentation. Presentations were given by rep-
resentatives from the following departments:
1. Parks Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Presentation: Park Division Manager Steve Fehsal.
Jean McDonald, 3120 Eagle Point Dr.; Sue Dillon, 3057 Westmore Dr.; John Dolter, 2111
Orchard Dr.; Kelly Lengeling, 1165 Arrowhead Dr.; Al Pline, 334 Angela Jean Cr., Tom
Fondell, 2570 Shiras Ave.; Karen Rokusek, 14248 Augusta Ct.; Mary Klaas, 1605 Lincoln
Ave.; Lynn LeBlanc, 2181 Orchard Dr.; Will Meyer, 1856 Rhomberg Ave.; and Rob
McDonald, 3399 Eagle Point Dr., expressed concerns about the current condition of Ea-
gle Point Park, noting the deterioration of several amenities, including the prairie, pavil-
ions, and restrooms. They also inquired about the possibility of removing the out -of-ser-
vice water tower. Several individuals suggested that community volunteers could assist
with plant maintenance efforts. Wethal requested Improvement Package No. 3 for a full-
time Maintenance Technician position, which was not recommended, be held for separate
discussion at the final hearing to adopt the budget . Fehsal confirmed that the proposed
position was not considered for a specific location, but that Eagle Point Park would be a
good fit. All six City Council members present at the dais concurred with hold ing the im-
provement package for discussion at the final budget hearing. Roussell’s decision was
not confirmed due to technical difficulties.
2. Recreation Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Presentation : Recreation Division Manager
Dan Kroger.
3. Grand River Conference Center Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Presentation: Parks and
Recreation Director Marie Ware.
4. ImOn Ice Center Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Presentation: Parks and Recreation Di-
rector Marie Ware.
5. Five Flags Civic Center Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Presentation : Parks and Recrea-
tion Director Marie Ware. Council Member Wethal proposed deferring the Downtown Tax
Increment Financing (TIF) allocation for Five Flags by one year, recommending that
$750,000 budgeted for Fiscal Year 2027 be withheld and instead used as matching funds
for grant applications supporting the establishment of a railroad quiet zone. While Sprank
expressed support for the proposal, the remaining City Council Members opposed it, em-
phasizing the long-overdue improvements needed at Five Flags.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Cavanagh declared the meeting adjourned at
10:23 p.m.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CMC, City Clerk