2 12 24 City Council Proceedings Official SpecialCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
OFFICIAL
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 Chap-
lain 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 recom-
mended potential partnerships with local universities and the Dubuque Audubon Society re-
garding the islands’ conservation aspects. Regarding the City Council’s role in the island’s re-
development, Mr. Dixon stated that the City Council’s role is to provide direction on redevelop-
ment 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 flood-
plain, 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 Com-
mission and the City Council. City Manager Van Milligen stated that the intent of the work ses-
sion 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 dis-
cussed 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