4 9 24 City Council Proceedings Official SpecialCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
OFFICIAL
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:30 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.
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
Whereas, the City Council, by Resolution No. 73-24, dated April 1, 2024, declared its
intent to dispose of a City interest in real property legally described as:
Lot 1 of Chaplain Schmitt Island in the City of Dubuque, Iowa, according to the Plat
recorded as Instrument #2023-7679, records of Dubuque County, Iowa (the
Property); and
Whereas, pursuant to published notice, a public hearing was held on the proposed
disposition on April 9, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the Historic Federal Building, 350 W. 6th
Street, Dubuque, Iowa; and
Whereas, it is the determination of the City Council that approval of the amendment to
Section 12 of its Lease Agreement with Dubuque Racing Association, Ltd. (DRA) is in the
public interest of the City of Dubuque; and
Whereas, it is the determination of the City Council that consent to an amendment to
the Leasehold Mortgage between the DRA and MidWestOne Bank for financing of the
DRA’s financing of Phase 2 improvements is in the public interest of the City of Dubuque.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. The City Council disposes of City’s interest in the foregoing -described real
property pursuant to:
• An Amendment to its Lease Agreement with the DRA and
• Consent to an amendment to the Leasehold Mortgage between the DRA and
MidWestOne Bank for the financing of Phase 2 of the improvements by the DRA.
Section 2. The Mayor and City Clerk are hereby authorized and directed to execute
both the Amendment to the City’s Lease Agreement with the DRA and the consent to the
Amendment to the Leasehold Mortgage between the DRA and MidWestOne Bank.
Section 3. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to cause said Amendment
to the Lease Agreement and the consent to the amendment of the Leasehold Mortgage
to be delivered to the City Attorney’s Office, together with a certified copy of the
Resolution.
Passed, approved and adopted this 9th day of April 2024.
Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest: Adrienne Breitfelder, City Clerk
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