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September/October 2025 City News NewsletterCopyrighted September 2, 2025 City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 7. City Council ITEM TITLE: September/October 2025 City News Newsletter SUMMARY: City Manager providing a copy of the September/October 2025 issue of the City News newsletter, which will be mailed with City utility bills from August 13 through September 10. This issue and archived issues are available at www.cityofdubugue.org/citynews SUGGUESTED Receive and File DISPOSITION: ATTACHMENTS: 1. September - October 2025 City News Page 80 of 629 Inside This Issue 2 1 Teen Programs at the MFC Join the Civil Service Commission Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Program Neighborhood Support Grant Program Old Mill Rd. Lift Station Progress 3 1 A Message from the City Manager - Infrastructure in Action: Summer Project Highlights 41 New Faces & Retirements Events Calendar Join the Dubuque Police Department National Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day on Oct. 8 f SS 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 Attention Monday Customers! M , 1 4TJ September/October 2025 New Tier 3 Data Center & New Location for City's Information Technology Department The City held a ribbon -cutting and open house to celebrate the completion of the new Tier 3 data center on Tuesday, July 15. In July, the City of Dubuque held a ribbon -cutting and open house to celebrate the completion of a new Tier 3 data center, which also serves as the new location for the City's information technology department. Located at 7850 Chavenelle Rd., the new data center is part of the Bright Minds Campus, at the former Medline facility that was purchased by Dubuque Initiatives. "This project is an example of people partnering to do great things together in this community;" said Mayor Brad Cavanagh. "I want you to recognize how special that is. Not everybody can pull that off. And over and over and over again here in the Dubuque region, we do it." The facility includes 4,800 square feet of space for the information technology department and 1,000 square feet of space for the new data center to house computer servers. The new data center includes 7,000 square feet to house computer servers. The data center hosts core equipment to support the City organization's growing technology infrastructure needs and includes available space to accommodate servers for City partner organizations. It also features a battery backup system, a new generator, smart cooling technology, and a new fire suppression system. "Among municipalities with populations of 100,000 and less, which depicts most of the National League of Cities members, Dubuque is seen as a creative, innovative IT role model;' said Ward One City Council Representative Susan Farber. "This facility's enterprise, web -hosting feature is unique, and the City of Dubuque will be amongst the first municipalities, nationwide, to provide data center services to others." Page 81 of 629 N1' • �. 1 I � � w, Teen Programs ■■■■■■■■ atthe Starting in September, Teen Hangouts and Teen Nights will resume at the Multicultural Family Center. The MFC teen programs are an opportunity for teens to meet others their age and play games, do crafts, and try new activities such as baking. The programs are free. Registration is encouraged, but not required. Middle School Teen Hangout Grades 6- 8 1 Mondays, 3- 5 p.m. Middle School Teen Nights Grades 6 - 8 1 Wednesdays, 3 - 7:15 p.m. High School Teen Hangout Grades 9 -12 1 Tuesdays, 3 - 5:30 p.m. High School Teen Nights Grades 9 -12 1 Thursdays, 3 - 7:30 p.m. For questions, contact Teen Empowerment Coordinator Caitlin Daniels at 563-580- 6947 or cdaniels@cityofdubuque. JOJ CITY OF DUBUQUE Civil Service Commission The Civil Service Commission is seeking volunteers to fill two recently added positions. This State -mandated commission provides original entrance examinations (appointments), conducts promotional examinations, and acts as an appeals board for civil service positions, including police, fire, and public safety dispatchers. Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month at 4:15 p.m. Sustainable Dubuque 15 Grant Applications Due Sept.15 Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant applications are being accepted until Sept. 15. Grants for up to $2,500 are available to assist non -profits, businesses, clubs, organizations, and groups of passionate residents in implementing their ideas to make Dubuque a more sustainable place and to support community leadership in the Sustainable Dubuque initiative. Grants may be awarded to any group or individuals to implement a project that helps to achieve the S U S T A I N A B L E Sustainable Dubuque vision and includes a component of community education and/or DUBUQUE engagement. Review the grant guidelines, application form, and scoring rubric at cityofdubuque.org/sustainability or call 563-690-6038. P LMK Funding Available Through Neighborhood Support Grant Program Neighborhood Support Grant applications are currently open. All eligible neighborhoods are encouraged to apply. The grant offers up to $2,500 to support a wide range of community -driven projects and initiatives that strengthen neighborhoods, foster collaboration, and enhance quality of life in Dubuque. Examples of eligible activities include: • Hosting neighborhood events that bring residents together. • Improving shared spaces like parks or community gardens. • Supporting programs that promote local engagement and connection. Apply at cityofdubuque.org/neighborhoods. For questions, call the Office of Economic Mobility and Neighborhood Support at 563-690-6054. Old Mi To learn more and apply, visit cityofdubuque.org/join. For questions, call On July 22, over 800 cubic yards of concrete (100 truckloads) was poured for the the City Clerk's Office at 563-589-4100. foundation of the Old Mill Rd. Lift Station Project. The estimated completion date for the project is December 2026. Page 82 of 629 A Message from the CITY MANAGER Michael C. Van Milligen Infrastructure in Action: Summer Project Highlights For many people, summer is the season for family gatherings, vacations, and enjoying the outdoors. It's also part of City of Dubuque "construction season;' when conditions are best for making progress on projects of all sizes, from replacing park equipment to major, multi -year infrastructure investments. Three new neighborhood parks were completed this summer: Westbrook Park, English Ridge Park, and Eagle Valley Park. In all three cases, the developer of the subdivision donated the land for the park (as part of the development agreement with the City) and the costs for construction of all three parks was covered by federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. A multi -year pilot project to replace approximately 575 private lead water service lines began in July with the goal of completing nearly 200 replacements this year. This project is mainly federally funded by the Environmental Protection Agency with a 49% forgivable loan and 51% low - interest loan through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law The Dubuque Gate and Pump Station Project on Kerper Blvd. at the 16th Street Detention basin kicked off in May. This nearly $27 million project is funded in part by $24.7 million in state and federal grants. It includes construction of a new flood gate and four new pumps (doubling capacity of the current pumps) to enhance the system that conveys stormwater from the Bee Branch Watershed to the Mississippi River and protects the community from flooding. The city council held a work session on site in late July to view progress on the $26 million first phase of the Old Mill Rd. Lift Station Project to increase capacity within the Catfish Creek sanitary sewershed. This phase will be complete by the end of 2026 and the $17 million second phase will begin in August 2025, for a total of $43 million for the first two phases. The photo on page two shows the magnitude of this facility which, when completed, will have the capacity to pump 20 million gallons of wastewater per day to the Water and Resource Recovery Center and can be incrementally upgraded to 30 million gallons per day to support future growth. This project is just part of an ongoing major community investment in sanitary sewer infrastructure. Other community projects under way include the annual asphalt overlay program conducted by the public works department (nearly 10 miles of streets again this year!), ADA curb ramp projects, Kerper Blvd. and Chaplain Schmitt Island sanitary sewer improvements, and more. These community investment projects are supporting the investments and initiatives being led by residents, businesses, and organizations to make Dubuque a community of choice. In fact, more than $875 million has been invested in total private residential and commercial construction countywide over just the last three years! 2025 Water Quality Report Available The City of Dubuque Water Department has published the annual water quality report for the Dubuque water supply. The drinking water met all state and federal water quality requirements and had no drinking water violations in 2024. The report is available online at cityofdubuque.org/water. To request a printed copy, call 563-589-4291. Enrollment Services Crescent Community Health Center (Crescent) will once again be offering open enrollment services for the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. Appointments will be available starting Oct.15, and open enrollment begins Nov.1. New this year, Crescent is a Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) site. SHIIP sites offer one-on-one assistance, counseling, and education to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to help them make informed decisions. Crescent will begin SHIIP services to the community after Sept.1. Call Crescent Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator Angela Petsche at 563- 690-2884 for more information and to schedule an appointment! Page 83 of 629 New Faces & Retirements Calendar FY26 Salary Range: $65,956 - $84,572 New City Employees Shelly Ewert Transit JamesJungblut Transit Beth Beaves Police Jerald Walen Airport Anthony Daniels Parks Division Dianne Sheldon Transit Cassandra Hensley Library Dale Richardson Public Works Benjamin Markus Public Works Ryan Fagan Public Works Adam Kafar Public Works Skyler Moser Public Works Adam Slade Public Works Samantha Davis Public Works Recent Retirees Chris (Chet) Lawrence Fire Marie Ware Parks & Recreation New Board/Commission Members Janice Esser Historic Preservation Commission Alex Kruse Transit Advisory Board DU BUQU E POLICE DEPARTMENT Applications are now accepted year-round with testing opportunities multiple times per year. • Four 10-hour work schedules APPLY • Fully paid academy training TODAY! • Comprehensive health insurance • Paid vacation & sick time 0 • 12 weeks paid parental leave • 5% education bonus paid biweekly �! • $5,000 bonus for Certified Officers r .� • Abundant overtime opportunities cityofdubuque.org/JoinDPD September 1 City offices closed for Labor Day (Trash and recycling collection on Saturday, Aug. 30) 2 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. 15 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. October 6 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. 20 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at City Council Chambers, Historic Federal Building, 350 W. 6th St. The public has the option to view and participate in City Council meetings in person at City Council Chambers or virtually (see agenda for details). Meetings are aired live on CityChonnel Dubuque (Mediacom cable channels 8 and 117.2 and ImOn channel 5), streamed live and archived on the City's website at www.cityofdubuque.org/media, and streamed live on the City's Focebook page at www.focebook.com/cityofdubuque. Carver Elementary School students on Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day in May 2025. Photo provided by the Dubuque Community School District. WALKBI KE AOLL� TO sCHoo� � Wednesday, October 8 Get ready to celebrate National Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, Oct. 8. All students are invited tojoin in by walking, biking, or rolling their way to school. Some schools may host special events to mark the occasion, but everyone can take part in the fun. It's a great way to enjoy fresh air, get some exercise, and start the day energized! To learn more about National Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day, visit www.walkbiketoschool.org. City News is produced by the City of Dubuque Public Information Office. September/October 2025 Comments are welcome at publicinfo@cityofdubuque.org cpr&38%$&-6N.