9 4 25 Memos to City CouncilTHE CITY OF
DUB EJE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Closed Session for Evaluation Request
DATE: September 2, 2025
Dubuque
All -America City
,I I►
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
I understand that the Dubuque City Council intends to evaluate my professional
competencies and conduct with respect to my performance related to specific
goals that have been established for me, as City Manager, by the Council for this
year and beyond.
I understand that such an evaluation will involve a direct and frank conversation
between the members of the Council regarding my professional competency and
performance and may include questions or statements that are both supportive
and/or critical of my past and current performance and may require the sharing of
information which may be harmful to my reputation if publicly disclosed. I believe
that a full and frank discussion is in the best interest of the City and in my own best
interest to ensure any performance issues or concerns are fully and freely
addressed.
Therefore, I believe a closed session is necessary and proper to foster a full and
frank discussion, and I believe a closed session is necessary to prevent needless
and irreparable injury to my reputation. For these reasons, please consider this
letter a formal request that the City Council conduct this evaluation and discussion
of my performance and goals in a closed session on September 4, 2025, at 5.30
p.m., pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(i).
21.5 Closed session
1. A governmental body may hold a closed session only by affirmative public
vote of either two-thirds of the members of the body or all of the members
present at the meeting. A governmental body may hold a closed session only to
the extent a closed session is necessary for any of the following reasons:
i. To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose
appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when
Page 2 of 6
necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual's
reputation and that individual requests a closed session.
Your consideration of this request for my evaluation scheduled for September 4,
2025 is appreciated.
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Adrienne Breitfelder, City Clerk
1�,A� k�4
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
2
Page 3 of 6
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
CRENNA M. BRUMWELL, ESQ.
CITY ATTORNEY ek
TO: MAYOR BRAD M. CAVANAGH AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: SEPTEMBER 2, 2025
RE: CLOSED SESSION FOR EVALUATION REQUEST
Dubuque
All•A�eNea 6Iq
1ml'o I
I I
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
I understand that the Dubuque City Council intends to evaluate my professional
competencies and conduct with respect to my performance related to specific
goals that have been established for me, as City Attorney, by the Council for this
year and beyond.
I understand that such an evaluation will involve a direct and frank conversation
between the members of the Council regarding my professional competency and
performance and may include questions or statements that are both supportive
and/or critical of my past and current performance and may require the sharing of
information which may be harmful to my reputation if publicly disclosed. I believe
that a full and frank discussion is in the best interest of the City and in my own best
interest to ensure any performance issues or concerns are fully and freely
addressed.
Therefore, I believe a closed session is necessary and proper to foster a full and
frank discussion, and I believe a closed session is necessary to prevent needless
and irreparable injury to my reputation. For these reasons, please consider this
letter a formal request that the City Council conduct this evaluation and discussion
of my performance and goals in a closed session on September 4, 2025, pursuant
to Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(i).
21.5 Closed session
1. A governmental body may hold a closed session only by affirmative public
vote of either two-thirds of the members of the body or all of the members
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY DUBUQUE, IOWA
SUITE 330, HARBOR VIEW PLACE, 300 MAIN STREET DUBUQUE, IA 52001-6944
TELEPHONE (563) 589-4381 / FAx (563) 583-1040 / EMAIL cbrumwel@cityofdubuque.org
Page 4 of 6
present at the meeting. A governmental body may hold a closed session only to
the extent a closed session is necessary for any of the following reasons:
i. To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose
appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when
necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual's
reputation and that individual requests a closed session.
Your consideration of this request for my evaluation scheduled for September 4,
2025 is appreciated.
cc: Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
2
Page 5 of 6
THE CITY OF
DBQTEU
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
City Clerk's Office
City Hall
All-AmericaCiq
50 W. 13`h Street
Dubuque, IA 52001-4864
1 I
I
(563) 589-4100 office
I I
(563) 589-0890 fax
ctyclerk@cityofdubuque.org
2007- 2012.2013
`^ ^ ^' cityofdubuque.org
20120 2019
TO: Mayor Brad M. Cavanagh and Members of the City Council
FROM: Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
DATE: September 2, 2025
SUBJECT: Closed Session for Evaluation Request
I understand that the Dubuque City Council intends to evaluate my professional
competencies and conduct with respect to my performance related to specific goals that
have been established for me, as City Clerk, by the Council for this year and beyond.
I understand that such an evaluation will involve a direct and frank conversation between
the members of the Council regarding my professional competency and performance and
may include questions or statements that are both supportive and/or critical of my past and
current performance and may require the sharing of information which may be harmful to
my reputation if publicly disclosed. I believe that a full and frank discussion is in the best
interest of the City and in my own best interest to ensure any performance issues or
concerns are fully and freely addressed.
Therefore, I believe a closed session is necessary and proper to foster a full and frank
discussion, and I believe a closed session is necessary to prevent needless and irreparable
injury to my reputation. For these reasons, please consider this letter a formal request that
the City Council conduct this evaluation and discussion of my performance and goals in a
closed session on September 4, 2025, pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(i).
21.5 Closed session
1. A governmental body may hold a closed session only by affirmative public vote of
either two-thirds of the members of the body or all of the members present at the
meeting. A governmental body may hold a closed session only to the extent a closed
session is necessary for any of the following reasons:
i. To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring,
performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless
and irreparable injury to that individual's reputation and that individual requests a closed
session.
Your consideration of this request for my evaluation scheduled for September 4, 2025 is
appreciated.
Page 6 of 6