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November/December 2025 City News NewsletterCopyrighted October 6, 2025 City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 9. City Council ITEM TITLE: November/December 2025 City News Newsletter SUMMARY: City Manager providing a copy of the November/December 2025 issue of the City News newsletter, which will be distributed with City utility bills from October 15 through November 5. SUGGUESTED Receive and File DISPOSITION: ATTACHMENTS: 1. November - December 2025 City News Newsletter Page 180 of 1264 "Skyward" sculpture at Veterans Memorial Plaza 21 Free 'Ride to Vote' Service City/School Election on Nov. 4 Details on the Dollars: Open Budget Transparency Tool Residents Invited to Share Input on FY27 Budget Leaf Rake -Out Appointments 31 A Message from the City Manager: Retirement Announcement 41 New Faces & Retirements Events Calendar Seeking Input on Millwork District Community Space Recent News �+ Ribbon -Cutting for the new Dubuque County 911 Emergency Communications Center l+ 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 6 7880 Chavenelle Rd. Public welcome! + � Attention Thursday Customers! City of Dubuque November/December 2025 City Council Goals & Priorities During three sessions held in September, the City Council identified seven five-year goals for the city, along with top and high priorities for the 2025 - 2027 policy agenda. Five -Year Goals • Healthy and Safe Community • Financially Responsible, High - Performance City Organization: Sustainable and Effective Service Delivery • Robust Local Economy: Diverse Businesses and Jobs with Economic Prosperity • Livable Neighborhoods and Housing: Great Place to Live • Sustainable Environment: Preserving and Enhancing Natural Resources • Connected Community: Equitable Transportation, Technology Infrastructure, and Mobility • Diverse Arts, Culture, Parks, and Recreation Experiences and Activities Top Priorities • Commercial Air Service Future Strategy and Action Plan to Sustain and Expand • Comprehensive Fire Station Location and Facilities Study • Fire Department Staffing Increases • Police Department: Full Staffing and Hiring • Sanitary Sewer Investments and Implementation - Catfish Creek Sanitary Sewer Project - Cedar St. Lift Station & Force Main - Chaplain Schmitt Island Sanitary Sewer - Cooper PI./Maiden Ln. Project - Grove Terrace Project ' - Harvard St. Project (Top Priorities continued) - Hempstead St. Project - Sanitary Sewer Force Main Stabilization Project - Sanitary Sewer Consent Decree Compliance - Terminal St. Lift Station & Force Main • Sports Complex Development • Stormwater Management Investments and Implementation - 17th & Elm St. Stormwater Project - 17th & Locust St. Stormwater Project - Bee Branch Gate & Pump Station Project - Detention Ponds Maintenance - Individual Neighborhood Investments - Kaufmann Ave. Storm Sewer Improvements • Street Maintenance/Rehabilitation Program High Priorities • Continued Implementation of Central Avenue Revitalization Plan • Downtown Master Plan Update • Dubuque Law Enforcement Center (DLEC) Short -Term Facility Enhancements and Future Plan • East-West Corridor/Roundabouts Projects • Next Phases of Chaplain Schmitt Island Development • Parks and Recreation Master Plan Adoption and Implementation • Water Resource and Recovery Center Facility and Process Improvements and Odor Reduction Learn more at cityofdubugPagoegl/gito'BY FREE `RIDE TO VOTE' Service on Election Day The Jule is offering free bus rides for voters on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 6:15 a.m. until 6:45 p.m. Residents who wish to utilize this free service can inform Jule operators that they are riding to vote. Fixed -route buses will not deviate from regular routes but will provide rides to bus stops within reasonable walking distance of polling places in Dubuque. Learn more at www.cityofdubuque.org/ridetovote Leaf Rake -Outs October 13 - November 26 The Public Works Department provides residents a leaf rake -out service by appointment each fall. The cost is $20 for the equivalent of 40 leaf bags and will be added to your utility bill. Acceptable items in the leaf rake -out include loose leaves, pine needles, and pine cones. Grass, brush, plants, and rocks are not accepted. Schedule a leaf rake -out appointment, at www.cityofdubuque.org/yardwaste or call 563-589-4250. Tuesday, Nov. 4 4 City/School Election Please be aware of these important dates and regulations to ensure your vote is counted. :arty Voting The Dubuque County Elections Office is located at 880 Central Ave. Any registered voter in Dubuque County can vote early at the Elections Office via in -person absentee ballot during these scheduled times. • Due to the Oct. 7 Primary Election, City of Dubuque election ballots may not yet be available on Oct. 15. Please check with the Election's Office before visiting. • Regular Early Voting Hours at the Elections Office: Weekdays, Oct.15, - Nov. 3, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • Extended Early Voting Hours at the Elections Office: Friday, Oct. 31, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 4 Voting at polling places from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (NOTE: You CANNOT vote at the Elections Office on Election Day.) To determine your polling place, visit elections.dubuquecountyiowa.gov, call 563-589-4457, or email elections@ dubuquecountyiowa.gov. Please know your polling place before Election Day Absentee Ballots • Deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot from the Elections Office: 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 20 • Absentee ballot due date: By 8 p.m. on Election Day (Nov. 4). Postmarks are not considered. • Weekend Early Voting at the For additional information on voting, Elections Office: Saturday, Oct.18, visit elections.dubuquecountyiowa.gov, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and Saturday, call 563-589-4457, or email elections@ Oct. 25, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. dubuquecountyiowa.gov. Details on the Dollars "Open Budget" is the City of Dubuque's online financial transparency tool. You can explore details on the City's operating revenues and operating expenses by department and fiscal year (2022-2026). You can also examine the City's ledger/checkbook and analyze all expenditures by department, project, vendor, and more. Information can be displayed by charts, exported, and shared through the tool's dashboard. Access Open Budget at www.cityofdubuque.org/budget Share Your Input on the Next City Budget Dubuque residents are invited to share their input on the next City budget for fiscal year (FY) 2027, which runs July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027. A public input meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, "12 Nov.12, in the City Council Chambers at the Historic Federal Building, 350 W. Sixth St. City staff will provide general information on the budget process and attendees will be invited to share their thoughts on what they would like to see funded in their neighborhoods and the community at -large. Comments can also be submitted at www.cityofdubuque.org/FY2027budget. Page 182 of 1264 A Message from the CITY MANAGER to the Mayor and City Council Michael C. Van Milligen _Entering 2025 1 was planning to retire kam within 5 years. Coming way too close to being killed by a hit and run drunk driver on March 27, 2025, has caused me to pick a time sooner rather than later. In our life we have multiple defining moments. A few of mine were: 1. Being fortunate to have two loving parents who had grown up during the Great Depression and then both served in the Army in the Pacific Theater in World War 11. They taught me that, "Family is about Love and Respect" In their lives they modeled the secrets to success: • Hard Work. • Good Attitude. • Be Humble and Kind. • Make Good Choices, the most important one being your life partner. These were special lessons to learn from members of, "The Greatest Generation." 2. Coming out of college and getting my first full-time job as a Police Officer in Carbondale, Illinois. The next 7 years instilled in me the importance and the gratification of public service and provided me the best supervisors, mentors, and lifelong friends anyone could ask for. They taught me that listening and problem solving are foundational to achieving results, and in the end, you must take action. 3. Meeting my wife, Nancy, in graduate school was a life changing event. Nancy put into practice the concepts of Love and Respect building a healthy family. I also learned what Nancy meant by her saying, "If there is room in the heart, there is room in the home." I have been able to experience the joy of having over 30 children live in our home, including our own 5 children. And, now to experience the joy of having 18 grandchildren, with the newest arrival coming August 4, 2025. 4. Being hired in Skokie, Illinois, then being promoted to Assistant Village Manager. Having the opportunity to learn from one of the best Village Managers in our profession on how to run local government like a business to achieve meaningful outcomes that affect people's quality of life. 5. Being hired as the City Manager in Dubuque beginning in January 1993. This has been a great honor, as I have had the privilege of being a small part of an amazing team consisting of tremendously talented people, including city employees, elected officials, and members of organizations we have been proud to call partners. Our mantra has aways been, "Planning, Partnerships, and People." My personal goal has been to empower others, as beautifully expressed by the Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Benjamin Zander, when he said, "The conductor of an orchestra doesn't In my time in Dubuque I have had the honor to work with and work for people of great character. Thank you for the kindness you have shown me and thank you for your exceptional leadership. )) make a sound. He depends, for his power, on his ability to make other people powerful." Of course, the most important people are the residents of this great city, and they are the reason this is the "Masterpiece on the Mississippi." 6. But, not every defining moment is positive. March 27, 20251 was struck in downtown Dubuque by a hit and run drunk driver. Having experienced this, "brush with death," it helped crystallize my thoughts on retirement. Satchel Paige said, "How old would you be if you did not know how old you were?" Age is not just a chronological number. After almost 50 years in public service I still look forward to coming to work and being part of this great team. For the last 20 years I have gotten up early every morning spending over 2 hours exercising. Over the last 6 years I have walked over 18 million steps, walking 4 - 6 miles a day, having been on an 82-day streak without a miss when I was struck by the drunk driver. I also love to read books and do research, challenging myself to be in a state of continuous improvement and discovery. The automobile accident reminded me that life can change in the blink of an eye and that if I hope to have a third career after first Policing and then City Management, and to have the time and flexibility to enjoy time with my beautiful wife and wonderful family, I need to retire from the 24/7 demands of being the City Manager of Dubuque. My children and grandchildren are spread out across the country, and I look forward to being able to spend more time with them. I plan to retire as City Manager of Dubuque in June, 2027, a little over 20 months from now. I thought it important that once Nancy and I had made this decision that I share it with you. I hope this advance notice provides you as the Mayor and City Council time to plan for the selection of the next City Manager and the transition that will need to take place. In my time in Dubuque I have had the honor to work with and work for people of great character. Thank you for the kindness you have shown me and thank you for your exceptional leadership. -Mike Mark Twain said, "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." New Faces & Retirements New City Employees Eldon Schneider Water Abby Gordon Paul Johnson Reise Johnson Angelia Rouse Ella Link Alexander Stackis Sarah Emm Chesher Christina Lemmon Lauren Egan Wesley Atkinson Matthew Kalcevich Kloie Eitter Recent Retirees Robert Barry Calendar November 3 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Information Technology 4 Election Day Transit 11 City offices closed for Veterans Day Public Works (No change in curbside collection.) Transit 12 FY27 Budget Public Input Meeting, 6 p.m. Police 17 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Public Works 27-28 City offices closed for Thanksgiving holiday Public works (Thursday, Nov. 27, curbside collection will occur Public Works on Saturday, Nov. 29. No change in Friday, Nov. 28, collection.) Housing Housing December Parks & Recreation 1 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Library 15 City Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. 24-25 City offices closed for Christmas holiday (Thursday, Dec. 25, curbside collection will occur on Saturday, Dec. 27. No change in Wednesday, Public Works Dec. 24, collection.) New Board/Commission Members Katie Bailey Transit Advisory Board We Need Your Input for Millwork District Community Space 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 CityChannel Dubuque (Mediocom cable channels 8 and 1172 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 Focebooh page at www.focebooh.com/cityofdubuque. The Planning Services Department is seeking input on the design of a new outdoor community space to replace a temporary parking lot in the Historic Millwork District. In 2012, a temporary parking lot with 57 spaces was constructed to meet parking needs while the adjacent Intermodal Parking Facility was being built. That facility, which includes 292 spaces, was completed in 2015. In 2024, the updated Historic Millwork District Master Plan, developed with input from a 13-member steering committee consisting of business and property owners, residents, community leaders, and City staff, identified transforming the lot into a vibrant, year-round community space as a top priority. The public is invited to share their thoughts on potential uses, amenities, landscaping, and design elements for the space at these upcoming events: Public Input Work Session Wednesday, Nov.12 1 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Jule Operations & Training Center (JOTC), 949 Kerper Blvd. Open House UFriday, Dec. 5 1 4 - 7:30 p.m. Merry Millwork Market, Historic Millwork District Input collected will guide development of final designs for the space! For questions, contact the Planning Services Department at 563-589-4210 or email colson@cityofdubuque.org. , Recent News Mayor of the Year Mayor Brad Cavanagh was recently named Mayor of the Year in the Over io,000 Population category by the 1i Iowa Mayors Association at the Iowa League of Cities Annual Conference. The award honors mayors who demonstrate exceptional public service to their community, the Iowa League of Cities, the Iowa Mayors Association, and local government. 2025 State of the City On Sept. 26, Mayor Cavanagh delivered the 2025 State of the City address, highlighting Dubuque's shared successes over the past year and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Watch the full address and read the written remarks at: www.cityofdubuque.org/sotc City News is produced by the City of Dubuque Public Information Office. November/December 2025 Comments are welcome at publicinfo@cityofdubuque.orlgagdeb�84 t .