Police Space and Feasibility StudyCopyrighted
October 6, 2025
City of Dubuque
City Council
/_TQIIQ►III=1JiRIF.' a
ITEM TITLE: Police Space and Feasibility Study
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending the approval of a Police
Department Space and Feasibility Study project that is not
currently included in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. This has
been established as a City Council priority.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo
2. Staff Memo DLEC Space and Feasibility Study 092925
Page 1255 of 1264
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Police Space and Feasibility Study
DATE: September 30, 2025
Dubuque
All-Amarica City
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
Police Chief Jeremy Jensen is recommending the approval of a Police Department
Space and Feasibility Study project that is not currently included in the Fiscal Year 2026
budget. This has been established as a City Council priority.
The Dubuque Police Department presently occupies a building owned by Dubuque
County, which is shared with the Dubuque County Sheriff's Department. Since 1974,
the Police Department has experienced significant growth in staff numbers and
technology requirements. The most affected areas include the patrol work area, which
has only four workstations for 50 officers, and the locker room space, particularly for
women. The newly implemented Precision Policing Center was also designed without
room for growth due to the limited existing space.
Sheriff Kennedy wishes to maintain the partnership and sharing of the space with the
Dubuque Police Department but recognizes that the Police Department has outgrown
the current facilities. Additionally, the 1974 building is outdated. Similarly, the Fire
Department has outgrown its administrative space at Fire Headquarters, and there
might be an opportunity for the Police and Fire Departments to share administrative
offices.
Based on the space study conducted by Johnson County and Iowa City, an additional
$100,000 is needed for the Police Space and Feasibility Study Project. This funding
would be provided from the Fiscal Year 2025 general fund savings. The Police Space
and Feasibility Study project is included in the first budget amendment for Fiscal Year
2026, which will be considered by the City Council at a future public hearing.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jml/sv
Page 1256 of 1264
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jennifer Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Laura Bendorf, Budget Manager
Jeremy Jensen, Police Chief
Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
I
Page 1257 of 1264
THE CITY OF
E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
All•Amerlo City
NALIVE �":
2007*2012*2013
2017*2019
TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Jeremy Jensen, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Request for a DLEC Space and Feasibility Study
DATE: September 29, 2025
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request funding in FY26 to conduct a space and
feasibility study to determine facilities needs for the Dubuque Police Department.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Dubuque Police Department currently occupies a building owned by Dubuque
County and shared with the Dubuque County Sheriff's Department. The Police
Department shares the space in the County owned building. The main building was
built in 1974 with an addition being added in 2003/2004. Since being built, the building
has undergone numerous interior changes to accommodate the growth of both
departments as well as the expansion of the Dubuque County Jail.
Since 1974, the Police Department has grown exponentially in the number of staff, as
well as with technology requirements. Simply, we have outgrown the current square
footage of our building and are utilizing every available space. The areas mostly
affected consist of the patrol work area, which occupies a small footprint and has only
four workstations for 50 officers and lack of locker room space, particularly for women.
The women's locker room was built when the only females were jail matrons. I can
surmise that having women on the police department was not even a consideration.
Additionally, having offices in the basement, in interior rooms (initially designed as
storage closets) is not ideal for the physical and mental wellness of the officers. The
newly implemented PPC was designed with no room for growth due to having to use
what little existing space there was. Studies have shown that updated facilities are a
recruitment draw as well as a retention tool.
1
Page 1258 of 1264
I spoke to Sheriff Joe Kennedy and Fire Chief Amy Scheller about shared spaces.
Sheriff Kennedy wants to maintain the partnership and sharing of the space with the
Dubuque Police Department but recognizes the Police Department has outgrown the
current facilities. He also recognizes the 1974 building is outdated. While the Fire
Department has its own facilities studies, they have also outgrown their administrative
space at Fire Headquarters and due to being in close proximity to the DLEC there may
be an opportunity to share administrative offices.
In May 2025, members of the Dubuque Police Department and Fire Department
attended a public safety building conference. The conference outlined the steps that
needed to be taken towards facility enhancements. According to the information
received at this conference we are in a pre -designing phase in which we need to
conduct a spatial needs and site assessment study. A third -party vendor would need to
be selected to conduct a study (generally a 3-4 month process). The selected firm to
conduct an assessment must have the knowledge and experience associated with
public safety facilities. While we would set the specific parameters for the study,
generally the study will identify the following:
• Feasibility of what space and buildings are available, using the current DLEC as
the centerpiece of all change.
• Identify future needs (20-30 years) of the Department.
• Evaluation of existing building, property and area properties that may be of use
for expansion.
• Vehicle access, egress, and secure parking.
• Security concerns to include public access.
• ADA compliance.
• Potential grant opportunities.
The Iowa City Police Department and the Johnson County Sheriff's Office recently went
through a similar study. Iowa City budgeted approximately $30,000 and Johnson
County budgeted $100,000. Iowa City had already done their study prior to the joint
venture. I believe $100,000 is a realistic number to cover the study.
Should we be able to conduct this study in the fall of 2025, we should be able to provide
a budget request for FY27 to move to the next phase of building improvements, which is
anticipated to be hiring an architectural firm. Any major building improvements would
be part of the FY28 budget process.
RECOMMENDATION
It is my recommendation, if the funds are available, to conduct the spatial needs and
site assessment study in the fall of 2025.
2
Page 1259 of 1264