Proof_City Council Proceedings 09.22.25Copyrighted
October 20, 2025
City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of October 6, 2025; Arts and
Cultural Affairs Grants Committee of August 14, 2025; Arts
and Cultural Affairs Art on the River Committee of July 10,
2025; Human Rights Commission of September 9 and 16,
2025; Human Rights Commission Subcommittee for
Commissioner Handbook Update of September 16, 2025;
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of
September 8, 15, 22, 23, and 25, 2025.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 10 6 25 City Council Minutes
2. Arts and Cultural Affairs Art on the River Committee Minutes
3. Arts and Cultural Affairs Grants Committee Minutes
4. Human Rights Commission Minutes
5. Human Rights Commission Special Meeting Minutes
6. Human Rights Commission Subcommittee Handbook Meeting Minutes
7. Proof-9 8 25 City Council Proceedings
8. Proof-9 15 25 City Council Proceedings
9. Proof_9.22.25 Proceedings
10. Proof_9.23.25 Proceedings
11. Proof 9.25.25 Proceedings
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STATE OF IOWA SS:
DUBUQUE COUNTY
CERTIFICATE OF PUBLICATION
I, Kathy Goetzinger, a Billing Clerk for Woodward
Communications, Inc., an Iowa corporation, publisher
of the Telegraph Herald, a newspaper of general
circulation published in the City of Dubuque, County
of Dubuque and State of Iowa; hereby certify that the
attached notice was published in said newspaper on the
following dates:
10/03/2025
and for which the charge is 50.81
Subscribed to before me, a Notary Public to and for
Dubuque County, Iowa,
this 3rd day of October, 2025
Notary o is in and for Dubuque dounty, Iowa.
L�
JAN K, PAPE
AY'PY Commission Number 19 es5
Commission Exp
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1211112025
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Ad text
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 4:09 p.m.
on September 22, 2025, in the Q Casino Reflections Room B.
Present: Mayor Cavanagh; Council Members Farber, Jones,
Resnick, Roussell, Sprank, Wethal; City Manager Van Milligen,
City Attorney Brumwell.
Mayor Cavanagh read the call and stated this is a special
session of the City Council called for the purpose of
conducting annual goal setting.
GOAL SETTING
SESSION I OF 3
The session was led by Lyle Suniek of Lyle Sumek Associates,
Inc. City Council reflected on the past year's
accomplishments, identified what they hope to accomplish over
the next five years, and outlined each of their top priorities
for the coming year. The group also reviewed the City's vision
and mission statements, noting that the term equity appears
throughout. This raised concerns regarding compliance with
Iowa House File 856, which restricts certain activities
related to diversity, equity, and inclusion by public
entities. Council members agreed that the most effective
approach would be to revisit the vision and mission statements
for revisions during their governance session that will occur
in January. Brumwell advised that demonstrating progress and a
good faith effort would help ensure the City's position is
defensible in the event of legal scrutiny or public inquiry.
Brumwell added that having a plan in place for January
reflects a good faith effort and emphasized that compliance
with House File 856 must be evaluated on a case -by -case basis.
It was also suggested that the word 'equity' be removed from
all goal headings and descriptions where it currently appears.
The meeting was informally paused for dinner at 5:46 p.m. and
resumed at 6:20 p.m. City Council reviewed Goal No. 1 -
Healthy and Safe Community, and Goal No. 2 - Financially
Responsible, High -Performance City Organization: Sustainable
and Effective Service Delivery, identifying their top
outcomes, challenges and opportunities, and actions for each.
A short break was taken at 7:53 p.m., and the meeting resumed
at 8:02 p.m. Following the break, City Council reviewed Goal
No. 3 Robust Local Economy: Diverse Businesses and Jobs with
Economic Prosperity, also identifying their top outcomes,
challenges and opportunities, and actions for each. Throughout
the discussion, Van Milligen, Assistant City Manager Cori
Burbach, Police Chief Jeremy Jensen, Assistant Police Chief
Joe Messerich, and Fire Chief Amy Scheller addressed relevant
questions from the Council.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Cavanagh declared the
meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CMC
City Clerk
It 10/3
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