Proposed Amendment to Arts & Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission Ordinance Regarding MembershipCity of Dubuque
City Council
ACTION ITEMS # 5.
Copyrighted
December 1, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Proposed Amendment to Arts & Cultural Affairs Advisory
Commission Ordinance Regarding Membership
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval of the
proposed amendment to the ordinance governing the City's
Arts & Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission. The amendment
seeks to address the current commissioner special
qualifications.
ORDINANCE Amending City Of Dubuque Code Of
Ordinances Title 2 Boards And Commissions, Chapter 8 Arts
And Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission, Section 5
Membership
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Motion B; Motion A
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo
2. Staff Memo
3. Ordinance
Page 883 of 1214
Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Proposed Amendment to Arts & Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission
Ordinance Regarding Membership
DATE: November 24, 2025
Arts & Cultural Affairs Manager Bonnie Spurling is recommending City Council approval
of the proposed amendment to the ordinance governing the City's Arts & Cultural Affairs
Advisory Commission. The amendment, as prepared by the City Attorney's Office and
approved by the Arts & Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission, seeks to address the
current commissioner special qualifications.
There is no budget impact associated with the approval of this amendment.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jill Connors, Economic Development Director
Bonnie Spurling, Arts & Cultural Affairs Manager
Page 884 of 1214
Dubuque
THE CITY OF
DUBQTE
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Mike Van Milligen, City
Manager
FROM: Bonnie Spurling, Arts & Cultural Affairs Manager
Economic Development Department
Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs
1300 Main St
Dubuque,1A 52001
Office (563) 589-4393
TTY (563) 690-6678
http://www.cityofdubuque.org
SUBJECT: Proposed Amendment to Arts & Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission
Ordinance Regarding Membership
DATE: November 19, 2025
INTRODUCTION
The memorandum presents a proposed amendment to the ordinance governing the
City's Arts & Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission. The amendment, as prepared by the
City's Legal Department office and approved by the Arts & Cultural Affairs Advisory
Commission, seeks to address the current commissioner special qualifications.
BACKGROUND
As noted in the Arts & Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission's (the Commission) current
ordinance, it is comprised of seven (7) members, all appointed by the City Council. All
members must be residents of the city with positions available based on the following
special qualifications:
A. The commission comprises seven (7) residents of the city, appointed by the city
council.
B. Special qualifications:
1. Four (4) members must have significant knowledge and demonstrate interest in
one or more areas of the arts including music, dance, literature, visual arts, theater,
folk arts, media arts, design, or arts education.
2. Two (2) members must be from the business and professional community, one
of whom lives or works in the cultural and entertainment district.
3. One member must be at large who lives or works outside
the cultural and entertainment district. (Ord. 59-14, 10-6-2014)
DISCUSSION
The current ordinance limits membership to individuals who reside within a particular
jurisdiction, are artists or who own/operate within a business setting. While these
Page 885 of 1214
requirements are intended to ensure local representation, they can unintentionally
reduce the diversity of expertise available to support the commission's work. Restrictive
criteria can make it difficult to fill positions or maintain a balanced commission. A more
inclusive membership structure enables broader representation of stakeholder groups,
including those who contribute to or are impacted by the commission's work but may not
live or operate a business within the jurisdiction.
The proposed ordinance amendment as reviewed and approved by the Commission will
adjust the ordinance as follows:
PROPOSED CHANGE
2-8-5: MEMBERSHIP:
A. The commission comprises seven (7) residents of the city, appointed by the city
council.
B. Special qualifications:
1. Four (4) members must have significant knowledge and/or experience and
demonstrate interest in one or more areas of the arts and cultural affairs, including
but not limited to: music, dance, literature, visual arts, theater, folk arts, media
arts, design or arts education.
2. Three (3) members must be at large.
BUDGET IMPACTS
There is no budget impact associated with the approval of this amendment.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I recommend City Council approval the amendment to the Arts & Cultural Affairs
Advisory Commission ordinance.
Cc: Jill Connors, Economic Development Director
Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Page 886 of 1214
Prepared by: Crenna M. Brumwell, Esq. 300 Main Street Suite 330 Dubuque IA 52001 563 589-4381
ORDINANCE NO. 45 - 25
AMENDING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLE 2 BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS, CHAPTER 8 ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY
COMMISSION, SECTION 5 MEMBERSHIP
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. Section 2-8-5 of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances is amended
to read as follows:
2-8-5: MEMBERSHIP:
A. The commission comprises seven (7) residents of the city, appointed by the city
council.
B. Special qualifications:
1. Four (4) members must have significant knowledge and/or experience and
demonstrate interest in one or more areas of the arts and cultural affairs,
including but not limited to: music, dance, literature, visual arts, theater, folk
arts, media arts, design or arts education.
2. Three (3) members must be at large.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon publication.
Passed, approved, and adopted this 1 st day of December, 2025.
.• M. Cava �ah, Mayor
Attest:
Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
EFFECT OF AMENDMENT
A. The commission comprises seven (7) residents of the city, appointed by the city
council.
B. Special qualifications:
1. Four (4) members must have significant knowledge and/or experience and
demonstrate interest in one or more areas of the arts and cultural affairs,
includina but not limited to: music. dance. literature. visual arts, theater, folk
arts, media arts, design or arts education.
2. Three (3) members must be at large.
- • -
Page 888 of 1214
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:
12/05/2025
and for which the charge is 19.27
r J ' G
Sub(cribed to before me, a Notary Public in and for
Dubuque County, Iowa,
this 5th day of December, 2025
Notary c in and for Dubuque County, Iowa.
41"p%AL JANET K. PAPE
°7 Commission Number 199659
• My Commission Expires
Iowa 12/11/2028
Ad text :
CITY OF DUBUQUE
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
ORDINANCE NO. 45 - 25
AMENDING CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF ORDINANCES TITLE 2 BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS, CHAPTER 8 ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS ADVISORY
COMMISSION, SECTION 5 MEMBERSHIP
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. Section 2-8-5 of the City of Dubuque Code of
Ordinances is amended to read as follows:
2-8-5: MEMBERSHIP:
A. "The commission comprises seven (7) residents of the
city, appointed by the city council.
B. "Special qualifications:
1. "Four (4) members must have significant knowledge and/or
experience and demonstrate interest in one or more areas of
the arts and cultural affairs, including but not limited to:
music, dance, literature, visual arts, theater, folk arts,
media arts, design or arts education.
2. "Three (3) members must be at large.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon
publication.
Passed, approved, and adopted this 1st day of December,
2025.
/s/Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest: /s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
Published officially in the Telegraph Herald newspaper on
the 5th day of December, 2025.
/s/Adrienne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
It 12/5